A continuation of the three previous volumes (Folger MS V.a.290-V.a.292). Medical and general diary kept during Ward's first years as vicar and medical practitioner in Stratford-upon-Avon (with visits to Oxford and London). Many notes on his patients and himself, with some on parochial and borough affairs (e.g. the fate of the College after the Dissolution). Refers to conversations in London with Robert Morison ("Dr. Modesy") and Edward Morgan on botany, and with Peter Stahl on chemistry; also conversations with Richard Lower on anatomical research at Oxford. Notes about the therapies of Oxford practitioners, especially Thomas Willis. He describes a journey into Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire with John Trapp, the master of the grammar school, and as before several gardens he saw, e.g. the Kings garden extraordinary and Sir Thomas Leigh's incomparable one; he seems to have been particularly struck by the novelty of lime trees. He also mentions Mr. Quiney and his iron mill and some court news ("Inquire who that prince William is who is so much talked of in the Low Countries"). Extracts from Willis' Cerebri anatome and Marchamont Needham's Medela medicinae
Notes
General notes
In English and Latin
"At Loddington in Northamptonshire May [th]e 30" (leaf 1r) and "Begun[n]e May [th]e 22 166[?]" (leaf 2r). One of the last entries is dated "ffeb. 2 64" (leaf 128v) (i.e. 1665)
List of contents partially derived from typescript description. Specific location of references not verified
One of several volumes, originally 17 in number, known as "Ward's Diary." 16 of these volumes are now Folger MS V.a.284-299
Medical Society of London MS -- Dr. J.A.S.N. Rosenbach, of New York (Sotheby's, London, April 4, 1928, lot 631)
Formerly Folger MS 2073.5
Frank, R.G. Journal of the History of Medicine, 29 (1974)
Extracts included in Diary of the Rev. John Ward, A.M. : vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon, extending from 1648 to 1679 ... / arranged by Charles Severn (London : H. Colburn, 1839)
Also available on microfilm and as a digital reproduction
For a microfilm copy of D'Arcy Power's transcript of this and 5 other John Ward notebooks, see Folger Film Acc. 683 (original typescripts held at the Wellcome Trust)
Publications
"The pen's excellencie" : treasures from the manuscript collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library / compiled and edited by Heather Wolfe. Seattle : Distributed by University of Washington Press, 2002, p. 77
Also known as
Extended title: Notebook of John Ward 1663-1665
Alternate titles: Ward's diary
author: Ward, John, 1629?-1681
subject: Morison, Robert, 1620-1683
subject: Willis, Thomas, 1621-1675
subject: Morgan, Edward, approximately 1619-1689
subject: Stahl, Peter, -approximately 1675
subject: Lower, Richard, 1631-1691
former owner: Rosenbach, J. A. S. N., Dr.
former owner: Medical Society of London. Library
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