Library of Chester.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Chester is kept in the Chapter-house annexed to the Cathedral. This apartment is entered from the cloisters, through an outer door and inner screen, over which, on each side the doorway, hang the flags of the 22nd Regiment, raised in Cheshire, presented to the Cathedral by General Finch. The sides of the room are ornamented by elegant and slender pillars, rising between the tall and narrow windows, up to the vaulted roof of stone.

The books are contained in oak presses with solid doors, which occupy three sides of the Chapter-house, with the exception of the space occupied by the two fire-places. The screen fills the fourth side entirely.

In a thin folio volume of 53 leaves, entitled “A Catalogue of certain Books belonging to Christ Church, at Chester. Folio. MDCCLXVIII.” we find this satisfactory assurance:—“In the month of June, MDCCLXII. every volume mentioned in this Catalogue, appeared to be in the Library, except those volumes only which were duly entered in the note book as borrowed books.

“T. C.”

The same authority proceeds to inform us that “There is a large folio Bible (not mentioned in the Catalogue) printed by Baskerville, presented to the Governors of the Cathedral, by the Rev. Mr. Henchman, Sacrist of Chester Cathedral, and Vicar of St. Oswald’s, within the same.

“In the Chapter Library,” it is added, “the folios are ranged on the lowest shelves in the several presses, the quartos on the shelves just above them, the smaller sized books extend from the quartos to the top of the press. Every press which contains books hath the letter initial of the title, together with the size of every volume therein, written on the inner side of the folding doors; moreover every letter is singly pasted on each shelf where it begins. The back of every single book, and of the first volume in every set, is marked with the letter, and number of that letter to which it belongs. Blue paper is used for marks, not through affectation of singularity, but because when it grows dusty through time it has a less sordid appearance than white.” Then follows an explanation of these marks, very useful to all frequenters of the Library, so long as the excellent order above described was preserved. That is however no longer the case, the labels having been removed from the books, and the lists taken off from the doors.

The books nevertheless are readily to be found, as new lettering pieces have been added to all which required such reparation. They still retain the dark calf in which they were originally bound, and are described in the Catalogue according to their sizes, from the folio downwards.

Under these heads the order is alphabetical, and titles are given with sufficient fulness, and the names, places, and dates of each work satisfactorily recorded in this Catalogue.

The books themselves are not numerous; in fact, I shall proceed to notice all except a few of the most obscure.

I will first dispose of the few manuscripts which, having been preserved from the wreck of the Monastic Library, are thus recorded:

“Libri MSS.”

1. Cestria Sacra, etc.

2. De Cestriæ rebus antiquis.

These two volumes are bound in parchment in small 4to.

3. Prisca et Catholica Fides de reali presentiâ Christi in Sacramento Eucharistiæ, unà cum refutatione Transubstantiationis, 1655, per Dr. J. C. Dm. P——, large 4to. sewed.

“Fr: Cholmondely ex dono Autoris.”

4. Four folio Books of writing paper, written in some parts, of which two only now remain.

5. A short Account in the Latin language of a certain Roman Altar, lately found by digging a cellar in the house of one Tyrer, in Chester.

This interesting piece of antiquity is preserved in the cases of the Library which are not filled by books, where I also observed a Roman stone of the 20th legion, a stone inscribed with

COHI ◇ OCRAII MAXIMI Ω IMP

Here is also most appropriately deposited the headstone of the coffin of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester.

I now turn to the printed books, which form this ancient collection, and in so doing cannot but remark the absence of Walton’s Polyglott Bible. The other editions of the sacred volume which I noticed were the

Biblia Græca. Francofurti, 1598, folio.

Montani Biblia Interlineari. Antverpiæ, 1584, folio.

The Bible in French, printed at London, 1688, 4to.

Biblia formâ minori, i. e. textus Hebraicus Veteris Testamenti fine punctis Masoreticis, et Novum Testamentum Græcum versibus in margine notatis, capitalibus autem literis Græcis notatis.

This small Hebrew Bible is bound up with an imperfect Greek Testament in 8vo. and Septuagint, according to the Vatican copy, Cambridge, 1665, 8vo.

