-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------
Form. | Letter C. | Edition. | Shelf. | Compartment. | Number.
-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------
8vo. | Cosmo, &c. | Verona, 1591. | II. | 7 | 189-192.
4to. | Cavendish. | London, 1802. | I. | 5 | 52-55.
Folio. | Colley. | London, 1760. | XI. | 3 | 1080-1082.
12mo. | Corneille. | Paris, 1820. | X. | 6 | 920-930.
-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------
“This will suffice to make it clear to you; and as I know by experience
what a difficult matter the managing of a Library is, and how many are
the ways of doing it, I send you this scheme, as very well suited to a
small collection of books.
“I could not get a sight of any of the rare books or manuscripts kept
here, as the Librarian was absent. In a corner I found a very curious
drawing of the procession at the great Marlborough’s funeral. It is
almost incredible how totally the dresses and customs have altered
ever since that time. The aged clerk who conducted me about, said he
remembered, when a boy, to have seen soldiers with long bag wigs, like
those in the picture.”
This locality has been so minutely described by the lively pen of a
continental writer, that I have made the foregoing extract from a “Tour
in Germany, Holland, and France in the years 1826, 1827, and 1828, with
Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and Anecdotes of
distinguished Public Characters, in a series of letters, by a German
Prince” (Puckler Muskau). “In four volumes, London, Effingham Wilson,
Royal Exchange, 1832,” vol. iv. 169-170.
The Catalogue, though carelessly written, is alphabetically arranged, and
the books are not disfigured by printed labels on their backs, indeed
this Library has very much the aspect of a private collection, and may
vie with many in the value of its contents.
The valuable body of Manuscripts including those of Mr. Torre on
Ecclesiastical affairs; Bracton de legibus Angliæ; and two Manuscripts
of Cicero, collated by Hearne for the Oxford edition; the three latter,
attired in crimson velvet, are preserved with all the care which their
intrinsic worth demands.
The printed books are also adorned in many instances with russia and
morocco, indicating a becoming sense of the true value of these literary
treasures.
But the gem of this Collection is most assuredly the vellum copy of the
second edition of the New Testament, edited by Erasmus, and printed
by Froben, in 2 volumes, folio, at Bâsle in 1519. The beauty of the
press work, the lustre of the ink, and the purity of the vellum must
excite the admiration of every true lover of ancient typography. These
resplendent volumes retain their original coverture, and are protected
by loose cases, but have been rebacked; and as they are rather choked in
the binding should be attired in blue morocco with white silk insides,
whereon should be stamped in letters of gold, “YORK MINSTER LIBRARY,”
and enclosed in locked cases of russia, lined with velvet. Let us be
particular in describing the contents of these precious tomes.
The recto of the first leaf of the first volume presents us with the
Title of the New Testament, surrounded by a wood-cut border, and on the
reverse is the Pope’s license similarly encadred. Then immediately follow
the Preface, Paraclesis and Prolegomena occupying, together with the
title, 120 pages regularly numbered. The New Testament, printed in two
columns, the right of Latin, and the left of Greek text, in Greek and
Roman letter, follows this preliminary matter, having a separate title
prefixed, and occupies 566 pages exclusive of the last leaf, containing
the Errata, Index, Terminorum, and the following Colophon:
“BASILEAE IN AEDIBUS IOANNIS FROBENII”
ANNO SALVTIS HVMANAE M.D.XIX.
MENSE MARTIO.
On the reverse is the usual device of Froben.
The second volume contains the Annotations of Erasmus on the New
Testament, and are preceded by a title encadred as in the preceding
volume, and concluded by the “Index Terminorum” on the recto, the last
leaf numbered p. 579. The paginary figures are consecutive, and include
the title. On the reverse of the last leaf appears the well-known device
of Froben, and immediately beneath it the following Colophon:
“BASILEAE APVD IOHANNEM”
FROBENIVM MENSE
MARTIO. M.D.XIX.
The clear Roman character of both volumes is precisely similar, and the
Greek remarkably distinct. Marginal references occur throughout both
volumes, which are alike distinguished by signatures, catch-words, and
paging figures, and have many of the initial letters cut in wood.
Of equal interest with reference to English typography are the smaller
pieces of Caxtonian literature, which here exist in the shape of
two small works in metre, most rare and of especial note which were
discovered by Master Thomas Frognall Dibdin Clerk, in the year of our
Lord 1816, of which same marvellous discovery he pleasantly discourseth
in the Bibliographical Decameron, v. III. p. 416-19. The first of these
curious Metrical pieces consists of 9 leaves in 4to. concluding on the
reverse of sign. f. g. with these words:
“Explicit the Chorle and the birde.”
