Library of Hereford.

The Library of this ancient Cathedral has been happily preserved in its original state, affording a most excellent specimen of a genuine Monastic Library.

The Chapel of our Lady too, in which this interesting Collection is deposited, deserves in itself the tribute of a passing remark for its fretted roof and tesselated floor, its beautiful windows, and its sacred character. The adjacent oratory of Bishop Audley, translated from this See to Salisbury, whose gilt and painted roof faintly indicates its pristine splendour, as well as the tomb of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, 1330, must also attract the notice even of the most incurious stranger.

Such a one will not pass unheeded the shrine of Saint Ethelbert, and the effigy of the Juvenile Martyr; or the Head of the Crosier, the Papal Seal, or the Episcopal Rings, the relics of John Trillich, the forty-eighth Bishop of Hereford, A.D. 1360, found in the Choir in 1813.

The books are placed in projecting cases upon open shelves, to which they are attached by chains, more monachorum, which chains are fastened to a bar coextensive with each shelf, and confined by a lock at the end of each case. Of these the Canons in residence possess the keys; even the Catalogue of the Library is rivetted to the desk on which it stands, and all additions made to the Collection are chained beside their elder brethren.

These fetters are very injurious to the binding of the books, when that is of any consequence; and by causing all the volumes to have their fore edges turned outwards, are by no means calculated to invite the beholder; indeed it would appear that these manacles were in use long before lettering pieces came into fashion, and of these helps to the enquirer few indeed are to be found in this ancient Library.

The books are chiefly attired in the original calf, though some retain their wooden bindings, and are arranged in classes in the several cases, which are numbered in the following manner:

I. S. Biblia. Concord. Lex. S. Patres.

II. S. Patres. Concil. Eccl. Hist. Comment. in S. Biblia.

III. Hist. Eccl. Lexicogr.

IV. Hist. Civil. & Lib. Classic. Lib. Reformator. & Theolog.

V. Lib. Scholastic. & Artium. Lib. Jur. Canon. & Civil. & Statut.

VI. Lib. Antiquar. & Miscell. Liber Pontificior.

VII. and VIII. Codd. MSS.

These projecting cases are placed on each side of the Chapel, in a series descending from what was once the altar to the wooden screen, which divides the part appropriated to the Library from the lower portion of the Chapel.

On entering the Library, the Manuscripts consequently are the first to attract attention, and, being both curious and valuable, shall be here described in the first place.

One of the most important is a manuscript copy of Wickliffe’s Bible, folio, imperfect at the beginning of Genesis, and the end of the Apocalypse, written upon vellum, and recently bound in calf. There are also very beautiful Manuscripts, upon vellum, of the Biblia Latina, S. Hieronymi, in folio, with illuminations, the gift of Stephen Boughton, afterwards Canon of Worcester; and of the Decreta Gratiani, cum apparatu, also illuminated, and in its pristine coverture of oak, bearing on the side under horn, the following inscription in Gothic characters:

“Decreta. Ex dono i̅n̅ Olkeym Lloid legum doctoris.”

There is also a very ancient Manuscript upon vellum, in the Roman character, of the “Eꝑlæ S. Pauli,” in quarto, bearing this Inscription, indicative at once of its antiquity and its worth:

“Liber sã Guthlaci de prioratu Herefordie.”

I will next proceed to specify the most remarkable of these Manuscripts without stopping to indicate the substance upon which each has been written, it being unnecessary to premise that the more ancient, and in this case the greater number, are upon vellum.

Besides the S. Biblia Veteris et Novi Testamenti per Hieronymum, Latine, folio, and, Evangelia Quatuor Latinè versa, quarto, there are manuscripts of various portions of the Bible, and Homilies by several of the Fathers.

I also noticed folios, containing the Works of Saints Augustine, Chrysostom, Bernard, Eusebius, and Jerome, together with many Glosses and Postillæ, Decretals and Pandects.

