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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19804-h.zip b/19804-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab15ea0 --- /dev/null +++ b/19804-h.zip diff --git a/19804-h/19804-h.htm b/19804-h/19804-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c9639fb --- /dev/null +++ b/19804-h/19804-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5728 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>Three Centuries of a City Library</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + TD { vertical-align: top; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">Three Centuries of a City Library, by George A. Stephen</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Three Centuries of a City Library, by George +A. Stephen + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Three Centuries of a City Library + an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the present Public Library opened in 1857 + + +Author: George A. Stephen + + + +Release Date: November 14, 2006 [eBook #19804] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1917 Norwich Public Library Committee edition by +David Price, ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1>THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY</h1> +<p style="text-align: center">AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE +NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY ESTABLISHED IN 1608 AND THE PRESENT PUBLIC LIBRARY +OPENED IN 1857</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">by</span><br /> +GEO. A. STEPHEN</p> +<p style="text-align: center">City Librarian, Norwich<br /> +Fellow of the Library Association<br /> +Silver Medallist of the Royal Society of Arts<br /> +Author of “Guide to the Study of Norwich,” “Commercial +Bookbinding,” etc.<br /> +Joint-author of “Manual of Library Bookbinding”</p> +<p style="text-align: center">NORWICH<br /> +THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE<br /> +1917</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/1b.jpg"> +<img alt="Blackfriar’s Church, now called St. Andrew’s Hall, +Norwich, circa 1650. Showing House in which the Public Library was +originally established" src="images/1s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p><!-- page ii--><a name="pageii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +ii</span>“I can wonder at nothing more, than how a man can be idle; +but, of all other, a Scholar; in so many improvements of reason, in such +sweetness of knowledge, in such variety of studies, in such importunity of +thoughts. . . . To find wit, in poetry; in philosophy, profoundness; in +mathematics, acuteness; in history, wonder of events; in oratory, sweet +eloquence; in divinity, supernatural light and holy devotion; as so many +rich metals in their proper mines, whom would it not ravish with +delight!”—<i>Joseph Hall</i>, <i>Bishop of Norwich</i>, +1641-7.</p> +<h2><!-- page iii--><a name="pageiii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +iii</span>PREFACE.</h2> +<p>This book was prepared by instruction of the Norwich Public Library +Committee, and it is now published as a souvenir of the sixtieth +anniversary of the opening of the present Public Library, which will take +place on March 16th, 1917. Norwich occupies a unique place in the +history of libraries: it has the distinction of having established in 1608 +one of the earliest provincial public libraries, if not the first in +England, and it was the first municipality to adopt the Public Library Act, +1850. It is hoped, therefore, that the following sketch, besides +giving local readers and archæologists a detailed account of an +important Norwich institution, will form an interesting chapter in the +history of British Libraries.</p> +<p>The compilation has been made from the recently discovered Minute Book +of the old Public Library, covering the period 1656-1733, from annual +reports and other official records, and from notes accumulated since +1911. The work has been done under difficulties due to the abnormal +conditions caused by the Great War, and I am conscious that imperfections +have resulted; for these I crave the reader’s indulgence.</p> +<p>I am grateful to the Dean of Norwich (the Very Rev. H. C. Beeching, +D.D., D.Litt.) for his kind help in several matters, for many suggestions, +and for reading the galley proofs. To Mr. Walter Rye I am indebted +for reading the proofs, and for assistance. Thanks are also due to +Mr. F. Johnson, the Assistant City Archivist, for consulting the City +Records and providing me with some extracts; and to Mr. F. R. Beecheno, the +historian of the parish of St. Andrew’s, for assistance and +information. My obligations to Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost +of King’s College, Cambridge, and Mr. A. W. Pollard, M.A., of the +British Museum, are acknowledged in the text. For any errors in the +book I am solely responsible.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>January</i>, 1917.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Geo. A. Stephen</span>.</p> +<h2><!-- page 1--><a name="page1"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 1</span> +INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<p>In mediæval times the making, collecting, and preserving of books, +as well as the maintenance of learning, were almost exclusively confined to +monastic institutions, some of which lent books to laymen, and thus became +the public libraries of the surrounding district. As to the literary +life of Norwich in the fifteenth century, the late Dr. Jessopp wrote: +“Whatever may have been the case in other dioceses, it is certain +that the bishops of Norwich during the fifteenth century were resident in +their see, and that they were prominent personages as scholars and men of +culture and learning. . . . It is clear that . . . their influence was not +inconsiderable in encouraging literary tastes and studious habits among +their clergy. Pitts, in his list of distinguished Englishmen of +letters who flourished during the latter half of the fifteenth century, +mentions no less than twenty-four Norfolk men who were recognised as +prominent scholars, controversialists, historians, or students of +science.” <a name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1" +class="citation">[1]</a> Coincident with the decline of monastic +learning in Europe were the revival of secular learning and the invention +of printing, which gave a great impetus to the collection of books, +especially on the continent. The sixteenth century was a dark age in +the history of British libraries, the iconoclasts of the Reformation +ruthlessly destroying innumerable priceless treasures both of books and +bindings. John Bale, Bishop of Ossory, who was educated at a +Carmelite Convent in Norwich, and became vicar of Swaffham, Norfolk, in +1551, wrote scathingly of the literary condition of England in the middle +of the sixteenth century, and referred specifically to Norwich: “O +cyties of Englande, whose glory standeth more in bellye chere, than in the +serch <!-- page 2--><a name="page2"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 2</span>of +wysdome godlye. How cometh it, that neyther you, nor yet your ydell +masmongers, haue regarded thys most worthy commodyte of your contrey? +I meane the conseruacyon of your Antiquytees, and of the worthy labours of +your lerned men. . . . I have bene also at Norwyche, oure seconde cytie of +name, and there all the library monumentes are turned to the vse of their +grossers, candelmakers, sope sellers, and other worldly occupyers.” +<a name="citation2a"></a><a href="#footnote2a" +class="citation">[2a]</a></p> +<p>In the early years of the seventeenth century many famous collegiate and +town libraries—i.e., libraries under the guardianship of +municipalities—were founded throughout the country, and in the +history of the latter Norwich has a unique place. So far as can be +ascertained from the published historical accounts of libraries, Norwich +has the distinction of having established in 1608 (six years after the +foundation of the Bodleian Library, and 145 years before the foundation of +the British Museum) the first provincial town library under municipal +control. <a name="citation2b"></a><a href="#footnote2b" +class="citation">[2b]</a> The other earliest popular town libraries +are those of Ipswich (1612), Bristol (founded in 1613 and opened in 1615), +and Leicester (1632). Mr. Norris Mathews, the City Librarian of +Bristol, contends that “The claim to the earliest [public library] in +England still belongs to Bristol. This library was that of the +Kalendars or Kalendaries, a brotherhood of clergy and laity who were +attached to the Church of All-Hallowen or All Saints, still existing in +Corn Street” (“Library Association Record,” vol. 2, 1900, +p. 642). In some notes regarding this Gild of <!-- page 3--><a +name="page3"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 3</span>Kalendars in Miss Lucy +Toulmin Smith’s Introduction to “Ricart’s Calendar” +<a name="citation3"></a><a href="#footnote3" class="citation">[3]</a> it is +stated that “In 1464 provision was made as to a library, lately +erected in the house of the Kalendars,” and reference is made to a +deed of that date by which it was “appointed that all who wish to +enter for the sake of instruction shall have ‘free access and +recess’ at certain times, and that, lest the books should be lost, +three inventories shall be made, to be yearly collated with the books, +which books shall be chained in a room, and for the loss of which heavy +penalties are imposed on the prior. The prior to be appointed by the +Mayor.” Mr. John Taylor in his article on “The earliest +English free libraries” (“Library Chronicle,” vol. 3, +1886, p. 156), stated that these regulations were made by an ordinance of +John, Bishop of Worcester, A.D. 1464. From the foregoing quotations +it is obvious that the Library was under the control of the Gild, and not +of the municipality, and therefore while, as a semi-monastic library, it +may be regarded as a prototype of the modern public library, it cannot be +justly claimed as the first public town library.</p> +<p>The following account of the first provincial town library and its +successor is in two parts: part I. deals with the Library established in +1608 and now known as the City Library, and part II. deals with the Public +Library, established under the Public Library Act of 1850.</p> +<h2>PART I. THE CITY LIBRARY.</h2> +<h3>FOUNDATION AND HISTORY.</h3> +<p>According to the judicious Norfolk antiquary John Kirkpatrick, who +accumulated vast collections of material relating to Norwich, “There +was a design of erecting a Public Library in this City, in the reign of +Edward the Fourth, as appears by this legacy, in the will of John +Leystofte, vicar of St. Stephen’s church, here, A.D. 1461, +namely,—“Item. I will that, if a library be begun in +Norwich, within two years after my decease, I bequeath to the same, my book +called <!-- page 4--><a name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +4</span>Repyngton.” <a name="citation4"></a><a href="#footnote4" +class="citation">[4]</a> Kirkpatrick was unable to say whether the +legacy was effected, and no record remains.</p> +<p>The first City Library of which there is any record was founded on the +3rd May, 1608, and by the following order of Assembly which was then +recorded, it will be observed that it had an ecclesiastical basis, like so +many libraries of previous centuries: “Ordered, with the consent of +Jerrom Goodwyne, sword-bearer, that iij chambers, parcel of his +dwelling-howse, which he hath by lease of the cyttie, shal be converted to +a lybrary for the use of the preachers, and for a lodging chamber for such +preachers as shall come to this cittie, to preach on the sabboth-dayes, and +at other tymes, in the common place, and elsewhere, within this cittie; +where the said Jerrom Goodwyn shall fynd beddyng, lynnynge, and other +necessaries for lodging, for the preachers that so shall come, during their +abode in the cittie for the intent aforesaid: which said romes for the +lybrary shal be made fytt at the charge of this cittie; and the said +Goodwyn to allowe one of his servants to attende the preachers. In +consideration whereof, the said Goodwyne shal be allowed yearly the rent +which he now payeth, and his lease, notwithstanding, to stand good for the +terme therein expressed.” <a name="citation4"></a><a +href="#footnote4" class="citation">[4]</a></p> +<p>The Library, however, was not intended solely for ministers. The +wording of the title-page of the first donation book, commenced in 1659, +states that it was founded for students: “Bibliotheca publica +Norvicensis communi studiosorum bono instituta incœpta et inchoata +fuit An<sup>o</sup> Domini MDCVIII.” (See reproduction, facing +page 46). Moreover, the list of the early members of the Library +includes the names of people who were not ministers. Facing pages 4 +and 6 are facsimiles of the two pages in the Minute Book bearing signatures +of early members who subscribed to the rules of the Library. Perhaps +the most notable autographs are those of Charles Trimnell, Bishop of +Norwich, William Whiston, translator of Josephus, and chaplain to John +Moore, Bishop of Norwich, Thomas Tanner, Bishop of St. Asaph, and Benjamin +Mackerell, a Norfolk antiquary and Librarian of the Norwich Public +Library.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/4b.jpg"> +<img alt="Autographs of early members of the City Library 1" +src="images/4s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p><!-- page 5--><a name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 5</span>To +Judge by the existing records, the City had then received no books for +placing in the rooms. Mr. J. C. Tingey, <a name="citation5a"></a><a +href="#footnote5a" class="citation">[5a]</a> however, considers it +“rather strange that when, in 1608, three rooms were fitted up for +the reception of the library at the New Hall there should be no existing +books to be placed in the presses, though promises of donations may have +been given. As a matter of fact the compilers of the old catalogues +mention several works without being able to say by whom they were +presented, and as many of these were printed in the 16th century it is not +impossible that some of them constituted a primary stock. On the +other hand many books whose donors are unknown were issued after the +library was inaugurated, so of these it is certain that they were presented +later.” The number of works whose donors are not stated in the +first printed catalogue of 1706 is 51, but in the second printed catalogue +of 1732 the donors of 36 of these are stated, so there remain only 15 works +in the first printed catalogue of which the donors are unknown. Of +these fifteen one was printed after the establishment of the Library, and +so the primary stock suggested by Mr. Tingey could not have consisted of +more than 14 works.</p> +<p>There is a hiatus in the records of the Library proceedings from its +establishment to 1656. Possibly the books presented to the Library +from 1608 to 1656 were simply allowed to accumulate in the Library rooms, +without any regulations in regard to their use and safe-keeping. That +the books were sadly neglected is very evident from a codicil to the will +dated September 18th, 1655, of John Carter, Rector of St. Laurence’s +Church, Norwich, giving to the Library “divers books, +etc.” He revoked his bequest by the following codicil, and +“instead thereof gave £5 to each of the three united parishes +of St. Laurence, St. Swithin, and St. Margaret, for a stock of coals for +ever”: “nowe seeinge (to my no small grief) that that library +is locked up, ministers shut out of it, and that it is never like to be of +publique use againe, but that the books are devoted to the wormes, dust, +and rotteness, to the dishonour of God, the damage of the ministry, and the +wrong of the benefactors, the dead, and the living, &c.” <a +name="citation5b"></a><a href="#footnote5b" class="citation">[5b]</a></p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/6b.jpg"> +<img alt="Autographs of early members of the City Library 1" +src="images/6s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p><!-- page 6--><a name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>By +1656, the year of Carter’s death, the Assembly had evidently realised +the necessity for making regulations for the use of the Library, and had +drawn them up before the 16th January in that year, when it was +“ordered that the Articles moved touching the ordering of the Library +be continued.”</p> +<p>On the ninth day of the following month eight ministers met at the +Library, when they received the “Orders” of the Council for the +regulation of the Library, and having subscribed to them, they were +admitted to the use of the Library. At this meeting they ordered two +frames for the “Orders”; that Mr. John Collinges should be +Library Keeper until January, 1657; that each minister admitted to the use +of the Library should pay 12d. quarterly; and that “a book should be +bought for registring the acts of the min<sup>s</sup> at their severall +meetings in the Library, and sheets of parchment fit for the engrossing of +the orders, and that the library keeper be desired to provide these against +the next meeting.” This minute book is still in the City +Library, but it has been overlooked by all previous writers of notices of +the Library. It commences with the proceedings of the meeting on the +9th February, 1656, and records the meetings until April 3rd, 1733. +As the Assembly Minute Books for the years 1632 to 1682 are missing the +actual “orders” previously mentioned cannot be quoted, but +fortunately the other end of the Minute Book was used to write in the +declaration of admission and the rules for the conduct of the +Library. They are as follows:—</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“We whose names are hereunto annexed upon our admission to ye use +of ye Publick Library in ye City of Norw<sup>ch</sup>, in Complyance +w<sup>th</sup> an Act of ye Common Council of ye said City dated ye 16th +January 1656, do faithfully engage and promise,</p> +<p>“Imprimis That we will not at any time Carry out of ye said +Library any booke belonging to it.</p> +<p>“2 ly That we will not Leave any booke belonging to ye said +Library (after our using it) out of its due place, nor write any thing in +any of ye bookes, nor Leave them w<sup>th</sup> any Leaves turned +downe.</p> +<p>“3 ly That we will not prejudice any other pson by our use of ye +said Library, to which purpose we shall not at any time delay our going to +ye Library after ye receipt of ye Keyes from <!-- page 7--><a +name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 7</span>ye Keeper, nor ye +restoring them when we Come out of ye said Library.</p> +<p>“4 ly That we shall as to all these Articles be Responsabl for our +friends who shall goe w<sup>th</sup> us to ye said Library, as for our +selves.</p> +<p>“5 ly We shall (being duly Chosen thereto) not above once in +seaven yeares, discharge ye office of Library-Keeper.</p> +<p>“6 ly We shall faithfully pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper +of ye said Library quarterly, and also our equall share w<sup>th</sup> ye +rest of our brethren in all Charges they shall be at for ye better +preserving of ye said Library.</p> +<p>“All these things we shall endeavour faithfully to observe & +keep, if through our negligence we shall fail in any of them, we Agree to +subject our selves to ye Penalties mentioned in ye orders Confirmed by the +Court of Common Councill in ye said City.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The Library at this time was clearly a Reference Library, and its +maintenance partly depended on the members who agreed to pay their +“proportions” of 12d. quarterly, and also their equal share in +any charges made for the “better preserving of the +Library.” The earlier entries in the Minute Book give a fair +record of the proceedings at the meetings: they record the names of the +members present, the names of new members admitted to the use of the +Library, the quarterly payments of the members, the donations of books, +books purchased with money given to the Library, duplicate books exchanged +for other books, the appointments of the Library Keepers and Under Library +Keepers, and other matters connected with the administration of the +Library; but the fulness of the entries gradually diminishes until the +records are little more than lists of members present, and notes of +quarterly payments.</p> +<p>The meetings were held monthly, and on February 6th, 1656, it was +resolved that the meetings should be held on the second Monday in each +month between 2 and 3 o’clock. At that meeting a levy on the +members was recorded: “All the min<sup>s</sup> present at this +meeting deposed Sixpence a piece in Mr. Collinges hand towards the +providing of frames and parchment for the orders for the regulation of the +library, in all 5/-: and <!-- page 8--><a name="page8"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 8</span>ordered such as were not present if admitted +already, or such as hereafter should be admitted, should at their admission +or next appearing at meeting lay down so much towards the frames and +parchment aforesaid, and the buying of a book to register the Acts of the +min<sup>s</sup> in.”</p> +<p>That the members were permitted to enjoy the fragrant weed on the +library premises is evident from an entry under date October 12th, 1657: +“Threepence was laid out for tobacco pipes,” and on April 1st, +1690 it was recorded, “That Mr. Pitts is this day discharged from ye +office of Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye under=Library=Keeper for +his 2 years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink and paper, nine +shillings.”</p> +<p>From many records it is obvious that the City Authorities closely +controlled the administration of the Library. According to the Minute +Book on January 12th, 1673, the members “consented y<sup>t</sup> +M<sup>r</sup> Riveley and M<sup>r</sup> Morley should attend yppon the +Court to craue their Order for appoynting the time for ye Ministers Meeting +at the Library for future to be uppon the first Tuesday in every +moneth.” The request was granted. On 29th March, 1673, +the Court ordered “36<sup>s</sup>. to be paid for six Russia leather +chairs for City Library.” <a name="citation8"></a><a +href="#footnote8" class="citation">[8]</a></p> +<p>The library receipts from fees and charges are not regularly entered, +but throughout the Minute Book there are occasional records of receipts and +payments, and under date March 3, 1684, is the following: “This day +ye account of ye Last year was stated. The Library keeper had +received 4<sup>ll</sup> 3<sup>s</sup> & 4<sup>d</sup> and had expended +4<sup>l</sup> 11<sup>s</sup> 10<sup>d</sup>—due to Him 8<sup>s</sup> +6<sup>d</sup>.”</p> +<p>Either as a means of raising additional money for the Library or of +securing a better attendance of members at the meetings it was ordered on +Jan. 15th, 1677 “that all persons that will continue the use & +benefitte of the librarie shall pay for every omission of meeting upon the +day appointed the forfeiture of 2 pence, no excuse to be admitted for +absence; & the said forfeitures are to be dispos’d of every halfe +year according as the major part of psons at y<sup>t</sup> meeting shall +determine.” The Minute Book does not show that the fines for +absence were usually disposed of half-yearly, but the following memorandum +<!-- page 9--><a name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 9</span>was made +therein on April 1st, 1690: “That this day we present cast up ye +forfeitures of ye two last years, viz. 1688, 1689 And the several persons +are indebted in all two pounds, ten shillings & four pence as appears +by ye particulars in ye Book of forfeitures.”</p> +<p>For the first 108 years of the Library’s existence it remained a +reference library, and books were not lent, but surreptitious borrowing +probably took place occasionally. At any rate on December 2nd, 1684, +the following memorandum was made: “That B<span +class="smcap"><sup>p</sup></span> J. Ushers treatise de Macedonum et +Assyriorum [Asianorum] anno solari was missing this meeting y<sup>t</sup> +was, by y<sup>e</sup> under-library-keepers attestation here the last +meeting and has bin missing this three weeks, ’tis desired that he +that has it would be pleased to restore it, and not to do any such thing as +is contrary to w<sup>t</sup> he hath subscribed.” By 1716 the +members had considered it desirable to allow the borrowing of books for +home reading, and on May 7th, 1716, occurs the following record of the +petition of the members to the City Court:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“This Society having requested y<sup>e</sup> Court to give leave +y<sup>t</sup> an order might be made to render y<sup>e</sup> Library more +usefull it was accordingly ordered by y<sup>e</sup> Court</p> +<p>“Norwich. At an Assembly held the third day of May Anno Dnj +1716</p> +<p>“The Petition of y<sup>e</sup> Clergy about y<sup>e</sup> Books in +ye Library is now agreed to, so as such care be taken by y<sup>e</sup> +Library-keeper y<sup>t</sup> there be no loss of y<sup>e</sup> Books.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">P Cur: Chappell.</p> +<p>“The Articles or Conditions of borrowing any book out of +y<sup>e</sup> Library are order’d to be written in y<sup>e</sup> +first leave of a Register to be provided for y<sup>e</sup> use of +y<sup>e</sup> Society.”</p> +<p>“These Articles or Conditions are fortunately written at the end +of the Minute Book, and are as follows:</p> +<p>“First, That every Person taking out any Book, shall enter +y<sup>e</sup> same into a Book to be provided for y<sup>t</sup> +purpose.</p> +<p>“2<sup>dly</sup>: That He shall be obliged to return ye same Book +or Books w<sup>th</sup>in one month from y<sup>e</sup> time of borrowing, +& enter y<sup>e</sup> return of y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Book in a +Column of y<sup>e</sup> Register opposite to that wherein ye borrowing of +y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Book is mention’d.</p> +<p>“3<sup>dly</sup>: That No Person shall have above y<sup>e</sup> +Number of three <!-- page 10--><a name="page10"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 10</span>Books (from this Library) at one time, unless +y<sup>e</sup> leave of y<sup>e</sup> Society be first Ask’d & +obtain’d.</p> +<p>“4<sup>thly</sup>: That if any damage be done to any Book, He in +whose hands it is shall make it good, & to prevent disputes, if +y<sup>e</sup> Book be damag’d before taken out of y<sup>e</sup> +Library it shall be shown to y<sup>e</sup> Under=library=Keeper.</p> +<p>“5<sup>thly</sup>: That there be some Persons appointed to assist +ye Upper Library Keeper in calling over y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Books +y<sup>e</sup> first Monday of January next, & so yearly & every +year, & y<sup>t</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Library Keeper shall have power to +send for & call in such Books as are y<sup>tt</sup> abroad, & every +person in whose hands any Books have been above y<sup>e</sup> limited time +of one Month at such days of calling over y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Books +shall forfeit two shillings & six pence to be applied to such use as +y<sup>e</sup> Society shall adjudge proper.</p> +<p>“6<sup>thly</sup>: That No Person shall be admitted to +y<sup>e</sup> use of this Library, (Those of this Court excepted) Nor have +y<sup>e</sup> liberty of borrowing any Book from y<sup>e</sup> +s<sup>d</sup> Library who are not already, or shall not hereafter be +admitted to y<sup>e</sup> use of y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Library +according to y<sup>e</sup> usages & Customs of the Society Now in great +measure entrusted w<sup>th</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Care & Charge of +y<sup>e</sup> Books of y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Library, except such +Person shall first give unto y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> Library +y<sup>e</sup> sum of fourty shillings or Books to y<sup>t</sup> value.