Library of Lincoln.

This ancient Library, which suffered much from conflagration about the middle of the seventeenth century, was munificently restored to more than its pristine splendour by Michael Honeywood, then Dean of Lincoln.

The portrait of this eminent divine, by Cornelius Jansen, with that of his grandmother, adorns the room which contains what remains of his once extensive Collection, which the ruthless hand of the unlettered spoiler has deprived of some of its brightest ornaments.

The Manuscripts are now carefully lettered and admirably arranged, though, as formerly a few shillings were sufficient to induce the verger to allow the excision by any “curious stranger” of the illuminated capitals, many of the volumes are lamentably mutilated and defective.

Latin Bibles, Psalters, Glosses & Postillæ, upon vellum and on paper, form the principal features of the Manuscript Library, which is deposited in the ante-room over the Cloisters adjoining the Cathedral.

On these shelves I also observed a Manuscript of Comestor’s Historia Scholastica; and of Bartholomeus de Proprietatibus Rerum; together with an interesting Diurnall of Proceedings in Parliament kept in 1640.

But the most curious and valuable Manuscript in this Collection, is a volume upon paper of Old English Romances, of the date of 1430-40, collected by Robert de Thornton, who was Archdeacon of Bedford in 1450, and lies buried in Lincoln Cathedral. This interesting volume has been enriched by a table of contents, and some elucidatory notes by Sir F. Madden, of the British Museum, and adorned with a coating of red russia, which may bid defiance to decay.

The Library of Printed Books, all of which are labelled on the back, is contained in a spacious Gallery one hundred and four feet by seventeen, being the whole length of one side of the Cathedral Cloisters, and having the books on open shelves on the right hand, and a range of windows on the left; but no convenience for producing artificial heat.

The Manuscript Catalogue, which lies on the table, appears to have been copied verbatim from another of older date, and to have been continued by the entry of successive additions.

On turning to the father of the English Press, I found a Poesy of most pungent odour, the true ‘Lincolne Nosegay,’ which any Roxburgher might be proud to wear in his button-hole at the yearly festival of those true lovers of black letter. I give the entry exactly as I found it in the Catalogue; but, grievous to relate, neither high nor low were these gems seen to sparkle on the shelves of this sadly bereaved Repository.

“Caxton, Chronicle & Description of Britaine, 1480, folio.

“Scala Perfectionis, 1494, fol.

“Chesse Play, 1474, fol.

“Cato, 1483, fol.

“Quære. Dictes & Sayinges of Philosophers, 1500.

“Reynard the Fox, 4to.

“Trans. of Hist. of Jason, 1481, 4to.”

I own this last article puzzled me considerably; for could it be the true Jason with this recent date? but the well known initials ‘T. F. D.’ attached in pencil to the Cato, and the queried Dictes and Sayinges led me to hope that they at least might yet be in existence; and imagining that they might be preserved among the Curiosities which the Dean and Chapter had taken, as I was informed, under their especial protection, I addressed a note of enquiry to the Librarian, stating my reasons for believing that, as some of the Caxtons appeared to have been inspected by Dr. Dibdin so late as 1816, they must still exist, though I could not find them.

The obliging answer which I in consequence received from the present Librarian of Lincoln I give exactly as I received it, that those who are anxious for the integrity of those great Collections which the wise and the good of former ages have handed down to us, may learn from hence the necessity of devising means whereby such treasures may be preserved unimpaired and intact for posterity, more effectual than those which the venerable consort of Michael Honeywood, happily in no wise prescient of the future fate of these literary treasures, devised. But let us have the fact from the pen of Mr. Garvey.

Lincoln, June 17, 1833.

Sir,

I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any information that you will deem pleasing, on the subject of the early prints which you seem to delight in. The fact is, since Dr. Dibdin’s visit to this Library, the Dean and Chapter thought it expedient to sell all the Caxtons and other early prints, and to replace them with more modern works of which they stood in need; and this is the reason that we had nothing of that sort to offer to your notice more than what my son shewed you.

If it were in my power I should be happy to gratify every intelligent stranger; and I am sorry I have no better information to give you on your favourite pursuit.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

R. GARVEY.

This candid statement is fully confirmed by the following entry in the Library Catalogue of the books sold, namely,

“Amores Troili et Cresseidæ. Oxonii, 1635.

“The Works of Heiwood. London, 1598.

“Virgidemiarum. London, 1602.

“Brome’s Songs. London, 1664.

“Several pieces of Poetry bound together.

“Sternhold’s Psalms. London, 1553.

“Sir W. Raleigh’s Letters to his Son. London, 1632.

“De Afflictione Captivorum sub Turcis.

“Poetical Works of James VI. Edinburgh, 1591.

“Six Treatises on Cookery.

“Bishop Earl’s Characters.

“Seven different Poetical Pieces bound together.

“Psalms set to Music, in 4 books. London, 1563.

“Poetica Stromata, by R. C. [Ric. Corbet, Bp. Norwich.] 1648, 12mo.

“Poems by Michael Drayton. London, 16—.

“Martial’s Epigrams by Fletcher. London, 1656, 8vo.

“Ten Different Pieces bound in one volume.

