HARDBOUND AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS

_ :

THE

itbrarg Companion;

OR,

THE YOUNG MAN'S GUIDE,

AND

THE OLD MAN'S COMFORT,

IN THE

CHOICE OF A LIBRARY

BY THE

•C* ^e>Jrk

REV. 1TR DIBDIN, F. R. S., A. S.

LONDON : PRINTED FOR

HARDING, TRIPHOOK, AND LEPARD, FINSBURY-SQUARE ; AND J. MAJOR, FLEET-STREET.

MDCCCXXIV.

MCOL, PRINTER, SUCCESSOR TO W. BULMER AND CO.

TO

MR. THOMAS PAYNE,

BOOKSELLER, THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED

WITH EVERY SENTIMENT OF RESPECT AND ESTEEM,

BY HIS FAITHFUL AND HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

THE

PREFACE

IT will be obvious, from the slightest glance at the ensuing pages, that it has been the object of their author to present a great quantity of useful informa- tion within a reasonable compass. A work which, like the present, aspires to be a Guide to Youth and a Comfort to Old Age, should be rendered at once commodious in form and moderate in price ; and considering the extent and variety of the subjects here treated, it is presumed that both these points will be found to have been accomplished in the volume now in the hands of the Public.

But a consideration of much greater importance has influenced me on the present occasion. From the beginning to the end, I have never lost sight of what I considered to be the MOST MATERIAL OBJECT to be gained from a publication of this nature ; namely, the imparting of a moral feeling to the gratification of a literary taste. Let us consider the subject dispassion- ately. Great Britain is the most wealthy, and, poli- tically speaking, perhaps the most powerful kingdom upon earth. Considered in a domestic point of view, here are thousands of large and affluent families ; and

b

ii PREFACE.

education, both in Public Schools and at our two Uni- versities, necessarily assumes an expensive form. No liberal-minded parent grudges the devotion of a con- siderable portion of his income to the maintenance of his family. But even wealth and personal influence cannot procure immediate admission into our Uni- versities ; where the number of applicants exceeds the means of accommodation at least in a two-fold de- gree.

It follows therefore, that of the rising generation, a large proportion, inheriting a considerable property, and educated in the most accomplished manner, com- mence their career in life with the means and oppor- tunities of gratifying their tastes and passions in a thousand diverse, and at times contradictory, pursuits. To SUCH, in particular, whether emerging from the cloisters of a college, or from the upper form of a public school, this LIBRARY COMPANION will be found of more consequence than may be at first imagined : for I am greatly deceived if experience does not prove that much more than half of the misery which is abroad in the world, in the higher classes of soci' ij , has arisen from the mischievous application of super- fluous wealth. I address myself therefore immediately, directly, and honestly, to the YOUNG MAN, in whose hands such means may be deposited, to devote them to the gratification of a legitimate taste in the -ulti- vation of Literature; and as this object cannot be accomplished without the acquisition of a Li \ARY, of greater or less extent, I venture to indulge a humble hope that THIS GUIDE, in the choice of such

PREFACE. iii

i Library, may be found, as far as it extends,* useful md accurate. The objects, to be attained in such a

* A list of the table of Contents, immediately following the pre- .ice, will shew what is to be found in " the Library Companion," xf I had taken up other subjects, it is clear that, to be treated in a satisfactory manner, they would have enlarged this work to at least double its size. But it may be here right to remark, that, in TOPO- GRAPHY, nothing could be added to the satisfactory and indispensable work of MR. UPCOTT upon that subject, published in three well arranged and well printed octavo volumes j but of which I learn with regret that the impression is limited, and not likely to be renewed. The lover and collector of COUNTY HISTORIES, (of which \ass of readers the number is very considerable) has only to avail

mself of this work, and he will find all his wants supplied ... in a Bibliographical point of view.

For HERALDIC RESEARCHES, I was compelled to decline the kind offer of Mr. Richard Thomson (whose pursuits so decidedly qualified him for the task) to furnish me with a dozen or twenty pages upon that subject ; since I considered Mr. MOULE'S Bibliotheca Heraldica, 1822, 8vo. admirably well calculated to satisfy every enquiry. For the FINE ARTS, the very curious Catalogue of the Books on Art, and on Antiquity, in the possession of Count Cicognara, (published in the Italian lang lage) 1821, 8vo. 2 vols. might have furnished me with many use- fr1 v'nts ; but the task seemed to grow upon, and to perplex, me as I cons tared it. Of all others, it is one of the most difficult departments to execute in a bibliographical manner. In the mean while, it is pleas- ing to observe that no stimulants are necessary for the encourage- ment of this department of Taste ; and that publications of every description, in which the art is good, never fail of patronage. I might have descanted copiously and warmly upon the Views of the South-fi astern Coast of England, executed by Messrs. Cooks and others from th^lmagical pencil of Mr. Turner ; but such an eulogy were uselessqjrThe publication cannot keep pace with the eager demands of the Subscribers. The ILLUSTRIOUS PORTRAITS now in a course of publication, by the Publishers of this work, are properly noticed in

iv PREFACE.

pursuit, are of a most important and substantial character. Religion, patriotism, public and private happiness, pure and fixed principles of taste, intellec- tual refinement, of the most exalted kind, in its pre- sent and future results, are all involved in a sedulous and straight-forward cultivation of the pursuit in question. I forbear fortifying these remarks by the authorities of ancient and modern writers of acknow- ledged celebrity, From Cicero to Richard of Bury, the stream of such authorities is uniformly bright and

the department of " Biography, Memoirs, Anecdotes," at page 503, post. Yet, while on this department of art, let a hearty tribute of commendation be bestowed on the miniature engravings, in the line manner, of Mr. Walmsley's Physiognomical Portraits. They are now completed ; and the works of nearly all the most distinguished Artists of the day will be found to be incorporated in it.

But that the subject may not be WHOLLY overlooked, let me recom- mend to those, who have the means of gratifying themselves with a copy of it, the Histoire de V Art par les Monumens, &c. of AGINCOURT SEHOUX, 1820 ; in six folio volumes -, and containing not fewer than 325 plates of every description. A well bound copy of this work is worth 301. A noble concomitant to it, is the Storia della Scultura, be. of LEOPOLD CICOGNARA, 1813-1818 ; in 3 folio volumes, containing 181 copper plates. A handsomely bound copy is worth 15Z. There were only 20 copies worked off on fine vellum paper, which are very scarce. Italy boasts of few living COGNOSCENTI of greater eminence than the author of this magnificent work.

As to ANTIQUITIES, the department is so copious that it will be obvious it could not be included, with other subjects, in the compass of an octavo volume. Had I entered upon that department, my at- tention must have been drawn in the first instance to press strongly upon the consideration of both " the YOUNG" and " THE OLD," the beautiful, and indeed captivating performance, which has just appeared

PREFACE. v

strong ;* and callous must be the heart, or obtuse the intellect, of that Young Man, upon whom such autho- rities make no impression.

The days of Youth, so devoted, lead to the com- forts of OLD AGE. To the more advanced in life, therefore, an appeal is made with the greater confi- dence ; inasmuch as memory will be refreshed, and

under the title of The Monumental Remains of Noble and Eminent Per- sons, comprising The Sepulchral Antiquities of Great Britain ; with histo- rical and biographical Illustrations. The engravings, in the line man- ner, are from the faithful pencil, and in part from the burin, of Mr. BLORE 5 and more brilliant, or rather characteristic performances, have never yet been witnessed. The proof impressions, on India paper, have a fascinating effect 3 but the critical antiquary will be equally well pleased with the ordinary copies. This work is also as reason- able in price as it is rich in embellishments j and the text is exe- cuted with equal neatness and care.

* The whole of the first book of Morhof s Polyhistor Literarius is more or less occupied with references to such authorities ; which, to repeat at second hand, might subject me to the charge of affecta- tion. But in regard to that division of the work, appropriated to DIVINITY and ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, and about the favourable reception of which I am necessarily the most anxious, it may in seve- ral instances be urged that many works of piety and moral worth have been omitted, and that a preference has been given to those writings which are considered to savour more strongly of the ortho- doxy of the BRITISH CHURCH. But this is only a confined, and in truth, a partial view of the whole question : for the point at issue is, what is the probable aggregate good of the writings of those Divines, of whom, in the following pages, such honourable mention has been made ? The wayward, the prejudiced, and the bigotted, may draw what inferences they please. I contend that, from THOSE writings, " the learned (in the language of Lactantius*) may be directed to true

* Divin. Instit. Lib. I. Edit. Du Fresnoy ; 1748, vol. i. p. 3.

vi PREFACE.

experience confirmed,, by a reference to the pages of this " Library Companion." There are many, doubt- less, of such experienced Readers,, whose extensive reading, and whose copious Libraries, will furnish them with the means of supplying many omissions, and of illustrating many remarks : but, in a work of this nature, the difficulty has been rather to compress, than to enlarge, the several subjects which presented themselves. To the well read young Man — be he enthusiastic in the cause, or well-versed in the myste- ries, of BIBLIOMANIA, or not — and to the OLD, of whatever denomination — it may be fairly stated, that the work before them is replete with curious and diversified intelligence ; gleaned with unceasing in- dustry, and embodied with no ordinary care. Indeed, with perfect confidence may it be stated, that no single volume in our language contains such a record of so many rare, precious, and instructive volumes. The

wisdom, and the unlearned to true religion." And farther, that, from the SAME writings, the intrepid Christian may speak in the energetic language of the same polished author ..." Da mihi virum, (for the most successful translation would somewhat weaken the passage) qui sit iracundus., maledicus, effrsenatus : paucissimis Dei verbis

tarn placidum, quam ovem reddam.

Da cupidum, avarum, tenacem 3 jam tibi eum liberalem dabo, et pecu- niam suam plenis manibus largientem. Da timidum doloris ac mor- tis, jam cruces, et ignes, et taurum contemnet." &c. Div. Inst. Lib. III. On this, and on every similar occasion, I exclaim with honest CHIL- LINGWORTH— " it is Truth I plead for ; which is so strong an argu- ment for itself, that it needs only light to discover it. Whereas it concerns falshood and error to use disguise and shadowings, and all the fetches of art and sophistry." Works, 1742, Fol. Ded. to Ch. II.

PREFACE. vii

fault is my own, if the method of conveying that instruction be not clear and satisfactory.

There is one point of view in which the advantage of a work of this nature may be noticed, however slightly : especially as, in the present instance, it may be illustrated by an example of no mean authority. From the several departments of a volume of THIS kind, the reader may select what will be useful for the several objects of his pursuit : what is fitting for his town, and what for his country, residence: what should be the light troops, as it were, to attend him on a journey; and what the heavier or household troops to remain at head quarters. I have alluded to " an example of no mean authority," as confirmative of the advantage of such a plan. That example is his late Majesty GEORGE III. : who could not only boast of the finest private library (of his own collecting) in Europe, but who was himself no inconsiderable bibli- ographer. In the year 1795, when his Majesty was about to visit Weymouth — and wished to have what he called " a closet library, " for a watering place — he wrote to his Bookseller for the following works. The list was written by him from memory ; and I will fairly put it to the well read bibliographer and philologist, whether it be capable of much improve- ment? It is as follows — copied from the original document in the King's own hand ivriting :

The Holy Bible ; 2 vols. 8vo. Cambridge.

New Whole Duty of Man, 8vo.

The Annual Register, 25 vols. 8vo.

The History of England, by Rapin, <21 vols. Svo. 1757.

Ele"mens de 1'Histoire de France, par Millot, 3 vols. jL2mo. 1770.

viii PREFACE.

Siecle de Louis XIV. par Voltaire, 12mo.

XV. par Voltaire, 12mo.

Commentaries on the Laws of England, by William Blackstone, 4 vols. 8vo., newest edition.

The Justice of Peace, and Parish Officer, by R. Burn, 4 vols. 8vo.

An Abridgement of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary, 2 vols. 8vo.

Dictionnaire Fran£ois & Anglois, par M. A. Boyer, 8vo.

The Works of the English Poets, by Sam. Johnson, 68 vols. 12ino.

A Collection of Poems, by Dodsley, Pearch and Mendez, 1 1 vols- 12mo.

A Select Collection of Poems, by J. Nichols, 8 vols. 12mo.

Shakespeare's Plays, by Steevens.

CEuvres de Destouches, 5 vols. 12mo.

The Works of Sir William Temple, 4 vols. 8vo.

The Miscellaneous Works of Addison, 4 vols. 8vo.

The Works of Jonathan Swift, 24 vols. 12mo.

Thus, to revert to the position with which this branch of our enquiries set out, the purchasers of this Work (who may not probably be so well versed in selecting " a closet library" as his late Majesty) may have it in their power to compress or enlarge their libraries, on any scale which may seem most conve- nient and advisable.

I now come to a more particular account of the na- ture of the work itself. Referring to the note, in a preceding page (iii.) as to the inevitable Omissions, be it permitted me here to say a word as to its abso- lute Contents. There are two collateral branches, inevitably growing out of a work of this nature, which require more skill in the treatment than I am con- scious of having exhibited. These are, Extracts and Anecdotes. A bibliographer should not only know

PREFACE. ix

the dates and conditions of books, but he should know some little of their internal character, and of the histories of their authors. In regard to the former, it will be seen that those passages have been ex- tracted which are not only exclusively professional* but which are supposed to be replete with original and interesting matter. The volumes from which they are taken are also of unusual occurrence. But in spite of these claims to approbation, I fear that the SERMONS of the Old English Divines may have been a little too freely dealt with : and that even this " mentis gratissimus error" cannot be received as an apology.

A more difficult temptation to resist, was that of Anecdote: — the most delightful, and at times the most instructive, department of literary research. But it has been sparingly introduced. Slight sketches are given of a few of the more prominent characters of former and modern times,-f* in order to enliven the

* The extracts from the Sermons of LATIMER, Fox, DRANT, and EDGEWORTH, extend from page 66 to 83 ; but they are replete with both curious and edifying matter. Previous to which the reader may examine a short but noble passage from BARNES, (page 27) and a very singular extract from a work called Grounds and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion enquired into, 167O, 8vo. : p. 57-8. For other extracts, the reprint (in three pages only) of that extraor- dinary Dialogue between Bishop GARDINER and Judge HAiLES,in the time of Queen Mary, is the longest to be qualified by an apology -} while, on literary and philological subjects, the extract from Hearne and from the Itinerary of Fynes Moryson (page 227 and page 433) are alone of a length to need excuse.

t Of PERSONALANECDOTES and CRIT iciSM,the chief may relate to the articles Mezerai (p. 291), Bayle, (p. 484) Amyot (p.499)Fugger (p. 495)

x PREFACE.

unavoidable dryness of bibliographical detail ; and many living Characters are frequently mentioned, to whom, in this place, any allusion would be premature if not indecorous.

To critics, of every denomination, I am anxious to address myself as not being desirous of shunning merited castigation for frequent and palpable errors. But, on the other hand, if the omission of much that might be deemed essential for introduction, be pointed out and condemned, it must be remembered that much has been collected and brought together from numerous, and at times discordant, sources: and that the LIBRARY COMPANION, with its present contents, might have been easily dilated into three respectable volumes. And here, let me be allowed to anticipate an objection which may be made, from the apparent vanity of such frequent references to my own publications. The truth is, in the first place, that an author has a right to make use of his own property as he may think proper : but, in the second place, having devoted so many years to the study, and published so many works on the subject, of BIB- LIOGRAPHY, it were barely possible to avoid noticing rare, curious, and valuable books, which had not been described, with more or less minuteness, in the publi- cations referred to. In no instance however, have I made such reference, where I was conscious of having it in my power to direct the reader to a more copious

Dr. Johnson (pp. 510, 523) Strype (page 516) Robert Burton (page 599) Addison (page 603) Swift, De Foe (page 606)— and to the most emi- nent of living Poets.

PREFACE. xi

or accurate detail. This avowal, fairly and honestly made, will, it is hoped, justify, as well as account for, the frequent references to the Bibliomania, Bibliogra- phical Decameron, Typographical Antiquities, and Bibliotheca Spenceriana. The age of " Commenda- tory Prefixes " is past. The Muse of a friend is no longer invoked to throw her protecting arms round the labours of an author ; * who is now doomed to stand or fall by the intrinsic merit, or the insufficiency, of the performance which he submits to the world at large.

* The fashion of prefixing commendatory verses to publications of any note, obtained till as late as the end of the reign of George II. — • if not later. During the seventeenth century these verses were in high vogue : but among them, my reading has furnished me with none so truly quaint and original as the following — prefixed to tf Solomonis riAN APETO2 r or a Commentarie upon the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs ! By JOHN TRAPP, M. A. Pastor of Weston upon Avon in Glocestershire, 1650, 4to." [The Author was the Father of the well known Translator of Virgil.]

On the Books of Solomon opened by Master Trapp.

I stood in Solomon's Porch before, Unable to unlock the doore, And view the glory that within Rather than live I would have seen.

Now in his Temple walk I can, And hear my Maker talk with man, And clearly understand his mind ; Though mysteries, no mists, I find.

The Holy of Holies open lies, No longer kept from common eyes. Each Starre may now an Eagle be, And freely up to Phoebus flee.

xii PREFACE.

But in the anticipation of a favourable or unfavour- able issue, from such a formidable tribunal, it is im- possible for that author not to feel something like anxiety, in spite even of the approbation which may have attended his previous labours. The growth of knowledge is daily increasing in rapidity and strength. In this wonderful country, it is barely possible for those, who lead a quiet and uniform life far beyond the reach of the hum of our great Metropolis, to form a correct notion of the various channels by which knowledge is so swiftly and so widely diffused ; and it is not the least instructive feature in the HISTORY OF BOOKS, to be apprised of the expenses incurred, and hazards run, in the establishment of a popular and useful work. The gift of speech and the gift of know- ledge should seem to be almost simultaneous. There are at this moment before me, the CATALOGUES of SCHOOL BOOKS circulated by the two greatest Pub- lishers in England. I mean the catalogue of Messrs. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Co. and that of Messrs. G. and W. B. Whittaker. The most superficial view of the contents of these Catalogues, shews the extraor- dinary and advantageous variety of instruction which they con tain. Science, Arts, Trade, Manners, Customs • — something of every thing, and of the very best kind — will be found in each ; and little does the studious, or fanciful, or classical Writer imagine, that, while

If you would know how in I gat, I passed through the Beautifull Gate; "nils Dorc of Trapp, or this Trap- dor e. Trapp, Trapp !— but GOD I must adore,

PREFACE. xiii

months and years are consumed in the composition of a Work, of which the success is doubtful, and the remuneration remote, some of the authors, whose pro- ductions are found in the catalogues just mentioned, bring a never failing golden harvest to their Pro- prietors. The names of LINDLEY MURRAY and PIN- NOCK * may, in this point of view, almost vie with that of the AUTHOR of WAVERLY.

* First, for the ' ' Catalogues of School Books " published by the above- mentioned Booksellers. They are of about the same extent with each other. In that of Messrs. Longman and Co. the following are the names which appear to be of the greatest importance. Adam, Aikin, Barbauld, Bingley, Blair, (Rev. D.J Bonnycastle, Carey, Gregory, Hornsey, Hort, Howard, Hutton, Joyce, Mavor, Molineux, Murray, (Lindley) Pinkerton, Robinson, Shepherd, (with Joyce and Lant) Smith, Taylor (Mrs.} Trimmer, Valpy, Vyse, Walker, Wanostrocht, and Wat- kins. I mention only those authors of a comparatively modern date ; and omit the countless impressions, in every variety of form and price, of the English Classics, of a longer established reputation. The names of Goldsmith and Watts alone furnish a little library of amusing and instructive information.

But of authors of modern celebrity in this copious list, none appear to have been so fruitful, and to have produced works of which the sale has been so eminently prosperous, as Mr. LINDLEY MURRAY. His English Grammar (including all the publications connected with it) is a work of which it would be better to speak of editions of lens of thousands of copies, than of a few solitary thousands. His Power of Religion on the Mind and his Spelling Book are the next publications of numerical, as well as intrinsic, importance ; and both abroad and at home the sale is wonderfully extensive and successful.

In the Catalogue of Messrs. Whittaker the names of Millar t Pawley, Roberts, Stackhouse, and Wyld, are distinguished as authors of ATLASES on different scales j and relating to different countries. The sale of these works is perhaps greater than can be readily conceived.

xiv PREFACE.

The diffusion of knowledge for adult readers, has of late years, or rather very recently, been equally rapid and efficient. The time is in the remembrance of every man of forty-five, when we were well content to wait for monthly contributions, in the shape of Magazines, to our stock of knowledge. That time is gone by, perhaps never to return. There is, at pre-

But let me go at once to the name of PINNOCK. The publications under the title of Pinnoek's Catechisms comprise not fewer than SIXTY FOUR in number. They are arranged in alphabetical order j beginning with Agriculture and ending with Universal History. They comprise a great variety of subject of literature and science 5 and besides these, there are the County Histories, and the Histories of England, Greece, and other Countries, by the same hand. Of the same Author's Catechism of the Bible and Gospel Histories, one impression has reached SEVENTY THOUSAND copies 5 but the price of the work is necessarily low : and I believe I am not exaggerating the fact, when I state that the exclusive copy right of the whole of these Catechisms has not been secured to the Proprietors under the sum of THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS. Let the reflecting reader consider, from the data here laid down, what is the quantity of instruction which is daily in circulation among the infantine world ; or among those who have scarcely reached their sixth year ? Fifty years ago there was hardly any pabulum of the kind j or that pabulum was exclusively distributed, from the repository of our old acquaintance Dan New- bury, in St. Paul's Church-yard.*

But in this record of the rapid and general diffusion of KNOW- LEDGE for the appetites of all ages and sexes, let me not omit to

*The coincidence is not a little singular, —but the name of Thomas Newbery is attached to one of the rarest little poetical volumes, composed for CHILDREN, of which we have any knowledge. It was printed in 1563, 4to. under this title : " ^4 Bodke in English Metre called Dives Pragmaticics, or the Great Marchantman — very preatie for Children to rede. Lord Spencer is in possession of this unique treasure, which I purchased for his Lordship at the sale of the Roxburghe library for 30/.

PREFACE. xv

sent, such an hunger and thirst after information, that the reading man looks towards his weekly Jour- nal, or Register, or Chronicle, with the same eager- ness and certainty that he used to anticipate his monthly supplies of mental food. Hence he hails his Literary Gazette, or Literary Chronicle, or Somerset House Gazette] — to which may be probably added one or two of the many two-penny publications that are also weekly distributed, and of which the aggre- gate total is scarcely to be credited. * Nor is it the

make commendable mention of what I should call the pocket editions of our best writers in poetry and prose, so assiduously, so neatly, and so reasonably, put forth by Messrs. SUTTABY, EVANCE, and Fox. No author, contained in the bulkiest dimensions, exceeds the price of 5s. per volume j and there is none, as far as I can discover from the list of the authors published, which a female need fear of being found upon her toilette or boudoir table. The typographical execution of these small duodecimo volumes is delightful, and the engraved frontispieces are very respectable. Thousands of copies are circulated abroad 3 especially in America. Within these last twenty years, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND volumes of the whole, collectively, have been dispersed at home and abroad, averaging 35,000 copies per annum. Upon such a vast scale does knowledge, of every kind, travel.

* I had hoped to have been able to give a pretty correct ac- count of these " twopenny publications," but have been unexpectedly disappointed. The fact is, however, that upwards of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND of them are circulated per week ; among which, the Mecha- nic s Magazine, the Mirror, tlie Lancet, and the Chemist, take the lead. Of thejirst of these, alone, I learn that jifteen thousand copies are dis- tributed. To shew the avidity with which knowledge of all kinds, and sometimes of the best kind, is sought after, a friend informs me that Perinant's London is now to be purchased on the same cheap terms

xvi PREFACE.

least recommendable quality of such reasonably priced publications, that the matter contained in them is, generally, as correct as their exterior forms are attractive from good paper and printing. In the mean while, it is consoling to think that such numerous and useful works keep down the currency of the wretched blasphemy and absurdity which find refuge only in the premises of Mr. Carlile.

