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
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 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 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 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 200_l._
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 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
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 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, 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 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.
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.
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 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.
[Illustration]
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
Walton’s Polyglott, with Castell’s Lexicon.
Kennicott’s Hebrew Bible.
Vetus Testamentum Gr. è Codice Alexandrino, curâ Grabe. Oxonii,
1707-19, 2 vols. folio.
Vetus Testamentum Gr. LXX, ed. Holmes, &c. Oxon. 1804, &c. 6
vols. folio.
Novum Testamentum, è Th. Beza. Cantab. 1642, folio.
Novum Testamentum, Millii. Oxonii, 1707, folio.
Novum Testamentum, Westeinii. Amst. 1751, 2 vols. folio.
Novum Testamentum, è Codice Alexandrino, curâ Woide. Lond.
1786, folio.
Biblia Latina, Castalionis. Basil. 1551, folio.
Biblia Latina, Tremellii & Junii. Hanov. 1624, fol.
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 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,
Cotelerii, SS. Patrum Apostolicorum Opera, edente Clerico.
Amst. 1724, 2 vols. folio.
Grabii Spicilegium, SS. Patrum, &c. Oxon. 1699, 8vo.
Wake’s Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers. Lond. 1710, 8vo.
Cave’s Lives of the Primitive Fathers, &c. Lond. 1683-4, in 3
vols. folio.
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.
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
Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici. Paris. 1609-59, 12 vols. folio.
Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Anglicana. Cantab. 1722, folio.
Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica. Paris. 1678, folio.
Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici. Lond. 1713, 2 vols. folio.
Godwin de Præsulibus Angliæ. Cantab. 1743, fol.
Josephi Opera Omnia. Genevæ, 1611, folio.
Le Neve, Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ. Lond. 1716, fol.
Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ. Lond. 1729, folio.
Usserii Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. Lond. 1687,
folio.
Whartoni Anglia Sacra. Lond. 1691, 2 vols. folio.
Stillingfleet, Origines Britannicæ. Lond. 1685, fol.
Burnet’s History of the Reformation. Lond. 1679-1715, 3 vols.
folio.
Strype’s Annals of the Reformation. Lond. 1709-25, 2 vols.
folio. And
Fox’s Acts and Monuments of the Church. Lond. 1684, 3 vols.
folio. Which with
The Church History of Britain by Cressy, Collier, Fuller, Inett, and
Lloyd; the Ecclesiastical Histories 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 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:—
Gulielmi Neubrigensis Chronica Rerum Anglicarum. Oxon. 1719, 3
vols. 8vo.
Hearne’s Textus Roffensis. Oxonii, 1720, 8vo.
Roberti de Avesbury, Historia Edvardi III. Oxon. 1720, 8vo.
Thomæ Sprotti Chronica. Oxonii, 1719, 8vo.
Joannis de Fordun. Scoti Chronicon. Oxonii, 1722, in 5 vols.
8vo. upon large paper.
Titi Livii Foro-Judiensis Vita Henrici V. Oxon. 1726, 8vo.
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;
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.
Antoninus, Gatakeri. Cant. 1652, 4to.
Aristotelis Opera, Du Valli. Paris. 1629, 2 vols. fol.
Ciceronis Opera, Lambini. Lutet. 1572-8, 8 v. 8vo.
Ammianus Marcellinus, Gronovii. Lugd. Bat. 1693, 4to.
Homeri Opera, cum Comment. Eustathii. Basil. 1559, 3 vols. fol.
Demosthenes, Æschines et Isocrates, Wolfii. Francof. 1604, &
1593, folio.
Longinus, Toupii & Ruhnkenii. Oxonii, 1778, 4to.
Platonis Opera, Serrani. Paris. 1578, 3 vols. folio.
Thucydides, Hudsoni. Oxonii, 1696, folio.
Sallustius Historiæ à Waffe. Cantab. 1710, 4to.
Poetæ Græci Principes à Stephano. Paris. 1566, fol.
Corpus Poetarum Latinorum à Maittaire. Lond. 1713, 2 vols.
folio; and a considerable number of the Delphin Classics.
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.
[Illustration]
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.”