</p> +<p>“7<sup>thly</sup>: Tis agreed y<sup>t</sup> there be two fair +Catalouges made, One to be & remain w<sup>th</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Court +of this City, & y<sup>e</sup> other to be kept in y<sup>e</sup> +Library, y<sup>t</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Library Keeper do get y<sup>e</sup> +s<sup>d</sup> Catalouges made w<sup>th</sup> all convenient speed, +y<sup>t</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Books be rang’d into some method & +order, y<sup>t</sup> y<sup>e</sup> Library Keeper shall take in such +assistance as is wanting, & his charge & trouble be allow’d +according to y<sup>e</sup> discretion of y<sup>e</sup> Society.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>These rules show that borrowers were permitted to record the books they +borrowed, that they were allowed to retain them for a month, that damaged +books should be reported to the Under Library Keeper before being taken +away, and that a stocktaking fine of 2s. 6d. was provided for in the event +of books not being returned in the January of each year.</p> +<p>The Minutes between 1716 and 1731 chiefly record formal matters, and +little of note regarding the administration of the Library. On +February 7th, 1731, “It was then unanimously agreed that the Members +meet for the future on the first Tuesday <!-- page 11--><a +name="page11"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 11</span>in every Month at two +o’Clock in y<sup>e</sup> afternoon.” On the 7th of the +following month two delinquent borrowers were dealt with: “Whereas +the Rev<sup>d</sup> M<sup>r</sup>. Francis Johnson took some time since the +Works of Bishop Bull in 4 volumes 8<sup>vo</sup> out of this Library, & +has return’d only y<sup>e</sup> 1<sup>st</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> & +4<sup>th</sup> Vol<sup>s</sup> & instead of y<sup>e</sup> 2<sup>d</sup> +Sherlock on providence, it Was then Order’d, that that sh<sup>d</sup> +be return’d him again, & that he be requir’d either to send +back y<sup>e</sup> s<sup>d</sup> 2<sup>d</sup> vol. or take the remaining +three, & send an entire Sett. Order’d likewise that +M<sup>r</sup> Morrant be requir’d to return B-p. Stillingfleets +Origines Sacrae, being y<sup>e</sup> 2<sup>d</sup> vol. of his works, Long +since taken out by Him.”</p> +<p>The regulations for the administration of the Library were again revised +in 1732/3 by the City Council: <a name="citation11"></a><a +href="#footnote11" class="citation">[11]</a></p> +<blockquote> +<p>“At an ASSEMBLY held on <i>Feb.</i> the 24th, 1732/3. the Right +Worshipful the MAYOR, <i>Sheriffs</i>, <i>Aldermen</i>, and +<i>Common-Council</i> this Day assembled, for the better Regulation of the +<i>Publick Library</i>, have unanimously appointed the following ORDERS to +be observed, upon Pain of Exclusion from the said <i>Library</i>.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That the Catalogues already printed be Six Hundred; and +that one Half of them be kept in the Town-Clerk’s Office, to be +delivered out to the Members of the Corporation; and the other Half be left +in the Library, to be delivered out to the Subscribers.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That the Books in the said Library be Annually called +over, in the first Week of <i>June</i>, in the Presence of the +<i>Chamberlain</i>; and that such books as are found to be Duplicates, be +sold by the <i>Chamberlain</i> and <i>Library-Keeper</i>; and that the +Money arising by Sale thereof, be laid out in the Purchasing of such Books +as shall be thought proper by the said Subscribers.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That after the said Annual Call is finished, the +Subscribers to the said Library, upon their next Monthly Meeting, have +Liberty to choose a <i>Library-Keeper</i> for the Year ensuing.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That on the Reception of any Book or Books given to the +said Library, the <i>Donor’s</i> Name shall be written <!-- page +12--><a name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 12</span>on the inside +Cover of the Book, and that the <i>Library-Keeper</i> shall Register the +same in the Vellum Book.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That no Person shall have more than Three Books out of +the said Library at one Time, nor keep them longer than one Month, without +the Consent of the Majority of the Subscribers present at their Monthly +Meeting: And that an Account of every Book Lent, and the Return thereof, be +duly made and enter’d in a Book for that Purpose.</p> +<p>“ORDERED, That every Person who shall be admitted to the Use of +the said Library, shall declare his full and free Consent to comply with +the said Orders, as far as to him may appertain, according to the true +Intent and Meaning of the same; and particularly with the following Orders +or Articles, by subscribing his Name in the said <i>Library-Book</i> upon +his Admission: And also that all the said Orders, and the following +Articles, shall be entred in the said <i>Library-Book</i>, <i>viz</i>:</p> +<p>“<i>First</i>, That every Subscriber upon Admission shall pay to +the Under <i>Library-Keeper</i> one Shilling, and also one Shilling +Quarterly, for his Care of, and Attendance at the said Library: And every +Subscriber shall also pay his Proportion of all Charges that may be thought +necessary by the Subscribers, for the better preserving of the Books in the +said Library; or shall be excluded the Use thereof.</p> +<p>“<i>Secondly</i>, That if any Book be lent out, and lost or +damaged, the Borrower shall be obliged to make good such Loss or +Damage.</p> +<p>“<i>Thirdly</i>, The Subscribers have Leave to meet the first +<i>Tuesday</i> in every Month, to inspect the said Library, and take out +such Books as they may have Occasion for, then or at any other Time; and +see that the said Orders and Articles be duly observed.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">“<i>Per Curiam</i>,</p> +<p style="text-align: right">“LODGE.” [i.e., Nehemiah +Lodge, Town Clerk].</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The Minute Book which finishes on April 3rd, 1733, is silent regarding +these new regulations, but Benjamin Mackerell (Librarian of the City +Library from 1724 to 1731) writing in 1737 shewed that they did not result +in improving the management of the Library:</p> +<blockquote> +<p><!-- page 13--><a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +13</span>“For some few years it has been a Lending Library and some +persons have had books two or three years together contrary to an order to +the contrary. Here is no salary given by the city for anyone to take +care and the charge of the books upon him only the keys thereof are left at +the house of the Clark of St. Andrews Parish, and any man may be admitted +that will but give him twelve-pence a quarter, but unless the Corporation +would be at the expence of a salary for any sober discreet person to take +the charge of the said books upon himself and have the sole custody of +them, and pecuniary mulcts inflicted upon such as break the orders already +made, there is little hopes of keeping the books there, or in any good +order long together, besides this is also made use of upon the account of +the trustees for the Charity Schools who frequently meet here, +notwithstanding there are so many more convenient rooms in the said +hall. Especially that in which the Grand Jury meet in at every +Assizes. Persons may borrow two books out of this Library at a time +but ought not to keep them above one month without giving notice to the +Library keeper.” <a name="citation13a"></a><a href="#footnote13a" +class="citation">[13a]</a></p> +</blockquote> +<p>Mackerell’s remarks, and the fact that the Minute Book was not +filled, seem to indicate that the Library was neglected for some +years. On September 21st, 1801, the Assembly complied with the +request of the Committee of a subscription library, with the misnomer +“Public Library” (established in 1784 in St. Andrew’s +Hall) by granting them leave “to have the use of the books in the +City Library, to be kept under the care of their Librarian apart from other +books, the President giving a receipt for the safe return of the same on +demand.” <a name="citation13b"></a><a href="#footnote13b" +class="citation">[13b]</a> The City Committee reported to the +Assembly in 1805 “that the books in the City Library have not of late +been carefully preserved, that some valuable works have been mutilated and +others lost or mislaid.” <a name="citation13c"></a><a +href="#footnote13c" class="citation">[13c]</a> The Assembly thereupon +rescinded the order of September 21st, 1801, requested the President and +Committee of the “Public Library” to “make good all +losses and injuries,” and committed the custody of the City Library +to <!-- page 14--><a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +14</span>the Steward. In 1815 the City Library was again entrusted to +the “Public Library.” Ten years afterwards, the +“Public Library,” which still housed the City Library, was +removed to a building in St. Andrew’s Street. The admission fee +to this Library in 1825, as stated in the Catalogue of the Library of that +date, was five guineas, and the annual subscription was one guinea. +This Catalogue contains the following rules regarding the City Library:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“LIV. The books belonging to the City Library having been +deposited in the Library Room of the Public Library, by permission of the +Corporation, are accessible to the subscribers, and may be delivered out +under a written order of the president, or vice-president, countersigned by +an officer of the Corporation.</p> +<p>“LV. The Librarian shall have charge of the books belonging +to the City Library, and shall procure the necessary authority for the +delivery of books to subscribers applying for them.</p> +<p>“LVI. The books belonging to the City Library shall be +returned to the Librarian every quarter day; and the same fines and +penalties shall apply to subscribers not attending to this regulation, or +to losing, lending or injuring books belonging to the City Library, which +are laid down by the laws for the protection of the books belonging to the +Public Library.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>In the same catalogue it was stated that the City Library was under the +particular inspection of the Mayor and seven members of the Council who +constituted the Library Committee of the Corporation. “The +Right Worshipful the Mayor of Norwich, for the time being, is an Honorary +Member of the Public Library; and the Members of the Library Committee of +the Corporation, together with the Speaker of the Commons, the Town Clerk, +and the Chamberlain, if not already Members of the Society, have the +privilege of constant access to the Library Rooms during their continuance +of office.” <a name="citation14"></a><a href="#footnote14" +class="citation">[14]</a> These rules were in force in 1847, and were +reprinted in a new edition of the Catalogue printed in that year. The +members of the rival subscription library, called “The Norfolk and +Norwich Literary Institution,” which was established in 1822, were +also allowed to borrow <!-- page 15--><a name="page15"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 15</span>books from the City Library, by an order from +the Chamberlain of the City. <a name="citation15a"></a><a +href="#footnote15a" class="citation">[15a]</a> In 1835 the +“Public Library” with the City Library was removed to a new +building opposite the north door of the Guildhall, on the site of the +present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library.</p> +<p>Ostensibly the City Library was adequately cared for by the +“Public Library,” but in reality it was greatly +neglected. At a meeting of the Council on July 10th, 1856, the Town +Clerk read a report from the City Library Committee, stating that they had +inspected the books of the City Library, and “considered them in a +very disorderly and dirty condition, that they could not be compared with +the catalogue till they were re-arranged. They recommended that a +grant of £25 should be made for the rearrangement of the books, and +that Mr. Langton [the Librarian] be employed for that purpose.” <a +name="citation15b"></a><a href="#footnote15b" +class="citation">[15b]</a> In the discussion that ensued Mr. Ling +said some of the books “were lying on the floor, damaged by dust and +cobwebs, and an extremely valuable manuscript of Wickliffe’s Bible +was in a bad state.” <a name="citation15c"></a><a href="#footnote15c" +class="citation">[15c]</a> Mr. Brightwell suggested that the City +Library would be a capital foundation for the Free Library, and the matter +was referred back for the consideration of the City Library +Committee. Those interested in the “Public Library” +strove hard to retain the City Library, and on November 20th, 1856, the +following memorial signed by the President was presented to the Council and +discussed:—</p> +<blockquote> +<p>To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Norwich, in Council assembled. +<a name="citation15d"></a><a href="#footnote15d" +class="citation">[15d]</a> The Memorial of the Committee of the +Norwich Public Library</p> +<p>Sheweth,—That at a quarterly assembly of the Corporation, held +June 19th, 1815, a certain Report of the Library Committee was agreed to, +and consent given for the city books to be taken to the Public Library +under the direction of the same Committee.</p> +<p>That your memorialists have learned with deep regret that it is +contemplated to apply to the Council for power to remove the city books to +the Free Library.</p> +<p>That upon the faith of their tenure of these books, as long as the +conditions imposed were satisfactorily complied with, various sums of +money, to a considerable amount, have from time to time been expended by +<!-- page 16--><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 16</span>your +memorialists from the funds of the Public Library in their +preservation.</p> +<p>That the books of the City Library have been embodied in the catalogues +of 1825 and 1847, under the same scientific arrangement as the books which +are the property of the Public Library, distinguishing those which are the +property of the Corporation by a prominent and appropriate designation; and +that therefore by the removal of the City Library, the catalogue, to which +your memorialists have recently published the first appendix, will be +rendered quite useless and an expense, otherwise unnecessary, will be +incurred.</p> +<p>That although the books of the City Library were recently found in a +very dusty condition; yet that during the 40 years they have been in the +custody of your memorialists, they have suffered no deterioration from +damp, loss, or otherwise.</p> +<p>That the contiguity of the Public Library to the Guildhall affords the +greatest convenience of application to the Town Clerk for permission to +take out books from the City Library, and of the access of the Library +Committee of the Corporation to inspect their property.</p> +<p>That it is in contemplation to place a fire in the room appropriated to +the City Library, and further to improve it by the insertion of a large +bay-window, which will make it a light and cheerful place for all who need +reference to these ancient and valuable books.</p> +<p>That your memorialists venture to point out the entire unsuitableness, +in their judgment, of works in learned languages, on abstruse subjects or +in black letter, to the objects of the Free Library.</p> +<p>And your memorialists therefore pray that the books of the City Library +be allowed to remain, as heretofore, in their keeping.</p> +<p>Signed on behalf of the Public Library Committee.</p> +<p>Norwich, Nov. 10th, 1856.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">G. W. W. FIRTH, President.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Edward Edwards, in his monumental “Memoirs of Libraries,” +1859, (vol. 1, p. 739) printed the above memorial which he said carried +“its refutation on its face.” “On so puerile a +production,” he continued, “it were idle to waste words. +One remark, however, may be appropriate in anticipation of the history and +objects of the Act of Parliament in pursuance of which the Free City +Library of Norwich has been created. No Institution established under +that Act can with justice address itself to any “class” of the +population in particular. Rate-supported Libraries are <i>ipso +facto</i> “Town Libraries.” Their cost is defrayed by +ratepayers of all degrees. It is the imperative duty of every +Town-Council so to manage them as to make them conduce, in the utmost +possible measure, to the researches, the pursuits, and the profit of +<i>every</i> class of the townspeople. For some readers it may also +be desirable to add that the <!-- page 17--><a name="page17"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 17</span>so-called “Public” Library by whose +managers this Memorial is drawn up, is Public in name only.”</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the persistent attempts of the “Public +Library” on futile pretexts to retain the City Library, the Council +on February 17th, 1857, decided by a large majority in favour of the +removal of the City Library to the new library building under its own +control. Even then the Free Library Committee had difficulty in +securing the books, and it was only after their repeated applications that +the City Library was installed in the Library in 1862. Mr. John +Quinton, the Librarian of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution, +superintended the removal of the books, and arranged them in their new +quarters. The book-plate in the volumes was printed from a wood-block +engraved by his daughter, Miss Jane Quinton, a student of the Norwich +School of Art, which at that time occupied the top floor of the +Library. The books were shelved in cases on the ground floor until +1879 when they were removed to their present glass cases in the News +Room.</p> +<p>The Council on the 17th March, 1868, agreed to the recommendation of the +City Committee “that the Wyckliffe Bible and other books be committed +as a loan into the custody of the trustees of the [Norfolk and Norwich] +Museum, proper provision to be made for the exhibition and preservation +thereof.” <a name="citation17"></a><a href="#footnote17" +class="citation">[17]</a> Several manuscripts and printed books were +sent to the Museum, and Mr. J. J. Colman, the Mayor in that year, presented +to the city a glass case for the exhibition of the books.</p> +<p>In 1872 the Norfolk and Norwich Law Library, which had just been +established, applied for the loan of between 30 and 40 legal works in the +City Library, and the Council acceded to its request on condition that any +person not a member of the Law Library should have access to the books, and +that the books should be returned to the City Library on request. A +list of the books lent was printed in the Catalogue of the Law Library +published in 1874. The books were returned during the year ending +March, 1900.</p> +<p>The Catalogue of 1883 stated that the following was the rule for the use +of the City books: “A loan of these books may be <!-- page 18--><a +name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>obtained at the Free +Library, from 11 to 4 on any day of the week excepting Thursday, by +application to the Town Clerk, who will supply a Form to be filled up by +the applicant and forwarded to the Chairman of the Libraries +Committee.” Now the books are issued by and at the discretion +of the City Librarian, for use in the Reference Library, in accordance with +the rules of the Public Library.</p> +<p>The City Committee, which is responsible for the City Library, provided +in 1912 a large exhibition case in the Reading Room for the display of some +of the more rare and interesting books.</p> +<h3>DONORS.</h3> +<p>The Library was formed almost entirely by donations, principally from +local residents, including bishops, deans, and other clergy, magistrates, +merchants and tradesmen. The donations from the inception of the +Library in 1608 to 1737 are enumerated in the Vellum Book provided for the +purpose in 1659, to which reference is made on page 46. The first +donation was a gift of fifteen volumes from Sir John Pettus who was Mayor +during the year of the foundation of the Library, viz., Severinus +Binius’ “Concilia generalia et provincialia,” 4 vols. in +5, (Cologne, 1606), “Centuriones Magdeburgh,” 7 vols., (Basel), +and Bellarmine’s “Disputationes de controversiis Christianae +Fidei,” 3 vols., (Paris, 1608). His gift was followed by one in +the same year from Susannah Downing, wife of Alderman George Downing, who +had been Mayor in the previous year. She gave Hieronymus +Zanchius’ “Opera theologica,” 8 vols. in 3, 1605 +(Excudebat Stephanus Gamonetus). In the following year Thomas Corye, +merchant, gave Luther’s Works in 7 vols. and three volumes of Ludwig +Lavater’s Commentaries, (Zurich); Sir Thomas Hirne, the Mayor, gave +ten volumes of Calvin’s works, and a polyglot Bible—Biblia +Sacra, Hebraice, Græce, et Latine (1599), 2 vols.; Thomas Corbett +gave St. Augustine’s Works (Basel, 1569); and Henry Doyly gave St. +Bernard’s Works (Paris, 1586).</p> +<p>The three chief benefactors to the Library were Richard Ireland, who at +the time of his death was rector of Beeston, Norfolk; Thomas Nelson, rector +of Morston, Norfolk; and <!-- page 19--><a name="page19"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 19</span>John Kirkpatrick, a linen merchant, of Norwich, +the eminent antiquary.</p> +<p>Ireland’s bequest was made in 1692, and the entry in the Vellum +Book is as follows:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“M<sup>r</sup> Richard Ireland, Formerly Rector of Beeston and +sometime also of S<sup>t</sup> Edmonds in the Citty of Norwich where he was +born, gave by his last Will all his Bookes to the publick Library of the +Citty: where they are set up on Shelves, and accordingly specifyed in the +Catalogue of the Library, viz, the Folios on Classis. 16 and the smaller +bookes on Classis 20 and 21. with some others of the Old Citty Library +distinguished in the said Catalogue.</p> +<p>“Memorandum. Some of M<sup>r</sup> Irelands bookes which the +Library was furnished with before, are set up in the outward Library to be +Sold and exchanged for others, as he gave leave.” The total +number of volumes shown in the Library Catalogue of 1732 to have been given +by Ireland is 142.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The entry in the Vellum Book regarding Nelson’s bequest in 1714 +reads: “M<sup>r</sup> Thomas Nelson Late Rector of Morston in the +County of Norfolk gave by his Last Will and Testament All his Books unto +the Publick Library of this City where they are placed upon Six Shelves by +Themselves in the Inner Room belonging to the said Library with his Name +Over them in Gold Letters.” Numerically his gift was the +largest to the Library, 570 volumes being assigned to him in the Catalogue +of 1732.</p> +<p>The bequest of Kirkpatrick is recorded as follows under date 1728: +“M<sup>r</sup> John Kirkpatrick Merch<sup>t</sup> and Treasurer to +the Great Hospital in this City did by his last Will and Testament Give +(Note the following are the very Words of his Will) To the Maior Sheriffs, +Citizens & Commonalty aforesaid All my Ancient Manuscripts and all my +Medals and Ancient Coins of Silver & Brass to be reposited in their +Library at the New-Hall. Also my Printed Books in the Anglo-Saxon +Language, & all such of my Books which were Printed before the Year of +our Lord 1600 as are not already in the said Library, together with +Mountfaucon’s Antiquities, & Maddox’s Firma Burgi lately +printed; and I will & desire that all these things be kept there For +Publick Use as the other Books in the said Library are. (Thus Far his +Will.—</p> +<p><!-- page 20--><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +20</span>“Sometime after the Decease of the said M<sup>r</sup> John +Kirkpatrick there was more than Two Hundred Books sent to this Library +According to his Will and Desire which are inserted in the Catalogue with +his Name before Each Book.</p> +<p>“N.B. The Medals and Coins are not yet delivered But are +still in the Hands of John Custance, Esq.” Although the +memorandum following the extract from the will states that more than 200 +books were sent to the Library, the total number of books assigned to him +in the 1732 catalogue is 168. Possibly the remainder were duplicates, +and were sold or exchanged for other books.</p> +<p>Many other donations are worthy of special mention, but it is impossible +to enumerate all of them. Gabriel Barbar, in the name of the Society +of Virginia, gave 11 vols. in 1614, in which year, says Blomefield, +“the Lords of the <i>privy council</i>, by letters dated the 22nd of +<i>March</i>, desired the city to given [sic] encouragement to a +<i>lottery</i>, set on foot for the benefit of the <i>English Virginia</i> +plantation, . . . and by another letter dated 21 Dec. 1617, they desired +them to assist Gabriel Barbor, &c in the management of a running +<i>lottery</i>, to be by them kept in Norwich.” <a +name="citation20a"></a><a href="#footnote20a" +class="citation">[20a]</a> In 1618 Thomas Atkins, Merchant of +Norwich, gave seven volumes and £5 for books.</p> +<p>During the mayoralty of Thomas Cory, 1628-29, the City of Norwich gave a +copy of the second edition of John Minsheu’s “The Guide into +Tongues” (London: John Haviland, 1627) for which twenty shillings +were paid. <a name="citation20b"></a><a href="#footnote20b" +class="citation">[20b]</a> This work is still of value as a +dictionary of Elizabethan English. In 1659 the City also gave a set +of the famous English Polyglot Bible, edited by Bryan Walton, in 6 vols., +(London, 1657)—a work which was a fine scholarly achievement of the +Church of England at a time of great depression.</p> +<p>In 1658 Joseph Paine, Alderman of Norwich, who was Mayor in 1660, gave +one book and £20 for the purchase of books. In the Minute Book +the donation is described thus under date Dec. 13, 1658: “Mr. +Whitefoot, Mr. Harmar, and Dr. Collings made report to y<sup>e</sup> rest +of the Brethren mett this day That Mr. Joseph Paine Alderman of the City of +Norwich uppon <!-- page 21--><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +21</span>Munday preceding this meeting, sent for y<sup>e</sup> 3 minrs. +aforesaid to his house, and there did give into the hands of Mr. John +Whitefoot one of the aforesaid minrs. twenty pounds declaring it his mind +that it should be laid out at the discretion of y<sup>e</sup> 3 minrs. +aforesaid together with Mr. George Cock to bee added to them to buy such +bookes with it as they shall judge most fit for y<sup>e</sup> City +Library.”</p> +<p>The ministers evidently desired to mark especially their appreciation of +Paine’s gift. On February 9th, 1662/3 “The brethren +taking notice that no bookes were yet markd as the guift of S<sup>r</sup> +Jos. Paine, and Mr. Whitefoot acquainting the brethren that he had procured +printed paps to this purpose—Ex Dono D<sup>ni</sup> <i>Josephi +Paine</i> militis hujus Civitatis prætoris, they ordered that some of +those papers should bee affixed to the 9 vol. of y<sup>e</sup> Criticks: +w<sup>ch</sup> cost 15<sup>l</sup> & to the 4 vol. of Gerard’s +Comon places w<sup>ch</sup> cost 3<sup>l</sup> 13<sup>s</sup> & to the +2 vol. of Theophilact. w<sup>ch</sup> cost 1<sup>l</sup> 02<sup>s</sup>: in +all 19<sup>l</sup> 17<sup>s</sup>: the other 3<sup>s</sup>: beeing +accounted for y<sup>e</sup> Carriage: they also ordered that a like paper +be affixed to Ravanella before giuen to the library by y<sup>e</sup> said +S<sup>r</sup> Jos. Paine.”