[i]

NOTES ON THE
Cathedral Libraries
OF ENGLAND

❦

[ii]

[iii]

NOTES ON THE
CATHEDRAL LIBRARIES
OF ENGLAND

BY BERIAH BOTFIELD

LONDON
1849

[iv]

[v]

TO
THE RIGHT REVEREND
CHARLES THOMAS,
LORD BISHOP OF RIPON,
THE INSTRUCTOR OF HIS EARLIER, AND THE
FRIEND OF HIS MATURER YEARS,
THESE NOTES ON THE
Cathedral Libraries of England
ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS
SINCERELY ATTACHED PUPIL
AND SERVANT,
BERIAH BOTFIELD.

[vi]

[vii]

The History and Antiquities of the Cathedral Churches of England have been so often described, and so profusely illustrated that little remains to be accomplished in that direction. But these descriptions are in many instances ancillary to the illustrations, and while the minutest details are given of the Church itself, little or no mention occurs of the literary treasures contained within its precincts. The reason of this is obvious. The Antiquarian would naturally dwell with complacency on those stately fabrics which, thanks to the piety of earlier years, still adorn the cities of our land. The Historian will recount with satisfaction those venerable foundations by which the light of knowledge and the blessings of religion were diffused in a less enlightened age than that in which we have the happiness to live. [viii]Moreover these Collections, though belonging to public bodies, are, strictly speaking, of a private character, being of limited accessibility and restricted use.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter is chiefly available for the use of the Clergy of the Cathedral Church, and under proper regulations becomes a convenient place of study for the clerical student or the lettered divine. The Libraries thus preserved have, as might be expected, great similarity of character. They often combine in a peculiar manner the learning of the middle ages, with the literature of a later date. Chiefly embracing theological subjects, they contain no small amount of classical lore, and a large proportion of historical research. Among much that is obsolete there is more that is valuable, and amid much that is trifling there is more that is important.

The contents of these Libraries have hitherto been known only to those who have had access to their shelves, but thanks to the courtesy of those entrusted with their custody, I have in every instance carefully perused the Catalogue, and minutely examined every volume which I have ventured to describe. This I have done at various times and different intervals, [ix]occasionally revisiting the same Collection whenever the opportunity of doing so occurred, but often hurried in my examination from unwillingness to encroach upon the time or avocations of those to whose kindness I have been indebted for the prosecution of these enquiries. No one can be more sensible than myself of the imperfections and omissions of a work compiled under such circumstances, and I shall feel deeply indebted to any one who will undertake to correct the one or to supply the other. None but those who have been accustomed to exact the most scrupulous accuracy from themselves can rightly estimate the difficulty of its attainment by others. Just as those who are most sensible of their own deficiencies most readily make allowance for the failings of others.

“There is a philosophy in the aridity of Bibliography which few bibliographers have discovered; there is a chronology of ideas as well as facts, and the date of an opinion is far more interesting than any on the Colophons.”⁠[1]⁠

This may be safely admitted, provided the date can be ascertained with sufficient accuracy [x]to render permanent the interest it may inspire. But this it must be conceded is a point of no small difficulty, since “opinions and feelings are long silently propagated before they can assume the lasting form of published works.”

“Those revolutions in public opinion which are silently operating, without yet manifesting any overt acts, can only be detected in those histories of mankind which are furnished by themselves—Books! These are the precursors or the recorders of whatever is passing in Europe.”⁠[2]⁠

Those who laudably endeavour to resuscitate the defunct literature of a past age may best defend their pursuit in the language of the ingenious and lamented Leyden. “However injudicious our ancient authors may be reckoned in the selection of their materials, and the arrangement of their topics; however defective in the arts of composition or polish of style, they can never divest themselves of the manners and habits of thinking familiar to the age in which they lived. It is this circumstance which stamps a real [xi]value on the rudest compositions of an early period; a value which continually increases with their antiquity.”

If the true test of the value of a book be, where can you learn what it will teach you? and if the answer be nowhere, then we may safely concede both merit and value. Such I am far from presuming to be the characteristic of the present work; but assuredly no where else can be found any collected account of the Ecclesiastical Libraries, attached to the Cathedrals of England, and forming not the least interesting portion of their several Capitular possessions.

The Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts in possession of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, Exeter, Wells, Lichfield, Durham, Worcester, Westminster, are enumerated in the third volume of Hickes’ Thesaurus, entitled Antiquæ Litteraturæ Septentrionalis liber alter, seu Humphredi Wanleii Librorum Vett. Septentrionalium, qui in Angliæ Bibliothecis extant, necnon multorum Vett. Codd. Septentrionalium alibi extantium Catalogus Historico-Criticus, Oxonii, 1705, folio.

In the same author’s Catalogi Librorum Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ in unum [xii]collecti, &c. Oxoniæ, 1698, folio, we find Catalogues of the Manuscripts preserved in the Chapter Houses of York, Durham, Carlisle, Worcester, Salisbury, Westminster, Winchester, Lichfield, Hereford, Exeter, and Canterbury, affording abundant evidence of the diligence and accuracy of Humphrey Wanley.

In Clarke’s Repertorium Bibliographicum there is some account of the most celebrated British Libraries, London, 1819, 8vo. including Notices of the Archiepiscopal Library, Lambeth Palace, the Cathedral Library of Canterbury, the Christ Church Library at Oxford, and the Manuscripts in the Chapter House at Westminster.

I have purposely omitted from this Work all mention of the Parochial Libraries of England, such as those of Wimborne Minster in Dorsetshire; Halifax in Yorkshire; Castleton in Derbyshire; Langley in Buckinghamshire; Tong and Whitchurch in Shropshire. The latter in particular is a beautiful Library, purchased by a former Countess of Bridgewater from one of the Prestons, and left as an heirloom to the living. The late Francis Henry, Earl of Bridgewater, left all his books in augmentation [xiii]of this Library, and also bequeathed several sums of money for founding other Libraries of a similar kind at Middle, Ellesmere, and other places. I have reluctantly excluded the Library at Bamborough Castle, in Northumberland, so interesting as containing a vellum copy of the Book of Troy, by Pynson; as well as the Libraries of Sion College; Archbishop Tenison’s; the Dissenters, in Red Cross Street; and the Baptist Museum, at Bristol. To go beyond these would be to describe the Libraries of the British Museum; the London and Royal Institutions, the London Library, and those of the different learned and Scientific Societies, and of the Clubs of London. All these are foreign to my purpose, which embraces only Libraries of a strictly ecclesiastical character. I have introduced the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth as belonging to the Primate, and the Library of the Dean and Chapter of St. George’s, at Windsor, as appertaining to the Sovereign Head of the English Church.

I have chosen to designate these Collections as Cathedral Libraries, because with the above exception, the only Capitular Library described in this volume which is not at present [xiv]in connection with a See, is the venerable foundation of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. This from its connection with the ancient Palace of Westminster must always be regarded as classic ground in the History and Antiquities of England.

I have added no index to this book, because the work itself is little more than an index to the contents of the Collections which it professes to describe, and a mere repetition of proper names would have added to the bulk without increasing the utility of the volume. Hasty as these notes may have been, and confessedly imperfect as they are, they may yet serve to excite if not to satisfy the awakened interest in the Curiosities of English Literature.

“Without doubt,” says Richard de Bury in his Philobiblon, translated by Inglis, quoting Seneca in his Epistles, “Leisure without letters is death, and the Sepulture of the living man;” so we justly conclude from a converse meaning, “that to be employed with Literature and Books is life.”

Norton Hall,
5 March, 1849.

[1]

NOTES UPON THE CATHEDRAL
LIBRARIES OF ENGLAND.

Bristol.

Had these unpretending memorials of the literary treasures of our Cathedral Churches been written earlier, they might have given some idea of the loss sustained by that of Bristol in the memorable riots of the 31st of October, 1831.

The Chapter-house, so much admired for the beauty of its Saxon architecture, was at that time the receptacle of about six or seven thousand volumes, constituting the Library of the Dean and Chapter.

The lawless ruffians, who fired the adjoining Palace, threw the greater number of these volumes into the flames, and the Catalogue, of which, unfortunately, no duplicate was kept, shared a similar fate.

The mob appeared most anxious to destroy the larger volumes, under the idea that they were Bibles, “but,” added my informant, who visited the delinquents in prison, “I found many of them reading the sacred volume, which, in their madness, they would fain have extirpated.”

Other books of this Library were thrown into the [2]river Avon, many into ditches, and almost all were more or less dirtied and torn, having been thrown about the streets, and otherwise defaced. Of these, however, about eleven hundred were recovered from old clothes mops, and dealers in “Marine stores,” that convenient designation, under which another person’s property is so frequently misappropriated; and this wreck of the Library, which is now deposited in the Vestry, must form the subject of the present notice.

As the Chapter-house was completely cleared of every book before the populace quitted the place, the volumes which have been recovered all present the most deplorable signs of the rude treatment they received.

So complete was the work of destruction, that only a calf-bound copy of Walton’s Polyglott, and a set of Doddridge’s Expositor were preserved entire; together with a copy of Harris’s Voyages.

So that of all the sets of books which once adorned the Library, single volumes alone remain to testify that such works as Rapin’s History of England; Camden’s Britannia; the Commentaries of Patrick, Whitby, and Nicolas de Lyra; the Works of S. Cyril, Eusebius, Bellarmine, Thomas Aquinas, Cave, Puffendorf, and Gerard; with Newton’s Prophecies; Calmet’s Dictionary; Conybeare’s Sermons; Whiston’s Sacred History; Hudson’s Josephus; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Leydekker de Statu Reipublicæ Hebræorum; and some tracts against Popery, were once contained within its walls.

Alas! it is not for the Bibliographer to imitate the genius of Cuvier, and from the disjointed members of any body to discover what in its integrity it must have [3]been, and bid those dry bones live. From the relics of a Library it is not possible to collect what it must have been in its perfect state; and here we must drop the metaphor, “ex ungue leonem.”

It may be interesting, however, to enumerate some of those single volumes which have been recovered from the wreck, and we may begin with the well-known Breeches Bible, bound in old calf, being that printed at London by Christopher Barker, in 1599, in 4to. The Bible printed at Oxford, in 1807, folio; Bacon’s Thesaurus, Butler’s Analogy, Pitt’s Virgil, Ogilby’s Homer, Cary’s Account of Ancient Time, folio; Corpus Juris Civilis Gothofredi, folio; Vegetius de Re Militari, Parisiis, 1535, folio, in a vellum wrapper; Crellii Opera; Livii Opera Parisiis, 1552, folio; Blackmore’s Prince Arthur, a Poem; and Camden’s Annals.

In closing this necessarily imperfect account of what remains of the Bristol Cathedral Library, I am happy to say, that the beautiful Chapter-house was not involved in the ruin of the adjacent Palace, but, having suffered only trifling injury, has been subsequently restored to its pristine appearance.

The books will henceforth be deposited in a small room adjoining the Chapter-house, which is now building for their reception, in the hope that their number may be increased by some future benefaction or bequest.

It is well known that the Library of the present Dean of Bristol, Dr. Beke, who has now nearly reached the span of human life, is most valuable and extensive, and were such a collection to be appropriated to the Cathedral, then would the Bristol Cathedral Library [4]rise again, Phœnix-like, from the flames; and the venerable donor of so munificent a bequest, would, by all true Bibliopolists, be in their flowing cups freshly “remembered.”

I cannot shut the door of the Bristol Cathedral without noticing, truncated though it be, the symmetry of its Gothic Architecture, and feeling more than ordinary sensations of melancholy within its precincts.

For the mailed Barons of Berkeley, who here lie in grim repose, one has little sympathy; but for the beautiful, the young, cut off in the springtide of early enjoyment by that insidious and fatal malady, Consumption, it is for these, whose monuments, thick as leaves in Val’ombrosa, are strewed around, that the heart of an Englishman must ever heave the sigh of unavailing regret; nor can the current of his thoughts find a purer channel than that afforded by Mason’s beautiful memorial of his “dear departed saint.”

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Library of Canterbury.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury is kept in a long and lofty room adjoining the Cloisters, which in olden time was the Chapel of the Prior. The books are arranged in classes upon open shelves, in projecting cases, which are distinguished by letters of the alphabet, and occupy the spaces between the windows; the end of the apartment nearest the Baptistery, containing the manuscripts in closed cases; and the other end of the room, having a light gallery, with open shelves above and below for the reception of printed books.

The Dean and Chapter have it in contemplation to alter this arrangement entirely, by placing the folios and quartos upon open shelves all round the room, with a light gallery for the octavos above, and to light the apartment by a skylight in the roof, instead of the present windows; and to remove the damp, which at present pervades the Library to a very injurious extent, by the addition of suitable fire-places.

This alteration, the expense of which is estimated at nearly £1000, though tending to impair the venerable appearance of this “antique oratory,” cannot fail to be beneficial to the books, many of which have been recently rebound by Mr. Gough of London, and [6]some of the older volumes having been repaired and gilt. The whole collection has a freshened aspect.

The books are chiefly bound in calf, and are generally in very good condition, though only warmed occasionally by a stove. From a small fund possessed by the Dean and Chapter, they are enabled to employ from five to six hundred a year in the purchase and reparation of books. Their Library is also continually augmented by the customary donation of each Prebend upon his installation; and by a gift of forty pounds from the Archbishop of Canterbury, who once in every four years holds a visitation in his Cathedral, being sumptuously entertained at the Deanery, and leaves that sum, according to ancient usage, for the use of the Library.

It is creditable to the Curators of this Library that two Catalogues of its contents have already been printed, once in 1743, and again in 1802, and that another is in contemplation: so that I trust the Rev. John Stratton, the present Librarian, upon whom the task devolves ex officio, will render this new Catalogue more complete than either of its precursors.

The Catalogue at present in use in the Library is that printed in 1802, inlaid and interleaved in two volumes quarto, and bound in rough calf. There is also a register kept, of books borrowed from the Library.

The Catalogue which was printed for the use of the members of the Church in 1802, is an octavo volume of two hundred and thirty-nine pages, entitled a “Catalogue of the Books, both Manuscript and Printed, which are preserved in the Library of Christ Church, Canterbury, 1802.” It is divided into two [7]parts, of which the first is an alphabetical index of the books both manuscript and printed, with reference to the shelves upon which they were placed when the Catalogue was compiled. The second part contains the Catalogue of the printed books only, being the contents of the Cases from A I. to LL IV. specifying the titles, imprints, and dates of each work. But as the present Librarian has entirely changed the arrangement of the books in these cases, they having been formerly arranged according to their size, but now according to their subjects, the utility of this Catalogue, as affording facility of reference, is entirely gone. The third portion of this Catalogue contains an enumeration of the manuscripts in the order in which they occur in the closed cases, A to E, in which they are kept.

I shall be excused for transcribing the introductory remarks to this Catalogue, since the book itself is solely circulated among the members of the establishment, and the matter is most pertinent to the subject of the present notice; so here it is:—

“Of this Library, a Catalogue, as it was called, appeared in 1743; but it is merely an alphabetical list of printed books only, without any statements of the place or year in which the books are printed, and without any guide to the shelves on which they had been placed. The present Catalogue, by its two-fold arrangement, is intended to inform the reader of most particulars relating to the books, to point out to him their situation in the Library, and at the same time to preserve them in their respective classes.

“The Dean and Chapter, desirous to promote the utility of their Library, lately caused it to be carefully [8]examined, as well as considerably enlarged; and in consequence of the examination, several manuscripts were found concealed under a heap of rubbish in a private closet. These Manuscripts, having been investigated by some of the members of the Church, are now deposited, (as the subjects of them required,) partly in the Chapter-room, and partly in the Library. To the presses in the latter an addition is thus made of twelve volumes since the publication of a Catalogue of the Manuscripts in this Library, by a member of the Church, in 1793. Other Manuscripts also, since that period, have been presented to the Dean and Chapter. This Library, it may be observed, is rich in Manuscript materials relating to the Civil and Ecclesiastical History of the country, and to Saxon literature in general; as the articles under Records, Registers, and Somner, will evince.”

I may add, that this Library suffered severely from fire in former ages, and was despoiled of some of its fairest treasures during the Cromwellian Usurpation. It cannot consequently boast of many tomes of the olden time, but it contains many valuable and useful works, which will more plainly appear when we come to analyze its contents. The books are marked by the armorial bearings of the Dean and Chapter of “Christ Church Canterbury,” engraved and pasted within the covers. This precaution, however, proved ineffectual against the carelessness of so many persons to whom books had been lent some years ago, that the Reverend Guardians of this collection have of late years exercised draconic vigilance in the preservation of their literary treasures.

[9]

Many indeed of the clergy of Canterbury, who are unusually numerous, would gladly avail themselves of access to this Library; an indulgence which methinks might be granted under such regulations as should ensure the integrity, while extending the usefulness of the collection.

It is matter of great congratulation to the Dean and Chapter, that so many valuable Manuscripts relating to Saxon literature in general, and the County of Kent in particular, should be contained within the walls of this Library. Whoever wishes rightly to estimate the labours of the indefatigable Somner, should examine this collection, where will be found two copies of his excellent Dictionarium Saxonico-Latinum, from one of which, as appears by the signatures of the Compositors, his valuable work was printed in 1659. The Title, Recommendatory Verses, Dedication, Preface, List of Subscribers, and Errata, are here carefully preserved. Here also are kept with equal care, his “Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent,” folio, a work which was published in 1693, his remarks upon the Goodwin Sands, and a life of the Author, by White Kennet, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough. Somner’s “Discourse of Portus Iccius, wherein the late conceipts of Chiffletius in his topographicall discourse thereof are examined and refuted; the judgment of Cluverius concerning the same port asserted and embraced; and the true site thereof more clearly ascertained.” This work was translated into Latin, and published at Oxford, in 1694, by Dr. Edmund Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London. Somner argues for Boulogne, Chifflet for Mardyke. His “Littus Saxonicum per Britanniam,” the design of which [10]treatise was, to overthrow the opinion of Selden in his Mare Clausum, and to vindicate the opinions of Camden, Cluverius, Merula, and Ortelius, concerning this shore. His emendation of the Concilium Berghamstedense, A.D. 697, as given by Spelman, vol. 1, p. 194, exhibiting at one view the textus Roffensis, ejusdem exemplaris correctio, D. H. Spelmanni versio et versio nova. A specimen of the attentive correction which Somner was accustomed to bestow; and of which his manuscript notes in several of the printed books in this Library afford additional proof. His “observations upon the Commissary of Canterbury’s Patent,” which Mr. Battely in his Preface to “the Antiquities of Canterbury,” where a great part of this discourse is printed, supposes to have been the first fruits of those labours which Somner devoted to the study of Antiquity. To which I may add, his “Scholia et Animadversiones in Leges Henrici Primi,” folio. “In Dni Henrici Spelmanni Eq: Aurat. Glossarium Adversaria; Item, in Watsii Glossarium; et in eximii viri Gerardi Johannis Vossii de vitiis sermonis et Tractatum Adversaria.” and his Miscellanies; consisting chiefly of Letters relating to the affairs of the Cathedral, and the Diocese of Canterbury; and containing some curious remarks upon the characters, residences, &c. of many Incumbents in the Diocese.

To the unwearied pen of Somner we are indebted for the transcription of the following Works.

But, besides the entire transcription of the above-mentioned Works, which are carefully preserved in this Library, the diligence of Somner has made copious extracts, which are also kept here:—“Ex Chronicis Will. Thorne.”—Fol. “Ex Gotcelini libro de translatione S. Augustini Anglor: Apost: et Sociorum ejus in Bibliothecâ Deuvesianâ.”⁠[3] “Ex Registro Manuscripto S. Augustini Monast: collect: à Thom: Thaneto.” “Ex veteri Libro MS. olim Ecclesiæ Christi Cant: modo in Bibliothecâ Comitis Arundell. cui titulus, ‘Registrum sive Martyrologium Ecclesiæ [12]Christi Cant:’”—“Ex veteri Libro MS. sc. Registro (ut inscribitur) temporalium Ecclesiæ et Episcopatus Roffensis abbreviatio, et circa tempora (1319) Haimonis de Slethe, 46. ejusdem Sedis Episc: (ut opinor) qui in Episcoporum ibi memoratorum catalogo ultimum locum obtinet.” “Ex libro Roffensi in 4to.”—& “E pervetusto libro MS. in Bibliothecâ Cottonianâ, Orosii historiam continente, manu Saxonicâ, cui titulus, ‘Chronica Saxonica Abingdoniæ ad annum 1066.’” Folio.

If to the above we add some Papers concerning Christ Church Yard, and an Account of what was laid out on the Church from 1660 to 1662, together with several Transcripts from ancient records, chronicles, and registers, relating to Canterbury, Kent, and Saxon literature, we shall have gathered a very fair idea of the contributions of Somner to the literature of his country, and be disposed to assign the Cantian Antiquary a place in the same temple with Dugdale and with Hearne.

I have already mentioned that Manuscripts in this Library relating to the Cathedral and City of Canterbury are very numerous; so voluminous indeed that I must request the reader to accept the following account rather as exemplary than descriptive.

First then, among the Manuscripts relating to the county of Kent, we have a Table or playne Particular of the whole Shyre; the Customs of Sandwich and Lydd; some Particulars respecting the Monastery and Town of Faversham; the Rentals of Godmersham and Chertham; the Rents of Assize at Marden, and Milton; an Index to the Ledger-book of the Priory of Dover, &c. De Monasterio et Prioribus S. Martini de Dovor. An Account of Lands in the Manor of Wingham [13]paying rents, &c. to the Archbishop of Canterbury; and of the Lands of the Bishoprick of Rochester. To which I may add the Registrum Monasterii S. Augustini, a large quarto volume, upon vellum. This curious Manuscript was purchased by the late Dr. Farmer, formerly a Prebend of Canterbury, at a book-stall in London, and by him presented to the Cathedral Library, which contains also the “Registrum Domini Willim̅ Sellyng, Præcentoris, a decimosexto die Aprilis Anno Dn̅i millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo primo, tempore Thomæ Hampton abbatis hujus loci, necnon anno regni regis Henrici octavi duo decimo.” 4to. This Manuscript, which is partly on vellum and partly on paper, was the Register of St. Austin’s Monastery, and is believed to be the last; the establishment having been dissolved 30 Henr. VIII. Its ancient Library of course shared the fate of the Monastery, and was dispersed. Some few, however, of its manuscript volumes were transferred to the adjacent Cathedral, where are now preserved,

All of which originally formed a part of the library of the Monastery of St. Augustine, the ruins of which still arrest the attention of the passing stranger.

Those who feel an interest in what once composed Monastic Libraries, will rejoice to peruse, in the account-book of some officer of the Monastery, the “Reparationes circa Libros in Librariâ super Capellam Domini Priori,” and to be informed that a list of books formerly in this Library is given by Dart in the Appendix to his History of the Church of Canterbury.

To return from this digression to the Manuscripts relating to the Church, See, and City of Canterbury; I may enumerate

An account of certain Manors taken into Queen Elizabeth’s hands, from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and what recompense she made out of Lands, of Abbies, Rectories, impropriate Rents, Tithes, &c.

These valuable papers were in the possession of John Nichols, Esq. F.A.S. by whom they were given to the Rev. Mr. Todd, and by Mr. Todd have been presented to this Library. To these may be added the

This Poem appears by the Preface to have been intended for the press. It is dedicated to Gilbert (Sheldon) Abp. of Canterbury. The Author, it seems, was the intimate friend of Somner. At the end is a printed “Panegyrick to his Sacred Majesty” Charles II. [16]in verse, by the same author, dated 1662. Other publications by Mr. Boys are there also noticed. This volume was purchased at the sale of the late Dr. Osmund Beauvoir, Master of the King’s School, Canterbury, by Thomas Park, Esq. F.A.S.; by whom it was presented through the Rev. Mr. Todd to this Library. Lastly, as relating to the City of Canterbury, I may add to the Manuscripts already mentioned, the Charter of King Edward IV. granted to the City of Canterbury in 1460. Nomina 161 Majorum Civitatis Cantuariæ ab anno 1449. Fundatio et Statuta Hospitalis Sancti Laurentii juxta Cantuariam, et Registrum Chartarum de terris ejusdem; folio, in membranis; and the Answers to the Articles of Enquiry, made by the Commissioners of Henry VIII. concerning the estates, goods, revenues, &c. of certain Hospitals in and near Canterbury; the first and last of these documents forming part of the valuable collections of Somner.

Of Manuscripts relating to the History and Antiquities of England, I noticed a Catalogue of the Religious Houses within the realms of England and Wales, with their orders, founders, and values; both such as were suppressed by King Henry VIII. and such as were left standing, or have been since erected. Several grants of Henry IV. V. and VI. and Edward IV. to several monasteries, abbies, &c. Constitutiones Othonis et Othoboni cum Glossâ Johanni de Acton. folio, in membranis. A Volume of Letters concerning State Affairs in the time of Queen Elizabeth, from 1569 to 1596. A curious volume in folio, containing:—

1. “The Names and Armes (emblazoned) of the Principall Captains as well of Noblemen as of Knights that were with the victorious Prince, King Edward the Third, at the Siege of Callys. 1346.”

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2. “An Account of how many Ships and Mariners every Port sent throughout England to that Siege. Also the supply of Ships and Mariners from Bayon, Spayne, Ireland, Flaunders, and Gelderland.”

3. “An Account of all the Princes and Noblemen, Foreigners, that served at that Siege, with their pay, and of the whole charge of that Siege.”

4. “The Titles and Armes (emblazoned) of all the Noblemen that flourished in each King and Queen’s Reign from William the Conqueror to Queen Elizabeth.”

5. “An Account of the Precedency of the Nobility in several Processions of Queen Elizabeth and King James.”

6. “The Order of Precedency of the Nobles, both Men and Women, by Jasper, Duke of Bedford, (Uncle to Henry VII. and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) at the appointment of Henry VII.” “The Armes and Names of all the Nobilitie, Privi-Councelers, and Chiefe Officers of England in 1588.” Certain Disputations in point of Law concerning the Kings of England’s right to their Succession in the Kingdom of France; from an ancient MS. copied by Sir Peter Manwood in 1615, folio.⁠[5] Fragmentum Historiæ [18]Saxonicæ manu recenti, 4to. which formerly belonged to Somner, who has written on the first page “Florentius Wigorn. optimus hujus histor. interpres. W. S.” Canuti Regis Leges Saxonicæ, 4to. Veterum Statutorum Regni Collectio, cum Indice præfixo, 8vo.

To the above may be added Erdeswick’s Antiquities of Staffordshire, folio, 84 pages; and a Rentall of all the lands, rents, and pencions in the Cytie of Worcestre, and suburbes of the same, belongyng to the Cathedrall Churche of Worcestre, &c. folio.

I come now to the mention of a very interesting Work, being no less than “Isaaci Casauboni Ephemerides,” folio. This is the Diary of the Life of that eminent scholar and critic, Isaac Casaubon, Prebendary of this Church, written in Latin with his own hand, commencing in the 39th year of his age and in the year of our Lord 1597. He died in 1614.

The curious and learned reader will be highly gratified by several circumstances recorded in this volume respecting classical authors, in the illustration of whom Casaubon had been engaged. Bentley, it has been said, was indulged with the use of this volume. It was probably the gift of Meric Casaubon, son of Isaac, and also a Prebendary of this Church. From a passage in this Diary we learn that Isaac Casaubon, being a layman, received the royal dispensation to hold this Prebend.

Of Classic Authors I may notice a beautifully written Manuscript of M. T. Ciceronis Epistolæ, in folio, presented to the Library by Dr. Kingsley, Archdeacon and Prebendary, in 1663. At the beginning of this MS. is the following note:—“This Booke I Edmund [19]Witherpoll found in the Lybrary off owre Ladye’s Churche in Bulleyn the xxv day of Sept. Anno Domini 1544.” Edmund Witherpoll probably accompanied Henry the Eighth in his expedition against Boulogne, and brought away this literary treasure with him.

Of Theological Manuscripts I must content myself with enumerating the

[20]

I may conclude this notice of the Canterbury Manuscripts with the mention of the Chronicon ab origine Mundi, cui præfigitur Tabula subsequentis operis secundùm ordinem Alphabeti, folio, which ends in 1338; and a Chronographye of the most notable things from the beginning of the world to the year 1592, by John Nettleton, gent. my Master, and writ by me Wm. Byrche; together with the Stimulus Conscientiæ, or Pricke of Conscience, an English Poem, by Richard Hampole,⁠[7] an eremite of the order of St. Augustine, who flourished in 1349, 4to.; and another curious Volume of English Poetry in 4to., entitled Epigramma Satiron; or “The times whistle, or a newe daunce of seven Satires, whereunto are annexed divers other poems comprising things naturall, morall, and theologicall, compiled by ______ gent.”

The name of the compiler is in this first title erased. He announces the design of those Seven Satires in a long Introduction.

To these Satires are added “Certaine Poems, comprising things naturall, morall, and theologicall. Written by R. C. gent.”⁠[8]⁠

[21]

In proceeding to give some account of the printed books contained in the Library of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, I will first notice the impressions of the Holy Scriptures which are contained therein, namely, the

To which I may add the Bible edited by D’Oyley and Mant, and the Welch Bible printed at London in 1630, 8vo.

I may here notice the Psalter edited by Baber, and the Liturgia Anglicana Octoglotta, printed by Bagster.

Of editions of the New Testament separately published, we find

4to. with the device of the Printers, whose Colophon I have transcribed above, as it seems to militate against the supposition entertained by Warton,⁠[9] that the Work was never published, but that the Archbishop permitted his wife to present the Book to some of the nobility.

“This copy, very curiously bound, was probably given by her to the Church of Canterbury,” says [24]the compiler of the Catalogue of its Library; but I know not on what grounds beyond mere conjecture; and I regret to add that the ancient binding has been replaced by a modern suit of morocco, the colour of which has been so much impaired by damp that I could scarcely believe it had once been purple.

These Psalms, translated into English Metre by Archbishop Parker, were finished in 1557, and a few years afterwards printed. The Book is extremely scarce, excepting in public libraries. Strype, the ecclesiastical historian, relates that he could never obtain a sight of it. At the sale of the Books belonging to the late Dr. Farmer in 1798, a copy of this Work was sold for three pounds six shillings; and in Mr. Bright’s sale, in 1845, for forty pounds ten shillings.

Of Works of Divinity in this Library, the number is so considerable that I must content myself with noticing the

Those who have persevered in perusing this long Catalogue of early Divinity, will have obtained a very good idea of the nucleus around which most of our Cathedral Libraries have been formed, and may figure to themselves a long array of ponderous folios, attired in the dusky calf of the seventeenth century. Of the more recent theological writers, the list being less copious, may also prove less fatiguing; including numerous Sermons by Blair, Horne, Sherlock, Secker, South, and other writers; the Hulsean Lectures, and the Works of Andrews, Barrow, Benson, Bull, Beveridge, Bingham, Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Cosins, Hall, Hammond, Hooper, Horsley, Jackson, Jones, Jewel, Lardner, Lightfoot, Leslie, Lowth, Newcome, Paley, Pococke, Potter, Prideaux, Skelton, Shuckford, Stanhope, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Usher, Warburton, and Waterland.

[28]

This department also embraces Butler’s Analogy; Campbell on the Gospels; Sale’s Koran; Chappelow on Job; Daubeny’s Guide to the Church; Dwight’s Theology; Faber on Pagan Idolatry; Hey’s Theological Lectures; Kett on Prophecy; Horne’s Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures; Macknight on the Epistles; Marsh’s Michaelis; Pearson on the Creed; Porteus’s Lectures; and Stackhouse’s History of the Bible. To which I may add, Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; the Commentaries of Arnald, Grotius, Hammond, Lowth, Patrick, Taylor, Wetstein, and Whitby; with the Concordances of Buxtorf, Cruden, Kircher, Newman, Stephens, &c.

In Ecclesiastical History this collection is particularly rich; both as relates to the affairs of the Church in general, and to the Ecclesiastical History of England in particular. In proof of this assertion I may adduce

Of Foreign History in general this Library possesses few works of any importance; the principal works being Bayle’s Dictionary; Banduri Imperium Orientale; Brabantiæ Monumenta Sepulchralia; Historiæ Byzantinæ Scriptores per Phil. Labbeum, Parisiis, 1648-50, in 21 vols. folio; Cluverii Italia, Sicilia, et Germania Antiqua; Freheri Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores, Francos. 1600, folio; Grimstone’s History of the Netherlands; Du Halde’s History of China; Guicciardini, Belgicæ Descriptio; Gyllii Constantinopoleos Topographia; Herreræ, Descriptio Indiæ Occidentalis; Heylin’s Cosmography; The Universal History, in 7 vols. folio; Laurenbergii Græcia Antiqua; Grævii Antiquitates; Montfaucon’s Antiquities, and other Works; Marsden’s Sumatra; Maurice’s Indian Antiquities; Mitford’s History of Greece; Pocockii Specimen Historiæ Arabum; Pontani Bohemia pia; Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1625, in 5 vols. folio, a very fine clean copy, bound in calf; Robertson’s History of America, and Charles V.; Watson’s Philip II.; Hallam’s Middle Ages; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Sandys’ Travels, and Europæ Speculum; Stuart’s Athens, incomplete; The Ionian Antiquities, and Wood’s Ruins of Palmyra; Six volumes of De Bry’s Voyages; Simsoni Chronicon Catholicum, & Wormii Monumenta Danica.

To the above may be added, Churchill’s collection of [33]Voyages and Travels in 6 vols. folio. Bruce’s Travels. Pinkerton’s, and other works of Geography, and the Chronological researches of Beverigius, Bucherius, Carion, Cary, Calvisius, Fulcius, Helvicus, Isaacson, Marsham, Petavius, Pezron, Newton, Perizonius, Paludinus, Robinson, Scaliger, Simson, Strauchius and Ussher; with Hale’s Analysis of Ancient Chronology; all of them very material “helps to history.” To which I may add Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary, and Brady’s Clavis Calendaria.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain, I have much pleasure in being enabled to afford the reader a pretty copious selection; commencing with the Records of the Kingdom published under the authority of the Parliamentary Commission; and the Histories of England by Brady, Echard, Hume, Macauley, and Rapin. To these may be added,

How tedious soever may be this long series of Works [40]upon British History and Antiquities to the general reader, the Bibliographical Antiquary will thank me for the enumeration of many rare and valuable Illustrations of English history, as well as for keeping as distinct as possible the Historical and Topographical departments.

I forbear to mention the Tracts and other obsolete Works chiefly polemical, which remain on the shelves of this Library; neither are the Works on Natural History or Science deserving of a separate enumeration; unless we may except the Aldine Galen of 1525, in 5 vols. folio; the Abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions; Palladio’s Architecture; the History of Plants, by Theophrastus, Gerard, and Ray; and Shaw’s Zoology, in 17 volumes.

In English Literature and Poetry it will be sufficient to mention the names of Addison, Burke, Bacon, Ben. Jonson, Boyle, Cowley, Chaucer, Dryden, Locke, Milton, Newton, Sterne, Selden, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Swift, to shew the general character of this department of the Library. But, as usual in all Cathedral Libraries, the great mass of English works are of a sacred character.

There is indeed a strong resemblance between the Collections which, dating from the earliest dawn of literature in England, have been augmented by successive additions, and now form the Libraries annexed to the Ecclesiastical Establishments of our own time and country.

In addition to the voluminous and important works of the Fathers of the Church, and of the earlier Divines of this country and of the Continent, which have been already enumerated in their proper place, this [41]Library embraces other Theological Works of English writers, among whom it may be sufficient to mention the names of Bramhall, Gisborne, Horne, Jortin, Perkins and Wake. To these may be added Pierce on the Epistles; Prideaux and Shuckford’s Connection; and Cudworth’s Intellectual System.

But the true character of these Collections will, in every case, be most correctly understood by a particular enumeration of their several contents.

In Classical Literature this Collection comprehends many of the principal Authors, but few of the most important editions. In illustration of this remark, I may adduce many works which have no other claim to a place in this notice; such as

This Library is also endowed with various Works upon Etymology, deserving of some mention in this place. Among which, the valuable addition of the Saxon Tongue in Somner’s own handwriting, induces me to mention firstly,

To which may be added the Greek and Latin Glossaries of Du Fresne, the Lexica of Scapula, and Suidas. Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ et Latinæ, with Valpy’s recent edition of the former. Calepini Dictionarium octolingue. Hoogeveen Doctrina Particularum. Vossii Etymologicum Linguæ Latinæ. Sylburgii Etymologicum Magnum. Vigerus de Idiotismis Græcis; with French, Italian, Spanish, English, Hebrew, and Æthiopic Dictionaries; Hebrew, Greek, Samaritan, Æthiopic, Saxon, and Italian Grammars; from which a very fair estimate may be formed of this important portion of the Library.

In conclusion, I have ventured to enumerate some of the Works on Bibliography, chiefly of an early date, which are found in this Library, giving precedence to the Bibliotheca Græca, Hamburgi, 1705, 14 vols. 4to. and Latina, Hamburgi, 1708-12; with the Bibliographia Antiquaria of Fabricius, Hamb. 1713, 4to.; to which I may add the following:

[47]

The Catalogues of various Libraries come next in order. First, let us take those of Manuscripts, among which we find

Among the several Catalogues of printed books we find

Works of Bibliography are not abundant in the Cathedral Libraries of England, and it is because in this collection they are unusually numerous that I have mentioned many books now but seldom met with, and some deservedly forgotten.

If to any of my readers this account appear unnecessarily prolix, I must remind them that my object is to give them such full information as to the contents of each Cathedral Library, as may enable them to judge for themselves of its character.

If again this object can only be effected by a dry catalogue of books, the enthusiasm of the genuine bibliographer will carry him through the task, and in the present instance, it is hoped, may render him more intimately acquainted with the literary treasures of the Metropolitan Library contained within the walls of Christ Church, Canterbury.

[49]

Library of Carlisle.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of this Cathedral is placed in a small room immediately adjoining the Chapter-house, which stands in the quiet close contiguous to the Cathedral.

The books are all arranged upon open shelves, and labelled at the back in accordance with the several Manuscript Catalogues which have from time to time been made of this collection.

Of these the first is a small folio, in the handwriting of one person, entitled “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Carliolensi repositorum ordine alphabetico digestus. Georgius Fleming, LL.D. Decanus Carliol.” The next consists of two larger folios, whereof the first is entitled, “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Carliol. ordine alphabetico digestus;” and the second “Catalogus Librorum secundum Classes (Literis Capitalibus signatas, numeris ordinalibus notatas) dispositorum.” The last Catalogue, compiled in 1821, is also in folio, and arranged in alphabetical order, the references to the books being copied from the preceding Catalogues; but the imprints and dates of the books are not given in this last enumeration of their titles.

[50]

The principal feature of this Library is theological, ponderous folios of obsolete divinity in dark, unlettered calf, and smaller controversial treatises, now deservedly forgotten, occupying a large space upon these dusty shelves.

In all this mass of Divinity the works of St. Anselm, St. Chrysostom, Tertullian, St. Athanasius, Justin, Origen, Lactantius, the Gregories, and Theophylact, with Eusebii Præparatio and Demonstratio Evangelica, printed at Paris in 1628, in 2 volumes folio, and other Fathers of the Church, form prominent features. But perhaps the most correct idea of this department may be formed by a cursory survey of its component parts:—the Polyglott Bible of Walton, with a defective copy of Castell’s Lexicon. Biblia Latina Castalionis, printed at Basle, in folio. Coverdale’s English Bible of the date of 1553. (G. III. 1.) and the Catalogue mentions another “old English Bible, temp. Henry VIII.” which I could not find, though numbered A. VI. 18. a Spanish and an Italian, and a small quarto Hebrew Bible. Bagster’s Latin Bible of 1824, in 12mo. calf. Novum Testamentum Gr: Millii. Oxonii, 1707, in 2 vols. fol. Geddes’ Translation of the Scriptures, printed at London, in 2 vols. 4to. in 1792. Poli Synopsis and the Critici Sacri. Canones et Decreta Concilia Tridentini. Concilia Generalia et Provincialia. Parisiis, 1636, in folio. Quick’s Synodicon in Gallia Reformatâ. Bishop Overall’s Convocation Book. London, 1690, in 4to.; and Grabe’s Septuaginta Interpretum. Oxonii, 1707, in 2 vols. folio.

Turning from Chamieri Controversiæ, Genevæ, 1526, in four thick folios, to Lutheri Opera, Jenæ, 1612, also in folio; and from the works of Cardinal Bellarmine, [51]and of Calvin, to the works of Grotius, Melancthon, and Erasmus, it is refreshing to find the works of Jeremy Taylor, Barrow, Hammond, and Tillotson, of Hooker, Mede, Hall, and Prideaux, preserved on the same shelves with Lardner’s Testimonies, in 4 vols. 8vo. and his Gospel History, the latter in 17 volumes 8vo.; Jewel’s Apology, Pearson on the Creed, Campbell on the Gospels, Paley’s Moral Philosophy, and Watson’s Theological Tracts, in 6 vols. 8vo.

To the above may be added, the Homilies of the Venerable Bede, the Works of Andrews and Baxter, with the Preservative against Popery, and other treatises of like nature, too insignificant for detail.

As connected with Ecclesiastical affairs, I may here notice, Usher’s Antiquitates Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, Stillingfleet’s Origines Britannicæ, and Inett’s Origines Anglicanæ, Spotswood’s History of the Church of Scotland, and Bower’s History of the Popes, in 7 volumes 4to.

In Ecclesiastical History, we also find Wilkins’s Concilia, Ecton’s Thesaurus, Spelman’s Concilia, Dugdale’s Monasticon, and Burton’s Monasticon Eboracense.

In British History, we have the pleasure of recording:—Daniel’s History of England; Kennett’s Register, or History of England; Buchanan’s History of Scotland; Sanderson’s History of Mary Queen of Scots; a complete set of Rymer’s Fœdera, 20 volumes, folio, in old calf, gilt; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Gulielmi Neubrigensis Historia Rerum Anglicanarum; Langhorne’s Chronica Regum Angliæ; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum, Firma Burgi, and Baronia Anglicana; Gwillim’s Heraldry, 1638; Dugdale’s [52]Baronage, and antient usage of bearing Arms; Mackenzie’s Royal Line of Scotland; Rerum Anglicarum Annales; Jones’s History of the Stuarts; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Hacket’s Scrinia Referata, or Defence of Archbishop Williams; Laud’s Troubles, the Mercurius Rusticus, and a large collection of Tracts relating to the troublesome times of the great civil war, when the adjacent Cathedral suffered so severely.

As the best companion to the above Works, I may add a very nice Copy in calf, in 4 vols. 8vo. of Bishop Nicolson’s English, Scotch, and Irish Historical Libraries, printed at London, in 1696-7, &c.

I may add too, that this Library, like all others attached to Cathedral foundations, possesses a complete set of the records, and other documents published by authority of the Parliamentary Commissioners.

In British Topography, I remarked Camden’s Britannia, Annales, and Remains; Somner’s History of Canterbury, of the Portus Iccius, and of the Ports in Kent, with his Treatise on Gavelkind; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses, in folio; Willis’s Cathedrals, in 2 vols. Ridpath’s Border History; Burn’s Westmoreland; Leigh’s Lancashire and Cheshire; Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s, and of Warwickshire, and his Treatise on Imbanking and Draining the Fens; Loggan’s Oxonia illustrata; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; and Stowe’s London. To which may be added, Boate’s Natural History of Ireland.

As a corollary to the History of England, Wilkins’ Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ Ecclesiasticæ et Civiles, the Statutes at large, and several Law Reports, including those of Vaughan and Noy, claim to be considered equally with Kippis’s Biographia Britannica.

[53]

In Etymology, I am enabled to record, Cotgrave’s French Dictionary; Spelman’s Glossary; Somner’s Dictionarium Saxonicum; Lluyd’s Archæologia; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon, and Scapulæ et Schrevelii Lexica Græca.

As tending to elucidate the dark passages of antiquity, I may add Astle on the Origin and Progress of Writing, and two important Works in very fine condition, bound in old calf. Andersoni Diplomatum et Numismatum Scotiæ Thesaurus, Edinburgi, 1739, folio, and I. L. Waltheri Lexicon Diplomaticum. Ulmæ, 1756, also in folio.

In Geography, I noticed Bochart’s Geographia Sacra, Nicolson’s English Atlas, in 2 large folio volumes, printed at Oxford in 1681, and Pitt’s Atlas, of equal bulk.

In Foreign History, I only noticed, Davila’s Civil Wars of France, the book which Hampden and Charles I. are both said to have studied. Thuani Historia sui Temporis. Rycaut’s History of the Turks, &c. &c. Josephus Hudsoni. Oxonii, 1720, 2 vols. folio.

Of Classic Authors, the editions which this Library contains are of little or no consequence, though it cannot be deemed entirely deficient in this class, possessing various editions of the works of Livy, Martial, Lucan, Lucian, Æsop, Velleius Paterculus, and Aulus Gellius; with the Variæ Historiæ of Ælian, Aristotelis Opera, Du Valli, Parisiis, 1654, in 4 vols. folio; Farnaby’s Ovid; Hudson’s Thucydides; and Hobbes’ Translation of the latter author; and Dryden’s Virgil.

To these I may add Photii Bibliotheca, Rothomagi, 1653, and Galeni Opera, Basileæ, 1533, both in folio.

[54]

In Natural History, I may mention Grews’ Anatomy of Plants, and the Theatrum Insectorum of Wotton, Gesner, and Penn, printed at London in 1634, in folio.

I may class at once under the same category, Ralegh’s History of the World; Heylin’s Cosmography; Grews’ Cosmologia Sacra; and Burnet’s Theory of the Earth: and as connected with Science, 37 vols. of the Philosophical Transactions, recently bound in calf.

In English Literature, we have the Works of the two Royal Authors, the unhappy Charles, and the pedantic James, as originally published in a collective form; and of the two great philosophers, Bacon and Boyle, as originally published in detached pieces, or separate volumes. The Works of Chaucer and of Hobbes, Brown’s Vulgar Errors, Stuart’s Political Economy, and the Legend of St. Cuthbert, may also serve to afford some idea of the miscellaneous contents of this ancient Library.

It only remains to notice, in Bibliography, the Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts, and Hyde’s Catalogue of the Bodleian Library.

I may add, that in this Library, which is under the care of the Treasurer of the Cathedral, a very salutary regulation exists, by which all borrowers of books guarantee the safe return of all volumes lent to themselves “in good plight and order;” and several declarations to this effect, properly subscribed and attested, may be seen in the old Register, commencing on November 23rd, 1703, which is still kept for that purpose.

[55]

Library of Chester.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Chester is kept in the Chapter-house annexed to the Cathedral. This apartment is entered from the cloisters, through an outer door and inner screen, over which, on each side the doorway, hang the flags of the 22nd Regiment, raised in Cheshire, presented to the Cathedral by General Finch. The sides of the room are ornamented by elegant and slender pillars, rising between the tall and narrow windows, up to the vaulted roof of stone.

The books are contained in oak presses with solid doors, which occupy three sides of the Chapter-house, with the exception of the space occupied by the two fire-places. The screen fills the fourth side entirely.

In a thin folio volume of 53 leaves, entitled “A Catalogue of certain Books belonging to Christ Church, at Chester. Folio. MDCCLXVIII.” we find this satisfactory assurance:—“In the month of June, MDCCLXII. every volume mentioned in this Catalogue, appeared to be in the Library, except those volumes only which were duly entered in the note book as borrowed books.

“T. C.”

[56]

The same authority proceeds to inform us that “There is a large folio Bible (not mentioned in the Catalogue) printed by Baskerville, presented to the Governors of the Cathedral, by the Rev. Mr. Henchman, Sacrist of Chester Cathedral, and Vicar of St. Oswald’s, within the same.

“In the Chapter Library,” it is added, “the folios are ranged on the lowest shelves in the several presses, the quartos on the shelves just above them, the smaller sized books extend from the quartos to the top of the press. Every press which contains books hath the letter initial of the title, together with the size of every volume therein, written on the inner side of the folding doors; moreover every letter is singly pasted on each shelf where it begins. The back of every single book, and of the first volume in every set, is marked with the letter, and number of that letter to which it belongs. Blue paper is used for marks, not through affectation of singularity, but because when it grows dusty through time it has a less sordid appearance than white.” Then follows an explanation of these marks, very useful to all frequenters of the Library, so long as the excellent order above described was preserved. That is however no longer the case, the labels having been removed from the books, and the lists taken off from the doors.

The books nevertheless are readily to be found, as new lettering pieces have been added to all which required such reparation. They still retain the dark calf in which they were originally bound, and are described in the Catalogue according to their sizes, from the folio downwards.

Under these heads the order is alphabetical, and titles [57]are given with sufficient fulness, and the names, places, and dates of each work satisfactorily recorded in this Catalogue.

The books themselves are not numerous; in fact, I shall proceed to notice all except a few of the most obscure.

I will first dispose of the few manuscripts which, having been preserved from the wreck of the Monastic Library, are thus recorded:

This interesting piece of antiquity is preserved in the cases of the Library which are not filled by books, where I also observed a Roman stone of the 20th legion, a stone inscribed with

[58]

Here is also most appropriately deposited the headstone of the coffin of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester.

I now turn to the printed books, which form this ancient collection, and in so doing cannot but remark the absence of Walton’s Polyglott Bible. The other editions of the sacred volume which I noticed were the

This small Hebrew Bible is bound up with an imperfect Greek Testament in 8vo. and Septuagint, according to the Vatican copy, Cambridge, 1665, 8vo.

Of the New Testament, printed separately, I noticed the Novum Testamentum Bezæ, 1598, folio. Nov. Test. Græcum, Oxonii, 1700, 8vo.; and the Nov. Test. Latinè et Italicè, printed at Lyons in 1558, 8vo.

I may here notice a recent addition to the collection, in the shape of Waltoni Prolegomena, in Biblia Polyglotta, edente Wrangham, Cantabrigiæ, 1828, in 2 8vo. volumes, with this inscription:

Of Commentators I observed Ainsworth’s Annotations [59]on the Pentateuch, in folio; Erasmi Paraphrasis Novi Testamenti, 1541, folio; Hodius in Bibl. S. S. Oxon. 1705, folio; Hammond on the New Testament, in folio; Mayer’s Commentaries on the Bible, in folio; Whitby on the New Testament, in folio; Le Clerc on the N. T. 4to.; Heinsius on Nov. Test. 4to.; Fell on St. Paul, in 8vo.; Knatchbull on the New Testament; Patrick on the Psalms, and Slade’s Annotations on the Epistles and Gospels, in 8vo. and Usserii de LXX Gr. in 4to.

Of the Fathers of the Church this Library contains,

Of Concordances there is one in Latin printed at Hanover in 1618, and another in English printed at Cambridge in 1672: both in folio.

I also noticed the Alcoran and a Life of Mahomet (not Sale’s) of the date of 1688, in folio; Reeves’s Translations of the Apologies of the Primitive Fathers, 1709, in 2 volumes 8vo.; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Poli Synopsis; Limborch Theologia Christiana; Polani Syntagma Theologiæ; and Willet’s Synopsis Papismi; all in folio, are found on these shelves.

Among the various writers on Theology I may mention a few pieces by Erasmus and Grotius, the works of Thomas Aquinas, Col. Agr. 1604, in folio, Dallæus de Cultibus, in 4to.; the Works of Pope Gregory, in 4to.; Outram de Sacrificiis, in 4to.; Arnobius adversus Gentes, Antverpiæ, 1582, 8vo.; Dodwell in Irenæum, and Joannes Sarisburiensis Policraticus, sive de nugis Curialium. Lugd. Bat. 1595, 8vo.

The collection of English Divinity is very respectable, including Barrow’s Works edited by Tillotson in 1683, in 2 folio volumes; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants, and Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity, both in folio; Bishop Hall’s Works, London, 1628, folio; Mede’s Works; Nicholls on the Common Prayer, 1613, and Pearson on the Creed, all in folio, with the Posthumous Works of the latter in 4to.; Perkins’s Exposition, London, 1728, folio; Sherlock on the Trinity, on Death, and other Works; Stillingfleet’s Origines, on the Protestant Religion, on the Trinity, and the Antiquity of the British Churches; Tenison on Idolatry; Thorndike on Religion; Waterland on the Creed; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature delineated, and Wall on Infant Baptism: all in 4to.

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Bennet on Schism; Bastwick’s Controversial Tracts; Barrow on the Trinity; Clarke on the Attributes; Cockburn on the Christian Faith; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Ditton on the Resurrection; Edwards on Providence, London, 1696, 8vo.; Ellis on the XXXIX. Articles; Hartcliffe on Virtue; Howel on the Pontificate; Jenkin on the Christian Religion; Kenn on the Catechism; Lloyd on Church Government; Maurice on Episcopacy; Nicholls on Contempt of the World; Prideaux’s Connection; Turner on the Messiah; Thorndike on Religious Assemblies; Wake on Swearing; Whitby on Election and Reprobation, and on the New Testament; A Vindication of Miracles against Woolston by the Bishop of Lichfield, London, 1731, in 2 vols. 8vo.; and a Defence of Christianity from the Prophecies, by Edward, Bishop of Lichfield, London, 1725; an imperfect copy of Tillotson’s Works; Kenn’s Crown of Glory; Kettlewell’s Discourses; Calamy’s Sermons; Bishop Cleaver’s Sermons, Oxford, 1808, presented to the Library by Dr. Trevor; and several Miscellaneous Sermons and Tracts, mostly in 4to. including the Funeral Sermon of Margaret, mother of Henry VII. and Foundress of Christ’s and St. John’s Colleges at Cambridge, 1768; Bingham’s Scholastical History; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Brent’s History of the Council of Trent, 1676, folio.

The Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs in this Collection are not numerous. They include, Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, et Ecclesiasticæ Historiæ Auctores à Froben. Basileæ, 1544, folio; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum Rituale Græcar. Eccles. Orient. Paris. 1647, folio; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantab. 1685, folio; Usserii Annales, 1650, folio; Platina’s [62]Vitæ Pontificum, Col. Agr. 1610, 4to.; Reformatio Legum Eccles. Regis Phil. Nat. Elzevir, 1661, 4to.; Cunæus de Republicâ Hebræorum, Durandi Rationale divinorum officiorum, 1592, 8vo.; The Rights of the English Convocation, 1700, 8vo.; Rycaut on the Greek and Armenian Churches, 1679, 8vo.; Richerii Historia Concil. General. Col. 1683, in 3 8vo. volumes; and Lewis’s Hebrew Antiquities, London, 1724, in 2 vols. 8vo.

The Historical department of this Library embraces Bayle’s Historical Dictionary, printed at Rotterdam in 1697, in 4 folio volumes; Cary’s Palæologia Chronica; Collier’s Historical Dictionary, in folio; the Chronicle of Eusebius, Europæ Speculum, Lond. 1637, 4to.; Josephus’s History of the Jews, printed by Froben at Basle in 1540, folio, a copy which is defective in the title; and the works of that author published at Geneva in 1635, folio; Daniel and Larrey’s Histories of France; Mireæ Chronica multorum Auctorum, Antv. 1608, folio; Montfaucon’s Antiquities, translated by Humphreys, in 7 folio volumes; Thuani Historia sui Temporis, curâ Buckleii, Lond. 1733, in 7 folio volumes; Seldeni Marmora Arundeliana, Lond. 1728, 4to.; Bossuet Histoire Universelle; Fleetwood’s Inscriptiones Antiquæ, Græcia Vetus illustrata à Frisio, Lugd. Bat. 1626, 8vo.; Manutii Antiquitates Romanæ, Col. Agr. 1570, 8vo.; Memoires du Duc de Rohan et de Duc de Guise; Malalæ his. Chron. Chilmead, Oxon. 1691, 8vo.; Onuphrii Rep. Rom. Comm. Venet. 1558, 8vo.; Roma Sacra antica, e moderna, figuratà, Romæ, 1687, 8vo.; Tursellini Epitome Hist. Col. Agr. 1629, 8vo.; and Zozimi Historia, Gr. and Lat. Oxon. 1679, 8vo.

I also noticed Doleman’s celebrated Conference with [63]respect to the Succession to the Crown of England, 1681, 8vo.; Burton’s Commentary upon the Itinerary of Antoninus, 1658, folio; Camdeni Annales Elizabethæ, &c. Lond. 1615, in two folio volumes, and his Epistles, London, 1691, 8vo.; and Temple’s Introduction to the History of England, 1695, 8vo.

The Geographical Works in these Presses comprehend the Geographiæ Veterii Scriptores Minores. Oxonii, 1698, in 2 vols. 8vo.; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus et Sylacis Periplus Caryandensis, Vossii, 1639, 4to.; Vareni Descriptio Japoniæ et Siam. Cant. 1673, and his Vet. Geographia generalis, 8vo,; Well’s Geography, Oxford, 1701, 8vo.; and Wright’s Travels, London, 1730, 4to.—“a present from the Author to the Library.”

The Chronological series includes Browne’s Fasciculus Temporum, Lond. 1690, folio; Beveregii Institutiones Chronologicæ; Dodwell de Vet. Cyclis, Oxon. 1701, 4to.; Livelie’s Chronology, London, 1597, 8vo.; Shickardi Horologium Hebraicum, Lond. 1639, 8vo.; Strauchius Chronology in English, 1699, 8vo.; Scaliger de Emendatione temporum, in folio; and Whiston’s Chronology of the Bible, in 4to.

I now approach the most copious and interesting department of this Library, and proceed to enumerate the editions of the Greek and Roman classics, commencing with

I have been thus minute in detailing the editions of the Classics in this Library, as of like nature are most of those works of antiquity which I have in other collections omitted to notice. This tedious detail may therefore have its use in shewing of what the great mass of classical literature deposited in our Cathedrals consists, and saving needless repetition of titles which have not sufficient interest to invite perusal.

I may here take occasion to notice

The Etymological Works in this Collection embrace

I must here notice a monument of literary diligence of very rare occurrence, which exists in a copy of Hesychii Lexicon, Aldi, Venetiis, 1524, folio, which is quite perfect, but defaced by writing on the first leaf, among which I found this curious memorandum by an unknown hand:

“Hesychii integru̅ primo̅ perlegi. MDCLV. Oct. xv.” “Iterum MDCLXVII. Mart. xxvi.”

The present copy measures twelve inches by eight and one-eighth, and is in old calf binding.

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The Works relating to Literary History and Bibliography in this Library include

The Latin Miscellanies on the Shelves comprehend

Of Mathematical Works I only observed

Of Law Books I noticed

In English Literature this Collection is poor indeed. I only remarked

The French and Italian Works include those of Boileau, Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, Venet. 1566, 8vo. Boccaccio’s Decameron, 1552, 8vo. Dante, 1551, 8vo. Tasso’s Gierusalem liberata, Ferrara, 1580, 8vo.

The Publications of the Record Commissioners are presented to the Chapter Library as they appear, and are therein deposited with the Reports of the Commissioners; the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland; the Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum; and the Population Returns.

There is a Copy of the Common Prayer in the Castilian language, in this Collection, and a small 4to. volume, containing, “A Register of Books borrowed from the Chapter Library, 1826,” is constantly kept there for the use of those who frequent it.

These are not numerous, for the place wears the aspect of neglect, and a beggarly account of empty cases disappoints the ardent enquirer for intellectual food: he seeks for Books, and in some Presses finds only a stone.

Bishop Keene, it appears, pitying the forlorn condition of the Chapter Library, and having some tomes too ponderous for removal, upon his own translation [73]from Chester to Ely gave the following volumes to the Dean and Chapter of Chester.

Folio.

Quarto.

In Formâ Minori.

[74]

Library of Chichester.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Chichester is preserved in the Chapter House, which forms the Eastern termination of the Cathedral.

This room, of very fair proportions, is lighted by several large windows, and adorned with Portraits of George I. and the Dukes of Richmond and Newcastle over the fire-place at the east end, and of William and Mary, in one picture, over the doorway at the other.

Upon the desk lie some Episcopal relics which have been of late years found in the Cathedral, and which have been engraved in one large plate for the benefit of the curious.

The Books are placed upon open shelves in tall cases of stained wood, with cornices, standing against the wall, three marked R. T. Y. being on one side, and three marked S. W. Z. on the other side of the room.

The contents of these cases are alphabetically enumerated in a thin folio volume in an old hand, the sizes of the Books being omitted, but reference being made to their position on the shelves, whereby the eye may be made to supply this deficiency. To this Catalogue, which bears the title of “Librorum in Bibliothecâ Ecclesiæ Cicestrensis Catalogus Alphabeticus,” [75]interfoliary additions have from time to time been made.

In another Book are entered the Books which may be borrowed from the Library.

This Collection is very respectably attired, being chiefly bound in old calf, occasionally gilt, and consists chiefly of Theological and Historical Works, in tolerably good preservation.

The impressions of the Sacred Volume comprehend

In Divinity, the Works of S. Basil, Bernard, Bingham, [76]Bochart, Bramhall, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Le Clerc, S. Cyprian, S. Cyril, Cudworth, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Gregory, Nyssen, and Nazianzen, S. Hilary, Hospinianus, Horne, Jackson, Jewel, Justin Martyr, S. Isidore, Justinian, Lightfoot, Limborch, More, Patrick, Pearse, Philo Judæus, Paley, Pococke, Porteus, Stillingfleet, Sherlock, Tertullian, Theophylact, Jeremy Taylor, Wake, Whitby, Wells, may be seen in conjunction with

Here I may remark that in the Cloisters of this Cathedral, according to a plain mural tablet,

“Hic reducem expectat animam
Gulielmus Chillingworth, A.M.
Coll. Trin. Oxon. Socius, &c.
omni literarum genere celeberrimus,
Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ adversus Romanam
Propugnator invictissimus.”

To return, however, to the department immediately under review, I may proceed to notice

[77]

Zanchii Opera Theologica, together with the Sermons of Andrews, Barrow, Conybeare, Fysher, Hoadly, Horsley, Sanderson, and Saurin.

As connected with the Church Service I may add to these Henry the VIII.’s Primer, 1545; the Liturgia Anglicana Octoglotta, 1821; Baskett’s edition of the Common Prayer, London, 1754; and a beautiful large paper copy of the Common Prayer, printed by Bill and Barker at London in 1662, folio, bound in green velvet and ruled with red lines; the gift of the Rev. Thomas Baker to the Cathedral Library; also “the Sealed Copy” of the Common Prayer of the same date, so called from its containing the original Letter Patent of Charles II. upon vellum, “for lodging a corrected and authentic copy of the Common Prayer Book in this Cathedral.” “N.B. The great Seal attached to these Patents is preserved in the Chapter House.” This interesting volume is unpretendingly attired in dark calf.

To these I may add the

[79]

The principal Works relating to Ecclesiastical History in this Collection are Allix’s Albigenses; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Baronii Annales & Martyrologium Romanum; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Bedæ Opera, Basileæ, 1583; Bedford’s Scripture Chronology, 1730; Bower’s Lives of the Popes; Burnet’s Reformation; Codex Theodosianus Gothofredi; Corpus Juris Civilis et Canonici, Lugd. Bat. 1624-7; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Concilia Generalia, Colon. Agr. 1567; Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ à Wilkins, Lond. folio; Strype’s Annals, Lives, and Memorials; Du Pin’s Ecclesiastical History; Cave’s Historia Literaria Scriptor. Eccles.; Echard’s Ecclesiastical History; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica; Le Neve’s Fasti Anglicani; Fleury’s Ecclesiastical History, by Adams, 1727, 5 vols.; Fuller’s Holy War, and Church History of Britain; Gibson’s Codex and Synodus Anglicana; Godwin de Præsulibus Angliæ, Cantabr. 1743, 2 vols. folio; Gratiani Compendium Juris Canonici et Civilis, Venetiis, 1580, 3 vols. folio; Heylin’s History of the Reformation; Lyndewode’s Provinciale, Oxon. 1679; Inett’s Origines Anglicani; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Reyneri Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ, Duaci, 1626; Ribadeneira, Vitæ Sanctorum; Rycaut’s Lives of the Popes; Sanderus de Origine et progressu Schismatis Anglicani, Parisiis, 1610; Spelman’s Concilia; Spotswode’s Church of Scotland; Polano’s History of the Council of Trent; Quick’s Synodicon in Galliâ Reformatâ; Tornielli Annales; Usseri Annales & Antiq. Eccl. Britt.; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; Warner’s Ecclesiastical History; and Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography.

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Of Works connected with English History and Antiquities, the shelves of this Library may supply the curious enquirer with Adams’s Index Villaris, and sixty volumes of the Acts of Parliament, the gift of Bishop Buckner to the Chichester Cathedral Library; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, 1672; the English Baronetage, 1741, in 5 vols. 4to.; Barwick’s Life; Battely’s Antiquities of Canterbury; Crawfurd’s Memoirs of Scotch Affairs, Edinburgh, 1726; Dart’s Westminster Abbey; Echard’s History of England; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, 1655, 3 vols. folio; Warwickshire, Coventry, 1675; Baronage, and View of the Troubles; Kippis’s Biographia Britannica; Borlase’s Cornwall and Scilly Islands; Buck’s History of Richard III.; Buchanani Historia Scotorum, Edinburgi, 1583; Crawfurd’s Peerage of Scotland; Burnet’s History of his own Times; Carte’s History of England; Davies’s Celtic Researches; Dallaway’s Western Sussex, and Cartwright’s Rape of Bramber; Winston Churchill’s Divi Britannici, 1675; Clarendon’s Rebellion, Oxford, 1702, 3 vols. folio; Fabian’s Chronicle, 1542; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey; Fuller’s Worthies; Holinshed’s Chronicle, 1586, with Giraldus Cambrensis’s History of Ireland, and Hector Boethius’ Historia Scotorum; Grafton’s Chronicle, wanting the Title; Harding’s Chronicle, 1543; Hacket’s Life of Archbishop Williams; Grew’s Rarities of Gresham College; Hanway’s Travels; Lord Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII.; Journals of the Lords and Commons; Johnston on the English Monarchy, 1636; Icon Basilike, 1649; Kennet’s Parochial Antiquities, with his History of England and other Works, and North’s Examination of Kennet’s History of England; Laud’s Life; Leland’s Itinerary, [81]edited by Hearne, Oxford, 1745, 8vo.; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Lloyd’s State Worthies; Mackenzie’s Scottish Writers, Edinburgh, 1708; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum, Baronia Anglica, and History of the Exchequer; Maitland’s London; Maurice’s Richmond Hill; Monasticon Hibernicum, 1723; Nicolson’s Historical Library; North’s Lives of the Norths; Peck’s Memoirs of Oliver Cromwell; Higden’s Polychronicon, printed by Wynkyn de Worde at London in 1495, a perfect copy in old calf; Nalson’s Collections; Price’s Salisbury Cathedral; Parker’s History of his own Times; Rapin’s History of England; Thorpe’s Registrum and Custumale Roffense, both half-bound; Robertson’s History of Scotland; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, edente Hearne, 1745; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Slayter’s History of Great Britain, 1619; Speed’s Chronicle, History of Great Britain, Theatre and Maps; Stow’s Chronicle, 1615; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannica; Pitseus Catalogus Scriptorum Angliæ, Parisiis, 1619; Triveti Annales, et Adami Murithmensis Chronicon, curâ Hall, Oxonii, 1722, 8vo.; Ward’s Gresham College; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; Whitelocke’s Memorials, 1709; Willis’s Cathedrals; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses; A few Political Tracts; Several Laudatory Verses from both the Universities to several of the Stuarts, and the Records of the Kingdom.

To the above I have pleasure in adding a few of the foundations upon which the History of Britain is built.

Balæi Centuria Scriptorum Britanniæ, Basileæ, 1557; Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem à Somner & [82]Twysden; Du Chesne’s Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores; Eadmeri Historia sui Temporis, edente Selden, Londini, 1623; Matthæi Paris. Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1740, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Rerum Anglicanum Scriptores post Bedam, edente Savile; Florentiæ Wigornensis Chronicon; Polydore Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Basileæ, 1534, folio; Camdeni Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus Scripta.

Of Law, the only books which met my observation were: Ayliffe’s Canon Law, London, 1734; Reports upon the Criminal Code, 1821, &c. in 7 vols. 4to.; Barrington on Ancient Statutes; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Jacob’s Law Dictionary; Lambard de Priscis Anglorum Legibus; Wottoni Leges Wallicæ, 1730; Leges Antiquiæ Francorum, per Lindenbrogium, 1614; Wilkins’s Leges Saxonicæ, 1721; Viner’s Abridgment of Law and Equity, in 23 folios, new in calf, gilt.

Of Numismatic Works, I am happy to record a beautiful copy of the Numismata Pembrochiana, 1746, upon large paper, bound in calf, richly gilt, with the leaves gilt upon the marble, the donation of Dr. Jo. Wickins, Rector of Petworth in 1763, to the Cathedral Library. The appearance of this Work in the folio form is very far above the usual dimensions of the ordinary 4to. To this I may add, Banduri Numismata, Parisiis, 1718, in 2 vols. folio; Clarke’s Coins; Evelyn on Medals; Folkes’s Coins; Harduini Nummi Antiqui, Parisiis, 1684; Landi Numismata Selecta, Lugd. Bat. 1695; Wilde, Numismata Antiqua Selecta, 1682; Wise Nummi Bodleiani, 1750; Nummophylacium Reginæ Christinæ, per Havercampium, Hagæ, Com. 1742; Vaillant Numismata, Paris. 1695.

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Of Publications relating to the History and Description of different countries, and the world in general this Library cannot boast any Collection more copious than that constituted by, Æmilii Historia Francorum; Pighii Annales Romanæ Historiæ, Antverpiæ, 1598; Stuart and Revett’s Antiquities of Athens; Anson’s Voyage, 1756; Astley’s Collection of Voyages, 1745, 4 vols.; Atlas Geographicus, London, 1711, in 5 vols. folio; Churchill’s Voyages; Robert’s Atlas; Birch’s Heads; Bezonii Historia Indiæ Repertæ, Francofurti, 1694; Maffei Historia Indica, Brixiæ, 1660; Blair’s Chronology; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Du Halde’s China; Byzantinæ Historiæ Scriptores, Venetiis, 1729, in 23 vols. folio; Hales’s Analysis of Ancient Chronology; Chardin’s Travels; Flud Historia utriusque Cosmi, Oppenheim, 1617; Freheri Rerum Bohemicarum Scriptores, Hanov. 1602; Gualteri Tabula Chronologica; Coloniæ, 1616; Geographici Minores Græci, curâ Hudsoni, Oxonii, 1698, 4 vols.; Grævii Thesaurus Antiquitatum, 12 tom. folio; Gruteri Inscriptiones, 2 vols. folio; Heylin’s Cosmography; Hughes’s Natural History of Barbadoes, London, 1750, folio; Mariana and Molina’s Histories of Spain; Maundrell’s Journey; Montfaucon’s Antiquities, with his Palæographia Græca; Moreri Dictionnaire, 10 vols. folio, in French calf; Norden’s Egypt; Potter’s Greece; Newton’s Chronology; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations; Raleigh’s History of the World; Rerum Belgicarum Annales, Francof. 1583; Jovii Rerum Turcicarum Historia, Lugd. Bat. 1569; Keysteri Antiquitates Septentrionales, Hanoviæ, 1720; Rhenani Rerum Germanicarum Commentarii, 1551; Rycaut’s History of the Turks; Robertson’s Charles V.; Paruta’s [84]History of Venice; Shaw’s Travels; Perrault’s Hommes Illustres; Pococke’s Description of the East; Postlethwayt’s Dictionary of Commerce; Sully’s Memoirs; Thuani Historia sui Temporis, 6 vols. folio, in calf; Watson’s Philip II. and it may be added Vossius de Historicis Græcis ac Latinis.

Several Maps of North and South America, Egypt, Portugal, and the Pyrenees are also placed within this Library.

Of Etymological Works, there are few indeed, at least I only remarked, Calderini Lexicon Latinum et Italicum, Venetiis, 1587; Calepini Dictionarium Latinum, Lugd. Bat. 1559, in 2 vols.; Cooper’s Dictionary; Du Cange’s Glossary; Facciolati Lexicon; Hederici Lexicon; Hickes’s Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Junii Glossarium edente Lye; Spelman’s Glossary; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon, Amstelod. 1706; Suidæ Lexicon; Kusteri Cantabrigiæ, 1705, in 3 vols. folio.

Of Works relating to Natural History or Science, the number is still less. Aldrovandi Ornithologia; Franzii Historia Animalium, Wittebergæ, 1613; Gerard’s Herbal, by Johnson; Johnstoni Historia Quadrupedum, &c.; Mantell’s Geology of Sussex; Newton’s Optics and Principia; and some Tracts by Leibnitz, being the only works of this character which attracted my observation.

Of Classic Authors, I have made a copious selection, that the reader may judge for himself of the value of this department of the Library by a cursory review of its contents. It is, in fact, only by thus descending into particulars that the true character of any Collection can be obtained. Hence it is that whenever in [85]these pages a dry catalogue of books appears to be extended to an unusual length, the candid reader should look complacently upon the attempt to enable him to form his own judgment even at the risk of exhausting his patience.

I may begin with the Anthologia Græca edited by Owen in 1612, and continue in nearly alphabetical order, as the simplest and most intelligible method of reference, the list of Classics in this Collection.

It will be seen from this rapid survey of the classical department of this collection that none of the first, though several of the best editions are here to be found. I may here mention the

In English Literature, I have much pleasure in mentioning [88]the Works of Bacon, Locke, and Temple, in 4to., uniformly bound in old calf; Tonson’s Shakespeare, London, 1725, in 6 vols. 4to. in old calf, gilt; Barclay’s Argenis, London, 1622; Bryant’s Mythology, 1775; Spence’s Polymetis; Cowley’s Works, 1684; Digges’ Compleat Ambassadour; Chamber’s Dictionary; Blair’s Lectures; Buchanan’s Poems; Chaucer’s Works, in black letter, by Robert Toye, London; Hayley’s Poems; Hutchinson’s Works, 1749, 12 vols.; the Works of James I. and Samuel Johnson; Milton’s Works, by Baskerville and by Newton; Prior’s Works; Selden’s Works, by Wilkins, London, 1726, in 3 vols. folio; Shaftesbury’s Characteristics, in 3 vols. 8vo.; Spenser’s Faery Queen; and I may add, Smith’s Catal. MSS. Cotton. et MSS. Oxon. Oxonii, 1696-7, with 3 vols. of Osborne’s Catalogues.

In conclusion, I may notice the Works of Petrarch; Voltaire’s Henriade, and Chamber’s Architecture, in 2 vols. folio; Bayle’s Dictionary, London, 1735; Macpherson’s Fingal, 1762; Thomæ Mori Opera Latina; Watson’s History of Halifax; and Nott’s Odes of Hafiz.

The only two Manuscripts which occurred to me on inspecting this Library, were the Statutes of Peterhouse College in Cambridge, and an Account of the Foundation of Christ Church at Oxford.

It is right to notice, what all chartered or collegiate bodies who possess Libraries, would do well to imitate, that all the volumes in this Collection are distinguished by a book plate, representing the sacred figure, above whose head is written “Decan. et Cap. Cicestr.” and below whose feet is inscribed “Liber Monumenti coram eo.”

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Library of Durham.

The Library of this Chapter is preserved in a spacious and luminous apartment more than one hundred feet in length, and of proportional width, occupying one side of the space above the Cloisters. It was, in former times, the Refectory of the Monastery, and the walls which once resounded with the crash of monastic mastication, now echo the footsteps of the casual visiter or cloistered student. A Portrait of Dean Sudbury, the founder of the Library after the Restoration, is at the end of the room; and on the floor are several Roman Altars, discovered in the vicinity of Durham.

The Books are well arranged upon shelves of easy access, and appear remarkably free from damp; the cases projecting from the wall on either side into the room; with due intervals for study.

In the south alley of the Cloisters is a large hall, called the Frater-house, finely wainscotted on the north and south side, by Thomas Castell, Prior, A.D. 1518. Within the door on the left hand, at entering is a strong Almery in the wall, wherein the Grace Cup, the Grace Major, called the Judas’s Cup, and St. Bede’s Bowl, did stand. In that Almery lay all the best plate [90]that served the Convent in the Frater-house on Festival Days; and there was a fine work of carved wainscot before, and a strong lock on the door, so as none could perceive there was any Almery at all, the key-hole being made under the carved work of the wainscot.

