Maittaire Corpus Poetarum Latinorum. Londini, 1713, 2 vols.
folio.
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. 12mo.; Thuani Monumenta Literaria, Lut. Par. 1639, 4to.
With Etymological Works this Library is well furnished, as the following
specimens may serve to show.
Cooper’s Thesaurus. London, 1584, folio.
Davies’ Dictionarium. Coloniæ, 1624, 4to.
Hesychii Lexicon.
Hoffmanni Lexicon.
Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis. Oxonii, 1705, folio; cui
accedit Wanleii Antiq. Litt. Septentr. Oxon. 1705, folio.
Johnson’s English Dictionary.
Lexicon Arabicum per Erpenium. Leidæ, 1613.
Lexicon Chaldaicum per Eliam Levitam. Colon. 1560.
Lexicon Hebraicum per Mercerum, &c. Lugd. 1575.
Lluyd’s Archælogia.
Lye’s Saxon and Gothic Dictionary.
Perotti Cornucopia. Basileæ, 1526, folio.
Phavorini Lexicon Græcum.
Suidæ Lexicon. Venetiis, 1514, folio.
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 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.
[Illustration]
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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;
The Bible, by Thomas Matthew, at the expense of R. Grafton
and E. Whitchurch, without indication of place, but printed
at London in 1537, folio.[23] The present copy retains its
original binding of calf.
Cranmer’s, or the Great Bible. London, by Richard Grafton and
Edward Whitchurch, finished in April, 1539, folio.
Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Edward Whitchurch, Apryll, 1540,
folio.
The Bible, oversene by Cuthbert, Bishop of Duresm, and Nicolas,
Bishop of Rochester. London, by Edward Whitchurche, 1541, folio.
The Bible, by Thomas Matthew, reprinted from the edition of
1537, with some alterations, and published by Edmund Becke.
London, by Thomas Raynaldes and William Hyll, 1549, folio.
Taverner’s Bible. London, by J. Daye and W. Seres, 1549, folio.
Coverdale’s Bible. London, for Andrew Hester, 1550, 4to.; the
body of this book is in Zurich type, but the preliminary pieces
were printed at London.
The Bible, by Thomas Matthew, with some variation, and an
addition of the third book of the Maccabees by Edmond Becke.
London, by John Daye, 1551, folio.
The Bible. Printed at London by Nicholas Hyll, for Robert Toye,
1551, folio.
The Genevan Bible. At Geneva, printed by Rouland Hall, 1560,
4to.[24]
Cranmer’s Bible. Lond. by John Cawood, 1561, 4to.
Cranmer’s Bible. Rouen, by C. Hamillon, at the cost and charges
of Richard Carmarden, 1566, folio.[25]
The Bible. Printed at London, with Cawood’s Mark, in 1569, 4to.
The Bishop’s Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1572, folio. This
is the second edition of the well-known Bishop’s Bible, and the
last in which the three copper plates of Elizabeth, Leicester,
and Cecil are found. It has a double version of the Psalms.
Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1573, 4to. The
present is the presentation copy of this book, painted and
richly bound in five volumes.
The Genevan Bible. London, by Christopher Barker, 1578, 4to.
This edition has two versions of the Psalms; the Genevan,
printed in Roman letter, and that of the Great Bible, printed
in Gothic, similar to the rest of the volume.
The Genevan Bible. London, by Christopher Barker, 1583, folio.
The Bishop’s Bible. London, by Christopher Barker, 1585, folio.
The Bible, the Bishop’s, except the Psalms, which are according
to Cranmer’s Bible. London, by the deputies of C. Barker, 1595,
folio.
The Genevan Bible. London, by the deputies of C. Barker, 1595,
folio.
The Genevan Bible. London, by the deputies of C. Barker, 1599,
4to. Dr. Cotton remarks that probably this impression was a
very large one, as it appears to be the most common of all the
Genevan editions.[26]
The Genevan Bible. London, by R. Barker, 1611, folio; also in
4to. by R. Barker, 1611.
The Bible, translated by Royal Authority. London, by R. Barker,
1611, folio.[27]
The Bible. Printed at London by R. Barker, 1612, 4to.
The Bible. Printed at London in 1617, folio.
The Bible. Printed at Cambridge, 1629, folio.
The Bible. Printed by Buck and Daniel, at Cambridge, in 1638,
folio.
The Holy Bible. Printed at Cambridge in 1657, fol.
The Bible. Printed at London in 1660, 8vo.
The Bible, printed by Field at Cambridge, in 1663, folio.
The Bible, with Notes, and a Preface by John Canne. London, by
C. Bill, and the executrix of T. Newcomb, 1700, 4to.
The Bible, commonly called Bishop Lloyd’s, containing
additional marginal references. London, by C. Bill, and the
executrix of T. Newcomb, 1701, folio.
