Chapter IX: A Romaunce, in verse, ycleped Ipomydon; Emprynted at London in the (6)

To which I may add the

Clavis Homerica, printed at Gouda.

Vossius de Historicis Græcis et Latinis.

Erasmi Adagia.

Bryant’s Ancient Mythology.

Draudii Bibliotheca Classica. Francofurti, 1625.

Pauli Manutii Epistolæ et Præfationes. Venetiis, 1556.

From this cursory survey it appears that the impressions of the Classics in this Library are neither remarkable for their rarity, nor estimable for their worth.

Connected with this subject are the Works of Etymology; of which the following Catalogue will enable any one to form a tolerable notion of the value of this portion of the Winchester Cathedral Library.

Buxtorf’s Chaldee and Syriac Lexicon; with his Hebrew Lexicon, printed at Basle in 1651; Scapulæ Lexicon Græcum; Porti Lexicon Ionicum, Heidelbergæ, 1602; Varro de Linguâ Latinâ; Suidæ Lexicon Kusteri, Cantabrigiæ, 1705, folio; Ludolphi Lexicon Æthiopicum; Meursii Glossarium Græco-barbarum; La Crose, Lexicon Ægyptiaco-Latinum; Du Cange, Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Spelman’s Glossary; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary, London, 1632; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Littleton’s Dictionary, 1678; Stephani Thesaurus, Parisiis, 1572; Calepini Dictionarium Octolingue, 1647; Budæi Commentarius Linguæ Græcæ; and Hesychii Dictionarium, Basileæ, 1530.

Of Bibliographical Works I found, as I have already mentioned, the old Bodleian Library Catalogue, to which I may now add the Bibliothèque Universelle et Choisie, Amsterdam, 1687-1703; the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, Romæ, 1667; and the Index Expurgatorius, Matriti, 1612; with Berington’s Literary History of the Middle Ages.

In Works of Science and Natural History this Collection is equally deficient, for I noticed only Horsley’s valuable edition of Newton’s Works, in 5 volumes, 4to. London, 1779; Barrow’s Lectiones Geometricæ et Opticæ, Londini, 1669-70; Maseres Scriptores Logarithmici; Salusbury’s Mathematical Collections; Chambers’ Dictionary, by Rees, 1786, in 4 vols. folio; Cartesii Opera Philosophica, Amstelodami, 1650, 2 vols. folio; Lord Bacon on Natural History; the Novum Organum; Boyle on Experimental Philosophy, Oxford, 1663; Whitehurst’s Theory of the Earth; Willis’ Anatomical Works; Conradi Gesneri, Historia Animalium; Ruellius de naturâ Stirpium; Fuchsii de Historiâ Stirpium Commentarii; Morison, Plantarum Umbelliferarum Distributio; Latham’s Birds, with coloured plates, 10 vols. 4to. Winchester, 1824, in boards; and Bochart, Hierozoicon.

Of learned bodies and their transactions, the only works in this Library are Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, London, 1667; the Philosophical Transactions; Histoire de l’Academie, 1699-1754, in 105 volumes, 4to.; the Acta Eruditorum, Lipsiæ, 1682-1701, 1702-1720, and 1721-1738; and the Journal des Savans, 1689, in 12 vols. 8vo.

Of miscellaneous Works in Foreign Literature, I noticed Boccaccio, Decameron, Venetiis, 1638; Gatakeri Adversaria Miscellanea, Londini, 1659; Pici Mirandulæ Opera, Basileæ, 1572; Juliani Imperatoris Opera, Parisiis, 1630; Rogeri Aschami Epistolæ, Genevæ, 1611; and Gualtheri Opera, Tiguri, 1595.

In English Literature it remains for me to notice the Works of King James the First of England, and of his son Charles the First, the latter of the date of 1662; Walpole’s Royal and Noble Authors; Chaucer’s Works, London, 1787; Spenser’s Works, London, 1679; Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1669; the Works of the Earl of Surrey, and Sir Thomas Wyatt, edited by Nott, in 2 vols. 4to.; Sir Thomas More’s Works, 1557, folio; Donne’s Poems, 1633; Herbert’s Country Parson, 1671; Butler’s Hudibras, 1663-4; and the Memoirs of Bishop James of Calcutta.

But perhaps the most valuable and interesting treasure preserved in this Library is the original Charter granted by Henry VIII. to the Cathedral Church of Winchester, written upon vellum, and beautifully illuminated.

Library of Windsor.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor is deposited in a commodious apartment, within the precincts of the Castle, overlooking the silver Thames, and the graceful Chapel of Eton.

The Books are arranged in open cases, distinguished by letters of the Alphabet round the room, which is divided into three compartments, and is adorned with an old view of Windsor, and an early representation in profile of our Saviour.

The Catalogue is arranged alphabetically, with an index to the shelves on which the books are placed, and is entitled “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliothecâ, S. Georgii Windsoriensi,” in folio, bearing date, 1786.

The book plate inserted in every book, bears round the armorial bearings of the Dean and Chapter this legend: “Libera Capella Regia Sti̅ Georgii infra Castrum de Windsor.”

There is a Manuscript Roll of Arms of the time of Bishop Sanderson, and the Common Prayer Book and Psalms, in the handwriting of the same prelate, 1578, 8vo.

Among the Typographical Antiquities of this Collection, I noticed the Image or Mirrour of the World, printed by William Caxton, at Westminster, in 1480, folio, a copy unfortunately wanting all after the 97th leaf, which is torn. It measures eleven inches in height by eight inches in width, and is in old calf binding. I also remarked a fine copy of Boetius de Consolatione Philosophiæ, printed by Joannes de Westphalia in alma civitate Lovaniensi, in 1487, folio, measuring eleven inches by eight inches and a half, in calf binding; and another copy of Boetius, printed by Iodocus Badius Ascensius in civitate Lugdunensi, 1498, folio, also in calf. To this I may add a noble copy of the Aldine Plato of 1513, folio, in calf, which measures eleven inches and three quarters by seven inches and a half. There is an imperfect copy of Chaucer, in double columns of black letter; a fine copy of Gower’s Confessio Amantis, printed by Berthelet at London in 1554, folio; and the Legenda Aurea of 1496, folio.

The Versions of the Sacred Scriptures in this Library, include Walton’s Polyglott; the Antwerp Polyglott of Plantin; the Bible of 1611; the Doway Bible of 1609, with the sumptuous edition printed by Nicol, at London, in 1802, in 9 volumes, 4to.; Biblia Hebraica Vatabli, & Kennicott; and Grabe’s Septuagint.

There are also several editions of the New Testament, including the Vetus Testamentum è Codice Alexandrino, and several Books of Common Prayer.

The patristic Works in this Collection, include those of SS. Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustin, Basil, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Gregory Nazianzen, Hilary, Jerome, skilled in the treasures of the three languages of Scripture; Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian.

Among the early Theologians may be found the Works of Anselm, Bellarmine, Calvin, Cassiodorus, Damascenus, Erasmus, Eusebius, Grotius, Lactantius, Lanfranc, Libanius, Limborch, Luther, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Philo Judæus, Prudentius, Theodoret, Theophilus, Thomas Aquinas, Zanchius, and Zuinglius.

Among the Works of English Divines, I noticed those of Allix, Atterbury, Bede, Beveridge, Bingham, Bramhall, Bull, Chillingworth, Clarke, Comber, Dodwell, Donne, Hammond, Hooker, Heylin, Hoadley, Hooper, Jackson, Jewel, Laud, Leland, Lightfoot, Lowth, Bishop Newton, Patrick, Pearson, Pococke, Prideaux, Sherlock, Stapleton, Stillingfleet, Tillotson, Tomline, Usher, Warburton, and Waterland.

