Most persons who consult this laborious and useful work will probably
have been struck and puzzled by the frequent occurrence of two references
given by the Bishop as his authorities, namely, "MS. Bal. Sloan." and
"MS. Bal. Glynn." {312} To answer, therefore (by anticipation), a Query
very likely to be made on this subject, I have to state, that by "MS.
Bal. Sloan." Tanner refers to a manuscript work in two volumes, in Bale's
handwriting, formerly in Sir Hans Sloane's collection, and numbered 287,
but presented by him to the Bodleian Library; as appears by a letter from
Hearne to Baker (in MS. Harl. 7031. f. 142.), dated August 6, 1715, in
which he writes:
"We have _Bale's accounts of the Carmelites_, in two volumes,
being not long since given to our public library by Dr. Sloane."
In the original MS. Sloane Catalogue, the work was thus entered: _Joannes
Balæus de sanctis et illustribus viris Ordinis Carmelitarum, et eorum
Scriptis: Joannis Balæi Annales Carmelitarum_. Another volume, partly,
if not wholly, in Bale's handwriting, relative to the Carmelite Order,
existed formerly in the Cottonian Library, under the press-mark Otho, D.
IV., but was almost entirely destroyed in the fire which took place in
1731.
By "MS. Bal. Glynn.," or (as more fully referred to under "Adamus
Carthusiensis") "MS. Bale penes D. Will. Glynn.," Tanner undoubtedly
means a printed copy of Bale's _Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Brytanniæ
Catalogus_, with marginal notes in manuscript (probably by Bale himself)
which was preserved in the library of Sir William Glynne, Bart., of
Anbrosden. I learn this from Tanner's original Memoranda for his
_Bibliotheca_, preserved in the Additional MSS. 6261. 6262., British
Museum; in the former of which, ff. 122--124., is a transcript of the
"MS. notæ in margine Balei, penes D. Will. Glynne." The Glynne MSS. are
described in the _Catt. MSS. Angliæ_, fol. 1697, vol. ii. pt. 1. p. 49.;
but the copy of Bale, here mentioned, is not included among them. These
MSS. are said to be preserved at present in the library of Christ Church
College, Oxford; and it is somewhat singular, that no account of the MSS.
in this college should have been printed, either in the folio Catalogue
of 1697, or in the valuable Catalogue of the MSS. in the college
libraries recently published. Perhaps some of the correspondents of "N. &
Q." may communicate information on this head.