It has been reprinted by the Roxburghe Club, and a manuscript note by
Dr. Dibdin informs us that another copy exists in the Public Library
at Cambridge. The second of these Metrical pieces owns Lydgate for its
author, beginning with these words:
“The hors the shepe and the ghoos”
It is also in 4to. consisting of 15 leaves, and concluding with the word:
“Explicit.”
Both these little tomes are executed in the rude Gothic type usually
ascribed to Caxton, and are bound in blue morocco.
I next opened three translations from the Works of Cicero, all from the
press of Caxton. The first has a gratuitous MS. title of “Cicero on
Honour,” and consists of 7 leaves. It begins thus on the recto of the
first leaf:
“Here maketh the Argument of the declamacyon which laboureth to
shewe wherin honoure sholde reste.”
On the reverse of the seventh and last leaf, we read the conclusion thus:
“Thus endeth this lytil book.”
Beneath some one has added in red ink MS. capitals:
“EXPLICIT PER CAXTON
MCCCC LXXXI.”
This thin folio is very shabbily half bound.
The two next tractates of Cicero are bound in one volume in folio; the
first being entitled,
“Tullyus de Senectute.”
preceded by two leaves of table, and ending with the word “Explicit,”
immediately beneath which is this Colophon:
“Thus endeth the Book of Tully of Old Age, translated out of Latin
into French, by Laurence de Primo-Facto, at the commandment of the
noble prince Louis, Duke of Bourbon; and enprinted by me simple person
William Caxton, into English, at the pleasure, solace, and reverence of
men growing into old age, the xii day of August, the year of our Lord
M.CCCC.lxxxj.”
The second tractate commences with these words:
“Here followeth the said Tullius de Amicitia.”
and endeth thus,
“Explicit per Caxton.”
The signatures run from a 1. to f 4. and both pieces appear to be
perfect, though Dibdin who mentions only the first, affirms the contrary
in his Decameron, but probably opening the volume in his lucernal
examination, and turning to the end thereof, without remarking that it
contained two separate pieces, and missing the well-known colophon quoted
above, might have concluded the volume from thence imperfect.
The next and last Caxtonian production which occurred to me in this
Library was,
“The Booke of the Fayttes of Armes and of Chyvalrye, which Christine of
Pyse drew out of Vegetius de re militari.” This work written in French
under the title of “Le Livre des faits d’Armes et de Chevalrie par
Christine de Pisan,” was delivered to Caxton by king Henry the Seventh
“in his palais of Westmestre the xxiii day of Januyere the iiii year of
his regne, who desyred and wylled him to translate this said booke, and
reduce it into our english and natural tongue and to put it in prynte,
which Translacion was finished the viiith day of Juyll the sayd year and
emprynted the xiiith day of Juyll next following and full fynyshed” in
1489.
The present copy bound in sorry calf, and lettered “Christian of Pisa,”
is unfortunately imperfect at the end, wanting all from sign. S. i. to
the end. It has however the Table of two leaves which precedes the text.
Among the other early printed Books I noticed, “The Ordynary of Chrysten
men” printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1506, 4to. which a manuscript note by
Dibdin says is “not quite perfect.” It is bound in blue morocco with gilt
leaves.
The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, translated out of Latin into English
by John Trevisa, and reprinted from Caxton’s edition by Peter Treveris at
London in 1527, folio. It is bound in pale russia, and is perfect. And
the Dives and Pauper, printed by Pynson at London in 1537, 4to.
Hitherto I have only skimmed over the surface of this valuable
Collection, selecting such relics of the olden time as fastidious
bibliomaniacs especially delight in.
The best editions of the Classics, and of the Fathers form a considerable
portion of this Collection, though I sought in vain for any first
editions of the Classic Authors.
The value of this Collection demands a particular account of its
component parts, and I commence accordingly with the Sacred Writings.
Of Impressions in the original Hebrew I remarked the Bomberg Hebrew
Bible, printed at Venice in 1618, in two folio volumes; and the Hebrew
Bibles edited by Kennicott and Vander Hooght; Walton’s Polyglott Bible
is also found here. In Greek the Aldine Psalter, the Alexandrine Codex,
edited by Woide; and the Codex Beza, edited by Kipling chiefly merit
notice. The Latin Versions are numerous, including that printed at Venice
in 1498; and the Biblia Latina Junii, Francofurti, 1589. The English
Versions are also numerous. Of these the Doway Bible of 1609; the Oxford
Bible of 1680; an imperfect copy of Matthews’ Bible of 1549; and another
London edition in 1602; the Cambridge Bible of 1682; Wilson’s Bible of
1783; a Bible printed at York in 1789; and D’Oyly and Mant’s Bible with
Notes, &c. are the most remarkable. I also noticed the German Bible
printed at Nuremberg in 1541; French and Indian Bibles; and the Rhemish
Testament by Fulke.