I may here conveniently notice the Commentaries of Nicolas de Lyra; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; the Concilia Magna; and the Critici Sacri, with Pole’s Synopsis. Also Cruden’s Concordance; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Field of the Church; Gratiani Decreta; Lyndewode Provinciale, and Wall on Infant Baptism.

Of Works illustrative of Ecclesiastical History it may suffice to enumerate the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Bower’s Lives of the Popes; Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Cave’s Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Scriptores; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cotelerii Ecclesiæ Græcæ Monumenta; Dugdale’s Monasticon; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical Monuments; Fox’s Acts and Monuments of the Church; Godwin, Præsules Anglicani; Echard and Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Platina, Vitæ Pontificum; Raderi Bavaria Sancta; Reyner, de Apostolatu Benedictinorum in Angliâ; Spotiswode’s Church of Scotland; Strype’s Annals of the Reformation; Memorials and Lives; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; and Warton’s Anglia Sacra.

I may here also notice the Bibliotheca Patrum; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Derham’s Physico-Theology; Josephus’ History of the Jews; and Le Long’s Bibliotheca Sacra.

The Historical department of this Library embraces the Universal History, Ancient and Modern; Alison’s History of Europe; Bayle’s Dictionary; Carionis Chronicon; Cary’s Chronicle; Coxe’s Historical Works; De Thou, Historia sui temporis; Eadmer’s Historia Novorum; Hallam’s Middle Ages; Gibbon’s Decline and Fall; the Collections of Grævius and Gronovius; the Institutes of Justinian; Ockley’s History of the Saracens; Raleigh’s History of the World; Ricaut’s History of the Turks; Robertson’s Historical Works; and Watson’s Philip II.

The Works relating to the History and Antiquities of England, include Adam’s Index Villaris; Baker’s Chronicle; Barnes’ Edward III.; Battely, Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Bentham’s Ely; Kippis’ Biographia Britannica; Borlase’s Cornwall; Burton’s Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion and State Papers; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral; Dugdale’s Works; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; Gunton’s Peterborough; Guthrie’s and Lingard’s History of England; Henry’s History of Great Britain; Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica; Kennet’s Historical Register; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Ogilby’s Britannia; Pitseus de Rebus Anglicis; Plot’s Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Pote’s Windsor; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Speed’s History of Great Britain; Rymer’s Fœdera; Somner’s Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; Stow’s London; Tod’s Ashridge; Verstegan’s Restitution of Decayed Intelligence respecting English Antiquities; Warwick’s Charles I.; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; Whitelock’s Memorials; and Wood’s Historia Oxoniensis.

I may also record Buchanan’s History of Scotland; the Wellington Dispatches; Fuller’s Worthies; Southey’s Peninsular War; Tomline’s Life of Pitt; Wake’s Rex Platonicus; Cox and Ware’s Ireland; and Warrington’s Wales.

The Voyages and Travels include those of Anson, Barrow, Cook, Dampier, and Vancouver, Harris’ Collection, Park’s Travels, and those of Bruce; to which I may add Blome’s Jamaica; Kæmpfer’s Japan; Maurice’s Indostan; and Sir Robert Wilson’s Campaign in Egypt.

The Classical department of this Collection comprehends various editions of the Works of Achilles Tatius, Ælian, Ammianus Marcellinus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Arrian, Æschylus, Athenæus, Aulus Gellius, Ausonius, Cæsar, Cicero, Quintus Curtius, Demosthenes, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Dio Cassius, Ennius, Epictetus, Euripides, Frontinus, Herodotus, Herodian, Hesiod, Hippocrates, Homer, Horatius, Juvenal, Livy, Lucretius, Lucan, Lucian, Macrobius, Pausanias, Petronius Arbiter, Phalaris, Plautus, Pliny, Polybius, Quintilian, Seneca, Sophocles, Strabo, Suidas, Tacitus, Terence, Thucydides, Virgil, and Xenophon.

To the above may be added, Stephanus de Urbibus, Photii Bibliotheca; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca; and Vegetius de Re Militari.

The Etymological Works include the Etymologicum Magnum; Buxtorf’s Lexicon; Johnson’s Dictionary; Tooke’s Diversions of Purley; Du Fresne’s Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Lye’s Dictionarium Saxonicum; Parkhurst’s Lexicon; and the Works of Vossius.

The Heraldic Works include Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Guillim’s Heraldry; Milles’ Catalogue of Honour; Willement’s Regal Heraldry, and St. George’s Chapel.

In English Literature these shelves contain the Works of Bacon, Bale, Bayle, Charles I., Brerewood, Ben Jonson, Samuel Johnson, Sir William Jones, Spelman, Temple, and Locke; together with Burney’s History of Music; Blount’s Censura Literaria; Bryant’s Mythology; Boswell’s Johnson; Clarke’s Life of Nelson; Hartley on Man; Reid on the Intellectual Powers; Roscoe’s Lorenzo; Smith’s Wealth of Nations; Warton’s History of English Poetry; Du Bartas, Divine Works and Weeks; and Stanley’s Lives of the Philosophers.

The miscellaneous Works in this Collection embrace Les Entretiens du Sage, par Sebastian de Senlis, Paris, 4to.; the Encyclopædia Britannica; the Archæologia, the Works of Casaubon, Euclid, Hobbes, Petrarch, Selden, and Tiraboschi; the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus, and Catalogus MSS. Angliæ & Hiberniæ, 1697, folio; Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; D’Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Wolfii Bibliotheca Hebræa; Mabillon de Re Diplomaticâ; Brucker, Historia Critica Philosophiæ; and Petavii Doctrina Temporum.

The Legal Works include Blackstone’s Commentaries; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici & Civilis; and Wilkins’ Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ.

The Works on Natural History, embrace Buffon, Histoire Naturelle; Raii Historia Plantarum; and Tournefort’s Botany.

In the Musical Library I observed a large Collection of the Works of Handel, whose solemn strains may frequently be heard pealing through the lofty aisles of St. George’s Chapel, by the studious occupants of this convenient chamber.

I may add with great satisfaction that every Dean and Canon of Windsor, on his presentation, makes a donation of twenty pounds to the fund for the augmentation of the Capitular Library.

Library of Worcester.

In the Chapter House of this ancient Cathedral is deposited the Library belonging to the Dean and Chapter; the books, amounting to nearly six thousand volumes, being arranged upon open shelves around its ample area against the walls, while the slender column which supports the roof rises gracefully in the centre of the whole.

The books are extremely well arranged according to their sizes, with proper attention to their subject matter, the work of the present Librarian, Mr. Clarke, with references on their backs to a Catalogue compiled by Mr. Griffin, and continued by his successors to the present time.

This Manuscript Catalogue is divided into classes and sections, and bears the following title; “Catalogus Librorum Impressorum in Bibliothecâ Collegii Cathedralis Vigorniæ, Cal. Nov. 1780. Curâ J. Griffin Bibliothecarius,” which is succeeded by a dedication to the then Dean. At the conclusion of this Catalogue in the second folio volume, is a supplementary Catalogue, the title whereof runneth thus: “Catalogus Librorum Musicorum in Ecclesiâ Cathedrali Vigorniæ, 1781. Hunc fecit vir Reverendus Edvardus Taylor Præcentor ejusdem Ecclesiæ et Musices peritissimus.”