In this Frater-house the Prior, and the whole Convent of the Monks held their great feast of St. Cuthbert, in Lent, having their meat served out of the dresser-window of the great kitchen, into the Frater-house; and their drink out of the great cellar.

At the east end of the Frater-house stood a fair table with a skreen of wainscot over it, being kept all the rest of the year for the Master of the Novices, the Elects, and the Novices, to dine and sup at, having their meat served to them in the same manner.

At these times one of the Novices, appointed by the Master, read some part of the Old and New Testament in Latin, during dinner, having a convenient place at the south end of the high table, within a fair glass window, encompassed with iron, and certain stone steps with iron rails to go up to an iron desk, whereon lay the Holy Bible, which reading being ended, the Master tolled a silver bell, hanging over his head, thereby giving notice to one of the Novices to come to the high table and say grace, and that ended, they departed to their books.

This fabric retained the name of the Petty Canons’ Hall, till Dr. Sudbury, Dean of this Cathedral, generously erected a beautiful Library in its place, which he, not living to finish completely, by the following clause of his last will, binds his heir, Sir John Sudbury, to the due execution thereof.

“Item, whereas I have lately contracted with several [91]workmen for the building of a Library in the place commonly called the Petty Canons Hall in the College of Durham, for the use of the Dean and Prebendaries of the said Cathedral Church. And if it should please God that I do not live to finish the same, my will and pleasure is that my executor, hereafter named, shall pay out of my personal estate all such sum or sums of money as shall be necessary for the finishing thereof, according to such form or modell, or in such manner as I shall leave directions for under my hand, attested by two or more good and sufficient witnesses. This will is dated Jan. 11, 1683.”⁠[11]⁠

The books were removed to their present situation by Dean Sudbury, in the seventeenth century, up to whose time they had been kept in the room adjoining the Chapter-house, and also over the Cloisters.

This Library contains from seven to eight thousand volumes, of which five hundred and twenty are in Manuscript. The printed books amounting to seven thousand two hundred and fifty-nine volumes, at the time of this present writing.

Three Catalogues of the printed books remain in this collection; the first compiled about the time of Charles II. in one folio volume, bears the following title:

“Catalogus Librorum Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Dunelmensis dispositus exaratus, adornatus à doctissimo ornatissimoque viro Joanne Milner, A. M. ejusdem Ecclesiæ Precentore et Bibliothecario dignissimo.”

The second is a folio on vellum, compiled in the time of Bishop Cosin, the title whereof runneth thus:

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“Bibliotheca Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Dunelmensis à Decano et Capitulo ejusdem Ecclesiæ instaurata anno dni MDCXXVIII. et ab eisdem exinde per annuales eorum expensas aliaque benefactorum donaria ornata adaucta et bonis libris instructa.”

The third is the Catalogue now in use, accurately arranged in alphabetical order, by the Rev. James Raine, the present Librarian. It is to be hoped that this gentleman may be enabled to steal a few hours from his antiquarian researches, to prepare this Catalogue, with appropriate notices of the rarer articles, for the press, to which I trust it will ere long be committed by the liberality of the Dean and Chapter.

There is also a Catalogue of Glosses and Commentators in this collection, compiled by Elias Smith, during the period of the Great Rebellion.

Thomas Rud has also left behind him a very curious Catalogue of the Books bought in his time, with their prices, a work which has been very properly continued by the succeeding Curator of this Library.

A book is also kept upon the table for the entry of all volumes borrowed or taken away from the Library, with the name of the person so taking them and the date when taken.

This precaution has happily been adopted in this as in other Cathedral Libraries, but not until after much inconvenience, and in some instances serious losses had been sustained from the want of this or a similar regulation.

The latitude which so long prevailed in this respect, has of late years been exchanged for rigorous custody, and none but prebendal keys can now unlock the chamber wherein the literary treasures of the Dean and Chapter are deposited.

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Of the printed books in this collection I will proceed to give such an account as the opportunities afforded me, enabled me to collect, during a cursory survey of this ancient Library.

A great part of this, as of most ancient Libraries, consists of Glosses, Decretals, and Pandects, with other early and almost forgotten Works of Divinity, and the obscurer authors of the middle ages.

Passing by these, I first directed my attention to the earliest impression of the Holy Scriptures in the English language, being that printed by Christian Egenolff, at Franckfort, in 1535, folio, and known as Coverdale’s Bible. The present copy wants the title, and two leaves of the Prefatory matter, beginning with the last leaf of the Prologue. It is also defective in all the leaves of the Revelations, which follow signature T.T. iii. The three last leaves are much torn, but the book is sound in the middle, and in very ordinary calf binding. By some unaccountable error it has been lettered on the back “Grafton’s Bible. 1541.”

I also noticed an imperfect copy of Matthew’s Bible of 1549, reprinted from the edition of 1537, in folio; the second edition of the Bishop’s Bible, printed at London, by Richard Jugge, in 1572, folio, with a double version of the Psalms; a copy of the Bible of 1641, in folio, and the Bible printed at Cambridge in 1663, 4to.; the Bible printed at Oxford, by J. Baskett, in 1717, in 2 volumes, folio, in forrel binding, with clasps; Baskerville’s elegant folio edition of the Scriptures; the Bible, with Notes by Bishop Wilson, printed by Cruttwell at Bath, in 1785, in 3 volumes, 4to.; the Manse Bible, printed at Whitehaven in 1775, 4to., in calf binding; and the Bible, with [94]Notes by D’Oyley and Mant, printed at Oxford in 1817, in 3 vols. 4to.; and Reeves’ Bible, in nine 4to. volumes.

I also remarked fine copies of the Hebrew Bible, by Van der Hooght, Houbigant, Buxtorf, and Kennicott, in calf binding; the Biblia Græca, of Grabe; the Vetus Testamentum juxta LXX, edited by Holmes and Parsons, at Oxford, in 5 volumes, folio; the Biblia Polyglotta complectentia textus originales Hebraicum, cum pentateucho, Samaritanum, Chaldaicum, Græcum, &c. cum apparatu appendicibus tabulis, &c. ex editione Briani Waltoni, Londini, Thomas Roycroft, 1655-57, in 6 folio volumes, with the indispensable and customary adjunct of Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton, Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, &c. cui accessit brevis grammaticæ delineatio, Londini, Th. Roycroft, 1669, in 2 folio volumes, all uniformly bound in calf; the Biblia Polyglotta curâ Bened. Ariæ Montani, Antverpiæ, Plantinus, 1569-72, wanting one volume, in folio.

I may here mention the Heptateuchus:—Liber Job, et Evangelium Nicodemi, Anglo-Saxonicè; Historia Judith, Dana-Saxonicè, edited by Edward Thwaites, at Oxford, in 8vo.; Codex Theodori Bezæ, Cantabrigiensis, Evangelia et Acta Apostolorum complectens, quadratis literis, Græco-Latinis, adumbravit, expressit, edidit, &c. Thomas Kipling, S.T.P. Cantabrigiæ, 1793, in 2 volumes, folio; Wetstein’s Edition of the Greek Testament; the Evangelia Gothica, edited by Junius; and Psalterium Davidis Latino-Saxonicum Vetus, à Johanne Spelmanno editum è vetustissimo Exemplari manuscripto, et tribus aliis collatum, Londini, 1640, 4to.

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There are also Bibles in the Spanish and French languages; and many Latin Bibles, the earliest of which appeared to be that printed at Venice in 1484, by Herbert de Selgenstat, a German, in double columns of small Gothic letter, in a quarto form, bound in red morocco, with a cover, originally appertaining unto John Cade, whose illustrative propensities are displayed by a coloured representation of the Virgin, pasted on the back of the first leaf of this book. The passion of this defunct collector for illustrating books is said to have been so strong as to have led to the expansion of his copy of Dugdale’s Works to no less than one hundred volumes.

On viewing the literary remains of polemical controversy, and the dust-covered rows of obsolete divinity, one is tempted involuntarily to exclaim—

Of these writers, over whose voluminous works the modern eye so coldly glances, some occupied no small share of the public attention in their time, and of a few might be said,

It is remarkable that two-thirds of the eminent [96]schoolmen were of British birth, a circumstance which renders the preservation of their labours in the Cathedral Libraries of England a matter of some consequence to those who love to trace the scintillations of the English mind through the Cimmerian gloom of the schools.

In these repositories we also find the marvellous legends of those great and good men whom the Church delighted to honour.

The present collection offers several editions of the once popular Legenda Aurea, the first bearing the date 1475, in 4to.; the second having been printed at Cologne in 1483, in folio; and the third by Wynkyn de Worde at London, in 1516, in folio, in double columns of Gothic character. Both the last are in excellent preservation.

Among the multitude of schoolmen and divines of the earlier ages, it is difficult to select those which may convey an adequate impression of the extent of this collection. Here the eye reposes on the Works of Sermundus, in brilliant condition, on large paper. There it meets with the Works of Pope Benedict the XIVth, and a long array of the Fathers and other pillars of the Church.

Coleridge conceived Origen, Jerome, and Augustine to be the three fathers in respect of theology, and Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and Chrysostom in respect of rhetoric.⁠[12] Of the truth of this assertion the student may here convince himself, for this Library contains these authors, forming part of a good collection of the Fathers of the Church.

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In this Library are deposited the Works of the Fathers of the Church, including those of SS. Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Bernard, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Cyprian, Cyril, Episcopius, Epiphanius, Eusebius, Gregory, Jerome, Hilary, Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Lactantius, Peter Martyr, Origen, Polycarp, Tertullian, and Theophylact; with the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum, &c.

Among the earlier Divines I noticed the Works of Anselm, Bellarmine, Calvin, Erasmus, Grotius, Thomas à Kempis, Lanfranc, Socinus, and Zanchius.

The Divines of the English Church, whose labours are found within these walls, are Abbot, Allix, Andrews, Barrow, Beveridge, Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Comber, Doddridge, Hall, Hammond, Hoadley, Hopkins, Jackson, Jewel, Jortin, Kennicott, Lardner, Leighton, Lightfoot, Mede, Ogden, Paley, Patrick, Pearce, Porteus, Reynolds, Sherlock, South, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tenison, Tillotson, Usher, Warburton, Waterland, and Whiston; with numerous publications of other theologians of the olden time, the greater portion of which has been either presented or bequeathed to the Library by the Prebendaries of Durham.

In the Divinity class are also found the Discourses of Bossuet and Saurin; the Bampton Lectures; Elsley’s Annotations; Faber on Idolatry, Prophecy, and other Works; Hey’s Lectures; Macknight’s Harmony of the Gospels; Pearsoni Opera Posthuma; Prideaux and Shuckford’s Connection; Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ; Slade on the Epistles; Stackhouse’s Body of Divinity; Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical [98]Fathers; Wall on Infant Baptism; and Whitby’s Paraphrase.

In this place I may enumerate the large assemblage of Canons, Concordances, Councils, Synods, Glosses, and Commentators, collected within these walls. Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Hyde’s Religio Veterum Persarum; Howell’s Synopsis Canonum; Limborch Theologia Christiana; Nicolai de Lyra Commentaria in S. Biblia; the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Suarez de Legibus; and many other Works of Divinity too numerous for particular mention in this cursory survey of this valuable and extensive collection.

In Ecclesiastical History, this Library contains many valuable Works, including Alfordi Annales Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, in 4 vols. folio; Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici; Bedæ Venerabilis Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, cura Smithii, Cantabrigiæ, folio; a beautiful copy upon large paper in blue morocco, a most appropriate ornament to this Collection.

The latter Work leads me to mention Fiddes’s Life of Wolsey; McCrie’s Life of Knox; Laud’s Troubles; Southey’s Life of Wesley; Strype’s Lives of Cranmer, Grindall, Parker, and Whitgift.

I may here add the Histories of the Jews by Basnage and Josephus; and the entire series of the valuable Acta Sanctorum, compiled by the Bollandists, in 52 folio volumes.

Connected with the above, I may here notice Foxe’s Acts and Monuments of the Church, in 3 volumes, folio; the Concilia of Spelman, in folio; and Collier’s Ecclesiastical History.

The Historical department of this Library embraces the long series of the Byzantine Historians; the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius, relating to the History and Antiquities of Greece and Italy, with the supplementary Lexicon of Pitiscus, and the Inscriptions of Gruter; the Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, edited by the indefatigable Muratori; the antiquarian labours of Montfaucon relating to France; and Freheri Theatrum Virorum Clarorum.

It also contains Banduri Antiquitates Constantinopolitanæ; [100]Burgess’ Antiquities of Rome; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Coxe’s Memoirs of the Kings of Spain, of the House of Bourbon, London, 1813, in 3 volumes 4to.; Kæmpfer’s History of Japan; Knolles’s General History of the Turks; Marsden’s History of Sumatra; Maurice’s Indian Antiquities, or Dissertations relative to the Geography, Theology, Laws, &c. of Hindostan, London, 1793-1800, in 7 octavo volumes; Mitford’s History of Greece; Niebuhr’s History of Rome; Ockley’s Conquest of Syria, Persia, and Egypt, by the Saracens; Orme’s History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan; Pococke’s Description of the East; Pontoppidan’s Natural History of Norway; Russell’s Modern Europe; Sandy’s Europæ Speculum; De Thou’s History of his own Time; Southey’s History of Brazil; Watson’s History of Philip II. of Spain; and Robertson’s Historical Works; and some old Latin Chronicles.

This Library is also adorned by the Antichita d’Ercolano; the Museum Florentinum; Hamilton’s Vases; Gell’s Pompeiana; Stuart’s Antiquities of Athens; and Young on the Hieroglyphics of Egypt.

The Travels of Clarke, Chandler, Shaw, and others; Coxe’s Account of the Russian Discoveries between Asia and America; the Conquest of Siberia, and Russian Commerce with China; Maundrell’s Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem; the Voyages of Cook, Parry, Perouse, Taverner, and other Navigators, with the Petits Voyages of De Bry, are found on these well-stored shelves, accompanied by the requisite addition of Janson’s Atlas.

The History of the Peninsular War, by Southey and [101]the Marquis of Londonderry, are also found in this Collection.

The books relating to the History of Great Britain in this Library, include the collection of fifteen Historians, by Gale and Fell, and of ten by Twysden, Camdeni Anglica Normannica à veteribus scripta; Asser Menevensis, edited by Wise; Simeon of Worcester, edited by Nasmyth, 1778, 8vo.; Matthew Paris’ Historia Anglicana, edited by Wats, London, 1684, folio, upon large paper, in calf binding; Matthew of Westminster’s Flores Historiarum, folio; and William of Malmesbury, 1596, folio.

The Histories of England, by Brady, Carte, Daniel, Echard, Hallam, Lingard, Mac Pherson, Rapin, Tindal, and Sharon Turner.

The Chronicles of Grafton, Holinshed, and Froissart; the latter translated and printed by Mr. Johnes at Hafod; Duchesne’s Histoire d’Angleterre; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Basileæ, 1526, folio; Forduni Scoti-Chronicon; Chaloner de Republicâ Anglorum restauranda; Sheringham de Anglorum Gentis origine; Robert de Avesbury’s Historia Edvardi III. edente Tho. Hearnio, Oxon. 1729, 8vo.; Gildas de excidio et conquestu Britanniæ; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; & Eadmeri Historia Novorum.

The Historical Collections of Rushworth and Nalson; the State Papers of Clarendon and Thurloe; the Sidney Papers; the State Trials, edited by Hargrave and others; Somers’ Collection of Tracts; the Harleian Miscellany; Lodge’s Illustrations of British History; the Journals of the House of Commons; and all the publications issued under the authority of the Record Commission.

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Burton’s Diary of the Cromwellian Parliaments; Clarendon’s Diary and History of the Great Rebellion; Coxe’s Memoirs of John Duke of Marlborough; Ellis’ Letters, illustrative of English History; Evelyn’s Memoirs; Fenn’s Letters of the Paston Family; Lyttelton’s History of Henry the Second; North’s Examen of Kennet’s History; Pepys’ Memoirs; Ridpath’s Border History, and Nicolson’s Border Laws; with Temple’s History of the Rebellion in Ireland, and Thoresby’s Diary.

Illustrative of Scottish History, I remarked Abercrombie’s Martial Achievements of the Scots’ Nation; the Histories of Scotland, by Keith, Robertson, and Stuart; Sanderson’s Life of Queen Mary; Johnstone’s Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ.

This Library is peculiarly rich in Works relating to the Topography and Antiquities of Great Britain, embracing the entire Works of Pennant, all the Antiquities of Grose; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; Britton’s Architectural Antiquities, and Picturesque Illustrations of the English Cathedrals; Horsley’s Britannia Romana; Lysons’ Magna Britannia; Buck’s Views of Cities, Castles, &c. in Great Britain; Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough, in 3 vols. folio; Speed’s Theatre of Great Britain; Strutt’s Horda, and his Regal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities; and Leland’s Itinerary, edited by Hearne, Oxford, 1768; and Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of England.

The County Histories which enrich this Collection are, a large paper copy of Aubrey’s History of Surrey, in old calf binding; Ashmole’s Berkshire; Atkyns’s Gloucestershire, London, 1712, folio; Bridge’s Northamptonshire; Burton’s Leicestershire; Borlase’s Cornwall; [103]Chauncey’s Hertfordshire; Collinson’s Somersetshire; Dugdale’s Warwickshire, edited by Thomas; Hasted’s Kent, in 4 volumes, folio; Hutchinson’s Northumberland and Durham; Jones’ Brecknockshire; Leicester’s Cheshire; Leigh’s Natural History of Lancashire; Morton’s Natural History of Northamptonshire; Nash’s History of Worcestershire; Pole’s Collections for the History of Devonshire; Plot’s Natural History of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Raine’s North Durham; Surtees’ Durham; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; and Wright’s Rutland.

The Local Histories which I also noticed, were Bentham’s Ely; Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ, apparently on large paper; Charlton’s Whitby; Dart’s History of Canterbury Cathedral, and of Westminster Abbey, both in folio; Drake’s York; Halfpenny’s Gothic Ornaments in York Cathedral; Izaacke’s Exeter; the original edition of Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Loggan’s Oxonia and Cantabrigia Illustrata; Lyson’s Environs of London; Newcourt’s Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Londinense, upon large paper; Maitland’s Edinburgh; Milner’s History of Winchester; Peck’s Annals of Stamford; Shaw’s Account of Hartlepool; Stow’s London; Somner’s Canterbury; Thoresby’s Leeds; Whitaker’s Loidis and Elmete; White’s Natural History of Selborne; Widmore’s Westminster Abbey; Wood’s History of the University of Oxford; and Willis’s Cathedrals.

Allan’s Collections relating to Sherburn Hospital, and other places in the County of Durham; and Raine’s Account of the Remains of St. Cuthbert are most appropriately placed upon these shelves.

In this Collection I also remarked Carter’s Specimens [104]of Gothic Architecture; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiquities; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum, and History of the Exchequer; and Archdall’s Monasticon Hibernicanum; the Archælogia, or Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity, published by the Antiquarian Society of London, at various times, in 4to.; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, Origines Judiciales; Summons of the Nobility to Parliament; and his Baronage of England, in folio, are also deposited within these walls.

The Heraldic Works which adorn these shelves are, Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Collins’s Peerage and Baronage; Gwillim’s Heraldry; Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England, &c.; and others of less note.

The Chronological Works which met my eye, were, Bedford’s Scripture Chronology; Blair’s Chronology and History of the World; Petavii Rationale Temporum; and Hale’s valuable Analysis of Chronology; “in which an attempt is made to explain the history and antiquities of the primitive nations of the world, and the prophecies relating to them, on principles tending to remove the imperfection and discordance of preceding systems.”

The Numismatic Works I noticed, were, Folkes’ Coins; Vaillant’s Numismata; and Ruding’s valuable Annals of the Coinage.

There are several Mythological Treatises, of which Spence’s Polymetis is the chief.

In Works of Natural History, this Collection is enriched by the Works of Bacon and Evelyn, and the quarto series of Buffon’s Natural History, in old French calf binding.

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In Geology, Buckland’s Reliquiæ Diluvianæ; Conybeare’s Geology; and the Transactions of the Geological Society are found on these shelves.

The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London; Watson’s Chemical Essays; Albin’s Natural History of Birds and Insects; and Wood’s Index Testacealogicus, also enrich this department of the Library.

In Botany, I observed Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary and Figures of Plants; Morison’s Historia Plantarum; Raii Historia Plantarum; and the Transactions of the Linnæan Society.

In Medicine, the Works of Hippocrates and Dioscorides may be mentioned.

Of Works relating to the Arts and Sciences, I noticed Horsley’s valuable edition of Newton’s Works; Wallis’s Mathematical Works; Burney’s History of Music; Chamber’s Dictionary; the Marmora Oxoniensia; Vitruvius de Architectura, Venetiis, 1497, folio; Walpole on Painting; and others of less note.

The Bibliographical department of this Library includes Astle on Writing; Catalogues of the Bodleian Library, of the Harleian Collections of the Manuscripts bequeathed by Archbishop Parker to Corpus Christi College at Cambridge; and the general Catalogue of Manuscripts in England, Scotland, and Ireland; Chevillier’s Origine de l’Imprimerie à Paris; Dibdin’s Bibliographical Decameron, and Introduction to the Classics; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical Authors; Fabricii Bibliotheca, &c.; Herbert’s edition of Ames’ Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain; Todd’s Catalogue of the Manuscripts at Lambeth Palace; Maittaire’s [106]Annales Typographici, Stephanorum Historia, and Historia Typographiæ Parisiensis; Memoirs of Literature; Maderus de Bibliothecis, &c.; Nicolson’s English Historical Library; Stanley’s History of Philosophy; Thuani Bibliotheca, and the Bibliotheca MS. Stowensis, edited by Dr. O’Conor; Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses.

The Etymological Works which enrich this Library are, Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary; Davies Dictionary of the Welsh Language; the Etymologicum Magnum, Calliergi, Venetiis, 1499, folio; Facciolati Lexicon; Gebelin’s Monde Primitif, in 4to.; Hesychii Lexicon; Hickes’s Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Johnson’s English Dictionary, edited and enlarged by Todd; Lhuyd’s Archæologia Britannica; Morel’s Dictionarium Prosodiacum; Moreri Dictionarium; Nares’s Glossary; Scapulæ Lexicon; Skinner’s Etymologicum; Somner’s Glossary and Saxon Dictionary; Spelman’s Glossary; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; Suidæ Lexicon apud Frobenium, 1544, folio; Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ; and the Glossary of Du Fresne.

In English Literature this Collection contains so much that is valuable as to preclude minute enumeration of each separate Work.

In it the labours of Addison, Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Selden and Swift are blended with the lays of Pope, and Dryden, the latter edited by Scott; the Philosophical Works of Harris, the Historical Works of Raleigh, the Plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, and of William Shakespeare, form one instructive and harmonious whole.

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The Memoirs of the ancient Earls of Surrey, Boswell’s ever-amusing Life of Johnson, Evelyn’s Memoirs, Pepys’s Memoirs, Thoresby’s Diary, Spelman’s Alfred, Kippis’s Biographia Britannica, Birch’s Heads of Illustrious Personages, and Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, form one of the most popular branches of this ancient Library.

Scott’s Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and his delightful Lay of the Last Minstrel, and Walpole’s Works, are also found on these shelves.

This Library contains the Koran or Mahommedan rule of Faith, several forms of Prayer and Liturgies of the Romish and Reformed Churches, including the Pontificale Romanum of 1664, Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, and Picart’s valuable Account of the Religious Ceremonies of all Nations.

The Statutes at large, and Viner’s Abridgment, Wilkins’s Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ, Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici et Civilis, Nicolson’s Border Laws, and Coke’s Institutes of the Laws of England, were the only legal works that arrested my attention.

In General Literature I can only particularise Bayle’s Dictionary, and Lowth de Sacrâ Poesi Hebræorum.

The literary remains of Casaubon, Cave, Le Clerc, Dodwell, Fabricius, Gataker, Gesner, Jahn, Meursius, Orosius, Parkhurst, Petrarch, Rollin, Scaliger, and Vossius.

Of learned Bodies, the Transactions contained in this Library, in addition to the Philosophical, Linnæan, and Geological Transactions, include the Memoirs of the Manchester Society and of the Irish Academy, the Memoires de l’Academie Française, and the Academie des Inscriptions, both in 4to. the latter retaining its [108]original binding of red morocco, mellowed by the hand of time.

The Classical department of this Library is both valuable and extensive, containing editions of the Works of Ælian, Æschylus, Anacreon, Apollodorus, Appian, Apuleius, Aristotle, Arrian, Aristides, Athenæus, Ausonius, Cæsar, Catullus, Demosthenes, Dioscorides, Diodorus Siculus, Dion Cassius, Dion Chrysostomos, Ennius, Epictetus, Euripides, Eutropius, Aulus Gellius, Herodian, and Herodotus.

Of Horace, Iamblichus, Isocrates, Justin, Juvenal, Lucan, Lucian, Lucretius, Lycophron, Manilius, Martial, Pomponius Mela, Orpheus, Ovid, Vellius Paterculus, Petronius Arbiter, Phædrus, and Plato.

Of the elder and the younger Pliny, Plutarch, Polybius, Procopius, Propertius, Prudentius, Pythagoras, Quintilian, Sedulius, Seneca, Sidonius Apollinaris, Solinus, Statius, Suetonius, Symmachus, Terence, Theocritus, Tibullus, Virgil, and Xenophon.

This brief enumeration may suffice to shew the extent of this class; while in proof of its value I may adduce many of the best editions of the Classics, including Alciphron, Bergleri, Ammianus Marcellinus, Gronovii, 1693, folio; Aristophanes Kusteri, Ciceronis Opera, Minutiani, Mediolani, 1498, folio, and Oliveti, Parisiis, 1748, 4to.; Claudianus, Barthii, Butler’s Æschylus, Beck’s Euripides, Homer by Clarke and Heyne, Plato by Serranus and Bekker, Dionysius Halicarnassensis by Hudson, Pausanias, Kühnii, Silius Italicus, Drakenborchii, Sophocles, by Brunck, and many others too numerous for particular notice.

I may here, however, notice Flaxman’s elegant Illustrations of Homer and of Æschylus, the sumptuous [109]folio containing Maii Fragmenta Homeri, and Middleton’s Life of Cicero.

Of the earlier Impressions of the Classics it is now high time to speak, lest the impatient reader should imagine so important a branch of every collection had escaped attention in this instance. I hasten then to present to his notice three valuable specimens of the Spira Press.

First, then, in rarity as in worth, we have a perfect Copy of the First Edition of Tacitus, with the well-known Colophon of Vindelin de Spira, but without date. It is supposed, however, to have been printed in the year 1470. The present copy is sound and fair, measuring eleven and a half inches by seven and a half, and is bound in old Russia. Then follows the First Edition of Livy, with a date, it having been printed by Vindelin de Spira in 1470. This noble folio is apparently in its original binding, and having several rough leaves, we may conclude it never to have been shorn of its fair dimensions. It measures, in fact, sixteen inches by ten and a quarter, but it has been mournfully stained in the beginning, where is written “D. D. Joannes Tempest. Arm:” The interior is, however, remarkably sound and fine.

Next we have, from the same printer, a Latin version of Strabo, a very sound copy with some illuminated capitals. It bears the date of 1472, with an intimation at its close, in Latin verse, that its characters were “Impressos digitis Vindelianis.” It measures fifteen inches by ten and a half, and is bound in old calf. By the side of the foregoing is appropriately placed a Latin Version of Herodotus, having the Preface at the end: according to the Colophon it was [110]printed Venetiis, per Jacobum Rubeum, 1474, folio. It measures eleven inches and three fifths by eight, and is bound in calf. We may next notice a very fine and sound copy of the Etymologicum Magnum, from the Press of Calliergus at Venice, of the date of 1499. This noble folio measures fifteen inches and a quarter by ten and seven eighths, and is bound in dark calf. A beautiful copy of the Aldine Plutarch of 1509, in two volumes folio, measuring eleven inches and three fifths by seven and a half, bound in light calf; and a copy of Boethius de Consolatione Philosophiæ, printed by John Koelhof of Lubeck at Cologne in 1482, folio, as fresh as if it had just issued from the press, next demand our attention. The latter Work is bound with an old Manuscript of some portion of Thomas Aquinas, but there is another edition of 1481, in 4to. from the same press, also in this Collection, though not in such “crackling” condition as that I have just mentioned. I proceed to notice a Latin translation of Aristotle’s Ethics, printed by Conrad Braen in the University of Louvain, in 1476, folio. This volume is in very fine condition, but is unfortunately imperfect at the end. Also a thick folio volume, containing the following pieces:—

1. Diodori Siculi Historiarum Libri VII. Latinè Poggio Florentino Interprete, per Bartholomæum Merula Venetiis, per Joannem de Tridino, 1496.

2. Ovidius de arte amandi, et de remedio amoris. Venetiis, per Barthol. Merula, 1516.

3. Horatius cum Commentariis Acronis, &c. Venetiis, 1494. Imperfect at the end.

4. Persius cum Commentariis, &c. Brixiæ, per Johannem Britannicum, 1486.

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5. Francisci Philelphi Epistolæ. XVII. Venetiis, per Joannem de Tridino, 1498.

Having thus surveyed the earlier efforts of the Italian press, it remains to notice the productions of the first English printers, preserved in this Collection.

These rude and curious pieces are all contained in one small thick 4to. volume, bound in old calf, and lettered merely “Caxton.” The bookbinder seems in this instance to have misled the accurate Thomas Rud, who from his manuscript notes contained in the volumes, evidently seems to consider all its contents as the work of the Father of the English Press; a mistake which the adoption of Caxton’s typographical insignia by his immediate successor, Wynkyn de Worde, would naturally induce in one unacquainted with all those mysteries of black letter which the nineteenth century has developed. The Author of the Bibliographical Decameron has not failed to remark, III. 422, the difference of the type, and has correctly recorded its contents; his only inaccuracy consisting in the assertion that the second piece from the press of Caxton is perfect.

The Volume itself contains five Treatises; three from the press of Caxton, originally published together, and two from that of Wynkyn de Worde, formerly printed separately. The Caxtonian morceaux occupy the first portion, whereof:

1. “The first treatyse is named Orologium Sapientiæ;” consisting of seven chapters, and concluding thus: “Thus endeth the Treatyse of vii poyntes of true love, and everlasting wisdom drawen of the boke that is wryten in Laten named Orologium Sapiencie.” “Emprynted at Westmynster.” “Qui [112]legit emendet, i̅pressorem non reprehendat.” “Wyllelmum Caxton cui Deus alta tradat.” This first Treatise wants three sheets out of twelve; viz. K J (they are so misplaced, and J wants three leaves) and M. In the place of L there is put A, the first sheet of the second Treatise. This first Treatise begins upon sign. J iii, all the preceding pages having perished.

2. The second Tract commences with these words: “Here beginneth a little short treatise, &c.,” and concluding with, “Thus endeth the treatise shewing the vii Proffites of tribulacyon.” On the reverse of the last leaf is the large device of Caxton. This Treatise contains XII. Chapters, but it wants two leaves in D, and sheet A is bound up with the preceding Treatise of the Orologium Sapientiæ.

3. “The thyrde treatise sheweth the holy rule of Saynt Benet which is right necessary to be knowen to al men and wymen of religion that understonde no laten which sheweth XXXIII poyntes to be observed.” “Emprinted at Westmynstre by desiring of certeyn worshipfull persones.” The first two leaves of this third Treatise are wanting.

All these three Tracts of “divers fruitful and ghostly matters,” are in the same rude Gothic type which was frequently used by Caxton.

The two following Tracts are printed from a fount of black letter quite dissimilar to the preceding, but corresponding with that which is seen in the earliest productions of Wynkyn de Worde.

The first Treatise, reprinted verbatim from Caxton’s edition, is:

1. Of the four last things, Death, Judgment, Hell, Heaven, translated from the French by Antony, Earl [113]Rivers, &c.

“Registrum quaterno ℞
a b c d e f g h i k l m.”

Below the subscription just quoted is the small device of Caxton as used by Wynkyn de Worde; and on the following leaf is the wood-cut subscribed “Memorare Novissima,” by which name this Tract is commonly known. The Work itself consists of eighty-eight leaves, numbered i to lxxxviii. exclusive of the two containing the table and the Prologue, and of the title and last leaf. It is printed in double columns of black letter, and the present copy is defective only in the title.

2. The second Treatise in the Gothic character of Wynkyn de Worde is “The Rote or Myrrour of Consolation and Comforte,” commencing with a Wood-cut of the elevation of the Host on sign. A i.

This Book unfortunately lacks its latter half; “for whereas the author proposes to speak of twenty fruits or Consolations of Tribulation, the last ten, with part of the eleventh, are wanting,” remarks Thomas Rud in his most neat and legible Manuscript Notes, and it is with a sigh that succeeding librarians concur in the accuracy of his observations, seeing that this Tract is one of the most uncommon productions of De Worde’s Press.

Of other early printed English Books I remarked a copy of Lydgate’s Bocace, printed by Richard Tottel, without date, bound up with Gower’s Confessio Amantis, printed by Berthelet in 1554, both in folio, and in their pristine state, albeit a little scribbled on.

Apropos of scribbling, this Library contains Tonstall’s own copy of Budæus de Asse, printed at Paris in 1508, folio, with his autographic mark of ownership, “Sum Tonstalli,” being the very book he used [114]in composing his Treatise, De arte Supputandi, and containing the manuscript notes made by him on its perusal. This interesting copy is, however, unfortunately, imperfect at the end. There is also another edition of the Works of Budæus, with the Commentaries of Ascensius, bearing date 1529, also in folio; and Tonstall’s own Work, De Arte Supputandi, 1522, 4to.

In this Collection is a copy of the celebrated French Testament by the Theologians of Louvain, in which “The Mass” is interpolated in Acts xiii. and “Purgatory,” in 1 Cor. iii: printed at Bordeaux, 1686.

I remarked a fine old folio, Lyndewode’s Provinciale, with the date of M.CCCCXXXIII, instead of 1483, the numeral L having evidently lapsed through the carelessness of the printer, as in the famous Decor Puellarum of Nicolas Jenson. By the side of this stands another copy of the Provinciale, with the date of 1501, also in folio.

In General Literature, I can only particularise Bayle’s Dictionary, Gruter’s Inscriptions, Picart’s Religious Ceremonies, Chandler’s Marmora Oxoniensia, and Vaillant’s Numismata, recommending to those who wish for further information, ocular inspection of the books themselves.

The 520 Manuscripts in this Collection are all which remain of that ancient Library, whose foundation is coeval with that of the Cathedral itself, and whose treasures were augmented with the power and influence of the Church of Durham. The monotonous existence of the monk was enlivened by the diligence of the scribe, whose marginal drolleries and quaint devices [115]relieve the weary eye, and remind us of the recreations of the Cloister.

The volumes thus accumulated must have been of essential service in diffusing over the wide district of Northumbria the light of knowledge and the blessings of religion. The seven Cells of Durham, at Holy Island, Wearmouth, Jarrow, and the Farn Islands, at Litham in Lancashire, and Stamford in Northamptonshire, appear to have partaken largely of these advantages.

Upon the suppression of the Monasteries whose revenues were under 200l. a-year, by the 27th of Henry the Eighth, many of the books which belonged to the Church of Durham were removed by royal command, and are now to be found in the British Museum. The most valuable of these spolia “opima” appears to have been St. Cuthbert’s Copy of the Gospels, now in that vast repository.

Of the Manuscripts which remain at Durham, Thomas Rud, sometime Librarian of that Cathedral, compiled a most accurate Catalogue, which has been ably edited by the Rev. James Raine, the present Librarian. This Impression was taken off for the use of the ecclesiastical body to whom the Manuscripts belong, only fifty copies being exposed for public sale. As the volume is not in everybody’s hands, although easily attainable, I have given its title, as it runneth, thus:

“Codicum Manuscriptorum Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Dunelmensis Catalogus Classicus, descriptus à Thoma Rud, ejusdem ecclesiæ bibliothecario; cum Appendice eos Codices continente qui post Catalogum [116]confectum diversis temporibus comparati sunt. Dunelmiæ, excudebat F. Humble, prostat venalis apud G. Andrews, venit etiam Londini apud Payne and Foss, 1825.”

The Appendix of Manuscripts purchased by the Dean and Chapter of Durham at different periods since Mr. Rud compiled his Catalogue is entirely from the pen of Mr. James Raine, and renders this workmanlike folio a most useful companion to the Library.

There are two ancient Catalogues of the Manuscripts preserved in this Library; the one entitled, “Vetus Catalogus Librorum qui in Armariolo Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Dunelmensis olim habebantur.”⁠[13] The other was compiled in 1391, continued in 1395, and concluded in 1416, with a note at the end of a few books sent in 1422 to Stamford for the use of the Cell there. This volume is written upon vellum, in folio, and is bound in calf. Its title is as follows:—

“Le Spendement.”

“Isti libri infrascripti inventi fuerunt in com̅uni Armariolo Dunelm. infra Spendimentum in recessu ffratris dn̅i Roberti de Langscheff’ ab officio librarie ad offic’ fferetrarie. Et liberati ffatri Will’mo de Appelby circa festum purific’ beate Virginis Marie Anno dn̅i Milessimo. ccc. nonagesimo primo.”⁠[14]⁠

Of this volume seventeen leaves appear to have been written in 1391, sixteen in 1395, and the remaining eleven in 1416. Its contents are extremely interesting, as shewing in what the literature of that period consisted, and affording abundant evidence of the interchange [117]of information which then subsisted not only between Durham and its dependant Cells, but also between that place and Oxford, and other seats of learning.

These considerations induced the author of the present work to superintend the publication of this document by the Surtees Society, whose object is to throw light upon the literary history of Northumbria, and to facilitate the study of antiquity from the Humber to the Tweed.

In this Catalogue the first word of the second leaf are specified as certain indicia by which different transcripts of the same Codex may be distinguished from each other; and it is pleasant to find at this distance of time, a Membranaceous Evangelistarium, seu “Quatuor Evangelia de manu Bede ii fo. Baptizatus,” answering with the first word of its second leaf “Baptizatus” to the indication in this ancient Catalogue. Partly in the same handwriting also appears, “Cassiodorus super Psalterium de manu Bedæ,” whereof the best account I can give will be in the ipsissima verba of the sagacious Thomas Rud: “Pulchrè scriptus est hic Codex lineis divisis, literis mediocribus Saxonicis; et quidem ipsius Venerabilis Bedæ manu, si fides habenda est huic notæ in fronte libri positæ: ‘Cassiodorus sup. Psalterium de manu bede.’ Est quidem hæc nota libro ipso multo recentior; neque scripta, ut videtur, ante annos 400: Sed indicat saltem quodnam fuerit Monachorum Dunelmensium eo tempore de hoc Codice judicium: quidquid illis de eâ re traditum fuit. Neque sanè temerè rejicienda est hujusmodi traditio. Dunelmenses enim Monachi, qui Girvensium (e quorum numero Beda [118]fuit) propago fuere, quique summâ veneratione illius memoriam colebant, melius quam ulli alii Vitæ ejus historiam rescire poterant.

“Et quidem ipsa Codicis Scriptura ad eam ætatem assurgere videtur.” And after giving his reasons for this opinion, adds, “Si autem a Beda descriptus sit, fecit id ille proculdubio Juvenis adhuc; priusquam accingeret se ad libros (quos plurimos scripsit) suo Marte componendos. Itaque assurgere videtur hic Codex ad initium sæculi octavi; mortuus est enim Beda, sexagenario major, A.D. 735. Habet itaque minimum mille annos.”⁠[15]⁠

It may be imagined that, under the impression that the handwriting of the Venerable Bede was actually before my eyes, I turned over the leaves of these ancient volumes with little less veneration than that with which I handled the Codex Bezæ in the Public Library at Cambridge.

Among the other ancient Manuscripts of this Monastic Library, are found several Latin Bibles, particularly one by St. Jerome in four large volumes, many portions of the Holy Scriptures, several Psalters, Kalendars, and a Missal, together with numerous Glosses, Concordances, Commentaries, and Homilies, by various authors.

It may be here remarked that the oldest Manuscript in the Library is a Latin Ritual, A. iv. 19,⁠[16] written, according to Wanley,⁠[17] by the same hand which penned St. Cuthbert’s Copy of the Gospels, now in the British Museum.⁠[18] There is also a copy of John, [119]Luke and Mark, A. II. 17,⁠[19] of nearly equal antiquity, which doubtless formed a part of the original Monastic Library of Lindisfarne.

The mass of Theological Literature is necessarily great, but a few of the leading names will suffice to indicate its importance, finding as we do in this truly venerable Collection, the Works of St. Ambrose, St. Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, St. Athanasius, St. Augustine, Bede, St. Chrysostom, St. Cyprian, Eusebius, St. Jerome, Gregory, Isidore, Origen, Tertullian, and of many other Heads and Fathers of the Church.

A Copy of so much of Lyra’s Commentary as refers to the Pentateuch, and other historical books of the Old Testament, from Genesis to the beginning of Job, written by William de Stiphel in the year 1386,⁠[20] affords decidedly the best specimen of what could be done in Durham in the way of Illumination at that period. The remaining part of Lyra’s Commentary forms a separate volume, A. I. 4, and was written by a Monk of the name of Borrowby.

Of Classical Literature the list is not so copious. It can, however, boast of the names of Aristotle and Plato, the former accompanied by the Commentaries of Averrois, also of Boethius and Prudentius, of Galen and Hippocrates, together with all the Epigrams of Martial, the Proverbs of Seneca, Suetonius de Vita Cæsarum, C. III. 18, which has been collated by Mr. Rud in the Classical Journal, Vol. ix. pp. 143 and 386; and a few pieces of Cicero.

There is of course much interesting matter relating [120]to English History, and especially to that of the Palatinate and Church of Durham, in those Manuscripts, to say nothing of original Charters, and other valuable documents. There are also some Ecclesiastical and Scholastic Histories.

To a particular account of the Benedictine order may be added the Lives of Gildas and St. Oswald, and among other illustrations of early English History, may be mentioned Nennii Historia Britonum; Genealogiæ Regum Saxonicorum in Britanniâ; Series Chronologica cum brevi Historiâ Episcoporum Angliæ and the Cronica Britannie à Bruto ad annum 1347.

The Works of Josephus are the last of these ancient Manuscripts I now propose to notice, and proceed to consider the additions made by the Dean and Chapter to this their most ancient Library, especially as these happen to include a work of singular interest with relation to the Church of Durham. The title of this Manuscript runneth thus, “Reginaldi Monachi Dunelmensis Libellus Autograph. de admirandis Beati Cuthberti Virtutibus quæ novellis patratæ sunt temporibus, scilicet post Bedam; scriptus ad Ætheldredum Abbatum Rhievallensem.” circa annum 1170. The entire Work contains 140 Chapters, a complete abstract of which may be seen in Appendix to the Catalogue of the MSS. of the Dean and Chapter, p. 399-411. “The publication of Reginald,” observes Mr. Raine, “notwithstanding his absurdities, would throw much light upon the history of the northern counties, connected with a period, relative to which the sources of information are so few.” It has been with great propriety selected as one of the earliest publications of the Surtees Society.

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The Manuscripts purchased by the Dean and Chapter consists chiefly of Transcripts by Dr. Hunter, of Records relating to the See of Durham, and of Collections relating to the Churches of Northumberland, by the same hand.

These, together with Dr. Basire’s Letters, and other original and miscellaneous documents, chiefly relating to Durham, collected and indexed by Dr. Hunter,⁠[21] as well as the copy of Reginald already mentioned; and some other papers of lesser note were purchased of the Executors of Dr. Hunter, in 1756, for 40 guineas. To these were added in 1823, the Historical, Heraldic, and Topographical Collections relating to Durham, formed by the late Mr. Allan, of Grange, which were sold by his son to the Dean and Chapter for £150, together with the “Collectanea ad Statum Civilem et Ecclesiasticum Comitatus Dunelmensis, &c. spectantia,” formed by the Rev. Thomas Randall, and by him bequeathed to the late Mr. Allan, of Grange.⁠[22]⁠

If to the above be added a Collection of the Statutes of several Colleges and Cathedrals, a tolerably correct idea may be formed of all the additions made to the ancient Manuscripts belonging to the Church of Durham.

The curious reader will learn with pleasure, that in the private Library attached to the Episcopal Palace will be found a valuable Manuscript of the Poems of Chaucer.

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In conclusion, I may be forgiven for mentioning another book, though not immediately connected with the Library. I mean, “Saint Cuthbert, with an account of the state in which his remains were found upon the opening of his Tomb in Durham Cathedral, in the year 1827, by the Rev. James Raine, M.A. Rector of Meldon, Principal Surrogate of the Consistory Courts of Durham, and Librarian of Durham Cathedral. Durham, printed by F. Humble, 1828,” 4to. Of this Work fifty copies were taken off upon large paper, some of which Mr. Thomson, an ingenious upholsterer of Durham, is now engaged in illuminating after the original Lawson MS. Life of St. Cuthbert, by Bede, and the relics of that Saint now preserved in the Library.

Much of the preliminary matter of this Work might have been spared, being already incorporated in the History of North Durham, upon which Mr. Raine has been for some time engaged, and of which the first portion is already before the public.

Undoubtedly Mr. Raine has given to the world the most rational account of Saint Cuthbert which has hitherto appeared, and has completely exploded the superstitious tale of the incorruptibility of his body.

In an age remarkable for credulity, it was not surprising that a story, however contrary to experience, should be generally believed; but the present admirable illustration of the writings of Reginald and Bede has traced the mortal remains of the Patron Saint of Durham through all their several stages, and thrown the clearest light upon all the doubtful points connected with the history of Saint Cuthbert.

It is much to be regretted that the interesting investigation [123]Mr. Raine has so minutely detailed, was conducted with so much precipitancy, and without previous information obtained from the Manuscript of Reginald.

This most valuable document, of which Mr. Raine has subsequently made such good use, is, I think, in his narrative rather too far separated from the corroboration which the actual examination so happily affords it; for the ordinary reader, bearing in his mind the interesting passages in italics, looks forward so impatiently for the opening of the tomb as to wish the accumulation of relics at St. Cuthbert’s shrine had been somewhat less, and be tempted to skip at once from page 117 to 171. Valuable to the local antiquary as are the details furnished by these pages, I cannot help so far concurring with the ignorant impatience manifested above, as to suggest that a very considerable portion of the records relative to the shrine of St. Cuthbert might have been transferred to the Appendix, without any chance of diminishing the popularity of the Work itself.

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Library of Ely.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Ely is contained in a commodious and well lighted apartment, formed by the enclosure of the east aisle of the Cathedral for that purpose in 1814.

The books are all placed upon open shelves, and are chiefly attired in the dusky garb of former years, with paper labels on their backs, and are protected from damp by the heat of a stove.

This Collection is placed under the care of the Rev. George Millers, one of the Minor Canons of the Cathedral, whose diligence is attested by a printed Catalogue, under the following title: “Catalogus Librorum qui in Bibliothecâ Cathedralis Eliensis adservantur. 1815.”

In this volume the books are briefly, yet correctly enumerated under the several departments of knowledge to which they relate. That of Theology is, as might naturally be expected, the most copious, occupying 69 pages, out of the 138 of which the entire volume is composed. With this important feature in the Library, I will commence my account of its contents, giving precedence to the impressions of the Sacred Volume, the most remarkable of which are

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with several English versions of the Bible, of little note, and none earlier than 1607.

I must not however omit to mention the Acta Apostolorum Gr. et Lat. literis majusculis è Codice Laudiano, edente Thoma Hearne, Oxonii, 1715, roy. 8vo. Of Biblical Commentators, the number is very great; but the names of Le Clerc, Erasmus, Prideaux, Kidder, Patrick, Lowth, Whitby, Pococke, Michaelis, Pearce, Stanhope, and Macknight, may be selected as fit representations of the crowd from which they have been taken. The Critici Sacri and Pole’s Synopsis are of course included in this department.

Of Concordances it may be sufficient to mention those of Buxtorf, Stephens, and Taylor; and of Liturgies there are several examples, from the Romish Ritual to the English Common Prayer.

Of the Fathers of the Church, this Library may boast of a copious and valuable selection, including the [126]Works of SS. Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Benedict, Bernard, Chrysostom, Clement, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Eusebius, the Gregories, Jerome, Irenæus, Isidore, and Justin Martyr, together with those of Lactantius, Origen, Philo Judæus, Tertullian, and Theodoret. To which may be added,

Of Theological Writers during the later ages, the Works contained in this Library are so numerous, and many of the names of so little note, that I will not fatigue the reader by attempting to recount them.

Among the Latin Authors, I may mention Thomas Aquinas, Bellarmine, Bochart, Bull, Calvin, Grotius, Limborch, and Pearson; and among the Works of English Divines, may give precedence to those of Barrow, Bingham, Bramhall, Chillingworth, Clarke, Fleetwood, Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Jewell, Leslie, Lightfoot, Mede, Jeremy Taylor, and Tillotson. Of the other Theological Works, I may adduce those of Addison, Allix, Balguy, Bentley, Boyle, Burnet, Butler, Conybeare, Hervey, Hoadley, Hooker, Hooper, Jewel, Kettlewell, Leland, Lowth, Patrick, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Usher, and Warburton, as a fair specimen of the whole. In conclusion, a few French Works on Divinity, and a formidable phalanx of Sermons by various authors, bring up the rear of this section of the Library.

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In this place it may be right to mention the Synopsis Canonum of Howel, and Beveregii Pandectæ Canonum, together with the Concilia Generalia of Labbe, &c. the Concilia Britannica of Spelman, and the Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ et Hiberniæ of Wilkins. These three last-mentioned Works naturally lead us to the Works connected with Ecclesiastical History, which are found in this Collection. Among these I may enumerate

The Church History of Britain by Cressy, Collier, Fuller, Inett, and Lloyd; the Ecclesiastical Histories [128]of Du Pin, Echard, Milner, and Mosheim, together with Spotiswood’s History of the Church of Scotland, form the principal features of this department.

In Works of General History this Collection is not rich. It possesses, however, Heylyn’s Cosmography, the History of the World by Howell, and Raleigh, the Ancient and Modern Universal History, Mitford’s History of Greece, the Roman Histories of Hooke and Ferguson, Maurice’s Hindostan, and Indian Antiquities, Du Halde’s China, and the Turkish History by Knolles and Rycaut.

As helps to History, I may notice the Chronology of Newton, and Playfair, and the Geography of Cellarius, Cluverius, Strabo, and Wells, together with the travels of Chandler, Pennant, Ray, and Spon.

As important adjuncts to History, I may also mention several works of Antiquities, but none of sufficient importance to merit particular enumeration, and a few Numismatic Works, including Arbuthnot’s Tables of Coins, and Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; also the following Biographical Works:—Strype’s Lives; Kippis’s Biographia Britannica; Walton’s Lives; Fuller’s Worthies; Holland’s Heröologia Anglica; Wood’s Athenæ Oxoniensis; Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography; Bowers’s Lives of the Popes; and the General Biographical Dictionary.

In Works relating to the History and Antiquities of England, this Library is fortunate in possessing the Histories of England by Milton, Kennett, Rapin, Hume, Smollett, and Adolphus, Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Baker’s Chronicle; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Herbert’s Henry VIII.; Carleton’s Letters; Davies’s Celtic [129]Researches; Triveti Annales Sex, curâ Hall, Oxon. 1719, 8vo.; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Francof. 1601, folio.; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Lond. 1684; Gale and Fell, Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores XV. Oxon. 1684-91, 3 vols. folio; Sheringham de Anglorum gentis origine, Cantabr. 1670, 8vo.; Bates, Elenchus Motuum, Lond. 1663, 8vo.; and the Fructus Temporum, with the Chronycles of Englonde, Imprynted at London by Wynkyn de Worde, 1520, folio; together with the following valuable Pieces, edited by the indefatigable Thomas Hearne:—

To which may be added all the works published under the authority of the Record Commission, which are presented as they appear to every Cathedral Library.

Among the Works relating to British Antiquities, those most deserving of notice are, Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence; Hearne’s Discourses, Oxford, 1720, 8vo.; Willis’s Mitred Abbies and Cathedral Churches; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica by Nasmith, 1744; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, Lond. 1755-61-73, in 3 vols. folio; Camdeni Britannica by Gibson; Sammes’s Antiquities of Ancient Britain; [130]Stukeley’s Palæographia Britannica; Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Stow’s London; Morton’s Northamptonshire; Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral; Dart’s Canterbury Cathedral; Bentham’s Ely, both editions: Millers’ Ely Cathedral, both editions; Masters’s Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Lewis’s Isle of Tenet; and Borlase’s Cornwall.

In English Literature this Collection does not present anything worthy of notice. It contains, however, the Works of Pope, Swift, Addison, and Goldsmith, the series of British Essayists in 12mo. the Plays of Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Congreve and Dryden, the Poems of Chaucer, Cowley, Milton, Prior, Spenser and Waller, and Butler’s Hudibras.

Of Classical Literature, however, the Collection is much more copious, embracing all the most esteemed authors, though it can boast none of the first, and few of the best editions, unless Hierocles, Gr. & Lat. Curterii, Plinii Historia Naturalis Harduini, Athenæus Casauboni, Demosthenes Taylori, Stanley’s Æschylus, Barnes’s Euripides, & Potter’s Lycophron, be considered as exceptions to the latter part of the above remark.

Of the principal Works in Classic Literature, the following seem to me chiefly deserving of notice.

Of Etymological Works, so closely connected with the preceding department, this Collection contains Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon, the Greek Lexica of Scapula, Hederic, Hesychius and Suidas, Stephani Thesaurus utriusque Linguæ, Hickes’s Thesaurus Septentrionalis, the Glossary of Du Fresne, Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary, Lluyd’s Archæologia Britannica. Oxon. 1707, folio; Spelmanni Glossarium Archæologium, Lond. 1664, folio; Skinneri, Etymologicum Anglicanum, Lond. 1671, folio; with several Grammars of various languages.

In conclusion, I may remark that a few Works on Mathematical Science, and Moral Philosophy, several Works of Jurisprudence, including the Statutes at large, with a few Works on Bibliography, including Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca et Latina, and a fair proportion of miscellaneous authors, make up the complement of the Library attached to the Cathedral of Ely.

It will be seen, therefore, from the foregoing remarks, that this Collection is chiefly of a Theological character, and that it also contains many valuable Historical Works, particularly such as relate to English History, and a fair proportion of Classics; though the fastidious Bibliomaniacs will here look in vain for any Editiones Principes, or for any other of the earlier efforts of the Press.

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Library of Exeter.

This venerable Collection was formerly suffered to remain in the Lady Chapel, exposed to the inroads of idle curiosity, and subject to the chilling influence of damp and neglect. The Dean and Chapter however at length became sensible of the duty of affording due protection to the literary property committed to their care for the benefit of posterity, and with commendable discretion consigned their Manuscripts to the care of their Chapter Clerk, and deposited their printed books in the Chapter-house.

Of these Manuscripts it will be my province first to speak, both on account of their curiosity and high antiquity; and for the gratification of the curious reader have much satisfaction in presenting to him a literal copy of “A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of the Cathedral Church of Exeter. Taken from Dean Lyttelton’s and Mr. White’s Memoranda, examined with the books. September, 1811.

“RALPH BARNES.”

So far numbered by Mr. White.

Books mentioned in Dean Lyttelton’s Catalogue taken from that printed at Oxford, of the MSS. in the kingdom, p. 55, seq. and which Lyttelton says were missing at the time he made the Catalogue, circa 1752, one only of them, Quivil’s Constitutions, was restored in 176- by Chanter Snow.

MSS. books removed from the Library into the Exchequer Chamber by Lyttelton, not in the printed Catalogue above referred to.

This is contained in the end of the book called Ordinations and Statutes, fo. 178 to 182.

MSS. books removed from the Library to the Exchequer Chamber by R. Barnes, 1811.

I need scarcely remind any reader at all conversant with matters of high antiquity, that the principal portion of these Manuscripts are written upon vellum; but I may add for the information of the curious bibliophilist [138]that many of them retain their pristine covertures, whether of parchment or of wood, and that some are adorned with elegant illuminations.

Much as I regretted to notice how much these valuable documents have been injured by previous neglect, and are still suffering from the dampness of the chamber in which they are kept; it afforded me abundant consolation to discover that of the Manuscripts mentioned by Lyttelton, as missing in his time, the most interesting and most valuable were still extant. These are in the order of the Catalogue.

All which are contained in a single volume, which Mr. Petrie esteemed among the most important in the Collection.

Exceeding these documents both in antiquity and importance, the venerable, and undoubtedly original transcript of the Domesday Book relating to the counties of Cornwall, Somerset, and Devon, demands the peculiar attention of the literary antiquary and of the professed historian.

This General Survey was taken locally, and of the original inquisitions so made, no copies are believed to exist. In the Exeter Domesday, the lands of each person, wherever situate are entered, occasionally in [139]different hands, under his name, and where the possessions of an individual were large he appears to have had a libellus wholly allotted to himself. Three scribes appear to have been employed in the transcription of this ancient record, in which it is very remarkable, entries are invariably made of the stock of deer, sheep, oxen, &c. upon the lands described. Now as these particulars are omitted in the Exchequer Domesday, probably as much for the sake of brevity as on account of the perishable nature of the animals themselves, and as this minute enumeration could only have resulted from an actual survey, it appears to me that this portion of the Domesday Book may boast of at least as high antiquity as the entire record deposited in the archives of the Exchequer at London.

In arranging the fasciculi of the Exon Domesday in their proper order, Mr. Barnes had the mortification of observing that at p. 233, a single leaf had been abstracted, which he recorded in 1810. Subsequent to this period Mr. Trevelyan called to see the Domesday, and upon the book being opened, produced from his pocket a leaf, which exactly supplied the previous hiatus in the record. This leaf it appeared came into the possession of Mr. Trevelyan, by descent from his ancestor, Dean Willoughby, who in the time of Henry the Eighth was the Dean of Exeter, and doubtless he it was who abstracted this identical leaf, either from curiosity, or a less venial motive. That must however be esteemed a most fortunate accident, whereby a leaf lost in the time of the Reformation, has thus been restored in our own, having the effect moreover of rendering perfect one of the most interesting historical documents in existence.

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To preserve this volume in its primitive integrity, it has been clad in a rough coat of red russia, confined by a leather strap. The book thus bound is excessively thick, but measuring ten inches and a half by six and a half, it wears the aspect of a small folio tome.

It only remains for me to add that the whole of this ancient volume was faithfully transcribed by Mr. Ralph Barnes, and subsequently published under the authority of the Commissioners of the Public Records.

Of the Saxon Manuscripts which may claim the highest antiquity, I would mention a volume of Saxon Poetry, distinctly written upon vellum, and in excellent preservation, the gift of Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter, to his Church. Another Saxon Manuscript, equally well preserved in its original coverture, contains the Etymological and other Works of Rabanus Maurus.

Among the other Manuscripts it may suffice to distinguish the Rosa Medicinæ of John Gadsden, commended by Geoffery Chaucer; and referring to the Catalogue for the remainder, to notice that all these Manuscripts are kept in deal presses, under lock and key, in an upper chamber attached to the Cathedral.

The Library of printed books in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, is now deposited in their Chapter-house, a well proportioned and well lighted room, with a fire-place at one end, and gallery at the other, over the entrance door. The chimney-piece is handsomely carved in stone, and the painted ceiling harmonises well with the antique aspect of the room, which is also adorned with a view of the adjacent Cathedral.

The books are all well arranged upon open shelves [141]around the room in the following order, viz. A and B. English Theology, 1600-1700, two cases; C and D. Bibles and Commentators, two cases; E. Fathers, and Ecclesiastical History, one case; F. Miscellaneous Theology; G and H. Classics; I and J. History and Biography; K. Poetry and Oratory; and L. Miscellaneous Theology. The gallery is also appropriated to books placed upon open shelves, the entire Collection probably amounting to between five and six thousand volumes. The books are chiefly bound in old calf, and the volumes have been relettered, so as to inform the stranger of their contents, and relieve the sombre uniformity of their attire.

The most ancient Catalogue in this Library, is a tall folio, containing a brief enumeration of the books in the Library, specifying their titles and sizes, as well as the place and dates, with reference to the shelves on which they were then placed. This volume is entitled “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Ecclesiæ Sti Petri Exon.” is lettered on the binding, “Catalogus Librorum, 1683.”

From a later hand we have also a Catalogue of several duplicates in the Library of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s, Exon.

Some indolent Librarian has subsequently interleaved Hyde’s Catalogue of the Bodleian Library, in two volumes, folio, and has inserted therein such books of the Chapter Library as are not already contained in its printed pages, with references from the latter to the shelves.

The only complete Catalogue extant of this Library is that written by order of Dean Lyttelton, but compiled in the most careless manner, all mention of the [142]places, dates, or names of the printers, or sizes of each Work, being uniformly omitted, and their titles given in the most summary and unsatisfactory manner. This volume—a tall and narrow folio, in coarse clothing, bears the title of “A Catalogue of the Books in the Library of St. Peter’s, Exon, taken as they now stand on the shelves, under each Alphabet, 1752.”

To remedy the want of a more perfect Catalogue, seven Fasciculi, embracing the Theological Department of the Collection, have been written in enumeration of the titles, dates, and imprints of the several Works therein contained, but without any specification of the sizes of the books. But of the remaining portion of the Library, no other Catalogue whatever, except a rough Index to the shelves, has been made. A complete Catalogue, therefore, of this Library, is, even in manuscript, greatly to be desired; but, for facility of reference, its arrangement should be alphabetical, as a separate Index to the different cases might easily be added. It would be also desirable that each Work should be described with that attention to bibliographical minuteness which may ensure the accuracy of the Catalogue, and render it worthy of being perpetuated by the power of the press.

The book plate whereby the volumes of the Dean and Chapter are marked as their own, is an engraving of an Ecclesiastical Seal, representing the Bishop on his throne, having a model of the Cathedral in his left hand, and holding a key in his right hand, the motto being: “The Cathedral Library at Exeter, Anno Domⁿⁱ, 1749.” This plate has been re-engraved with the date “An. Dom. 1822.”

The character of this Library is principally Theological, [143]rather more than one-half of its entire contents being composed of Works of Divinity. It has also some respectable Classics, and some curious volumes relating to the History of England.

The Typographical antiquary will find little to interest him in this Collection; for if religious, he may sigh in vain for “The Seuen Penetencyall Psalmes,” or if only curious, will fruitlessly seek “The Merry Geste of how the Plowman learned his Pater Noster.”

Works of Divinity occupy so large a space upon these shelves, and so many of them have long ago fallen into merited oblivion, that, without attempting “to drag reluctant dulness into day,” I will proceed at once to the succinct enumeration of the principal features of this department.

Among the Impressions of the Sacred Text, I noticed a very fine copy in calf of Plantin’s Polyglott, published at Antwerp by that excellent printer between the years 1568 and 1572, and one of the usual copies of Walton’s Polyglott, with Castell’s Lexicon. I also remarked copies of the

The Bible in English, printed at Oxford in 1680, folio, uniformly bound with the Common Prayer of the same date in coeval red morocco, and the Bible with Notes by D’Oyly and Mant, in 3 vols. 4to.

Of detached portions of the Scripture, I may mention the Oxford Septuagint, superintended by Messrs. Holmes and Parsons, and that edited by Breitenger at Zurich.

I may here also notice the Common Prayer Book of Edward the Sixth, 1552, folio, and the authorised Version of Common Prayer, 14 Car. II. 1662, to which the original Seal is still appended. These two Volumes are kept with the Manuscripts in the upper chamber already described.

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I may also add

Passing by a cloud of obscure Commentators on the Psalms, and other portions of the Sacred Volume, it may suffice to mention the Critici Sacri, and Pole’s Synopsis, Leigh’s Critica Sacra, Kidder on the Pentateuch, Bythneri Lyra Prophetica, Newcome’s Minor Prophets, Campbell on the Gospels, Blayney on Jeremiah, and the Commentaries of Whitby, Patrick, &c. of Calvin and Beza, of Pococke and Lowth.

Among the Fathers of the Church, I may particularise the Works of St. Jerome, Ambrose, Cyprian, Athanasius, Cyril, and Chrysostom, the Gregories, S. Hilary, Augustine, Basil, Origen, and Justin Martyr, of Athenagoras, Theophylact, Lactantius, Tertullian, Epiphanius, Isidore, and Theodoret. Irenæi Opera cura Grabe, folio; Eusebii Præparatio et Demonstratio Evangelica, in 2 folio volumes; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; the Bibliotheca Patrum; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, 2 copies; Grabe’s Spicilegium Patrum, and Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers, with Cave’s Primitive Christianity, and Lives of the Fathers.

This last Work naturally leads us to the consideration of Ecclesiastical History, in which branch of learning the following Works occur in this Collection: Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, folio; Eutychii Annales; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Usserii Annales; Spondani Epitome Baronii; Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici, and Martyrologium Romanum; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ [146]Græcæ Monumenta, folio; Bower, Rycaut and Platina’s Lives of the Roman Pontiffs; Binii Concilia Generalia et Provincialia; The Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; Natalis Historia Ecclesiastica, in 8 vols. folio; Canones Concilii Tridentini. Duaci, 1618, folio; and Polani Historia Concilii Tridentini; Geddes’s Church History of Æthiopia; and Allix’s History of the Churches in Piedmont.

Of Books relating to the Ecclesiastical affairs of Great Britain, we find the following:

The earlier Theologians in this Library are represented by the Works of Grotius and Erasmus, the Controversial Writings of Le Clerc, Leusden, and Bellarmine, Chamieri Controversiarum Corpus, Limborch, Theologia Christiana, the Works of Episcopius, Peter Martyr, Melancthon, Zanchius, and Bochart, to which may be added, the once popular Treatise ascribed to Thomas à Kempis, the present copy having been printed at Antwerp in 1607.

Of the earlier Divines of England, the Works of Lightfoot, Bramhall, Barrow, Mede, Hoadley, Jewel, and Chillingworth; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity, Cudworth’s Intellectual System, and Lloyd on Church Government, are familiar as household words to every educated Briton.

Among the Theological Writers of the seventeenth century, we find the Works of Allix, Baxter, Barrow, Atterbury, Comber, Claggett, Dodwell, Gastrell, Andrews, [148]Sanderson, Hall, Hammond, Hopkins, Hody, Bull, Leslie, Peirce, Edwards, Long, Pearson, Reynolds, Rutherford, Stillingfleet, Sherlock, Tillotson, Jeremy Taylor, Wake, Wilkins, Whiston, and Weston; Norris on the Beatitudes, Pearson on the Creed, Burnet on the Articles, and Gale’s Court of the Gentiles, Oxford, 1672.

I should be wanting in attention to the English Theology of this Collection were I to pass over the Works of Boyle, Hoadley, Lardner, Jortin, Horsley, Beattie, and Farmer, or Burton’s Testimonies of the Anti-Nicene Fathers to the Divinity of Christ.

Connected with the Theological department, I may here mention Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Hyde’s Religio Veterum Persarum, Oxonii, 1700; Davy’s System of Divinity, Lustleigh, Devon, 1795, 1807, “printed by himself, 14 copies only.” In these 26 volumes the corrections have all been made by the insertion of slips of printed paper in the places requiring emendation. Davy on Divinity, with Portrait, Exeter, 1825, in 3 vols. 8vo. “Presented by the Author to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, 20th August, 1825.” And Isaac de la Peyreyre’s Men before Adam, which was rigidly suppressed on its first publication; Harmer’s Observations on Scripture; the Preservative against Popery, published by order of Dr. Gibson, in 3 volumes, folio; and some French Works of Divinity, including, however, no author of sufficient note to require distinct enumeration.

The Works illustrative of History in general, contained in this Library, are: Bayle’s Historical Dictionary; Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, in 32 vols. 8vo.; Collier’s Historical Dictionary, in 2 vols. [149]folio; Simsoni Chronicon; Heylin’s Cosmography; Raleigh’s History of the World: Isaacson’s Chronological Tables; Baudrand, Lexicon Geographicum; Speculum Historiale Vincentii; Bossuet, Histoire Universelle, 8vo.; Thuani Historia sui temporis; Carionis Chronicon, and Pitt’s English Atlas, Oxford, 1680, in 4 gigantic folio tomes.

Of particular Histories of various countries, the list is rather more copious, comprehending Freheri Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum, folio; Hottingeri Historia Orientalis; Basnage’s History of the Jews; Rycaut and Knolles’s History of the Turks; Ogilby’s China and Japan; Bembi Historia Veneta; China Illustrata; Verona Illustrata; Echard’s History of Rome; Mezeray’s History of France; Serres, Histoire de la France; Davila’s Civil Wars of France; Meterani Historia Belgica; Puffendorf de rebus Suecicis; Bonfinius de rebus Hungaricis; Molesworth’s Denmark; Crantz’s Greenland, Scheffer’s Lapland, and Fowler’s Poland.

As valuable helps to History, I may here mention, Montfaucon’s Antiquities, translated by Humphreys; Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca; Mabillon, Iter Italicum; Ciampini Monumenta Vetusta; Fleetwood’s Inscriptiones Antiquæ; Reinesii Inscriptiones; Liceti et Pierii Hieroglyphica; Bianchini, Inscrizioni Sepulcrali; Noris’ Cenotaphia Pisana; Bertoli’s Antichita d’Aquileia; Arlinghi’s Roma Subterranea; Rosini’s Antiquitates Romanæ; Prideaux’s Marmora Arundeliana; Spanheim’s and le Vaillant’s Numismata; Occonis Numismata; Patini Numismata Familiarum Romanarum; Pitisci Lexicon; and Dodwell’s Tracts relating to Antiquity.

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To the above may be added, Churchill’s Voyages; the Travels of Pococke, Thevenot, Sandys, and others; Freheri Theatrum Virorum Clarorum, & Jovii Elogia Virorum Illustrium.

Of Works on Heraldry, which may most properly be termed “the Key of History,” this Library contains Favine’s Theatre of Honour; Hopingius de Jure Insignium; Milles’s Catalogue of Honor; Gwillim’s Heraldry; Selden’s Titles of Honor; Dugdale’s Baronage; and Ashmole’s History of the Order of the Garter.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain, this Collection embraces many Tracts of great curiosity, and some Works of great importance.

Among the latter may be mentioned Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Twinus de rebus Albionicis; the valuable Collection of Francorum Scriptores Coetanei, edited by Duchesne, in 5 volumes, folio, a copy in old vellum, which has suffered severely from damp; Matthæi Paris, Historia Anglicana; Gale and Fell’s important Collection of early English Historians; Camdeni Anglica, Normanica, &c. à veteribus scripta; Polidori Vergilii Historia Anglicana; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Florentii Wigornensis Chronicon; Sheringham de Anglorum Gentis Origine; Triveti Annales sex Regum Angliæ, 1 vol. 8vo.; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, edente Hearnio, Oxonii, 1716, 8vo.; Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle; Musgrave’s Antiquitates Britanno-Belgicæ, 4 vols. 8vo. very neat in calf; Prynne’s Records of John, Henry III. and Edw. I. London, 1670, folio; and the Records of the Kingdom, published under the authority of the Parliamentary Commission.

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The remaining Works of English History will be found to embrace many Tracts, interesting as connected with the great Rebellion. This Library contains the General Histories of England, by Daniel, Carte, Speed, and Kennett; Baker’s Chronicle; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, with his State Papers; Rushworth’s and Nalson’s Collections of State Papers; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Welwood’s Memoirs; Godwin’s Annals; Herbert’s Henry VIII.; Lloyd’s Memoirs; Fuller’s Worthies; Winstanley’s English Worthies; Lyttelton’s Henry the Second; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Walton’s Lives; Camden’s Elizabeth, with his Remains; Darcie’s Annals of Queen Elizabeth; Chamberlayne’s Angliæ Notitiæ; Winston Churchill’s Divi Britannici, Salmasii Defensio Regia; Bond’s Scutum Regale; Mackenzie’s Jus Regium; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ, a work which Warburton thought worth reading; Warwick’s Charles I.; Vie de Cromwell, in 2 vols. 12mo.; Ludlow’s Memoirs, in 2 vols. 8vo.; D’Orleans, Revolution d’Angleterre, Paris. 1695, 3 vols. 12mo.; Dugdale’s View of the Troubles; Gregorio Leti Teatro Britannico, Amst. 1684, in 5 vols. 12mo.; Εικων Βασιλικη: Memoires du Marechal Berwick; Mercurius Britannicus Josephi Hall; and Fuller’s Ephemeral Parliament.

In addition to 27 volumes of Political Tracts, and 20 volumes of Puritanical Sermons, the overflowings of men’s minds under the high excitement of the Rebellion, I observed an octavo volume, which never before occurred to me, being “I. G. de rebus Caroli I. Commentarius sub imperio; Jacobi Marchionis Montisrosarum, anno 1644, et duobus sequentibus præclarè [152]gestis.” Interprete A. S. Paris. (Johan. Bessin.) 1648. This volume is upon large paper, and is bound in red morocco, its sides covered with fleurs de lis, whence it might be conjectured to have belonged to the Queen Henrietta, then resident in France, at all events as a contemporary record of the exploits of the Chivalric Montrose, its historical interest is far from inconsiderable.

Among the other Works relating to English History may be noticed Annales de la Grande Bretagne; Parkerus de rebus sui temporis; Dugdale’s Origines Judiciales; Pepys on the Navy; Mainwaring’s Defence of Amicia; Wood’s Athenæ Oxoniensis; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Heylin’s Help to English History, a work still held in estimation; and a copy of Speed’s Maps, 1627, in an oblong duodecimo form.

Among the books of Scottish History I remarked the History of Scotland by Drummond and Buchanan, with the latter’s pretended “Detectioun of the duinges of Mary Queen of Scots;” Major de Gestis Scotorum; and Hume’s House of Douglas; Cox’s History of Ireland, and Ware’s Historical Works concerning Ireland, Dublin, 1739, in 2 vols. folio, deserve brief mention in this place before we proceed to enumerate the Works illustrative of the Topographical Antiquities of England.

The Archæologia, or Collection of Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity, in an annually increasing series of quarto volumes, published by the Society of Antiquaries, forms a prominent feature in this department of the Library, the present series being respectably clad in modern calf.

To the Antiquarian Society we are also indebted for Plans, Elevations, and Descriptions of the Cathedral [153]Churches of Durham, Exeter, and Gloucester, the Abbey Church at Bath, and St. Stephen’s, Westminster; the present copy being handsomely bound, in one volume, folio, in russia, and bearing the following autographic inscription:

“This book was presented to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, the 22nd of December, 1813, as a token of gratitude for their kind patronage, and as a mark of affection for their Cathedral Church, by their obliged and faithful Servant,

“RALPH BARNES, Chapter Clerk.”

To such a dedication as this, the student who turns the ample pages of this noble folio tome, can only respond, ex imo corde,

“Grati Memorisque animi hocce volumen monumentum esto!”

No works of instruction are more calculated to please the eye than Topographical researches, embellished like Britton’s Account of Exeter Cathedral, of which a copy is very properly deposited in this Library.

The remaining Works of English Topography, which deserve particular notice, are Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence respecting English Antiquities; Anthony à Wood’s Historia Universitatis Oxoniensis, Oxonii, 1674, in one volume, folio; Savage’s Balliofergus, or some Account of Baliol College, at Oxford, Oxonii, 1668, 4to.; Caii de Antiquitate Academiæ Cantabrigiensis; Howel’s History of London and Westminster; Roll’s Account of the Rebuilding of London after the Great Fire, of which some accounts are also contained in this Collection; Stow’s Description of London; Lambarde’s Perambulation of [154]Kent, 1656; Dugdale’s History of Warwickshire; Borlase’s Natural History and Antiquities of Cornwall; Milner’s Winchester; Polwhele’s Devonshire; Prince’s Worthies of Devon, “the gift of the author;” Plot’s Natural Histories of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Kennet’s Parochial Antiquities; Webbe and Inigo Jones’s Descriptions of Stonehenge; Carlisle’s Endowed Grammar Schools; Leycester’s Cheshire; Bentham’s Ely; Oliver’s History of Exeter; Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gibson, London, 1772, 2 vols. folio; and some Account of St. Neot’s Church in Cornwall, with plates of the stained glass Windows therein, by Messrs. Hedgeland and Davies Gilbert, London, 1830, folio, presented by the former to the Cathedral Library of Exeter.

To the above I may add the Geological Transactions of Cornwall, presented by the Rev. John Rogers, one of the Canons of the adjacent Cathedral.

Though Geology has not yet attained the full stature of a science, yet the mention of these interesting volumes recalls to my mind those older treatises on the more exact Sciences which are contained in this Library.