The Commentaries, Concordances, and other illustrations of Holy Writ in
this Library form a valuable part of this Collection.
This Library can also boast a very excellent collection of the best
editions of the Fathers of the Church. The labours of S.S. Ambrose,
Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus,
Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Eusebius, Fulgentius, Gregory Nazianzen,
Hilary, Jerome, Irenæus, Isidore, Lactantius, Origen, Philo Judæus,
Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, and other pillars of the Faith here
exist for the edification of the theological student.
The mass of Catholic Divinity is considerable, including the Works of the
Venerable Bede, Cardinal Bellarmine, Bernard, Theodore Beza, Bonaventura,
Cassiodorus, Gregory, Lanfranc, Duns Scotus, Hugo Victor, and Zanchius;
Zuinglii Opera Omnia; with many others of lesser note.
This Collection of Theology also embraces, Montfaucon, Collectio Nova
Patrum; the Bibliotheca Patrum; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; the Critici
Sacri; and Pole’s Synopsis; Cruden’s Concordance; De Rossi Variæ
Lectiones in Vetus et Novum Testamentum; Limborch, Theologia Christiana;
Michaelis’ Introduction to the New Testament; Outram de Sacrificiis; the
Commentaries of Patrick, Pearce, &c.; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus;
Vincentii Speculum Majus; and Walchii Bibliotheca Theologica et
Patristica.
In this Library are found Casaubon’s Erasmus of 1514; the Works of
Calvin, Grotius, Luther, Melancthon, and other Divines of that age.
In English Divinity this Collection includes the Works of Lancelot
Andrews, Alison, Barrow, Bishop Berkeley, Archbishop Bramhall,
Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Hacket, Hammond, Hoadly, Jackson, Jewel,
Lardner, Lowth, Macknight, Mede, Ogden, Paley, Perkins, Porteus,
Prideaux, Sherlock, Stackhouse, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson,
Warburton, Waterland, Watson, Whitaker, and Whitgift.
I also observed the series of Bampton Lectures; the Bridgewater
Treatises; Sermons by Blair, Saurin, Secker, and many others; Bingham’s
Antiquities of the Christian Church; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles;
Butler’s Analogy; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Gale’s Court of the
Gentiles; Hey’s Lectures; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Kett on
Prophecy; Pearson on the Creed; and the Works of Archbishop Usher.
I may here notice the Histories of the Jews by Basnage, and Josephus; and
Spencer de legibus Hebræorum.
In Ecclesiastical History this Library possesses the Ecclesiastical
Annals of Baronius; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Bacon’s Liber Regis;
Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Burnet’s
History of the Reformation in England; Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ,
&c. 1588; the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Councils and Conferences, &c.;
Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Fuller’s Church History; Harpsfeld,
Historia Ecclesiastica; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Lyndewode’s
Provinciale; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Parker de Antiquitate
Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Sanderus, de Schismate Anglicano; Spotswode’s
History of the Church of Scotland; Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials; and
Symeon Dunelmensis de exordio et procursu istius Ecclesiæ, edente Thomâ
Bedford, 1732, 8vo.
The Historical department of this Collection embraces the great body of
Byzantine Historians, edited by Labbe; Bouquet, Recueil des Historiens
des Gaules, of which the first 13 volumes are in red morocco, the
remaining 5 in boards. Muratori Thesaurus Antiquitatum, &c. Mediolani,
1723, in 22 folio volumes, with the Corpus Inscriptionum, by Gruter, in 5
volumes in folio; Pitisci Lexicon; and the ponderous folios of Bayle.
I also noticed Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Hooke’s
Roman History; Maurice’s Indostan; Mezeray, Histoire de France, Paris,
1643, in 3 folio volumes; Mitford’s History of Greece; Robertson’s
Historical Works; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; Wilkins’ Magna Græca; and
Zonaræ Annales.
This Library is embellished by Whitaker’s Illustrations of the Topography
of Yorkshire; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; and the Bibliothecæ Regiæ
Catalogus, all in folio.
Of books relating to British History, these shelves contain many, both
curious and important. I may mention the Scriptores post Bedam; Camdeni
Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus Scripta; Annales Henrici VIII.;
Boetius and Buchanan Historia Scotorum; Brady’s History of England;
Burnet’s History of his own Time; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion,
and his State Papers; Daniel’s History of England; Dalrymple’s Memoirs;
Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Fabian’s Chronicle; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey;
Florentii Wigornensis Chronicon; Holinshed’s Chronicle of 1581; Grafton’s
Chronicle; Galfridi Monumetensis Historia Britonum; Matthæi Paris
Historia Anglicana; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; the
Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden; Rapin and Tindal’s History of England;
Rymer’s Fœdera, 20 folio volumes; Smith de Rêpublicâ Anglorum; Speed’s
History of Britain; Strafford’s State Papers; Todd’s Lives of Walton and
Cranmer; Twine de Rebus Albionicis; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed
Intelligence; Polydore Vergil, Historia Anglicana; Welwood’s Memoirs;
Whitelock’s Memorials; Winwood’s Memorials; the Parliamentary History
of England, in 24 octavo volumes; and the Records published by the
Parliamentary Commission.