“Vita et Obitus Henrici VIII. & Caroli Brandon, &c.

“Visions of Peirce Plowman, by R. Crowley. Lond. 1550.

“Besides the above, some books were purchased by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin.”

The books thus omitted to be more particularly mentioned were among the choicest treasures of the Honeywoodian Collection. The practised hand of Rosicrusius, extracted the ore from the dross, and converted it into gold. The guardians of the temple slept, and Mammon prevailed. The flowers thus culled were wreathed into a garland, quaintly denominated the Lincoln Nosegay, which I have transferred entire to these pages, as, although surreptitiously reprinted, its circulation was originally limited to the author’s immediate circle.

“The Lincolne Nosegay.”

“London. Printed by W. Bulmer & Co. Cleveland Row. St. James’s.”

“Here begyneth a Littel Tome and hathe to name The Lincolne Nosegay:”

“beynge a brefe table of certaine Bokes in the posession Maister Thomas Frognall Dibdin Clerk, which bookes be to be sold to him who shal gyue the moste for yᵉ same.”

“The Lincolne Nosegay.”

I. The Dictes and Sayinges of Philosophres. Enprynted by me William Caxton at Westmestre the yere of our lord. M CCCC LXXVjj. Folio.

Ye shal peruse a full accounte of this boke in yᵉ new imprint of our Typographical Antiquities, vol. i. p. 60, 72. This exemplar apereth to be yᵉ Fyrste Edition: and hath at yᵉ end “Et sic est Finis.”

II. The Cronicles of Englond; (wherunto is joined) The Discripcion of Britayne. Fynysshed by me William Caxton, the xviii day of August the yere of our god M.CCCC lxxx. &c. Folio.

See yᵉ aforementioned werk: vol. i. pp. 85-100.

These be perfait and meruelouslye clene copies of these moste rare bokes, and are bounde in one tome.

III. The Booke called Cathon. Translated oute of French into Englyssh by William Caxton in thabbay of Westmystre the yere of our lorde MCCCCLXXIII. &c. Folio. A parfaite and beauteous exemplar.

IV. The Newe Cronycles of Englonde and of Fraunce. Emprynted by Richarde Pynson, prynter unto the kyngȝ noble grace. The yere of our Lord God a. M. cccccxvi. The vii daye of the moneth of February. Folio.

Ye shal gader yᵉ aboue from ye imprynte of the boke, inasmuch as there be no title to yᵉ same in the fyrst page or frontispiece: whyche page containeth only the cote armor of the then kynge, and hath sign. H i beneath it. In my werke, begunne by Maisters Ames and Herbert, at vol. ii. p. 466, &c. ye shal finde a full and trust-worthye accounte of this present boke; the exemplar of whiche, here offered, is of grete bulke and beautie. It is, moreouer perfait—with some of the leauves stained—but the cunning skil of Maister Lewis, our knowinge binder of bokes, shal quickly clense the same. I maruel where another suche exemplar of this rare werke shall be founde for yᵉ purchasinge?

V. The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteined in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the beste translations in divers languages, &c.

Printed in Edinburgh. By Alexander Arbuthnet, Printer to the Kingis Maiestie, dwelling at yᵉ kirk of feild. 1579. Folio.

This moche-to-be-coueted boke is perfaite, sauinge two leaves in the O. Testamente and three leaves in the N. Test.: whiche be wanting. The begynninge and end therof are true and perfait. Ye shall perceiue, on looking at Maister Herbert’s labors, vol. iii. p. 1501. that he had no knowledge of the same: ne Maister Lewis, in his werke upon Translations of the Bible.

Hereafter folowethe sundry final werkes in metre moost rare and of especiel note: whiche be bounde in a kiuer of parchmente.

Sundrie Smal Werkes in Metre.

VI. The title thus:

Here begynneth a treatyse how yᵉ hye fader of heven sendeth dethe to somon every creature to come and gyve a counte of theyr lyuves and this worlde, and is in maner of a morall playe.

The imprint thus:

Thus endeth this moral playe of every man.

Imprynted at London in Poules Churche yarde, by me John Skot. 4to. In Rhymes.

Sixteen leaves. Ye shal perceaue how Maister Herbert maketh mention of this very exemplar: but which, it apeareth manifest, he had never sene.

The colophon thus:

Thus endeth the co̅munycacyon bytwene god and man.

Emprynted at London in Flete-strete at yᵉ sygne of yᵉ Sonne by me Wynkyn de Worde. 4to.

This lytyle piece of rhymes lacketh the title: but the text therof begynneth right truely on yᵉ signature A. ij. thus: “Deus.”

Ye shal finde no account of this lytel tome in my editing of Maister Herbert’s werke upon Ye Hystorye of oure Pryntinge. It hath 12 leaves if you include the title.

VIII. The title as foloweth:

Here is a mery jest of the mylner of Abyn̅gdon, with his wyfe and his doughter, and two poore scholers of Cambridge. 4to. In Rhymes.

A fragment of 7 leaves whiche semeth to be imprynted by W. de Worde. Unto this fragment is joined

IX. A Romaunce, in verse, ycleped Ipomydon; Emprynted at London in the Flete strete, at the sygne of the Sonne, by wynkyn de worde, 4to.