Among these, Newton’s Principia holds the first place, to which I may add Kepler’s Optics; Boyle’s and Bacon’s Works on Natural Philosophy; Hobbes’ Opera Philosophica; Hevelii Selenographia; Hooke’s Micrographia; Wallis’s Algebra; Maseres’ Scriptores Logarithmici; a few volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica and of the Philosophical Transactions, with Sprat’s History of the Royal Society.

Of Botanical Works it may be sufficient to particularise Ruellius de Naturâ Stirpium; Raii Historia Plantarum; [155]Grew’s Anatomy of Plants; and Gerarde’s Herbal, to which I may add the singular Collection of Aldrovandus, and Gesner de Animalibus.

I may here also mention Vitruvii Architectura, and Kendall on Architecture; together with Culpepper’s English Physician; Cardani Medicinæ; and other sanatory treatises now obsolete, which form the companions of the Museum Wormianum.

The Law Books contained in this room may be very soon enumerated, as there is no interest whatever attached to the Codex Theodosianus; Corpus Juris Civilis Gothofredi; Oughton’s Ordo Judiciarum, in 2 vols. 4to.; Burns’ Ecclesiastical Law; Blount and Jacob’s Law Dictionaries; Lambard de Priscis Anglorum Legibus; Durandi Speculum Juris; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantab. 1685; Gibson Codex Juris Civilis, &c. in 2 vols. folio; and an old edition of Blackstone’s Commentaries.

It is refreshing to turn from so uninviting a topic to those great authors of antiquity, the dread of our earliest, and the delight of our latest years, especially when we can look upon some of the most valuable editions of their Works.

In proof of this assertion, those shelves furnish me with the Oratores Græci, and the Plutarch of Reiske, Isocrates, and Lysias of Auger; the Pindar of Heyne; Plinius Harduini; Pausanias Kuhnii; Livius Drakenborchii; the Horace of Bentley; Duker’s Thucydides; the Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus of Wesseling; Reimar’s Dion Cassius; Josephus Havercampi; Xenophon, by Wells; Brunck’s Sophocles; and Barnes’ Euripides; Longinus, Toupii, and Athenæus Casauboni.

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Among the other editions of the Classics, I noticed Platonis Opera Serrani; Quintus Curtius Pitisci; Lucretius Havercampi; Spanheim’s Callimachus; Aristotelis Opera Du Valli; and several of the Delphin editions, including those of Prudentius, Plautus, Eutropius, Cornelius Nepos, Velleius Paterculus, Quintus Curtius, Manilius, Juvenal, and Lucretius.

I also noticed some pieces of Cicero, and various editions of Æschines, Boethius, Florus, Macrobius, Martial, Aristophanes, Quintilian, Petronius Arbiter, Seneca, Sallust, Suetonius, Statius, Phædrus, Tacitus, Valerius Maximus, Terence, Homer, Demosthenes, Cæsar, Xenophon, and the Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores, whose importance would scarcely justify more particular specification.

The earliest editions of the Classics comprised within these walls, are indifferent copies of Cæsar, printed by Jenson, at Venice, in 1471, folio, measuring twelve inches by eight and a quarter, and bound in calf; and Virgilius Servii, 1475, folio, where the Commentary ends with the Æneid, and the Minor Pieces, with vacant margins, follow.

Of Translations of the Classics, I observed Dryden’s Virgil and Juvenal; Hobbes’s Thucydides; Ross’s Silius Italicus; Ogilby’s Æsop; and Dacier’s Horace.

Of Lexicons and Dictionaries, and other Etymological Works, the essential accompaniments of the Classic page, to every youthful student, I have the pleasure of enumerating several, which will be found very useful in the study either of Classic or of Gothic Literature.

For the first, it may suffice to mention Suidæ, Hesychii, et Scapulæ Lexica, Hoffmanni, et Phavorini Lexica, [157]Stephani Thesaurus, Calepini Dictionarium, Julii Pollucis Onomasticon, Vossii Etymologicon, Cooper’s Thesaurus, and Du Fresne’s Glossary.

For the latter, the Saxon Dictionary of Hickes; Skinner’s Lexicon; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum; Somneri Dictionarium Saxonicum; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Cotgrave’s French Dictionary; and Menage Dictionnaire Etymologique. To which may be added, the English Dictionaries of Cole, Howel, and Johnson, with Buxtorf’s Chaldaic and Hebrew Lexicon.

In English Literature this Library is manifestly deficient. We do indeed meet with the Works of Locke and Bacon; of Addison and Swift; Spenser’s Faerie Queen; the Poems of Chaucer, Milton, and Cowley; Shakespeare’s Works too, with the Portrait coloured, may be after the Stratford Monument, London, 1632, folio, in a volume, which being quite perfect, richly deserves rebinding, as it is now in a very insecure and tattered condition. But I can only add to these, Sir Thomas More’s Works, 1559; Warton’s English Poetry; Conybeare’s Anglo-Saxon Poetry; Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy; Smith’s Wealth of Nations; Wootton’s Remains; and other Works of much less reputation.

Of Italian Works there are editions of Tasso, Petrarch, and Ariosto, with a copy of Boccaccio, Genealogia di Gli Dei, Venet. 1588, which the compiler of the unfinished Catalogue has classed under the head of “Miscellaneous Theology.”

It only remains for me to notice Photii Bibliotheca et Epistolæ, and Stuckii Antiquitates Conviviales, a work whence much curious information may be obtained respecting the “noctes cœnæque” of the olden time.

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As “Book openeth Book,” I cannot conclude this brief notice of the Exeter Cathedral Library more appropriately than by adding to it, the Bibliographical Works contained within its precincts.

Among these I particularly noticed, Maittaire, Annales Typographici; Wolfii Monumenta Typographica; Watts’ Bibliotheca Britannica; Blount’s Censura Literaria; Balei Scriptores Britanniæ; Nicolson’s English, Irish, and Scotch Historical Libraries, in 4 volumes, 8vo.; Cooper on the Public Records; Le Long’s Bibliotheca Sacra, Halæ, 1778; Dupin’s Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques; De Rossi’s Annales Hebræo-Topographici, Parmæ, 1795; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca, and Bibliographia Antiquaria, in 4to.; Cave’s Scriptores Ecclesiastici; Baillet’s Jugemens des Scavans; La Bibliothéque Choisie, 1703; and Le Clerc’s Bibliothéque Universelle, in 12mo.; a Catalogue of English Writers on the Old and New Testaments; Clarke’s Bibliographical Dictionary and Miscellany; Marchand’s Dictionnaire Historique; Gesneri Bibliotheca, and several volumes of the Acta Eruditorum, in quarto.

Upon the table in the Chapter-house is very properly kept a book “For the entry of books taken out of, and returned to the Chapter Library;” a regulation which ought to be religiously observed by all persons having access to any corporate Library.

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Library of Gloucester.

The spacious and airy Chapter-house, warmed by a stove, is the meet receptacle of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. The books are arranged upon open shelves, in dwarf cases of oak, which skirt the walls of the room, and form two lines down the centre. They are briefly enumerated in an old alphabetical Catalogue, but are placed on the shelves according to a new Catalogue which is now preparing by Mr. Hough, the bookseller of Gloucester. There are also a list of books borrowed, and “a List of Benefactors to the Library of the Cathedral Church of Gloucester.” Folio.

This Collection contains much obsolete Law and Divinity; but the latter department possesses also many valuable Works, which I will proceed to show, commencing with the impressions of the Sacred Volume.

To which I may add the Codex Bezæ, by Kipling, in old calf; the Novum Testamentum Græcum, Kusteri. Lipsiæ. 1723, folio.

I may here also mention the Book of Common Prayer, by R. Barker, London, 1634, 4to.; the Breviarium Romanum; and Missale Romanum. Antv. 1631, folio; and proceed to enumerate the Fathers of the Church, whose Works are found in this Collection.

In a later æra of the Church we find the Works of Bede, Thomas Aquinas, Calvin, Cranmer, Barrow, and Beveridge.

To which may be added, the Preservative against Popery, in 3 vols. folio; Baxter’s Saints’ Rest; Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher, by Bishop Berkeley; Burnet on the Articles; Blayney’s Jeremiah; Butler’s Analogy; Balguy’s Tracts; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible, London, 1708, 3 vols. folio; Concordantiæ Bibliorum, Hanoviæ, 1618, 4 vols. folio; Cave’s Scriptor. Eccles. Historia literaria; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; the Works of Chillingworth and Conybeare; Campbell on the Gospels, and on Miracles; Dupin [163]Bibliothèque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques, Paris. 1693, 10 vols. 8vo.; Derham’s Astro Theology, Bibliotheca Fratrum Polonorum, Irenop. 1639, 6 vols. folio; Tracts on the Bangorian Controversy, London, 1739; Critici Sacri, Londini, 1660, 10 vols. folio; Poli Synopsis, Londini, 1669, 5 vols. folio; Cruttwell’s Concordance; Fleetwood’s Works, 1737; Bishop Fell on the Epistles; Faber on Pagan Idolatry and on the Prophecies; several Tracts by Grotius; Graves on the Pentateuch, 1807, 2 vols. 8vo.; the Works of Hammond, Hopkins, Hooker, Hurd, and Hoadley; Horsley on the Psalms, and other Works; Hey’s Lectures; Hutcheson’s Moral Philosophy, and Essay on the Passions; Hales on the Trinity; Jackson’s Works; Jones’s Canon of the New Testament, 1726; the Works of Lightfoot; Marsh’s Michaelis on the New Test. 1802, 6 vols. 8vo.; Newton’s Prophecies and Sermons; Newcome’s Sermons; Ostervald’s Arguments; Pearson on the Creed; Prideaux’s Connection; Patrick and Lowth’s Commentaries; Lowth’s Isaiah; Leighton’s Works; Mede’s Works, 1664, 2 vols. folio; Macknight’s Harmony; Pyle’s Paraphrase; the Works of Paley, Porteus, Secker, and Stillingfleet; Stackhouse’s History of the Bible, London, 1742, 2 vols. folio; Sanderson’s Sermons; Sale’s Koran; Saurin’s Sermons; the Works of Sherlock, Stanhope, Seed, and Tillotson; Jeremy Taylor’s Ductor Dubitantium; the Works of Warburton, Wake, Whiston, and Waterland; Watson’s Apology, and Theological Tracts; West on the Resurrection; several volumes of the Bampton Lectures; the Bibliotheca Maxima Versionum, &c. Parisiis, 1666, 19 vols. folio; and Bibliotheca Magna Comment. Parisiis, 1644, 5 vols. folio, in calf.

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In Ecclesiastical History, I may mention Lyndewode’s Provinciale, Paris. 1502, folio, & Oxonii, 1699, folio; the Centuriatores Magdeburgenses, Basileæ, 1624, 3 vols. folio; Baronii Annales, Antverpiæ, 1610, 12 vols. folio, in vellum covers, with the Epitome of Spondanus, in calf; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, Lond. 1737, 4 vols. folio; Gratiani Decretum, Codex Theodosianus, cum Comment. Gothofredi, in 6 vols. folio; Justiniani Pandectæ, Parisiis, 1504; Durandi Speculum Juris, folio, in old black letter, imperfect; Basnage’s History of the Jews, London, 1708, fol.; Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Bower’s History of the Popes, London, 1748, 8 vols. 4to.; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History, London, 1708, 2 vols. folio; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Gibson’s Codex; Josephus, Havercamp, Amst. 1726, 2 vols. folio; Whiston’s Josephus, 1745, 8vo. 6 vols.; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Strype’s Annals and Memorials; Quick’s Synodicum in Galliâ Reformatâ, Londini, 1692, folio; Rycaut’s History of the Popes; Laval’s History of the Reformation in France, London, 1737, 7 vols. 8vo.; Sleidan Histoire de la Reformation à la Haye, 1767, 3 vols. 4to.; Usseri Annales, et Antiq. Eccl. Britt.; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; and Fox’s Martyrs, London, 1632, 3 vols. folio.

Of English History, I remarked Brady’s Introduction thereto, London, 1685, folio, as well as his History of England, London, 1720, folio; Baker’s Chronicle, London, 1674, folio; Camden’s Britannia; Campbell’s Survey of Great Britain, London, 1774, 2 vols. 4to.; Colquhoun on the Resources of the British Empire; Dugdale’s Monasticon, and View of the Troubles; [165]Fosbroke’s British Monachism; Henry’s History of England; History of the Wars in Ireland, London, 1653, folio; Harris’s Life of Cromwell, London, 1772, 8vo.; Baker’s Hereditary Right, London, 1713, folio, for which he was imprisoned; Martin’s History of England, London, 1615, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum Rer. Angl.; Norden’s Britanniæ Speculum; Scriptores post Bedam edente Savile; Sprigge’s Anglia Rediviva, folio; Stow’s Chronicle, London, 1631, folio; Drayton’s Polyolbion, folio; Webb’s Metrical History of Richard II. originally published in the Archæologia, 4to.; Rapin’s History of England; several Diurnalls of Passages in the Great Civil War, 4to.; Stafford’s Pacata Hibernia, 1633; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Sawyer’s Memorials of Affairs of State, London, 1725, 2 vols. folio; Wallace’s Peerage of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1785, 8vo.; Yarranton’s England’s Improvement, London, 1677, 4to.; Twini Commentarii de rebus Albionicis, Londini, 1590, 12mo.; the Parliamentary History of England, London, 1751, &c. 23 vols. 8vo.; the Publications of the Record Commission, and the Statutes at large.

Of English Topography, I remarked Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence, 4to.; an Act for the Incorporation of the Gloucester Workhouse in 1703; Bigland’s Gloucestershire, London, 1791, folio; Fosbroke’s Gloucestershire, 4to.; Britton’s Gloucester Cathedral; Rudder’s Gloucestershire; Bentham’s Ely; Drake’s York; Pennant’s Tour; Rastall’s Southwell, 1787; Plot’s Oxfordshire; Stow’s London, imperfect; and Speed’s Great Britain, also imperfect; Sammes’s Britannia; Lysons’ Magna Britannia, in 9 [166]vols. 4to.; Wood’s Antiquitates Oxonienses; and Willis’ Cathedrals, London, 1727, 3 vols. 4to.; with the Welsh Cathedrals, viz. those of St. Asaph, Bangor, St. David’s, and Llandaff.

Of General History, the Works are mostly obsolete, being Bossuet Histoire Universelle; Churchill’s Voyages; Delices des Pays Bas; Eustace’s Italy; Fuller’s Palestine, 1650, folio; Gillies’ History of the World, 2 vols. 4to.; Davila’s Civil Wars of France, folio; Harris’s Voyages; Hughes’ Barbadoes; Hooke’s Roman History; Hakluyt’s Voyages, London, 1600, folio; Knolles’s History of the Turks; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Knox’s Campaigns in North America, 1769, 2 vols. 4to.; Norden’s Egypt, London, 1757, folio; Potter’s Greece; Moryson’s Itinerary, London, 1617, folio; together with Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1625, 5 vols. folio; Ralegh’s History of the World; Heylin’s Cosmography, folio; Robertson’s Works; Symson’s Chronicon Catholicon, Oxonii, 1652, folio; Thuani Hist. sui temporis; Tournefort’s Voyages; Grimstone’s France; Shute’s Venice; Warcup’s History of Italy, London, 1660, folio; and the Universal History.

It is pleasant to be able to add to these, a very fine copy of the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius upon large paper, in old calf binding, with a border of gold on the sides; the Inscriptions of Gruter; Pitisci Lexicon; Montfaucon, l’Antiquité Expliquée, Paris, 1719, in 15 vols. folio, a fine copy in old calf, gilt; with Humphrey’s Translation of Montfaucon, London, 1722, 7 vols. folio; to which I may add D’Anville’s Atlas, London, 1797, folio; and Buckingham’s Travels in Palestine, London, 1821, 4to.

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Of Law Books, besides the Statutes at large, and Pickering’s Statutes, I noticed, among much obsolete matter, Ayliffe’s Roman, Civil and Canon Law, London, 1734, 2 vols. folio; Corpus Juris Civilis Justiniani; Seldeni Opera, Londini, 1726, 3 vols. folio; Selden’s Mare Clausum, edited by Needham; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum, Cantabr. 1727, 2 vols. folio.

Of Etymological Works the list is not much more copious, consisting of Johnson’s English Dictionary; Ainsworth’s Latin Dictionary; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Calepini Dictionarium Octolingue, Lugd. Bat. 1663, folio; Cooper’s Dictionary, London, 1573, folio; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary, London, 1611, folio; a Welch Grammar, printed at Caermarthen in 1727, 12mo.; Dictionarium Linguæ Japonicæ, Romæ, 1632, 4to.; Golii Lexicon Arabico Latinum, Lugd. Bat. 1653, folio; Hickesii Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium, Oxonii, 1705, 2 vols. folio; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Stephani Thesaurus, 1527, 5 vols. folio; Spelman’s Glossary; Tooke’s Diversions of Purley, 1798, 2 vols. 4to.; and Vossii Opera, Amstelod. 1701, folio.

Of Classical authors, the editions contained in this Library are neither the first nor the best; the most correct idea, however, of their true character may be obtained by perusing the following brief enumeration of them:

To which may be added, the Works of Dioscorides; Petrus de Crescentiis; Euclid, Plautus, and Plato; Melmoth’s Letters of Pliny; Vigerus de Idiotismis Græcis, Londini, 1678, 12mo.; Barthelemy’s Voyage d’Anacharsis, Paris, 1790-7, 8vo. atlas; Falconer’s Voyage of Hanno, London, 1797, 8vo.; and Vincent’s Voyage of Nearchus, London, 1797, 4to.

Of British Classics, this Library contains the Works of Bacon and Locke; Newton’s Works, edited by Horsley, London, 1779, in 5 vols. 4to.; Du Bartas’ Divine Works and Weeks; Brown’s Vulgar Errors; Burney’s History of Music; Chaucer’s Works, by Urry, London, 1602, folio; Charles the First’s Works; Dryden’s Works, London, 1693, 4 vols. 4to.; Harrington’s [170]Works, London, 1747, folio; Heywood’s Fall of Lucifer, a Poem, London, 1635, 8vo.; Johnson’s Works; Phillips’ Poems, 1609, folio; Shakespeare’s Works, printed at London, 1685, folio, and at Oxford, 1744, in 6 vols. 4to.; Spenser’s Works, 1589, 4to.; Shaftesbury’s Characteristicks, and Temple’s Works; to which I may add Tomline’s Life of Pitt, and Monk’s Life of Bentley; Markham on War; Spence’s Polymetis; Webb on the Beauties of Painting, 1760; Bentham’s Fragment on Government; Nicholson’s Encyclopædia, 1809, 6 vols. 8vo.; a large paper copy of Whitcombe’s Letter to the Prince Regent; the Edinburgh Review; and Literary History.

Of Works relating to Bibliography, I observed only

In Natural History, I noticed only

With the following miscellaneous articles I will close my account of the Gloucester Cathedral Library.

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only remarking that the greater portion of the Divinity is arranged in old calf, whose sombre appearance has been relieved by the addition of new lettering pieces; and that all the books appear remarkably free from damp, being all in open cases, except a few which are in the locked cases at the upper end of the Chapter-house, where stand the Busts of Edward the First, and of Handel.

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Library of Hereford.

The Library of this ancient Cathedral has been happily preserved in its original state, affording a most excellent specimen of a genuine Monastic Library.

The Chapel of our Lady too, in which this interesting Collection is deposited, deserves in itself the tribute of a passing remark for its fretted roof and tesselated floor, its beautiful windows, and its sacred character. The adjacent oratory of Bishop Audley, translated from this See to Salisbury, whose gilt and painted roof faintly indicates its pristine splendour, as well as the tomb of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, 1330, must also attract the notice even of the most incurious stranger.

Such a one will not pass unheeded the shrine of Saint Ethelbert, and the effigy of the Juvenile Martyr; or the Head of the Crosier, the Papal Seal, or the Episcopal Rings, the relics of John Trillich, the forty-eighth Bishop of Hereford, A.D. 1360, found in the Choir in 1813.

The books are placed in projecting cases upon open shelves, to which they are attached by chains, more monachorum, which chains are fastened to a bar coextensive [173]with each shelf, and confined by a lock at the end of each case. Of these the Canons in residence possess the keys; even the Catalogue of the Library is rivetted to the desk on which it stands, and all additions made to the Collection are chained beside their elder brethren.

These fetters are very injurious to the binding of the books, when that is of any consequence; and by causing all the volumes to have their fore edges turned outwards, are by no means calculated to invite the beholder; indeed it would appear that these manacles were in use long before lettering pieces came into fashion, and of these helps to the enquirer few indeed are to be found in this ancient Library.

The books are chiefly attired in the original calf, though some retain their wooden bindings, and are arranged in classes in the several cases, which are numbered in the following manner:

These projecting cases are placed on each side of the Chapel, in a series descending from what was once the altar to the wooden screen, which divides the part appropriated to the Library from the lower portion of the Chapel.

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On entering the Library, the Manuscripts consequently are the first to attract attention, and, being both curious and valuable, shall be here described in the first place.

One of the most important is a manuscript copy of Wickliffe’s Bible, folio, imperfect at the beginning of Genesis, and the end of the Apocalypse, written upon vellum, and recently bound in calf. There are also very beautiful Manuscripts, upon vellum, of the Biblia Latina, S. Hieronymi, in folio, with illuminations, the gift of Stephen Boughton, afterwards Canon of Worcester; and of the Decreta Gratiani, cum apparatu, also illuminated, and in its pristine coverture of oak, bearing on the side under horn, the following inscription in Gothic characters:

“Decreta. Ex dono
i̅n̅ Olkeym Lloid
legum doctoris.”

There is also a very ancient Manuscript upon vellum, in the Roman character, of the “Eꝑlæ S. Pauli,” in quarto, bearing this Inscription, indicative at once of its antiquity and its worth:

“Liber sã Guthlaci de prioratu Herefordie.”

I will next proceed to specify the most remarkable of these Manuscripts without stopping to indicate the substance upon which each has been written, it being unnecessary to premise that the more ancient, and in this case the greater number, are upon vellum.

Besides the S. Biblia Veteris et Novi Testamenti per Hieronymum, Latine, folio, and, Evangelia Quatuor Latinè versa, quarto, there are manuscripts of various portions of the Bible, and Homilies by several of the Fathers.

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I also noticed folios, containing the Works of Saints Augustine, Chrysostom, Bernard, Eusebius, and Jerome, together with many Glosses and Postillæ, Decretals and Pandects.

I also observed the Historia Scholastica of Comestor, and Sermones Petri Comestoris in folio. A curious volume in quarto, containing—

“Vita Christi per Bonaventuram; Vita S. Francisci, et Vitæ Inclusarum Anglicè per Ricardum de Hampul. Item, The Way of Perfection by Henry Chambernon,” and Guilielmi de Sancto Amore Collectio, &c. quarto, more interesting from the tradition connected with it, than from its contents, as every one will readily admit, who reads within it:—“Hic liber pertinuisse videtur ad Hugonem Latimerum. Episc. et Martyrem.”

As connected with the early History and Ordinances of the Church, we have the well known Constitutiones Clementinæ glossatæ à Joanne Andrea, folio; the Institutiones et Codex Justiniani-Chronica Martini Papæ, &c. folio; Sylloge Conciliorum Ecclesiarum Orientalium et Occidentalium, à Martino Bracarensi Episcopo facta, folio; Acta et Statuta quædam de Fratribus Mendicantibus, &c. folio; Eusebii Cæsariensis Historia Ecclesiastica, Latinè per Rufinum, cum Supplemento ad obitum Theodosii Magni, folio; Ludovici de Padua, Tabula in Jus Canon, et Civil. folio; Joannes de Bromyard Tractatus Juris Civilis et Canonici, folio; and the Constitutiones Provinciales et Legatinæ, cum Commentariis in easdem.

Independently of Augustini de Civitate Dei, Sermones et Epistolæ, and Hieronymi Epistolæ, et Tractatus varii, there are the Works of Saints Anselm and Gregory; [176]Joannis Damasceni Opera; Cassianus de Collationibus Patrum; and Nicolai de Lyra super V. Libros Moysis, &c. folio; together with Petri de Capua Dictionum Biblicarum Explanatio ordine Alphabetico, folio.

In the Theology of the middle ages we meet with the subtleties of Thomas Aquinas, and Joannes Duns Scotus super IV Sentent. folio, as well as with Adhelmus de Virginitate, &c. 4to.; Nicolai de Gorram Distinctiones Rerum Theologicarum, A.D. 1400, folio; Roberti Crickladensis, Cognomine Canuti, (Knight) de Connubio Jacobi Patriarchæ, 4to.; Josephi De Burgo, Cancellarii Cantabrigiensis, Liber qui dicitur Pupilla Oculi, folio; Alcwini Diaconi Speculum Morale, 4to.; Ægidii Romani, Eremitæ Augustiniani, Liber de Regimine Principum, folio; and Hugonis de Sancto Victore Liber de Claustro animæ, folio.

As connected with British History, I may mention the following interesting volume:

Bedæ, Venerabilis, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica Libris V. cum Epilogio de Obitu Bedæ; et Chronologia Archiepiscoporum Cantuariensium ab Augustino ad præsens tempus; i. e. Thomæ de Arundel. Archiep. Cantuar. folio.

Of Classical Authors, the Manuscripts are few, yet amid such a mass of obsolete divinity, it is pleasant to recognise the following:

Ciceronis liber de Inventione Rhetoricâ cum Glossâ, et Fulberti Episcopi de Differentiâ Rhetoricæ & Dialecticæ. Item, Liber de Officio Oratoris ad Herennium, 4to.; Boethii de Consolatione Philosophiæ cum Comm. 4to.; and Petri de Crescentiis, Civis Bononiensis, de Ruralibus Commodis, folio; to which I may add the [177]celebrated Catholicon Januense, folio; Isidori Hispalensis Etymologiarum Liber, folio; and Osberni Monachi Gloucestrensis, Panormia; seu Linguæ Latinæ Dictionarium; scilicet, Vocabula, Derivationes, &c. folio.

With these and the mention of the once popular Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, 4to.; and Jacobi Januensis Aurea Legenda, folio; I shall conclude my account of the Manuscripts, which form the most ancient portion of the Hereford Cathedral Library, the contents of which are briefly enumerated in the order in which the volumes themselves stand upon the shelves, for being all chained, this order cannot be materially disturbed.

This list occupies nine leaves at the end of the folio volume, which contains the Catalogue of the printed books, and bears the following title: “Catalogus omnium Codicum Manuscriptorum in Bibliothecâ Herefordensi.”

I observed, lying upon the table 93 pages of a printed Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the possession of Sir Thomas Phillipps, at Middle Hill in Worcestershire, arranged according to the Collections, or under the names of the booksellers from which they had been purchased, with this general title: Catalogus Librorum MSS. in Bibliothecâ Philippicâ, folio; which I regarded as a temporary expedient to assist the recollection of their owner, for a Collection so valuable and extensive ought to receive such a detailed description as that given by the accurate and indefatigable O’Conor of the invaluable Manuscripts at Stowe. Let us therefore hope that the “Bibliotheca Philippica” may one [178]day be rightly set forth juxta exemplar “Bibliothecæ MS. Stowensis.”

We come now to the remaining and most extensive department of this venerable Library, which includes the printed books, which are briefly enumerated in a thin folio volume, entitled “Catalogus omnium impressorum Librorum Bibliothecæ Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Herefordensis juxta ordinem alphabeticum digestus.”

The true bibliographer, (Spirit of envy, say not bibliomaniac), will imagine with what pleasure I turned from the vague indication of ‘Legenda Aurea’ in this Catalogue, to its corresponding number on the shelves, and found it to be the veritable Golden Legende of William Caxton.

To those who in Dibdinian phraseology are familiar with this “thumping folio,” I need say no more than that it is very sound in the middle, though much stained at the end; and that it is preserved in its original binding of stamped calf, with the brass knobs and clasps. This copy is however unfortunately defective at the end, wanting all the leaves after “folio cccc.xxxix.” It also wants the Prologue and Table, five leaves, beginning with folio i. and continuing entire to folio cccc.xxxix. inclusive.

As a meet companion to this noble specimen of the early English press, I may cite a very fine early Terence, in a rude Roman type, without any distinction of verses, or name of printer, place, or date. This interesting volume consists of 246 leaves, and has 35 lines in a full page. It commences with the life of Publius Terentius Afer, having the first letter illuminated, and ends with these verses:

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It is bound up with a Manuscript of Terence, entitled, “Pars Comœd. P. Terentii, partim MS. cum Expos. Florii,” &c. apparently in an old English hand; and at the end of the volume, in Gothic character, is this inscription: “Liber est sui Olkeym Lloid.” The book retains its original wooden binding, covered with calf, and confined by clasps. On the centre of its right side, under a plate of horn is the following inscription upon paper, in the Gothic character:

“Terenciᵘˢ cu̅ donato. Ex dono
m̅. Olkeym Lloyd, qu̅dam
Canonum huj’ Ecclie.—”

Whilst on the subject of early printed books, I may mention Higden’s Polychronicon, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1495; Lyndewode, Provinciale, in double columns, of Gothic letter, with the date of 1433, doubtless by a lapse of the numeral and intended for 1483, folio; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, Argentorati, 1485, folio; and the Commentaries of Nicholas de Lyra, printed at Venice in 1485, in 5 volumes, folio; Breydenbach, Peregrinationes in terram sanctam, Antverpiæ, 1490, fol.; Ptolomæi Geographia, Ulmæ, 1486, fol.; and though last, not least, a very fine and found copy of Nonius Marcellus de Proprietate Latini Sermonis, printed at Venice by the unrivalled Nicolas Jenson in 1476, folio. This beautiful copy has the first letter illuminated, and the arms of some former, probably its earliest, possessor, printed at the foot of the first page. It is preserved in its pristine coverture of wood, and is quite perfect, having the table at the end.

Of impressions of the Holy Bible, the student of the Scriptures will peruse with satisfaction the following succinct enumeration thereof:

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As connected with the Church Service, I may mention—

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Of the Fathers of the Church, in addition to the Works of Saints Ambrose, Cyprian, Cyril, and Epiphanius, and of Lactantius, Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Philo Judæus, Peter and Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Theophylact, Tostatus and Theodoret; I remarked the Works of

Descending to a later period, besides the Works of Thomas Aquinas, Jewel, Calvin, Lowth, Lightfoot, Hammond, Pearson, Prideaux, Stillingfleet, and Jeremy Taylor, Chillingworth, Patrick, Knight, and Tillotson; I noticed

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To which I may without impropriety, add

In Ecclesiastical History, I observed many valuable Works upon the shelves, of which I may select the

Before quitting entirely the subject of Divinity, I may add that this Library contains several old concordances.

Of which Cave’s Scriptor. Eccles. Hist. Liter. Londini, [184]1688, folio; and Dupin’s History of Ecclesiastical Writers, London, 1697, 7 vols. folio, may very properly conclude the notice.

Of General History it may suffice to specify, the Dictionary of Bayle, the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius, with the Lexicon of Pitiscus and the Inscriptions of Gruter.

Of English History, it is pleasant to record such valuable Illustrations as Dugdale’s Monasticon, by Stevens, and Tanner’s Notitia by Nasmith; Dugdale’s Baronage; the Publications of the Record Commissioners.

To which I may add, as the most proper sequel,

Of Law, it will be enough to mention the Statutes at large; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Cunningham’s Law Dictionary; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1685; Durandi Speculum Juris, Basileæ, 1574, folio.

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Of Classical Authors, in addition to the Works of Aristotle, I may enumerate,

To which may be added, the

I may here also most properly introduce the Acta Eruditorum cum Suppl. Lipsiæ, 1683, et seq. 4to.; the Bibliographia Antiquaria; Bibliotheca Græca, Latina, and Ecclesiastica of the learned Fabricius; Photii Bibliotheca, curâ Hœschelii, Rothomagi, 1563; and Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ Catalogus, Oxonii, 1574, folio; Bibliothecæ Thuani Catalogus, Hamburg, 2 vols. [187]12mo.; Thuani Monumenta Literaria, Lut. Par. 1639, 4to.

With Etymological Works this Library is well furnished, as the following specimens may serve to show.

In English Literature this Collection is remarkably deficient, for the Works of Bacon and Locke, of the Royal Authors, James and Charles; Merlin’s Prophecies, printed at Frankfort in 1608; and Chambers’ Cyclopædia, alone arrested my attention.

I must not however omit Hawkins’s History of Music, and a complete Collection of Handel’s Music, the munificent donation of his late Majesty George IV. to the Cathedral of Hereford.

Though not connected with the Library, I may be pardoned for introducing to the reader’s notice an old [188]Saxon Map of the World, preserved in the Treasury. Jerusalem is its centre, and the names of the places are indicated in black letter, which appears to have been inserted subsequently to the original Saxon characters. At the corner of the Map is this inscription: “Exiit edictu̅ ab Augusto Cæsare ut describeretur hic universus orbis”—signed by “Richard de Haldingham,” and “e de lafford.”

The Antiquary will learn with pleasure that a copy of this Map has been made by the direction of the Royal Society, and that consequently this interesting relic of antiquity will become much better known than any observations of mine could possibly make it.

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Library of Lambeth Palace.

In the princely habitation of the head of the English Church, no place could have been found more suitable for the reception of the valuable Library of printed books, attached to the See of Canterbury, than the ancient Juxonian Hall, rife with historic recollections, and now replete with comfort.

This noble room has been so beautifully restored under the tasteful superintendance of Blore, that all its furniture is in perfect accordance with the ancient vaulted roof, which hangs above it.

The modern oaken bookcases entirely surround the room, and projecting at stated intervals from the walls, make as it were a little book-room in each recess; so vast are the dimensions of this antique hall, which is however completely warmed at pleasure by two grand fire-places, one at each end of the room.

The books, thus carefully protected from damp, amount in number to nearly five and twenty thousand volumes, arranged in symmetrical order upon the open shelves of the oaken cases.

Some of the choicer articles however are kept in the adjacent muniment room, of which the Librarian religiously keeps the key.

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The two Coverdale’s, and other early English Bibles, some of the Caxton’s, and Cicero’s offices, with the Neapolitan Pentateuch, both upon vellum, will be found reposing in this chamber, of whose principal contents I have already spoken.

Previous to the judicious adaptation of the Juxonian Hall to the Archiepiscopal Library, that Collection was deposited in four galleries over the cloisters, where it had probably remained ever since the Restoration.

Its previous history is however worthy of notice, as a remarkable instance of the mutations to which literary property is subject in times of popular commotion.

This Library is believed to have been founded by Archbishop Bancroft, in the reign of James the First, but during the civil wars, these printed books were all seized by the Parliament, and by it subsequently bestowed upon the puritanical establishment of Sion College.

In times of great political excitement, men it would seem have no leisure to attend to nice distinctions between meum and tuum: many of those volumes consequently got into private hands; and the Library was in danger of being dispersed, when the learned Selden suggested to the University of Cambridge their right to the Collection under Archbishop Bancroft’s will.

This demand, it appears, was no sooner made than complied with; for in February, 1647, we find, that pursuant to an order of Parliament, this Collection was delivered into the possession of that University.

The Archiepiscopal Library however was not long suffered to remain separate from its parent See, for upon the Restoration it was demanded by Archbishop Juxon, and was accordingly restored to his successor.

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Since the period of its foundation, though the Library may have sustained some losses, yet these I suspect have been more than counterbalanced by the numerous benefactions of successive Prelates.

Archbishops Abbot, Laud, Sheldon, and Tennison were distinguished benefactors. Archbishop Secker enriched it by the bequest of his entire Collection; and the late Archbishop Manners Sutton considerably augmented the theological class.

The first Catalogue of the printed books was compiled by Bishop Gibson, in two small folio volumes, each containing a full alphabet, and bearing the following title:—“Catalogus librorum quos summâ curâ propriisque sumptibus Richardus et Georgius nuper Cantuariæ Archi-Epi. Bibliothecæ Lambethanæ, compârunt: eosq. successoribus suis Cantuarien Archi-Epis. supremis Tabulis in Perpetuum relinquendos statuerunt.” The title of the books, with their dates and references to their places on the shelves are in this Catalogue correctly given. These two volumes are bound in what Dr. Dibdin would call “a kiver of parchmente.”

This Catalogue was afterwards transcribed in a fair hand by Dr. Wilkins, and continued by his successors to the present time. The arrangement of this Work is alphabetical, and the titles, dates, and places are correctly given to each book, with references to their places upon the shelves, or rather to a corresponding numeral and letter pasted on each volume.

This Catalogue is comprised in three folio volumes, each having a separate title page, which is superscribed with “Catalogus Bibliothecæ Lambethanæ.”

The first volume bears the date of 1718, and contains [192]725 pages regularly numbered from the beginning, comprising letters A to F. The second volume, bearing the title and date, contains pages 729 to 1393, and letters E to O. The third volume, bearing the same date and title, contains pages 1397 to 2068, and letters P to Z. All these volumes are in calf binding; but they do not contain all the treasures of this extensive Collection; for in another folio volume, also bound in calf, we find “A Catalogue of the Books bequeathed by the late Archbishop Secker to the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, A.D. 1768.”

This Catalogue, compiled in alphabetical order, contains 244 pages, exclusive of seven leaves at the end, containing “an Index of the Names of the Authors, whose Works are scientifically placed in this Catalogue.” In both these Catalogues, though the arrangement is strictly alphabetical, yet Works relating to different subjects, countries, or sects, &c. are enumerated under those heads as well as under the names of their respective authors.

There are yet three other calf-bound volumes in folio, descriptive of the contents of this Library. Two of these contain “A Catalogue of the Tracts and Pamphlets in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, drawn up by Dr. Ducarel, F. R. and A. S. Lambeth Librarian.”

The first volume, dated 1773, contains 285 leaves, and letters A to N, preceded by the foregoing title, and a dedication to Frederick, Archbishop of Canterbury, by the compiler. The second volume, bearing the same date and title, contains letters O to Z, and has leaves, numbered from 286 to 596, after which the pages are numbered, so that the final number is [193]618, although the actual number of leaves in the Work be only 609. It also bears the date of 1773. The third volume comprehends an “Index to the Catalogue of Pamphlets and Tracts in the Lambeth Library, drawn up by Dr. Ducarel, 1773,” being an alphabetical index of the names contained in the two preceding volumes. To all these three volumes a portrait of Dr. Ducarel, the historian of Lambeth Palace, as well as the keeper of its Library, is prefixed.

In attempting to convey to the reader some notion of the multifarious contents of this extensive Collection, I would first beg to direct his attention to sacred subjects, for Biblical Literature forms one of the most important features of this valuable Library.

Here are two copies of the first English Bible, being that translated by Coverdale, and printed in all probability by Christian Egenolph at Francfort in 1535, folio.

The first of these copies, with the dedication to Queen Anne Boleyn, wants the title, but is perfect, though damaged at the end. It does not possess the Map, which is so often wanting. This volume measures twelve inches and a half by seven inches and seven-eighths, and is in old calf-binding.

The second of these copies, has the dedication to Queen Jane Seymour, belonging to the edition 1536, wants not only the title, but the whole of the New Testament. It possesses however a gratuitous addition at the end, of thirteen leaves, being “a table of the principal Matters conteyned in the whole Bible,” printed in the ordinary black letter of the early part of the sixteenth century. This volume measures twelve inches and a quarter by eight inches, and is also in calf-binding.

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In pursuing the other editions of the English Bible, I will observe as closely as I can the order of time, beginning with the joint labour of Coverdale and Tyndale;

Having thus briefly enumerated the English Bibles in this Collection, I proceed to notice, in chronological [198]order, those copies of detached portions of the Scriptures which have been separately published, commencing with the

Among the different versions of the Psalms, this Library possesses

To this copious Collection of Psalmody I am enabled to add “A List of Psalters, Psalms, &c. presented to the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth by the Right Reverend Dr. Thomas Percy, Lord Bishop of Dromore, April 29th 1782,” wherein the Books are arranged according to their sizes.

Folio.

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Quarto.

Octavo.

Duodecimo.

24mo.

The last article in the List of Books presented by that accomplished Prelate Dr. Percy is a List of Bibles and Psalters from 1526 to 1776. London, 1778, 8vo.

Of portions of the Sacred Scriptures in the original tongue, this Library contains two very interesting specimens, printed upon vellum, which are kept in the record room with the manuscripts. The first of these is the Pentateuchus, Hebraicè, Neapoli, 1491, folio; a perfect, though stained, copy, measuring nine and a half by seven and a half inches, and bound in blue Morocco, in the same volume with an Account of the Naples Pentateuch, printed at Rome in 1780. This volume has also been described by De Rossi, A. H. T. p. 52. The second is that portion of the Bible, [213]in Hebrew, denominated the Prophetæ Priores, scilicet, Josue, Judices, libri Samuelis ac Regum, cum Commentario Kimchi, folio. Soncini, anno ab orbe condito V̅. CCXLVI. Christi 1485. This volume is quite perfect, though in half binding, and richly deserves a more appropriate garment. Its dimensions are thirteen inches by nine inches and a quarter. It is copiously described by De Rossi at p. 60 of his Annales Hebræo-Typographicæ.

To these rare and precious tomes may be added the Biblia Hebraica Stephani. Parisiis, 1543, in 6 vols. 4to. and the Biblia Hebraica, Hutteri. Hamburgi, 1587.

The versions of the Scriptures in various languages, next invite our attention to the truly magnificent volumes of the Biblia Sacra Polyglotta complectentia textus originales Hebraicum Chaldaicum et Græcum, Pentateuchum Samaritanum, cum apparatu appendicibus tabulis, &c., studio et opera Briani Waltoni; Londini, Roycroft, 1657, folio; with the dedication to King Charles the Second. The present copy is upon large paper, measuring nineteen and a half by twelve inches and three eighths, and is bound in 12 volumes in the original calf.

In the estimation of the fastidious bibliomaniac, it may detract from the value of these volumes to be told that they are not uniform either in size or appearance with their indispensable adjunct, Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton, Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, &c. Londini, 1669, folio. This work is also upon large paper, measuring twenty inches by fourteen, and bound in three volumes, in calf.

In this place may be recorded the Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, curâ Ariæ Montani. Antverpiæ, apud Plantin, [214]1569-72, folio.; and the Biblia Hebraica, Græca, et Latina, Vatabli, Heidelbergæ, 1599, folio.

I will next proceed briefly to enumerate the different versions of the Bible in this Collection, beginning with the

omitting other Greek versions too numerous for minute specification.

form only a few specimens of a numerous series, embracing also

and many other editions of the Vulgate.

To these may be added two editions of

Of detailed portions of the Bible in various languages it may suffice to mention

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Among different versions of the Psalter we find

Of the New Testament, Editions in the Syriac, Arabic and Armenian tongues, in the French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese languages, are contained in this Library, where we also find

In this place it may not be irrelevant to mention

The Rituals of the English Church in this Collection are very numerous, including the Books of Common Prayer, published in London, of the dates of 1549, 1552, 1603, 1613, 1636, 1637, 1662, 1664, 1680, 1683, 1686, 1692, 1704, 1705, 1706, 1707, and 1768, with many other of more recent date.

To these may be added

and various other Forms of Prayer, used in the Reformed Churches at Geneva and elsewhere, as well as Manuals and Prayers suited to different occasions.

Rituals of the Church of Rome also occur plentifully [217]in this Collection, many Romish Breviaries of early date, and several Missals; but none so early as the fifteenth century. Some editions of the Pontificale Romanum, several books of Hours and Offices, and various Forms both of Private and Public Prayer being contained therein.

I may here also notice Durandi Rationale Divinorum officiorum; the Talmud Babylonicum, Francofurti, 1721, in 12 folio vols., the bequest of Sir Gilbert Dolben, in 1724; and two editions of the Koran, of 1543 and 1550.

The Theological department of the Archiepiscopal Library is so extensive, that were I to enter into minute detail I should weary the patience of the reader; but were I to notice its general features superficially, I should fail to convey a just idea of its contents.

The best editions of the Works of the Fathers of the Church form a prominent feature in this Collection, including those of S.S. Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Eusebius, Fulgentius, Gregorius, Nazianzenus, Nyssenus and Neocæsariensis; S.S. Jerome, Hilary, Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, Philo Judæus, Theophylact, Theodoret, Polycarp, and Tertullian by de la Bigne, Paris, 1575, in 9 vols. folio. To which I may add the Bibliotheca Patrum, Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, Dodwell, Dissertationes Cyprianicæ, Wake’s Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers, &c.

Among the multitudinous Works of the earlier Divines, the Authors most deserving of mention appear to be, Anselm, S. Barnabas, Basilius Magnus, Bellarmine, Theodore Beza, Thomas Aquinas, Petrus Blesensis, [218]Bonaventura, Martin Bucer, Bullinger, Calvin, Cassiodorus, Camerarius, Clemens Romanus, Alexandrinus, Joannes Damascenus, Drexelius, Drusius, Erasmus, Ficinus, Joannes Gerson, Grelserus, and the Popes Gregory I. XIII. and XIV. Cornelius Jansen, Grotius, Hemingius, Hospinianus, Junius, Thomas à Kempis, Lanfranc, Lactantius, Ludovicus Vives Maimonides, Peter Martyr, Procopius, Prudentius, Savanarola, Duns Scotus, Socinus, Spanheim, Stapleton, Suarez, Joannes de Turrecremata, Whitakerus contra Bellarminum, Udalricus Zuinglius, and many other more or less obscure writers on Controversial Divinity.

It may suffice to mention Chamieri Controversiæ, Zanchii Opera Theologica, Vitalis Speculum Morale, Venetiis, 1513, 4to. and to notice separately the two great lights of the Reformation, Lutheri Opera, Wittebergæ, 1550, &c. folio, 2 vols.; and Melancthonis Opera, Wittebergæ, 1601, in 5 vols. folio, with some other Tracts by that illustrious Scholar and Divine.

Of the Works of English Divines, I have much pleasure in enumerating those of Abbot, Allix, Lancelot Andrews, Atterbury, Bancroft, Barlow, Barrow, Beveridge, Bramhall, Bull, Calamy, Charnock, Chillingworth, Claggett, Samuel Clarke, Comber, Cranmer, Drelincourt, Hall, Hammond, Hoadly, Hody, Hooper, Henry More, Kettlewell, Leslie, Lightfoot, Lowth, Joseph Mede, Perkins, Prideaux, Reynolds, Sanderson, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tenison, Tillotson, Whiston, Whitgift, and Roger Widdrington.

In this place I may most opportunely notice copies of Henrici VIII. Assertio VII. adversus M. Lutherum, Romæ, 1543, 4to.; Fisheri Episcopi Roffensis, Opera, [219]Wittebergæ, 1597, folio; with some other tracts by that eminent divine; and Juelli Opera, Genevæ, 1585, and his Works, London, 1609, folio; to which may be added, Bedæ Venerabilis Opera Omnia, Basileæ, 1563, in 8 folio volumes; Barclay’s celebrated Apology for the Quakers; and Hyde’s Religio Veterum Persarum.

I may also notice Bowyer’s Conjectures on the New Testament; Tyndall, Frith, and Barnes’ Works, London, John Daye, 1573, folio; La Trobe’s Unitas Fratrum, Lond. 1780, 8vo.; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica; Cosin’s Canon of Scripture; Derham’s Physico- and Astro-Theology; Fell’s Paraphrase; Field of the Church; Gastrell’s Christian Institutes; Soame Jenyns on the Evidences of the Christian Religion; Kiddes on the Pentateuch; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Nelson’s Festivals; Norris on the Beatitudes; Osterwald’s Arguments; Outram de Sacrificiis; Pearce and Patrick’s Commentaries; Pearson on the Creed; Pococke on Joel; Scott’s Christian Life; Watson’s Apology; Whitby’s Paraphrase; Wilkins on Natural Religion, and other Tracts of his; the Muggletonian Controversy respecting the Quakers, and various Tracts relating to the Jesuits and Popery, Protestantism and Puritans.

Of French Divines, this Collection embraces the Works of Bourdaloue, Fenelon, Fontenelle, Malebranche, and Du Moulin, to which may be added, Basnage, Histoire des Juifs.

Of Sermons, these shelves bear an enormous load, among which are found those of Donne, Latimer, Leighton, and Porteus, with his Lectures and other Tracts; and of South and Wake, with many single [220]sermons on various occasions, and the collected discourses of other divines too numerous to mention.

The Liturgical Works in this Library may be represented by the Liturgia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, Latine, 1594 and 1703.

The Homilies are also numerous, including Elstob’s Anglo-Saxon Homily, London, 1709, 8vo.; and the theological treatises of obscure writers which have rarely survived the events which called them forth, are here found preserved, like insects in amber.

I may close this brief and imperfect notice by the mention of De Rossi, Variæ Lectiones Veteris Testamenti, 1784, in 4 volumes; some Tracts by the celebrated Laud; Davenant’s Prælectiones Theologicæ; and Alexandri de Ales Summa, &c. Norimbergæ, 1482, in 4 volumes, folio.

I may here also notice the copious Collection of Catechisms, of Forms of Confession, of divers Ceremonials of the Church, various Concordances, numberless Tracts upon Church Discipline and Ecclesiastical Affairs, and some curious publications of, and concerning Martin Mar-Prelate.

In Works connected with Ecclesiastical History in general, this Collection abounds; and of these I would select for especial notice, Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici, and Martyrologium Romanum; Socratis Historia Ecclesiastica, per Vorlesium, folio; the Lombardica Historia, Basileæ, 1486, folio; Voragine Legenda Aurea, Lond. 1501, and 1507, folio; the Codex Theodosianus; Raderi Bavaria Pia; Ribedeneira, Vita Ign. Loyola; Platina, Vitæ Pontificum Romanorum; Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Echard’s Ecclesiastical [221]History; Geddes’ Church History of Malabar and Æthiopia; Rycaut’s Armenian and Greek Churches; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Orosius; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; the Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; and Cressy’s Church History of Brittany.

Of Works relating more particularly to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of Great Britain, we find in this Library,

A copious Collection of Councils relating to the affairs of the Church, forms a valuable supplement to this class of books, embracing as it does the

Of Works relating to History in general, I am enabled to notice the series of Byzantine Historians; the Speculum Europæ of Sandys; Freheri, Rerum Bohemicarum Scriptores; the Historia Belgica; Chronicon Regum Francorum; Freculphi, Chronicon; Leunclavii, Annales Turcici; Rycaut’s Turks, the series of Respublicæ Variæ; Reuberi, Pistorii, et Lindenbrogii Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores; Emmius, Rerum Friscianorum Historia; Herrera, Description des Indes; Ligon’s Barbadoes; Sloane’s Jamaica; Smith’s Virginia; Rerum Hispanicarum Scriptores, Francofurti, [223]1579-81, in 3 vols. folio; Ornhielms, Historia Sueonum, 1589; Krantzii, Chronica Danica, Norvegica, &c. Aug. 1546; Loniceri, de rebus Turcicis, 1578, folio; Knolles’ Turks; Olaus Magnus Historia Gentium Septentrionalium, Romæ, 1555; Mezeray, Historie de France, abregé, Amstel. 1673-96, in 7 vols. 8vo.; Molesworth’s Denmark, Rerum Moscoviticarum Auctores, &c. Francof. 1600, folio; Poloniæ Historiæ Corpus edente Pistorio, Basileæ, 1582; and Vulcanii Scriptores Rerum Gothicorum.

The books which relate to the History of Great Britain are deserving of particular notice, as well for their number as for their value, since we here find copies of the Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores, XV. edited by Gale and Fell at Oxford, in 1684, and the X. Scriptores, edited by Twysden, in 1652, both in folio; Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores post Bedam edente Savile, Londini, 1596, and Francof. 1602, folio; Commelini, Rerum Britannicarum Scriptores vetustiores, Heidelbergæ, 1587, folio; Commentarioli Britannicæ Descriptionis Fragmentum à H. Lhuyd, Col. Agr. 1572; Duchesne, Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores, and the Historiæ Francorum Scriptores Coetanei, edente B. Pithæo; Camdeni, Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus scripta; Asserii Vita Ælfredi; Baker’s Chronicle, 1670; Bale’s Chronicle of Sir John Oldcastle; Brady’s History of England; Majoris Historia Britannica, 1521, 8vo.; the History of Great Britain, 1606, 4to.; Birch’s Elizabeth; Camdeni Annales Elizabethæ; Carleton’s Letters, 1757-75-80, 4to.; Chaloner de Rêpublicâ Anglorum; Chamberlayne’s Angliæ Notitia; Churchill’s Divi Britannici; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia, 1377-1558, Lond. 1580, [224]4to. and his Elizabetheïs, London, 1589, 4to.; Duchesne Historie d’Angleterre, &c. Paris. 1604, folio; Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion; Cooper’s Chronicle, London, 1560, 4to.; Daniel’s History of England; Doleman’s Conference respecting the Succession to the Crown of England, 1594, 8vo.; Danyel’s Battle of Agincourt, 1631, 8vo.; Dugdale’s View of the Troubles, and of the Office of Lord Chancellor; Eadmeri Historia Novorum edente Selden; Echard’s History of England; Barnes’ Edward III.; Fabian’s Chronicle, London, 1533, folio; Fleetwode, Elenchus Annalium Edvardi V. &c. 1597, folio; Florentii, Wigornensis Chronicon, Francofurti, 1611, folio; Froissart’s Chronicle, Paris, 1505; Galfredi, Monumetensis de Gestis Regum Britanniæ, Parisiis, 1508, 4to.; Gildas, de excidio ac conquestu Britanniæ, Lond. 1568, 8vo.; Godwini, Annales Henrici VIII. and Charta Regia, 1616, &c. Gulielmi Neubrigensis, Historia Rerum Angl. Parisiis, 1610, 8vo.; Hall’s Chronicle, London, 1550, folio; Hayward’s Historie of Edward the Sext; Hearne’s Textus Roffensis, Oxon. 1720, 8vo.; Lord Herbert’s Henry VIII.; Sir Thomas Herbert’s Memoirs of Charles I.; Sir Philip Warwick’s Memoirs; Holinshed’s Chronicle, London, 1587, in 2 vols. folio; Denzil Hollis’ Memoirs; Howel’s Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ; Langhorne’s Elenchus Antiquitatum Albionensium, 1673, 8vo.; Laud’s Troubles; the Life of Sir Henry Vane; Lilii, Chronicon Regum Angliæ, Francof. 1565, 4to.; the Custumary of London; Ludlow’s Memoirs, in 3 octavo volumes; Martin’s History of the Kings of England, 1615; Matthæi Paris, Historia Anglicana, Londini, 1571 and 1686, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis, Flores Historiarum, Londini, [225]1570, folio; Sir Walter Raleigh’s History of William the Conqueror; Sir E. Walker’s Historical Discourse, London, 1705, folio; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Rymer’s Fœdera; the Records of the Kingdom; Sammes’ Britannia Antiqua; Prisei, Historiæ Britannicæ Defensio, Londini, 1573, 4to.; State Tryals, 1776-9, in 5 vols. folio; those by Hargrave, 1776-81, in 6 vols. folio; Smith, de Republicâ Anglorum, 12mo.; Sancroft’s and Sacheverell’s Tryals; Speed’s Theatre and History of Great Britain, in red morocco; Stow’s Annales, 1592, and his Annals edited by Howes, 1615; Toland’s Anglia Libera, Lond. 1701, 8vo.; Twyne, de rebus Albionicis; Tyrrell’s History of England; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Duaci, 1603, 8vo.; Pontici Virunnii Historia Britannica, Lond. 1585, 8vo.; Whitelocke’s Memorials, 1682 and 1709, folio, and a Catalogue of the Reges, Reginæ ac Nobiles alii sepulti in Ecclesiâ Westmonasteriensi, Londoni, 1603, 4to., and the Population Returns; Wake’s Rex Platonicus; Walsingham, Historia Anglorum ab Edv. I. ad Henr. V. Londini, folio; Warner’s Albion’s England, London, 1612, 4to.; Weldon’s Memoirs of James I. and Welwood’s Memoirs, 1700, 8vo.

Among the books relating to Scottish History, I noticed Buchanan’s History of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1593, folio; and the rare Tract, entitled Maria Scotorum Regina Vindice, Oberto Barnestapolio, Ingoldstadii, 1588, 8vo.; Brand’s Description of Orkney and Zetland, Edinburgh, 1703, 8vo.; Wallace’s Account of the Orkney Islands, London, 1700; Drummond’s History of Scotland from 1423 to 1542, London, 1655, folio; Historia Orcadensis, 1780; Johnstone’s Antiquitates [226]Celto-Scandicæ et Normannicæ; Patten’s Expedition of the Duke of Somerset into Scotland, London, 1548, 12mo.; Rochette, Histoire de Marie Stuart; Martin’s Western Islands of Scotland, London, 1703, 8vo.; Sir James Melvil’s Memoirs; the Life of Wallace, Edinburgh, 1620; Pezron’s Antiquities of the Celtic Nations; and Torfæi Orcadum Historia, Havniæ, 1697, folio.

Of Welsh Histories it may suffice to mention Caradoc’s History of Wales, edited by Wynne, London, 1696, 8vo.; and Powell’s History of Wales, London, 1584, 4to.

I may here notice, Merlin’s Prophetia Anglicana Latine, a Galfredo Monumetensi, Francof. 1608, 8vo.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain, the most remarkable are, Abingdon’s Worcester Cathedral; Burleigh’s State Papers, by Murdin, London, 1759, folio; Battely, Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Birch’s Lives of Bacon, Tillotson, and Raleigh; Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth, and other Works; Bearcroft’s History of the Charter House; Bertrami, Britannicarum Gentium Historiæ Scriptores tres, Hauniæ, 1757, 8vo.; Borlase’s Cornwall; Carleton’s Letters, 1757, 4to.; Carte’s History of England, with his Life of Ormonde; Chamberlayne’s Angliæ Notitia; Clarendon’s Life, State Papers, and Miscellaneous Works; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiquities, Anglo-Gallic Coins, and Tour through Normandy; Deering’s Nottingham; Green’s Worcester, 1764, 8vo.; Dugdale’s St. Paul’s, 1716; Doddridge’s Life of Gardiner; Burnet’s Life of Rochester; Harris’ Lives of Charles I. and II. and of Cromwell; Harris’ Kent; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, edente Hearne. [227]Oxon. 1745, 8vo.; Leland’s Itinerary, edited by Hearne, Oxford, 1745, in 9 octavo volumes; the Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury; Philipot’s Villare Cantianum, London, 1659, folio; Lewis’ History of Faversham, 1727, and of the Isle of Tenet, 1736; Echard’s History of England, and of the Revolution of 1688; Macaulay’s St. Kilda, and Macqueen’s Observations thereon; Mallet’s Life of Bacon; Hume’s History of England, London, 1756, 8vo.; Morant’s History of Colchester, 1748, and of Essex, 1763, folio; the Parliamentary History of England, 1762, in 24 octavo volumes; and the Debates of Parliament, 1739, in 16 vols. 8vo.; Plot’s Natural History of Oxfordshire; some of Prynne’s pieces; Rapin’s History of England, by Tindall; Robertson’s History of Scotland; Stukeley’s Account of Richard of Cirencester, London, 1757, 4to.; and Thorpe’s Registrum Roffense; Walpole’s Life of Richard III.; Ward’s Gresham College; Willis’ Cathedrals, 1737, in 3 vols.; his History of Buckingham, 1755, 4to.; and his Notitia Parliamentaria, 1750, in 3 vols. 8vo.; and Wren’s Parentalia, 1750, folio; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses, Lond. 1721, in 2 vols. folio; the Stemmata Chicheleana, Oxford, 1765, 4to.; the Lettres Historiques, Edin. 1759, 12mo.; and Sir William Temple’s Introduction to the History of England, London, 1695, 8vo.

The Works relating to the Topography and Antiquities of England, embrace, Adams’ Index Villaris; the complete series of the Archæologia; Atkyn’s Gloucestershire, 1712, folio; Ayliffe’s Oxford; Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Bentham’s Ely; Blount’s Fragmenta Antiquitatis; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; [228]Britannia Illustrata, Lond. 1707, folio; Camden’s Britannia, London, 1607, and edited by Gibson, London, 1695, folio; Brooke’s Discovery of Errors in Camden’s Britannia; Camden’s Remaines concerning Britaine; Charleton’s Stonehenge; Chauncey’s Hertfordshire; Ducarel’s Account of St. Catherine’s Church, London, 1782, 4to., and of Lambeth Palace, London, 1785, 4to.; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, 1655, in 3 vols. folio; Hasted’s Kent; Howel’s History of London; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Leigh’s Natural History of Lincolnshire, 1700, folio; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities, 1695, on large paper; Loggan’s Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata, 2 vols. folio; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum, and History of the Exchequer; Morgan’s Roads, 1689, 8vo.; Newcourt’s Diocese of London, 2 vols. folio; Paterson’s Pietas Londinensis, 1714; Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury, 1703, folio, and his Account of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Gibson’s Portus Iccius, Oxon. 1694, folio; Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum; Stow’s London, 1603, 4to.; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, 1695; Webbe’s Stonehenge restored, 1665; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence; Wittie’s Scarborough Spaw, 1660; Whitworth’s Register of the Trade of the Port of London, 1777, 8vo.; and Wood’s History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, 1674, folio, and the Statuta Universitatis Oxoniensis, 1638, 8vo.

Numerous are the Historical Tracts relating to some of the most eventful periods of English History contained within these walls. Under this head may be classed the famous Εικων Βασιλικη; the Defensio Regia; the Royal Martyr, 1684, 8vo.; Carolus Redux, Oxon. [229]1629, 8vo.; Douglas’s Account of the Coronation of Charles II. London, 1660, 4to.; and the complete series of the London Gazettes from November 7, 1665, to December 31, 1768, in 50 folio volumes, which have been continued from September, 1769 to the year 1783, by Archbishop Cornwallis, whose successors will doubtless continue to preserve the chain of these ephemeral productions unbroken to the present day.

The legal Works relating to the History of England which I noticed, are the Magna Charta, edited by Blackstone, with some Legal Tracts by that great lawyer; the Acts of Parliament, from the 8th to the 30th of George II. in 23 vols. folio, and from the 31st of George II. to the 10th of George III. in 12 vols. folio; the Acta Regia, London, 1726, in 3 vols. 8vo.; Dalrymple on Feudal Property, London, 1758, 12mo.; the Trial of Lord George Sackville, 1760, 8vo.; the Trial of James Annesley, and Richard, Earl of Anglesey, 1744, folio; and Wood’s Institutes of the Laws of England.

There are also several Tracts of a Miscellaneous Nature, chiefly relating to Political Events from 1697 to 1721, contained in 22 octavo, 16 quarto, 5 12mo. and 2 folio volumes; the Gazetteer, from 1714 to 1760, in 28 quarto volumes; Political Pamphlets, from 1702 to 1766, in 38 volumes 8vo.; the State of Great Britain, from 1711 to 1740, in 59 volumes, 8vo.; and the Old Whig, London, 1739, in 2 vols. 8vo., all tending to elucidate an anxious and eventful period in England’s History.

Of Works relating to the History of Ireland, I noticed Cox’s Ireland; Pauli Jovii Descriptio Magnæ Britanniæ et Hiberniæ, Venetiis, 1549, 4to.; a Geographical [230]Description of Ireland, 1642, 8vo.; Historical Memoirs of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, London, 1767, 8vo.; Mac Geoghegan, Histoire d’Irlande, Paris, 1758, 4to.; Sir William Petty’s Political Anatomy of Ireland, London, 1691, 8vo.; Stanihurst, de Rebus Hibernicis, Antv. 1584, 4to.; Temple’s History of the Irish Rebellion of 1646; Waræi Disquisitio de Hiberniâ, Lond. 1654, 8vo.; Ware’s History of Ireland, London, 1705, folio; and Warner’s History of the Rebellion in Ireland.

The Historical Works in this Collection comprehend several Pamphlets, and Works relating to America, together with

I cannot quit the Historical department of this Library without a brief and passing notice of those Works which, however remotely, bear upon the subject. These are, the Illustrations of America, by De Bry, printed at Franckfort in 1591, in 8 folio volumes, and the Icones Ducum, published at the same place in [231]the preceding year, in 4to. by the same indefatigable compiler; the Effigies Theologorum, by Verheiden, Hagæ-Com. 1602, folio; Thuani Historia sui temporis, Aurel. 1620, in 5 folio volumes; Annales Caroli Mag. per Anon. Helmst. 1594, 4to.; Dempster’s Antiquities of Rome; Davila’s History of the Civil Wars of France; the Works of Guicciardini; Josephi Opera Omnia, and Antiquitates Judæorum; Pauli Jovii Opera Omnia; the Mercure François, from 1605 to 1644, in 25 octavo volumes; Overbeke, Reliquiæ; Urbis Romæ; Italia Illustrata, Francofurti, 1600; Justiniani Institutiones, folio; Du Fresnoy’s Methode d’etudier Histoire; the valuable Illustrations of Grecian and Roman Antiquities, by Gravius and Gronovius, with the Inscriptions of Gruter, and Supplementary Lexicon of Pitiscus; Potter’s Antiquities of Greece; Heylin’s Cosmography; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations, &c.; Micylli Icones Imperatorum, 1544, 8vo.; Montfaucon, Diarium Italicum and Palæographia Græca; Munsteri Cosmographia; Palladio’s Antiquities of Rome, Oxford, 1709, 8vo.; Raleigh’s History of the World; Wheari Methodus legendi Historiam; a Collection of Royal Wills, London, 1780, 4to.; and Vincentii Speculum Majus, Venet. 1591, in 4 folio volumes.

In Sacred Philology this Library is peculiarly rich, the collection of Critical and Philological Writers on the New Testament alone, occupying in alphabetical order, the space in the Catalogue of this Collection included between pages 210 and 216. It also embraces Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ in Quatuor Evangelia et Acta Apostolorum, Hamburgi, 1739, in 5 quarto volumes; and Wall’s Critical Notes on the New Testament, 1730, in 3 vols. 8vo.; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; [232]Leusden’s Philologia Hebraica; Lowth, de Sacrâ Poesi Hebræorum; Schultens’ Origines Linguæ Hebraicæ; Wetstein’s Canones Critici in Novum Testamentum, Amstel. 1711, 12mo.; and Wernsdorff de Fide historicâ Libror. Maccabæorum, Uratislaviæ, 1737, 4to.; and Beausobre on the New Testament.

Of Impressions of the Holy Bible in this Collection, the most remarkable are

I may here introduce the best edition of Sale’s Koran. London, 1734, 4to.

The Versions of the Psalms, by Barton, in 1688; by Simon Ford, in 1688; by J. Johnson, in 1707; by Bishop King, in 1707; by Will. Green, in 1762; and by Bradbury, in 1763; together with Sandys Paraphrase of 1676; and some French Versions, are found in this Collection.

Of the New Testament, the editions most worthy of notice appear to be those by Beausobre and L’Enfant, [233]at Amsterdam, in 1741, in 2 vols. 4to.; by Doddridge, London, in 1765, in 2 vols. 8vo.; and by Harwood, in 1768; also the Manks Testament, of 1763, 8vo.; together with the Novum Testamentum Græcum, Bengelii, Tubingæ, 1734, 4to.; Clerici, Francof. 1714, folio; and Stephani, Francof. 1601, folio; and Wetstenii, Amstelod. 1751, in 2 folio volumes; Evangeliarium Quadruplex Latinè a Josepho Blanchino, Romæ, 1749, in 4 folio volumes; and Æthiopicè, Persicè, et Latinè à Ch. Aug. Bode. Halæ Magdeb. 1749, 4to.; Junii Evangelia Gothica, and Maittaire’s edition of the Greek Testament, London, 1728, 8vo.; and the New Testament, by the College of Rhemes, Antwerp, 1621, 12mo.

I may here properly introduce, Jones on the Canon of the New Testament; Walchii Historia Ecclesiastica Novi Testamenti. Jenæ, 1744, 4to.; Wells on the Old and New Testament; Taylor’s Hebrew Concordance; Cruden’s and Pilkington’s Concordances; Doddridge’s Family Expositor; Calovii Biblia Illustrata. Dresdæ, 1719, in 3 vols. folio; and Calmet’s Commentaries. Paris, 1724, in 9 folio volumes.

Of Common Prayer Books, I remarked those printed at Cambridge, in 1663, 4to.; at Edinburgh, in 1712; at Oxford, in 1739; and at London, in 1768, 8vo.; the Manx Prayer Book, London, 1765, 8vo.; and the Christian Common Prayer Book, 1761, 8vo.; the Missale Ecclesiæ Sarisburiensis, Duaci, 1604, 4to.; together with Nichols on the Common Prayer; several Tracts upon the Liturgy, and a Copious Preparation for the Sacrament; and of Collections of Catechisms and Forms of Prayer for Fasts, &c. from 1740 to 1796, inclusive, in 4to.

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I may here take occasion to notice, Hume’s Natural History of Religion; Adams’ Answer to Hume’s Essay on Miracles; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature delineated, London, 1724, 4to.; Rutherforth’s System of Natural Philosophy, and Institutes of Natural Laws; Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments; Bishop Taylor’s Antiquitates Christianæ, London, 1703, folio; Price on Morals; Priestley on Education; Reid on the Human Mind; Edwards on the Will; and Jones on Natural Philosophy.

In Ecclesiastical History, the Works most worthy of notice appear to be, Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Bower’s Lives of the Popes; Bull’s Life; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries.

In this place I may conveniently record

I may here also notice Saurin’s Discourses, Amst. 1720, in 11 octavo volumes; and the Sermons delivered at the Boyle Lecture, London, 1739, in 3 folio volumes; Bossuet’s Discourses, Jeremy Taylor’s Sermons, and Cooper’s Sermons on Predestination, and those of South, Skeeler, Smalridge, Smith, Stebbing, Stevens, Straight, Tebeck, Wake, Walker, Warburton, Warren, Weston, Waterland, Whichcote, Wishart, Whitby, and Zirlzendorff.

Also Miscellaneous Sermons from 1690 to 1713, in 13 volumes, from 1709 to 1714, in 9 volumes, from 1708 to 1763, in 26 volumes, all in octavo, and another Collection of Occasional, Funeral, and Miscellaneous Sermons, in 23 quarto volumes.

To these may be added a copious Collection of Theological Tracts in 72 octavo volumes, of which the 19th appears to be missing; and a Series of Tracts on the Bangorian Controversy from 1717 to 1723, in 12 volumes octavo.

Before quitting the subject of Ecclesiastical History, it affords me great satisfaction to notice three editions of Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, the first printed at Lambeth by John Daye, in 1572, the second at Hanover, in 1605, and the third, augmented by Dr. Drake and printed at London in 1729, all in folio. Of these, the first edition, published under the Archbishop’s [237]own eye, is on every account highly valuable. The present copy is filled with notes in the hand writing of John Parker, son of the Archbishop, and contains several ancient deeds, described in a letter from Dr. Ducarel to Archbishop Secker, dated July 15, 1758. At the end of the Life of Archbishop Parker a fine portrait of him by Hogenberg, is pasted at the end of the volume. According to Dr. Ducarel this book was missing from the MS. Library at Lambeth, from 1720 until 1757; when Trevor, Bishop of Durham, having had the good fortune to recover it, restored it to its original and proper repository.

To this I may add the translation from this edition of the Lives of LXX Archbishops of Canterbury, 1572, 12mo., made, according to Hearne, by John Josselin, with marginal notes by some Puritan. “It is a very great rarity,” adds the indefatigable Antiquary of Oxford.

Of Works relating to Civil and Canon Law, I may here notice merely Montesquieu, Esprit des Lois; Gothofredi Corpus Juris Civilis; Gibson’s Codex; Justitiani Institutiones; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum; Puffendorf’s Laws of Nature and Nations; Cay’s Statutes at large, London, 1758, in 5 vols. folio, with Observations on the Statutes, by Daines Barrington, 1766, 4to.; and the Corpus Juris Canonici, Boehmeri, 1747, in 3 vols. 4to.; and Watson’s Clergyman’s Law.

Of Works relating to Antiquity in general, this Collection embraces Sallengre, Novus Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanarum; the Marmora Arundeliana, edited by Selden, London, 1628, 4to.; the Marmora Oxoniensia, 1763, folio; Arbuthnot on Coins; [238]Clarke’s Coins, 1767, 4to.; Wise, Catalogus Nummorum in Bibliothecâ Bodleianâ, 1750, folio; Jameson’s Spicilegium Antiquitatum Egyptiacarum, Glasguæ, 1720, octavo.

The Works of Science and Natural History include, Celsius de Plant. S. S. 1748; Ray’s Synopsis; Stirpium Britanniæ; Emerson’s Mathematical Works; Euclid’s Elements; Keill’s Astronomical Works; Maclaurin’s Account of his Discoveries; the Philosophical Transactions abridged, London, 1749, in 9 vols. 4to.; Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, London, 1742, in 5 octavo volumes; Ronayne and Simpson’s Algebra; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society; Well’s Elementa Arithmetica; Watts’ Logic, and other works; Whiston’s Elements of Euclid, and Theory of the Earth, with his Life, &c.; Lettres sur l’Histoire Naturelle de Buffon, &c. Hamburgh, 1751, in 5 volumes, 12mo.; and Woodward’s Theory of the Earth, 1723, 8vo.

In Works of Natural History, this Collection, though not rich, possesses the Works of Aldrovandus and Kepler; Evelyn’s Sylva; Gesneri Historia Animalium; Grew’s Anatomy of Plants, and Museum of the Royal Society; Hooke’s Micrographia; Martin Lister’s Historiæ Animalium Angliæ tres Tractatus, Londini, 1678, 4to.; Eduardi Luidii Lithophylacii Britannici Iconographia, Londini, 1699, 8vo.; Newton, Optics and Principia; Raii Catalogus Plantarum Angliæ, and his Methodus Plantarum, &c.; Van Rheede, Hortus Malabaricus; Scheuchzer, Itinera Alpina, and Herbarium Diluvianum; the Museum Wormianum, 1655, folio; Warren, Geologia, Lond. 1690, 8vo.; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, and the [239]Philosophical Transactions from 1665 to 1774, completed by Archbishop Cornwallis, and continued to the present day.

The Medical Works which occurred to me were those of Boerhaave, and Dr. R. Mead; Collins’ Anatomy, London, 1685, in 2 folio volumes; the Pharmacopœias of Amsterdam and London; and Sydenham Opera Medica Universa; Culpepper’s English Physician; Flud, Opera Medica varia; Harvey, de Motu Sanguinis, Lond. 1628, 4to.; Pharmacopœia Londinensis, and the Works of Galen.

Among the Foreign Miscellanies I would merely mention the Works of Bochart; some Philosophical Tracts by Buxtorf, and Kuster; the Works of Le Clerc; Rousseau’s Letters; some Pieces by Voltaire; and Zimmermanni Opuscula, Tiguri, 1751, in three quarto volumes.

Among the Geographical Works, I found those of Ptolemy, Baudrand, and Cluvier; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus, and Wells’ Geography.

Of Voyages and Travels I observed Maundrell’s Journey, Dampier and Frobisher’s Voyages; Hakluyt’s Voyages, 1598, in 3 volumes folio; Lithgow’s Travels, London, 1632, 4to.; Breydenbach, Peregrinationes in Terram Sanctam, Moguntiæ, 1486, folio; Marco Polo, Travels, 1579, 4to.; Purchas’ Pilgrimes, 1625-6, in 5 volumes, folio; and Wheler’s Greece, London, 1682, folio.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection embrace Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Collins’s Peerage; Dugdale’s Baronage, folio; and his Usage of Arms, in 8vo.; Favine’s Theatre of Honor, London, 1623, folio; Gwillim’s Heraldry, London, 1632 and 1660, both in [240]folio; Hemminges’ Theatrum Genealogicum; Milles’s Catalogue of Honor, London, 1610, folio, a noble copy upon large paper, in calf binding; Norden’s Mirrour of Honour, London, 1597, 4to.; Philipot on Heraldry, London, 1672, 8vo.; Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England, by Stebbing, London, 1707, folio, upon large paper; and the Genealogy of the Kings of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1603, 4to.; Douglas’ Peerage of Scotland, and the English Baronetage, London, 1741, in 5 octavo volumes.

In this place I may briefly mention Lelandi Genethliacon, Lond. 1543, 4to. and his Assertio Arturii, Lond. 1544, 4to.

