Library of Canterbury.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury is kept in a long and lofty room adjoining the Cloisters, which in olden time was the Chapel of the Prior. The books are arranged in classes upon open shelves, in projecting cases, which are distinguished by letters of the alphabet, and occupy the spaces between the windows; the end of the apartment nearest the Baptistery, containing the manuscripts in closed cases; and the other end of the room, having a light gallery, with open shelves above and below for the reception of printed books.

The Dean and Chapter have it in contemplation to alter this arrangement entirely, by placing the folios and quartos upon open shelves all round the room, with a light gallery for the octavos above, and to light the apartment by a skylight in the roof, instead of the present windows; and to remove the damp, which at present pervades the Library to a very injurious extent, by the addition of suitable fire-places.

This alteration, the expense of which is estimated at nearly £1000, though tending to impair the venerable appearance of this “antique oratory,” cannot fail to be beneficial to the books, many of which have been recently rebound by Mr. Gough of London, and some of the older volumes having been repaired and gilt. The whole collection has a freshened aspect.

The books are chiefly bound in calf, and are generally in very good condition, though only warmed occasionally by a stove. From a small fund possessed by the Dean and Chapter, they are enabled to employ from five to six hundred a year in the purchase and reparation of books. Their Library is also continually augmented by the customary donation of each Prebend upon his installation; and by a gift of forty pounds from the Archbishop of Canterbury, who once in every four years holds a visitation in his Cathedral, being sumptuously entertained at the Deanery, and leaves that sum, according to ancient usage, for the use of the Library.

It is creditable to the Curators of this Library that two Catalogues of its contents have already been printed, once in 1743, and again in 1802, and that another is in contemplation: so that I trust the Rev. John Stratton, the present Librarian, upon whom the task devolves ex officio, will render this new Catalogue more complete than either of its precursors.

The Catalogue at present in use in the Library is that printed in 1802, inlaid and interleaved in two volumes quarto, and bound in rough calf. There is also a register kept, of books borrowed from the Library.

The Catalogue which was printed for the use of the members of the Church in 1802, is an octavo volume of two hundred and thirty-nine pages, entitled a “Catalogue of the Books, both Manuscript and Printed, which are preserved in the Library of Christ Church, Canterbury, 1802.” It is divided into two parts, of which the first is an alphabetical index of the books both manuscript and printed, with reference to the shelves upon which they were placed when the Catalogue was compiled. The second part contains the Catalogue of the printed books only, being the contents of the Cases from A I. to LL IV. specifying the titles, imprints, and dates of each work. But as the present Librarian has entirely changed the arrangement of the books in these cases, they having been formerly arranged according to their size, but now according to their subjects, the utility of this Catalogue, as affording facility of reference, is entirely gone. The third portion of this Catalogue contains an enumeration of the manuscripts in the order in which they occur in the closed cases, A to E, in which they are kept.

I shall be excused for transcribing the introductory remarks to this Catalogue, since the book itself is solely circulated among the members of the establishment, and the matter is most pertinent to the subject of the present notice; so here it is:—

“Of this Library, a Catalogue, as it was called, appeared in 1743; but it is merely an alphabetical list of printed books only, without any statements of the place or year in which the books are printed, and without any guide to the shelves on which they had been placed. The present Catalogue, by its two-fold arrangement, is intended to inform the reader of most particulars relating to the books, to point out to him their situation in the Library, and at the same time to preserve them in their respective classes.

“The Dean and Chapter, desirous to promote the utility of their Library, lately caused it to be carefully examined, as well as considerably enlarged; and in consequence of the examination, several manuscripts were found concealed under a heap of rubbish in a private closet. These Manuscripts, having been investigated by some of the members of the Church, are now deposited, (as the subjects of them required,) partly in the Chapter-room, and partly in the Library. To the presses in the latter an addition is thus made of twelve volumes since the publication of a Catalogue of the Manuscripts in this Library, by a member of the Church, in 1793. Other Manuscripts also, since that period, have been presented to the Dean and Chapter. This Library, it may be observed, is rich in Manuscript materials relating to the Civil and Ecclesiastical History of the country, and to Saxon literature in general; as the articles under Records, Registers, and Somner, will evince.”

I may add, that this Library suffered severely from fire in former ages, and was despoiled of some of its fairest treasures during the Cromwellian Usurpation. It cannot consequently boast of many tomes of the olden time, but it contains many valuable and useful works, which will more plainly appear when we come to analyze its contents. The books are marked by the armorial bearings of the Dean and Chapter of “Christ Church Canterbury,” engraved and pasted within the covers. This precaution, however, proved ineffectual against the carelessness of so many persons to whom books had been lent some years ago, that the Reverend Guardians of this collection have of late years exercised draconic vigilance in the preservation of their literary treasures.

Many indeed of the clergy of Canterbury, who are unusually numerous, would gladly avail themselves of access to this Library; an indulgence which methinks might be granted under such regulations as should ensure the integrity, while extending the usefulness of the collection.

It is matter of great congratulation to the Dean and Chapter, that so many valuable Manuscripts relating to Saxon literature in general, and the County of Kent in particular, should be contained within the walls of this Library. Whoever wishes rightly to estimate the labours of the indefatigable Somner, should examine this collection, where will be found two copies of his excellent Dictionarium Saxonico-Latinum, from one of which, as appears by the signatures of the Compositors, his valuable work was printed in 1659. The Title, Recommendatory Verses, Dedication, Preface, List of Subscribers, and Errata, are here carefully preserved. Here also are kept with equal care, his “Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent,” folio, a work which was published in 1693, his remarks upon the Goodwin Sands, and a life of the Author, by White Kennet, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough. Somner’s “Discourse of Portus Iccius, wherein the late conceipts of Chiffletius in his topographicall discourse thereof are examined and refuted; the judgment of Cluverius concerning the same port asserted and embraced; and the true site thereof more clearly ascertained.” This work was translated into Latin, and published at Oxford, in 1694, by Dr. Edmund Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London. Somner argues for Boulogne, Chifflet for Mardyke. His “Littus Saxonicum per Britanniam,” the design of which treatise was, to overthrow the opinion of Selden in his Mare Clausum, and to vindicate the opinions of Camden, Cluverius, Merula, and Ortelius, concerning this shore. His emendation of the Concilium Berghamstedense, A.D. 697, as given by Spelman, vol. 1, p. 194, exhibiting at one view the textus Roffensis, ejusdem exemplaris correctio, D. H. Spelmanni versio et versio nova. A specimen of the attentive correction which Somner was accustomed to bestow; and of which his manuscript notes in several of the printed books in this Library afford additional proof. His “observations upon the Commissary of Canterbury’s Patent,” which Mr. Battely in his Preface to “the Antiquities of Canterbury,” where a great part of this discourse is printed, supposes to have been the first fruits of those labours which Somner devoted to the study of Antiquity. To which I may add, his “Scholia et Animadversiones in Leges Henrici Primi,” folio. “In Dni Henrici Spelmanni Eq: Aurat. Glossarium Adversaria; Item, in Watsii Glossarium; et in eximii viri Gerardi Johannis Vossii de vitiis sermonis et Tractatum Adversaria.” and his Miscellanies; consisting chiefly of Letters relating to the affairs of the Cathedral, and the Diocese of Canterbury; and containing some curious remarks upon the characters, residences, &c. of many Incumbents in the Diocese.

To the unwearied pen of Somner we are indebted for the transcription of the following Works.

“Orosius, Saxonicè;” transcriptus è pervetusto Libro illo MS. Bibl. Cottonianâ, in quo Chronologia Saxonica invenitur exarata.

“Cædmonis Paraphrasis Saxonica.” Transcriptus è pervetusto Libro MS. in Bibl. Deuvesianâ charactere Saxonico exarato.

“Medicinalis Anglicus Saxonicè.” Transcriptus è pervetusto Libro MS. in Bibliothecâ Regiâ apud S. Jacobum.