This lacketh yᵉ 3 fyrste leaues of texte, and the title; but it is parfaite from thence (sign. B. i.) to yᵉ ending therof, and is meruelouslye scarce and curious; no mention beynge made of it in the aforesaid werke. This exemplar hath 33 leaves: sign. 1 having 5, the rest 4 leaves.

X. The title thus:

A Dyalogue defensyue for women agaynst malycyous detractoures. 4to. Colophon: Thus endeth the Faucon and the Pye. Anno dn̅i. 1542. Imprynted by me Robert Wyer, for Richard Bancker. Cum privilegio regali ad imprimendu solu̅ per septem annum. Beneath is the device of Robert Wyer, the Prynter. 4to.

Ye shal fynde a briefe notice of this curious Dyalogue, in metre, uttered by a Falcon and a Pie, in Herbert’s Werke, vol. iii. p. 273.

XI. [A Romaunce, in metre, entytled Syr Bevis of Hampton] Colophon: Imprynted at london in the vinetre upon the thre Crane wharfe, by William Coplande. 4to.

Herbert hathe no knowlege of this moste precious boke.

This copy lacketh only the title page; the text begynnynge on A ii. thus:

XII. The Title as foloweth:

Elynor Rummin, The famous Ale-wife of England. Written by Mr. Skelton, Poet Laureat to King Henry the egiht.⁠[41]⁠

Beneath a portraiture of yᵉ said Eleanour:

4to. The same portraicture on the back-side of this Title. Nine leaves: containing also the Tunning of Eleanour of Rumming.

Grete will be thy joy, O Reader, when thou knowest that thou mayst here beholde the original and only exemplar of this cunning and especial werke; for a sight wherof, men do report, that Maisters Stevens and Ritson, with painful travail, left their peacefull homes in London. Greter still will be thy contentment, gentle reader, if thou possess this cunning tresure. Ye shal see something appertaining hereunto in my werke ycleped Bibliomania at p. 585.

XIII. The Title commenceth thus:

Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, Priest, &c. &c. Colophon as foloweth: Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the Misery of Courte and Courtes, Composed by Alexander Barclay, Preest, in his youth. Imprinted at London by Humfrey Powell. 4to. Fifty-eight leaves.

Mention is made of this fyrste Imprint of the Eglogues of Alexander Barclay in Maister Herbert’s werke on Pryntinge, in vol. ii. p. 751.

It appereth from the same authority that the yere of the imprint could not be later than yᵉ yere of our Lorde 1551.

XIV. The Title is after this fashion:

An Interlude, called Lusty Juventus. Lively describyng the frailtie of youth: of nature prone to vyce: by grace and good councell traynable to vertue. The imprint thus:

Imprinted at London in Paules Churche yeard, by Abraham Vele, at the sygne of the Lambe. 4to. Eighteen leaves.

Ye shal perceive a slight damage in the 7th leaf of thys scarce and curious tome, which seemeth to differ from the edition noticed in Maister Beloe’s Anecdotes, &c. pp. 349, 350.

XV. The title appereth thus:

The Churle and the Byrde. The imprint is as folows: Imprented at London in Lothburi over against Sainct Margarytes church by me Wyllam Copland. 4to. Eight leaves.

The cunning reder shal easily mete out yᵉ mesure of yᵉ worth of this precyouse lytel boke. Maister Ritson maketh no mention of it. A rude image of the Churl and the Byrde is graved upon the title.

XVI. The title runneth thus:

A treatyse, shewing and declaring the pryde and abuse of women now a dayes. It beginneth in this wise:

The imprint thus:

Imprinted at London in Paules Church yearde, at thee⁠[42] Sygne of the Starre. By Thomas Raynalde. 4to. This curious and moost rare werke is parfait in four leaves.

XVII. Hereafter followeth the title:

A Myrrour for man where in he shall see the myserable state of thys worlde.

It concludeth thus:

Finis quod Thomas Churschard.⁠[43] God save the Kyng. Imprynted at London by Roberte Toye, dwellynge in Paules Church yarde at the sygne of the Bell. Cum priv. &c. 4to. This brefe morall tractate of only three leaves, adviseth thus towards the ende therof:

Ye may number this lytel piece of metre among the tomes of especial rarity.

XVIII. The title thus informeth us:

The Flyting betwixt Montgomery and Polwart. Edinburgh, Printed by the Heires of Andro Hart. 1629, 4to. There be here 13 leaves of mervelously barbarous metre: the whiche Maister Allan Ramsay, of especiale fame, caused to be reimprinted in his werke entitled The Euergreen. This tome containeth the original text, and is gretely desyred by the lerned in Scotish poesie. It concludeth thus:

XIX. The title:

A briefe Description of the Toune of Tottenham Highcrosse in Middlesex: &c. The Turnament of Tottenham, &c. 1631.

The latter written long since in verse, by Mr. Gilbert Pilkington, at that time as some have thought Parson of the Parish. 4to.

These pieces ye shall finde to contain 21 leaves; of the whiche, 4 leaves belong to the “Turnament.”

A boke moche to be desired.

London; printed by W. Bulmer and Co. Cleveland Row, St. James’s.

