Library of Salisbury.

This Library affords a pleasing instance of the proper appreciation of the tomes of olden time, having been restored by the exertions, and preserved by the care of its present Librarian.

The books it is true have suffered severely from past neglect, and some valuable manuscripts have been mutilated or lost, but those which remain are now treasured as they deserve, and to many of the printed books, substantial coats of calf skin have been given, the manufacture of a Salisbury Bibliopegist. The volumes themselves thus judiciously preserved are kept upon open shelves, in cases which are placed against the walls of a very dry and well lighted room, over the cloisters adjoining the Cathedral. The volumes are from four to five thousand in number, and in winter have the advantage of stove heat.

The Library itself was built by Bishop Jewel, whose portrait is appropriately placed over the fire place, but the books which it contains were principally given to the Dean and Chapter by Bishop Gheast.

The old Catalogue of this Collection had been mislaid at the time of my visit, but the Librarian very properly keeps a duplicate, which he compiled himself in alphabetical order.

The oldest portion of this Library of course consists of the Manuscripts, which have suffered much from time, but more from neglect. They embrace a great quantity of controversial divinity, with the usual proportion of Decretals and Glosses, Homilies and Psalters, including some curious illuminated Missals, among which the “Missale ad usum insignis et præclaræ ecclesiæ Sarum,” is also found.

The most rare manuscripts in this Collection are, Justiniani Institutiones Juris Civilis, cum Glossâ Accursianâ, which has been recently collated by the German editors of that work. Galfridi Monumetensis Historia, a very valuable inedited manuscript of the eleventh century; and the Gregorian Liturgy in the Saxon tongue.

Among the other manuscripts I noticed the Works of Saints Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, Jerome, Isidore, and Eusebius; Cassiodorus super Psalterium; Rabbani Lyra Commentarii; Epistolæ Patrum et aliorum; Gulielmi Monachi Meldunensis de Miraculis Beatæ Virginis Mariæ; Adhelm de laude Virginitatis; Beda de ratione temporis, torn at the corners; and some pieces by Thomas Aquinas.

To these I may add the Biblia Sacra; the Works of Boethius; Aristotle de Animalibus; the Chronicon Freculfi; and the Legenda Sanctorum.

The mention of this last work calls to my mind the once popular translation thereof, whose first appearance in the English language took place under the auspices of William Caxton.

The copy of Caxton’s Golden Legend, in this Library, is unfortunately imperfect both at the beginning and at the end, containing only the text from folio ii to folio ccccxiiii, inclusive. It has been very much cropt, measuring only ten inches and three quarters by seven and one eighth. It has been recently bound in calf so as to resemble as nearly as possible coeval binding.

This Collection also contains the “Lombardica historia quæ a plerisque Aurea Legenda Sanctorum appellatur; impressa Argentine, 1496, folio,” in double columns of Gothic letter, half bound.

I will proceed to notice the other early printed books in this Library, beginning with the well known, but seldom seen Apollonius Rhodius, printed in capital letters by Francis de Alopa, at Florence, about the close of the fifteenth century, in 4to. This copy unfortunately wants the greater portion of the last leaf, but is sound throughout, measuring very nearly nine inches and a quarter by six and three quarters, and is bound in old calf with red leaves.

Let us next take a specimen of the Milan Press: “Synonyma Simonis Genuensis Opus Impressum Mediolani per Antonium Zarotum parmensem anno dn̅i. M CCCC lxxiii. Die Martis III Augusti,” folio. This volume printed in double columns of Roman character is bound in russia.

Continuing our researches into obsolete divinity, we meet with

Duns Scotus, Impressum per Ioannem de Colonia, et Nicolaum Jenson, 1481, 4to. in double columns of gothic letter, half bound.

Duns Scotus, Liber Reportatorum, folio, in double columns of gothic letter, half bound.

“Summa que Destructorium viciorum appellat,” Norimbergæ, per Koburger, 1496, folio, half bound, in double columns of gothic letter.

“Thomas Aquinas super IV Sententiarum, impendio Ioannis de Colonia, Nicolai Jenson, sociorumque, 1481,” folio, in double columns of gothic letter, bound in calf.

Augustus de Ancona, de Ecclesiæ Potestate, folio, in double columns of gothic character, in russia.

Catho Moralizatus, Lugduni per Ioannem de Vingle, 1497, folio, in the Roman character.