</p> +<p>In the Vellum Book under date Dec. 12th, 1659, are entered 29 volumes as +a gift from Thomasine Brooke, “Widow & Relict of W<sup>m</sup> +Brooke, Gent.” These were evidently purchased with a donation +of £20, as under the same date in the Minute Book is the following: +“Mr. Whitefoot acknowledged himself to have received of +M<sup>rs</sup> Brooke wid. to the use of the library to bee laid out uppon +bookes by ye Consent of ye minrs. the summe of twenty pounds.”</p> +<p>Sir Thomas Browne, who made Norwich his home from 1637, gave in 1666 +eight volumes of Justus Lipsius’ Works, (Antwerp, 1606-17), and under +the entry recording this gift, which describes the donor as “Thomas +Browne, Med: Professor”, has been written in a different hand, +“Opera sua, viz. Religio Medicj, Vulgar Errors, &c.” +(A reproduction of the page in the Vellum Book recording Browne’s +gift faces page 46.) The latter volume was evidently a copy of his +“Pseudodoxia Epidemica . . . together with the Religio Medici,” +sixth edition, (London, 1672), which is still in the Library.</p> +<p>Another eminent benefactor was Thomas Tenison, who became Archbishop of +Canterbury in 1694, and is noteworthy <!-- page 22--><a +name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 22</span>to librarians as having +established a public library in his parish of St. Martins-in-the-Fields, +London, in 1695. Tenison was educated at the Norwich Free School, and +in 1674 he was chosen “upper minister” of St. Peter Mancroft, +Norwich, having been previously preacher at that Church. He was +admitted to the use of the City Library on February 9th, 1673, and on March +2nd, 1674 and April 6th, 1675, he gave the following five volumes: Georgius +Codinus’ “De Officijs et Officialibus Magnæ +Ecclesiæ et Aulæ Constantinopolitanæ” (Paris, +1625); Edward Herbert’s “De religione gentilium” +(Amsterdam, 1663); Peter Heylyn’s “Historia +Quinqu-Articularis” (London, 1660); Archbishop James Ussher’s +“Chronologia sacra” (Oxford, 1660); and the “Racovian +Catechism,” which is entered in the 1732 catalogue as +“Moscorrow’s Catechism.”</p> +<p>Nathaniel Cock, described as a Merchant of London, but who was doubtless +connected with the county, is credited with a donation of 33 volumes in +1674. These volumes were evidently purchased with the legacy of +£20 which Edmund Cock, his executor, paid to the +Library-Keeper. This legacy is mentioned in the Minute Book, and also +by Blomefield, <a name="citation22"></a><a href="#footnote22" +class="citation">[22]</a> who states that he was the brother of Edmund +Cocke, and that he also “gave the <i>city chamberlain</i> +100<sup>l</sup>, to be freely lent to five honest poor <i>weavers</i>, +housekeepers and freemen, without interest, they giving security for the +repayment at three years end.”</p> +<p>In 1676, the year of the death of Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich, +the Vellum Book records a donation from him of 24 volumes. These +books, however, were probably purchased with a legacy, as in the Assembly +Book, 21st Sept., 1676, it is stated that the Clavors [Keepers of City +Chest] to pay Rob<sup>t</sup> Bendish Esq. £20 to be p<sup>d</sup> to +M<sup>r</sup> John Whitefoot senr. to buy bookes for City Library according +to will of Edward [Reynolds] late Bp. of Norwich.</p> +<p>Dean Humphrey Prideaux, the orientalist, was another distinguished +benefactor. In August, 1681, he was installed as a Prebendary of +Norwich, and in the following March he gave a copy of his edition of two +tracts by Maimonides which he published with the title “De jure +pauperis et peregrini apud Judæos” (1679), “and other +money [£1] from many others <!-- page 23--><a name="page23"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 23</span>received” with which were purchased +Joannes Caspar Suicerus’ “Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus,” 2 +vols. (Amsterdam, 1682), and J. J. Hoffman’s “Lexicon +Universale Historico-Geographico-Chronologico-Poetico-Philologicum,” +2 vols. (Basel, 1677). When Dean of Norwich he gave a copy of the two +works upon which his literary fame rests, “Life of Mahomet” and +“The Old and New Testament Connected,” 2 vols. (1716-18), and +also his “Validity of the Orders of the Church of England,” and +“The Original and Right of Tithes,” (Norwich, 1710).</p> +<p>Three citizens and Aldermen of Norwich gave donations of money in 1678 +amounting to £11, with which ten volumes were purchased: Augustine +Briggs £5, Thomas Wisse £3, and Bernard Church £3.</p> +<p>In 1700 William Adamson, Rector of St. John’s Maddermarket, +Norwich, who was buried therein in 1707, “gave to this Library three +shelves full of books, viz. Classis 17, 18, and 19, the first in Folio, the +Second in quarto, the third in Octavo, and are Specifyed in the Catalogue +of the Library.” The total number of the books assigned to him +in the 1732 catalogue is 118 vols.</p> +<p>In 1706 John Moore, Bishop of Norwich “gave to this Library +Eusebij, Socratis, Sozomeni, Theodoriti, & Evagrij Hist. Ecclesiast. in +3 vol., Paris, 1678,” and Thomas Tanner, who had been made Chancellor +of the Norwich Diocese in 1701, gave a copy of La Bigne’s +“Sacræ Bibliothecæ Sanctorum Patrum,” 5 vols. +(Paris, 1589). Tanner also gave a large donation in 1726 which was +thus recorded: “Thomas Tanner, S.T.P. and Chancellor of the Diocess +of Norwich This year added more than an Hundred Books to those which he had +formerly Given to this Publick Library; Which are particularly inserted in +the Catalogue, with his Name before each Book.” Possibly some +of the books he gave were duplicates and were exchanged for others, as the +1732 Catalogue credits him with only 92 vols.</p> +<p>During the years 1707 to 1709 several Fellows of Trinity and other +Cambridge Colleges gave donations of books (See List of Donors at the end +of Part I., pp. 52-56). The Minute Book records that on August 5th, +1707 “was brought into the Library by Mr. Reddington, Fellow of +Trinity College, in Cambridge, <!-- page 24--><a name="page24"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 24</span>these following books being the gift of several +persons of the said college, as here follows.” These donations, +numbering 28 volumes, were the gift of twelve Fellows, and may have been +the result of an organised effort by Reddington to increase the +Library. John Reddington was Rector of St. Edmund, Norwich, 1712, +Rector of Rackheath, 1711-39, and of Hethel, 1737-39, and master of Norwich +Grammar School from 1732 to 1737. He died in 1739, aged 57. In +1708 the Minute Book states that on Sept. 6th Mr. Reddington brought in +five books the gift of five Fellows of Trinity College; and on Oct. 4, Mr. +Brett brought in 8 volumes the gift of John Lightwin, the President of +Caius College, and four other Cambridge men.</p> +<p>Benjamin Mackerell, described as “of the City of Norwich, +Gent.”, gave two volumes in 1716, and 13 volumes in 1731, when he +held the office of Library Keeper.</p> +<p>John Jermy was stated in 1729 to “have sent & Given to this +Library several Law Books and others; which are particularly inserted in +the Catalogue, with his Name before Each Book.” In 1733 he gave +forty books, and in 1737 fourteen books. In the 1732 Catalogue he is +credited with 67 volumes.</p> +<p>Edmund Prideaux, the son of Dean Prideaux, in 1730 “gave to this +Library more than Threescore Books which are all of them inserted in the +Catalogue with his Name before each Book.” In the 1732 +Catalogue only 49 volumes are shown to have been given by him.</p> +<p>The last entry in the Vellum Book records a gift from Robert Nash, +Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, of a copy of “A Defence of +Natural and Revealed Religion: being an abridgment of the Sermons preached +at the Lecture founded by the Hon. R. Boyle,” 4 vols. (London, 1737), +by Gilbert Burnet, vicar of Coggeshall, which was published in that +year.</p> +<p>Possibly it was the misfortune of the Library to lose a donation of +manuscripts from Peter Le Neve relating to Norfolk that would have been of +inestimable value, as the collector’s work, said Mr. Walter Rye, +“was characterised by strictest honesty,” and the material +“formed the backbone of the well-known county history, begun by +Blomefield, and completed by Parkin.” <a name="citation24"></a><a +href="#footnote24" class="citation">[24]</a> <!-- page 25--><a +name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 25</span>Bishop Tanner, one of +Le Neve’s executors, stated in a letter to Dr. Rawlinson in 1735 that +“There was an ugly Codicil made a few days before his death in favour +of his wife, upon which she set up a claim for several of his Norfolk +Collections, and has hindered the execution of that part of his will, which +relates to the putting those papers into some public library in +Norwich. But I have hopes given me that she is coming into better +temper, and will let us perform our trust without entering into a chancery +suit.” <a name="citation25a"></a><a href="#footnote25a" +class="citation">[25a]</a> There is no codicil to the will at +Somerset House, and the actual words relating to his collections are as +follows: “I give and bequeath unto the Revd. Doctor Tanner Chancellor +of Norwich and Mr. Thomas Martin of Palgrave all my abstracts out of +Records old Deeds Books pedigrees seals papers and other collections which +shall only relate to the antiquities and history of Norfolk and Suffolk or +one of them upon condition that they or the survivor of them or the Exors +or Admors of such survivor do & shall within 12 months next after my +decease procure a good and safe repository in the Cathedral Church of +Norwich or in some other good and publick building in the said city for the +preservation of the same collections for the use and benefit of such +curious persons as shall be desirous to inspect transcribe or consult the +same.” Le Neve’s widow evidently impeded his purpose, as +his collections did not come to the city.</p> +<p>A donation, the loss of which, however, cannot be regretted, is referred +to in the Court Book for 1677: “The Chamberlain, with the advice of +Rob’ Bendish & Jo: Manser, Esq<sup>rs</sup> are to consult a good +workeman about ye making of a Case of Deale for y<sup>e</sup> skeleton of a +Man given to the City Librarie & to report y<sup>e</sup> charge.” +<a name="citation25b"></a><a href="#footnote25b" +class="citation">[25b]</a> Kirkpatrick quotes this and remarks: +“But it seems it was not made, for there is no skeleton in the +library now.” <a name="citation25c"></a><a href="#footnote25c" +class="citation">[25c]</a> Since the days of Rameses II., whose +Egyptian Library bore the inscription “Dispensary of the Soul,” +libraries have often been properly so regarded, as their contents are +undoubtedly remedial agents of vigour and virtue, but it is not clear why a +<!-- page 26--><a name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +26</span>library should be regarded as a repository for man’s mortal +frame.</p> +<h3>CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY.</h3> +<p>The Library having been established primarily but not exclusively for +the clergy, by whom it was chiefly used, its contents were designed to +facilitate their studies, and pre-eminence was given to theological works, +and other works of particular interest or value to them. Regarding +the contents of the Library in 1706, when the first printed catalogue was +published, the Rev. Joseph Brett said in the preface: “It may be more +proper to observe, that upon the first Foundation of this Library many and +great Benefactions, (by which alone it was first raised, and still +encreases) were given by the Magistrates, Gentlemen and Tradesmen of this +City, by which means, here is no inconsiderable Collection of Divinity +Book, [sic] for that time especially. But considering the great +Advance of Learning, in the last Century, the fine Editions of many of the +Fathers, and the many learned Books that were then published, it must be +owned, that this Library is now very deficient, even in Divinity +itself. Besides here are very few Humanity Books, few or none of Law, +Physick, Mathematicks, or indeed of any science but Divinity.” +Large donations from the Rev. Thomas Nelson, John Kirkpatrick, and others +greatly increased the usefulness of the Library, and accordingly Mackerell, +in his preface to the 1732 Catalogue, considered that “this Library +is far from being meanly provided with Books (I wish I could say in all +Faculties).”</p> +<p>While time has caused many of the works to decrease in value and +practical interest, it has greatly enhanced the value of the few +manuscripts and the considerable number of early printed books in the +Library. The following are the most interesting and valuable +manuscripts, some of which are on loan at the Castle Museum for +exhibition. Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost of King’s +College, Cambridge, one of the greatest authorities on early manuscripts, +has kindly examined and dated four of them, and he has also supplied +detailed descriptions which it is hoped will be published on another +occasion.</p> +<h4><!-- page 27--><a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +27</span>MANUSCRIPTS.</h4> +<p>Anon. <span class="smcap">In Apocalypsin</span>. XIIIth +century.</p> +<p>Vellum, 10¼ x 7½ inches, ff. 5 + 74 + 28, double columns, +the number of lines varies. Bound in wooden boards. Presented +to the Library in 1618 by Thomas Atkins, merchant, Norwich.</p> +<p>Contains: 1. Anonymous comment on the Apocalypse, with a few very +rough pictures, coloured.</p> +<p>2. The Summa of Richard de Wethersett, Chancellor of Cambridge, +called <i>Qui bene praesunt</i>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Biblia Hieronymi</span>, <span class="smcap">or +Bible of St. Jerome</span>. XIIIth Century.</p> +<p>Vellum, 9 2/10 x 7 1/10 inches, double columns of 52-53 lines. The +illuminated initial letters are unfinished. Brown leather +binding.</p> +<p>Presented to the Library in 1614 by Bassingbourne Throckmorton.</p> +<p>Contains: Genesis—2 Chron. (imperfect), +Proverbs—Ecclus. Then the prologue to Wisdom and a small piece +of the text of Wisdom repeated. Matthew, 1 leaf of Mark. +Philippians, Col. 1, 2 Thess. <i>Laodiceans</i> +(apocryphal) 1, 2 Tim. Tit. Phil. Heb. +Apoc.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Medica</span>. XIIIth century.</p> +<p>Vellum, 7½ x 5½ inches, ff. 62, double columns of 40 +lines, in a small clear hand which Dr. James thinks may be South +French. Initials in green and red and blue. There is no +binding; the first page is much soiled.</p> +<p>Contains thirteen items: medical tracts, list of materia medica, +etc.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Manuale</span>. XVth century.</p> +<p>Vellum, 9 7/8 x 7¼ inches, ff. 1 + 62 + 1, double columns of 27 +lines, early XVth century, well written.</p> +<p>Original binding, white skin with circuit edge over wooden boards +bevelled at the edges; remains of two strap and pin fastenings.</p> +<p>On the fly-leaf: John Kirkpatrick, Sept. 12, 1704. An old +pressmark: 4to K 147. An illegible (not early) note of price.</p> +<p>The covers are lined with four half-leaves of a folio XVth century +Missal in double columns, with parts of the Offices for St. Thomas of +Canterbury and Sundays after Epiphany. At the end are bound in 7 +smaller leaves of paper on which Kirkpatrick (?) has carefully facsimiled +alphabets and abbreviations, and arranged the latter in alphabetical +order.</p> +<p>Contents: The occasional offices to be used by a priest, according to +Sarum use. The first page has a rather rough border in gold, red, and +blue, and an initial of the same. Other like initials head the +principal offices.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Bible: Genesis to Psalms</span>. <span +class="smcap">Wycliffe’s Translation</span>. XVth century.</p> +<p>Vellum, 17 2/10 x 12 inches, ff. 208 + 1, double columns of 59 +lines.</p> +<p>Original sides of brown leather have been laid down on modern binding; +ornamented in blind with rectangular panel formed <!-- page 28--><a +name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 28</span>by two roll stamps, +enclosing another panel formed by the same stamps. Illuminated page +at beginning of each book.</p> +<p>It belonged to Sir James Boleyn of Blickling Hall, who died in 1561, and +was presented to the Library in 1692 by Richard Ireland.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Astrological Tractates</span>. XVth +century.</p> +<p>Paper, 5 3/4 x 4½ inches, ff. 120, 32 lines to a page. In +three hands; clearly written.</p> +<p>Original binding, wrapper of skin lined with linen. Contains +thirteen items: astrological treatises, tables, etc.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Precedentia Tempore Regni Hen</span>. VIII. +Circa 1500.</p> +<p>Vellum, 11½ x 8½ inches, ff. 124 (imperfect, commences at +f. 10), 37 lines to a page. Rough calf binding.</p> +<p>Book of Precedents of Royal Writs.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Search Boke For Lynn, Swaffham, Walsyngham, and +Fakenham</span>. XVIIth century.</p> +<p>Paper, 11 x 7½ inches, ff. 81. Vellum binding.</p> +<p>Alphabetical index of offenders at various sessions courts held at +Fakenham, Walsingham, Lynn and Swaffham, from 1651 to 1669.</p> +<p>The early printed books in the Library include no less than twenty-eight +incunabula, four of these being from English presses, and two, the 1483 +“Scriptum super logica,” printed at St. Albans, and the 1497 +“Expositio Hymnorum et Sequentiarum,” printed by Pynson, are of +great rarity. Several of the incunabula are imperfect, but Mr. Alfred +W. Pollard, M.A., the Hon. Secretary of the Bibliographical Society and an +eminent authority on early printed books, very kindly identified them, and +he also undertook to edit the list of incunabula. To Mr. Pollard the +writer’s thanks are tendered for the following annotated list, +arranged chronologically, and giving the place of printing and the name of +the printer:—</p> +<h4>WORKS REFERRED TO.</h4> +<p>B.M. = Catalogue of Books printed in the XVth century now in the British +Museum. Parts 1-111. 1908-1913.</p> +<p>Campbell. = Annales de la typographie néerlandaise au +XV<sup>e</sup> siecle. Par M. F. A. G. Campbell. 1874.</p> +<p>Copinger. = Supplement to Hain’s Repertorium +Bibliographicum. By W. A. Copinger. 1895-1902.</p> +<p>Hain. = Repertorium bibliographicum in quo libri omnes ab arte +typographica inventa usque ad annum MD typis expressi ordine alphabetico +vel simpliciter enumerantur vel adcuratius recensentur. Opera +Ludovici Hain. 1826-1838.</p> +<p>Proctor. = An Index to the Early Printed Books in the British Museum +from the invention of printing to the year MD. By Robert +Proctor. 1898.</p> +<h3><!-- page 29--><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +29</span>INCUNABULA.</h3> +<table> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1480</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>COLOGNE. Conrad Winters de Homborch.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobus de Voragine</span>. Legenda +Aurea. Quarto.</p> +<p>B.M. p. 248 (IB. 4043).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1481</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Nicolaus de Lyra</span>. Postillae super +Biblia cum additionibus Pauli Burgensis. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *10369. B.M. p. 419 (IC 898).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1482, after July end]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>WESTMINTSER. Wm. Caxton.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Higden</span>, Ranulphus. Polychronicon. +Folio.</p> +<p>Blades 46. De Ricci no. 19, copy 38. Imperfect at beginning +and end.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1483]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[ST. ALBANS. Schoolmaster printer.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Andreae</span>, Antonius. Scriptum super +logica. Quarto.</p> +<p>Imperfect copies at Jesus College, Cambridge, and Wadham College, +Oxford.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[About 1483-85.]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>LONDON. Wilhelmus de Machlinia.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Albertus Magnus</span>. Liber aggregationis +seu De virtutibus herbarum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Proctor 9770.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1485?]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>LOUVAIN. Johannes de Westphalia.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Rolewinck</span>, Werner]. De Regimine +Rusticorum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Campbell *1480. Proctor 9274.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1487</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Georgius de Arrivabenis.</p> +<p>Biblia Latina. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain *3099. Proctor 4912.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1490</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>STRASSBURG. [Printer of Jordanus de Quedlinburg].</p> +<p>Modus legendi abbreuiaturas in utroque iure, etc. Folio. +Hain 11485. B.M. p. 140 (IB. 2030).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1491</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>MAINZ. Jacobus Meydenbach.</p> +<p>Hortus Sanitatis. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *8944. B.M. p. 44 (IB. 343).</p> +<p>Imperfect, wanting seven leaves at the end.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1492</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>PARIS. Antoine Caillaut.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Guillermus Parisiensis</span>. Super septem +sacramentis. Quarto.</p> +<p>?Hain 8313. Not described.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1493</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Schedel</span>, Hartmann. Liber +Cronicarum. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *14508. B.M. p. 437 (1C. 7451).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1494</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duranti</span>, Guilelmus. Rationale diuinorum +officiorum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain *6497. B.M. p. 439 (IB. 7478).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1494</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Herolt</span>, Joannes. Sermones de tempore et +de sanctis. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *8504. B.M. p. 440 (IB. 7485).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 30--><a name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +30</span>1494</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>STRASSBURG. [Martin Flach].</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Marchesinus</span>, Joannes. Mammotrectus +super Bibliam. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain *10573. B.M. p. 153 (IA. 2184).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1495</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>PARIS. Jean Petit.</p> +<p>Postilles des dimenches et des festes de lanee. Quarto.</p> +<p>Not described.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1495?]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Bernardus Benalius.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Tertullianus</span>. Apologeticus aduersus +Gentes. Folio. Hain 15443. Proctor 4899.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[About 1495]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[FRANCE?]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Burley</span>, Walter. De vita et moribus +philosophorum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Copinger 1387. Copy in University Library, Cambridge.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1496</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Gregory</span> IX. Decretales cum +summariis. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *8034. B.M. p. 442 (IB. 7519).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1496</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Baptista de Tortis.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Gregory</span> IX. Decretales cum +summariis. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *8035. Proctor 4656.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1497</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>BOLOGNA. Benedictus Hectoris Faelli.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Pico della Mirandola</span> (Giov. Fran.). De +morte Christi, etc. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain * 13002. Proctor 6634.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1497</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>LONDON. Richard Pynson.</p> +<p>Expositio Hymnorum secundum usum Sarum.</p> +<p>Expositio Sequentiarum secundum usum Sarum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Other copies known are at the Bodleian Library and St. John’s +College, Oxford.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1497</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger.</p> +<p>Biblia Latina cum postillis Nicolai de Lyra et additionibus Pauli +Burgensis. Folio.</p> +<p>A complete copy has four parts. This contains only the first and +about half of the second. Wrongly lettered 1481.</p> +<p>Hain *3171. B.M. p. 443 (IB. 7535).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1497</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Simon Bevilaqua.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lactantius</span>. De diuinis institutionibus, +etc. Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *9818. Proctor 5401.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1497</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Guainerius</span>, Antonius. Practica. +Folio.</p> +<p>Hain * 8099. Proctor 5076.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1498 etc.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>BASEL. Johann Froben & Johann Petri.</p> +<p>Biblia Latina cum glosa ordinaria et expositione Nicolai de Lyra. +Folio.</p> +<p>Hain *3172. B.M. p. 791 (IB. 37895).</p> +<p>Imperfect, wanting parts 3, 5 and 6.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1499</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Simon de Luere for Andreas Torresanus.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Bartholomaeus Montagnana</span>. Consilia +medica. Folio.</p> +<p>Proctor 5622.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +31</span>1499</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>STRASSBURG. Johannes Grüninger.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Sibylla</span>, Bartholomaeus. Speculum +peregrinarum quaestionum. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain *14720. B.M. p. 113 (IA. 1486).</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1500</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VENICE. Johann Emerich for L. A. Giunta.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Joannes Franciscus Brixianus</span>. Quattuor +viuendi regulae. Quarto.</p> +<p>Hain *13827. Proctor 5504.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>In addition to the foregoing early printed books the Library includes +examples from the English presses of Wynkyn de Worde, Julian Notary, Peter +Treveris, Thomas Berthelet, Richard Grafton, John Day, Richard Tottell, +Christopher Barker, Robert Barker, John Norton (celebrated for his +magnificent edition of St. Chrysostom’s Works in 8 vols., printed at +Eton, 1610-1612—a copy of which is in the Library—which T. B. +Reed described as “one of the most splendid examples of Greek +printing in this country”), Thomas Roycroft, etc. Continental +typography is also represented by specimens from many presses, including +those of Jean du Pré, Jodocus Badius Ascensius (Josse Bade of Asch), +the Estiennes, the Elzevirs, Christopher Plantin, John Koberger, H. Petrus, +Peter Perna, etc.