The Chronological Works in this Collection comprehend Blair’s Chronology; Beveridge’s Institutiones Chronologicæ; Jackson’s Chronological Antiquities; Kennedy’s Astronomical Chronology, London, 1762, 4to.; Newton’s Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms, amended; Bishop Squire’s Essay on Greek Chronology; Wise’s History and Chronology of the Fabulous Ages; and a Collection of Almanacks from 1695 to 1714; the Chronicon Alexandrinum, 1615, 4to.; the Persian Chronology, by Livelie, London, 1597, 8vo.; the English Chronology, Oxford, 1696, 12mo.; Chronologia Sacra, Parisiis, 1652; the Fasciculus Temporum, Lovaniæ, 1476, folio, and Norimbergæ, 1481, folio; Petavii Doctrina Temporum; and Jackson’s Chronological Antiquities.

The consideration of ancient time leads the mind naturally back to the great authors of Greece and Rome, of whose immortal Works many grace the shelves of this great Collection.

The Archiepiscopal Library includes various editions [241]of the Works of Aristotle, Arrian, Aulus Gellius, Bion, and Moschus, Cicero, Columella, Cornelius Nepos, Dion Cassius, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Florus, Horace, Plato, Plautus, Pindar, Quintilian, Seneca, and Thucydides.

The scholar will here find editions of the Works of Ælian, Æsop, Arrian, Athenagoras, Æmilius Probus, Ausonius, Boethius, Cæsar, Quintus Calaber, Celsus, Catullus, Claudian, Quintus Curtius, Dictys Cretensis, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Dionysius Areopagita, Dionysius Periegetes, Ennius, Eutropius, Pompeius Festus, Valerius Flaccus, Florus, Herodotus, Hesiod, Hierocles, Hippocrates, Homer, Iamblichus, Isocrates, Silius Italicus, Justin, Lucan, Lucretius, Macrobius, Martial, Ammianus Marcellinus, Valerius Maximus, Menander, Moschus, Musæus, Cornelius Nepos, Oppian, Orpheus, Ovid, Pausanias, Persius, Petronius Arbiter, Phædrus, Philostratus, Pliny the Younger, Plautus, Propertius, Quintilian, Sallust, Seneca, Solinus, Stobæus, Strabo, Suetonius, Symmachus, Tacitus & Terence, Tibullus, Terentius Varro, Vegetius, and Virgil.

We also find on these shelves, Burton, Tragœdiarum Græcarum Delectus; Carter’s Epictetus; Creech’s Lucretius; Fawkes’ Theocritus; Whiston’s Josephus; Veteris Geographiæ Scriptores Minores, à Wells. Oxonii, 1698, in 4 octavo volumes; Cellarii, Geographia; Gally’s Characters of Theophrastus; Gale’s Opuscula Mythologica; and Melmoth’s Cicero.

Among the editions of the Classics, I observed Aristotle, by Du Val; Anacreon, Stephani, Lutet. Par. 1556, 4to.; Antoninus, Gatakeri; Apicius, 1541, 4to.; Appian, Par. 1592, folio; Apuleius, 1610; Aristides, [242]1593; Aristophanes, Kusteri, Amst. 1710, folio; Aristotelis et Theophrasti Opera, Venetiis apud Aldum, 1495-8, in 5 volumes, folio, with numerous editions of detached pieces by the Stagyrite; Athenæus Casauboni, Aurelius Victor, 1596, 12mo.; Callimachus, Spanheim; Cæsar, by Clarke, on large paper, in red morocco, folio; Ciceronis Opera Lambini, with various editions of his Works separately published; Dares, Phrygius, Xylandri; Demosthenes, Wolfii; Dio Cassius, Xylandri; Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Hudsoni, Epictetus, Coloniæ, 1594; Euripides, Barnesii; Frontini Stratagemata, Lugd. Bat. 1633, folio; Herodian, Gr. Basileæ, 8vo.; Horatius Bentleii, et in usum Delphini; Libanii Orationes; Livius, Gruteri, et Clerici; Lucianus, Basileæ, 1563, in 4 octavo volumes; Lycophron Potteri; Phalaris Epistolæ; Philemonis Reliquiæ; Photii Bibliotheca Hœschelii, et ejusdem Epistolæ; Panegyrici Veteres, Duaci, 1585, 8vo.; Pindarus Westii, Oxonii, 1697, folio; Plato, Ficini, et Serrani; Plinii Historia Naturalis, Dalecampii; Plotini Opera Philosophica; Plutarchus, Xylandri & Rualdi; Sappho, 1568; Polybius, Casauboni, including the Treatise De Tolerandâ Obsidione of Æneas Tacticus; Statius, Calderini, 1600; Stephanus de Urbibus; Theophrasti Characteres à Needham, Lond. 1712, 8vo.; Thucydides, Hudsoni; Tyrtæus, Antv. 1568; and Xenophontis Opera, Leunclavii.

The editions of the Classics which fell more particularly under my observation, were Æliani, Historia Animalium; Gronovii, Anacreon, Glasguæ, 1744, 12mo. Aristophanes, Bergleri; Aurelius Victor, Pitisci; Callimachus, Ernesti; Cæsar, Delphini; Claudianus, Barthii; Diogenes Laertius, Casauboni; Diodorus Siculus, [243]Wesselingii; Epictetus, Uptoni; Euripides, Marklandi, cum Exercitationibus, Musgravii; Herodotus, Wesselingii; Herodiani Historia, Oxonii, 1678, 8vo.; Hesiodus, Robinsoni; Homerus, Clarkei & Ernesti; Josephus, Havercampi; Isocrates, Battie; Justini Historia, Delphini; Juvenalis, Delphini; Livius, Drakenborchii; Libanii Epistolæ, Wolfii Longinus à Pearce, & Lucanus, Burmanni; Demosthenes & Lysias, Taylori; Lucianus, Hemsterhusii; Lucretius, Delphini & Havercampi; Manilius, Bentleii; Martialis, Delphini; Maximus Tyrius, Marklandi; Orpheus, Gesneri; Ovidius, Burmanni; Plutarchi Opera, Stephani; Plutarchi Vitæ, Bryani; Plinii Junioris Epistolæ, Longolii; Sallustius, Gronovii; Sophocles, Johnsoni, Oxon, 1705, in 3 octavo volumes; Stobæus, Aurel. Allob. 1609, folio; Tacitus, Ernesti; Terentius, Gronovii & Delphini; Theocritus, Martini; Theocritus, Chr. Porzchbergeri, Dresdæ, 1744, 12mo.; and Xenophontis Anabasis, &c. Hutchinsoni.

I may here notice the critical labours of Bentley, Theodore Gaza, Hensius, Meursius, Scaliger, and Gerard Vossius; the Anti-Lucretius of Card. Melchior de Polignac; Dawes, Miscellanea Critica; Dodwell, Prælectiones Academicæ; Gatakeri Opera Critica; Stradæ, Prolusiones Academicæ; Toupii Emendationes in Suidam; and Sulpitii Severi Opera, Elzeviri, 1643, 12mo.

I have reserved for the close of this cursory review of the Classics, some account of a little tome upon which I put my hand very unexpectedly among the Manuscripts in the Record Chamber.

These fine lines occurred to John Keats, “on first looking into Chapman’s Homer,” and surely the enthusiastic Bibliophilist may be allowed to participate in the feeling they so eloquently pourtray, when he first beholds Cicero’s Offices, printed upon vellum by Fust and Schoeffer, those famous typographers. The present volume bears the date of 1466, and is consequently the second edition printed at Mayence. This small but precious folio, measures eight inches and three quarters by six inches and a quarter, and is in calf binding. It contains 87 leaves, of which the 1st and 58th are much stained.

This volume which appears to have been classed among the Manuscripts from the resemblance of its type to the handwriting of the middle ages, derives additional interest from a manuscript notice of Joannes Temporarius in 1460, respecting the origin of the truly divine Art of Printing.

“Chronogr. lib. I. ad an. 1460.”

“Typographia donu̅ Dei præstantissimu̅ Quo Deus extremis temporibꝰ no̅ solum Antichristi potentia̅ evertit, sed et universu̅ orbem inexcusabilem reddit. Quia jam non ex reru̅ creataru̅ consideratione sed suo ipsius verbo in omnes terrarum partes, in oe̅s familias, omniumq; populoru̅ linguis transfuso se patefecit.

“Joan. Temporarius.”

I have transcribed this curious entry at the end of the volume, with literal accuracy, as it shews the high estimation in which the infant press was held, and the [245]direction sought to be given to its gigantic power by the learned of that day.

Animated by the same feeling to which I have already alluded, I pursued my search for the tomes of early time in the archives above, and in the hall below, with unabated ardour. Great was my satisfaction at finding the following productions of the legitimate father of the English press.

This edition bears Caxton’s large mark on the first page, and has 31 lines in a full page, with signatures. On the recto of the last leaf we are informed that

“Caxton me fieri fecit.”

The present copy of this rare volume is apparently perfect, and is preceded by the Book of Good Manners, from the French of Le Grand, printed the xi of Maye, 1487, in folio, which wants all the leaves preceding the signature B 1. Three leaves of the book called Cathon have also been inserted in this volume, which measures ten inches and a half by seven inches, is bound in calf, and lettered, simply “Caxton.”

The present is a sound and perfect copy, measuring ten inches and three quarters, by eight inches, and bound in calf. It unfortunately wants the Descripcion of Britayne, which 29 leaves were printed, though now but seldom found, with the Chronicle of Caxton.⁠[39]⁠

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The present copy is perfect, having the Quatuor Sermones of 30 leaves at the end; but the first, and some other leaves are pieced, and much scribbled over. The volume measures eleven inches and one-eighth by seven inches and three quarters, and is in calf binding. It is the first edition of the work.

This first edition of one of the most popular works of the middle ages, is of extreme rarity in a state so perfect and so desirable as the present. This copy is in fact quite perfect, sound, and clean, measuring twelve inches by eight inches and a half, and bound in calf.

This singular volume, ornamented with grotesque wood-cuts, commences with the words—

“Incipit Speculum Vite Cristi.”

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concluding with the similar line of

“Explycit Speculum Vite Cristi.”

and having Caxton’s large mark on the reverse of the last leaf.

The present copy is quite perfect and in sound condition. It is also very large, measuring eleven inches by eight inches and a quarter. It retains its original boards, covered with stamped calf, affording a beautiful and unsophisticated example of the Caxtonian press.

While on the subject of early English Literature, I may remark that here are to be found the Works of Roger Ascham, Boyle, Cowley, Hobbes, Milton, Locke, Addison, James the First, Dryden, Bacon, Selden; Swift’s Tale of a Tub; Spenser’s Faery Queen, London, 1611; the Shepherd’s Kalendar, London, 1556, B. L. 4to.; Barclay’s Argenis; Beaumont’s Psyche, or Love’s Mystery; Butler’s Hudibras, and Chaucer’s Works of 1542 and 1598, in folio, both printed in London; Dives et Pauper, London, by Richarde Pynson, 1493, folio. This compendious exposition of the Commandments is the first book known to have been printed by Pynson with a date. The present copy is unfortunately imperfect at the beginning.

In the department of English Literature I noticed some Pieces by Bolingbroke; Burke’s celebrated Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful; some Political Tracts, by Jonas Hanway; Hartley on the Millenium; Home’s Elements of Criticism; Middleton’s Life of Cicero, and other works; Locke on the Human Understanding, and other works; an Essay on the Writings of Pope, 1756, 8vo.; Dodsley’s Preceptor; Richardson’s Sir Charles Grandison; Savage’s Letters [248]of the Ancients, London, 1703, 8vo.; Shaftesbury’s Characteristicks; Shakespeare, edited by Hanmer, Oxford, 1744, in 6 quarto volumes; Sir Henry Spelman’s Posthumous Works; some Pieces by Swift, with his Life by Lord Orrery; Thyer’s Remains of Samuel Butler; Tucker’s Commercial Tracts; Milton’s Paradise Lost, edited by Newton; Spenser’s Faery Queen, edited by Upton, London, 1758, 4to.; Sir Henry Wootton’s Remains, 1685; and Sir John Davies’ Poem on the Immortality of the Soul, 1714, 8vo.

I may here also mention,

and many pieces of fugitive poetry, both in Latin and English, of an early date.

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Among the English Miscellanies it may suffice to notice some Gratulatory and Funebrial Verses from Universities; Epicedia and Epithalamia, from Cambridge; several Tracts relating to the University of Oxford; Spence’s Polymetis; Dr. Thomas Blackwell’s Letters concerning Mythology, 1746; Wesley’s Hymns; Observations on the New Testament, and on the Doctrine of Original Sin; some Tracts relating to Witches in Devon, 1682, &c. to Dissenters, and to Divinity.

The Etymological Works in this Library, most deserving of notice, appear to be various Grammars of the Hebrew, Arabic, and other Oriental tongues, of Latin, French and English, with the Port Royal Greek Grammar; Baxter’s Glossary; Buxtorf’s Hebrew and Chaldaic Lexicon; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Hederici Lexicon Græcum; Hesychii Lexicon; Johnson’s Dictionary, 1755, in 2 vols. folio; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum; Littleton’s Latin and English Dictionary; Lye, Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico Latinum; Morelli Lexicon Græcum; Parkhurst’s Lexicon; Pike’s Hebrew Lexicon; Schrevelii Lexicon Græcum; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; and Vigeris de Idiotismis; Budæi Lexicon Græco-Latinum; Buxtorf, Hebrew Lexicon; Calepini Dictionarium; Cotgrave, French Dictionary; Davies, Dictionarium Linguæ Wallicæ et Latinæ, and his Linguæ Cambro-Britannicæ Institutiones; Du Cange’s Glossary; Hesychii Lexicon; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis, with Wootton’s Conspectus of that invaluable work; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Hoogeveen, Doctrina Particulorum, and the Catholicon Januense, Rothomagi, 1511, 8vo.; the Dictionarium Pauperum, Parisiis, 1498, 4to.; Samuel [250]Johnson’s English Dictionary, edited by Todd, London, 1818, in 4 volumes, 4to.; Lhuyd’s Archæologia Britannica, Oxon. 1707, folio; Lilii Lexicon Græco-Latinum, Londini, 1540, 4to.; Linacer, de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis, Lutetiæ, 1550, 8vo.; Lye, Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico Latinum, à Manning, Lond. 1772, in 2 volumes, folio; Menage, Dictionnaire Etymologique de la Langue Française, 1694, folio; Minsheu, Ductor. in Linguas XI. Lond. 1617; and his Vocabularium Hispanico-Latinum et Anglicum, 1617, folio; Pagnini Lexicon Hebraicum; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Putschii Grammaticorum Corpus; Scapula Lexicon; Skinner’s Etymologicon Linguæ Anglicanæ; Somner, Dictionarium Anglo-Saxonicum, with his Vocabularium Anglo-Saxonicum; Spelmanni Glossarium Archæologicum; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; Suidæ Lexicon, Kusteri, &c.; Woide, Lexicon Egyptiaco-Latinum, Oxonii, 1775, 4to.; and his Grammatica Egyptiaca, Oxonii, 1778, 4to.; Elfrici, Grammatica Latino-Saxonica; Elstob’s Saxon Grammar, and other Grammars of different languages.

The Bibliographical Works in this Collection, although not numerous, embrace the Scriptorum Historiæ Britannicæ Catalogus à Pitseo; the voluminous Acta Eruditorum of Leipsic; Antonio, Bibliotheca Hispana Vetus et Nova; Beughem’s Incunabula Typographica; the Bibliotheca Thevenothana, Lutet. Par. 1694, 8vo.; Mongitori Bibliotheca Sicula; the Catalogus Universalis Librorum, Lond. 1699, in 2 octavo volumes; Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ, Oxonii, 1697, folio; Catalogus Librorum MSS. in Bibliothecâ Cottonianâ, Oxon. 1696, folio; Catalogus [251]Bibliothecæ Trajectinæ, 1607, 4to.; Catalogus Librorum Francofurti, 1564-92; Cave, Historia Literaria; Altamura, Bibliotheca Dominicana, 1677; Catalogus Librorum MSS. in Bibliothecâ Tenisonianâ, et Dugdalianâ, Oxonii, 1692, 4to.; Dupin, Bibliothèque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca, et Latina; Bibliographia Antiquaria, and other smaller pieces; Gesneri Bibliotheca; Hallervordii Bibliotheca Curiosa; D’Herbelot, Bibliothèque Orientale; Three Indices Expurgatorii; Kuster, Bibliotheca Librorum Novorum, Traj. ad Rhen. 1691, in 5 duodecimo volumes; Labbe, Bibliotheca Librorum MSS. Paris, 1657, in 2 volumes, folio; Llewellyn’s Welsh Version of the Bible, 1768, 8vo.; Mabillon de Rê diplomaticâ; Maittaire, Stephanorum Historia; Memoirs of Literature for 1712 and 1713, folio; Morhof’s Polyhistor Literarius, Lubecæ, 4to.; Nesselii Catalogus MSS. Vindobonensium, folio; Nicholson’s English, Irish, and Scotch Historical Libraries; Sixti Senensis Bibliotheca Sancta; Stanley’s History of Philosophy; the Journals des Scavans, &c.; and a List of Bibles and Psalters from 1526 to 1776, London, 1778, 8vo.

Of Works relating to Literary History and Bibliography, I observed the Acta Eruditorum; Ames’ Typographical Antiquities; Bayle’s Dictionary; Catalogus Codd. MSS. in Bibliothecâ Taurinensi, 1749, folio; Bibliotheca Librorum novorum à Neocoro, Utrecht, 1697, in 5 vols. 8vo.; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Coll. Reg. Medicorum, Londini, 1757, 8vo.; Bruckeri Historia Critica Philosophiæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ; a Fysher, Oxonii, 1738, in 2 vols. folio; the Harleian Catalogue; Cave’s Historia [252]Literaria; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca and Latina, with his Bibliographia Antiquaria; Le Clerc, Bibliotheque Ancienne et Moderne, Haye, 1730, in 29 vols. 12mo.; De Bure, Bibliotheque Instructive; the Journal des Scavans, from 1742 to Dec. 1768, in 149 vols. 12mo. and from January 1769 to March 1770, in 17 vols. 12mo.; Lewis’ Account of the English Translations of the Bible, 1739, 8vo.; and the Memoirs of Literature, London, 1722, in 8 vols. 8vo.; Casimir-Oudin de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis; Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, 1748; the Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique, Paris, 1750, in 6 vols. 4to.; Reading’s Catalogus Bibliothecæ Collegii Sionensis, London, 1724, folio; Prosper Marchand Dictionnaire Historique; Schelhorn, Amœnitates Literariæ; Waltheri Lexicon Diplomaticum, and the Description of the Ratcliffe Library at Oxford, 1747, folio.

The Law Books are few and unimportant, comprehending Durandi Speculum Juris; Sir Edward Coke’s Institutes; Fitzherbert, Natura Brevium; Littleton’s Tenures; Manwood’s Forest Laws; Nicholson’s Border Laws; various Law Reports, and Statutes, with other works on Civil and Canon Law.

Of Works relating to the Arts, I observed only Evelyn on Medals; the Medailles de Louis XIV. 1691; Vaillant, Nummi Antiqui. Rom. Amst. 1703, in 2 vols. folio; Wallisii Opera Mathematica, Oxonii, 1699, in 3 vols. folio; Wootton’s Elements of Architecture; and Barrow’s Euclid.

In French and Italian Literature, the Works of Bayle, Boileau, Fontaine, Machiavelli, Petrarch, and Tasso, are among the most important; to which I may add copies of Don Quixote and Telemachus.

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Among the Miscellaneous Volumes may be noticed the Reliquiæ Bodleianæ, Lond. 1703, 8vo.; the Reliquiæ Spelmannianæ; Camden Insignia, à Whear, Oxon. 1624, 4to.; Camdeni Epistolæ, et Vita à Smith, Lond. 1691, 8vo.; Bryant’s Mythology; many gratulatory as well as funebrial Verses from Cambridge and Oxford; Joannis Sarisburiensis Polycraticus, 1513, 4to.; two pieces by Cuthbert Tonstall; Jones’s Journey to Paris, 1777, 12mo.; Phillips on the Navy, 1775; Sir Walter Raleigh’s Life of Mahomet, Lond. 1637, 12mo.; Juliani Imperatoris Opera; Spinosa Opera Posthuma; and Capt. Siden’s History of the Levarites, Lond. 1675, 12mo.

I will conclude my notice of this ancient Library, by the mention of Macaber, Speculum Marticinium, 1613, 4to.; and a French Translation of La Dance Macabre, printed upon vellum, in the Gothic types of A. Verard, or Guyot Marchand, at Paris. The Illustrations, thirty-five in number, descriptive of each dialogue between Death and the character he addresses are highly finished, and very curious. This volume is kept in the Manuscript Library.

I may here also notice two volumes preserved in the same repository, as of peculiar interest, being the Booke of Christian Prayers, printed at London by John Daye, in 1569, 4to. containing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth at the back of the Title, and ornamented with wood-cuts, from designs of the best masters, having the Dance of Death, after Holbein, coloured. The present was Queen Elizabeth’s own copy, and was afterwards in the possession of Queen Anne. This interesting volume has been rebound in blue morocco, gilt and tooled in the antique style. Also,

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The Works of King Charles the First, 1672, folio, containing, in a curious manuscript note in the beginning, its own singular history, attested by one who apparently was a competent witness.

“This being seized on board an English ship was delivered by order of the Inquisition of Lisbon to some of the English priests to be perused and corrected according to the rules of the Index Expurgatorius. Thus corrected, it was given to Barnaby Crafford, English merchant there, and by him it was given to me, the English preacher resident there in 1670; and by me, as I then received it, to the Library at Lambeth to be there preserved.”

“Ita testor, ZACH. CRADOCK.

“November 1, 1678.”

The volume itself fully corroborates this interesting account, being disfigured throughout by rapid strokes of the pen through the Monarch’s prayers, and every expression relating to the advancement of the Protestant religion, displaying Inquisitorial criticism in its full vigour, to the enquiring eyes of the nineteenth century.

I may also mention here, some Tracts collected by Bowyer on the Kalendar, and a Collection of Political Tracts from 1682 to 1733, in 3 folio volumes; the donation of Mr. J. Nichols, printer in Fleet Street, Dec. 7, 1776, which afford me an excellent opportunity of alluding to the contents of that voluminous series of Tracts, thus described by Dr. Ducarel in the Memorandum prefixed to his accurate and copious Catalogue of their Contents:—

“This is a Catalogue of a great number of very [255]scarce and valuable Tracts, and Pamphlets, from the time of Henry VIII. to that of Queen Anne, which having for many years lain undigested in this Library were by order of his Grace Archbishop Cornwallis, methodized and bound in the year 1773.”

These Tracts are both historical, and theological, political, and miscellaneous, and in number so great that I only advert to the principal subjects to which they refer.

These are Church affairs in general. The Clergy, Penal Laws, and Tests, &c., Tithes, &c. The 39 Articles, Baptism, Catechism, Christianity, English Divinity, Jews, Liturgy, Marriage, Methodists, Miracles, Prayers, French and English Protestants, including some against Popery, Quakers, Sacheverell, Sacraments, Trinity, the Bangorian, Socinian, and Anti-Socinian, Popish and Whistonian Controversies, Warburton, Waterland, and both the Universities. Also numerous Sermons.

There are also Politics in general, including American Transactions, Irish Affairs, Laws, London, Oxfordshire, Parliamentary Affairs, the Pretender, Scotland, Shakespeare, State Tryals, and others, Wales, Pamphlets of 1611-44-49, 1696-1716, 1646-58, 1705-26, 1700-17, and 1637-1707.

There are moreover of miscellaneous nature, embracing Almanacks, the Kalendar, Biography, Botany, and Physic, Trade, English Poetry, and many other subjects, in Latin, English, and French.

This Catalogue also includes an account of the Pamphlets and Tracts bequeathed to this Library by Archbishop Secker, which begin in 1715 and end in 1768, and refer principally to the events of that period.

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This circumstance leads me to notice in detail the component parts of that munificent bequest, his entire Library, which Archbishop Secker bequeathed to the See, whose highest honours he had enjoyed.

I have deemed it expedient to give a separate account of this portion of the Lambeth Library, distinct from that of the original Collection, being of opinion that the impress of the owner’s mind is in some degree stamped upon his Library, and that, viewed by this reflected light, the Prelate’s industry and judgment as a collector, enhance the sense of his munificence as Archbishop.

A Library of such extent and importance, bequeathed entire, amply deserves separate and particular description.

As might naturally be expected the Theological department of this Collection is that which has received the most attention from its pious founder.

It contains among the earlier Divines, the Works of Anselm, Arnobius, Basilius, Cyprian, Epiphanius, Gregory, Irenæus, Grotius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Philo Judæus, and other pillars of the Church.

It also embraces,

Among the Works of the English Divines I particularly noticed those of Andrews, Bingham, Blackhall, S. Clarke, Chillingworth, Cosin, Farmer, Forbes, Fordyce, Hooper, Kennicott, Kettlewell, Joseph Mede, Pococke, Prideaux, Secker, Seed, Thomas Sharp, Squire, Sherlock, Stebbing, Joseph Stennett, Stillingfleet, Sykes, Synge, Taylor, Warburton, Waterland, and Whitby.

Here also are found, Addison’s Evidences of the Christian Religion; Barclay’s Apology for the Quakers; Butler’s Analogy; Campbell on Miracles; Chappelow on Job; Durrell’s Remarks on Job, Oxford, 1772; Dodwell on Marriage, with some other Tracts relating to the same subjects; Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Hutcheson’s Moral Philosophy; Jones on the Trinity; Lardner’s Testimonies; Lavington’s Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists, 1749; Lowman’s Paraphrase; Lowth’s Commentaries on the Prophets; Macknight’s Harmony; Ostervald’s Arguments; Parker on the Scriptures; Patrick’s Commentaries; Peters on Job; Phillips on Sacred Literature; Poole’s Annotations on the Bible, and Tracts against Popery; Pyle’s Paraphrase, &c.; Le Chevalier Ramsay’s Philosophical Principles of Religion, Glasgow, 1749, in 2 quarto volumes; Universal Restitution, a Scripture Doctrine, London, 1761, 8vo.; Stevenson on the Gospel Miracles, with other Tracts on the same subject; Dr. Gregory Sharp on the Prophecies; Shuckford’s Connection; Smalbroke and Sykes on Miracles; Tennison’s Guide of a Christian; Trapp on the Gospels, and on the Church of England; Turnbull’s Christian Philosophy; Venn’s Whole Duty of Man; Wall’s Infant Baptism; Webster on Prayer; Welchman on the [258]Thirty-nine Articles; West on the Resurrection; Weston on Miracles; Whitby’s Paraphrase; Witherspoon’s Essays; Whiston’s various Works; White, Bishop of Ely, on the Sabbath Day, 1635, 4to.; Stackhouse’s Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed, and his Body of Divinity, London, 1729, folio, a book which was lost, but replaced by Archbishop Manners Sutton, in March 1798.

Of Pulpit Eloquence, the Archbishop seems to have been a warm admirer, since we here find the Sermons of Abernethy, Atterbury, Blair, Balguy, Bull, Butler, Bedford, Bellamy, Bennet, Bentley, Berriman, Biscoe, Brown, Brakenridge, Bundy, Burton, Calamy, Chandler, Carter, Conant, Crowe, Dalton, Dawson, Delany, Dodd, Dorman, Duchal, Elliott, Emlyn, Felton, Fleetwood, Forster, Franklin, and Free. Of Gough, Green, Harvest, Herring, Hickes, Hoadly, Hopkins, Jeffrey, Jennings, Jephson, Jones, Kennicott, Knowles, Lardner, Mangey, Morris, Moss, Mudge, Newcombe, Newton, Reay, Ridley, Rogers, Romaine, Rotheram, Secker, Sacheverell, Seed, Shepherd, and Sherlock.

Since the foregoing pages were written, a List of some of the early printed Books, in the Lambeth Library, by the Rev. S. R. Maitland, London, 1843, pp. 464, has been privately printed, and been followed by the publication of an Index of such English Books, printed before the year MDC as are now in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, by the Rev. S. R. Maitland, F.R.S. London, 1845, pp. 120. 8vo.

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Library of Lichfield.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield is preserved with great care in an upper Chamber of the Chapter House adjoining the Cathedral. The Manuscripts are kept under lock and key in brass-wired cases at the one end of the room. The Printed Books are arranged in classes upon open shelves, and have in many instances been rebound or rebacked, though the greater portion of them retain their original binding of calf.

This Library retaining but few of its monastic treasures, was munificently endowed by Frances, Countess of Somerset, whose portrait very well painted in the costume of that period adorns the upper end of the room. In a case beneath was formerly deposited the famous Gospel book of St. Chad; the doors of this receptacle bearing the following Inscription:—

“Sanctiss. Liber
qui intus reconditur
sicut in arca est collocatus
Thesaurus fuit olim et deliciæ
Illustrissimæ Dominæ
Domicæ Franciscæ Devereux
Ducissæ Somersetensis
Cujus pulcherrimam Imaginem
Auspice Lector
et Venerare.

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Hoc Immerito
Clarissimi enim heroici
“Gemmam hanc cui aurum est vile”
Unà cum prope mille aliis Volumen
Dilectæ suæ et semper memo:
Ecclesiæ Cathedral: de Lichfield
Majorem Dei Gloriam et
bonarum Literarum ubertatem
D. D. F.”

This precious volume has, however, been transferred to the glazed case in which the other Manuscripts are kept. Its scription is undoubtedly of very high antiquity, and the uncial letters and other ornaments of the volume alike attest this fact. This volume is written in Latin upon vellum, and is bound in russia, lettered “Evangelia Sancti Ceaddæ. DCCXX.”⁠[40] It contains 236 pages, according to the numeration of some modern hand. The date of the year 720, though conjectural, is probably near the mark; and the following remarks of Mr. Nares in his Manuscript Catalogue may serve to elucidate the literary history of this ancient volume.

“Tradition reports it to have been the hand writing of St. Gildas, but when it is observed that it abounds with gross errors both in orthography and grammar, it becomes impossible to believe it the work of any [261]learned scribe. The characters are round and fair, having a strong affinity to the Saxon letters, and the Saxon words and names occurring in the margins plainly show that the book had been in much use for administering oaths under the Government of that people.” The size of the volume is large quarto apparently, though truly I think it is in folio.

A beautiful and valuable Manuscript of the Poems of Chaucer, written upon vellum in a noble folio volume, contains 292 leaves, but unfortunately wants that which ought to intervene between the 209th and the 210th of Mr. Nares’ enumeration. It would be a curious task to compare the text of this venerable Manuscript with the first printed editions of the Canterbury Tales, &c. from the press of Caxton. This book has also been protected by a russia surtout, and it contains some elegant illuminations.

I also remarked the Manuscript Poems of William Kingsmyle, Knight; Archdeacon Smalbrooke’s Common Place Book; the Codex Justiniani; Taxatio Papæ Nicolai; Scire Mori; A Pricke of Conscience; A Tract of St. Anselm, and several volumes of Adversaria Theologica, bound in calf.

This Catalogue, given in vol. II. p. 32 of the Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ, Oxon, 1672, folio, attributed to Humphry Wanley, contains all the books at present in the Library, with the exception of Nos. 1389, 1396, 1399, 1404, 1406.

Many of the Manuscripts were in the old Monastic Library, but others were part of the bequest of the Countess of Somerset in 1672. A Catalogue of the entire Collection bequeathed to the Cathedral by that noble lady is preserved among the Manuscripts. An [262]old borrowing book too, used by Samuel Johnson in 1774, is there also preserved.

In this case is preserved the most brilliant Gem of this Collection, being no less than Caxton’s History of King Arthur, folio, whose well known colophon runneth thus:

“Thus endeth this noble and joyous book entitled La Morte Darthur; notwithstanding, it treateth of the birth, life, and acts of the said King Arthur, of his noble Knights of the Round Table, their marvellous conquests and adventures, the atchieving of the Sangreal, and in the end the dolorous death and departing out of this world of them all. Which book was reduced in to English by Sir Thomas Malory, Knight, as afore is said, and by me divided in to XXI books, chaptered and imprinted, and finished in the Abbey Westminster the last day of July, the year of our Lord M.CCCCLXXXV.

“Caxton me fieri fecit.”

This is one of the rarest of Caxton’s productions, a perfect Copy is in the Library of Lord Jersey at Osterley, formerly in the Harleian Collection, which I believe is the only other copy known. The present copy is elegantly bound in olive coloured Venetian morocco with gilt leaves.

This volume which I had a subsequent opportunity of examining, I found to be an imperfect copy of the Life and Actes of King Arthur, folio, bound in Venetian Morocco with gilt leaves. It is printed in double columns of black letter, entwined by some barbarous wood-cuts, with the chapter-numbers on the head line in italic character. It is imperfect both at the beginning [263]and the end, commencing with the “Prologus” on sign. Ψ. ii. and ending with a leaf of “The xxist booke,” having the catchword “now.” on the recto, and “were” on the reverse. This volume measures ten inches and a half by seven inches and three quarters.

The oldest English Bible in this Library is the Bible by Cranmer, printed at London by Edward Whytchurche in 1540, whereof the title, which is encadred in wood cuts, runneth thus:

¶ The Byble in Englyshe, that is to saye the conte̅t of al the holy scrypture, both of yᵉ olde, and newe testam̅et, with a prologe therinto, made by the reuerende father in God, Thomas archbysshop of Cantorbury. ¶ This is the Byble apoynted to the vse of the churches.

The present Copy has the title inlaid, and is bound in the original calf with plain brass clasps.

Next to this stood the two stately folios of Ogilvie’s Bible of 1660 in red morocco.

To which may be added

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the three last named articles being bound in calf; and a pretty correct estimate may be formed of the Biblical treasures of the Lichfield Cathedral Library.

In Divinity there are numerous Works, many of which are too insignificant, and others of too common occurrence to mention; but to give some idea of the value of the Library in this its most important department, it may suffice to enumerate,

To which may be added the Works of Eusebius, Newton, Usher, Erasmus, Mosheim, Grotius, Warburton, and Calvin; Pole’s Synopsis, and the Critici Sacri.

In Ecclesiastical History we find the valuable Works of Echard and Dupin; Basnage’s History of the Jews; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Wilkins’ Concilia; Strype’s Annals; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Fuller’s Church History; the Historia Martyrum of Fox, Basileæ, 1559, folio; and Fox’s History of Martyrs, London, 1641, folio; and Bedæ Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Antverpiæ, 1550, folio.

In relation to the History of England, we find the following valuable and interesting Works, Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; History of St. Paul’s, and of Warwickshire, and View of the Troubles; Camden’s [265]Britannia; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion; Burnet’s History of his own time; Daniel’s History of England; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Speed’s Chronicle; Baker’s Chronicle, London, 1679, folio; Holinshed’s Chronicles, in folio; Gul. Neubrigensis Historia Rerum Anglicarum curante Thoma Hearne, 3 vols. 8vo.; Virunnii Historia Britonum; Bracton de Legibus Angliæ; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Kennet’s History of England, together with the Domesday Book, and the whole Series of Records and other Documents published under the authority of the Parliamentary Commission. Add to these Buchanan and Drummond’s Histories of Scotland; Wynne’s History of Wales; and in British Topography, Stow’s London; Willis’ Cathedrals; Plot’s Oxfordshire; Dart’s Canterbury Cathedral; Grew’s Rarities; and Bentham’s Ely.

In General History the valuable collections of Grævius and Gronovius, with the indispensable Supplements of Poleno and Sallengre; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; Puffendorff’s Works; the English version of Montfaucon, by Humphries; the Chronicles of Froissart and Monstrelet, and Bayle’s Dictionary, are the most conspicuous features of this Collection.

Kæmpfer’s Japan, and Norden’s Egypt, also adorn this department of the Library.

In Heraldry, a few valuable Works may be here enumerated, Guillim’s Heraldry, 1660; Milles’ Catalogue of Honor; and Ashmole’s History of the Garter, London, 1672, all in folio.

In Philology, it is a pleasure to recount such Works as Ducange’s Glossarium; Photii Bibliotheca; Hickes’ Thesaurus; Spelman’s Works; Stephani Thesaurus, and Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum.

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In Geography, Cluvierii Geographia Antiqua, in folio, and Cook’s Voyages, in 4to. alone met my observation.

In Poetry, I merely noticed the Works of Spenser, of 1679, and Du Bartas’ Divine Works and Weeks, whence Milton is said to have borrowed sundry ideas of his immortal Work.

Of Classic Authors, the editions contained within these walls are generally speaking neither the first nor the best, with the exception of the Editio Princeps of Appian, printed by Stephens at Paris, in 1551, folio; and Butler’s Æschylus, in 4to.

In Miscellaneous Literature, I may notice the Works of Addison and Bacon, of Swift and Fielding, with divers other modern authors of lesser note, including the long series of the Gentleman’s Magazine, the veritable “Old Parr of Periodicals.”

I may also mention Selden’s famous Treatise of the Mare Clausum, written in reply to the Mare Liberum of the justly celebrated Grotius; and Drelincourt on Death, a book which, if I recollect rightly, was often mentioned with respect by Samuel Johnson, the first edition of whole Life, by Boswell, in 2 volumes, 4to. is appropriately placed in the Capitular Library of his native town.

I also noticed Digges’ Compleat Ambassador; Pluvinel’s Horsemanship, both in folio; and Burney and Hawkins’ History of Music, both in 4to; together with Reading’s Catalogue of Sion College Library, London, 1724, as books not often to be found within the precincts of any Cathedral.

The Catalogue of this Library is a manuscript volume, written apparently some time ago, wherein the [267]Books are enumerated in alphabetical order, the subsequent additions to the Library being entered on the opposite pages which have been left blank for this purpose.

A Classed Catalogue appears to have been in contemplation, but never to have been continued beyond a few pages.

A Book of the names of the Books taken out of the Library by the Dean and Chapter, who alone have the right to use it, the Canon in residence always keeping the key, is very properly laid upon the same table with the Catalogue itself.

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Library of Lincoln.

This ancient Library, which suffered much from conflagration about the middle of the seventeenth century, was munificently restored to more than its pristine splendour by Michael Honeywood, then Dean of Lincoln.

The portrait of this eminent divine, by Cornelius Jansen, with that of his grandmother, adorns the room which contains what remains of his once extensive Collection, which the ruthless hand of the unlettered spoiler has deprived of some of its brightest ornaments.

The Manuscripts are now carefully lettered and admirably arranged, though, as formerly a few shillings were sufficient to induce the verger to allow the excision by any “curious stranger” of the illuminated capitals, many of the volumes are lamentably mutilated and defective.

Latin Bibles, Psalters, Glosses & Postillæ, upon vellum and on paper, form the principal features of the Manuscript Library, which is deposited in the ante-room over the Cloisters adjoining the Cathedral.

On these shelves I also observed a Manuscript of Comestor’s Historia Scholastica; and of Bartholomeus de Proprietatibus Rerum; together with an interesting Diurnall of Proceedings in Parliament kept in 1640.

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But the most curious and valuable Manuscript in this Collection, is a volume upon paper of Old English Romances, of the date of 1430-40, collected by Robert de Thornton, who was Archdeacon of Bedford in 1450, and lies buried in Lincoln Cathedral. This interesting volume has been enriched by a table of contents, and some elucidatory notes by Sir F. Madden, of the British Museum, and adorned with a coating of red russia, which may bid defiance to decay.

The Library of Printed Books, all of which are labelled on the back, is contained in a spacious Gallery one hundred and four feet by seventeen, being the whole length of one side of the Cathedral Cloisters, and having the books on open shelves on the right hand, and a range of windows on the left; but no convenience for producing artificial heat.

The Manuscript Catalogue, which lies on the table, appears to have been copied verbatim from another of older date, and to have been continued by the entry of successive additions.

On turning to the father of the English Press, I found a Poesy of most pungent odour, the true ‘Lincolne Nosegay,’ which any Roxburgher might be proud to wear in his button-hole at the yearly festival of those true lovers of black letter. I give the entry exactly as I found it in the Catalogue; but, grievous to relate, neither high nor low were these gems seen to sparkle on the shelves of this sadly bereaved Repository.

I own this last article puzzled me considerably; for could it be the true Jason with this recent date? but the well known initials ‘T. F. D.’ attached in pencil to the Cato, and the queried Dictes and Sayinges led me to hope that they at least might yet be in existence; and imagining that they might be preserved among the Curiosities which the Dean and Chapter had taken, as I was informed, under their especial protection, I addressed a note of enquiry to the Librarian, stating my reasons for believing that, as some of the Caxtons appeared to have been inspected by Dr. Dibdin so late as 1816, they must still exist, though I could not find them.

The obliging answer which I in consequence received from the present Librarian of Lincoln I give exactly as I received it, that those who are anxious for the integrity of those great Collections which the wise and the good of former ages have handed down to us, may learn from hence the necessity of devising means whereby such treasures may be preserved unimpaired and intact for posterity, more effectual than those which the venerable consort of Michael Honeywood, happily in no wise prescient of the future fate of these literary treasures, devised. But let us have the fact from the pen of Mr. Garvey.

Lincoln, June 17, 1833.

Sir,

I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any information that you will deem pleasing, on the subject of the early prints which you seem to delight in. The fact is, since Dr. Dibdin’s visit to this Library, the [271]Dean and Chapter thought it expedient to sell all the Caxtons and other early prints, and to replace them with more modern works of which they stood in need; and this is the reason that we had nothing of that sort to offer to your notice more than what my son shewed you.

If it were in my power I should be happy to gratify every intelligent stranger; and I am sorry I have no better information to give you on your favourite pursuit.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

R. GARVEY.

This candid statement is fully confirmed by the following entry in the Library Catalogue of the books sold, namely,

The books thus omitted to be more particularly mentioned were among the choicest treasures of the Honeywoodian Collection. The practised hand of Rosicrusius, extracted the ore from the dross, and converted it into gold. The guardians of the temple slept, and Mammon prevailed. The flowers thus culled were wreathed into a garland, quaintly denominated the Lincoln Nosegay, which I have transferred entire to these pages, as, although surreptitiously reprinted, its circulation was originally limited to the author’s immediate circle.

“The Lincolne Nosegay.”

“London. Printed by W. Bulmer & Co. Cleveland
Row. St. James’s.”

“Here begyneth a Littel Tome and hathe to name
The Lincolne Nosegay:”

“beynge a brefe table of certaine Bokes in the posession Maister Thomas Frognall Dibdin Clerk, which bookes be to be sold to him who shal gyue the moste for yᵉ same.”

“The Lincolne Nosegay.”

I. The Dictes and Sayinges of Philosophres. Enprynted by me William Caxton at Westmestre the yere of our lord. M CCCC LXXVjj. Folio.

Ye shal peruse a full accounte of this boke in yᵉ new imprint of our Typographical Antiquities, vol. i. p. [273]60, 72. This exemplar apereth to be yᵉ Fyrste Edition: and hath at yᵉ end “Et sic est Finis.”

II. The Cronicles of Englond; (wherunto is joined) The Discripcion of Britayne. Fynysshed by me William Caxton, the xviii day of August the yere of our god M.CCCC lxxx. &c. Folio.

See yᵉ aforementioned werk: vol. i. pp. 85-100.

These be perfait and meruelouslye clene copies of these moste rare bokes, and are bounde in one tome.

III. The Booke called Cathon. Translated oute of French into Englyssh by William Caxton in thabbay of Westmystre the yere of our lorde MCCCCLXXIII. &c. Folio. A parfaite and beauteous exemplar.

IV. The Newe Cronycles of Englonde and of Fraunce. Emprynted by Richarde Pynson, prynter unto the kyngȝ noble grace. The yere of our Lord God a. M. cccccxvi. The vii daye of the moneth of February. Folio.

Ye shal gader yᵉ aboue from ye imprynte of the boke, inasmuch as there be no title to yᵉ same in the fyrst page or frontispiece: whyche page containeth only the cote armor of the then kynge, and hath sign. H i beneath it. In my werke, begunne by Maisters Ames and Herbert, at vol. ii. p. 466, &c. ye shal finde a full and trust-worthye accounte of this present boke; the exemplar of whiche, here offered, is of grete bulke and beautie. It is, moreouer perfait—with some of the leauves stained—but the cunning skil of Maister Lewis, our knowinge binder of bokes, shal quickly clense the same. I maruel where another suche exemplar of this rare werke shall be founde for yᵉ purchasinge?

V. The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteined in the [274]Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the beste translations in divers languages, &c.

Printed in Edinburgh. By Alexander Arbuthnet, Printer to the Kingis Maiestie, dwelling at yᵉ kirk of feild. 1579. Folio.

This moche-to-be-coueted boke is perfaite, sauinge two leaves in the O. Testamente and three leaves in the N. Test.: whiche be wanting. The begynninge and end therof are true and perfait. Ye shall perceiue, on looking at Maister Herbert’s labors, vol. iii. p. 1501. that he had no knowledge of the same: ne Maister Lewis, in his werke upon Translations of the Bible.

Hereafter folowethe sundry final werkes in metre moost rare and of especiel note: whiche be bounde in a kiuer of parchmente.

Sundrie Smal Werkes in Metre.

VI. The title thus:

Here begynneth a treatyse how yᵉ hye fader of heven sendeth dethe to somon every creature to come and gyve a counte of theyr lyuves and this worlde, and is in maner of a morall playe.

The imprint thus:

Thus endeth this moral playe of every man.

Imprynted at London in Poules Churche yarde, by me John Skot. 4to. In Rhymes.

Sixteen leaves. Ye shal perceaue how Maister Herbert maketh mention of this very exemplar: but which, it apeareth manifest, he had never sene.

The colophon thus:

Thus endeth the co̅munycacyon bytwene god and man.

[275]

Emprynted at London in Flete-strete at yᵉ sygne of yᵉ Sonne by me Wynkyn de Worde. 4to.

This lytyle piece of rhymes lacketh the title: but the text therof begynneth right truely on yᵉ signature A. ij. thus: “Deus.”

Ye shal finde no account of this lytel tome in my editing of Maister Herbert’s werke upon Ye Hystorye of oure Pryntinge. It hath 12 leaves if you include the title.

VIII. The title as foloweth:

Here is a mery jest of the mylner of Abyn̅gdon, with his wyfe and his doughter, and two poore scholers of Cambridge. 4to. In Rhymes.

A fragment of 7 leaves whiche semeth to be imprynted by W. de Worde. Unto this fragment is joined

IX. A Romaunce, in verse, ycleped Ipomydon; Emprynted at London in the Flete strete, at the sygne of the Sonne, by wynkyn de worde, 4to.

This lacketh yᵉ 3 fyrste leaues of texte, and the title; but it is parfaite from thence (sign. B. i.) to yᵉ ending therof, and is meruelouslye scarce and curious; no mention beynge made of it in the aforesaid werke. This exemplar hath 33 leaves: sign. 1 having 5, the rest 4 leaves.

X. The title thus:

A Dyalogue defensyue for women agaynst malycyous detractoures. 4to. Colophon: Thus endeth the [276]Faucon and the Pye. Anno dn̅i. 1542. Imprynted by me Robert Wyer, for Richard Bancker. Cum privilegio regali ad imprimendu solu̅ per septem annum. Beneath is the device of Robert Wyer, the Prynter. 4to.

Ye shal fynde a briefe notice of this curious Dyalogue, in metre, uttered by a Falcon and a Pie, in Herbert’s Werke, vol. iii. p. 273.

XI. [A Romaunce, in metre, entytled Syr Bevis of Hampton] Colophon: Imprynted at london in the vinetre upon the thre Crane wharfe, by William Coplande. 4to.

Herbert hathe no knowlege of this moste precious boke.

This copy lacketh only the title page; the text begynnynge on A ii. thus:

XII. The Title as foloweth:

Elynor Rummin, The famous Ale-wife of England. Written by Mr. Skelton, Poet Laureat to King Henry the egiht.⁠[41]⁠

Beneath a portraiture of yᵉ said Eleanour:

4to. The same portraicture on the back-side of this Title. Nine leaves: containing also the Tunning of Eleanour of Rumming.

Grete will be thy joy, O Reader, when thou knowest [277]that thou mayst here beholde the original and only exemplar of this cunning and especial werke; for a sight wherof, men do report, that Maisters Stevens and Ritson, with painful travail, left their peacefull homes in London. Greter still will be thy contentment, gentle reader, if thou possess this cunning tresure. Ye shal see something appertaining hereunto in my werke ycleped Bibliomania at p. 585.

XIII. The Title commenceth thus:

Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, Priest, &c. &c. Colophon as foloweth: Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the Misery of Courte and Courtes, Composed by Alexander Barclay, Preest, in his youth. Imprinted at London by Humfrey Powell. 4to. Fifty-eight leaves.

Mention is made of this fyrste Imprint of the Eglogues of Alexander Barclay in Maister Herbert’s werke on Pryntinge, in vol. ii. p. 751.

It appereth from the same authority that the yere of the imprint could not be later than yᵉ yere of our Lorde 1551.

XIV. The Title is after this fashion:

An Interlude, called Lusty Juventus. Lively describyng the frailtie of youth: of nature prone to vyce: by grace and good councell traynable to vertue. The imprint thus:

Imprinted at London in Paules Churche yeard, by Abraham Vele, at the sygne of the Lambe. 4to. Eighteen leaves.

Ye shal perceive a slight damage in the 7th leaf of thys scarce and curious tome, which seemeth to differ from the edition noticed in Maister Beloe’s Anecdotes, &c. pp. 349, 350.

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XV. The title appereth thus:

The Churle and the Byrde. The imprint is as folows: Imprented at London in Lothburi over against Sainct Margarytes church by me Wyllam Copland. 4to. Eight leaves.

The cunning reder shal easily mete out yᵉ mesure of yᵉ worth of this precyouse lytel boke. Maister Ritson maketh no mention of it. A rude image of the Churl and the Byrde is graved upon the title.

XVI. The title runneth thus:

A treatyse, shewing and declaring the pryde and abuse of women now a dayes. It beginneth in this wise:

The imprint thus:

Imprinted at London in Paules Church yearde, at thee⁠[42] Sygne of the Starre. By Thomas Raynalde. 4to. This curious and moost rare werke is parfait in four leaves.

XVII. Hereafter followeth the title:

A Myrrour for man where in he shall see the myserable state of thys worlde.

It concludeth thus:

Finis quod Thomas Churschard.⁠[43] God save the Kyng. Imprynted at London by Roberte Toye, dwellynge in Paules Church yarde at the sygne of the Bell. Cum priv. &c. 4to. This brefe morall tractate of only three leaves, adviseth thus towards the ende therof:

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Ye may number this lytel piece of metre among the tomes of especial rarity.

XVIII. The title thus informeth us:

The Flyting betwixt Montgomery and Polwart. Edinburgh, Printed by the Heires of Andro Hart. 1629, 4to. There be here 13 leaves of mervelously barbarous metre: the whiche Maister Allan Ramsay, of especiale fame, caused to be reimprinted in his werke entitled The Euergreen. This tome containeth the original text, and is gretely desyred by the lerned in Scotish poesie. It concludeth thus:

XIX. The title:

A briefe Description of the Toune of Tottenham Highcrosse in Middlesex: &c. The Turnament of Tottenham, &c. 1631.

The latter written long since in verse, by Mr. Gilbert Pilkington, at that time as some have thought Parson of the Parish. 4to.

These pieces ye shall finde to contain 21 leaves; of the whiche, 4 leaves belong to the “Turnament.”

A boke moche to be desired.

London; printed by W. Bulmer and Co. Cleveland
Row, St. James’s.

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The loss thus sustained by the ancient Library of Lincoln Cathedral by the sale of the volumes thus inconsiderately, and in my opinion unjustifiably, detached, was compensated in some degree by the purchase of other books with the proceeds, and the addition to the original Collection of the books thus purchased. Many people will of course think the exchange was advisable, and that useful volumes were judiciously substituted for the antiquated lumber, to which the Roxburghe mania at that time gave a fictitious value. Certainly if any proof were wanting of the advantageous terms offered to effect the dismemberment of the Chapter Library, it will be found in the nature and extent of that Collection which was formed from the proceeds of that sale.

Much as I am inclined to disallow the right of any corporate body to alienate the property bequeathed to it by any such process of commutation, I think it right to annex a full account of the books purchased, that the reader may be enabled to form his own judgment upon the literary discretion of the Dean and Chapter.

The books thus permanently added to the Lincoln Library, are Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary, in 32 octavo volumes; Warton’s History of English Poetry; the Biblia Hebraica by Boothroyd, in 2 volumes, 4to.; Bacon’s Liber Regis; the reprints of the Chronicles of Monstrelet, Grafton, Fabyan, Arnold, Harding, and Rastall, in 4to.; Sharpe’s William of Malmesbury, on large paper; Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer; Baker’s Chronicles; Sparke’s Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Camdeni Annales; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ; Du Cange, Lexicon Græcum; Forcellini Lexicon Latinum; Rymer’s Fœdera, in 20 folio volumes; the [281]Art de verifier les dates, in 3 folio volumes; the Antiquities, &c. of Montfaucon, in 15 folio volumes; Lyson’s Magna Britannia; Peck’s Stamford; Kennet on Impropriations; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa; Morelli Thesaurus; Fuller’s Worthies; Gough’s British Topography; Madox’s Firma Burgi, Baronia Anglicana, and History of the Exchequer; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica, edited by Smith; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Strype’s Annals, and Lives of Cranmer, Parker, Grindall, and Whitgift; and his Ecclesiastical Memorials; Rapin’s History of England, by Tindal; Gale and Fell, Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Herbert’s Henry VIII.; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; the Gentleman’s Magazine from its commencement in 1731 to 1817, the time when this commutation was effected; Hickes’s Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Stow’s Chronicle by Howes; Somner’s Canterbury; Forduni Scoti-Chronicon, in 2 volumes, folio; Collyer’s Historical Dictionary; Wren’s Parentalia; May’s History of the Long Parliament; the Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores, in 4to.; Walker’s History of Independency; Inquiry as to Charles the First; Collins’s Peerage; Locke’s Works; Rennet’s Register; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Burnet’s Reformation; Drake’s York; Echard’s England; Willis’ Cathedrals; Harmer’s Errors of Burnet’s Reformation; Roper’s Life of Sir Thomas More; Theriaque; Holinshed’s Chronicles; Hall’s Chronicle; Froissart’s Chronicles; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; Dickinson’s Southwell; Beausobre, Hist. du Manichéisme; Dugdale on Imbanking; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Historia Veterum Persarum; Lingard’s England; Walker’s [282]Sufferings of the Clergy; Spelman’s English Works; Cotton’s Abridgment of the Records in the Tower; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Callis on the Laws of Sewers; Sir Philip Warwick’s Memoirs; Du Cange’s Lexicon mediæ et infimæ Latinitatis, cum Supplemento Carpentierii; La Bible par le Cene, folio; and the Beauties of England and Wales.

Such is the rough entry in the Catalogue of the additions, made by the Dean and Chapter to this Library, but obtained only by the sacrifice of books which it is nearly impossible to replace.

Of the books above mentioned, many would do honour to any library, and if a certain fund were appropriated to the augmentation of this Collection from the ample revenues of the Dean and Chapter, many more such might be yearly added.

From the same source I have the satisfaction of adding a list of “Books presented to this Library by Dr. Bayley, late Subdean. September 23, 1828.”

“Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, Oxon. 1783, in 10 volumes, 4to.; Parthenissa, a Romance, by Lord Orrery; Abernethy’s Discourses, 2 vols.; Sermons, 2 vols. and Tracts, 1 volume; Biblia Sacra Junii & Tremellii, in 1 volume; Treatises on the Sabbath Day, in 1 volume; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants, in 1 volume; Stillingfleet’s Sermons, in 1 volume; Pemble’s Works, in 1 volume; Whiston’s Primitive Christianity, in 2 volumes; Cunæus de Republica Hebræorum, 1 volume; Kennicott’s Collections, 1 volume; and Reflections upon Learning, in 1 volume. In all 28 volumes.

“Rd. GARVEY, Librarian.”

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This donation, however small, from one of the ecclesiastical body who violated the literary remains of Michael Honeywood, may be looked upon as an expiatory sacrifice to the manes of that worthy divine, and may I hope serve as an example to others who may be desirous of seeing the Lincoln Library restored to its pristine magnitude and worth.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln consists of four thousand four hundred and fifty-one volumes, relating to theological, classical, and historical subjects, carefully enumerated in a folio volume, containing the names, dates, and sizes of the books in alphabetical order, with reference to the shelves on which they are placed.

The English versions of the Bible in this Collection, include

Of the Scriptures in various languages, I noticed the

I may here notice the

Connected with the service of the Church, are the Book of Common Prayer of Edward VI. London, 1552, folio; and of Charles II. London, 1662, folio; the latter having the broad seal of England appended to it. Copies of this first edition of the Common Prayer now in use, thus certified to be correct, appeared to have been distributed by authority to every Cathedral in England, though few copies now retain the official seal annexed. This “sealed book” is the last form of Prayer in which any alteration was made by public authority. A similar copy of this book, with corrections in manuscript, and the great seal of England appendant, certified to be a correct copy, is preserved in the Tower of London.

Several Works relating to the Liturgy are also deposited upon these shelves.

In the Ritual of the Romish Church I noticed the Missale Eboracense, Rothomagi, 1517, folio, and the Missale Sarisburiense, Parisiis, 1533, with Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum.

In early Divinity there are many scarce tracts, among which the most captivating to my eye were a [286]genuine crackling copy of Turrecremata, Expositio in Psalmos, printed in the gothic letter, by Schoyffer, at Mayence in 1476, folio.

The Fathers of the Church, whose Works adorn this venerable Library, are, S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Eusebius, Gregory, Jerome, Hilary, Isidore, Irenæus, Justin, Origen, Tertullian, Theodoret, and Theophylact, to which I may add Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum, Pole’s Synopsis; the Critici Sacri; and Wilkins’ Concilia.

Among the Works of the earlier Divines of the Christian Church, are some Tracts by Thomas Aquinas, Bellarmine, and Bonaventura; Petri Blesensis Opera, Moguntiæ, 1680, folio; the Works of Martin Bucer, Calvin, Erasmus, Grotius, Hospinianus, Luther, Melancthon, Salmasius, Duns Scotus, Tostatus, and Thomas à Kempis. To these may be added Lactantii Opera by Sparke, Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Lyra Commentaria in S. Biblia, Basileæ, 1598, folios.

I may here notice some well preserved copies of Vincentii Speculum Historiale, Colon. Agrip. 1494; Morale, Colon. 1493; Doctrinale, Venet. 1494; and Naturale, Coloniæ, 1494, in folio; some Tracts by Gerson, Scaliger, and Vossius, and Zanchii Opera Theologica, Basileæ, 1569, folio.

The English Divines, whose Works are found in this Collection, are, Andrews, Bancroft, Bramhall, Chillingworth, Hall, Hammond, Hooper, Jackson, Jewel, Lardner, Macknight, Mede, Paley, Pemble, Perkins, Prideaux, Reynolds, Ridley, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tonstall, Whitgift, and Wickliffe.

In the Theological department I also remarked [287]Bale’s Ymage of both Churches, the Mystery of Iniquitie, and Actes of English Votaries; Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Campbell on the Gospels; and Coverdale’s Letters of the Martyrs, London, 1564, 4to.

Field of the Church; Kett on the Prophecies; Turner’s Huntynge of the Romish Wolfe; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Watson’s Theological Tracts; and many other Pamphlets, Religious, Political, and Miscellaneous.

Of Sermons, this Library contains several preached at St. Paul’s Crosse, and many others by different authors, and upon various occasions. Among these it may suffice to notice the Thirty-six by Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, than whom Anthony à Wood remarks, “the Church of England could not lose a greater pillar, a better man, and more accomplished divine;” and the Sermons of Latimer, remarkable for the quaint expression of forcible truths.

The Theological department also embraces some pieces by Theodore Beza; Outram de Sacrificiis, Londini, 1677, 4to.; and Whitby’s Paraphrase; with other Works of the Divines of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, too numerous for minute enumeration in this place.

A copy of the Koran of Mahomet, and of the Russian Prayer Book are also found upon these shelves.

The Collections relating to English History comprise those of Clarendon, Rushworth, Nalson, Echard, Sparke, Rapin, and Tindal, with the valuable labours of Strype, and an extensive collection of Tracts relating to the eventful period of the great Rebellion.

In this class are also found Winwood’s Memorials; [288]Stow’s London; Sammes’ Britannia; and Prynne’s Records, 1657, in one vol. folio.

Connected with these occur Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; Camden’s Britannia; Ogilby’s Topographical Works; and Dugdale’s Imbanking; all, it may be remarked, upon small paper.

In Heraldry I remarked Guillim’s Heraldry; Yorke’s Union of Honour; Sandford’s Coronation of Charles II.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; and Dugdale’s Baronage.

Of County Histories, a fine copy of Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; and Surtees’ Durham, apparently on large paper, were the most remarkable.

Among the Miscellaneous volumes, a fair copy of Hudson’s Josephus; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Thuanus, Historia sui Temporis, in 6 vols. folio; Bayle’s Dictionary; the Gentleman’s Magazine; the Philosophical Transactions; and the Works of Spelman; most forcibly arrested my attention.

In hunting ‘Reynard the Fox’ I stumbled upon a dusty folio in the Gothic letter, adorned with rude wood cuts, but sadly mutilated by excision in the middle, containing the Dialogus Creaturarum, printed by Gerard de Leeu at Gouda, in August 1480. The types of this little volume avowedly published “in opido goudensi,” seems to my eye so much to resemble those of the hitherto unknown Recueil des Histoires des Troyes deposited in the Library at Norton Hall that I feel myself strengthened in the original supposition that that Work also was the production of Gerard de Leeu before he removed his press from Gouda to Antwerp, though the resemblance of the wood cuts is not so striking as that of the type; but here be it remembered [289]I am speaking only from recollection. This edition of Dialogus Creaturarum has been fully described in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana in vol. VI. p. 120.

The Classical department of this Library is enriched by the Works of Æsop, Anacreon, Apuleius, Athenagoras, Aristænetus, Aristophanes, Aulus Gellius, Cæsar, Epictetus, Ennius, Euclid, Euripides, Florus, Hierocles, Hippocrates, Horace, Isocrates, Juvenal, Livy, Lucan, Lucian, Lucretius, Macrobius, Martial, Ovid, Velleius Paterculus, Persius, Plautus, Plutarch, Procopius, Quintilian, Sallust, Seneca, Suetonius, Sidonius Apollinaris, Sophocles, Symmachus, Terence, Tacitus, Vegetius, and Virgil.

It also contains Apicius de arte Coquinariâ, of 1542, Aristotle’s Works, edited by Erasmus, and several editions of the Stagyrite’s detached pieces; Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, Oxonii, 1783, in ten 4to. volumes; Quintus Curtius, Pitisci; Longinus, by Pearce; Phædrus, Burmanni; Platonis Opera, Serrani; Plinii Historia Naturalis; Plinii Junioris Epistolæ; Silius Italicus, Drakenborchii; Theophrasti Characteres, by Needham; Valerius Flaccus, Burmanni; Xenophontis Opera, Leunclavii; and Cyropædia, by Hutchinson.

Of Translations, I remarked Ogilby’s Æsop, Homer, and Virgil—heard Chapman speak out loud and bold in deep-browed Homer’s Iliad—and rested my eyes on Ross’s sumptuous folio version of Silius Italicus.

The Etymological department includes various Dictionaries of different languages, Buxtorf’s Lexicon Hebraicum; Calepini Lexicon Octolingue; Davies’s [290]Linguæ Britannicæ Rudimenta; Du Cange’s Glossarium; Catholicon Januense, Lugd. 1520, folio; Junii Glossarium Archæologicum; Forcellini Lexicon Latinum; Morelli Thesaurus; Linacre, de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis; Littleton’s Latin and English Dictionary; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Hickes’s Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Lye’s Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico-Latinum, à Manning, Londini, 1722, in two folio volumes; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Scapulæ Lexicon; Skinner, Etymologicum Anglicanum; Somner’s Saxon Dictionary; Stephani Thesaurus; and Suidæ Lexicon Græcum.

The Bibliographical section of this Library includes Andreæ Bibliotheca Belgica; the Bibliotheca Laurentiana; Gough’s British Topography; Catalogue of the Library of Sion College in London; Cave’s Historia Literaria; the Bodleian Library Catalogue; Holmes’s Catalogue of his own Library, presented by himself; Gesneri Bibliotheca; the Index Expurgatorius; and Maunsell’s Catalogue of English Books, London, 1595, folio, which Thomas Hearne styles “a very scarce and yet a very useful Book.” In it are certainly recorded the names of various authors, and the titles of many books, long since defunct and forgotten.

In the branch of English Literature, this tree of knowledge, though lopped by rude hands, still bears delectable fruit.

[291]

The Mirrour of Good Manners, by Pynson, 4to. quite perfect, and Hylton’s contented and active life, may content the lover of black letter.

The Workes of our ancient and learned English Poet Geffrey Chaucer, newly printed, London, 1602, folio; Gower de Confessione Amantis, London, by Thomas Berthelet, 1554, folio; Hales’ Remains; Hawkins’s Origin of the English Drama, Oxford, 1773, in three 8vo. volumes; the Philosophical Writings of Bacon, Hobbes, and Locke; Butler’s Hudibras; Ben Jonson’s Works; the Works of Milton; Sir Thomas More’s Works, London, 1517, folio; Spenser’s Faery Queen, London, 1596-7, folio; Spelman’s English Works; Suckling’s Poems; and Warton’s History of English Poetry, may give to the general reader some foretaste of the intellectual banquet continually presented in the cloistered retirement of Lincoln.

The Historical department of this Collection embraces Bayle’s Dictionary; Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, in 32 vols. 8vo.; the Memoirs of Philip de Comines; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Heylin’s Cosmography; Maurice’s Indostan; Montfaucon’s Works on the Antiquities of France; The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden; Southwerke, by me, Peter Treveris, 1527, folio; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Simson’s Chronicon Catholicum; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; and other Works of less note.

Of Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs, this Library contains various collections of Councils, Canons, and Decretals; Pandectæ Canonum, SS. Apostolorum et Conciliorum ab Ecclesiâ Græcâ receptorum, &c. per Gul. Beveregium, Oxonii, 1672, in two folio volumes; [292]Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical Writers; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Josephus’s History of the Jews; Spelmanni Concilia; and Wilkins’s Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ.

The Books relating more particularly to the Ecclesiastical History of England are, Bacon’s Liber Regis; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica, curâ Smithii; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Burnet’s History of the Reformation, with Harmer’s Remarks on the Errors therein; Capgrave’s Nova Legenda Angliæ, Londini, in domo Winandi de Worde, 1516, 4to.; the Legend of St. Cuthbert; Dempsteri Menologium Scotorum, Bononiæ, 1622, 4to.; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, folio; Fiddes’s Life of Wolsey; Fuller’s Church History of Britain, 1655, folio; Godwini Præsules Anglicani, in two folio volumes; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Kennet on Impropriations; Knox’s History of the Church of Scotland; Lyndewode, Provinciale; Reyneri Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ, Duaci, 1626, folio; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Spottiswode’s History of the Church of Scotland; Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials, Annals of the Reformation, and Lives of Parker, Grindal, Whitgift, and Cranmer; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, 1744, folio; Usserii Antiquitates Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Walker’s History of Independency; and Wharton’s Anglia Sacra, in two folio volumes.

This Library is peculiarly fortunate in possessing many valuable Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland.

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Of these I will proceed to enumerate the Scriptores post Bedam, edente Savile; the Scriptores Decem, edited by Twysden; the Scriptores XVI. edited by Gale and Fell; Camdeni Anglica Normannica à veteribus Scripta; Du Chesne, Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores coetanei; Sparke’s Scriptores; and the Rerum Anglicanarum Annales of 1635, and of 1616, folio; the Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores of O’Conor, in 4to.; Blount’s Jocular Tenures; Bates’s Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Camden’s Britannia by Holland, 1637, Gibson, 1772, and Gough, with his Annals of Elizabeth, and Remains concerning Britain; Cooper’s Chronicle; Daniel’s History of the Civil Wars; Daniel’s History of England; Dickenson’s Southwell; Doleman’s Conference about the next Succession to the Crowne of England, the joint production of Cardinal Allen, Robert Parsons, and Sir Francis Englefield, in support of the title of the Infanta against that of James the Sixth, after the death of Elizabeth, a Work which was so rigorously suppressed, that to possess a copy was, in the merry days of good Queen Bess, high treason. The Chronicles of Arnold, Fabyan, Froissart, Grafton, Hall, Harding, Monstrelet, and Rastall, all in 4to. Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s, and of Warwickshire; Drake’s York; Echard’s History of England; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edente Selden; Fuller’s Worthies; Forduni Scoti-chronicon, in folio; Fleetwood’s Elenchus Annalium Edvardi V. Richardi III. and Henrici VII. and VIII.; Galfredi Monumetensis Chronicon Rerum Angliæ; Godwin’s Annales of England; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; Habington’s Historie of Edward IV. London, 1640, folio; Haywarde’s [294]Lives of the three Norman Kings, London, 1613, 4to.; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica, folio; Lord Herbert’s Life and Reign of Henry VIII.; and Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, London, 1577, in two vols. and 1586-7, in three vols. folio, being the first and second editions of that work; Illingworth’s Topographical Account of Scampton in Lincolnshire; Jovii Descriptio Britanniæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ et Orcadum, Venetiis, 1548, 4to.; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Lysons’ Magna Britannia; Lingard’s History of England; Lhuyd’s Commentarioli Britannicæ Descriptionis Fragmentum; May’s History of the Long Parliament; Madox’s Firma Burgi, and History of the Exchequer; Gul. Neubrigensis Historia Regum Anglorum, Parisiis, 1610; Ogilby’s Coronation of King Charles II.; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio; the Historical Collections of Nalson and Rushworth, and Patten’s Expedition into Scotlande of Edward, Duke of Somerset, London, by Richarde Grafton, 1548, 8vo.; Rymer’s Fœdera, in 20 vols. folio; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa, and his Antiquities of Stamford; Philipot’s Villare-Cantianum; Prynne’s Records, 1657; Sanderson’s History of Mary Queen of Scots, London, 1656, folio; Sheringham de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Sharpe’s William of Malmesbury; Rapin’s History of England, with the Continuation by Tindal; Skenæi Regia Majestas Scotorum, Edin. 1609, folio; Smith de Republicâ Anglorum; Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury; Slater’s History of Great Britain; Spelman’s Life of Alfred; Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum; Speed’s Chronicle; Stanihurst de rebus Hibernicis; [295]Stow’s Chronicle, by Howes; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; Surtees’ History of Durham; Thomas’ History of Worcester; Thoroton’s History of Nottinghamshire; Turnor’s History of Grantham; and Twinus de Rebus Albionicis; Udall’s History of Mary Queen of Scots; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; Waræus Scriptores de rebus Hibernicis; Warwick’s Memoirs of Charles I.; Wake’s Rex Platonicus; Winwood’s Historical Collections relating to Scotland, London, 1637, folio; Weever’s Funeral Monuments, London, 1631, folio; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Wren’s Parentalia; the Beauties of England and Wales, London, 1802-16, in 25 octavo volumes; and Willis’s Cathedrals.

This Library also contains several Acts of Parliament, and of Legal Works; the most remarkable are Blackstone’s Commentaries; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Coke’s Institutes; Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliæ; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici & Civilis; Callis on the Laws of Sewers; and some State Trials.

The Records of the Kingdom, published by the authority of Parliament, are placed upon these shelves as soon as they appear. They are accompanied, in the present instance, by Cooper’s Account of the Public Records, and Cotton’s Abridgment of the Records in the Tower.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection are unusually numerous, including Leigh’s Accidence of Armoury, London, 1591, 4to.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Brooke’s Heraldry; Collins’s Peerage; Dugdale’s Baronage; Fern’s Blazon of Gentry, London, 1586, 4to.; Guillim’s Heraldry; Carter’s Analysis of Honour; [296]Jones’ Heraldry, 1590, 4to.; Madox’s Baronia Anglicana; Milles’ Catalogue of Honor, London, 1610, folio; Selden’s Titles of Honour; and Yorke’s Union of Honour.

The Geographical section of this Library embraces, Bruce’s Travels; Hakluyt’s Voyages; and Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1625-6, in 5 folio volumes.

I may here notice Petavii Doctrina temporum; the Art de verifier les Dates; and Green’s Numismatic Atlas, 1829, as the sole representations of what ought to be the Chronological and Numismatic portion of this Library. A deficiency but poorly supplied by Agrippa de occultâ Philosophiâ, and the lucubrations of Albertus Magnus.

Among the Foreign Miscellanies, I noticed the works of Ariosto, Casaubon, Petrarch, and Tasso; Bembo Lettere, 1502; Barthelemy’s Travels of Anacharsis; the Decameron of Boccaccio; Photii Bibliotheca, 1611; and his Epistolæ Montacutii.

Among the English Miscellanies, I remarked the Works of Donne; James the First; and Inigo Jones; Ascham’s Toxophilus; Roper’s Life of Sir Thomas More; Lord Orrery’s Romance of Parthenissa; the Reliquiæ Wottonianæ; and the long series of the Gentleman’s Magazine; Dugdale on Imbanking and Draining the Fens and Marshes; and several gratulatory and funebrial Verses from the classic fountains of Oxford and Cambridge; the Philosophical Transactions from 1797 to 1807, from 1808 to 1826, and from 1828 to 1831; and Sprat’s History of the Royal Society.

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Library of London.

When the Metropolitan Cathedral rose like the fabled Phœnix from its ashes, and its beauteous dome, rising in unrivalled grandeur over the smoky city, indicated the renovated altar of the living God, it contained but a few isolated Works of human learning.

Among those books which in all probability survived the great conflagration, I may here notice a very curious manuscript volume, containing the Rules and Ceremonies of the Monastery of Syon at Isleworth, founded by Henry V. in 1414. The book commences with a Table of four leaves, followed by a blank. Then follow the Rules and Ceremonies of the Monastery of Syon, and the Additions to the Rule in fifty chapters, occupying fifty leaves. A blank leaf precedes the ceremonial Calendar, which ends on the recto of the thirteenth leaf from its commencement. A Table of Signs used by Sisters during the hours of enjoined silence commences on the reverse of the thirteenth leaf, and is continued as far as the sixteenth. (Two blank leaves succeed.) The Rule of our Saviour occupies the ten following leaves, ending on the recto of the last, the reverse being blank. The Rule of St. Austyne contained in four leaves closes the volume, [298]which is a membranaceous folio, recently rebound in olive morocco. It was originally presented to the Library by Richard Hare.

A curious relic of the old Monastic Library, is a small folio upon vellum in the original stamped calf, with the chain, whereby it was secured to the shelf, still attached to it. It is entitled “Liber vocatus Remediarium,” and is written in double columns of gothic letters, very fairly rubricated. A Missal in its original binding, an imperfect manuscript; and a Medical Work of Avicenna, in folio, written in double columns of gothic letter upon vellum which has been rebound in calf, may also be noticed as having escaped the flames.

The Library of printed books attached to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, was the munificent endowment of Henry Compton, Bishop of London, whose portrait adorns the walls of the apartment in which they are preserved.

This noble room is placed on the south side of the stupendous fabric of the Cathedral, and has a gallery all round it, the books being placed on open shelves in oaken cases both above and below. The pilasters on the walls are most exquisitely carved in stone, by Grinling Gibbons. The floor is beautifully inlaid with polished oak, and the room is warmed by a spacious fire place, over which hangs a small print of John Egerton, Bishop of Durham.

The books amounting in number to between five and six thousand, are all attired in the vituline integuments of their founder’s time; but many have had their joints as well as their leaves loosened through the united influence of time and neglect. They are [299]symmetrically arranged in open cases, numbered consecutively from 1 to 54, and placed all around this large and lofty apartment.

The aspect of this Library, and a closer inspection of its contents both impress upon the mind its cotemporaneous formation. The distinguishing feature is the impressions of the Sacred Scriptures, and its general character is theological, with a considerable admixture of classical and historical lore. The additions to the collection of the founder are by no means numerous, so that it appears as the faithful indication of his literary habits, and bearing the stamp of individuality, possesses, in my humble estimation, the greater interest.

The chief ornament of this Collection is the noble monument of Biblical learning and typographic skill, afforded by the large paper copy of Walton’s Polyglott Bible, and Castell’s Lexicon Heptaglotton. Of these gigantic volumes, measuring nearly twenty inches by fourteen, twelve comprehend the Bible, with the Dedication to King Charles the Second, and two the Lexicon.