The Topography and Antiquities of England are illustrated by the
valuable series of the Archæologia; Atkyns’ Gloucestershire; Britton’s
York Cathedral; Burton’s Monasticon Eboracense; Burton’s History of
Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough; the Descriptions of
the English Cathedrals, published by the Antiquarian Society; Davies’
Celtic Researches; Drake’s York; Gent’s Histories of York, Ripon, and
Hull, with some Account of the East Window of York Minster; Gough’s
Sepulchral Monuments, in 5 folio volumes; Grose’s Antiquities of England,
Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; Halfpenny’s Fragmenta Vetusta; Horsley’s
Britannia Romana; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Leland’s Collectanea
de rebus Britannicis; Loggan’s Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata;
Nash’s Views of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor; Nicolson’s Histories
of Cumberland and Westmoreland; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa; Raine’s
North Durham; Sanderson’s Durham Abbey; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; the
History and Antiquities of York, 1785, in 4 volumes, 8vo.; Torr’s York;
Whitaker’s History of Craven, and his Ducatus Lancastriæ; and Willis’
History of the Cathedrals.
I may here mention the long series of the Philosophical Transactions of
the Royal Society of London; the Memoirs of the Manchester Philosophical
Society; the Harleian Miscellany; Harris’ Life of Charles the First;
Nichols’ Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, and Collection of Royal Wills;
the Somers Tracts; and Kippis’ Biographia Britannica.
The Bibliographical Works I noticed, were Bale, de Scriptoribus
Britannicis; the Bibliotheca Matritensis; Bibliotheca Chethamensis;
Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus; Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ, &c.; De
Bure, Bibliographie Instructive; Dibdin’s Bibliographical Decameron,
Typographical Antiquities, and Introduction to the Classics; Fabricii,
Bibliotheca Græca Ecclesiastica et Latina; Gesner’s Bibliotheca; Gough’s
Account of Works on British Topography; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra;
Photii Bibliotheca; and the Roxburghe Library Catalogue.
To these may be added, Mabillon de re diplomaticâ; Waltheri, Lexicon
Diplomaticum; and Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca.
The Classical department of this Library embraces the productions of
Ælian, Æschylus, Apuleius, Archimedes, Appian, Aristotle, Athenagoras,
Athenæus, Aristophanes, Ausonius, Catullus, Demosthenes, Dionysius
Halicarnassensis, Dioscorides, Epictetus, Euclid, Euripides, Aulus
Gellius, Hippocrates, Homer, Horace, Justin, Juvenal, Livy, Macrobius,
Ammianus Marcellinus, Ovid, Pausanias, Philostratus, Propertius,
Quintilian, Sallustius, Seneca, Silius Italicus, Sophocles, Suetonius,
Tacitus, Terence, Thucydides, Tibullus, Valerius Maximus, Vegetius,
Virgil, and Xenophon.
Of none of these authors did I observe the first editions, but many good
and some indifferent impressions occur throughout.
I noticed particularly Anacreon, Fischeri; Aristides, Jebbii; Aurelius
Victor, Delphini; Bion and Moschus, by Wakefield; Ciceronis Opera,
Aldi, Venetiis, 1592-3, and Lambini, and by Victorius, the Sospitator
Ciceronis, and others; Quintus Curtius, Snakenburgii; Diodorus Siculus,
Wetstenii; Herodotus, Gronovii; Hesiodus, Robinsoni; the Glasgow Homer,
printed by Foulis; Lucianus, Hemsterhusii; Lucanus, Oudendorpii;
Lucretius, Havercampi; Lycophron, Potteri; Martialis, Aldi, Venetiis,
1501, 8vo.; Mythographi Veteres, by Van Staveren; Orphica, edita ab
Hermanno; Velleius Paterculus, Ruhnkenii; Platonis Opera, Serrani;
Pindarus, Heynii; Plautus, Lambini; Plutarchus, Xylandri; Plotinus,
Ficini; Poetæ Græci, Stephani; Ptolomæi Geographia, Venetiis, 1562,
4to.; Prudentius, Arevali, Romæ, 1788-9, in 2 quarto volumes; Oratores
Græci, Aldi, Venetiis, 1513, 2 vols. folio; Rhetores Latini Antiqui,
Paris. 1599, 4to.; Rei Rusticæ Scriptores Gesneri; and the Characters of
Theophrastus.