“Pentateuchus et Liber Josuæ Saxonicè.” Folio. Transcriptus è pervetusto Libro MS. in Bibliothecâ Cottonianâ.

“Statuta Eccl. Christi Cantuar. ab Henrico octavo fundatore.”

“Chartæ Odonis Prioris, Eccl. Chr. Cant. anno 1167.”

“Chronica Gervasii de combustione et reparatione Eccl. Cantuar. 1174.” This Chronicle was published in the Decem Scriptores, the joint labour of Twysden and Somner, in 1652, and was translated into English, and published in the Historical Description of Canterbury Cathedral in 1783.

But, besides the entire transcription of the above-mentioned Works, which are carefully preserved in this Library, the diligence of Somner has made copious extracts, which are also kept here:—“Ex Chronicis Will. Thorne.”—Fol. “Ex Gotcelini libro de translatione S. Augustini Anglor: Apost: et Sociorum ejus in Bibliothecâ Deuvesianâ.”⁠[3] “Ex Registro Manuscripto S. Augustini Monast: collect: à Thom: Thaneto.” “Ex veteri Libro MS. olim Ecclesiæ Christi Cant: modo in Bibliothecâ Comitis Arundell. cui titulus, ‘Registrum sive Martyrologium Ecclesiæ Christi Cant:’”—“Ex veteri Libro MS. sc. Registro (ut inscribitur) temporalium Ecclesiæ et Episcopatus Roffensis abbreviatio, et circa tempora (1319) Haimonis de Slethe, 46. ejusdem Sedis Episc: (ut opinor) qui in Episcoporum ibi memoratorum catalogo ultimum locum obtinet.” “Ex libro Roffensi in 4to.”—& “E pervetusto libro MS. in Bibliothecâ Cottonianâ, Orosii historiam continente, manu Saxonicâ, cui titulus, ‘Chronica Saxonica Abingdoniæ ad annum 1066.’” Folio.

If to the above we add some Papers concerning Christ Church Yard, and an Account of what was laid out on the Church from 1660 to 1662, together with several Transcripts from ancient records, chronicles, and registers, relating to Canterbury, Kent, and Saxon literature, we shall have gathered a very fair idea of the contributions of Somner to the literature of his country, and be disposed to assign the Cantian Antiquary a place in the same temple with Dugdale and with Hearne.

I have already mentioned that Manuscripts in this Library relating to the Cathedral and City of Canterbury are very numerous; so voluminous indeed that I must request the reader to accept the following account rather as exemplary than descriptive.

First then, among the Manuscripts relating to the county of Kent, we have a Table or playne Particular of the whole Shyre; the Customs of Sandwich and Lydd; some Particulars respecting the Monastery and Town of Faversham; the Rentals of Godmersham and Chertham; the Rents of Assize at Marden, and Milton; an Index to the Ledger-book of the Priory of Dover, &c. De Monasterio et Prioribus S. Martini de Dovor. An Account of Lands in the Manor of Wingham paying rents, &c. to the Archbishop of Canterbury; and of the Lands of the Bishoprick of Rochester. To which I may add the Registrum Monasterii S. Augustini, a large quarto volume, upon vellum. This curious Manuscript was purchased by the late Dr. Farmer, formerly a Prebend of Canterbury, at a book-stall in London, and by him presented to the Cathedral Library, which contains also the “Registrum Domini Willim̅ Sellyng, Præcentoris, a decimosexto die Aprilis Anno Dn̅i millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo primo, tempore Thomæ Hampton abbatis hujus loci, necnon anno regni regis Henrici octavi duo decimo.” 4to. This Manuscript, which is partly on vellum and partly on paper, was the Register of St. Austin’s Monastery, and is believed to be the last; the establishment having been dissolved 30 Henr. VIII. Its ancient Library of course shared the fate of the Monastery, and was dispersed. Some few, however, of its manuscript volumes were transferred to the adjacent Cathedral, where are now preserved,

“S. Augustini Sermones de Verbis Domini, cum Indice præfixo,” folio, inscripti super membranis.

“Evangelium Sancti Matthæi, Latinè, cum largâ expositione cujusdam Anonymi,” folio, optime conservatum.

“Vetus Logica; Liber de Articulis Fidei; Priscianus de Constructionibus; Liber de Accentibus; Donati Barbarismus,” folio, in membranis; and a volume containing

“Correctorium totius Bibliæ Roberti Grosthead Episc: Lincoln.” “Tabula secundùm ordinem alphabeti, in lib. exemplorum Sacræ Scripturæ.” “Liber Exemplorum S. Scripturæ Fratris Nicol de Hanapis;” & “De orbis situ.”

All of which originally formed a part of the library of the Monastery of St. Augustine, the ruins of which still arrest the attention of the passing stranger.

Those who feel an interest in what once composed Monastic Libraries, will rejoice to peruse, in the account-book of some officer of the Monastery, the “Reparationes circa Libros in Librariâ super Capellam Domini Priori,” and to be informed that a list of books formerly in this Library is given by Dart in the Appendix to his History of the Church of Canterbury.

To return from this digression to the Manuscripts relating to the Church, See, and City of Canterbury; I may enumerate

1. Redditus Eccl: Christi Cantuar: in membranis.

2. Relevia recepta anno secundo et sequentibus post reversionem Conventûs ab exilio, 1215, in membranis.⁠[4]⁠

3. Nomina Monachorum Eccl. Christi Cant: a tempore exilii eorum 1207, ad annum 1533.

4. Obituarium Monachorum Eccl. Chr. Cant. ab 1286 ad 1507.

5. Gablum de diversis terris.

6. A Receiver’s Book of Church Rents in the time of the Monastery. Liber Redituum Locabilium Prioris Ecclesiæ Cant. Episcoporum in Provinciâ Cant. Decimæ.

7. Spiritualium et Temporalium secundùm Registrum Papæ et Regis.

An account of certain Manors taken into Queen Elizabeth’s hands, from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and what recompense she made out of Lands, of Abbies, Rectories, impropriate Rents, Tithes, &c.

8. Part of a Register of the Archbishop’s Manors.

9. De Prærogativis Archiep. Cantuar. written upon vellum about 1334.

10. A list of Authors, with references to their Works, who have written concerning the Archbishops of Canterbury; first, of those who have treated of the Archbishops generally, and secondly, of those who have composed single or particular lives; by the late learned and celebrated antiquary, Dr. Samuel Pegge. 4to.

These valuable papers were in the possession of John Nichols, Esq. F.A.S. by whom they were given to the Rev. Mr. Todd, and by Mr. Todd have been presented to this Library. To these may be added the

“Statuta Curiæ Cantuar. editæ per Rob. Winchelsea, Archiep. Cant.” and the “Fasti Cantuarienses; or the History of the renowned Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ in Canterbury; a Poem in five Books; by John Boys of Hode Court.” Folio, 104 pages.

This Poem appears by the Preface to have been intended for the press. It is dedicated to Gilbert (Sheldon) Abp. of Canterbury. The Author, it seems, was the intimate friend of Somner. At the end is a printed “Panegyrick to his Sacred Majesty” Charles II. in verse, by the same author, dated 1662. Other publications by Mr. Boys are there also noticed. This volume was purchased at the sale of the late Dr. Osmund Beauvoir, Master of the King’s School, Canterbury, by Thomas Park, Esq. F.A.S.; by whom it was presented through the Rev. Mr. Todd to this Library. Lastly, as relating to the City of Canterbury, I may add to the Manuscripts already mentioned, the Charter of King Edward IV. granted to the City of Canterbury in 1460. Nomina 161 Majorum Civitatis Cantuariæ ab anno 1449. Fundatio et Statuta Hospitalis Sancti Laurentii juxta Cantuariam, et Registrum Chartarum de terris ejusdem; folio, in membranis; and the Answers to the Articles of Enquiry, made by the Commissioners of Henry VIII. concerning the estates, goods, revenues, &c. of certain Hospitals in and near Canterbury; the first and last of these documents forming part of the valuable collections of Somner.