They are all uniformly bound in old red morocco; but the first volume of the Bible having been formerly shewn as the largest book in the Library has sustained considerable damage, from the idle curiosity of its numerous visitors. Upon large paper this work is of the greatest rarity, especially when comprising the valuable addition of Castell’s Lexicon.⁠[44]⁠

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Concerning this latter work I may be allowed to extract the following manuscript note by Mr. Barham. “This Work is extremely rare being a L. P. Copy. I know but of one other, which is in the Library at Salisbury, it is said however that there is a third at Lambeth. Its very existence has been doubted from its rarity, and Van Praet when in England would not believe there was one till he saw it. Both Charles X. and George IV. were anxious to obtain a copy, but never could succeed.

“R. H. B. July 22. 1830.”

To this I am enabled to add, that in addition to the large paper copy of this Lexicon attached to Walton’s Polyglott, in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, the Presentation Copy to King Charles the Second is deposited in the British Museum at London, and another [301]large paper copy divided into three volumes, and bound in morocco, is contained in the Library of St. John’s College, Cambridge, both being attached to similar copies of the Bible.

The affecting circumstances detailed in the previous note will sufficiently account for the greater rarity of the Lexicon than of the Bible, though it is reasonable to suppose that as twelve copies of the Polyglott are said to have been taken off on large paper, the same number of copies of the accompanying Lexicon were executed in a similar manner.

This Library also contains a small paper copy of Walton’s Polyglott, and Castell’s Lexicon.

Rivalling the British Polyglott in size and splendour we find also in this collection the “Biblia Hebraica, Samaritana, Chaldaica, Græca, Syriaca, Latina, Arabica, quibus textus originales totius Sacræ Scripturæ quorum pars in editione Complutensi, deinde in Antverpiensi regiis sumptibus exstant, nunc integri ex Manuscriptis toto ferè orbe quæsitis exemplaribus exhibentur. Lutetiæ Parisiorum, excudebat Antonius Vitré Regis Reginæ Regis et Cleri Gallicani Typographus, 1645,” folio, in ten magnificent volumes on large paper, bound in old calf, having the book plate of “Thomas Mangey, Canon. Dunelm. S. T. P.” pasted within the covers. These volumes are in equally fine preservation with the beautiful Lexicon of Castell.

To the above may be added the Polyglott Bible, mentioned in the title of the preceding article, being that printed at the expense of Philip of Spain by Plantin at Antwerp, in six volumes, folio, in the years 1569-72, under the editorial care of Arius Montanus.

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I now approach the English versions of the sacred writings, and first in point of time and of importance, have much pleasure in recording the first edition of the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, and printed at Antwerp in 1526,⁠[45] 12mo. The present [303]copy of this little volume is unhappily imperfect both at the beginning and at the end, but its leaves have been placed in their proper order, and it has been recently rebound in russia. It begins with folio iiii. on sign. A. v. and continues perfect up to folio cccx. Then follows a hiatus of three leaves, succeeded by folios cccxiiii. and cccxv. which latter has the signature of pp. v. the last which is observable in this copy, the end being unluckily deficient. But the Dean and Chapter have very properly determined to adopt the judicious advice of the Rev. Henry Cotton, given in the note below, and if this transcript be executed in facsimile by the skilful hand of Harris, this little tome will be rendered as complete as circumstances will allow.

By the side of the preceding volume is rightly placed [304]the second edition of the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, with a Preface against George Joye,⁠[46] dated November, 1534. Printed at Antwerp by Martin Emperour in 12mo.⁠[47] The present copy is imperfect, but it has the autograph of Humphrey Wanley, librarian to the book-loving Earl of Oxford.

Next in order we find Tyndale’s third and last edition of the New Testament in English, 12mo.⁠[48] of which the present copy is unfortunately imperfect both at the beginning and the end.

To the three preceding editions may be added another edition of Tyndale’s New Testament, printed at Antwerp by Matthew Crom, 1538, 12mo.

I cannot dismiss this brief notice of the labours of one of the earliest and most efficient of our Reformers, without recording the second edition of the Pentateuch, translated by William Tyndale, revised and corrected by himself, without name of place or printer, but in all probability printed at the same place with the former [305]edition, namely, Marlborow, that is, Marpurg in Hessia, in 1534, 12mo. The title of this little volume runneth thus: “The firste boke of Moses, called Genesis, newly correctyd and amendyd by W.T. MD.XXXIIII.” and is placed between four wood cuts. Next followeth, “Unto the Reader. W.T. xi pages.” The Book of Genesis begins on the last leaf of the Preface, and the next leaf is paged i. It ends on fol. lxxxi. b. At the end is, “The end of the first boke off Moses, called Genesis.” The other four books are identical with the edition of 1530. There are a few marginal notes. It is printed in the Roman character.

It is fitting that I should here mention the joint labour of Tyndale and Coverdale, being the Bible, by Thomas Matthew, at the expense of Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, without name of place, but printed at London in 1537, folio,⁠[49] in calf.

This Library also contains the second edition of the New Testament in Latin and English, after the Vulgate, by Myles Coverdale. Southwark, by J. Nicolson, 1538, 4to. Copies of this edition are also contained in the Libraries of Christ Church and All Souls at Oxford, and in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth.

It appears that Coverdale was much dissatisfied with the former edition of the same year, printed by Nicolson [306]of Southwark, and set this forth as being more correct; endeavouring at the same time to call in the copies of the other; in this he seems to have amply succeeded, as one is now scarcely to be found. Lewis had never seen it, and Herbert describes it as being very scarce. A copy however is deposited in the Bodleian Library, though it is unfortunately imperfect.

In the same year also the New Testament, in Latin and English, was printed in Paris by Fraunces Regnault for Grafton and Whitchurche, 1538, 12mo. of which a perfect copy in calf is contained in this Collection. In this edition the Latin is after the Vulgate, and the English Coverdale’s.

Next in order of time occurs a copy of Cranmer’s, or the Great Bible, London, by Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, finished in April, 1539, folio.

The numerous editions of the Bible in English which enrich this repository, I will enumerate as briefly as possible in chronological order:

Next in order of time occurs a copy of

Of detached portions of the sacred writings in English, this Library contains the following pieces, which may be interesting to the curious:

In conclusion of this department, I may notice the Common Places of Scripture, printed by Johan Byddell, 1538, 12mo., and Sparrow’s Rationale of Common Prayer, 1657, 12mo.

There also deserves to be recorded an interleaved copy, with copious annotations throughout of the Novum Testamentum Græcum, cum Notis Manuscriptis, et Lectionibus Variantibus collectis à A. T. Mangey, [312]in 3 volumes, folio, inscribed with the following MS. note:

“These valuable Collections of the Reverend and learned Dr. Mangey, in three volumes, folio, were presented to the Library of St. Paul’s by his worthy son, the Rev. Mr. Mangey, one of the Prebendaries of the Church. Nov. 10, 1780.

“THOS. BRISTOL, D.”

The mention of this valuable monument of clerical labour leads us naturally to the consideration of the other impressions of the sacred writings contained in these cases.

Among these, the first in order of time, is

Of editions of the New Testament, I may mention the

To which may be added various editions of the Psalter in Latin, Syriac, and Saxon.

From these, we pass by easy gradations, to the theological department of the Library.

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Among the Fathers of the Church, we find S. Ambrose, S. Athanasius, S. Augustine, S. Basilius, Chrysostom, S. Cyprian, Cyril, S. Ignatius, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Eusebius, Fulgentius, Gregory Nazianzenus, Neocæsariensis, and Nyssenus, S. Jerome, Hilary, Hospinianus, Irenæus, S. Isidore, Peter and Justin Martyr, Lactantius, Nicephorus, S. Origen, Philo Judæus, Polycarp, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, represented by their Works in this Library.

Of English Divines, this Collection embraces the Works of Allen, Allix, Andrews, Atterbury, Bancroft, Barrow, Bennet, Baxter, Beveridge, Bramhall, Bull, Calamy, Chillingworth, Claggett, Samuel Clarke, Comber, Cosin, Cranmer, Davenant, Goodman, Hall, Hammond, Hoadley, Hody, Hooper, Jackson, Lardner, Leslie, Lightfoot, Lowth, Mede, Bishop Morley, Montague, Nelson, Nye, Norris, Pierce, Pococke, Prideaux, Archbishop Sharpe, Sanderson, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tenison, Tillotson, Toland, Waterland, Watson, Wake, Whitby, White, Whitgift, and Wilkins.

To these names may be added Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Cave’s Primitive Christianity; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Dodwell’s Theological Dissertations; Fell on St. Paul’s Epistles; Henrici VIII. Assertio Septem adversus M. Lutherum, 1562, 8vo.; Field of the Church; Seven Sermons on the VII. Penitential Psalms, by Fisher, Bishop of Rochester; Nicolas Fuller’s Theological Miscellanies; Gastrell’s Christian Institutes; Hey’s Lectures on Divinity; Hackett’s Sermons; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the [314]Apostolical Fathers; Jones on the Trinity; Jewell’s Works, 1609, folio; Kidder on the Pentateuch; Latimer’s Sermons; Muggleton’s Writings against the Quakers; Ostervald’s Arguments in French; Pearson on the Creed, and his Posthumous Works; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Wheatley on the Common Prayer; Wall on Infant Baptism; and Usser’s Annals.

The Foreign Works on Divinity, which are found upon these shelves, are far more numerous than important. It may suffice therefore to mention the Works of Thomas Aquinas and Theodore Beza; Petri Blesensis Opera Omnia; the Works of Bochart and Bossuet; Buxtorf and Calvin; Chamieri Controversiæ; Dallæus’ Theological Works; Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum; the Works of John Gerson; and of Desiderius Erasmus; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Grabe’s Spicilegium Veterum Patrum; the Works of Popes Gregory I. II. and IX.; Howell’s Synopsis Canonum; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; the Works of Lanfranc, Luther, and Melancthon; Methodii Opera; Riveti Opera Theologica; Saurin’s Sermons; Sirmondi Opus Patrum et Opera reliquaria; Socini Opera; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Vitringa in Jesaiam; Zanchii Opera Theologica; and the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, cum Auctario.

Of Commentators the number is considerable, including those of Patrick, Whitby, &c.; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica, and Pyle’s Paraphrase.

Of Confessions there are also divers forms.

Of Concordances there are several in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and English, of which it may be enough to [315]mention that of Downame; and Schmidii Concordantia Novi Testamenti Græcè, Wittebergæ, 1638, folio.

Canons and Decretals, including those of Gratian’s Synods of the Catholic Church; Tracts relating to the Liturgy, Church Discipline, and to the Dissenters, and Jesuits, occupy a considerable space upon these shelves.

Among the Works of Devotion I noticed several Offices of the Virgin, a small volume of Hours, printed by Robert Wyer, in 12mo.; and the Horæ ad usum Ecclesiæ Sarum, 1524, 4to.; a large folio, Graduale Romanum, with Musical Notes, lying in a very tattered condition upon the table; several Breviaries and Missals, with the Pontificale Romanum, but none of early date; the Book of Prayer for Scotland, 1637; the Directory for the Public Worship of God, London, 1644, 4to.; and English Prayer Books, of 1566, 1577, 1608, 1679, and other years.

There are also books of Homilies and Sermons by Seed, Secker, and others of minor reputation, including a very curious volume of “Sermones discipuli de tempore et de Sanctis, Argentorati, 1495,” folio, in which the following remarkable entry has been made by an ancient hand:—“Orate charitativè pro ai̅ma Ths Tyndalle qui dedit hunc librum co̅ventui de Grenewych fra̅ minoru̅ de Obsu̅anciæ die professionis sui filii fri̅s Willm̅i. Anno dni. 1508.”

In this Collection, the Critici Sacri; the Bibliotheca Polonorum fratrum; the Bibliotheca Sacra of Le Long; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Pole’s Synopsis; Du Pin’s Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiastique; Trithemii Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum and Nicolas de Lyra, Commentarii in Bibliâ, Lugd. Bat. 1629, in six volumes folio, bring up the rear of the [316]heavy division of the theological array, we have just passed under review.

Turning our attention to Ecclesiastical History we find a voluminous mass of Councils; the Concilia Generalia compiled by Labbe, Cossartius, Delaland, and Baluzius; the Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ by Wilkins and Spelman; the famous Council of Trent; Lyndwode’s Provinciale; Constitutiones Legatinæ Angliæ, Paris, 1504, folio; Baronii et Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici; and Tornielli Annales Sacri.

Independently of many tracts relating to Ecclesiastical affairs, this Library contains within its walls the Acta Sanctorum of the Bollandists in 53 volumes, folio; the Martyrologium Romanum of Baronius; Codex Theodosianus; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica; Echard’s Ecclesiastical History; Geddes’ Church History of Malabar; Haymonis Historia Ecclesiastica per Maderum, Helmstadii, 1671, 4to.; Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; Neustria Pia Rothomagi, 1663, folio; Platina, Vitæ Pontificum; Rycaut on the Greek Churches; Gallia Christiana Roberti Claudii; and Sleidan’s History of the Reformation, translated by Bohun; with Lloyd, Potter, and Reynolds on Church Government.

Of Works more immediately relating to the Church History of England, I may here notice the well-known Work of Thomas Fuller; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Bacon’s Liber Regis; Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; the Legend of St. Cuthbert, 1663, 12mo.; The Life of John Egerton, Bishop of Durham, 1798; Davies on the Church of Durham, London, 1672; Godwyn’s Præsules Anglicani, [317]and his Catalogue of Bishops; Gough’s Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Threnodia, 1661, 8vo.; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1621, folio; Heylin’s History of the Reformation in England; Knox’s Church of Scotland; Nichols, Defensio Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, 1605, folio; Parr’s Life of Usher; Sanderus de Schismate Anglicano; Spotswode’s Church History of Scotland; Usserii Britannicæ Ecclesiæ Antiquitates; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; and Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, London, 1744, folio.

The familiar names of the two last-mentioned Works, lead us to the consideration of English Topography and Antiquities, in which department we meet with Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ, the Britannia Romana, of the learned Horsley, printed at London in 1732, folio; Adam’s Index Villaris; Camden’s Britannia; Charleton’s Stonehenge, London, 1663, 4to.; Isaacke’s Exeter, London, 1677, 8vo.; Kilburne’s Survey of Kent, London, 1659, 8vo.; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent, London 1596, 4to.; Lysons’ Environs of London; Peck’s Stamford; Pennant’s London; Plot’s Natural Histories of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Somner’s Canterbury, and his account of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum; Stow’s London; Thoresby’s Leeds; Verstegan’s Restitution of Decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; and Weever’s Funeral Monuments, London, 1631, folio.

Of County Histories, I noticed only Burton’s Leicestershire; Dugdale’s Warwickshire; Morant’s Essex; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; and Wright’s Rutland.

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Of Works illustrative of the adjacent Cathedral, we find the original edition of Dugdale’s Account of St. Paul’s Cathedral, together with “An Historical, Descriptive, and Critical Account of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, by John Gwilt, Architect: Read at the Architects’ and Artists’ Club, March 4, 1823, and ordered to be printed by the Committee. Not Published. 8vo.” Of this volume, the gift of Richard Harris Barham, 5th of April, 1827, to the Chapter Library, only 25 copies were printed. It has a few illustrative plates.

Of Historical Works relating to Great Britain, this Collection embraces the Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores XV. à Gale and Fell; Camdeni Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus scripta; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Francofurti, 1601, folio; Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores post Bedam; Matthæi Paris, Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio, bound in three volumes; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Duaci, 1603, folio; and Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle.

It also contains Ponticus Virunnius Historia Britonum, 1587, and Brady’s History of England; Burnet’s valuable labours; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Asser’s Life of Alfred the Great; Camden’s Annales Rerum Anglicanarum, with his Remains concerning Britain, and his Memoirs of Elizabeth; Chamberlayne’s Notitia Magnæ Britanniæ, 1729; Heath’s Chronicle of the Civil Wars; Danyel’s History of England; Dugdale’s Summons; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edited by the learned Selden; Gulielmi Neubrigensis Historia Anglicanà, Antverpià, 1567, 8vo. and Lugd. Bat. 1587, folio; [319]Medulla Historiæ Anglicanæ, Londini, 1694, 8vo.; Fuller’s Worthies of England; Galfredi Monumetensis De Gestis Regum Britanniæ, Lugd. Bat. 1587, folio; Gildas de excidio et conquestu Britanniæ, Lugd. 1587, et Oxonii, 1691; Godwyn’s Annales Rerum Anglicanarum Henrico VIII. Edvardo VI. et Mariâ regnantibus; Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII. folio; History of the Rebellion, London, 1647, 8vo.; Historia Anglicana, 1653, folio; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica, London, 1620, folio; Langhorne’s Chronicon Regum Angliæ, Londini, 1679, 8vo. and his Elenchus Antiquitatum Albionensium, 1675, 8vo. with his Introduction to the History of England, 1676, 8vo.; Leland’s Genethliacon Edvardi VI. 1543; Leslæus de Successionis Jure Regum Anglicanorum in causâ Mariæ Scotorum Reginæ, Rheims, 1580, 4to.; Gulielmus Malmsburiensis de gestis Regum Anglorum, Londini, 1596, folio; Sir Roger Manley’s History of the Rebellions from 1640 to 1685, London, 1691, 8vo.; Nalson’s Historical Collections; Nevyllus de furoribus Norfolcensium, Ketto duce, 1575; Parker, de rebus sui temporis, Londini, 1726, 8vo.; Skynner’s Elenchi Motuum in Angliâ Pars tertia; Smith, de Republicâ Anglorum; Speed’s History of Great Britain; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, and his Reliquiæ; Stow’s Annals by Howes; Apologiâ pro Twyne Antiquitatæ Academiæ, Oxoniensis, 1608; Whitelocke’s Memorials, and the Historia Numismatis Oxoniensis with the Athenæ Oxonienses of Anthony à Wood, a name dear to every lover of Britain’s Worthies. To the above may be added the Records of the kingdom published by the Parliamentary Commission, and the Population Returns; various Political [320]and Polemical Tracts, too unimportant to deserve minute specification, are found on these shelves, which also bear Waræi Scriptores Hibernicani et Rerum Hibernicarum Annales; Cartè’s Life of Ormonde; as well as Lloyd’s History of Wales, edited by Powel, London, 1584, 4to.; Boethius’s Historia Scotorum, Parisiis, 1575, folio; and Falle’s Jersey, London, 1694, 12mo.

Of Works relating to the Laws of England, so intimately interwoven with its History, we find, Coke’s Institutes; Fortescue de laudibus legum Angliæ; Glanville, de legibus Angliæ, 1673; and Sir George Mackenzie on the Law of Scotland. To which may be added Gothofredi Corpus Juris Civilis; Heineccii Jur. Civile, & Justiniani Institutiones.

Of English Historical Writers, the Catalogues compiled by Bale, and Pits, and Nicolson’s English Historical Library, are found in this collection.

I may here also notice as introductory to the larger department of Foreign History, the well-known Works of Puffendorf & Du Fresnoy; Whear’s Method of reading History, and Rawlinson on the Study of History; Beughem, Bibliotheca Historica; Bayle’s Dictionary; and Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique.

Of the Historical Works themselves, I noticed the body of Byzantine Historians, collected by Labbe and Du Fresne; Freheri Rerum Bohemicarum et Germanicarum Scriptores; and his Theatrum Virorum clarorum; Froissart’s Chronicle, Lyons, 1559; Guicciardini, Historia Italiæ; Heliodorus, Æthiopicorum Historia; the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1497, folio; Hermoldus, Chronicon Sclavorum; Chronicon Freculphi, Heidelbergæ, 1597, 8vo.; the Chronicon Orientale [321]Beccense, & Paschale, Helvici Theatrum Historicum et Chronologicum; Eutychii Annales, edited by Selden and Pococke; Meibomei et Reuberi Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum; Godefredi Annales; Jovii Elogia Virorum illustrium; Olaus Magnus, Historia Gentium Septentrionalium; Mariana de Rebus Hispanicis, Francof. 1603, folio; Ludolphi Historia Æthiopica; Mariani Scoti Chronicon; Naucleri Chronicon Universale; Pistorii Historicorum Corpus Polonorum; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Sigismundi Rerum Muscovitarum Commentarii; Saxo Grammaticus Historia Danica, Basileæ, 1534, & Soræ, 1644, folio; and his Commentarii Regnorum Aquilonum, Lug. Bat. 1622, 12mo.; the Historical Works of Reineccius and Sigonius; Thuani Historia sui temporis; Flavii Vopisci Romanorum Imperatorum Historia; Rerum Sicularum Scriptores; Zonaræ Annales & Zosimi Historia à Leunclavio edita; Historia Francorum, Francof. 1596; the Effigies Regum Francorum, 1622, 4to.; Josephus, Hudsoni & Basnage, History of the Jews.

Among the helps to History may be mentioned, Cluvierii Geographia; Ortelii Geographia; Hudsoni Geographiæ Veteris Scriptores Minores, Oxonii, 1698-1703; Marsham’s Chronological Works; Petavii Opera Chronologica; Heylin’s Cosmography; and Tournefort, Voyage de Levant.

Of Heraldry, which has with the strictest propriety been styled the key of History, this Library contains, Gore’s Catalogus Auctorum de re Heraldicâ, Oxonii, 1674, 4to.; Milles’ Nobilitas Politica et Civilis, Londini, 1608, folio; Philipot’s Heraldry, 1672; and Selden’s Titles of Honour, London, 1631, folio.

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The study of Antiquities, whereby so many dark passages of History have been elucidated for the benefit of posterity, follows naturally in this place. Among the Works of this description we find Dempster and Kennet’s Antiquities of Rome; Fleetwood’s Sylloge Antiquarum Inscriptionum; Major’s Ruins of Pæstum, London, 1768, folio; Gorlæi Dactyliotheca; De Wild’s Numismata Antiqua; Grævius, Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanorum; Gronovii Thesaurus Antiquitatum Græcarum; Gruteri Thesaurus Criticus; Mabillon, Musæum Italicum, &c.; Montfaucon, Diarium Italicum, & Palæographia Græca; Prideaux, Marmora Oxoniensia; & Selden, Marmora Arundeliana.

The mention of these enduring monuments of the bravest, the wisest, and the politest nation of the ancient world, recalls the mind to Classical Literature, the dread of our earliest, and the delight of our maturer years.

Within the walls of this Library repose the Works of Ælian, Æschines, Appian, & Apuleius; Antoninus Gatakeri, with Dacier’s Translation; and the Works of Apollonius Rhodius; Aristides, Aristophanes, Arrian, Ausonius, Athenagoras, Athenæus & Aristenætus. Here too is the Æschylus of Stanley and the Anacreon of Barnes.

Here also are Spanheim’s editions of Callimachus; the Works of Quintus Curtius; Demosthenes; Dictys Cretensis; & Diogenes Laertius; Aristotelis Opera Sylburgi, with many of his separate Pieces; Diodorus Siculus, 1604, folio; Dio Cassius, Reimari; Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Francofurti, 1586, and Oxonii, 1704, folio; Dionysius Periegetes, by Hill, Lond. [323]1658; & Ennii Fragmenta, Lugd. Bat. 1620, 4to.; Ciceronis Opera, Lambini, et Davisii, with various detached pieces of his Works; Claudianus Barthii; Epictetus Uptoni; Euripides, by Barnes; Euclid, by Barrow; and the Noctes of Aulus Gellius; with the Works of Herodian, Herodotus, Hesiod, Hippocrates, and Galen, form integral parts of this collection.

Here also are Homerus Didymi, Amstelodami, 1656; and by Barnes, Cantabrigiæ, 1711; Homeri Ilias, Clarkei; Eustathius in Homerum, Basileæ, 1560, folio, 4 vols.; Hierocles, Casauboni; Horatius, Delphini, et Bentleii, with the Translation of Francis; Isocrates, Wolfii; Justinus, Oxonii, 1674, 8vo.; Libanii Orationes; Livius, Freinsheimii; Lucanus, Oudendorpii; Lucanus, Hemsterhusii; Lycophron, Potteri; Lysias, Taylori; Manilius, Scaligeri; Ammianus Marcellinus, Gronovii; Menander, Clerici, 1709, 8vo.; Pomponius Mela, Gronovii; Cornelius Nepos, Delphini; & Orapollinis Hieroglyphica, Merceri; Persius, Casauboni; Phocylides, Cantabrigiæ, 1652, 8vo.; Platonis Opera, Serrani, folio; Plauti Comœdiæ, Lambini; Plotinus, Ficini; Plutarchus, Rualdi, with Bryant’s edition of Plutarch’s Lives; Plinius, Harduini, in 3 volumes, folio; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon, Hemsterhusii; Polybius, Casauboni; Pythagoræ Aurea Carmina; Sallustius, Delphini; Seneca, Farnabii; Sidonius, Apollinaris, Sirmondi; Solinus, Salmasii; Statius, Barthii; Stobæus, Grotii; Tacitus, Gronovii; Terentius, Delphini; Thucydides, Dukeri; Virgilius, Burmanni; and Xenophon, Hutchinsoni; form no inconsiderable features in this department of the Library.

If to these we add different editions of the Works [324]of Iamblichus, Juvenal, Rutilius Lupus, Macrobius, Martial, Musæus; Mythographi Latini per Munckerum; the Works of Nicander, Orpheus, Ovid, Velleius Paterculus, Pausanias, Petronius Arbiter, Pliny the Younger; Pindar, Priscian, Procopius, and Prudentius; of Eutropius, and the Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores; Ptolemy, Quintilian, Silius Italicus, Sophocles, Ælius Spartianus, Suetonius, Strabo, Æneas Sylvius, Achilles Tatius, Symmachi Epistolæ; Theocritus’ Idylls; the Characters of Theophrastus; Vegetius de rê militari; Zenobius, Epitome Proverbiorum Tarrhæi, &c. Haganoæ, 1535, 8vo.; and the Poëtæ Græci Veteres heroici et minores, we must confess that Classic lore occupies an important position within these walls, albeit the earliest editions of these great authors of antiquity may be there sought for in vain.

Etymology, whereby the stores of ancient literature are opened, next invites our attention to the Lexica of Hederic and Scapula in Greek; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; Cooper’s Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; and Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Suidæ Lexicon Kusteri, in 3 volumes folio; Hesychii Lexicon Græcum; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Etymologicon Magnum, Sylburgii; Martinii Lexicon; Parkhurst’s Lexicon to the New Testament; Phavorini Lexicon Græcum; Skinner, Etymologicum Linguæ Anglicanæ; Benson’s Lexicon Anglo-Saxonicum, Oxonii, 1701, 8vo.; and Littleton’s Dictionary, 1678, 4to. make up the complement of this useful division.

I may here also notice some Philological Tracts by Vossius, Robortellus, Scaliger, Labbe, and Casaubon; Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ; Putschii Auctores Grammatici, 4to.; Gatakeri Adversaria; Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ; and Perotti Cornucopia.

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In English Literature, I noticed upon the shelves of this Library Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy; the Works of the Royal Martyr, with the Life of Charles I. and the ‘Εικων Βασιλικη;’ Sir Dudley Carleton’s Letters; Chaucer’s Works, 1561, folio; Cowley’s Works; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Drayton’s Polyolbion; Doddridge’s Life of Colonel Gardiner; Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, 1682, 4to.; Gower’s Confessio Amantis, 1554, folio; Hales’ Remains; Hervey’s Meditations; Langbaine’s English Dramatic Poets; Locke on the Human Understanding; Milton’s Controversial Pieces; Matthew Parker’s Works and Life; Upton’s Observations on Shakespeare; Waller’s Poems; Walton’s Lives; and Sir Philip Warwick’s Discourse of Government.

Of Scientific Works, this Collection cannot boast of more than Stanley’s History of Philosophy; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society; Maseres’ Scriptores Logarithmici; Whiston’s Prælectiones Astronomicæ; Gerarde’s Herbal, 1636, folio; Raii Historia Plantarum; Grew’s Rarities of Gresham College; a few volumes of the Philosophical Transactions; Watts’ Logick; and Winman de Arte Natandi, Lugd. Bat. 1638, 12mo. may be noted here.

Of Bibliographical Works, this Library embraces Antonio, Bibliotheca Hispana, Vetus et Nova, folio; D’Herbelôt, Bibliothèque Orientale, 4to.; Clavel’s Catalogue of English Books from 1666 to 1674, London, 1775; Catalogus Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ, Oxonii, 1697, folio; Catalogue of English Writers on the Old and New Testament, London, 1668; Catalogus Librorum, R. Smith, Londini, 1682, 4to.; Spencer, Catalogus universalis Librorum in Bibliothecâ Collegii Sionii apud Londinensis, Londini, [326]1601, folio; Bibliothecæ Cleri Londinensis in Collegio Sionensi Catalogus à Gulielmo Reading, Londini, 1724, folio; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Publicæ Lugduni Batavorum; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Academiæ Lipsiensis; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Ducis Norfolciæ, 1681, 4to.; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Thuanæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Barberinæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Cottonianæ à Smith; Catalogus Librorum venales apud Elzeveros; Cave’s Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica; Du Pin, Bibliotheca Historica; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca, Latina, & Mediæ et Infimæ Ætatis, with his Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, and Bibliographia Antiquaria; Hallervordii Bibliotheca Curiosa; Index Librorum Expurgatorum; Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; Morhof, Polyhistor Literarius, &c.; Naudæi Bibliographia Politica; Photii Bibliotheca curâ Hœschelii; Scott, Catalogus Librorum ex variis Europæ partibus advectorum, London, 1674, 4to.; Toppi, Bibliotheca Napoletana, Neap. 1678, folio; and the Bibliothecæ Regiæ, Georgii III. Catalogus, with the Supplementary volume of Maps and Prints, 6 vols. folio, the gift of George IV.

Of general literature, the Works contained in this Collection are not important. I may here enumerate however a copy of Joannis Sarisburiensis Polycraticus, Lugd. Bat. 1595; the Koran; the Work of Agapetus; Epistolæ Variorum Auctorum; Hobbes’ Opera Philosophica; Fenelon, Télémaque; Voltaire, Henriade; the Works of Grotius and Heinsius, of Julian the Apostate, Thomas Magister, Thomas à Kempis, Meursius, Meibomius, and Muretus; the Works of Petrarch and Machiavelli; Picus of Mirandula, edited by Pierce; of Moliere, Porphyry, Rabelais, [327]Ruinart, & Rufinus; Photii Epistolæ Montacutii; Relandi Palestina illustrata; Annales Rabbinorum, et de Religione Muhammetensi; Stapletoni Opera; Synesii Opera; Maximus Tyrius, Dissertationes, Davisii; and Boethius, de Consolatione Philosophiæ, 1656.

But if the curiosity of the reader extend to the productions of such names as Albertus Magnus, Alyaco, Lucas Holstenius, Hottingerus Launovis, Maimonides, Jonas Shlichlingius, and Fridericus Schererzius, Duns Scotus, Suarez, Stuchius, Paulus Vindingius, and Ludovicus Vives, Granville Sharp, or Seth Ward, and Eustratius, Zialowski; together with numerous other obscure writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; for all these he may be safely referred to the Manuscript Catalogue preserved in the Library, a thick folio volume, very carefully compiled, and containing a very sufficient and correct enumeration of all the books contained in the Library, in regular alphabetical order, with reference to the shelves on which they stand.

Each volume of this Collection has the book plate of the Chapter pasted within its cover. This engraving, in the form of an ecclesiastical seal, represents St. Paul seated, with a glory around his head, having in his right hand a sword, and in his left the sacred volume. The following motto encircles the whole—“Liber Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Sancti Pauli.”

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Library of Manchester.

The See of Manchester having been created during the compilation of these Notes would naturally occasion me to notice any Library which might have existed in connection with that establishment. There is however no Library attached to the Collegiate Church, now the Cathedral of Manchester. There were a few books sold about twenty or five and twenty years ago by the Churchwardens of that time, which consisted chiefly of Divinity; Jewel’s Apology; Hooker’s Works; Fox’s Book of Martyrs, &c.; many of them in a dilapidated state, and very few perfect among them. They appear to have been books placed in the Church for the use of the congregation at large, rather than a Capitular Library.

It is probable that Humphrey Chetham, when he founded his Hospital, in what was formerly the College or Capitular buildings belonging to the Collegiate Church of Manchester, intended the Library which he established there to supply the deficiency of a Chapter Library. This Collection is remarkable as the most easily accessible in the United Kingdom. Any person, however humble in station, or homely in appearance, whencesoever he may come, has a right to [329]demand a sight of any book in the Library. This rare facility of access has not been without its abuses, since some volumes have been mutilated, and in severe weather, as in the National Gallery of London, many persons come and ask for a book of light reading for the sake of a warm and comfortable apartment.

A well arranged Catalogue of this Collection under the title of Bibliotheca Chethamensis seu Bibliothecæ Publicæ Mancuniensis ab Humph. Chetham Arm. fundatæ Catalogus, was edited by John Radcliffe in 1791, in 2 vols. 8vo. to which a third volume edited by William Parr Gresswell was added in 1826, with a copious index to the whole Collection.

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Library of Norwich.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich is deposited in the small yet commodious apartment which adjoins one of the Prebendal houses in the close, and is placed under the care of the Rev. W. F. Drake, one of the minor Canons of the Cathedral.

The collection comprises three thousand volumes, labelled and arranged upon open shelves, which are briefly enumerated in alphabetical order, in a privately printed octavo volume, entitled “The Catalogue of the Norwich Cathedral Library, 1819,” London, printed by G. Auld, Greville Street, pp. 120, chiefly compiled by its present Curator.

The books principally relate to Divinity, English History, and Classical Literature, and are chiefly of recent donation, the greater portion of the existing Collection having been presented to the Library by Frank Sayers, M. D. It is pleasant also to notice the judicious additions of standard Theological and Historical Works, by purchase from time to time as the funds of the establishment permit.

Among the desirable additions to the ancient foundation, I remarked the Works of Strype and Bull, [331]with other valuable productions of the Collegiate Press at Oxford.

The Publications issued under authority of the Record Commission are here seen in long and increasing array, for by a liberal and comprehensive policy, a copy of these public Records is deposited in every Cathedral Library of Great Britain.

Among the more ancient volumes, the typographical antiquary will seek in vain for any vestige of a Caxton, or of early English printers; but he may recognize with pleasure, Boetii viri celeberrimi de Consolatione Philosophiæ liber cum optimo commento beati Thome, which hath the following colophon:—

“Libri quinque de consolatione phie̅ Boetii Rhomani consulis ac oratoris splendidissimi una cum commentaria editione per me Jacobum de Breda in Daventria diligenter elaborati finiunt anno gratiæ Millesimo, quadragintesimo, nonagesimo primo, die sabbati ante Judica.”

Then follows a new title page, at the top of which is,

Boetii de disciplina scholarium cum notabili commento.

Then the colophon thus:—

¶ Finit Boetius de disciplina scholarium cum commento. optime bene necnon diligenter Impressus Daventria per me Jacobum de Breda. Anno Domini M.CCCC. nonagesimo sexto. XV. mensis Maii.

This volume which is in old strong binding, with wooden boards, contains “Aristotelis Ethica, Latinè reddita à Leonardo Arretino—printed 1479 at Oxford,” which begins Incipit preffacio leonardi arretini in libros ethicorum. Ending with the colophon,

Explicit textus ethicorum Aristotelis per leonardum [332]aretinum lucidissime translatus correctissimeque. Impressus oxoniis anno dm̅. M.CCCC.lxxix.

This book formerly belonged to Dr. Sayers.

The general reader will find much both of interest and instruction in the several departments to which I shall briefly direct his attention.

I only pause to remark that the only manuscript in this Library is one of the Psychomachia of Prudentius with delicate illuminations, probably of no greater antiquity than the middle of the fifteenth century.

The body of Divinity deposited in this place, is composed of the Works of Thomas Aquinas, Arminius, Athanasius, Augustine, Bernard, Bellarmine, Calvin, Chamier, Cyprian, Episcopus, Erasmus, Justin Martyr, S. Jerome, Ignatius, Irenæus, Lactantius, Melancthon, Origen, Rivetus, Tertullian, Theodoret, & Zanchii Opera Theologica, Genev. 1619, in 3 vols. folio; Suarez, Disputationes Theologicæ, Moguntiæ, 1629, folio; and Surius de Vitis Sanctorum, Venetiis, 1581, in 8 vols. folio. Of Barrow, Beveridge, Bennet, Boys, Bramhall, Chillingworth, Clarke, Conybeare, Edwards, Hammond, Hall, Hody, Hoadley, Horsley, Howe, Jackson, Jewel, Lightfoot, Locke, Lowth, Lowman, Patrick, Paley, Prideaux, Reynolds, Rogers, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Tillotson, and Jeremy Taylor, various works are here found.

I also noticed Abbot’s Defence of the Reformed Churches, 1611, in 2 vols. 4to.; Ainsworth on the Pentateuch; Allix on the Old Testament; Barclay’s Apology; Browne’s Religio Medici; Brightman on the Revelations; Butler’s Analogy; Burnet on the [333]Articles; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Campbell on the Gospels; Cave’s Primitive Christianity; Antiquitates Apostolicæ, and Lives of the Fathers; Clarkson’s Primitive Episcopacy; Cosin’s Canon of Scripture; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Derham’s Astro-Theology; Evans’ Sketch of all Religions; Faulkner on the Liturgy; Fell and St. Paul’s Epistles; Field of the Church; Fleetwood on Miracles; Forster on the Christian Revelation; Fulke on the New Testament; Gastrell’s Christian Institutes; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Gregorii de Valentia Opera Theologica, Ingoldst. 1592, in 4 volumes, folio; and Gregory’s Observations on Scripture; Gray’s Key to the Old Testament; Gurnall’s Christian in Armour; Grabe, Spicilegium Veterum Patrum; Harmer on the Scriptures; Heylin’s Christian Theology; Hey’s Lectures; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Kennicott’s Dissertations; King’s Lectures on Jonas; Kidder on the Pentateuch; Knatchbull’s Annotations; Lardner’s Gospel History; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Lewis’ Origines Hebreæ; Le Clerc on the Pentateuch; Marsh’s Michaelis, and his Lectures; and Magee on the Atonement; Macknight on the Epistles and Gospels; Newton on the Prophecies and Apocalypse; Newcome on Ezekiel, &c.; Newman’s Concordance; Nisbet on the Epistles; Outram de Sacrificiis; Owen on the Trinity; Pearson on the Creed; Pierce on the Epistles; Poli Synopsis; Ross’ View of all Religions; Shuckford’s Connection; Trapp on the New Testament; Wake’s Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers; Waterland’s Vindication; Warburton’s Divine Legation; Usher’s Body of Divinity; Watson’s Apologies; Welchman on the Articles; Whitby on the New [334]Testament; Wilkins’ Natural Religion; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature; and the Works of the author of the Whole Duty of Man, Oxford, 1704, folio.

The impressions of the Sacred Volume found upon these shelves are,

But the most sumptuous volumes of Holy Writ are those printed by Field, at Cambridge, in 1666, folio, which, richly embellished with engravings of that period, and bound in 2 volumes covered with purple velvet, and protected by silver clasps, usually adorn the Sacramental table of the Cathedral itself.

The impressions of the New Testament are more numerous than those of the Bible, including those edited by Beza, Castalio, Hammond, Maittaire, Stephens, and Tremellius. To which I may add the Heptateuchus Anglo-Saxonicè à Thwaites, 1798; and the Pentateuchus Copticus of Wilkins, 1731, 4to.

There are also imperfect copies of the Book of Common Prayer of 1634; and of Kennicott’s Hebrew Bible; Wickliffe’s Testament, by Lewis, London, 1731, folio; Henry the Eighth’s Primer, 1546, 4to.; the Common Prayer Book of 1619, in folio, with Prayers in Latin, Spanish, and Greek, and the Liturgia in usum Eccl. Angl. 12mo. may here find appropriate mention.

This Library also contains Pole’s Synopsis, and Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; several Theological Tracts and Sermons, by Allestree, Berriman, Clarke, Fleetwood, Goodman, Horton, Hickman, Houghton, Horsley, [335]Jeffery, Knight, Leightenhouse, Newcome, Needham, Parr, Rogers, Saurin, Sanderson, Sherlock, South, Stoughton, Jeremy Taylor, Waterland, and Whaley; Bourse’s Discourses; Secker’s Charges; and a small collection of Sermons by different authors.

The Historical department of this Library includes the Ancient and Modern Universal History, Abdollatiphi Hist. Egypt, à Pococke, Oxon. 1800, 4to.; Butler’s Revolutions of the Germanic Empires; Chroniques de Nicole Gilles, Paris, 1536, folio; Chronicon Chronicorum, 1493, folio; Cumberland’s Phœnician History; Davila’s History of the Civil Wars of France; Echard’s Roman History, 1699, in 4 vols. 4to.; Gast’s History of Greece, 1782, 4to.; Gillies’ History of the World, 1807, in 2 vols. 4to.; Gothicarum Rerum Scriptores, 1618, 12mo.; Heylin’s Cosmography; Helvici Theatrum Historicum; the History of Modern Europe, 1731, in 4 vols. 8vo.; Historia Gentium Septentrionalium Olai Magni, Romæ, 1555, 4to.; Howell’s History of the World; Le Compte’s Memoirs of China, 1697, 8vo.; Matthiæ Theatrum Historicum; Mariana’s History of Spain; Mitford’s History of Greece; Ockley’s Saracens; Ouseley’s Epitome of Persian History; Potter’s Antiquities of Greece; Pococke’s Description of the East; Pounall’s Roman Antiquities; Raleigh’s History of the World, 1614, fol.; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Sketches of the Hindoos, 1792, in 2 vols. 8vo.; Thuani Historia sui temporis, 1733, in 7 vols. folio; Vertot’s Revolutions in Portugal and Sweden; Whitaker’s Course of Hannibal over the Alps; and the abridgment of Rollin’s Ancient History, published at Berne in 1763, in 5 duodecimo volumes.

The books relating to Ecclesiastical affairs in this [336]Collection are, an imperfect copy of Alford’s Annals; Auctores Hist. Eccles. Basil. 1535, folio; Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Edinburgh, 1798, in 12 vols. 8vo.; Baronii Annales, Antv. 1589, in 12 vols. folio; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica, curâ Smithii, 1665, folio; Binii Concilia, Colon. 1618, in 5 vols. folio; Bower’s Lives of the Popes, 1748, in 7 vols. 4to.; Brent’s Council of Trent; Burnet on the Reformation, with his Vindication of the Church of Scotland; Ecton’s Liber Valorum; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, Moguntiæ, 1677, in 3 vols. folio; Fox’s Martyrology, 1684, in 3 vols. folio; Fosbroke’s British Monachism; Fuller’s Church History, 1565, folio; Hist. Eccles. Script. Gr. Colon. 1612, folio; Howell’s Synopsis Canonum; Josephus, Hudsoni; Jennings’ Jewish Antiquities; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Lardner’s Gospel History; Labbei Concilia, Par. 1672, in 18 folio volumes; Lewis’ Life of Pococke; Lewis’ Origines Hebreæ; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Lingard’s History of the Anglo-Saxon Church; Lucius, Historia Eccles. Magdeb. Bas. 1624, in 3 vols. folio; Masoni Vindiciæ Eccles. Angl. 1625, folio; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Nicephori Historia Ecclesiastica; Oughton’s Ordo Judiciorum; Platina de Vitis Pontificum; Reyneri, de Ant. Ord. Benedict. Douay, 1626, folio; Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici, Par. 1641, in 3 vols. folio; Stillingfleet’s Origines; Strype’s Lives of Cranmer, Grindal, Parker, and Whitgift; Steele’s Account of the Roman Catholic Religion; Sympson’s History of the Church; Usher’s Annals and Antiquities; Walker’s History of Independency, and Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, 1737, in 4 vols. folio; the Neustria Pia of Du Monstier, Rothom. 1663, [337]folio; Lyndewode, Provinciale, Oxonii, 1679, folio; Gibson’s Codex, and the Codex Theodosianus, 1665, in 4 folio volumes.

The Works illustrative of British History in this Library, are the Annales Ælfredi Magni, à Wise, Oxon. 1722, 8vo.; Anglorum Prœlia, Nevyllus de furoribus Norfolcensium, 1582, 12mo.; Andrews’ History of England; Bacon’s Henry VII.; Baker’s Chronicle, 1665, folio; Barnes’ Edward III.; Blome’s Britannia, 1673, folio; Burnett’s History of his own Time; Brady’s History of England, with his Introduction to English History; Camden’s Britannia, by Gibson, with his Elizabeth, and Remains; Clarendon’s Rebellion, and his Life; Daniel’s History of England, 1685, folio; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, 1623, folio; Fuller’s Worthies, 1662, folio; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum, Oxon. 1692, 4to.; Granger’s Biographical History of England; Habington’s Edward IV.; Hayward’s Regal Biographies; Lord Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII.; Henry’s History of Great Britain; Holinshed’s Chronicles, 1577, folio; Howell’s History of England, 1712, 8vo.; Horsley’s Britannia Romana, 1732, folio; Jeffrey’s British History, Edin. 1719, 2 vols. 8vo.; Kelham’s Doomsday Book, 1788, 8vo.; Leicester’s Commonwealth, 1641, 4to.; Ludlow’s Memoirs, Vevay, 1698, in 2 vols. 8vo.; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum; History of the Exchequer, and Firma Burga; Milton’s History of Britain, 1670, 4to.; Noble’s Biographical History of England and House of Cromwell; Oldmixon’s History of England; Parker, de rebus sui temporis, 1726, 8vo.; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, 1684, folio; Rapin’s History of England, in 28 octavo volumes, two [338]copies; Rushworth’s Historical Collections, 1721, in 8 vols. folio; Sammes’s Antiquities of Ancient Britain, 1676, folio; Speed’s History of Great Britain, 1632, folio; Stowe’s Annals, by Howes, 1631, folio; Temple’s Introduction to the History of England, 1699, 8vo. with his Memoirs, 1705, 3 vols. in 2, octavo; Turner’s History of the Anglo-Saxons, Lond. 1807, in 2 vols. 4to.; Sir Philip Warwick’s Memoirs of Charles I. 1701, 8vo.; Walpole’s Historic Doubts, 1768, 4to.; and Polydore Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Basileæ, 1570, folio.

The Works relating to the Topography and Antiquities of England in this Collection embrace Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ, and his Antiquities of Canterbury; Beatniffe’s Norfolk Tour, 1808, 12mo.; Bentham’s Ely, by Stevenson, Norwich, 1812, 4to.; Blomefield’s Norwich illustrated, 1745, 2 vols. folio; Browne’s Norwich Cathedral, 1807, 8vo.; Brand’s Popular Antiquities; Richard of Cirencester’s Description of Britain; Burton’s Leicestershire; Carew’s Survey of Cornwall; Dart’s Canterbury; Darell’s Dover Castle; Degges’ Staffordshire, Lond. 1723, 8vo.; Dickinson’s Nottinghamshire, 1801, 4to.; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiquities; Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s; Fitzstephen’s Survey of London; Gardiner’s History of Dunwich; Herne’s Charter House; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; King’s Munimenta Antiqua; Kirby’s Suffolk Traveller; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Lewis’ Antiquities of Faversham, and History of the Isle of Thanet; Masters’ History of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Millers’ Ely Cathedral; Mallett’s Northern Antiquities; Malden’s King’s College Chapel; Norden’s Middlesex and Hertfordshire; [339]Plot’s Staffordshire and Oxfordshire; Salmon’s Surrey; Seymour’s Survey of London; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; Stowe’s Survey of London; Strutt’s Antiquities; and Verstegan’s Restitution.

The lover of British Antiquity will readily join to these, Britton’s Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, and some of his beautiful Illustrations of the Cathedral Churches of England; Ladbrooke’s Lithographic Views of Churches in Norfolk, oblong quarto, in numbers; Mr. Nassau’s carefully illustrated copy of Blomefield’s Norfolk, bound in russia; Ives’s Garianonum, 1774; Taylor’s Harwich and Dovercourt; Wood’s History and Antiquities of Oxford, 1674, folio; the Antiquitates Oxonienses, 1726, folio; and Weever’s Funeral Monuments, 1631, folio.

The principal works connected with Scottish and Irish affairs, are Boswell’s Journey to the Hebrides; Chalmer’s Caledonia; Dalrymple’s Scotland; Monipenny’s Abridgment of the Scottish Chronicles, 1612, 4to.; Spotiswode’s History of Scotland; and Ware’s Antiquities of Ireland, 1705, folio.

The Classical department of this Library includes,

The Etymological Works which met my observation were, the English and Welsh Dictionary, printed [342]at Shrewsbury in 1737, 12mo.; Bailey’s Etymological Dictionary; Buxtorf’s Chaldaic Lexicon; Calvin’s Lexicon; Elstob’s English and Saxon Grammar; Ernesti Lexicon; Fabri Thesaurus; Grant’s Lexicon; Harris’ Hermes, and Philological Enquiries; Hesychii Lexicon; Hederici Lexicon; Hickes’ Linguarum Septentrionalium Thesaurus, with Wotton’s Conspectus; Hoogeveen de Particulis Græcis; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum, à Lye, 1743, folio; Chappelow’s Arabic Grammar; Lamberti Bos Ellipses; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Dammii Lexicon Homericum et Pindaricum; Minshew’s Dictionary; Parkhurst’s Hebrew Lexicon; Robertson’s Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ, and Hebrew Grammar; Ruddiman’s Latin Grammar; Schrevelii Lexicon, by Hill; Spelman’s Glossarium Archæologicum; Suidæ Lexicon Græcum, Basileæ, 1544, folio; and Græcè et Latinè, Kusteri, Cantab. 1705, in 3 volumes, folio; Somneri Dictionarium Saxonico-Latinum, 1659, folio; Valpy’s and the Port Royal Greek Grammar; Vigerus de Idiotismis and Laurentius Valla de Linguâ Latina, Cantab. 1688, 12mo.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection consist of

The Bibliographical department includes fifty-three volumes of the Acta Eruditorum; the Bibliographical Dictionary; the Bibliotheca Britannica of Watts; the Bibliotheca Reediana; the History of Philosophy, by Stanley, 1656, folio; the Bibliothèque Ancienne et Moderne, Amst. 1714, in 28 vols. 12mo.; the History of English Poetry, by Warton, 1775, 3 vols. 4to.; Blount’s Censura Literaria; Bruckeri Historia Critica Philosophiæ; the Royal and Noble Authors of Walpole; Catalogus MSS. CC.C. Cant. 1722, folio; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ, Oxon. 1674, folio; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Dibdin’s Introduction to the Classics; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca et Latina; Hartshorne’s Book Rarities of Cambridge; Lewis’ Translations of the Bible, 1739, 8vo., and Life of Caxton; Leland, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, 1709, 2 vols. 8vo.; Memoirs of Literature, 1722, in 8 vols. 8vo.; Nicholson’s English Historical Library; Hearne’s Ductor Historicus; Renouard’s Historie de l’Imprimerie des Aides; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses, 1721, in two volumes, folio.

The Chronological Works in this Library include Baker’s Chronology, 1726, folio; Brady’s Clavis Calendaria; Marshall’s Chronological Tables, Oxford, 1712, folio; Newton’s Chronology; Scaliger de emendatione temporum, Genevæ, 1594 & 1620, in 2 vols. folio; Trusler’s Chronology; and Usserii Chronologia Sacra, Oxon. 1660, 4to.

The Geographical Works consist of the Atlas Geographicus, 1711, in 4 vols. 4to.; The Thesaurus Geographicus, 1695, folio; Brookes’s Gazetteer; Cellarii et Cluvierii Geographia Antiqua; D’Anville’s [344]Ancient Geography; Dionysius de situ Orbis; Guthrie’s Geographical Grammar; Hexham’s Atlas; Michaelis Geograph. Hebr. Gotten. 1769, 4to.; Michel’s Geography of France; Morse’s American Geography; Adams’ Geographical and Historical Summary, 1797, 8vo.; Mercator’s Atlas, Amst. 1638, in 2 folio volumes; Wells’ Geography; and Falconer’s Strabo, 1807, 2 vols. folio.

I may here also mention the Voyages and Travels, consisting of Browne’s Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, 1779, 4to.; Chandler’s Travels, 1779, 4to.; Chardin’s Travels, 1686, folio; Keysler’s Travels; Denon’s Egypt, 1803, 4to.; Montfaucon’s Travels through Italy; Moritz’s Travels in England; Niebuhr’s Travels in Arabia; Sparmann’s Cape of Good Hope, Perth, 1789, in 2 octavo volumes; Maundrell’s Journey to Jerusalem, 1707, 8vo.; Sharpe’s Voyage to the South Sea, 1684, 8vo.; Shaw’s Travels, 1757, 4to.; Tavernier’s Travels in Turkey, 1684, folio; and Wheler’s Journey into Greece, 1682, folio.

The Scientific Works in this Collection embrace many subjects, but few Works of importance. Those I noticed were Bacon’s Novum Organum; Bartholini Anatomia; Philosophia Naturalis; Blumenbach Institutiones Physiologicæ, &c.; Boerhaave’s Virtue of Medicine; Boyle’s Experiments on Air; Burnet and Whiston’s Theories of the Earth; Clare’s Motion of Fluids; Cullen’s Physic; Euclid, by Simpson; Ferguson’s, Gordon’s, and Keil’s Treatises upon Astronomy; Fourcroy and Freind’s Chemical Works; Gassendi Institutiones Astronomicæ, &c.; Harris’s Astronomical Dialogues; Haller’s Physiology; Keil’s Anatomy; Kersey’s Algebra; Kirby and Spence’s Introduction to [345]Entomology; Haggitt, Milner, and Whittington on Gothic Architecture; Ozanam’s Mathematics; Quincey and Salmon’s Pharmacopeia; Reeve on the Torpidity of Animals; Riolani Anatomia; Rickman on Architecture; Rion’s Grecian Architecture; Smith’s Introduction to Botany; Tauvry’s Anatomy; Verlingii Anatomia; Wilkins’s Vitruvius; Willis’s Anatomia Cerebri; and Withering on the Fox Glove.

Among the Miscellaneous Volumes deposited upon these shelves, I observed the Antiquarian Discourses; the Voyage of Anacharsis; Arbuthnot on Ancient Coins; Nummi Britannici Historia, 1626, 8vo.; Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; Numismata Imperatorum Romanorum, Milan, 1683, folio; Pinkerton on Medals; Atkinson on Navigation; Blackwall’s Classics; Bochart’s Hierozoicon; Boswell’s Life of Johnson; Sir Thomas Browne’s Posthumous Works, 1712, 8vo.; Bryant’s Plagues of Egypt; Buchanani Poemata; Calligraphia Græca, Lond. 1807, folio; Charles the First’s Works, London, 1662, in two volumes, folio; Clarke’s Greek Marbles, and Tomb of Alexander; Dawes, Miscellanea Critica; De Pauw, Recherches Philosophiques; Desgarde’s Buildings of Rome; Diderot’s Theatre; Digges’ Compleat Ambassador; Gildæ Epistolæ; Godfrey of Boulogne, by Fairfax, 1624, folio; Gunn’s Manner of Military Array; Holmes’s Art of Rhetoric; Landmann on Fortification; Matthias, Canzone Toscane; Montaigne’s Essays; Monboddo’s Ancient Metaphysics; Montesquieu’s Works; the Musæ Cantabrigienses; Opie’s Lectures on Painting; Ossian’s Poems by Macpherson; Parival’s Iron Age; Palmerin of England, 1807, in four vols. 12mo.; Pinkerton on the Goths; Porson’s Letter to Travis; [346]Rawlinson on History; the Republic of Letters, Glasgow, 1728, in 17 vols. 12mo.; Rousseau’s Works; the Spectator; Suckling’s Works; Sydenhami Opera; Temple’s Letters, &c.; Vossii Opera; Wilson’s Ornaments of Churches; Windham’s Speeches; and Wright’s Help to History.

The Law Books in this Library comprehend Blount’s, Cowell’s and Jacob’s Law Dictionary; Burn’s Justice of the Peace, and Ecclesiastical Laws; Burlamaqui’s Principles of Natural Laws; Coke’s Institutes, London, 1684, in three folio volumes; Corpus Juris Civilis, 1663, folio; Corpus Juris Canonici, 1618, in three folio volumes; Fitzherbert’s Natura Brevium; Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliæ; Ryley’s Placita Parliamentaria; Shaw’s Justice, and Parish Laws; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantab. 1727, in two folio volumes; and Wilkins’ Saxon Laws, 1721, folio.

In English Literature this Library may boast of the portion relating to the Arms and Blazon of the Reprint of the Book of St. Albans, published by Wynkyn de Worde at London in 1496, 4to.; of the Workes of our ancient and lerned English Poet, Geffrey Chaucer, newly-printed, Londini, impensis Georgii Bishop, anno 1597-8, folio, in the rude black letter of Adam Islip; and of the Pylgrimage of Perfection, London, 1526, 8vo. also in the Gothic character.

This Library contains the works of Armstrong, Beattie, Bloomfield, Bowles, Dryden, Gay, Addison, Bacon, Berkeley, Bolingbroke, Boyle, Browne, Butler, Burke, Collins, Cowley, Evelyn, Gray, Harris, Hobbes, Johnson, Locke, Marvel, Mason, Milton, Newton, Pope, Priestley, Prior, Scott, Sterne, Temple, Thomson, Young, and Warton.

[347]

I also remarked Gifford’s Baviad and Maviad; Hales’ Golden Remains; Herbert’s Temple; Johnson’s Lives of the Poets; Glover’s Leonidas; the Rolliad; Harington’s Musæ Antiquæ; the Asiatic Researches; Hartley on Man; Headley’s Beauties of Ancient English Poetry; Heron’s Letters of Literature; Hearne’s Ductor Historicus; Ben Jonson’s Works, 1640, in two folio volumes; Thomæ Mori Opera Omnia, Lond. 1675, in three vols. folio; the Pursuits of Literature, with a translation of the Quotations, 1799, 8vo.; Relics of Ancient Poetry, 1794, in three volumes, 8vo.; Richardson’s Analysis of Shakespeare, 1739, in three vols. 8vo.; Thurlow’s Poems, 1811, 4to.; Tooke’s Diversions of Purley; Walton’s Lives; and Spenser’s Faerie Queen, London, 1751, in three vols. 4to.

In this unpretending yet useful Collection, which the mere bibliomaniac may pass by with disdain, the general reader will find much both of interest and instruction in the several departments to which I have endeavoured to direct his attention.

I ought not indeed to close this cursory review of the Norwich Cathedral Library without bestowing the tribute so justly due to the instance it affords of laudable attention to the preservation of conventual volumes, neither distinguished by excessive rarity nor remarkable for uncommon worth.

[348]

Library of Christ Church, Oxford.

This Collection consists of an ancient Theological Library in the Cloisters, under the peculiar care of the Regius Professor of Divinity, and of a more extensive and miscellaneous Library deposited in a suitable building in Peckwater, and accessible, under certain regulations, to the members of the College. The chief features of this Library will be best understood by the following detail of its contents.

The department of Theology is of considerable value, containing the Works of Athanasius, Augustine, Ambrose, Anselm, Basil, Clement of Alexandria, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Cyril, Jerome, Irenæus, Thomas Aquinas, and other Schoolmen: the Works of Allix, Andrewes, Atterbury, Baxter, Benson, Bentley, Balguy, Ball, Barlow, Bellarmine, Bernard, Beveridge, Beausobre, Bancroft, Barnes, Blondell, Bossuet, Bragge, Bramhall, Brett, Bucer, Bull, Barrow, Bates, Bennet, Bisse, Calamy, Calasius, Calixtus, Calvin, Camerarius, Campanella, Capellin, Carleton, Cartwright, Casaubon, Cassander, Cassianus, Cassiodorus, Chillingworth, Clarke, Claggett, Cockburn, Comber, Conybeare, [349]Corbet, Cheney, Chandler, Cosin, Cranmer, Cudworth, Cumberland, Chiffletius, Chytræus, Corderius, Claude, Coverdale, Crosset, Dallæus, Damascenus, Damasus Papa, Damiavius, D’artis, Delany, Dodwell, Doddridge, Donne, Dorington, Drelincourt, Du Moulin, Davison, Dawson, Durell, Edwards, Epiphanius, Erasmus, Eusebius, Eutychus, Faber, Fenelon, Ferguson, Fiddes, Field, Fisher, Fleetwood, Fleury, Fletcher, Fontenelle, Ford, Gardiner, Gastrell, Gataker, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, Gregory the Great, Geddes, Gerson, Fulgentius, Franck, Gualther, Hale, Hall, Hammond, Hare, Harmer, Hay, Herbert, Heylin, Hickes, Hickman, Hill, Hoadley, Hody, Hospinianus, Hoornbeek, Hopkins, Horne, Horsley, Hottinger, Houbigant, Huet, Hulsius, Hunt, Hurd, Hutchinson, Hyperius, Ignatius, Innocent IV., Jackson, Jansenius, Jenkins, Soame Jenyns, Jewel, Jortin, Jurien, Justin Martyr, Thomas a Kempis, White Kennett, Ken, Kennicott, Kettlewell, King, Knatchbull, Knight, Labbe, Lactantius, Lake, Lanfranc, Lardner, Larroque, Latimer, Laud, Launoyier, Laurentius, Law, Lawson, Leighton, Leigh, Leland, Leslie, L’Estrange, Leusden, Lewis, Lightfoot, Long, Lorimer, Lowth, Lubinus, Lucas, Luther, Mabillon, Macarius, Macknight, Mackenzie, Magee, Maimbourg, Maimonides, Malebranche, Marshall, Martin, Mede, Melancthon, Merrick, Mesue, Methodius, Michaelis, Miller, More, Morinus, Mornay, Nares, Nelson, Newcome, Nolan, Norris, Newell, Nye, Œcolampadius, Optatus, Origen, Orosius, Osborn, Osorius, Ostervald, Owen, Outram, Paley, Pallavicinus, Parker, Pascal, Patrick, Pearson, Peirce, Penn, Peter Martyr, Philo Judæus, Pictet, Pierce, Pococke, Cardinal [350]Pole, Porteus, Potter, Powell, Prideaux, Procopius, Randolph, Relandus, Reynolds, Ridley, Rivetus, Richelieu, Rogers, Rollocus, Rufinus, Sacheverell, St. Evremond, St. Real, St. Victor, Salmasius, Sanchez, Sancroft, Sanctius, Sanderus, Sanderson, Sandius, Sandys, Saunders, Saurin, Shickard, Schultens, Scultetus, Scott, Secker, Sharp, Sheringham, Sherlock, Shipley, Simon, Smalridge, Smith, South, Spanheim, Stackhouse, Stafforde, Stanhope, Stapleton, Stebbing, Stillingfleet, Sykes, Sulpicius, Synesius, Jeremy Taylor, Tertullian, Themistius, Theodoret, Theophylact, Thomasius, Thorndike, Tillotson, Toland, Tomline, Toplady, Tostatus, Toulmin, Townson, Trapp, Tucker, Turner, Turretinus, Twisden, Tyndall, Ugo, Usher, Vandale, Vitringa, Vossius, Vorstius, Wake, Wakefield, Walker, Wall, Warburton, Ward, Waterland, Watson, Wells, Whiston, Whitaker, Whitby, White, Whitfield, Whitgift, Wilkins, Willet, Williams, Wilson, Wise, Wollaston, Wolseley, Woodford, Woodhouse, Woodward, Zanchius, Ziegler, Zimmerman, Zuinglius, and Zwinger.

I also noticed Cave’s edition of the Fathers; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Isidori Hispalensis; and Leonis Magni Opera; the Works of Bede, Julian, and Josephus.

The English Versions of the Bible comprise those by Field, Whitchurch, Jugge, Barker, and Wilson; Walton’s Polyglott; several Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles; Luther’s German Bible, printed at Wittenberg in 1557; Biblia Polonica of 1563; the Bohemian, Spanish, Italian, French, Hungarian, and Arabic Translations; the Doway Bible; Pentateuchus Hebraicus; Grave’s Pentateuch; Grabe’s Septuagint; [351]Codex Bezæ; Wiclif’s New Testament; and Evangelia Gothica. There are several Books of Common Prayer, Rituals, and Offices of the Church, Greek and Latin Testaments of Edward VI. 1552, &c., Psalms, Catechisms, Decretals, Breviaries, Missale in usum Sarum, Liturgies, and Homilies, also Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum; Thesaurus Sacrorum Rituum; Sparrow’s Rationale of Common Prayer; and Wheatley on Common Prayer.

The Works relating to Ecclesiastical History include Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica; Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici; Bingham’s Origines & Antiquitates; Brandt, Burnet, and Soames’ Reformation; Calderwood and Cook’s Church of Scotland; Carwithen’s Church of England; Echard and Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Rolandus and Benedict, Acta Sanctorum; Concilia Generalia Trident.; Dupin’s History of the Church; Dod’s Church History; Fox’s Acts and Martyrs; Godwin’s Bishops; Harpsfeld’s Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica; Inett’s Origines Anglicanæ; L’Enfant Concilia, Constance; Leti’s Lives of the Popes; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Gallia Christiana; Monasticon Anglicanum & Hibernicanum; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Schotani Bibl. Hist. Sacræ; Sixti Bibl. Sanctorum; Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica; Southey’s Book of the Church; Spondani Annales Eccles.; Strype’s Memorials, Annals, and Lives; Neustria Pia; Le Cointe, Annales Ecclesiastici Francorum; Symson’s Church History; Sarpi, Council of Trent; Tillemont, Historia Ecclesiastica; Parker and Usher’s Ecclesiæ Britannicæ Antiquitates, and other Works; Capgrave’s Legenda Angliæ; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Knox, Wodrow, and Spottiswoode’s [352]Church of Scotland; Le Neve Fasti Anglicani; Sleidan’s Reformation of Scotland; Short’s Church of England; Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici; Saussay’s Martyrum Galliæ; Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Liber Valorum; and Warner’s Ecclesiastical History of England.

In connection with Theology may be mentioned the Bampton Lectures; Basnage’s History of the Jews; Bibliotheca Patrum and Fratrum Polonorum; Ugolini Thesaurus Antiquitatum Sacrarum; Blair’s Sermons; Ciaconi, Vitæ Pontificum Romanorum, 1677, 4 vols. folio; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Crantz’ Moravians; Dupin Bibliothéque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques; Pole’s Council of Trent; Anastasii Vitæ Romanorum Pontificum; Reyneri Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ; Elstob’s Homilies; Hyde, Religio Veterum Persarum; Kircher, Œdipus Egyptiacus; the Legenda Aurea; Lyndewoode, Provinciale; Newman, Cruden, and Schmid’s Concordances; Schœnmann Bibliotheca Patrum Latinorum; Pole’s Synopsis; Brooke and Neal’s Puritans; Sewell’s Quakers; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Synge’s Gentleman’s Religion; Mason on Self-knowledge; Walchii Bibliotheca Theologica; and the Whole Duty of Man.

The Classical department of this Library embraces various editions of Greek and Latin authors, more remarkable for usefulness than for rarity.

Among the earlier editions may be noticed Plinii Historia Naturalis, Parmæ, 1476, folio; and the Aldine editions of Aristophanes, 1498, folio; Aristotle, 1498, folio; Cicero, 1512-54, in 10 volumes, 8vo.; Demosthenes, 1504, folio; Euripides, 1503; Homer, 1521; Horace, Isocrates, 1534; Rhetores Græci, 1513; [353]Sophocles, 1502; Strabo Geographia, 1516, folio; and Lascaris Grammatica Græca.

To these may be added the Junta Cicero of 1537; the Xenophon of 1516, folio; and the Aristides of 1517, folio; the Roman edition of Eustathius of 1549; the Appian of 1551; the Basle editions of Diodorus Siculus, and of Diogenes Laertius, 1533; Dioscorides, 1529; Hippocrates, 1538, and Plutarch, 1533; the Poetæ Græci Principes of Stephens; Dionysius Halicarnassensis of 1546; Dionysius Alexandrinus, 1547; Dion Cassius, 1548; Herodian, 1544; and Horace from the Parisian press.

There are also various editions of the Works of Achilles Tatius, Ægidius Romanus, Ælian, Æmilius Paulus, Æschenes, Demosthenes, Agapetus, Æschylus, Æsop, Alciatus, Anacreon, M. Antoninus, Apicius, Apollodorus, Apollonius Rhodius Alexandrinus, Apuleius, Aratus, Aristenetus, Arrian, Athenæus, Aulus Gellius, Archimedes, Ausonius, Aurelius, Bion and Moschus, Cæsar, Callimachus, Catullus, Cebes, Cellarius, Celsus, Censorinus, Caussinus, Cicero Oliveti, and the separate Works of the latter author.

Add to these, editions of Claudian, Cornelius Nepos, Quintus Curtius, Dictys Cretensis, Dares Phrygius, Epictetus, Florus, Galen, Harpocration, Hierocles, Horace, Iamblichus, Justin, Lysias, Juvenal, Persius, Lysias, Longinus, Lycophron, Lucan, Lucian, Lucretius, Macrobius, Martial, Manilius, Nonius Marcellus, Maximus Tyrius, Pomponius Mela, Minucius Felix, Cornelius Nepos, Ovid, Oppian, Velleius Paterculus, Pausanias, Petronius Arbiter, Phædrus, Pindar, Plato, Plautus, Plotinus, Politian, Polybius, Pomponius Mela, Priscian, Prudentius, Quintilian, Sallust, [354]Sidonius, Silius Italicus, Statius, Suetonius Æneas Sylvius, Tacitus, Terence, Theocritus, Theophrastus, Thucydides, Tibullus, Valerius Flaccus, Virgil, and Valerius Maximus.

I may here notice the valuable editions of the Lexicon of Suidas; the Enchiridion of Hephæstion; the Poetæ Minores Græci; and of Stobæus, by Dr. Gaisford, the present Dean of Christ Church; the Rei Rusticæ Scriptores, 1529; Oratores Attici; Seneca’s Tragedies of 1563, and his Works by Lipsius, 1573; the Commentaries of Alexander, Ammonius, Simplicius, and Porphyrius upon Aristotle; Cato de Re Rustica; Euclid, Venet. 1508; Heliodorus, 1534; Wesseling’s Herodotus; Hesiod, Ven. 1537, and by Robinson; Clarke’s Homer; Galeni Opera, Paris. 1679, in 9 folio volumes; Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores; Julius Pollux; Drakenborch’s Livy; Libanii Orationes; Panegyrici Veteres; Photii Bibliotheca & Epistolæ; Ptolomæi Geographia; Sapphus Wolfii; Stephanus Byzantinus de Urbibus; Stradæ Prolusiones; and Solini Polyhistor.

The Grammatical Works include those of Aldus Manutius, Clenard, Vossius, and Tursellinus; Laur. Valla de Linguâ Latinâ; Stephani Thesaurus; Lumsden’s Persian Grammar; Lennep, Etymologicum Græcum; the Etymologicum Magnum of 1549; Carpentier’s Glossary; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Skinner’s Etymologicum Anglicanum.

The Dictionaries include those of Calepinus, Castell, Johnson, Littleton, and various Greek, Latin, German, French, Gaelic, Spanish, Italian, Persian, and Russian Dictionaries; the Lexicons of Buxtorf, Facciolatus, Hesychius, Pagninus, Scapula, and Zonaras; Boyer’s [355]French Dictionary; Dymot’s Tartar Dictionary; Bullet’s Celtic Dictionary; Casiri Bibliotheca Arabico-Hispana; Canes’ Dictionarium Espano-Arabicum; De Castro Bibliotheca Espanola; D’Herbelot Bibliothéque Orientale; Hickes’ Thesaurus and Saxon Grammar; Ihre Glossarium Saxonicum; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Meninski Lexicon Orientale; O’Reilly’s Irish Dictionary; Richardson’s Persian Dictionary; Russian Dictionary, in 6 vols. 4to. 1789; Schaaf Lexicon Syriacum; Schroeder Bibliotheca Armenica; Schneider’s German Dictionary; Scholtz Lexicon Egyptiacum; Somner’s Dictionarium Anglo-Saxonicum; Spelman’s Glossary; Walter’s Welsh Dictionary; Wachter’s German Glossary; Schleusner’s Lexicon of the Old and New Testaments.

The Works illustrative of English History are both numerous and important, comprising the Domesday Book; Gale and Fell’s Collection of English Historians; Fosbroke’s British Monachism; Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle; a fine set of Hearne’s Works, on large paper; Ethelwerdi Chronicon; Anderson’s Mary Queen of Scots; Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores post Bedam; Adolphus’ History of England; Baker’s English Chronicle; Bale, Scriptores Britannici, 1559; Bale’s Chronycle; Brady’s English History; Buck’s Richard III.; Boetii Historia Scotorum; Burleigh’s State Papers; Burnet’s Own Time; Carte’s History of England; Chamberlayne’s Great Britain; Churchill’s Divi Britannici; Clanricarde’s Memoirs; Clarendon’s Rebellion and State Papers; Cobbett’s Parliamentary History and Debates; Cox’s Historical Works, Life of Marlborough, &c.; Cox’s Ireland; Cooper’s Chronicle; Daniel’s Histories of England and France; Delolme’s [356]English Constitution; Dodridge’s Wales; Drayton’s Polyolbion; Dalrymple’s Scotland; a set of Dugdale’s Works; Eadmer, Historia Novorum; Echard’s History of England; Enderbie’s Cambria Triumphans; Oldmixon’s England; Evelyn’s Memoirs; Fox’s James I.; Bouquet and Brial Recueil des Historiens des Gaules; Godwin’s Commonwealth; Cavendish, Fiddes’, and Grove’s Lives of Wolsey; Grafton’s Chronicle; Guthrey’s Charles I.; Habington’s Edward IV.; Hacket’s Life of Archbishop Williams; Hall’s Chronicle; Hallam’s Constitutional History; the Harleian Miscellany; Hayward’s Lives; Heath’s Chronicle of the Civil Wars; Henry’s History of Great Britain; Holland’s Heroologia; Higden’s Polychronicon; Holinshed’s Chronicle; Horsley’s Britannia Romana; Hoveden’s Annales; Howell’s State Trials; Hume’s History of England; Life of Colonel Hutchinson; Innes’ Scotland; Jeffrey of Monmouth’s History; Keating’s Ireland; King’s Munimenta Antiqua; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Jeffrey of Monmouth, and Richard of Cirencester; Leslæus de Origine Scotorum; Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica; Lingard’s History of England; Ludlow’s Memoirs; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum; History of the Exchequer and Baronia Anglicana; Macpherson’s Original Papers; Chronicon de Mailros; Major Historia Britonum, Jebb, de Vita et Gestis Mariæ Reginæ Scotorum; Martin’s Chronicles; May’s History of the Long Parliament; Nalson’s Collections; Nauntons’ Fragmenta Regalia; Nennius, Historia Britonum; Nicolson’s English, Irish, and Scotch Historical Libraries; Oclandi, Anglorum Prælia; O’Conor, Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores; Ogilby’s Britannia; Orford’s Memoirs; Memoirs of [357]the Duke of Ormonde; Pepys’ Memoirs; Polydori Virgilii Historia Anglicana; Powel’s Wales; Prynne’s Records, 3 vols.; Ralph, Rapin, and Tindal’s History of England; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Rymer’s Fœdera, 20 vols. folio; State Trials and Papers; Sammes’ Britannia Illustrata; Sanderson’s Lives; Sandford’s Genealogical History of England; Slezer, Theatrum Scotiæ; Scott’s History of Scotland, 1727; Sheringham, de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Sibbald, Scotia Illustrata; Smith, de Republica Anglicana; Somers’ Tracts; Sparke’s Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Speed’s Chronicle and History of Great Britain; Spelman’s Concilia and Life of Alfred; Sprigge’s England’s Recovery; Stoddart’s Scotland; Stowe’s Chronicle; Strafforde’s Letters and Hibernia Pacata; Stuart’s Scotland; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannico Hibernica; Thoresby’s Diary; Thurloe’s State Papers; Triveti Annales; Turner’s History of England; Twysden’s Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence respecting English Antiquities; White, of Basingstoke, History of Britain; Walpole and Waldegrave’s Memoirs; Ware’s Ireland and Scriptores Hibernicanæ; Warwick’s Charles I.; Wilson’s James I.; Wynne’s Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins; William of Malmesbury’s History; and Winwood’s Memorials.

