Library of London.

When the Metropolitan Cathedral rose like the fabled Phœnix from its ashes, and its beauteous dome, rising in unrivalled grandeur over the smoky city, indicated the renovated altar of the living God, it contained but a few isolated Works of human learning.

Among those books which in all probability survived the great conflagration, I may here notice a very curious manuscript volume, containing the Rules and Ceremonies of the Monastery of Syon at Isleworth, founded by Henry V. in 1414. The book commences with a Table of four leaves, followed by a blank. Then follow the Rules and Ceremonies of the Monastery of Syon, and the Additions to the Rule in fifty chapters, occupying fifty leaves. A blank leaf precedes the ceremonial Calendar, which ends on the recto of the thirteenth leaf from its commencement. A Table of Signs used by Sisters during the hours of enjoined silence commences on the reverse of the thirteenth leaf, and is continued as far as the sixteenth. (Two blank leaves succeed.) The Rule of our Saviour occupies the ten following leaves, ending on the recto of the last, the reverse being blank. The Rule of St. Austyne contained in four leaves closes the volume, which is a membranaceous folio, recently rebound in olive morocco. It was originally presented to the Library by Richard Hare.

A curious relic of the old Monastic Library, is a small folio upon vellum in the original stamped calf, with the chain, whereby it was secured to the shelf, still attached to it. It is entitled “Liber vocatus Remediarium,” and is written in double columns of gothic letters, very fairly rubricated. A Missal in its original binding, an imperfect manuscript; and a Medical Work of Avicenna, in folio, written in double columns of gothic letter upon vellum which has been rebound in calf, may also be noticed as having escaped the flames.

The Library of printed books attached to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, was the munificent endowment of Henry Compton, Bishop of London, whose portrait adorns the walls of the apartment in which they are preserved.

This noble room is placed on the south side of the stupendous fabric of the Cathedral, and has a gallery all round it, the books being placed on open shelves in oaken cases both above and below. The pilasters on the walls are most exquisitely carved in stone, by Grinling Gibbons. The floor is beautifully inlaid with polished oak, and the room is warmed by a spacious fire place, over which hangs a small print of John Egerton, Bishop of Durham.

The books amounting in number to between five and six thousand, are all attired in the vituline integuments of their founder’s time; but many have had their joints as well as their leaves loosened through the united influence of time and neglect. They are symmetrically arranged in open cases, numbered consecutively from 1 to 54, and placed all around this large and lofty apartment.

The aspect of this Library, and a closer inspection of its contents both impress upon the mind its cotemporaneous formation. The distinguishing feature is the impressions of the Sacred Scriptures, and its general character is theological, with a considerable admixture of classical and historical lore. The additions to the collection of the founder are by no means numerous, so that it appears as the faithful indication of his literary habits, and bearing the stamp of individuality, possesses, in my humble estimation, the greater interest.

The chief ornament of this Collection is the noble monument of Biblical learning and typographic skill, afforded by the large paper copy of Walton’s Polyglott Bible, and Castell’s Lexicon Heptaglotton. Of these gigantic volumes, measuring nearly twenty inches by fourteen, twelve comprehend the Bible, with the Dedication to King Charles the Second, and two the Lexicon.

They are all uniformly bound in old red morocco; but the first volume of the Bible having been formerly shewn as the largest book in the Library has sustained considerable damage, from the idle curiosity of its numerous visitors. Upon large paper this work is of the greatest rarity, especially when comprising the valuable addition of Castell’s Lexicon.⁠[44]⁠

Concerning this latter work I may be allowed to extract the following manuscript note by Mr. Barham. “This Work is extremely rare being a L. P. Copy. I know but of one other, which is in the Library at Salisbury, it is said however that there is a third at Lambeth. Its very existence has been doubted from its rarity, and Van Praet when in England would not believe there was one till he saw it. Both Charles X. and George IV. were anxious to obtain a copy, but never could succeed.

“R. H. B. July 22. 1830.”

To this I am enabled to add, that in addition to the large paper copy of this Lexicon attached to Walton’s Polyglott, in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, the Presentation Copy to King Charles the Second is deposited in the British Museum at London, and another large paper copy divided into three volumes, and bound in morocco, is contained in the Library of St. John’s College, Cambridge, both being attached to similar copies of the Bible.

The affecting circumstances detailed in the previous note will sufficiently account for the greater rarity of the Lexicon than of the Bible, though it is reasonable to suppose that as twelve copies of the Polyglott are said to have been taken off on large paper, the same number of copies of the accompanying Lexicon were executed in a similar manner.

This Library also contains a small paper copy of Walton’s Polyglott, and Castell’s Lexicon.

Rivalling the British Polyglott in size and splendour we find also in this collection the “Biblia Hebraica, Samaritana, Chaldaica, Græca, Syriaca, Latina, Arabica, quibus textus originales totius Sacræ Scripturæ quorum pars in editione Complutensi, deinde in Antverpiensi regiis sumptibus exstant, nunc integri ex Manuscriptis toto ferè orbe quæsitis exemplaribus exhibentur. Lutetiæ Parisiorum, excudebat Antonius Vitré Regis Reginæ Regis et Cleri Gallicani Typographus, 1645,” folio, in ten magnificent volumes on large paper, bound in old calf, having the book plate of “Thomas Mangey, Canon. Dunelm. S. T. P.” pasted within the covers. These volumes are in equally fine preservation with the beautiful Lexicon of Castell.

