Incorrect or Doubtful Attributions

In addition to the works listed above, a number of other titles have been attributed to Locke. Unlike works such as “Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina,” “A letter to a person of quality” or the medical papers, where Locke’s role is unclear, it is almost certain that he had no hand in any of the following. Many of these works were considered and rejected by Bishop Law when compiling the 1777 edition of Locke’s Works [Locke #855]. Law’s list of excluded works has been re-examined by E.S. de Beer, “Bishop Law’s list of books attributed to Locke” (1976).

Common-place-book to the Holy Bible

First appeared under the title Graphautarkeia. Later published by the Churchills under the English title and appeared several times with Locke’s name on the title page; Bishop Law discounted the attribution.

 A1

Graphautarkeia, or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated. Wherein whatsoever is contain’d in scripture, respecting doctrine, worship, or manners, is reduced to its proper head. Weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated, and explained by others more plain. London, printed for Samson Evans, bookseller in Worcester, 1676. [32], 508 p. 4o.

H&L 1310; Wing L2746B; C 10

  A2

Graphautarkeia, or The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated. … London, printed for Samson Evans, bookseller in Worcester, … and sold by H. Sawbridge. 1684. [28], 508, [4] p. 4o.

Wing L2746C; C 10

  A3

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible: or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated. Wherein whatsoever is contain’d in scripture, respecting doctrine, worship, or manners, is reduced to its proper head: weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated, and explained by others more plain. … London: printed by Edw. Jones, for Awnsham and John Churchil, 1697. [16], 310, [10] p. 4o.

H&L 821; Wing L2737; C 10

  A4

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible: or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated. Wherein the substance of scripture, respecting doctrine, worship, and manners, is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, and difficult texts illustrated and explained. The third edition; improved with twelve intire additional chapters; many errors in the former editions are amended, and the whole faithfully collated text by text; together with proper insertions to connect the sense. … London: printed for R. and J. Bonwicke, and R. Wilkin; J. Walthoe and T. Ward, 1725. [16], 440, [12] p. 4o.

C 10

  A5

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible: or, The Scripture’s sufficiency practically demonstrated. … The fourth edition; improved with twelve entire additional chapters; … London, printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch; J. and J. Bonwicke; R. Ware; A. Ward; S. Birt; T. Osborn; and E. Wicksted. 1738. [14], 309, [11] p. 4o.

C 10

  A6

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible: or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated. The fifth edition; carefully revised and improved. … By William Dodd – London: printed for T. Osborne; W. Johnston; Hawes, Clarke and Collings; and T. Longman; T. Caslon; B. Law [and 3 others in London]. 1766. [14], 360, [10] p. 4o.

C 10/11 [“1764”]

 *A7

The Scripture’s sufficiency demonstrated: wherein the substance of Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship, and manners, is reduced to its proper head. To which is added, Dr. Clarke’s Promises of Scripture, recommended by Dr. Watts, and now corrected, with many improvements. The second edition. London, printed for G. Keith [and others], 1769. 110 p.

Unverified; source: NUC

 *A8

The Scripture’s sufficiency demonstrated … London, Fenwick, 1770.

Unverified; source: NUC

  A9

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible, or, The scriptures’ sufficiency practically demonstrated … / by John Locke, Esq. – Carefully revised and improved, many errors in former editions corrected, and the whole faithfully collated, text by text, together with proper insertions to connect the sense / by William Dodd. – London : Lackington, Allen, 1805. – 420 p.

C 11

 A10

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible, or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated … / by John Locke, Esq. ; carefully revised and improved … by William Dodd. – New ed. – London : printed for W. Baynes [and others], 1824. – xvi, 493 p.

 A11

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible, or, The scriptures’ sufficiency practically demonstrated … / by John Locke, Gent. – Revised and improved, and the whole faithfully collated; with proper insertions to connect the sense / by W. Dodd. – London : J.F. Dove, 1828. – xiv, 492 p.

C 11

 A12

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible … / by John Locke, Gent. – Revised and improved and the whole faithfully collated / by W. Dodd. – London : T. Tegg, 1842. К xvi, 492 p.

C 11

 A13

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible, or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated … / by the celebrated John Locke … – From the 5th London ed. / revised by William Dodd. – New York : American Tract Society, [1858?]. – 413 p.

 A14

A common-place-book to the Holy Bible, or, The scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated … / by the celebrated John Locke … – From the 5th London ed. / revised by William Dodd, with an enlarged index. – New York : American Tract Society, [1899]. – 413 p.

No Protestant plot

Written by Robert Ferguson; sometimes attributed to Locke.

 A15

No Protestant plot: or The present pretended conspiracy of Protestants against the King and government, discovered to be a conspiracy of the Papists against the King and his Protestant subjects. London: printed for R. Lett, 1681. [2], 37, [1] p. 4o.