The Etymological Works in this Collection are Cooper’s Thesaurus;
Facciolati Lexicon; Gesneri Thesaurus; Hederici Lexicon; Hickes’
Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary;
Johnson’s English Dictionary; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum à Lye;
Linacre de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis, Londini, 1524, 4to.;
Pagnini, Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Schleusner’s Lexicon in Novum
Testamentum; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum; and Suidæ Lexicon.
In English Literature this Library contains the Works of Boyle, Evelyn,
Locke, Milton, Purchas’ Pilgrims; Shakespeare, 1685; Spelman, and others.
Also Hakluyt’s Voyages; James the First’s Book of Sports, London, 1618;
Lyndsay’s Poems in Scotch; Horsley’s edition of Newton’s Works; Quarles’
Emblems; Scott’s Life of Napoleon; and Tyrwhitt’s edition of Chaucer’s
Works.
In Italian Literature this Collection embraces the Works of Ariosto,
Aretino, Dante, Guicciardini, Machiavelli, and Ubaldino. Also Sannazaro’s
Arcadia, and Tasso, &c. Vinegia, 1581, &c.
In French Literature will be found the productions of Basnage, Bossuet,
Corneille, Dacier, Drelincourt, and others. As well as Dacier’s Horace;
the Romant de la Rose, Paris, 1531; Scudery, Les Femmes Illustres; and a
French Bible of 1535.
The Geographical Works which occurred to me were D’Anville’s Ancient
Geography; Heylin’s Cosmography; Pitt’s English Atlas; and Vincent’s
Periplus of the Erythræan Sea.
I also noticed Blair’s Chronology; Bryant’s Mythology; and Spence’s
Polymetis.
The Heraldic Works in this Collection include Boswell on Armorie;
Collins’ Peerage; and Dugdale’s Baronage.
The Works on Natural History which I noticed were Buffon’s Histoire
Naturelle in 45 vols. 4to.; Ellis’ Zoophytes; Gesneri Historia Animalium;
and Pennant’s British Zoology.
The Miscellaneous Books include many too obscure for notice; and others
such as Oughtred, Clavis Mathematica; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus
Rerum; the Aurea Legenda of 1493 and 1516; Hawkins’ History of Music; a
copy of the Koran; the Marmora Arundeliana; Murphy’s Church of Batalha;
Rosini, Antiquitates Romanæ; Puffendorf and Saxo-Danicus; deserve
succinct enumeration.
Rituals of the Romish and Reformed Churches are here found in various
forms. Of the former I observed the Missale Romanum, printed at Antwerp
in 1577 and 1590, and at Paris in 1616. Of the latter the Common Prayer
published in 1605, 1625, and 1640, the last a plague year.
The Library of the Dean and Chapter of York derived its chief treasures
from the munificence of Bishop Matthews, whose Collection was formed in
the seventeenth century. It was still further enriched by the Library of
Dr. Fothergill, bequeathed by him to the Cathedral in the commencement
of the eighteenth century. Subsequent additions have been made to the
Collection, chiefly from the widow of the Rev. William Burge, D.D.
The number of printed books in this Library, when augmented by those of
Bishop Matthews, amounted to four thousand one hundred and sixty-two
volumes. Dr. Fothergill’s books, in number one thousand five hundred and
twenty, increased the sum to five thousand six hundred and eighty-two,
which subsequent donations and additions have augmented to nearly eight
thousand at the present time.
The Catalogues of this Library are both copious and accurate. The first
is a large folio volume, containing the Alphabetical Catalogue of Books,
and having at the end the following “Memorandum. The Books were new
classed, lettered and numbered by the Rev. Mr. William Richardson, one
of the Vicar’s Choral, and Minister of St. Michael Le Belfry, and this
Catalogue was transcribed by the Rev. Mr. John Coulthred Minister of
Hickleton in the West Riding of the County of York.”
“York, January 12th, 1775.”
“The Catalogue when transcribed contained about four thousand one hundred
and sixty-two volumes.” It is also added: “This Catalogue which is as
accurate as the nature of the thing will admit of, was begun in the year
of our Lord 1774, and finished in the year 1775.”
This volume is bound in calf, lettered on the sides, “Cat. Libr. in Bibl.
Eccles. Cath. Ebor. &c. 1774.”
The second Catalogue was compiled in alphabetical order by the Rev. James
Dallin, the present Librarian, with reference to the shelves on which the
books are placed. This work is comprised in 4 folio volumes with ample
interpaginary spaces for additions.
Vol. I. containing shelf I to XVII. A to H.
II. I to VIII. I to O.
III. IX to XV. P to Z.
IV. Dr. Burge’s Books on Divinity.
The third Catalogue is a small 4to. volume, containing the list of
Dr. Fothergill’s Books, whereby I have been enabled to preserve the
individuality of that Collection, although its component parts are now
merged in the greater Collection which they have contributed to enrich.
