9. De Prærogativis Archiep. Cantuar. written upon vellum about
1334.
10. A list of Authors, with references to their Works, who
have written concerning the Archbishops of Canterbury; first,
of those who have treated of the Archbishops generally, and
secondly, of those who have composed single or particular
lives; by the late learned and celebrated antiquary, Dr. Samuel
Pegge. 4to.
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
“Statuta Curiæ Cantuar. editæ per Rob. Winchelsea, Archiep.
Cant.” and the “Fasti Cantuarienses; or the History of the
renowned Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ in
Canterbury; a Poem in five Books; by John Boys of Hode Court.”
Folio, 104 pages.
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. 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.”
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 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 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.