</p> +<p>Coming to early Norwich printed books there are unfortunately no +examples of the rare works from the first Norwich press set up about 1566 +by Anthony de Solemne or Solempne, whose first extant printed work is dated +1570, and whose last is dated 1579. The Library, however, possesses +an example from the press established by Francis Burges, who in 1701 styled +himself “the first printer in Norwich.” It is a copy of +Erasmus Warren’s “A Rule for Shewing Mercy,” printed by +F. Burges, and “sold by the widow Oliver, Bookseller in Norwich, +1706.” When Burges died in 1706 his business was carried on by +his widow, and the 1706 catalogue of the City Library (see page 47) +“Printed by Eliz. Burges, near the Red-Well,” is a specimen +from her establishment. The press of Freeman Collins is represented +by Dean Prideaux’s “The Original and Right of Tithes,” +printed in 1710. The second catalogue of the City Library, printed in +1732, (see page 48) was printed by “William Chase, in the Cockey +Lane,” who founded the <i>Norwich Mercury</i>.</p> +<p>A perusal of the 1883 catalogue will shew that the Library <!-- page +32--><a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 32</span>had indeed +“no inconsiderable Collection of Divinity Book[s], for that time +especially,” as was said by Brett in his Catalogue of 1706, and +repeated by Mackerell. There are sixteen printed Bibles and five New +Testaments in the Library, including the second and fourth of the great +Polyglots, the Plantin edition (1572) and Brian Walton’s (1655-57), +and the following English versions: Matthew’s Bible (1549), The Great +Bible (1553), and the first edition of the Geneva version (1560). It +is curious that there should be no copy of any edition of the +Bishops’ Bible.</p> +<p>Most of the principal Fathers are represented by some of their +writings. Of the ante-Nicene Fathers there are writings by Justin +Martyr, Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen and +Cyprian, and of the post-Nicene Fathers there are writings by Eusebius of +Cæsarea, Hilary of Poitiers, Athanasius, Basil, Cyril of Jerusalem, +Ambrose, Epiphanius, Chrysostom, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory +the Great, and John of Damascus.</p> +<p>The literature of the theological controversies which raged in the +sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the writings of the principal +theologians of those centuries are fairly well represented in the +Library.</p> +<p>Belonging to the period of the Revival of Learning are Hugh +Latimer’s “Frutefull Sermons” (1575) Cranmer’s +“Defence of the True and Catholike doctrine of the sacrament of the +body and bloud of our Savior Christ” (London: R. Wolfe, 1550), Thomas +Becon’s Works (London: various dates), and others. The +theological literature of the Elizabethan period is represented by such +works as the “Ecclesiastical Polity” (London, 1622) by Richard +Hooker—that great champion of Anglicanism—and some of the +published writings of the famous controversy between Bishop Jewel and the +Roman Catholic Thomas Harding.</p> +<p>The works of Dutch scholars of the first half of the seventeenth +century, when Dutch scholarship was the ripest in Europe, are represented +by five works of G. J. Vossius (a German by birth), including his valuable +“Historia Pelagiana” (Leyden, 1618), three works of Daniel +Heinsius, and five works of Hugo Grotius, the great Dutch jurist and +theologian. The latter include an <!-- page 33--><a +name="page33"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 33</span>edition of “De +Jure Belli ac Pads” (Amsterdam, 1667), which was translated into the +principal European languages, and “De veritate religionis +Christiana” (Paris, 1640), a popular treatise which became for a time +the classical manual of apologetics in Protestant colleges.</p> +<p>The “Annales Ecclesiastici” of the Italian Cardinal, +Cæsar Baronius—of which the Library has an edition in twelve +volumes, (Cologne, 1609)—a work characterized by great learning and +research, greatly stimulated Protestant study no less than it provoked +criticism. Its most important critic was Isaac Casaubon, who issued a +fragment of the massive criticism which he contemplated, +“Exercitationes in Baronium.” The Library has a copy of +the edition printed in Frankfort, 1615.</p> +<p>The Jacobean period was “The Golden Age of the English +Pulpit,” the period when sermons were extremely popular, and +discharged, with the playhouse, some of the functions of the modern +newspaper. At this time Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, who +was eminent in the capacities of prelate, preacher, and writer, was +generally regarded as the very “stella +prædicantium.” Of his published sermons the Library now +possesses “XCVI Sermons,” 3rd ed. (London, 1635), and +“Nineteen Sermons concerning Prayer” (Cambridge, 1641). +The most erudite of theologians in this erudite time was James Ussher, +Archbishop of Armagh, described by Selden as “learned to a +miracle.” Of his works the Library contains eight, including +his “Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti” (London, 1650), which +is regarded as his most important production, and his “Britannicarum +Ecclesiarum Antiquitates” (London, 1687).</p> +<p>Joseph Hall, Bishop and satirist, who took an active part in the +Arminian and Calvinistic controversy in the English Church, is of +particular interest to Norwich, of which he became Bishop in 1641. In +the Library are his “Works” (London, 1647), “Resolutions +and Decisions of Cases of Divers Practicall Cases of Conscience” +(London, 1649) and “Remaining Works” (London, 1660). Just +before he came to Norwich he wrote “An Humble Remonstrance to the +High Court of Parliament” (1640), in which he skilfully vindicated +liturgies and episcopacy. This provoked an answer by +“Smectymnuus,” the pseudonym of five puritan divines, the +initials of whose names made up <!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 34</span>the word. This “Answer” (2nd +ed., London, 1654), a subsequent “Vindication” in reply to the +Bishop’s “Defence” (London, 1641), and Milton’s +“Apology for Smectymnuus” (London, 1642) are all in the +Library.</p> +<p>An important theologian in the Caroline period was Jeremy Taylor, whose +works are only represented by “The Great Exemplar of Sanctity” +(London, 1667), “Ductor Dubitantium” (London, 1696), which is +still the chief English treatise on casuistry, and “A Collection of +Polemical and Moral Discourses” (London, 1657). The Library +contains two editions of the works (1683 and 1716) of Isaac Barrow, whom +Charles II. described as “the best scholar in England.” +Other eminent writers of this period represented in the Library are Thomas +Fuller, Richard Baxter, William Chillingworth, Henry Hammond, who has been +called “the Father of English Biblical Criticism,” Robert +Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, John Gauden, Bishop of Worcester, and Bishop +Pearson, a Norfolk man, whose famous “Exposition of the Creed” +(the Library has a copy of the 3rd edition, 1669), is a masterpiece of the +doctrinal exposition of the time.</p> +<p>The theological writers of the Augustan age are also fairly represented +in the Library. For example, there are three works by Gilbert Burnet, +Bishop of Salisbury, including a copy of his “Exposition of the +Thirty-Nine Articles” (London, 1700), which was for more than a +century as famous as Pearson’s “Exposition of the Creed,” +and his “History of the Reformation,” 2 vols. (London, +1681-83); the works (6 volumes, London, 1710) of Edward Stillingfleet, +called because of his personal beauty and piety “the beauty of +holiness”; the works (6th edition, London, 1710) and +“Sermons” of John Tillotson, who rose to be Archbishop of +Canterbury as much through the pulpit as through politics; the “Opera +Omnia” of George Bull (London, 1703), and others.</p> +<p>Works of history, antiquities and travel form the class which is next in +importance and extent to the theological works. In proportion to the +size and character of the Library, the selection in this class is +moderately good. Most of the chief or popular English historians from +Matthew Paris to Strype and Dugdale are represented by some of their +works. There <!-- page 35--><a name="page35"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 35</span>are, for example, Fabyan’s Chronicle +(London, 1559), Hall’s “Union of the . . . famelies of +Lancastre and Yorke” (London, 1550), Grafton’s Chronicle +(1569), Holinshed’s Chronicles, first and second editions (1577 and +1587), Stow’s “Annales” (1615), Speed’s +“Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine” (1611), +Camden’s “Remains concerning Britain” (1657), +“History of Queen Elizabeth” (in “A Complete History of +England,” London, 1706), “Annals of King James I.”, and +“Britannia”, (1695), Sir Thomas Smith’s +“Commonwealth of England” (1633), Foxe’s +“Ecclesiasticall Historie” (1597), Sir Walter Raleigh’s +“History of the World” (1676), <a name="citation35"></a><a +href="#footnote35" class="citation">[35]</a> Rushworth’s +“Historical Collections” (1659), Bacon’s “Life of +Henry VII.” (in “A Complete History of England,” London, +1706), Herbert’s “King Henry VIII.” (in “A Complete +History of England,” London, 1706), Heylyn’s +“Cosmographie” (1669), Clarendon’s “History of the +Rebellion” (odd vols. of the 1706 edition), Bulstrode +Whitelocke’s “Memorials of the English affairs” (1682), +Burnet’s “History of the Reformation” (1681-83), +Strype’s “Annals of the Reformation” (1709), +Dugdale’s “Monasticon Anglicanum” (odd vols.), and his +“Antiquities of Warwickshire” (1730), and Anthony à +Wood’s “Athenæ Oxonienses” (1691-92).</p> +<p>Other historical and geographical works are Munster’s +“Cosmographiae Universalis” (Basel, 1559), the first detailed, +scientific and popular description of the world; Foresti’s +“Supplementum Supplementi Chronicarum” (Venice, 1506), a +universal history written by an Italian monk and historian; +Lonicerus’ “Chronicorum Turcicorum in quibus Turcorum +origo” etc. (Frankfort, 1578); and Braun and Hogenberg’s +“Civitates Orbis Terrarum” (Cologne, 1577-88), containing the +earliest general collection of topographical views of the chief cities of +the world, including one of Norwich.</p> +<p>The Rev. Joseph Brett in 1706 pointed out that the Library possessed +“very few Humanity Books, few or none of Law, Physick, Mathematicks, +or indeed of any science but Divinity,” and it never became strong in +these subjects. It is weak in <!-- page 36--><a +name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 36</span>the ancient classics, +but the following are some of the authors represented: Aristotle, Cicero, +Cornelius Nepos, Diogenes Laertius, Euclid, Eutropius, Juvenal, Livy, +Lucan, Plato, Pliny, Plutarch, Seneca, Suetonius, and Tacitus. In +English belles-lettres the chief works are Chaucer’s Works (London, +1721), Abraham Cowley’s Works (1668), Michael Drayton’s +“Poly-Olbion” (1613), Gower’s “Confessio +Amantis” (London, 1554), and George Herbert’s “The Temple +and other Sacred Poems” (1633).</p> +<p>The outstanding scientific works are Sir Isaac Newton’s +“Opticks” (1704), Burnet’s “Theory of the +Earth” (1691), The Grete Herball (London: Peter Treveris, 1526), +Walter Charleton’s “Physiologia +Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana” (London, 1654) and his +“Œconomia Animalis” (London, 1659), J. B. Duhamel’s +“Elementa astronomica” (Cambridge, 1665), Galileo’s +“Systeme of the World,” transl. by T. Salusbury (London, 1661), +Gassendi’s “Institutio astronomica” (London, 1653), +Johannes de Sacro Bosco’s “Opus sphericum” (Cologne, +1508), Munster’s “Rudimenta mathematica” (Basel, 1551), +“Hortus Sanitatis” (Mainz, 1491), vol. 3 of John Ray’s +“Historia Plantarum” (London, 1704), and Thomas Willis’ +“Cerebri anatome” (London, 1664).</p> +<p>The bias of local patriotism is declared by Mr. Havelock Ellis in his +“Study of British Genius” to be “an unfailing sign of +intellectual ill-breeding,” notwithstanding which no apology is +herein made for drawing special attention to the fact that the Library +includes some of the writings of more than a score of authors—most of +whom achieved some eminence—who are connected with Norfolk or +Norwich, either by birth or residence. Taking the names in +alphabetical order, the first of the Norfolk men whose writings are +represented is Thomas Becon or Beacon, who took orders in 1538, and +preached in Norfolk and Suffolk. The edition of his +“Works,” is that printed by John Day [? 1560-64], containing a +tract on “The Common-places of Holy Scripture,” dedicated +“To my deare countrymen and faythfull Ministers of Iesu Christ +watching and attending upon the Lordes flocke in the Parishes of Norfolke +and Suffolke,” dated 1562. Francis Blomefield’s +“History of the Ancient City and Burgh of Thetford,” printed at +the author’s residence <!-- page 37--><a name="page37"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 37</span>at Fersfield in 1739, contains a book-plate, +apparently printed by the author, stating that the book was presented to +the City Library. Samuel Clarke, who was born at Norwich in 1675, +became chaplain to Bishop Moore of Norwich, and afterwards rector of +Drayton, is represented by his “Scripture-Doctrine of the +Trinity,” 1712, and his Boyle lectures of 1704 and 1705, viz., +“Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God,” 1705, and +“Discourse concerning the unchangeable obligations of Natural +Religion,” 1706. Of the works of the great Sir Edward Coke, +judge and law writer, who came of an old Norfolk family, there are the +“First Part of the Institutes of the Lawes of England,” 1629, +and “Les Reports de Edward Coke . . . donnes . . . per les judges, et +sages de la ley,” 11 vols. The “Scholastic History of the +Canon of the Holy Scripture” (London, 1684) is the only volume of the +works of John Cosin, Bishop of Durham, who was born at Norwich in +1594. In the preparation of this, his most elaborate and important +work, he injured his eyesight. Thornhagh Gurdon, a receiver-general +for Norfolk, who is included in Mr. Walter Rye’s “Norfolk +Families,” and who resided mostly at Norwich, presented a copy of the +first edition of his “History of the High Court of Parliament” +(London, 1731). The only work of Hamon Le Strange, a Norfolk +historian and theologian, is “The Alliance of Divine Offices” +(London, 1690), in the preface of which he speaks of having undergone an +eight years’ sequestration, apparently between 1643-1651. John +Pearson, Bishop of Chester, whose “Exposition of the Creed” has +already been referred to, was born at Great Snoring on 28th Feb., +1612/3.</p> +<p>Again taking the names in alphabetical order, the first author who is +connected with the county by residence is Edward Boys, who became rector of +Mautby in 1639, where he died in 1667. Of his publications the +Library contains “Sixteen Sermons preached upon several +occasions” (London, 1672). William Bridge, whose +“Works” (London, 1649) are in the Library, was born at +Cambridge, became rector of St. Peter Hungate, Norwich, in 1636, and +afterwards settled at Yarmouth. John Collinges, a Presbyterian, who +came to Norwich in 1646, published controversial and devotional tracts and +sermons. He is only represented by “A Short Discourse against +Transubstantiation” <!-- page 38--><a name="page38"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 38</span>(London, 1675), and “On the Intercourse +of Divine Love” (1676), but the Local Collection of the Public +Library contains many of his writings. “The Notion of +Schism” (London, 1676) is the work of another parson who came to +Norfolk, Robert Connould, rector of Bergh Apton. John Graile, rector +of Blickling, whom Blomefield referred to as “This learned and pious +pastor,” presented to the Library his “Youth’s Grand +Concern” (London, 1711) and “Sacra Privata” (London, +1699). Reference has already been made to the works of Bishop Hall +(see p. 33). There are two volumes, “The Open Door for +Man’s approach to God” (London, 1650) and “A +Consideration of Infant Baptism” (London, 1653), by John Horne, who +was beneficed at All Hallows, King’s Lynn. John Jeffery, who +was elected to the living of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, in 1678, and +became Archdeacon of Norwich in 1694, is represented by “Select +Discourses” (London, 1710), “Complete Collection of Sermons and +Tracts,” 2 vols. (London, 1753), and “Forms of Prayer” +(1706). Dr. Peter de Laune, a minister of the French Church in +Norwich during the early years of the seventeenth century, presented to the +Library a copy of his translation of the English Prayer Book into French, +entitled “La Liturgie Angloise; ou, le livre des prieres +publiques” (London: John Bill, 1616). His name is not printed +in the book, but the copy in the Library bears on the title-page the +following inscription which was probably written by him: “Liber +bibliothecæ publicæ Nordouicensis ex dono doctoris Petri +Launæi quo authore Anglicanæ hæc ecclesiæ liturgia +facta est Gallicana.” <a name="citation38"></a><a href="#footnote38" +class="citation">[38]</a> This book is the first French edition of +the English Prayer Book entered in the Catalogue of the British +Museum. Francis Mason’s “Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ +Anglicanæ,” is the work of an Archdeacon of Norfolk, who is +remembered for his vigorous defence of the authority of the church, which +earned for him the title of “Vindex Ecclesiæ +Anglicanæ.” Another preacher with the memorable title +“Apostle of Norwich,” procured by a great reputation, was John +More, minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Norwich, whose posthumous work +“Table <!-- page 39--><a name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +39</span>from the Beginning of the World to this Day” (Cambridge, +1593) is in the Library. “An Explanation of the Epistle of St. +Jude” (London, 1633) is a series of sermons preached in the parish +church of North Walsham by Samuel Otes, rector of South Repps, Norfolk, who +was chaplain to the Lord Chief Justice Hobart. Reference has already +been made to the works of Humphrey Prideaux, Dean of Norwich. Anthony +Sparrow, Bishop of Norwich, who was born in Suffolk, published +“Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer” (London, 1661), +which was often reprinted and is still of some value, and a companion +volume “Collection of Articles, Canons,” etc. (London, +1684). Last but not least to be mentioned is the “Increpatio +Barjesu” (London, 1660) of Matthew Wren, who was successively Bishop +of Hereford, Norwich and Ely. It is a volume of polemical +interpretations of Scripture, in reply to the Racovian catechism—a +copy of which was in the Library—written during the author’s +imprisonment in the Tower, and edited by his son Matthew.</p> +<p>Many of the books have autographs of their former owners, and some have +inscriptions and annotations. Edward Lhuyd’s +“Archæologica Britannica” contains some notes made by +George Borrow, who also wrote an English translation of some Arabic in +Thomas Erpenius’ “Grammatica Arabica.” The second +folio of the “Golden Legend” (1503) bears the signature of +Thomas Kirkpatrick, and the first fly-leaf has the following inscription: +“This book was given to the Publick Library of the City of Norwich, +A.D. 1728, by Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick, merchant there, and was bound at the +expence of Isaac Preston, Esq., 1742, that it might the better be +preserv’d being an Authentick & antient Evidence of the +extravagant Foppery and Superstition of the Church of Rome, & of the +necessity of the Reformation. Vide the Commandments page ye 20th in +the life of Moses.”</p> +<p>An interesting request from Archbishop Wake for the loan of a Prayer +Book, which was not returned, is recorded in the Minute Book under date +February 2nd, 1718/9: “This day a Book w<sup>ch</sup> has for some +years been lodged in ye Library of y<sup>e</sup> City entituled—The +Book of Common-prayer & Administration of y<sup>e</sup> Sacraments +& other Rights & Ceremonies of the Church <!-- page 40--><a +name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>of England, printed at +London by Robert Barker, 1632—Wherein are several Marginal Notes in +Writing done by y<sup>e</sup> order of King Charles y<sup>e</sup> first was +delivered to M<sup>r</sup> Brand of this city Clerke to be by Him +transmitted to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He having requested the said +Book might be sent to Him.” A memorandum against this entry +reads: “The order of the Court dated Jan. 28, 1718, and enter’d +in this book was alter’d May ye ninth 1719, and ye Common prayer book +there nam’d deliver’d by Mr. Mott y<sup>n</sup> Mayor to Dr. +John Clark to be by Him sent to ye A: Bp: of Canterbury.” The +Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (the Very Rev. Thomas B. Strong, D.D.), after +receiving a copy of the foregoing quotation, examined the Prayer Books in +the Wake Collection at Christ Church, and found one which answers to the +description. He has kindly consented to the publication of the +following quotation from his correspondence thereon: “I took the book +to the Bodleian Library yesterday; and Dr. Craster (the Sub-Librarian), who +is an expert in these matters, has verified the facts for me. The +book is a quarto book, ‘printed by Robert Barker, Printer to the +King’s Most Excellent Majesty and by the assignees of John Bull, +1632.’ There are no marks of any kind in the book except the +mark K11 (I suppose a shelf-mark <a name="citation40"></a><a +href="#footnote40" class="citation">[40]</a>) on the inside of the +cover. It is bound in limp vellum. A blank sheet of paper has +been cut out in front of the title-page. On the page opposite the +beginning of the Morning Prayer, and under the Ornaments Rubric, there is +the signature of Charles I. Under the signature is the following +note, in a clear and formal hand, which Dr. Craster has proved to be the +handwriting of Archbishop Laud’s secretary:—</p> +<blockquote> +<p>‘I gave the Arcbbp. of Canterburye comand to make the Alterations +expressed in this Booke, and to fitt a Liturgy for the Church of +Scotland. And whersoever they shall differ from another Booke signed +by Us at Hampt. Court September 28, 1634, Our pleasure is to have these +followed rather than the former, unless the Archbp. of St. Andrews, and his +Brethren who are upon the place, shall see apparent reason to the +contrary. At Whitehall Apr. 19, 1636.’</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The same hand has made various alterations in the book; and has written +the collect for Easter Even, which appeared first in the Scottish +Prayer-Book of 1637, in its place. The remaining <!-- page 41--><a +name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 41</span>notes and alterations +are in the hand of Archbishop Laud. The 1637 edition of the Scottish +Prayer-Book follows exactly, as far as I have been able to verify them, all +the notes in the book. One note is perhaps worth mentioning. In +the Quicunque, the verse, ‘He therefore that will be saved must thus +think of the Trinity,’ is altered as follows: ‘He therefore +that would be saved, let him thus think’; and this alteration appears +in the 1637 book.”</p> +<p>A fair number of the books are still in their original bindings or have +been so rebound that their original covers have been preserved. Of +these most are ornamented in “blind,” i.e., impressed with +tools or panel stamps without being gilt or coloured, but a few have +centre-pieces in gold. A few examples may be noted. In the +early Tudor period panel stamps with heraldic or pictorial designs were +frequently used by English and foreign binders practising their craft in +England. A number of English binders adorned their books with a pair +of large heraldic panel stamps, the different binders making slight +variations in the designs. A fairly good example of a binding stamped +with two such panels is that of a copy of “Anticella cum quamplurimis +tractatibus superadditis,” (Venice, 1507) in the Library, which has +had its original covers repaired and laid down again. The lower cover +shows the arms of Henry VIII. (France and England) supported by two angels; +the upper cover has a large Tudor rose surrounded by two ribbons, supported +by two angels, and bearing the distich:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>Hec rosa virtutis de celo missa sereno<br /> +Eternum Florens regia sceptra feret</p> +</blockquote> +<p>which has been rendered:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>Virtue’s a rose, which born of heaven’s clear ray<br /> +Shall ever flourish and bear kingly sway.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>In the upper left-hand corner of the panel is the cross of St. George on +an escutcheon, and in the right-hand corner the arms of the city of London, +indicating that the binder was a citizen. Underneath the rose is the +mark of the London binder, G.G., who was one of the noteworthy binders to +use these panel stamps at the beginning of the sixteenth century.</p> +<p>Several of the bindings are adorned with rectangular panels <!-- page +42--><a name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 42</span>formed by +fillets and bands, the enclosed space being divided, after the German +system, into lozenge-shaped compartments. Two such examples are the +following. The first is the binding of “Cathena aurea super +Psalmos ex dictis sanctorum” (Paris: Jehan Petit, 1520). The +rectangular frame is formed by vertical and horizontal three-line fillets, +and adorned with a roll-stamp representing a hound, a falcon, and a bee, +amid sprays of foliage and flowers. Above the hound is the +binder’s mark composed of the letters I.R, i.e., John Reynes, a +notable London binder of the earlier part of the 16th century. The +enclosed panel is divided by three-line fillets, forming four +lozenge-shaped and eight triangular compartments stamped with a foliated +ornament. The second example is the binding of an edition in Latin of +Plato’s Works, printed by Jodocus Badius Ascensius in 1518. The +rectangular frame is formed by parallel vertical and horizontal fillets +intersecting each other at right-angles, and adorned with a roll-stamp +representing a portcullis, a pomegranate, a griffin, a Tudor rose, a hound, +and a crown. The enclosed panel is divided by diagonal three-line +fillets forming four lozenge-shaped and eight triangular compartments, +stamped with foliated ornaments. The Library now contains about 2,000 +volumes.</p> +<h3>THE LIBRARIANS.</h3> +<p>When the Library was organised in 1656 it was made a condition of +membership that being duly chosen thereto a member should discharge the +office of Library-Keeper “not above once in seaven +yeares.” The Library-Keeper elected in that year was Mr., +afterwards Dr., John Collinges, a well-known Presbyterian divine, who was a +prolific writer and a keen controversialist. Apparently the office +was to be held for a year, and the first three Library-Keepers held the +office for that period, but afterwards the usual period was two +years. The Minute Book records the appointment of the following +thirty-six Library Keepers who held office during the years 1656 to 1731: +John Collinges, 1656-57; John Whitefoote, 1658-59;—Harmar, 1660-61; +George Cock, 1662;—Smith, 1664; Thomas Morley, 1667; Ben Snowden, +1669;—Norgate, 1671: [Benedict] Rively, 1673; [Jo:] Watson, 1675; Dr. +Jo<sup>n</sup> Elsworth, 1677; <!