But as I wish the labours of each Collector, where possible, to speak for
themselves, I have reserved this portion of the York Minster Library for
a separate notice.
I will commence with the Theological department of the worthy Doctor’s
Collection. Here are the Works of Bishop Andrews, Beveridge, Bramhall,
Goodman, Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Kettlewell, Leslie, Lightfoot, Louth,
Ostervald, Pierce, Prideaux, Sanderson, Sherlock, Jeremy Taylor,
Tillotson, Usher, Wake, Waterland, Whitaker, and Whitgift.
Of the Fathers, we have S.S. Augustine, Cyprian, Cyril, Eusebius,
Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, Tertullian, Theodoret, and Clementis
Alexandrini Opera Græcè, Florentiæ, 1550, folio.
I also noticed Atterbury’s Sermons; Bingham’s Origines Ecclesiasticæ,
Londini, 1708, in 11 vols.; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles; Bythner
in Psalmos; Cave’s Primitive Christianity, and Lives of the Fathers;
Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Field on the Church, Oxford, 1635; Hooker’s
Ecclesiastical Polity; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; Jewel’s Apology; Leigh’s
Critica Sacra; Pearson on the Creed, and his Opera Posthuma; Pole’s
Synopsis Criticorum, &c.; Sparrow on the Common Prayer; Stanhope on the
Epistles and Gospels; Stillingfleet’s Origines and other Works; Tenison
on Idolatry; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; and Wilkins
on Natural Religion.
To these may be added the Works of Bellarmine, Bernard, Erasmus, Heylin,
Thomas à Kempis, Laud, Melancthon, and Thomas Aquinas.
Of Bibles, the Polyglott of Walton, like some other duplicates in the
Fothergill Library has been since exchanged for other books which the
Minster Library did not previously contain. I noticed a copy of Cranmer’s
Bible; and the Bible printed at Cambridge in 1663; also a Latin Bible of
1527; I also noticed Hearne’s Acta Apostolorum, Oxonii, 1715, 8vo.
Of Rituals this Collection presents some of great interest with relation
to the Church to which they are now annexed. These are the Breviarium
Eboracense Hyemale, Paris. 1525; Horæ B. M. V. in usum Eboraci, and
Sarum, Paris. 1527; and the Pica Eboracensis in 4to. commencing with the
Prologue of “Thome Hanibal legis doctoris ac canonici Ebor. i̅ Pica Ebor.
nup a discreto viro dn̅o Thoma Hothyrsal Ecclesiæ Ebor Vicario Chorali
revisa et emendata pludium.” Then follows the “Tabula incipiens Anno M
DCCCC lxxxxvii.” succeeded by the “Pica seu directorium Sacerdotum ad
usum Eboracense,” a work which is unfortunately imperfect at the end.
This volume is bound in calf.
I also observed the Common Prayer Book of 1662; the Breviarium in usum
Sarum, Londini, 1555; the Manipulus Curatorum of 1495; the Martyrologium
Romanum; and the Pontificale Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1627; also Alcoran,
London, 1649; and Genevæ Catechesis, Genevæ, 1609.
As connected with Ecclesiastical affairs, I may here introduce Bedæ
Historia Ecclesiastica Anglicana, Lovanii, 1566; and Cantabrigiæ, 1722;
Burnet’s Reformation; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; the History of
the Reformation in Scotland, London, 1646; Synodus Anglicana & Parochial
Visitations; Godwin’s Lives of the Bishops; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ
Anglicanæ; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ
Britannicæ, 1729, folio; Platina de Vitis Pontificum; Spencer de Legibus
Hebræorum; Strype’s Annals of the Reformation; Walker’s Sufferings of the
Clergy; and Warton’s Anglia Sacra, &c.
The Historical department of this Collection includes Carionis Chronicon;
Cluverius, Germania Antiqua; Josephus, Hudsoni, Oxonii, 1720, in 2 folio
volumes; Simpson’s Chronicon Catholicon; Thuani Historia sui temporis;
and Whear’s Methodus legendi Historiam; but is more particularly rich
in works relating to the History of England. Of these I feel pleasure
in recording Barnes’ Life of Edward the Third; Barwick’s Life of Dean
Barwick; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Bedford’s Hereditary
Right to the Crown of England; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Daniel’s History of
England; Gale and Fell’s Scriptores XV Historiæ Britannicæ, in 3 vols.
folio; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; Godwin’s Annals; Madox’s Formulare
Anglicanum and History of the Exchequer; Polydore Vergil’s Historia
Anglicana; Prisei Defensio Historiæ Britanniæ; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia,
Londini, 1582; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Sacheverell’s Tryal;
Sheringham de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, and
his Reliquiæ; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, Oxonii, 1716,
8vo.; Hearne’s editions of T. Livii Vita Henrici V. printed at Oxford in
1716, 8vo.; Warner’s Albion’s England, London, 1612; and Wood’s Athenæ
Oxonienses.