Of the New Testament, printed separately, I noticed the Novum Testamentum Bezæ, 1598, folio. Nov. Test. Græcum, Oxonii, 1700, 8vo.; and the Nov. Test. Latinè et Italicè, printed at Lyons in 1558, 8vo.

I may here notice a recent addition to the collection, in the shape of Waltoni Prolegomena, in Biblia Polyglotta, edente Wrangham, Cantabrigiæ, 1828, in 2 8vo. volumes, with this inscription:

“Bibliothecæ Eccles. Cathedr. Cestriens. hunc librum cui quasi inter mœnia ejus corona est imposita, eâ quâ par est observantiâ humillimè offert.” “Franciscus Wrangham, Ebor. Orient. Archdiaconus.”

“Kal. Jan. 1829.”

Of Commentators I observed Ainsworth’s Annotations on the Pentateuch, in folio; Erasmi Paraphrasis Novi Testamenti, 1541, folio; Hodius in Bibl. S. S. Oxon. 1705, folio; Hammond on the New Testament, in folio; Mayer’s Commentaries on the Bible, in folio; Whitby on the New Testament, in folio; Le Clerc on the N. T. 4to.; Heinsius on Nov. Test. 4to.; Fell on St. Paul, in 8vo.; Knatchbull on the New Testament; Patrick on the Psalms, and Slade’s Annotations on the Epistles and Gospels, in 8vo. and Usserii de LXX Gr. in 4to.

Of the Fathers of the Church this Library contains,

Augustini Opera. Parisiis, 1635, in 9 folio volumes.

Chrysostomi Opera. Græcè, Etonæ, 1612, in 8 vols. folio.

Cypriani Opera. Pamelii, 1593, folio.

The Works of Clement of Alexandria and S. Cyril, both in folio.

Epiphanii Opera, Petavii. Parisiis, 1622, folio.

Hieronymi Opera, Erasmi. Basileæ, in 9 folio volumes, much injured by damp.

The Works of Irenæus, edited by Grabe, in folio.

Justinii Martyris Opera. Parisiis, 1615, folio.

Lactantii Opera, Sparke. Oxonii, 1684, 8vo.

Synesii Opera Petavii. Paris. 1631, in folio.

Theodoreti Opera, Sirmondi et Garnerii. Parisiis, 1642, in 5 folio volumes.

Tertulliani Opera, Rigaltii. Parisiis, 1675, folio.

The Works of Origen, Gregory Nazianzen, and Theophylact, some Tracts of S. Chrysostom, Philo Judæus, the Epistles of Ignatius, edited by Vossius in 1680, and by Smith in 1709: both in 4to.

To these may be added Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, Amstelod. 1724, folio, and Grabe, Spicilegium Veterum Patrum. Oxon. 1700, in two 8vo. vols.

Of Concordances there is one in Latin printed at Hanover in 1618, and another in English printed at Cambridge in 1672: both in folio.

I also noticed the Alcoran and a Life of Mahomet (not Sale’s) of the date of 1688, in folio; Reeves’s Translations of the Apologies of the Primitive Fathers, 1709, in 2 volumes 8vo.; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Poli Synopsis; Limborch Theologia Christiana; Polani Syntagma Theologiæ; and Willet’s Synopsis Papismi; all in folio, are found on these shelves.

Among the various writers on Theology I may mention a few pieces by Erasmus and Grotius, the works of Thomas Aquinas, Col. Agr. 1604, in folio, Dallæus de Cultibus, in 4to.; the Works of Pope Gregory, in 4to.; Outram de Sacrificiis, in 4to.; Arnobius adversus Gentes, Antverpiæ, 1582, 8vo.; Dodwell in Irenæum, and Joannes Sarisburiensis Policraticus, sive de nugis Curialium. Lugd. Bat. 1595, 8vo.

