The following transcription of Demorest's annotations was selected and transcribed by Casper College student and Archives staff member Grace MacPherson in January of 2024.

SONNET 131
Could fairest be pun (pro. of Coke) on “first” – “Robt the First”
Exec. wore black as M. wore red
Introduces the Prosecutor of Essex
Raleigh trial 1603
Could this be the Irish atrocities sanctioned by E., commited by 1st L. Essex? (early in E’s life?)
Echo of likeness bet father + son + assass. by E.
Erratic guilty of tyranny—cruelty (not longer beautiful–but also “fair”) her black deeds
Line 3
Heart: “hart” = Essex
Line 4
Jewel: = 1st Lord Essex a Bishop is [illegible] jewel

SONNET 132
K. Grey was major contender for succession 1598–E
1598–E mourns for Burleigh
Cheek must be succession question (but why?)
She does grieve and repent (Sorrow over Essex?) her black for mourning + for successor
Black as mourning (rather than evil) is appropriate
Repentance redeems, endures
Rob. Parsons favored daughter of King of Sp. as successor
Is black a symbol of painting = theatre? Gray is “sweet enemy”
Grey = Is she Arabella Stuart who acc James inv. to live at court?
Line 1
Eyes: Contrasts with non-loving eyes of #141
Line 7: James image of illness + grief]]>

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

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