The Works on English Topography and Antiquities which fell under
my notice were, Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; the Itinerary of
Antoninus, edited by Burton and by Gale; Camden’s Britannia and Remains
concerning Britain; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, Lond. 1655, in 3
vols. folio; the History and Antiquities of Hereford, London, 1717;
Kennet’s Parochial Antiquities; Risdon’s Devon; Ogilby’s Roads in
England; Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral; Somner’s Canterbury; Thoresby’s
Leeds; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to
English Antiquities; Willis’ Account of the Cathedrals of St. Asaph,
Bangor, Llandaff, and St. David’s, with his Notitia Parliamentaria; the
Antiquities of Westminster, London, 1711, and London, 1722; and the
Antiquities of Winchester Cathedral, London, 1715.
The Heraldic Works in this Library include Guillim’s Heraldry of 1660,
folio; Leigh’s Accidence of Armorie; Philipot’s Origin of Heraldry,
London, 1672; Segar’s Catalogue of Honour, Military and Civil, London,
1602; and Yorke’s Union of Honour.
In Etymology I was chiefly interested by Benson’s Vocabularium
Anglo-Saxonicum; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Calepini Dictionarium,
Basileæ, 1542; Castell’s Lexicon; Munster’s Dictionarium Trilingue;
Morel’s Latin Dictionary; Dufresne’s Glossary, Latin and Greek; Hickes’
Thesaurus and Anglo-Saxon Grammar; Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica;
Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Scapulæ
Lexicon; Spelman’s Glossary; Stephani Lexicon; and Suidæ Lexicon,
Cantabrigiæ, 1705, in 3 folio volumes.
The Classical department includes the Works of Ælian, Æsop, Agapetus,
Appian, Aristotle, Aulus Gellius, Ausonius, Cæsar, Callimachus, Claudian,
Demosthenes, Eutropius, Herodian, Hesiod, Isocrates, Juvenal, Lucian,
Lucretius, Lycophron, Macrobius, Martial, Nicander, Ovid, Pausanias,
Persius, Plautus, Plutarch, Quintilian, Sallust, Sophocles, Suetonius,
Tacitus, Terence, Theocritus, Vegetius, Velleius Paterculus, Virgil, and
Vitruvius.
I also noticed Apollodori Bibliotheca, Romæ, 1555; Athenæus Casauboni;
Barnes’ Euripides; Ciceronis Opera Omnia, 1646; Diodorus Siculus, Ed.
Pr. Græcè, Basileæ, 1539, 4to.; Dionysius Halicarnasseus, Lond. 1658,
and Lipsiæ, 1691; Epicteti Enchiridion, Lugd. Bat. 1640; Herodotus,
Francofurti, 1608, folio; Homeri Opera, Venetiis, 1527; the Delphin
Horace, with the editions of Bond and Bentley; Ogilby’s Æsop; Plinii
Historia Naturalis, 1593, in 3 folio volumes; the Epistles of Pliny
the Younger; the Basil Editions of Pomponius Mela, and of Seneca;
the Geography of Ptolemy, Thucydides, Francofurti, 1594, folio; and
Xenophontis Opera, edente Wells, Oxonii, 1703, 8vo.
The Bibliographical books comprehend Blount’s Censura Literaria;
Catalogus MSS. Coll. CCC. Cantab. à Nasmith, in 4to.; Leland’s
Commentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Oxonii, 1709; and Nicolson’s
Historical Libraries.
The Works on Natural History include Culpepper’s English Physician;
Evelyn’s Sylva of 1664; Grew’s Rarities; Morison’s Catalogue of Plants
in the Botanic Garden of Oxford, &c.; the Phytologia Britannica, London,
1650; Raii Historia Plantarum, Compendium Plantarum Angliæ; & Methodus
observandi Plantas.
Of Legal Works I noticed only the Corpus Juris Civilis; Gibson’s Codex
Juris Ecclesiastici, &c.; Fulwood’s Leges Angliæ; Fitzherbert’s Natura
Brevium; Wilkins’ Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ; and Wottoni Leges Wallicæ.
In Chronology and Geography I observed Isaacson’s Chronology & Petavii
Rationale Temporum; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus; and Wells’ Geography.
In Mathematics these shelves are equally deficient, having only the
London Euclid of 1666; and the Opera Mathematica of Wallis.
In English Literature this Collection contains the Works of Bacon, Boyle,
King Charles the First, Cowley, Locke, Milton, Mede, Speed, and other
authors of less reputation; Chaucer’s Tales, in black letter, by Pynson,
a copy which had formerly belonged to Thomas Pope Blount, the author of
the Censura Literaria; the Life of Dugdale, 1713; Butler’s Hudibras,
London, 1678; and Ben Jonson’s Works, London, 1640.