-- page 43--><a name="page43"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 43</span>[Thomas] Studd, 1679; [William] Cecil, 1681; +John Whitefoote, the younger, (Mr. Painter was chosen but declined to +serve), 1682; [John] Jeffery, [Archdeacon of Norwich] 1683; [Jo:] Shaw, +1685-86; John Pitts, 1687-89; [W.] Adamson, (Burges was chosen but declined +to serve), 1690-91; [John] Graile, 1692; [John] Richardson, 1694-96; +[Joseph] Ellis, 1696-97; [Isa:] Girling, 1698; [Tho:] Clayton, 1699; [John] +Barker, 1700; [Edward] Riveley, 1702; [Joseph] Brett, 1704; [John] Havett, +1706-07; [W.] Herne, 1708-09; [Sam:] Jones, 1710-11; [Francis] Fayerman, +1712; [Sam: or John] Clark, 1713-14; [John] Brand, 1715-16; [Sam.] Salter, +1719;—Morrant, (John Fox was chosen but declined to serve), 1722-23; +Benjamin Mackerell, 1724-31; William Pagan, 1731. Benjamin Mackerell, +who held the office from 1724 to 1731, is the best-known of the +Library-Keepers. He wrote a History of King’s Lynn, which was +published in the year of his death, 1738, and several works relating to +Norwich, which are still in manuscript; Mr. Gordon Goodwin, the writer of +his biography in the “Dictionary of National Biography,” says +Mackerell was “an accurate, painstaking antiquary, and left work of +permanent value.” Although he compiled the second edition of +the catalogue during his extended tenure of office, his services were +either not appreciated, or the members thought that the rule regarding the +period of office should not be indefinitely ignored, for on December 6th, +1731, the following memorandum was made: “It was then Order’d +by the psons whose Names are above written that Peter Scott wait upon Mr. +Mackerell, Library Keeper, and desire him to meet them the next Library +day; they intending to proceed to the Election of a new one The time for +such Election being long since lapsed.”</p> +<p>The office of Library Keeper was an honorary one, a condition that +agrees with the opinion expressed by John Dury in his “Reformed +Librarie-Keeper” published in 1650, but it is doubtful whether the +Library Keepers fulfilled all his other qualifications: “His work +then is to bee a Factor and Trader for helps to Learning, and a Treasurer +to keep them, and a dispenser to applie them to use, or to see them well +used, or at least not abused.” <a name="citation43"></a><a +href="#footnote43" class="citation">[43]</a> The duties of the +Library Keeper appear <!-- page 44--><a name="page44"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 44</span>to have included general responsibility for the +Library, the cataloguing of the Library, and the recording of the donations +in the Vellum Book provided for the purpose. To relieve the Library +Keeper of the routine part of his charge, an Under Library Keeper was +appointed from time to time. The sixth condition to which members had +to subscribe from 1656 included a promise to “pay our proportions to +ye under-Keeper of ye said Library quarterly.” This +“proportion” was 12d. upon admission, and 12d. quarterly, and +was the Under-Library-Keeper’s remuneration for services +rendered. This payment was still in force when the regulations were +revised in 1732, and were specifically provided for in the first +“Article.” The Minute Book constantly records payments of +arrears due to the Under Library Keeper, showing that many of the Members +were very dilatory in their payments. Some of the Library Keepers +were also dilatory in their repayments to him of incidental expenses. +On April 1st, 1690, a memorandum was made “That Mr. Pitts is this day +discharged from ye office of Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye +under=Library=Keeper for his 2 years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink, +& paper, nine shillings,” and on Feb. 16th, 1699, it was recorded +that the Library Keeper, “Mr. Girling owe to the vnder libarey keeper +for three years and A half Fourten shillings +00<sup>ll</sup>-14<sup>s</sup>-00<sup>d</sup>.”</p> +<p>Provision was made for relieving members from the obligation to assume +the office in their turn, upon payment of a fine. On March 6th, +1682/3 “Mr. Painter being chosen Library keeper for this yeare +desired upon the paym<sup>t</sup> of 20<sup>sh</sup> to the use of the +library according to the order in that case made to be excused and he was +dismissed from his office, and Mr. John Whitefoot the younger was chosen +library keeper for the same yeare in his stead.”</p> +<p>The Library was under the care of William Sayer, the Librarian of the +“Public Library,” from 1801 to 1805, when it was committed to +the custody of the Steward. The Library was again entrusted to the +“Public Library” in 1815, and came under the care of its +librarian Richard Langton, until 1833, when he was succeeded by Edward +Langton, who retained the office until the Library was housed at the Free +Library in 1862. Henceforth the books came under the charge of the +<!-- page 45--><a name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +45</span>following Librarians to the Corporation for the periods stated: +Mr. George Harper, 1862-76, Mr. George Easter, 1877-1900, Mr. J. Geo. +Tennant, 1901-11, and Mr. Geo. A. Stephen, 1911-.</p> +<h3>DONATION BOOK AND CATALOGUES.</h3> +<p>The first reference in the Minute Book to a catalogue is under date 8th +June, 1657: “The library keeper this day brought in catalogues of the +books w<sup>ch</sup> were affixed. Sixpence was ordered to bee given +to a boy for pasting up the Catalogues.” It may perhaps be +assumed that these catalogues were written lists which were displayed in +the Library.</p> +<p>At the meeting on Jan. 11th, 1657, an order was given for “a book +consisting of 3 q<sup>rs</sup> of thick venice paper, to be bound up to +make a book to contain Catalogues of the bookes in the library,” and +“Mr. Collinges was desired to keep the office of library keeper +untill the aforesaid book be bought and the Catalogues made.”</p> +<p>On Dec. 13th, 1658 “The library keeper brought in a paper book +ruled containing a Classicall and an alphabetical catalogue of all +y<sup>e</sup> bookes in the library” . . . “He further informed +them that hee had laid out 3<sup>s</sup> for paper and 4<sup>s</sup>. for +y<sup>e</sup> ruling & binding y<sup>e</sup> said book, in all +7<sup>s</sup> w<sup>ch</sup> is more then he received 2<sup>s</sup> +10<sup>d</sup>. That he had procured 2 catalogues to be wrote in it +fairly, that for y<sup>e</sup> catalogue of Comentators it was begun & +should before y<sup>e</sup> next meeting be pfected by his own +hand.” This book has fortunately been preserved, and is in good +state. It is a folio volume, measuring 13½ by 9½ +inches, and is in three sections. The first section is a classified +catalogue of the books on the east side of the Library, which were arranged +in two groups of sizes, (1) Folio, divided into ten classes, and (2) Quarto +and Octavo, divided into four classes. At first an attempt was made +to classify the books according to subjects, the classification of the +folios being I Bibles; II and III Old Commentaries, etc.; IVa Theology, IVb +History; V Canon Law; VI The Fathers; VII Lexicons, Dictionaries, etc.; +VIII Reformation Commentaries; IX Ecclesiastical History; X +Miscellaneous. The four classes in the quarto and octavo section were +not grouped according to subjects. A heading was started in <!-- page +46--><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 46</span>the catalogue +for a classification of the books on the west side, but that part of the +work was not done. The second section is an author catalogue of the +books with two columns, the numbers in the first column denoting the class +and those in the second the book. The third section of the catalogue, +ruled in double columns, has a heading in Latin, to this effect: +“Catalogue of the authors whose books are to be found in the Library +of Norwich, who either illustrated the whole book of Sacred Scripture or +any part of it with their most illuminating annotations or +commentaries. The column towards the left indicates the authors who +have written on the whole Book, the other indicates those who have written +on any part of it.” Following the names of the authors are the +class and book numbers.</p> +<p>At the meeting on July 11th, 1659, “The library keep brought in a +Catalogue of the bookes & Benefactors names fairly written in a +parchment booke; For the wrighting wherof hee pd to the cleark +7<sup>s</sup>; For the repaymt of w<sup>ch</sup> monye it was aggreed every +minister should pay viijd: w<sup>ch</sup> monye was paid by as many as were +then present.” This catalogue or “Donation Book” is +a folio volume measuring 14 3/4 by 9½ inches, and is bound in rough +calf, with three small brass clasps. Later, in the Minute Book it is +generally referred to as the Vellum Book. In it are entered in +chronological order the names of the donors, the date of each gift, brief +author and title entries of the books, and frequently their date and place +of publication. The entries are all very clearly written, from the +date of the first donation in 1608, the year of inauguration, to +1737. Facsimiles of the title-page, with the initials +“J.S.” in the lower corners, and two typical pages face this +page. The lettering of these pages is characteristic of the period, +and shows the decadence of the art of manuscript writing.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/46b.jpg"> +<img alt="The Vellum Book. Title-page and two other pages of the Donation +Book begun in 1659" src="images/46s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>In the “Extracts from the Court Books of the City of Norwich, +1666-1688,” edited by Mr. Walter Rye, there is one on Jan. 15, 1669, +stating that “Mr. Thos. Morly, clerk, keeper of the Library of +the City, brought in a catalogue of all the books there,” but there +is no reference to this in the Library Minute Book. On January 12th, +1673, however, the ministers “did appoynt y<sup>t</sup> M<sup>r</sup> +Norgate should ag<sup>t</sup> their next meeting bring in a Catalogue of +the Bookes to be dd to the Court and y<sup>t</sup> he <!-- page 47--><a +name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 47</span>shall see y<sup>t</sup> +the Bookes given to the Library in his time be fayrely written in the +Vellam-booke appoynted to y<sup>t</sup> purpose.” It is +evident, therefore, that reports regarding the stock of books had to be +made to the Court.</p> +<p>The first printed catalogue was an author catalogue, with brief +particulars of about 923 volumes, and was printed in 1706/7. On +December 3rd, 1706, it was “Ordered then that y<sup>e</sup> +Alphabeticall Catalogue of y<sup>e</sup> City Library be printed by the +Widow Burges,” and on February 4th, 1706/7, when Joseph Brett was +Library Keeper he “brought in the Catalogue of Books, printed, +w<sup>ch</sup> cost two p<sup>ds</sup> sixteen shillings & three pence +& he was allow’d also a shilling for printing an +advertisement.” This catalogue, which is exceedingly scarce, <a +name="citation47"></a><a href="#footnote47" class="citation">[47]</a> is +entitled “A Catalogue of the Books in the Library of the City of +Norwich in the year 1706.” It is a crown 8vo volume, consisting +of 38 pages. The catalogue proper is preceded by an alphabetical list +of the benefactors to the Library, giving the dates of their donations, and +abbreviations of their surnames, (e.g., Ad. for Adamson, All. for +Allen). The entries in the catalogue are extremely brief, and +frequently occupy only one line. Each entry is preceded by an +abbreviation for the author’s name, and is followed by the class and +book numbers.</p> +<p>In the preface it was confessed that while the catalogue would be useful +to the members of the Library, the “great motive, and main end of +Publishing this Catalogue was to encourage donations to the +Library.” Possessors of the catalogue were recommended to +interleave it with “spare paper, on which may be added such books as +shall be given, it may serve for many Years, even till the number of Books +here be doubled, which when, (as is greatly to be wished for) it shall be, +a new Edition of the Catalogue may be expected.”</p> +<p>The cost of the catalogue involved the members in debt. Under the +date May 2nd, 1709, in the Minute Book is the following memorandum: +“It is this day Agreed by us whose Names are underwritten +y<sup>t</sup> y<sup>e</sup> fourteen shillings & three pence now paid +by M<sup>r</sup> Herne the <!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 48</span>present library keeper to M<sup>r</sup> Joseph +Brett to clear his disbursem<sup>ts</sup> for catalogus &c for +y<sup>e</sup> service of y<sup>e</sup> Library shal be repaid y<sup>e</sup> +said M<sup>r</sup> Herne by the succeeding Library keeper upon his Election +unles paid before.” A further memorandum dated May 6th, 1709, +shows that a book was sold to raise the money: “Rec<sup>d</sup> of +the Under-library keeper Fourteen Shillings for S<sup>r</sup> +Walt<sup>r</sup> Raileigh: A super-numerary book sold to M<sup>r</sup>. +Lillington by order of the Society which is tow<sup>ds</sup> ye discharge +of the above sd 14s 3d paid to Mr. Brett by me. W. Herne.”</p> +<p>The second edition of the author catalogue was compiled by Benjamin +Mackerell, the late Library Keeper, and published in 1732, the preface +being dated April 15th, 1732. Mackerell closely followed the plan of +the previous catalogue, using part of the preface for his +“Dedication” “To the Right Worshipful Robert Marsh, Esqr; +Mayor, The Worshipful The Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Common Council of the +City of Norwich.” The entries are limited to one line each, and +there is a column showing the sizes. The catalogue consisting of 54 +printed pages, and measuring 8½ by 6½ inches, is entitled +“A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick Library of the City of +Norwich, in the year 1732, to which is added, An Account of the Orders +prescribed by the Court and Common Council for the regulation of the same, +together with an account of Mr. John Kirkpatrick’s Roman and Other +Coins,” printed by William Chase, in the Cockey Lane. Neither +of the two copies of this catalogue in the Library contains the account of +Kirkpatrick’s coins, and Mr. F. Kitton, the compiler of the 1883 +catalogue, had not seen a copy containing it. As all the pages of the +catalogue except the last one have a catchword it is reasonable to assume +that the account of the coins was not included.</p> +<p>The next catalogue was published in 1817 as a supplement to that of the +“Public Library” where the City Library was housed. +Unfortunately the present writer has been unable to trace a copy of this +catalogue, which, however, is recorded in Samuel Woodward’s +“Norfolk Topographer’s Manual,” 1842: “A Catalogue +of Books belonging to the Norwich City Library, which, by permission of the +Corporation, are now deposited in the Norwich Public-Library Room; 35 pp., +8 vo. Norwich (1817).” This catalogue, according to a +paragraph in the Catalogue of <!-- page 49--><a name="page49"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 49</span>the Public Library, 1825, had an +“alphabetical arrangement, in divisions of languages and +sizes.” Perhaps this catalogue served as the “copy” +for the catalogue of the City Library which is printed at the end of the +“Second Catalogue of the Library of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary +Institution,” 1825, pp. 105-137, as its arrangement is by languages +and sizes. This arrangement not being “calculated to be +conveniently accessible” it was deemed advisable by the Committee of +the Public Library that “it should be subjected to the same +scientific arrangement as the books which are the property of the Public +Library; and in order to prevent the obvious inconvenience of two +references, the Committee have included both sets of works under the same +arrangement, distinguishing those which are the property of the Corporation +. . . by a prominent and appropriate designation,” i.e., the letters +C. L. in black letter. This catalogue is a classified catalogue with +the following nine classes, seven of which are subdivided, and the +arrangement in each class is alphabetical by authors’ names: I. +Theology; II. Ethics, Metaphysics, and Logic; III. Sciences and +the Arts; IV. Jurisprudence, Government, and Politics; V. +History and Biography; VI. Geography, Topography, Voyages and +Travels; VII. Polite Literature and Philology; VIII. Poetry and +Dramatic Works, Novels and Romances; IX. Transactions of Literary and +Scientific Societies, Reviews, Magazines and Reports.</p> +<p>A new edition of the Public Library Catalogue was published in 1847, the +arrangement being the same as in the preceding one.</p> +<p>The Library books having been repaired in 1879 and 1880, the City +Committee decided in 1882 to issue a new catalogue, with the view of making +the books accessible to the citizens. The work of compiling the +catalogue was entrusted to Mr. Frederic Kitton, Hon. F.R.M.S., an eminent +microscopist of his day, who resided in Norwich for many years, but who +apparently had no bibliographical knowledge or library experience. +This appointment was made in the days when it was the common fashion to +regard the work of compiling a library catalogue as within the capacity of +any intelligent person; whereas there are, in fact, many rules to be +observed, and much practical experience is necessary if the <!-- page +50--><a name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>thousand and +one pitfalls which beset the path of the cataloguer are to be +avoided. The catalogue <a name="citation50a"></a><a +href="#footnote50a" class="citation">[50a]</a> was on much more ambitious +lines than its predecessors, and the compiler claimed to “have +carefully copied the title pages, retaining their abbreviations, antique +spelling, inaccuracies, or other peculiarities.” An examination +of it, however, shows that it abounds in inaccuracies, and exhibits most of +the errors that can be made in an author catalogue. A catalogue of +the City Library compiled in accordance with modern bibliographical +practice is still a desideratum.</p> +<h3>THE QUARTERS OF THE LIBRARY.</h3> +<p>The first home of the Library, as stated on page 4, was parcel of the +dwelling house of Jerrom Goodwyne, the sword-bearer of the City. This +house was built over the south porch of the Church of the Black Friars, now +known as St. Andrew’s Hall, which had been acquired by the City at +the Dissolution. It is clearly shewn in the frontispiece, which is a +reproduction of Daniel King’s engraving of Black Friars’ Hall, +probably executed about 1650. The Local Collection contains two +copies of the engraving which have different plate numbers: one, numbered +78, is from the edition of Dugdale’s “Monasticon” +published in 1718, but the book from which the other one, numbered 50, was +taken, has not been traced.</p> +<p>Writing in 1857 Henry Harrod remarked that “If the view engraved +by King correctly represents this house, it was by no means an ornamental +feature; still it was as good as the far more pretentious structure which +has replaced it.” <a name="citation50b"></a><a href="#footnote50b" +class="citation">[50b]</a></p> +<p>In regard to the building of this house Kirkpatrick gives an extract +from a record of 34th Henry VIII, showing that the city granted to John +Kempe, the chaplain, “in consideration that he, of his benevolence +hath bestowed about the buylding of a lodgyng with three chambers, over the +porch of the house, late the black friars, now the common hall of the city, +and on either side of the same porch, above sixty pounds;—that, +therefore, the said J. Kempe shall have the same lodgyng, with the office +called the <!-- page 51--><a name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +51</span><i>Chapleyn of the Chappell</i>, belonging to the said hall +called, <i>St. John’s Chapel</i>, with all the oblacions; also, +liberty of the garden and yard called the prechyng-yard.” <a +name="citation51"></a><a href="#footnote51" class="citation">[51]</a></p> +<p>The first of the few entries in the Minute Book regarding the library +rooms shows that the books were not too well protected from the elements, +for on 10th August, 1657, “Mr. Collinges gaue an acc<sup>t</sup> of +1s. laid out for coale and wood for the drying of y<sup>e</sup> bookes +harmed by y<sup>e</sup> raine.”</p> +<p>From the instructions, in Latin, to the Librarian which are set out in +the classified and alphabetical catalogue of 1658 we learn that the library +was arranged in two parts, East and West, and that the books were +classified. “On the East part the treasury of the books is +double, major and minor. The larger part is divided into ten classes +folio. The smaller has only four classes of books in 4to and +8vo. The numbering of all classes must always be begun from the +bottom. On the West part the treasury of books is single, arranged in +five larger classes. Here the number must always be reckoned from the +top.”</p> +<p>In 1664 the development of the Library necessitated the enlargement of +the accommodation, and on 11th July “All the min<sup>rs</sup>. +present agreed in a petition to y<sup>e</sup> May<sup>r</sup> Sherriffs +Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for y<sup>e</sup> addition of a +roome to y<sup>e</sup> library, and y<sup>e</sup> better shelving of +it. They further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present +y<sup>e</sup> petition to y<sup>e</sup> Comon Councell at their next +assembly. Mr. Chamberlain hauing first viewed y<sup>e</sup> roome +& computed y<sup>e</sup> charge.” On the 12th January 1673 +the members decided to petition the Court for removing some wainscot doors, +and on March 9th it was recorded that by order of the Court of Assembly +“we haue also leaue to take downe y<sup>e</sup> waynscott Doores +w<sup>ch</sup> now conceale the Bookes.”</p> +<p>The Library was removed about 1801, when it was lent to the +“Public Library” (see p. 13), to a building formerly a Roman +Catholic Chapel, in what is now St. Andrew’s Street, which afterwards +became a portion of the old Museum Building, now the offices of the Norwich +Guardians. In 1835 the City Library, still on loan to the +“Public Library,” went with it to its new <!-- page 52--><a +name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 52</span>building in the Market +Place opposite the north door of the Guildhall, on the site of its +successor, the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library. The +City Library returned to the direct control of the Corporation in 1862, and +was housed in the present Public Library building then recently +erected.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">DONATIONS TO THE CITY LIBRARY, 1608-1737.<br +/> +(<i>Extracted from the Vellum Book</i>.)</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td> +<p>DATE.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>DONOR.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>VOLS.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1608</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Pettus, Sir John, Knt., Alderman of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>15</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1608</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Downing, Mrs. Susannah, wife of Alderman George Downing</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1609</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Corye, Mr. Thomas, Merchant</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>10</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1609</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Hirne, Sir Thomas, Knt.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>12</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1609/10</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Corbett, Thomas, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1609/10</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Doyly, Henry, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1610</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Doyly, Charles, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>11</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1610</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Sedgwick, Robert, Merchant</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>12</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1610</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Peade, Michael, Notary Public and Registrar to the Archdeacon of +Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1610</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mingay, John, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1610</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Pettus, Augustine, Son and heir of the said [Sir] John [Pettus]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Howlett, Laurence, S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew’s</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1611</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Newhowse, Thomas, A.M., & Minister of God’s Word</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1611</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Hannam, William, Gent., A.M.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1612/3</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Garsett, Robert, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1613</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Blowe, Joanna, widow</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1613</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Thurston, Hamond, Merchant</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1613</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Peckover, Mathew, late Sheriff of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1614</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Launey, Peter, Minister of the Walloon Church [in Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Wells, William, Theologiæ Baccalaureus</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Throkmorton, Bassingbourne</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1614</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Cropp, John, Physician and Surgeon</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bird, Henry</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1615</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Ross, Richard, Gent., late Sheriff of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1614</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Barbar, Gabriel, Gent., in the name of the Society of Virginia</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>11</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1616/7</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Nutting, Edward, late Sheriff of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1616/7</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Batho, William, B.T.