There is also a copy of the old Bodleian Catalogue interleaved, in 4 volumes, folio, which appears to have been formerly intended to supply the place of a Catalogue of this Library, from the references and insertions here and there apparent, but the plan having been found not only slovenly but inconvenient, it was doubtless abandoned when the labours of Mr. Griffin were completed. The general aspect of the books is of that sombre character which old calf, whether English or foreign, usually gives to the shelves upon which it reposes; but the judicious addition of lettering pieces to almost every volume has greatly relieved their sombre tint, and rendered their contents much more accessible to the stranger. Some volumes however still retain their original vellum wrappers, and a few are coated in morocco.

The only Manuscript which met my eye was a tattered folio Missal, whose knobs had been judiciously replaced upon a binding imitating, as nearly as possible, the original coverture, and on whose fly leaf some modern hand had written, “Missale Vetus ad usum Sarum eleganter et admodum descriptum et exornatum.” Probably however there may be in the archives of so ancient a foundation other manuscripts more worthy of notice than this.

The oldest printed books I could find were the Biblia Latina Vulgata, Illuminata, Venetiis, 1478; and the Nuremberg Chronicle, without a title, in modern calf binding. Let any one who wishes for a particular account of this remarkable specimen of Koberger’s press, read the sixteen pages relating to this book in the Spencer Catalogue, and I will only add that the volume under description retains but little of its pristine beauty. The earliest Classic Author I noticed was the Juvenal, with the Commentaries of Calderinus, printed at Rome in 1474. With these three exceptions the bibliographer will seek in vain for any productions of the fifteenth century within these walls, without the consolation of finding any books printed upon vellum.

Of Bibliographical Works however this Library contains a greater number than usually falls to the lot of similar repositories. I may instance the Bodleian, Cottonian, and Harleian Catalogues; Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria, and Bibliotheca Græca; Antonii Bibliotheca Hispana, Barberini Bibliotheca, Romæ, 1681; Lipenii Bibliotheca Philosophica; Juridica & Medica; Nicolai Toppi, Bibliotheca Neapolitana, 1778; Mich. Hertzii Bibliotheca Germanica, 1679; “Bibliothecæ Cleri Londinensis in Collegio Sionensi Catalogus duplici formâ concinnatus, &c. a Guilielmo, Reading, Bibliothecario, Londini, typis J. Watts, 1724,” folio; Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica; Dibdin’s Bibliotheca Spenceriana; Saxii Onomasticon Literarium; and the Acta Eruditorum Lipsiæ; Berington’s Literary History of the Middle Ages; Pitseus de Rebus Anglicis; and Maseres Scriptores Logarithmici; in proof of the accuracy of this assertion.

In Biblical Literature the paucity of the Impressions of the Sacred text is equally remarkable with the host of obscure commentators, and multitude of forgotten theologians whose works encumber the shelves of this ancient Library.

I remarked with satisfaction a copy of Walton’s Polyglott, with Castell’s Lexicon, respectably clad in old calf, most properly placed on the same shelves with the Biblia Polyglotta, Montani, Antverpiæ, Plantin, 1572, also in folio. There are also the Biblia Græca LXX. per Grabe, Oxon. 1707, in 2 vols. folio; and the Biblia Latina Castalionis, Basileæ, 1554.

I also remarked Kennicott’s Hebrew Bible; and the Biblia Germanica; Martini Lutheri, Francof. 1580; also an English Bible, by Blayney, printed at Oxford in 1769; and Baskerville’s Bible, printed at Cambridge in 1763, together with Purver’s Bible; but no early English Impressions of the Sacred Text.

There was the Novum Testamentum Erasmi, Basileæ, apud Froben, 1538; Nov. Test. Millii, Oxon. 1707, in 2 vols, folio; and Nov. Test. Wetstenii, Amst. 1751, in 2 vols, folio, in calf; also Junii Evangelia Gothica et Anglo-Saxonica, Amst. 1684; Heptateuchus Anglo-Saxonicus per Thwaites, Oxonii, 1698; the Psalterium Arabicè et Latinè, Romæ, 1619; and Kipling’s facsimile of the Codex Bezæ, printed at Cambridge in 1793, 2 vols, folio.

I also noticed two early editions of the Common Prayer, the one printed by Barker at London in 1636, the other published at the same place in 1662; also the Pontificale Romanum, printed at Rome in 1645, folio; Breviarium ad usum Sarum, Parisiis, 1519-25; Missale ad usum Sarum, Parisiis, 1555; & Missale Romanum, apud Plantin, Antverpiæ, 1577, folio, in old red morocco.

Of Commentators I have already intimated that the number is too large for minute specification. It will suffice therefore to mention the Critici Sacri; Poli Synopsis; Comestoris Scholastica Historia, Argentorati, 1503; Canisii Lectiones Antiquæ, in 4 vols. folio; De Rossi Variæ Lectiones Veteris Testamenti, in 4 vols. 4to.; the well-known Commentaries of Patrick, Lowth, Arnald, and Whitby; Pearce on the Evangelists; Pococke on Hosea; and Blayney on Jeremiah.

Proceed we therefore to the Fathers of the Church, who in common with other early divines, were usually Commentators upon the Scriptures as well as the teachers of its truth. Here we have the Works of Saints Athanasius, Eusebius, Isidore, Cyprian, Augustine, Epiphanius, and St. Jerome, with the writings of Tertullian, Justin Martyr, Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, & Lactantius; Philo Judæus, Parisiis, 1552; Vincentii Speculum Majus; with the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, in 15 vols. folio, and 2 volumes of the Supplement; and Dacherii Spicilegium, in 13 vols. 4to.

Among the earlier Divines of our own country, we may mention the Works of Bede; Lanfranc Cantuar. Opera, Paris, 1648; and Anselm Cantuar. Opera Theologica, Colon. 1573; and turning to those abroad may notice the Works of Luther and Melancthon; Erasmus, Grotius, Vossius, Calvin, and Bellarmine; and the Bibliotheca Fratrum Polonorum, Irenop. 1656; with Limborch, Theologia Christiana, Amst. 1695; and returning to the Divines of our own country, we find the Works of Cuthbert Tonstall, and of Tyndale, Hooker; of Bishop Jewel, Jackson, Hall, Hammond, Horne, Stillingfleet, Barrow, Chillingworth, Horsley, Cudworth, Prideaux, Hoadley, and Conybeare; Waterland, edited by Van Mildert; Bishop Berkeley’s Works, in 2 vols. 4to.; and those of Warburton, Macknight, Paley, Wake, Lardner, and Bingham. To which may be added the Hulsean and Bampton Lectures; and numerous Sermons by various authors.

In Ecclesiastical History, the valuable Annals of Baronius and Tornielli; the invaluable Acta Sanctorum; Alfordi Annales Ecclesiastici Britanniæ, in 4 vols. folio; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; the Ecclesiastical Histories of Cave, Collier, and Warner; Warton’s Anglia Sacra; Fuller’s Church History; Du Monstier, Neustria Pia; Inett’s Church History; Usher’s Annals; and Burnet’s History of the Reformation, occupy a prominent place.

To these may be added, Neal’s History of the Puritans; Josephus’ History of the Jews, edited by Hudson, in 2 vols. folio; Magdeburgensis Historia Ecclesiastica, Basileæ, 1559, in 8 vols. 4to.; Gualteri Chronicon Chronicorum Eccl. Politicum, in 4 vols. 4to.; the Concilia Generalia, in 4 vols. folio; Wilkins’ Concilia, in 4 vols. folio; and the Concilia Maxima, in 15 stout folios, with the Apparatus in 2.

