The Biblia Græca, juxta LXX, edente Grabe. Oxonii, 1707, in 2
volumes folio.
To which I may add, among other Editions of the New Testament, that
edited by Mill at Oxford in 1707.
In this place it is right to notice the various Concordances, Harmonies,
and Commentaries upon the Scriptures, as well as Confessions of Faith,
found in this Library; though to specify them minutely would fatigue the
reader.
It may suffice to mention more particularly Leigh’s Critica Sacra;
Limborch’s Theologia Christiana; the Commentaries of Lyra; Cave’s
Primitive Christianity; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Du Pin’s Bibliotheca
Veterum Patrum; the Works of Ramus, Raynaudus, and Rivetus, and Calmet’s
Dictionary of the Bible.
To Books of Homilies, and Catechisms, and various Rituals, may be added
the Graduale Romanum, Parisiis, 1640; Durandi Rationale Divinorum
Officiorum; Missale Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1686, cum figuris pulcherrimis,
in folio, being a noble volume from the Press of the illustrious Plantin;
and the Book of Common Prayer printed at Cambridge in 1669, in 4to.; to
which may be added various editions of the Psalter.
In Ecclesiastical History, Reports of the various Councils, including the
Acta Synodi, Dordracensis, and Brent’s History of the Council of Trent,
are here found in juxta-position with Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici
et Civilis; the Codex Canonum of Beveridge; the Ecclesiastical History
of Eusebius by Hanmer; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low
Countries; the Codex and Institutiones of Justinian; the Legenda Aurea;
and Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity.
Of Books relating to the Church affairs of Britain, this Library
embraces Parker’s Antiquitates Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, Hanoviæ, 1605,
folio; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; Fox’s Acts and
Monuments, London, 1583, 4to.; Godwin, de Præsulibus Angliæ, and the
Catalogue of Bishops; Burnett’s History of the Reformation; Durell,
Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Vindiciæ; Heylin’s History of the Reformation; Inett’s
Origines Anglicanæ; Stillingfleet’s Origines; Usser, Britannicæ Ecclesiæ
Antiquitates, Eblanæ, 1639, and Wharton’s Anglia Sacra.
Of General History there are but few volumes in this Collection: of these
the first in point of time and curiosity is the well-known Nuremberg
Chronicle of 1493, in folio; to which Dibdin has devoted sixteen pages of
the Spencer Catalogue. Next in point of interest as to time is the St.
Albans’ Chronicle, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1520. To these may be
added, Carionis Chronicon, and Robinsoni Annales Mundi.
Of Histories of different Countries we find on these shelves Asheton’s
Turkish Chronicle; Blount’s Portugal; Grimstone’s Netherlands; Howel’s
Germany; Mariana’s History of Spain; Scheffer’s Lapland; and Danett’s
History of the Low Countries.
Of Voyages and Travels we find only those of Sandys, Thevenot, and Drake;
Hakluyt’s Voyages, 1599, folio; Sir Thomas Herbert’s Travels in the East,
1630, folio; and Chardin’s Travels in Persia, 1686, and several Atlasses.
Chronological Works, which afford the most material aid to the historical
student, occur less sparingly in this Collection, since it is found
to contain only Cary’s Palæologia; Chronologia; Marshall and Lloyd’s
Chronological Tables; and Helvici Chronologia.
I may here mention Bayle’s Dictionary; Cluvierius, Geography; and
Prideaux’s Marmora Oxoniensia, as all affording helps to History.
Of Heraldry, whose language though limited is distinct, we find in this
Library, Leigh’s Accidence of Armoury, of 1597; Bolton’s Elements of
Armories, 1610, 4to.; and Boswell’s Accidence of Armory, 1672, 4to.;
works which were all written when the art of Blazon was extensively
cultivated as a science.
A large paper copy of Sparke’s Historia S. Cœnobii Burgensis Scriptores,
Londini, 1723, folio, and a copy of Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral,
enriched with the Manuscript Notes of Bishop Kennett, are taken under the
especial protection of the dean and chapter of that see.