The collection of English Divinity is very respectable, including Barrow’s Works edited by Tillotson in 1683, in 2 folio volumes; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants, and Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity, both in folio; Bishop Hall’s Works, London, 1628, folio; Mede’s Works; Nicholls on the Common Prayer, 1613, and Pearson on the Creed, all in folio, with the Posthumous Works of the latter in 4to.; Perkins’s Exposition, London, 1728, folio; Sherlock on the Trinity, on Death, and other Works; Stillingfleet’s Origines, on the Protestant Religion, on the Trinity, and the Antiquity of the British Churches; Tenison on Idolatry; Thorndike on Religion; Waterland on the Creed; Wollaston’s Religion of Nature delineated, and Wall on Infant Baptism: all in 4to.

Bennet on Schism; Bastwick’s Controversial Tracts; Barrow on the Trinity; Clarke on the Attributes; Cockburn on the Christian Faith; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Ditton on the Resurrection; Edwards on Providence, London, 1696, 8vo.; Ellis on the XXXIX. Articles; Hartcliffe on Virtue; Howel on the Pontificate; Jenkin on the Christian Religion; Kenn on the Catechism; Lloyd on Church Government; Maurice on Episcopacy; Nicholls on Contempt of the World; Prideaux’s Connection; Turner on the Messiah; Thorndike on Religious Assemblies; Wake on Swearing; Whitby on Election and Reprobation, and on the New Testament; A Vindication of Miracles against Woolston by the Bishop of Lichfield, London, 1731, in 2 vols. 8vo.; and a Defence of Christianity from the Prophecies, by Edward, Bishop of Lichfield, London, 1725; an imperfect copy of Tillotson’s Works; Kenn’s Crown of Glory; Kettlewell’s Discourses; Calamy’s Sermons; Bishop Cleaver’s Sermons, Oxford, 1808, presented to the Library by Dr. Trevor; and several Miscellaneous Sermons and Tracts, mostly in 4to. including the Funeral Sermon of Margaret, mother of Henry VII. and Foundress of Christ’s and St. John’s Colleges at Cambridge, 1768; Bingham’s Scholastical History; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Brent’s History of the Council of Trent, 1676, folio.

The Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs in this Collection are not numerous. They include, Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, et Ecclesiasticæ Historiæ Auctores à Froben. Basileæ, 1544, folio; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum Rituale Græcar. Eccles. Orient. Paris. 1647, folio; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantab. 1685, folio; Usserii Annales, 1650, folio; Platina’s Vitæ Pontificum, Col. Agr. 1610, 4to.; Reformatio Legum Eccles. Regis Phil. Nat. Elzevir, 1661, 4to.; Cunæus de Republicâ Hebræorum, Durandi Rationale divinorum officiorum, 1592, 8vo.; The Rights of the English Convocation, 1700, 8vo.; Rycaut on the Greek and Armenian Churches, 1679, 8vo.; Richerii Historia Concil. General. Col. 1683, in 3 8vo. volumes; and Lewis’s Hebrew Antiquities, London, 1724, in 2 vols. 8vo.

The Historical department of this Library embraces Bayle’s Historical Dictionary, printed at Rotterdam in 1697, in 4 folio volumes; Cary’s Palæologia Chronica; Collier’s Historical Dictionary, in folio; the Chronicle of Eusebius, Europæ Speculum, Lond. 1637, 4to.; Josephus’s History of the Jews, printed by Froben at Basle in 1540, folio, a copy which is defective in the title; and the works of that author published at Geneva in 1635, folio; Daniel and Larrey’s Histories of France; Mireæ Chronica multorum Auctorum, Antv. 1608, folio; Montfaucon’s Antiquities, translated by Humphreys, in 7 folio volumes; Thuani Historia sui Temporis, curâ Buckleii, Lond. 1733, in 7 folio volumes; Seldeni Marmora Arundeliana, Lond. 1728, 4to.; Bossuet Histoire Universelle; Fleetwood’s Inscriptiones Antiquæ, Græcia Vetus illustrata à Frisio, Lugd. Bat. 1626, 8vo.; Manutii Antiquitates Romanæ, Col. Agr. 1570, 8vo.; Memoires du Duc de Rohan et de Duc de Guise; Malalæ his. Chron. Chilmead, Oxon. 1691, 8vo.; Onuphrii Rep. Rom. Comm. Venet. 1558, 8vo.; Roma Sacra antica, e moderna, figuratà, Romæ, 1687, 8vo.; Tursellini Epitome Hist. Col. Agr. 1629, 8vo.; and Zozimi Historia, Gr. and Lat. Oxon. 1679, 8vo.