To the above may be added the Polyglott Bible, mentioned in the title of the preceding article, being that printed at the expense of Philip of Spain by Plantin at Antwerp, in six volumes, folio, in the years 1569-72, under the editorial care of Arius Montanus.

I now approach the English versions of the sacred writings, and first in point of time and of importance, have much pleasure in recording the first edition of the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, and printed at Antwerp in 1526,⁠[45] 12mo. The present copy of this little volume is unhappily imperfect both at the beginning and at the end, but its leaves have been placed in their proper order, and it has been recently rebound in russia. It begins with folio iiii. on sign. A. v. and continues perfect up to folio cccx. Then follows a hiatus of three leaves, succeeded by folios cccxiiii. and cccxv. which latter has the signature of pp. v. the last which is observable in this copy, the end being unluckily deficient. But the Dean and Chapter have very properly determined to adopt the judicious advice of the Rev. Henry Cotton, given in the note below, and if this transcript be executed in facsimile by the skilful hand of Harris, this little tome will be rendered as complete as circumstances will allow.

By the side of the preceding volume is rightly placed the second edition of the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, with a Preface against George Joye,⁠[46] dated November, 1534. Printed at Antwerp by Martin Emperour in 12mo.⁠[47] The present copy is imperfect, but it has the autograph of Humphrey Wanley, librarian to the book-loving Earl of Oxford.

Next in order we find Tyndale’s third and last edition of the New Testament in English, 12mo.⁠[48] of which the present copy is unfortunately imperfect both at the beginning and the end.

To the three preceding editions may be added another edition of Tyndale’s New Testament, printed at Antwerp by Matthew Crom, 1538, 12mo.

I cannot dismiss this brief notice of the labours of one of the earliest and most efficient of our Reformers, without recording the second edition of the Pentateuch, translated by William Tyndale, revised and corrected by himself, without name of place or printer, but in all probability printed at the same place with the former edition, namely, Marlborow, that is, Marpurg in Hessia, in 1534, 12mo. The title of this little volume runneth thus: “The firste boke of Moses, called Genesis, newly correctyd and amendyd by W.T. MD.XXXIIII.” and is placed between four wood cuts. Next followeth, “Unto the Reader. W.T. xi pages.” The Book of Genesis begins on the last leaf of the Preface, and the next leaf is paged i. It ends on fol. lxxxi. b. At the end is, “The end of the first boke off Moses, called Genesis.” The other four books are identical with the edition of 1530. There are a few marginal notes. It is printed in the Roman character.

It is fitting that I should here mention the joint labour of Tyndale and Coverdale, being the Bible, by Thomas Matthew, at the expense of Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, without name of place, but printed at London in 1537, folio,⁠[49] in calf.

This Library also contains the second edition of the New Testament in Latin and English, after the Vulgate, by Myles Coverdale. Southwark, by J. Nicolson, 1538, 4to. Copies of this edition are also contained in the Libraries of Christ Church and All Souls at Oxford, and in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth.

It appears that Coverdale was much dissatisfied with the former edition of the same year, printed by Nicolson of Southwark, and set this forth as being more correct; endeavouring at the same time to call in the copies of the other; in this he seems to have amply succeeded, as one is now scarcely to be found. Lewis had never seen it, and Herbert describes it as being very scarce. A copy however is deposited in the Bodleian Library, though it is unfortunately imperfect.

In the same year also the New Testament, in Latin and English, was printed in Paris by Fraunces Regnault for Grafton and Whitchurche, 1538, 12mo. of which a perfect copy in calf is contained in this Collection. In this edition the Latin is after the Vulgate, and the English Coverdale’s.

Next in order of time occurs a copy of Cranmer’s, or the Great Bible, London, by Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, finished in April, 1539, folio.

The numerous editions of the Bible in English which enrich this repository, I will enumerate as briefly as possible in chronological order:

Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Thomas Petyt and Robert Redman, for Thomas Berthelet, 1540, folio.

Bible, oversene by Cuthbert, Bishop of Duresm, and Nicholas, Bishop of Rochester. London, by Richard Grafton, 1541, folio.

The Bible, by Matthew, reprinted from the edition of 1537. London, by Thomas Raynaldes and William Hyll, 1549, folio.

Bible. London, by Edward Whitchurch, 1550, 4to.

The Bible, Coverdale’s. London, for Andrew Hester, 1550, 4to. The body of this work is unquestionably of foreign typography, and was probably executed at Zurich. The preliminary pieces in ordinary black letter, were probably printed in London. The present copy however is very imperfect.

The Bible, Matthew’s, with some variation, and an addition of the third book of the Macabees, by Edmond Becke. London, by John Daye, 1551, folio.

The Bible. London, by Nicolas Hyll for Robert Toy, 1551, folio.

The Bible in English, that is to say, the contente of the holy Scriptures, &c. revised by Cranmer. Imprynted at London by Edwarde Whitchurche. Cum Privilegio ad imprimendum solum. 1553, folio. This edition Dr. Cotton conjectures to have been copied from the first edition of 1539, since here as in that, the Apocryphal Books are entitled Hagiographa. A full page has 58, sometimes 59 lines. The date of 1553 occurs at the beginning of the New Testament. The present is a sound and perfect copy in old calf binding.

