Dr. Anster showed, written on the inner cover of this volume, the words,
"Baron Watiers" or "Watrers."
As to the identity of the book, Dr. Anster quoted several passages from
contemporary authors to test their account of the contents of the
"album" with those of the book he was describing. In the _Harleian
Miscellany_, vol. vi. p.323., it is stated in Sir John Reresby's
memoirs, that "out of his [Monmouth's] pocket were taken books, in his
own handwriting, containing charms or spells to open the doors of a
prison, to obviate the danger of being wounded in battle, together with
songs and prayers." Barillon describes the book in what is nearly a
translation of this--"Il y avoit des secrets de magie et d'enchantment,
avec des chansons des recettes pour des maladies et des prieres." Again,
in a note by Lord Dartmouth to the modern editions of _Burnet's Own
Times_, we have the following statement:--
"My uncle Colonel William Legge, who went in the coach with him
[Monmouth] to London as a guard, with orders to stab him if there
were any disorders on the road, showed me several charms that were
tied about him when he was taken, and his table-book, which was
full of astrological figures that nobody could understand; but he
told my uncle that they had been given to him some years before in
Scotland, and he now found they were but foolish conceits."
The actual contents of the manuscript volume show a great resemblance to
these descriptions.
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