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1617</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Anguish, John, Gent., and Citizen</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1617</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Anguish, Edmund, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>9</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1617</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Catelyn, Thomas, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Corbett, Anne, widow of Thomas Corbett, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1618</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Atkins, Thomas, Merchant, Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>£5 and 7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 53--><a name="page53"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +53</span>1621</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Scottowe, Augustine</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>17</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gallard, Robert, formerly minister of St. Andrew’s</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1625/6</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Page, Francis</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1628</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>City of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Remington, Nathaniel, Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1631</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Borage, John</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1633</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Chapman, Samuel, Merchant</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1633</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Barret, Thomas, Merchant</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1634</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mingay, Antony, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>11</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mingay, Mrs., Widow</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1634</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Freeman, John</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Map of Canaan</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1634</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Blosse, Prudence, Widow, Relict of Alderman T. Blosse</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>8</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Chappell, John, S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew’s</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1658</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Payne, Joseph, Alderman [afterwards Sir]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>£20 and 1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Thornback, John, Minister of St. Andrew’s</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Stinett, William, S.T.B., Rector of St. John Maddermarket</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1658/9</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Collinges, John, S.T.: Dr.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>£1 and 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1657]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Whitefoote, John, Rector of Heigham, next Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1659</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Brooke, Thomasine, Widow & Relict of Wm. Brooke, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>29 <a name="citation53a"></a><a href="#footnote53a" +class="citation">[53a]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1659]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Allen, Thomas</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1659/60]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>City of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1661</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Payne, Sir Joseph, Knt., late Mayor of this City</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>16</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Scottowe, Augustine, Merchant.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7 <a name="citation53b"></a><a href="#footnote53b" +class="citation">[53b]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1661]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Smyth, John, Rector of St. Michael Coslany</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1661]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Barret, Thomas</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5 <a name="citation53c"></a><a href="#footnote53c" +class="citation">[53c]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1662 </p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Norris, Francis, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>14</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1664]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Morley, Thomas, Curate of St. Peter Hungate</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1664</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mann, John, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>38</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1665</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Fromentell, Samuel, Citizen</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1666</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Meene, Joshua, formerly Curate of St. Peter Per Moutergate</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1666</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Browne, [Sir] Thomas, Professor of Medicine</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>9</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1668 and 1673</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Oliver, William, Bookseller</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1673</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Cock, George, Curate of St. Peter of Mancroft</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>18</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1671-1676</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Barnham, John, Citizen</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1673</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Norris, Anthony, Merchant of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1674]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Ellsworth, John, Physician</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1674/5]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Tenison, Thomas, S.S.T.B. [afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1674</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Cock, Nathaniel, Merchant of London</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>33 <a name="citation53d"></a><a href="#footnote53d" +class="citation">[53d]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1676</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[Reynolds,] Edward, [D.D.] Bishop of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>24</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1678</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Watson, John, Vicar of Wroxham</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1678</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Clarke, Samuel, Rector of Rainham</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1681</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gardiner, Francis, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 54--><a name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +54</span>[1681]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Nurce, William, Clerk</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1681/2]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Prideaux, Humphrey, S.T.P., and Prebendary [afterwards Dean of +Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p> £1 <a name="citation54a"></a><a href="#footnote54a" +class="citation">[54a]</a> and 1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1691</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Adamson, William, Rector of St. John in Maddermarket</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1678</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Brigges, Augustine, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +<p>Wisse, Thomas, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] Church, Bernard, +Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[10] <a name="citation54b"></a><a href="#footnote54b" +class="citation">[54b]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1696</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Penning, Benjamin, A.M., and Rector of St. Clement’s, Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1692</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Ireland, Richard, formerly Rector of Beeston and sometime also of St. +Edmond’s, Norwich, where he was born</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>His Library</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1700</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Adamson, William, Rector of St. John’s Maddermarket</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3 shelves of books</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1704</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Trimnell, Dr., Archdeacon of Norfolk, and Prebendary of Norwich +[afterwards Bishop of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1704</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gardiner, Stephen, Esq., Recorder of this City</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gurdon, Thornaugh, Esq., [Letton]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Resbury, Benjamin, Rector of Cranworth cum Letton</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Adams, Archibald</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Moore, John, [D.D.], Lord Bishop of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706/7</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Tanner, Thomas, D.D., Chancellor of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. +Asaph]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706/7</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bacon, Waller, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1706/7</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Beverley, Michael, Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>8</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Potts, Algernon, Esq. [of Norwich]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Nelson, Thomas, Rector of Morston, in Norfolk</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Cook, Sir William, Bart.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>9</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Eden, Henry, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Laughton, John, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Library Keeper to the +University</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1707</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Rudd, Edward, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bradshaw, Samuel, A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Granger, Gilbert, A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Snow, Matthew, Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Chamberlain, William, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bourchier, Ralph, Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Cotes, Roger, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Eusden, Lawrence, of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>5</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Smith, Edward, of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Fleming, David, A.B., of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 55--><a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +55</span>[1707/8]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Ganning, Nathaniel, Rector of Reyme[r]ston, in Norf.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1708</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Doyly, Samuel, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Farewell, Mr. [of Trinity College, Cambridge]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Andrews, Mr., [of Trinity College, Cambridge]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Foulis, [J.] Mr. [of Trinity College, Cambridge]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Hill, Mr., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1708]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Lightwin, John, President of Caius College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1708</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gurdon, Brampton, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Hawys, Roger, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Crask, Dr., of Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Dodd, Mr., Fellow of Clare Hall</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Worts, William, A.M., of Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1709/10</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bedingfield, James, als De Grey, Fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, +Cambridge</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1709/10</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Prideaux, Humphrey, D.D., and Dean of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1712</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[Trimnell], Charles, Lord Bishop of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1713/4</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Peck, John, Esq., of Bracondale</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1714</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Nelson, Thomas, Late Rector of Morston, in Norfolk </p> +</td> +<td> +<p>His Library</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1715</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Herne, Clement, Esq., of Heverland</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1715/6]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Seaman, Thomas, Esq., of Heigham</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1716</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mackerell, Benjamin, of the City of Norwich, Gent.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>[1716]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Helwys, Nicholas, Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1717 and 1718</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Prideaux, Humphrey, D.D., and Dean of Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1718</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Clark, Thomas, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1719</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Houghton, William</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1721</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Grayle, John, Rector of Blickling</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>9</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1725</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Knyvett, John, of this City, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1726</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Tanner, Thomas, S.T.P., and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich +[afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>100 <a name="citation55a"></a><a href="#footnote55a" +class="citation">[55a]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1727</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Reveley, Edward</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1728</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Kirkpatrick, John, Merchant and Treasurer to the Great Hospital in this +City</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>His Library</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1729</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Jermy, John, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[?] <a name="citation55b"></a><a href="#footnote55b" +class="citation">[55b]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1730</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Prideaux, Edmund, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>60 <a name="citation55c"></a><a href="#footnote55c" +class="citation">[55c]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1730</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Wingfield, Robert, Writing master</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>13</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1731</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Pagan, William</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>7</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1731</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Gurdon, Thornaugh, [Letton]</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>[2?] <a name="citation55d"></a><a href="#footnote55d" +class="citation">[55d]</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>King, Reuben, Primier [<i>sic</i>] English Schoolmaster in this City</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 56--><a name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +56</span>1731</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Mackerell, Benjamin, the present Library Keeper</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>13</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1733</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Whaley, John</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Bennet, Gilbert</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1733</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Jermy, John</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>40</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1732</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Ellis, Ben-Jos[eph], Minister of St. Andrew’s in Norwich</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1737</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Jermy, John, Esq.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>14</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1737</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Nash, Robert, Esq., Chancellor of this Diocese</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>4</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h2><!-- page 57--><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +57</span>PART II. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.</h2> +<h3>FOUNDATION AND HISTORY.</h3> +<p>Warrington and Salford claim to have established the earliest examples +of municipally-controlled and rate-supported free popular libraries in the +United Kingdom, they having added books to the attractions of their museums +which were established in 1848 and 1849 respectively under the Act of 1845 +“for encouraging the establishment of museums in large +towns.” Norwich, however, has the distinction of being the +first municipality to adopt the first public library act, which was due to +the labours of Mr. William Ewart. Ewart’s act received the +royal assent on the 14th August, 1850, and within seven weeks Norwich had +decided to adopt it!</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/57b.jpg"> +<img alt="Norwich Public Library. Foundation Stone Laid 13th September, +1854. Library Opened 16th March, 1857" src="images/57s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>The initiator of the library movement in Norwich apparently was Mr. +Thomas Brightwell, a man of scientific tastes, who was Mayor of the City in +1837. At the Council meeting held on September 13th, 1850, he drew +attention to the new act, and, according to the first annual report of the +Library, he “presented a strongly worded memorial signed by 600 +persons.” He succeeded in carrying his motion that the Mayor be +directed to ascertain the feeling of the citizens as to whether the +provisions of the new act should be adopted, and a poll of the burgesses +was taken on September 27th, when 150 voted in favour of the adoption of +the act while only 7 voted against it. The act provided that a rate +of one halfpenny in the pound might be levied for library purposes, but no +provision was made for buying books. In 1855 this act was repealed by +another, which remained the principal library act for England and Wales +until 1892; it allowed one penny in the pound to be levied, and provided +for the purchase of books.</p> +<p>After the adoption of the act the Council appointed committees for +making all the necessary arrangements for the <!-- page 58--><a +name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 58</span>establishment of a +Library, and it received reports from them in 1851, 1852, and 1853. +By September 1854 two levies of the halfpenny rate had been made amounting +to £500, and with that sum in hand the Corporation ventured to +purchase the library site, and to approve the architectural plans, prepared +by the City Surveyor, Mr. Edward Everett Benest.</p> +<p>The first stone of the building was laid on September 13th, 1854, by the +Mayor, Sir Samuel Bignold, who lent £4,000 for the erection of the +building, and worked assiduously to promote the Library. The ceremony +was reported at length in the <i>Norfolk Chronicle</i> of September 16th, +1854, from which the following extracts are taken:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“The ceremony of laying the first stone took place on Wednesday +afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The +ground had been decorated for the occasion with numerous flags, banners, +and devices in flowers and foliage, and amongst the most conspicuous of the +mottoes was one complimentary to the Mayor, bearing the words +‘Bignold for ever!’ surmounted by ‘The Queen and +Constitution,’ with ‘Trade and Manufactures’ on the right +and ‘Commerce and Agriculture’ on the left. In a +convenient position a platform had been erected for the express +accommodation of the fairer portion of the spectators. As the time +for the performance of the ceremony drew nigh all the neighbouring +approaches to the spot were densely crowded; every window within sight of +the ground had its full share of occupants, and daring spirits had even +ventured to take up their position on the surrounding walls and +house-tops.</p> +<p>“A few minutes after four the sounds of distant music intimated +the approach of Sir Samuel Bignold (the Mayor) and his friends, and, after +the lapse of another second or so, his worship appeared in sight, +accompanied by H. Birkbeck, Esq. (the Sheriff of the city), the Duke of +Wellington, the Earl of Orford, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Sir J. P. Boileau, +Bart., Edmond Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., the Rev. E. +Sidney, most of the members of the city magistracy and corporation, several +county magistrates, a large number of influential county gentlemen and +citizens, J. R. Staff, Esq. (the Town Clerk), Mr. E. E. Benest (the <!-- +page 59--><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 59</span>City +Surveyor), the Corporation officers bearing the city regalia, &c., +&c.—followed by a large procession of the Manchester Unity of Odd +Fellows, carrying flags and banners, the most prominent of which bore the +mottoes—‘Success to the Free Library,’ ‘Peto, the +true Friend of Civil and Religious Liberty,’ ‘The Durability of +the Constitution,’ and ‘Education for the People.’ +The procession was headed by an excellent brass band, playing, as it +approached, the popular air, ‘Cheer, boys, cheer!’ At +this stage of the proceedings the outer crowd, in their anxiety to get +within view of the proceedings, broke the barriers, overpowered the police, +and made a rush to the palisades which surrounded the ground. These, +by the weight of the many persons who clung upon them, unfortunately gave +way, bringing with them a coping stone to which they were attached, and on +which a young man named Samuel Harper had been sitting. He was thrown +to the ground, and several people falling upon him he sustained a fracture +of one of his ankles. He was immediately conveyed to the hospital, +and we are glad to learn is doing well. Several other persons were +also injured, but not seriously. Beyond this no accident +occurred.</p> +<p>“With the assistance of the City Surveyor and Mr. Stanley, +stone-mason, the worthy Mayor then proceeded to discharge his agreeable +duty—the laying of the first stone. He used for the purpose a +very elegant silver trowel <a name="citation59a"></a><a href="#footnote59a" +class="citation">[59a]</a> with ivory handle, furnished by the Messrs. +Etheridge (which had been presented to his worship by Mr. E. E. Benest) +bearing the following inscription on the blade:—</p> +<p style="text-align: center">Presented<br /> +to<br /> +Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight,<br /> +Mayor of Norwich,<br /> +on the occasion of his laying<br /> +the first stone<br /> +of<br /> +The Free Library,<br /> +September 13th,<br /> +1854.</p> +<p><!-- page 60--><a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +60</span>“Upon the surface of the stone a brass plate was fixed, on +which was engraved the following inscription:—</p> +<p style="text-align: center">This first stone<br /> +of the<br /> +Norwich Free Library,<br /> +was laid<br /> +on the 13th September,<br /> +A.D. 1854,<br /> +by<br /> +Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight,<br /> +Mayor of this City in the years<br /> +1833-4, 1848-9, 1853-4.<br /> +Henry Birkbeck, Esq., Sheriff.<br /> +John Rising Staff, Esq., Town Clerk.<br /> +Architect—Edward Everett Benest, City Surveyor.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The ceremony having been completed and the stone securely fixed in its +place, addresses were delivered on the contemplated advantages of the +library by the Mayor, the Rev. Edwin Sidney, M.A., Rector of Cornard Parva, +Suffolk, and author of various works, Mr. Samuel Morton Peto, M.P. for +Norwich, Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., an archæologist of Ketteringham, +who was Sheriff of Norfolk in 1844, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., who in the +early part of his legal career was on the Norfolk circuit, and two members +of the Council, Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, and Mr. J. H. Tillett. The +Town Clerk presented to the Mayor an address from the Norwich District of +the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, begging “most respectfully to +tender the thanks of our numerous association to you and the Corporation of +this city for the manifestation of regard for the Working Classes in having +determined on the erection of a Free Library; feeling assured that such an +institution will be welcomed by a large number of the industrious +inhabitants, and will prove largely beneficial to all who will avail +themselves of the advantages it offers.” In the course of his +address the Mayor said: “It has been my lot now, during my life, +which has not been a short one, to aid a great many undertakings in this +city—insurance offices, spinning factories, waterworks, literary and +scientific institutions, and public charities; but I have never lent my +assistance to any undertaking which more entirely commends itself to my +judgment than that in which I am this day engaged in commencing” . . +. “and I must here say that Mr. Tillett has been the main-spring of +this undertaking, for <!-- page 61--><a name="page61"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 61</span>he has never lost sight of it since the act +placed it in the hands of the Corporation.”</p> +<p>After the erection of the building had been commenced it was considered +that it would be highly advantageous if the School of Art was connected +with and formed part of the Library, and the Council authorised the +expenditure of a further sum in order to add another story for the +accommodation of the School of Art. This involved some delay in the +progress of the building, and for various reasons the Library was not ready +for opening until March, 1857.