Aureum Opus de Veritate contritionis, 8vo. Parisiis, per Franciscum Regnault, in the gothic character, bound in calf.

Inventarium Generale, &c. Basileæ per Jacobum Pfortzen, folio, in double columns of gothic character, half bound.

Speculum Moralis Vincentii, Norimbergæ per Koburger, 1485, folio, in double columns of gothic letter, imperfect at the end, and bound in calf.

In addition to the above I may mention, the Duytsche Psalter, printed at Delfte in 1478, although the date by the lapse of the numeral L is printed 1428, a manifest error. This 18mo volume is bound in vellum with brass clasps. And two Church Service Books of Salisbury use, but of uncommon occurrence; the first being

“Missale ad usum ac consuetudinem Sarum Parisiis Ex officinâ libraria spectabilis viri Nicolai Prevost. Impensis vero fidelissimi mercatoris Francisci Byrckman, MDXXVII.”

folio. In the beginning is the Kalendar occupying vii leaves, followed by the Missal containing folia cliiii, so numbered regularly, up to this place, where two unnumbered leaves of vellum intervene, the first of these is entitled Præfatio quotidiana, having the large wood cut of the Crucifixion on the reverse; and the second which is distinguished by the signature v. iiii, comprises the first portion of the “Canon.” The following leaf is numbered fo. clvii, being upon paper, and at folio clxx the Missal ends. The Sanctorale of 69 leaves then follows, and is succeeded by the Commune Apostolorum, whose leaves are regularly numbered fo. i-lxiii, with the following subscription at the conclusion:

“MDXXVII. tertio Calendas Martias.”

This noble folio is printed in double columns of bold gothic character, in very black ink occasionally enlivened with red. The present copy measures very nearly thirteen and a half by nine inches, and is bound in calf.

The second Service Book is the “Graduale ad veram et integram preclare ecclesie Sarum consuetudinem nuper Parisiis excusum. Venundatur Londonii à Francisco Byrckman apud cimiterium divi Pauli, M.DXXVIII,” folio. This volume is printed in double columns of the same bold black and red letter as the preceding, and is half bound in calf.

To these I may with much propriety add a noble specimen of the famous Junta Press, “Pontificale noviter impressum perpulchrisque characteribus diligentissimè annotatum.” Florentiæ, Lucantonii de Giunta, 1510, folio. This volume is printed in double columns of Roman character, in black varied with red, and is bound in old calf; to which may be appended the Breviarium Romanum & the Missale Romanum, 1670.

Let us now turn our attention to those impressions of the Sacred volume which are found within these walls, including,

Walton’s Polyglott Bible, with two copies of Castell’s Lexicon, one of which is very fine.

The Holy Bible in English, of the date of 1539, in folio, in double columns of black letter, but wanting the title, and bound in primitive calf.

Biblia Hebraica, Aureliæ Allobrogum, 1509, folio, bound up with the New Testament of the same date, in calf.

Biblia Hebraica Munsteri, Basileæ, 1534.

Biblia Latina Castalionis, Basileæ per Oporinum, printed in double columns of Roman character.

Biblia Latina, 1528, 4to. in double columns of Roman character, bound in russia; and the

Biblia Latina, Hanoviæ, 1624, folio.

to which I may add

The New Testament, by Erasmus, and the

Novum Testamentum Bezæ, 1588, in 4to.

In the Theological department, this Library contains among much that is valuable a great deal that is obsolete, a remark that may be extended to the other ancient collections attached to our Cathedral Establishments.

In the Divinity of the earlier ages we find the Works of several Fathers of the Church, namely, Athanasii Opera, Basileæ, 1514, folio, and Parisiis, 1627, in 2 vols. folio; Augustini Opera, Basileæ, 1586, in 5 vols. folio; Basilii Magni Opera omnia, Parisiis, 1638, 3 vols. folio; Chrysostomi Opera omnia, 1624, in 6 vols. folio, and edited by Savile, Etonæ, 1612, 8 vols. folio; Eusebii Opera, Basileæ, 1559; the Works of S.S. Ambrose, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Jerome, and Origen, with his Homilies; Tertulliani Opera, Basileæ apud Joannem Frobenium, 1521, folio; and the Works of Philo Judæus, Gregory Nazianzen, and Justin Martyr; Theodoret and Theophylact.