I also noticed Doleman’s celebrated Conference with respect to the Succession to the Crown of England, 1681, 8vo.; Burton’s Commentary upon the Itinerary of Antoninus, 1658, folio; Camdeni Annales Elizabethæ, &c. Lond. 1615, in two folio volumes, and his Epistles, London, 1691, 8vo.; and Temple’s Introduction to the History of England, 1695, 8vo.

The Geographical Works in these Presses comprehend the Geographiæ Veterii Scriptores Minores. Oxonii, 1698, in 2 vols. 8vo.; Ortelii Thesaurus Geographicus et Sylacis Periplus Caryandensis, Vossii, 1639, 4to.; Vareni Descriptio Japoniæ et Siam. Cant. 1673, and his Vet. Geographia generalis, 8vo,; Well’s Geography, Oxford, 1701, 8vo.; and Wright’s Travels, London, 1730, 4to.—“a present from the Author to the Library.”

The Chronological series includes Browne’s Fasciculus Temporum, Lond. 1690, folio; Beveregii Institutiones Chronologicæ; Dodwell de Vet. Cyclis, Oxon. 1701, 4to.; Livelie’s Chronology, London, 1597, 8vo.; Shickardi Horologium Hebraicum, Lond. 1639, 8vo.; Strauchius Chronology in English, 1699, 8vo.; Scaliger de Emendatione temporum, in folio; and Whiston’s Chronology of the Bible, in 4to.

I now approach the most copious and interesting department of this Library, and proceed to enumerate the editions of the Greek and Roman classics, commencing with

A large paper copy of Æsopus, Alsopii. Oxon. 1698, 8vo.

Andronicus Rhodius, Heinsii. Lugd. Bat. 1617, 8vo.

Apollonius Rhodius, Elzevir. Lugd. Bat. 1641, 8vo.

Æschylus, Tragœdiæ, Ed. Pr. Aldi. Venet. 1518, 8vo. a clean and perfect copy, bound up with Oppiani Halieuticon, Phil. Junta. Florentiæ, 1515, 8vo. Dionysii Orbis Descriptio, Arati Astronomicon, and Procli Sphæra, cum Scholii Ceporini. Basileæ, apud Joannem Bebelium, 1523, 8vo.; measuring six inches and three-eights by four inches, in old calf binding. There is another edition of Æschylus printed at Paris, in 1552, 8vo.

Æschinis et Demosthenis Orationes à Foulkes. Oxon. 1696, 8vo.

Ælianus Fabri. 1668, 8vo.

Anacreon, à Barnes. Cantab. 1705; and Faher, 1660, 8vo.

Aristophanis Comœdiæ. Aurel., 1607, in folio, and Lugd. Bat. 1625, 8vo.

Aristotelis Opera Sylburgis. Francof. Wechel, 1584-7, in 4 4to. volumes.

Aristotelis Ethica, Victorii, 1584; Rhetorica, Gr. & Lat. Lond. 1619; Physica, Francof. 1596; De Historiâ Animalium, 1585; Rhetorica & De Arte Poeticâ, 1584, all in 4to.; and another edition of the latter Treatise, printed at Cambridge in 1696, 8vo.; Athenæus Dalecampii, Lugd. Bat. 1612, in folio; and Arrianus Stephani, 1575, folio.

Appiani Historia, Gr. & Lat. Tollii. Amstel. 1670, 8vo.

Aurelius Victor. Lugd. Bat. 1670, 8vo.; and

Aulus Gellius, Gronovii. Lugd. Bat. 1687, 8vo.

Aristidis Orationes. Canteri. 1604, 12mo.

Aristæneti Epistolæ. Paris. 1639, 8vo.

Ausonii Opera, 1608, 8vo.