Coverdale’s Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1553, 4to. This is in fact the Zurich edition of 1550, with a new title page, almanack, &c. The preliminary pieces, being in the usual black letter of that period, were probably added after the arrival in London, of the body of the work, whose typographical aspect is of the house of Froschover. The present copy being defective at the end, has been made up by 3 leaves from Barker’s Bible of 1580.

Cranmer’s Bible. London, by Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, 1553, 4to.

The Bible, Cranmer’s. London, by John Cawood, 1561, 4to. Imperfect.

The Bible, Cranmer’s. London, by Richard Harrison, 1562, folio.

Cranmer’s Bible, printed at Rouen by C. Hamillon, at the cost and charges of Richard Carmarden, 1566, folio.

The Bible. London, by W. Seres, 1567, 4to.⁠[50]⁠

The Bible, Parker’s, or the Bishops’ Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1568, folio.⁠[51]⁠

The Bible, Bishops’. London, by Richard Jugge, 1573, 4to.

The Bishops’ Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1577, 4to.

Bible, Genevan. London, by the deputies of Christopher Barker, 1589, 4to.

The Bible. London, by the deputies of Chr. Barker, 1596, 4to.

The Bible, by Buck and Daniel. London, 1637, folio.

The Bible, by Field. Cambridge, 1660, folio. All mention of this and the preceding edition is unaccountably omitted in Dr. Cotton’s List.

The Whole Bible, with Notes, published by John Canne. London, by C. Bill, and the executrix of T. Newcomb, 1698, 12mo. closes this copious Collection of early English Bibles, which cannot fail to be duly appreciated by every true lover of the biblical literature of this country.

Next in order of time occurs a copy of

The New Testament, by Taverner. London, by Thomas Petyt for Thomas Berthelet, 1539, 4to.

The New Testament, in Latin and English from Erasmus. London, by William Powell, 1547, 4to.

New Testament. London, by Richard Jugge, 1552, 4to. Imperfect.

New Testament, by Jugge, in 12mo. Imperfect.

The New Testament, Beza’s, translated by L. Tomson. London, by the deputies of Christopher Barker, 1596, 4to.

The New Testament, with notes. London, by the assigns of R. Barker, 1605, 12mo.

Of detached portions of the sacred writings in English, this Library contains the following pieces, which may be interesting to the curious:

The fruytful sayinges of Davide, in the seven penitential Psalms, by Bishop Fysher. London, by Wynkyn de Worde, 1508, 4to.

The five books of Solomon. Southwark, by J. Nicolson, 1537, 12mo., and an imperfect copy of the same in 12mo. London, printed by R. Redman, 1540.

St. Jude, with an exposition. London, John Gowghe, 1538, 8vo.

The Epistles of St. John, with an exposition. Printed at Southwark by J. Nicolson, 1538, 16mo.

The Psalter in Latin and English, the English translated from the Vulgate. London, by Richard Grafton, 1540, 8vo.

The Epistle to the Ephesians, with a Commentary by Lancelot Ridley. London, by R. Redman, 1540, 16to.

Psalms li. and xxx. with an exposition, &c. London, by W. Bonham, 1542, 4to.

St. Matthew, chap. v. vi. vii. with Tyndale’s exposition. London, by W. Hyll, without date, but ascribed by Dr. Cotton to the year 1546, 12mo.

The Psalter, translated from the Latin Version of Feline, that is Martin Bucer. Printed by Edward Whitchurch, without place or date, but placed by the same authority under the year 1549, 12mo.

St. Jude, with an exposition. London, by William Copland for R. Kele, without date, but referred to the same year by the same author, 1549, 12mo.

The Epistles and Gospels. London, by Thomas Raynalde, 1550, 12mo.

Jonas, with an exposition by Bishop Hooper. London, by John Tisdale, no date (1550), 12mo.

The Seven Penitential Psalms by Bishop Fisher. London, by Thomas Marshe, 1555, 16to.

Psalmes or Prayers taken out of holy Scripture. London, without name of printer, 1556, 16to. The present copy is prefixed to Cuthbert Tonstall’s Prayers in Latin and English.

Psalmes, in Metre, with Notes. Geneva, by Zacharie Durand, 1561, 16to.

The whole book of Psalms, by Sterneholde, &c. conferred with the Hebrew, with Notes. London, by John Daye, 1579, 4to.

The same. London, by John Daye, 1580, 4to.

The same. London, by John Daye, 1582, 4to.

The Psalter, according to the Great Bible. London, the assignees of W. Seres (1583), 4to.

The third Part of the Bible. London, by Christopher Barker, 1583.

The Song of Solomon, in Metre, with a Comment by Dudley Fenner. Middleburg, by R. Schilders, 1587, 8vo.

The Epistle of St. James, with an exposition by R. Turnbull. London, by John Windet, 1591, 8vo.

The Psalms by Sterneholde, &c. London, for the Company of Stationers, 1605, 12mo.

The same, for the same. London, 1608, 12mo.

The same, for the same. London, 1614, 4to.

The same, for the same. London, 1622, 12mo.

The same, for the same. London, 1629, 4to.

The same. London, by E. G. for the Company, 1639, 4to.

Psalms in Prose and Metre, with Notes. London, by R. C. for the Company, 1643, 16to.

Psalms and Hymns, by William Barton. London, by T. Parkhurst, 1668, 12mo. and the

Psalms in Metre, by Brady and Tate, the second edition. London, by T. Hodgkin.

In conclusion of this department, I may notice the Common Places of Scripture, printed by Johan Byddell, 1538, 12mo., and Sparrow’s Rationale of Common Prayer, 1657, 12mo.