Of General History, the most remarkable features are the Universal History; Carionis Chronicon; Krantzii Chronicon Suecicum, &c.; Pighii Annales Romanorum, in 2 vols. folio; Saken, Van Staet Netherlanden, in 4 vols. folio, in old red morocco; Freheri Bohemicarum Rerum Scriptores; the Asiatic Researches; Kæmpfer’s Japan; Maurice’s Hindostan; Rudbeck’s Atlantica; Thuani Historia sui temporis; Ralegh’s History of the World; Heylin’s Cosmography; Roscoe’s Leo X. and History of the Medici; Robertson’s Foreign Histories; Knolles’ History of the Turks; Shaw’s Travels; with Chappe d’Auteroche, Voyage en Siberie; and as relates more particularly to Antiquities, the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius; with the Supplement of Gruter; and the Works of Montfaucon, including his Diarium Italicum; together with Aringhi Roma Subterranea; and Wood’s Antiquities of Balbec and Palmyra.

With reference to those minute yet faithful monuments of former ages, Coins, I noticed the Numismata of Spanheim; Folkes’s Coins; Ruding’s Annals of the Coinage; and a most beautiful Copy of the Numismata Pembrochiana upon large paper, bound in stout old russia, with an elegant border of gold, the gift of Bishop Johnson to the Library of his own Cathedral, about the middle of the last century.

As connected with Foreign lands, I may here notice the Voyages of Cook, Forster, Hawkesworth, and Vancouver; the Collections of Voyages by Harris and Churchill; to which may be annexed Pinkerton’s Geography; and the Atlas of Sansom.

The earlier and more obscure portions of English History are admirably elucidated by the Scriptores Francorum Coetanei collected by Du Chesne; the Scriptores XV. edited by Gale and Fell; the Scriptores X. collected by Twysden; the Scriptores post Bedam, edited by Savile; the Histories of Mathew Paris, of Mathew of Westminster, and of Florence of Worcester; the Fœdera of Rymer; Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Polydore Vergilii Hist. Anglicana, &c.; Hemingii Chronicon Wigornense curâ Thomæ Hearne, 2 vols. 8vo.; and Guilielmi Neubrigensis Hist. Angl. Antverpiæ, 1567.

I also noticed Fosbroke’s British Monachism; the Histories of England, by Rapin and Tindal, Echard and Carte, Henry and Lingard, Brady, Hume, and Macauley; the Chronycles of Englonde, with the fruyte of tymes, printed at London in 1528; Baker’s Chronicle; the valuable Works of Stow and Speed; Birch’s Memoirs of Elizabeth; Asseri Alfredi Annales; Bates’s Elenchus Motuum; Strype’s Memorials; Dugdale’s Troubles, Baronage, and Origines Juridiciales; Spelman’s Alfred, Oxford, 1678; May’s History of the Long Parliament; Brooke’s Heraldry; Thurloe’s State Papers; Kennett’s Register; Clarendon’s Works; Clanricarde’s Memoirs; Lyttelton’s Henry II.; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter; Nalson’s Collections; Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings of England; and Coronation of James II.; to which I may add Boethii Historia Scotorum; Macpherson’s Original Papers; and Dalrymple’s Memoirs.

The Topography of England is here also illustrated by Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough; Twyne, Antiq. Oxon. Apologia; the Histories of Oxford and Cambridge, published by Ackermann; Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiquities; Weever’s Funeral Monuments; Wood’s Athenæ et Antiquitates Oxonienses; Loggan’s Oxonia Illustrata; the Marmora Oxoniensia; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, and History of Warwickshire; King’s Vale Royal of Cheshire; Borlase’s Cornwall; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; Wright’s Rutland; Nash’s Worcestershire; Atkyns’s Gloucestershire; Leycester’s Cheshire; Bentham’s Ely; Gunton’s Peterborough; Green’s Worcester; Thomas’ Worcester Cathedral; Antiquitates Prioratùs de Malvern, Londini, 1725, 8vo.; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Willis’s Cathedrals; Ecton’s Thesaurus; and Tanner’s Notitia Monastica.

As connected with English History; the Biographia Britannica of Kippis, new, in calf; the General Biographical Dictionary of Chalmers; the Memoirs of Evelyn and Pepys, of Walpole and Bishop Hough, who still lives in marble in the adjacent Cathedral; Tomline’s Life of Pitt; and the publications of the Record Commission deserve to be here recorded.

And lastly, as illustrative of History, the English Atlas and Pinkerton’s Geography; Collier’s Historical Dictionary, and Postlewaite’s Dictionary of Commerce; Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; Anderson’s Diplomata Scotiæ; and the Itinerary of Antoninus, may be mentioned.

Of works relating to the Laws of England, we find a Year Book of Edward IV.; Coke’s Institutes; Blackstone’s Commentaries; Gibson’s Codex; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; the Statutes at large; and Selden’s Works.

In Etymology there are in this Collection the following valuable Works, calculated to render more intelligible the earlier historians of England; Somner’s Glossary; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Lye’s Saxon Dictionary; Skinner’s Etymologicum Anglicanum; Davies’ Celtic Dictionary; Menage’s Gothic Lexicon; Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary; Spelman’s Glossary; as well as others more general in their nature, such as Stephani Thesaurus; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Suidæ Lexicon, Cantabr. 1705, 3 vols. folio; Buxtorf’s Hebrew Lexicon; D’Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Du Cange, Glossary; and the labours of the learned Vossius.

Of Classic Authors, though the list of names be copious, yet the editions contained in this Library are neither remarkable for antiquity nor covetable for their value. Of Homer, the Prince of Song, there is the elegant impression of Foulis at Glasgow, the Iliad being on large, and the Odyssey on small paper. To make amends for this however we have the four volumes of the Commentaries of Eustathius, printed at Rome in 1550, and Cowper’s Translation, in 2 vols. 4to. bound in red morocco.

Of Cicero’s Works there are the editions of Basle in 1576, and of London in 1680, and the Lugduno-Batavian impressions of Cæsar, Tacitus, and Suetonius, of Virgil, Lucan, and Plautus, as well as Pliny.

I also remarked Du Val’s editions of Aristotle’s Works; Athenæus, Casauboni, 1657; Xenophontis Opera, Leunclavii; Plutarchi Opera, Francof. 1620; Horatius, Lambini, Francof. 1596; Seneca, Parisiis, 1627; Valerius Maximus, Mediolani, 1505; Plinius Junior, Venetiis, 1519; Pindar, edited by West and Welsted; Euripides, by Barnes; Isocrates, by Stephens; and Arrian, by Gronovius; together with editions of Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Livy, Dio Cassius, Thucydides, Polybius, and Strabo; of Aristophanes, Ovid, Sophocles, and Terence; of Macrobius, Demosthenes, Euclid, Plato, and Epictetus; Photii Bibliotheca et Epistolæ, and the Corpus Poetarum Latinorum of Mattaire.

Of English Literature, the principal features are the Works of Boyle, Newton, Mede, Bacon, Addison, and Hobbes; Monk’s Life of Bentley; Robertson’s Works; Antiquitates Middletonianæ, Londini, 1795, 4to.; Watson’s Philip II.; the Athenian Letters; the Encyclopædia Britannica and the Quarterly Review; Bedford’s Scripture Chronology; Bryant’s Heathen Mythology; and Spence’s Polymetis.

Of English Poetry, besides Warton’s admirable History thereof, I found only Spenser’s Faerie Queen; Gower’s Confessio Amantis, 1509; Urry’s edition of Chaucer’s Works; and Todd’s Milton.