In the Library, however, is left a small paper copy of Sparke’s
Collection, which leads me to mention Twysden’s Historiæ Anglicanæ
Scriptores Decem, and other works relating to the History of England.
Among these we find the Chronicles of Baker and Cooper; Echard’s History
of England, and three editions of Camden’s Britannia, by the author in
1590, 8vo., by Holland in 1610, folio, and by Gibson in 1695, in folio;
Blome’s Britannia, 1673; Ogilby’s Britannia; Whitelock’s Memorials,
1709, folio; Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion; Weldon’s Life
of Charles I.; May’s History of the Parliament of 1647; Bates’ Elenchus
Motuum Nuperorum in Angliâ, edited by Skinner, referring to the same
period in Dugdale’s View of the late Troubles, 1681, and Leycester’s rare
Commonwealth, also deposited in this chamber.
To these may be added Daniell’s History of England, including his
graphic account of the Wars of the Roses; Wyat’s Rebellion, by Proctor;
Barnes’ History of Edward III.; Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII. 1649;
Cox’s History of Ireland; Lloyd’s History of Wales; Kennett’s History of
England, London, 1719, in 3 volumes folio, and his Historical Register of
1728, in folio;[55] Stafford’s Pacata Hibernica; Sheringham, de Origine
Gentis Anglorum; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana; Tyrrell’s History
of England; and Sir William Temple’s Introduction to the History of
England.
I may here also notice Warner’s Albion’s England; Camden’s Remains
concerning Britain; and Yarranton’s England’s Improvement by Sea and
Land, &c.
Of Local Histories of England, this Collection comprehends, Bentham’s
Ely; Bridges’ Northamptonshire; Peck’s Stamford; Ayliffe’s Oxford;
Gunton’s Peterborough; Bentley’s Halifax; Hill’s Hereford Cathedral,
London, 1717, 8vo.; Lewis’ Isle of Thanet; Fitz Stephens’ Survey of
London; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Morton’s Natural History of
Northamptonshire; Somner’s Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Some Account of
the Scarborough Spaw in 1667; Willis’ Cathedrals; and Wright’s Rutland.
Connected with English History, and therefore deserving of a passing
remark are, Barwick’s Life of Barwick; Knight’s Life of Colet; the Life
of Wallace; and Le Neve’s Monumenta; Fasti Anglicani, and Lives of P— Q—;
Nevyllus de furoribus Norfolcensium Ketto duce; Bernard’s Life of Usher;
Sacheverell’s Tryal; Sir Philip Warwick’s Discourse of Governments; and
the Records of the Kingdom published by the authority of Parliament.
Pursuing the path of English Literature we meet with the Philosophical
and Theological Works of Sir Thomas More, including the edition of his
English Works in 1557, and the folio tome of his Latin productions.
To these I may add Baconi Opera Omnia, Francofurti, 1660, folio; Boyle’s
Works, abridged by Boulton; Barclay’s Apology; the Remains of Parsons,
Bishop of Peterborough; the Works of Charles the First, together with the
famous Εικων Βασιλικη; and Coverdale’s Letters of the Martyrs, 1614.
Of English Poesy the chaplet to be woven is but small; the curious reader
may however cull such flowers as the Works of Chaucer and of Milton;
Heywood’s Spider and Flie, 1536; Churchyard’s Challenge; and the Vision
of Pierce Plowman, may yield.
He may also derive instruction from Puttenham’s Art of English Poetry,
published in 1589 in 4to. a work of which the original is still the most
esteemed edition.
Herbs, which savour of the Physic Garden next invite the hand of the
Collector, who may here behold Arnoldi Herbolarium, in 4to.; Ascham’s
Herbal of 1550, in 8vo.; Andrew Borde’s Breviary of Health, &c.;
Culpepper’s Physical Directory; Lite’s History of Plants; and Tusser’s
Husbandry, with that of Barnaby Googe.
I may here notice a copy of Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum,
printed at London in 1635, in folio.
The Classical authors contained in this Library are not remarkable either
for their rarity or value.