But that literary tastes and longings of every de- cription, may be gratified, there has recently appeared a Review, which is published every two months, under the title of the Universal ;* while Knighfs Quarterly Magazine, the Westminster Review., and the Cambridge

Is it chimerical to suppose that Bacons Abridgement (of the Law) and Comyris Digest will be forthwith produced in the same manner ?

* The plan of this Review is excellent. It gives, after the sober and sensible plan of the Old and New Memoirs of Literature, published about a century ago, a brief analysis, with a few pertinent remarks, of each article : so as to leave the reader, generally, to draw his own con- clusions from the facts adduced. The second (and last published) number is now before me. There are XXVI articles in it of com- parative elaborate execution, followed by a great number of brief notices of domestic and foreign literature j which latter are essentially useful : for one of the principal objects, in such periodical publica- tions, is, to give the reader intelligence of what is actually going on in the literary world. Among the larger articles, at page 239 of this number, is a review of the Deformed Transformed of Lord Byron,. The preliminary remarks are penned with great vigour and unsparing severity against the immoral and unpatriotic cast of the later effu- sions of that Noble Lord : — and with justice.* In the department

* I have not long risen from the perusal of another Review of the same poem in the Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany, for March, 1824 ; of which the in-

PREFACE. xvii

Quarterly Review make their appearance once in three months,, after the manner of the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews. Mine is not the province to pass critical opinions upon the respective merits of these more recent Magazines and Reviews. It is sufficient for the purposes of this Preface, that such publica- tions are here recorded.* But while upon this theme,

of Poetry, in the ensuing- pages, I have freely passed those sentiments upon Lord Byron's muse which seem to be dictated by the honestest view of the subject.

* Of the sales of the more recent Magazines and Reviews above mentioned, I am unable to say any thing. They are all starting with the vigour and buoyancy of " fresh and four-year old " literary Coursers. Of the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, I should appre- hend tire minimum to be 9000, and the maximum to be 12,OOO, copies of each new number. In the history of Literature, the subscription- book of Mr. Murray (for my residence necessarily makes me unac- quainted with that of the publisher of the Edinburgh Review) would cut a splendid figure : and the ease and dexterity with which each number is divided into allotments, and distributed according to the copies subscribed for (the payment being PROMPT,) by the several great bookselling houses, would astonish a looker on ... At sun- rise, the QUARTERLY TREE reaches to the sky —

(Exiit ad coelum ramis felicibus arbor) At sun set, it is levelled to the earth . . .

OJ- irso-Scn?? iroLs

and every man hugs his log (alias, number) with eager and un dimi- nished delight. What a SUB-NOTE might be here appended, as to the sensations which certain numbers, of either of these Reviews, are known to have sometimes produced ? For periodical reading, these Jour-

troductory remarks are equally distinguished for their propriety and ability of exe - cution. In short, to think and to speak otherwise, were a species of stultification.

C

xviii PREFACE.

let me be permitted to make honourable mention of a periodical publication of a peculiar character — under the title of the Retrospective Review* — to which, as the ensuing pages demonstrate, my obliga- tions have been frequent and great. Thus the reader may remark, how varied and wonderful is the perio- dical diffusion of knowledge, of every description,, in this wealthy and energetic country.

But a review of the causes of the progress of litera- ture in general, does not exclude the notice of the state of Bibliography-}-, or (if the reader so please to

nals may be considered as the venison and turtle dishes of the literary Epicure. J I found them as such, at Munich and Vienna, some six years ago

* Will the editor of this Review forgive the suggestion, whether the articles be, occasionally, sufficiently RETROspective ? and whe- ther they be not occasionally a little too long ?

t In publications on BIBLIOGRAPHY, there is nothing of very recent occurrence to notice, except it be the two beautifully printed volumes of Mr. JOHNSON'S Typographic or the Printer's Instructor,

t Of MAGAZINES, the Gentleman's, the New Monthly, the London, Blackwood's, and the Edinburgh, have the greatest sale. Each of these has its admirers and sworn champions of defence : — and long may this bloodless warfare, or literary excita- bility, last ! I cannot presume to weigh the respective merits of these Magazines in my own critical scales of justice ; but I may be allowed to notice the matter- of-fact simplicity, antiquarian lore, and topographical embellishments of the first— the polish, delicacy, and occasional felicitous humour, of the second — the neat- ness, variety, and usefulness of the third— the spirited, cart and tierce, cut and thrust, character of the fourth— (" Tros Tyriusve . . . nullo discrimine agetur,") and the vigour, sense, and well-digested intelligence, of the fifth. The amount of all this, is, that throughout the Empire of GREAT BRITAIN, there is, weekly and monthly, such a mass of intelligence — in the shape of wit, humour, narrative, and reflection — imparted, that one is equally surprised at the unfailing number of readers as well as of writers. A country, in SUCH a state, has reason to be proud of its bibliomania ral pre-eminence.

PREFACE. xix

designate it) of the BIBLIOMANIA, in particular. With joy and triumph have I witnessed the close of the Book-campaign of the past season. It has turned out to be what every lover of his country's literary repu- tation could wish. The gloom which, at the conclu- sion of the last season, darkened the countenances, not only of many worthy members of the 3dIo^Butgf)C CUlfi, but of a great number of distinguished Collec-

with wood- cut portraits of several English Printers. This ingenious work is dedicated to the ROXBURGHE CLUB -, and the wood-cut em- bellishments, prefixed as frontispieces, are of a most brilliant and pleasing description. One of these contains the arms of the several members of the Club very happily conceived and executed : but they have all equal merit. I learn, also, that Mr. Edward Poole is occupied with the History of the ELZEVIR PRESS, including a great portion of the literary history of that Augustan age of literature in Holland. It will be much more copious than the French work (occasionally referred to in the ensuing pages) upon the same subject.

But in Bibliography, let me not forget the notice and commenda- tion of that wonderful work of the late Dr. WATT, called Biblio- theca Britannica. It is now complete, in two quarto volumes, each about the size of Ainsworth's Dictionary, at 61. 6s. per volume. Such a concentration of labour was hardly ever beheld ; but the au- thors, Father and Son, both FELL VICTIMS to their zeal. The first volume contains the names of authors, alphabetically arranged 5 the second, the several works under their classes, or general names, thus: "Angling," "Bible," "Cookery," &c. To say that such a work, on so stupendous a scale, should be faultless, would be equally rash and ridiculous. On the contrary, it contains numerous errors, and must not be unlimitedly confided in. But its uses and advan- tages are manifest and indispensable : and it should never fail to be a LIBRARY COMPANION in all Collections of extent or importance. The history of the completion of this great labour is among the most curious on record,

xx PREFACE.

tors of libraries, has vanished. The sun shine of good humour, content, bright hopes, and cheering prospects, has succeeded. The reader has already anticipated the ground or cause of these remarks. The sale of the library of the late lamented SIR M. M. SYKES, Bart, was conducted, and closed, in a manner the most unexpectedly gratifying. While, at the west end of the town, the Boohs of the same Baronet were dispersed at splendid prices beneath the auspices of Mr. Evans,* towards the east end of the town (in Wellington-street, under the hammer of Mr. Sotheby) his prints, of every description, brought excessive prices : and 300 guineas for an impression from a Niello, and 89/ for a couple of British Portraits, in one plate/f- are achievements of unprecedented gal-

* Specimens of the prices of a few of the rarer articles, in ENG- LISH POETRY, will be found in the SUPPLEMENT, at p. 84 1 post. The manner in which the Catalogue of this splendid library is executed, is extremely creditable to the author of it, and the three GREAT GUNS of the Collection may be described in the Livy of 1469, the Greek Testament of Erasmus of 1519, (each UPON VELLUM) and the Deed of Divorce between Henry VIII. and Anne of Cleves. The gain upon the two latter articles made up for the loss on the first. The first is now with Messrs. Payne and Foss j the second is in the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth, (purchased by his Grace the Archbishop of Can- terbury) and the third is in the State Paper Office. Could the two latter be better placed ? It remains to observe what will be the ultimate destination of the first.

f It was the portraits of James I. and Prince Henry, each on horseback, engraved by Vaughan. The condition was most beautiful. The impression of the Niello had been obtained from W. Y. Ottley, Esq. and is engraved at p. 304 of his History and Engraving. Sir Mark gave only 150/. for it.

PREFACE. xxi

lantry and liberality of feeling. The total or grand amount of the two sales, united, amounted to36,000/. Who therefore shall say that property is misplaced in collecting together such objects r If the question arise, what was given for such a property ? a prompt and satisfactory answer is at hand : less was given than the produce here recorded.

But this state of bibliographical prosperity is not confined to the Metropolis. I continue to hear and to receive the most flattering accounts from all parts of the country. A re-action is taking place. Circulating libraries are enlarged and multiplied. The surplusage of wealth, in these " piping times of peace," finds a vent in the channel of book-purchasing. Noblemen and Gentlemen begin to think (as the old monkish wri- ters thought and have expressed it) that a " mansion without a library is like a castle without an armoury" — and accordingly, halt where you will, you are sure, on a little gossip with the humblest provincial book- vendor, to glean intelligence of " some famous library in the neighbourhood" — and if none of these equal that at Eshton Hall., or at Yarmouth,* they may be

* These selections are made without a wish to institute invidious comparisons ; but the Catalogue of the library at Eshton Hail, the property of Miss CUKRER, (see page 832 post) is at this moment before ine; as I am favoured with one of the 36 copies only of it which were printed. It is carefully and unostentatiously executed by Mr. Triphook. The collection in all its branches (but especially in British History) does great credit to its amiable and sensible owner. With the library of my friend DAWSON TURNER, Esq. of Yarmouth I am intimately acquainted. The Fine Arts and Botany are its stronger and more prominent features. The collection is select and costlv. Of

xxii PREFACE.

yet deserving of examination, and their owner may receive a passing tribute of respect. My gratification is well nigli unbounded to learn that the name of WATT, at Aston House, near Birmingham, is coupled with that of the " 000& 01& catl£e;" and I may yet live to witness it as great in BOOKS, as in MECHANICS. Meanwhile I have the additional gratification of learning, that the number of Travellers dispersed all over the country, from the great houses in Paternoster Row, is nearly doubled ; and that three orders are now received where one formerly was scarcely given.

the AUTOGRAPHIC treasures in it, more than a slight notice is taken in a subsequent page. I could easily have added to the number of these rural examples of the BIBLIOMANIA ; and my friend Mr. Broadley, (late of Kirk Ella, near Hull) may probably scold me for the omission of his enviable book-treasures : while Mr. Archdeacon Wrangham tells me that he is constantly revelling in the midst of 15,000 tomes (at Hunmanby in Yorkshire) of endless variety and never failing amuse- ment. Long may he enjoy this revelry. Close to London, again, I could mention friends who spare no cost in securing, nor pains in making acquaintance with, their book-treasures. The exquisite paintings of LENTULUS lose nothing of their lustre or value by the neighbourhood of a library (on the basement floor,) of tasteful structure, and replete with volumes in which Piranesi, and Bartoli, and Hollar, and Bartolozzi, and Morghen, display their peculiar and unrivalled powers. Nor are philology and the sciences wanting. In the immediate neighbourhood of this Tusculum, is another cabinet, on a smaller scale, and with fewer treasures. But here are early and powerful specimens of the pencil of Turner, Wilkie, and Callcott, with no mean sprinkling of LARGE PAPER tomes of modern authors of established celebrity. These be the boast of NESTORIUS ; and his quincunxes and espaliers, clipt yew hedges and velvet lawns, affordhim recreation and food for thought . . as he meditates on DEATH,

PREFACE. xxiii

In again reverting to the work before the reader, I conclude this preface with the exercise of the plea- sureable task of acknowledging obligations received. My friend the Rev. Dr. Bliss, of the Bodleian Library, has enabled me to enrich these pages not only by the examination of many treasures in that wonderful repository, but by the loan of the first volume of his work (not yet published) of the Reliquiae Hearniance. The pages of his Athena? Oxonienses* have been also at times singularly useful. For the unwearied ser- vices of Thomas Amyot, Esq. in enlarging and cor- recting many of these sheets by the aid of his own choice library, and numerous bibliographical memo- randa, I cannot be sufficiently thankful. The library of the Right Honourable Thomas Grenville has been on this, as on every other occasion, thrown open to my researches in the readiest and most liberal man- ner ; and to the treasures contained in it I am chiefly indebted for the account of the rarer volumes to be

Somewhat nearer home, is another library, sweetly disposed, and judiciously furnished j of which its excellent owner thus wrote to me, on breaking up his establishment to come to town for the last winter season : <e We go to town this day se'nnight for the season. I shall leave MY LIBRARY with great regret. Its cheerful character, its soft and quiet scenery from the lawn in front, its comfortable and social aspect, its manageable and not overwhelming size, its compa- nionable and inexhaustible sources of amusement and delight, make me cling to it with the fondness of grateful affection and attachment." These COMFORTS are to be found at Edmonton. For other libraries of large extent, and remote situation, search well the index of this work.

* For a character of this work, see p. 507- S post,

xxiv PREFACE.

found under the head of the History of Ireland. The owner of that library will therefore be here pleased to accept my best thanks. My acknowledgments are also due to Frederic Barnard., Esq. for free access to the Royal Library at Buckingham House : the facility and liberality of accommodation, in that magnificent and truly regal collection, can be appreciated only by those who have experienced it. The unrivalled trea- sures at Althorp and at Spencer House have been submitted to my free inspection with the usual libe- rality and kindness of their Noble Owner : while the richly furnished libraries of my intimate friends George Hibbert, Esq. Richard Heber, Esq. Francis Freeling, Esq. Francis Douce, Esq. and Robert Lang, Esq. have supplied me with materials of which the value will be evident from a perusal of the ensuing pages. On all sides, and in the most unqualified manner, the kindest aids were offered me ; and if the fruits of such friendly assistance are not seen in the work before the reader, the fault is in him to whom they were tendered.

In the last place, something like an acknowledg- ment remains due to those respectable BOOKSELLERS, by means of whose copious catalogues something like a fixed or rational price has been attached to the numerous works contained in these pages. The pre- sent is peculiarly the age of bibliopolistic adventure and enterprise. There is no nation in Europe which can boast of such an extensive diffusion of knowledge by means of well-executed Catalogues ; and it is with- out any invidious distinction that I notice those of

PREFACE. xxv

Messrs. Payne and Foss, Longman and Co. J. and A. Arch, Rivington and Cochran, Ogle, Duncan and Ogle, Triphook, Thorpe, and Bohn.* But, with every atten- tion to fix a fair and authorized price upon such works of intrinsic merit, of which the marketable value was

* Since the commencement of this work, Messrs. PAYNE and Foss have published a catalogue of 5872 articles or books, in foreign lan- guages exclusively. My principal references have been to the pre- ceding catalogue of last year, in which English works also appear. Both catalogues are preciously furnished, and the prices are reasona- ble. I have smiled, in common with many friends, to observe rare and curious volumes selling for large sums at auctions, when sometimes better copies of them may be obtained in that incomparable reposi- tory in Pall-Mail at two-thirds of the price. Whoever wants a clas- sical Jitting out must betake himself to this repository. The various catalogues or portions of them, according to the sizes of the volumes, which have issued from the house of Messrs. LONGMAN, HURST, REES, and Co. for the last three years, contain scarcely fewer than 17000 articles -, while, of modern articles, the same House has, of each, from one to ten thousand copies. This latter necessarily includes the wonderful stock of Elementary works alluded to at p. xiii. ante. To the Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, or A Descriptive Catalogue of a rare and rich Collection of Early English Poetry, published by the same House in 1815, under the care of the late Mr. Griffiths, the ensuing pages, in the department of <f English Poetry," contain frequent and appo- site references. The rarest article in this catalogue (Chester's Loves Martyr, or Rosalins Complaint, 1601, 4to.) marked at 50/. and pur- chased by the late Sir M. M. Sykes Bart, was sold at the sale of that Baronet's library for 641.

The catalogue of Messrs. J. and A. ARCH is on a smaller scale -, but it exhibits both valuable and rare works, and my references to it have not been unsparing. Indeed I consider the situation of these respectable booksellers, in the very heart of the Metropolis, as most fortunate on many accounts : — for the periodical circulation of their Catalogues may have a salutary effect in counteracting manias of a

xxvi PREFACE.

ascertainable, I fear that, in some few instances, the collector may be disappointed in his calculations. It

different description. I do not indeed quite despair of seeing groups of philologists and critics collected in the Royal Exchange, beneath the statue of Edward IV, (when Printing and the Bibliomania were first conjointly introduced into this country) and counteracting, by their book- speculations, the direful ravages of the Scrip and Consols manias. The catalogue of Messrs. RIVINGTON AND COCHRAN, which is chiefly theological, contains not fewer than 17,328 articles. The arrangement is good : the works submitted to sale are rich in all classes, especially in theology and oriental literature, while the printing and paper are alike inviting. There is a sort of episcopalian air about this volume . . . within and without. But here it behoves me to make honourable mention of that curious catalogue (now be- come a rare book) of Theology and Oriental Literature, published by Messrs. OGLE, DUNCAN AND Co., and containing upwards of 12OOO articles of Divinity. I am not compelled to subscribe to the critical canons occasionally attached to these articles j but I can never be backward in acknowledging the obligation which the CLERICAL WORLD is under (from this desirable volume) to its respectable pub- lishers. The catalogues of Mr. TRIPHOOK are, many of them, of ab- solute necessity to the Collector 3 since the titles and colophons are printed at length with great accuracy ', and I may fairly say, that, in few places of sale have I seen SUCH copies of Old English Philology as in Mr. Triphook's repository. The collection of Mr. TriphoOk is now merged in that of his partners, whose names appear in the TITLE PAGE of this work 5 and it may be triumphantly affirmed, that the catalogue of Messrs. HARDING, TRIPHOOK, and LEPARD, takes precedence of ALL on the score of numbers : for not fewer than twenty-seven thousand and fifty-seven articles form the grand total of works, in the course of sale, at the TEMPLE OF THE MUSES ! Apollo and the Nine were never kept in such a constant state of activity, as these spirited Bibliopolists keep them — equally to the surprise and advantage of the lettered world.

Mr. THORPE is indeed a man of might. His achievements at Book-

PREFACE. xxvii

should however be always borne in mind that the con- dition of a book will materially regulate its price. It remains therefore, only to indulge a rational but

sales are occasionally described in the ensuing pages. It is his Cata- logues of which I am here to treat. They are of never ceasing produc- tion : thronged with the treasuses which he has gallantly borne off, at the point of his lance, in many a hard day's fight, in the Pall-Mali and Waterloo Place arenas. But these conquests are no sooner obtained, than the public receives an account of them j and during the last year only, his Catalogues, in three parts, now before me, comprise not fewer than SEVENTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE articles. What a scale of buying and selling does this fact alone evince ! But in this present year, two Parts have already appeared, containing upwards of 12,000 articles. Nor is this all. On the 24th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1823, there appeared the most marvellous phenomenon ever witnessed in the annals of BIBLIO- POLISM. The Times Newspaper had four of the five columns of its last page occupied by an ADVERTISEMENT of Mr. Thorpe, containing the Hid Part of his Catalogue for that year. On a moderate compu- tation, this Advertisement comprised eleven hundred and twenty lines. The effect was extraordinary. Many wondered, and some remon- strated : but Mr. Thorpe was Master of his own mint, and he never mentions the circumstance but with perfect confidence, and even gaiety of heart, at its success !

If Mr. BOHN be the last, he is not the least, of enterprising and successful Bibliopolists. His Catalogue, in two parts, contains not fewer than 14,614 articles. These articles are chiefly books in foreign languages : and Mr. Bonn's knowledge of the German lan- guage has enabled him to translate Fuhrmanns work on the Greek and Latin Classics with considerable advantage. But bibliographers and critics have been liberally consulted ; and in the department of Philology and Miscellanies, there are some volumes worth the cunning investigation of lovers of literary rarities. The whole catalogue is a proof of unwearied diligence in description, and commendable taste in collection.

xxviii PREFACE.

an ardent hope, that the work now before the reader, and intended as a Guide to the Young and a Comfort to the Old, may be crowned with that success, which has been sought for in a most anxious and unceas- ing examination of materials for the last two years ; and of which nearly as much has been kept back as brought forward. For a toil of this nature, I can most unfeignedly avow that no pecuniary reward is likely to be commensurate. Every thing that a libe- ral spirit could devise, on the part of my Publishers, has been promptly conceded ; but I look for eventual and substantial remuneration only in the generous sympathies of the " YOUNG," and the well-weighed approbation of the " OLD."

THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN.

Wyndham Place, Aug. 2, 1824.

*** I just learn that the Diary of SAMUEL PEPYS (see the Index of this Work) is nearly completed at press. It will contain about ten or a dozen well executed portraits 5 and the work, in two quarto volumes, will be doubtless a popular companion to Evelyns Memoirs.

SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS.

INTRODUCTION, pages 1,2. DIVINITY, 3— -128. BIBLES, 6—37- Polyglot, 6—10.

Complutensian, 6. Brian Walton's, 7- Plantin's and Butter's, 9. Reineccius' and Bagster's> 10.

Latin, 11 — 17-

Editio Princeps, or Mazarine, 11.

Poster's (Bamberg), 13.

Fust's and Schoiffer's (Mentz), 14, 15.

Fontibus ex Hebrseis, 15.

Fontibus ex Graecis, 15.

Pagninus', Sabatier's, and the Aldine, 16.

German, 18.

Mentelin's and Luther's, 18.

Italian, 18, 20.

Malherbi's -3 Bruccioli's, and Diodati's, 19.

Martini's, 20. Hebrew, 20—23.

Kimchi's Psalter, Jarchi's Pentateuch, 20.

Soncino Bible, 21, 829.

Bamberg, Stephens, 22.

Michaelis', Houbigant's, Kennicott's, 23.

Jahn's, Leusden's, Boothroyd's, 24.

Greek, 24, 26.

Erasmus, Aldine Septuagint, Zanetti's,Bos, Holmes' s, 25.

xxx SYNOPTICAL TABLE

DIVINITY. — BIBLES. French, 26.

Lempereur's, Protestant Version, Thou-

louse, 26. English, 27 — 37.

Tyndall's, 29. Coverdale's, 30.

Matthewe's, Taverner's, Cranmer's, the Bishops, Grafton's, Whitchurch's, Day's, Redman's, the Scotch, 31. Geneva, 829. King James's, 32. Baskett's, Field's, Hayes's, 33. Patrick's, Lowth's, Whitby's, D'Oyly's and

Mant's, Wilson's, 36. Dr. Henry's, Dr. Gill's, 37. TESTAMENTS,

Greek, 38—40.

Complutensian, Erasmus, Stephen's, the Elzevirs, Bengel's, Wetstein's, Gries- bach's, 38, 39. PRAYER-BOOKS, 40—46. 830.

First Impressions, 1549, 42. Whitchurch's, Marbecke's Barkerville's, 43. Jarvis's,Reeves's,Oxford and Cambridge,44. Abridgement, 45.

FATHERS AND COMMENTATORS, 46 — 48. Greek, 47.

Origen, S.Chrysostom, Cotelerius Coll. 47. Latin, 47.

Tertullian, Lactantius, Austin, 47. Jerom,

830.

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES, 49 — 59 Taylor, 491, 53, 831. Baxter, 50.

Barrow, Pearson, Usher, 51, 830. Chillingworth, Mede, Tillotson, 52. Bishop Hall, 55. W. Penn, 56. Lightfoot, 830,

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xxxi

DIVINITY.