I also observed the Historia Scholastica of Comestor, and Sermones Petri Comestoris in folio. A curious volume in quarto, containing—

“Vita Christi per Bonaventuram; Vita S. Francisci, et Vitæ Inclusarum Anglicè per Ricardum de Hampul. Item, The Way of Perfection by Henry Chambernon,” and Guilielmi de Sancto Amore Collectio, &c. quarto, more interesting from the tradition connected with it, than from its contents, as every one will readily admit, who reads within it:—“Hic liber pertinuisse videtur ad Hugonem Latimerum. Episc. et Martyrem.”

As connected with the early History and Ordinances of the Church, we have the well known Constitutiones Clementinæ glossatæ à Joanne Andrea, folio; the Institutiones et Codex Justiniani-Chronica Martini Papæ, &c. folio; Sylloge Conciliorum Ecclesiarum Orientalium et Occidentalium, à Martino Bracarensi Episcopo facta, folio; Acta et Statuta quædam de Fratribus Mendicantibus, &c. folio; Eusebii Cæsariensis Historia Ecclesiastica, Latinè per Rufinum, cum Supplemento ad obitum Theodosii Magni, folio; Ludovici de Padua, Tabula in Jus Canon, et Civil. folio; Joannes de Bromyard Tractatus Juris Civilis et Canonici, folio; and the Constitutiones Provinciales et Legatinæ, cum Commentariis in easdem.

Independently of Augustini de Civitate Dei, Sermones et Epistolæ, and Hieronymi Epistolæ, et Tractatus varii, there are the Works of Saints Anselm and Gregory; Joannis Damasceni Opera; Cassianus de Collationibus Patrum; and Nicolai de Lyra super V. Libros Moysis, &c. folio; together with Petri de Capua Dictionum Biblicarum Explanatio ordine Alphabetico, folio.

In the Theology of the middle ages we meet with the subtleties of Thomas Aquinas, and Joannes Duns Scotus super IV Sentent. folio, as well as with Adhelmus de Virginitate, &c. 4to.; Nicolai de Gorram Distinctiones Rerum Theologicarum, A.D. 1400, folio; Roberti Crickladensis, Cognomine Canuti, (Knight) de Connubio Jacobi Patriarchæ, 4to.; Josephi De Burgo, Cancellarii Cantabrigiensis, Liber qui dicitur Pupilla Oculi, folio; Alcwini Diaconi Speculum Morale, 4to.; Ægidii Romani, Eremitæ Augustiniani, Liber de Regimine Principum, folio; and Hugonis de Sancto Victore Liber de Claustro animæ, folio.

As connected with British History, I may mention the following interesting volume:

Bedæ, Venerabilis, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica Libris V. cum Epilogio de Obitu Bedæ; et Chronologia Archiepiscoporum Cantuariensium ab Augustino ad præsens tempus; i. e. Thomæ de Arundel. Archiep. Cantuar. folio.

Of Classical Authors, the Manuscripts are few, yet amid such a mass of obsolete divinity, it is pleasant to recognise the following:

Ciceronis liber de Inventione Rhetoricâ cum Glossâ, et Fulberti Episcopi de Differentiâ Rhetoricæ & Dialecticæ. Item, Liber de Officio Oratoris ad Herennium, 4to.; Boethii de Consolatione Philosophiæ cum Comm. 4to.; and Petri de Crescentiis, Civis Bononiensis, de Ruralibus Commodis, folio; to which I may add the celebrated Catholicon Januense, folio; Isidori Hispalensis Etymologiarum Liber, folio; and Osberni Monachi Gloucestrensis, Panormia; seu Linguæ Latinæ Dictionarium; scilicet, Vocabula, Derivationes, &c. folio.

With these and the mention of the once popular Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, 4to.; and Jacobi Januensis Aurea Legenda, folio; I shall conclude my account of the Manuscripts, which form the most ancient portion of the Hereford Cathedral Library, the contents of which are briefly enumerated in the order in which the volumes themselves stand upon the shelves, for being all chained, this order cannot be materially disturbed.

This list occupies nine leaves at the end of the folio volume, which contains the Catalogue of the printed books, and bears the following title: “Catalogus omnium Codicum Manuscriptorum in Bibliothecâ Herefordensi.”