</p> +<p>According to the first annual report issued on August 31st, 1858, a +special committee appointed by the Council estimated that the total cost of +the site and building would amount to £7428 : 5 : 0. “In +order to repay Sir Samuel Bignold the amount advanced by him during the +progress of the works, and to complete the same, a loan of £6,000, at +£5 per cent., was, in 1857, obtained from the Norwich Union Office, +and it is to be repaid by instalments of £200 yearly, which, with the +interest on the loan, will nearly absorb for several years the rate of one +penny in the pound per annum, authorized to be levied under the act . . +.” The report proceeded: “The cost of the building has, +unfortunately been a subject much talked about and misrepresented, and it +should be remembered that the portion of the building occupied by the +Library is less than a third of the whole, the other parts being occupied +by the Museum, the Literary Institution, and the School of Art. The +cost of the building, giving accommodation to all these institutions, has +certainly been small compared with the cost of buildings for similar +purposes in other towns: in Liverpool, for instance, the building cost +£50,000.”</p> +<p>“Under arrangements made with the committee of the Museum, the +advantages of that institution have been secured to the citizens on two +days of the week, and that such advantages have been appreciated, is +evinced by the large number of visitors, chiefly of the working classes, +every Monday and Saturday, to inspect the splendid collection of specimens +in Natural History.”</p> +<p>“The School of Art was, early in 1857, removed to the upper story +of the new building, whereby the annual grant <!-- page 62--><a +name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 62</span>of £75 made for +the support of the institution will be in future saved.”</p> +<p>As the first public library act made no provision for the purchase of +books, a subscription fund was commenced for that purpose about the time of +the laying of the foundation stone, and the following donations, with +others, were soon made: The Duke of Wellington £50, Lord Wodehouse +£25, Lord Suffield £25, Sir Samuel Bignold £21, Mr. J. H. +Gurney, M.P., £50, and Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P., £50. At the +time of the first annual report the total amount of donations received for +the purchase of books, etc., and interest thereon was £357 : 7 : 1, +nearly all of which had been expended in the purchase of books, periodicals +and newspapers.</p> +<p>On September 30th, 1854, the Council proceeded to the formation of a +body of management, on lines suggested by a Committee which had been +appointed to arrange preliminary proceedings for establishing a free +library, and the following accepted office: President and Treasurer, Sir +Samuel Bignold, Mayor of Norwich. Vice-Presidents: The Lord Bishop of +Norwich, Lord Wodehouse, Lord Stafford, Lord Suffield, Sir J. P. Boileau, +Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P., Mr. J. H. Gurney, M.P., Mr. H. J. Stracey, and the +Rev. Edwin Sidney. Committee: Aldermen E. Willett and C. Darkins; +Councillors Thomas Brightwell, J. G. Johnson, J. H. Tillett, J. Barwell, W. +J. Utten Browne, O. Springfield, and two co-opted members, Dr. Goodwin and +Mr. J. W. Dowson. Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. D. Bayne, the author of the +“Comprehensive History of Norwich,” 1869. The Committee +had power to add to its number not exceeding five, and it was also resolved +that the Committee should include five members to be nominated by the +subscribers and five by the working classes. The Committee shortly +afterwards added to its number. Protests were received regarding the +proposal that admission to the Library should be by subscription, and +apparently it was not proceeded with. In accordance with the other +resolution of the Council, to the effect that the working classes should +nominate five persons to serve on the Committee, the Mayor convened a +meeting of the “working classes” at St. Andrew’s Hall on +the 1st October, 1856, when the following were selected for nomination to +the <!-- page 63--><a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +63</span>Council, and were duly elected on the 16th October: Mr. C. J. +Bunting, printer, Mr. Daniel Weavers, weaver, Mr. Henry Roberts, herbalist, +Mr. L. Hill, news-vendor, and Mr. James Lofty, hairdresser.</p> +<p>The Library was opened on the 16th March, 1857, without any public +function, owing to the difficulty of getting an eminent person to perform +the ceremony, and the Committee resolved to celebrate the opening at a +later date, which, however, was not done, although Mr. Ewart had promised +to be present. According to the particulars in the appendices of J. +J. Ogle’s “The Free Library,” Norwich was the eleventh +modern rate-supported public library to open its doors, the previous ten +libraries being those of Warrington and Salford (established under the +Museums Act of 1845), Winchester, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, +Kidderminster, Cambridge, Birkenhead and Sheffield. The following is +a description of the building which appeared in the <i>Illustrated London +News</i>, May 16th, 1857:</p> +<p>“The exterior of the lower story of the building is Roman Doric, +the second story Roman Ionic, and the third Italian. The Library and +an adjoining apartment, appropriated to the Museum, are on the ground +floor; and below are spacious vaults, which are devoted to trade purposes, +and from which a considerable annual revenue is expected to be +derived. Over the principal entrance is a well executed head of +Homer, and in the entrance-hall which has a tesselated pavement, are four +scagliola columns with Corinthian capitals. The Museum-room is 54 +feet in length and 26 feet wide, and the Library is 44 feet long and 33 +feet wide. A broad and handsome stone staircase conducts the visitor +to the second floor, on which is a lecture-room of the same dimensions as +the Library, and two apartments appropriated to the Literary Institution, +which are collectively of the same size as the Museum beneath. On the +third floor are two large rooms for the School of Art, with domed roofs and +ample skylights, and four smaller apartments for classes are also +provided.” A reproduction of a recent photograph of the +building, showing to the left a portion of the Reading Room added in 1907, +faces page 56.</p> +<p>The Library proper at first consisted of one room, as stated <!-- page +64--><a name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 64</span>above, which +combined a news and reading room, and reference and lending +departments. Books were not issued from the lending department until +January 1st, 1858, when the books in two classes, “General +Literature” and “Voyages and Travels” were ready for +circulation. Regarding rules for the loan of these books, the +Committee provisionally adopted those of the Sheffield Free Library. +By July of the same year all the books were available for borrowing, and +the circulation “reached 500 volumes, always on loan, every volume +being returned or renewed within a week.” When the first report +was published in August, 1858, there were 3,354 volumes in the Library, of +which 2,468 volumes were presented, arranged in ten classes: A, General +Literature, 586 vols.; B, Geography, Voyages and Travels, 560 vols.; C, +Dramatists, Poets, and Novelists, 454 vols.; D, History and Biography, 383 +vols.; E, Bohn’s Libraries, 318 vols.; F, Bonn’s Libraries and +Cabinet Cyclopædia, 315 vols.; G, Natural History and Sciences, 244 +vols.; H, Metaphysics, Logic and Religion, 306 vols.; I, Dictionaries, +Cyclopædias, Reviews, 88 vols.; [J] Magazines, 100 vols. All +the books were apparently available either for reading at the library or +for home-reading. In 1858 a record of issues was kept which showed +that during the first half year 5,225 volumes were circulated “to +nearly 700 persons,” and the total issue of books “for +perusal” in the reading room was 10,066 “issued to a large +number of citizens.”</p> +<p>Owing to the small amount of money available for the purchase of books +and periodicals, the citizens were invited in the second quarter of 1857 to +contribute for the supply of reviews, periodicals and newspapers, and by +July 1858 nearly £60 in subscriptions for this purpose had been +obtained.</p> +<p>Mr. A. D. Bayne, as Hon. Secretary to the Committee, virtually acted as +Librarian until his resignation in April, 1860, attending its meetings, +conducting its business, purchasing the books for the Library, etc. +The first person to take charge of the Library was Mr. Henry Turner who was +engaged pro tem. on the 31st December, 1856, to take care of the new +building, to catalogue the books, collect the subscriptions, etc., at a +salary of £1 weekly. For the first year he was regarded as an +attendant, but subsequently he was called the Librarian. Apparently +<!-- page 65--><a name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 65</span>by +reason of illness his engagement ceased at the end of 1858, and after a +short interval, during which time Mr. R. L. M. Overton and Mr. C. Hunt were +successively engaged, Mr. George Harper was appointed Librarian, the +Committee recommending his appointment to the Council on 30th June, +1859. Mr. Harper remained the Librarian until his death at the end of +1876. During his tenure of office very little progress in the +development of the Library was made, chiefly because the greater part of +the library rate was absorbed in extinguishing the building loan, and no +annual reports were issued. In a schedule in Edward Edwards’ +“Free Town Libraries,” 1869, it is stated that the aggregate +number of volumes in the Library in 1868 was 3,642, that the aggregate +annual issues were 13,480, and that the annual expenditure on the Library +was £600. As a matter of fact, the expenditure for the year +ending 1st September, 1868, was £634 : 7 : 3, of which £492 : 9 +: 11 was for the interest on, and repayment of, the loan. The product +of the penny rate was £740, and an additional £119 : 6 : 5 was +received as fees for the hire of the upper rooms and the cellars of the +Library. In the early days of the Library these rooms were hired for +many purposes, including Sunday services, temperance meetings, Cambridge +University local examinations, lectures, dinners, entertainments, etc., the +cellars were used for the storage of wines and spirits, and the Norwich +Meteorological Society had an anemometer fixed on top of the building.</p> +<p>Mr. George Easter, who succeeded Mr. Harper as Librarian in January +1877, was a native of Norwich, who had followed the craft of a wood-carver +in Cambridge, and had had no training in library work. The burden of +debt upon the Library having been considerably diminished, and the +librarian coming to his duties with enthusiasm and a disposition to seek +advice on books and library matters from those competent to give it, he was +able to effect some improvements in the administration of the Library, and +to develop it. About six months after his appointment he had prepared +for the press an author catalogue of the books in the Lending and Reference +Departments of the Library, which was ready for sale at sixpence each in +December. One thousand copies of this crown octavo catalogue of 94 +pages <!-- page 66--><a name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +66</span>were printed. In this catalogue the hours of the Lending +Department were stated to be from 11 a.m. till 3.30 p.m. on week-days.</p> +<p>The publication of an annual report was revived in 1879 when a report +covering the period December 1st, 1877 to December 31st 1878 was submitted +to the Town Council. It showed that the stock consisted of 4,400 +volumes, of which nearly 1,000 had been added during the year; and that +during the period 1,545 borrowers’ tickets had been issued, and +27,408 volumes had been issued, as compared with 15,312 vols. issued from +September 1875 to September 1876.</p> +<p>In 1879 the Librarian requested the Committee to allow him to purchase +works relating to Norwich, which eventually led to the formation of the +Local Collection, which is described on pp. 77-81.</p> +<p>The library rate was one penny in the pound from the date of the opening +of the library until 1871, but for several years afterwards it was either +about three farthings or one halfpenny. The rate was raised to three +farthings in the pound in 1880, and in the following year it was raised to +one penny in the pound, thereby providing £937 : 10 : 0 for the year, +since which time the full library rate has always been levied. Mr. F. +W. Harmer took a prominent part in securing the increase in the library +rate. He pointed out that to spend the product of a halfpenny rate on +the plea of economy was really the reverse of economical, as it just +sufficed to pay standing charges, leaving little or nothing for the +purchase of books.</p> +<p>The annual report for the year ending March 25th, 1888, is interesting +as it records that the great burden of the debt on the building had been +cleared off, and briefly reviews the work of the Library after ten +years’ service of the Librarian, as follows:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“The present Librarian was appointed in 1877, starting with a +stock of 3,500 books in the Lending Department and almost none in the +Reference Department; whereas the present stock consists of 11,500 for +Lending and 5,000 for Reference purposes, about 1,200 of the latter, with +1,650 pamphlets, pictures, &c., being of a local character and +purchased with fines imposed for detaining books beyond the time allowed +for reading.</p> +<p><!-- page 67--><a name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +67</span>“The number of borrowers in 1877 was 1,540, whereas the +number in 1887 was 3,550; the number of issues of books in the same period +increasing from 27,000 to 77,000—about 10,000 of the population of +the city over 14 years of age having taken advantage of the boon afforded +by this department.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The report draws attention to an increase in the hours of the lending +library, which hitherto had been 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., to 11 +a.m. till 9 p.m. every week-day except Thursday.</p> +<p>The establishment of a juvenile department as a means of stimulating +interest in the Library was one of the first suggestions made by Mr. Easter +after his appointment, and although the Committee did not entertain it then +he did not abandon it, and the subject was raised in the press and in +Committee in 1885. As a result the Mayor, Mr. John Gurney, who was +keenly interested in the proposal, offered to give £100 on condition +that an additional £150 was raised, but he died before the +establishment of the scheme. The Chairman of the School Board, Mr. +(afterwards Sir) George White, who was a member of the Committee, promised +to raise the matter at a School Board Meeting, but the scheme, to be +financed by public subscription, did not come to fruition until 1889. +In that year the total amount of subscriptions reached £276 : 14 : 9, +and 3,667 volumes suitable for juveniles were obtained.</p> +<p>Batches of books were forwarded to every elementary school in the City, +and the head teacher in each was made responsible for the distribution of +the books to the scholars in standards IV and upwards. The tables +published in the annual report for the year ending March 1890 show that +3,621 books were sent to 38 schools, and that the total issues for the +first seven months was 52,312. In the report for the year ending +March 1893 the Committee reported:</p> +<p>“The Juvenile Department having proved a source of labour and cost +much beyond what was anticipated, a Sub-Committee appointed to report on +the subject recommended that the School Board should be asked to contribute +to the expense of repair and renewal of books, and to urge upon their staff +increased care and vigilance in the management of the Department. +This expense the Board report they are unable legally to incur. <!-- +page 68--><a name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 68</span>Pending +this decision the distribution of the books was suspended, but the +Committee have now decided to continue the circulation for another twelve +months.”</p> +<p>The wear and tear of the juvenile books proceeded apace, and the report +for 1894-95 stated that when they were last called in “1,700 had to +be rebound or repaired, and in the four circulations about 800 volumes have +been found defective or worn out and withdrawn. The Committee +therefore decided to issue the reduced number of books, to such schools as +made application for them, under more systematic regulations.” +The juvenile books went from bad to worse, and in the report for the year +ending March 1900 it was stated that the Committee had decided to hand over +the stock to the Norwich School Board, which had recently decided to +establish and work a Juvenile Library of its own. Thus ended an +experiment which was financed unsatisfactorily, badly controlled, and of +very doubtful utility as a means of developing the work of the Library.</p> +<p>The large increase in the stock of the lending library necessitated a +new catalogue, and one (304 pp.) was printed and published in 1889, which +was followed by supplements (88 pp. and 106 pp.) in 1889 and 1895. +These catalogues were compiled on the dictionary plan, the authors’ +names and the titles and subjects of the books being arranged in one +alphabetical sequence.</p> +<p>The question of Sunday opening was discussed by the Committee in July, +1884, but the Council declined to sanction the Committee’s +recommendation to open the Reading Room. Five and a half years later +the Council revoked its decision, and the men’s and women’s +reading rooms on the first floor were opened on Sundays between the hours +of 3 and 9 p.m. In the annual report following the Sunday opening the +experiment was described as “quietly successful,” and in the +reports for the next few years the visits were estimated at 15,000 +annually—a daily average of 289. The Reading Room continued to +be open all the year round until 1913, when owing to the small attendances +during the summer months it was closed from June to September inclusive; in +that year the average attendance on the Sundays was 117. Having +regard to the small attendances and the inadequate library staff, the <!-- +page 69--><a name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 69</span>Committee +in 1915 decided that the Reading Room should be closed on Sundays during +the war.</p> +<p>The Report for the year ending March 1894 briefly reviewed the work of +the Library after forty years. By that time the stock had reached +30,124 volumes in all departments, and the annual issue from the lending +library, excluding 49,000 books issued by the teachers in 36 elementary +schools, was 86,355. The Reference Library, including the Local +Collection, contained 10,520 volumes and 5,367 pamphlets.</p> +<p>The large room on the ground floor vacated by the Museum was extended +and renovated during the year 1895-6, and was partially furnished with +book-cases and shelving in order to provide accommodation for the Reference +Library, which then comprised 8,450 volumes and 2,081 pamphlets, with 2,987 +local books and 4,327 local pamphlets.</p> +<p>In 1896 a loan of £1,300 was sanctioned by the Local Government +Board for defraying the cost of the extension of the Reference Library and +fittings, the purchase of a Cotgreave Indicator, installed in 1897, the +restoration of the exterior stonework of the building, and interior +decoration and repairs. The total expenditure amounted to +£1,740, the difference between the cost and the amount of the loan +being paid from the balance in hand.</p> +<p>During the year 1898-1899 a catalogue of the Reference Library was +prepared for printing in sections, and in the following year five were +printed. The entries in these sectional catalogues were single-line +author and subject entries, the latter being merely inverted +title-entries.</p> +<p>Mr. J. Geo. Tennant, the Sub-Librarian, who had been appointed to that +position in 1888, having previously been engaged part-time at the Library, +was promoted to the office of Librarian in 1901, following the death of Mr. +Easter. A few months later the Committee advertised the vacant office +of Sub-Librarian, candidates to have had training and experience in a +public library, and Mr. Llewellyn R. Haggerston, an assistant in the +Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Libraries, was appointed.</p> +<p>The safeguarded open-access system, by which borrowers are allowed to +choose books from the shelves, was considered <!-- page 70--><a +name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 70</span>by the Committee and +the Council in 1905, but not adopted. The system was then in its +infancy, but has since been introduced into many public libraries.</p> +<p>The provision of catalogues of the Library was considered by the +Committee in 1905-6, and it was decided to provide type-written sheaf +catalogues of authors and subjects for the Lending Department, which were +completed in 1906-7.</p> +<p>Owing to the inadequate accommodation in the Reading Room on the first +floor, the question of extending the Library building received the +attention of the Committee for a considerable period, and eventually the +City Engineer prepared plans for the extension of the building, to provide +a reading room on the ground floor. The new room cost about +£1,640 and was provided with book-cases, furniture, etc., at a cost +of £267, and was opened to the public in April, 1907. Most of +the book-cases were provided for shelving several classes of the Lending +Library books, partly because more shelving accommodation was required, but +principally to permit the public to inspect the books, “the object +being to induce a more general use of these works in place of +fiction.” A collection of directories, annuals, and reference +books was placed on open shelves in the room for ready reference.</p> +<p>In accordance with the Committee’s decision to adopt the Dewey +Decimal System of Classification, some attempt was made to classify the +books according to this system.</p> +<p>An experiment which aimed at fostering the use of the Library by school +children was made during the winter of 1907-8. “By arrangement +with the Education Committee a selection of books likely to meet the tastes +of elementary school children was made by several of the teachers. +These books were placed on Saturday mornings in one of the rooms on the top +floor where tables and chairs were provided. One or more teachers +attended in rotation to superintend the young readers . . . It has to be +confessed, however, that the attendance, once the novelty had worn off, was +not sufficient to justify the expenditure of time and trouble which was +necessarily involved.” <a name="citation70"></a><a href="#footnote70" +class="citation">[70]</a></p> +<p>Owing to ill-health Mr. Tennant, who had served the Library faithfully +for about 21 years, was compelled to vacate the <!-- page 71--><a +name="page71"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 71</span>office of Librarian in +1909, and light occupation was found for him in the capacity of +Superintendent of the Reading Room, which post he filled until his death in +August, 1911. He was succeeded as Librarian by the Sub-Librarian, Mr. +Haggerston, who resigned his appointment on 1st March, 1911. +Following Mr. Haggerston’s resignation, the Committee advertised for +a trained librarian, and from 110 candidates the author of this History, +who was the Chief Assistant Librarian of the St. Pancras Public Libraries, +and who received his earlier training at the Bishopsgate Institute, was +appointed in May, 1911.</p> +<p>The administration of the Library for many years had, in the words of +the Report for 1909-10 “proceeded steadily on the old lines,” +and when the present Librarian took office his first duty was to present a +comprehensive report to the Committee on the condition of the Library, and +to make suggestions for its re-organisation on up-to-date methods of +library administration. The Report was approved in principle, and +since that date the work of re-organisation has proceeded as rapidly as the +conditions have allowed.</p> +<p>The work of re-organisation may be briefly described. The rules +and regulations for the conduct and management of all departments of the +Library were revised with the view of affording additional facilities to +the public. Structural alterations were made for the better lighting +and arrangement of the Lending Library, and improvements were made in the +electric lighting of the several departments.</p> +<p>The condition of the Lending Library was especially serious. The +Library had been in existence for over half a century, and the stock of +books had never been subjected to a thorough overhauling, so that there +were accumulations of old, useless and worn-out books, while numerous +standard works on various branches of knowledge were not in the +Library. The work of re-organisation was done systematically, class +by class. First the useless books were discarded, and new standard +and popular books were added. The class was then closely classified +according to the Dewey System of Classification, and catalogued. As +complaints regarding the lack of a printed catalogue had been made +continuously for several years, it was decided, as an immediate advantage +to the public, to publish at the price of <!-- page 72--><a +name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 72</span>one penny, a bi-monthly +magazine entitled “The Readers’ Guide,” which would +contain the whole or a portion of an annotated and classified catalogue of +the books in one of the sections immediately after its revision, and also +an annotated list of new books added to the Library. The Fiction +Catalogue was published in the first number, which was issued on 1st +November, 1911, and the series of classified catalogues containing +altogether the titles of over 17,000 volumes was completed in the issue for +May, 1915, since which date the “Readers’ Guide” has +contained special bibliographies of local subjects and topics of current +interest, in addition to the usual list of recent books. The special +bibliographies have included the subjects of the University Extension +lectures each year, George Borrow, Lord Nelson, Agincourt and Erpingham, +Norfolk Artists, the European War, Shakespeare, Child Welfare, and Thomas +Gray. For the use of borrowers two card catalogues have been +installed in the Lending Library, the one being a complete author +catalogue, and the other a complete classified catalogue, with numerous +subject guide cards to facilitate reference.</p> +<p>A stock of books specially suitable for juvenile readers was obtained in +1911 to form a Juvenile Department of the Lending Library, in order that +the young people should acquire a facility in the use of a large library +which would be of value to them after leaving school. A classified +catalogue of the books in this Department was prepared by the Sub-Librarian +under the supervision of the City Librarian, and was published in +September, 1914, and an enlarged edition was published in September, +1916.</p> +<p>During the period 1911-1916 there were several changes in the personnel +of the staff. The great pressure of the re-organising work and the +need for a trained assistant on the staff led the Committee to advertise +for a Sub-Librarian in 1913, and in November Mr. Charles Nowell, Chief +Assistant of the Coventry Public Libraries, and the holder of four +certificates of the Library Association, was appointed to the +position. With the view of increasing the efficiency of the staff the +Committee, in common with many other Public Library Committees, has made +the appointments of junior assistants conditional on <!-- page 73--><a +name="page73"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 73</span>their obtaining the +professional certificates of the Library Association.</p> +<p>The title of the Library was altered in July, 1911, by the Council from +“Free Library” to its statutory title “Public +Library.”</p> +<p>The large oval room on the second floor, which in the early days of the +Library had been used as an art room, was converted into an exhibition and +lecture room in 1912.