The Topographical Works most deserving of enumeration are, Adams’ Index Villaris; the Archæologia; Ayliffe’s Oxford; Baker’s and Bridge’s Northamptonshire; Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Bentham’s Ely; Borlase’s Cornwall; Bray and Manning’s Surrey; Britton’s Oxford Cathedral; Burton’s Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia; Campbell’s Vitruvius [358]Britannicus; Carew and Gilbert’s Cornwall; Carlisle’s endowed Grammar Schools; Chalmers’ Caledonia; Charleton and Jones’s Stonehenge; Chauncey’s Hertfordshire; Clarke’s Hundred of Wanting; Coates’ Reading; Cokers’ Dorset; Collinson’s Somersetshire; Cordiners’ Views in Scotland; Dalrymple’s Scotland; Dart’s Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey; Drake’s York; Duncombe’s Hereford; Gunton’s Peterborough; Halfpenny’s Fragmenta Vetusta; Harris and Hasted’s Kent; Hoare’s Wiltshire; Howel’s Londinopolis; Izaackes and Oliver’s Exeter; P. Jovii Descriptio Britanniæ; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities and Roman Remains; King’s Vale Royal; Lewis’ Isle of Thanet; Leycester’s Cheshire; Lodge’s Illustrations; Loggan, Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata; Lysons’ Magna Britannia, and Environs of London; Master’s Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Milner’s Winchester; Morant’s Essex; Morton’s Northamptonshire; Nash’s Worcestershire; Newcourt’s Repertorium; Ormerod’s Cheshire; Pennant’s Works; Plot’s Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Rastall’s Southwell; Rocque’s Survey of London; Salmon’s Hertfordshire; Seymour’s London; Shaw’s Staffordshire; Smeaton’s Eddystone Lighthouse; Somner’s Canterbury and Roman Ports; Surtees’ Durham; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; Wallace’s Orkney; Ædes Walpoliana; Warner’s Glastonbury; Whitaker’s Leeds; Williams’ Oxonia Depicta; Willis’ Mitred Abbies and Cathedral Churches; and Wood’s Antiquities of Oxford.

Of the Works on General History it may suffice to mention Bayle and Chaufepie’s Dictionary; the Ancient and Modern Universal History; Ellis and Du [359]Halde’s China; D’Ohsson’s Empire Othman; Byzantine Historians; Cramer’s Greece, Italy, and Asia Minor; Biographie Universelle; Connor’s Poland; Cox’s Austria; Craven’s Naples; Crevier’s Roman Empire; De Bry, India Occident et Orient; De la Vega, Historia Espanola; Du Chesne, Historia Francorum; Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Gillies’s Greece; Giannoni’s History of Naples; Gratian, Historia Veneta; Grimstone’s Netherlands; Gualteri Chronicon; Guicciardini Storia d’Italia; Guizot’s History of France; Hallam’s Middle Ages, and Literature of Europe; Hooke’s Roman History; Hugo’s Siege of Breda; Muratori Rerum Italicarum Scriptores; Hungaricarum Rerum Scriptores; Ginguene, Historie Litteraire d’Italie; Hispanarum Rerum Scriptores; Historical Register; P. Jovii Leonis X. Vita; Kæmpfer’s Japan; Koch’s Revolutions of Europe; Kollarii Monumenta Vindobonensia; Lindenbrogii Scriptores Germanici; Leake’s Athens, Asia Minor, and the Morea; Inghirami Monumenta Etrusca; Hughes’ Barbadoes; Maffei’s Verona Illustrata; Malcolm’s Persia; Malta Illustrated; Mariana’s Spain; Mayer’s Ottoman Empire; Meibomii Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores; Mezeray’s History of France; Memoirs of the History of France; Mitford’s Greece; Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique; Muratori, Annales Rerum Italicarum; Niebuhr’s Rome; Norden’s Egypt; Ockley’s Saracens; Orme’s Indostan; Pashley’s Crete; Percival’s Ceylon; Planta’s Helvetic Confederacy; Poggio, Historia Fiorentina; Poloni Chronicon; Putter’s Germanic Empire; Ralegh’s History of the World; Rankes’ Lives of the Popes; Robertson’s Works; Rollin’s Roman History; Rossini [360]Antiquitates Romanæ; Roscoe’s Lorenzo di Medici; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire, and Lives of the Popes; Salisburiensis Monasterii Chronicon; Sallengre, Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanorum; Sandoval’s Wars of Spain; Sarpi, Historia Veneta; Savage’s Germany; Savary’s Egypt; Saxonis Historia Danica; Scheffer’s Lapland; Schilter, Thesaurus Antiquitatum Teutonicarum; Scriverii Antiquitates Germanicæ; Shaw’s Barbary; Shirley’s Persia; Sigonii Historia Italica; Memoires de St. Simon; Sismondi’s Italian Republics, and Literature of Europe; Staunton’s China; Stevens’ Spain and Bavaria; Sully’s Memoirs; De Thou’s Memoirs; Tornielli Annales; Trithemii Opera Historica; Triveti Annales, the Ancient and Modern Universal History; Varillas’ Historical Works; Vertot’s Revolutions of Europe; Wanley’s Wonders of the Little World; Warcup’s Italy; Warren’s Surinam; Wentworth’s Australasia; Wilkinson’s Egypt; Wilson’s Egypt; Wood’s Palmyra; and Wormii Monumenta Danica.

While on this subject, I may notice the Voyage d’Anarcharse; Harris’ Voyages; Churchill’s Voyages; the Voyages of Anson, Cooke, Dampier, Drake, Hakluyt, Hacke, Pallas, Parry, Perouse, Ross, Spon and Wheler, Tavernier, Thevenot, Tournefort, and Vancouver; the Travels of Bruce, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sandys, Sonnini, Volney, Weld, Chardin, and Maundrell; Belzoni’s Egypt; Bembo, Rerum Venetarum Historia; Crantz’ Moravians; Burton’s Rome; Grævius and Gronovius, Thesaurus Antiquitatum Græcarum et Romanarum; Flinders’ Australia; Foppens’ Bibliotheca Belgica; Freher’s Historical Works; Gell’s Greece, Pompeiana and Rome; Gruteri Inscriptiones; Hall’s Loo Choo; Hamilton’s Asia Minor; Houel et [361]Saint Non; Voyage Pittoresque en Sicile; Ludolf’s Æthiopia; Major’s Pæstum; Norton’s Germany; the Countess of Sutherland’s Views in Orkney; Purchas’ Pilgrims; Roy’s Roman Antiquities; Rous, Archæologia Attica; Salt’s Abyssinia; Santos’ Escuriale; Stanhope’s Olympia; Stuart’s Athens; Symes’ Ava; Vyse’s Pyramids; and La Borde’s Voyage Pittoresque en Suisse.

The Works on Heraldry include the History of the Earldom of Sutherland; Archdall’s Irish Peerage; Carter’s Analysis of Honor; the Stemmata Chicheleana; Collins’ Peerage; Crawford’s Scottish Peerage; Edmondson’s Heraldry; Guillims’ Heraldry; Holmes’ Academy of Armory; Leigh’s Armory; Madox’s Baronia Anglica; Morgan’s Sphere of Gentry; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; and Selden’s Titles of Honor.

The Geographical Works comprise Cluverii Geographia Antiqua; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus; Peutingeri Tabula; Rennell’s Geography of Herodotus; Sanson’s Geographical Works; Wells’s Geography; Wilde’s General Atlas; and D’Anville and Pinkerton’s Geography.

The Works on Astronomy include those of Blundeville, Delambre, Galileo, Copernicus, Bonatus, Bonnycastle, Lalande, Laplace, Leibnitz, Maskelyne, Newton, Tycho Brahe and Bailey; Herschel’s Catalogue of Stars; Hevelii Machina Cœlestis; Vince’s Astronomy; and the Histoire de l’Astronomie Ancienne et Moderne of Bailly.

The Mathematical department includes the Works of Archimedes, Kepler, Lacroix, Laplace, Lanoy, Leybourn, Maclaurin, Oughtred, Schooten, Schott, Saunderson, Simson, Wells, Wallis, and Ward; Waring’s Algebra; and Hutton’s Mathematical Dictionary.

The Numismatic Publications comprise Hirsch, [362]Bibliotheca Numismatica; Numismata Pembrochiana, & Imperatorum & Pontificum Romanorum of Bonanni; Arbuthnot’s Coins; Budæus de Asse; Palin, Eckhel, and Gesner, Numismata; Harduini Numismata; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Coins; Ruding’s Coinage; Lord Liverpool on Coins; Snelling’s Coinage; Vaillant, Numismata; Pinkerton’s Medals; Stukeley’s Medallic History of Carausius; and the Medallic History of England.

This Library was greatly enriched by Dean Aldrich, especially in works of Architecture, and Archæology, including the Fine Arts. Of these it may suffice to mention Bartoli, Antiquitates Romanæ; Hamilton’s Vases; Galeria Farnese, Museum Florentinum; the Marlborough Gems; Herculanensium Voluminum, Neapoli, 1793-1809, folio; Chandler’s Ionian Antiquities; Marmora Arundeliana; Montfaucon’s Antiquities; Gorii Museum Etruscum; Visconti, Museo Pio-Clementino; Museo Fiorentino, & Pisano; Palladio’s Architecture; Cesio, Palazzi di Roma, folio; Antiquities of Palmyra; Rubens, Palazzi di Genova, folio; the Architectural Works of Scamozzi and Vitruvius, and those of Winckelmann; Caylus’s Egyptian Antiquities, and the Antiquitate d’Ercolano.

The works on Natural History and Philosophy comprehend those of Aldrovandus, Borellus, Gesner, Keill’s Natural History; Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis; Clusii Plantæ Rariores; Bocconis Plantæ Siciliæ; Gerard’s Herball; Grew’s Anatomy of Plants; Dillenii Historia Muscorum; Dodonæi Historia Stirpium; Haller, Bibliotheca Britannica; Hortus’ Eystettensis, 1640, folio; Houston, Plantæ Americanæ; Hudson’s Flora Anglica; Loudon’s Arboretum; Morisoni Historia [363]Plantarum; Parkinson’s Herbal; Ray’s Catalogus Plantarum, and other works; Rousseau’s Botany; Withering’s Botanical Arrangement, 1796; Bewick’s Quadrupeds; Block’s Ichthyology; Bochart’s Hierozoicon; Buffon’s Natural History; the Encyclopædie des Sciences, 33 vols. folio, 1751; Gravesande’s Natural Philosophy; Descartes, Du Hamel & Hobbes, Opera Philosophica; Donovan’s Birds, Insects, Shells, Fishes, and Quadrupeds; Jonstoni Historia Naturalis; Lacepede’s Natural History; Latham’s Birds; Markham’s Husbandry; Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary; Salvianus de Piscibus; Shaw’s Zoology; Thomson’s Chemistry; Vesalii Opera Anatomica; Willoughby’s Ornithology; Shaw and Nodder’s Naturalist’s Miscellany; Buckland’s Reliquiæ Diluvianæ; Kidd’s and Kirwan’s Mineralogy; Rashleigh’s British Minerals; Waller’s Mineralogy; Whiston and Woodward’s Theory of the Earth; and the Transactions of the Linnæan Society.

Of Medical Works we find those of Avicenna, Baccius, Boerhaave, Cardanus, Harvey, Hoffmann, Lister, Mead, Quincy, Schenck, Sydenham, Willis, and Zahn; also Medicæ Artis Principes, by the Stephens.

The Law Books as might be expected are few in number, among which I may notice Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Bracton de Legibus; the Corpus Juris Civilis & Canonici; Corvinus de Jurisprudentâ Romanorum; Coke’s Institutes; Comyn’s Digest; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Blount’s Law Dictionary; Gesner’s Pandects; Sir Matthew Hale’s Works; Heineccius de Legibus; Jacob’s Law Dictionary; Keble’s Statutes; Noy’s, Vesey’s, and other Reports; Puffendorf’s Works; Reeves’ English Law; Spencer de [364]Legibus Hebræorum; the Statutes at large; Suarez de Legibus; Tomlin’s Repertorium Juridicum; Vattel’s Law of Nations; Wottoni Leges Wallicæ, and Zouch, de Jure Civili.

The Miscellaneous Literature of England is well represented in this Collection; in proof of which I may enumerate the works of Addison, Bacon, Boyle, Beattie, Buchanan, Burke, Burnet, Chaucer, Cowley, Darwin, Harrington, Sir William Jones, Locke, Lord Lyttleton, Milton, Otway, Pope, Sir Charles Sedley, Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, Sir Philip Sidney, Swift, Sir William Temple, Taylor the Water Poet, Walpole, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Charles the First, Sir Simon D’Ewes, Du Bartas, Sir Thomas More, and Lord Herbert of Cherbury; Gower’s Confessio Amantis, by Berthelet, 1532, folio; Blount’s Censura; Berkeley’s Minute Philosopher; Bochas’ Tragedies, by Lidgate; Boswell’s Johnson; Butler’s Analogy; Butler’s Hudibras; Davies’ Celtic Researches; Doddington’s Diary; Gladstone’s Church and State; Hales’ Remains; Heber’s Journals; Life of Jeremy Taylor; Heywood’s Plays; Howard Earl of Surrey Works, by Nott; Howel’s Letters; Ben Jonson and Massinger’s Plays, by Gifford; Lydgate’s Poems; Mackenzie’s Scots Writers; Maurice’s Indian Antiquities; Malcolm’s Life of Lord Clive; Napier and Southey’s Peninsular War; Nichols’ Literary Anecdotes; Northumberland Household Book; Nicolas’ Testamenta Vetusta; Otter’s Life of Clarke; Parival’s Iron Age; Pegge’s Curialia; Percy’s English Poetry; Prior’s Poems; Rowley’s Poems; Sanderson’s Lives; Shaftesbury’s Characteristics; Shakespeare’s Plays, the fourth edition of 1685, folio, and Malone’s edition; Moore’s [365]Life of Sheridan; Spenser’s Works, 1679, folio; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society; Stanley’s History of Philosophy; Dugald Stewart’s Philosophical Essays; Tooke’s Diversions of Purley; Todd’s Life of Walton; Tomline’s Life of Pitt; Twiss’ Life of Eldon; Walton’s Angler; Warton’s English Poetry; Willis’ Notitia Parliamentaria; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses; Wren’s Parentalia; Yarranton’s England’s Improvement; Yorke’s Tribes of Wales; Young’s Night Thoughts; Evelyn’s Sylva; and Harris’ Hermes.

In Foreign Literature the list is much less extensive, comprising the Works of Aretus, Ariosto, Boileau, La Bruyere, Corneille, Grotius, Quevedo, Rabelais, Racine, and Machiavelli, Brumoy, Theatre du Grecs; Guarini, Pastor Fido; Heinsii Poemata; D’Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Rollin, Belles Lettres; Sevigne’s Letters; Tasso by Fairfax; Fénélon’s Telemaque; Voltaire’s Henriade; and Cervantes’ Don Quixote.

Of Bibliographical Works I noticed, Cotton’s Typographical Gazetteer; the Blandford, Spencer, and Sion College, Cotton and Bodleian Catalogues, and that of Heinsius; the Bibliothéque du Roi; Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus; Yalensis Collegii Catalogus; Renouard’s Annales des Aldes; Barbier Dictionnaire des Anonymes; Bandinii Catalogus Codicum, &c.; Baillet, Jugemens des Scavans; Assemanni Bibliothéque Orientale; Fabricii Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica; Brucker, Historia Critica; Catalogue of Manuscripts at Lambeth, and in the Vatican; and Ebert’s Bibliographical Dictionary; De Rossi Annales Hebræo-Typographici; Orme’s Bibliotheca Biblica; Audiffredi, Catalogus Romanarum Editionum; Brunet’s Manuel; Debure, [366]Bibliographie Instructive & Catalogue de la Valliere; Harles, Notitia Litteraria; Maittaire and Panzer, Annales Typographici; Marsden’s Catalogue of Dictionaries; Peignot’s Bibliographical Works; Bouterwek’s Spanish Literature; Dunlop, Roman Literature; Dibdin’s Typographical Antiquities, and Library Companion; and Vogt, Catalogus Librorum.

The Chronological Works include Bedford’s Scripture; L’Art de verifier les Dates; Blair’s, Hales’ and Cary’s Chronology; Corsini, Fasti Attici; Petavii Doctrina Temporum Funcii; and Strauchii Chronologia.

This Collection also contains Musicæ Antiquæ Auctores; the Asiatic Researches; Burney’s History of Music; Hartley on Man; Hatsell’s Precedents; Parliamentary History, 24 vols. 8vo.; Journals of the Lords and Commons; Bartsch, Peintre Graveur; Bromley’s Catalogue of Engraved Portraits; James’ Schools of Painting; Mabillon de Re Diplomaticâ; Anderson’s Diplomata Scotiæ; Marten’s Traités de la Paix; Morhof, Polyhistor; Ottley’s History of Engraving; Pilkington’s Dictionary of Painters; Stosch, Peintre Graveur; Strutt’s Dictionary of Engravers; Vasari Vite di Pittori; Musæ Etonenses; Carmina Oxoniensia Quadragesimalia; Sannazarii Poemata; Anthologia Græca; and the Nugæ Metricæ.

The Translations from the Classics are chiefly those of Dacier, Pope, Chapman and Ogilby’s Homer; Ogilby, Gawin Douglas’s Virgil; Middleton’s Cicero; and Flaxman’s Homer.

We also find on these Shelves Poliphili Hypnerotomyomachia, 1545, folio; Schola Salernitana; Selden’s Works by Wilkins; Sirmondi, Concilia Gallica; Spinosa [367]Opera Posthuma; Sylloge Epistolarum; Vegetius de Re Militari; Vincentii Speculum; Boethius de Consolatione Philosophiæ; Critici Sacri; Bos Ellipses; Orphica, Orphei Argonautica; Justiniani Institutiones; and Wolfii Bibliotheca Hebræa.

It only remains to notice the works of Abulfeda, Agricola, Agrippa, Albertus, Aldrich, Alcuin, Bartolious, Bernaldus, Beddoes, Black, Blaeu, Boissardus, Bonaventura, Brevint, Bridge, T. Brown, Buchanan, Burscough, Bullinger, Cantarenus, De la Valle, Emerson, Allatius, Apianus, Archimedes, Cleomedes, Philoponus, Theognis, Arian, Barnabas, Davenant, Ferguson, Canisius, Ursinus, Turnebus, Aurelius Victor, Victorius, Vigorius, Muretus, Gyraldus, Hornius, Hugenius, Mercator, Meursius, Semler, Johannes Sarisburiensis, Pontanus, Puteanus, Procopius, Ruhnken, Scarron, and Scudery, Catalogues of the Hunterian and British Museums; Bohun’s Dictionary; Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses; Bergier, Grands Chemins Romains; Vitruvius Britannicus; Chandler’s Marmora Oxoniensia; Chambers’ Cyclopædia; the Nuremberg Chronicle; Chronicon Alexandrinum; Cresswell’s Geometry; the Letters of Junius; Lavater’s Physiognomy; Zosimi Historia; Talmud Babylonicum; Sale’s Koran; Scriptorum Veterum Collectio Vaticana, 4to.; Zabarella, Opera Logica; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; the Annual Register; Barclay’s Argenis; Barruel’s Memoirs of Jacobinism; Bryant’s Mythology; the Publications of the Record Commission; Enchiridion Theologicum; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Vavassoris Opera Critica; Mythographi Latini; the Historical Works of Olaus Magnus; the Works of Ossian; Horapollonis Hieroglyphica; Inman’s Navigation; [368]Malleus Maleficarum; Struvii Bibliotheca Selecta; Sanderi Bibliotheca Belgica; Saxii Onomasticon Litterarium; the Works of Lipsius; Scaliger’s Critical Works; Porsoni Adversaria; Potter’s Grecian Antiquities; Pezron, Antiquitates Celticæ; Pharmacopeia Londinensis; the Quarterly Review; Reid on the Human Mind; the Historical Works of Reineccius; Pole’s Synopsis; Scholtz, Lexicon Egyptiacum; and Helvici Theatrum Historicum.

The Gift Book kept in this Library is dated 1614. The principal donors appear to have been Aldrich, Morris, Nicholson, Orrery, Stratford, and Wake, with many others who, by donations of books, have testified their grateful remembrance of the place of their common education.

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Library of Peterborough.

A church having been dedicated to St. Peter by the first Christian kings of Mercia at Medeshamstede, that place was thenceforward called Peterborough. The Monastery there begun in 655-6, and completed in 664, was utterly destroyed by the Danes in 870, but re-edified in 870 by S. Adelwold, Bishop of Winchester. From this time the Abbey continued in great magnificence till the general dissolution of the religious houses, when, happily escaping, it was converted into a Cathedral Church, and all its buildings were preserved. It is said that Henry VIII. was induced to spare this church for the sake of his Queen Catherine, whose mortal remains lie within its walls. By this means it continued entire till the second havoc of religious structures in the Great Rebellion, when the Cloisters, Chapter House, Library, Bishop’s Hall and Chapel, formerly belonging to the Abbot were utterly demolished; and the Chapel of our Lady adjoining to the Abbey, being much out of repair, was taken down by the townsmen, who prevailed to have the rest of the building made parochial, which for that end, they had repaired with great expense.⁠[52]⁠

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John Chambers was the last Abbot of Peterborough. He surrendered the Abbey to the king A.D. 1539, and had a pension of 266l. 13s. 4d. per annum assigned him. Soon after, king Henry VIII. made the Abbey an Episcopal See, appointed by dotation dated 4 Sept. A.D. 1541: the said John Chambers, the first Bishop, who was consecrated 23 Oct. A.D. 1541. He died about the month of December A.D. 1556, and was buried in this Cathedral.⁠[53]⁠

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough occupies a small chapel, with a carved oaken ceiling, over which is a stone roof, and around which are open shelves rising to the height of the room. This little chapel is said to owe its erection to an endeavour on the part of the architect of this elegant fabric, to conceal the defect of the middle arch in the façade of the building being smaller than the lateral ones. This expedient appears to satisfy the eye, while its situation in the portico of the temple, makes it an appropriate repository for the treasures of human learning. It appears, however, that the Library was not always kept in this place, for in a Journal of a Tour through the North of England and Scotland in 1704,⁠[54] the author, speaking of this Cathedral says, “In the east end beyond the altar is a good library.”

That our traveller’s epithet was not altogether misapplied it will be the object of the following pages to show, though of course the theological works of [371]the fathers, and early controversialists must form a prominent feature in this hasty sketch.

An interleaved copy of the Catalogue of the Bodleian Library of 1674, in 2 folio volumes, lettered on the sides “Catalogus Bibliothecæ Ecclesiæ, Cathedralis Petroburgensis,” wherein the books of this Collection are marked with reference to the shelves, and the additions thereto inserted on the blank pages, is the only Catalogue at present extant of this Library. At the end of the manuscript additions to this Catalogue is the date of 1726. This clumsy expedient may probably be soon abandoned, as several lists of the books compiled by the late Librarian indicate an approach to a better method, though I regret to add this plan is still pursued in the noble Library of Trinity College in Cambridge.

Among the Works of Divinity in this Collection, those of the Fathers of the Church lay first claim to our notice. These are the works of S.S. Ambrose, Augustine, Athanasius, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Jerome, Hilary, Isidore, Irenæus, Theodoret, and Theophylact.

Among the earlier Theologians, we may mention the Works of Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Bucer, Bullinger, Calvin, Bellarmine, Theodore Beza, Le Clerc, Erasmus, Gregory Nazianzen, Thomas à Kempis, and Pope Gregory; of Grotius, Luther, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Origen, Socinus, Philo Judæus, Lactantius, Wolfius, and Zanchius, to which may be added, Arminii Opera Theologica, and Bulli Opera Omnia.

Of English Divines this Library possesses the Works of Bishop Andrews, Bilson, Boys, Bramhall, Barlow, [372]Baxter, Samuel Clarke, Cranmer, Hall, Hacket, Hammond, Hody, Hoadley, Hooper, Hopkins, Kettlewell, Jackson, Pierce, Leslie, Reynolds, Stapleton, Sanderson, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Waterland, Whiston, Whitaker, White, and Whitgift. To which may be added, Jewel’s Works of 1609 in folio; Burkitt’s Exposition of the New Testament; Pearson on the Creed; Mede on Daniel, Scott’s Christian Life; Nichols and Sparrow on the Common Prayer; Wake’s Catechism, and Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers; Wilkins on Natural Religion; Warburton’s Divine Legation; and the Whole Duty of Man.

The editions of the Sacred Scriptures in this Library comprise the well-known Polyglott Bible of Walton, with the important adjunct of Castell’s Lexicon; the English Versions of 1540, 1551, and 1578, all in folio, together with the English Bible of 1599, interleaved, in three folio volumes; the Oxford Edition of 1685, in folio, and the Cambridge Edition of 1679, in 4to.

Of Latin Bibles I may here mention the

I also noticed the

To which I may add, among other Editions of the New Testament, that edited by Mill at Oxford in 1707.

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In this place it is right to notice the various Concordances, Harmonies, and Commentaries upon the Scriptures, as well as Confessions of Faith, found in this Library; though to specify them minutely would fatigue the reader.

It may suffice to mention more particularly Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Limborch’s Theologia Christiana; the Commentaries of Lyra; Cave’s Primitive Christianity; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Du Pin’s Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum; the Works of Ramus, Raynaudus, and Rivetus, and Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible.

To Books of Homilies, and Catechisms, and various Rituals, may be added the Graduale Romanum, Parisiis, 1640; Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum; Missale Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1686, cum figuris pulcherrimis, in folio, being a noble volume from the Press of the illustrious Plantin; and the Book of Common Prayer printed at Cambridge in 1669, in 4to.; to which may be added various editions of the Psalter.

In Ecclesiastical History, Reports of the various Councils, including the Acta Synodi, Dordracensis, and Brent’s History of the Council of Trent, are here found in juxta-position with Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici et Civilis; the Codex Canonum of Beveridge; the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius by Hanmer; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; the Codex and Institutiones of Justinian; the Legenda Aurea; and Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity.

Of Books relating to the Church affairs of Britain, this Library embraces Parker’s Antiquitates Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, Hanoviæ, 1605, folio; Bedæ [374]Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; Fox’s Acts and Monuments, London, 1583, 4to.; Godwin, de Præsulibus Angliæ, and the Catalogue of Bishops; Burnett’s History of the Reformation; Durell, Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Vindiciæ; Heylin’s History of the Reformation; Inett’s Origines Anglicanæ; Stillingfleet’s Origines; Usser, Britannicæ Ecclesiæ Antiquitates, Eblanæ, 1639, and Wharton’s Anglia Sacra.

Of General History there are but few volumes in this Collection: of these the first in point of time and curiosity is the well-known Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493, in folio; to which Dibdin has devoted sixteen pages of the Spencer Catalogue. Next in point of interest as to time is the St. Albans’ Chronicle, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1520. To these may be added, Carionis Chronicon, and Robinsoni Annales Mundi.

Of Histories of different Countries we find on these shelves Asheton’s Turkish Chronicle; Blount’s Portugal; Grimstone’s Netherlands; Howel’s Germany; Mariana’s History of Spain; Scheffer’s Lapland; and Danett’s History of the Low Countries.

Of Voyages and Travels we find only those of Sandys, Thevenot, and Drake; Hakluyt’s Voyages, 1599, folio; Sir Thomas Herbert’s Travels in the East, 1630, folio; and Chardin’s Travels in Persia, 1686, and several Atlasses.

Chronological Works, which afford the most material aid to the historical student, occur less sparingly in this Collection, since it is found to contain only Cary’s Palæologia; Chronologia; Marshall and Lloyd’s Chronological Tables; and Helvici Chronologia.

I may here mention Bayle’s Dictionary; Cluvierius, [375]Geography; and Prideaux’s Marmora Oxoniensia, as all affording helps to History.

Of Heraldry, whose language though limited is distinct, we find in this Library, Leigh’s Accidence of Armoury, of 1597; Bolton’s Elements of Armories, 1610, 4to.; and Boswell’s Accidence of Armory, 1672, 4to.; works which were all written when the art of Blazon was extensively cultivated as a science.

A large paper copy of Sparke’s Historia S. Cœnobii Burgensis Scriptores, Londini, 1723, folio, and a copy of Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral, enriched with the Manuscript Notes of Bishop Kennett, are taken under the especial protection of the dean and chapter of that see.

In the Library, however, is left a small paper copy of Sparke’s Collection, which leads me to mention Twysden’s Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem, and other works relating to the History of England.

Among these we find the Chronicles of Baker and Cooper; Echard’s History of England, and three editions of Camden’s Britannia, by the author in 1590, 8vo., by Holland in 1610, folio, and by Gibson in 1695, in folio; Blome’s Britannia, 1673; Ogilby’s Britannia; Whitelock’s Memorials, 1709, folio; Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion; Weldon’s Life of Charles I.; May’s History of the Parliament of 1647; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Angliâ, edited by Skinner, referring to the same period in Dugdale’s View of the late Troubles, 1681, and Leycester’s rare Commonwealth, also deposited in this chamber.

To these may be added Daniell’s History of England, including his graphic account of the Wars of the Roses; Wyat’s Rebellion, by Proctor; Barnes’ History [376]of Edward III.; Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII. 1649; Cox’s History of Ireland; Lloyd’s History of Wales; Kennett’s History of England, London, 1719, in 3 volumes folio, and his Historical Register of 1728, in folio;⁠[55] Stafford’s Pacata Hibernica; Sheringham, de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana; Tyrrell’s History of England; and Sir William Temple’s Introduction to the History of England.

I may here also notice Warner’s Albion’s England; Camden’s Remains concerning Britain; and Yarranton’s England’s Improvement by Sea and Land, &c.

Of Local Histories of England, this Collection comprehends, Bentham’s Ely; Bridges’ Northamptonshire; Peck’s Stamford; Ayliffe’s Oxford; Gunton’s Peterborough; Bentley’s Halifax; Hill’s Hereford Cathedral, London, 1717, 8vo.; Lewis’ Isle of Thanet; Fitz Stephens’ Survey of London; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Morton’s Natural History of Northamptonshire; Somner’s Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Some Account of the Scarborough Spaw in 1667; Willis’ Cathedrals; and Wright’s Rutland.

Connected with English History, and therefore deserving of a passing remark are, Barwick’s Life of Barwick; Knight’s Life of Colet; the Life of Wallace; and Le Neve’s Monumenta; Fasti Anglicani, and Lives of P— Q—; Nevyllus de furoribus Norfolcensium [377]Ketto duce; Bernard’s Life of Usher; Sacheverell’s Tryal; Sir Philip Warwick’s Discourse of Governments; and the Records of the Kingdom published by the authority of Parliament.

Pursuing the path of English Literature we meet with the Philosophical and Theological Works of Sir Thomas More, including the edition of his English Works in 1557, and the folio tome of his Latin productions.

To these I may add Baconi Opera Omnia, Francofurti, 1660, folio; Boyle’s Works, abridged by Boulton; Barclay’s Apology; the Remains of Parsons, Bishop of Peterborough; the Works of Charles the First, together with the famous Εικων Βασιλικη; and Coverdale’s Letters of the Martyrs, 1614.

Of English Poesy the chaplet to be woven is but small; the curious reader may however cull such flowers as the Works of Chaucer and of Milton; Heywood’s Spider and Flie, 1536; Churchyard’s Challenge; and the Vision of Pierce Plowman, may yield.

He may also derive instruction from Puttenham’s Art of English Poetry, published in 1589 in 4to. a work of which the original is still the most esteemed edition.

Herbs, which savour of the Physic Garden next invite the hand of the Collector, who may here behold Arnoldi Herbolarium, in 4to.; Ascham’s Herbal of 1550, in 8vo.; Andrew Borde’s Breviary of Health, &c.; Culpepper’s Physical Directory; Lite’s History of Plants; and Tusser’s Husbandry, with that of Barnaby Googe.

I may here notice a copy of Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus [378]Rerum, printed at London in 1635, in folio.

The Classical authors contained in this Library are not remarkable either for their rarity or value.

I remarked however a very fine copy of Casaubon’s Polybius; the Works of Aristotle, edited by Du Val and Erasmus; Aristophanis Comœdiæ, printed at Basle in 1542, and at Franckfort in 1544; Antoninus, Gatakeri; Athenæus, Dalecampii; Epictetus, Uptoni; Barnes’ Euripides; Florus, Grævii; Galeni Opera, Venetiis, apud Aldum, 1525; Geoponica, by Needham; Hesiodus, Robinsoni, Oxonii, 1737, 4to.; Herodotus, edited by Stephens and by Gale; Quintus Curtius, Basileæ, 1545; Diogenes Laertius, Meibomii; and Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Hudsoni.

I also noticed Longinus, by Pearce; Homerus Spondani, Basileæ, 1583; Horatius, Delphini; Iamblichus, edited by Gale; Isocratis Epistolæ, Venetiis, 1499, folio; Juvenalis Satyræ, Venetiis, 1548, folio; and Antverpiæ, 1552, 8vo.; Planti Comœdiæ, 1530; the Aldine Statius; Thucydides Hudsoni; Xenophontis Opera Stephani; and the Corpus Poetarum Latinorum, printed at London, in 1603.

If to the Works already enumerated, be added various editions of Cæsar, Cicero, Æsop, Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, of Demosthenes, Hippocrates, Josephus, Ovid, Persius, Philostratus, Plutarch, Lucian, Lucretius, Lucan, Livy, Quintilian, Sallust, and Silius Italicus, of Seneca, Sophocles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Virgil, and Valerius Maximus; the classical scholar may form a tolerably correct notion of the value of this department of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough.

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In this place I may venture to insert the English versions of the classics which also find a place on these shelves. Of these, Appian in English, London, 1578, 4to.; Phaer’s Virgil; and Chapman’s Homer, are the most remarkable.

I may here briefly enumerate Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Eliot’s Bibliotheca, 1545; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; the Lexica of Hoffmanni and Scapula; Littleton’s, Rider’s, and Stephens’ English Dictionary; with some other Works of like nature, as constituting the Etymological riches of this Collection.

Here also it may be proper to notice Bentley’s Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris; Whittinton’s Grammatical Tracts; some Pieces of the learned Vossius, and the Works of Picus of Mirandula.

In Bibliography, the only works which fell under my observation were the Acta Eruditorum; Balei Scriptores Rerum Britannicarum, Basileæ, 1559; Fabricii Bibliotheca Latina; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Catalogus Librorum ab inventâ Typographiâ ad annum 1500, excusorum, Amstelodami, 1688, 4to.; Clavel’s Catalogue of English Books from 1660 to 1680; Sixti Senensis Bibliotheca Sancta; and Stanley’s History of Philosophy.

In English Literature, this collection is lamentably deficient, though it possesses the Works of Locke, Isaac Barrow’s Mathematical Works; Cumberland’s Origines Gentium, &c.; Hale’s Remains; the Works of Cartwright, Ridley, Hobbes, and Rogers; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society; Numerous Sermons, and many political as well as polemical Tracts.

Of Law Books, I only remarked Bracton de Legibus [380]Anglorum; Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliæ; Suarez de Legibus; and a few of the Statutes themselves.

Of Miscellaneous Literature, there only remains for me to notice the Works of Agricola, Ariosto, Petrarch, Machiavel, and Tasso, of Buchanan, Bossuet, and Puffendorf, together with Boezio, della Consolazione Filosofie, Florence, 1584; Hyde, Religio Veterum Persarum; Jovii Vitæ Virorum Illustrium; and Platina, Vitæ Pontificum.

In conclusion I would direct the attention of the bibliopolist to a specimen of a printer but little known, being the Provinciale of Lyndewode, printed at London by Andree Brocard, in 1597, folio, in double columns of the gothic letter; though the fortuitous similarity of name may serve only to remind the votary of fashion of the bright illusion of the dance, while still before his mental eye

The important changes effected at the Reformation, were by no means so disastrous to existing interests as is now commonly imagined, since, in many instances the abbot of the ancient hierarchy became the bishop of the reformed church. At Peterborough, the beneficial effects of the sweeping measures of ecclesiastical reform under our Eighth Henry, were felt in so especial a manner, that the town was at once elevated to the rank and importance of a city in consequence of the conversion of the ancient monastery into the cathedral see.

The remains, however, of the Conventual Library probably suffered more from the rude hands of Cromwell’s [381]soldiery, than from the previous transition from the desks of the monks to the shelves of the clergy.

The books are chiefly theological, consisting of the fathers and early controversialists, and adorned by a folio Missal from the press of Plantin.

On the shelves of the Library of this Cathedral, there still remain some interesting memorials of the Monastic Collection. Among these I particularly noticed the Bible in Manuscript, finely illuminated, and the Four Gospels, by Clement of Lanthony in 4to.

To these may be added, Manuscripts of the Works of Saints Augustine, and Bernard; some Books of Homilies; the Liber Sententiarum Latinè, in 4to.; and the Constitutiones Provinciales, in 8vo.

The most valuable and interesting Record connected with the Church of Peterborough is the Lieger Book of the Church, a Chronicle composed by Hugo surnamed Candidus, a Monk of that Monastery, but usually ascribed to Robert Swapham,⁠[56] a Monk of the same Church. This book was rescued from destruction by the soldiers of Cromwell’s army April 22, 1643, by Mr. Humfrey Austin, then chaunter of the Church, who redeemed it by the help of ten shillings “for that old Latine Bible,” as he called it, given to the ruffian who was carrying it away.⁠[57]⁠

The Books which had survived the dissolution of the Monastery, perished in the Great Rebellion, and but few of them have been preserved to our own [382]times. The Catalogue printed in Gunton’s History of the Church of Peterburgh, London, 1686, in folio, under the title of “Matricularium Librariæ Monasterii Burgi Sancti Petri, paucis libris non examinatis,” is therefore of much importance, as shewing the nature and extent of the monastic Library of Peterborough in its original state.

“I shall here present,” says our author, “an Ancient Catalogue of a Library in this Monastery, which, having no date annexed to it, must be left to conjecture when it might be taken. The marginal illustrations I have taken out of Bellarmine Pitseus, and Trithemius, and affixed them thereunto.”

This Catalogue occupies 26 leaves, extending from pp. 173 to 224 of the Appendix. Its contents are chiefly the moral and devotional writings of the fathers, commentators, and early schoolmen, the canon-law, the Latin Classics, with some pieces of Aristotle, a few chronicles, and legends.

Leland’s Notice of the Library of this House, in his Collectanea, is either very imperfect, or it must [383]have lost many of its books previous to his visitation. He enumerates only fifteen works, of which the following only are historical; Passio Sanctorum Wolfadi et Rufini filiorum Regis Wolpheri; Vita S. Eustachii carmine heroico; Liber Epistolarum Gulielmi de Semperingham; Vita Gisleni Episcopi Græci; Vita Felicis eleganti carmine scripta; and Freculphi Historia.

The last article in the Catalogue printed by Gunton, after an enumeration of some works in the romance language, is a “Computatio annorum ab initio mundi usque ad tempore Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi;” probably Edward the Second; in which case the compilation of this Catalogue could not have been earlier than 1317.

Dr. White Kennett, Dean and afterwards Bishop of Peterborough, contributed fifteen hundred volumes to form an antiquarian and historical Library for his Cathedral Church. The Catalogue of this Collection is entitled “Index Librorum aliquot Vetustorum quos in commune bonum congessit W. K. Decan. Petriburg. MDCCXII.”⁠[58]⁠

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Library of Ripon Minster.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Ripon affords a pleasing instance of the proper appreciation of “the tomes of olden time;” for the Books, which were long suffered to lie neglected in the Church, are now preserved with commendable attention under the hospitable roof of the Deanery.

Many volumes, indeed, were so much decayed, from the dampness of their former repository, that their mouldering fragments were not worth removal; but other volumes, including probably some classic authors, may still remain in the Library, and upon some future investigation may be restored, but little injured, to their companions, wherefore it is not possible to ascertain the exact amount of its contents.

I may add, however, my best wishes that the laudable desire manifested by the present Dean for the restoration of the ancient Library in the Church, may be gratified at no distant period, seeing that this is all that is wanted to render the restoration of that sacred edifice, under his judicious direction, full and complete.

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I may here also remark how much the skill of Mr. Blore has contributed to adorn the screen and the choir of this ancient Minster, and it only remains for him to give the world one of his own beautiful representations of the scene to convince any one that I am not exaggerating its renovated appearance.

But to return to the “dear bokes” now comfortably reposing in the Dean’s own study.

The Collection was formed by Anthony Higgins, Dean of Ripon in 1608, and consists chiefly of Works which in his time were new publications, and as it happens to have been preserved entire with but little admixture of any subsequent donations, it affords an interesting specimen of the literature of that period.

That this Library was not large is no reproach to the worthy donor, whose autograph, accompanied occasionally by the price of the volume, frequently appears on the titles of his books, for he gave to his church all the literary treasures he possessed, and, as Moore sings, “he could no more.”

I shall proceed to give those specimens of the early English Printers which most forcibly arrested my attention, and am most happy to begin with the Father of the English Press. The first is of almost unparalleled rarity, the only other copy of which I am at present cognisant being that in the noble library of Earl Spencer. This is the famous “Book for Travellers,” whose Eureka may be heard in the gossiping pages of the Bibliographical Decameron. This Book for Travellers in Frensshe and English, is printed in double columns of the smaller Gothic type employed by Caxton, but without any indication of date, place, or name of printer. It is complete in 25 leaves, in [386]folio, as fresh and sound as if they had but just issued from the press. It measures exactly eleven inches and a quarter by eight inches and a quarter, and is appropriately bound in olive Venetian morocco, with joints, apparently by that cunning Bibliopegist Charles Lewis.

The second specimen from Caxton’s Press is the well-known and extremely rare “Boecius de Consolatione Philosophie,” folio, in the same type as the Dictes and Sayinges, and other Works of that Printer. It lacks, however, all indication of place, date, or typographer, concluding with the Latin verses written by Surigonus, the Poet Laureat of Milan, entitled the “Epitaphium Galfridi Chaucer.” The Caxtonian peroration is very interesting, and may be seen at large in the Typographical Antiquities of Dibdin, vol. 1. p. 303. The present copy wants only the 75th leaf, which is at present clumsily supplied by manuscript. It appears to contain about 90 leaves, and though not entirely free from stain, is in very sound condition, measuring eleven inches and a quarter by eight inches and a quarter. It is bound in dark blue morocco, with gilt leaves.

Having failed in discovering any Work of Wynkyn de Worde, I proceed to notice a small Volume by Richard Pynson, which I never saw before. It is the Magna Charta, in a small Gothic letter, with an Index prefixed, at the end of which is the Colophon,—“Londini per Ricardus Pynson, &c., 1514.” It measures five inches and three-eighths by two inches and a half, and is bound in smooth russia.

Reginald Wolfe is the next early English Printer to be noticed, on account of a fine and perfect copy of [387]“The Castle of Knowledge, Imprinted at London by Reginalde Wolfe, A.D. 1556,” 4to. bound in plain calf.

There are three specimens of the Press of Binnemann, the most beautiful of which is the well-known Tract “Alexandri Nevylli Angli de furoribus Norfolcensium, Ketto duce, &c.” “Londini, ex officinâ Henrici Binnemann, 1575,” bound in olive morocco. The next is “Crispini Lexicon. Londini apud Binnemann, 1581,” 4to. whose title bears the autograph of its former possessor, Anthony Higgins. The third is a “Defense of the Translations of the Scriptures by W. Fulke, London, Henrie Bynnemann, 1583,” 4to. bound in calf.

Richard Tottel next claims attention to a small 18mo. volume, entitled “An Exposicion of the termes of the Lawes, London, Richard Tottel, 1567.”

I shall next mention the treatise of “Thomas Chaloner de Republicâ Anglorum instaurandâ Londini, excudebat Thomas Vautrollerius, Typographus, 1579,” 8vo. bound in russia; and the English Secretorie, by Angel Day, London, 1592, 8vo. bound in calf; concluding my notices of these old English Books with the French and English Dictionary, compiled by Claudius Hollyband, and printed by Thomas Woodcock at London in 1593, 4to. The present is a very fine and perfect copy, bound in smooth russia.

Of the productions of Foreign Presses, the first which attracted my observation was a very sound copy of “the Cronycles of the londe of Englonde, printed by Gerard de Leeu at Antwerp, 1493,” folio, whereof a full description will be found in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, IV. p. 229.

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It is certainly strange, as Dibdin has remarked that the compiler of the Magliabecchian Catalogue should have regarded this as the first book printed in the English language. But it must be remembered that he spoke only from his own observation, and that book certainly is the earliest English book in that Collection. Palpable however as the mistake is, it may well serve to show how limited is the knowledge even of the most accurate bibliographer; for the Catalogue, whose index this lapsus deforms, is one of the most valuable hitherto given to the world, and is in fact quite a model in its way. The Chronicles under notice have the title pasted on another piece of paper, and the volume itself, measuring eleven inches by seven and three quarters, is well bound in smooth russia.

The next book, whose bright coverture of red morocco caught my eye, was a fine and perfect copy of Nicandri Theriaca, cum Scholiis, Coloniæ, Joannes Soteris, 1530, 4to. To which I may add Tentacula Nov. Test. also printed at Cologne in 1526.

I may next mention Saunders’ Supper of our Lord, printed at Louvain in 1566. Speculum Sapientiæ Cirilli, and Opuscula Theologica, in a small volume of Gothic character, by Jaumar, at Paris, in the early part of the sixteenth century.

In conclusion I may briefly advert to the Hebrew Grammar printed by Froben at Basle in 1522, which is bound in the same volume with a Compendium of the Greek Grammar, and the Opera et Dies of Hesiod, printed by Christopher Froschover, at Zurich, in 1526.

I may add among the recent donations to this Library, the new edition of Stephens’ Thesaurus.

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This Library is also entitled, equally with the Cathedral Libraries, to copies of all the Works published under the authority of the Parliamentary Record Commission.

To several of the rarer articles mentioned above, are appended bibliographical notices transcribed from the Spencer Catalogue and other sources in the time of the late Dean, whom the opportune visit of Dr. Dibdin in 1816, had apprised of the value of the treasures which till then lay dormant in his custody.

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Library of Rochester.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of this Cathedral is kept in the Chapter House, a well proportioned, and well lighted room, adjoining the Choir of the Cathedral, and the remains of the ancient Chapter-house; being placed immediately over part of the ancient crypt, and approached by a most beautiful doorway, having some finely preserved statues in its niches.

The books are arranged upon open shelves, in open cases placed against the walls of the room, which is very dry, being warmed by a stove, which “Buzaglo fecit. 1768.”

The walls of this apartment are hung with portraits of King James I. and of Sprat Bishop of Rochester, a view of the Nave of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, and an engraved Plan of Jerusalem.

The Library is kept up by the donations of successive Prebends, who upon their installation are expected to make the customary donation thereto.

The Manuscript portion of this Library is kept in closed cases, which are kept locked, in the Chapter-house, and contains the original Registrum and Custumale Roffense, edited by Thorp, together with several [391]old charters and other documents relating to the Church, many of which have the original seals, some of which are very curious, appended thereto.

Among the Manuscripts I noticed, Bibliandri Lectiones, in 7 quarto volumes, bound in old calf, and a folio volume, written upon vellum, and lettered Quæstiones Theologicæ, upon a vellum cover, the first leaf whereof exhibiteth these words: “Liber de Claustro Roffensi per Dominum Johannem ejusdem loci Priorem,” so that this at least is a specimen of the original Monastic Library.

Among the printed books is a considerable quantity of obsolete Divinity, and some English as well as foreign Works which have deservedly fallen into oblivion. Upon these the worms seem tacitly permitted to feed, for I found no less than three of those small white grubs, so well known as book-worms, and yet so seldom seen, greedily devouring a black letter folio. It is really astonishing how so minute an animal, with no apparent power of perforation, can drill holes through paper, wood, and leather, subsisting at the same time upon the havoc which it makes, and it is at least satisfactory to have caught them actually engaged in the full gratification of their bibliophagistic propensities.

I cannot conceal the pleasure with which I discovered Coverdale’s Bible, folio, “Prynted in the yeare of oure Lorde, MDXXXV. and fynished the fourth day of October,” concealed between “the Booke of Common Prayer, Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, 1629, folio, and the Whole Booke of Psalmes. London, 1629,” folio, being also disguised by the binder who has lettered the volume, “Holy Bible, 1629.”

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This mistake appears to have misled the compiler of the Catalogue, who being unacquainted with the mysteries of black letter has simply entered this precious volume as “Holy Bible, with the booke of Common Prayer prefixed, fol. Lond. 1629.”

The alphabetical enumeration of the books in this Collection was indeed made before the study of bibliography was cultivated to any extent in this country, being entitled the “Catalogue of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, 1776.” This thin folio volume is bound in calf, lettered, “Libri Eccl. Roff.”

To revert however to the first English Bible, I was pleased to observe that the present copy thus protected and concealed by its ancient binding of calf, upon which the brass fastenings of the clasps still remain, was perfect, with the sole exception of the title, and the map. It measures nearly twelve inches, by seven inches and seven-eighths, and is in very tender condition at the beginning and the end, the natural consequence of the repeated thumbing it doubtless received from our pious forefathers. Some one however has so determinedly erased the name of the Queen, in the Dedication, that it cannot now be deciphered.

I have next the satisfaction of noticing a perfect copy, in double columns, of black letter, bound in old calf, of “the Byble in Englyshe, &c.” “Prynted by Rychard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch. Cum Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum. 1539, Folio,” at the conclusion of which we read. “The ende of the New Testament, and of the whole Byble fynished in Apryll, Anno M CCCCCXXXIX.”

“A dn̅o factum est istud.”

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This book was presented to the Library, “Eccl. Cath. Roffensis ex Dono E. Barrell, 1745.”

There are some curious documents in the State Paper Office relating to this Bible, which was printed in Paris, wherein the copies upon vellum, taken off for Henry VIII. and now in the British Museum, (April 1540) and for the Lord Keeper Cromwell, now at St. John’s College in Cambridge (April 1539) are mentioned.

Next in order of time comes the Holie Bible, with Cranmer’s Preface, “Imprinted at London in powles Church yarde, by Richarde Jugge,” (1568.) Folio. In double columns of black letter. The present copy is perfect, though torn at the end, and is bound in dark calf.

Then comes the Holy Bible, Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, 1584, folio, which unfortunately lacks all the leaves subsequent to folio 572. It is bound in old calf, with brass knobs, &c. and red leaves.

I may here mention

Merely observing that these English versions of the Holy Scriptures may safely be left to speak for themselves.

It was with feelings of no ordinary gratification that I found upon the shelves of this Library the first Polyglott Bible, being that commonly known as the Complutensian, published in Spain under the auspices of Cardinal Ximenes in 1517. The present copy is very fine and sound, measuring fourteen inches and a quarter by ten inches. It is bound in six volumes folio, in old mottled calf, apparently of foreign extraction. Few of our ecclesiastical foundations are endowed with a copy of this most important work, though nearly all of them possess the Polyglott of Walton, which in the present instance stands beside its elder brother.

Here we have also the Biblia Hebraica, Hutteri, Hamburgi, 1588, folio; the Biblia Hebraica Montani, 1609, folio; the Biblia Hebraica, Forsteri, Oxonii, 1750, in two vols. 4to.; and the Biblia Hebraica, Kennicottii, Oxonii, 1776, in two vols. folio; also the Biblia Latina cum pleno apparatu, &c. “Impressum Lugduni per magistrum Jacobum Sacon X die Novem. 1509,” folio, in double columns of Gothic character. It has a large wood-cut on the first leaf, and the title in red; with the device of the printer at the end, followed by the “Interpretationes Nominum Hebræaorum.” This volume is bound in calf.

Of separate editions of the New Testament, I observed

I will proceed to notice the Church Service Books contained within this Library, and cannot commence more appropriately than with a bibliographical description of the “Missale ad usum Ecclesie Sarisburiensis. MD.XXXIIII.” folio. Printed in double columns of black and red letter. This interesting volume commences with the title as given above, which occupies the first leaf, followed by six leaves of Calendar, and one of Benedictio. The Missal then commences, occupying folio i.–clvi. inclusive, numbered in regular succession. Then follow the Ordinarium, Præfationes, and Canon, occupying fifteen leaves not numbered. Of these however the 7th, 8th, and 9th, containing the “Prefa de scta cruce,” et “de b. Maria,” the “Prefatio quotidiana,” and the first part of the Canon, are all three upon vellum.

It may be noticed, that facing the large wood cut [396]of the Crucifixion, which occupies the whole reverse of the leaf containing the Præfatio quotidiana, one leaf of manuscript in Gothic character, upon vellum, has been inserted, apparently in the olden time. At the end of these fifteen leaves last mentioned, commence the Prayers for the Saints, Vigils, &c. occupying sixty leaves regularly numbered from fo. i. to fo. lx. Then follows the “Accentuarium cum Prologo,” consisting of twelve leaves, undistinguished by any numerals; but upon the recto of the last leaf occurs the Colophon, informing us that this like many other of the earlier Service books of the English Church was the production of a foreign press:

“¶ Explicit Missale ad usum ecclesie Sarum tam in cantu quam in litera diligentissime recognitum. Marginalibus annotatiunculis ac literis alphabeticis evangeliorum, epistolarum gradalium offertorium originem indicantibus abunde locupletatum. Impressum Parisiis in vico scti Iacobi in edibus Francisci Regnault librari jurati alme universitatis Parisiensis.”

I may add to this several editions of the Common Prayer Book, besides that of 1629, which I have already mentioned; the Common Prayer, London, 1662, folio, bound in crimson velvet; and that printed at Oxford in 1681; with that edited by Bishop Mant.

I may here mention Wheatley on the Common Prayer; and the Psalmorum Davidis, per Ioannem Campensem, Basileæ, 1553, 12mo.; and proceed at once to enumerate the component parts of the theological department of this Library, beginning with the

Of Concordances and Commentators I may mention,

Among the works of Divinity I may mention those of Barrow and Beveridge; Allix’s Reflections; Burton’s Testimonies of the Anti Nicene Fathers to the Divinity of Christ; Butler’s Analogy; Baxter’s Christian Directory; Bonaventuræ Opera Theologica; Bingham’s Works, in 2 vols. folio; Bulli Opera, Londini, 1703, folio; Bochart, Opera Omnia; Bedæ Opera, Parisiis, 1520, folio; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible, London, 1732, in 3 vols. folio; Gill’s Philosophy of Scripture, London, 1635, folio; Coplestone on Predestination; Chandler’s Life of David; Grotii Opera, Londini, 1679; Erasmi Opera, Lugd. Bat. 1703; Horne’s Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures; Hickes’s History of Montanism, London, 1709, 8vo.; Jewel’s Apology, 1570; Lightfoot’s Works, London, 1684, in 2 vols. folio; Lardner’s Testimonies, 1764, in 2 vols. 4to.; and his Credibility, 1741, in 17 volumes, 8vo.; Magee on the Atonement; Masoni Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, Londini, 1625, folio; Prideaux’s Connection, 1720, [399]folio; Paley’s Works; Pearson on the Creed; Stackhouse on the Creed; Stebbing’s Polemical Tracts; Rogers on the Thirty Nine Articles; Jeremy Taylor’s Ductor dubitantium, 1696, folio; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature, 1722, 4to.; Wilkins on Natural Religion; and Wake’s Catechism; and lastly, the Sylloge Confessionum, Oxonii, 1804, 8vo.; with Preservative against Popery, London, 1738, in 3 volumes, folio.

Of Sermons I noticed those by Sherlock, Rogers and Conybeare; the Discourses of Charnock; and the Sermons preached at Boyle’s Lecture, and published in 1739, in 3 volumes, folio. This copy is in old calf.

I may here notice Cave’s Scriptorum Eccles. Historia literaria; Boëthii Opera; and Beattie on Truth, with some pieces by Luther.

Of Ecclesiastical History the shelves of this Library are well filled with Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Bacon’s Liber Regis; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis, London, 1707; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Cave’s Lives of the Apostles; and his Primitive Christianity; Fox’s Martyrs, London, 1684, in 3 vols. folio; Gibson’s Codex; Godwyn, de Præsulibus Angliæ, Cantabrigiæ, 1743, folio; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Histoire de Concile de Trent, Londres, 1736, in 2 vols. folio; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, 1668; Du Pin’s Ecclesiastical History of the Sixteenth Century; Josephus, Hudsoni; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Kaye’s Ecclesiastical History; Lansbergii Chronologia Sacra; Middleburg, 1625, 4to; Knight’s Lives of Erasmus and Colet; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Nelson’s Life of Bishop Bull; Spotswode’s Church of Scotland, 1677, folio; [400]Stillingfleet’s Origines; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1727, in 2 vols. folio; Spondani Epitome Annalium Eccles. Baronii, Lugd. Bat. 1660, folio; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus, Amstelodami, 1728, in 2 volumes, folio; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra, 1691, in 2 vols. folio; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, &c. in 4 vols. folio, in calf gilt; to which I may add Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, 1682, folio; and 1718, folio; with Stevens’s Continuation, 1722-3; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, edited by Nasmith, 1787, folio; and Gwillim’s Tithe Cases.

Of Works tending to elucidate History in general I may enumerate, Blair’s Chronology; Hales’ Analysis of Chronology; Helvici Theatrum historicum et chronologicum, Oxonii, 1662, folio; Marshami Chron. Canon. Egypt. Londini, 1672, folio; Marshall’s Chronological Tables; Newton’s Chronology; and Bryant’s Enquiries into Ancient History, 4to. in calf.

Of Historical Works I noticed the Universal History, whereof the ancient portion published in 1747-54, occupies 21 volumes, and the modern of the date of 1759-66, 44 vols. in 8vo. uniformly bound in calf; the General Dictionary, London, 1734-41, in 10 vols. folio; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations, 1729, folio; Grævii Antiquitates & Gruteri Inscriptiones; Ralegh’s History of the World, 1677, folio; Robertson’s History of Charles V.; Harris’ Voyages; the History of the Saracens, by Prideaux and Ockley; Norden’s Egypt, London, 1757, folio; Sandys’ Europæ Speculum; Petri Kærii Germania inferior à Petro Montano, Amst. 1622, folio; and the Biographical Dictionary, London, 1798, in 15 vols. 8vo.

Of Works relating to History and Antiquities, [401]I may mention, in addition to Dugdale’s Monasticon, and Tanner’s Notitia; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Burn’s Justice of the Peace; Birch’s Life of Queen Elizabeth, 1754, in 2 vols. 4to.; Burnet’s History of his own time; Clarendon’s Rebellion, Oxon, 1702, in 4 vols. folio; Cooper on the Public Records; Dalrymple’s Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland; Davies’ Celtic Researches; Hume’s History of England; Holinshed’s Chronicles, the reprint; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Kennett’s Complete History of England, London, 1719, in 3 vols. folio, in calf; Lloyd’s State Worthies; Speed’s Theatre of Great Britain, London, 1676, folio; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, 1678, folio; Nalson’s Collections, 1682, folio; Rushworth’s Historical Collections, 1659, folio, in 6 vols.; Robertson’s History of Scotland; Population Returns; and the Records of the Kingdom, published under the authority of the Parliamentary Commission.

Of Topographical Works I noticed, Hasted’s History of Kent, in calf gilt; Harris’ History of Kent; Thorpe’s Custumale and Registrum Roffense; Master’s History of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, 1753, 4to.; some Poll Books for the City of Rochester; Wood’s Antiquitates Oxonienses; Twyne de Antiquitate Academiæ Oxoniensis, 1608, 4to.; and Young’s History of Whitby.

I may add to these,

[402]

The other Bibliographical Works which met my observation were,

Of Scientific Works I noticed only,

Of Etymological Works I observed merely Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis, Oxonii, 1705, in 2 vols. folio; Du Cange’s Glossary, Francof. 1710, in 3 vols. folio; Scapulæ Lexicon; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum, Oxonii, 1743, fol.; Calepini Dictionarium, Lugd. Bat. 1681, folio; Hoffmanni Lexicon Universale; Samuel Johnson’s English Dictionary; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; and Nizolii Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ.

The editions of the Classics contained in this Collection [403]are not numerous; but of these I mention two volumes only of

I may here mention, Bryant’s Mythology; Spence’s Polymetis; Coplestone’s Prælectiones Academicæ; and Arbuthnot’s Tables of Ancient Coins, 1754, 4to.

Of English Literature this Library cannot boast a copious selection, the principal Works which occurred to me, being only

Lastly, as a specimen of the lamentable prejudice which our forefathers entertained against Witches, I may mention Glanvil’s Saducismus triumphatus, 1681, 8vo.

From this cursory survey of the contents of the [404]Rochester Cathedral Library, it will appear that its character is chiefly theological, and its interest centred in those impressions of the Sacred Scriptures, and Church Service Books which I have already so carefully described.

It is also refreshing to think that from the prebendal donations, a constant supply of fresh literature is provided for the support and ornament of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.

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Library of Salisbury.

This Library affords a pleasing instance of the proper appreciation of the tomes of olden time, having been restored by the exertions, and preserved by the care of its present Librarian.

The books it is true have suffered severely from past neglect, and some valuable manuscripts have been mutilated or lost, but those which remain are now treasured as they deserve, and to many of the printed books, substantial coats of calf skin have been given, the manufacture of a Salisbury Bibliopegist. The volumes themselves thus judiciously preserved are kept upon open shelves, in cases which are placed against the walls of a very dry and well lighted room, over the cloisters adjoining the Cathedral. The volumes are from four to five thousand in number, and in winter have the advantage of stove heat.

The Library itself was built by Bishop Jewel, whose portrait is appropriately placed over the fire place, but the books which it contains were principally given to the Dean and Chapter by Bishop Gheast.

The old Catalogue of this Collection had been mislaid at the time of my visit, but the Librarian very properly keeps a duplicate, which he compiled himself in alphabetical order.

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The oldest portion of this Library of course consists of the Manuscripts, which have suffered much from time, but more from neglect. They embrace a great quantity of controversial divinity, with the usual proportion of Decretals and Glosses, Homilies and Psalters, including some curious illuminated Missals, among which the “Missale ad usum insignis et præclaræ ecclesiæ Sarum,” is also found.

The most rare manuscripts in this Collection are, Justiniani Institutiones Juris Civilis, cum Glossâ Accursianâ, which has been recently collated by the German editors of that work. Galfridi Monumetensis Historia, a very valuable inedited manuscript of the eleventh century; and the Gregorian Liturgy in the Saxon tongue.

Among the other manuscripts I noticed the Works of Saints Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, Jerome, Isidore, and Eusebius; Cassiodorus super Psalterium; Rabbani Lyra Commentarii; Epistolæ Patrum et aliorum; Gulielmi Monachi Meldunensis de Miraculis Beatæ Virginis Mariæ; Adhelm de laude Virginitatis; Beda de ratione temporis, torn at the corners; and some pieces by Thomas Aquinas.

To these I may add the Biblia Sacra; the Works of Boethius; Aristotle de Animalibus; the Chronicon Freculfi; and the Legenda Sanctorum.

The mention of this last work calls to my mind the once popular translation thereof, whose first appearance in the English language took place under the auspices of William Caxton.

The copy of Caxton’s Golden Legend, in this Library, is unfortunately imperfect both at the beginning and at the end, containing only the text from folio ii to folio ccccxiiii, inclusive. It has been very much [407]cropt, measuring only ten inches and three quarters by seven and one eighth. It has been recently bound in calf so as to resemble as nearly as possible coeval binding.

This Collection also contains the “Lombardica historia quæ a plerisque Aurea Legenda Sanctorum appellatur; impressa Argentine, 1496, folio,” in double columns of Gothic letter, half bound.

I will proceed to notice the other early printed books in this Library, beginning with the well known, but seldom seen Apollonius Rhodius, printed in capital letters by Francis de Alopa, at Florence, about the close of the fifteenth century, in 4to. This copy unfortunately wants the greater portion of the last leaf, but is sound throughout, measuring very nearly nine inches and a quarter by six and three quarters, and is bound in old calf with red leaves.

Let us next take a specimen of the Milan Press: “Synonyma Simonis Genuensis Opus Impressum Mediolani per Antonium Zarotum parmensem anno dn̅i. M CCCC lxxiii. Die Martis III Augusti,” folio. This volume printed in double columns of Roman character is bound in russia.

Continuing our researches into obsolete divinity, we meet with

In addition to the above I may mention, the Duytsche Psalter, printed at Delfte in 1478, although the date by the lapse of the numeral L is printed 1428, a manifest error. This 18mo volume is bound in vellum with brass clasps. And two Church Service Books of Salisbury use, but of uncommon occurrence; the first being

“Missale ad usum ac consuetudinem Sarum
Parisiis
Ex officinâ libraria spectabilis viri Nicolai
Prevost. Impensis vero fidelissimi
mercatoris Francisci Byrckman,
MDXXVII.”

folio. In the beginning is the Kalendar occupying vii leaves, followed by the Missal containing folia cliiii, so numbered regularly, up to this place, where two unnumbered leaves of vellum intervene, the first of [409]these is entitled Præfatio quotidiana, having the large wood cut of the Crucifixion on the reverse; and the second which is distinguished by the signature v. iiii, comprises the first portion of the “Canon.” The following leaf is numbered fo. clvii, being upon paper, and at folio clxx the Missal ends. The Sanctorale of 69 leaves then follows, and is succeeded by the Commune Apostolorum, whose leaves are regularly numbered fo. i-lxiii, with the following subscription at the conclusion:

“MDXXVII. tertio Calendas Martias.”

This noble folio is printed in double columns of bold gothic character, in very black ink occasionally enlivened with red. The present copy measures very nearly thirteen and a half by nine inches, and is bound in calf.

The second Service Book is the “Graduale ad veram et integram preclare ecclesie Sarum consuetudinem nuper Parisiis excusum. Venundatur Londonii à Francisco Byrckman apud cimiterium divi Pauli, M.DXXVIII,” folio. This volume is printed in double columns of the same bold black and red letter as the preceding, and is half bound in calf.

To these I may with much propriety add a noble specimen of the famous Junta Press, “Pontificale noviter impressum perpulchrisque characteribus diligentissimè annotatum.” Florentiæ, Lucantonii de Giunta, 1510, folio. This volume is printed in double columns of Roman character, in black varied with red, and is bound in old calf; to which may be appended the Breviarium Romanum & the Missale Romanum, 1670.

Let us now turn our attention to those impressions of the Sacred volume which are found within these [410]walls, including,

to which I may add

In the Theological department, this Library contains among much that is valuable a great deal that is obsolete, a remark that may be extended to the other ancient collections attached to our Cathedral Establishments.

In the Divinity of the earlier ages we find the Works of several Fathers of the Church, namely, Athanasii Opera, Basileæ, 1514, folio, and Parisiis, 1627, in 2 vols. folio; Augustini Opera, Basileæ, 1586, in 5 vols. folio; Basilii Magni Opera omnia, Parisiis, 1638, 3 vols. folio; Chrysostomi Opera omnia, 1624, in 6 vols. folio, and edited by Savile, Etonæ, 1612, 8 vols. folio; Eusebii Opera, Basileæ, 1559; the Works of S.S. Ambrose, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Jerome, and Origen, with his Homilies; [411]Tertulliani Opera, Basileæ apud Joannem Frobenium, 1521, folio; and the Works of Philo Judæus, Gregory Nazianzen, and Justin Martyr; Theodoret and Theophylact.

Descending to a later period we have the Works of Calvin and Melancthon, of Grotius and Erasmus; Usserii Quæstiones de Ecclesiæ Christianæ, Hanoviæ, 1658; Lutheri Opera omnia Jenæ, 1612, in 4 vols. folio; Vossii Opera Sacra, Hagæ, Com. 1661; many early Commentators, and some Controversial pieces by Chamier and Bellarmine.

To these may be added the Critici Sacri, and Pole’s Synopsis; the Bibliotheca Polonorum Fratrum; Vitringa, Commentarius in Iesaiam; Leigh’s Critica Sacra, London, 1650; the Commentaries of Nicolas de Lyra; Zanchii Miscellanea Theologica, 1682; and Thomas Aquinas, Commentarii in Biblia, Parisiis, 1657, in 3 vols. folio.

I may here also mention the Works of Bishop Andrews, Allix, and Alison; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants; and a very fine copy of the Works of Bishop Jewel, London, 1565, here most appropriately placed. Also the Works of Barrow, Bishop Bramhall, Cudworth, Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Lowth, Lightfoot, Mede, Paley, Stillingfleet, Sherlock, and Waterland.

To which may be added, Jortin’s Discourses; Watson’s Apology; Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ; Archdeacon Daubeny’s Works; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Bishop Douglas’s Works; Pearson on the Creed; Hey’s Theological Lectures; Faber on Pagan Idolatry; and a “System of Divinity by the Rev. W. Davy in a course of Sermons;” Lustleigh, [412]Devon, printed by himself, fourteen copies only, 1803, in 25 volumes 8vo. bound in calf. The corrections of the press being made by pasting in slips of printed paper between the leaves which require them. This singular and uncommon performance was presented to the Library by Bishop Burgess.

I may here mention Stackhouse’s History of the Bible; Bochart’s Geographia Sacra; Hales’ Chronology, in 4 vols. 4to.; and many Tracts relating to the Popish Controversy.

In Ecclesiastical History this Collection is so fortunate as to contain the Annals of Baronius, with the Supplement of Tornielli; the Concilia omnia, Coloniæ, 1538, in 2 vols. folio; and the Concilia Maxima in 15 vols. folio; Spelman’s Concilia; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Bedæ, Historia Ecclesiastica, Colon. Agrip.; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Conibere’s Church History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; Fuller’s Church History; Field’s Book of the Church; Fox’s Martyrs; the Martyrologium Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1613; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1622; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Josephi Opera omnia, Genevæ, 1634, folio; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, 1659; Gilpin’s Lives of the Reformers; Parker, de Antiquitate Britanniæ Ecclesiæ, Hanoviæ, 1605, folio; Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticorum, 1640, 4to. in which no mention is made of Queen Elizabeth’s reforms; Reyner, de Apostolatum Ordinis Benedictinorum in Angliâ; Strype’s Memorials; Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography; Historiæ [413]Ecclesiasticæ Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; and the Codex Theodosianus Gothofredi.

Of General History the list is exceedingly meagre, including Orosii Historia, Martini Chronicon, 1638; Mezeray’s History of France; De la Valle’s Voyage to Persia, 4to; Pococke’s Historia Arabum; Dousæ, Annales Metricæ Hollandiæ; Lendener, Tabula Historica, Chronologica, &c.; Grotii Annales de rebus Belgicis; Wheler’s Greece, 1682; Fuller’s Palestine; and Pitt’s Atlas.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of England the Catalogue is much more copious, comprising, Viti de Antiquitate Britanniæ, 1597, two parts only in calf; Brady’s English History; Baker’s Chronicle, London, 1643, folio; Daniel’s History of England; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edente Selden, London, 1623, folio, in calf; Camden’s Britannia; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1740, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Melvil’s Memoirs, 1683; Milles’ Catalogue of Honour; Wake’s Rex Platonicus, 1663; Waræus de rebus Hibernicis; Wilson’s Great Britain, 1653; Polydore Vergilii Historia Anglicana; Several Tracts relating to the time of Charles the First; and the Parliamentary Records of the Kingdom.

The Topographical Works include, Adam’s Index Villaris; Calthorpe’s Usages of the City of London; Clarke’s Parochial Topography of the Hundred of Wanting in the County of Berks, Oxford, 1824, 4to.; Marmora Oxoniensia, Oxonii, folio; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral, 1814, 4to.; and Somner’s Canterbury.

[414]

Of Law Books I found only the Corpus Juris Civilis, Lugd. Bat. 1652, folio; Dalton’s Justice of the Peace; Coke upon Littleton; Coke’s Institutes; Seldeni Fleta, seu Commentarius Juris Anglicani, 1647; Blount’s Law Dictionary, 1670; and Selden’s Mare Clausum.

In Etymology this Collection embraces Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Cotgrave’s French Dictionary; Du Cange’s Glossary, 1678, in 3 vols. folio; Golii Lexicon Arabicum; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Stephani Thesaurus, Scapulæ Lexicon; Vossii Etymologicum, Amstelodami, 1662; Wallis’ Grammatica, Oxonii, 1653; and Merceri Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ.

I will now proceed to enumerate the editions of the Classic Authors contained in this room, that the reader may be enabled to judge for himself of the value of this portion of the Salisbury Cathedral Library.

To the above I may add, Scaligeri Opera, Parisiis, 1610; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica, 1625, 4to.; Lipsii Opera; Avicennæ Canones Medici, Venetiis, 1595, in 2 vols. folio; Pauli Æginetæ Medici Opera, Basileæ, 1551, 8vo.; and the Works of Galen and Epictetus.

Of English Literature, the shelves of this Library present us with Bacon’s Novum Organum; King James’s Works; Isaac Barrow’s Optics and other Works; Spenser’s Faery Queen, 1611; Cowley’s Works; Brown’s Pastorals in two parts, with the third in Manuscript, as yet, I believe, unpublished. The printed portion of this interesting folio tome is dated at London in 1613. It is bound in calf. Donne’s Letters; Walton’s Lives; Digges’ Complete Ambassador; Evelyn’s Sylva; Harris’s Works; Moryson’s [416]Works, 1617, folio; Nott’s edition of Howard and Wyatt’s Poems; and Symmons’ edition of Milton’s Works.

Of Scientific Works I observed merely Tycho Brahe; and Kepler’s Astronomy; Raii Historia Plantarum; and Napier on Logarithms.

And lastly of Bibliographical Works I noticed only Clavel’s General Catalogue of English Books; the old Catalogue of the Bodleian Library; and the Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Sionensi, 1650, folio.

Here are also many volumes which belonged to Izaak Walton, the father of Anglers, and were probably presented to this Library by his son Canon Walton. Twenty of the volumes bear his autograph, a list of which may be seen in Nicolas’s Life of Walton, App. p. clv.

The reader will not have failed to perceive the absence of works printed during the eighteenth century from this Library, and he may attribute the circumstance to the long interval during which this ancient Cathedral was suffered to remain in the most neglected state.

From this it has been rescued by the proper feeling of the existing Dean and Chapter, aided by the unremitting exertions of their present Librarian.

Many volumes, however, still remain buried in dust, and when the cobwebs of the last century have been brushed away, some works may probably be found not undeserving of notice.

[417]

Library of Wells.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Wells is kept in a very dry and sufficiently commodious apartment over that side of the cloisters which immediately adjoins the Cathedral. For many years it was very much neglected; and the office of Librarian remained in abeyance for the last fifty years, when it was recently revived in the person of Mr. Aldrit, the Master of the Collegiate Chapter Grammar School.

The books consisting of about 5000 volumes are arranged upon open shelves in projecting cases, with ample desks below each for the convenience of students. The chains they once wore are now thrown aside, though the rings whereby they were attached still remain upon many of the volumes. It cannot be denied that where the preservation of the binding is of any consequence, these manacles must do mischief; and when a Collection is kept under proper regulation, this injurious mode of protection may very well be dispensed with.

There is only one Catalogue in manuscript of this Library, written apparently about a century ago, in which the books are enumerated in alphabetical order, with a tolerably particular description of each book, [418]and though the dates, imprints, and sizes of books are most unpardonably omitted, occasionally the contents of such Collections as Wharton’s Anglia Sacra are specified separately. This Catalogue is contained in two folio volumes, in vellum covers, with this common title: Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Wellensi.

The additions made to the Library since this Catalogue was written are neither numerous nor important, consisting chiefly of the ponderous volumes issued under the authority of the Record Commission. But a new Catalogue is now preparing by Mr. Aldrit, who has recently cleansed all the books from the accumulated dust of the last half century.

The first volumes which attracted my attention were a very fine set of Walton’s Polyglott Bible, with the Republican Preface, ruled with red lines, and bound in blue morocco, full charged with gilt tooling on the back, and bearing this superscription, “E dono Thomæ Hole, Eccl. Wellensis Cancellarii et Canonici.” The rings, by which the chains were formerly fastened, remain attached to these portly volumes.