In Natural History, the only Works which met my eye were Raii Historia Plantarum; Bocharti Hierozoicon; and the various Works of Aldrovandus.

In Science I can only mention the Scriptores Logarithmici of Maseres, with a hope that some portion of the fabric fund, hitherto so judiciously applied to the restoration of the Cathedral of Worcester, may, when this laudable object has been effected, be so applied as to augment the literary treasures of the Dean and Chapter, now under the guardianship of Mr. Clarke.

Library of York Minster.

The spacious and luminous apartment wherein the valuable Library of the Dean and Chapter of York is deposited, was formerly the private Chapel annexed to the Archbishop’s Palace, long since destroyed, and was restored to its pristine splendour, and appropriated to its present use by Dean Markham in 1806. The beauty of the west window is only equalled by the comfort of the interior, warmed by a fire-place, and surrounded by a light gallery affording access to the upper ranges of books.

“Near the church is a very pretty Gothic Library, the arrangements of which appeared to me very well contrived. Every book has three numbers on the back. At the top, that of the shelf, then that of the compartment, and below, its own number; so that it can be found in a moment. The numbers are on pretty little labels, and do not at all deform the books. In one corner is a very light and convenient staircase leading to the gallery, which runs midway round the room. The alphabetical Catalogue is arranged as follows:

Page 20

-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------
Form. | Letter C. | Edition. | Shelf. | Compartment. | Number.
-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------
8vo. | Cosmo, &c. | Verona, 1591. | II. | 7 | 189-192.
4to. | Cavendish. | London, 1802. | I. | 5 | 52-55.
Folio. | Colley. | London, 1760. | XI. | 3 | 1080-1082.
12mo. | Corneille. | Paris, 1820. | X. | 6 | 920-930.
-------+------------+---------------+--------+--------------+-----------

“This will suffice to make it clear to you; and as I know by experience what a difficult matter the managing of a Library is, and how many are the ways of doing it, I send you this scheme, as very well suited to a small collection of books.

“I could not get a sight of any of the rare books or manuscripts kept here, as the Librarian was absent. In a corner I found a very curious drawing of the procession at the great Marlborough’s funeral. It is almost incredible how totally the dresses and customs have altered ever since that time. The aged clerk who conducted me about, said he remembered, when a boy, to have seen soldiers with long bag wigs, like those in the picture.”

This locality has been so minutely described by the lively pen of a continental writer, that I have made the foregoing extract from a “Tour in Germany, Holland, and France in the years 1826, 1827, and 1828, with Remarks on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and Anecdotes of distinguished Public Characters, in a series of letters, by a German Prince” (Puckler Muskau). “In four volumes, London, Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, 1832,” vol. iv. 169-170.

The Catalogue, though carelessly written, is alphabetically arranged, and the books are not disfigured by printed labels on their backs, indeed this Library has very much the aspect of a private collection, and may vie with many in the value of its contents.

The valuable body of Manuscripts including those of Mr. Torre on Ecclesiastical affairs; Bracton de legibus Angliæ; and two Manuscripts of Cicero, collated by Hearne for the Oxford edition; the three latter, attired in crimson velvet, are preserved with all the care which their intrinsic worth demands.

The printed books are also adorned in many instances with russia and morocco, indicating a becoming sense of the true value of these literary treasures.

But the gem of this Collection is most assuredly the vellum copy of the second edition of the New Testament, edited by Erasmus, and printed by Froben, in 2 volumes, folio, at Bâsle in 1519. The beauty of the press work, the lustre of the ink, and the purity of the vellum must excite the admiration of every true lover of ancient typography. These resplendent volumes retain their original coverture, and are protected by loose cases, but have been rebacked; and as they are rather choked in the binding should be attired in blue morocco with white silk insides, whereon should be stamped in letters of gold, “YORK MINSTER LIBRARY,” and enclosed in locked cases of russia, lined with velvet. Let us be particular in describing the contents of these precious tomes.

The recto of the first leaf of the first volume presents us with the Title of the New Testament, surrounded by a wood-cut border, and on the reverse is the Pope’s license similarly encadred. Then immediately follow the Preface, Paraclesis and Prolegomena occupying, together with the title, 120 pages regularly numbered. The New Testament, printed in two columns, the right of Latin, and the left of Greek text, in Greek and Roman letter, follows this preliminary matter, having a separate title prefixed, and occupies 566 pages exclusive of the last leaf, containing the Errata, Index, Terminorum, and the following Colophon:

“BASILEAE IN AEDIBUS IOANNIS FROBENII”
ANNO SALVTIS HVMANAE M.D.XIX.
MENSE MARTIO.

On the reverse is the usual device of Froben.

The second volume contains the Annotations of Erasmus on the New Testament, and are preceded by a title encadred as in the preceding volume, and concluded by the “Index Terminorum” on the recto, the last leaf numbered p. 579. The paginary figures are consecutive, and include the title. On the reverse of the last leaf appears the well-known device of Froben, and immediately beneath it the following Colophon:

“BASILEAE APVD IOHANNEM”
FROBENIVM MENSE
MARTIO. M.D.XIX.

The clear Roman character of both volumes is precisely similar, and the Greek remarkably distinct. Marginal references occur throughout both volumes, which are alike distinguished by signatures, catch-words, and paging figures, and have many of the initial letters cut in wood.

Of equal interest with reference to English typography are the smaller pieces of Caxtonian literature, which here exist in the shape of two small works in metre, most rare and of especial note which were discovered by Master Thomas Frognall Dibdin Clerk, in the year of our Lord 1816, of which same marvellous discovery he pleasantly discourseth in the Bibliographical Decameron, v. III. p. 416-19. The first of these curious Metrical pieces consists of 9 leaves in 4to. concluding on the reverse of sign. f. g. with these words:

“Explicit the Chorle and the birde.”

It has been reprinted by the Roxburghe Club, and a manuscript note by Dr. Dibdin informs us that another copy exists in the Public Library at Cambridge. The second of these Metrical pieces owns Lydgate for its author, beginning with these words:

“The hors the shepe and the ghoos”

It is also in 4to. consisting of 15 leaves, and concluding with the word: “Explicit.”

Both these little tomes are executed in the rude Gothic type usually ascribed to Caxton, and are bound in blue morocco.

I next opened three translations from the Works of Cicero, all from the press of Caxton. The first has a gratuitous MS. title of “Cicero on Honour,” and consists of 7 leaves. It begins thus on the recto of the first leaf:

“Here maketh the Argument of the declamacyon which laboureth to
shewe wherin honoure sholde reste.”

On the reverse of the seventh and last leaf, we read the conclusion thus:

“Thus endeth this lytil book.”

Beneath some one has added in red ink MS. capitals:

“EXPLICIT PER CAXTON
MCCCC LXXXI.”

This thin folio is very shabbily half bound.

The two next tractates of Cicero are bound in one volume in folio; the first being entitled,

“Tullyus de Senectute.”

preceded by two leaves of table, and ending with the word “Explicit,” immediately beneath which is this Colophon:

“Thus endeth the Book of Tully of Old Age, translated out of Latin into French, by Laurence de Primo-Facto, at the commandment of the noble prince Louis, Duke of Bourbon; and enprinted by me simple person William Caxton, into English, at the pleasure, solace, and reverence of men growing into old age, the xii day of August, the year of our Lord M.CCCC.lxxxj.”

The second tractate commences with these words:

“Here followeth the said Tullius de Amicitia.”

and endeth thus,

“Explicit per Caxton.”