I remarked however a very fine copy of Casaubon’s Polybius; the Works of
Aristotle, edited by Du Val and Erasmus; Aristophanis Comœdiæ, printed at
Basle in 1542, and at Franckfort in 1544; Antoninus, Gatakeri; Athenæus,
Dalecampii; Epictetus, Uptoni; Barnes’ Euripides; Florus, Grævii; Galeni
Opera, Venetiis, apud Aldum, 1525; Geoponica, by Needham; Hesiodus,
Robinsoni, Oxonii, 1737, 4to.; Herodotus, edited by Stephens and by
Gale; Quintus Curtius, Basileæ, 1545; Diogenes Laertius, Meibomii; and
Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Hudsoni.
I also noticed Longinus, by Pearce; Homerus Spondani, Basileæ, 1583;
Horatius, Delphini; Iamblichus, edited by Gale; Isocratis Epistolæ,
Venetiis, 1499, folio; Juvenalis Satyræ, Venetiis, 1548, folio; and
Antverpiæ, 1552, 8vo.; Planti Comœdiæ, 1530; the Aldine Statius;
Thucydides Hudsoni; Xenophontis Opera Stephani; and the Corpus Poetarum
Latinorum, printed at London, in 1603.
If to the Works already enumerated, be added various editions of Cæsar,
Cicero, Æsop, Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, of Demosthenes,
Hippocrates, Josephus, Ovid, Persius, Philostratus, Plutarch, Lucian,
Lucretius, Lucan, Livy, Quintilian, Sallust, and Silius Italicus, of
Seneca, Sophocles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Virgil, and Valerius
Maximus; the classical scholar may form a tolerably correct notion of
the value of this department of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of
Peterborough.
In this place I may venture to insert the English versions of the
classics which also find a place on these shelves. Of these, Appian in
English, London, 1578, 4to.; Phaer’s Virgil; and Chapman’s Homer, are the
most remarkable.
I may here briefly enumerate Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Du Fresne’s
Glossary; Eliot’s Bibliotheca, 1545; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis;
the Lexica of Hoffmanni and Scapula; Littleton’s, Rider’s, and Stephens’
English Dictionary; with some other Works of like nature, as constituting
the Etymological riches of this Collection.
Here also it may be proper to notice Bentley’s Dissertation on the
Epistles of Phalaris; Whittinton’s Grammatical Tracts; some Pieces of the
learned Vossius, and the Works of Picus of Mirandula.
In Bibliography, the only works which fell under my observation were
the Acta Eruditorum; Balei Scriptores Rerum Britannicarum, Basileæ,
1559; Fabricii Bibliotheca Latina; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Catalogus
Librorum ab inventâ Typographiâ ad annum 1500, excusorum, Amstelodami,
1688, 4to.; Clavel’s Catalogue of English Books from 1660 to 1680; Sixti
Senensis Bibliotheca Sancta; and Stanley’s History of Philosophy.
In English Literature, this collection is lamentably deficient, though
it possesses the Works of Locke, Isaac Barrow’s Mathematical Works;
Cumberland’s Origines Gentium, &c.; Hale’s Remains; the Works of
Cartwright, Ridley, Hobbes, and Rogers; Sprat’s History of the Royal
Society; Numerous Sermons, and many political as well as polemical Tracts.
Of Law Books, I only remarked Bracton de Legibus Anglorum; Fortescue
de Laudibus Legum Angliæ; Suarez de Legibus; and a few of the Statutes
themselves.
Of Miscellaneous Literature, there only remains for me to notice the
Works of Agricola, Ariosto, Petrarch, Machiavel, and Tasso, of Buchanan,
Bossuet, and Puffendorf, together with Boezio, della Consolazione
Filosofie, Florence, 1584; Hyde, Religio Veterum Persarum; Jovii Vitæ
Virorum Illustrium; and Platina, Vitæ Pontificum.