There also deserves to be recorded an interleaved copy, with copious annotations throughout of the Novum Testamentum Græcum, cum Notis Manuscriptis, et Lectionibus Variantibus collectis à A. T. Mangey, in 3 volumes, folio, inscribed with the following MS. note:

“These valuable Collections of the Reverend and learned Dr. Mangey, in three volumes, folio, were presented to the Library of St. Paul’s by his worthy son, the Rev. Mr. Mangey, one of the Prebendaries of the Church. Nov. 10, 1780.

“THOS. BRISTOL, D.”

The mention of this valuable monument of clerical labour leads us naturally to the consideration of the other impressions of the sacred writings contained in these cases.

Among these, the first in order of time, is

The Biblia Hebraica. Parisiis, 1645, folio; Vatabli, 1599, folio; Houbigant, 1753, folio; and Kennicott. Oxonii, 1776, in 2 vols. folio.

Biblia Latina Cratandri. Basileæ, 1526, 8vo.

Biblia Belgica. 1616.

Biblia Espanola. 1553, 4to.

Biblia Germanica, Lutheri. 1586, 4to.

Of editions of the New Testament, I may mention the

Novum Testamentum Græcum: Erasmi, Stephani, Scaligeri, Casauboni, Millii, Wetstein, Grabe, Tremellii, Theodori Bezæ.

Novum Testamentum è Codice Alexandrino curâ Woide. Londini, 1786, 4to.

Evangelia Gothica, Junii, Dordraci, 1665, 4to.

To which may be added various editions of the Psalter in Latin, Syriac, and Saxon.

From these, we pass by easy gradations, to the theological department of the Library.

Among the Fathers of the Church, we find S. Ambrose, S. Athanasius, S. Augustine, S. Basilius, Chrysostom, S. Cyprian, Cyril, S. Ignatius, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Eusebius, Fulgentius, Gregory Nazianzenus, Neocæsariensis, and Nyssenus, S. Jerome, Hilary, Hospinianus, Irenæus, S. Isidore, Peter and Justin Martyr, Lactantius, Nicephorus, S. Origen, Philo Judæus, Polycarp, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, represented by their Works in this Library.

Of English Divines, this Collection embraces the Works of Allen, Allix, Andrews, Atterbury, Bancroft, Barrow, Bennet, Baxter, Beveridge, Bramhall, Bull, Calamy, Chillingworth, Claggett, Samuel Clarke, Comber, Cosin, Cranmer, Davenant, Goodman, Hall, Hammond, Hoadley, Hody, Hooper, Jackson, Lardner, Leslie, Lightfoot, Lowth, Mede, Bishop Morley, Montague, Nelson, Nye, Norris, Pierce, Pococke, Prideaux, Archbishop Sharpe, Sanderson, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tenison, Tillotson, Toland, Waterland, Watson, Wake, Whitby, White, Whitgift, and Wilkins.

To these names may be added Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Cave’s Primitive Christianity; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Dodwell’s Theological Dissertations; Fell on St. Paul’s Epistles; Henrici VIII. Assertio Septem adversus M. Lutherum, 1562, 8vo.; Field of the Church; Seven Sermons on the VII. Penitential Psalms, by Fisher, Bishop of Rochester; Nicolas Fuller’s Theological Miscellanies; Gastrell’s Christian Institutes; Hey’s Lectures on Divinity; Hackett’s Sermons; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers; Jones on the Trinity; Jewell’s Works, 1609, folio; Kidder on the Pentateuch; Latimer’s Sermons; Muggleton’s Writings against the Quakers; Ostervald’s Arguments in French; Pearson on the Creed, and his Posthumous Works; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Wheatley on the Common Prayer; Wall on Infant Baptism; and Usser’s Annals.

The Foreign Works on Divinity, which are found upon these shelves, are far more numerous than important. It may suffice therefore to mention the Works of Thomas Aquinas and Theodore Beza; Petri Blesensis Opera Omnia; the Works of Bochart and Bossuet; Buxtorf and Calvin; Chamieri Controversiæ; Dallæus’ Theological Works; Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum; the Works of John Gerson; and of Desiderius Erasmus; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Grabe’s Spicilegium Veterum Patrum; the Works of Popes Gregory I. II. and IX.; Howell’s Synopsis Canonum; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; the Works of Lanfranc, Luther, and Melancthon; Methodii Opera; Riveti Opera Theologica; Saurin’s Sermons; Sirmondi Opus Patrum et Opera reliquaria; Socini Opera; Spencer de legibus Hebræorum; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Vitringa in Jesaiam; Zanchii Opera Theologica; and the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, cum Auctario.

Of Commentators the number is considerable, including those of Patrick, Whitby, &c.; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica, and Pyle’s Paraphrase.

Of Confessions there are also divers forms.

Of Concordances there are several in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and English, of which it may be enough to mention that of Downame; and Schmidii Concordantia Novi Testamenti Græcè, Wittebergæ, 1638, folio.

Canons and Decretals, including those of Gratian’s Synods of the Catholic Church; Tracts relating to the Liturgy, Church Discipline, and to the Dissenters, and Jesuits, occupy a considerable space upon these shelves.