LATE ENGLISH DIVINES, 60 — 66. Leslie, 61.

Dr. Clarke, Bishop Bull, 62. Bishop Lowth, 63. Dr. Doddridge, 64. Dr. Watt's, Dr. Macknight, 65. OLD SERMONS, 66—83. Latimer's, 66. Fox's, 73. Drant's,75. Edgeworth's, 81. MODERN SERMONS, 84 — 90.

Gisborne's, 86. Bampton Lect. 831 Hall's, Forster's, Jay's, 87. SUMMARY OF FOREIGN DIVINES, 89 — 95.

Erasmus, 90. French, 91—95.

Bossuet, &1. Massillon, 92. Bourdaloue, 93. Saurin, 94.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, 96 — 120. French, 97—99.

Mabillon's, Ste. Marine's, 97- Longueval's Le Conte's, Gesta Dei per

Francos, 98. Fleury's, 99. Tillemont's, 101. Italian, 100—103.

Baronius, 101, 102. Bzovius, 102. Acta Sanctorum, 103. English, 103—120.

Venerable Bede's, 104. Fox's, 105, 832. Parker's, 107. Dugdale's, 109. Fuller's, Collier's, 111.

xxxii SYNOPTICAL TABLE

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Bingham's, Cave's, 112. H. Wharton's, 113. Burnet's, 114. Dodd's, 115. Jortin's, 116, Strype's, 117- Mosheim's, 118. Wordsworth's, 119. Spelman's and Wilkiri's, 120. MANUALS OF DEVOTION, 120 — 128. Thomas a Kempis, 121. Monument of Matrons, 123. Collections of Prayers, 127. Bishop Kenn's Divine Love, 128. HISTORY, 129 — 364. HISTORICAL CATALOGUES, 129 — 131.

Meuselius, Le Long, 129.

ESSAYS ON THE STUDY OF HISTORY, AND UNIVERSAL HISTORIES, 130—131,

Du Fresnoy's, Du Pin's, Bolingbroke's,

Boone's, 130. Ancient and Modern Universal History,

Calmet's, 131. Millet's, Anquetil's, 132. Grecian, 131 — 135. Ancient Writers, 131 — 135. Herodotus, 132. Thucydides, 133. Pausanias, Xenophon, 134. Diodorus Siculus, 135. Modern Writers, 135, 136.

Barthelemy's Anacharsis, 135. Mitford, Potter, Gronovius, 136. Roman, 136—139. Ancient Writers, 136 — 138.

Dion Cassius, Dionysius Halicarnassensis,

Livy, 136.

Appian, Polybius, Tacitus, Caesar, Sallust, Velleius Paterculus, Haurisius* Collec- tion, Graevius, 137.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xxxiii

H ISTORY . — ROMAN.

Byzantine and Turkish Histories, 138. Modern Writers, 138, 139.

Muratori's Scriptores, and Italian Collec- tions, 139. OF GREAT BRITAIN, 140— C288.

Historians contained in the Recueil des Historiens des Gaules, 140, 141.

Saxon Chronicle, 141.

Asserius, Walsingham, 142.

Archbishop Parker, 143.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, 144.

Gildas, William of Newbury, 145.

Sir Henry Savile's Scriptores, 146.

William of Malmesbury, 147.

Henry of Huntingdon, Ingulphus, 148.

Camden's Anglica, &c., Duchesne's Scrip- tores, 150.

Maseres' Selections from Duchesne, 151.

Twysden's Scriptores, 152.

Gale's Scriptores, 153.

Annals of Waverley, 154.

Spark e's Scriptores, 155.

Bertram's Scriptores, 156.

Eadmer, 157.

Matthew of Westminster, Florence of Wor- cester, Matthew Paris, 158.

Froissart's Chronicles, 160, 166, 832.

Monstrelet's ditto, 166.

Bouchard, Comines, 167.

Caxton's Chronicle, 169.

Polychronicon, 172.

Arnold's Chronicle, 174.

Fabian's Chronicle, 175.

Rastell's Pastime of People, 178.

Godet's Chronicle, 179.

Hardyng's Chronicle, 180.

Kelton's Chronicle, Languett's Ditto, Chro- nicle of Kings, 181. d

xxxiv SYNOPTICAL TABLE

HISTORY — OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Carion's Chronicle, Grafton's Abridgement,

Stowe's Summarie, Jaggard's Chronicle,

182.

Hall's Chronicle, Grafton's ditto, 184. Hollinshed's Chronicle, 185. Stowe's and Howe's Chronicles, 186, 187. Vicars's Parliamentary Chronicle, 188. Heath's Chronicle, 189. Baker's Chronicle, 190. Strutt's Chronicle, 194. History of England, 195—237- Polydore Vergil's, 195. Speed's, 196. Martyn's, Slatyer's, 198. Daniel's, 199. Duchesne's, Larry's, 20O. Milton's, Whitelock's Memorials, 201. Brady's, 202. Tyrrell' s, 2O3. Bishop Kennet's, 205.

(North's Examen of, 206. Echard's, 207.

Sandford's Genealogical History, 208. Lord Clarendon's, 209. Rapin's, 212, 832. Hearne's Historical Works, 214, 232.

Vide General Index. Sammes's Britannia, 232. Lewis's History, Carte's ditto, 233. Ralph's, Hume's, 234. Smollet's, Dr. Henry's, 235. J. P. Andrews, Sharon Turner's, 236. Lingard's, Bertrand de Moleville's, 237. History of Ireland, 238, 260.

Lives of St. Patrick, 238.

of St. Brandon and St. Rumold, 239.

Messingham's Florilegium, Colgaris Triadis

Thaumaturgae, 240.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xxxr

HISTORY. — OF IRELAND.

Vallega's Lives of Saints, Giraldus Cam-

brensis, Stanihurst's, 241. O'Sullivan's, Paraineticorum, &c. Analecta

Sacra, &c. 242.

Lombardus's, Hanmer's, Campion's, Spen- ser's, Stafford's Hib. Pacata, 243. Carve's Works, 244. Lynch's Works, 245. Caron, Walsh, 246. Sirinius, Belin, 247- Camden, Baxter, Lord Castlehaven, Sir John

Davis, 248. Unkind Deserter, Cox, Capell, O'Flaherty,

249.

Keating, Macmation, Ware, 250. Musgrave, De Burgo, O'Halloran, Colonel

De Vallaneey»251, 833. Leland, Plowden, Gordon, Wakefield, Bar-

nabe Riche, 252.

Ireland's Jubilee, Teares of Ireland, 253, 833.

Massacres in Savoy and Ireland, 254, 255. Dr. O'Connor's Scriptores, 258, 260. History of Scotland, 261—273.

Chronicles of Holy-Rood and Mailros, Bar-

bour's Bruce, Fordun, 262. Andrew of Wyntown, Hector Boece, 263. Scotish Black Acts, 264. Buchanan, Paten, 265, 834. Tracts relating to Queen Mary, 266. Lesley, Monipennie, 268. Hume, Melvil, Spotiswood, Middleton,

Drumond, 269.

Mackenzie's, Dr. Abercromby, 270. Anderson, Lindesay, Maitland's, Robertson,

Guthrie, Dalrymple, 271. Pinkerton, Laing, M'Crie, 272. Dr. Cook, G. Chalmers, 273.

xxxvi SYNOPTICAL TABLE

HELPS TO BRITISH HISTORY, 274 — 288. Wales, 274, 275.

Lloyd, Enderbie, Warrington, 274.

Robert, Dr. Meyrick, Pennant, 275. Acts of Parliament, 275 — 277.

Caxton's, W. de Worde's, Pynson's, 275.

Rotuli Parliamentoruin, Parliamentary De- bates and Trials, Taxatio Ecclesiastica, Valor Ecclesiasticus, Rotuli et Acta Par- liamentorum Scotiae, 276.

Domesday Book, Statutes at large, 2/7. Records and State Papers, 277 — 284.

Prynne's Collection, 277 — 280.

May's History of the Long Parliament, 28O.

Rushworth, 281.

Rymer's Fcedera, 282.

Spelman, Digges, D'Ewes, Nalson, Bishop Burnet, 283.

Somers's Tracts, 284. Miscellaneous, 285, 288.

Harleian Miscellany, 285.

Harrington's Nugae, Madox, 286.

Winwood, Forbes, Thurloe's Papers, Straf- forde ditto, Burghley ditto, Clarendon ditto, Sydney ditto, 287.

Hardwicke ditto, Carlton's ditto, Macpher-

son's ditto, Lodge's Illustrations, 288. HISTORY OF FRANCE, 289 — 299. See also p. 834.

Bouquet's Recueil, 289.

Duchesne's Scriptores, Collection Univer- selle des Memoires, De Breguigny, Du- pleix, 29O.

Mezerai, 291.

Daniel, Lombard, Henault, 293.

Velly,Villaret, Gamier, David, Montfaucon, 294.

Anquetil, Desodoards, Millot, Collection Universelle des Memoires, 295.

Castlenau, De Thou, 296.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xxxvii

HISTORY — OF FRANCE.

Le Long, Davila, 297*. Sismondi 298.

Meuselius, Fontetae, (Catalogues), 299. HISTORY OF SPAIN, 300 — 312. See also p. 835.

Antonio, Casirio, Rodericus Sanctius, 301. Belus, Schott, 302. Chronicles, 302 — 306.

Guzman's, De Ayala's, 302.

Rey Pedro's, Rey Rodrigo's, the Cid's, Juan

II.'s, Alonzo and Sancho's, Alonzo XI.

303, Hernandez de Cordova's, G. de Mendoza's,

M. Silva, D. de Valera's, 304, Chronica de los Reyes Hernando y Ysabel,

Carbonell's, Beuter's, Marineo, 305. F. de O Campo's, M. de Cordova's, Vasaeus,

Garibay's, J. de Bleda's, 306. D. H. De Mendoza, 307. Mariana, 308. J. de Ferreras, 309. Masdeu, Murphy, 31O. Bourke, Townsend, Southey, 311. Captain Batty, E. H. Locker, 312. HISTORY OF PORTUGAL, 313 — 317. See also p. 836. Southey, Machado, 313. De Brito, A. andF. Brandao, 314, 315. R. de Jesus, E dos Santos, 315. De la Clede, A. C. de Souza, 316. J. C. de Serra, 317. HISTORY OF ITALY, 318—327.

Muratori's Scriptores, 319.

Machiavelli, 322.

Guicciardini, 323.

Fenton's Translation of ditto, Shepherd's

Poggio, Histories of Florence, 324. Bossi, Sismondi, Ginguene, Denina, Deso-

doards, 325. Eustace, Forsyth, Hakewill, Capt. Batty,

xxxviil SYNOPTICAL TABLE

Houel, Laborde, 326. HISTORY OF GERMANY, 328 — 337.

Dr. Robertson, Views on the Rhine, 329. Schardius, Meibomius, Freyherus, Struvius, Pistorius, Schoettgenius, Menckenius, Reuberus, 331.

Barre, de Laveaux, Schmidt, Haeberlin, Senkenberg, FreVon, Fez, Bell. Pray, 332. Calles, Kraft, Archdeacon Coxe, Kollarius,

333.

Gerbert, 334. Bavarian Monuments, Offelius, Raderus,

Aldzreiter, Brunner, Wagelinus, 335. Serrarius, Leibnitz' Scriptores, Gibbon, 336. Additions and Revisions, 337.

NORTHERN HISTORIES, 338 — 364. See also p. 836. Iceland, 338.

Mackenzie, 338. Greenland, 338.

Gambold's Translation of Crantz, 338. Arctic Regions, 339 — 341. Franklin, Parry, 340. Scoresby, Barrow, Ross, 341. General History, 341, 344.

Olaus Magnus, Snorro, 342. Krantzius,Gaguinus, Prsetorius, Bullett,343. Modern Universal History, Stritterus, Schil-

ter, Massenius, 344. Denmark, 344—348.

Saxo Grammaticus, 344. Olaus Wormius, Torfseus, 345. Bartholin, 346.

Randulfus,Resenius,Mallet,Langebeck,347. Dr. Thorkelin, 348. Norway, 348—350.

Capell Brooke, VonBuch, Snorro Sturle-

son, 349. C. Calleville, Pontoppidan, 350.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xxxix

NORTHERN HISTORIES.

Sweden, 35O— 356.

Regnorum Suecia, Suecia Antiqua, Messe-

nius, Loccenius, Eric Olaus, 351. Erlandus, Scheffer, Verelius, Saga, 352. Peringskiold, Lives of Queen Christine,

Ditto of Gustavus, Puffendorff, 353. Vertot, Voltaire, Nordberg, 354. Rudbeck, 355. Russia, 357—364.

Baron Herberstein, Muscovitarum Rerum

Scriptores, Lasitzki, Ulfeldius, 357. D'Anville,Castelnau, Le Clerc, Korbius, 358. Lord Whitworth, General Manstein, Bell,

Archdeacon Coxe, Dr. Clarke, Raymond,

Vsevolojskys, 359. Voltaire, Sunnanois, De Halem, Castera,

Masson, Tooke, 362. Pallas, David, Breton, Hempel, Houbigant,

363, 364.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, 365 — 478. CATALOGUES, 368, 369. Murray, 368.

Bekman, B. de la Richarderie, 369. COLLECTIONS, 389, 390.

Portuguese Voyages, Columbus, Americus

Vesputius, 369. Ramusio, 370. De Bry's, 371, 375, 836. Hakluyt's, 377- Coryate, 380. Purchas', 381. Linschoten's, 383. Smith's, 384. Thevenot's, 386. Gottfried's (Adelinus'), 387. Churchill's, Harris's, Harleian, Astley's,388. Bibliotheque Port, des Voyages, Pinkerton's,

Sir R, K. Porter's, Kerr's, 389, 39O.

xl SYNOPTICAL TABLE

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS, 391, 40O.

Drake's, 391.

Dampier's 392.

Anson's, 393.

Byron's, Cook's, 395, 397-

Vancouver's, 396.

O. de Cevallos', Pigafetta's, Carreri's, 398.

Perouse's, Labillardiere, D'Entrecasteaux, Marchand, 399.

Krusenstern, Burney, 40O. ASIA, 401—436.

Minor Greek Geographers, 401.

Tudela, 402.

Marco Polo, 403.

Sir John Mandeville, 404.

Mendez Pinto, 405.

Pyrard, 406.

Barros, 407.

De Sousa, Castanheda, Guzman, Hawkins, Roe, 4O8.

Bernier, Tavernier, Thevenot, Chardin, 409, Hindoostan, 41O — 414.

Raynal, 410.

Acten der Daenischen Mission, Dapper, R. de Hooge, Tiefenthaler, 411.

Valentyn, Asiatic Researches, 412.

Sir W. Jones, Dr. Buchanan, Malcolm,

413. Thibet, 414—415.

Turner, Davies, and Saunders. Nepaul,4l5, 416.

Colonel Kirkpatrick, 415. Caubul, 416.

Elphinstone, 416. Persia, 416 — 419.

Viaggi fatti da Vinetia, Sherley, 416.

Herbert, Chardin, Jonas Hanway, 417.

Morier, Malcolm, Ouseley, Porter, 418.

D'Anville, Major Rennell, 419.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xli

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS— ASIA.

Holy Land and Turkey, 420—424.

Breydenbach, N. Huen, Chateaubriand, Mariti, 420.

Sandys, Pococke, 421.

Wood, Chandler, Kinneir, Burckhardt, De la Mottraye, D'Arevieux, Russell, 422.

Volney, Maundrell, Lebrun, 423.

Tournefort, D'Ohsson, 424. Arabia, 424.

Niebuhr, 424. East Indies, China, Japan, 425^-429.

Major Symes, 425.

Barrow, Staunton, Lord Amherst, Captain Hall, Du Halde, 426.

Mailla,De Guignes, Sonnerat, Kaempfer,427.

Charlevoix, Nieuhoff, Van Braam, 428.

Dalrymple, Lithgow, L. de Goux, Sto- kove, 429.

Jesuits Voyages, 430. Borneo, New Guinea, New Holland, fyc. 430.

Knox, Dr. Davy, Capt. Flinders, 431. European Route to England, 431 — 436.

Nicolay, 431,

Knolles, 432.

F. Moryson, Lord Mountjoy, 433 — 435.

Messrs.Kingsbury's Oriental Catalogue, 435. AFRICA, 437—454.

Gibbon, Edrisi, Abulfeda, Abdollatiph, 438.

Leo Africanus, Marmol, Cadamosto, 439.

Gosselin, 440. Egypt, 441—444.

Pococke, Norden, 441.

Savary, Denon, 442.

Description d'Egypte, Sonnini, Hamilton,

Legh, Belzoni, 443. Ethiopia (Nubia, Abissinia), 444 — 446.

Ludolfus, 444.

Tellez and Almeida, Burckhardt, Father

xlii SYNOPTICAL TABLE

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS — AFRICA.

Lobo, Bruce, 445. Salt, 447. Barbary States, 446—449.

Waddington and Hanbury, Torrez, Hoeda,

447. Mendezes, Dr. Shaw, De la Chenier, Porret,

Jackson, All Bey, Capt, Lyon, 448. M. Park, Browne, 449. Horneman, J. Riley, Adams, the African

Association, 45O. Southern Africa, 450—454,

Odoardo Lopez, Capt. Tuckey, 450» Cavazzi, Labat, Lindsay, Matthews, Win-

terbottom, Beaver, Meredith, 451 Bowdich, Vaillant, Sparrmann, Fercival,

Lichtenstein, Barrow, 452. Burchell, 453, 454. AMERICA, 455—478.

Kennett's American Library, 455. American Atlas, 456.

Ancient Travellers, 8;c. 457—459. See p. 837. Algerius, G. H. Oviedo, L. de Gomara, 457. Las Casas, 458.

J. G. de Sepulveda, A. de Herrera, 459. General Historians, 460—464.

Torquemada, Ogilby, Coreal, Lafiteau, 460. Charlevoix, Wilson, Ulloa, Dr. Robertson,

461.

Account of the Amazon River, Nodal, 462. FernandoCortez,Barcias'sHistoriadores,463. Frampton, Tracts on Virginia, 464. North America, 462—467- Kalm, 464.

Rogers, Wynne, Adair, 465. Capt. Carver, G. Chalmers, Rochefoucault-

Liancourt, 466.

Bryan Edwards, Sir Hans Sloane,Long> 467. South America, 468 — 478.

OF SUBJECTS AND AU THORS. xliii

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS — AMERICA. Ulloa, 468.

Hans Staden, ,f. de Lery, Barlaeus, 469. Rocha Pitta, Lindley, 47O. Southey, 471.

Mawe, Humboldt, 472—475. Peruvian Chronicles, 475, 476.

F. de Kerez, P. C. de Leon's, 475. Antwerp, Historic, Zaratez, Fernandez', G.

de la Vega's, 476. Losano, Tears of the Indians, 477. World in Miniature, 478. BIOGRAPHY, 479 — 563.

MEMOIRS AND ANECDOTES, 479 — 557- Biographical Dictionaries, 482 — 488.

Hoffman's, Moreri's Dictionnaire de Tre-

voux, 483. Bayle's, 484.

Chaufepie's, P. Marchand's, 485. Brucker's, Ladvocat's, Chaudon's, and De-

landine's, 486. Biographic Universelle, Jocher's, Adelung's,

and Rotermund's General, Historical, and

Critical Dictionary, 487. British Biography, Biographia Britannica,

Chalmers's General Biography, 488. Greek and Roman Biographers, 489 — 491. Plutarch, 489.

D. Laertius, C. Nepos, Suetonius, 491. General Collections of Lives, 492 — 505. Theod. Beza, Boissard, 492. Vasari, 493. Holland, 494. Fugger Fuggerorum, 495. Thevet, 496. Bullart, Perault, 497. Foppens, Dr. Birch, Freher, 498. T. Hoffmann, 500. The Holbein Portraits, 501, 502.

xliv SYNOPTICAL TABLE

BIOGRAPHY.

Lodge's Illustrious Personages, 502, 503. Bodies of National Biography, 505 — 509.

Leland, Bale, 505.

Pits, Fuller, Nicolson, 506.

Dr. Mackenzie, Anthony a Wood, 507.

Tanner, Berkenhout, Granger, 508. Separate Memoirs or Classes, 509—538.

Grove's Wolsey, Johnson's Poets, Macdi- armid's Statesmen, 509, 837.

Roper's Sir T. More, 513.

Bacon's Henry VII., Herbert's Henry VIII. I. Walton's Lives, 515.

Strype's Lives, Knight's Colet and Erasmus, 517.

Jortin's Erasmus, Lewis's Lives, 518.

Fiddes's Cardinal Wolsey, 519.

Middleton's Cicero, North's Lives, 520.

Collins's Collection, Harris's Regal Biogra- phies, 521.

Lowth's Wykeham, 522.

Warton's Sir T. Pope, Robertson's Charles V., 523.

Boswell s Johnson, 524.

Roscoe's Lives, 525—528.

Shepherd's Poggio, Greswell's Lives, Be- rington's Literary History, Gibbon's Auto- biography, 529.

Archdeacon Coxe's Lives, 531.

Hayley's Cowper, 532.

Chandler's Waynflete, 534.

Churton's Dean Nowell, 535.

Do. Founders of Brazen Nose, 536.

Zouche's Sir Philip Sydney, Black's Tasso, Southey's Nelson, 536.

Southey's Wesley, 537. Memoirs and Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons and

their Times, 538-557. French, 538-548.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xlv

Brantome's, 538. MEMOIRS AND ANECDOTES. Sully' s, 540, Cardinals Richelieu, Retz, and Mazarine,

541. Mesdames Motteville, Montpensier, de Ma-

zarin, de Maintenon, 542. Duchesne de Longueville, Mad. de Caylus, Queen Margaret, Louis XIII. XIV. XV. Due d'Orleans, Henry IV. 543. Bassompierre, D'Estrades, Conde, Lomenie,

Villeroy, Berwick, Rochefoucault, 544. Memoires Particuliers, Grammont's, 545. Niceron, Memoires Historiques, 547* Madame D'Espignay, 548. English, 549—557.

Colonel Hutchinson, Evelyn, 549. Ballard, Memoirs of Learned Ladies, 552. Watson's Earls of Warren and Surrey, 553,

554.

Anderson's House of Yvery, 555. Hollis and Disney, Nichols's Bowyer, 555. Additions, 557, 562.

Perefixe's Henri IV., Margaret de Valois,

557'

Cibber's Apology, Wren's Parentalia, 558. Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, 559. Life of Cellini, Mason's Life of Gray, Life

of Gilbert Wakefield, 560. Spence's Anecdotes, 562. PHILOLOGY AND BELLES LETTRES, 563, 612. GRAMMARIANS, 563, 571. English, ibid.

Stanb ridge, I. de Garlandia,Whittinton, 564.

Lillye, 565.

Eleven Grammars, Linacre, 566.

Bishop Tonstall, 567.

Horman, Palsgrave, 568.

Minor Grammatical Works, 569.

xlvi SYNOPTICAL TABLE

PHILOLOGY AND BELLES LETTRES.

Ortus Vocabulornm, Promptorius Puerorum,

Book for Travellers, 570. GRECIAN PHILOLOGISTS, 571 — 577.

Plato, 572.

Aristotle, 573.

Xenophon, 574.

Plutarch, 575.

^Esop, 576.

Athenajus, 577.

Lucian, 837. ROMAN PHILOLOGISTS, 578 — 58O.

Cicero, 578.

Seneca, Boetius, 580.

Apuleius, Aulus Gellius, Pliny, 581.

Petronius Arbiter, Quintilian, 582.