In conclusion I would direct the attention of the bibliopolist to
a specimen of a printer but little known, being the Provinciale of
Lyndewode, printed at London by Andree Brocard, in 1597, folio, in double
columns of the gothic letter; though the fortuitous similarity of name
may serve only to remind the votary of fashion of the bright illusion of
the dance, while still before his mental eye
“Soft sparkling like a star
Floats on her silver wing Brocard.”—_May Fair._
The important changes effected at the Reformation, were by no means so
disastrous to existing interests as is now commonly imagined, since,
in many instances the abbot of the ancient hierarchy became the bishop
of the reformed church. At Peterborough, the beneficial effects of the
sweeping measures of ecclesiastical reform under our Eighth Henry, were
felt in so especial a manner, that the town was at once elevated to the
rank and importance of a city in consequence of the conversion of the
ancient monastery into the cathedral see.
The remains, however, of the Conventual Library probably suffered more
from the rude hands of Cromwell’s soldiery, than from the previous
transition from the desks of the monks to the shelves of the clergy.
The books are chiefly theological, consisting of the fathers and early
controversialists, and adorned by a folio Missal from the press of
Plantin.
On the shelves of the Library of this Cathedral, there still remain
some interesting memorials of the Monastic Collection. Among these I
particularly noticed the Bible in Manuscript, finely illuminated, and the
Four Gospels, by Clement of Lanthony in 4to.
To these may be added, Manuscripts of the Works of Saints Augustine, and
Bernard; some Books of Homilies; the Liber Sententiarum Latinè, in 4to.;
and the Constitutiones Provinciales, in 8vo.
The most valuable and interesting Record connected with the Church of
Peterborough is the Lieger Book of the Church, a Chronicle composed by
Hugo surnamed Candidus, a Monk of that Monastery, but usually ascribed to
Robert Swapham,[56] a Monk of the same Church. This book was rescued from
destruction by the soldiers of Cromwell’s army April 22, 1643, by Mr.
Humfrey Austin, then chaunter of the Church, who redeemed it by the help
of ten shillings “for that old Latine Bible,” as he called it, given to
the ruffian who was carrying it away.[57]
The Books which had survived the dissolution of the Monastery, perished
in the Great Rebellion, and but few of them have been preserved to our
own times. The Catalogue printed in Gunton’s History of the Church of
Peterburgh, London, 1686, in folio, under the title of “Matricularium
Librariæ Monasterii Burgi Sancti Petri, paucis libris non examinatis,”
is therefore of much importance, as shewing the nature and extent of the
monastic Library of Peterborough in its original state.
“I shall here present,” says our author, “an Ancient Catalogue of a
Library in this Monastery, which, having no date annexed to it, must be
left to conjecture when it might be taken. The marginal illustrations I
have taken out of Bellarmine Pitseus, and Trithemius, and affixed them
thereunto.”
This Catalogue occupies 26 leaves, extending from pp. 173 to 224 of the
Appendix. Its contents are chiefly the moral and devotional writings of
the fathers, commentators, and early schoolmen, the canon-law, the Latin
Classics, with some pieces of Aristotle, a few chronicles, and legends.
Leland’s Notice of the Library of this House, in his Collectanea,
is either very imperfect, or it must have lost many of its books
previous to his visitation. He enumerates only fifteen works, of which
the following only are historical; Passio Sanctorum Wolfadi et Rufini
filiorum Regis Wolpheri; Vita S. Eustachii carmine heroico; Liber
Epistolarum Gulielmi de Semperingham; Vita Gisleni Episcopi Græci; Vita
Felicis eleganti carmine scripta; and Freculphi Historia.
The last article in the Catalogue printed by Gunton, after an enumeration
of some works in the romance language, is a “Computatio annorum ab initio
mundi usque ad tempore Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi;” probably Edward the
Second; in which case the compilation of this Catalogue could not have
been earlier than 1317.
Dr. White Kennett, Dean and afterwards Bishop of Peterborough,
contributed fifteen hundred volumes to form an antiquarian and historical
Library for his Cathedral Church. The Catalogue of this Collection
is entitled “Index Librorum aliquot Vetustorum quos in commune bonum
congessit W. K. Decan. Petriburg. MDCCXII.”[58]
[Illustration]
Library of Ripon Minster.