Beside these stood Castell’s Lexicon in calf, and the Biblia Polyglotta Philippica per Ariam Montanum, in 8 volumes, folio, bound in calf; and of the other impressions of the sacred volume I noticed the Biblia Hebraica Wolfii, and per Joannem Leusden; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Bible, in a vellum cover; the Septuagint Version issued under the authority of Pope Sixtus V. and that printed at London, juxta exemplar Vaticanum, in 1543, 4to., together with that edited by Grabe in 4 volumes, folio, printed at Oxford in 1720. Biblia Latina Vulgata, Parisiis, 1545 and 1552, both in 4to.; the English Bible, London, by J. Bill, 1633, [419]folio, with the Common Prayer of 1569, uniform in red morocco; Evangelia Gothica et Anglo-Saxonica; Novum Testamentum Græcum et Latinum Erasmi, Basil. 1539, and Græcum Millii, Oxon. 2 vols. folio, and Græcum Cantabrigiæ, 1632; Nov. Test. Hebr. Arab. et Syriac.; the Holie Bible, printed at Doway in 1609, in 2 vols. 4to; the New Testament, Antwerp, 1600, 4to.; to which I may add the impressions of the Common Prayer, in English, of 1552 and 1669; and in Welch and in Scotch, with the Processionale ad usum Ecclesiæ Sarum.

Works of Divinity form a large portion of this Library; the most important of which are the Works of S. Ambrose, S. Anselm, S. Athanasius, Thomas Aquinas, Atterbury, Allix, Allen, Andrewes, Abbot, S. Basil, Barrow, Beveridge, Bingham, Bossuet, Boyle, Bramhall, Burnet, Martin Bucer, Edmund Campion, Samuel Clarke, S. Cyril, 6 vols. folio; S. Cyprian, edited by Fell; Erasmus, Duns Scotus, Grotius, Fleetwood, Geddes, Gregory Nazianzen, Hooper, 1757; S. Hilary, Horne, Hammond, in 4 vols. folio; Irenæus, Lightfoot, Lactantius, Lowth, Patrick, Mede, Melancthon, Newton, Origen, Paley, Philo Judæus, Prideaux, Sancroft, Sherlock, Spanheim, South, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, with his Life by Birch; Tertullian, and Tennison. I also remarked the Commentaries of Abarbanal, Alexandri Alensis Universæ Theologiæ Summa, in 4 tom. folio; Augustini Opera, per Erasmum, in 10 vols. folio; Bellarmini Disputationum de Controversiis fidei Christianæ, tom. iv. folio; Bochart’s Geographia Sacra, and Hierozoicon; Bulli Opera, per Grabe; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica; Butler’s Analogy; Calvin’s Institutions; Casaubon’s [420]Annotations and Commentaries; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants; Chrysostomi Opera, per Savile, 8 vols. folio; and in 13 vols. folio, in old calf; Clementis Alexandrini Opera, Gr. & Lat. per Heinsium et Sylburgium; Comber on the Liturgy; Newman’s and various other Concordances; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible, in dark old calf; Critici Sacri per Cornelium Bezam, in 9 vols. folio; Pole’s Synopsis; Jewel’s Apology; Davenant, Prælectiones Theologicæ; Doleman’s Conversions, Book the Third; Epiphanii Opera, per Petavium, 2 vols. folio; Farmer on the Demoniacs of the New Testament; Southey’s Book of the Church; Eusebii Hist. Ecclesiastica; Præparatio et Demonstratio Evangelica; Jortin’s Sermons; Boyle’s Lecture Sermons, 3 vols. folio, in calf; Hey’s Theological Lectures, 4 vols. 8vo. Justini Martyris Opera, Gr. & Lat. Sylburgii; Justiniani Institutiones, curâ Harris; Kett on the Prophecies; Bishop Ken’s Sermons and Tracts, with his Life; Lardner’s Testimonies and other Works; Leslie’s Theological Works, in 2 vols. folio; Leland on Deism and the Christian Revelation; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Lloyd’s Church Government; Sanderson’s Sermons, and other Works; Bartholomæi de Saxoferrato Commentarii; Scott’s Christian Life and Sermons; Simon, Hist. Crit. Vet. Test.; Sleidan, Commentarii de statu Religionis et Reipublicæ; Bibliotheca Patrum, a fine set in calf; Calasio Concordantiæ Hebreæ, 4 vols. folio, in calf; Newcome’s Harmony and Minor Prophets; Tostati Opera Theologica, Venetiis, 1596, 13 vols. folio; Petavii Opera Theologica, Parisiis, 1550, 5 vols. folio, in old calf; Chamieri Controversiæ; Petri Martyris Loci Communes; Pearson on the Creed; Hooper’s Works, in old calf, gilt; Joannis [421]Damasceni Opera, 2 vols. folio, in old calf; Clerici Comm. in Hagiographa, et Prophetas, &c.; Vitringæ Comm. in Iesaiam; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Bishop Kidder on the Pentateuch; Pococke on Malachi, Micah, Joel, and Hosea, 4 vols. folio, old calf; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, curâ Joannis Clerici, Amstelod, 1724, 2 vols. folio, in calf; Petavii de doctrinâ temporum, Antverpiæ, 1703, in 3 vols. folio, in calf; Usher’s Annales Vet. Test. and other Tracts; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England from Schism, &c.; Wall on Infant Baptism; Warner’s Illustrations of Common Prayer; Warburton’s Divine Legation, 1765, 5 vols.; Zanchii Miscellanea Theologica; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; and Hodius de Bibliorum Textibus, 4 vols. folio.

Of Ecclesiastical History, the principal Works which I noticed were the Constitutiones Legatinæ; Regionis Anglicanæ; Scripture Atlas, 1812; Othonis et Othoboni, cum annotationibus Joannis de Athona; Cave’s Lives of the Primitive Fathers; Baronii Annalium tomus primus, et Martyrologium Romanum, cum ejusdem Annalibus in Epitomen redactis, per Spondanum, 1639; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica; Bower’s History of the Popes; Usser de Antiq. Eccl. Britt. with his Life by Parr and Smith; Burnet’s Reformation; Concilia Generalia Ecclesiæ Catholicæ; Quick’s Synodicon in Galliâ Reformatâ; Sacrosancta Concilia per Labbe et Cossard, in 17 vols. folio, in old calf; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Fox’s Martyrs, in 3 vols. folio; Godwin’s English Bishops; Gothofredi Comment. in Codicem Theodosianum, in 4 vols. folio; Historia Ecclesiastica, per Magdeburgenses; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Howell’s Synopsis Canonum, in 2 vols. folio; Jenning’s Jewish Antiquities; Josephus’ History [422]of the Jews, translated by Lodge; Josephus Havercampi, 2 vols. folio, and Hudsoni, 1720, in 2 vols. folio; Basnage, History of the Jews; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Corpus Juris Canonici, Paris, 1618; Codex Justiniani; Lyndewode’s Provinciale seu Constitutiones Angliæ; Annales Ordinis Benedictin. per Mabillon, Parisiis, 1703, 5 vols. folio, in French calf; Strype’s Memorials, Lives, and Annals; Tornielli Annales; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britannicæ, in 4 vols. folio; and Saliani Annal. Eccles. V. T. Paris. 1641, folio.

It will be seen from the foregoing enumeration, however brief, that a very large portion of this Library is theological; indeed no less than thirteen pages of the Catalogue are occupied by Tracts on the Popish Controversy, four by the subject of Toleration, and three by that of Transubstantiation. There are also many other Tracts relating to the Reformation and the Revolution, and also to the Quakers.

This Collection also contains the Alcoranus Muhammedis, Arabicè, 1694, and Sale’s Koran.

Of General History I noticed but few works, the chief of which were Alstedii Thesaurus Chronologiæ; Baudrand, Lexicon Geographicum; Davila’s Civil Wars of France; Dodwell’s Dissertations; D’Anville’s Geography, 1812; the Collections of Grævius, in old calf; Corpus Juris Civilis Gothofredi; Lipsii Politicorum Libri VI.; Mezeray’s History of France; Heylin’s Cosmography; Howell’s History of the World, in old calf; Pococke’s Description of the East, 2 vols. folio; Potter’s Greece; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations; Robertson’s America, and Charles V.; [423]Roscoe’s Lorenzo di Medici; Rycaut’s History of the Turks and of the Ottoman Empire; Scaliger de Emendatione Temporum; & Chronicon, Amstel. 1758, fol. calf; Simpson’s Chronicon Catholicon; Thuani Historia sui temporis, folio; the Universal History, in 21 vols. 8vo.; Wheler’s Greece; Shaw and Pococke’s Travels; Foster’s, Cook’s, and Hawkesworth’s Voyages; Browne’s Travels in Hungary and Germany; Park’s Travels; Wilson’s Pelew Islands; Webb’s Historical Essay upon China; Ximenes, Archiep. Tolet. Historia Arabum. Lugd. Bat. 1625; Zosimus, Historia Novorum, libri duo; and Gillies’ Greece.

Of English History and Antiquities, the list is rather more copious, as the following selection will testify: Adam’s Index Villaris; Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores Decem à Twysden; and the first volume only of Gale and Fell’s Collection; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum; Commentarii de Rebellione Anglica, 1640-85, per R. Manilium, Eq. Aurat.; Sir Robert Atkyns’s Historical Tracts; Baker’s Chronicle, folio; Chandler’s Life of Bishop Beckington; Bentham’s Ely; Boswell’s Johnson; Brady’s English History, and Introduction to the same; Britannia Rediviva; Epicedia Acad. Oxon. in obitum Henrici ducis Gloucestrensis; Notitia Academiæ Oxoniensis; Buchanan, Historia Scotorum; Camden’s Britannia, the first edition as well as that by Gibson; Somner’s Canterbury; Charlton’s Chorea Gigantum, 1663; Webb’s Vindication of Stonehenge restored; Inigo Jones’s Stonehenge; Clarendon’s Rebellion, 3 vols. folio; Daniel’s History of England; Drayton’s Polyolbion; Davies’ Celtic Researches; Dugdale’s Baronage; Origines Judiciales, Summons; Catalogue of the Lord Chancellors, and Troubles, [424]Warwickshire, edited by Thomas, with an Epitome of his Monasticon Anglicanum, edited by Stevens; Aikin’s Elizabeth and James I.; Rymer’s Fœdera, a fine set of the original edition in old calf; Gibson’s Codex, and Chronicon Saxonicum; Guillim’s Heraldry; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Langhorne, Elenchus Antiquitatum Albionensium; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Loggan, Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata; Mackenzie’s Royal Line of Scotland; Cox’s Memoirs of Marlborough, in 6 vols. 8vo. with the Atlas in 4to.; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Milton’s Defensio pro Populo Anglicano; Musgrave, Antiquitates Britanno-Belgicæ præcipuè Romanæ, 4 vols. 8vo.; the Harleian Miscellany, 8vo. in calf; Lord Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII.; Holinshed’s Chronicle, with Vowell’s Continuation; Hume’s History of England; Hutchin’s Dorset, the first edition; Journals of the Lords and Commons; Records, and Population Returns; Maitland’s London; Nalson’s Collections; Guil. Neubrigensis de Rebus Anglicanis; Plott’s Oxfordshire; Prynne’s Concordia Discors; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Rerum nuper in Scotiâ Gestarum Historia, 1641; Viscount Tarbet’s Acts of Scotland, from 1685 to 1702, 4 vols. with many other Tracts relating to the History of the Scottish Nation and Church; Spotswode’s Church of Scotland; Sheringham, Disceptatio de Gentis Anglorum origine; Spelman’s Concilia, and Life of Alfred, with the Reliquiæ Spelmannianæ by Gibson; State Trials, by Cobbett, 11 vols. 8vo.; the Statutes at large; Cromwell’s Memoirs of Oliver Cromwell, 2 vols. 8vo.; Madox, Baronia Anglica, Firma Burgi, Formulare Anglicanum, and History of the Exchequer; [425]Scriptores post Bedam, edente Savile; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; Sir Wm. Temple’s Memoirs; Speed’s History of Great Britain; Polydore Vergil; Urbinas, Archidiaconus Wellensis, Historia Anglicana, Libris XXVII. with his other Works; Verstegan’s Restitution of Decayed Intelligence relative to English Antiquities; Cox’s Memoirs of Walpole; Walton’s Lives of Hooker and Sanderson; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Vita Guil. de Wickham Episc. Winton; Wood’s Athenæ, et Antiquitates Oxonienses; Maittaire, Marmora Oxoniensia, Londini, 1732, folio, in calf; and Francisci Wise, Nummorum Antiq. Bodl. Catalogus; to which may be added a Genealogical Chart of the House of Stuart, 1779, which hangs upon the wall of this Library.

Of Law Books, the chief appeared to be Blackstone’s Commentaries; Coke’s Reports in Law French; Dalton’s Country Justice; Durandi Speculum Juris; Coke upon Littleton; Fitzherbert, Natura Brevium; Blackstone’s Magna Charta, Oxford, 1759; Bracton de Legibus Angliæ, Londini, per Ricardum Tottel, 1569, folio; and Robinson’s Admiralty Cases, 1806, &c. 6 vols. 8vo. with the Statutes at large.

Of Etymology, this Collection comprehends Baxter’s Account of Llhuyd’s Archæologia; Du Cange, Glossary; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Cole’s English Dictionary; Cooper’s Thesaurus; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary; Harris’ Hermes; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis, cum Wanleii Hist. Lit. Septentr. Oxon. 1705, 2 vols. folio; Giggeus, Thesaurus Arabicus; Golii Lexicon Arabicum; Hoffmanni Lexicon Universale; Junii Glossarium Gothicum, Dordraci, 1665, and his Etymologicum Anglicanum, 1743, folio; Llhuyd’s Archæologia; Scapulæ et Schrevelii [426]Lexica; Skinner’s Etymologicum Linguæ Anglicanæ; Somneri Dictionarium Saxonico-Latino-Anglicanum, and his Glossary; Spelman’s Glossary; Stephani Thesaurus, in 4 vols. folio; Suidæ Lexicon, Kusteri, Cantabr. in 3 vols. folio; Vossius, Etymol. Ling. Lat. to which may be added several Greek, Latin, Italian, French, and English Dictionaries not requiring particular specification.

I now come to the great Authors of Antiquity, and shall be as concise as possible in my account of them, begging “the thorough-bred Bibliomaniac” to imagine the pleasure I felt in discovering a beautiful copy of the Aldine Aristotle, the first edition of the Works of that great philosopher in his own tongue, as sound and immaculate as when it first issued from the press at Venice. The five volumes have been rebound in the dark calf of the preceding century, with red lettering pieces; and within four of them is pasted the well known autograph of the celebrated Erasmus, “Sum Erasmi Roterodami,” from which we may reasonably conclude that this very set of books once appertained to that eminent scholar: a supposition which is strengthened by the circumstance of the donor of this Work having written in the third volume, immediately beneath the autograph just quoted, the following commemorative distich:

the altitude of these volumes is rather more than twelve inches, by eight inches and a quarter. “The ruler-carrying Bibliomaniacs” will thank me for being thus particular.

The other editions of the Classics being of lesser [427]note, the names of the authors shall be succinctly given in alphabetical order: Æneas Tacticus Gr. Casauboni; Alciati Paradox. Lib. VI.; Athenagoras, Historia Augustæ Scriptores VI.; Aristophanes; Cæsar, Delphini, Catullus, Cicero, Lambini, Geneva, 1624, 4 vols. folio; Dares, Phrygius et Dictys Cretensis; Demosthenes, Dionysius Halicarnass. Ælius Lampridius Rom. Imp. Hist.; Hierocles Facetiæ & Versus Aurei; Herodiani lib. VIII. per Angelum Politianum; Homer, by Barnes; Horace, by Bond; Isocrates Stephani, 1604; Juvenalis Farnabii; Livius Gelenii et Thomæ Hearne; Longinus, Manilii Astronomicon; Macrobius Pontani; Martialis Raderi; Photius, Bibliotheca Hœschelii, Rothomagi, 1563, et ejusdem Epistolæ per Ricardum Montacutium, 1651, folio, in a vellum wrapper; Plinii Hist. Nat. Dalecampii; Plautus Lambini; Philostrati Opera Omnia, Lipsiæ, 1709, folio, in calf; Poetæ Minores Græci; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Polybius Casauboni; Procopius Hœschelii; Propertius; Quintilianus Gibsoni; Seneca Lipsii; Ælias, Spartianus; Strabo Casauboni; Suetonius Casauboni; Tacitus Lipsii; Tibullus, &c. Opera Cantabr., Theophrastus, Virgil, Minellii & Cantabr. 1701; & Baskerville’s edition; Flavii Vopisci Rom. Imp. & H. Boxhornii, to which I may add the Cambridge editions of Horace, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Terence, & Virgil, 1701, 4to.; and Didymus in Homerum, accurante Schrevelio, Amstelod. ap. Elzevir, 4to.

Here I may also mention Lloyd, Dictionarium Histor. Geograph. et Poeticum à Stephano, Oxonii, 1671, folio; Allwood’s Literary Antiquities of Greece, London, 1779, 4to.; Middleton’s Cicero, Melmoth’s Pliny; Gesneri Bibliothecæ Epitome per Simlerum, [428]Plutarch’s Lives, by North; Spence’s Polymetis; Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ; Ovid’s Metamorphoses, by Banier, illustrated by Picart, Amsterdam, 1732, folio, in old russia; Vossius de Historicis Græcis et Latinis.

Of Bibliography indeed, the Works I found here are so few, that I am almost ashamed to record merely the Acta Eruditorum, Lipsiæ, 1682; Blount’s Censura Literaria; Cave’s Scriptor. Eccles. Hist. Literar.; Du Pin’s Ecclesiastical Writers; Hyde’s Catalogue of the Bodleian Library; Nicolson’s Historical Library; Catalogus Libror. MSS. Angl. et Hibern. Oxonii, 1697; and “a Catalogue of such unlawful books as were found in the study of John Stowe of London, 1568.”

It only remains for me to notice such miscellaneous works as met my eye, in roving about the antique gallery in which they are deposited. To begin with the most obsolete, I may mention Petrus de Albano Heptameron, seu Elementa Magica; Agrippa de occultâ Philosophiâ; Blome’s Gentleman’s Recreation; Thomæ Mori Opera Latina; Johnstoni Historia Naturalis de Quadrupedibus, &c. 2 vols. folio; Jovii Illustrium Virorum Vitæ, in 2 vols. folio; Joannis Sarisburiensis Polycraticus et Metalogicus, and the Theory of the Earth, by Woodward and Burnet; Thomæ Willis, M. D. Opera Omnia, 2 vols. folio; and Wiseman’s Chirurgical Treatises.

In English Literature I remarked Chaucer’s Works, by Urry; Bacon’s Works, 1730, &c. in 4 vols. 4to.; Blacklock’s Poems; Beattie on Truth; Sir Thomas Browne’s Works; Sir Robert Cotton’s Works; Chambers’ Dictionary; Cowley’s Works; Evelyn on Medals; Grew’s Anatomy of Plants; Butler’s Hudibras, edited by Grey; Locke’s Works; Maundrell’s Journey; [429]Milton’s Poems, edited by Newton; Harrington’s Oceana; Herbert’s Steps to the Temple; Humboldt’s Works, 8vo. calf; Orrery’s Letters; the Philosophical Transactions, in 4 volumes; Prior’s Poems; Pope’s Works, by Warburton, in 9 vols. 8vo.; some Tracts by Selden; Algernon Sydney’s Discourse concerning Government; Smollett’s Travels; Spenser’s Faery Queen; Stewart’s Political Economy; the Asiatic Researches, 12 vols. 8vo. very neatly bound in calf; Pennant’s British Zoology; Sullivan’s View of Nature, 6 vols. 8vo.; and Hartley on Man.

I may add what is very deserving of imitation in other places, that a tabular index of the contents of each case is hung at the end thereof, the books being specified exactly in the order in which they are placed on the shelves: a method which affords great facilities both to the casual visitor and the professed students.

The books are generally in excellent preservation, and chiefly in the sombre calf of the two last centuries, with some in vellum covers. And there is very properly a small book for the names of books borrowed from the Library, to be entered by those who have occasion for them.

Of the manuscripts formerly attached to this foundation I have made no mention, because they have chiefly perished through the united agency of time and neglect.

I may however cite, as an exception, an ancient Vulgate Bible, presented to the Cathedral by one of its Bishops, and add that a Chinese Manuscript is also extant, though the curiosity of strangers has greatly impaired both its integrity and appearance.

[430]

Library of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

This ancient and extensive Collection of Books is preserved in a room over the cloisters adjoining the time-honoured fabric of Westminster Abbey.

The true lover of the typographic art must here feel the full influence of the “Religio Loci,” recollecting that within these sacred precincts, William Caxton erected his Press, and bestowed on benighted England the benefits of the Art of Printing. It may be remarked that the only specimen of our earliest printer here preserved is a single leaf inserted at the end of Pynson’s Dives and Pauper, 1493, whose authenticity has been thus attested, “This appears to be a leaf from Caxton’s Chronicle, 1480. T. F. Dibdin.”

But to give the general reader some idea of the locale of this Library, I must borrow the descriptive pages of a transatlantic pen. “There are certain half-dreaming moods of mind, in which we naturally steal away from noise, and glare, and seek some quiet haunt, where we may indulge our reveries, and build our air-castles undisturbed. ‘In such a mood,’ [431]says Washington Irving,⁠[59] ‘I was loitering about the old gray cloisters of Westminster Abbey, enjoying that luxury of wandering thought which we are apt to dignify by the name of reflection; when suddenly an irruption of madcap boys from Westminster School, playing at foot-ball, broke in upon the monastic stillness of the place, making the vaulted passages, and mouldering tombs echo with their merriments. I sought to take refuge from their noise by penetrating still deeper into the solitudes of the pile, and applied to one of the vergers for admission to the Library. He conducted me through a portal rich with the crumbling sculpture of former ages, which opened upon a gloomy passage leading to the Chapter House, and the chamber in which Doomsday Book is deposited. Just within the passage is a small door on the left. To this the verger applied a key; it was double locked, and opened with some difficulty as if seldom used. We now ascended a dark narrow staircase, and passing through a second door, entered the library.

“‘I found myself in a lofty antique hall, the roof supported by massive joists of old English oak. It was soberly lighted by a row of gothic windows at a considerable height from the floor, and which apparently opened upon the roofs of the cloisters. An ancient picture of some reverend dignitary of the Church in his robes hung over the fire place. Around the hall, and in a small gallery were the books, arranged in carved oaken cases. They consisted [432]principally of old polemical writers, and were much more worn by time than use. In the centre of the library was a solitary table, with two or three books on it, an inkstand without ink, and a few pens parched by long disuse. The place seemed fitted for quiet study and profound meditation. It was buried deep among the massive walls of the abbey, and shut up from the tumult of the world. I could only hear now and then the shouts of the school boys faintly swelling from the cloisters, and the sound of a bell tolling for prayers, that echoed soberly along the roofs of the abbey. By degrees the shouts of merriment grew fainter and fainter, and at length died away. The bell ceased to toll, and a profound silence reigned through the dusky hall.’”

I will not follow the lively American in his day dream among the dusty tomes, inasmuch as it is somewhat “lengthy,” and not sufficiently entertaining to warrant its transcription.

I must here, too, venture a protest against the ungrateful sentiment of our author, who “could not but consider the library a kind of literary catacomb, where authors, like mummies, are piously entombed, and left to blacken and moulder in dusty oblivion.”

Dropping the pencil of Geoffrey Crayon, I proceed with great satisfaction to examine the venerable remains enshrined within the “literary catacomb” of Westminster Abbey.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster at present consists of eleven thousand volumes, but was formerly much more extensive, as many works, which appear in the old Catalogue, and are not found in the new, lamentably attests.

[433]

The old Catalogue of this Collection, arranged in alphabetical order, with titles, places, and dates, and with references to the shelves, bears the following title: “Catalogus Librorum in hac Bibliothecâ Westmonasteriensi. Octob. 22mo. 1726,” folio. It is bound in vellum, and has the armorial bearings of the Deanery stamped upon the cover. The new Catalogue was compiled by Dr. Dakin, the precentor, and contains the titles, places, dates, and sizes of the books, with reference to the shelves on which they are placed, very carefully arranged in alphabetical order, and clearly written by Mr. Marquet, in a large folio volume, secured by clasps. For this labour, completed in the year 1798, the Dean and Chapter, with a most commendable zeal for the preservation of their treasures of ancient learning, paid the sum of one hundred pounds.

The Library was originally deposited in one of the chapels, within the Abbey, but was removed to its present situation by the celebrated Williams, Archbishop of York, in the time of James the First.

Within the deep recesses of this venerable pile, “where all the air a solemn stillness holds,” the mind is naturally inclined to religious contemplation, and turns instinctively to the Book of Life.

Here too the Bibliographer may point with satisfaction to a very fine sound copy of the famous Complutensian Polyglott, 1515, in 6 volumes, folio, which though slightly stained, retains its original binding of stamped calf, and nearly its pristine dimensions, measuring fifteen and a quarter by ten and a half inches.

Meet companions of the first Polyglott Bible are,

[434]

To these may be added,

This Library also contains,

Among the Latin Bibles, may be noticed the

To which may be added,

Of English Bibles, I noticed more particularly

The Welch Bible, printed at London in 1588, folio; and in 1600; at Oxford in 1723; and at London in 1746, 8vo. here claim a passing notice.

Of editions of the New Testaments in English it may suffice to allude to those printed at London in 1706, 1708, 1711, 8vo.; and at Oxford in 1770, 8vo.; The Novum Testamentum Arabicum, 4to; the Novum Testamentum Syriacum, per Leusden. Lugd. Bat. 1717; the Novum Testamentum Græcum, per Fell, Oxonii, 1675, 8vo.; et Millii, Oxonii, 1707, folio; together with Kipling’s facsimile of the Codex Bezæ, Cambridge, 1793, folio; and the editions of Beza, Erasmus, Wetstein, and Stephens, [436]1549; the Coptic Version of Wilkins; and several French translations by Beausobre and others; Fulke’s New Testament, London, by the deputies of Chr. Barker, 1589; and the same, printed at London, by Augustine Matthews, 1633, both in folio.

I may add to the above the Evangelia IV. Græcè Theophylacti, Romæ, 1542; Evangelia Gothica Junii, 4to.; Wilkins’ Pentateuchus Copticus, Lond. 1731, 4to.; Psalterium Monasticum, Samueli, 1616, folio; Psalterium Quintuplex; Psalterium Antverpiæ, Plantin, 1608; Psalterium Hebraicum Græcum et è Codice Alexandrina, Oxonii, 1678, 12mo.; and many other editions of the Psalms of David.

Of Rituals and Forms of Prayers, I noticed the Welch Prayer Book of 1664, in folio; the Scotch Prayer Books of 1637 and 1661; and the English Prayer Books of 1549, 1552, 1616, 1661, 1683, and 1702; with Wheatley on the Common Prayer; and the Offices of the Church of England, Cambridge, 1751, 8vo.; Liturgia Latina Anglicana, Londini, 1574, 1688, and 1727, 12mo.; Liturgia Græca per Pinellum, Venetiis, 1603-1628, in 14 volumes, 4to.; Missale Romanum, Lugd. Bat. 1625; and Antverpiæ, 1625, 8vo.; several Roman Breviaries; a Parisian edition of the Horæ B. M. V. without date; and the Pontificale Romanum, 1611, folio.

Among the earlier Theological writers may be enumerated the Works of S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basilius, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Gregorius Eusebius, Byzantinus Nazianzenus, et Nyssenus, &c. Jerome, Hilary, Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Lactantius, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, and others too numerous to mention.

[437]

It may be permitted me, however, to specify the Works of Alexander de Ales, Arnobius, Bede, Bellarmine, Bessarion, Beausobre, Bonaventura, Bossuet, Bourdaloue, Theodore Beza, Bochart, Bullinger, Calvin, Clemens Alexandrinus, Chytræus, Dallæus, Drusius, Le Clerc, and Duns Scotus; of Erasmus, Fulgentius, John Gerson, Grotius, Hospinianus, Justin Martyr, Lanfranc, Luther, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Origen, Socinus, Suarez, Turretinus, Turrianus, and Zanchius.

To which may be properly added, Cassiodorus in Psalmos, Basileæ, 1491, folio; Nicolai de Lyra Commentarii, editio antiqua, sine loco aut anno. liber mancus, and another edition printed at Venice in 1603, folio; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica; Damasceni Opera Theologica; Lactantii Opera, Cantabrigiæ, 1686, 12mo.; Lutheri Opera, Wittebergæ, 1557-83, in 7 vols. folio; and those of Melancthon.

Among the Works of English Divines, I think it right to record those of Bishop Andrews, Atterbury, Barrow, Baxter, Bennet, Beveridge, Bingham, Bickerstaff, Bramhall, Bull, Calamy, Chillingworth, Claggett, Clarke, Conybeare, Bishop Cosin, Dodwell, Edwards, Fisher, Hall, Hammond, Hoadly, Hooper, Hopkins, Jeremy Taylor, Jackson, Jebb, Jenkins, Jewel, Jortin, Kennicott, Kennett, Lardner, Leslie, Lightfoot, Lowth, Bp. Ostervald, Outram, Pearce, Pierce, Perkins, Pococke, Prideaux, Archbp. Potter, Reynolds, J. Rogers, Secker, Sherlock, South, Stanhope, Stillingfleet, Sykes, Venn, Waterland, Whiston, Whitaker, White, Wilson, and others of minor note.

Here too may be noticed, Cave’s Primitive Christianity; and Lives of the Apostolic Fathers; Bowyer on the New Testament; Butler’s Analogy; Burnet on [438]the thirty-nine Articles; Collier’s Sacred Interpreter; Conybeare on Revealed Religion; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Cruden’s Concordance; Derham’s Astro- and Physico-Theology; Davenant on the Psalms; Drelincourt on Death; Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Field of the Church; Duncan Forbes on Incredulity; Fulke on the New Testament; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Edwards on the Old and New Testament; Gastrell’s Institutes; Hall’s Meditations; Horne’s Introduction to the Scriptures; Jebb’s Theological Lectures, Cambridge, 1772; Ireland’s Popery and Paganism compared, London, 1809, and 1825; also his Nuptiæ Sacræ, 1821, 8vo.; Ken’s Manual; Leland on Deism; Lloyd on Church Government; Macknight’s Harmony of the Gospels; Mede on the Altar; Newman’s Concordance; Patrick’s, Pococke’s and Whitby’s Commentaries; Pearson on the Creed; Prideaux and Shuckford’s Connection; Scott’s Christian Life, and other Works; Secker’s Lectures, Sermons, and Charges; Tenison on Idolatry; Tillotson’s Works, London, 1707-20, and 35, in folio; Woolston on Miracles; Trapp’s Theological Works; Tyndale, Frith, and Barnes’ Works, London, 1573, fol.; Usher’s Annals, 1658, folio; Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers; and his Work on the State of the Church; Wall on Infant Baptism; Warburton’s Works by Hurd, 1788, 4to.; West and Littleton on the Resurrection; Whiston’s Primitive Christianity, and other Works; Venn’s Whole Duty of Man; Wilkins on Natural Religion.

This Collection also embraces a variety of Sermons by different authors; among the most noticeable of whom are Bishops Gibson, Fleetwood, Hoadly, Atterbury, [439]and Sharpe; Waterland, Wilkins, Gataker, Vincents, Conybeare, Stanhope, and Sanderson.

To the above I may add, Blackwall’s Sacred Classics; various Concordances by Schmidius, Kircher, & Buxtorf; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Birch’s Life of Tillotson; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Stackhouse’s History of the Bible, and his other Works; Barclay’s Apology; Osterwald’s Arguments, in French; and Pyle on the Epistles; Ioannis de Turrecremata, Summa Theologiæ, Lugduni, 1496, 8vo.; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Junii Opera Theologica; Vincentii Speculum Doctrinale, Venetiis, 1494, folio; Sixti Senensis Bibliotheca Sancta; Hulderici Zuinglii Opera; Zonaræ Canones et Annales; Petri Blesensis Opera Omnia; Thomæ Aquinatis Opera, Antverpiæ, 1612, folio; Stapletoni Opera, & Whitakeri Opera, Genevæ, 1610, folio; the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, Colon. Agrip. 1618, in 14 volumes, folio; the Bibliotheca, S.S. Patrum, Col. Agr. 1622, in 15 folio volumes; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Dacherii Spicelegium; the Critici Sacri; Pole’s Synopsis; Eusebii Præparatio et Demonstratio Evangelica; Boethii Opera, Basileæ, 1570, folio; Martin Bucer, Scriptores Anglicani; the Works of Buchanan; Lyndewoode’s Provinciale of 1557, & Oxonii, 1679; Outram de Sacrificiis; and other Works of the earlier ecclesiastics, of which the selection I have made may serve as very fair specimens of the whole.

I may here notice Day’s Service Book, 1565, with music; the Tenor, Morning and Evening Prayer, imperfect, but of which only three or four copies are known; Barnard’s Cathedral Music, only found elsewhere [440]at Berlin; and several English Music Books of great rarity; Boyce and Arnold’s Cathedral Music; also that of Arne, Bassani, Corelli, Fiocco, Gasparini, Handel, Pergolesi, and Scarletti; Madrigals by Colonna, Foggia, Gratiano, and Marenzio, forming a very valuable Collection of Church Music; here also is preserved the Missal of Nicolas Litlington, Abbot of Westminster in 1362; together with the Pupilla Oculi of John de Burgh, a work of which every priest possessed a copy.

There are also in this Library a Collection of Tracts, formed about the year 1760, so numerous that the brief enumeration of them occupies ninety-one pages and a half of the great folio Catalogue, compiled in 1798. Of these fugitive pieces very many relate to the Controversial Divinity of the early part of the last century; others treat of Popery, the Muggletonians, the Test Acts, and the Miracles of the Gospel; Warburton on the Alliance between Church and State; with his Remarks on Pope’s Essay on Man; Whitfield’s Journals, 1740; Westley’s Appeal, 1745; Bentley on the State of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1710; Addison’s Cato, and the Publisher, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, 1745, 8vo. also form part of this Series of Tracts.

Here also are many Political Pieces, especially some relating to the last Rebellion, such as German Politicks, 1744; the Highlander delineated, 1745; the complicated Guilt of Rebellion, 1745; and the History of two imposters, Lambert Linne and Perkin Warbeck, 1745; to which I may add the Iter Surriense et Sussexiense, 1752, 8vo.; and other Tracts much too insignificant for notice.

The mention of the preceding articles leads us at [441]once into the interesting region of History, and directs our observation to those works which in this Collection are found to illustrate the History of England.

Among these the most remarkable are, Bacon’s History of King Henry VII, London, 1622, folio; the Lives of William the Third, London, 1703, 8vo.; and of Queen Anne, London, 1707, 8vo.; Baker’s Chronicle; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Anglia, which Warburton thought deserving of perusal; Bucks’ Richard the Third, London, 1647; Burnet’s History of his own Time; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, 1623; Camden’s Britannia, Annals, and Remains; Chamberlayne, Angliæ Notitiæ, 1716; Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion; Daniel’s History of England; Davies’ Athenæ Britannicæ; Echard’s History of England; Jovii Descriptio Britanniæ; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum; Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle; Grafton’s Chronicle, 1569, folio; Gutch’s Collectanea Curiosa; Heylyn’s Help to English History, and his Life of Laud; Histoire d’Angleterre, 1706, 12mo.; Holinshed’s Chronicles of 1587 and 1523, in folio; Hobbes on the Civil Wars, 1679, 12mo.; Fabian’s Chronicle, London, 1559, folio; a fine and perfect copy of Higden’s Polycronycon by Peter Treveris, 1527, folio; Martin’s History of England, from William the Conqueror to Henry the Eighth, 1638, folio; May’s Historiæ Parliamentaris Breviarium, 1651, 12mo.; the Mercurius Politicus, published during the Civil Wars; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia; Rushworth’s Historical Collections, London, 1659, in 6 volumes, folio; Rapin’s History of England, 1731, 8vo.; and Tindal’s valuable edition of that Work, London, 1733, in 3 vols. folio; the original edition of Rymer’s Fœdera, [442]printed at London in 1704, &c. in 20 folio volumes; Lediard’s Life of the Great Duke of Marlborough; an Account of Sacheverell’s Tryal; Smith, de Rêpublicâ Anglorum, Lugd. Bat. 1625, 12mo.; Speed’s History of Great Britain, London, 1623, folio; Spelman’s Life of Alfred the Great, Oxford, 1678, folio; Stow’s Annals, London, 1614, folio; Strutt’s Antiquities, 1773, &c. 4to.; Stukeley’s Medallic History of Carausius, 1759, 4to.; Whitelocke’s Memorials of English Affairs, London, 1682, 8vo.; State Trials, 1730, folio; The Trial of the Earl of Strafford, 1680, folio; Thurloe’s State Papers, and Welwood’s Memoirs, 1718, 12mo.; the Biographia Britannica, by Kippis, London, 1747, folio; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxoniensis; together with Boethius Historia Scotorum, Paris, 1575, folio; Stanihurst de Rebus Hibernicis; Stafforde’s Wars in Ireland; Sir James Ware’s Works concerning Ireland, Dublin, 1739, in 2 volumes, folio; Carte’s Life of Ormonde; Lhuyd’s Description of Cambria, London, 1584; and Davies’ Celtic Researches; augment the stores of this department.

The Records of the Kingdom, published under the authority and Superintendence of the Parliamentary Commissioners; and the Population Returns; the Scriptores post Bedam, edited by Savile; the valuable collection of the Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores, edited by Gale and Fell at Oxford, in 3 volumes, folio; the Anglica Normannica, &c. à VI Veteribus scripta, edita, à Camdeno, Francof. 1603, folio; Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem, edente Twysden, Londini, 1652, folio; Rerum Britannicarum Scriptores VI Vetustiores, Heidelb. 1587, folio; Matthæi Paris [443]Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Francofurti, 1601, folio; Nennii Historia Britonum, edente Bertramo, Hafniæ, 1757, 8vo.; Viti Basinstochii Historia Britonum; Pontici Virunnii Historia Britonum, Lond. 1585; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Basileæ, 1555, folio, and 1570, also in folio; and the Normannorum et Francorum Scriptores Coetanei, edited by Duchesne, 1619; tend greatly to increase the value of this Library. Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, 1748; Balei Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniæ Catalogus, Basileæ, 1559, folio; Pitseus, Scriptores de Rebus Anglicis, 4to.; and Nicholson’s Historical Libraries, in one volume, folio, here deserve to be recorded.

Of Works relating more particularly to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of Britain, this Collection embraces the Legenda Nova Angliæ, Londini, per Winandum de Worde, 1516, folio; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Brent’s Council of Trent; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, Londini, 1562, folio, being the original edition of this scarce and valuable Work. The present copy is happily complete, though it wants the Portrait of the Archbishop; containing the Title, Preface, and Plate of Arms, with the index preceded by three blank leaves. It is however in very tender condition, and its leaves measure eleven inches and a quarter by seven inches and five-eighths. It still retains its original binding of wood, covered with stamped calf, to which clasps were originally attached.

This Library also contains two other editions of this Work, that printed at Hanover in 1608, folio, and that [444]edited by Drake, London, 1725, folio; together with Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Fox’s Martyrs of 1596, 1641, and 1684, in folio; Godwyn, Præsules Anglicani in 2 volumes, folio; Harpsfeld’s Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1622, folio; Inett’s Origines Anglicani; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Newcourt’s Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Londinense; Oughton, Ordo Judiciorum, 2 vols. 4to.; Reyneri Apostolatus Ordinis Benedictinorum in Angliâ, Duaci, 1626, folio; Spelmanni Concilia, Londini, 1639, folio; Spotswode’s Church of Scotland, 1677, folio; Statuta Ecclesiæ Christi, Cantuariensis, Londini, 1703; Walker’s History of Independency; the original editions of Strype’s valuable Lives, Annals, and Ecclesiastical Memorials; Synodi Anglicani; Tovey’s Anglia Judaica, Oxonii, 1738, 4to.; Usserii Britannicæ Ecclesiæ Antiquitates, Dublin, 1639, 4to. and London, 1687, folio; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; and Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, Londini, 1733, in 4 volumes, folio.

Here also are deposited the editions of Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum of 1655, and of 1693; and of Tanner’s Notitia Monastica of 1744, and that edited by Nasmith, both in folio; works which form a connecting link between the Ecclesiastical History and Antiquities of our country.

Of Works relating to, or illustrative of English Topography, this Library contains several here deserving of notice.

These are, the Histories of Westminster Abbey, of the Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, and of the Public Schools of England, published with abundant illustrations by the late Rudolph Ackermann, in 7 [445]vols. 4to.; Battely, Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Blore’s Monumental Remains; Carew’s Survey of Cornwall; Carter’s Cambridgeshire; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Britton’s Architectural Antiquities, one of the most valuable and interesting Works of that enterprising archæologist; Burton’s Leicestershire; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral, 1814, 4to.; Hoare’s Giraldus Cambrensis’ Itinerary of Bishop Baldwin through Wales, London, 1806, 4to.; Dugdale’s Warwickshire, and St. Paul’s; Dart’s Antiquities of Canterbury Cathedral, 1703, folio; Gostling’s Walks through Canterbury, 1777, 8vo.; Hasted’s History of Kent, 1788, folio, in 4 volumes; Heath’s Account of the Scilly Islands, 1750, 8vo.; the History of Rochester, 1782, 12mo.; Hoare’s Ancient Wiltshire, folio; Howel’s Perlustration of London, 1657, folio; Hutchins’s History of Dorset, London, 1784, folio; Isaacke’s Exeter, 1724, 8vo.; A Journey through England, 1724, 8vo.; Lambeth Palace Illustrated, London, 1806, 4to.; the London Guide, 1752, 12mo.; Nash’s Worcestershire, in 2 volumes, folio; Newcourt’s Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Londinense; Nicholson and Burn’s Histories of Cumberland and Westmoreland, in 4to.; Ogilby’s Britannia, 1675, folio, with Maps of the roads; Parker de Antiquitate Universitatis Cantabrigiensis, 1721; Paterson’s Pietas Londinensis, 1714, 12mo.; Peck’s Annals of Stanford; Plott’s Natural Histories of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Rawlinson’s English Topographer; the Roads of England delineated, 1756, 12mo.; Salmon’s Natural History of Hertfordshire, 8vo.; Stow’s London, 1633, folio; Thorpe’s Registrum Roffense; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; Twyne de Antiquitate Academiæ [446]Oxoniensis; Villare Anglicanum, by Adams, London, 1736, folio; Willis’ Cathedrals, 1721-30, with his Parochiale Anglicanum, 1733, 4to.; some Account of Winchester Cathedral, in 12mo.; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; and Wright’s History of Rutland, in folio.

Of Works illustrative of the venerable fabric under whose roof these books are sheltered, we here find Harding’s Westminster Abbey, London, 1825, folio; Dart’s Antiquities of the Abbey of Westminster, London, 1711, folio; Keepe’s Monuments of Westminster Abbey, London, 1683, 8vo.; Widmore’s Westminster Abbey, London, 1751; and Smith’s Antiquities of Westminster, London, 1807, 4to.; besides the Work of Ackermann already mentioned. To which may be added the Portraits of the Deans of Westminster, London, 1823, folio, and the various Ceremonials of Coronation.

The Coronation Books of George III. in 1761, of George IV. in 1821, and of William IV. in 1831, quarto, form a peculiar feature in this Collection, which also contains Ogilby’s Coronation of Charles II. 1662, with an Account of his Entertainment and Progress through the City of London, to the place of that Ceremony; and Sandford’s Coronation of James II. 1687, 8vo.

Maps of England, by Speed, folio, by Philip Lea, 1695, 4to. by Morden, 4to. with a Chart of St. George’s Channel, by Morris, 1748, may be here noticed as natural accessories to the Topography of England.

Of Works upon the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws [447]of England, and of other Nations, it may suffice to notice in this place, Bracton de Legibus; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Laws; Coke’s Institutes; and Hammond’s Criminal Code, 1825-29; the Acta Generalia; the Statutes at large; the Concilia Generalia et Hispanica; Bracton de Legibus Angliæ; Gothofredi Corpus Juris Civilis; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici et Civilis; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; various editions of the Codex and Institutiones Justiniani; the Codex Theodosianus, Parisiis, 1586; Law Cases, from 17th Edward III. to Henry VII. London, 1576; Beverigii Pandectæ Canonum et Juris Civilis; Reformatio Legum ab Henrico VIII. inchoata, Londini, 1641, 4to.; Woottoni Leges Wallicæ, 1730, folio; Wilkins, Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ, 1721, folio; together with the Synodus Dordracensis, Ephesina, Græca, Anglica, & Florentina.

The nature of the Historical department of this Collection will be best understood by the following selection from its contents.

We may here notice Banduri Imperium Orientale; Bodini Historia Universalis; Carionis Chronicon; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Cumberland de Origine Gentium; Dousæ Annales Hollandiæ; Froissardi Historia, Hanoviæ, 1606; Historiæ Francorum Scriptores, Francof. 1596; Eusebii Chronicon; Guicciardini’s History of Italy; Hearne’s Ductor Historicus; Antonio de Herrera, Descriptio Indiæ Occidentalis, Amstelod. 1622, folio; Hooke’s Roman History; Josephus, Havercampi, and Basnage’s History of the Jews; Davila’s Civil Wars of France, folio; Knolles’ History of the Turks; Krantzii Chronica Danica et Suecica; Annales Belgici; Leunclavii Annales Sultanorum; [448]Ligon’s Barbadoes; Maffei Historia Indica; Mariana de Rebus Hispanicis; Memoires de Comines, de Cardinal Rohan, de Retz, de Philip du Plessis, Mornay, et de Montmorency; Mezeray Abrégé Chronologique de l’histoire de France; Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique; and the second and third volumes of Monstrelet’s Chronicles, printed at Paris in 1572.

We also find on these shelves several of Byzantine Historians, such as Nicephorus, &c.; Nicetæ Annales, &c.; Naucleri Chronicon; Ockley’s History of the Saracens; Olaus Magnus Historia Gentium Septentrionalium; Orme’s Indostan; Pontoppidan’s Norway; Raleigh’s History of the World; Reineccii Chronicon Sclavorum; and his Origines Brandenburgicæ; Reuberi Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores; Sir Thomas Roe’s Embassy to Turkey, 1740; Sandys’ Europæ Speculum, with his Travels; Salmon’s Chronological Historian; Scheffer’s Lapland; Shaw’s Travels in Barbary and the Levant; Spon’s History of Geneva, 1687, folio; the Memoirs of Sully; Symson’s Chronicon Catholicum; Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, Francofurti, 1576; Thuani Historia sui Temporis, Paris, 1606 and 1620; Tillet, Recueil des Rois de France, leurs Couronnes, &c. Paris, 1586, folio; Vertot’s Histoire de l’Ordre de Malte; Tursellini Epitome Historiæ Romanæ; and the Universal History of 1736, in folio.

Of Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs in general, independently of the Councils, Synods, and Decretals of various periods, this Library comprehends Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Baronii Martyrologium Romanum; Cedreni Annales; the Concilia Generalia, compiled by Labbe and Kuster; [449]Brent’s History of the Council of Trent; Bower’s Lives of the Popes, in 4to.; Platina de Vitis Pontificum, in folio; Brandt’s History of the Reformation; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Du Pin’s and Fleury’s Ecclesiastical History; the Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Scriptores Generales, Valerii, Parisiis, 1668-78, in 3 vols. folio, and Basileæ apud Oporinum, 1564-70, in 8 vols. folio; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Echard’s Ecclesiastical History; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Hyde’s Religio Veterum Persarum; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Gratiani Decretalia; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Nicephori Historia Ecclesiastica; Quick’s Synodicon in Galliâ Reformatâ; Relandi Antiquitates Hebræorum; Sigonius de Republicâ Hebræorum; two copies of Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1685, folio; Schlusselburgii Hæreticorum Catalogus, Francofurti, 1597, 8vo.; Sleidan’s Reformation, à la Haye, 1767, 4to.; Tillemont, Ecclesiastical Memorials; and Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church.

Among the helps to History are Chronology and Geography, of which the former presents us with Blair, Behm, Newton, Isaacson, and Jackson’s Chronological labours; Helvici Chronologia; Marsham, Chronicon Canon Egyptiacus; Petavii Rationale temporum; Straucii Breviarium Chronologicum; Relandi Fasti Consulares; and Clinton’s Fasti Hellenici; and the latter with Baudrand’s Lexicon Geographicum; the Geographical Works of Cellarius and Cluvier; Spanheim’s Geographia Sacra; Heylyn’s Cosmography; Ortelii Geographia; and Relandi Palestina Illustrata, which is esteemed by Mr. Orme, as one of [450]the most elaborate Works on Biblical Geography ever published, together with the General Atlas, by Senex, London, 1721, folio.

In this place I may appropriately introduce, Archbishop Williams’s own copy of Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1613-24, in 5 vols. folio; in the original calf with his arms on the sides; Hakluyt’s Voyages, 1599, folio; Harris’ Collection of Voyages and Travels; Pococke’s Description of the East; Vincent’s Voyage of Nearchus, London, 1807, 4to.; with another copy corrected by the author, with additions by that learned Dean of Westminster.

Of Works relating to Antiquities, this Library can boast the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius, relating to those of Greece and Rome; Gruteri Corpus Inscriptionum & Thesaurus Criticus; Montfaucon, Palæographia Græca; Mabillon, Diarium Italicum; Prideaux’s Marmora Oxoniensia; and Taylor’s Marmor Sandvicense, Cantabrigiæ, 1743, 4to.

Of the Antiquities of Rome, we here find Boissardi Urbis Romæ Topographia, 1597-1602, with figures by De Bry; Rosini Antiquitates Romanæ, Amstelodami, 1685, 4to.; and Rossi Teatro delle Fabriche di Roma, 1665, 4to.; to which I may add the History of Palmyra, 1696, 8vo.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection occupy very little space, being only Brooke’s Heraldry; Gwillim’s Heraldry of 1632, and 1724, folio; Edmondson’s Heraldry; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, 1726, folio; Selden’s Titles of Honor, London, 1672, folio.

The Numismatic Works occupy a space equally inconsiderable, being, Arbuthnot’s Coins; Clarke’s Connection of Coins; Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; [451]Steuart’s Bengal Coins, 1772, 4to.; Bræi Numismata Imperatorum Romanorum; and Stukeley’s Medallic History of Carausius.

From these minute monuments of ancient time, we pass to those equally enduring Records of Antiquity, which are familiar to every one under the common appellation of the Classic Authors.

In Classical Literature we meet in this Collection with different editions of the Works of either Ælian, Anacreon, Antoninus, Appianus, Apuleius, Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, Quintus Curtius, Sidonius Apollinaris, Petronius Arbiter, Dictys Cretensis, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Dionysius Periegetes, Epictetus, Eutropius, Herodian, Hierocles; Iamblichus, Juvenal and Persius, Macrobius, Nicander, Oppian, Ovid, Sallust, Statius, Maximus Tyrius, Æneas Sylvius, Synesius, Valerius Maximus, and Aurelius Victor, together with the Anthologia, and the Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores.

This Library also comprehends various editions of the separate pieces of Aristotle and Cicero, as well as of their collected works, but none of the fifteenth century; Stanley’s Æschylus; Æsopus, Venetiis, apud Aldum, 1505; Alciati Emblemata, Agathias, Paris, 1660; Aphthonii Commentarii, Venetiis apud Aldum, 1509, folio; Archimedes, Basileæ, 1544, folio; Arrianus, Gronovii; Aristophanes, 1500; Athenæus, Basileæ, 1535; Ausonius, Burdiglæ, 1580, folio; Apicius, 1705; Cæsar, Delphini & Clarkei; Callimachus, Grævii; Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, and various editions of 1639-59, 12mo.; Claudianus, Heinsii; Demosthenes Wolfii et Taylori; Dion Chrysostomus, Lutetiæ, 1604, folio; Dioscorides, 1598; Dionysius [452]Halicarnassensis, 1546; Epictetus, Wolfii; Euclidis Elementa, Basileæ, 1533; Arabicè, Romæ, 1594; Græcè, Parisiis, 1598; and his Opera Omnia, Oxonii, 1703, folio.

Upon these shelves we also find Euripides Marklandi, Oxonii, 1756, 4to.; and Barnesii, Cantabrigiæ, 1694, folio; Florus, Grævii; Aulus Gellius, Gronovii, and apud Elzeviros; Grammatici Græci, Venetiis, 1495, folio, and 1527, folio; Herodotus, Gronovii: Hesiodus, Robinsoni; Hippocratis Opera Omnia, Venetiis, 1525, folio; Homerus, Clarkei; Eustathius, Commentarii in Homerum, Romæ, 1542, in 4 volumes, folio; Maittaire’s Reprint of the Batrachomyomachia of 1486, London, 1721, 8vo., in red and black letters.

Here also are several editions of Horace, by Bentley, Bond, and the Delphin editors; Iamblichus by Gale; Isocrates, Venetiis, 1513; and the editions of Battie and Wolf; Silius Italicus, Venetiis, 1523; Justinus, Grævii; Libanii Orationes, Paris, 1616; Livius, Aldi, 1555, folio; with Crevier’s and other editions; Longinus by Pearce and Smith; Lucanus, Oudendorpii, Lucian, 1517; Lucretius by Tonson, 1712; Lycophron, Potteri; Manilius, Bentleii; Martialis, Venetiis, 1510; Moguntiæ, 1527; and Farnabii, &c.; Menander, Clerici & Orosius, Havercampi; the Panegyrici Veteres de la Baume; Velleius Paterculus, Delphini; Pausanias, Kuhnii; Phædrus, Burmanni, and Delphini; Pindarus, Stephani, 1586, and Oxonii, 1697, folio; Plato, Ficini, 1602, folio; Plautus, Lambini, Plinii, Hist. Nat. Dalecampii; Plinii Epistolæ; Plotinus, Basileæ, 1580, folio; Plutarchi Opera, Basileæ, 1573-4; Plutarchi Vitæ, Bryani, Londini, 1729, 4to.; Poëtæ Græci Veteres heroici Carminis, Parisiis, apud Stephanum, 1566, folio; Corpus Poetarum Latinorum [453]à Maittaire, Londini, 1725, folio; Polybius, Latinè, Basileæ, 1529; et Græcè, Parisiis, 1609; Pomponius Mela, Venetiis, 1518; Proclus de Sphærâ, Basileæ, 1585; Procopius, Græcè Hœschelii, 1607; Prudentius, Parisiis, 1562, et Amstelodami, 1625; Ptolemæi Geographia, Argentorati, 1622; Quintilianus Burmanni, Sabellici Opera, Basileæ, 1538; Sapphus, Wolfii; Seneca, Farnabii, and various editions besides, but none earlier than 1555; Solini Polyhistor; Sophocles, Stephani, 1603, folio; Cantabrigiæ, 1669; and Londini, 1722, 12mo.; Stephanus de Urbibus, Basileæ, 1568, folio; Stobæus, Gesneri, Tiguri, 1543, folio, with other editions; Strabonis Geographia, Xylandri, Basileæ, 1571, folio, and Casauboni, Amstelod. 1707, folio; Suetonius, Casauboni, & Pitisci, 1714, 4to.; Suidæ Lexicon Græcum, Aldi. 1514, folio; & Kusteri, 1705, in 3 vols. folio; Symmachi Epistolæ, Lugd. Bat. 1653, 8vo.; Achilles Tatius, 1601, 8vo.; Tacitus, Gronovii; Terentius, Bentleii, with many other modern editions; Themistii Opera, Aldi, Venetiis, 1534, folio; Theocritus, Romæ, 1518, and Oxonii, 1699, 8vo.; Theognis, Sylburgii, Heidelbergæ, 1597; Theophrasti Characteres, Camerarii et Heinsii; Thucydides by Hudson and Duker; Virgilii Opera, Venetiis, 1510, folio; Delphini, Parisiis, 1600, 4to.; and several other editions of little note, including the Elzevirian Impression; and the Eclogues printed at Florence in 1504, 12mo.; to which may be added Xenophon, Leunclavii, and Xenophon’s Anabasis by Hutchinson. Such and so numerous are the classical volumes of this venerable Collection, many of which it may be seen are of the best editions, and several of which are from the press of Aldus.

To that eminent printer we are also indebted for [454]the first edition of the Works of Plato, printed at Venice in 1513, folio, of which the present copy is upon vellum. This noble volume has been most cruelly treated, all the leaves following the table and as far as the blank leaf preceding “Platonis Dialogi” have been cut out, and though the concluding part of the book is entire, its leaves have been most foully stained in that part. Its dimensions are eleven and a quarter inches by seven and three eighths; and its original binding of calf, upon whose sides Greek characters were impressed, has been replaced by a covering of dark olive morocco by that eminent bibliopegist Charles Lewis. A perfect copy of this interesting book upon vellum forms one of the highest ornaments of the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow.

I have here also the pleasure of recording the first editions of Aristides, Florentiæ, 1517, folio; and of Lucian, printed at the same place in the same year, and in the same form, by the same printer, Philip Junta, of typographical renown.

Two Classic tomes of olden time next invite our notice; first, a well-preserved copy of Suetonius cum Commento, folio. The Commentary here occupies the margin. The preface of M. Ant. Sabellicus, with his Life of Suetonius follow the title. At the end of the volume is the Register, and this colophon:

“Venetiis per Baptistam de tortis
M. cccc lxxxx die
xv Februarii.”

beneath which are the initials “B. T.”

This volume measures eleven and three quarter inches by eight, and retains its old vellum covering.

[455]

Secondly, the Lexicon of Suidas, in folio, preceded by the editorial preface, and concluding with the verses of Joannes Salandus addressed to D. Demetrius Chalcondylas. At the end of the volume appears the following colophon:

“Anno ab incarnatione M.CCCC lxxxxviiii. die xv Novembris, Impressum Mediolani impensa & dexteritate D. Demetrii Chalcondyli Ioannis Bissoli Benedicti Mangii Carpensium.”

Succeeded by the printer’s mark, with the initials “I. B. B. M.” and the motto, “Sudavit et Alsit.” The present is a very fine, sound and perfect copy, measuring twelve and a quarter inches by eight and three quarters, and bound in old calf.

Among the books printed in the fifteenth century, I also noticed the Medical Works of Avicenna, Lugduni, 1498, folio; Campani Opera, Venetiis, 1495, folio; and Theapoli Academicæ Contemplationes, Venetiis, 1490, 12mo.

In concluding this extended notice of this interesting department of the Library, I may allude to the Anthologia Græca, and Pontani Poemata, and point out the Works of Paulus Egineta, Venetiis apud Aldum, 1528, folio; and of Vitruvius de Architecturâ, printed at Venice in 1567; together with the elegant edition in folio, which issued from the Elzevirian Press at Amsterdam in 1649.

Of Etymological Works elucidating the structure of various languages, this Collection affords, in addition to those already noticed, both the old and the new editions of the inestimable Thesaurus of Stephens; Gaisford’s Edition of Suidas’ Lexicon; Buxtorf, Lexicon Chaldaicum; Castell’s Lexicon Heptaglotton; Pagnini [456]Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Kircheri Œdipus Egyptiacus; Baxter’s Glossarium Archaiologicum Britannicum; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum, Londini, 1661, folio; Somneri Dictionarium Saxonico-Latino-Anglicum, Oxonii, 1659, folio; Spelman’s Glossary, London, 1626 and 1787, both in folio; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum; Budæi Lexicon Græco-Latinum; Calepini Dictionarium Octolingue; Cooper’s Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; Curionis Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; Du Cange’s Glossary; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Dufresne’s Hesychii Lexicon; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Porti Lexicon Ionicum; Scapulæ Lexicon; Stephani Thesaurus; Sylburgii Etymologicum Magnum, Heidelbergæ, 1594; and Laurentius Valla de Linguâ Latinâ.

Of Grammatical Works we find one peculiar to this vicinity, the Grammatica Busbeiana, Londini, 1754, and 1762, 8vo. an appropriate memorial of the renowned pedagogue whose name it bears; Lascarii Grammatica Græca, Venetiis, Aldus, 1557, 4to.; Hoogeveen de doctrinâ Particularum; Ruddiman, Institutiones Gr. Lat. Edin. 1740, 8vo.; with some critical pieces by Scaliger, Vossius and Casaubon.

As connected with Classical Literature I may here notice, Bentley’s Phalaris, 1718, 8vo.; Photii Bibliothecâ; Toup, Emendationes in Suidam; Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ; Gatakeri Adversaria; and Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ.

Among the translations of the Classics, I may notice Carter’s Epictetus; Creech’s Lucretius; Fawkes’ Anacreon, 1760; Melmoth’s Pliny; Ogilby’s Homer; Rowe’s Lucan; and Trapp’s Virgil.

[457]

The Bibliographical Works contained in this Repository, are the Acta Eruditorum of Leipsic; Apollodori Bibliotheca; Gesneri Bibliotheca; Photii Bibliotheca, 1601, folio; Haym’s Notize di libri rari, 1726; Brunet’s Manual; Baillet, Jugemens des Sçavans; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra; Lewis’ Editions of the Bible, and Bibliotheque Historique; Du Pin, Catalogue des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græcæ et Latina; D’Herbélot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Sanderus Bibliotheca Belgica, Insulis, 1641, 4to.; and Teisserii Catalogus Auctorum, qui Librorum Catalogos, Indices, Bibliothecas, &c. scriptis consignarunt, Genevæ, 1705, folio; Morhof. Polyhistor Literarius, Lubecæ, 1689, 4to.; and Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica.

Of Catalogues of various Libraries these shelves bear several of much interest, such as the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Georgii III. Catalogus, in folio; the Catalogus Bibliothecæ Thuanæ; the Bibliotheca Heinsiana; the Harleian Catalogue; the Catalogue of Dr. Mead’s Library; the Bibliotheca Coisliniana, 1715; Hyde’s Catalogus Librorum Joannis Bridges; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Medii Templi, à Shower, Londini, 1700, 8vo.; Reading’s Catalogue of the Sion College Library, London, 1724, folio; Catalogus Librorum MSS. quos Collegio Christi Cantabrigiæ legavit Matthæus Parker, 1722, 4to.; Bibliothecæ Cottonianæ Librorum MSS. Catalogus à Smithio, Londini, 1696; Lambecii Commentarii de Bibliothecâ Cæsareâ Vindobonensi, 1670, folio; Nesselii Catalogus Codicum MSS. Bibliothecæ Vindobonensis, 1690, folio; Tanner, Catalogus MSS. Angliæ [458]et Hiberniæ; and Wolfii Bibliotheca Aprosiana, Hamburg. 1734, 8vo.

To these works may be added, Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; the Memoirs of Literature, 1722-25, folio; the Bibliotheca Cluniacensis, 1614; and a Catalogue of Books printed in England subsequently to 1666, London, 1700, 12mo.; and Lewis’ History of the English Translations of the Bible, London, 1732, 8vo.

Of Mathematical Works it may suffice to enumerate the Mathematici Veteres, Parisiis, 1693, folio; Maseres’ Scriptores Logarithmici, London, 1796-1807, 4to.; Newton’s Principia; Wallis’ Opera Mathematica, Oxonii, 1699, folio.

Of Medical Works, in addition to the Works of Hippocrates and Dioscorides already mentioned, I may add those of Celsus, 1657; and Galen, Basileæ, 1538; Sennerti Medica Practica; and Mead’s Medical Works.

Of Scientific Works, the number is so small that by mentioning Newton’s Principia; Firmici, Astronomicon, Basileæ, 1551; Keill’s Astronomy; Ray’s Ornithology; Raii Historia Plantarum; Willoughbeius de Piscibus edente Raio, Oxon. 1686, folio; Willoughby’s Ornithology; Lee’s Botany; Dodonæi, Historia Stirpium; Gesneri Historia Animalium; Grew’s Museum of the Royal Society, 1681, folio; and several volumes of the Journaux des Scavans; with the 10th, 13th, 14th, 30th, and 38th volumes of the Philosophical Transactions, I shall convey to the reader the most correct idea of their insignificant and miscellaneous character.

Under the head of Miscellaneous Literature, I may proceed to enumerate the Works of Albertus Magnus, [459]the Epistles of Abelard to Héloise; the Poems of Tasso, Camoens; the Works of Dante and Petrarch, Fontaine and Boileau; the Decameron of Boccaccio, Venice, 1552; Bayle’s Dictionary; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, Argentorati, 1505; Gesneri Bibliotheca Universalis; Gruteri Thesaurus Criticus; Fairfax, Godefroy of Bulloigne, 1687; Fenelon’s Telemaque, and Hawkesworth’s Telemachus; the Works of Fontenelle, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Racine, Rabelais, Moliere, Montaigne, and of Montesquieu by Nugent; Juliani Imperatoris Opera; the Poems of Grotius; the Musæ Anglicanæ; Carmina Gratulatoria et Funebria on various occasions; Prioris R. Lusus Westmonasterienses, Westm. 1730, 4to.; Rochefaucault’s Maxims; Sibyllinæ Oracula, Parisiis, 1607, 8vo.; Cuthbert Tonstall de Arte Supputandi; and Vauban on Fortification.

In the department of English Literature, this Library comprehends the Works of Addison, Ascham, Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Thomas Brown, Thomas Fuller, Davenant, Cowley, Pope, Spenser, Swift, and Sir William Temple.

Here also we find Barclay’s Argenis; Beaumont’s Psyche; Baxter’s Works, with his Reliquiæ; Cartwright’s Comedies; Bolingbroke’s Letters; Chambers’ Dictionary; Chaucer’s Works by Thynne, 1521-47, folio; the London editions of 1602, folio, and 1687; with that edited by Urry, 1721, in folio; Cooper on the Public Records; Cumberland’s Origines Gentium; Donne’s Poems; Hales’ Remains; Grey’s Memoria Technica; Harrington’s Oceana; Helvetius’ History of Man; Hobbes’ Leviathan; Ireland on the Plague of Athens, 1832, 8vo.; the Works [460]of Samuel Johnson; Ben Jonson’s Works, London, 1640, folio; with his Plays, 1611, 12mo.; the Works of King James the First, 1616, folio; and of King Charles the First, 1662, folio; with the Εικων Βασιλικη, 1649; Melmoth’s Life of Cicero, and other Pieces; Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1669, 1674, 12mo.; 1688, folio; and 1732, 4to.; Milton’s Works, edited by Newton, 1749, 4to.; and his Treatise de Doctrinâ Christianâ, edited by Sumner, Cambridge, 1825, 4to.; Sir Thomas More’s Works, London, 1557, folio; & Thomæ Mori Opera Latina, Lovaniæ, 1566, folio; Mrs. Anne Killigrew’s Poems, 1686, 4to.; Prior’s Poems; Randolph’s Poems; Selden’s Works, London, 1726, in 6 volumes, folio; Shakespeare’s Works, edited by Rowe, and by Johnson; Shaftesbury’s Characteristics; Somerville’s Chace; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, 1702, 4to.; to which may be added the Diplomata et Statuta Regiæ Societatis, 1752, 8vo.; Stanley’s Lives of the Philosophers; Steele’s Christian Hero; Tickell’s Miscellaneous Works, 1726; Toland’s Life of Milton; Ridley’s Life of Ridley; Fitzherbert’s Book of Husbandry; and Tusser’s Husbandry, 1744, 8vo.; together with the original editions of the Tatler, 1710; and numbers 1 to 289 of the Spectator of 1711; and the 8vo. edition of that Work, 1712; to which I may add Ray’s English Proverbs; Richardson’s Pictures in Italy; and a Collection of Poetical Tracts, printed at London, in 1722, folio.

Of the early Monastic Library I can only commemorate a single volume, being a copy of the Works of St. Ambrose, written in a fair gothic hand, in double columns, upon vellum. This venerable manuscript [461]is quite perfect, and retains its original binding of calf, folio.

Though this Library has suffered much from neglect, and many of its choicest treasures have been carried away in troublesome times, it yet retains a volume, which would do honour to any collection, however curious or however vast. This precious book is one of those few printed at Oxford during the fifteenth century, and to the typographical antiquary, possesses the additional recommendation of being printed upon vellum. It is the only copy which has been discovered of this nature, and for a knowledge of its existence in its present situation I am indebted to the excellent Typographical Gazetteer of the Rev. Henry Cotton; a work which will be duly appreciated by every sincere enquirer into the statistics of bibliography.

The Work under description is that of Johannes Latteburius In threnos Jeremie, Capitulis cxv. folio, Oxonii, Anno dn̅i, 1482, ultimâ die mensis Julii.

This book consists of 290 leaves, whereof two are blank. Each page contains two columns, and each column 40 lines. The character is of a rude semi-gothic form, and there are no catch-words or paginary numerals. The signatures run in regular order from a. ii. to O. v. throughout the volume. The numbers of the several chapters are placed on the head line of each page. The commencement of each chapter is distinguished by types larger than those of the body of the work, but spaces of the initial letters are left blank, in order that they might be filled in by the Rubricator, at the pleasure of the owner. In the present instance, however, they remain blank. Some former possessor of this volume, which in its time must have [462]seen as well as suffered some strange mutations, will find no favour in the eyes of the bibliomaniac, when he observes that the margins have in several places been wantonly cut and disfigured. But on the first leaf of the book, which has been left blank by the printer, are some curious memoranda, illustrative of its early history. From these we learn that this volume was formerly

“Liber dn̅s Thomæ Sackomb. 1563.”

“Ex emptione dn̅i Joannis Avyngton Monachi nec no̅ scholaris
et baccalaurei Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Sancti St. Wythum Wyntonie,
et nunc sacræ theologiæ professor.”

On the first column of the first page of the second leaf, the Work of Lattebury commences thus:

“In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti Amen. Mathei ultimo.”

“Juxta moꝝ modernoꝝ necno̅ pat-

ru̅ antiquoꝝ ad emendationeꝫ

p̅m pn̅cipii et sacre scripture ac li-

bri legendi pe̅lega̅tur & p̅figant

ꝓ themate nostri exordii hec ver-

ba stupenda ip̅uis pm̅i pn̅cipii su-

ple dn̅i nostri ihu xpi: que sunt hec

In noie patris r filii r spu̅s san-

cti.”

At the foot of the second column of the second page of the 270th leaf, is the following Colophon:—

A blank leaf follows the conclusion of the Work, which is succeeded by an alphabetical index to the same, consisting of eighteen leaves. At the foot of the second column of the second page of the 290th or [463]last leaf of the book, this table concludes with the following words:

Another blank leaf, not necessarily belonging to it, closes the volume, which measures twelve inches by eight inches and three quarters, and is bound in the calf, which in all probability formed its original monastic attire.

If this particular description of this hitherto imperfectly described and rare volume be esteemed by the reader, as compensating for the dulness of the preceding detail, I can assure him that its actual inspection amply rewarded me for the labour of analysing the contents of this extensive Collection.

In conclusion, I may add that the strict regulations under which access is afforded to this venerable and interesting Library are such as to ensure it from injury either of accident or design; while to ensure the punctuality of return to all volumes taken out by the rightful frequenters of the place, a book for the entry of all works borrowed, is kept upon the Library table, a precaution which should always be taken in every corporate library, since many persons, however unskilled in accounts, may nevertheless become but too good bookkeepers.

St. Peter’s at Westminster was a Benedictine Abbey, founded by Sebert, King of the East Saxons, about A.D. 610, and dedicated by Mellitus the Bishop to St. Peter. It was re-edified by King Edward, A.D. 1066, and endowed at the dissolution with 3471l 2s. per an. Dugd. 3977l. 6s. 4d. Speed. King Henry VIII. [464]made it a Bishop’s See; but it continued so only nine years, and then became a Collegiate Church for a Dean and Secular Canons, who have continued ever since, except for three years in Queen Mary’s reign, during which time there was an Abbot and Benedictine Monks re-established.

The beautiful fabric of the Abbey Church was preserved from destruction under Edward VI; and the Protector Somerset, by the sacrifice of some of its revenues, which “pleaded its cause and purchased its ransome.”

William Benson, Abbot of Westminster at the dissolution, surrendered this Abbey, with seventeen Monks, into Henry VIII’s hands, and was made the first Dean of Westminster. He died in third year of Edward the Sixth.⁠[60]⁠

Independently of these historical claims upon our attention the value and importance of the literary treasures of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster richly deserve to be recorded among the Ecclesiastical Libraries of England.

[465]

Library of Winchester.

The Library of this Cathedral is placed in a long room, over the only remaining portion of the Cloisters, attached to that noble building.

The Collection is one of those which interest us most forcibly, from exhibiting those marks of undisturbed antiquity, which by any one who has ever entered the Pepysian Library at Cambridge, will be readily understood.

This Library was the munificent bequest of Bishop Morley, who caused the books to be removed from his palace of Wolvesey, in the cases they then occupied, to their present situation, where they now remain.

I do not mean to assert as a fact that of which no direct evidence remains, but this supposition receives confirmation from the nature of the bookcases themselves, which are of old oak, with cornices curiously though rudely carved in the style of that æra, with slender pinnacles at each end.

These open cases are arranged on both sides of the room, and at both ends, leaving spaces only for the door and windows; and have been numbered consecutively from No. I. to XXXV. whereby reference is made to the situation of the books from the Catalogue now in use, which is in fact the old Bodleian Catalogue, [466]printed at Oxford in 1738, in 2 vols. folio, with reference to the shelves annexed to those articles which happen to be contained within these walls.

The books themselves are in perfect keeping with their cases, being chiefly attired in sombre calf, or antique vellum. They are also distinguished by a book plate, exhibiting a small view of Winchester Cathedral, with this inscription: “Lib. Eccl. Cath. Winton.”

In order to insure the integrity of his Library under its new possessors, Bishop Morley caused a Catalogue to be written upon vellum, in a folio volume, classed according to the languages of the several authors. “Libri Latini Gallici, &c.” and presented to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, as appears from the following entry upon the last leaf of the Catalogue itself.

“Memorandum. That this Catalogue of Bookes was presented to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, from the Right Reverend Father in God, George Lord Bishop of Winchester, upon the 28th day of November, 1682, as being a Catalogue of all the Bookes in his Lordship’s Library, bequeathed by his Lordship’s Will to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of Winchester; and which the longer his Lordship lived, he declared by his letter should be the more, and not the fewer: which Catalogue his Lordship appointed to be kept by the Treasurer for the time being, and the delivery of which is attested by us.

“WM. DOUTHWAITE.
“THO. CRANLEY, Notary public.”

By means of this interesting Catalogue which is [467]bound in old calf, with gilt leaves, the exact extent of the foundation of the Library may be readily discovered, even if the eye did not assist the judgment in pronouncing this to be a contemporaneous Collection.

A portrait of the founder is very properly placed over the door of this Library.

There is another Catalogue of this Collection, wherein the books are enumerated in the order in which they stand on the shelves from case I. with its shelves A, B, C, D, E, in a descending series to case XXXV. with its similar number of open shelves.

This quarto volume, bound in vellum, bears the following title: “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Wintonensis,” with this note: “N.B. Singuli Libri in hoc Catalogo conscripti, et Classico ordine dispositi in duobus Voluminibus Catalogi Bodleiani, et Appendice ad finem utriusque, sub propriis Autorum Nominibus investigandi sunt.”

I have already mentioned that the Bodleian Catalogue corresponds to these particulars, though it is but a slovenly substitute for a regular alphabetical Catalogue of any Collection. The great objection to a Catalogue classed as this is belonging to this Library, is that its usefulness must entirely depend upon the books being constantly kept in their proper place upon the shelves; an object, which in a Library at all frequented, it is rather difficult to attain.

At the end of this classed Catalogue is the following very satisfactory note in the handwriting of the venerable Dean of Winchester, the writer of Sesquipedalian Epitaphs, and the possessor of an extensive Library. The note is this: “This Catalogue examined and compared with the actual state of the [468]Library, and a report in consequence delivered to the Gentlemen at the Chapter this ninth day of February, by Thomas Rennell, A. M. Prebendary of the Cathedral, and Rector of St. Magnus in the City of London, in the year 1793.”

There is also a folio volume which appears to have been kept from the year 1728 to the present time for the purpose of receiving the names of books borrowed from this Library. It contains this suitable admonition:—

“Rev. Sir,—You are desired, when you have occasion to borrow any book out of this place, to set down the name of the book, together with your own name, and the day of the month in this book.”

I am happy to notice the timely rescue of the noble manuscript of the Latin Vulgate Bible, in three imperial folio volumes, from the neglect by which it was for a long time suffered to lie unprotected in the church. It is written in the Roman character, apparently by an English hand, with large and beautiful illuminations upon very pure vellum; and the three volumes are now appropriately bound in olive morocco, with gilt leaves, by the liberality of the late Dean?