Plautus and Terence, 838. ENGLISH PHILOLOGISTS, 581. Bartholomaeus, 583. Reynard the Fox, 584. Alain Chartier, Cato, SirT. Elyot, 585. Roger Ascham, Sir A. Fitzherbert, 587. Sir T. Wilson, 588.

William Thomas, Abraham Fraunce, 589. Robert Greene, 591. Thomas Nash, 593. Gabriel Harvey, Thomas Dekker, 594. George Whetstone, 595. Stubbes, Braithwait, Peacham, 596. Merriments, 598. Markham, Burton, 599. Cornwallyes, Howell, 601. Sir William Temple, 602. Dryden, Addison, 6O3.

Swift, 605. Steele, British Essayists, 606. De Foe, 607. Dr. Johnson, 60S. Bacon, Boyle, Locke, 610. Newton, Milton, 611.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. xlvii

POETRY, 613—773.

GREEK POETS, 614—624.

Homer, 614—619.

Hesiod, 618.

Theocritus, 62O.

Pindar, 621.

Anacreon, 622.

Callimachus, 623.

Apollonius Rhodius, Bion, Moschus, 626.

^Eschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, 839. LATIN POETS, 625 — 643.

Classification, 625. First Class, 626—635.

Virgil, 626—628.

Lucretius, Ovid, 629.

Juvenal and Persius, 631.

Martial, 633.

Horace, 634—635. Second Class, 636—643.

Lucan, 636.

Statius, 637.

Silius Italicus, 639.

Claudian, 640.

Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, 641.

Tibullus, 642.

Valerius Flaccus, Manilius, 643. ENGLISH POETS, 644 — 749. Ancient, 644—726.

Old English Poetry and prices at Mr. Bind- ley's sale,644— 648. At SirMark Sykes's, 841.

Castell of Labour, Prophecye of Merlin, kynge Apollyn of Thyre, Mirrour of the Churche, Lover and Jaye, 649.

Spectacle of Louers, Complaynte of a Lover's Life, Chaunce of the Dolourous Lover, Conusaunce d' Amours, 65O.

Four Leaves of True love, Hearte throughe

xlviii SYNOPTICAL TABLE

ENGLISH POETS.

perced, Ould facioned Love, Too soon Maryed,Too late Maryed, Evyll Maryage, 651.

Fyftene Joyes of Maryage, Skelton, 652.

Lydgate, Castle of Pleasure, Temple of Bras,

Treatyse of a Galaunt, 655.

W. Walter, Robyn Hode, 656.

Friar and Boye, Cryste Cros me Spede, 657.

Life of S. Werburge, J. Splynter, 658.

Christmas Carols, 659, 661.

Toye's Ballads, 662.

Governayle of Helthe, 663.

Poetry printed by W. de Worde, 665.

Chaucer, 668, 677.

Poetry printed by Caxton, 669.

Lydgate, 677-

Skelton, 678, 681 .

S. Hawes, 679, 681.

Earl of Surrey and Sir T. Wyatt, 682, 683.

Mirrour of Magistrates, 685.

Churchyard, 686.

Tubervile, Googe, 688.

Paradise of Dainty Devices, 69O.

Breton, Kendall, Robinson, The Phoenix

Nest, 691. England's Parnassus, England's Helicon,

Belvidere, 692. Spenser, 693—695. Shakspeare's Sonnets, 695. Gascoigne, 696. Fulwell, 697. Bishop Hall, Breton, 698. Dr. Lodge, Mario w, 699. Munday, 700.

Chester, Chute, Herbert, 701 . Herrick, 702. Rowlands, 703.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS.

ENGLISH POETS.

Southwell, Du Bartas, 704.

Milton, 697, 710.

Davies, 71O.

Wither, Lovelace, 711.

Crashaw, Jordan, 712.

Carew, 713.

Daniel, Drayton, 715.

Randolph, Cartwright, 717-

Drummond, Taylor, 719.

Delia, Dolarney, Chute, Hannay, Davison, Heath, Massacre of Money, Scourge of Venus, Bold, 720.

Cowley, 715, 721.

Denham, 721, 722.

Donne, Butler, 722, 724.

Waller, 723, 724.

Fugitive Poetry, 725.

Dryden, 726. Modern Authors, 727—736.

Prior, 727.

Pope, 728— 731.

Gray, Thomson, 732.

Collins, Churchill, 733.

Young, 734.

Akenside, Beattie, Goldsmith, Covvper, 735. Living Authors, 737 — 747-

Southey, 737-

Wordsworth, Rogers, 738.

Sir Walter Scott, 739.

Moore, 741.

Crabbe, Milman, 742.

Lord Byron, 743—746.

Sotheby, Bowles, Montgomery, 747- Collections of Poets, 747—749.

Dr. Aikin's, A. Chalmers', 747-

Davenport's, Cook's, Bell's, Barbauld's No- velists, 749. ITALIAN POETS, 750—763.

SYNOPTICAL TABLE

ITALIAN POETS.

Foscolo's expected edition of, 750. Dante, 751—754. Petrarch, 755. Ariosto, 756. Tasso, 760.

Translations of ditto, 761—763. FRENCH POETS, 764—773.

Analyses and Collections, 764, 765.

Brunet's, Goujet's, La Croix du Maine's*

764.

Raynouard's, Barbazan's, D'Aussy's, 765. De Meun, Marot, Malherbe, 765. La Fontaine, 766. Corneille, Racine, 767- Moliere, 767, 768. Boileau, 768, 769. Voltaire, 770.

I. B. Rousseau, Gresset, Delille, 773. THE ENGLISH DRAMA, 774 — 824. MYSTERIES, 775—779.

Mr. Lang's French Mysteries, 775. Mr. Markland's Chester, ditto, 778. Mr. Sharp's Coventry ditto, 778, 779. COLLECTIONS, &c. OF OLD PLAYS, 780 — 782. Hawkins', Dodsley's, Baldwin's, 780. Roxburghe Reprints, 781. Miller's Collection, 781. Baker's Biographia Dramatica, 782. ANCIENT DRAMATISTS, 782—823. Bale, 782.

Sackville, Still, Gascoigne, Peele, 783. Old Plays in the Malone library, 784—790. Lyly, 788. Marlow, 789. Shakspeare, 791, 818. Ben Jonson, 819,

Beaumont and Fletcher, Ford, 820,821 Massinger, Shirley, 821, 822.

OF SUBJECTS AND AUTHORS. U

ANCIENT DRAMATISTS.

Otway, 822, 823. MODERN DRAMATISTS, 823. Sheridan, 823. Inchbald's Theatre., 824. SUPPLEMENT, 827.

Preparing for Publication, A new Edition of an INTRODUCTION

TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF RARE AND VALUABLE EDITIONS

OF THE

GREEK AND LATIN CLASSICS,

BY THE

REV. THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN, F.R.S. F.A.S.

The Fourth Edition.

The new Matter acquired by the accession of Materials during the period of Sixteen Years, since the Work was last printed, will extend it to Two large octavo volumes.

*#* A few Copies will be struck off upon LARGE PAPER to arrange with the other Works of the Author j and, in consequence of the claims for Large Paper Copies of the LIBRARY COMPANION having greatly exceeded the number printed, to the consequent disappointment of such as have neglected to make early application, the Publishers earnestly request those Persons who wish to possess Large Paper Copies of the INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASSICS, to signify the same to them in writing, and to take an Acknowledgment of the receipt of the Order, without which they will not hold themselves engaged to supply any claims that may be made at the time ef Publication.

Finsbury -square, August 7, 1824.

INTRODUCTION.

IT is upwards of four years, since, on quitting the ancient city of Ratisbon, (in the way to Nuremberg) I paused upon the summit of a high hill, about a short English mile from thence, which commands a beautiful view of the course of the Danube. As the traveller quits this hill, in the same route,, he takes a final leave of the same river: but if he have any sensibilities which are likely to be awakened by a view of Nature, in one of her most interesting forms, he will not fail to cast a fond and frequent look upon the view in question : which is at once fertile, varied, and picturesque.

I spent a short twenty minutes upon the summit of this hill ; and requested the postillion to make me acquainted with the names of the different little villages and chateaus with which the banks of the Danube are, in this neighbourhood, so plentifully studded : while, to the right, the massive fragments of antiquity, together with the turrets and towers, of RATISBON, rose with a grand and contrasting effect. I seemed to rejoice in the prospect before me ; and wished for a farm upon this sweep of meadow, or a villa upon that undulating summit. The grapes were now ripening apace ; and the joys of the coming vintage seemed to give to every object a ruddier hue, and to animate every Rustic with a livelier flow of spirits. I was revelling in the picture of abundance which my fancy readily drew, when the explanation of the postillion, conveyed through the servant who attended me, cast a melancholy tone of colouring over this scene of pros-

B

2 INTRODUCTION.

pective happiness. " The River, Sir," (observed the interpreter) " frequently overflows its banks, and destroys the labours of the husbandman : the houses are sometimes swept away in the course of the inundation : the cattle perish ; and the vine is rooted up by the rushing waters. Yonder scene, now so pleasing from the certain prospect of an abundant harvest, is frequently visited by desolation and affliction — while the walls and ramparts of the CITY protect the inhabitants from the wide waste of deluge by which the country is overwhelmed.1"

This brief but impressive dialogue had nearly escaped my recollection . . till, of Jate, and especially at the PRESENT MOMENT, it presented itself to me in a variety of ways. In sitting down to the composition of this Work, in which my principal object is to be of USE to my countrymen — if not to the readers of other countries, I could not but reflect how forcibly the picture of nature, as seen at Ratisbon, was emblematical of that of HUMAN EXISTENCE. For, first, we may consider the principles, passions, and prejudices of mankind as represented by the course of the Danube. When kept within bounds, that river brings fertility and abundance ; when it overflows its banks, ruin and desolation too frequently ensue. The inference is obvious. Secondly, as the strong walls and ramparts of Ratisbon protect its inhabitants from the ill effects of the flooding of the river, so the sound instruction and good advice, instilled into the minds of young people — and not lost sight of by such as are " of riper years" — generally protect them from that most dreadful of all human visitations, the inundation of vicious thoughts and immoral habits. As are the walls of Ratisbon against the evil effects of the overflowing Danube, so are GOOD BOOKS against the influence of pernicious writings.

THE

Htbrarp Companion,

DIVINITY.

THE source of all moral excellence must be sought for in the truths and consolations of RELIGION. Hence I devote the first chapter of this Sifitarp Com- panion to a brief account of such works, as, among others, may be of service to the Young, and of comfort to the Old, in their choice of publications relating to the INSPIRED WRITINGS.

A word or two, however, by way of preliminary observation. I must suppose my " Young Collector" to have received a classical, or competent education ; whether followed up by " University Instruction," is a matter upon which I cannot venture to speak deci- dedly— although, questionless, if it be so, the better for himself. Yet it may be observed that several of our famous Collectors have never heard the echo of their footsteps within the cloisters of a college. Pre- ferable to either a classical education, or the instrucr

4 DIVINITY

tions of a University, is the possession of a sound conscience and right judgment in all things ; and though this latter observation may be considered as begging the question, yet it cannot be denied that we frequently witness their good effects, without stop- ping to enquire how they were attained, and without disbelieving that they may be easy of attainment. It is fitting, however, that I should caution such Collector, in the very outset of his book-career, not to be led away by any of those meteor-like manias which some- times possess very intelligent men, and bring disgrace upon the good old cause of BIBLIOPHILISM. Especially let him beware of confining himself exclusively, or imperatively — of sacrificing all his time and attention — his rest, and as it were, comfort of mind — to one distinguishing, or capricious, branch of collection more than another : because the most prudent of men can scarcely refrain from committing many errors in the indulgence of such a passion. All violent impulses, of whatever kind, are necessarily short-lived. Let both the student and collector regulate his passions as soberly as possible ; but such regulation by no means implies coldness or indifference. Let zeal never slacken — but let judgment always step in to modify it : and when a very choice, or curious, or supposed unique, article presents itself, let the courage only be screwed to its sticking place, so as not to fear even the competitorship of ***** in the acquisi- tion of it ! I am the more anxious respecting this branch of the subject, because, as on the one hand I do not like to see a generous young character on a sudden frozen into parsimony, bordering upon avarice ; so, on the other, I am exceedingly desirous that all book-pursuits should have a consistent and satisfac-

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 5

tory result : that there should be no shifting and changing, and " bringing to market " those fruits which are only, as it were, of yesterday's gathering.

There is nothing that brings down heavier and juster censure upon a Young Collector, than this early and precipitate separation from such companions of his private hours ; who appear to have been invited into his study to-day, for no other purpose than to be turned out of doors to-morrow. Consider well — and weigh the probable advantages and disadvantages of your choice, maturely— before you purchase; but, having purchased, as the result of such conviction, be kind and courteous towards those whom you have thus admitted to be your Cabinet Counsellors : for, (as old Richard de Bury says) " they will instruct you without harshness, and correct you without stripes."* I have known many instances of extreme folly on this score ; and have seen shelves covered, this season, with CHRONICLES, — which, during the next, have been filled by DEKKERS, GREENES, and HAR- and, still more ruthless act! have found old

* Concerning this favourite author, consult the Bibliomania and Bibliographical Decameron. A pleasing and instructive picture of LIBRARY COMFORTS is drawn in Mr. D' Israeli's Literary (Character, vol. ii. ch. xxi. If I could envy any man, or men, their past lives, it were GROLIER, PEIRESC, and DE THOU.

f To which add, the works of TOM NASH. These were celebrated writers in the reign of Elizabeth ; and wrote pieces of drollery, satire, and lampoon. Harvey was the bitter opponent of Nash. At the sales of Pearson, Steevens, Reed and Bindley, some of these pieces brought inordinate prices j but at that of the late Mr. Perry, these prices were considerably diminished. Respecting the authors, con- sult Berkenhout's Biographica Literaria, Beloes Anecdotes of Lite- rature, D' Israelis Calamities of Authors; and, for the editions of some of their works, the British Bibliographer, and Watt's Biograpkia Britannica. Several very uncommon pieces of Dekker will be found

6 DIVINITY.

Roger Ascham's prophecy abundantly fulfilled — by the dispersion of BIBLES for the admission of RO- MANCES.* These are mischievous results, and should be avoided.

Without further preface, therefore, I proceed to the recommendation of those books in which the WORD of GOD, or the Sacred Text, is contained with every pos- sible advantage bestowed upon it from the piety, learning, and research of man. Of course, I speak of Editions of the BIBLE. And first of

POLYGLOT BIBLES.

These have been always considered as the founda- tion stones of a theological collection ; but the ordi- nary Collector will do well to rest satisfied with the possession of two, out of the four, of such publications of Holy Writ : namely, with the Jirst Polyglot Bible, published at Cicala, in 1514-22; 6 vols. folio; and with the fourth, published at London in 1657, in the

in the " Catalogue of the singular and curious Library of Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstoun" sold by auction by Mr. Cochrane in 1816 : see nos. 771-777. Mr. Heber possesses, I believe, the most com- plete collection of the works of this coarse, but clever, writer.

* Ascham's words are these : — " I know when God's Bible was banished the court, and La Morte $ Arthur e received into the Prince's chamber." The worthy Ascham is most vehement against this Romance, which has lately been twice reprinted in a duodecimo form, with cuts. Of this reprint, all the exceptionable passages are omitted in one edition j in the other they are retained : — and, shame to say ! this latter is the more saleable impression. A little before, Ascham says, " Ten Sermons at Paule's Crosse do not so much good for moving men to true doctrine, as one of those books do harm, with inticing men to ill living." Schoolmaster ; by Bennett, 4to. p. 253-4.

POLYGLOT BIBLES. 7

same number of volumes, of which the famous BRIAN WALTON was the principal editor.* The Lexicon of

* Of the Polyglot of CARDINAL XIMENES, there are three copies printed UPON VELLUM : one is in the Vatican, and one was formerly in the library of the Capuchins of Montefiascone : the third, formerly belonging to the Cardinal himself, and which was more recently in the collections of Pinelli and Count Macarthy, is now in the library of George Hibbert, Esq. of Portland Place. Mr. Hibbert has dis- possessed it of the comparatively unappropriate binding in which it was clothed by De Rome, when in possession of the Count, and has clad it in a magnificent vestment of dark blue morocco, under the skilful hands of C. Lewis. It is barely possible to view these volumes without feeling a justifiable pride that they are the property of an Englishman. I should apprehend that the finest paper copy in the world, is that in the Royal Library at Paris. It had belonged to Henri II. and Diane de Poictiers.

Of the Polyglot of WALTON, the LARGE PAPER copies are so rare, that I have no recollection of the sale of one within the last twenty or even thirty years. But yet scarcer than these, is the large paper of the Lexicon of Castell. The history of the rise and progress of this matchless work is ably given by my friend the Rev. Mr. Todd, in his Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Right Rev. Brian Walton. 1821. 8vo. 2 vols. It is scarcely a twelvemonth ago, since I saw, at Mr. Lawford's, in Squibb's passage, a copy of the ordinary paper of Walton's Polyglot, with two or three extra heads, containing an original, circular Letter, prefixed, exhorting the public to an encou- ragement of the work, (see Todd's Mem. of Walton, vol. i. p. 49.) and signed by Walton, and other learned men. I think five guineas were demanded for this particular, and not incurious, document; and thirty guineas for the copy of the work exclusively. Mr. Payne in his last catalogue marks a fine copy at the same price. So does Mr. Bohn. Messrs. Longman and Co. mark a copy at e£21. : Cat. 1822, no. 5777- Messrs. Rivington and Cochran, at the moment of penning this, justly boast of possessing not fewer than eight copies of this Polyglot of Walton; a thing perhaps unparal- lelled in the annals of bibliopolism. Mr. Thorpe, in a recent cata- logue, marks a copy, containing BOTH THE PREFACEsf (the royal and

t A copy, more than perfect, necessarily supposes another copy less than perfect.

S DIVINITY.

Caatelt is an indispensable accompaniment of the lat- ter work.

And let him, if this cannot be obtained in its original and entire form, content himself with Michaelis's improved edition of the Syriac and Hebrew portions of it, put forth in 1788, in 2 folio volumes, which may be procured for somewhere about £2. Yet if, from motives of economy, or a want of opportunity, or of

the republican), at a£45: " a remarkably fine copy, very strong, and neatly bound in russia." But such a copy is not unique. Mr. Hibbert has a similar one, with the Original Dedication, and the rare addition of the ' ' original Advertisement ; " as copied by Mr. Todd, vol. i. p. 68. The rage for republican copies has a good deal, if not entirely, sub- sided j and I suspect that copies of this description are as common as those called royal copies. Even in the solitude of Worlingham, (the seat of the late Thomas Sparrow, Esq. in Suffolk) I discovered a republican copy, bound in blue morocco, and ruled with red lines ; which had once belonged to " P. de Cardonnel." The DEDICATION to King Charles II. is the really rare thing to possess ; and yet, what will be the surprise of the reader to learn, that this bibliographical keimelion, wanting in most of the large paper copies, is to be found in a copy, on small paper, in the library of Bamburgh Castle in Nor- thumberland'? * I am indebted to my young and ardent book-loving friend Mr. W. C. Trevelyan (of University College, Oxford) for this, and many other curious pieces of bibliographical-intelligence. I dis- covered, abroad, two copies with this original Dedication : one at Stuttgart, and the other in the library of the Arsenal at Paris.

Nor is it probable that the imperfect copy should be also the property of the Owner of the perfect copy — for who, in the possession of his senses, would inflict such pun- ishment upon so valuable a work as that of the Polyglot of Walton, for the mere capricious purpose of having another copy more than perfect ? Be this as it may, it is certain that, in the library of Salisbury Cathedral, there is a copy of this very Polyglot, with the portrait, frontispiece, preface, and prolegomena, CLEAN CUTAWAY. Such a frightful act of book-spoliation is, fortunately, rarely to be witnessed. It seems however not to have been of recent perpetration.

* This library, a most curious and valuable one, and of which there is a printed catalogue in. 4to. was bequeathed to the Castle by the late Dr. John Sharp, a pre- bendary of Durham, Archdeacon of Northumberland, &c. &c. He died in 1792. He was a magnificent character in every thing he did. But of him, hereafter.

POLYGLOT BIBLES. 9

curiosity, neither of the foregoing Polyglot Bibles be attainable,* I esteem him neither an incurious nor an unhappy Collector who shall have possessed himself

* Of course I pass by the Polyglot Bibles of PLANTIN, HUTTER, LE JAY, £c., as these are now considered to be purely secondary, if not almost entirely useless. But it may not be unacceptable to learn, that there did exist, and yet does exist, a copy of Plantin's exquisitely printed Polyglot, UPON VELLUM, in the library of the Duke of Savoy, at Turin. This copy was described by the Marquis Scipio Maffei, in his account of that library, in a letter to Apostolo Zeno. He described it as in eleven volumes 5 with the following inscription, in letters of gold, upon the cover of the first volume : " Emanueli Sabaud. Dud. Biblior. exemplar purum xi. torn, in Membr. Philippus II. Hispan. Rex Cognato ac^Fratrichariss. sacrum munus. MDLXXIII." Mem. of Literature, vol. v. p. 393. Another vellum copy is mention- ed in the Bibliog. Decameron^ vol. ii. 154. The Polyglot of Hutter, published in 1599, in six folio volumes, demands a more particular detail. I have already (Introd. to the Classics, vol.i. p. 31-3) noticed the contents, and the rarity, of a perfect copy of this singular work ; and Mr. Bohn, the bookseller, availing himself of the authorities I before referred to, naturally and pardonably, exults in the possession o; (f an uncommonly beautiful copy, elegantly bound in vellum complete in every particular" — which, in his last catalogue of 1820., no. 4397, he marks at e£35. As an apparent justification, Mr. Bohn adds that tf there does not appear to exist a single complete copy in any of the foreign public libraries j and in England, the one now submitted is decidedly UNIQUE." These are rather bold words to make public. No one, nor one score of men, can know what is, or is not, in all the foreign public libraries j and I make little doubt that Passau, Bamberg, Wurtzberg, and Nuremberg each contains a perfect copy of old Elias Hutter's many-tongued labours. In one of the places (I think it was at Bamberg or Wurtzberg) I was told, on quitting Nuremberg, that there was a church (of course not ap- plied to purposes of divine worship) WHOLLY FILLED WITH BOOKS — even to within a few feet of the roof ; and was not Hutter's Polyglot in all probability among them?

Nor can it with safety be said what is, or is not, in the numerous and richly stored libraries of England. When Hutter put forth his Polyglot, it was the dawn of biblical criticism in our country ; and

10 DIVINITY.

of the four -ton gued Bible* of Reineccius, published at Leipsic in 1750, in 3 folio volumes. But it is due to the enterpising spirit of Mr. Bagster, the bookseller, as well as to that of his learned coadjutors, to notice the commodious and highly useful Polyglot Bible, which has been recently published by him— in a variety of forms—in the Hebrew, Hebrew-Samaritan, Greek, Latin Vulgate, Syriac, and English texts. t

Of Bibles published in a separate language, I shall proceed to give a list, in the order in which they appeared in print.

many would have been eager to possess his work. We had mighty men, in every way, even at that time, engaged in the study and dis- semination of the SACRED TEXT. The mid-day effulgence of such labours appeared in the Polyglot of Brian Walton. Mr. Bohn marks a copy of the Paris Polyglot of 1649, at £9,1. Let " the young " and ' ' the old " beware how they purchase a copy at Paris, either in the Boulevards or Quai des Augustins, for one half of that sum — if it be to be imported into England !

* Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and German : the Hebrew has Schmid's Latin version — the Greek is from Grabe's edition of the Alexandrine MS. and the German is from the last revision of Luther's text by Luther himself in 1544-5.

f A great number of copies of this Bible — printed with stereotype plates, — was destroyed in a fire which consumed the whole of Mr. Bagster's premises in Paternoster- row in the year 1822. The plates, however, were preserved. A good account of the plan of this Poly- glot may be seen in Mr. Todd's Biography of Walton, vol. i. 335-9. At the same time was published the Liturgy of the Church of Eng- land, in eight languages, to be sold and bound up with this Polyglot : in the same variety of forms.