Descending to a later period we have the Works of Calvin and Melancthon, of Grotius and Erasmus; Usserii Quæstiones de Ecclesiæ Christianæ, Hanoviæ, 1658; Lutheri Opera omnia Jenæ, 1612, in 4 vols. folio; Vossii Opera Sacra, Hagæ, Com. 1661; many early Commentators, and some Controversial pieces by Chamier and Bellarmine.

To these may be added the Critici Sacri, and Pole’s Synopsis; the Bibliotheca Polonorum Fratrum; Vitringa, Commentarius in Iesaiam; Leigh’s Critica Sacra, London, 1650; the Commentaries of Nicolas de Lyra; Zanchii Miscellanea Theologica, 1682; and Thomas Aquinas, Commentarii in Biblia, Parisiis, 1657, in 3 vols. folio.

I may here also mention the Works of Bishop Andrews, Allix, and Alison; Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants; and a very fine copy of the Works of Bishop Jewel, London, 1565, here most appropriately placed. Also the Works of Barrow, Bishop Bramhall, Cudworth, Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Lowth, Lightfoot, Mede, Paley, Stillingfleet, Sherlock, and Waterland.

To which may be added, Jortin’s Discourses; Watson’s Apology; Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ; Archdeacon Daubeny’s Works; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; Bishop Douglas’s Works; Pearson on the Creed; Hey’s Theological Lectures; Faber on Pagan Idolatry; and a “System of Divinity by the Rev. W. Davy in a course of Sermons;” Lustleigh, Devon, printed by himself, fourteen copies only, 1803, in 25 volumes 8vo. bound in calf. The corrections of the press being made by pasting in slips of printed paper between the leaves which require them. This singular and uncommon performance was presented to the Library by Bishop Burgess.

I may here mention Stackhouse’s History of the Bible; Bochart’s Geographia Sacra; Hales’ Chronology, in 4 vols. 4to.; and many Tracts relating to the Popish Controversy.

In Ecclesiastical History this Collection is so fortunate as to contain the Annals of Baronius, with the Supplement of Tornielli; the Concilia omnia, Coloniæ, 1538, in 2 vols. folio; and the Concilia Maxima in 15 vols. folio; Spelman’s Concilia; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Bedæ, Historia Ecclesiastica, Colon. Agrip.; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Conibere’s Church History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum; Fuller’s Church History; Field’s Book of the Church; Fox’s Martyrs; the Martyrologium Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1613; Harpsfeld, Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1622; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Josephi Opera omnia, Genevæ, 1634, folio; Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, 1659; Gilpin’s Lives of the Reformers; Parker, de Antiquitate Britanniæ Ecclesiæ, Hanoviæ, 1605, folio; Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticorum, 1640, 4to. in which no mention is made of Queen Elizabeth’s reforms; Reyner, de Apostolatum Ordinis Benedictinorum in Angliâ; Strype’s Memorials; Wordsworth’s Ecclesiastical Biography; Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; and the Codex Theodosianus Gothofredi.

Of General History the list is exceedingly meagre, including Orosii Historia, Martini Chronicon, 1638; Mezeray’s History of France; De la Valle’s Voyage to Persia, 4to; Pococke’s Historia Arabum; Dousæ, Annales Metricæ Hollandiæ; Lendener, Tabula Historica, Chronologica, &c.; Grotii Annales de rebus Belgicis; Wheler’s Greece, 1682; Fuller’s Palestine; and Pitt’s Atlas.

Of Works relating to the History and Antiquities of England the Catalogue is much more copious, comprising, Viti de Antiquitate Britanniæ, 1597, two parts only in calf; Brady’s English History; Baker’s Chronicle, London, 1643, folio; Daniel’s History of England; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, edente Selden, London, 1623, folio, in calf; Camden’s Britannia; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1740, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Melvil’s Memoirs, 1683; Milles’ Catalogue of Honour; Wake’s Rex Platonicus, 1663; Waræus de rebus Hibernicis; Wilson’s Great Britain, 1653; Polydore Vergilii Historia Anglicana; Several Tracts relating to the time of Charles the First; and the Parliamentary Records of the Kingdom.

The Topographical Works include, Adam’s Index Villaris; Calthorpe’s Usages of the City of London; Clarke’s Parochial Topography of the Hundred of Wanting in the County of Berks, Oxford, 1824, 4to.; Marmora Oxoniensia, Oxonii, folio; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral, 1814, 4to.; and Somner’s Canterbury.