The loss thus sustained by the ancient Library of Lincoln Cathedral by the sale of the volumes thus inconsiderately, and in my opinion unjustifiably, detached, was compensated in some degree by the purchase of other books with the proceeds, and the addition to the original Collection of the books thus purchased. Many people will of course think the exchange was advisable, and that useful volumes were judiciously substituted for the antiquated lumber, to which the Roxburghe mania at that time gave a fictitious value. Certainly if any proof were wanting of the advantageous terms offered to effect the dismemberment of the Chapter Library, it will be found in the nature and extent of that Collection which was formed from the proceeds of that sale.

Much as I am inclined to disallow the right of any corporate body to alienate the property bequeathed to it by any such process of commutation, I think it right to annex a full account of the books purchased, that the reader may be enabled to form his own judgment upon the literary discretion of the Dean and Chapter.

The books thus permanently added to the Lincoln Library, are Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary, in 32 octavo volumes; Warton’s History of English Poetry; the Biblia Hebraica by Boothroyd, in 2 volumes, 4to.; Bacon’s Liber Regis; the reprints of the Chronicles of Monstrelet, Grafton, Fabyan, Arnold, Harding, and Rastall, in 4to.; Sharpe’s William of Malmesbury, on large paper; Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer; Baker’s Chronicles; Sparke’s Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Camdeni Annales; Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ; Du Cange, Lexicon Græcum; Forcellini Lexicon Latinum; Rymer’s Fœdera, in 20 folio volumes; the Art de verifier les dates, in 3 folio volumes; the Antiquities, &c. of Montfaucon, in 15 folio volumes; Lyson’s Magna Britannia; Peck’s Stamford; Kennet on Impropriations; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa; Morelli Thesaurus; Fuller’s Worthies; Gough’s British Topography; Madox’s Firma Burgi, Baronia Anglicana, and History of the Exchequer; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica, edited by Smith; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Strype’s Annals, and Lives of Cranmer, Parker, Grindall, and Whitgift; and his Ecclesiastical Memorials; Rapin’s History of England, by Tindal; Gale and Fell, Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores; Herbert’s Henry VIII.; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; the Gentleman’s Magazine from its commencement in 1731 to 1817, the time when this commutation was effected; Hickes’s Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Stow’s Chronicle by Howes; Somner’s Canterbury; Forduni Scoti-Chronicon, in 2 volumes, folio; Collyer’s Historical Dictionary; Wren’s Parentalia; May’s History of the Long Parliament; the Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores, in 4to.; Walker’s History of Independency; Inquiry as to Charles the First; Collins’s Peerage; Locke’s Works; Rennet’s Register; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Burnet’s Reformation; Drake’s York; Echard’s England; Willis’ Cathedrals; Harmer’s Errors of Burnet’s Reformation; Roper’s Life of Sir Thomas More; Theriaque; Holinshed’s Chronicles; Hall’s Chronicle; Froissart’s Chronicles; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; Dickinson’s Southwell; Beausobre, Hist. du Manichéisme; Dugdale on Imbanking; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Historia Veterum Persarum; Lingard’s England; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; Spelman’s English Works; Cotton’s Abridgment of the Records in the Tower; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Callis on the Laws of Sewers; Sir Philip Warwick’s Memoirs; Du Cange’s Lexicon mediæ et infimæ Latinitatis, cum Supplemento Carpentierii; La Bible par le Cene, folio; and the Beauties of England and Wales.

Such is the rough entry in the Catalogue of the additions, made by the Dean and Chapter to this Library, but obtained only by the sacrifice of books which it is nearly impossible to replace.

Of the books above mentioned, many would do honour to any library, and if a certain fund were appropriated to the augmentation of this Collection from the ample revenues of the Dean and Chapter, many more such might be yearly added.

From the same source I have the satisfaction of adding a list of “Books presented to this Library by Dr. Bayley, late Subdean. September 23, 1828.”

“Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, Oxon. 1783, in 10 volumes, 4to.; Parthenissa, a Romance, by Lord Orrery; Abernethy’s Discourses, 2 vols.; Sermons, 2 vols. and Tracts, 1 volume; Biblia Sacra Junii & Tremellii, in 1 volume; Treatises on the Sabbath Day, in 1 volume; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants, in 1 volume; Stillingfleet’s Sermons, in 1 volume; Pemble’s Works, in 1 volume; Whiston’s Primitive Christianity, in 2 volumes; Cunæus de Republica Hebræorum, 1 volume; Kennicott’s Collections, 1 volume; and Reflections upon Learning, in 1 volume. In all 28 volumes.

“Rd. GARVEY, Librarian.”

This donation, however small, from one of the ecclesiastical body who violated the literary remains of Michael Honeywood, may be looked upon as an expiatory sacrifice to the manes of that worthy divine, and may I hope serve as an example to others who may be desirous of seeing the Lincoln Library restored to its pristine magnitude and worth.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln consists of four thousand four hundred and fifty-one volumes, relating to theological, classical, and historical subjects, carefully enumerated in a folio volume, containing the names, dates, and sizes of the books in alphabetical order, with reference to the shelves on which they are placed.

The English versions of the Bible in this Collection, include

Coverdale’s Bible. Southwark, by James Nicolson, 1537, folio.

