Of the religious object of this guild Mr. B. brings proofs from a Latin deed in the little Red Book, in the chamber of Bristol, by him translated; an inquisition into their rights, 1318; but the library mentioned in a settlement of their disputes with the mayor by the Bishop of Worcester, 1464, to be then newly founded, is not described as containing any thing more than books. It was indeed a public library, and a weekly lecture was given in it to all who chose to come: but not a word of the public records being there kept. This is inferred from one of the fraternity having been town-clerk in the reign of Edward IV. and having left several records of the city affairs, &c. and from Leland's quoting “a remembraunce of memorable actes done in Brighstowe, out of a litle boke of the antiquities of the house of Calendaries in Brighstowe," It. VII. 71. Leland expressly says this was nothing more nor less than "a gylde or fraternitie of the clergie and commonaltie of Brighstowe, kept in the church of the Trinitie, seen at Al Halowes." William of Worcester, the Bristol Antiquary, calls it a college of priests, p. 190, and, in p. 253, a college or fraternity founded in honour of the festival of Corpus Christi. Mr. Barrett's inference therefore, is drawn from the eight hundredthe bookes mentioned by Rowley.

This is just such a proof as it would be to say, that, because Matthew Paris, a monk of St. Alban's, wrote a History of England, therefore the monks of St. Alban's were the historians of England.

As to the Domus Conversorum, founded by Henry III. and now called The Rolls, it was not till after the expulsion of the Jews in 1377 had lessened the number of converts, that the chapel was applied to the purpose of keeping the rolls and records in chancery, and the mastership of this house was annexed to the office of keeper of the rolls of chancery, who is since called Master of the Rolls. Stowe's Survey of London, p. 435; Tanner's Not. Mon. pp. 314, 315. It is easy to see, therefore, that, as the original destination of the house was for a very different purpose, so the rolls were only lodged in its chapel as in any other public office.

1789, Νοτι

D. H.

CXVIII. Public Libraries in London about the end of the Seventeenth Century.

MR. URBAN,

SOME remarks having lately fallen into my hands, among other MS. papers, relative to the former state of London, I have selected the following on the subject of public libraries, as they stood about the beginning of the present century, whereby some of your correspondents may have an opportunity of observing and communicating to the public the different improvements that have since taken place in the literary repositories of this celebrated city.

First, of those in the Tower. In Wakefield Tower and the White Tower are vast numbers of records relating to monasteries, &c. several state-papers and private letters of foreign princes to the English court. The White Tower was originally a chapel of the palace, and is a very uncommon sort of a structure.

At Westminster, in the Exchequer, the records are in the keeping of the Lord Treasurer. Here are preserved the two Domesday books, one in folio, and one in quarto. Powel's Repertory of Records, in quarto, printed in 1631, contains a farther account of these books.

The Parliament Rolls are kept in an old stone tower in the Old Palace Yard in Westminster; and the State Papers, from the time of Henry VIII. to this time (about 1700), are kept in the fine built gate as you go through to the Cockpit, and is called the Paper Office. It was built by Henry VIII. and is one of the most curious pieces of workmanship in Europe for the old flint work; and it is reported that Hans Holbein was the architect.

The papers mention Sir Robert Cotton's library, now so usefully displayed; therefore I shall pass over to the library deposited in the great cloister of the abbey. It was founded by Dr. Williams, Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of Lincoln, who was a great promoter of learning in his day. He purchased most of the books of the heirs of one Baker, of Highgate, and founded it for public use every day in termtime, from nine till twelve in the forenoon, and two till four in the afternoon. By negligence many of the MSS. were burnt; amongst which was the pompous and curious Book of the Ceremonies of the Coronation of the Kings of England.

There was also a library at St. James's, mostly collected

by Leland at the dissolution of abbeys, and intended for the studies of the princes of the blood. Our English kings had also several other libraries; as one at Whitehall, another at Hampton-court, at Nonesuch, Windsor, Oatland, Greenwich, &c.; but this at the palace of St. James seems to have been the chief. The keeping of it in the several kings' reigns has been by Leland, Delayne, Traherne, Ascham, Patrick, Young, and Dr. Bentley. Most of the papers on this subject are interlarded with pieces of printed paper, carrying on the account in the following manner, and seem to have been intended for the press. Such as appeared worth while, I have detached, and arranged in chronological procession, as follows:

At Lambeth Palace, over the cloister, is a well-furnished library. The oldest of the books were the Lord Dudley's, Earl of Leicester; which from time to time have been augmented by several archbishops of that see. It had a great loss in being deprived of Archbishop Sheldon's, an admirable collection of Missals, Breviaries, Psalters, Primers, &c. relating to the service of the church; as also of Archbishop Sancroft's.

