Several volumes of the Philosophical Transactions.
Of Etymological Works I observed merely Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Hickes’
Thesaurus Septentrionalis, Oxonii, 1705, in 2 vols. folio; Du Cange’s
Glossary, Francof. 1710, in 3 vols. folio; Scapulæ Lexicon; Junii
Etymologicum Anglicanum, Oxonii, 1743, fol.; Calepini Dictionarium, Lugd.
Bat. 1681, folio; Hoffmanni Lexicon Universale; Samuel Johnson’s English
Dictionary; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; and Nizolii Thesaurus Linguæ
Latinæ.
The editions of the Classics contained in this Collection are not
numerous; but of these I mention two volumes only of
Ciceronis Opera, Stephani. Parisiis, 1539, folio.
Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti. Oxonii, 1783, in 10 vols. 4to.
Euclidis Opera. Venetiis, 1505, folio.
Epictetus Uptoni. Londini, 1741, in 2 vols. 4to.
Homeri Opera. Basileæ, 1535, 4to.
Hesiodus, Robinsoni. Oxonii, 1737, 4to.
Livius, Drakenborchii, in 4 vols. 8vo.
Plutarchi Apophthegmata. Londini, 1741.
Pindarus. Romæ, 4to.
Quintilianus. Londini, 1641, 4to.
Tacitus, Brotierii, in 5 vols. 8vo.
Terentius, Bentleii. Cantabrigiæ, 1726, 4to.
Virgilii Opera, cum X. Comment. 1528, folio.
I may here mention, Bryant’s Mythology; Spence’s Polymetis; Coplestone’s
Prælectiones Academicæ; and Arbuthnot’s Tables of Ancient Coins, 1754,
4to.
Of English Literature this Library cannot boast a copious selection, the
principal Works which occurred to me, being only
Bacon’s Works, London, 1753, in 3 volumes, folio.
The Works of Locke and Mede.
Seldeni Opera per Wilkins, 1726, in 3 vols. folio.
Shakespeare, edited by Johnson, Stevens and Reid, London, 1803,
in 21 volumes, 8vo.
Butler’s Hudibras, edited by Grey.
Lastly, as a specimen of the lamentable prejudice which our forefathers
entertained against Witches, I may mention Glanvil’s Saducismus
triumphatus, 1681, 8vo.
From this cursory survey of the contents of the Rochester Cathedral
Library, it will appear that its character is chiefly theological, and
its interest centred in those impressions of the Sacred Scriptures, and
Church Service Books which I have already so carefully described.
It is also refreshing to think that from the prebendal donations, a
constant supply of fresh literature is provided for the support and
ornament of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.
[Illustration]
Library of Salisbury.
This Library affords a pleasing instance of the proper appreciation of
the tomes of olden time, having been restored by the exertions, and
preserved by the care of its present Librarian.
The books it is true have suffered severely from past neglect, and some
valuable manuscripts have been mutilated or lost, but those which remain
are now treasured as they deserve, and to many of the printed books,
substantial coats of calf skin have been given, the manufacture of a
Salisbury Bibliopegist. The volumes themselves thus judiciously preserved
are kept upon open shelves, in cases which are placed against the walls
of a very dry and well lighted room, over the cloisters adjoining the
Cathedral. The volumes are from four to five thousand in number, and in
winter have the advantage of stove heat.
The Library itself was built by Bishop Jewel, whose portrait is
appropriately placed over the fire place, but the books which it contains
were principally given to the Dean and Chapter by Bishop Gheast.
The old Catalogue of this Collection had been mislaid at the time of
my visit, but the Librarian very properly keeps a duplicate, which he
compiled himself in alphabetical order.
The oldest portion of this Library of course consists of the Manuscripts,
which have suffered much from time, but more from neglect. They embrace
a great quantity of controversial divinity, with the usual proportion
of Decretals and Glosses, Homilies and Psalters, including some curious
illuminated Missals, among which the “Missale ad usum insignis et
præclaræ ecclesiæ Sarum,” is also found.
The most rare manuscripts in this Collection are, Justiniani
Institutiones Juris Civilis, cum Glossâ Accursianâ, which has been
recently collated by the German editors of that work. Galfridi
Monumetensis Historia, a very valuable inedited manuscript of the
eleventh century; and the Gregorian Liturgy in the Saxon tongue.
Among the other manuscripts I noticed the Works of Saints Ambrose,
Athanasius, Augustine, Jerome, Isidore, and Eusebius; Cassiodorus super
Psalterium; Rabbani Lyra Commentarii; Epistolæ Patrum et aliorum;
Gulielmi Monachi Meldunensis de Miraculis Beatæ Virginis Mariæ; Adhelm de
laude Virginitatis; Beda de ratione temporis, torn at the corners; and
some pieces by Thomas Aquinas.
To these I may add the Biblia Sacra; the Works of Boethius; Aristotle de
Animalibus; the Chronicon Freculfi; and the Legenda Sanctorum.
The mention of this last work calls to my mind the once popular
translation thereof, whose first appearance in the English language took
place under the auspices of William Caxton.
The copy of Caxton’s Golden Legend, in this Library, is unfortunately
imperfect both at the beginning and at the end, containing only the
text from folio ii to folio ccccxiiii, inclusive. It has been very much
cropt, measuring only ten inches and three quarters by seven and one
eighth. It has been recently bound in calf so as to resemble as nearly as
possible coeval binding.
This Collection also contains the “Lombardica historia quæ a plerisque
Aurea Legenda Sanctorum appellatur; impressa Argentine, 1496, folio,” in
double columns of Gothic letter, half bound.
I will proceed to notice the other early printed books in this Library,
beginning with the well known, but seldom seen Apollonius Rhodius,
printed in capital letters by Francis de Alopa, at Florence, about the
close of the fifteenth century, in 4to. This copy unfortunately wants the
greater portion of the last leaf, but is sound throughout, measuring very
nearly nine inches and a quarter by six and three quarters, and is bound
in old calf with red leaves.
Let us next take a specimen of the Milan Press: “Synonyma Simonis
Genuensis Opus Impressum Mediolani per Antonium Zarotum parmensem anno
dn̅i. M CCCC lxxiii. Die Martis III Augusti,” folio. This volume printed
in double columns of Roman character is bound in russia.