Among the Works of Devotion I noticed several Offices of the Virgin, a small volume of Hours, printed by Robert Wyer, in 12mo.; and the Horæ ad usum Ecclesiæ Sarum, 1524, 4to.; a large folio, Graduale Romanum, with Musical Notes, lying in a very tattered condition upon the table; several Breviaries and Missals, with the Pontificale Romanum, but none of early date; the Book of Prayer for Scotland, 1637; the Directory for the Public Worship of God, London, 1644, 4to.; and English Prayer Books, of 1566, 1577, 1608, 1679, and other years.

There are also books of Homilies and Sermons by Seed, Secker, and others of minor reputation, including a very curious volume of “Sermones discipuli de tempore et de Sanctis, Argentorati, 1495,” folio, in which the following remarkable entry has been made by an ancient hand:—“Orate charitativè pro ai̅ma Ths Tyndalle qui dedit hunc librum co̅ventui de Grenewych fra̅ minoru̅ de Obsu̅anciæ die professionis sui filii fri̅s Willm̅i. Anno dni. 1508.”

In this Collection, the Critici Sacri; the Bibliotheca Polonorum fratrum; the Bibliotheca Sacra of Le Long; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Pole’s Synopsis; Du Pin’s Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiastique; Trithemii Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum and Nicolas de Lyra, Commentarii in Bibliâ, Lugd. Bat. 1629, in six volumes folio, bring up the rear of the heavy division of the theological array, we have just passed under review.

Turning our attention to Ecclesiastical History we find a voluminous mass of Councils; the Concilia Generalia compiled by Labbe, Cossartius, Delaland, and Baluzius; the Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ by Wilkins and Spelman; the famous Council of Trent; Lyndwode’s Provinciale; Constitutiones Legatinæ Angliæ, Paris, 1504, folio; Baronii et Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici; and Tornielli Annales Sacri.

Independently of many tracts relating to Ecclesiastical affairs, this Library contains within its walls the Acta Sanctorum of the Bollandists in 53 volumes, folio; the Martyrologium Romanum of Baronius; Codex Theodosianus; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica; Echard’s Ecclesiastical History; Geddes’ Church History of Malabar; Haymonis Historia Ecclesiastica per Maderum, Helmstadii, 1671, 4to.; Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; Neustria Pia Rothomagi, 1663, folio; Platina, Vitæ Pontificum; Rycaut on the Greek Churches; Gallia Christiana Roberti Claudii; and Sleidan’s History of the Reformation, translated by Bohun; with Lloyd, Potter, and Reynolds on Church Government.

Of Works more immediately relating to the Church History of England, I may here notice the well-known Work of Thomas Fuller; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Bacon’s Liber Regis; Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; the Legend of St. Cuthbert, 1663, 12mo.; The Life of John Egerton, Bishop of Durham, 1798; Davies on the Church of Durham, London, 1672; Godwyn’s Præsules Anglicani, and his Catalogue of Bishops; Gough’s Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Threnodia, 1661, 8vo.; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1621, folio; Heylin’s History of the Reformation in England; Knox’s Church of Scotland; Nichols, Defensio Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, 1605, folio; Parr’s Life of Usher; Sanderus de Schismate Anglicano; Spotswode’s Church History of Scotland; Usserii Britannicæ Ecclesiæ Antiquitates; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; and Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, London, 1744, folio.

The familiar names of the two last-mentioned Works, lead us to the consideration of English Topography and Antiquities, in which department we meet with Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ, the Britannia Romana, of the learned Horsley, printed at London in 1732, folio; Adam’s Index Villaris; Camden’s Britannia; Charleton’s Stonehenge, London, 1663, 4to.; Isaacke’s Exeter, London, 1677, 8vo.; Kilburne’s Survey of Kent, London, 1659, 8vo.; Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent, London 1596, 4to.; Lysons’ Environs of London; Peck’s Stamford; Pennant’s London; Plot’s Natural Histories of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Somner’s Canterbury, and his account of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Spelman’s Villare Anglicanum; Stow’s London; Thoresby’s Leeds; Verstegan’s Restitution of Decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; and Weever’s Funeral Monuments, London, 1631, folio.

Of County Histories, I noticed only Burton’s Leicestershire; Dugdale’s Warwickshire; Morant’s Essex; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; and Wright’s Rutland.

Of Works illustrative of the adjacent Cathedral, we find the original edition of Dugdale’s Account of St. Paul’s Cathedral, together with “An Historical, Descriptive, and Critical Account of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, by John Gwilt, Architect: Read at the Architects’ and Artists’ Club, March 4, 1823, and ordered to be printed by the Committee. Not Published. 8vo.” Of this volume, the gift of Richard Harris Barham, 5th of April, 1827, to the Chapter Library, only 25 copies were printed. It has a few illustrative plates.

Of Historical Works relating to Great Britain, this Collection embraces the Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores XV. à Gale and Fell; Camdeni Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus scripta; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Francofurti, 1601, folio; Rerum Anglicanarum Scriptores post Bedam; Matthæi Paris, Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio, bound in three volumes; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Duaci, 1603, folio; and Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle.