The signatures run from a 1. to f 4. and both pieces appear to be perfect, though Dibdin who mentions only the first, affirms the contrary in his Decameron, but probably opening the volume in his lucernal examination, and turning to the end thereof, without remarking that it contained two separate pieces, and missing the well-known colophon quoted above, might have concluded the volume from thence imperfect.

The next and last Caxtonian production which occurred to me in this Library was,

“The Booke of the Fayttes of Armes and of Chyvalrye, which Christine of Pyse drew out of Vegetius de re militari.” This work written in French under the title of “Le Livre des faits d’Armes et de Chevalrie par Christine de Pisan,” was delivered to Caxton by king Henry the Seventh “in his palais of Westmestre the xxiii day of Januyere the iiii year of his regne, who desyred and wylled him to translate this said booke, and reduce it into our english and natural tongue and to put it in prynte, which Translacion was finished the viiith day of Juyll the sayd year and emprynted the xiiith day of Juyll next following and full fynyshed” in 1489.

The present copy bound in sorry calf, and lettered “Christian of Pisa,” is unfortunately imperfect at the end, wanting all from sign. S. i. to the end. It has however the Table of two leaves which precedes the text.

Among the other early printed Books I noticed, “The Ordynary of Chrysten men” printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1506, 4to. which a manuscript note by Dibdin says is “not quite perfect.” It is bound in blue morocco with gilt leaves.

The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, translated out of Latin into English by John Trevisa, and reprinted from Caxton’s edition by Peter Treveris at London in 1527, folio. It is bound in pale russia, and is perfect. And the Dives and Pauper, printed by Pynson at London in 1537, 4to.

Hitherto I have only skimmed over the surface of this valuable Collection, selecting such relics of the olden time as fastidious bibliomaniacs especially delight in.

The best editions of the Classics, and of the Fathers form a considerable portion of this Collection, though I sought in vain for any first editions of the Classic Authors.

The value of this Collection demands a particular account of its component parts, and I commence accordingly with the Sacred Writings.

Of Impressions in the original Hebrew I remarked the Bomberg Hebrew Bible, printed at Venice in 1618, in two folio volumes; and the Hebrew Bibles edited by Kennicott and Vander Hooght; Walton’s Polyglott Bible is also found here. In Greek the Aldine Psalter, the Alexandrine Codex, edited by Woide; and the Codex Beza, edited by Kipling chiefly merit notice. The Latin Versions are numerous, including that printed at Venice in 1498; and the Biblia Latina Junii, Francofurti, 1589. The English Versions are also numerous. Of these the Doway Bible of 1609; the Oxford Bible of 1680; an imperfect copy of Matthews’ Bible of 1549; and another London edition in 1602; the Cambridge Bible of 1682; Wilson’s Bible of 1783; a Bible printed at York in 1789; and D’Oyly and Mant’s Bible with Notes, &c. are the most remarkable. I also noticed the German Bible printed at Nuremberg in 1541; French and Indian Bibles; and the Rhemish Testament by Fulke.

The Commentaries, Concordances, and other illustrations of Holy Writ in this Library form a valuable part of this Collection.

This Library can also boast a very excellent collection of the best editions of the Fathers of the Church. The labours of S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basil, Chrysostom, Clemens Alexandrinus, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Eusebius, Fulgentius, Gregory Nazianzen, Hilary, Jerome, Irenæus, Isidore, Lactantius, Origen, Philo Judæus, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, and other pillars of the Faith here exist for the edification of the theological student.

The mass of Catholic Divinity is considerable, including the Works of the Venerable Bede, Cardinal Bellarmine, Bernard, Theodore Beza, Bonaventura, Cassiodorus, Gregory, Lanfranc, Duns Scotus, Hugo Victor, and Zanchius; Zuinglii Opera Omnia; with many others of lesser note.

This Collection of Theology also embraces, Montfaucon, Collectio Nova Patrum; the Bibliotheca Patrum; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; the Critici Sacri; and Pole’s Synopsis; Cruden’s Concordance; De Rossi Variæ Lectiones in Vetus et Novum Testamentum; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Michaelis’ Introduction to the New Testament; Outram de Sacrificiis; the Commentaries of Patrick, Pearce, &c.; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Vincentii Speculum Majus; and Walchii Bibliotheca Theologica et Patristica.

In this Library are found Casaubon’s Erasmus of 1514; the Works of Calvin, Grotius, Luther, Melancthon, and other Divines of that age.

In English Divinity this Collection includes the Works of Lancelot Andrews, Alison, Barrow, Bishop Berkeley, Archbishop Bramhall, Chillingworth, Samuel Clarke, Hacket, Hammond, Hoadly, Jackson, Jewel, Lardner, Lowth, Macknight, Mede, Ogden, Paley, Perkins, Porteus, Prideaux, Sherlock, Stackhouse, Stillingfleet, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Warburton, Waterland, Watson, Whitaker, and Whitgift.

I also observed the series of Bampton Lectures; the Bridgewater Treatises; Sermons by Blair, Saurin, Secker, and many others; Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles; Butler’s Analogy; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Hey’s Lectures; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Kett on Prophecy; Pearson on the Creed; and the Works of Archbishop Usher.

I may here notice the Histories of the Jews by Basnage, and Josephus; and Spencer de legibus Hebræorum.

In Ecclesiastical History this Library possesses the Ecclesiastical Annals of Baronius; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Bacon’s Liber Regis; Brandt’s History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Burnet’s History of the Reformation in England; Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, &c. 1588; the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Councils and Conferences, &c.; Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History; Fuller’s Church History; Harpsfeld, Historia Ecclesiastica; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ; Sanderus, de Schismate Anglicano; Spotswode’s History of the Church of Scotland; Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials; and Symeon Dunelmensis de exordio et procursu istius Ecclesiæ, edente Thomâ Bedford, 1732, 8vo.

The Historical department of this Collection embraces the great body of Byzantine Historians, edited by Labbe; Bouquet, Recueil des Historiens des Gaules, of which the first 13 volumes are in red morocco, the remaining 5 in boards. Muratori Thesaurus Antiquitatum, &c. Mediolani, 1723, in 22 folio volumes, with the Corpus Inscriptionum, by Gruter, in 5 volumes in folio; Pitisci Lexicon; and the ponderous folios of Bayle.

I also noticed Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Hooke’s Roman History; Maurice’s Indostan; Mezeray, Histoire de France, Paris, 1643, in 3 folio volumes; Mitford’s History of Greece; Robertson’s Historical Works; Thuani Historia sui Temporis; Wilkins’ Magna Græca; and Zonaræ Annales.

This Library is embellished by Whitaker’s Illustrations of the Topography of Yorkshire; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments; and the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus, all in folio.

Of books relating to British History, these shelves contain many, both curious and important. I may mention the Scriptores post Bedam; Camdeni Anglica, Normannica, &c. à veteribus Scripta; Annales Henrici VIII.; Boetius and Buchanan Historia Scotorum; Brady’s History of England; Burnet’s History of his own Time; Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, and his State Papers; Daniel’s History of England; Dalrymple’s Memoirs; Eadmeri Historia Novorum; Fabian’s Chronicle; Fiddes’ Life of Wolsey; Florentii Wigornensis Chronicon; Holinshed’s Chronicle of 1581; Grafton’s Chronicle; Galfridi Monumetensis Historia Britonum; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum; the Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden; Rapin and Tindal’s History of England; Rymer’s Fœdera, 20 folio volumes; Smith de Rêpublicâ Anglorum; Speed’s History of Britain; Strafford’s State Papers; Todd’s Lives of Walton and Cranmer; Twine de Rebus Albionicis; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence; Polydore Vergil, Historia Anglicana; Welwood’s Memoirs; Whitelock’s Memorials; Winwood’s Memorials; the Parliamentary History of England, in 24 octavo volumes; and the Records published by the Parliamentary Commission.