Of Manuscripts relating to the History and Antiquities of England, I noticed a Catalogue of the Religious Houses within the realms of England and Wales, with their orders, founders, and values; both such as were suppressed by King Henry VIII. and such as were left standing, or have been since erected. Several grants of Henry IV. V. and VI. and Edward IV. to several monasteries, abbies, &c. Constitutiones Othonis et Othoboni cum Glossâ Johanni de Acton. folio, in membranis. A Volume of Letters concerning State Affairs in the time of Queen Elizabeth, from 1569 to 1596. A curious volume in folio, containing:—

1. “The Names and Armes (emblazoned) of the Principall Captains as well of Noblemen as of Knights that were with the victorious Prince, King Edward the Third, at the Siege of Callys. 1346.”

2. “An Account of how many Ships and Mariners every Port sent throughout England to that Siege. Also the supply of Ships and Mariners from Bayon, Spayne, Ireland, Flaunders, and Gelderland.”

3. “An Account of all the Princes and Noblemen, Foreigners, that served at that Siege, with their pay, and of the whole charge of that Siege.”

4. “The Titles and Armes (emblazoned) of all the Noblemen that flourished in each King and Queen’s Reign from William the Conqueror to Queen Elizabeth.”

5. “An Account of the Precedency of the Nobility in several Processions of Queen Elizabeth and King James.”

6. “The Order of Precedency of the Nobles, both Men and Women, by Jasper, Duke of Bedford, (Uncle to Henry VII. and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) at the appointment of Henry VII.” “The Armes and Names of all the Nobilitie, Privi-Councelers, and Chiefe Officers of England in 1588.” Certain Disputations in point of Law concerning the Kings of England’s right to their Succession in the Kingdom of France; from an ancient MS. copied by Sir Peter Manwood in 1615, folio.⁠[5] Fragmentum Historiæ Saxonicæ manu recenti, 4to. which formerly belonged to Somner, who has written on the first page “Florentius Wigorn. optimus hujus histor. interpres. W. S.” Canuti Regis Leges Saxonicæ, 4to. Veterum Statutorum Regni Collectio, cum Indice præfixo, 8vo.

To the above may be added Erdeswick’s Antiquities of Staffordshire, folio, 84 pages; and a Rentall of all the lands, rents, and pencions in the Cytie of Worcestre, and suburbes of the same, belongyng to the Cathedrall Churche of Worcestre, &c. folio.

I come now to the mention of a very interesting Work, being no less than “Isaaci Casauboni Ephemerides,” folio. This is the Diary of the Life of that eminent scholar and critic, Isaac Casaubon, Prebendary of this Church, written in Latin with his own hand, commencing in the 39th year of his age and in the year of our Lord 1597. He died in 1614.

The curious and learned reader will be highly gratified by several circumstances recorded in this volume respecting classical authors, in the illustration of whom Casaubon had been engaged. Bentley, it has been said, was indulged with the use of this volume. It was probably the gift of Meric Casaubon, son of Isaac, and also a Prebendary of this Church. From a passage in this Diary we learn that Isaac Casaubon, being a layman, received the royal dispensation to hold this Prebend.

Of Classic Authors I may notice a beautifully written Manuscript of M. T. Ciceronis Epistolæ, in folio, presented to the Library by Dr. Kingsley, Archdeacon and Prebendary, in 1663. At the beginning of this MS. is the following note:—“This Booke I Edmund Witherpoll found in the Lybrary off owre Ladye’s Churche in Bulleyn the xxv day of Sept. Anno Domini 1544.” Edmund Witherpoll probably accompanied Henry the Eighth in his expedition against Boulogne, and brought away this literary treasure with him.

Of Theological Manuscripts I must content myself with enumerating the

Biblia Latina Thomæ de Banchester, cui præfigitur Tractatus Moralium super Genesin, qui dicitur Solatium fidelis animæ, folio, in membranis.

Stephani (Langton) Archiep. Cant. Moralia in Isaiam, Jeremiam, et Ezechielem Prophetas, folio, in membranis.

Ejusdem Moralia in libros Josuæ, Judicum, Ruth, in quatuor libros Regum, in Tobiam, Hester, Esdram, et duos libros Maccabæorum, folio, in membranis.

Ejusdem Moralia in XII Prophetas Minores, folio, in membranis.

Joannis Duns Scoti Questiones Theologicæ, folio, in membranis.

Ejusdem, in quartum lib. Sententiarum, folio, in membranis.

Expositio sive Glossa Regulæ S. Beati Benedicti, 4to.

Ephrem Syri Preces, Græcè, 12mo. most beautifully written.

Testamenta duodecim Patriarcharum.

Narratio e libro qui Græcè vocatur Suda.⁠[6]⁠

Meditationes beati Bernardi, 8vo, in membranis. A Volume which formerly belonged to the Monastery of St. Mary Overy, Southwark.

I may conclude this notice of the Canterbury Manuscripts with the mention of the Chronicon ab origine Mundi, cui præfigitur Tabula subsequentis operis secundùm ordinem Alphabeti, folio, which ends in 1338; and a Chronographye of the most notable things from the beginning of the world to the year 1592, by John Nettleton, gent. my Master, and writ by me Wm. Byrche; together with the Stimulus Conscientiæ, or Pricke of Conscience, an English Poem, by Richard Hampole,⁠[7] an eremite of the order of St. Augustine, who flourished in 1349, 4to.; and another curious Volume of English Poetry in 4to., entitled Epigramma Satiron; or “The times whistle, or a newe daunce of seven Satires, whereunto are annexed divers other poems comprising things naturall, morall, and theologicall, compiled by ______ gent.”

The name of the compiler is in this first title erased. He announces the design of those Seven Satires in a long Introduction.

To these Satires are added “Certaine Poems, comprising things naturall, morall, and theologicall. Written by R. C. gent.”⁠[8]⁠

In proceeding to give some account of the printed books contained in the Library of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, I will first notice the impressions of the Holy Scriptures which are contained therein, namely, the

Biblia Maxima, Joannis de la Haye. Lutet. Paris. 1660, in 19 vols. folio.

Biblia Polyglotta per Ariam Montanum. Antverpiæ, 1569, in 8 vols. folio.

Biblia Polyglotta per Brianum Waltonum. Londini, 1657, in 6 vols. folio, cui Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton, Londini, 1669, accedit.

Biblia Hebraica cum Commentariis Rabbinicis, per Danielem Bombergum. Venetiis, 1515, in 4 vols. folio.

Biblia Hebraica, per Kennicott. Oxonii, 1776, in 2 vols. folio.

Biblia Sacra, cum Glossa ordinaria, Parisiis, 1590, in 6 vols. folio.

Biblia Sacra Vulgatæ Editionis. Romæ, 1592, folio. Basileæ, 1591, 8vo. Lugduni, 1618, 8vo. and Antverpiæ, 1629, in 5 vols. 16mo.

Biblia Latina Tremellii et Junii. Hanoviæ, 1602, in 2 vols. 4to.—Hanoviæ, 1603, folio, and Genevæ, 1617, in 4 vols. folio.

Biblia Septuaginta, Romæ, 1587, folio; Londini, 1653, in 2 vols. 12mo.; et edita per Grabe, Oxonii, 1707, dupl. edit. in 2 vols. folio, and in 8 vols. 8vo.

Biblia Belgica. Leydæ, 1596, 4to.

Biblia Española. Amst. 1661, 8vo.

La Biblia Traslatata in lingua Italiana da Giov. Diodati, 1607, 4to.

The Great English Bible, published by order of Henry VIII. London, November, 1540, folio.

English Bible. London, 1551, folio.

The Holy Bible of 1585, the Bishops’ Version, in fol.

The Bible printed at Doway in 1609, in 3 vols. 4to.

The Bible printed by Barker at London, in 1640, folio; by Baskett at Oxford, in 1717, folio; and by Baskerville at Cambridge, in 1763, folio.