I observed, lying upon the table 93 pages of a printed Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the possession of Sir Thomas Phillipps, at Middle Hill in Worcestershire, arranged according to the Collections, or under the names of the booksellers from which they had been purchased, with this general title: Catalogus Librorum MSS. in Bibliothecâ Philippicâ, folio; which I regarded as a temporary expedient to assist the recollection of their owner, for a Collection so valuable and extensive ought to receive such a detailed description as that given by the accurate and indefatigable O’Conor of the invaluable Manuscripts at Stowe. Let us therefore hope that the “Bibliotheca Philippica” may one day be rightly set forth juxta exemplar “Bibliothecæ MS. Stowensis.”

We come now to the remaining and most extensive department of this venerable Library, which includes the printed books, which are briefly enumerated in a thin folio volume, entitled “Catalogus omnium impressorum Librorum Bibliothecæ Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Herefordensis juxta ordinem alphabeticum digestus.”

The true bibliographer, (Spirit of envy, say not bibliomaniac), will imagine with what pleasure I turned from the vague indication of ‘Legenda Aurea’ in this Catalogue, to its corresponding number on the shelves, and found it to be the veritable Golden Legende of William Caxton.

To those who in Dibdinian phraseology are familiar with this “thumping folio,” I need say no more than that it is very sound in the middle, though much stained at the end; and that it is preserved in its original binding of stamped calf, with the brass knobs and clasps. This copy is however unfortunately defective at the end, wanting all the leaves after “folio cccc.xxxix.” It also wants the Prologue and Table, five leaves, beginning with folio i. and continuing entire to folio cccc.xxxix. inclusive.

As a meet companion to this noble specimen of the early English press, I may cite a very fine early Terence, in a rude Roman type, without any distinction of verses, or name of printer, place, or date. This interesting volume consists of 246 leaves, and has 35 lines in a full page. It commences with the life of Publius Terentius Afer, having the first letter illuminated, and ends with these verses:

It is bound up with a Manuscript of Terence, entitled, “Pars Comœd. P. Terentii, partim MS. cum Expos. Florii,” &c. apparently in an old English hand; and at the end of the volume, in Gothic character, is this inscription: “Liber est sui Olkeym Lloid.” The book retains its original wooden binding, covered with calf, and confined by clasps. On the centre of its right side, under a plate of horn is the following inscription upon paper, in the Gothic character:

“Terenciᵘˢ cu̅ donato. Ex dono m̅. Olkeym Lloyd, qu̅dam Canonum huj’ Ecclie.—”

Whilst on the subject of early printed books, I may mention Higden’s Polychronicon, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1495; Lyndewode, Provinciale, in double columns, of Gothic letter, with the date of 1433, doubtless by a lapse of the numeral and intended for 1483, folio; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, Argentorati, 1485, folio; and the Commentaries of Nicholas de Lyra, printed at Venice in 1485, in 5 volumes, folio; Breydenbach, Peregrinationes in terram sanctam, Antverpiæ, 1490, fol.; Ptolomæi Geographia, Ulmæ, 1486, fol.; and though last, not least, a very fine and found copy of Nonius Marcellus de Proprietate Latini Sermonis, printed at Venice by the unrivalled Nicolas Jenson in 1476, folio. This beautiful copy has the first letter illuminated, and the arms of some former, probably its earliest, possessor, printed at the foot of the first page. It is preserved in its pristine coverture of wood, and is quite perfect, having the table at the end.

Of impressions of the Holy Bible, the student of the Scriptures will peruse with satisfaction the following succinct enumeration thereof:

Biblia Polyglotta, Montani. Antverpiæ, 1568, folio, 8 vols.

Biblia Polyglotta, Waltoni. Londini, 1657, folio, 6 vols. cum Castelli Lexicon. 2 vols. fol.

Biblia Hebræa, cum Rabbinorum Comment. Basil. 4 vols. folio.

Biblia Hebræa, per Munster. Basileæ. 1543, 2 vols. folio.