The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Ripon affords a pleasing instance
of the proper appreciation of “the tomes of olden time;” for the Books,
which were long suffered to lie neglected in the Church, are now
preserved with commendable attention under the hospitable roof of the
Deanery.
Many volumes, indeed, were so much decayed, from the dampness of their
former repository, that their mouldering fragments were not worth
removal; but other volumes, including probably some classic authors, may
still remain in the Library, and upon some future investigation may be
restored, but little injured, to their companions, wherefore it is not
possible to ascertain the exact amount of its contents.
I may add, however, my best wishes that the laudable desire manifested
by the present Dean for the restoration of the ancient Library in the
Church, may be gratified at no distant period, seeing that this is all
that is wanted to render the restoration of that sacred edifice, under
his judicious direction, full and complete.
I may here also remark how much the skill of Mr. Blore has contributed
to adorn the screen and the choir of this ancient Minster, and it
only remains for him to give the world one of his own beautiful
representations of the scene to convince any one that I am not
exaggerating its renovated appearance.
But to return to the “dear bokes” now comfortably reposing in the Dean’s
own study.
The Collection was formed by Anthony Higgins, Dean of Ripon in 1608, and
consists chiefly of Works which in his time were new publications, and
as it happens to have been preserved entire with but little admixture
of any subsequent donations, it affords an interesting specimen of the
literature of that period.
That this Library was not large is no reproach to the worthy donor,
whose autograph, accompanied occasionally by the price of the volume,
frequently appears on the titles of his books, for he gave to his church
all the literary treasures he possessed, and, as Moore sings, “he could
no more.”
I shall proceed to give those specimens of the early English Printers
which most forcibly arrested my attention, and am most happy to begin
with the Father of the English Press. The first is of almost unparalleled
rarity, the only other copy of which I am at present cognisant being
that in the noble library of Earl Spencer. This is the famous “Book
for Travellers,” whose Eureka may be heard in the gossiping pages of
the Bibliographical Decameron. This Book for Travellers in Frensshe
and English, is printed in double columns of the smaller Gothic type
employed by Caxton, but without any indication of date, place, or name of
printer. It is complete in 25 leaves, in folio, as fresh and sound as
if they had but just issued from the press. It measures exactly eleven
inches and a quarter by eight inches and a quarter, and is appropriately
bound in olive Venetian morocco, with joints, apparently by that cunning
Bibliopegist Charles Lewis.
The second specimen from Caxton’s Press is the well-known and extremely
rare “Boecius de Consolatione Philosophie,” folio, in the same type as
the Dictes and Sayinges, and other Works of that Printer. It lacks,
however, all indication of place, date, or typographer, concluding
with the Latin verses written by Surigonus, the Poet Laureat of Milan,
entitled the “Epitaphium Galfridi Chaucer.” The Caxtonian peroration
is very interesting, and may be seen at large in the Typographical
Antiquities of Dibdin, vol. 1. p. 303. The present copy wants only the
75th leaf, which is at present clumsily supplied by manuscript. It
appears to contain about 90 leaves, and though not entirely free from
stain, is in very sound condition, measuring eleven inches and a quarter
by eight inches and a quarter. It is bound in dark blue morocco, with
gilt leaves.
Having failed in discovering any Work of Wynkyn de Worde, I proceed to
notice a small Volume by Richard Pynson, which I never saw before. It
is the Magna Charta, in a small Gothic letter, with an Index prefixed,
at the end of which is the Colophon,—“Londini per Ricardus Pynson, &c.,
1514.” It measures five inches and three-eighths by two inches and a
half, and is bound in smooth russia.
Reginald Wolfe is the next early English Printer to be noticed, on
account of a fine and perfect copy of “The Castle of Knowledge,
Imprinted at London by Reginalde Wolfe, A.D. 1556,” 4to. bound in plain
calf.