Apollodori Bibliotheca Commelini. 1599, 8vo.

Athenagoras, edited by Humphreys. 1714, 8vo.

Arati et Eratosthenis quædam, cum Dionysii Hymnis. Oxon. 1672, 8vo.

Antoninus, edited by Gataker, Dacier, and Stanhope, in 1697, folio, and the Edition printed at Oxford, 1680, 12mo.

Cæsar. Amst. 1650, 8vo.

Ciceronis Opera, Lugd. Bat. 1642, in 8 volumes 8vo.; Ciceronis Epistolæ, 1549, and Paris, 1557, both in folio; Cicero de Oratore, Aldi, Venetiis, 1564, 8vo., a cropt copy, in the original calf measuring five inches and three quarters by three inches and five-eighths, with “10. R. A.” stamped on the sides; Orationes, Delphini, Cant. 1692, 8vo.; Quintus Calaber, Hanoviæ, 1604, 8vo., and Quintus Curtius, Wetstein. Amstel. 1687, 8vo.

Callimachus; Stephani, in folio.

Catullus, Vossii. Brunsvig. 1658, 8vo.

Diogenes Laertius. Stephani, 1570, 8vo., and Kuhnii. Amst. 1692, in two 4to. volumes.

Dionysius Halicarnasseus. Oxonii, 1704, in 2 vols. fol.

Dion Cassius, Leunclavii. Hanoviæ, 1606, folio.

Dionis Chrysostomi Orationes. Lutetiæ, 1604, fol.

Dionysii Alexandrini et Pomponii Melæ, Orbis Descriptio, 1557, folio.

Demosthenis et Æschines Orationes, Wolfii. Francof. 1604, folio, and by Foulkes. Oxonii, 1696, 8vo.

Ennii Fragmenta, Hesselii. Amst. 1707, 4to.

Euripidis Tragœdiæ à Barnes. Cantab. 1694, folio, & Canteri. Amstel. 1571, 8vo.

Euclidis Elementa à Barrow. Lond. 1659, 8vo.

Epictetus & Cebes. Cantab. 1655, 8vo.

Eustathius de Ismenie Amoribus. Paris. 1618, 8vo.

Eutropius. Basileæ, 1546, 8vo.

Eratosthenes. 1590, 8vo.

Falisci Cynegeticon, Johnson. Lond. 1679, 8vo.

Florus. Amstel. 1664, 8vo.

Frontini Opera. Amstel. 1661, 8vo.

Galeni Opera. Basileæ, 1538, in 3 folio volumes, and the fifth part only of the Aldine edition of 1525, in folio.

Herodotus, Aldi. Venet. 1502, folio. This copy of the first edition of this History is much defaced by scribbling, and has been cropt by the binder, measuring only eleven and a quarter by seven and a half inches. There is another edition printed at Frankfort in 1608, folio.

Herodiani Historia, Stephani. 1581, folio.

Hesiodus, Grævii. Amst. 1667, 8vo., and another edition of 1537, in 4to.

Hippocrates Opera. Basileæ, 1538, folio.

Horatius, Schrevelii. Lugd. Bat. 1663.

Homerus. Basileæ, 1535, Castalionis, 1567, and Lugd. Bat. 1656, all in folio.

Heliodorus. Francof. 1631, 8vo.

Hierocles. Lond. 1654, in two 8vo. volumes.

Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores, Casauboni. Paris. 1620, folio.

Historiæ Poeticæ Scriptores Antiqui, Gr. & Lat. Paris. 1675, 8vo. in old red morocco with gilt leaves.

Iamblichus, Commelini, 1598, and Kusteri, 1707, both in 4to. and by Gale 1678, in folio.

Isocrates, Wolfii. Basileæ, 1570, in folio.

Justinus Variorum. 1659, 8vo.

Juvenal, Hennini. Ultraj. 1685, 4to. and Schrevelii, Lugd. Bat. 1664, & Hanoviæ, 1619, both in 8vo.

Livii Historia. Francofurti, 1552, 8vo.

Longinus, Faber. Sal. 1663, 8vo.