Biblia Hebræa, per Kimchi. Parisiis, 1543, 5 vols. 4to.

Biblia Græca, per Wechel. Francofurti, 1597.

Biblia Græca, per Grabe. Oxonii, 1707, 2 vols. fol.

Biblia Latina, per S. Hieronymum, Norimbergæ. 1501, folio.

Biblia Latina, per Jo. Castalionem. Basileæ, 1556, folio.

Biblia Latina, per Pagninum. Parisiis, Stephani, 1557, folio.

Biblia Latina, per Lovanium. Antverpiæ, 1570, fol.

Biblia Latina, per Junium et Tremellium. Hanoviæ, 1596 et 1624, folio.

The Bible in English, printed by { Barker. London, 1611, folio.

{ Norton and Bill. London, 1629, folio.

{ John Cousturier, “permissu superiorum at the College of Doway.” 1635, 4to.

{ Field. Cambridge, 1660, folio.

Novum Testamentum Gr. Millii. Oxonii, 1707, folio.

Novum Testamentum Gr. Erasmi. Basileæ, 1527, 1555 & 1570, folio.

Psalterium Hebr. Gr. Arab. et Chald. 1516, folio.

As connected with the Church Service, I may mention—

Breviarium ad usum Sarum. Londini, 1556, 4to.

Manuale ad usum Sarum. Londini, 1554, 4to.

Missale ad usum Sarum. 1531, folio.

Missale Romanum a Concilio Tridentino institutum. Lugd. Bat. 1685, folio.

Durandi Rationale divinorum officiorum. Lugduni, 1592, 8vo.

Of the Fathers of the Church, in addition to the Works of Saints Ambrose, Cyprian, Cyril, and Epiphanius, and of Lactantius, Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Philo Judæus, Peter and Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Theophylact, Tostatus and Theodoret; I remarked the Works of

Saint Anselm, printed at Cologne in 1573, folio.

Athanasii Opera Gr. et Lat. Coloniæ, 1686, 2 vols. folio.

Augustini Opera per Erasmum. Basileæ, 1529, 10 vols. folio.

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

Chrysostomi Opera per Erasmum. Basileæ, 1530, 5 vols. folio.

Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica. Moguntiæ, 1672, folio.

Eusebii Præparatio Evangelica. Parisiis, 1628, folio.

Hieronymi Opera per Erasmum. Basileæ, 1524, 5 vols. folio.

Irenæi Opera per Erasmum. Basileæ, 1548, folio, and

The Bibliotheca Sanctorum Patrum.

Descending to a later period, besides the Works of Thomas Aquinas, Jewel, Calvin, Lowth, Lightfoot, Hammond, Pearson, Prideaux, Stillingfleet, and Jeremy Taylor, Chillingworth, Patrick, Knight, and Tillotson; I noticed

The Syntagma Opinionum. Lugd. 1608, 3 vols. folio.

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

Grotii Comment. in Vet. & Nov. Test. Parisiis, 1644, 5 vols. folio.

Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticis. Amstelod. 1682, 2 vols. folio.

Zanchii Opera Theologica. Genevæ, 1619, 3 vols. folio.

Zuingeri Theatrum Vitæ Humanæ. Basileæ, 1571, 3 vols. folio.

To which I may without impropriety, add

Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible. London, 1732, 3 vols. folio.

Broughton’s Dictionary of all Religions. London, 1742, folio.

Bibliotheca Polonorum Fratrum.

Bibliotheca Hebræa per Wolfium.

Bochart, Geographia Sacra. Cadomi, 1651.

Bochart, Hierozoicon. Londini, 1663.

Suarez Theological Tracts, and several of the Controversial Writings of Bellarmine.

In Ecclesiastical History, I observed many valuable Works upon the shelves, of which I may select the

Conciliorum Collectio Maxima per Labbeum, &c. Paris, 1672, in 18 vols. folio.

Harduini Conciliorum Actorum Collectio. Parisiis, 1715, in 12 vols. folio.

Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ per Wilkins. London, 1726, 4 vols. folio.

Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church.

Picart’s Religious Ceremonies. London, 1733.

Godwyn’s Præsules Anglicani. Londini, 1616, 2 vols. folio.

Godwyn’s English Prelates. London, 1601.

Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History.

Wharton’s Anglia Sacra.

Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity.

Burnet’s Reformation.

Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy.

Baronii Annales Eccles.

Parker’s Antiq. Eccl. Brit. Hanoviæ, 1605, folio.

Sanderi Vera Historia Schismatis Anglicanæ. Colon. 1628, 8vo.

Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries. London, 1720, 4 vols. folio.

Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica. Antverpiæ, 1550.

Bedæ Historia per Smith. Cantabrigiæ, 1722, folio.

Fox’s Book of Martyrs. London, 1610, 2 vols. fol.

Strype’s Annals and Memorials.

Justiniani Codex, and the Decreta Gratiani, are the most worthy of commemoration.

Before quitting entirely the subject of Divinity, I may add that this Library contains several old concordances.

Gesneri Bibliotheca per Simlerum. Tiguri, 1574, folio.

Fleetwood’s Sermons and Tract.

The Critici Sacri.

Leigh’s Critica Sacra. Lond. 1646, 4to.

Erasmi Opera Omnia. Lugd. Bat. 1703, 10 vols. folio.

Gibson’s Codex Juris Canon. et Civil., in 2 vols. fol.

Martin Bucer de scriptis Anglicanis, &c.

Of which Cave’s Scriptor. Eccles. Hist. Liter. Londini, 1688, folio; and Dupin’s History of Ecclesiastical Writers, London, 1697, 7 vols. folio, may very properly conclude the notice.

Of General History it may suffice to specify, the Dictionary of Bayle, the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius, with the Lexicon of Pitiscus and the Inscriptions of Gruter.

Guicciardini Historia sui temporis. Basileæ, 1556, folio.

Krantzii Saxonicæ Gentis Origo. Francof. 1580, folio.

Krantzii Regnorum Aquilon. Chronica. Francof. 1583, folio.

Olai Magni, Historia Gentium Septentrion. Basileæ, 1567, folio.

Marianæ Historia de rebus Hispanicis. Toleti, 1592, folio.

Montfaucon’s Antiquities, translated by Humphreys.

Blair’s Chronological Tables. London, 1756, folio.

Collier’s Historical Dictionary and the Atlas de Lisle.

Of English History, it is pleasant to record such valuable Illustrations as Dugdale’s Monasticon, by Stevens, and Tanner’s Notitia by Nasmith; Dugdale’s Baronage; the Publications of the Record Commissioners.

Scriptores Rerum Anglicarum post Bedam, edente Savile.

Britannicarum Rerum Scriptores vetustiores ac præcipui. Heidelbergæ, 1587, folio.

Camdeni Anglica, Normannica etc. a veteribus scripta. Francofurti, 1603, folio.

Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gibson. London, 1753, folio.

Brooke’s Discovery of Camden’s Errors. London, 1660, 4to.

Polydore Vergil, Historia Anglicana.

Ricardi Viti Basinstochii Historia Britanniæ. 1611, 8vo.

Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum. Francof. 1601, folio.

Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana. Londini, 1571, folio.

The Chronicles of Harding. London, 1543.

The Chronicles of Fabian. London, 1559.

The Chronicles of Cooper. London, 1560.

The Chronicles of Holinshed. London, 1574, 2 vols. folio.

Rushworth’s Historical Collections. London, 1721, 6 vols. folio.

Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion. Oxford, 1707, 2 vols. folio.

Thurloe’s State Papers.

Kippis’s Biographia Britannica.

Gibson’s Home Lacy, &c. Oxon. 1674.

Borlase’s Cornwall.

Wood’s Antiquitates Oxonienses. 1674.

Wood’s Athenæ. Oxon. 1691.

Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England.

To which I may add, as the most proper sequel,

Balæi Scriptores Britannici. Wesaliæ, 1548, 4to. and

Nicolson’s valuable Historical Library.