To which I may add the Bible edited by D’Oyley and Mant, and the Welch Bible printed at London in 1630, 8vo.

I may here notice the Psalter edited by Baber, and the Liturgia Anglicana Octoglotta, printed by Bagster.

Of editions of the New Testament separately published, we find

The Nov. Test. Polyglottum Eliæ Hutteri. Norimbergæ, 1599, in 2 vols. folio.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, Rob. Stephani. Lutet. Paris. 1550, folio.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, Joannis Gregorii. Oxonii, 1703, folio.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, Joannis Millii. Oxonii, 1707, folio.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, Joannis Leusden. Amst. 1698, 12mo.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, J. J. Wetstenii. Amstel. 1751, in 2 vols. folio.

The Nov. Test. Græcum, Griesbachii. Oxonii, 8vo.

The Nov. Test. Arabicum. Londini, 1727, 4to.

The Nov. Test. Copticum a Dav. Wilkins. Oxonii, 1716, 4to.

The Nov. Test. Gallicum. Genevæ, 1618, 12mo.

The Rhemish New Testament. Rheims, 1582, 4to.

The Doway New Testament. Antwerp, 1600, 4to.

Evangelia Gothica et Anglo-Saxonica. Franc. Junii. Dordrechti, 1665, 4to.

The Saxon Gospels, by John Foxe. London, 1571, 4to. To this I may add the

Psalterium Latino-Saxonicum Vetus Johannis Spelmanni. Londini, 1640, 4to. and

“The whole Psalter translated into English Metre, which contayneth an hundredth and fifty Psalmes. Imprinted at London by John Daye, dwelling over Aldersgate, beneath S. Martyns.”

“Cum Gratia et Privilegio Regiæ Majestatis per Decennium.”

4to. with the device of the Printers, whose Colophon I have transcribed above, as it seems to militate against the supposition entertained by Warton,⁠[9] that the Work was never published, but that the Archbishop permitted his wife to present the Book to some of the nobility.

“This copy, very curiously bound, was probably given by her to the Church of Canterbury,” says the compiler of the Catalogue of its Library; but I know not on what grounds beyond mere conjecture; and I regret to add that the ancient binding has been replaced by a modern suit of morocco, the colour of which has been so much impaired by damp that I could scarcely believe it had once been purple.

These Psalms, translated into English Metre by Archbishop Parker, were finished in 1557, and a few years afterwards printed. The Book is extremely scarce, excepting in public libraries. Strype, the ecclesiastical historian, relates that he could never obtain a sight of it. At the sale of the Books belonging to the late Dr. Farmer in 1798, a copy of this Work was sold for three pounds six shillings; and in Mr. Bright’s sale, in 1845, for forty pounds ten shillings.

Of Works of Divinity in this Library, the number is so considerable that I must content myself with noticing the

Magna Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum et antiq. Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum per Margarinum de la Bigné et alior. Colon. Agrip. 1618-22, in 16 vols. folio.

Bibliothecæ Græcorum Patrum Auctarium per Franc. Combesis. Paris. 1672, in 3 vols. folio.

SS. Patrum Barnabæ, Hermæ, Clementis, Ignatii, et Polycarpi Opera, per Jo. Bapt. Cotelerium. Lutet. Paris. 1672, in 2 vols. folio.

SS. Patrum Opera, Gregorii Neocæsariensis, Macarii Ægyptii, et Basilii Seleuciæ Epistolæ, folio. Parisiis, 1622.

SS. Patrum Opera, Amphilochii Iconiensis, Methodii Patavensis, et Andreæ Cretensis. Parisiis, 1644, folio.

Ambrosii Opera. Paris. 1586, in 2 vols. folio.

Athanasii Opera, Gr. et Lat., edita à Petro Nannio, 2 vols. folio.

Augustini Opera. Basileæ, 1569, in 7 vols. folio; and Paris. 1679, in 8 vols. folio.

Basilii Opera. Parisiis, 1618, in 3 vols. folio.

Bernardi Opera. Basil. 1566, folio.

Bellarmini Opera. Colon. Agrip. 1620, in 5 vols. folio: et Disputationes, Lutet. Paris. 1620, in 4 vols. folio.

Bonaventuræ Opera. Moguntiæ, 1609, in 4 vols. fol.

Calvini Opera. Genevæ, 1583, in 11 vols. folio.

Chamieri Panstratia Catholica. Genevæ, 1626, in 4 vols. folio.

Chrysostomi Opera, Gr. et Lat. Ducæi. Parisiis, 1636, in 11 vols. folio: and Græcè, per Henricum Savilium, Etonæ, 1613, in 8 vols. folio.

Clementis Alexandrini Opera; Sylburgii. Lutet. 1629, folio.

Cypriani Opera, per Fell. Oxonii, 1682, folio.

Cyrilli Alexandrini Opera. Paris. 1638, in 7 vols. fol.

Cyrilli Hierosolymitani et Synesii Cyrenensis Opera. Lutet. Paris. 1640, folio.

Two 8vo. editions of the Rationale of Durandus of 1580 and 1592.

Epiphanii Opera per Petavium. Parisiis, 1622, in 2 vols. folio.

Episcopii Opera. Amstel. 1650, in 2 vols. folio.

Erasmi Opera. Lugd. Bat. 1703, in 11 vols. folio.

Eusebii Præparatio et Demonstratio Evangelica. Paris. 1628, folio.

Gregorii Nazianzeni Opera. Lutet. Paris. 1609, in 2 vols. folio.

Gregorii Nysseni Opera. Paris. 1638, in 3 vols. fol.

Hieronymi Opera. Paris. 1609, in 3 vols., and Francos. 1684, in 4 vols. folio.

Hilarii Opera. Paris. 1652.

Hospinianus de origine ac progressu Monachatûs. Tiguri, 1588, folio, and his other works.

Ignatii et Polycarpi Epistolæ, Jac. Usserii. Oxonii, 1644, 4to.

Ignatii et Barnabæ Epistolæ. Isa. Vossii. Amstel. 1646, 4to.

Ignatii Epistolæ, per Tho. Smith. Oxonii, 1709, 4to.

Irenæi Opera. Parisiis, 1710, folio.

Isidori Epistolæ. Lutet. 1638, folio.

Isidori Hispalensis Opera. Colon. Agrip. 1617, fol.

Justini Martyris Opera. Paris. 1551 and 1636, fol.

Lactantii Opera. Basileæ, 1563, folio, and Oxonii, 1684, 8vo.

Lanfranci, Archiep. Cantuar. Opera et Vita. Lutet. Paris. 1648, folio.

Lutheri Opera. Witebergæ, 1582, in 7 vols. folio.

Melancthonis Opera. Basileæ, 1541, in 2 vols. fol.

Many pieces of Du Moulin’s.

Œcumenii Comment. Lut. Par. 1630, 2 vols. folio.

Origenis Commentaria. Rothom, 1668, in 2 vols. folio.

Petavii Dogmata Theologica. Lutet. Paris. 1644, in 5 vols. folio; with his Doctrina Temporum, and other Works.

Philonis Judæi Opera, Basileæ, 1526, Paris. 1640, and Londini, 1742, à Mangey.

Procopii et Riberæ Commentaria.

Suarez Opuscula Theologica. Lugd. 1600, 4to.

Tertulliani Opera. Paris. 1634, folio.

Theodoreti Opera Sirmondi. Lutet. Paris. 1642, in 4 vols. folio.

Theophylacti Opera Varia.

Tostati Opera. Col. Agrip. 1613, in 12 vols. folio.

Vincentii Sermones. Antv. 1572, 3 vols. 8vo.

Whitakeri Opera Theologica. Genevæ, 1610, 2 vols. folio.

Zanchii Opera. Hanoviæ, 1507, in 2 vols. 4to.

To which I may add the Critici Sacri. Londini, 1660, in 9 vols. folio.

Poli Synopsis. Londini, 1669, in 5 vols. folio.