Lucian, Vossii. Amst. 1687, in two 8vo. volumes.

Lycophron, Meursii. Lugd. Bat. 1599, 8vo. and Canteri, 1601, in 4to.

Manilius, Scaligeri. 1600, 4to.

Ammianus Marcellinus, Valesii. Paris. 1636, 4to.

Musæus, Moschus and Bion. Whitford. Lond. 1655, 4to.

Menandri et Philemonis Reliquiæ. Cantab. 1713, 8vo.

Macrobii Opera, in 8vo.

Martial. Lond. 1615, 8vo.

Nicander. Coloniæ, 1530, 4to.

Cornelius Nepos. Amst. 1665, 8vo.

Oppianus, Ritterhusii. Lugd. Bat. 1597, 8vo.

Ovidii Opera. Lond. 1656, 8vo.

Panegyrici Veteres. Antv. 1599, 8vo.

Persius, Casauboni. Lond. 1647, 8vo.

Pausanias, Xylandri. Hanoviæ, 1613, folio.

Platonis Opera Ficini. Francof. 1602, in 3 folio vols.

Plutarchi Opera. Francof. 1620, folio.

Plotini Opera. Basileæ, 1580, folio.

Phædrus, Forbes. Salmur. 1657, 4to.

Pompeius Festus, Dacier. 1699, 4to.

Petronius Arbiter. Lond. 1693, Paris. 1618, & Lipsiæ, 1666, all in 8vo.

Plautus, Gronovii. Lugd. Bat. 1664.

Plinii Historia Naturalis, Gronovii. Lugd. Bat. 1669, in 3 8vo. volumes.

Plinii Junioris Epistolæ et Panegyricus. Oxon. 1703, 8vo.

Porphyrius de Vitâ Pythagoræ. Romæ, 1630, 8vo.

Phalaris Epistolæ. 1614, 8vo.

Velleius Paterculus. Oxon. 1693, 8vo.

A Copy of the first Edition of Pindarus, Aldi, Venet. 1513, 8vo. with Callimachi Hymni, Dionysii Periegetes, and Lycophronis Alexandra, in one volume, interleaved throughout, measuring six inches by three inches and five-eighths, and bound in old calf. There is also the Oxford edition of Pindar, 1697, in folio.

Quintilian. Francof. 1629, 8vo. and by Gibson, Oxon. 1693, 4to.

Rhetores selecti Græci et Latini, à Gale. Oxon. 1676, 8vo.

Senecarum Opera. Amst. 1659, 8vo.

Senecæ Tragœdiæ. Lugd. Bat. 1611, 8vo.

Sophoclis Tragœdiæ, Camerarii. Steph. 1603, 4to. & Lugd. Bat. 1593, 8vo.

Suetonius, Casauboni, Argent. 1497, 4to. and Erasmi. Paris. 1527, 8vo.

Stobæi Sententiæ. Aur. All. 1609, folio.

Stephanus de Urbibus. Basil. 1568, folio.

Strabonis Geographia, Casauboni. Paris. 1620, fol.

Suidæ Lexicon. Froben. Basil. 1545, folio.

Sallust, by Maittaire. Lond. 1713, 8vo.

Symmachi Epistolæ. Neapoli, 1617, 8vo.

Sidonii Apollinarii Opera, Plantin. Par. 1599, 8vo.

Tacitus & Paterculus. Lipsii, Amst. 1668, folio.

Tacitus. Amst. 1664, 8vo.

Terentius. Lugd. Bat. 1669, & Amst. 1641, both in 8vo. and by Hare, Lond. 1724, 4to.

Thucydides. Francof. 1594, folio.

Themistoclis Epistolæ. Romæ, 1628, 4to.

Themistii Orationes, Petavii. Paris. 1618, 4to.

Themistii Opera, Aldus. Venet. 1534, folio; a clean and perfect copy, measuring twelve and a quarter by eight and a half inches, in half binding; the title mended.

Theocritus. Oxon. 1699, 8vo.

Theophrasti Characteres, Casauboni, 1631, and by Needham, 1712, both in 8vo.