Of Law, it will be enough to mention the Statutes at large; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Cunningham’s Law Dictionary; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1685; Durandi Speculum Juris, Basileæ, 1574, folio.

Of Classical Authors, in addition to the Works of Aristotle, I may enumerate,

Aristophanes, Stephani. Basileæ, 1547.

Ciceronis Opera, Lambini. Genevæ, 1584.

Demosthenes, Taylori. Cantabrigiæ, 1748, 4to.

Euripides, Barnesii. Cantabrigiæ, 1694.

Horatius. Basileæ, 1580, folio.

Livii Historia. Parisiis, 1573, folio.

Pausanias. Basileæ, 1550.

Plato, Ficini. Francof. 1602, folio.

Plinii Sen. Nat. Hist. Selestadii, 1531, folio.

Plutarchus. Basileæ, 1535, folio.

Polybius, Casauboni. Parisiis, 1609, folio.

Strabonis Geographia. Basileæ, 1523, folio.

Thucydides, Hudsoni. Oxonii, 1696, folio; with Nycoll’s Translation of Thucydides. London, 1560, folio.

Valerius Maximus. Parisiis, 1517, folio.

Virgilius. Parisiis, 1532, folio; with Trapp’s Translation, and

Xenophontis Opera, Stephani. Parisiis, 1581, folio.

To which may be added, the

Josephus of Hudson.

Poetæ Græci Heroici. Aurel. Allob. 1606, folio, and

Maittaire Corpus Poetarum Latinorum. Londini, 1713, 2 vols. folio.

I may here also most properly introduce the Acta Eruditorum cum Suppl. Lipsiæ, 1683, et seq. 4to.; the Bibliographia Antiquaria; Bibliotheca Græca, Latina, and Ecclesiastica of the learned Fabricius; Photii Bibliotheca, curâ Hœschelii, Rothomagi, 1563; and Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ Catalogus, Oxonii, 1574, folio; Bibliothecæ Thuani Catalogus, Hamburg, 2 vols. 12mo.; Thuani Monumenta Literaria, Lut. Par. 1639, 4to.

With Etymological Works this Library is well furnished, as the following specimens may serve to show.

Cooper’s Thesaurus. London, 1584, folio.

Davies’ Dictionarium. Coloniæ, 1624, 4to.

Hesychii Lexicon.

Hoffmanni Lexicon.

Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis. Oxonii, 1705, folio; cui accedit Wanleii Antiq. Litt. Septentr. Oxon. 1705, folio.

Johnson’s English Dictionary.

Lexicon Arabicum per Erpenium. Leidæ, 1613.

Lexicon Chaldaicum per Eliam Levitam. Colon. 1560.

Lexicon Hebraicum per Mercerum, &c. Lugd. 1575.

Lluyd’s Archælogia.

Lye’s Saxon and Gothic Dictionary.

Perotti Cornucopia. Basileæ, 1526, folio.

Phavorini Lexicon Græcum.

Suidæ Lexicon. Venetiis, 1514, folio.

In English Literature this Collection is remarkably deficient, for the Works of Bacon and Locke, of the Royal Authors, James and Charles; Merlin’s Prophecies, printed at Frankfort in 1608; and Chambers’ Cyclopædia, alone arrested my attention.

I must not however omit Hawkins’s History of Music, and a complete Collection of Handel’s Music, the munificent donation of his late Majesty George IV. to the Cathedral of Hereford.

Though not connected with the Library, I may be pardoned for introducing to the reader’s notice an old Saxon Map of the World, preserved in the Treasury. Jerusalem is its centre, and the names of the places are indicated in black letter, which appears to have been inserted subsequently to the original Saxon characters. At the corner of the Map is this inscription: “Exiit edictu̅ ab Augusto Cæsare ut describeretur hic universus orbis”—signed by “Richard de Haldingham,” and “e de lafford.”

The Antiquary will learn with pleasure that a copy of this Map has been made by the direction of the Royal Society, and that consequently this interesting relic of antiquity will become much better known than any observations of mine could possibly make it.