The Topography and Antiquities of England are illustrated by the valuable series of the Archæologia; Atkyns’ Gloucestershire; Britton’s York Cathedral; Burton’s Monasticon Eboracense; Burton’s History of Leicestershire; Camden’s Britannia, edited by Gough; the Descriptions of the English Cathedrals, published by the Antiquarian Society; Davies’ Celtic Researches; Drake’s York; Gent’s Histories of York, Ripon, and Hull, with some Account of the East Window of York Minster; Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments, in 5 folio volumes; Grose’s Antiquities of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; Halfpenny’s Fragmenta Vetusta; Horsley’s Britannia Romana; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities; Leland’s Collectanea de rebus Britannicis; Loggan’s Oxonia et Cantabrigia Illustrata; Nash’s Views of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor; Nicolson’s Histories of Cumberland and Westmoreland; Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa; Raine’s North Durham; Sanderson’s Durham Abbey; Tanner’s Notitia Monastica; the History and Antiquities of York, 1785, in 4 volumes, 8vo.; Torr’s York; Whitaker’s History of Craven, and his Ducatus Lancastriæ; and Willis’ History of the Cathedrals.

I may here mention the long series of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London; the Memoirs of the Manchester Philosophical Society; the Harleian Miscellany; Harris’ Life of Charles the First; Nichols’ Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, and Collection of Royal Wills; the Somers Tracts; and Kippis’ Biographia Britannica.

The Bibliographical Works I noticed, were Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis; the Bibliotheca Matritensis; Bibliotheca Chethamensis; Bibliothecæ Regiæ Catalogus; Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ, &c.; De Bure, Bibliographie Instructive; Dibdin’s Bibliographical Decameron, Typographical Antiquities, and Introduction to the Classics; Fabricii, Bibliotheca Græca Ecclesiastica et Latina; Gesner’s Bibliotheca; Gough’s Account of Works on British Topography; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra; Photii Bibliotheca; and the Roxburghe Library Catalogue.

To these may be added, Mabillon de re diplomaticâ; Waltheri, Lexicon Diplomaticum; and Montfaucon’s Palæographia Græca.

The Classical department of this Library embraces the productions of Ælian, Æschylus, Apuleius, Archimedes, Appian, Aristotle, Athenagoras, Athenæus, Aristophanes, Ausonius, Catullus, Demosthenes, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Dioscorides, Epictetus, Euclid, Euripides, Aulus Gellius, Hippocrates, Homer, Horace, Justin, Juvenal, Livy, Macrobius, Ammianus Marcellinus, Ovid, Pausanias, Philostratus, Propertius, Quintilian, Sallustius, Seneca, Silius Italicus, Sophocles, Suetonius, Tacitus, Terence, Thucydides, Tibullus, Valerius Maximus, Vegetius, Virgil, and Xenophon.

Of none of these authors did I observe the first editions, but many good and some indifferent impressions occur throughout.

I noticed particularly Anacreon, Fischeri; Aristides, Jebbii; Aurelius Victor, Delphini; Bion and Moschus, by Wakefield; Ciceronis Opera, Aldi, Venetiis, 1592-3, and Lambini, and by Victorius, the Sospitator Ciceronis, and others; Quintus Curtius, Snakenburgii; Diodorus Siculus, Wetstenii; Herodotus, Gronovii; Hesiodus, Robinsoni; the Glasgow Homer, printed by Foulis; Lucianus, Hemsterhusii; Lucanus, Oudendorpii; Lucretius, Havercampi; Lycophron, Potteri; Martialis, Aldi, Venetiis, 1501, 8vo.; Mythographi Veteres, by Van Staveren; Orphica, edita ab Hermanno; Velleius Paterculus, Ruhnkenii; Platonis Opera, Serrani; Pindarus, Heynii; Plautus, Lambini; Plutarchus, Xylandri; Plotinus, Ficini; Poetæ Græci, Stephani; Ptolomæi Geographia, Venetiis, 1562, 4to.; Prudentius, Arevali, Romæ, 1788-9, in 2 quarto volumes; Oratores Græci, Aldi, Venetiis, 1513, 2 vols. folio; Rhetores Latini Antiqui, Paris. 1599, 4to.; Rei Rusticæ Scriptores Gesneri; and the Characters of Theophrastus.

The Etymological Works in this Collection are Cooper’s Thesaurus; Facciolati Lexicon; Gesneri Thesaurus; Hederici Lexicon; Hickes’ Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium; Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary; Johnson’s English Dictionary; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum à Lye; Linacre de emendatâ Structurâ Latini Sermonis, Londini, 1524, 4to.; Pagnini, Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Schleusner’s Lexicon in Novum Testamentum; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum; and Suidæ Lexicon.

In English Literature this Library contains the Works of Boyle, Evelyn, Locke, Milton, Purchas’ Pilgrims; Shakespeare, 1685; Spelman, and others. Also Hakluyt’s Voyages; James the First’s Book of Sports, London, 1618; Lyndsay’s Poems in Scotch; Horsley’s edition of Newton’s Works; Quarles’ Emblems; Scott’s Life of Napoleon; and Tyrwhitt’s edition of Chaucer’s Works.

In Italian Literature this Collection embraces the Works of Ariosto, Aretino, Dante, Guicciardini, Machiavelli, and Ubaldino. Also Sannazaro’s Arcadia, and Tasso, &c. Vinegia, 1581, &c.

In French Literature will be found the productions of Basnage, Bossuet, Corneille, Dacier, Drelincourt, and others. As well as Dacier’s Horace; the Romant de la Rose, Paris, 1531; Scudery, Les Femmes Illustres; and a French Bible of 1535.

The Geographical Works which occurred to me were D’Anville’s Ancient Geography; Heylin’s Cosmography; Pitt’s English Atlas; and Vincent’s Periplus of the Erythræan Sea.

I also noticed Blair’s Chronology; Bryant’s Mythology; and Spence’s Polymetis.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection include Boswell on Armorie; Collins’ Peerage; and Dugdale’s Baronage.

The Works on Natural History which I noticed were Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle in 45 vols. 4to.; Ellis’ Zoophytes; Gesneri Historia Animalium; and Pennant’s British Zoology.

The Miscellaneous Books include many too obscure for notice; and others such as Oughtred, Clavis Mathematica; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum; the Aurea Legenda of 1493 and 1516; Hawkins’ History of Music; a copy of the Koran; the Marmora Arundeliana; Murphy’s Church of Batalha; Rosini, Antiquitates Romanæ; Puffendorf and Saxo-Danicus; deserve succinct enumeration.

Rituals of the Romish and Reformed Churches are here found in various forms. Of the former I observed the Missale Romanum, printed at Antwerp in 1577 and 1590, and at Paris in 1616. Of the latter the Common Prayer published in 1605, 1625, and 1640, the last a plague year.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of York derived its chief treasures from the munificence of Bishop Matthews, whose Collection was formed in the seventeenth century. It was still further enriched by the Library of Dr. Fothergill, bequeathed by him to the Cathedral in the commencement of the eighteenth century. Subsequent additions have been made to the Collection, chiefly from the widow of the Rev. William Burge, D.D.