There are three specimens of the Press of Binnemann, the most beautiful
of which is the well-known Tract “Alexandri Nevylli Angli de furoribus
Norfolcensium, Ketto duce, &c.” “Londini, ex officinâ Henrici Binnemann,
1575,” bound in olive morocco. The next is “Crispini Lexicon. Londini
apud Binnemann, 1581,” 4to. whose title bears the autograph of its former
possessor, Anthony Higgins. The third is a “Defense of the Translations
of the Scriptures by W. Fulke, London, Henrie Bynnemann, 1583,” 4to.
bound in calf.
Richard Tottel next claims attention to a small 18mo. volume, entitled
“An Exposicion of the termes of the Lawes, London, Richard Tottel, 1567.”
I shall next mention the treatise of “Thomas Chaloner de Republicâ
Anglorum instaurandâ Londini, excudebat Thomas Vautrollerius,
Typographus, 1579,” 8vo. bound in russia; and the English Secretorie, by
Angel Day, London, 1592, 8vo. bound in calf; concluding my notices of
these old English Books with the French and English Dictionary, compiled
by Claudius Hollyband, and printed by Thomas Woodcock at London in 1593,
4to. The present is a very fine and perfect copy, bound in smooth russia.
Of the productions of Foreign Presses, the first which attracted my
observation was a very sound copy of “the Cronycles of the londe of
Englonde, printed by Gerard de Leeu at Antwerp, 1493,” folio, whereof a
full description will be found in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, IV. p. 229.
It is certainly strange, as Dibdin has remarked that the compiler of
the Magliabecchian Catalogue should have regarded this as the first
book printed in the English language. But it must be remembered that
he spoke only from his own observation, and that book certainly is the
earliest English book in that Collection. Palpable however as the mistake
is, it may well serve to show how limited is the knowledge even of the
most accurate bibliographer; for the Catalogue, whose index this lapsus
deforms, is one of the most valuable hitherto given to the world, and is
in fact quite a model in its way. The Chronicles under notice have the
title pasted on another piece of paper, and the volume itself, measuring
eleven inches by seven and three quarters, is well bound in smooth russia.
The next book, whose bright coverture of red morocco caught my eye, was
a fine and perfect copy of Nicandri Theriaca, cum Scholiis, Coloniæ,
Joannes Soteris, 1530, 4to. To which I may add Tentacula Nov. Test. also
printed at Cologne in 1526.
I may next mention Saunders’ Supper of our Lord, printed at Louvain in
1566. Speculum Sapientiæ Cirilli, and Opuscula Theologica, in a small
volume of Gothic character, by Jaumar, at Paris, in the early part of the
sixteenth century.
In conclusion I may briefly advert to the Hebrew Grammar printed by
Froben at Basle in 1522, which is bound in the same volume with a
Compendium of the Greek Grammar, and the Opera et Dies of Hesiod, printed
by Christopher Froschover, at Zurich, in 1526.
I may add among the recent donations to this Library, the new edition of
Stephens’ Thesaurus.
This Library is also entitled, equally with the Cathedral Libraries,
to copies of all the Works published under the authority of the
Parliamentary Record Commission.
To several of the rarer articles mentioned above, are appended
bibliographical notices transcribed from the Spencer Catalogue and other
sources in the time of the late Dean, whom the opportune visit of Dr.
Dibdin in 1816, had apprised of the value of the treasures which till
then lay dormant in his custody.
[Illustration]
Library of Rochester.
The Library of the Dean and Chapter of this Cathedral is kept in the
Chapter House, a well proportioned, and well lighted room, adjoining the
Choir of the Cathedral, and the remains of the ancient Chapter-house;
being placed immediately over part of the ancient crypt, and approached
by a most beautiful doorway, having some finely preserved statues in its
niches.
The books are arranged upon open shelves, in open cases placed against
the walls of the room, which is very dry, being warmed by a stove, which
“Buzaglo fecit. 1768.”
The walls of this apartment are hung with portraits of King James I.
and of Sprat Bishop of Rochester, a view of the Nave of St. Patrick’s
Cathedral in Dublin, and an engraved Plan of Jerusalem.