Bibliotheca Polonorum Fratrum. 1656, in 8 vols. folio; and

Walchii Bibliotheca Theologica and Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus.

Those who have persevered in perusing this long Catalogue of early Divinity, will have obtained a very good idea of the nucleus around which most of our Cathedral Libraries have been formed, and may figure to themselves a long array of ponderous folios, attired in the dusky calf of the seventeenth century. Of the more recent theological writers, the list being less copious, may also prove less fatiguing; including numerous Sermons by Blair, Horne, Sherlock, Secker, South, and other writers; the Hulsean Lectures, and the Works of Andrews, Barrow, Benson, Bull, Beveridge, Bingham, Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Cosins, Hall, Hammond, Hooper, Horsley, Jackson, Jones, Jewel, Lardner, Lightfoot, Leslie, Lowth, Newcome, Paley, Pococke, Potter, Prideaux, Skelton, Shuckford, Stanhope, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Usher, Warburton, and Waterland.

This department also embraces Butler’s Analogy; Campbell on the Gospels; Sale’s Koran; Chappelow on Job; Daubeny’s Guide to the Church; Dwight’s Theology; Faber on Pagan Idolatry; Hey’s Theological Lectures; Kett on Prophecy; Horne’s Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures; Macknight on the Epistles; Marsh’s Michaelis; Pearson on the Creed; Porteus’s Lectures; and Stackhouse’s History of the Bible. To which I may add, Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; the Commentaries of Arnald, Grotius, Hammond, Lowth, Patrick, Taylor, Wetstein, and Whitby; with the Concordances of Buxtorf, Cruden, Kircher, Newman, Stephens, &c.

In Ecclesiastical History this collection is particularly rich; both as relates to the affairs of the Church in general, and to the Ecclesiastical History of England in particular. In proof of this assertion I may adduce

Echard and Collier’s Ecclesiastical History.

Conciliorum Collectio Maxima, per Labbeum et Cossartium. Lutet. Paris. 1672, in 18 vols. folio.

Concilia per Binium. Col. Agr. 1606, in 5 vols. and Lut. Par. 1636, in 10 vols. folio.

Concilia Galliæ Narbonensis. Paris. 1668, 8vo. and Spelmanni Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ. Londini, 1639-64, 2 vols. folio.

Wilkins’s Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ. Londini, 1737, in 4 vols. folio.

Le Cointe Annales Ecclesiastica Francorum. Paris. 1665, 8 vols. folio; and his Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain.

Broughton’s Dictionary of all Religions. London, 1737, in 2 vols. folio.

Picart’s Religious Ceremonies of all Nations. London, 1733, in 6 vols. folio.

The Acta Sanctorum, per Dacherium et Mabillonium. Lutet. Paris. 1668-77, in 6 vols. folio.

Anastasii Hist. Eccl. et Vitæ Paparum. 1602, 4to. and 1649, folio.

Balei Acta Romanor. Pontificum. Basileæ, 1558, 8vo.

Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici. Antv. 1612-29, in 12 vols. folio.

Bower’s History of the Popes. London, 1748, 5 vols. 4to.⁠[10]⁠

I. Casauboni Exercitationes ad Baronii Annales. Genevæ, 1654, 4to.

Pagi Critica in Annales Baronii. Lut. Par. 1689, fol.

Cave’s Scriptorum Eccles. Hist. Lit. London, 1688, in 2 vols. folio.

Cave’s Antiquitates Apostolicæ. Lond. 1677, in 2 vols. folio; and Primitive Christianity. Lond. 1675, 8vo.

Historia Ecclesiastica Centuriatorum Magdeburgensium. Basileæ, 1624, in 3 vols. folio.

Codex Theodosianus, 1665, 4 vols. folio.

Gibson’s Codex, in 2 vols. folio.

Corpus Juris Canonici. Taurini, 1620, 3 vols. folio.

Durandi Speculum Juris. Francof. 1592, folio.

Ecton’s Thesaurus. 1766, 4to.

Howell’s Synopsis Canonum.

Geddes’s Church History of Æthiopia and Malabar.

Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity.

The Legenda Aurea. Coloniæ, 1485, folio.

Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History.

Osiandri Epitome Hist. Eccles. Tubingæ, 1607, in 4 vols. 4to.

Spondani Annales Sacri. Lut. Par. 1660, 5 vols. fol.

Tornielli Annales Sacri. Antv. 1620, in 2 vols. folio.

Usserii Annales. Lond. 1650-54, 2 vols. folio.

Waddingi Annales Minorum. Lugd. 1625, in 4 vols. folio.

Warner’s Ecclesiastical History. London, 1756, 2 vols. folio.

The Annals of Scottish Episcopacy.

Alfordi Annales Eccles. Britan. Leodii, 1663, in 4 vols. folio.

Bedæ, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica. Lovanii, 1566, 12mo. Cantabrigiæ, 1644, folio.

Burnet’s History of the Reformation. London, 1679, in 3 vols. folio.

Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ in Angliâ. Aug. Trev. 1588, 4to.

Cosins’ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Politeia. Oxonii, 1634, 4to.

Churton’s Life of Dean Nowell.

Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey.

Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum. Lond. 1655, &c. 3 vols. folio.

Fox’s Acts and Monuments of the Church. London, 1632, in 3 vols. folio.

Godwin, de Præsulibus Angliæ. Cantabrigiæ, 1743, folio.

Gough, Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Threnodia. Londini, 1661, 8vo.

Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica. Duaci, 1622, folio.

Heylin’s History of the Reformation. London, 1661, folio.

Inett’s Origines Anglicanæ.

Lyndewode, Provinciale. Antv. 1525, and Oxon. 1679, folio.

Mac Crie’s Life of Knox.

Parker De Antiquitate Britannicæ Ecclesiæ. Hanoviæ, 1605, folio.

Parker De Archiep. Cantuar. Londini, 1729, folio.

Reyner’s Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ. Duaci, 1626, folio.

Skinner’s Ecclesiastical History of Scotland.

Spotiswode’s History of the Church of Scotland. London, 1668, folio.

Southey’s Life of Wesley, and Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ.

Stillingfleet’s Origines Britannicæ. Lond. 1685, fol.

Strype’s Annals of the Reformation. London, 1709, 4 vols. folio.

Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials. London, 1721, 3 vols. folio.

Tanner’s Notitia Monastica. Londini, 1744, folio.

Usserii Eccles. Britan. Antiquitates. Eblanæ, 1639, 4to.

Walker’s History of Independency. London, 1661, 4to.

Whartoni Anglia Sacra. Londini, 1691, in 2 vols. fol.

Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography.

Of Foreign History in general this Library possesses few works of any importance; the principal works being Bayle’s Dictionary; Banduri Imperium Orientale; Brabantiæ Monumenta Sepulchralia; Historiæ Byzantinæ Scriptores per Phil. Labbeum, Parisiis, 1648-50, in 21 vols. folio; Cluverii Italia, Sicilia, et Germania Antiqua; Freheri Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores, Francos. 1600, folio; Grimstone’s History of the Netherlands; Du Halde’s History of China; Guicciardini, Belgicæ Descriptio; Gyllii Constantinopoleos Topographia; Herreræ, Descriptio Indiæ Occidentalis; Heylin’s Cosmography; The Universal History, in 7 vols. folio; Laurenbergii Græcia Antiqua; Grævii Antiquitates; Montfaucon’s Antiquities, and other Works; Marsden’s Sumatra; Maurice’s Indian Antiquities; Mitford’s History of Greece; Pocockii Specimen Historiæ Arabum; Pontani Bohemia pia; Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1625, in 5 vols. folio, a very fine clean copy, bound in calf; Robertson’s History of America, and Charles V.; Watson’s Philip II.; Hallam’s Middle Ages; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Sandys’ Travels, and Europæ Speculum; Stuart’s Athens, incomplete; The Ionian Antiquities, and Wood’s Ruins of Palmyra; Six volumes of De Bry’s Voyages; Simsoni Chronicon Catholicum, & Wormii Monumenta Danica.