The number of printed books in this Library, when augmented by those of Bishop Matthews, amounted to four thousand one hundred and sixty-two volumes. Dr. Fothergill’s books, in number one thousand five hundred and twenty, increased the sum to five thousand six hundred and eighty-two, which subsequent donations and additions have augmented to nearly eight thousand at the present time.

The Catalogues of this Library are both copious and accurate. The first is a large folio volume, containing the Alphabetical Catalogue of Books, and having at the end the following “Memorandum. The Books were new classed, lettered and numbered by the Rev. Mr. William Richardson, one of the Vicar’s Choral, and Minister of St. Michael Le Belfry, and this Catalogue was transcribed by the Rev. Mr. John Coulthred Minister of Hickleton in the West Riding of the County of York.”

“York, January 12th, 1775.”

“The Catalogue when transcribed contained about four thousand one hundred and sixty-two volumes.” It is also added: “This Catalogue which is as accurate as the nature of the thing will admit of, was begun in the year of our Lord 1774, and finished in the year 1775.”

This volume is bound in calf, lettered on the sides, “Cat. Libr. in Bibl. Eccles. Cath. Ebor. &c. 1774.”

The second Catalogue was compiled in alphabetical order by the Rev. James Dallin, the present Librarian, with reference to the shelves on which the books are placed. This work is comprised in 4 folio volumes with ample interpaginary spaces for additions.

Vol. I. containing shelf I to XVII. A to H.
II. I to VIII. I to O.
III. IX to XV. P to Z.
IV. Dr. Burge’s Books on Divinity.

The third Catalogue is a small 4to. volume, containing the list of Dr. Fothergill’s Books, whereby I have been enabled to preserve the individuality of that Collection, although its component parts are now merged in the greater Collection which they have contributed to enrich. But as I wish the labours of each Collector, where possible, to speak for themselves, I have reserved this portion of the York Minster Library for a separate notice.

I will commence with the Theological department of the worthy Doctor’s Collection. Here are the Works of Bishop Andrews, Beveridge, Bramhall, Goodman, Hall, Hammond, Jackson, Kettlewell, Leslie, Lightfoot, Louth, Ostervald, Pierce, Prideaux, Sanderson, Sherlock, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Usher, Wake, Waterland, Whitaker, and Whitgift.

Of the Fathers, we have S.S. Augustine, Cyprian, Cyril, Eusebius, Isidore, Justin Martyr, Origen, Tertullian, Theodoret, and Clementis Alexandrini Opera Græcè, Florentiæ, 1550, folio.

I also noticed Atterbury’s Sermons; Bingham’s Origines Ecclesiasticæ, Londini, 1708, in 11 vols.; Burnet on the Thirty-nine Articles; Bythner in Psalmos; Cave’s Primitive Christianity, and Lives of the Fathers; Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Field on the Church, Oxford, 1635; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; Jewel’s Apology; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Pearson on the Creed, and his Opera Posthuma; Pole’s Synopsis Criticorum, &c.; Sparrow on the Common Prayer; Stanhope on the Epistles and Gospels; Stillingfleet’s Origines and other Works; Tenison on Idolatry; Twysden’s Vindication of the Church of England; and Wilkins on Natural Religion.

To these may be added the Works of Bellarmine, Bernard, Erasmus, Heylin, Thomas à Kempis, Laud, Melancthon, and Thomas Aquinas.

Of Bibles, the Polyglott of Walton, like some other duplicates in the Fothergill Library has been since exchanged for other books which the Minster Library did not previously contain. I noticed a copy of Cranmer’s Bible; and the Bible printed at Cambridge in 1663; also a Latin Bible of 1527; I also noticed Hearne’s Acta Apostolorum, Oxonii, 1715, 8vo.

Of Rituals this Collection presents some of great interest with relation to the Church to which they are now annexed. These are the Breviarium Eboracense Hyemale, Paris. 1525; Horæ B. M. V. in usum Eboraci, and Sarum, Paris. 1527; and the Pica Eboracensis in 4to. commencing with the Prologue of “Thome Hanibal legis doctoris ac canonici Ebor. i̅ Pica Ebor. nup a discreto viro dn̅o Thoma Hothyrsal Ecclesiæ Ebor Vicario Chorali revisa et emendata pludium.” Then follows the “Tabula incipiens Anno M DCCCC lxxxxvii.” succeeded by the “Pica seu directorium Sacerdotum ad usum Eboracense,” a work which is unfortunately imperfect at the end. This volume is bound in calf.

I also observed the Common Prayer Book of 1662; the Breviarium in usum Sarum, Londini, 1555; the Manipulus Curatorum of 1495; the Martyrologium Romanum; and the Pontificale Romanum, Antverpiæ, 1627; also Alcoran, London, 1649; and Genevæ Catechesis, Genevæ, 1609.

As connected with Ecclesiastical affairs, I may here introduce Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Anglicana, Lovanii, 1566; and Cantabrigiæ, 1722; Burnet’s Reformation; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; the History of the Reformation in Scotland, London, 1646; Synodus Anglicana & Parochial Visitations; Godwin’s Lives of the Bishops; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Lyndewode’s Provinciale; Parker, de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, 1729, folio; Platina de Vitis Pontificum; Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum; Strype’s Annals of the Reformation; Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy; and Warton’s Anglia Sacra, &c.

The Historical department of this Collection includes Carionis Chronicon; Cluverius, Germania Antiqua; Josephus, Hudsoni, Oxonii, 1720, in 2 folio volumes; Simpson’s Chronicon Catholicon; Thuani Historia sui temporis; and Whear’s Methodus legendi Historiam; but is more particularly rich in works relating to the History of England. Of these I feel pleasure in recording Barnes’ Life of Edward the Third; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Angliâ; Bedford’s Hereditary Right to the Crown of England; Clarendon’s Rebellion; Daniel’s History of England; Gale and Fell’s Scriptores XV Historiæ Britannicæ, in 3 vols. folio; Gibson’s Chronicon Saxonicum; Godwin’s Annals; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum and History of the Exchequer; Polydore Vergil’s Historia Anglicana; Prisei Defensio Historiæ Britanniæ; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia, Londini, 1582; Rushworth’s Historical Collections; Sacheverell’s Tryal; Sheringham de Origine Gentis Anglorum; Spelman’s Life of Alfred, and his Reliquiæ; Rossi Warvicensis Historia Regum Angliæ, Oxonii, 1716, 8vo.; Hearne’s editions of T. Livii Vita Henrici V. printed at Oxford in 1716, 8vo.; Warner’s Albion’s England, London, 1612; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses.

The Works on English Topography and Antiquities which fell under my notice were, Battely’s Antiquitates Rutupinæ; the Itinerary of Antoninus, edited by Burton and by Gale; Camden’s Britannia and Remains concerning Britain; Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, Lond. 1655, in 3 vols. folio; the History and Antiquities of Hereford, London, 1717; Kennet’s Parochial Antiquities; Risdon’s Devon; Ogilby’s Roads in England; Gunton’s Peterborough Cathedral; Somner’s Canterbury; Thoresby’s Leeds; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; Willis’ Account of the Cathedrals of St. Asaph, Bangor, Llandaff, and St. David’s, with his Notitia Parliamentaria; the Antiquities of Westminster, London, 1711, and London, 1722; and the Antiquities of Winchester Cathedral, London, 1715.

The Heraldic Works in this Library include Guillim’s Heraldry of 1660, folio; Leigh’s Accidence of Armorie; Philipot’s Origin of Heraldry, London, 1672; Segar’s Catalogue of Honour, Military and Civil, London, 1602; and Yorke’s Union of Honour.