The Bible, of Tyndale and Coverdale, by Thomas Matthew, at the expense of R. Grafton and E. Whitchurch, 1537, folio.

Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Edward Whitchurch, 1540, folio.

Cranmer’s Bible, reprinted from the edition of 1541. London, by Edward Whitchurch, 1549, folio.

Matthew’s Bible, reprinted by the order of Edward VI. from the edition of 1537. London, by Thomas Raynaldes and William Hyll, 1549, folio.

Tyndale’s Bible. London, by J. Day and W. Seres, 1549, 12mo.

The Bishop’s Bible, commonly called Queen Elizabeth’s. London, by assignement of Chr. Barker, 1578, folio.

The Genevan Bible. London, by the deputies of Christopher Barker, 1597, folio.

The Five Books of Moses, the Psalms, and Canticles, translated by H. Ainsworth. London, by M. Parsons, 1639, folio.

The Bible, with Chorographical cuts by John Ogilby. Cambridge, by John Field, 1660, folio.

The Bible, with vignettes by Vander Gucht, vulgarly styled the Vinegar Bible. Oxford, by J. Barker, 1717, in 2 vols. folio.

Of the Scriptures in various languages, I noticed the

Biblia Polyglotta, Briani Waltoni. Londini, 1657, in 6 folio volumes, with Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton.

The Biblia Polyglotta Eliæ Hutteri.

The Biblia Hebraica, Græca, et Latina. 1587, in 2 vols. folio.

The Biblia Hebraica Pagnini, and of Plantin.

The Biblia Hebraica, by B. Boothroyd. Pontefract, 1810-16, in 2 quarto volumes.

The Vetus Testamentum, curâ B. Kennicottii. Oxonii, 1776-80, in 2 vols. folio.

The Biblia Sacra Tremellii et Junii. Londini, 1581, 8vo.

The Biblia Latina Castalionis. Basileæ, 1554.

The Biblia Sacra. Basileæ, 1514, and the Codex Theodori Bezæ.

Luther’s German Bible, printed at Strasburgh in 1630.

The Welsh Bible, printed at London in 1620, folio.

The Dutch Bible, printed at Amsterdam in 1643, and

The Indian Bible, by Elliott. Cambridge, 1663.

Vetus Testamentum Græcum, ed. Holmes et Parsons. Oxonii, 1798-1827, in 5 folio volumes.

Versions of the New Testament by Beza, Fulke, Mill, and others, too numerous to mention.

I may here notice the

Psalterium Sarisburiense. Londini, 1555.

The Psalter by Whitchurch, 1535.

The Seven Penytencyall Psalms of Bishop Fysher. London, by Wynkyn de Worde, 4to. and

The Psalterium Saxonico-Latinum Spelmanni. Londini, 1640, 4to.

Connected with the service of the Church, are the Book of Common Prayer of Edward VI. London, 1552, folio; and of Charles II. London, 1662, folio; the latter having the broad seal of England appended to it. Copies of this first edition of the Common Prayer now in use, thus certified to be correct, appeared to have been distributed by authority to every Cathedral in England, though few copies now retain the official seal annexed. This “sealed book” is the last form of Prayer in which any alteration was made by public authority. A similar copy of this book, with corrections in manuscript, and the great seal of England appendant, certified to be a correct copy, is preserved in the Tower of London.

Several Works relating to the Liturgy are also deposited upon these shelves.

In the Ritual of the Romish Church I noticed the Missale Eboracense, Rothomagi, 1517, folio, and the Missale Sarisburiense, Parisiis, 1533, with Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum.

In early Divinity there are many scarce tracts, among which the most captivating to my eye were a genuine crackling copy of Turrecremata, Expositio in Psalmos, printed in the gothic letter, by Schoyffer, at Mayence in 1476, folio.

The Fathers of the Church, whose Works adorn this venerable Library, are, S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Eusebius, Gregory, Jerome, Hilary, Isidore, Irenæus, Justin, Origen, Tertullian, Theodoret, and Theophylact, to which I may add Cotelerii Patres Apostolici, the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum, Pole’s Synopsis; the Critici Sacri; and Wilkins’ Concilia.

Among the Works of the earlier Divines of the Christian Church, are some Tracts by Thomas Aquinas, Bellarmine, and Bonaventura; Petri Blesensis Opera, Moguntiæ, 1680, folio; the Works of Martin Bucer, Calvin, Erasmus, Grotius, Hospinianus, Luther, Melancthon, Salmasius, Duns Scotus, Tostatus, and Thomas à Kempis. To these may be added Lactantii Opera by Sparke, Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Lyra Commentaria in S. Biblia, Basileæ, 1598, folios.

I may here notice some well preserved copies of Vincentii Speculum Historiale, Colon. Agrip. 1494; Morale, Colon. 1493; Doctrinale, Venet. 1494; and Naturale, Coloniæ, 1494, in folio; some Tracts by Gerson, Scaliger, and Vossius, and Zanchii Opera Theologica, Basileæ, 1569, folio.