It also contains Ponticus Virunnius Historia Britonum, 1587, and Brady’s History of England; Burnet’s valuable labours; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Asser’s Life of Alfred the Great; Camden’s Annales Rerum Anglicanarum, with his Remains concerning Britain, and his Memoirs of Elizabeth; Chamberlayne’s Notitia Magnæ Britanniæ, 1729; Heath’s Chronicle of the Civil Wars; Danyel’s History of England; Dugdale’s Summons; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edited by the learned Selden; Gulielmi Neubrigensis Historia Anglicanà, Antverpià, 1567, 8vo. and Lugd. Bat. 1587, folio; Medulla Historiæ Anglicanæ, Londini, 1694, 8vo.; Fuller’s Worthies of England; Galfredi Monumetensis De Gestis Regum Britanniæ, Lugd. Bat. 1587, folio; Gildas de excidio et conquestu Britanniæ, Lugd. 1587, et Oxonii, 1691; Godwyn’s Annales Rerum Anglicanarum Henrico VIII. Edvardo VI. et Mariâ regnantibus; Herbert’s Life of Henry VIII. folio; History of the Rebellion, London, 1647, 8vo.; Historia Anglicana, 1653, folio; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica, London, 1620, folio; Langhorne’s Chronicon Regum Angliæ, Londini, 1679, 8vo. and his Elenchus Antiquitatum Albionensium, 1675, 8vo. with his Introduction to the History of England, 1676, 8vo.; Leland’s Genethliacon Edvardi VI. 1543; Leslæus de Successionis Jure Regum Anglicanorum in causâ Mariæ Scotorum Reginæ, Rheims, 1580, 4to.; Gulielmus Malmsburiensis de gestis Regum Anglorum, Londini, 1596, folio; Sir Roger Manley’s History of the Rebellions from 1640 to 1685, London, 1691, 8vo.; Nalson’s Historical Collections; Nevyllus de furoribus Norfolcensium, Ketto duce, 1575; Parker, de rebus sui temporis, Londini, 1726, 8vo.; Skynner’s Elenchi Motuum in Angliâ Pars tertia; Smith, de Republicâ Anglorum; Speed’s History of Great Britain; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, and his Reliquiæ; Stow’s Annals by Howes; Apologiâ pro Twyne Antiquitatæ Academiæ, Oxoniensis, 1608; Whitelocke’s Memorials, and the Historia Numismatis Oxoniensis with the Athenæ Oxonienses of Anthony à Wood, a name dear to every lover of Britain’s Worthies. To the above may be added the Records of the kingdom published by the Parliamentary Commission, and the Population Returns; various Political and Polemical Tracts, too unimportant to deserve minute specification, are found on these shelves, which also bear Waræi Scriptores Hibernicani et Rerum Hibernicarum Annales; Cartè’s Life of Ormonde; as well as Lloyd’s History of Wales, edited by Powel, London, 1584, 4to.; Boethius’s Historia Scotorum, Parisiis, 1575, folio; and Falle’s Jersey, London, 1694, 12mo.

Of Works relating to the Laws of England, so intimately interwoven with its History, we find, Coke’s Institutes; Fortescue de laudibus legum Angliæ; Glanville, de legibus Angliæ, 1673; and Sir George Mackenzie on the Law of Scotland. To which may be added Gothofredi Corpus Juris Civilis; Heineccii Jur. Civile, & Justiniani Institutiones.

Of English Historical Writers, the Catalogues compiled by Bale, and Pits, and Nicolson’s English Historical Library, are found in this collection.

I may here also notice as introductory to the larger department of Foreign History, the well-known Works of Puffendorf & Du Fresnoy; Whear’s Method of reading History, and Rawlinson on the Study of History; Beughem, Bibliotheca Historica; Bayle’s Dictionary; and Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique.

Of the Historical Works themselves, I noticed the body of Byzantine Historians, collected by Labbe and Du Fresne; Freheri Rerum Bohemicarum et Germanicarum Scriptores; and his Theatrum Virorum clarorum; Froissart’s Chronicle, Lyons, 1559; Guicciardini, Historia Italiæ; Heliodorus, Æthiopicorum Historia; the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1497, folio; Hermoldus, Chronicon Sclavorum; Chronicon Freculphi, Heidelbergæ, 1597, 8vo.; the Chronicon Orientale Beccense, & Paschale, Helvici Theatrum Historicum et Chronologicum; Eutychii Annales, edited by Selden and Pococke; Meibomei et Reuberi Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum; Godefredi Annales; Jovii Elogia Virorum illustrium; Olaus Magnus, Historia Gentium Septentrionalium; Mariana de Rebus Hispanicis, Francof. 1603, folio; Ludolphi Historia Æthiopica; Mariani Scoti Chronicon; Naucleri Chronicon Universale; Pistorii Historicorum Corpus Polonorum; Robinsoni Annales Mundi; Sigismundi Rerum Muscovitarum Commentarii; Saxo Grammaticus Historia Danica, Basileæ, 1534, & Soræ, 1644, folio; and his Commentarii Regnorum Aquilonum, Lug. Bat. 1622, 12mo.; the Historical Works of Reineccius and Sigonius; Thuani Historia sui temporis; Flavii Vopisci Romanorum Imperatorum Historia; Rerum Sicularum Scriptores; Zonaræ Annales & Zosimi Historia à Leunclavio edita; Historia Francorum, Francof. 1596; the Effigies Regum Francorum, 1622, 4to.; Josephus, Hudsoni & Basnage, History of the Jews.

Among the helps to History may be mentioned, Cluvierii Geographia; Ortelii Geographia; Hudsoni Geographiæ Veteris Scriptores Minores, Oxonii, 1698-1703; Marsham’s Chronological Works; Petavii Opera Chronologica; Heylin’s Cosmography; and Tournefort, Voyage de Levant.

