Religious commonplace book

Autograph, and (?) in hand of John Saxby. The volume was originally used for accounts by the Saxbys as executors to John Scotchford (d. 30 Dec. 1600) of Brenchley, Kent. The accounts continue to 1610, and are entered on fos 1-7v, 10v-11v, 13, 17, 27, 29, 31, 34, and 54. Fos 56v onwards were subsequently used by Robert Saxby to record pious discourses, chapters of the Bible (including most of the Book of Judith), sermons copied from printed editions, extracts from John Downham, The Christian Warfare (3rd edn, 1612), prayers and meditations. This section, written at various dates in 1627, seems originally to have neded at fo. 143v. On fos 174-5 is a 'petition unto Almighty God', dated 1626 but perhaps inserted later. At fos 148-53 is a sermon copied 1629, probably from a printed edition. On fos 160v-168v is a sermon of Edwin Sandys when bishop of London, 1570, 'written out by Robert Saxby about the midell of March 1630', taken from the printed edition of his sermons. The blank pages or spaces remaining have been filled by Saxby withabstracts of some 185 sermons preached at various places in London or Kent. The abstracts vary from three pages to a few lines in length. Place of preaching, and, usually, preacher's name are supplied: those dated range between 1629 and 1634, but the year is usually omitted. Many sermons are by Dr Westfield, incumbent of St Bartholomew's, Smithfield, and later bishop of Bristol, or by visiting preachers at this church. The latest dated item (fo. 134v) is a prayer copied in 1637. inside front cover: 'Came upon midsomer 1629 to Londun', follwed by a note of recurring expenses. Above are signatures of Robert Saxby, and of A. J. B. Beresford Hope (19th cent.)

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Apparently belonged to A. J. B. Beresford Hope. Purchased at Puttick's, 27 July 1893 lot 343, for 4s.

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Microfilm available