Theonis Mathematica. Paris. 1644, 4to.

Valerius Maximus. Delphini, 1679, 4to.

Virgilius, Servii. Paris. 1532, folio.

Xenophon, Leunclavii. Paris. 1625, folio.

I have been thus minute in detailing the editions of the Classics in this Library, as of like nature are most of those works of antiquity which I have in other collections omitted to notice. This tedious detail may therefore have its use in shewing of what the great mass of classical literature deposited in our Cathedrals consists, and saving needless repetition of titles which have not sufficient interest to invite perusal.

I may here take occasion to notice

French Versions of Cæsar and Tacitus, by D’Ablancourt.

A Translation of Tacitus into English, by Richard Greenway. London, 1622, folio, in calf.

Creech’s Translation of Lucretius, in 8vo.

Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ, in folio.

Artemidori et Achmetis Oneirocritica Rigaltii. Lutet. 1603, 4to.

Duport’s Homeri Gnomologia. Cantab. 1660, 4to.

Machiavelli’s Discorsi di sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio.

Maximi Tyrii Dissertationes. Oxon. 1667, 8vo.

Politiani Opera. Ant. 1565, 8vo.

Vossius de Sybillinis Oraculis.

Manuelis Moschopuli de ratione examinandæ Orationes libellus. Lutetiæ, Stephanus, 1545, 4to. a fine clean copy, in old calf binding.

The Etymological Works in this Collection embrace

Bellarmine’s Hebr. Gram. Antv. 1686, 8vo.

Beveregii Linguar. Orient. Gram. 1658, 8vo.

Bythneri Hebr. Gram. Lond. 1675, 8vo.

Buxtorf’s Lexicon Hebr. and Chald. Bas. 1615, 8vo.

Fauchon’s French Grammar.

Harpocrationis Dict. Maussæi. Par. 1614, 4to.

Hesychii Lexicon. Lugd. Bat. 1668, 4to. interleaved with manuscript annotations.

Julii Pollucis Onomasticon. Francof. 1608, fol. & Basil. 1536, 8vo.

Linacre, de Emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis. Lips. 1573, 8vo.

Miege’s French Dictionary, 1677, 4to.

Porti Dict. Doricum. Francof. 1603, 8vo.

Putschii Auctores Grammatici. Hanoviæ, 1695, 4to.

Phavorini Dict. Gr. Basil. 1538, folio.

Scapulæ Lexicon. Lond. 1652, folio.

Sylburgii Etymologicon. Commelini, 1594, folio.

Stephani Lexicon Ciceronianum, 1557, 8vo.

Torriano’s Italian Grammar, 1673, 8vo.

Vigerus de Idiotismis. Lond. 1678, 8vo.

I must here notice a monument of literary diligence of very rare occurrence, which exists in a copy of Hesychii Lexicon, Aldi, Venetiis, 1524, folio, which is quite perfect, but defaced by writing on the first leaf, among which I found this curious memorandum by an unknown hand:

“Hesychii integru̅ primo̅ perlegi. MDCLV. Oct. xv.” “Iterum MDCLXVII. Mart. xxvi.”

The present copy measures twelve inches by eight and one-eighth, and is in old calf binding.

The Works relating to Literary History and Bibliography in this Library include

Bellarmine de Scriptor. Eccles. Col. Agr. 1631, fol.

Cave, Script. Eccles. Lond. 1688, folio.

Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca. Hamburg, 1705, 4to. & Bibliotheca Latina. Lond. 1703, 8vo.

Jonson’s Script. Hist. Philos. Francof. 1659, 4to.

Labbe de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis. Paris. 1660, 8vo.

Photii Bibliotheca. Genev. 1611, folio.

Raynaudus de bonis et malis libris. Lugd. 1653, 4to.

Vossius de Historicis Græcis, Philosophis, &c. and other Works in 4to.

The Latin Miscellanies on the Shelves comprehend

Aschami Epistolæ. Oxon. 1703, 8vo.

Helvici Theatrum. Oxon. 1651, folio.

Juliani Imperatoris Opera, folio.