Of Heraldry, which has with the strictest propriety been styled the key of History, this Library contains, Gore’s Catalogus Auctorum de re Heraldicâ, Oxonii, 1674, 4to.; Milles’ Nobilitas Politica et Civilis, Londini, 1608, folio; Philipot’s Heraldry, 1672; and Selden’s Titles of Honour, London, 1631, folio.

The study of Antiquities, whereby so many dark passages of History have been elucidated for the benefit of posterity, follows naturally in this place. Among the Works of this description we find Dempster and Kennet’s Antiquities of Rome; Fleetwood’s Sylloge Antiquarum Inscriptionum; Major’s Ruins of Pæstum, London, 1768, folio; Gorlæi Dactyliotheca; De Wild’s Numismata Antiqua; Grævius, Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanorum; Gronovii Thesaurus Antiquitatum Græcarum; Gruteri Thesaurus Criticus; Mabillon, Musæum Italicum, &c.; Montfaucon, Diarium Italicum, & Palæographia Græca; Prideaux, Marmora Oxoniensia; & Selden, Marmora Arundeliana.

The mention of these enduring monuments of the bravest, the wisest, and the politest nation of the ancient world, recalls the mind to Classical Literature, the dread of our earliest, and the delight of our maturer years.

Within the walls of this Library repose the Works of Ælian, Æschines, Appian, & Apuleius; Antoninus Gatakeri, with Dacier’s Translation; and the Works of Apollonius Rhodius; Aristides, Aristophanes, Arrian, Ausonius, Athenagoras, Athenæus & Aristenætus. Here too is the Æschylus of Stanley and the Anacreon of Barnes.

Here also are Spanheim’s editions of Callimachus; the Works of Quintus Curtius; Demosthenes; Dictys Cretensis; & Diogenes Laertius; Aristotelis Opera Sylburgi, with many of his separate Pieces; Diodorus Siculus, 1604, folio; Dio Cassius, Reimari; Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Francofurti, 1586, and Oxonii, 1704, folio; Dionysius Periegetes, by Hill, Lond. 1658; & Ennii Fragmenta, Lugd. Bat. 1620, 4to.; Ciceronis Opera, Lambini, et Davisii, with various detached pieces of his Works; Claudianus Barthii; Epictetus Uptoni; Euripides, by Barnes; Euclid, by Barrow; and the Noctes of Aulus Gellius; with the Works of Herodian, Herodotus, Hesiod, Hippocrates, and Galen, form integral parts of this collection.

Here also are Homerus Didymi, Amstelodami, 1656; and by Barnes, Cantabrigiæ, 1711; Homeri Ilias, Clarkei; Eustathius in Homerum, Basileæ, 1560, folio, 4 vols.; Hierocles, Casauboni; Horatius, Delphini, et Bentleii, with the Translation of Francis; Isocrates, Wolfii; Justinus, Oxonii, 1674, 8vo.; Libanii Orationes; Livius, Freinsheimii; Lucanus, Oudendorpii; Lucanus, Hemsterhusii; Lycophron, Potteri; Lysias, Taylori; Manilius, Scaligeri; Ammianus Marcellinus, Gronovii; Menander, Clerici, 1709, 8vo.; Pomponius Mela, Gronovii; Cornelius Nepos, Delphini; & Orapollinis Hieroglyphica, Merceri; Persius, Casauboni; Phocylides, Cantabrigiæ, 1652, 8vo.; Platonis Opera, Serrani, folio; Plauti Comœdiæ, Lambini; Plotinus, Ficini; Plutarchus, Rualdi, with Bryant’s edition of Plutarch’s Lives; Plinius, Harduini, in 3 volumes, folio; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon, Hemsterhusii; Polybius, Casauboni; Pythagoræ Aurea Carmina; Sallustius, Delphini; Seneca, Farnabii; Sidonius, Apollinaris, Sirmondi; Solinus, Salmasii; Statius, Barthii; Stobæus, Grotii; Tacitus, Gronovii; Terentius, Delphini; Thucydides, Dukeri; Virgilius, Burmanni; and Xenophon, Hutchinsoni; form no inconsiderable features in this department of the Library.

If to these we add different editions of the Works of Iamblichus, Juvenal, Rutilius Lupus, Macrobius, Martial, Musæus; Mythographi Latini per Munckerum; the Works of Nicander, Orpheus, Ovid, Velleius Paterculus, Pausanias, Petronius Arbiter, Pliny the Younger; Pindar, Priscian, Procopius, and Prudentius; of Eutropius, and the Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores; Ptolemy, Quintilian, Silius Italicus, Sophocles, Ælius Spartianus, Suetonius, Strabo, Æneas Sylvius, Achilles Tatius, Symmachi Epistolæ; Theocritus’ Idylls; the Characters of Theophrastus; Vegetius de rê militari; Zenobius, Epitome Proverbiorum Tarrhæi, &c. Haganoæ, 1535, 8vo.; and the Poëtæ Græci Veteres heroici et minores, we must confess that Classic lore occupies an important position within these walls, albeit the earliest editions of these great authors of antiquity may be there sought for in vain.

Etymology, whereby the stores of ancient literature are opened, next invites our attention to the Lexica of Hederic and Scapula in Greek; Stephani Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ; Cooper’s Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; and Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Suidæ Lexicon Kusteri, in 3 volumes folio; Hesychii Lexicon Græcum; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Etymologicon Magnum, Sylburgii; Martinii Lexicon; Parkhurst’s Lexicon to the New Testament; Phavorini Lexicon Græcum; Skinner, Etymologicum Linguæ Anglicanæ; Benson’s Lexicon Anglo-Saxonicum, Oxonii, 1701, 8vo.; and Littleton’s Dictionary, 1678, 4to. make up the complement of this useful division.