H&L 2351; Wing F756; C 10

 A16

The second part of No Protestant plot. By the same hand. London: printed for R. Smith, 1682. [2], 32 p. 4o.

H&L 2352; Wing F759

 A17

The third part of No Protestant plot: with observations on the proceedings upon the bill of indictment against the E. of Shaftsbury: and a brief account of the case of the Earl of Argyle. London: printed for Richard Baldwin. 1682. [6], 151, [1] p. 4o.

H&L 2353; Wing F762

A historical narration of the life and death
of our Lord Jesus Christ

By Abraham Woodhead; sometimes attributed to Locke.

 A18

A historical narration of the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In two parts. Printed at the Theater in Oxford. 1685. [8], 342, [2] p. 4o.

Wing W3448

Essai de critique

By Le Clerc; according to Christophersen, it has been “often attributed” to Locke.

 A19

“Essai de critique, où l’on tâche de montrer en quoi consiste la poesie des Hébreux.” // IN: Bibliotheque universelle et historique de l’année 1688. Tome 9:219-291.

C 13

Five letters concerning the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures

By Le Clerc; this English translation is sometimes attributed to Locke.

 A20

Five letters concerning the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Translated out of French. Printed in the year. 1690. 239, [1] p. 8o.

H&L 2599; Wing L815

A gentleman’s religion

By Edward Synge; sometimes attributed to Locke.

 A21

A gentleman’s religion: with the grounds and reasons of it. In which the truth of Christianity in general is vindicated; its simplicity asserted; and some introductory rules, for the discovering of its particular doctrines and precepts, are proposed. By a private gentleman. London, printed for A. and J. Churchil. 1693. [2], 136, [6] p. 12o.

A second and third part were published in 1697; all three parts were published together in 1698; 2nd-7th editions appeared between 1703 and 1752.

H&L 1241; Wing S6378-6380; C 70

Reason and religion

According to Christophersen, it has been “often attributed to Locke.” Not to be confused with the work by John Norris, published in 1689.

 A22

Reason and religion: in some useful reflections on the most eminent hypotheses concerning the first principles, and nature of things. … London: printed for W. Rogers, 1694. [8], 135, [1] p. 12o.

Wing L2750 [Wing2 R460a]; C 35

A discourse concerning the love of God

By Lady Masham; sometimes attributed to Locke.

A lady’s religion

“Often attributed to Locke” – Christophersen.

[A23]

A lady’s religion. (1697)

A French translation (1698) is sometimes attributed to Locke.

“The whole history of navigation”

Churchill’s Collection of voyages and travels contains an introductory discourse and a catalogue of books on travel which have been attributed to Locke. De Beer rejects the attribution and suggests that the author might be Edward Wells.

 A24

“An introductory discourse, containing the whole history of navigation from its original to this time.” // IN: A collection of voyages and travels, some now first printed from original manuscripts. Others translated out of foreign languages, and now first publish…d in English. … London; printed for Awnsham and John Churchill. 1704. 2o. Vol. 1:ix-c.

C 74

 A25

“An introductory discourse containing the whole history of navigation from its original to the present time.” // IN: A collection of voyages and travels, … London: printed by assignment from Messrs. Churchill. For John Walthoe; Tho. Wotton; Samuel Birt; Daniel Browne; Thomas Osborn; John Shuckburgh; and Henry Lintot, 1732. 2o. Vol. 1:ix-xciv.

C 74

 A26

“An introductory discourse, containing the whole history of navigation from its original to the present time.” // IN: A collection of voyages and travels, … To which is prefixed, An introductory discourse (supposed to be written by the celebrated Mr. Locke) intitled, The whole history of navigation from its origins to this time. … The third edition. London: printed by assignment from Messrs. Churchill, for Henry Lintot; and John Osborn. 1744. 2o. Vol. 1:ix-lxxii.

Without the catalogue.

C 74

  —

“The whole history of navigation” was included in the 9th edition of Locke’s Works (1794) and in subsequent editions [Locke #856-860].

 A27

“Mr. Locke’s History of navigation, from its original to the year 1704, with an explanatory catalogue of voyages, prefixed by that learned writer to Churchill’s collection in eight volumes, folio.” // IN: The progress of maritime discovery : from the earliest period to the close of the eighteenth century : forming an extensive system of hydrography / by James Stanier Clarke. – London : printed by A. Strahan for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1803. – p. 75-202.

C 74-75

 A28

Histoire de la navigation, son commencement, son progrès et ses découvertes jusqu’à présent. Traduit de l’anglois. … A Paris, chez E. Ganeau, 1722. 2 vols. 12o.