The English Divines, whose Works are found in this Collection, are, Andrews, Bancroft, Bramhall, Chillingworth, Hall, Hammond, Hooper, Jackson, Jewel, Lardner, Macknight, Mede, Paley, Pemble, Perkins, Prideaux, Reynolds, Ridley, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tonstall, Whitgift, and Wickliffe.

In the Theological department I also remarked Bale’s Ymage of both Churches, the Mystery of Iniquitie, and Actes of English Votaries; Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Campbell on the Gospels; and Coverdale’s Letters of the Martyrs, London, 1564, 4to.

Field of the Church; Kett on the Prophecies; Turner’s Huntynge of the Romish Wolfe; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Watson’s Theological Tracts; and many other Pamphlets, Religious, Political, and Miscellaneous.

Of Sermons, this Library contains several preached at St. Paul’s Crosse, and many others by different authors, and upon various occasions. Among these it may suffice to notice the Thirty-six by Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, than whom Anthony à Wood remarks, “the Church of England could not lose a greater pillar, a better man, and more accomplished divine;” and the Sermons of Latimer, remarkable for the quaint expression of forcible truths.

The Theological department also embraces some pieces by Theodore Beza; Outram de Sacrificiis, Londini, 1677, 4to.; and Whitby’s Paraphrase; with other Works of the Divines of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, too numerous for minute enumeration in this place.

A copy of the Koran of Mahomet, and of the Russian Prayer Book are also found upon these shelves.

The Collections relating to English History comprise those of Clarendon, Rushworth, Nalson, Echard, Sparke, Rapin, and Tindal, with the valuable labours of Strype, and an extensive collection of Tracts relating to the eventful period of the great Rebellion.

In this class are also found Winwood’s Memorials; Stow’s London; Sammes’ Britannia; and Prynne’s Records, 1657, in one vol. folio.

Connected with these occur Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; Camden’s Britannia; Ogilby’s Topographical Works; and Dugdale’s Imbanking; all, it may be remarked, upon small paper.

In Heraldry I remarked Guillim’s Heraldry; Yorke’s Union of Honour; Sandford’s Coronation of Charles II.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; and Dugdale’s Baronage.

Of County Histories, a fine copy of Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; and Surtees’ Durham, apparently on large paper, were the most remarkable.

Among the Miscellaneous volumes, a fair copy of Hudson’s Josephus; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Thuanus, Historia sui Temporis, in 6 vols. folio; Bayle’s Dictionary; the Gentleman’s Magazine; the Philosophical Transactions; and the Works of Spelman; most forcibly arrested my attention.

In hunting ‘Reynard the Fox’ I stumbled upon a dusty folio in the Gothic letter, adorned with rude wood cuts, but sadly mutilated by excision in the middle, containing the Dialogus Creaturarum, printed by Gerard de Leeu at Gouda, in August 1480. The types of this little volume avowedly published “in opido goudensi,” seems to my eye so much to resemble those of the hitherto unknown Recueil des Histoires des Troyes deposited in the Library at Norton Hall that I feel myself strengthened in the original supposition that that Work also was the production of Gerard de Leeu before he removed his press from Gouda to Antwerp, though the resemblance of the wood cuts is not so striking as that of the type; but here be it remembered I am speaking only from recollection. This edition of Dialogus Creaturarum has been fully described in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana in vol. VI. p. 120.

The Classical department of this Library is enriched by the Works of Æsop, Anacreon, Apuleius, Athenagoras, Aristænetus, Aristophanes, Aulus Gellius, Cæsar, Epictetus, Ennius, Euclid, Euripides, Florus, Hierocles, Hippocrates, Horace, Isocrates, Juvenal, Livy, Lucan, Lucian, Lucretius, Macrobius, Martial, Ovid, Velleius Paterculus, Persius, Plautus, Plutarch, Procopius, Quintilian, Sallust, Seneca, Suetonius, Sidonius Apollinaris, Sophocles, Symmachus, Terence, Tacitus, Vegetius, and Virgil.

It also contains Apicius de arte Coquinariâ, of 1542, Aristotle’s Works, edited by Erasmus, and several editions of the Stagyrite’s detached pieces; Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, Oxonii, 1783, in ten 4to. volumes; Quintus Curtius, Pitisci; Longinus, by Pearce; Phædrus, Burmanni; Platonis Opera, Serrani; Plinii Historia Naturalis; Plinii Junioris Epistolæ; Silius Italicus, Drakenborchii; Theophrasti Characteres, by Needham; Valerius Flaccus, Burmanni; Xenophontis Opera, Leunclavii; and Cyropædia, by Hutchinson.

Of Translations, I remarked Ogilby’s Æsop, Homer, and Virgil—heard Chapman speak out loud and bold in deep-browed Homer’s Iliad—and rested my eyes on Ross’s sumptuous folio version of Silius Italicus.

The Etymological department includes various Dictionaries of different languages, Buxtorf’s Lexicon Hebraicum; Calepini Lexicon Octolingue; Davies’s Linguæ Britannicæ Rudimenta; Du Cange’s Glossarium; Catholicon Januense, Lugd. 1520, folio; Junii Glossarium Archæologicum; Forcellini Lexicon Latinum; Morelli Thesaurus; Linacre, de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis; Littleton’s Latin and English Dictionary; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Hickes’s Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Lye’s Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico-Latinum, à Manning, Londini, 1722, in two folio volumes; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Scapulæ Lexicon; Skinner, Etymologicum Anglicanum; Somner’s Saxon Dictionary; Stephani Thesaurus; and Suidæ Lexicon Græcum.

