Psalterium Sarisburiense. Londini, 1555.
The Psalter by Whitchurch, 1535.
The Seven Penytencyall Psalms of Bishop Fysher. London, by
Wynkyn de Worde, 4to. and
The Psalterium Saxonico-Latinum Spelmanni. Londini, 1640, 4to.
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 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 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; 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 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 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.
The Mons Pefectionis, or Hyll of Perfection by Gallicantus
Alcock. London, 1501.
Barclay’s Shippe of Fooles. London, 1508.
The Boke of Wysdome. London, 1532.
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; 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.
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 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; 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; 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.
[Illustration]
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, 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 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]
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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:
Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Thomas Petyt and Robert Redman, for
Thomas Berthelet, 1540, folio.
Bible, oversene by Cuthbert, Bishop of Duresm, and Nicholas,
Bishop of Rochester. London, by Richard Grafton, 1541, folio.
The Bible, by Matthew, reprinted from the edition of 1537.
London, by Thomas Raynaldes and William Hyll, 1549, folio.
Bible. London, by Edward Whitchurch, 1550, 4to.
The Bible, Coverdale’s. London, for Andrew Hester, 1550, 4to.
The body of this work is unquestionably of foreign typography,
and was probably executed at Zurich. The preliminary pieces
in ordinary black letter, were probably printed in London. The
present copy however is very imperfect.
The Bible, Matthew’s, with some variation, and an addition of
the third book of the Macabees, by Edmond Becke. London, by
John Daye, 1551, folio.
The Bible. London, by Nicolas Hyll for Robert Toy, 1551, folio.
The Bible in English, that is to say, the contente of the holy
Scriptures, &c. revised by Cranmer. Imprynted at London by
Edwarde Whitchurche. Cum Privilegio ad imprimendum solum. 1553,
folio. This edition Dr. Cotton conjectures to have been copied
from the first edition of 1539, since here as in that, the
Apocryphal Books are entitled Hagiographa. A full page has 58,
sometimes 59 lines. The date of 1553 occurs at the beginning of
the New Testament. The present is a sound and perfect copy in
old calf binding.
Coverdale’s Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1553, 4to. This
is in fact the Zurich edition of 1550, with a new title page,
almanack, &c. The preliminary pieces, being in the usual black
letter of that period, were probably added after the arrival in
London, of the body of the work, whose typographical aspect is
of the house of Froschover. The present copy being defective at
the end, has been made up by 3 leaves from Barker’s Bible of
1580.
Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Richard Grafton and Edward
Whitchurch, 1553, 4to.
The Bible, Cranmer’s. London, by John Cawood, 1561, 4to.
Imperfect.
The Bible, Cranmer’s. London, by Richard Harrison, 1562, folio.
Cranmer’s Bible, printed at Rouen by C. Hamillon, at the cost
and charges of Richard Carmarden, 1566, folio.