C 75

History of our Saviour

An anonymous reworking of material in Le Clerc’s Harmonia evangelica. The attribution to Locke is supported by William Robertson, “A critical inquiry concerning the author of the following work [The history of our Saviour, Jesus Christ], in answer to A.B.C.” // IN: The critical review: or, Annals of literature. By a Society of Gentlemen. v. 55 (1783):474-477. Article quotes Gentleman’s magazine vol. 68 (1798):1016-1017. The attribution is rejected by De Beer.

 A29

The history of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, related in the words of the Scripture. Containing in order of time all the events and discourses recorded in the four evangelists, &c. With some short notes for the help of ordinary readers. London: printed by W.B. for A. and J. Churchill, 1705. [4], 320 p.,plate. map. 8o.

C 74

 A30

The history of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, … By Mr. John Locke. London: printed for W. Mears and F. Clay and J. Hooke and T. Woodward. 1721. [4], 320 p. fold. map. 8o.

C 74

 A31

The history of our Saviour, Jesus Christ; … By Mr. John Locke. The second edition. London; printed for S. Tooke and B. Motte, 1724. [4], 320 p. fold. map. 8o.

C 74

*A32

Petite paraphrase de tous les passages remarquables, qui se trouv ent dans les quatre Evangiles du Nouveau Testament. Tout par le savant Lock. Suivant la copie imprimee a Amsterdam, 1730. 311, [1] p.

Unverified; source: NUC

Occasional thoughts in reference to a vertuous or Christian life

By Lady Masham; attributed to Locke by Boyer.

[A33]

Occasional thoughts in reference to a vertuous or Christian life. (1705)

[A34]

Thoughts on a Christian life (1747)

The rights of the Protestant dissenters

Probably by John Shute Barrington. Attributed to Locke and contains a defense of the Letter concerning toleration.

Select moral books of the Old Testament
and Apocrypha, paraphras’d

Attributed in the British Library catalogue to Philip Bedingfield.

 A35

Select moral books of the Old Testament and Apocrypha, paraphras’d. viz.: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus. London: printed for A. and J. Churchill, 1706. [12], 463, [1] p. 12o.

Letter to Pembroke, 6 May 1696

A spurious letter discussing a fabricated document on early freemasonry. The forgery has been exposed by several authors: J. O. Halliwell, The early history of Freemasonry in England (1840); G. Soane, New curiosities of literature (1847; includes a reprint of the Gentleman’s magazine article); S. Gibson, “The philologist and the forger” (1920); and J. R. Clarke, “John Locke and Freemasonry” (1965). The letter is again reprinted (without explicit rejection) by C. E. Jones, “John Locke and masonry : a document” (1966)

 A36

“Copy of a small pamphlet, consisting of 12 pages in octavo, printed at Franckfort, in Germany, in 1748, entitled, Ein Brief vondem beruehmten Herrn Herrn Johann Locke, betreffend die Frey-Maureren … that is, A letter of the famous Mr. John Locke, relating to Free-Masonry …” // IN: The gentleman’s magazine. Vol. 23 (1753):417-420.

 A37

“A letter of the learned Mr. John Locke to the Rt. Hon. Thomas Earl of Pembroke, with an old manuscript on the subject of free-masonry.” // IN: The pocket companion and history of free-masons. Containing their origine, progress, and present state … The second edition. Revised, corrected, and greatly enlarged throughout, and continued down to this time in all its parts. … London: printed for R. Baldwin; P. Davey and B.Law; and J. Scott. 1759. 12o. Page 250-259.

The Companion was compiled by Jonathan Scott.

 A38

“A letter from the learned Mr. John Locke, to the Right Hon. Thomas Earl of Pembroke, with an old manuscript on the subject of free-masonry. 6th May 1696.” // IN: The spirit of masonry in moral and elucidatory lectures. By Wm Hutchinson … London, printed for J. Wilkie and W. Goldsmith. 1775. 8o. In the appendix (17, [1] p. at end)

C 83

 A39

“A letter of the celebrated John Locke, Esquire, to the Right Hon. ***, Earl of ***, with an old manuscript, on the antiquity of free-masonry.” // IN: Ahiman rezon abridged and digested: as a help to all that are, or would be free and accepted masons. … Published by order of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, by William Smith … Philadelphia: printed by Hall and Sellers. 1783. 8o. Pages 1-11.

New

A39A

A letter of the famous Mr. John Locke, relating to Free-masonry : found in the desk or scritoir of a deceased brother. – [St. Peter Port,] Guernsey : Toucan Press, 1981. – [4] p.

Photocopy of Locke #A36, with a typed imprint.

Letter to Rebecca Collier, 21 November 1696

A bogus letter designed to show Locke’s sympathy for the Quakers.

 A40

“A letter from the justly celebrated John Locke.” // IN: The annual monitor, and memorandum book. – no. 16 (1828):132-133.

Also included in: Memoirs and correspondence of Dr. Henry Bathurst, Lord Bishop of Norwich / by his daughter, Mrs. Thistlethwayte. – London : R. Bentley, 1853. – p. 537-538.

C 83