11

BIBLES IN THE LATIN AND OTHER LANGUAGES.

I must begin by advising, upon this and every other department of literature, whether sacred or profane, that the Collector always procure, when practicable, the FIRST EDITION of every work of importance and popularity. But it will frequently happen that, of some works, even of the highest importance, there will be strong doubts about its first appearance in print ; and when, in the absence of a positive date, we are compelled to judge of its priority from collateral cir- cumstances. Thus, in the very department at present under consideration, we have only collateral, but most indisputable, evidence of the earliest edition of the SACRED TEXT — not only in the Latin, but in any other, language. That first edition is assuredly the impres- sion printed in a large, square, gothic type, of which I have already published a fac-simile,* and which distinguishes this Bible, vulgarly called the Mazarine Bible^ on account of a copy of it being found by De Bure in the library of the famous Cardinal Mazarin, betterknown as the Bibliotheque des Quatre Nations J attached to the Institute of France. The " collateral but indisputable evidence" is this. The edition is destitute of a printed date. Some, in consequence, supposed it to be as old as the year 1440 ; and others,

* Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 3-6.

f The bibliographical history of this Bible may be said to be well nigh exhausted in a Disquisition published upon it in Mr. Valpy's Classical Journal, vol. iv. p. 471-484.

% See this identical copy described in the Bibliographical Tour, vol. ii. p. 364-5.

12 DIVINITY.

1450. At length two copies were found in the Royal Library of France ; one upon paper, the other UPON VELLUM : * upon the margin of the paper copy was an inscription, in the hand writing of the time, purporting that copy to have been " illuminated, bound, and per- fected by Henry Cremer, vicar of the Collegiate Church of St. Stephen of Mentz, in the year 1456, on the feast of the Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary"

From this evidence, it is clear that the Bible in question was printed in the year 1456 ; and it is pro- bable that it was printed in the preceding year. It is possible even that it may have been printed in 1450. Indeed, from the testimony of Ulric Zel, detailed in the Cologne Chronicle of 1499/t* it is most probable that this was the very Bible which they began to print " in the Jubilee year of 1450." At least, there is no other ancient Bible which so completely answers to the description therein given, as the present. It fol- lows, therefore, that this is not only the first edition of the Sacred Text, in ANY language, but that it is the VERy FIRST BOOK printed with metal types. Those, who have not seen it, can form little notion of the beauty and regularity of the press work, and of the magnificent appearance of the volumes. They exhibit a masterpiece of art, and a miracle in their way ; shewing that the infancy and maturity of the art of printing were almost simultaneous. I am both prompt and proud to record, that no country in the world

* Both these copies are noticed in the Tour, vol. ii. p. 253-5.

f This is a very uncommon book — even in Germany. An accouut of it, together with a translation of the passage relating to the above Bible, will be found in theBibl. Spenceriana, vol. iii, p. 281-4.

LATIN BIBLES. 13

contains more, if so many copies,, of it — as our own: while that, UPON VELLUM, in the possession of Mr. George Nicol, bookseller to his late Majesty, is the admiration and envy of Collectors.*

In purchasing this impression, the Collector is quite sure to have the Editio Princeps of the Sacred Text in the Latin tongue. The version is the VULGATE, or that of which St. Jerom is allowed to be the author. Of the most ancient, or Italic version, this is not the place to say any thing. A fine copy of this first im- pression of the Vulgate Text may be worth a hundred guineas ; but it has been recently pushed to sixty guineas beyond that sum.t A yet rarer Bible than the Mazarine — and published indisputably before that with the printed date of 1462 — is the one, executed in a yet larger character than the preceding, which is supposed to have been printed by PFISTER at Bamberg about the year 1460. I have before entered so fully into the bibliographical history of this exceedingly rare impression, ^ adding a fae-simile of the commence-

* It may surprise foreigners, and even Mr. Ebert, of Dresden, him- self, that I should call this book by no means of the first degree of rarity. A copy, upon paper, will be found in the Bodleian library ; and in the private collections of the King, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Devonshire, Earl Spencer, Sir G. Shuckboro', Sir M. M. Sykes, Mr. G. Hibbert, Mr. Fuller, and Mr. John Lloyd : UPON VELLUM, it will be found in the library of the Rt. Hon. T. Grenville (from the Macarthy collection) and in that of Mr. G. Nicol. But none of these copies, to the best of my recollection, contain the two leaves of a table, or rubrics, which are noticed in the Public Library at Munich : see Jowr, vol. iii. p. 28?. It is rather surprising to find no copy of this important edition in the British Museum. The fac- similes of the type of this Bible, in Masch, scarcely deserve that de- signation.

f The copy belonging to the late Mr. James Perry was purchased by His R. H. the Duke of Sussex for 16O guineas.

J Bibl Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 7-1O. With the exception of a second

14 DIVINITY.

ment of the first chapter of Genesis, that nothing further upon the subject is necessary to be here ad- vanced : except that, we may be quite confident of the date of this Bible being 1461, at latest — from a coeval inscription, in the same numbers, in a copy of it which belonged to Lord Oxford, and which is now in the Royal Library at Paris.*

I now come to the mention of the favourite early impression of the Bible, among collectors, with the first PRINTED DATE subjoined. I mean, the edition put forth by Fust and Sckoiffher at Mentz, in the year 1462. This edition exhibits a matchless effort of the art of printing ; and is, with one slight exception, the earliest specimen of those printers' largest secretary gothic type. It is usually found UPON VELLUM ; and I think I may venture to say that I have seen, abroad and at home, nearer thirty than twenty copies of it. Upon paper, it is of rarer occurrence ; but a fine copy upon vellum is worth at least double one upon paper. The Collector may fearlessly advance a hun- dred guineas for a fine and perfect membranaceous copy.t From the year 1462 to the end of the Fif-

copy, in the Royal Library, I know of no other copy of this very rare impression in the country.

* Tour, vol. ii. p. 255.

f Among the finest copies of this celebrated Bible UPON VELLUM • — I speak ocly of such as I have seen — are those in the Cracherode, Spencer, Cassano (the Spencer-duplicate), Sykes, Hibbert, Lloyd, and Watson Taylor Collections. The Cracherode copy is in the British Museum. Lord Spencer's is very large, but not so white as was the Duke di Cassano's copy — purchased by his Lordship, and sold at the memorable sale of his duplicates in 1821. Messrs. Payne and Foss were the purchasers of this copy, and I find it marked by them at the reasonable sum of «£l30. in their catalogue of 1822, no. 4708, Mr. John Lloyd is in possession of Mr. Edwards's copy, and

LATIN BIBLES. 15

teenth Century, the editions of the Latin Bible may be considered, literally, as innumerable ; and, generally speaking, only a repetition of the same text. I there- fore do not recommend a useless and interminable labour in collecting editions merely because they happen to be printed before the year 1470 or 1480 : but two exceptions may be made in a pursuit of this kind. First, although these earlier editions are en- tirely divested of critical annotations,, and the text of one year seems to be only a reimpression of that of the preceding year, yet it may be as well to collect such impressions of the same text asjirst appeared in the several 'countries in Europe.* And, secondly, it is almost essential to the character of a well-chosen biblical collection to have thejirst Latin version from the Hebrew Text — and a first similar version from the Greek Text ; each in contradistinction to the Latin Vulgate. These impressions are called " Fon- tibus ex Greeds " and " Fontibus ex Hebrceis. " The former first appeared in 1479 ; the latter in 1696.

To give an account of the various critical editions of the Latin Vulgate in the Sixteenth and following centuries, would alone fill a large octavo volume. Passing by the editions of Pagninus and Servetus (the latter under the name of Villanovanus) I shall introduce the biblical Collector at once to those of

Mr. Watson Taylor may well rejoice in being the owner of that which had belonged to Gaignat, and afterwards to Count Macarthy. All these BIBLICAL GEMS, as well as those in the Marlborough and Pembroke libraries, are upon vellum. The Duke of Devonshire possesses a copy, which had belonged to the late Bishop of Ely, upon paper. A similar copy is in the Bodleian Library, and another in that at Blickling in Suffolk. This latter was Marchand's.

* As thus : at Mentz, 1455 -, at Bamberg, 1461 j at Rome, 1471 j Venice, 1476; Naples, 1476; in Bohemia, 1488 -, in Poland, 1563;

16 DIVINITY.

datable, and thedldine editions of 1590 and 1592; the admirable critical labours of Le Clerc, in the edition of 1735, 7 vols. folio; and the yet more curious and probably more important impression of Sabatier, in 1743, 3 volumes folio.* In our own country, we have

in Iceland, 1551 ; in Russia, 1581 ; in France, 1475 ; in Holland, 1477; in England, 1535; in Spain, 1477-

* See the JEdes Althorpiance, vol. i. p. 49. Lord Spencer possesses a copy of the first edition of the version of Pagninus (from the Hebrew and Greekoriginal texts) of the date of 1528, 4to., which had belonged to Melanchthon, and which has a passage, in the fly-leaf, (from Gregory Nazianzen) — in the hand writing of that celebrated reformer, thus : f{ Yloiv TO xoclopQovpisvov Trotpcx, fleou Ifi, SeSorai §g TO/J xaAouj&evoif xa» «7a; veuoixri : scriptu manu Philippi." The reader may consult Mr. Townley's Illustrations of Biblical Literature, vol. ii. p. 215, &c. Of the Bible of Servetus, a (( fine copy in blue turkey " is marked at s£4. 4s. in Mr. Triphook's Catalogue of 1817. But see Old Memoirs of Literature, vol. iv. p. 329. The Aldine editions of 1590 and 1592, in folio, are called after the name of Pope Sixtus V. and were supposed to exhibit the STANDARD VULGATE TEXT. They are chiefly estimable on large paper ; in which state they still lift up their heads. At the sale of the library of the Marquis of Lansdown, in 18O6, a copy of this kind was omitted to be so designated ; and the late Dr. Gosset bought it, for his friend (the late) Mr. Taylor, for about 10s. 6d. The Doctor had too keen an eye to let such a treasure escape. On the death of Mr. Taylor, in 1821, his books were sold by auction, and this very copy was again described as of the ordi- nary paper. In consequence, it was purchased for a comparative trifle by Mr. I. Payne, and now adorns the library of SirM. M. Sykes, at a price about sixty times beyond the first purchase. The Duke of Grafton's copy, of the same kind, properly designated, was sold for a£38. At Chatsworth, the Bible of 1 590 is upon small paper, and rather an indifferent copy : but of that of 1592 there is a fine large paper copy, bound in blue morocco. At Althorp, there is a fine copy of each upon large paper: see JEdes Althorp. vol. i. p. 52 -, — and consult p. 55 for an account of Sabatier's edition, above lauded.

t Melanchthon appears to have quoted from memory — as he has omitted the article TQIS before ovra. The passage occurs in the xxxist Oration. Ed. 1609 j vol. i. p. 504.

LATIN BIBLES. 17

no edition which may vie with the beautiful one printed by Didot in 1785, 2 vols. 4to., and dedicated to the French Church. I have purposely avoided the mention of very many curious, beautiful, and much sought- after impressions of the Latin Vulgate, in various forms, and various types — which have been put forth by the Stephens, Gryphii, Elzevirs* and other conti- nental printers ; nor will I stop to enquire whether, or not, there be a copy of what is called Cardinal Rich- lieu s Bible (of 1656, 8vo.) printed UPON VELLUM — as there would be no limits to the notices, and anecdotes which might be engrafted upon this fruitful branch of our enquiries. f It is sufficient that, in what has been laid down as certain data to act upon, neither the Reader nor the Collector will find his labour, or his money, ill bestowed in forming his judgment accord- ingly.

Father Bukintop published an explanation of ambiguous expressions and doubtful readings in this Vulgate Bible of 1590, at Cologne, in 1710, 4to.

* Most of these will be found noticed in the pages of the work last referred to. It may, however, seem surprising that, in the work recently published upon the Elzevir press (Essai Eibliographique sur les Editions des Elzevirs) at Paris, 1822, Svo. no notice should be taken of the magnificent folio impression of the French Bible by Louis and Daniel Elzevir, in 1669, 2 vols. folio. Perhaps the finest copy of this book in the world, is in the Althorp Library. It is on large paper, and had been Lamoignon's. But it is not very rare upon large paper; and a copy of this kind will be found in the library at Worlingham, (see p 8,) very fair, and fine. Abroad, it is rather of common occurrence, in most public libraries.

f I may here however remark, that the Edinburgh edition of the English Bible, of 1811, 12mo., is, when found upon LARGE PAPER, a much more beautiful book than the above vaunted diamond letter Bible of Richlieu. But those will be fortunate who get this Edin- burgh edition upon large paper, as only twenty- five copies were printed. Earl Spencer's copy was obtained of Mr. Triphook.

C

18 DIVINITY.

The earliest printed version of the Scriptures, after that of the Latin, was the GERMAN version; of which the two first editions were published without dates. Of these, the impression supposed to be by Mentelin is anterior to the other. They have both been before particularly described by me. On the possession of the one or the other of these impressions, let the Col- lector go immediately to the supposed best edition of Luther's version, in 1541 ; considering the interme- diate impressions as rather curious than necessary — not but what the possession of the FIRST editions* of such an extraordinary writer as Luther will always compensate for the trouble or delay that may attend their acquisition.

After the German versions of the Scriptures, ap- peared those of the ITALIAN, within probably a very few years of each other. I am strenuous and earnest

* It is somewhat difficult to ascertain with precision the date of the first impression of Luther's text 5 but I presume that, whatever be the earliest date of the New Testament, the Old Testament did not appear before 1524 : see Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 58 : and Bibliog. Decameron, vol. i. p. 164. In the latter authority will be found some particulars about the earlier Bibles, and of that of 1541. Mr. Townley has availed himself of the authorities there referred to, and adds (what is singular enough) from Adler's Biblioth. Bibl. p. 12, that, in a copy of Luther's Bible of 1545 appear some ms. notes of the same Reformers who had written in the extraordinary copy of the above edition of 1541, which now graces the shelves of Mr. G. Hib- bert's library. Illustrations of Biblical Literature, vol. ii. p. 282. Perhaps there is hardly an impression of Luther's version, but of which some few copies may not be found printed UPON VELLUM. I observe a copy of the New Testament, printed in this manner at Augsburg, in 1535, Svo. 2 vols., marked at £5. in black morocco binding, in Mr. Triphook's Catalogue of 1815. This was the copy which is now in Lord Spencer's collection. JEdes Althorp. vol. i. page 117.

ITALIAN BIBLES. 19

about the recommendation of one or the other of these early versions ; not so much on account of their rarity, which is great — especially when in a fine condition — as that they will afford an additional proof (if any were wanting) of the suavity and perfection of the Italian language at the period when these impressions were executed. The translator was MALHERBI,* who deserves as well of sacred literature, as Boccaccio does of the belles-lettres. In the sixteenth and seven- teenth centuries, the Collector will rest satisfied with the best editions of the versions and commentaries of BRUCCIOLI, 1546, fol. 3 vols. : and DIODATI, 1607, fol.;

* This requires qualification 5 for it is, and is not, true. There were three editions of the Italian version of the Bible put forth in the same year, viz. in 1471. The version published in October, at Rome, is not the same as are those which were published in August and September, at Venice. The text of the two latter was by Nicolo di Malherbi, or Malermi, a Benedictin Monk, and abbot of St. Michael de Lemo. The author of the text of the Roman edition is not, I believe, very accurately known. Consult the Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 63-7 j where will also be found a specimen of this Roman text. Of the two Venetian editions, that of August is much the rarer. A copy of it is described in the Mdes dlthorpiance, vol. ii. p. 44. : but in the collection of Count Melzi, at Milan, there is a magnificent copy UPON VELLUM — which may be ranked among the scarcest and most desirable books in the world. And yet, were the paper copy at Stuttgart perfect, his Majesty of Wirtemberg need not breathe one sigh for the possession even of this membranaceous treasure. The praises of Malermi, the translator, are thus chanted at the end of the colophon of this August edition, printed by V, de Spira :

O interprete uiril che per diuino inzegno credo che tu il translatasti non mai diuiso al testual chamino Ormai ciaschun aquesti gientil pasti se po inuitar di la sacra scriptura per chui il ben sale et gli uicii sou guasti Oosci ealendo a la diuina altura.

20 DIVINITY.

and in the eighteenth century, with that of MARTINI, 1776, in 23 vols. 8vo.

Pursuing the chronological order, I must now make mention of a few impressions of the Bible in the HEBREW LANGUAGE, of which the earliest of any por- tion appeared in 1477, in a quarto edition of the Psalter with the commentary of Kimchi.* About five years afterwards, an edition of the Pentateuch with the commentary of Solomon Jarchi, was put forth at Bologna, in a handsome folio volume ;f and this was

* This is considered to be the FIRST BOOK printed in the Hebrew language : a specimen of Hebrew characters (evidently cut in wood) may be seen, as published two years before, in the work of Petrus Niger Contra Judceos, printed by Fyner, at Eislingen, on consulting the BibL Spencer, vol. iii. p. 432-3. The only copy of this rare Psalter noticed by Brunet is that in the Crevenna collection — now, I believe, in the Auctarium of the Bodleian library. Mr. Home, in his truly valuable Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, vol. ii. p. 118, appears to borrow his description of this Psalter from Masch, vol. i. p. 142 : who, in turn, seems to rely upon De Rossi. This Psalter was reprinted at Naples in 1487, folio.

f That is, in the year 1482. Lord Spencer, who has recently enriched his library with many choice specimens of early Hebrew printing, is in possession of a magnificent copy of this edition of the Pentateuch, printed UPON VELLUM, and bound in blue morocco by C. Lewis. It was purchased of Mr. Baynes, bookseller, for £18. 185 j but on its being found to be imperfect, from collation with a perfect copy in the RatclifFe library at Oxford, the price was diminished j <and the imperfections (2 leaves) were supplied by a fac-simile, by Mr. Harris, executed in a manner so completely satisfactory as almost to deceive the most experienced eye. See the JEdes Althorp- iante, vol. ii. p. 316-8 : where a full description of the volume may be found. But a tale of bibliomaniacal melancholy belongs to this sumptuous book. It had been purchased abroad by Sir M. M. Sykes, Bart. ; and was consigned, with many other precious books, so pur- chased, to the port of Hull, in Yorkshire. The freight was paid. Unluckily, the direction (upon a card) had been rubbed off. The

HEBREW BIBLES. 21

succeeded by separate impressions of remaining por- tions of the Sacred Text in 1486 and 1487; till at length the whole Bible appeared in one distinct pub- lication at Soncino in the year 1488.* It is unneces- sary to enumerate the remaining impressions in the fifteenth century ; as Masch and De Rossi haxe ex- hausted the subject in their several valuable publica- tions : only it may be permitted me to observe, that, of all the impressions here briefly noticed, that of

consignee of the case of books being unknown, Government stepped in and claimed the precious cargo for payment of duties. The books were in consequence sold by public auction at the Custom House j and Mr. Baynes, almost by mere chance, became the purchaser of this and of several other similar treasures, at comparatively moderate prices. It would be distressing to make mention, however slightly, of a few of these "other treasures:" but when Sir Mark Sykes arrived in London, about a twelvemonth after the sale in question, he learnt and bore the particulars of this sad story with the heroism of a true Roxburghe-Club Knight. Note : — I have erroneously said, in the authority last referred to, that Mr. Ogle was the purchaser from whom Lord Spencer obtained the copy. It was Mr. Baynes.

* Masch has exhausted the bibliographical history of this wonder- fully rare book : of which, I believe, there are only the two copies, (above mentioned,) in England : but neither of them are upon vellum. Two copies are mentioned by Masch as being at Rome, and one in the Laurentian library at Florence. Tychsenius,, in his Tentamen (a sort of critical reply to the ' Dissertatio ' of Kennicott) accuses this first edition of containing many grievous errors of omission and commis- sion— from which Masch judiciously infers that we must maintain a sort of medium in our judgments upon it : neither to prize it too, highly or too low — " for that, like almost all Greek and Latin books, of early printing, it has its advantages and defects." Bibl. Sacra, Part I. p. 5-7- This edition seems so have been reprinted at Brescia, in 8vo., 1494 ; but " who is the happy man " to be congra- tulated on the acquisition of this reprint ? Masch' s account of it must put the curious, in early Hebrew lore, into a perfect state of delirium. Well might the late Bishop of Ely often exclaim, " these early Brescia books are of the extremes! rarity and value 1"

22 DIVINITY.

Soncino is by far the scarcest, and perhaps most valu- able. I believe there are only two copies known to exist in this country ; of which that in the Bodleian library was the Crevenna copy, as described by Brunet. The second is in the library of Exeter college, Oxford. No copy of it is known in France ; so that I saw and described, with no ordinary sensations of gratifica- tion, the copy which adorns the shelves of the Imperial library at Vienna.*

The great Star of Hebrew printers in the sixteenth century was Daniel Bomberg, a native of Antwerp, and resident of Venice. His editions of the Bible, with the Targums and Rabbinical Commentaries, are considered to be of great intrinsic value ; especially his third edition of 1547-9, in four folio volumes/-}- But let the Stephens come in for their due share of praise ; and especially the famous R. Stephen, father of the

* See the Tour, vol. iii. p. 486-8. The copy there described " had had a journey to Paris, and gained a coat of blue morocco by the trip." It is a clean and beautiful copy, but rather cropt in the binding.

f Mr. Townley, in his Illustrations of Biblical Literature, vol. iL p, 467, has given a short but animated and interesting account of the above early te Star of Hebrew printers. " Bomberg's first edi- tion was in 1518 j but afterwards, much improved, in 1525, in four folio volumes. " A still more ample and complete edition was printed by him in 1547-9, four vols. folio, under the inspection of Cornelius Adelkind, another erudite Jew, with a curious preface by the editor of the edition of 1525 — Jacob ben Chain — of which a Latin translation is given in Kennicott's Dissertation, on the state of the printed Hebrew text, 1759, 8vo. pp. 229-244. Dr. Adam Clarke (Gen. Pref. to Comment, p. iv.) characterises this edition, of 1547, as the most useful, the most correct, and the most valuable Hebrew Bible ever published." Townley. It seems to have been overlooked by Brunet. A copy of it is marked in Messrs. Ogle and Duncan's last catalogue (no. 2189) at 14 L 14s. , in russia.

HEBREW BIBLES. 23

learned Lexicographer, who, in his quarto and duo- decimo impressions of the Hebrew Bible, presented the theological world with welcome gifts.*

I pass over those impressions of the Hebrew text which appeared in the several Polyglots of the six- teenth and seventeenth centuries, and conclude this summary list with the recommendation of three, in the eighteenth century, which are entitled to distin- guished praise : that of Michaelis of 1720, in two vols. 4 to. : of Houbigant, of 1753, in four vols. folio ; and especially that of the immortal Kennicott of 1776, in two folio volumes, pronounced to be, by one of the most wary of German critics, " a first rate, and even unique ornament of a theological collection." But yet I will not quarrel with that student or collector, be he young or old, who shall be disposed to add to the foregoing the quarto impression of the recent labours.