The Miscellaneous volumes afford some pieces of Dodwell and Selden; the
Works of Dante and Guicciardini & Machiavelli; Politian, Scaliger, and
Kennett’s Antiquities of Rome; Leland’s Collectanea de rebus Britannicis,
Oxonii, 1715, in 6 volumes 8vo. edited by Hearne; Lyrani Rep. Lugd. Bat.
1528, in 5 folio volumes; Polydore Vergil de Rerum Inventoribus; and some
pieces of the learned Vossius.
The Catalogue of this Collection, formed by Dr. Fothergill, was compiled
by the Rev. John Coulthred, of Hickleton, in a 4to. volume, which has
this memorandum at its close. “This Catalogue when transcribed (by the
Rev. John Coulthred) contained about one thousand five hundred and twenty
volumes.”
It will be perceived, in looking over the preceding pages, that the
addition of Dr. Fothergill’s books to the York Minster Library, caused
several duplicates in that Collection; but I have preferred incurring
tediousness by repetition, to impairing the integrity of the Library by
the omission of these volumes.
It only remains for me to notice the Manuscripts in the possession of
the Dean and Chapter of York. These interesting remains of the Monastic
Library of York include many copies of the Sacred Scriptures in the
Latin Vulgate then in use, one bearing date A.D. 692, and various
portions of the Sacred Writings. Of these I particularly noticed,
S.S. Bibliorum Pars. viz. Regum libri IV. Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Esekiel, Daniel, Osea, Joel, Amos, Abdia, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Abacoc, Zephaniah, Haggæ, Zacchariah, Malachi, Job, Psalmi,
folio.
Pars altera Bibliorum, viz. Proverb, Ecclesiastes, Cantica,
Sapientia, Ecclus. Paralipomena, Esdras, Esther, Tobias,
Maccabees.
S. Jerome’s Version of the Old and New Testament, Ezechiel, and
Paralipomena.
A Fragment of the Book of Ruth, and other portions of Holy Writ.
Of the Fathers I noticed Augustine and Origen.
Of Theological Writings I observed those of Bellarmine; Boetius de
Trinitate; Grosteste, Manuel de Pecheur; Fothergill on Liturgies, in 8
volumes; Jewel’s Tracts against Dissenters and Papists; and Grosthead’s
Sermons.
I also noticed the Legenda Sanctorum, and the Speculum Spiritualium,
formerly a Reliquary to the Priory of Mount Grace.
The Historical Manuscripts here preserved are a Collection of Passages
of State under Queen Elizabeth and King James; Sir John Harington on the
King of Scots’ Right of Succession; the Life of Cardinal Wolsey; Thomæ de
Eccleton de Adventu Minorum in Angliâ; and Fabian’s Chronicle.
Of the Manuscripts relating to the Antiquities of York, I observed a
Register of the Lands of St. Mary’s Abbey, York; Hutton’s Antiquities
of York; Drake’s History of York; and Torr’s Manuscripts on the same
subject, in 8 volumes, now deposited in the Record Room of the Dean and
Chapter of York.
The only Classical Manuscript which occurred to me was Cicero,
Rhetoricorum ad Herennium.
Of Rituals I noticed the Breviarium Eboracense; the Missale Eboracense;
the Rituale Eboracense; the Psalterium Eboracense; and the Manuale
Sacerdotum de Kirkstal.
Among the miscellaneous volumes I noticed the Methodus Nova Plantarum;
Bracton de Legibus; Nalson’s Heraldry; and some Manuscripts which
formerly belonged to Rievaulx Abbey, brought hither at its dissolution.
Four old Catalogues of the York Minster Library are preserved among the
manuscripts of the Dean and Chapter of York.
These Manuscripts are all preserved with great care in cases under lock
and key.
In this room I also found a case of Sir Edward Thomason’s Series of
Medals illustrative of the Scriptures, of which the author has presented
a set to every crowned head in the world, and received suitable presents
in return from each of them.
The care and attention bestowed upon the Library is highly creditable to
the taste and liberality of the Dean and Chapter. I believe the credit
of converting the ancient Episcopal Chapel, which had for many years
been used as a stable below, and a hay-loft above, into the present
Gothic Library, is due, as I have already said, to Dean Markham, and
greatly must every tasteful antiquary rejoice in the restoration of this
elegant building. The large Gothic room is arranged with every attention
to comfort, and is adorned by portraits of Toby Matthews, and of Dr.
Fothergill. The ante-room is appropriated to the reception of Dr. Burge’s
Books of Divinity, and numerous political and polemical Tracts, chiefly
the scum thrown up by the troubled waters of the English mind during the
Great Rebellion.