The Library is kept up by the donations of successive Prebends, who upon
their installation are expected to make the customary donation thereto.
The Manuscript portion of this Library is kept in closed cases, which are
kept locked, in the Chapter-house, and contains the original Registrum
and Custumale Roffense, edited by Thorp, together with several old
charters and other documents relating to the Church, many of which have
the original seals, some of which are very curious, appended thereto.
Among the Manuscripts I noticed, Bibliandri Lectiones, in 7 quarto
volumes, bound in old calf, and a folio volume, written upon vellum,
and lettered Quæstiones Theologicæ, upon a vellum cover, the first leaf
whereof exhibiteth these words: “Liber de Claustro Roffensi per Dominum
Johannem ejusdem loci Priorem,” so that this at least is a specimen of
the original Monastic Library.
Among the printed books is a considerable quantity of obsolete Divinity,
and some English as well as foreign Works which have deservedly fallen
into oblivion. Upon these the worms seem tacitly permitted to feed, for
I found no less than three of those small white grubs, so well known as
book-worms, and yet so seldom seen, greedily devouring a black letter
folio. It is really astonishing how so minute an animal, with no apparent
power of perforation, can drill holes through paper, wood, and leather,
subsisting at the same time upon the havoc which it makes, and it is
at least satisfactory to have caught them actually engaged in the full
gratification of their bibliophagistic propensities.
I cannot conceal the pleasure with which I discovered Coverdale’s Bible,
folio, “Prynted in the yeare of oure Lorde, MDXXXV. and fynished the
fourth day of October,” concealed between “the Booke of Common Prayer,
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, 1629, folio, and the
Whole Booke of Psalmes. London, 1629,” folio, being also disguised by the
binder who has lettered the volume, “Holy Bible, 1629.”
This mistake appears to have misled the compiler of the Catalogue, who
being unacquainted with the mysteries of black letter has simply entered
this precious volume as “Holy Bible, with the booke of Common Prayer
prefixed, fol. Lond. 1629.”
The alphabetical enumeration of the books in this Collection was indeed
made before the study of bibliography was cultivated to any extent in
this country, being entitled the “Catalogue of the Library of the Dean
and Chapter of Rochester, 1776.” This thin folio volume is bound in calf,
lettered, “Libri Eccl. Roff.”
To revert however to the first English Bible, I was pleased to observe
that the present copy thus protected and concealed by its ancient binding
of calf, upon which the brass fastenings of the clasps still remain, was
perfect, with the sole exception of the title, and the map. It measures
nearly twelve inches, by seven inches and seven-eighths, and is in very
tender condition at the beginning and the end, the natural consequence of
the repeated thumbing it doubtless received from our pious forefathers.
Some one however has so determinedly erased the name of the Queen, in the
Dedication, that it cannot now be deciphered.
I have next the satisfaction of noticing a perfect copy, in double
columns, of black letter, bound in old calf, of “the Byble in Englyshe,
&c.” “Prynted by Rychard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch. Cum Privilegio ad
Imprimendum solum. 1539, Folio,” at the conclusion of which we read. “The
ende of the New Testament, and of the whole Byble fynished in Apryll,
Anno M CCCCCXXXIX.”
“A dn̅o factum est istud.”
This book was presented to the Library, “Eccl. Cath. Roffensis ex Dono E.
Barrell, 1745.”
There are some curious documents in the State Paper Office relating to
this Bible, which was printed in Paris, wherein the copies upon vellum,
taken off for Henry VIII. and now in the British Museum, (April 1540)
and for the Lord Keeper Cromwell, now at St. John’s College in Cambridge
(April 1539) are mentioned.
Next in order of time comes the Holie Bible, with Cranmer’s Preface,
“Imprinted at London in powles Church yarde, by Richarde Jugge,” (1568.)
Folio. In double columns of black letter. The present copy is perfect,
though torn at the end, and is bound in dark calf.
Then comes the Holy Bible, Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker,
1584, folio, which unfortunately lacks all the leaves subsequent to folio
572. It is bound in old calf, with brass knobs, &c. and red leaves.