The Royal Bible, with Genevan Notes. London, without name of
printer, 1708, folio.
The Bible, translated by Anthony Purver, with Notes. London, by
Richardson, 1764, in two folio volumes.
Having thus briefly enumerated the English Bibles in this Collection,
I proceed to notice, in chronological order, those copies of detached
portions of the Scriptures which have been separately published,
commencing with the
New Testament, by William Tyndale, 1536, 12mo. being his third
and last revision.
The Pystles and Gospelles for every Sonday and holydaye in the
yere. Paris, no name, 1538, 8vo.
The same. Printed at Rouen, without name of printer, 1538, 8vo.
St. Matthew, chapters v. vi. vii. with an exposition by William
Tyndale, printed abroad, 1538, 16mo.
The New Testament, in Latin and English, after the Vulgate, by
John Hollybushe [Myles Coverdale.] Southwark, by J. Nicolson,
1538, 4to. This copy is of the second edition, which is less
rare than the first.
The Epistles and Gospels of every Sunday and holiday. London,
by Robert Redman, 1539, 4to.
The Epistles and Gospels, with Postills by divers learned men,
recognized and augmented by Richard Taverner, 1540, 12mo. very
narrow page. The present copy is imperfect.
The New Testament, translated from the Latin of Erasmus.
London, by R. Grafton and E. Whitchurch, 1540, 4to.
The New Testament. London, by William Powell, 1548, 4to.
Apocrypha. London, by J. Day and W. Seres, 1549, 12mo.
The Canticles, or Balades of Solomon, in Englysh metre by
William Baldwin. London, 1549, 4to.
The New Testament in Latin and English, the Latin by Erasmus.
London, by Thomas Gualtier, for J. C. 1550, 8vo.[28]
The New Testament, by Myles Coverdale. London, by Reynold
Wolfe, 1549, 12mo.[29]
The New Testament. London, by Richard Jugge, 1552, 4to.
The first fourteen chapters of the Acts of the Apostles,
translated into English metre by Christopher Tye: with Musical
Notes. London, by William Seres, 1553, 12mo.[30] The present
copy was presented to the Lambeth Library, by Sir John
Hawkins, on June 21st, 1777.
The New Testament. London, by Richard Jugge, 1553, 4to.
The Epistles and Gospels, &c. Rouen, by John Prest, 1555, 16mo.
The Genevan New Testament, translated by W. Whittingham.
Printed at Geneva, by Conrade Badius, 1557, 12mo.[31]
The Genevan New Testament. Printed at Geneva, but without name
of printer, 1560, 16mo.
The New Testament. London, by Richard Jugge, 1561, 12mo.
The Epistle to the Ephesians, with an Exposition of St.
Chrysostom. London, by H. Bynneman, 1581, 4to.
The New Testament, by William Allen and others. Rhemes, by John
Fogny, 1582, 4to. This is the first edition of the Rhemish or
Roman Catholic version.
The Proverbs of Solomon, with an Exposition by T. W.
(Wilcocke.) London, by T. Orwin, 1589, 4to.
The New Testament, London, by the deputies of Christopher
Barker, 1589, 12mo.
The New Testament, Beza’s, translated by L. Tomson. London, by
the deputies of Christopher Barker, 1596, 4to.
Jonah, with an Exposition by J. Abbott, S. T. P. London, by R.
Field, 1600, 4to.
The New Testament, by the Rhemish-Douay College. Printed at
Antwerp by Daniel Veruliek, 1600, 4to.
The Old Testament, by the Roman Catholic College of Douay.
Printed at Douay by L. Kellam, in 1609 and 1610, in two quarto
volumes.
The Rhemish New Testament, with Annotations. Antwerp, by James
Seldenslach, 1621, 12mo.
The Design of part of the Book of Ecclesiastes in verse, by
W. W. London, by J. Knapton, 1691, 8vo. This book is the
production of William Woollaston, author of “the Religion of
Nature delineated;” but not being altogether satisfied with his
Work, he used his endeavours to suppress it, with such effect,
that copies are now with difficulty to be found.
The New Testament, translated from the Latin Vulgate by
Cornelius Nary, without name of place or printer, but supposed
by Dr. Geddes in his Prospectus, p. 110, to have been printed
at Dublin, 1718, 8vo.
The Rhemish New Testament, without place or name of printer,
1752, 8vo.
Divers parts of the Holy Scriptures done into English, chiefly
from Dr. Mill’s Greek copy, with Notes. London, for T. Piety,
1761, 8vo.
The New Testament, by Dr. Doddridge’s translation revised.
London, for Rivington, 1765, in two volumes, 12mo.
The New Testament, and a liberal translation by E. Harwood.
London, for T. Becket and others, 1768, in two octavo volumes.