Dicta Septem Sapientium. 8vo.

Hemelarii Romanorum Imperatorum Numismata Aurea. Ant. 1627, 4to.

Dictionarium Medicum. 1564, 8vo.

Heinsii Orationes. Lugd. Bat. 1615, 8vo.

Meursii Elegantiæ. Lugd. Bat. 1628, 8vo.

Petrarcha de remediis Fortunæ. Gen. 1628, 8vo.

Miltoni Defensio pro Populo Anglicano.

Salmasii Responsio ad Miltonum.

Scioppii Gram. Philos. Amst. 1659, 8vo.

Sennerti Epistolæ Scient. Nat. Oxon. 1664, 8vo.

Sulpicii Severi Opera, Elzevir. Amst. 1665, 8vo.

Some Tracts by Casaubon.

Of Mathematical Works I only observed

Oughtred, Clavis Mathematica, in 8vo.

Galbruchii Mathematica. Cant. 1668, 8vo.

Of Law Books I noticed

Dalton’s Justice. Lond. 1677, folio.

Keble’s Statutes at large. Lond. 1676, in 2 folio vols.

Ridley on Civil Law, in 4to.

In English Literature this Collection is poor indeed. I only remarked

An incomplete Copy of Collier’s Essays, in 8vo.

Hobbes’s Leviathan. London, 1651, folio.

The Natural History of Animals. London, 1702, fol.

Bacon’s Essays.

The Poll for Yorkshire in 1807, 8vo.

Pemberton’s View of the Newtonian Philosophy. London, 1728, 4to.

The French and Italian Works include those of Boileau, Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, Venet. 1566, 8vo. Boccaccio’s Decameron, 1552, 8vo. Dante, 1551, 8vo. Tasso’s Gierusalem liberata, Ferrara, 1580, 8vo.

The Publications of the Record Commissioners are presented to the Chapter Library as they appear, and are therein deposited with the Reports of the Commissioners; the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland; the Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum; and the Population Returns.

There is a Copy of the Common Prayer in the Castilian language, in this Collection, and a small 4to. volume, containing, “A Register of Books borrowed from the Chapter Library, 1826,” is constantly kept there for the use of those who frequent it.

These are not numerous, for the place wears the aspect of neglect, and a beggarly account of empty cases disappoints the ardent enquirer for intellectual food: he seeks for Books, and in some Presses finds only a stone.

Bishop Keene, it appears, pitying the forlorn condition of the Chapter Library, and having some tomes too ponderous for removal, upon his own translation from Chester to Ely gave the following volumes to the Dean and Chapter of Chester.

Folio.

Brent’s Conc. Trent, 1676.

Bayle’s Dictionary. 4 vols.

Ciceronis Epistolæ. Par. 1557.

Life of the Duc d’Espernon. Par. 1655.

Homer, Castalionis. Bas. 1567.

Montfaucon, by Humphrys. Lond. 1721.

Poli Synopsis, 5 tom. Lond. 1673.

Cæsar, in French, by D’Ablancourt. Par. 1658.

Daniel, Hist. de la Milicie Française. Par. 1728.

Felibien’s Principles of Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting, in French. Par. 1697.

Quarto.

The History of France to the death of Louis XIVth, in French. Par. 1749.

Leger’s Country House, in French. Amst. 1701, 2 tom. in 1 vol.

Miege’s French Dictionary. Lond. 1677.

Tacitus, in French, by D’Ablancourt. Par. 1665.

Wicquefort’s Ambassadour, in French. Col. 1715, 2 tom.

In Formâ Minori.

Boileau’s Works in French. Amst. 1735, 4 tom.

Batteux, Les Beaux Arts. Par. 1747.

Daniel’s History of France, Fr. Par. 1724, 9 tom.

Fauchon’s French Grammar. Cam. 1751.

Larrey’s History of Lewis XIV. Rotter. 1718, 9 tom.

“Aprilis Mense, 1771, Libros hos Reverendus admodùm Edmundus Keene, S.T.P. Episcopus Cestriensis Nunc Eliensis D. D.”