To the above may be added, Churchill’s collection of Voyages and Travels in 6 vols. folio. Bruce’s Travels. Pinkerton’s, and other works of Geography, and the Chronological researches of Beverigius, Bucherius, Carion, Cary, Calvisius, Fulcius, Helvicus, Isaacson, Marsham, Petavius, Pezron, Newton, Perizonius, Paludinus, Robinson, Scaliger, Simson, Strauchius and Ussher; with Hale’s Analysis of Ancient Chronology; all of them very material “helps to history.” To which I may add Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary, and Brady’s Clavis Calendaria.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain, I have much pleasure in being enabled to afford the reader a pretty copious selection; commencing with the Records of the Kingdom published under the authority of the Parliamentary Commission; and the Histories of England by Brady, Echard, Hume, Macauley, and Rapin. To these may be added,

Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana. Basileæ, 1555, folio.

Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam præcipui: edente Savile. 1596, folio.

Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum. Francof. 1601, folio; & Londini, 1570, folio.

Florentii Wigorniensis Chronicon. Francof. 1601, folio.

Anglica, Normannica, Hibernica, &c. à veteribus scripta, è Bibliothecâ Gulielmi Camdeni. Francof. 1603, folio.

Eadmeri Historia Novorum. Londini, 1623, folio.

Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana per Wats. Lond. 1640, folio.

Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem per Rogerum Twysden. Londini, 1652, folio.

Rerum Britannicarum Scriptores Vetustiores. Heidelb. 1587, folio.

Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores Veteres, à Fell. Oxonii, 1684, folio.

Historiæ Britannicæ Scriptores XX, à Tho. Gale. Oxonii, 1698, in two vols. folio.

Buchanani Rerum Scoticarum Historia. Edinb. 1582, folio.

Camdeni Annales. Londini, 1615, folio.

Baker’s Chronicle of the Kings of England. London, 1674, folio.

Bates, Elenchus Motuum in Angliâ. Londini, 1663, 8vo.

Brand on Popular Antiquities. 2 vols. 4to.

Burnet’s History of his own Times. London, 1724, in 2 vols. folio.

Burton’s Commentary on Antoninus’s Itinerary. London, 1658, folio.

Camdeni Britannia, 1586 and 1607, with his Remains.

Campbell’s Survey of Great Britain. London, 1774, 2 vols. 4to.

Carte’s Life of Ormond. London, 1736, in 3 vols. folio.

Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion. Oxford, 1702, 4 vols. folio.

Coxe’s Life of Sir Robert Walpole. London, 1798, 3 vols. 4to.

Coxe’s Memoir of Marlborough.

De Lolme on the English Constitution. London, 1790, 8vo.

Desiderata Curiosa Hibernica. Dublin, 1772, in 2 vols. 8vo.

Drayton’s Polyolbion. London, 1622, folio.

Du Chesne’s Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores. Paris. 1619, folio.

Du Chesne’s Histoire d’Angleterre, &c. Paris. 1634, folio.

Dugdale’s Origines Judiciales. London, 1666, fol.

Dugdale’s History of the Troubles in England. Oxford, 1681, folio.

Dugdale’s History of Imbanking, &c. London, 1662, folio.

Evelyn’s Memoirs.

Enderbie’s Cambria triumphans. London, 1661, folio.

Franklin’s Annals of James I. and Charles I. Lond. 1681, folio.

Granger’s Biographical History of England. Lond. 1769, 5 vols. 4to.

Gifford’s Life of Pitt.

Hardyng’s Chronicle. London, 1543, 4to.

Heylin’s Life of Laud. London, 1668, folio.

Holinshed’s Chronicles of England. London, no date, folio.

Ingram’s Saxon Chronicle. Oxford, 4to.

Kennett’s Register and Chronicle. London, 1728, folio.

Biographia Britannica. Lond. 1747, in 7 vols. fol.

Laud’s History of his Troubles. London, 1695, fol.

Atkyns’ History of Gloucestershire. London, 1712, folio.

Battely’s Antiquities of Canterbury. London, 1703, folio.

Bentham’s History of the Church of Ely. Cambridge, 1771, 4to.

Boys’ History of Sandwich. Canterbury, 1792, 4to.

Burton’s Leicestershire. London, 1622, folio.

Caius, de Antiquitate Acad. Cantabr. Lond. 1574, 4to.

Chiffletius de Portu Iccio. Antverpiæ, 1627, 4to.

Dart’s Church of Canterbury. London, 1726, fol.

Description of York and Canterbury Cathedrals. London, 1755, folio.

Dugdale’s Warwickshire. London, 1656, folio.

Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s. London, 1716, fol.

Fowler’s Mosaic Pavements.

Gostling’s Walks about Canterbury. Canterbury, 1777, 8vo.

Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments. London, 1786, &c. 5 vols. folio.

Gutch’s Collectanea Curiosa.

Halfpenny’s Fragmenta Vetusta.

Harris’s History of Kent. London, 1719, folio, with some manuscript notes by M. Norris, formerly Auditor of this Church.

Hasted’s History of Kent. Canterbury, 1778, &c. in 4 vols. folio.

Horsley’s Britannia Romana. London, 1732, folio.

Jacob’s History of Feversham. London, 1774, 8vo.

Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities. 4to.

Kilburne’s Survey of Kent. London, 1659, 4to.

Kilburne’s Brief Survey of Kent. London, 1657.

King’s Vale Royal. London, 1656, folio.

Lewis’s History of the Isle of Tenet. London, 1723, 4to.

Lewis’s History of Faversham, &c. London, 1727, 4to.

Loggan’s Oxonia et Cantabrigia illustrata, folio.

Magna Britannia. Lond. 1720, in 6 vols. 4to.

Maitland’s History of London. 1772, in 2 vols. fol.

Leland’s History of Ireland. London, 1773, in 3 vols. 4to.

Lloyd’s History of Wales, by Powell. London, 1584, 4to.

Lhuyd, Britannicæ Descriptionis Fragmentum. Col. Agr. 1572, 8vo.

Mc Crie’s Life of Knox.

Madox’s Firma Burgi. Lond. 1726, folio.

Madox’s History of the Exchequer. London, 1711, in 2 vols. folio.

Nalson’s Collections. London, 1682, in 2 vols. fol.

Neubrigensis, Guil. Rerum Anglicarum Libri V. Antv. 1567, 8vo.

Nicholl’s Original Letters addressed to Oliver Cromwell. London, 1743, folio.

North’s Life of the Lord Keeper North. London, 1742, 4to.

North’s Life of Sir Dudley North. Lond. 1744, 4to.

North’s Enquiry into Kennett’s History. London, 1740, 4to.

Parker, De Rebus sui Temporis. London, 1726, 8vo.

Pepys’ Memoirs, edited by Lord Braybrooke. 2 vols. 4to.

Robertson’s History of Scotland. Lond. 1762, 2 vols. 4to.

Ruding’s Annals of the Coinage. 3 vols. 4to.

Rushworth’s Historical Collections. London, 1682, &c. 8 vols. folio.

Rymer’s Fœdera. Lond. 1727, in 20 vols. folio.

Sidney State Papers. London, 1746, 2 vols. folio.

Slayter’s Palæ-Albion. London, 1619, folio.

Somner’s Treatise of Gavelkind. London, 1726, 4to.

Speed’s History of Great Britain. London, 1623, folio.

Spelman’s Vita Ælfredi. Oxon. 1678, folio.

Spencer’s Life of Archbishop Chichele. London, 1783.

Strype’s Lives, Annals of the Reformation and Memorials.

Stuart’s History of Scotland.

Thurloe’s State Papers. London, 1742, in 7 vols. folio.

Twinus de Rebus Albionicis. Londini, 1590, 8vo.

Manning and Bray’s History of Surrey.

Miller’s Account of Ely Cathedral. 8vo.

Morton’s Northamptonshire. London, 1712, folio.

Newcourt’s Repertorium Londinense. Lond. 1728, in 2 vols. folio.