The Bibliographical section of this Library includes Andreæ Bibliotheca Belgica; the Bibliotheca Laurentiana; Gough’s British Topography; Catalogue of the Library of Sion College in London; Cave’s Historia Literaria; the Bodleian Library Catalogue; Holmes’s Catalogue of his own Library, presented by himself; Gesneri Bibliotheca; the Index Expurgatorius; and Maunsell’s Catalogue of English Books, London, 1595, folio, which Thomas Hearne styles “a very scarce and yet a very useful Book.” In it are certainly recorded the names of various authors, and the titles of many books, long since defunct and forgotten.

In the branch of English Literature, this tree of knowledge, though lopped by rude hands, still bears delectable fruit.

The Mons Pefectionis, or Hyll of Perfection by Gallicantus Alcock. London, 1501.

Barclay’s Shippe of Fooles. London, 1508.

The Boke of Wysdome. London, 1532.

The Mirrour of Good Manners, by Pynson, 4to. quite perfect, and Hylton’s contented and active life, may content the lover of black letter.

The Workes of our ancient and learned English Poet Geffrey Chaucer, newly printed, London, 1602, folio; Gower de Confessione Amantis, London, by Thomas Berthelet, 1554, folio; Hales’ Remains; Hawkins’s Origin of the English Drama, Oxford, 1773, in three 8vo. volumes; the Philosophical Writings of Bacon, Hobbes, and Locke; Butler’s Hudibras; Ben Jonson’s Works; the Works of Milton; Sir Thomas More’s Works, London, 1517, folio; Spenser’s Faery Queen, London, 1596-7, folio; Spelman’s English Works; Suckling’s Poems; and Warton’s History of English Poetry, may give to the general reader some foretaste of the intellectual banquet continually presented in the cloistered retirement of Lincoln.

The Historical department of this Collection embraces Bayle’s Dictionary; Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, in 32 vols. 8vo.; the Memoirs of Philip de Comines; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Heylin’s Cosmography; Maurice’s Indostan; Montfaucon’s Works on the Antiquities of France; The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden; Southwerke, by me, Peter Treveris, 1527, folio; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Rycaut’s Ottoman Empire; Simson’s Chronicon Catholicum; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; and other Works of less note.

Of Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs, this Library contains various collections of Councils, Canons, and Decretals; Pandectæ Canonum, SS. Apostolorum et Conciliorum ab Ecclesiâ Græcâ receptorum, &c. per Gul. Beveregium, Oxonii, 1672, in two folio volumes; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical Writers; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Josephus’s History of the Jews; Spelmanni Concilia; and Wilkins’s Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ.

The Books relating more particularly to the Ecclesiastical History of England are, Bacon’s Liber Regis; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica, curâ Smithii; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Burnet’s History of the Reformation, with Harmer’s Remarks on the Errors therein; Capgrave’s Nova Legenda Angliæ, Londini, in domo Winandi de Worde, 1516, 4to.; the Legend of St. Cuthbert; Dempsteri Menologium Scotorum, Bononiæ, 1622, 4to.; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, folio; Fiddes’s Life of Wolsey; Fuller’s Church History of Britain, 1655, folio; Godwini Præsules Anglicani, in two folio volumes; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica; Heylin’s Life of Laud; Kennet on Impropriations; Knox’s History of the Church of Scotland; Lyndewode, Provinciale; Reyneri Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ, Duaci, 1626, folio; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Spottiswode’s History of the Church of Scotland; Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials, Annals of the Reformation, and Lives of Parker, Grindal, Whitgift, and Cranmer; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, 1744, folio; Usserii Antiquitates Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Walker’s History of Independency; and Wharton’s Anglia Sacra, in two folio volumes.

This Library is peculiarly fortunate in possessing many valuable Works relating to the History and Antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland.