Of the other ancient Manuscripts contained in this Library, I am enabled to mention the Liber vocatus unum ex quatuor co̅positus per Zach. Chrysopolitanum, folio, in calf. The foundation charters of several Monasteries collected by Sir Nicolas Stuart, Bart. of Hartley Maldoit, Co. Southampton, and an old rental of manors belonging to the Bishop of Winton, &c.; Cassiodorus in Psalmos; Hyeronymi Expositio in Isaiam; Augustini Sermones; Revelatio Wilfridi Episcopi Eboracensis; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica; Catonis [469]Disticha; and “Annales Sex Regum Angliæ cum annotationibus per fratrem Nicolaum Triveth, Ord. Præd.”

Of the printed books from three to four thousand in number, I may pronounce the character to be chiefly Theological, including an unusual number of impressions of the Holy Scripture.

I will begin with the English versions, from a desire to give precedence to the first English Bible, translated by Myles Coverdale, and printed in the office of Christian Egenolph at Frankfort, in 1535, folio. The copy in this Library is defective in the beginning, wanting the title, and all the preliminary leaves, together with the first leaf of the text; commencing with folio ii. it is very sound in the middle, and quite perfect, though rather stained at the end. This volume measures twelve inches and three-eighths by eight inches and a quarter, and is bound in the original calf, with brass knobs, &c.

I may next notice a copy of

I proceed to specify the remaining impressions in other tongues as succinctly as possible, commencing with the

To which, as connected with the Church Service, I may add two impressions of the Common Prayer, printed in the year 1549 and 1661.

Of the Fathers of the Church I am enabled to record,

together with the Works of, Eusebius, Gregory Nyssen, S. Hilary, Theophylact, Tertullian, and the Bibliotheca Magna Veterum Patrum. Parisiis, 1654, in 13 vols. folio; Cave’s Lives of the Primitive Fathers; The Critici Sacri; Pole’s Synopsis; and the Bibliotheca Polonorum Fratrum.

In Divinity, besides a great mass of what is now justly considered obsolete, and many controversial pieces, including the celebrated Bangorian Controversy, I may enumerate the component parts of this leading class of the library, commencing with, Bedæ Opera Omnia, VIII tomis. Colon. Agrip. 1612, in 3 vols. folio; the Works of Bishops Bramhall and Jewel; Tillotson’s Sermons; Tyndal’s Works, 1573; Justiniani Opera. Parisiis, 1628; Jeremy Taylor’s Ductor [473]dubitantium; Usher’s Body of Divinity; the Sermons of Bishops Andrews and Hacket; Concordantiæ Latinæ per Robertum Stephanum; Hammond’s Paraphrase; Cotton’s Concordance, 1635; the Commentaries of Pococke; Hugonis Postillæ in Biblia, Basileæ, 1504-6, folio; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible, Paris, 1722, in 4 vols. folio; some Tracts by Bernard, Stapleton, and Bellarmine; the Sermons of Richard Gardiner, 1659; Sanderson, Leslie, and Donne’s Sermons, 1640; Hall’s Works; Field of the Church, Oxford, 1628; Cave’s Primitive Christianity; Lightfoot’s Horæ Hebraicæ Cantabrigiæ, 1658; Drexelii Opera Omnia, Parisiis, 1647, in 2 vols. folio; Usserii Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti, Londini, 1650-4; Parson’s Three Conversions, 1603, complete; the Preservative against Popery, in 3 vols. folio, in old calf; some Tracts by Calvin; the Quæstiones subtilissimæ of Duns Scotus; Erasmi Opera Omnia, Lovanii, 1640; Andrews’ Opuscula Posthuma, Londini, 1629; Bulli Opera per Grabe, Londini, 1703; Pearsoni Opera Posthuma, Londini, 1688; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Brown’s Religio Medici, London, 1678; Barrow’s Works; Reginaldi Poli pro defensione Ecclesiæ Unitatis ad Henricum VIII. Romæ apud Bladum, in a vellum wrapper; Milner’s Letters to a Prebendary; Hey’s Theological Lectures; Newcome’s Minor Prophets; Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ; Balguy’s Discourses; the Works of Horsley, Beveridge, Stillingfleet, Middleton, Heber, and James; Macknight on the Epistles; Cudworth’s Intellectual System, 1678; Campbell on the Gospels; Blayney’s Jeremiah; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature; Sherlock’s Discourses; Prideaux’s [474]Connection; Samuel Clarke’s Works, London, 1738, in 4 vols. folio; Hoadly’s Works, London, 1773, 3 vols. folio, a fine copy in old calf gilt; Joannis Gerson, Opera; Petavii Dogmata Theologica, Antverpiæ, 1700, in 3 vols. folio. Bullingeri Opera, Tiguri, 1577, in 8 vols. folio; Summa Cardinalis Hostiensis, Lugduni, per Jacobum Sacon, 1512, folio, printed in double columns of Gothic Character, and bound in old calf; Cranmer de Sacramento, Embdæ, 1557; Melancthonis Opera, Wittebergæ, 1601, 4 vols. folio; Grotii Opera, Londini, 1679, in 4 vols. folio; Lutheri Opera Omnia Jenæ, 1556-8. In conclusion of this long list let me add, Prudentii Opera, Hanoviæ, 1613; and Sidonii Apollinaris Opera Sismondi, Parisiis, 1652.

In Ecclesiastical History the Collection is also rich, as may appear from the books specified below, Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici, Antverpiæ, 1610; Martyrologium Romanum, Colon. Agrip. 1603; Bollandi Acta Sanctorum, in 8 vols. folio; Allix’s Ecclesiastical History, and History of the Albigenses; the Concilia Generalia by Labbe and others; Borromæi Acta Ecclesiæ Mediolanensis, Lugd. Bat. 1683, folio; Usserii Ecclesiæ Britannicæ Antiquitates, Eblanæ, 1639; Stillingfleet’s Origines; Bingham’s Origines Ecclesiasticæ; Cedreni Annales; Centuriæ Magdeburgenses, Basileæ, 1624, in 3 vols. folio; Anastasii Historia Ecclesiastica, Parisiis, 1649; Usser, Chronologia Sacra, edente Barlow, Oxonii, 1660; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, Londini, 1737, in 4 vols. folio; Spelmanni Concilia, 1639; Brent’s History of the Council of Trent, London, 1676; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Lyndewoode, Provinciale per Badium [475]Ascensium, Parisiis, 1506; Waræi de Præsulibus Angliæ Commentarius, Eblanæ, 1665; Godwin de Præsulibus Angliæ, 2 vols. folio, in calf; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Gough’s Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Threnodia, Londini, 1661; Reformatio Legum Eccles. ab Henr. VIII. ad Edw. VI. Londini, 1661, in which no mention is made of the proceedings of Queen Elizabeth; Burnet’s History of the Reformation, with the Supplement thereto; Strype’s Memorials; Heylin’s History of the Reformation; Wiccami Episcopi Winton. Vita, Oxonii, 1690; Laud’s Troubles and Tryal, 1695; Spotswode’s History of the Church of Scotland; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, Londini, 1744; Walker’s History of Independency; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History by Fenton, 1724, in 4 vols.; Messingham, Acta Sanctorum Hiberniæ, Parisiis, 1624; Rycaut’s present state of the Greek and Armenian Churches, 1679; Gratiani Decreta, printed at Nuremberg in 1494; Gibson’s Codex, in 2 vols. folio, calf; Corpus Juris Canonici, Lugd. Bat. 1672, in 3 vols. folio; Cassan’s Lives of the Bishops of Winchester; Upham’s History of Buddhism; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica per Smith, Cantabrigiæ, folio; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, 1659; Josephus, Hudsoni; Nova legenda Angliæ per Winandum de Worde, Londini, 1516, folio, a perfect copy, with the large wood cut at the beginning and the end, but very much wormed throughout, and bound in the original stamped calf, to which I may add, Cave’s Historia Literaria Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum, Londini, 1688-98; and Dupin, Nouvelle Bibliothèque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques.

Of General History this Library contains the large [476]body of the Byzantine Historians; Manassii Annales, Parisiis, 1655; Nicetæ Historia, Parisiis, 1647; Chalcondylas de rebus Turcicis, Parisiis, 1650; Eutychii Annales Arabicè et Latinè per Pocockium, Oxonii, 1664; Raderi Chronicon Alexandrinum, Monachii, 1615; Marshami Chronicon Canon. Egyptiacum, Londini, 1672; Montfaucon Palæographia Græca; Rosini Antiquitates Romanæ, cum commentariis Dempsteri, Lugduni, 1613; Meyeri Annales Rerum Flandricarum, Antverpiæ, 1561; Junii, Bataviæ Historia, Dordraci, 1652; Naucleri Chronicon Universale Tubingæ, 1516; Modern Universal History, 1759, in 16 vols. folio in calf; Gillies’ Greece, in 4to.; Cox’s Memoirs of the Kings of Spain, and his Russian Discoveries, London, 1780; Montfaucon, Antiquité avec le Supplement, 15 vols. folio, a fine set in old calf; Pitisci Lexicon; Thuani, Historia sui temporis, Genevæ, 1626, in 3 vols. folio; Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique, in 4 vols. folio; Bayle, Dictionnaire Historique et Critique, Rotterdam, 1702, in 4 vols. folio; the History of the World by Raleigh and Howell; Ligon’s Barbadoes, 1673; Wheler’s Greece, 1682; Mezeray’s History of France, Amsterdam, 1668-74; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Blome’s Jamaica, 1678; Ogilby’s Africa and America, with the Atlas Japanensis et Chinensis; Cary’s Chronological account of Ancient Time; to which may be added, Baudrand, Lexicon Geographicum; Bochart, Geographia Sacra, Cadomi, 1651; Clarke on Coins, London, 1767; and a very fine copy in calf of Waltheri Lexicon Diplomaticum Gottingæ, 1745, folio.

Of Works relating to the History of Great Britain this ancient Collection embraces a very fair proportion, [477]for I observed upon its shelves, Heylin’s Help to English History, London, 1670; and Brady’s Introduction to old English History; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1740, calf; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Londini, 1570; Du Chesne, Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores, 1619; Anglica, Normannica, Hibernica, et Cambrica, à veteribus scripta, ex Bibliothecâ Camdeni, Francofurti, 1603; Camdeni Annales, Londini, 1615-27; Camdeni Britannia, Londini, 1607; Annales Rerum Anglicarum, 1508-58, Hagæ-Com. 1653; Smith de Rêpublicâ Anglorum, per Buddenum, Londini; Langhornii Chronicon Regum Angliæ, Londini, 1679; Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores post Bedam, edente Savile, Francofurti, 1601, folio; Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem, curâ Twysdeni, Londini, 1652, folio; Sammes’ Antiquities of Ancient Britain, London, 1676, folio; Burton’s Itinerary of Antoninus, London, 1658; Baker’s Chronicle, 1679; Brady’s History of England; Danyel’s History of England, 1621; the History of England by Rapin and Tindal; Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England, London, 1677, folio; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, London, 1672, folio; Wilson’s History of Great Britain, London, 1653; Dugdale’s Baronage and Origines Judiciales; Barnes’ History of Edward III. Cambridge, 1688; Herbert’s Henry VIII. 1672; Burnet’s History of his own Time; Lloyd’s State Worthies, 1670; Rushworth’s Historical Collections, and Report of Strafford’s Trial; the State Tryals, 1669, folio; Whitelock’s Memorials of English Affairs; Stafford’s Pacata Hibernia, 1633; Clanricarde’s Memoirs, 1757; Sir James Melvil’s Memoirs, by George [478]Scott, London, 1683; Burnet’s Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton; Buchanani Historia Scotorum; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Angliâ; Charles the First’s Declaration of Tumults in Scotland, 1639, and the Icon Basilike, Hagæ Com. 1649; Symmons’ Vindication of King Charles I. 1648; Dugdale’s View of the late Troubles; Prynne’s Life of Laud; Fuller’s Worthies; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Camden’s Britannica, edited by Gough, London, 1789, 3 vols. folio, in russia; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses, edited by Bliss; Loggan, Oxonia Illustrata; Plot’s Oxfordshire, 1677, folio; Worsley’s Isle of Wight; White’s Natural History of Selborne; Dugdale’s St. Paul’s; Hobbes de Mirabilibus Pecci; Granger’s Biographical History of England; Monk’s Life of Bentley; Nicholl’s Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century; the Records published by the Parliamentary Commissioners, and the Population Returns; to which I may add, Balæi Scriptorum Britannicorum Centuriæ V. Gippeswici, 1548; Martin Bucer, Scriptores Anglicani ab Huberto collecti, Basileæ, 1577; and the English Atlas, published at Oxford in 1680-1681, in four large folio volumes.

Of Law Books, the number in this Library is but few, since we find only of the Statutes at large, volumes 21 to 37; Croke’s Reports, 1669, in 3 vols. folio; Suarez de Legibus; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1727; Justiniani Institutiones; Durandi Speculum Juris, Lugduni, 1556; Gothofredi Codex Theodosianus, 1665, in 4 vols. folio; and some Tracts by Selden.

From this barren theme it is refreshing to turn to the Classic authors, who are very well represented in this [479]Library. The first thing which arrested my attention in this department were the following Delphin Classics.

all bound in old dark calf, with red lettering pieces, except the Horace, but not quite uniform.

Of the other editions of the Classics, the best idea will be formed by a brief enumeration of such as occurred to me in examining this Collection.

To which I may add the

From this cursory survey it appears that the impressions of the Classics in this Library are neither remarkable for their rarity, nor estimable for their worth.

Connected with this subject are the Works of Etymology; of which the following Catalogue will enable any one to form a tolerable notion of the value of this portion of the Winchester Cathedral Library.

Buxtorf’s Chaldee and Syriac Lexicon; with his Hebrew Lexicon, printed at Basle in 1651; Scapulæ Lexicon Græcum; Porti Lexicon Ionicum, Heidelbergæ, [482]1602; Varro de Linguâ Latinâ; Suidæ Lexicon Kusteri, Cantabrigiæ, 1705, folio; Ludolphi Lexicon Æthiopicum; Meursii Glossarium Græco-barbarum; La Crose, Lexicon Ægyptiaco-Latinum; Du Cange, Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Spelman’s Glossary; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary, London, 1632; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Littleton’s Dictionary, 1678; Stephani Thesaurus, Parisiis, 1572; Calepini Dictionarium Octolingue, 1647; Budæi Commentarius Linguæ Græcæ; and Hesychii Dictionarium, Basileæ, 1530.

Of Bibliographical Works I found, as I have already mentioned, the old Bodleian Library Catalogue, to which I may now add the Bibliothèque Universelle et Choisie, Amsterdam, 1687-1703; the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, Romæ, 1667; and the Index Expurgatorius, Matriti, 1612; with Berington’s Literary History of the Middle Ages.

In Works of Science and Natural History this Collection is equally deficient, for I noticed only Horsley’s valuable edition of Newton’s Works, in 5 volumes, 4to. London, 1779; Barrow’s Lectiones Geometricæ et Opticæ, Londini, 1669-70; Maseres Scriptores Logarithmici; Salusbury’s Mathematical Collections; Chambers’ Dictionary, by Rees, 1786, in 4 vols. folio; Cartesii Opera Philosophica, Amstelodami, 1650, 2 vols. folio; Lord Bacon on Natural History; the Novum Organum; Boyle on Experimental Philosophy, Oxford, 1663; Whitehurst’s Theory of the Earth; Willis’ Anatomical Works; Conradi Gesneri, Historia Animalium; Ruellius de naturâ Stirpium; Fuchsii de Historiâ Stirpium Commentarii; Morison, Plantarum Umbelliferarum Distributio; Latham’s Birds, with [483]coloured plates, 10 vols. 4to. Winchester, 1824, in boards; and Bochart, Hierozoicon.

Of learned bodies and their transactions, the only works in this Library are Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, London, 1667; the Philosophical Transactions; Histoire de l’Academie, 1699-1754, in 105 volumes, 4to.; the Acta Eruditorum, Lipsiæ, 1682-1701, 1702-1720, and 1721-1738; and the Journal des Savans, 1689, in 12 vols. 8vo.

Of miscellaneous Works in Foreign Literature, I noticed Boccaccio, Decameron, Venetiis, 1638; Gatakeri Adversaria Miscellanea, Londini, 1659; Pici Mirandulæ Opera, Basileæ, 1572; Juliani Imperatoris Opera, Parisiis, 1630; Rogeri Aschami Epistolæ, Genevæ, 1611; and Gualtheri Opera, Tiguri, 1595.

In English Literature it remains for me to notice the Works of King James the First of England, and of his son Charles the First, the latter of the date of 1662; Walpole’s Royal and Noble Authors; Chaucer’s Works, London, 1787; Spenser’s Works, London, 1679; Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1669; the Works of the Earl of Surrey, and Sir Thomas Wyatt, edited by Nott, in 2 vols. 4to.; Sir Thomas More’s Works, 1557, folio; Donne’s Poems, 1633; Herbert’s Country Parson, 1671; Butler’s Hudibras, 1663-4; and the Memoirs of Bishop James of Calcutta.

But perhaps the most valuable and interesting treasure preserved in this Library is the original Charter granted by Henry VIII. to the Cathedral Church of Winchester, written upon vellum, and beautifully illuminated.

[484]

Library of Windsor.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor is deposited in a commodious apartment, within the precincts of the Castle, overlooking the silver Thames, and the graceful Chapel of Eton.

The Books are arranged in open cases, distinguished by letters of the Alphabet round the room, which is divided into three compartments, and is adorned with an old view of Windsor, and an early representation in profile of our Saviour.

The Catalogue is arranged alphabetically, with an index to the shelves on which the books are placed, and is entitled “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ, S. Georgii Windsoriensi,” in folio, bearing date, 1786.

The book plate inserted in every book, bears round the armorial bearings of the Dean and Chapter this legend: “Libera Capella Regia Sti̅ Georgii infra Castrum de Windsor.”

There is a Manuscript Roll of Arms of the time of Bishop Sanderson, and the Common Prayer Book and Psalms, in the handwriting of the same prelate, 1578, 8vo.

[485]

Among the Typographical Antiquities of this Collection, I noticed the Image or Mirrour of the World, printed by William Caxton, at Westminster, in 1480, folio, a copy unfortunately wanting all after the 97th leaf, which is torn. It measures eleven inches in height by eight inches in width, and is in old calf binding. I also remarked a fine copy of Boetius de Consolatione Philosophiæ, printed by Joannes de Westphalia in alma civitate Lovaniensi, in 1487, folio, measuring eleven inches by eight inches and a half, in calf binding; and another copy of Boetius, printed by Iodocus Badius Ascensius in civitate Lugdunensi, 1498, folio, also in calf. To this I may add a noble copy of the Aldine Plato of 1513, folio, in calf, which measures eleven inches and three quarters by seven inches and a half. There is an imperfect copy of Chaucer, in double columns of black letter; a fine copy of Gower’s Confessio Amantis, printed by Berthelet at London in 1554, folio; and the Legenda Aurea of 1496, folio.

The Versions of the Sacred Scriptures in this Library, include Walton’s Polyglott; the Antwerp Polyglott of Plantin; the Bible of 1611; the Doway Bible of 1609, with the sumptuous edition printed by Nicol, at London, in 1802, in 9 volumes, 4to.; Biblia Hebraica Vatabli, & Kennicott; and Grabe’s Septuagint.

There are also several editions of the New Testament, including the Vetus Testamentum è Codice Alexandrino, and several Books of Common Prayer.

The patristic Works in this Collection, include those of SS. Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustin, Basil, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Gregory Nazianzen, Hilary, Jerome, skilled in the treasures of the three languages of Scripture; [486]Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian.

Among the early Theologians may be found the Works of Anselm, Bellarmine, Calvin, Cassiodorus, Damascenus, Erasmus, Eusebius, Grotius, Lactantius, Lanfranc, Libanius, Limborch, Luther, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Philo Judæus, Prudentius, Theodoret, Theophilus, Thomas Aquinas, Zanchius, and Zuinglius.

Among the Works of English Divines, I noticed those of Allix, Atterbury, Bede, Beveridge, Bingham, Bramhall, Bull, Chillingworth, Clarke, Comber, Dodwell, Donne, Hammond, Hooker, Heylin, Hoadley, Hooper, Jackson, Jewel, Laud, Leland, Lightfoot, Lowth, Bishop Newton, Patrick, Pearson, Pococke, Prideaux, Sherlock, Stapleton, Stillingfleet, Tillotson, Tomline, Usher, Warburton, and Waterland.

I may here conveniently notice the Commentaries of Nicolas de Lyra; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; the Concilia Magna; and the Critici Sacri, with Pole’s Synopsis. Also Cruden’s Concordance; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Field of the Church; Gratiani Decreta; Lyndewode Provinciale, and Wall on Infant Baptism.

Of Works illustrative of Ecclesiastical History it may suffice to enumerate the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Bower’s Lives of the Popes; Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Cave’s Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Scriptores; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Dugdale’s Monasticon; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical Monuments; Fox’s Acts and Monuments of the Church; Godwin, Præsules Anglicani; Echard and Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; [487]Platina, Vitæ Pontificum; Raderi Bavaria Sancta; Reyner, de Apostolatu Benedictinorum in Angliâ; Spotiswode’s Church of Scotland; Strype’s Annals of the Reformation; Memorials and Lives; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; and Warton’s Anglia Sacra.

I may here also notice the Bibliotheca Patrum; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Josephus’ History of the Jews; and Le Long’s Bibliotheca Sacra.

The Historical department of this Library embraces the Universal History, Ancient and Modern; Alison’s History of Europe; Bayle’s Dictionary; Carionis Chronicon; Cary’s Chronicle; Coxe’s Historical Works; De Thou, Historia sui temporis; Eadmer’s Historia Novorum; Hallam’s Middle Ages; Gibbon’s Decline and Fall; the Collections of Grævius and Gronovius; the Institutes of Justinian; Ockley’s History of the Saracens; Raleigh’s History of the World; Ricaut’s History of the Turks; Robertson’s Historical Works; and Watson’s Philip II.

The Works relating to the History and Antiquities of England, include Adam’s Index Villaris; Baker’s Chronicle; Barnes’ Edward III.; Battely, Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Bentham’s Ely; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Borlase’s Cornwall; Burton’s Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion and State Papers; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral; Dugdale’s Works; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; Gunton’s Peterborough; Guthrie’s and Lingard’s History of England; Henry’s History of Great Britain; Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica; Kennet’s Historical Register; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; [488]Ogilby’s Britannia; Pitseus de Rebus Anglicis; Plot’s Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Pote’s Windsor; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Speed’s History of Great Britain; Rymer’s Fœdera; Somner’s Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Stow’s London; Tod’s Ashridge; Verstegan’s Restitution of Decayed Intelligence respecting English Antiquities; Warwick’s Charles I.; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; Whitelock’s Memorials; and Wood’s Historia Oxoniensis.

I may also record Buchanan’s History of Scotland; the Wellington Dispatches; Fuller’s Worthies; Southey’s Peninsular War; Tomline’s Life of Pitt; Wake’s Rex Platonicus; Cox and Ware’s Ireland; and Warrington’s Wales.

The Voyages and Travels include those of Anson, Barrow, Cook, Dampier, and Vancouver, Harris’ Collection, Park’s Travels, and those of Bruce; to which I may add Blome’s Jamaica; Kæmpfer’s Japan; Maurice’s Indostan; and Sir Robert Wilson’s Campaign in Egypt.

The Classical department of this Collection comprehends various editions of the Works of Achilles Tatius, Ælian, Ammianus Marcellinus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Arrian, Æschylus, Athenæus, Aulus Gellius, Ausonius, Cæsar, Cicero, Quintus Curtius, Demosthenes, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Dio Cassius, Ennius, Epictetus, Euripides, Frontinus, Herodotus, Herodian, Hesiod, Hippocrates, Homer, Horatius, Juvenal, Livy, Lucretius, Lucan, Lucian, Macrobius, Pausanias, Petronius Arbiter, Phalaris, Plautus, Pliny, Polybius, Quintilian, Seneca, Sophocles, Strabo, Suidas, Tacitus, Terence, Thucydides, Virgil, and Xenophon.

[489]

To the above may be added, Stephanus de Urbibus, Photii Bibliotheca; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca; and Vegetius de Re Militari.

The Etymological Works include the Etymologicum Magnum; Buxtorf’s Lexicon; Johnson’s Dictionary; Tooke’s Diversions of Purley; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Lye’s Dictionarium Saxonicum; Parkhurst’s Lexicon; and the Works of Vossius.

The Heraldic Works include Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Guillim’s Heraldry; Milles’ Catalogue of Honour; Willement’s Regal Heraldry, and St. George’s Chapel.

In English Literature these shelves contain the Works of Bacon, Bale, Bayle, Charles I., Brerewood, Ben Jonson, Samuel Johnson, Sir William Jones, Spelman, Temple, and Locke; together with Burney’s History of Music; Blount’s Censura Literaria; Bryant’s Mythology; Boswell’s Johnson; Clarke’s Life of Nelson; Hartley on Man; Reid on the Intellectual Powers; Roscoe’s Lorenzo; Smith’s Wealth of Nations; Warton’s History of English Poetry; Du Bartas, Divine Works and Weeks; and Stanley’s Lives of the Philosophers.

The miscellaneous Works in this Collection embrace Les Entretiens du Sage, par Sebastian de Senlis, Paris, 4to.; the Encyclopædia Britannica; the Archæologia, the Works of Casaubon, Euclid, Hobbes, Petrarch, Selden, and Tiraboschi; the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus, and Catalogus MSS. Angliæ & Hiberniæ, 1697, folio; Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; D’Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Wolfii Bibliotheca Hebræa; Mabillon de Re Diplomaticâ; Brucker, Historia [490]Critica Philosophiæ; and Petavii Doctrina Temporum.

The Legal Works include Blackstone’s Commentaries; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici & Civilis; and Wilkins’ Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ.

The Works on Natural History, embrace Buffon, Histoire Naturelle; Raii Historia Plantarum; and Tournefort’s Botany.

In the Musical Library I observed a large Collection of the Works of Handel, whose solemn strains may frequently be heard pealing through the lofty aisles of St. George’s Chapel, by the studious occupants of this convenient chamber.

I may add with great satisfaction that every Dean and Canon of Windsor, on his presentation, makes a donation of twenty pounds to the fund for the augmentation of the Capitular Library.

[491]

Library of Worcester.

In the Chapter House of this ancient Cathedral is deposited the Library belonging to the Dean and Chapter; the books, amounting to nearly six thousand volumes, being arranged upon open shelves around its ample area against the walls, while the slender column which supports the roof rises gracefully in the centre of the whole.

The books are extremely well arranged according to their sizes, with proper attention to their subject matter, the work of the present Librarian, Mr. Clarke, with references on their backs to a Catalogue compiled by Mr. Griffin, and continued by his successors to the present time.

This Manuscript Catalogue is divided into classes and sections, and bears the following title; “Catalogus Librorum Impressorum in Bibliothecâ Collegii Cathedralis Vigorniæ, Cal. Nov. 1780. Curâ J. Griffin Bibliothecarius,” which is succeeded by a dedication to the then Dean. At the conclusion of this Catalogue in the second folio volume, is a supplementary Catalogue, the title whereof runneth thus: “Catalogus Librorum Musicorum in Ecclesiâ Cathedrali Vigorniæ, 1781. Hunc fecit vir Reverendus [492]Edvardus Taylor Præcentor ejusdem Ecclesiæ et Musices peritissimus.”

There is also a copy of the old Bodleian Catalogue interleaved, in 4 volumes, folio, which appears to have been formerly intended to supply the place of a Catalogue of this Library, from the references and insertions here and there apparent, but the plan having been found not only slovenly but inconvenient, it was doubtless abandoned when the labours of Mr. Griffin were completed. The general aspect of the books is of that sombre character which old calf, whether English or foreign, usually gives to the shelves upon which it reposes; but the judicious addition of lettering pieces to almost every volume has greatly relieved their sombre tint, and rendered their contents much more accessible to the stranger. Some volumes however still retain their original vellum wrappers, and a few are coated in morocco.

The only Manuscript which met my eye was a tattered folio Missal, whose knobs had been judiciously replaced upon a binding imitating, as nearly as possible, the original coverture, and on whose fly leaf some modern hand had written, “Missale Vetus ad usum Sarum eleganter et admodum descriptum et exornatum.” Probably however there may be in the archives of so ancient a foundation other manuscripts more worthy of notice than this.

The oldest printed books I could find were the Biblia Latina Vulgata, Illuminata, Venetiis, 1478; and the Nuremberg Chronicle, without a title, in modern calf binding. Let any one who wishes for a particular account of this remarkable specimen of Koberger’s press, read the sixteen pages relating to this book in [493]the Spencer Catalogue, and I will only add that the volume under description retains but little of its pristine beauty. The earliest Classic Author I noticed was the Juvenal, with the Commentaries of Calderinus, printed at Rome in 1474. With these three exceptions the bibliographer will seek in vain for any productions of the fifteenth century within these walls, without the consolation of finding any books printed upon vellum.

Of Bibliographical Works however this Library contains a greater number than usually falls to the lot of similar repositories. I may instance the Bodleian, Cottonian, and Harleian Catalogues; Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria, and Bibliotheca Græca; Antonii Bibliotheca Hispana, Barberini Bibliotheca, Romæ, 1681; Lipenii Bibliotheca Philosophica; Juridica & Medica; Nicolai Toppi, Bibliotheca Neapolitana, 1778; Mich. Hertzii Bibliotheca Germanica, 1679; “Bibliothecæ Cleri Londinensis in Collegio Sionensi Catalogus duplici formâ concinnatus, &c. a Guilielmo, Reading, Bibliothecario, Londini, typis J. Watts, 1724,” folio; Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica; Dibdin’s Bibliotheca Spenceriana; Saxii Onomasticon Literarium; and the Acta Eruditorum Lipsiæ; Berington’s Literary History of the Middle Ages; Pitseus de Rebus Anglicis; and Maseres Scriptores Logarithmici; in proof of the accuracy of this assertion.

In Biblical Literature the paucity of the Impressions of the Sacred text is equally remarkable with the host of obscure commentators, and multitude of forgotten theologians whose works encumber the shelves of this ancient Library.

I remarked with satisfaction a copy of Walton’s [494]Polyglott, with Castell’s Lexicon, respectably clad in old calf, most properly placed on the same shelves with the Biblia Polyglotta, Montani, Antverpiæ, Plantin, 1572, also in folio. There are also the Biblia Græca LXX. per Grabe, Oxon. 1707, in 2 vols. folio; and the Biblia Latina Castalionis, Basileæ, 1554.

I also remarked Kennicott’s Hebrew Bible; and the Biblia Germanica; Martini Lutheri, Francof. 1580; also an English Bible, by Blayney, printed at Oxford in 1769; and Baskerville’s Bible, printed at Cambridge in 1763, together with Purver’s Bible; but no early English Impressions of the Sacred Text.

There was the Novum Testamentum Erasmi, Basileæ, apud Froben, 1538; Nov. Test. Millii, Oxon. 1707, in 2 vols, folio; and Nov. Test. Wetstenii, Amst. 1751, in 2 vols, folio, in calf; also Junii Evangelia Gothica et Anglo-Saxonica, Amst. 1684; Heptateuchus Anglo-Saxonicus per Thwaites, Oxonii, 1698; the Psalterium Arabicè et Latinè, Romæ, 1619; and Kipling’s facsimile of the Codex Bezæ, printed at Cambridge in 1793, 2 vols, folio.

I also noticed two early editions of the Common Prayer, the one printed by Barker at London in 1636, the other published at the same place in 1662; also the Pontificale Romanum, printed at Rome in 1645, folio; Breviarium ad usum Sarum, Parisiis, 1519-25; Missale ad usum Sarum, Parisiis, 1555; & Missale Romanum, apud Plantin, Antverpiæ, 1577, folio, in old red morocco.

Of Commentators I have already intimated that the number is too large for minute specification. It will suffice therefore to mention the Critici Sacri; Poli Synopsis; Comestoris Scholastica Historia, Argentorati, [495]1503; Canisii Lectiones Antiquæ, in 4 vols. folio; De Rossi Variæ Lectiones Veteris Testamenti, in 4 vols. 4to.; the well-known Commentaries of Patrick, Lowth, Arnald, and Whitby; Pearce on the Evangelists; Pococke on Hosea; and Blayney on Jeremiah.

Proceed we therefore to the Fathers of the Church, who in common with other early divines, were usually Commentators upon the Scriptures as well as the teachers of its truth. Here we have the Works of Saints Athanasius, Eusebius, Isidore, Cyprian, Augustine, Epiphanius, and St. Jerome, with the writings of Tertullian, Justin Martyr, Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, & Lactantius; Philo Judæus, Parisiis, 1552; Vincentii Speculum Majus; with the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, in 15 vols. folio, and 2 volumes of the Supplement; and Dacherii Spicilegium, in 13 vols. 4to.

Among the earlier Divines of our own country, we may mention the Works of Bede; Lanfranc Cantuar. Opera, Paris, 1648; and Anselm Cantuar. Opera Theologica, Colon. 1573; and turning to those abroad may notice the Works of Luther and Melancthon; Erasmus, Grotius, Vossius, Calvin, and Bellarmine; and the Bibliotheca Fratrum Polonorum, Irenop. 1656; with Limborch, Theologia Christiana, Amst. 1695; and returning to the Divines of our own country, we find the Works of Cuthbert Tonstall, and of Tyndale, Hooker; of Bishop Jewel, Jackson, Hall, Hammond, Horne, Stillingfleet, Barrow, Chillingworth, Horsley, Cudworth, Prideaux, Hoadley, and Conybeare; Waterland, edited by Van Mildert; Bishop Berkeley’s Works, in 2 vols. 4to.; and those of Warburton, [496]Macknight, Paley, Wake, Lardner, and Bingham. To which may be added the Hulsean and Bampton Lectures; and numerous Sermons by various authors.

In Ecclesiastical History, the valuable Annals of Baronius and Tornielli; the invaluable Acta Sanctorum; Alfordi Annales Ecclesiastici Britanniæ, in 4 vols. folio; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; the Ecclesiastical Histories of Cave, Collier, and Warner; Warton’s Anglia Sacra; Fuller’s Church History; Du Monstier, Neustria Pia; Inett’s Church History; Usher’s Annals; and Burnet’s History of the Reformation, occupy a prominent place.

To these may be added, Neal’s History of the Puritans; Josephus’ History of the Jews, edited by Hudson, in 2 vols. folio; Magdeburgensis Historia Ecclesiastica, Basileæ, 1559, in 8 vols. 4to.; Gualteri Chronicon Chronicorum Eccl. Politicum, in 4 vols. 4to.; the Concilia Generalia, in 4 vols. folio; Wilkins’ Concilia, in 4 vols. folio; and the Concilia Maxima, in 15 stout folios, with the Apparatus in 2.

Of General History, the most remarkable features are the Universal History; Carionis Chronicon; Krantzii Chronicon Suecicum, &c.; Pighii Annales Romanorum, in 2 vols. folio; Saken, Van Staet Netherlanden, in 4 vols. folio, in old red morocco; Freheri Bohemicarum Rerum Scriptores; the Asiatic Researches; Kæmpfer’s Japan; Maurice’s Hindostan; Rudbeck’s Atlantica; Thuani Historia sui temporis; Ralegh’s History of the World; Heylin’s Cosmography; Roscoe’s Leo X. and History of the Medici; Robertson’s Foreign Histories; Knolles’ History of the Turks; Shaw’s Travels; with Chappe d’Auteroche, Voyage en Siberie; and as relates more particularly to [497]Antiquities, the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius; with the Supplement of Gruter; and the Works of Montfaucon, including his Diarium Italicum; together with Aringhi Roma Subterranea; and Wood’s Antiquities of Balbec and Palmyra.

With reference to those minute yet faithful monuments of former ages, Coins, I noticed the Numismata of Spanheim; Folkes’s Coins; Ruding’s Annals of the Coinage; and a most beautiful Copy of the Numismata Pembrochiana upon large paper, bound in stout old russia, with an elegant border of gold, the gift of Bishop Johnson to the Library of his own Cathedral, about the middle of the last century.

As connected with Foreign lands, I may here notice the Voyages of Cook, Forster, Hawkesworth, and Vancouver; the Collections of Voyages by Harris and Churchill; to which may be annexed Pinkerton’s Geography; and the Atlas of Sansom.

The earlier and more obscure portions of English History are admirably elucidated by the Scriptores Francorum Coetanei collected by Du Chesne; the Scriptores XV. edited by Gale and Fell; the Scriptores X. collected by Twysden; the Scriptores post Bedam, edited by Savile; the Histories of Mathew Paris, of Mathew of Westminster, and of Florence of Worcester; the Fœdera of Rymer; Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Polydore Vergilii Hist. Anglicana, &c.; Hemingii Chronicon Wigornense curâ Thomæ Hearne, 2 vols. 8vo.; and Guilielmi Neubrigensis Hist. Angl. Antverpiæ, 1567.

I also noticed Fosbroke’s British Monachism; the Histories of England, by Rapin and Tindal, Echard and Carte, Henry and Lingard, Brady, Hume, and [498]Macauley; the Chronycles of Englonde, with the fruyte of tymes, printed at London in 1528; Baker’s Chronicle; the valuable Works of Stow and Speed; Birch’s Memoirs of Elizabeth; Asseri Alfredi Annales; Bates’s Elenchus Motuum; Strype’s Memorials; Dugdale’s Troubles, Baronage, and Origines Juridiciales; Spelman’s Alfred, Oxford, 1678; May’s History of the Long Parliament; Brooke’s Heraldry; Thurloe’s State Papers; Kennett’s Register; Clarendon’s Works; Clanricarde’s Memoirs; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Nalson’s Collections; Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England; and Coronation of James II.; to which I may add Boethii Historia Scotorum; Macpherson’s Original Papers; and Dalrymple’s Memoirs.

The Topography of England is here also illustrated by Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough; Twyne, Antiq. Oxon. Apologia; the Histories of Oxford and Cambridge, published by Ackermann; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiquities; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; Wood’s Athenæ et Antiquitates Oxonienses; Loggan’s Oxonia Illustrata; the Marmora Oxoniensia; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, and History of Warwickshire; King’s Vale Royal of Cheshire; Borlase’s Cornwall; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; Wright’s Rutland; Nash’s Worcestershire; Atkyns’s Gloucestershire; Leycester’s Cheshire; Bentham’s Ely; Gunton’s Peterborough; Green’s Worcester; Thomas’ Worcester Cathedral; Antiquitates Prioratùs de Malvern, Londini, 1725, 8vo.; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Willis’s Cathedrals; Ecton’s Thesaurus; and Tanner’s Notitia Monastica.

As connected with English History; the Biographia [499]Britannica of Kippis, new, in calf; the General Biographical Dictionary of Chalmers; the Memoirs of Evelyn and Pepys, of Walpole and Bishop Hough, who still lives in marble in the adjacent Cathedral; Tomline’s Life of Pitt; and the publications of the Record Commission deserve to be here recorded.

And lastly, as illustrative of History, the English Atlas and Pinkerton’s Geography; Collier’s Historical Dictionary, and Postlewaite’s Dictionary of Commerce; Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; Anderson’s Diplomata Scotiæ; and the Itinerary of Antoninus, may be mentioned.

Of works relating to the Laws of England, we find a Year Book of Edward IV.; Coke’s Institutes; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Gibson’s Codex; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; the Statutes at large; and Selden’s Works.

In Etymology there are in this Collection the following valuable Works, calculated to render more intelligible the earlier historians of England; Somner’s Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Skinner’s Etymologicum Anglicanum; Davies’ Celtic Dictionary; Menage’s Gothic Lexicon; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary; Spelman’s Glossary; as well as others more general in their nature, such as Stephani Thesaurus; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Suidæ Lexicon, Cantabr. 1705, 3 vols. folio; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; D’Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Du Cange, Glossary; and the labours of the learned Vossius.

Of Classic Authors, though the list of names be copious, yet the editions contained in this Library are neither remarkable for antiquity nor covetable for their [500]value. Of Homer, the Prince of Song, there is the elegant impression of Foulis at Glasgow, the Iliad being on large, and the Odyssey on small paper. To make amends for this however we have the four volumes of the Commentaries of Eustathius, printed at Rome in 1550, and Cowper’s Translation, in 2 vols. 4to. bound in red morocco.

Of Cicero’s Works there are the editions of Basle in 1576, and of London in 1680, and the Lugduno-Batavian impressions of Cæsar, Tacitus, and Suetonius, of Virgil, Lucan, and Plautus, as well as Pliny.

I also remarked Du Val’s editions of Aristotle’s Works; Athenæus, Casauboni, 1657; Xenophontis Opera, Leunclavii; Plutarchi Opera, Francof. 1620; Horatius, Lambini, Francof. 1596; Seneca, Parisiis, 1627; Valerius Maximus, Mediolani, 1505; Plinius Junior, Venetiis, 1519; Pindar, edited by West and Welsted; Euripides, by Barnes; Isocrates, by Stephens; and Arrian, by Gronovius; together with editions of Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Livy, Dio Cassius, Thucydides, Polybius, and Strabo; of Aristophanes, Ovid, Sophocles, and Terence; of Macrobius, Demosthenes, Euclid, Plato, and Epictetus; Photii Bibliotheca et Epistolæ, and the Corpus Poetarum Latinorum of Mattaire.

Of English Literature, the principal features are the Works of Boyle, Newton, Mede, Bacon, Addison, and Hobbes; Monk’s Life of Bentley; Robertson’s Works; Antiquitates Middletonianæ, Londini, 1795, 4to.; Watson’s Philip II.; the Athenian Letters; the Encyclopædia Britannica and the Quarterly Review; Bedford’s Scripture Chronology; Bryant’s Heathen Mythology; and Spence’s Polymetis.

[501]

Of English Poetry, besides Warton’s admirable History thereof, I found only Spenser’s Faerie Queen; Gower’s Confessio Amantis, 1509; Urry’s edition of Chaucer’s Works; and Todd’s Milton.

In Natural History, the only Works which met my eye were Raii Historia Plantarum; Bocharti Hierozoicon; and the various Works of Aldrovandus.

In Science I can only mention the Scriptores Logarithmici of Maseres, with a hope that some portion of the fabric fund, hitherto so judiciously applied to the restoration of the Cathedral of Worcester, may, when this laudable object has been effected, be so applied as to augment the literary treasures of the Dean and Chapter, now under the guardianship of Mr. Clarke.

[502]

Library of York Minster.

The spacious and luminous apartment wherein the valuable Library of the Dean and Chapter of York is deposited, was formerly the private Chapel annexed to the Archbishop’s Palace, long since destroyed, and was restored to its pristine splendour, and appropriated to its present use by Dean Markham in 1806. The beauty of the west window is only equalled by the comfort of the interior, warmed by a fire-place, and surrounded by a light gallery affording access to the upper ranges of books.

“Near the church is a very pretty Gothic Library, the arrangements of which appeared to me very well contrived. Every book has three numbers on the back. At the top, that of the shelf, then that of the compartment, and below, its own number; so that it can be found in a moment. The numbers are on pretty little labels, and do not at all deform the books. In one corner is a very light and convenient staircase leading to the gallery, which runs midway round the room. The alphabetical Catalogue is arranged as follows:

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Page 20

“This will suffice to make it clear to you; and as I know by experience what a difficult matter the managing of a Library is, and how many are the ways of doing it, I send you this scheme, as very well suited to a small collection of books.

“I could not get a sight of any of the rare books or manuscripts kept here, as the Librarian was absent. In a corner I found a very curious drawing of the procession at the great Marlborough’s funeral. It is almost incredible how totally the dresses and customs have altered ever since that time. The aged clerk who conducted me about, said he remembered, when a boy, to have seen soldiers with long bag wigs, like those in the picture.”

This locality has been so minutely described by the lively pen of a continental writer, that I have made the foregoing extract from a “Tour in Germany, Holland, and France in the years 1826, 1827, and 1828, with Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and Anecdotes of distinguished Public Characters, in a series of letters, by a German Prince” (Puckler Muskau). “In four volumes, London, Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, 1832,” vol. iv. 169-170.

The Catalogue, though carelessly written, is alphabetically arranged, and the books are not disfigured by [504]printed labels on their backs, indeed this Library has very much the aspect of a private collection, and may vie with many in the value of its contents.

The valuable body of Manuscripts including those of Mr. Torre on Ecclesiastical affairs; Bracton de legibus Angliæ; and two Manuscripts of Cicero, collated by Hearne for the Oxford edition; the three latter, attired in crimson velvet, are preserved with all the care which their intrinsic worth demands.

The printed books are also adorned in many instances with russia and morocco, indicating a becoming sense of the true value of these literary treasures.

But the gem of this Collection is most assuredly the vellum copy of the second edition of the New Testament, edited by Erasmus, and printed by Froben, in 2 volumes, folio, at Bâsle in 1519. The beauty of the press work, the lustre of the ink, and the purity of the vellum must excite the admiration of every true lover of ancient typography. These resplendent volumes retain their original coverture, and are protected by loose cases, but have been rebacked; and as they are rather choked in the binding should be attired in blue morocco with white silk insides, whereon should be stamped in letters of gold, “YORK MINSTER LIBRARY,” and enclosed in locked cases of russia, lined with velvet. Let us be particular in describing the contents of these precious tomes.

The recto of the first leaf of the first volume presents us with the Title of the New Testament, surrounded by a wood-cut border, and on the reverse is the Pope’s license similarly encadred. Then immediately follow the Preface, Paraclesis and Prolegomena occupying, together with the title, 120 pages regularly [505]numbered. The New Testament, printed in two columns, the right of Latin, and the left of Greek text, in Greek and Roman letter, follows this preliminary matter, having a separate title prefixed, and occupies 566 pages exclusive of the last leaf, containing the Errata, Index, Terminorum, and the following Colophon:

“BASILEAE IN AEDIBUS IOANNIS FROBENII”
ANNO SALVTIS HVMANAE M.D.XIX.
MENSE MARTIO.

On the reverse is the usual device of Froben.

The second volume contains the Annotations of Erasmus on the New Testament, and are preceded by a title encadred as in the preceding volume, and concluded by the “Index Terminorum” on the recto, the last leaf numbered p. 579. The paginary figures are consecutive, and include the title. On the reverse of the last leaf appears the well-known device of Froben, and immediately beneath it the following Colophon:

“BASILEAE APVD IOHANNEM”
FROBENIVM MENSE
MARTIO. M.D.XIX.

The clear Roman character of both volumes is precisely similar, and the Greek remarkably distinct. Marginal references occur throughout both volumes, which are alike distinguished by signatures, catch-words, and paging figures, and have many of the initial letters cut in wood.

Of equal interest with reference to English typography are the smaller pieces of Caxtonian literature, [506]which here exist in the shape of two small works in metre, most rare and of especial note which were discovered by Master Thomas Frognall Dibdin Clerk, in the year of our Lord 1816, of which same marvellous discovery he pleasantly discourseth in the Bibliographical Decameron, v. III. p. 416-19. The first of these curious Metrical pieces consists of 9 leaves in 4to. concluding on the reverse of sign. f. g. with these words:

“Explicit the Chorle and the birde.”

It has been reprinted by the Roxburghe Club, and a manuscript note by Dr. Dibdin informs us that another copy exists in the Public Library at Cambridge. The second of these Metrical pieces owns Lydgate for its author, beginning with these words:

“The hors the shepe and the ghoos”

It is also in 4to. consisting of 15 leaves, and concluding with the word: “Explicit.”

Both these little tomes are executed in the rude Gothic type usually ascribed to Caxton, and are bound in blue morocco.

I next opened three translations from the Works of Cicero, all from the press of Caxton. The first has a gratuitous MS. title of “Cicero on Honour,” and consists of 7 leaves. It begins thus on the recto of the first leaf:

“Here maketh the Argument of the declamacyon which laboureth to shewe wherin honoure sholde reste.”

On the reverse of the seventh and last leaf, we read the conclusion thus:

“Thus endeth this lytil book.”

Beneath some one has added in red ink MS. capitals:

[507]

“EXPLICIT PER CAXTON
MCCCC LXXXI.”

This thin folio is very shabbily half bound.

The two next tractates of Cicero are bound in one volume in folio; the first being entitled,

“Tullyus de Senectute.”

preceded by two leaves of table, and ending with the word “Explicit,” immediately beneath which is this Colophon:

“Thus endeth the Book of Tully of Old Age, translated out of Latin into French, by Laurence de Primo-Facto, at the commandment of the noble prince Louis, Duke of Bourbon; and enprinted by me simple person William Caxton, into English, at the pleasure, solace, and reverence of men growing into old age, the xii day of August, the year of our Lord M.CCCC.lxxxj.”

The second tractate commences with these words:

“Here followeth the said Tullius de Amicitia.”

and endeth thus,

“Explicit per Caxton.”

The signatures run from a 1. to f 4. and both pieces appear to be perfect, though Dibdin who mentions only the first, affirms the contrary in his Decameron, but probably opening the volume in his lucernal examination, and turning to the end thereof, without remarking that it contained two separate pieces, and missing the well-known colophon quoted above, might have concluded the volume from thence imperfect.

The next and last Caxtonian production which occurred to me in this Library was,

“The Booke of the Fayttes of Armes and of Chyvalrye, which Christine of Pyse drew out of Vegetius [508]de re militari.” This work written in French under the title of “Le Livre des faits d’Armes et de Chevalrie par Christine de Pisan,” was delivered to Caxton by king Henry the Seventh “in his palais of Westmestre the xxiii day of Januyere the iiii year of his regne, who desyred and wylled him to translate this said booke, and reduce it into our english and natural tongue and to put it in prynte, which Translacion was finished the viiith day of Juyll the sayd year and emprynted the xiiith day of Juyll next following and full fynyshed” in 1489.

The present copy bound in sorry calf, and lettered “Christian of Pisa,” is unfortunately imperfect at the end, wanting all from sign. S. i. to the end. It has however the Table of two leaves which precedes the text.

Among the other early printed Books I noticed, “The Ordynary of Chrysten men” printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1506, 4to. which a manuscript note by Dibdin says is “not quite perfect.” It is bound in blue morocco with gilt leaves.

The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, translated out of Latin into English by John Trevisa, and reprinted from Caxton’s edition by Peter Treveris at London in 1527, folio. It is bound in pale russia, and is perfect. And the Dives and Pauper, printed by Pynson at London in 1537, 4to.

Hitherto I have only skimmed over the surface of this valuable Collection, selecting such relics of the olden time as fastidious bibliomaniacs especially delight in.

The best editions of the Classics, and of the Fathers form a considerable portion of this Collection, though [509]I sought in vain for any first editions of the Classic Authors.

The value of this Collection demands a particular account of its component parts, and I commence accordingly with the Sacred Writings.

Of Impressions in the original Hebrew I remarked the Bomberg Hebrew Bible, printed at Venice in 1618, in two folio volumes; and the Hebrew Bibles edited by Kennicott and Vander Hooght; Walton’s Polyglott Bible is also found here. In Greek the Aldine Psalter, the Alexandrine Codex, edited by Woide; and the Codex Beza, edited by Kipling chiefly merit notice. The Latin Versions are numerous, including that printed at Venice in 1498; and the Biblia Latina Junii, Francofurti, 1589. The English Versions are also numerous. Of these the Doway Bible of 1609; the Oxford Bible of 1680; an imperfect copy of Matthews’ Bible of 1549; and another London edition in 1602; the Cambridge Bible of 1682; Wilson’s Bible of 1783; a Bible printed at York in 1789; and D’Oyly and Mant’s Bible with Notes, &c. are the most remarkable. I also noticed the German Bible printed at Nuremberg in 1541; French and Indian Bibles; and the Rhemish Testament by Fulke.

The Commentaries, Concordances, and other illustrations of Holy Writ in this Library form a valuable part of this Collection.

This Library can also boast a very excellent collection of the best editions of the Fathers of the Church. The labours of S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Eusebius, [510]Fulgentius, Gregory Nazianzen, Hilary, Jerome, Irenæus, Isidore, Lactantius, Origen, Philo Judæus, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, and other pillars of the Faith here exist for the edification of the theological student.

The mass of Catholic Divinity is considerable, including the Works of the Venerable Bede, Cardinal Bellarmine, Bernard, Theodore Beza, Bonaventura, Cassiodorus, Gregory, Lanfranc, Duns Scotus, Hugo Victor, and Zanchius; Zuinglii Opera Omnia; with many others of lesser note.

This Collection of Theology also embraces, Montfaucon, Collectio Nova Patrum; the Bibliotheca Patrum; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; the Critici Sacri; and Pole’s Synopsis; Cruden’s Concordance; De Rossi Variæ Lectiones in Vetus et Novum Testamentum; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Michaelis’ Introduction to the New Testament; Outram de Sacrificiis; the Commentaries of Patrick, Pearce, &c.; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Vincentii Speculum Majus; and Walchii Bibliotheca Theologica et Patristica.

In this Library are found Casaubon’s Erasmus of 1514; the Works of Calvin, Grotius, Luther, Melancthon, and other Divines of that age.

In English Divinity this Collection includes the Works of Lancelot Andrews, Alison, Barrow, Bishop Berkeley, Archbishop Bramhall, Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Hacket, Hammond, Hoadly, Jackson, Jewel, Lardner, Lowth, Macknight, Mede, Ogden, Paley, Perkins, Porteus, Prideaux, Sherlock, Stackhouse, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Warburton, Waterland, Watson, Whitaker, and Whitgift.

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I also observed the series of Bampton Lectures; the Bridgewater Treatises; Sermons by Blair, Saurin, Secker, and many others; Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles; Butler’s Analogy; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Hey’s Lectures; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Kett on Prophecy; Pearson on the Creed; and the Works of Archbishop Usher.

I may here notice the Histories of the Jews by Basnage, and Josephus; and Spencer de legibus Hebræorum.

In Ecclesiastical History this Library possesses the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Bacon’s Liber Regis; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Burnet’s History of the Reformation in England; Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, &c. 1588; the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Councils and Conferences, &c.; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Fuller’s Church History; Harpsfeld, Historia Ecclesiastica; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Sanderus, de Schismate Anglicano; Spotswode’s History of the Church of Scotland; Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials; and Symeon Dunelmensis de exordio et procursu istius Ecclesiæ, edente Thomâ Bedford, 1732, 8vo.

The Historical department of this Collection embraces the great body of Byzantine Historians, edited by Labbe; Bouquet, Recueil des Historiens des Gaules, of which the first 13 volumes are in red morocco, the remaining 5 in boards. Muratori Thesaurus Antiquitatum, [512]&c. Mediolani, 1723, in 22 folio volumes, with the Corpus Inscriptionum, by Gruter, in 5 volumes in folio; Pitisci Lexicon; and the ponderous folios of Bayle.

I also noticed Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Hooke’s Roman History; Maurice’s Indostan; Mezeray, Histoire de France, Paris, 1643, in 3 folio volumes; Mitford’s History of Greece; Robertson’s Historical Works; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; Wilkins’ Magna Græca; and Zonaræ Annales.

This Library is embellished by Whitaker’s Illustrations of the Topography of Yorkshire; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; and the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus, all in folio.

Of books relating to British History, these shelves contain many, both curious and important. I may mention the Scriptores post Bedam; Camdeni Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus Scripta; Annales Henrici VIII.; Boetius and Buchanan Historia Scotorum; Brady’s History of England; Burnet’s History of his own Time; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, and his State Papers; Daniel’s History of England; Dalrymple’s Memoirs; Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Fabian’s Chronicle; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey; Florentii Wigornensis Chronicon; Holinshed’s Chronicle of 1581; Grafton’s Chronicle; Galfridi Monumetensis Historia Britonum; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; the Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden; Rapin and Tindal’s History of England; Rymer’s Fœdera, 20 folio volumes; Smith de Rêpublicâ Anglorum; Speed’s History of Britain; Strafford’s State Papers; Todd’s Lives of Walton and Cranmer; [513]Twine de Rebus Albionicis; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence; Polydore Vergil, Historia Anglicana; Welwood’s Memoirs; Whitelock’s Memorials; Winwood’s Memorials; the Parliamentary History of England, in 24 octavo volumes; and the Records published by the Parliamentary Commission.

The Topography and Antiquities of England are illustrated by the valuable series of the Archæologia; Atkyns’ Gloucestershire; Britton’s York Cathedral; Burton’s Monasticon Eboracense; Burton’s History of Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough; the Descriptions of the English Cathedrals, published by the Antiquarian Society; Davies’ Celtic Researches; Drake’s York; Gent’s Histories of York, Ripon, and Hull, with some Account of the East Window of York Minster; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments, in 5 folio volumes; Grose’s Antiquities of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; Halfpenny’s Fragmenta Vetusta; Horsley’s Britannia Romana; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Leland’s Collectanea de rebus Britannicis; Loggan’s Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata; Nash’s Views of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor; Nicolson’s Histories of Cumberland and Westmoreland; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa; Raine’s North Durham; Sanderson’s Durham Abbey; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; the History and Antiquities of York, 1785, in 4 volumes, 8vo.; Torr’s York; Whitaker’s History of Craven, and his Ducatus Lancastriæ; and Willis’ History of the Cathedrals.

I may here mention the long series of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London; the Memoirs of the Manchester Philosophical Society; the Harleian Miscellany; Harris’ Life of Charles the [514]First; Nichols’ Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, and Collection of Royal Wills; the Somers Tracts; and Kippis’ Biographia Britannica.

The Bibliographical Works I noticed, were Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis; the Bibliotheca Matritensis; Bibliotheca Chethamensis; Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus; Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ, &c.; De Bure, Bibliographie Instructive; Dibdin’s Bibliographical Decameron, Typographical Antiquities, and Introduction to the Classics; Fabricii, Bibliotheca Græca Ecclesiastica et Latina; Gesner’s Bibliotheca; Gough’s Account of Works on British Topography; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra; Photii Bibliotheca; and the Roxburghe Library Catalogue.

To these may be added, Mabillon de re diplomaticâ; Waltheri, Lexicon Diplomaticum; and Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca.

The Classical department of this Library embraces the productions of Ælian, Æschylus, Apuleius, Archimedes, Appian, Aristotle, Athenagoras, Athenæus, Aristophanes, Ausonius, Catullus, Demosthenes, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Dioscorides, Epictetus, Euclid, Euripides, Aulus Gellius, Hippocrates, Homer, Horace, Justin, Juvenal, Livy, Macrobius, Ammianus Marcellinus, Ovid, Pausanias, Philostratus, Propertius, Quintilian, Sallustius, Seneca, Silius Italicus, Sophocles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Thucydides, Tibullus, Valerius Maximus, Vegetius, Virgil, and Xenophon.

Of none of these authors did I observe the first editions, but many good and some indifferent impressions occur throughout.

I noticed particularly Anacreon, Fischeri; Aristides, [515]Jebbii; Aurelius Victor, Delphini; Bion and Moschus, by Wakefield; Ciceronis Opera, Aldi, Venetiis, 1592-3, and Lambini, and by Victorius, the Sospitator Ciceronis, and others; Quintus Curtius, Snakenburgii; Diodorus Siculus, Wetstenii; Herodotus, Gronovii; Hesiodus, Robinsoni; the Glasgow Homer, printed by Foulis; Lucianus, Hemsterhusii; Lucanus, Oudendorpii; Lucretius, Havercampi; Lycophron, Potteri; Martialis, Aldi, Venetiis, 1501, 8vo.; Mythographi Veteres, by Van Staveren; Orphica, edita ab Hermanno; Velleius Paterculus, Ruhnkenii; Platonis Opera, Serrani; Pindarus, Heynii; Plautus, Lambini; Plutarchus, Xylandri; Plotinus, Ficini; Poetæ Græci, Stephani; Ptolomæi Geographia, Venetiis, 1562, 4to.; Prudentius, Arevali, Romæ, 1788-9, in 2 quarto volumes; Oratores Græci, Aldi, Venetiis, 1513, 2 vols. folio; Rhetores Latini Antiqui, Paris. 1599, 4to.; Rei Rusticæ Scriptores Gesneri; and the Characters of Theophrastus.

The Etymological Works in this Collection are Cooper’s Thesaurus; Facciolati Lexicon; Gesneri Thesaurus; Hederici Lexicon; Hickes’ Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum à Lye; Linacre de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis, Londini, 1524, 4to.; Pagnini, Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Schleusner’s Lexicon in Novum Testamentum; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum; and Suidæ Lexicon.

In English Literature this Library contains the Works of Boyle, Evelyn, Locke, Milton, Purchas’ Pilgrims; Shakespeare, 1685; Spelman, and others. Also Hakluyt’s Voyages; James the First’s Book of [516]Sports, London, 1618; Lyndsay’s Poems in Scotch; Horsley’s edition of Newton’s Works; Quarles’ Emblems; Scott’s Life of Napoleon; and Tyrwhitt’s edition of Chaucer’s Works.

In Italian Literature this Collection embraces the Works of Ariosto, Aretino, Dante, Guicciardini, Machiavelli, and Ubaldino. Also Sannazaro’s Arcadia, and Tasso, &c. Vinegia, 1581, &c.

In French Literature will be found the productions of Basnage, Bossuet, Corneille, Dacier, Drelincourt, and others. As well as Dacier’s Horace; the Romant de la Rose, Paris, 1531; Scudery, Les Femmes Illustres; and a French Bible of 1535.

The Geographical Works which occurred to me were D’Anville’s Ancient Geography; Heylin’s Cosmography; Pitt’s English Atlas; and Vincent’s Periplus of the Erythræan Sea.

I also noticed Blair’s Chronology; Bryant’s Mythology; and Spence’s Polymetis.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection include Boswell on Armorie; Collins’ Peerage; and Dugdale’s Baronage.

The Works on Natural History which I noticed were Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle in 45 vols. 4to.; Ellis’ Zoophytes; Gesneri Historia Animalium; and Pennant’s British Zoology.

The Miscellaneous Books include many too obscure for notice; and others such as Oughtred, Clavis Mathematica; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum; the Aurea Legenda of 1493 and 1516; Hawkins’ History of Music; a copy of the Koran; the Marmora Arundeliana; Murphy’s Church of Batalha; [517]Rosini, Antiquitates Romanæ; Puffendorf and Saxo-Danicus; deserve succinct enumeration.

Rituals of the Romish and Reformed Churches are here found in various forms. Of the former I observed the Missale Romanum, printed at Antwerp in 1577 and 1590, and at Paris in 1616. Of the latter the Common Prayer published in 1605, 1625, and 1640, the last a plague year.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of York derived its chief treasures from the munificence of Bishop Matthews, whose Collection was formed in the seventeenth century. It was still further enriched by the Library of Dr. Fothergill, bequeathed by him to the Cathedral in the commencement of the eighteenth century. Subsequent additions have been made to the Collection, chiefly from the widow of the Rev. William Burge, D.D.

The number of printed books in this Library, when augmented by those of Bishop Matthews, amounted to four thousand one hundred and sixty-two volumes. Dr. Fothergill’s books, in number one thousand five hundred and twenty, increased the sum to five thousand six hundred and eighty-two, which subsequent donations and additions have augmented to nearly eight thousand at the present time.

The Catalogues of this Library are both copious and accurate. The first is a large folio volume, containing the Alphabetical Catalogue of Books, and having at the end the following “Memorandum. The Books were new classed, lettered and numbered by the Rev. Mr. William Richardson, one of the Vicar’s Choral, and Minister of St. Michael Le Belfry, and [518]this Catalogue was transcribed by the Rev. Mr. John Coulthred Minister of Hickleton in the West Riding of the County of York.”

“York, January 12th, 1775.”

“The Catalogue when transcribed contained about four thousand one hundred and sixty-two volumes.” It is also added: “This Catalogue which is as accurate as the nature of the thing will admit of, was begun in the year of our Lord 1774, and finished in the year 1775.”

This volume is bound in calf, lettered on the sides, “Cat. Libr. in Bibl. Eccles. Cath. Ebor. &c. 1774.”

The second Catalogue was compiled in alphabetical order by the Rev. James Dallin, the present Librarian, with reference to the shelves on which the books are placed. This work is comprised in 4 folio volumes with ample interpaginary spaces for additions.

The third Catalogue is a small 4to. volume, containing the list of Dr. Fothergill’s Books, whereby I have been enabled to preserve the individuality of that Collection, although its component parts are now merged in the greater Collection which they have contributed to enrich. But as I wish the labours of each Collector, where possible, to speak for themselves, I have reserved this portion of the York Minster Library for a separate notice.

I will commence with the Theological department of the worthy Doctor’s Collection. Here are the Works of Bishop Andrews, Beveridge, Bramhall, Goodman, [519]Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Kettlewell, Leslie, Lightfoot, Louth, Ostervald, Pierce, Prideaux, Sanderson, Sherlock, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Usher, Wake, Waterland, Whitaker, and Whitgift.

Of the Fathers, we have S.S. Augustine, Cyprian, Cyril, Eusebius, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, Tertullian, Theodoret, and Clementis Alexandrini Opera Græcè, Florentiæ, 1550, folio.

I also noticed Atterbury’s Sermons; Bingham’s Origines Ecclesiasticæ, Londini, 1708, in 11 vols.; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles; Bythner in Psalmos; Cave’s Primitive Christianity, and Lives of the Fathers; Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Field on the Church, Oxford, 1635; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; Jewel’s Apology; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Pearson on the Creed, and his Opera Posthuma; Pole’s Synopsis Criticorum, &c.; Sparrow on the Common Prayer; Stanhope on the Epistles and Gospels; Stillingfleet’s Origines and other Works; Tenison on Idolatry; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; and Wilkins on Natural Religion.

To these may be added the Works of Bellarmine, Bernard, Erasmus, Heylin, Thomas à Kempis, Laud, Melancthon, and Thomas Aquinas.

Of Bibles, the Polyglott of Walton, like some other duplicates in the Fothergill Library has been since exchanged for other books which the Minster Library did not previously contain. I noticed a copy of Cranmer’s Bible; and the Bible printed at Cambridge in 1663; also a Latin Bible of 1527; I also noticed Hearne’s Acta Apostolorum, Oxonii, 1715, 8vo.

Of Rituals this Collection presents some of great [520]interest with relation to the Church to which they are now annexed. These are the Breviarium Eboracense Hyemale, Paris. 1525; Horæ B. M. V. in usum Eboraci, and Sarum, Paris. 1527; and the Pica Eboracensis in 4to. commencing with the Prologue of “Thome Hanibal legis doctoris ac canonici Ebor. i̅ Pica Ebor. nup a discreto viro dn̅o Thoma Hothyrsal Ecclesiæ Ebor Vicario Chorali revisa et emendata pludium.” Then follows the “Tabula incipiens Anno M DCCCC lxxxxvii.” succeeded by the “Pica seu directorium Sacerdotum ad usum Eboracense,” a work which is unfortunately imperfect at the end. This volume is bound in calf.

I also observed the Common Prayer Book of 1662; the Breviarium in usum Sarum, Londini, 1555; the Manipulus Curatorum of 1495; the Martyrologium Romanum; and the Pontificale Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1627; also Alcoran, London, 1649; and Genevæ Catechesis, Genevæ, 1609.

As connected with Ecclesiastical affairs, I may here introduce Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Anglicana, Lovanii, 1566; and Cantabrigiæ, 1722; Burnet’s Reformation; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; the History of the Reformation in Scotland, London, 1646; Synodus Anglicana & Parochial Visitations; Godwin’s Lives of the Bishops; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, 1729, folio; Platina de Vitis Pontificum; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Strype’s Annals of the Reformation; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; and Warton’s Anglia Sacra, &c.

The Historical department of this Collection includes Carionis Chronicon; Cluverius, Germania Antiqua; [521]Josephus, Hudsoni, Oxonii, 1720, in 2 folio volumes; Simpson’s Chronicon Catholicon; Thuani Historia sui temporis; and Whear’s Methodus legendi Historiam; but is more particularly rich in works relating to the History of England. Of these I feel pleasure in recording Barnes’ Life of Edward the Third; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Bedford’s Hereditary Right to the Crown of England; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Daniel’s History of England; Gale and Fell’s Scriptores XV Historiæ Britannicæ, in 3 vols. folio; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; Godwin’s Annals; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum and History of the Exchequer; Polydore Vergil’s Historia Anglicana; Prisei Defensio Historiæ Britanniæ; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia, Londini, 1582; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Sacheverell’s Tryal; Sheringham de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, and his Reliquiæ; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, Oxonii, 1716, 8vo.; Hearne’s editions of T. Livii Vita Henrici V. printed at Oxford in 1716, 8vo.; Warner’s Albion’s England, London, 1612; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses.

The Works on English Topography and Antiquities which fell under my notice were, Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; the Itinerary of Antoninus, edited by Burton and by Gale; Camden’s Britannia and Remains concerning Britain; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, Lond. 1655, in 3 vols. folio; the History and Antiquities of Hereford, London, 1717; Kennet’s Parochial Antiquities; Risdon’s Devon; Ogilby’s Roads in England; Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral; Somner’s Canterbury; Thoresby’s Leeds; Verstegan’s [522]Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; Willis’ Account of the Cathedrals of St. Asaph, Bangor, Llandaff, and St. David’s, with his Notitia Parliamentaria; the Antiquities of Westminster, London, 1711, and London, 1722; and the Antiquities of Winchester Cathedral, London, 1715.

The Heraldic Works in this Library include Guillim’s Heraldry of 1660, folio; Leigh’s Accidence of Armorie; Philipot’s Origin of Heraldry, London, 1672; Segar’s Catalogue of Honour, Military and Civil, London, 1602; and Yorke’s Union of Honour.

In Etymology I was chiefly interested by Benson’s Vocabularium Anglo-Saxonicum; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Calepini Dictionarium, Basileæ, 1542; Castell’s Lexicon; Munster’s Dictionarium Trilingue; Morel’s Latin Dictionary; Dufresne’s Glossary, Latin and Greek; Hickes’ Thesaurus and Anglo-Saxon Grammar; Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica; Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Scapulæ Lexicon; Spelman’s Glossary; Stephani Lexicon; and Suidæ Lexicon, Cantabrigiæ, 1705, in 3 folio volumes.

The Classical department includes the Works of Ælian, Æsop, Agapetus, Appian, Aristotle, Aulus Gellius, Ausonius, Cæsar, Callimachus, Claudian, Demosthenes, Eutropius, Herodian, Hesiod, Isocrates, Juvenal, Lucian, Lucretius, Lycophron, Macrobius, Martial, Nicander, Ovid, Pausanias, Persius, Plautus, Plutarch, Quintilian, Sallust, Sophocles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Theocritus, Vegetius, Velleius Paterculus, Virgil, and Vitruvius.

I also noticed Apollodori Bibliotheca, Romæ, 1555; Athenæus Casauboni; Barnes’ Euripides; Ciceronis [523]Opera Omnia, 1646; Diodorus Siculus, Ed. Pr. Græcè, Basileæ, 1539, 4to.; Dionysius Halicarnasseus, Lond. 1658, and Lipsiæ, 1691; Epicteti Enchiridion, Lugd. Bat. 1640; Herodotus, Francofurti, 1608, folio; Homeri Opera, Venetiis, 1527; the Delphin Horace, with the editions of Bond and Bentley; Ogilby’s Æsop; Plinii Historia Naturalis, 1593, in 3 folio volumes; the Epistles of Pliny the Younger; the Basil Editions of Pomponius Mela, and of Seneca; the Geography of Ptolemy, Thucydides, Francofurti, 1594, folio; and Xenophontis Opera, edente Wells, Oxonii, 1703, 8vo.

The Bibliographical books comprehend Blount’s Censura Literaria; Catalogus MSS. Coll. CCC. Cantab. à Nasmith, in 4to.; Leland’s Commentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Oxonii, 1709; and Nicolson’s Historical Libraries.

The Works on Natural History include Culpepper’s English Physician; Evelyn’s Sylva of 1664; Grew’s Rarities; Morison’s Catalogue of Plants in the Botanic Garden of Oxford, &c.; the Phytologia Britannica, London, 1650; Raii Historia Plantarum, Compendium Plantarum Angliæ; & Methodus observandi Plantas.

Of Legal Works I noticed only the Corpus Juris Civilis; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici, &c.; Fulwood’s Leges Angliæ; Fitzherbert’s Natura Brevium; Wilkins’ Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ; and Wottoni Leges Wallicæ.

In Chronology and Geography I observed Isaacson’s Chronology & Petavii Rationale Temporum; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus; and Wells’ Geography.

In Mathematics these shelves are equally deficient, having only the London Euclid of 1666; and the Opera Mathematica of Wallis.

[524]

In English Literature this Collection contains the Works of Bacon, Boyle, King Charles the First, Cowley, Locke, Milton, Mede, Speed, and other authors of less reputation; Chaucer’s Tales, in black letter, by Pynson, a copy which had formerly belonged to Thomas Pope Blount, the author of the Censura Literaria; the Life of Dugdale, 1713; Butler’s Hudibras, London, 1678; and Ben Jonson’s Works, London, 1640.

The Miscellaneous volumes afford some pieces of Dodwell and Selden; the Works of Dante and Guicciardini & Machiavelli; Politian, Scaliger, and Kennett’s Antiquities of Rome; Leland’s Collectanea de rebus Britannicis, Oxonii, 1715, in 6 volumes 8vo. edited by Hearne; Lyrani Rep. Lugd. Bat. 1528, in 5 folio volumes; Polydore Vergil de Rerum Inventoribus; and some pieces of the learned Vossius.

The Catalogue of this Collection, formed by Dr. Fothergill, was compiled by the Rev. John Coulthred, of Hickleton, in a 4to. volume, which has this memorandum at its close. “This Catalogue when transcribed (by the Rev. John Coulthred) contained about one thousand five hundred and twenty volumes.”

It will be perceived, in looking over the preceding pages, that the addition of Dr. Fothergill’s books to the York Minster Library, caused several duplicates in that Collection; but I have preferred incurring tediousness by repetition, to impairing the integrity of the Library by the omission of these volumes.

It only remains for me to notice the Manuscripts in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of York. These interesting remains of the Monastic Library of [525]York include many copies of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Vulgate then in use, one bearing date A.D. 692, and various portions of the Sacred Writings. Of these I particularly noticed,

Of the Fathers I noticed Augustine and Origen.

Of Theological Writings I observed those of Bellarmine; Boetius de Trinitate; Grosteste, Manuel de Pecheur; Fothergill on Liturgies, in 8 volumes; Jewel’s Tracts against Dissenters and Papists; and Grosthead’s Sermons.

I also noticed the Legenda Sanctorum, and the Speculum Spiritualium, formerly a Reliquary to the Priory of Mount Grace.

The Historical Manuscripts here preserved are a Collection of Passages of State under Queen Elizabeth and King James; Sir John Harington on the King of Scots’ Right of Succession; the Life of Cardinal Wolsey; Thomæ de Eccleton de Adventu Minorum in Angliâ; and Fabian’s Chronicle.

Of the Manuscripts relating to the Antiquities of York, I observed a Register of the Lands of St. Mary’s [526]Abbey, York; Hutton’s Antiquities of York; Drake’s History of York; and Torr’s Manuscripts on the same subject, in 8 volumes, now deposited in the Record Room of the Dean and Chapter of York.

The only Classical Manuscript which occurred to me was Cicero, Rhetoricorum ad Herennium.

Of Rituals I noticed the Breviarium Eboracense; the Missale Eboracense; the Rituale Eboracense; the Psalterium Eboracense; and the Manuale Sacerdotum de Kirkstal.

Among the miscellaneous volumes I noticed the Methodus Nova Plantarum; Bracton de Legibus; Nalson’s Heraldry; and some Manuscripts which formerly belonged to Rievaulx Abbey, brought hither at its dissolution.

Four old Catalogues of the York Minster Library are preserved among the manuscripts of the Dean and Chapter of York.

These Manuscripts are all preserved with great care in cases under lock and key.

In this room I also found a case of Sir Edward Thomason’s Series of Medals illustrative of the Scriptures, of which the author has presented a set to every crowned head in the world, and received suitable presents in return from each of them.

The care and attention bestowed upon the Library is highly creditable to the taste and liberality of the Dean and Chapter. I believe the credit of converting the ancient Episcopal Chapel, which had for many years been used as a stable below, and a hay-loft above, into the present Gothic Library, is due, as I have already said, to Dean Markham, and greatly must every tasteful antiquary rejoice in the restoration of this elegant [527]building. The large Gothic room is arranged with every attention to comfort, and is adorned by portraits of Toby Matthews, and of Dr. Fothergill. The ante-room is appropriated to the reception of Dr. Burge’s Books of Divinity, and numerous political and polemical Tracts, chiefly the scum thrown up by the troubled waters of the English mind during the Great Rebellion.

THE END.

PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINGHAM,
CHISWICK. 1849.