Of Law Books I found only the Corpus Juris Civilis, Lugd. Bat. 1652, folio; Dalton’s Justice of the Peace; Coke upon Littleton; Coke’s Institutes; Seldeni Fleta, seu Commentarius Juris Anglicani, 1647; Blount’s Law Dictionary, 1670; and Selden’s Mare Clausum.

In Etymology this Collection embraces Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; Cotgrave’s French Dictionary; Du Cange’s Glossary, 1678, in 3 vols. folio; Golii Lexicon Arabicum; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Stephani Thesaurus, Scapulæ Lexicon; Vossii Etymologicum, Amstelodami, 1662; Wallis’ Grammatica, Oxonii, 1653; and Merceri Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ.

I will now proceed to enumerate the editions of the Classic Authors contained in this room, that the reader may be enabled to judge for himself of the value of this portion of the Salisbury Cathedral Library.

Ammianus Marcellinus. Parisiis, 1687.

Apollonius Rhodius, Stephani. Parisiis, 1754.

Apthonii Progymnasmata. Lugd. Bat. 1526.

Aristotelis Opera Basileæ, per Joannem Bebelium, 1531, in 2 vols. folio, half bound.

Archimedes. Basileæ, 1544, folio.

Athenæus. Basileæ, 1535, folio.

Ciceronis Opera omnia, 1654.

Demosthenes. Basileæ, 1532.

Diodorus Siculus. Parisiis, 1644, folio.

Euclid, 1678.

Euripides. Basileæ, 1544.

Herodotus, 1524, folio, in the original binding.

Horatius cum Commentariis. Venetiis, 1495, in the Roman character, folio.

Hippocratis Opera. Basileæ, 1501.

Lucretius. Francofurti, 1631.

Manilii Astronomicon, 1590.

Plinii Historia Naturalis. Genevæ, 1631.

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

Photii Bibliotheca, Hœschelii. Rothomagi, 1563.

Photii Epistolæ. Londini, 1651.

Polybius Casauboni, 1610.

Prudentius. Hanoviæ, 1613.

Pindarus Stephani, 1599.

Plautus. Neapoli, 1519.

Quintilianus, 1548.

Quintus Curtius. Parisiis, 1668.

Seneca. Basileæ, 1595.

Suetonius. Basileæ, 1673.

Themistii Opera. Venetiis, 1533.

Theophrastus. Lugd. Bat. 1613.

Vitruvii Architectura. Antverpiæ, 1624.

To the above I may add, Scaligeri Opera, Parisiis, 1610; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica, 1625, 4to.; Lipsii Opera; Avicennæ Canones Medici, Venetiis, 1595, in 2 vols. folio; Pauli Æginetæ Medici Opera, Basileæ, 1551, 8vo.; and the Works of Galen and Epictetus.

Of English Literature, the shelves of this Library present us with Bacon’s Novum Organum; King James’s Works; Isaac Barrow’s Optics and other Works; Spenser’s Faery Queen, 1611; Cowley’s Works; Brown’s Pastorals in two parts, with the third in Manuscript, as yet, I believe, unpublished. The printed portion of this interesting folio tome is dated at London in 1613. It is bound in calf. Donne’s Letters; Walton’s Lives; Digges’ Complete Ambassador; Evelyn’s Sylva; Harris’s Works; Moryson’s Works, 1617, folio; Nott’s edition of Howard and Wyatt’s Poems; and Symmons’ edition of Milton’s Works.

Of Scientific Works I observed merely Tycho Brahe; and Kepler’s Astronomy; Raii Historia Plantarum; and Napier on Logarithms.

And lastly of Bibliographical Works I noticed only Clavel’s General Catalogue of English Books; the old Catalogue of the Bodleian Library; and the Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ Sionensi, 1650, folio.

Here are also many volumes which belonged to Izaak Walton, the father of Anglers, and were probably presented to this Library by his son Canon Walton. Twenty of the volumes bear his autograph, a list of which may be seen in Nicolas’s Life of Walton, App. p. clv.

The reader will not have failed to perceive the absence of works printed during the eighteenth century from this Library, and he may attribute the circumstance to the long interval during which this ancient Cathedral was suffered to remain in the most neglected state.

From this it has been rescued by the proper feeling of the existing Dean and Chapter, aided by the unremitting exertions of their present Librarian.

Many volumes, however, still remain buried in dust, and when the cobwebs of the last century have been brushed away, some works may probably be found not undeserving of notice.