I may here also notice some Philological Tracts by Vossius, Robortellus, Scaliger, Labbe, and Casaubon; Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ; Putschii Auctores Grammatici, 4to.; Gatakeri Adversaria; Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ; and Perotti Cornucopia.

In English Literature, I noticed upon the shelves of this Library Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy; the Works of the Royal Martyr, with the Life of Charles I. and the ‘Εικων Βασιλικη;’ Sir Dudley Carleton’s Letters; Chaucer’s Works, 1561, folio; Cowley’s Works; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Drayton’s Polyolbion; Doddridge’s Life of Colonel Gardiner; Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, 1682, 4to.; Gower’s Confessio Amantis, 1554, folio; Hales’ Remains; Hervey’s Meditations; Langbaine’s English Dramatic Poets; Locke on the Human Understanding; Milton’s Controversial Pieces; Matthew Parker’s Works and Life; Upton’s Observations on Shakespeare; Waller’s Poems; Walton’s Lives; and Sir Philip Warwick’s Discourse of Government.

Of Scientific Works, this Collection cannot boast of more than Stanley’s History of Philosophy; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society; Maseres’ Scriptores Logarithmici; Whiston’s Prælectiones Astronomicæ; Gerarde’s Herbal, 1636, folio; Raii Historia Plantarum; Grew’s Rarities of Gresham College; a few volumes of the Philosophical Transactions; Watts’ Logick; and Winman de Arte Natandi, Lugd. Bat. 1638, 12mo. may be noted here.

Of Bibliographical Works, this Library embraces Antonio, Bibliotheca Hispana, Vetus et Nova, folio; D’Herbelôt, Bibliothèque Orientale, 4to.; Clavel’s Catalogue of English Books from 1666 to 1674, London, 1775; Catalogus Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ, Oxonii, 1697, folio; Catalogue of English Writers on the Old and New Testament, London, 1668; Catalogus Librorum, R. Smith, Londini, 1682, 4to.; Spencer, Catalogus universalis Librorum in Bibliothecâ Collegii Sionii apud Londinensis, Londini, 1601, folio; Bibliothecæ Cleri Londinensis in Collegio Sionensi Catalogus à Gulielmo Reading, Londini, 1724, folio; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Publicæ Lugduni Batavorum; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Academiæ Lipsiensis; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Ducis Norfolciæ, 1681, 4to.; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Thuanæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Barberinæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Cottonianæ à Smith; Catalogus Librorum venales apud Elzeveros; Cave’s Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica; Du Pin, Bibliotheca Historica; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca, Latina, & Mediæ et Infimæ Ætatis, with his Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, and Bibliographia Antiquaria; Hallervordii Bibliotheca Curiosa; Index Librorum Expurgatorum; Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; Morhof, Polyhistor Literarius, &c.; Naudæi Bibliographia Politica; Photii Bibliotheca curâ Hœschelii; Scott, Catalogus Librorum ex variis Europæ partibus advectorum, London, 1674, 4to.; Toppi, Bibliotheca Napoletana, Neap. 1678, folio; and the Bibliothecæ Regiæ, Georgii III. Catalogus, with the Supplementary volume of Maps and Prints, 6 vols. folio, the gift of George IV.

Of general literature, the Works contained in this Collection are not important. I may here enumerate however a copy of Joannis Sarisburiensis Polycraticus, Lugd. Bat. 1595; the Koran; the Work of Agapetus; Epistolæ Variorum Auctorum; Hobbes’ Opera Philosophica; Fenelon, Télémaque; Voltaire, Henriade; the Works of Grotius and Heinsius, of Julian the Apostate, Thomas Magister, Thomas à Kempis, Meursius, Meibomius, and Muretus; the Works of Petrarch and Machiavelli; Picus of Mirandula, edited by Pierce; of Moliere, Porphyry, Rabelais, Ruinart, & Rufinus; Photii Epistolæ Montacutii; Relandi Palestina illustrata; Annales Rabbinorum, et de Religione Muhammetensi; Stapletoni Opera; Synesii Opera; Maximus Tyrius, Dissertationes, Davisii; and Boethius, de Consolatione Philosophiæ, 1656.

But if the curiosity of the reader extend to the productions of such names as Albertus Magnus, Alyaco, Lucas Holstenius, Hottingerus Launovis, Maimonides, Jonas Shlichlingius, and Fridericus Schererzius, Duns Scotus, Suarez, Stuchius, Paulus Vindingius, and Ludovicus Vives, Granville Sharp, or Seth Ward, and Eustratius, Zialowski; together with numerous other obscure writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; for all these he may be safely referred to the Manuscript Catalogue preserved in the Library, a thick folio volume, very carefully compiled, and containing a very sufficient and correct enumeration of all the books contained in the Library, in regular alphabetical order, with reference to the shelves on which they stand.

Each volume of this Collection has the book plate of the Chapter pasted within its cover. This engraving, in the form of an ecclesiastical seal, represents St. Paul seated, with a glory around his head, having in his right hand a sword, and in his left the sacred volume. The following motto encircles the whole—“Liber Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Sancti Pauli.”