Of these I will proceed to enumerate the Scriptores post Bedam, edente Savile; the Scriptores Decem, edited by Twysden; the Scriptores XVI. edited by Gale and Fell; Camdeni Anglica Normannica à veteribus Scripta; Du Chesne, Historiæ Normannorum Scriptores coetanei; Sparke’s Scriptores; and the Rerum Anglicanarum Annales of 1635, and of 1616, folio; the Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores of O’Conor, in 4to.; Blount’s Jocular Tenures; Bates’s Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Camden’s Britannia by Holland, 1637, Gibson, 1772, and Gough, with his Annals of Elizabeth, and Remains concerning Britain; Cooper’s Chronicle; Daniel’s History of the Civil Wars; Daniel’s History of England; Dickenson’s Southwell; Doleman’s Conference about the next Succession to the Crowne of England, the joint production of Cardinal Allen, Robert Parsons, and Sir Francis Englefield, in support of the title of the Infanta against that of James the Sixth, after the death of Elizabeth, a Work which was so rigorously suppressed, that to possess a copy was, in the merry days of good Queen Bess, high treason. The Chronicles of Arnold, Fabyan, Froissart, Grafton, Hall, Harding, Monstrelet, and Rastall, all in 4to. Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s, and of Warwickshire; Drake’s York; Echard’s History of England; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edente Selden; Fuller’s Worthies; Forduni Scoti-chronicon, in folio; Fleetwood’s Elenchus Annalium Edvardi V. Richardi III. and Henrici VII. and VIII.; Galfredi Monumetensis Chronicon Rerum Angliæ; Godwin’s Annales of England; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; Habington’s Historie of Edward IV. London, 1640, folio; Haywarde’s Lives of the three Norman Kings, London, 1613, 4to.; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica, folio; Lord Herbert’s Life and Reign of Henry VIII.; and Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, London, 1577, in two vols. and 1586-7, in three vols. folio, being the first and second editions of that work; Illingworth’s Topographical Account of Scampton in Lincolnshire; Jovii Descriptio Britanniæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ et Orcadum, Venetiis, 1548, 4to.; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent; Lysons’ Magna Britannia; Lingard’s History of England; Lhuyd’s Commentarioli Britannicæ Descriptionis Fragmentum; May’s History of the Long Parliament; Madox’s Firma Burgi, and History of the Exchequer; Gul. Neubrigensis Historia Regum Anglorum, Parisiis, 1610; Ogilby’s Coronation of King Charles II.; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio; the Historical Collections of Nalson and Rushworth, and Patten’s Expedition into Scotlande of Edward, Duke of Somerset, London, by Richarde Grafton, 1548, 8vo.; Rymer’s Fœdera, in 20 vols. folio; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa, and his Antiquities of Stamford; Philipot’s Villare-Cantianum; Prynne’s Records, 1657; Sanderson’s History of Mary Queen of Scots, London, 1656, folio; Sheringham de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Sharpe’s William of Malmesbury; Rapin’s History of England, with the Continuation by Tindal; Skenæi Regia Majestas Scotorum, Edin. 1609, folio; Smith de Republicâ Anglorum; Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury; Slater’s History of Great Britain; Spelman’s Life of Alfred; Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum; Speed’s Chronicle; Stanihurst de rebus Hibernicis; Stow’s Chronicle, by Howes; Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum; Surtees’ History of Durham; Thomas’ History of Worcester; Thoroton’s History of Nottinghamshire; Turnor’s History of Grantham; and Twinus de Rebus Albionicis; Udall’s History of Mary Queen of Scots; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; Waræus Scriptores de rebus Hibernicis; Warwick’s Memoirs of Charles I.; Wake’s Rex Platonicus; Winwood’s Historical Collections relating to Scotland, London, 1637, folio; Weever’s Funeral Monuments, London, 1631, folio; Whitelocke’s Memorials; Wren’s Parentalia; the Beauties of England and Wales, London, 1802-16, in 25 octavo volumes; and Willis’s Cathedrals.

This Library also contains several Acts of Parliament, and of Legal Works; the most remarkable are Blackstone’s Commentaries; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Coke’s Institutes; Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliæ; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici & Civilis; Callis on the Laws of Sewers; and some State Trials.

The Records of the Kingdom, published by the authority of Parliament, are placed upon these shelves as soon as they appear. They are accompanied, in the present instance, by Cooper’s Account of the Public Records, and Cotton’s Abridgment of the Records in the Tower.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection are unusually numerous, including Leigh’s Accidence of Armoury, London, 1591, 4to.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Brooke’s Heraldry; Collins’s Peerage; Dugdale’s Baronage; Fern’s Blazon of Gentry, London, 1586, 4to.; Guillim’s Heraldry; Carter’s Analysis of Honour; Jones’ Heraldry, 1590, 4to.; Madox’s Baronia Anglicana; Milles’ Catalogue of Honor, London, 1610, folio; Selden’s Titles of Honour; and Yorke’s Union of Honour.

The Geographical section of this Library embraces, Bruce’s Travels; Hakluyt’s Voyages; and Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1625-6, in 5 folio volumes.

I may here notice Petavii Doctrina temporum; the Art de verifier les Dates; and Green’s Numismatic Atlas, 1829, as the sole representations of what ought to be the Chronological and Numismatic portion of this Library. A deficiency but poorly supplied by Agrippa de occultâ Philosophiâ, and the lucubrations of Albertus Magnus.

Among the Foreign Miscellanies, I noticed the works of Ariosto, Casaubon, Petrarch, and Tasso; Bembo Lettere, 1502; Barthelemy’s Travels of Anacharsis; the Decameron of Boccaccio; Photii Bibliotheca, 1611; and his Epistolæ Montacutii.

Among the English Miscellanies, I remarked the Works of Donne; James the First; and Inigo Jones; Ascham’s Toxophilus; Roper’s Life of Sir Thomas More; Lord Orrery’s Romance of Parthenissa; the Reliquiæ Wottonianæ; and the long series of the Gentleman’s Magazine; Dugdale on Imbanking and Draining the Fens and Marshes; and several gratulatory and funebrial Verses from the classic fountains of Oxford and Cambridge; the Philosophical Transactions from 1797 to 1807, from 1808 to 1826, and from 1828 to 1831; and Sprat’s History of the Royal Society.