* The dates and forms of the Stephanine Hebrew Bibles, above alluded to, are these : in 1543., 4to. in two or three volumes -— with points : and in the following year in seven or eight volumes, sexto- decimo. Of the former, or quarto impression, I find a " fine copy, in morocco, gilt leaves, ruled," marked at Si 3s. in Mr. Payne's last catalogue, no. 4803. Of the latter, " a copy in fine condition, bound by Roger Payne, in blue morocco, with gilt leaves," is marked at 41. 16s. by Mr. Triphook, in his catalogue for 1819, no. 1503. De Bure and Brunet have dwelt with commendable complacency upon the beautiful execution of these covetable volumes, in both forms.

f I will mention the current prices for which these editions may be obtained. Michaelis may be bought for about ll. 15s. ; but, on large paper, in 4to. the catalogues of Mr. Payne and Mr. Ogle concur in affix- ing double that price. A copy of the latter kind is described in the JEdes Althorp. vol. i. p. 41. Houbigant's Hebrew Bible is the dearest of any. It has been known to bring 12 1. 12s., even at an auction •, which should seem to justify Messrs. Payne andFoss in marking " a. new and very neat " copy of it at 14Z. 14$.

24 DIVINITY.

Considering the number of Greek works which appeared towards the latter end of the fifteenth, and the very commencement of the sixteenth, century, it may be thought rather a matter of surprise that no GREEK version of the Scriptures was published till nearly the Japse of the first twenty years in the latter century. But so it is. If we except the Greek New Testament of Erasmus, and of the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, each in the year 1516,* the Sacred

Of Kennicott's edition, I believe no copy is known to exist upon large paper. It may be obtained in sound condition, and according to the binding, from 7 1. Is. to IQl. 10s. Whoever chooses to see the merits and demerits (the latter word, however, hardly deserving of a place here) of the labours of Kennicott fairly appreciated, may con- sult Bishop Marsh's XI th Lecture ; but Kennicott's own Dissertation upon the state of the Hebrew text, with his annual accounts, are a fund of theological learning. To these may be added the pam- phlets of Gifford and King, and the letters of the Abbe de * * * * as well as Kennicott's remarks on Select Passages, &c., and eight Sermons, 1787, 8vo. See Thorpe's cat. 1822, nos 13019-13029. Of Jahrfs edition, in four Svo volumes, a sewed copy is marked at 2/. 12s. 6d. in the catalogue of Messrs. Ogle, Duncan, and Co. Lord Spencer possesses it upon LARGE PAPER. It was edited and re- published by Prey in 1812, Svo. two vol. But do not let me forget to entice " the young" Collector to give Leusdens beautiful little edition, in 1701, crown Svo. a place in his travelling trunk. Nor, aspiring to the more solid and essential purposes of information, should Mr. Boothroyds cheap and admirable edition of the Hebrew Bible — without points — and accompanied by critical and explanatory notes in the English language — in two 4to. volumes, in 1816— be omitted to be strongly recommended to the diligent and truth search- ing student. Mr. Home has dilated somewhat upon the utility of this edition. Introduction, &c. vol. ii. p. 130.

* It is not often that the New Testament, alone, of Cardinal Ximenes' Polyglot is found upon sale. I once, however, had a copy of it, with the edges almost uncut : and in Mr. Payne's last catalogue, (no. 4719) will be found a " very fine copy, in blue morocco bind- jng, gilt leaves," marked at 10/. 10*. Such a sum maybe worse

GREEK BIBLES. 25

text was unknown as printed in the Greek language till the appearance of the Septuagint of Aldus, or rather of Andreas Asulanus, in 1518, folio ; a noble effort of the Aldine press, and a great acquisition to the cause of sacred literature. There are copies of this handsome book upon thick paper, but none upon LARGE paper ; and one copy only, UPON VELLUM, is recorded by Ilenouard, which is in the Vatican library. As to critical editions of the Greek Bible, and more especially of the Old Testament, I recommend those ofZanetti, 1586, folio ; Grabe, 1707, folio ; Bos, 1709, 4to. ; and Holmes, 1797 ; — the latter now in the course of publication.* Of all these, that of the late Dr.

devoted. To the best of my recollection, there is no copy of the first edition of Erasmus UPON VELLUM : of the second, there are, I think, three copies of such description. One is at Basle, the other is in the library of York Minster, and a third (recently obtained) is the property of Sir M. M. Sykes, Bart. This third copy wants the second volume, which has the Latin annotations ; but the Sacred Text is complete. It is in pristine binding and pristine condition : quite beau- tiful. What is singular, it had lain twenty years upon the shelves of a Leipsic bookseller, unpurchased — till Sir Mark, in his late tour upon the Continent, secured it for the very moderate sum of 2OZ. This may be considered as a consoling set off against the vexation re- corded at page 2 1 , ante.

* The reader may be pleased to consult the Introd. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 36, for an account of the comparative critical worth of these editions. Beautiful copies of each will be found in the AL- THORP collection 5 and especially of that truly splendid impression put forth by Zanetti, under the editorial care of Cardinal Caraffa, in 1586. I may here just make brief mention of the fine Latin Bible, printed under the same Cardinal's auspices, in 1588, as a companion to the preceding — if it be only to notice the beautiful copy of it in the library at Chatsworth, in red morocco, which had belonged to DE THOU. It is not, however, on large paper, nor do I remember any copies that are. The edition of Holmes was omitted to be noticed in the work just referred to. There have been about eigh- teen parts, at 1 1. Is. each part, already published : forming three

26 DIVINITY.

Holmes is doubtless the most critical and valuable, as well as the most elaborate. But the want of a pocket Greek Bible, with the text of Bos or of Breitinger, * is yet a desideratum ; unless we except what has recently appeared as a portion of Mr. Bagster's Polyglot Bible ~and a yet more recent impression, executed at Glas- gow, " Typis Academicis ;" a beautiful little church- pew or pocket companion.

The Bible did not appear in the French language till the year 1530 ;f although, about twenty or thirty years before, there might have been portions incorpo- rated into a work called La Bible Historiee. But the first French Protestant Version was not published till 1535, the very year in which appeared our own first version of the Old and New Testaments. I confess that I am anxious that a copy of each of these well-printed, and by no means high priced, volumes — may adorn the shelves of a well-chosen library. As to subsequent impressions in the same tongue, and with the Roman Catholic text, the studious may rest well contented with the excellent edition, in French and Latin, pub- lished at Toulouse in 1779, 8vo. in nineteen vols. ; and of which a beautiful reprint is now in the course of

volumes in folio. See Bishop Marsh's Xllth. Lecture, for a character of this publication.

* Of the edition of Breitinger, which is careful and correct, a copy was sold at the sale of the late Dr. Gosset's library, (A. D. 1813, no. 741) with the ms. notes of Caesar de Missy, for 41. Us.

f By Martin Lempereur, in folio. I should rather have said, that the first French edition of the Old Testament appeared in 1523, 12mo. and of the New, in 1477* or thereabouts. See the authorities in the JEdes Althorp. vol; i. p. 57. Of the above edition, printed at Ant- werp, in folio, I find a ' ' neat copy " marked at 9,1. 2s. in Mr. Trip- hook's catalogue of 1808 5 and a copy of an edition in the following year, printed at Lyons, in folio, marked at the same price. I never saw this latter edition. Martin Lempereur republished his Bible of

ENGLISH BIBLES. 27

publication.* I consider this latter production as an almost sine qud non in a library more especially theological.

It is with feelings of no ordinary gratification that I now come to the mention of our own printed ver- sion of the SACRED TEXT; and if I am here rather more diffuse than in the enumeration of the foregoing versions. I hope to be readily pardoned. First and foremost, let " the Young Man/' — especially if he be destined for holy orders, — get possession of every au- thentic piece from the pens of TYNDAL and COVER- DALE ;-f" whether they exhibit, or not, the previous

1530, in 1538 ; and if I were called upon to mention, from memory, the finest copy of this latter Bible ever seen by me, I should say it was in the library at Worlingham, in Suffolk : see p; 8, ante. This copy is in fine original stamped calf binding, clean and sound throughout : and is surely upon large paper, if large paper there be!

* I sincerely hope that the day is not far distant, when the quarto Bible of Drs. D'Oyly and Mant may be reprinted in six or eight goodly octavo tomes, of respectable execution, to range with the above mentioned edition, or with similar sized impressions of the works of our eminent Divines. What a comfort it was to the pro- fession of the LAW, when Bacon and Comyns made their appearance in royal octavos !

f I am not sure whether the names of FRITH and BARNES ought not to be added to the above. Indeed the works of Tyndal, Frith, and Barnes, were published together in one folio volume in 1573 : see Typog. Antiquities, vol. iv. p. 430. I possess copious MS. ex- tracts from this precious volume 5 and once possessed a fresh and fair copy of it, divided into two parts, and bound in old yellow mo- rocco, which was obtained from Mr. R. Triphook. But from the extracts which remain, I cannot refrain from giving the reader the following specimen of BARNES — from his ee Articles condemned for Heresie." The concluding sentence is glorious !

<f The Bishop of London, that was then called TUNSTALL, after my departure out of prison, said unto a substantial man, that I was

28 DIVINITY.

labours of Wicliffe. Champions, as the two former were, of our early church, during the more critical period of her struggles with the see of Rome, they yet stand out . . as " burning and shining lights". . whose radiance ought to illuminate our understandings, and whose warmth ought to penetrate our hearts. But for THEM and THEIR LABOURS, the examples of Cran- mer and Latimer had been unproductive of a glori- ous issue. The seed, sown by their editions of the sacred text, was watered with the blood of our first Martyrs ; and has hence grown up into a goodly tree, whose boughs have overspread the land, and whose fruit hath nourished the fainting soul. Let such names, among ourselves, be held in the same reve- rence and respect as are those of LUTHER and ME- LANCHTHON among our neighbours !

To come to particulars. The New Testament was

not dead (for I dare say his conscience did not reckon me such an heretic that I would have killed myself, as the voice went -, but yet would he have done it gladly of his charity) but I was (said he) in Amsterdam ; where I had never been in my life (as God knoweth, nor yet in the country this x years) — and certain men did there speak with me (said he) — and he fained certain words that they should say to me, and I to them j and added thereunto, that my Lord Cardinal [WOLSEY] would have me again, or it should cost him a great sum of money — how much, I do not clearly remember. I have marvel that niy Lord is not ashamed, thus shamefully, and thus lordly, to lye, although he might do it by authority. And when my Lord Cardinal and he would spend so much money to have me again, I have great marvel of it. What can they make of me ? I am a simple poor wretch, and worth no man's money in the world (saving their's) —not the tenth penny that they will give for me. And to burn me., or to destroy me, cannot so greatly profit them : for when I am dead, the sun and the moon, the stars and the elements, water and fire, yea, and also stones, shall defend this cause against them., rather

than THE VERITY SHOULD PERISH1." p. 215.

The following is from his " Priests may lawfully marry Wives:" —

ENGLISH BIBLES. 29

first published, without a data, but about the year 1526, in a duodecimo volume. Having before * described the most perfect, but not, as hitherto supposed, the only, copy, of this inestimable volume, it remains to add, that, about four years afterwards (1530) appeared the Pentateuch in the same form — reprinted in 1534-f~ as an attempt, or prelude, as it were, to an edition of the entire sacred text, comprehending both Testaments. The completion of this arduous task was reserved for

te Upon a day St. Gregory sent unto his ponds for fish, and in the nets that they fished withall, were brought up above six thousand young children's heads : the which thing, when St. Gregory saw, struck him sore to the heart — and he was very heavy of that sight — and perceived anon, that his decree that he made for priests chas- tity, was the occasion of this great murder — in that the priests could not live sole, nor yet they durst not avow their children, for fear of the decree. And so for safeguard of their honesty, they fell into a fearful abominable sin to kill their own children." p. 328.

* Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i. p. 173-4. Dr. Cotton has found a portion of a second copy of this first edition, in the library of St. Paul's cathedral, which was lettered " Lant's Testament ;" and of which the leaves were misplaced in the binding. This book I have examined ; and, as the reader will suppose, with no small satisfaction — as the copy, although imperfect, (beginning with sign. A v) is fair and sound. But my satisfaction would have been greater, if the monitory MS. note, prefixed by Dr. Cotton, had been attended to. Such a volume should be rebound with every degree of care and beauty. It is at present in a most sorry state : a state, I will be bound to say, unknown to the Dean and Chapter. Not many feet from this precious little volume, there stands a rare impression of the New Tes- tament, translated into Dutch, and printed at Antwerp in 1553, 12mo. with neat little wood cuts, and a fine head of our Saviour in the frontispiece. As a specimen of printing, this book is peculiarly beautiful.

f In the library of St. Paul's cathedral, there is a beautiful and genuine copy of this second edition of Tindal's version of the Peota- teueh, in original calf binding, with stamped arabesque borders and heads.

SO DIVINITY.

Miles Coverdale, and the impression appeared in 1535, in a folio volume, printed in double columns, in a foreign secretary-gothic type — as, it is supposed, from the press of a Zurich printer. A perfect copy of this exceedingly rare, and proportionally estimable, vo- lume, is, I think, yet unknown : as all those, of which I have any knowledge, are deficient in some one re- spect or other,*

This holy and most desirable work being accomplish- ed, it wanted not imitators and abettors. Coverdale's book was reprinted, with more or less trifling correc- tions and additions, in 1537, 1539, 1540 ; and yet more magnificently in 1568/f- The Bibles, of these dates,

* A particular description of this rare and highly valuable book will be found in the Biblioth. Spencer, vol. 1. p. 78, and in Cotton, p. S-ll 1. See also the Mdes Althorpiana, vol. i. p. 61. Imperfect copies are by no means very uncommon. In that most curious and magnificent old library at Blickling, in Norfolk, the seat of the Noble Family of the SUFFIELDS, there are two copies of this description j of which one begins with fol. iii. of the Old Testament, having the remainder apparently perfect— and with fol. ii. to fol. cij. of the New Test. In the other copy all the introductory pieces are wanting ; but the text, from beginning to end, is quite perfect. A very im- perfect copy is in the library of Castle Ashby, in Northamptonshire, the seat of the Marquis of Northampton. Dr. Cotton's list will supply notices of other copies.

f Perfect copies of these Bibles, especially of that of Matthews of ^1537* are of the extremest rarity. A perfect copy of the latter was purchased at a late sale, at Mr. Sotheby's for £l?..I7s. by Mr. Triphook, and is now the property of Mr. Heber. The cause of such rarity, even in an imperfect state, is obvious enough. Many a copy, which had survived the cupidity of the searchers, during the reign of Mary, was negligently treated by the posterity of their first possessors j placed in dark and damp holes and corners — a prey to rats and mice— or to perish from rain and mildew. How many copies, too, of these earlier Protestant Bibles were flung into the fires which consumed the Martyrs in Smithfield ? Perhaps even Cranmer's fune-

ENGLISH BIBLES. 31

are called under the names of those of MATTHEW, TAVERNER, CRANMER, and the BISHOP'S ; and are all printed in a handsome folio form, but are very diffi- cult to acquire in a clean and perfect state. A careful perusal of them shews how little is to be gained from a recasting of the version. There is a strength, sim- plicity, and perspicuity, about our old version, which carry a charrn and a conviction about it, not to be easily described.

The earliest impression in Scotland was in 1576-9, in folio ; but, what may probably surprise the reader, the language is rather English than Scotch. This is a

ral pile was lighted with the leaves of his own Bible ! There is always a keen and cutting spirit of sarcasm in religious persecution : even on both sides of the question.

It may be as well to remark, that detailed descriptions of the above rare Bibles of 1537, 1539, 1540, and 1568, appear in the jEdes Althorpianx ; and that all the editions by GRAFTON, WHIT- CHURCH and DAY — the great typographical triumvirate of the middle of the sixteenth century — are described in vol. iii. p. 434-498, and vol. iv. p. 57-65— of the recent edition of our Typographical Anti- quities. Lewis and Dr. Cotton have also given detailed accounts of several : but the work of Lewis stands in direful need of revision and enlargement. Of the Bibles, just mentioned, that of Graf ton of 1540, executed under the patronage of Abp. Cranmer, is one upon which the greatest typographical luxury appears to have been bestowed. It should seem that there are two known copies of it UPON VELLUM : one in the British Museum, and the other in St. John's College library, Cambridge. In a catalogue of the books of ." William Stewart, Esq. at Spoutwells," sold at Perth by D. Mori* son, Jun. bookseller, in 1817, see no. 664— there appears to have been a copy of Redman s rare edition in folio, of the same year with Graf- ton's, 1540: there called e( the scarcest of all the old English trans- lations of the Bible :" but (in the usual strain of lamentation !) the copy " unfortunately begins with fol. 2 : but is otherwise perfect and in fine preservation." Why Mr. M. should say, " the history of it is unknown," I cannot discover. A particular description of it is

32 DIVINITY.

volume of very rare occurrence — in a perfect state.* Early in the seventeenth century, appeared what is called our authorised version — under the auspices of Jaines I. : in two stately folio volumes, 1611. A copy of this impression is almost absolutely necessary for every Library which has any claim to be curious or

given in the Typog. Antiq. vol. iii. 309 : and so far from the copy of it in Emanuel College library, " being the only one upon paper of which we have an account/' Dr. Cotton notices three others — one in the British Museum, a second in Herbert's collection, and a third in the library of St. Paul's cathedral.f The King, according to Mr. Morison, possesses it UPON VELLUM. I doubt if this be the case.

It would only deceive the reader to lay down any thing in the shape of canons for the prices of these rare old Bibles. They are seldom or never perfect, and still more seldom in a clean condition. Like diamonds of a different character, their value increases greatly in proportion to size and colour. Let no man buy these ancient trea- sures without ocular demonstration : for here, in particular, is the truth of Addison's remark abundantly proved. — " Our sight (says that elegant writer) is the most perfect and most delightful of all our senses." Spectator, no. 411. Consult also Todd's Vindication of the Translation of the Bible, p. 25, &c.

* A copy of this very rare book is in the Althorp Library, as de- scribed in the JEdes Althorp. vol. i. p. 68 — 70. I have seen another copy of it, but in an imperfect state, in the possession of Mr. * * * at Beccles in Suffolk. In Herbert's interleaved copy of his own work, now in my possession, there is a brief notice of this Scotch Bible, in the hand writing of Gough ; who had erroneouly supposed that there was an edition of it in 1576, and another in 1579 : whereas these dates comprehend one and the same impression, The former is attached to the New Testament, and the latter to the Old.

t I have cursorily examined the black letter folio editions of the English Bible in this Library. They present a sorry appearance, being much after the fashion of a certain regiment, of which the commander " flatly" refused to march them through Co- ventry. Doubtless they stand in great need of better clothing. They are about twenty in number, and the only perfect one is that of Grafton, 1541, but in a loose state. There is an edition by Hyll and Reynolds, in 1549, folio, being a reprint of Matthew's of 1537— which, at first sight, may be mistaken for that rare edition. It is a sound copy, but wants the frontispiece, &c. Of Tindal's New Testament, in this library, I have said somewhat in a preceding page.

ENGLISH BIBLES. 33

complete : — not however solely for the reason assigned below. * A lover of fine books, and in particular of fine Bibles, will not fail to secure good copies of the impressions by Field, Hayes, Baskett, and Basker- ville:^ and if he deals in oddities, or capricious devi-

* There should be an engraved title-page — wanting in the copy at Althorp. See Dr. Cotton's various editions of the Bible, p. 29. Upon the merits of the version of 1611, read the opinions of sundry learned men quoted in Todd's Mem. of Walton, vol. i. p. 91-2.

f Fine copies of these Bibles are described in the ^Edes Althorpiance, vol. i. p. 76, 80, 81. Of these impressions, that of Baskett, 1717, is the most magnificent. There are two copies of it UPON VELLUM. Field's great Bible of 1660 was an unrivalled specimen of the press of the times. It also professed to be very carefully and accurately printed, in order to counteract the mischievous effects of many of the errors of preceding editions : and yet it has received a severe censure from Bishop Wetenhal, in his little treatise, entitled " Scrip- ture authentic and Faith certain," 1686, p. 19 — inasmuch as the word Yp was substituted for We. The passage is thus 5 from Acts vi. 3. — <( Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the holy ghost and wisdom, whom WE may appoint over this business." Field, the printer of the Bible in question, had inadvertently put " YE may appoint " &c. : upon which the Bishop remarks, that " it is not improbable it might be done at first with design, and particu- larly of those who would establish the people's power, not only in electing, but even in ordaining their own ministers.'' ee But I think (says Berriman, very justly) such a heavy charge ought not to be admitted without clear proof : and I confess I know of none. The error might easily happen at the press, through negligence ; as it is certain many others have done." I shall have occasion to speak again of Berriman at the end of this note.

In the old and not incurious library at Worlingham in Suffolk, (see p. 8. ante,) there is a very fine ruled copy, approaching to large paper, of Hayes's Bible, published at Cambridge in 1674, 2 vols. folio. On the fly leaf of it, is the following memorandum : N. B. This Bible belonged to K. Charles Hd. and [was] given by him to Duke Lauderdale and sold by Auction wth ye rest of his Books." In a comparatively modern hand, below, is witten in pencil —

D

34 DIVINITY.

ations from the established texts he will purchase many a curious, antecedent impression. When he comes

Hark ye, my Friends, that on this Bible look, Marvel not at the fairness of the Book ; No soil of fingers, nor such ugly things, Expect to find, Sirs j— for it was ye King's.

In this same library is also a most beautiful copy, upon large paper, (not uncommon) of Buck and Daniels Bible and Prayer Book, 1638, folio. It is ruled with red lines, with the most elaborate ornament on the sides of the binding : an extraordinary copy.

Old Tom Fuller, who published his " Mixt Contemplations on these times" about the same year in which Field's great Bible appeared, thus notices the errors of many preceding impressions (above alluded to in the text) under the quaint title of

" Fyefor Shame.

ft Considering with myself the causes of the growth and increase of impiety and profaneness in our Land, amongst others this seemeth to me not the least, viz. the late many false and erroneous impressions of the Bible. Now know, what is but carelessness in other books, is impiety in setting forth of the BIBLE. As Noah in all unclean creatures preserved but two of a kind, so among some hundreds in several editions we will insist onely on two instances. In the Bible printed at London 1653, we read " 1 Cor. vi. 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God ?" for " not in- herit."

" Now when a Reverend Dr in Divinity did mildly reprove some Libertines for their licentious life, they did produce this text from the authority of this corrupt edition, in justification of their vicious and inordinate conversations.

" The next instance shall be in the Bible printed at London in quarto, (forbearing the name of the Printer, because not done wil- fully by him) in the singing Psalms, Psal. Ixvii. 2.

" That all the Earth may know The way to Worldly Wealth," for " Godly wealth."

" It is too probable, that too many have perused and practised this erroneous impression, namely such, who by plundering, oppression, cosening, force and fraud, have not in our age suddenly advanced [to] vast estates."

ENGLISH BIBLES. 35

down to the present day, he must exercise his choice with great discretion ; and must fortify himself, as much as possible, against the seductive influence of brilliant types, hot-pressed paper, ample margins, and embellishments (in the character of Engravings) of all forms and descriptions.

In selecting what I call a good, critical, edition of

Berriman, (before mentioned) in his <f Critical 'Dissertation, upon 1 Tim. iii. 16, 1741, 8vo. p. 52-3, also notices several glaring and unpardonable blunders in the impressions of the Bible during the xvi ith century : of which the chief are these. In a Bible printed in the reign of Charles I. the word NOT was left out in the vnth commandment. Selden, in his Table Talk, art. Bible, sect. XI. says, (t a thousand copies" were printed with the omission of the f( not." And Heylen, in his Life of Laud, Book iii. p. 228, fixes it in the year 1632. " His Majesty (Charles I.) being made acquainted with it, by the Bishop of London, order was given for calling the Prin- ters into the High Commission ; where, upon evidence of the fact, the whole impression was called in, and the Printers deeply fined, as they justly merited." In this same reign, an edition of the Bible was printed in which the text ran (Ps. xiv. 1.) " The fool hath said in his heart THERE is A GOD." Mr. Nye (in his defence of the canon of the New Testament) tells us that, in consequence " the Printers were fined £3000. and all the copies were suppressed by the King's order." If the fact be thus, the punishment seems to have been frightfully disproportionate : for the error might have been committed, through inadvertency, by the most respectable Printers. The wonder is, even in this our day, not that errors very frequently occur (which they do) but that more errors are not dis- cernible— considering the millions of Bibles which perhaps half a dozen years bring forth. It were well, however, if a little more at- tention were sometimes paid to the texts of our PRAYER BOOKS. The most careful clergyman may commit more than one error in the course of his perusal of some impressions , among which it pains a dutiful son of Alma Mater, to declare, that in an Oxford edition of the Liturgy, of 1813, 4to. the second line " O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world," is printed (at the end) " the sins of the Lord:" a very gross, and scarcely venial, fault.