Packe’s Dissertation on his Chart of East Kent. London, 1737. The Chart itself being also in the possession of the Dean and Chapter. It is both curious and important.

Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa. Londini, 1732, in 2 vols. folio.

Peck’s Annals of Stamford. London, 1727, folio.

Philipot’s Villare Cantianum. Lond. 1659, folio.

Plot’s Nat. Hist. of Oxfordshire. Oxford, 1667, fol.

Somner’s Portus Iccius Cæsaris, per Edm. Gibson. Oxon. 1694, 8vo.

Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury. London, 1640, 4to. This copy contains the manuscript additions of Somner himself, which Battely afterwards incorporated with his Antiquities of Canterbury, published in 1703.

Speed’s Prospect of the most famous places in Great Britain. London, 1631, folio.

Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum. London, 1656, 4to.

Stow’s Survey of London. London, 1633, folio.

Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum. Lond. 1724, fol.

Tanner’s Notitia Monastica. London, 1744, folio.

Thorpe’s Registrum Roffensis. Lond. 1769, folio.

Turner’s History of the Anglo-Saxons.

Twinus de Antiquitate Academiæ Oxoniensis. Oxon. 1608, 4to.

Wright’s History of Rutland. London, 1684, fol.

Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence. Antwerp, 1605, 4to.

Wallis’s History of Northumberland.

Weever’s Funeral Monuments. London, 1631, fol.

Wood’s Athenæ & Antiquitates Oxonienses. London. 1721, 2 vols. folio.

Wild’s Description of Canterbury Cathedral.

Willement’s Heraldic Notices of Canterbury Cathedral.

White’s Natural History of Selborne.

Wilson’s History of Merchant Taylor’s School.

Walker’s History of Independency. London, 1661, 4to.

Viti Basinstochii Historia Britanniæ. 1602, 8vo.

Wilkins’s Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ. London, 1721, folio, and

Wood’s Institutes of the Laws of England. London, 1724, folio.

How tedious soever may be this long series of Works upon British History and Antiquities to the general reader, the Bibliographical Antiquary will thank me for the enumeration of many rare and valuable Illustrations of English history, as well as for keeping as distinct as possible the Historical and Topographical departments.

I forbear to mention the Tracts and other obsolete Works chiefly polemical, which remain on the shelves of this Library; neither are the Works on Natural History or Science deserving of a separate enumeration; unless we may except the Aldine Galen of 1525, in 5 vols. folio; the Abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions; Palladio’s Architecture; the History of Plants, by Theophrastus, Gerard, and Ray; and Shaw’s Zoology, in 17 volumes.

In English Literature and Poetry it will be sufficient to mention the names of Addison, Burke, Bacon, Ben. Jonson, Boyle, Cowley, Chaucer, Dryden, Locke, Milton, Newton, Sterne, Selden, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Swift, to shew the general character of this department of the Library. But, as usual in all Cathedral Libraries, the great mass of English works are of a sacred character.

There is indeed a strong resemblance between the Collections which, dating from the earliest dawn of literature in England, have been augmented by successive additions, and now form the Libraries annexed to the Ecclesiastical Establishments of our own time and country.

In addition to the voluminous and important works of the Fathers of the Church, and of the earlier Divines of this country and of the Continent, which have been already enumerated in their proper place, this Library embraces other Theological Works of English writers, among whom it may be sufficient to mention the names of Bramhall, Gisborne, Horne, Jortin, Perkins and Wake. To these may be added Pierce on the Epistles; Prideaux and Shuckford’s Connection; and Cudworth’s Intellectual System.

But the true character of these Collections will, in every case, be most correctly understood by a particular enumeration of their several contents.

In Classical Literature this Collection comprehends many of the principal Authors, but few of the most important editions. In illustration of this remark, I may adduce many works which have no other claim to a place in this notice; such as

Æliani Variæ Historiæ. Lugd. Bat. 1701, in 2 vols. 8vo.

Æneæ Sylvii Opera. Basil. 1571, folio.

Æschylus Tragœdiæ, per Henr. Stephanum. 1557, 4to.

Sophocles Tragœdiæ, per Henr. Stephanum. 1568, 4to.

Euripides, Barnesii, Cantabr. 1694, et Canteri. 1602, 2 vols. 4to.

Euripides, Glasguæ, 1821, in 9 vols. 8vo. in green morocco.

Apollonii Argonautica, per H. Stephanum, 1574, 4to.

Arrianus de Expeditione Alexandri, per H. Stephanum. 1575, folio.

Sidonii Apollinaris Opera. Paris. 1652 & 1609.

Ammianus Marcellinus, Du Vall. Paris. 1681, fol.

Aristotelis Opera. Paris. 1654, 4 vols. folio, & Venetiis, 1562, 10 vols. 8vo.

Archimedis Opera, Gr. et Lat. Basileæ, 1544, folio.

Aristophanes. Genevæ, 1607, folio, et Lugd. Bat. 1625, 12mo.

Aristophanes Kusteri. Amst. 1710, folio, in red morocco.

Athenæi Deipnosophistæ. Lugduni, 1612, folio.

Arrianus de Venatione, per Holstenium. Paris. 1644.

Aulus Gellius. Amstel. 1665, 12mo.

Cæsaris Commentarii per S. Clarke. Lond. 1712, folio.

Catullus, Tibullus, et Propertius. Lutet. 1604, fol.

Celsus de Medicinâ. Lugd. Bat. 1665, 12mo.

Ciceronis Opera, Lambini. Paris. 1566, 4 vols. folio, & Gronovii, Lugd. Bat. 1692, 11 vols. 8vo.

Demosthenis et Æschinis Opera. Francof. 1640, folio.

Dio Cassius. Leunclavii. Hanov. 1606, folio.

Diodorus Siculus. Rhodomani. Hanoviæ, 1604, folio.

Dionysius Halicarnasseus. Sylburgii. Francof. 1586, folio.

Diogenes Laertius. Londini, 1664, folio.

Dionis Chrysostomi Orationes. Lutet. 1604, folio.

Epictetus. Cantabr. 1655, & Amst. 1683, with Carter’s translation.

Horatius, edited by Bond, Baxter, and Bentley.

Homeri Ilias. 1689, 4to. et Odyssea, 1567, 12mo. cum.

Eustathii Commentariis. Basileæ, 1559, 3 vols. folio.

Herodotus, Francofurti, 1608, folio.

Herodotus Wesselingii. Amst. 1763, folio, Ch. max., in vellum.

Justini Historia. Lond. 1609, 12mo. & 1701, 8vo.

Juvenalis Lubini. Hanoviæ. 1603, 4to.

Livius, Gronovii. Lugd. Bat. 1634, 32mo. Clerici. Amst. 1710, 10 vols. 8vo. Coloniæ, 1525, folio, & Francof. 1628, folio.

Luciani Opera. Lutet. Paris. 1615, folio.

Luciani Opera. Hemsterhusii. Amst. 1743, 4 vols. 4to.

Livius Drakenborchii. Ludg. Bat. 1738-46, in 7 vols. 4to.

Longinus, à Pearce. Lond. 1624, et à Langbaine. Oxford, 1636.

Lucanus Oudendorpii. Ludg. Bat. 1728, 4to.

Lucretius Wakefieldii. Lond. 1796, 3 vols. folio.

Lycophron, Potteri. Oxonii, 1697, folio.

Martialis. Amst. 1670, & Genev. 1623.

Oratores Attici, Bekkeri. Berol. 1823, 5 vols. 8vo.

Ovidius, Burmanni. Amst. 1727, in 4 vols. 4to.

Persius Casauboni. 1647, 8vo. & Hanov. 1603, 4to.

Pindar, edited by Potter and Stephens.

Platonis Opera, Serrani. 1578, 3 vols. folio.

Platonis Opera, Bekkeri. Berol. 1815, 8 vols. 8vo.

Plautus, Lambini. Aurel. Allobr. 1605, 4to.

