A manuscript collection of poems mainly by John Donne and William Strode. On the flyleaf are the signatures of Edward Hyde (1607-1659) and Robert Walker. The volume has the bookplate of Baron Aston of Forfar. Many of the pages are unused.

Two leaves in Latin and two volumes in English

1. A leaf of eight lines, with an accompanying transcription. The leaf is signed 'Joannes Donne: ibidem Decanus. Sept. 27. 1623', and relates to John Donne, Dean of St Paul's.

2. A leaf from the Album Amicorum of Michael Corvinus. There is writing on the reverse in another hand, signed 'Johannes Donne 5 Octobr. 1633'. This relates to a different John Donne, possibly the Dean of Sion College. There are three accompanying pieces of related correspondence, 1939 and 1953.

Manuscript poems in English, c. 1620, with an index. The poems were possibly written by the amanuensis of Henry Percy, 9th Duke of Northumberland (1564-1632), Donne's friend and probably the former owner of the volume.

Manuscript poems in English with the signature on the flyleaf, 'Nar. Luttrell His Book 1680'. The volume includes Donne's epitaph, a poem addressed to him by his son, and other pieces. It is accompanied by related letters addressed to Geoffrey Keynes, c. 1950-1970.

A collection of poems of John Donne. Also includes other poems by Francis Bacon, Thomas Carew, Francis Beaumont and Sir Henry Wotton transcribed at a similar date. The manuscript is sometimes referred to as the 'Cambridge Balam' manuscript.