There was formerly a piece of ground taken in and walled, not far from St. James's, near Leicester Fields, by the procurement of Prince Henry, for the exercise of arms, which he much delighted in; and there was a house built at one end of it for an armory, and a well-furnished library of all sorts of books relating to feats of arms, chivalry, military affairs, encamping, fortification, the best that could be got of that kind, and in all languages, at the cost and charge of the prince, who had a learned librarian, whose name I have forgot. It was called the Artillery Ground, and continued till the Restoration of King Charles II. and then fell into the hands of the Lord Gerrard, who let the ground out to build on about the year 1677.

Gray's Inn had a library for the use of the students of that society, most of them relating to the laws and history of this kingdom.

In the church yard of St. Martin's in the Fields, Dr. Thomas Tenison, then rector, since Archbishop of Canterbury, built a noble structure, extremely well contrived for the placing of the books and lights. It was begun and finished in the year 168--, and by him well furnished with the best modern books in most faculties, the best of its kind in England. There any student, of what country soever (first giving in his name and place of abode), may be admitted to study.

Lincoln's Inn library was much augmented by Lord Chief Justice Hale, amongst which are many valuable MSS. of his own hand-writing,

The two Temples have each a library. Lord Chief Justice Coke, gave most (if not all) of his excellent MSS. of law and history to the Inner Temple. The Middle Temple is frequently resorted to; Walter Williams, Esq. is the present library-keeper there.

In the Guildhall of the City of London, is the treasury of their records, charters, laws, privileges, acts of common council, their paper books in the Chamberlain's office; some are very ancient, and most of them are in the custody of their town-clerk. There are great variety, and worthy the sight of the curious.

Sion College was founded by Dr. White, Vicar of St. Dunstan in the West; but most of their books were destroyed by the fire of 1666. The few that exist from that time were saved by the industry of the librarian. It has since been re-built, and is situate in London Wall. A catalogue of the books was taken some years ago, and printed in 4to. It is for the use of the London clergy, and is open at this day.

The library of St. Paul's school is another within the walls, and was founded by Dean Colet, and re-built by the Company of Mercers. It is at present supplied by contributions from the scholars and others; but, upon the whole is on the decay.

In the days of King Edward VI. in the chapel called the Lord Mayor's chapel, adjoining to the Guildhall, was a large library, all MSS; they were borrowed (with an intent never to be returned) by the Duke of Somerset, to furnish his study in his pompous house in the Strand. They are reported to be five cart loads. I mention this to inform my reader, that the city had then a public library, besides others that were within the walls, as at the Grey Friars in Newgate-street, now called Christ church; containing a great many MSS; to which Whittington was a benefactor, as by a gift of Lyra, mentioned by Dr. Fuller.

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In the Herald's office is a curious collection of books relating to heraldry, arms, ceremonies, coronations, marriages, funerals, christenings, and visitations, of several counties in England. Many of their best books were stolen during the civil wars; but they have been since furnished with others by the munificence of the Earl of Arundel, the Duke of Norfolk, Mr. Vincent's collection, bought and presented by Mr. Sheldon, of Weston, in Warwickshire. They have an ancient Nennius on vellum, and Robert of Gloucester, an

old rhymer, who lived in the days of King Edward III.; it is a chronicle of England from its first inhabiting to his time, and the only ancient copy we have in England. It were to be wished they had all the French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Flemish books, on the like subjects. Their books are kept in cupboards with shutters, or doors locked up very neatly. Several particular persons belonging to the office have good collections. Mr. Gore printed a catalogue at Oxford, in quarto, of all their books relating to heraldry and antiquities. The books in the Prerogative-office are too well known to be mentioned here, and their utility too obvious to be pointed out.

The White Friars spared no cost to procure books, and their collection must be large and choice. Bale, one of their fraternity, saith, that no book was to be sold but they had their emissaries to buy it. The Carmelites engrossed all the books they could lay their hands on; and it is probable all other orders did the like; so that a layman, though he had both money and learning, had but very few fall into his hands; so that books and learning were seldom to be found out of a monastery.

Since the demolition of Gresham College, the books have not been so fairly displayed as they were when this survey seems to have been taken. However, as some other correspondent can better represent their present state, we shall pass over to

The College of Physicians, in Warwick-lane, who have a numerous collection, among which are Mr. Selden's books, with the library of the Marquis of Doncaster, and others of their members, left them in remembrance.

Christ-church, formerly the Grey Friars, hath a neat library for the use of the masters and scholars, besides a collection of mathematical instruments, globes, ships, with all their rigging, for the instruction of the lads designed for the sea; and in their counting-house is the picture of Edward VI. their founder, by Hans Holbein; and in the great hall a noble representation of King James II. sitting on his throne, with most of the nobility, privy council, chancellor, governors, lord mayor and aldermen of the city, the officers of the house, boys and girls on their knees, &c. all done from the life, by the famous Signior Verrio.

The Dutch and Flemish merchants have a church in Austin Friars, for which Edward VI. granted a patent. They have a neat library for the use of foreign Protestants and their elergy, containing many original letters in MS. never yet printed, of the first Reformers. The Ten Commandments