James’s Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ. Oxon. 1620, 4to.
Hyde’s Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ. Oxon. 1674, folio.
Bibliothecæ Cordesianæ Catalogus. Paris. 1643, 4to.
Bibliothecæ Scarburghianæ Catalogus. 8vo. sine loco aut anno.
Bibliothecæ Colbertinæ Catalogus. Paris. 1708, 8vo.
Bibliothecæ Thuanæ Catalogus. Paris. 1679, 2 vols. 8vo.
Bibliothecæ Sequierianæ Catalogus. Paris, 1685, 8vo.
Bibliothecæ Bultellianæ Catalogus. Paris. 1711, 2 vols. 8vo.
Bibliothecæ Chethamensis Catalogus, à Radcliffe, 2 vols. 8vo.
Bibliotheca Telleriana. Paris. 1693, folio.
Bibliotheca Heinsiana. Lugd. Bat. 1682, 12mo.
Catalogus Librorum Joannis Giraud. Paris. 1707, 8vo.
Catalogus Librorum Joannis Galloys. Paris. 1710, 8vo.
Catalogue of Charles Bernard’s Library. Lond. 1710, 12mo.
Catalogus Librorum Bibliothecæ Joach. Faultrier. Paris. 1709.
8vo.
Roberti Scott Catalogus Librorum. Lond. 1674, 4to.
Dibdin’s Typographical Antiquities, in 4 vols. 4to.
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.
[Illustration]
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.
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, 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 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.
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.
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.
[Illustration]
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.”
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 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:
“_Libri MSS._”