36 DIVINITY.

the English Bible, with explanatory notes, let the united labours of Patrick, Lowth, and Whitby, in seven folio volumes, (1731) suffice ; but if destitute of these aids, let the recent labours of Doctors D'Oyly and Mant satisfy abundantly both the anxious and enlightened reader. The notes in this edition, every one of which is taken from the annotations of some Divine of established reputation, contain an admirable body of Christian theology. He, however, who shall want the means, rather than the inclination, to pur- chase Patrick, and his fellow commentators — or the biblical labours of Doctors D'Oyly and Mant — need not hesitate to secure a neatly bound copy of Bishop Wilson s Bible ; which, till lately, was the usual par- lour companion of orthodox families. Whatever that excellent prelate did, he did, literally and truly, " to the glory of God : " and if ever an English Bishop may be said to have been primitive, and almost apostolical, it was WILSON : who presided over the See of Sodor and Man. His Bible is now depreciated in pecuniary value, not because its intrinsic worth is not as highly respected as ever, but because the more extended labours of subsequent Commenators have greatly superseded its utility. There was a time, scarcely seven years ago, when Collectors went melancholy, or raving mad, if they possessed not the large paper of Bishop Wilson's Bible!* That time is past . . pro-

* It should be observed, that to Bishop Wilson's Bible there is, prefixed, a list of English Bibles, taken chiefly from the privately printed list of Dr. Ducarel, in 1778, Svo. ; and which is very credit- ably executed by Mr. Cruttwell of Bath, where the work was pub- lished. There are also various readings from our older Bibles, be- tween the text and notes, throughout. Upon the whole, this publi- cation of the Sacred Text will be yet found to have its uses.

ENGLISH BIBLES. 37

bably never to return. Let it not, however be said that I wish to exclude, from the cabinets of the cu- rious or pious, those impressions of the Sacred Text which were put forth in the dissenting school of Divi- nity. Far indeed be it from me to question the good to be derived from the pious exertions of Henry, Gill, Dr. Adam Clarke, and similar Annotators.*

Among the highest prices given for a morocco- coated copy of this Bible upon LARGE PAPER, was that of 58Z. 16s. — at the sale of the late Colonel Stanley's books, when it was purchased by Messrs. Arch for Sir M. M. Sykes, Bart. On the appearance of the OXFORD BIBLE (I speak of that of Drs. D'Oyly and Mant) the price, both of large and small paper copies, fell sensibly and rapidly ; and I find that the same booksellers who purchased the Stanley copy, became purchasers also of the large paper copy at the sale of the library of the late Queen Charlotte. This copy was bound in blue morocco, and is intro- duced in their Catalogue for 1821 (no. 706) at the diminished price of 26J. 5s. At the time of penning this note, there is pro- bably the finest known copy of Patrick and Whitby's, &c. on sale, at Mr. Thorpe's, in seven volumes, bound in russia. It was once the property of Mr. Ormerod, the late Vicar of Kensington ; who pur- chased it for 12Z. 12^., and who, on several occasions, was wont to expatiate upon its beauty and completeness.

* It may be worth while to state the best editions of the works of these eminent dissenting Divines j that is to say, the best editions of their labours, or annotations, upon the Bible. HENRY'S Exposition of the Old and New Testaments first appeared, collectively, in 1710, five vols. folio -, but the recent edition of 1810, in six vols. 4to'., is the best — as the last volume contains additional matter from the author's MSS. left at his decease. Henry was a truly pious and excellent man, and his annotations (evincing, however, less learning and acumen than are to be found in Gill) are still the delight of that par- ticular sect called " Evangelical." Dr. GILL'S Exposition of the New Testament was published in 1746, &c. three vols. folio : of the Old, in 1748, &c. nine vols. folio : but the work, advancing in reputation and piice, became rare — so as to induce Mr. Bagster to put forth a new edition of the whole, in ten vols. 4 to. I recommend the anno- tations of Gill to every theological collector 3 and those who have the

38 DIVINITY.

And thus much for Bibles in the Latin, German, Italian, French, and English languages, in the chro- nological order in which they appear to have been published. A word — and but little more than a word — respecting

GREEK TESTAMENTS.

The choice of editions of these precious volumes is perplexing, and the number of them almost count- less. Yet I venture upon the recommendation of the following ; from which two or three may be se- lected. I deem the Compliitensian impression, and the first two of Erasmus, 1516-1519, indispensable in a professedly biblical collection : as I do the parent texts of Stephen, 1550, folio, and the Elzevir, 1624, 12mo. To these let the critical editions of Bengel, 1734, 4 to. Wetstein, 1751, folio, Griesbach, 1796, 8vo.* Matthei, 1782, 8vo. and ALTER, 1786, 8vo.

quarto edition will probably feel disposed to purchase Gill's Body of Practical Divinity, containing some account of his Life, Writings, and Character, in two vols. quarto, 1773. These two volumes are worth about \l. 15s. The labours of Dr. Adam Clarke upon the Bible " with a commentary, and critical notes, designed as a help to the better understanding of the Sacred Writings," are yet in a course of publication j but three volumes, in 4to. may be had entire. They appear in numbers or parts, and have met with an extensive and prosperous sale. The learning (especially in the Hebrew and Oriental languages) of the Editor, and the respectability of his cha- racter, render his performance art acceptable acquisition to the libra- ries of Christians of every denomination.

* Consult Bishop Marsh's Seventh Lecture, (1810, part 11,) upon the merits of WETSTEIN and GRIESBACH -, of the former, he says " he alone contributed more to advance the criticism of the Greek Testament, than all who had gone before him : and this task he per- formed, not only without support, either public or private, but dur- ing a series of severe trials, under which a mind of less energy than

GREEK TESTAMENTS. 39

be added. Again, if a selection only from the preceding be requisite, I should recommend the editions of Ste- phen, Wetstein, and Griesbach. Happy, and more than thrice happy, is that " Young Man," who, " with means, and appurtenances to boot," has the taste and zeal to indulge himself in a collection of the INSPIRED WRITINGS, far beyond the narrowed limits (prescribed from necessity) which the foregoing pages disclose: who, in all the turnings and windings of the Book- mania, casts an anxious eye upon many a stately folio, and many a beautiful duodecimo, of which the merits have not been here sufficiently appreciated, or the beauty sufficiently depicted : — which have escaped the researches of Masch, and eluded the vigilance of Adler. Here, (in the department of the New Tes- tament alone) the ten folios of Erasmus stand, in one compact body of russia binding ; there, the ornate Stephanine text — coated in old French morocco,

Wetstein's would infallibly have sunk. In short, he gave a new turn to the criticism of the Greek Testament, and laid the foundation on which later editors have built/' p. 23. Yet is Griesbach's, on very many accounts, the preferable edition : not so much for philological notes, as for the establishment of the text on the purest critical prin- ciples. " The days are gone" when Wetstein's two closely printed folios are to be obtained (as I once obtained them, about sixteen years ago) for £%. 10s. half bound, uncut ! Wetstein, clad in goodly calf or russia, is worth £5. 5s. even at an auction. The late un- fortunate Mr. Lunn, the bookseller, (one of the best natured, and most kindly disposed creatures in the world,) had a passion for pur- chasing all the copies of Wetstein upon which he could lay his hands, in Holland : arid told me, that, in consequence, there was scarcely a copy obtainable upon the Continent. He was doubtless smitten with a Wetstein mania. Griesbach is common in 8vo. but the large paper copies in 4to. will sometimes bring £12. 12s. The late Puke of Graf- ton had these large paper printed at his own expense, but my vision is too obtuse, or my taste too uncultivated, to call them handsome.

40 DIVINITY.

with mellow gilt tooling — from the duodecimo O mi- rlficam to the reprint of the last folio edition — catches and comforts his rejoicing eye ! Yonder, are all the Elzevirs, uncut, in primitive state of vellum binding; terminated by the diminitive Sedan* and incomparable Ele.au! Beneath, are the lusty folios of Gregory, Mill, and Kuster — all in good old Oxford bindings, upon LARGE and lovely paper : such as we must almost despair to see revived " in these degene- rate days !"

LITURGY.

It may be expected that I should say something about the editions of our LITURGY — as the next volume, in the estimation of the orthodox reader, to that of the Bible. But in truth, there is little, bibliographically speaking, which can be advanced upon the subject. The origin of our Prayers must be sought for in the devotional volumes belonging to ancient CATHEDRAL SERVICES! — and of these, again, in the compositions

* In the fine library at Blickling, (see page 30, ante) is an ex- traordinary and perhaps unique copy of this diminutive volume : it is uncut, having every other leaf upon large paper.

t The ancient Services of Salisbury, York, and Hereford cathe- drals— and especially that of the former — have been chiefly consulted. Upon these, the reader may examine the notes in the Bibliog. Deca- meron, vol. i. p. 9- 12 ', and particularly the work of Gough, to which they frequently refer. I am however enabled to add a remark or two, which may be worth intruding in this place. The first edition of the YORK MISSAL is allowed to be in 1516 j but the Breviary was printed in 1493, and the MANUAL in 1509, 4to. by Wynkyn de Worde. Of this latter volume, I was wholly ignorant, — (both in the Deca- meron and Typog. Antiq.) till recently furnished, by the kindness of Earl Spencer, with a description of a very fine copy of it, having many rough leaves, in old calf binding, with the Wentworth arms,

PRAYER BOOKS. 41

of the FATHERS OF THE CHURCH. The whole is a goodly tree, springing out of the soil of Scripture, and

in the library of Earl Fitzwilliam, at Wentworth House, in Yorkshire. After the date, it has these verses :

Sane hoc volumen digessit arte magister Wynandus de JVorde incola londonii.

It contains a to m, in eights, and n with six leaves. They preserve in the Cathedral library at Salisbury, a beautiful copy of the SALIS- BURY MISSAL, of 1527, folio, printed by Prevost : to which, from sundry ms. notes prefixed, a great importance seems to be attached j but, in truth, this very edition has passed through my hands (though not in such really beautiful condition) more than once, and a mode- rate price has been paid for it. The story, belonging to its acquisi- sition, at Salisbury, is briefly this. The copy in question was once Bishop Burnett's, whose arms are pasted on the reverse of the first leaf, and who is said to have given 17 1. for it. From the Bishop, it went into the hands of Tom Rawlinson, of celebrated bibliomaniacal memory, whose characteristic C and P (Collated and Perfect) are on the frontispiece. After him, James West became its owner : and, more recently, it was obtained by the late Mr. Brande. It hence became the property of a Mr. Hurley — whose real name, according to a letter of the present Bishop of Salisbury, inserted, was Wilcocks —and it was placed in its present situation by the said Mr. Hurley. The last ms. note, purporting it to be printed ' ' upon vellum," is incor- rect : it has only the burial service, of four leaves, beginning ' ' Te igitur clementissime pater " — so printed : which is generally the case. The value of such a copy may be 5Z. 5s.

But it is also in the editions of the LIBER FESTIVALIS, DIRECTO- RIUM SACERDOTUM, and books of this sort, that the origin of our Prayer Book may be traced. Caxton printed both these books, and W. de Worde and Pynson frequently reprinted them. From the former, of the date of 1483, I present the reader with theirs t printed English version of the LORD'S PRAYER. " Father our that art in heavens, hlalowed be thy name : thy kingdom come to us : thy will be done in earth as is in heaven : our every day's bread give us to day ; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us ; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil sin, amen" See the Typ. Antiq. vol. i. p. 164. The Lord's Prayer, Creed, Ave

42 DIVINITY.

bearing fruit of various hues and qualities. We pre- sume that, among the varieties of this tree, that which throws its branches round the Church of England — and which has not only yielded shelter from the storm, and shade from the heat, to countless generations, but has invigorated both young and old with the flavour and nutrition of its fruit — in other words, the Liturgy of the Church of England — is eminently en- titled to distinction and commendation. Stripped of the mummery of idle forms, and communicating directly with the heart, our Rationale of public prayers has been seldom criticised (even by the bitterest of its assailants) without respect, or meditated upon without advantage.

I can, however, do little more than make brief mention of editions of PRAYER BOOKS, beginning with t\\zjirst impression in 1549, in folio, published in the reign of Edward VI. : but which of these three impres- sions, of the same dominical year, and sometimes month, is to be considered as the parent text, I will not pretend to determine. Certain it is, that Mr. Heber, whose marvellous collection is rich almost to overflowing, in every department, is yet undetermined upon the point.*

Maria, &c. were sometimes printed separately, in a small 4to. form : and a very rare edition of this kind, printed by W. de Worde, is in the Public library at Cambridge, among Bishop Moore's books.

* When such a man as Mr. Heber doubts, such a man as he, who records his doubting, must not attempt to ascertain and establish any very decisive particulars upon the subject. However, if any one will take the trouble to wade through the quantity of detail respecting this point, in the Typog. Antiq. vol. iii. p. 463-6 — he may endeavour to come to some conclusion thereupon. Oswen, a provincial printer at Worcester, published Grafton's text the same year, in May, in 4to. See Bibliog. Decameron, vol. i. p. vii., note. Lord Spencer not only

PRAYER BOOKS. 43

From the time of this edition to that of the more recent publications, the number, character, and form, of Prayer Books is without end. At last Baskerville, whose Bible has just been the theme of our admiration, put forth four editions of the Book of Common Prayer, three in octavo, and one in duodecimo : each of which still maintains a certain distinction in price. They are all lovely specimens of press- work ;* and I cannot

possesses Oswen's impression, but three copies of that of Grafton, differing in several particulars from each other. Mr. Heber has, I believe, three times three copies of the latter, but Oswen is yet a stranger to him.f I recommend the acquisition of a copy of Whit- church's edition, of 1552, folio, collated with that of Grafton's, and his own of 1549 — (for they printed their edition of 1549 separately, and conjointly) and also with the Communion, printed by Grafton, and the Form of Consecrating Bishops, of the same date — interleaved : which had belonged to Bentley, and afterwards to Ruding. This copy is marked in Mr. Payne's last catalogue at 61. 6s. but is now, I appre- hend, safely lodged in the choice cabinet of some curious Divine. Mr. G. Hibbert has a copy of Marbeckes curious 4to. volume of the Prayer Book, in 1550, with scored music, of which an account ap- pears in the Tijpog. Antiq. vol. iii. p. 469. Messrs. Ogle and Co. had a unique collection of the earlier Prayer Books, from 1549 to 1662, in seven folio volumes, " neat and uniformly bound." Without (but not beyond) price.

* In the authority, last referred to, p. viii., note, it should have been specified that there are two octavo editions, one with a border, and the other without : each in long lines. The one in double columns, to which the Oxfordshire Squire (above mentioned) was so much attached, has no border. The duodecimo is in double columns, without a border. There is a fine clean copy (in ordinary calf binding, of the bordered long line copy in the library at Strawberry Hill. Respecting the PRAYER BOOKS of BASKERVILLE, the late Mr. Smart, bookseller at Worcester, (who died a very old man) told me, about ten or twelve years ago, that on the death of that printer he made the

t In the old library at Blickling, there is a fair and clean copy of the June impres- sion of 1549 — in noticing which, I find, among my MSS. the following memorandum ; " Look at the marriage service, about paying down money."

44 DIVINITY.

bring myself to blame the custom of a most respect- able country Squire, in the vicinity of Oxford, who would never read the service and make the responses at church, out of any other edition but that of the double- columned octavo Baskerville, nor carry any other devotional Manual with him to the altar than that of the duodecimo Baskerville. Next to the impression of the Prayer Books by this last mentioned printer, the curious covet that ofJarvis, executed in a small but clear and distinct type, in double columns, in 1791, 8vo. And, more recently, Mr. Bulmer has tried the efforts of his matchless press, not only in a portion of the Bible of Mr. John Reeves, but of the Prayer Book also. This latter is printed in the 8vo. and 12mo. forms; and for the sake of its prolego- mena, or introductory remarks, may well find a place upon the shelf of every pew.* The Prayer Books printed at Oxford and Cambridge, are chiefly of a folio, or quarto, or a large octavo form. They have also a noble and comforting appearance ; and most discon-

best of his way to Birmingham, and purchased of his widow all the copies of the Prayer Books which remained, together with a consi- derable number of the Horace of 1762. He further told me, that he believed he once had the largest collection of them in England j but that, at the time of mentioning it, not a single copy remained upon his shelves.

* The date of this work is 1801. Of the Bible, edited by Mr. Reeves, there was one copy only struck off UPON VELLUM. At the present moment, this membranaceous treasure, " superbly bound in dark blue morocco, with joints, borders of gold, " &c. by C. Lewis, in nine quarto volumes, reposes upon the shelves of Messrs. Payne and Foss ; but he who shall give fifty-two sovereigns for the same, shall cause it to rouse from its present dumber. Nor let such a price be considered as having any affinity to extravagance. In regard to the general accuracy of the text of the privileged Prayer Books, consult the end of the note at p. 35, ante.

PRAYER BOOKS. 45

solate will be that day for the Church of England, which witnesses an Abridgement of the contents of this volume.*

* The late Marquis of^Bute once shewed me, at Petersham, a privately printed volume, in 1773, Svo. called An Abridgement of the Book of Common Prayer. It was printed at the expense of the late Lord Le Despencer, at West Wycombe, Bucks j and the Abridge- ment was the performance of the late Sir Francis Dashwood, Bart. In the annexed sub-note j is an extract from the Preface ; and here follows a specimen or two of the Abridgement itself.

" Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. — Psalm, li. 9. Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge our manifold sins and wickedness : Wherefore I pray and beseech you, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, saying, after me," &c.

The Te Deum is thus abridged : " We praise thee, O God, we ac- knowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein : We worship thy name : without end : Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us; have mercy upon us. Amen."

The Apostles Creed, " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and

$ " The Editor of the following Abridgement of the Liturgy of the Church of England thinks it but decent and respectful to all (more particularly to the reverend body of Clergy who adorn the Protestant religion by their good works, preaching and example) that he should humbly offer some reasons for such an undertaking. He addresses himself to the serious aad discerning. He professes himself to be a Protestant of the Church of England, and holds in the highest veneration the doctrines of Jesus Christ. He is a sincere lover of social worship, deeply sensible of its usefulness to society ; and he aims at doing some service to religion, by proposing such abbreviations and omis- sions in the forms of our Liturgy, retaining every thing he thinks essential as might, if adopted, procure a more general attendance. For, besides the differing sentiments of many pious and well disposed persons in some speculative points, who in general have a good opinion of our church, it has often been observed, and complained of, that the Morning and Evening Services as practised in the Church of England, and else- where, are so long, and filled with so many repetitions, that the continued attention suitable to so serious a duty becomes impracticable, the mind wanders, and the fer- vency of devotion is slackened. Also, the propriety of saying the same prayer more than once in the same service, is doubted, &c.

46 DIVINITY.

From treasures like these, the enthusiastic Col- lector and the well informed Student will extract what is most curious, and be benefitted by what is most essential to the salvation of his soul. He will dig deep ; and the deeper he digs, the richer he will find the soil. The seasons will roll along, and there shall be the chilling blast and the barren desert with- out ; but, within, there shall be one perennial verdure and one inexhaustible harvest.

FATHERS AND COMMENTATORS.

Nor let human aid be wanting to give effect to Divine wisdom. Let there be a choice edition or two of the FATHERS, and of the more celebrated ancient COMMENTATORS ;* and passing cautiously through the

Earth. And in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the forgiveness of sins ', and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Litany is reduced to elven sentences. The Collects are uni- formly omitted, but the Epistles and Gospels retained, with a slight variation from the present translation. The Commandments are omitted , and the Sacrament service is reduced to two pages and a half. Matrimony has only the same number of pages ; and the Burial of the Dead is compressed within one page and half. Surely this is no very encouraging specimen for a SECOND attempt to abridge our Liturgy ! It is not likely to have either admirers or imitators.

* It is a goodly sign of the times that the FATHERS and ancient COMMENTATORS are bought and read with some degree of avidity. No reasonable man can doubt the importance of the labours of these elder Christian sages, who has examined, with a critical eye and an unprejudiced spirit, the Reliquice Sacra, lately put forth by the very learned President of Magdalen College, Oxford, Dr. Routh. These " sacred relics" — contain " fragments of Authors of the Second and Third centuries which were well nigh lost" — relating to the earliest transactions and opinions of the church of Christ. Some of these fragments are here given, for the first time, from uncollated MSS. :

ANCIENT COMMENTATORS. 47

stormy period of the sixteenth century — when the works of Luther, Melanchthon,, Eckius, Calvin, Sta-

others, from MSS. not sufficiently collated : the whole in a manner to render the work of essential importance in a theological library. It was published at Oxford in 1814-20, in four 8vo. volumes. The only heresy cleaving to the publication, is, that NO large paper copies were struck off for the gratification of the curious.

The work of Dr. Routh, having at once quickened the appetite and strengthened the digestive powers of " the Young " and " the Old " in the way of reading the ancient Fathers — and Schoenemann, in his Bibliotheca Patrum, 1792, 8vo. supplying him with a list of the early and best editions of the Latin Fathers — it only remains for me to point out a few of these Fathers, whether their writings be in the Greek or Latin language, of which the perusal may be pro- ductive of advantage. I give the best editions, with prices, from catalogues of good authority. Origenis Opera, Gr. and Lat. Paris, 1718, folio, four volumes, 81. 8s. Chrysostomi Opera, Gr. and Lat. Paris, 1 708, folio, thirteen vols. 26Z. 5s. : to which add the collection of the Greek Apostolical Fathers by Cotelerius in 1724, folio, two vols. 3/. 135. 6d. The preceding may suffice, to the ordinary col- lector, for GREEK FATHERS. Let him, as Latin Fathers, purchase the works of Tertullian, Lactantius, and St. Austin : of the first, the Paris edition of 1644, folio ; of the second, that of Rome, 1754, 8vo. fourteen vols — or Paris 1748, folio, two vols. 2Z. 12*. 6d. $ and of the third, the Paris edition of 1679, eleven vols., folio. 142. The foregoing, for an ordinary theological collection, will be surely con- sidered sufficient. Perhaps the Appendix Augustiniana, Antv. 1703, folio, may be a desirable supplement to the works of St. Austin. But as no performance of this Father has made half the noise in the • world which his <f CITY OF GOD " has done, possible it is that the admirers of that work might like to possess the first edition of it, (being the second book printed in Italy) executed at the press of the Soubiaco monastery in 1467. I doubt whether such another copy of it, as that in Lord Spencer's collection, be to be found in England. It is a miracle of the art of printing, considering it as the second essay of the printers In the catalogue of Messrs. Longman and Co. A. D. 1822, no. 5764, I observe a copy of it, in the " original bind- ing" marked at the moderate sum of 122.