Plinii Historia Naturalis. Venet. 1571, Francof. 1599, &c.

Plinii Junioris Epistolæ. Genevæ, 1625.

Poetæ Græci Principes, Stephani. Paris. 1566, folio.

Plutarchi Opera. Stephani. Paris. 1572, 6 vols. 8vo.

Plutarchi Opera. Rualdi. Paris. 1624, 2 vols. folio.

Pausanias, Xylandri. Hanoviæ. 1613, folio.

Polybius Casauboni. Paris. 1609, folio.

Polybius Schweighaeuseri. Lipsiæ, 1789-95, 8 vols. in 8vo.

Ptolemæi Geographia. Basileæ, 1545, folio.

Quintiliani Opera. Coloniæ, 1521, folio.

Sallustius, à Wasse. Cantabr. 1710, 4to. Havercamp’s excellent edition.

Seneca. Paris. 1626, folio. Lugd. Bat. 1640, 4 vols. 12mo.

Strabonis Geographia, Casauboni. 1587, folio.

Suetonius, Pitisci. Leovardiæ. 1714, 4to. 2 tom.

Suetonius. Paris. 1610, folio, Lugd. Bat. 1647, 8vo.

Tacitus Variorum. Paris. 1608, folio.

Terentius Variorum. Lugd. Bat. 1675, 8vo. & Bentleii. Cant. 1726, 4to.

Theocritus, Heinsii. 1604, 4to. Hudsoni.

Thucydides. Francof. 1694, & Oxonii, 1696, folio, et Dukeri, Amst. 1731, folio.

Valerius Maximus. Lutet. 1517, folio.

Vegetius de Re Militari. Lugd. Bat. 1592, 8vo.

Virgilius, Servii. Paris. 1600, folio. Variorum. L. Bat. 1680, 3 vols. 8vo. with Heyne’s excellent edition.

Vitruvius de Architecturâ. Amstel. 1649, folio, and Xenophon Leunclavii. Francof. 1596, folio. Oxonii, 1703, 5 vols. 8vo.

This Library is also endowed with various Works upon Etymology, deserving of some mention in this place. Among which, the valuable addition of the Saxon Tongue in Somner’s own handwriting, induces me to mention firstly,

Minsheu’s Guide into Tongues. London, 1627, folio; and next,

Somneri Dictionarium Saxonico-Latino-Anglicum. Oxon. 1659, folio.

Spelmanni Glossarium Archaiologicum. Lond. 1664, folio.

Skinner, Etymologicum Linguæ Anglicanæ. Lond. 1671, folio.

Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis. Oxon. 1705, 2 vols. folio.

Davies’ Dictionarium Britannico-Latinum. Lond. 1632, folio.

Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary. Lond. 1611, folio, and

C. Kiliani Dufflæi Etymologicum Teutonicæ Linguæ. Antv. 1599, 4to.

To which may be added the Greek and Latin Glossaries of Du Fresne, the Lexica of Scapula, and Suidas. Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ et Latinæ, with Valpy’s recent edition of the former. Calepini Dictionarium octolingue. Hoogeveen Doctrina Particularum. Vossii Etymologicum Linguæ Latinæ. Sylburgii Etymologicum Magnum. Vigerus de Idiotismis Græcis; with French, Italian, Spanish, English, Hebrew, and Æthiopic Dictionaries; Hebrew, Greek, Samaritan, Æthiopic, Saxon, and Italian Grammars; from which a very fair estimate may be formed of this important portion of the Library.

In conclusion, I have ventured to enumerate some of the Works on Bibliography, chiefly of an early date, which are found in this Library, giving precedence to the Bibliotheca Græca, Hamburgi, 1705, 14 vols. 4to. and Latina, Hamburgi, 1708-12; with the Bibliographia Antiquaria of Fabricius, Hamb. 1713, 4to.; to which I may add the following:

Balei Scriptorum Britanniæ Catalogus. Basil. 1559, folio.

Beughem, Bibliographia Critico-Curiosa. Amstel. 1689, 2 vols. 8vo.

Beughem, Bibliographia Historica, Chronologica et Geographica. Amst. 1685, 8vo.

Beughem, Incunabula Typographiæ. Amst. 1688, 8vo.

Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra. Paris. 1723, 2 vols. folio.

Joh. Lomeierus de Bibliothecis. Ultrajecti. 1680, 8vo.

Gabr. Naudæi Bibliographia Militaris. Jenæ. 1683, 8vo.

Nouvelle Bibliothèque choisie. Amst. 1714, 2 vols. 8vo.

Bibliothèque Curieuse et Instructive. Trevoux, 1704, 12mo.

List of the various Editions of the Bible. Lond. 1778, 8vo.

Frisii Bibliotheca Philosophorum Chronologica. Tiguri, 1592, 4to.?

Gesneri Bibliotheca. Tiguri, 1574, folio.

Marrier’s Bibliotheca Cluniacensis. Lutet. Paris. 1614, folio.

Photii Bibliotheca, curâ Hœschelii. Rothomagi. 1653, folio.

Pitseus, de Scriptoribus Angliæ. Paris. 1619, 4to.

Reading’s Catalogue of Sion College Library. London, 1724, folio.

Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannico Hibernica. Lond. 1748, folio.

Wormii Literatura Danica. Hasniæ, 1636, 4to.

Histoire de l’Imprimerie, et de la Librairie. Paris. 1689, 4to.

Bibliothèque des Auteurs de l’Histoire de France. Paris. 1618, 12mo.

The Catalogues of various Libraries come next in order. First, let us take those of Manuscripts, among which we find

James’s Catalogus Librorum MSS. Oxon. et Cantabr. Lond. 1600, 4to.

Catalogus MSS. Angliæ, et Hiberniæ. Oxon. 1697, folio.

Catalogus Librorum MSS. à Matthæo Parker, Collegio C.C.C. legatorum. Lond. 1722.

Catalogue des MSS. de la Bibliotheque du Sequier. Paris. 1686, 12mo.

Among the several Catalogues of printed books we find

James’s Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ. Oxon. 1620, 4to.

Hyde’s Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ. Oxon. 1674, folio.

Bibliothecæ Cordesianæ Catalogus. Paris. 1643, 4to.

Bibliothecæ Scarburghianæ Catalogus. 8vo. sine loco aut anno.

Bibliothecæ Colbertinæ Catalogus. Paris. 1708, 8vo.

Bibliothecæ Thuanæ Catalogus. Paris. 1679, 2 vols. 8vo.

Bibliothecæ Sequierianæ Catalogus. Paris, 1685, 8vo.

Bibliothecæ Bultellianæ Catalogus. Paris. 1711, 2 vols. 8vo.

Bibliothecæ Chethamensis Catalogus, à Radcliffe, 2 vols. 8vo.

Bibliotheca Telleriana. Paris. 1693, folio.

Bibliotheca Heinsiana. Lugd. Bat. 1682, 12mo.

Catalogus Librorum Joannis Giraud. Paris. 1707, 8vo.

Catalogus Librorum Joannis Galloys. Paris. 1710, 8vo.

Catalogue of Charles Bernard’s Library. Lond. 1710, 12mo.

Catalogus Librorum Bibliothecæ Joach. Faultrier. Paris. 1709. 8vo.

Roberti Scott Catalogus Librorum. Lond. 1674, 4to.

Dibdin’s Typographical Antiquities, in 4 vols. 4to.

Works of Bibliography are not abundant in the Cathedral Libraries of England, and it is because in this collection they are unusually numerous that I have mentioned many books now but seldom met with, and some deservedly forgotten.

If to any of my readers this account appear unnecessarily prolix, I must remind them that my object is to give them such full information as to the contents of each Cathedral Library, as may enable them to judge for themselves of its character.

If again this object can only be effected by a dry catalogue of books, the enthusiasm of the genuine bibliographer will carry him through the task, and in the present instance, it is hoped, may render him more intimately acquainted with the literary treasures of the Metropolitan Library contained within the walls of Christ Church, Canterbury.