Of COMMENTATORS and CRITICS, in the Latin language, the list

48 DIVINITY.

pleton, and others, seemed to agitate the religious world to its very centre — advance with a more certain

is infinite. As a Body of these, procure the well known work entitled Critici Sacri, first published at London in 1660, in nine folio volumes, with a tenth vol. in 1661, of (( Tenas Commentaries upon St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews." This voluminous work was reprinted at Amsterdam in 1698, in nine folio volumes. The London edition is the favourite j and of this I remember to have seen, two or three years ago, a magnificent copy, ruled with red lines, in old red morocco binding, upon LARGE PAPER, in the possession of Mr. R. Triphook, and valued at about twenty guineas. This is not the only copy which I have seen, and described, in the same condition. And I beseech the theological collector not to let a fine copy of good old Matthew Poole's " Synopsis Criticorum," Lond. 1669, folio, five volumes — especially if it be such a one as Mr. Payne now possesses — Utr. 1684 ed. opt. — slip through his fingers without becoming master of it 5 for it is obtainable at a reasonable price. I say nothing of its reprints in 1694, Franc, five vols. 4to., and at Amst. in 1712, fivevols. folio. It may be worth while to consult Granger (Hist, of Engl. vol. iii. p. 311, edit. 1804) for a brief but good account of the merits of Poole's Synopsis: and from which, no person, in want of the work, can rise, without running to some of our principal book- sellers for a copy. What Granger says, in a note, bears rather hard upon the Commentators in the English language. " This book [Poole's Synopsis] is of late much sunk in its price, though intrin- sically as good as ever. The truth is, Latin Commentaries on the Scripture are little regarded j but we have English ones as often as we have new almanacks. I have myself known about twenty pub- lished within the last twenty years." Those, however, destined to be the ornaments of our church and the champions of our faith, should never lose sight of the Thesaurus Antiquitatum Sacrarum col- lected and published by Blasius Ugolinus, at Venice, in 1744-69, in thirty-four folio volumes — of which the contents are so temptingly set forth by Mr. Harris in his valuable Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Institution, from a copy in the same collection. Another copy is in the British Museum. What Grsevius and Gronovius are to PROFANE, Ugolinus is to SACRED, history.

Messrs. Ogle, Duncan, and Co. who seem to have a peculiar pre- dilection for dissenting divinity, have marshalled out some miscella-

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 49

step through the seventeenth — when Grotius abroad, and Taylor, Chillingworth^ Mede, Barroiv, Pearson, and Usher at home — to mention no others — gave a softer tone to controversy, and struck out more brilliant truths (if I may so speak) from the oracles of God. Logic, fancy, eloquence, and persuasion are combined in the greater part of the writings of these incomparable Divines. There was more cour- tesy in the age ; and, in consequence, a more cour- teous strain is observable even in the vehemence of invective. The Divines of the sixteenth cen- tury, with perfect honesty of intention, frequently worked themselves up into a whirlwind of indignation in — what they conceived to be — the conscientious discharge of their duties. The very leaves of their pamphlets seemed to smell of fire. But the capa- cious intellect of Grotius, who was at once a law- yer, philosopher, and divine, gave a different cha- racter to theological controversy ;* and the heavenly- mindedness of Jeremy Taylor threw such a charm over his diction — exhibited such proofs of genius and of piety — that that great man may be considered as the founder of a school, (even of the opposite persua-

neous COMMENTATORS of this, their favourite, school, in twenty-two folio volumes, marked at 31Z. 105. — <e very neat, and uniformly bound." A set of Commentators in 4to. bring up the rear — in fif- teen vols. — marked at lol. 10s. " neat, in calf gilt," of the same persuasion.

* In the first Law lecture delivered by Sir James Mackintosh at Lincoln's Inn, several years ago, and since published, a character is drawn of Grotius, which I wish every enlightened Englishman to peruse — more than once. Grotius has been accused of a leaning towards Socinianism ; but I want a peculiarly- constructed pair of mental spectacles to discover this bias in his annotations upon Holy Writ.

E

50 DIVINITY.

sion, *) in which enthusiasm was mistaken for inspi- ration, and where there was an equal glow of piety,

* Among the chief, if not the very chief, of those writers of " an opposition persuasion," was RICHARD BAXTER ; a divine of a most capricious, yet powerful and original mind. What Prynne was in law and history, Baxter was in theology : as the similarity, in point of quaintness, of the titles of their respective works, testifies. To possess all the separate pieces, or tracts, of each of these Writers, is, I believe, equally hopeless. One or two of the homely titles of Baxter, would startle the unsuspecting and serious reader. But these were adopted rather in compliance with the fashion of the times : for Baxter was a man of great gravity of demeanor and great piety of soul. He was acute and learned withal, and an air of ori- ginality pervades most of his writings. He was a stubborn champion for non-conformity, although he had the honour (when young) of preaching before Charles II. in the first year of his reign j and in the year 1689 he published a Tract entitled " The English Non-con- formity under Charles II. and James II truly stated." One of his chief antagonists — and one which proved more than a match for him — was Bishop Stillingfleet. Baxter's Works, consisting principally of his Discourses, were collected and published in 1707, folio, in four vols. — and I find a copy of them " new, in c»lf, gilt," marked at III. Us. in the catalogue of Mr. Laing of Edinburgh, for the year 1822 : but in Mr. Baynes's Cat. of the same year, no. 52, I perceive "••a very fine copy, in original binding, sides gilt,f very rare," to be marked at 14Z. 145. THIS is the way to get OLD BAXTER upon our shelves. He comes " in no questionable shape" when arrayed in the goodly garb of primitive binding.

When young, I remember to have read Baxter's fe Concordant Discord of a broken healed heart, sorrowing, rejoicing, fearing, hoping, dying, living," 1681 — and his " Cure of melancholy and over much sorrow, by faith and physic," 1683 : — but thought them, as I should probably yet think them, desultory and unargumentative perform- ances. Gleams of piety, and flashes of an ardent spirit, are disco- verable in almost every thing which he wrote -, but he wanted that

t This is a " various reading " from Mr. Baynes's preceding catalogue of 1821, no. 6332 : tlifre, the copy is described to be " rolled with a border of gold." Each descrip- tion has its peculiar temptation.

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 51

but unsupported by such flights of genius and such demonstrations of learning. The school of CHILLING- WORTH, MEDE, and BARROW — is the school of acute perception and close reasoning. Yet Barrow was per- haps the most able of the three : not in power of con- ception or of language — but in the systematic division, and masterly elucidation, of the various subjects of which he treats. He pushes his enquiries to the very verge, or confines, of which they are capa- ble of being pushed ; and his works afford a sort of logical Encyclopaedia. He had the clearest head with which mathematics ever endowed an individual, and one of the purest and most unsophisticated hearts that ever beat in the human breast. He is to be studied with profit, rather than read with delight.

PEARSON and USHER were profound scholars. The " Exposition of the Creed1' of the former, has nothing superior to it in any language. Metaphysics, logic, classical and theological erudition, are all brought to bear upon that momentous subject — in a manner so happy and so natural, that the depth of research and variety of knowledge are almost concealed by the felicitous manner of their adaptation. Well might the great Bentley say of this yet greater man — that his " VERY DUST WAS GOLD." The Annals of Usher are admirable for sobriety of investigation and profound- ness of learning. His Body of Divinity may be sup- sweetness of temper which is the charm of the practical works of HAMMOND, and that brilliancy of imagery which stamps the effusions of JEREMY TAYLOR with the mark of an original, excursive, and powerful mind. It is right to add, that Baxter's works are daily becoming rare and sought after j so much so, that we may probably soon see a reprint of them in quarto from the enterprising Mr. Bagster, of Paternoster -row.

52 DIVINITY.

posed to be tinctured with his peculiar (and somewhat Calvinistic) bias, but it is full of profound thought and pious feeling. His Antiquities of the British Church are purely historical ; while his notes upon the Epistles of Ignatius, Barnabas, and Poly carp (Fathers of the first century) prove the extensiveness of his reading, and the depth of his theological knowledge.* A word, now, as to Editions of the foregoing lumi- naries, f I own, I am for the ancient and genuine

* The names of these and of other THEOLOGICAL WORTHIES, are thus hooked into hexameters and pentameters, by Master William Nicols, A. M. in his Libri VI. De Literis Inventis, Lond. 171 1, 8vo. :

Occubuit FELLUS, fato concessit acerbo

LAUDUS, et HAMMONDUM flebilis urna tenet. Et CHILLINGWORTHUS, Babylonis maximus horror,

BARLOviusque senex, hi potuere mori. Non tua te doctrina, O SANDERSONE, nee ilia

Te potuit pietas eripuisse neci. Ante diem nobis ereptus et ille BAROUS,

Cui grates multas dia Mathesis habet. Atque valedixit mundo PEARSONIUS ingens,

(Ille animata quidem Bibliotheca fuit :) Et STILLINGFLEETUS patrium repetivit Olympum, &c. &c. &c.

Beveridge, Dodwell, Tenison, and More, (with respectable men- tion of the library of the latter, now in the Public Library at Cam- bridge) follow in the same strain.

f The best edition of Grotius's theological works is that of Amst. 1679, four vol. folio, of which a copy, bound in russia, is marked at 41. 4s, in Mr. Payne's last catalogue ; and a fine copy, upon large paper, in vellum binding, at 81. Ss. in the same catalogue. The best edition of Chilling™ or th's works is that of 1724, folio, worth about ll. 8s. in good condition ; of Mede's, that of 1672, folio, worth about the same sum : of Barrow's, 1741, folio, two vols., running hard upon 42. But the young Collector will lose no opportunity of securing the Glasgow edition of Barrow's work, by Foulis, 1757, 12mo. six vols. : which forms an admirable companion to Tonson's edition of Tillotsoris works, 1748, twelve vols. 12mo. Or he may

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 53

impressions: the good old folios: published, either during the lives, or at no long period after the deaths, of the authors. During the seventeenth century, the Art of Printing was making rapid improvements in our country ; and though inferior, upon the whole, to what it produced during the first half of the eigh- teenth century, it cannot be denied that we sometimes meet with sets, or copies, of JEREMY TAYLOR, and his Contemporaries, which delight us by the beauty of their condition within and without. In such a state, their pecuniary value rises in a double ratio : nor was it without sensations of considerable bibliographical happiness, that, on entering the third and principal room of the Royal Library at Paris, I recognised the Ductor Dubitantium or the Polemical Discourses of

rest well contented with the Oxford reprint, recently put forth : but with a portrait prefixed, which is scarcely worthy of being attached to the first edition of Tom Hickathrift. The University owes it to itself not to continue the propagation of such unworthy resemblances of such glorious Originals. They are liberal, but their liberality has not met with a kindred return. Pearson on the Creed is in every form, from folio to duodecimo. The late Dr. C. Burney made an abridgement of it in small octavo. Among the folio editions, that of 1715 may be as good as any. As there is no uniform edition of Archbishop Usher's works, I give the following list of the principal portions of them : Body of Divinity, 1677* folio : Chronology, (in Latin) with a Life of the Author, by Smith, Geneva, 1722, folio: Annals, 1678, folio : Sermons •> 1677, folio : Letters, 1688, folio : Antiquities oj the British Church, (in Latin) 1687, folio. These volumes may be had from twelve shillings to a pound a piece : according to their condition. I am aware that, for old and choice copies, in morocco, or calf bindings, covered with rich gilt tooling, double the foregoing prices, for every work here enumerated, are frequently and cheerfully given. It is on the dispersion of old family libraries that treasures of this kind must be sought for : and, when found, gallantly contended for. Who would not give 14Z. 14s. for the copy of " Old Baxter," mentioned in the note at page 50 ?

54 DIVINITY.

our Jeremy, clad in the genuine morocco garment of nearly the time of the author. On the other hand, it must be allowed that, however assiduous either the Young or the Old Collector may be, in the pursuit of fine and genuine copies of this same author, he must not dare to hope for the acquisition of such copies as those which grace the shelves of the CRACHERODE COLLECTION.* Meanwhile, it may be consolation suf- ficient to know, that, baffled in all his attempts for choice folio copies, the " Young Man " may possess himself of the octavo reprint, which has the advantage of exhibiting many references verified, many errors corrected, and several lacunae supplied : together with a Life of the Author, written with all the glow of poetical feeling, and ail the elegance of refined scho- larship. The uniform appearance of this respect- ably printed, and carefully superintended edition, of which not fewer than 800 copies were subscribed for, has probably already rendered it a scarce work- As Taylor has been long called " the SHAKSPEARE of DIVINES," this impression will not want buyers of more classes than

* The copies in question are of the Church of England Defended, 1674, folio : Polemical Discourses, 1674, folio 5 Ductor Dubitantium, 1696, folio j Life of Christ, 1703, folio. In this latter work, great stress is laid upon possessing fine impressions of the Plates. In my poor judgment, the best impressions exhibit but very secondary spe- cimens of art. I observe that Mr. Baynes marks " a fine tall set" of these four folios, f< very neat," at 81. 8s. 5 but not in all proba- bility coated a la Cracherode. Messrs. Ogle, Duncan, and Co. affix 12Z. 125. to four similar volumes, " best editions, elegantly bound in russia."

f Critically and soberly speaking, it is the only edition worth pos- sessing for the purpose of careful reading or frequent consultation. My neighbour and friend the Rev. Mr. Pitman, who superintended

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 55

Why have I travelled thus far on the road of DIVI- NITY without mentioning the Contemplations of Bishop Hall? a prelate and poet of very distinguished attain- ments. A vein of piety, and even of an original cast of observation, runs through the greater part of his performances : and his "Contemplations," in particular, breathe the fire of poetry as well as of devotion. His works have been long and justly held in very general esteem ; and we are indebted to the Rev. Mr. Pratt for a reprint of them in ten octavo volumes in 1808.*

the correction of the press, and detected the errors of the old edi- tions, throughout, informs us, at p. ccclxx. of the first volume, that " former editions of Taylor swarm with mistakes : the punctuation and state of the text are very defective : verse is printed without any regard to metre, and prose often assumes the appearance of verse." The Life of Jeremy Taylor prefixed to this modern edition is by the Reverend Reginald Heber, Rector of Hodnet, and preacher of Lin- coln's Inn. I sincerely hope that this charming and instructive piece of biography will be reprinted, in a good handsome octavo form, and with a larger and more legible type. In regard to the genuineness of the work called " A Discourse of Artificial Beauty,'* &c. as being a production of Jeremy Taylor — (see pp. lix. — and cccxxvii of Mr. Heber's Life) — having before (Moore's Utopia, vol. ii. 152-3) noticed the preface of it as ef in every respect worthy of his high reputation," may I not ask whether the Preface only be not the composition of Taylor ? Whoever be the author, it appears to have been written as a Supplement to " The Loathsomnesse of Long Hair," &c. by Thomas Hall, B, D. 1654, 12mo, ; see p. 288 of the work last referred to.

* Joseph Hall was Bishop of Exeter and Norwich, successively j and died in 1656. His Satires were published quite at the end of the xvith century, and reprinted in 1753 : but there has been recently a fac-simile reprint (by Constable) of the earlier edition. I recommend (r the Young Man" of taste and talent to read the masterly analysis of, and criticism upon, Bishop Hall's Satires, in the 4th volume (alas, only a fragment !) of Warton's History of English Poetry. It is incomparable, of its kind. The best edition of Hall's works, in folio, is in three volumes, without date — at least, so it appears In

56 DIVINITY.

We approach the eighteenth century ; omitting the mention of the thousand strange publications, in the department of divinity,, which issued from the fertile and capricious brains of the authors of the preceding century — but which, appearing to be now forgotten by the great bulk of readers, are picked up and preserved only by the curious and persevering. Prynne alone would afford bibliographical gamboling for half a score of years. Penn however is worthy of a place in every theological collection.*

Baynes's Cat. of 1821, no. 6426, where a copy is marked at £3. 10. I once possessed a goodly copy of this edition, in old red morocco binding, with a delicate sprinkling of gilt tooling — which I have reason to think is now in the library of Hartleby Palace in Worces- tershire — the seat of the Bishops of that see ; left, with his library as an heir-loom, by the late Bishop, Dr. Hurd. The Contemplations of Hall were separately published by the late Dr. Glasse in 4 duode- cimo vols. in 1793. Doddridge has pronounced these Contemplations to be " incomparably valuable for language, criticism, and devo- tion." *

* The name of PENN is known and respected chiefly as that of the founder of the Pensylvanian colony, or author of the Pensylva- nian charter. It has indeed, on this score, lasting claims upon the gratitude of posterity j but Penn was a pious man, and a lover of theological authorship. He wrote much and variously ; and always with a benevolent feeling. His works were first collected and pub- lished in 1726, in two folio volumes. I select, almost at random, from his " No Cross, No Crown," (written in 1668, and lately re- printed in 1806, 8vo.) the following characteristic passages : First — of Christ's Example of Suffering. " And therefore it was that he was pleased to give us, in his own example, a taste of what his dis- ciples must expect to drink deeply of: namely, the cup of self de- nial, cruel tryals and most bitter afflictions. He came not to conse- crate a way to the eternal rest, through gold and silver, ribbons, laces, points, perfumes, costly cloaths, curious trims, exact dresses, rich jewels, pleasant recreations. — Plays, treats, balls, masques, re- vels, romances, love songs, and the like pastimes of the world : No, no : Perm's Works, vol. i. p. 360.

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 57

There was great cant about this time, (a cant not peculiar to the period) respecting the luxury and in- dolence of the CLERGY. The poorer part of them were treated with contempt ; because poverty and worth- lessness seemed to be synonymous terms. In 1670 appeared an octavo volume, under the title of The Grounds and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion enquired into. " In a Letter written to

A little before, (p. 355,) Penn is thus speaking of the fashionable habits and amusements of the times — A. D. 1668 — when the work was written : — " Their thoughts are otherwise employed : their mornings are too short for them to wash, to smooth, to paint, to patch, to braid, to curl, to gum, to powder, and otherwise to attire and adorn themselves ; whilst their afternoons are as commonly be- spoke for visits and for plays — where their usual entertainment is, some stories fetched from the more approved Romances 5 some strange adventures, some passionate amours, unkind refuses, grand impediments, importunate addresses, miserable disappointments, won- derful surprises, unexpected encounters, castles surprised, imprisoned lovers rescued, and meetings of supposed dead ones : bloody duels, languishing voices echoing from solitary groves,* over heard mourn- ful complaints, deep fetcht sighs sent from wild deserts, intrigues managed with unheard of subtility : and whilst all things seem at the greatest distance, then are dead people alive, enemies friends, despair turned to enjoyment, and all their impossibilities reconciled," &c. Further on, he talks about their ' ' giddy fancies " being " intoxicated with swelling nothings and airy fictions."

It should seem, from a portion of the first extract, that Penn had had his eye upon the paraphernalia of a toilet as set forth by An- thony Brewer, in his Play called Lingua, 1607: and reprinted in Doddesley's collection of Old Plays.

* This reminds us of the following passage in Thomson's Autumn :

" And voices, through the void deep sounding, seize " Th' enthusiastic ear."

But it is perhaps still more poetical. The " deep-fetcht sighs sent from wild deserts" is a yet more daring conceit. If Penn would have buckled himself in the strait-laced vestment of metre, he might have been a poet of the second order.

58 DIVINITY.

R. L. :r> of which work, Echard is the reputed author. It exhibits so fair and honest a view of the principles of a Church Establishment, and such a lively picture of " the poor country Parson" in those days — (no very unfaithful portrait, by the by, of some few in our own days) that I make no apology to the reader for the subjoined extract from it* — long as it may appear.

* " 1 come now, Sir, to the second part, that was designed, viz. the poverty of some of the clergy -, by whose mean condition, their sa- cred profession is much disparaged, and their doctrine undervalued. What large provisions of old, God was pleased to make for the priesthood, and upon what reasons, is easily seen to any one that looks but into the Bible. The Levites, it is true, were left out in the division of the inheritance, not to their loss, but to their great temporal advantage : for whereas, had they been common sharers with the rest, a twelfth part only would have been their just allow- ance, God was pleased to settle upon them a tenth, and that without any trouble or charge of tillage : which made their portion much more considerable than the rest.

" And as this provision was very bountiful, so the reasons, no question, were very divine and substantial : which seem chiefly to be these two :

t( First, that the priesthood might be altogether at leisure for the service of God, and that they of that holy order might not be dis- tracted with the cares of the world, and interrupted by every neigh- bour's horse or cow, that breaks their hedges, or shackles their corn : But that living a kind of spiritual life, and being removed a little from all worldly affairs, they might always be fit to receive holy inspirations, and always ready to search out the mind of God, and to advise and direct the people therein. Not, as if this divine exemp- tion of them from the common troubles and cares of this life, was intended as an opportunity of luxury and laziness; for certainly there is a labour besides digging ; and there is a true carefulness without following the plough, and looking after their cattel. And such was the employment of those holy men of old ; their care, and business was to please God, and to charge themselves with the welfare of all his people : which thing he that does with a good and satisfied con- science, i'll assure you he has a task upon him, much beyond them

OLD ENGLISH DIVINES. 59

Our prospects brighten as we step over the thresh- hold of the seventeenth — or rather gain due admission

that have for their care, their hundreds of oxen, and five hundreds of sheep.

" Another reason for this large allowance was made to the Priests, was, that they might be enabled to relieve the poor, to entertain strangers, and thereby to encourage people in the ways of godliness 5 for they being in a peculiar manner the servants of God, God was pleased to entrust in their hands a portion more than ordinary of the good things of the land, as the safest storehouse and treasury for such as were in need. That in all ages, therefore, there should be a continued tollerable maintenance for the Clergy j the same reason, as well as many others, make us think to be very necessary. Unless they'll count money, and victuals to be only types and shadows, and so to cease with the Ceremonial Law. For, where the minister is pinch'd, as to the tollerable conveniences of this life, the chief of his care and time must be spent not in an impertinent enquiry consider- ing what Text of Scriptures will be most useful for his parish, what instructions most seasonable, and what authors best to be consulted : but the chief of his thoughts, and his main business must be to study how to live that week : where he shall have bread for his family ? whose sow has lately pigg'd ? Whence will come the next rejoicing goose, or the next cheerful basket of apples ? How far to Lammas, or offerings ? When shall we have another christening, and cakes, and who is likely to marry, or die ? These are very seasonable consider- ations, and worthy of a man's thoughts. For, a family cannot be maintained by texts and contexts : and the child that lies crying in the cradle, will not be satisfied without a little milk, and perhaps sugar, though perhaps there be a small German System * in the house.

' ( But suppose he does get into a little hole over the oven, with a lock to it, called a study, towards the latter end of the week, (for you must know, Sir, there is very few texts of Scripture that can be divided, at soonest, before Friday night) and some there be that will never be divided but upon Sunday morning, and that not very early j but either a little before they go, or in the going to church) I say, suppose the gentleman gets thus into his study, one may very near guess what is his first thought when he

* Qu, The making of sugar caudy ?

60 DIVINITY.

into the eighteenth century ; for we are then struck with the resplendent names of BOYLE,, TILLOTSON,

comes there, viz. that the last kilderkin of drink is near departed -, and that he has but one poor single groat in the house, and there is judgment and execution ready to come out against it, for milk, and eggs. Now, Sir, can any man think that one thus racked and tor- tured, can be seriously intent half an hour to contrive any thing that might be of real advantage to his people r Besides, perhaps that week he has met with some dismal crosses and most undoing mis- fortunes. There was a scurvy-conditioned mole, that broke up his pasture, and ploughed up the best part of his glebe : and a little after that, came a couple of spightful, ill-favoured crows, and tram- pled down the little remaining grass. Another day, having but four chickens, sweep comes the kite, and carries away the fattest and hopefullest of all the brood. Then, after all this, came the Jack- daws, and starlings, (idle birds that they are!) and they scattered and carried away from his thin thatched house forty or fifty of the best straws : and to make him compleatly unhappy, after all these afflictions, another day, that he had a pair of breeches on, coming over a perverse stile, he suffered very much in carelessly lifting over his leg.

(f Now what parish can be so inconsiderate and unreasonable, as to look for any thing from one, whose phansie is thus checked, and whose understanding is thus ruffled and disordered ? They may as soon expect comfort and consolation