</p> +<p>The Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Survey Record was inaugurated in +1913, particulars of which are given on pp. 81-82.</p> +<p>The Library has fulfilled special national functions during the present +European War. Several thousand leaflets issued by the Central +Committee for National Patriotic Organisations were distributed at the +Library. The Committee realising the importance to the public of +studying the deeper causes of the war, and other important matters +involved, appointed a Sub-Committee to deal with the problem of war +literature. A large and representative selection, dealing with the +subject from every point of view, was made from the several thousand books +published. The books thus purchased made the collection of war books +a thoroughly representative one, and an annotated and classified catalogue +of the books was printed in the “Readers’ Guide.” +The Library has also been at the service of soldiers billeted in Norwich +both for borrowing and for reference, and a large number of soldiers have +availed themselves of its facilities for recreative reading and +study. To assist the Camps Library, which provides libraries for all +the camps of the British armies at home and abroad, the Committee sent many +of its worn-out books, collected for it hundreds of books and magazines +from readers frequenting the Library, and sent a donation of £12 : 15 +: 0, referred to on page 85.</p> +<p>Three members of the staff enlisted in H.M. Forces in 1915, with the +promise of their positions being retained. The Sub-Librarian, 2nd +Lieut. Chas. Nowell (22nd London Regiment) was wounded in France in +September, 1916, but he was able to return to his military duties in +December; Mr. F. T. Bussey, the Senior Assistant in the Lending Department +is serving in France with the Norfolk Division of the Royal Engineers; and +Mr. A. R. Nobbs, a Junior Assistant, is a Sick Berth Attendant in the Royal +Navy.</p> +<h3><!-- page 74--><a name="page74"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +74</span>CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEE.</h3> +<p>During the earliest years of the Library Committee, the Chairmen and +Vice-Chairmen were not regularly appointed annually. The following is +a list of the definite appointments:—</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td> +<p><span class="smcap">Date</span>.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p><span class="smcap">Vice-Chairman</span>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1850-1856</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Various.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1857</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>J. Godwin Johnson.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>J. H. Tillett.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1858-1860</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Various.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1861</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>George Middleton (who was generally in the Chair during 1860).</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1862</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Various.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1863-1868</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor J. W. Dowson.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1869-1870</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor Carlos Cooper.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1871-1877</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor Thomas Jarrold.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1878-1885</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor James Freeman.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1886-1887</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>The Mayor, John Gurney, Esq., of Sprowston.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Alderman James Freeman.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1887-1890</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor (afterwards Alderman) James Freeman.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1891-1892</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Alderman Samuel Newman.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Alderman George White.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1893-1907</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor T. Breese.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1893-1902 Alderman George White.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>1903-1907 Councillor H. J. Copeman.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>1908-1917</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Councillor (afterwards Alderman) H. J. Copeman.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>Alderman R. G. Bagshaw.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h3>DONATIONS.</h3> +<p>Although the Public Library Act of 1855 amended the first act, and made +provision for the purchase of books, a power denied under the first act, +the Library was so deeply involved in debt at its commencement that appeals +had to be made for donations of books and money for the purchase of books, +newspapers, and periodicals. As previously stated, <!-- page 75--><a +name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 75</span>the Committee’s +first annual report presented to the Council on 31st August, 1858, showed +that donations in cash, with interest, had amounted to £357 : 7 : +1. The same report gave a list of the donors of 2,468 +volumes—about two-thirds of the entire stock—of which 833 were +from the People’s College, and 1,000 were transferred from the Penny +Library.</p> +<p>The donations to the Library during its history have been many and +varied—good, bad, and indifferent—such as are usually offered +to public libraries. Notice may be made of some of the outstanding +gifts. The British Association in 1868, the year of its visit to +Norwich, made a grant of £50 to the Library for the purchase of +books, perhaps at the suggestion of the Rev. (afterwards Canon) Hinds +Howell, who was the Organising Secretary for the visit. At any rate, +at the meeting of the Library Committee on 4th November, 1868, he attended +to explain “that the grant would be expended in the purchase of +books, which embraced thirty-five different scientific subjects, or such of +them as the Committee might think best adapted to the wants of, and most +beneficial to, the classes using the Library,” and he received the +thanks of the Committee for representing the wants of the Library to the +Association. The Committee complied with the request that a bookcase +should be provided for the books, bearing a suitable inscription.</p> +<p>A large number of patent specifications were presented by H.M. Patent +Office about the year 1865, and in 1889 the Office acceded to the +Committee’s request for Abridgments of Specifications, since which +time they have been presented as issued.</p> +<p>Having regard to the slender financial resources of the Library the +Mayor (Mr. H. Bullard) in 1879 suggested a public subscription, and headed +the list with £10. This was followed by donations of £10 +from Mr. J. J. Colman, (who also gave £25 in 1887), and Mr. Henry +Birkbeck, and by smaller sums from other people, amounting altogether to +£91 : 2 : 0.</p> +<p>A successful application was made to H.M. Treasury in 1886, for a +donation of official publications, and some 260 volumes of Calendars of +State Papers, Chronicles, Records, etc. were received, followed in 1901 by +a further donation of 193 volumes. In 1900 the Library received from +the same source <!-- page 76--><a name="page76"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 76</span>twenty-five Memoirs of the Geological Survey +relating to the Eastern Counties.</p> +<p>In 1890 the late Alderman James Freeman, who was Chairman of the Public +Library Committee for several years, bequeathed £20 for some special +purpose in connection with the Library, which enabled the Committee to +commence a Shakespeare Collection, now comprising over 600 books and +pamphlets.</p> +<p>Mr. Russell J. Colman, J.P., D.L., made a handsome donation to the +Reference Library in 1900, when he presented a set of Parliamentary Debates +in 511 volumes, in half calf, comprising Cobbett’s +“Parliamentary History,” continued by Hansard, 1066-1803, +Hansard’s “Parliamentary Debates,” 1803-1890, and the +“Official Parliamentary Debates” to 1897. Since that date +the following members of Parliament for Norwich have partly kept the set up +to date: Mr. Louis J. Tillett, Sir George White, Sir Frederick Low and +Lieut. E. Hilton Young.</p> +<p>The firm of Messrs. J. and J. Colman, Ltd., of Norwich, presented 3,500 +Parliamentary Papers, Blue Books, etc. in 1900 which Mr. J. J. Colman had +accumulated.</p> +<p>Mr. T. R. Kemp, K.C., Recorder of Norwich, 1892-1905, who had made a +study of the Letters of Junius, bequeathed his collection of various +editions of the Letters and works relating to them, numbering altogether +128 volumes.</p> +<p>Mr. Henry F. Euren, a member of the Library Committee since 1880, gave +160 volumes on agriculture and other subjects in 1907, before and after +which date he made other donations.</p> +<p>The Reference Library was largely increased in 1914 by a bequest of Mr. +Bosworth W. Harcourt, an esteemed co-opted member of the Committee who had +taken an active interest in the Library for over 27 years. The +bequest, comprising about 2,250 books and pamphlets, was made on condition +that such books and pamphlets should be known as the “Bosworth +Harcourt Bequest” and that the same should not be placed in +circulation, but only read or consulted in the Library. Miss C. M. +Nichols, R.E., S.M., N.B.A., designed a suitable book-plate for the books, +and a book-case, surmounted by the testator’s name was +provided. Mr. Harcourt’s library naturally reflected his +tastes: works of and about the chief poets and dramatists, well-illustrated +volumes, and books on the <!-- page 77--><a name="page77"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 77</span>graphic arts preponderate, and there are many +volumes dealing with the history and antiquities of Norfolk and +Norwich.</p> +<p>The munificent bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, by which the +Library will receive £500 for the advancement of local +archæology, is mentioned in more detail on page 79.</p> +<p>The chief benefactor to the Library is Mr. Walter Rye, who has been a +member of the Committee since 1904. In addition to his many and +valuable gifts to the Local Collection, which are described on pages 78-79, +he has given a large number of reference books, chiefly relating to +heraldry and history, but also including a collection of books and tracts +on the Civil War, and a number of calendars of patent rolls, and other +official publications.</p> +<h3>LOCAL COLLECTION.</h3> +<p>The collection of literature relating to Norfolk and Norwich was first +mooted on January 15th, 1879, when the Committee resolved that works of +interest connected with Norwich should be purchased. This decision +was doubtless the result of a recommendation from the Librarian, Mr. George +Easter, as Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., then Curator of the Castle Museum, had +suggested to him the wisdom of forming a Local Collection. In April +of the following year the Librarian reported to the Committee that he had +received during the year £10 for fines, and he requested that he +might retain the amount for the purpose of forming a Local Reference +Library. The Committee sanctioned his request, and from that time to +the present the fines imposed for the detention of lending library books +beyond the time allowed for reading have been exclusively devoted to the +Local Collection. Mr. Councillor Stanley, a member of the Committee, +by way of a commencement, gave “the books containing a complete list +of the city and county charities,” and the annual report for 1880 +stated that “A collection of Books of local interest is proceeding +very satisfactorily.” The collection had grown in ten years to +1,603 volumes and 1,933 pamphlets. In the annual report for 1893-94 +it was stated that the receipts for fines from 1880 to that date had been +£620, and that the collection numbered 2,646 volumes, 3,462 <!-- page +78--><a name="page78"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 78</span>pamphlets, and +numerous engravings, maps, portraits, etc. Mr. Easter was mainly +responsible for the selection of the books for the Local Collection, and +owing to his great enthusiasm in its development the collection comprised +at his death in December, 1900, nearly 4,000 volumes and about 5,100 +pamphlets.</p> +<p>Mr. Walter Rye joined the Committee as a co-opted member in the latter +part of 1904, and within a few months the Committee had accepted his +voluntary services as a Norfolk antiquary, to compile a card catalogue of +the local books and pamphlets. This catalogue he has kept up to +date. The collection soon engaged his special attention, and from the +time of his joining the Committee until the present year he has been +zealous in its development, giving each year donations from his private +collection, and working in its interest in various ways. In 1908 he +published at his own expense the following catalogues which he had +compiled: “Catalogue of the Topographical and Antiquarian portions of +the Free Library at Norwich” (81 pp.), “Calendar of the +Documents relating to the Corporation of Norwich, preserved in the Free +Library there” (22 pp.), “Catalogue of the Portraits referring +to Norfolk and Norwich Men . . . preserved in the Free Library at +Norwich” (33 pp.), and “Short List of Works relating to the +Biographies of Norfolk Men and Women, preserved in the Free Library at +Norwich” (34 pp.).</p> +<p>Mr. Rye’s donations have been both numerous and valuable. In +1905-06 he presented his collection of prints, comprising about 700 +portraits and nearly 7,000 views, which included the well-known Smith +Collection. During the years 1911-16 his donations became more +extensive, and were crowned by his promise made to the Committee in 1916 +that he would bequeath his valuable Norfolk manuscripts and the remainder +of his printed books, of which copies were not in the Library. Some +of the more important manuscripts which he has given to the Library are the +following: Friar Brackley’s Armorial Manuscript, circa 1460—a +paper volume of 142 pages, with 75 coloured drawings of arms of the Pastens +and Mautbys and their matches, being the oldest Norfolk Armorial manuscript +known; Collection of original manuscripts relating to the <!-- page 79--><a +name="page79"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 79</span>Carpenters’ +Company of Norwich, 1594; Rev. F. Blomefield’s Original Entry Book +for his “History of Norfolk,” 1733-6; Norfolk Pedigrees, +compiled by Peter Le Neve—a volume (86 pp.) of Norfolk pedigrees, +with the arms in colours, and an index of names. For these and other +gifts the Committee provided an oak exhibition case in the Reading Room in +February, 1912. In May 1916 the Council placed on record its +appreciation of, and grateful thanks for, Mr. Walter Rye’s +munificence to the Library.</p> +<p>At the close of 1911 the Committee, having a considerable balance in +hand, resolved to bid for a number of items at the auction sales of Dr. +Augustus Jessopp’s Library and the Townshend Heirlooms. At +these sales many interesting and valuable documents relating to the history +of Norfolk and Norwich were purchased for about £92, including +fifteen of Dr. Jessopp’s note-books and an “Address from the +Gentry of Norfolk and Norwich to General Monck” in 1660, bearing the +signatures of about 800 persons. The latter manuscript was published +in facsimile by Messrs. Jarrold and Sons in 1913, the volume also including +an introduction by Mr. Hamon Le Strange, F.S.A., biographical notes and +index by Mr. Walter Rye, a catalogue of the collection of books in the +Library on the Civil War period by the City Librarian, and several +portraits.</p> +<p>The Committee received in 1915 an intimation of a munificent bequest of +£500 by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, of King’s Lynn, +for the advancement of local archæology, etc., on condition that the +name of Hillen should be permanently associated with the use of the +money. The Norwich Castle Museum also received a similar +bequest. Mrs. Hillen was the widow of Mr. Henry James Hillen, a +native of King’s Lynn, who died in 1910. After retiring from +the profession of schoolmaster he devoted much of his time to historical +and archæological research, and subsequently published the fruits of +part of his work in local newspapers, several brochures, and his monumental +“History of the Borough of King’s Lynn,” 2 vols., +1907. Mr. Hillen made considerable use of the Local Collection, and +his wife’s bequest was no doubt partly in recognition of the services +it had rendered.</p> +<p><!-- page 80--><a name="page80"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +80</span>For many years the Committee has tried to make the collection as +complete as possible, its wise object being to collect everything local: it +has endeavoured to obtain all books, pamphlets, prints, plans and maps, and +important manuscripts relating to Norfolk and Norwich, all books and +pamphlets printed locally until about 1850, all books and pamphlets by +authors associated with the county either by birth or residence, portraits +and biographical publications relating to Norfolk people, local newspapers, +election literature, early theatre bills, broadsides, book-plates, reports +and proceedings of local authorities and societies, etc.</p> +<p>When the present Librarian commenced his duties in 1911 the collection, +as recorded in the stock-book of the Library, comprised 5,129 volumes and +6,362 pamphlets, since which time by purchase, spontaneous donations, and +systematic application for local publications the collection has increased +to 6,364 volumes and 8,126 pamphlets. In addition there are about +7,900 topographical prints and photographs, 950 portraits, and 380 maps, +exclusive of the Photographic Survey Collection.</p> +<p>The collection contains extremely valuable files of local newspapers, +including a rare volume of “Crossgrove’s News or the Norwich +Gazette” for the years 1728-32, the “Norwich Gazette” +1761-64, a long file of its successor the “Norfolk Chronicle” +from 1772 with a few gaps to date, the “Norwich Mercury” +1756-60, 1771-80, and from 1802 to date, and “The Eastern Daily +Press” from 1875 to date. Recent features introduced in the +Local Collection are files of obituary notices of Norfolk people, extracted +from various papers and mounted on large cards, and cuttings from +newspapers and periodicals of items of local interest, which are mounted on +uniform sheets, classified, and filed for reference.</p> +<p>Donations to the Local Collection have been far too numerous even to +allow mention of the names of all the chief donors, but the interest of Mr. +James Reeve, F.G.S., the Consulting Curator of the Castle Museum, should +not pass unnoticed. He has given in recent years several scarce books +and prints, including a copy of his rare monograph on “John Sell +Cotman,” and a volume of etchings by the Rev. E. T. Daniell.</p> +<p>In order to provide a handy guide to the extensive literature <!-- page +81--><a name="page81"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 81</span>relating to +Norwich, the present writer prepared an annotated and classified catalogue +of the books, pamphlets, articles and maps in the Local Collection dealing +with the City under its most important aspects. The catalogue, +entitled “Guide to the Study of Norwich” was published in 1914, +and the Norfolk and Norwich Archæological Society marked its +appreciation of it by purchasing 360 copies. In 1915 a series of +special annotated catalogues of literature in the Library relating to +Norfolk Celebrities was commenced in the “Readers’ +Guide.” The first was devoted to the collection of literature +relating to Lord Nelson (comprising 218 books, 39 pamphlets, 81 articles, +and 31 prints), and the second to Norfolk Artists. Both catalogues +were reprinted as pamphlets for sale at sixpence each.</p> +<p>He also prepared a scheme of classification for the entire collection, +and began classifying and cataloguing the contents in 1915, but the work +has been suspended owing to the absence of his trained assistants on +service. However, about 3,000 books and pamphlets have been +classified and catalogued in accordance with modern bibliographical +practice, and it is hoped that in due course a complete catalogue will be +prepared and printed, which will not only serve as a key to unlock this +vast store of local information, but will also form an extensive +bibliography of Norfolk and Norwich.</p> +<h3>NORFOLK AND NORWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY.</h3> +<p>A valuable adjunct to the Local Collection is the Norfolk and Norwich +Photographic Survey Record which was inaugurated in January, 1913. +Shortly after the disastrous flood in Norfolk and Norwich during August, +1912, the Committee favourably considered a report from the City Librarian +on the collection of photographs of everything interesting, valuable and +characteristic of Norfolk and Norwich. A conference was convened +between a Sub-Committee of the Public Library Committee and representatives +of the local learned and scientific societies on 13th January, 1913, and +ultimately a comprehensive scheme was adopted. It is carried out by +the Public Library in collaboration with the Norwich and District +Photographic Society and other local scientific societies, with the +following <!-- page 82--><a name="page82"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +82</span>object: “To preserve by permanent photographic process, +records of antiquities, art, architecture, geology and palæontology, +natural history, passing events of local or historical importance, +portraits, old documents, prints, and characteristic scenery of the county +of Norfolk.” The photographs contributed to the Survey become +the property of the Public Library, under the care of the City Librarian, +who is the Secretary and Curator of the Survey. The Public Library +has undertaken the responsibility of the mounting, storage and cataloguing +of the photographs. The Collection is increased by donations of +prints, and the purchase of prints from money specially subscribed for the +purpose.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/82b.jpg"> +<img alt="Exhibition and Lecture Room" src="images/82s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>With the view of stimulating public interest in the Photographic Survey, +and of acquainting persons with the scope and methods of photographic +survey work, Mr. L. Stanley Jast, who was then the Chief Librarian of the +Croydon Public Libraries, and the Hon. Curator of the Surrey Photographic +Survey, delivered a public lecture with lantern illustrations to a large +audience at Blackfriars’ Hall on 24th January, 1913. The first +exhibition of photographs illustrative of the work of the survey was +arranged by the City Librarian, and was held in the new Exhibition Room at +the Library during December, 1913. An illustration of the room, from +a photograph taken during the exhibition, faces this page. The +opening ceremony was performed by Mr. Russell J. Colman, D.L., J.P., the +President of the Survey, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Norwich +(Mr. James Porter) who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriff +(Mr. C. T. Coller). The collection of photographs, which commenced in +May, 1913, increased at a rapid rate, and although the work of the Survey +has been practically at a standstill since the beginning of the war, the +collection numbers 1,847 mounted prints and 59 lantern slides. The +technique of the photographs reaches a very high standard, the majority of +them are platinotypes, and many are of whole-plate size. The +collection will undoubtedly be of service to antiquaries, historians, +architects, geologists, naturalists, photographers, artists, and all lovers +of the beautiful in nature and art, and it will also be of inestimable +value to posterity.</p> +<h3><!-- page 83--><a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +83</span>LECTURES, READING-CIRCLES, AND EXHIBITIONS.</h3> +<p>For a long period lectures have been regarded as an important part of +the educational or “extension” work of organised public +libraries throughout the country, but in the case of Norwich lectures were +instituted as a means of promoting the extension of the Library +itself. As soon as the first stone of the building was laid the +Committee in January, 1855, authorised the Secretary to make arrangements +for a course of lectures at the Bazaar, St. Andrew’s Street, in order +to promote the objects of the Library, and by the April meeting lectures +had been given by the Rev. A. B. Power (twice), the Rev. A. Reed, the Rev. +J. Compton, the Rev. J. Gould, Mr. J. Fox (twice), Mr. J. H. Tillett, and +Professor Edward Taylor, of Gresham College. Charges were made for +admission, in aid of the funds of the library, and the net proceeds +amounted to about £10, the attendances having been “better than +usual at lectures in Norwich.”</p> +<p>In October, 1861, a sub-committee was formed to arrange weekly penny +readings, interspersed with lectures, in the large room at the Library on +Thursday evenings, and in April of the following year the Secretary +reported a net balance in hand of £9 : 6 : 0, which sum was spent on +books for the Library. In September, 1863, the Committee evidently +intended to continue the penny readings, as it was resolved that Mr. +Dowson, a member of the Committee, should have full liberty to make +arrangements for conducting the penny readings during the following winter +session.</p> +<p>A course of popular lectures in connection with the Library by +distinguished scientists was inaugurated by Mr. F. W. Harmer, J.P., F.G.S., +F.R.Met.Soc., in the year of his mayoralty, 1888. (Parenthetically it +may be remarked that he has the distinction of being the oldest member of +the Public Library Committee, he having served on it continuously since +1880.) Hoping to place the scheme on a permanent basis, Mr. Harmer +suggested the appointment of a Committee of the Corporation to carry out +arrangements for a yearly series of similar lectures on science by +distinguished men, under the provisions of the Gilchrist Trust, and the +matter <!-- page 84--><a name="page84"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +84</span>was referred to the Library Committee. The first of these +series, delivered early in 1889 by Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Lant Carpenter, Dr. +Andrew Wilson, Professor Miall, Professor Seeley, and the Rev. Dr. +Dallinger, were “crowned with complete success.” Under +the management of the Committee another course was delivered during the +following winter, when the lecturers were Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew +Wilson, Mr. Louis Fagan, and Mr. Henry Seebohm, and two lectures were given +during the winter of 1890-91, by Sir Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew Wilson +respectively. Unfortunately, for reasons of economy, these were +supplemented by a series by local gentlemen (which were given in +Blackfriars’ Hall), but the result was the reverse of successful, and +led eventually to the abandonment of the original scheme. Lectures by +Sir Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew Wilson, with others by local gentlemen were +given, however, in the winter of 1892-93, and in the following winter by +Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew Wilson, and Dr. Drinkwater. No lectures +were given in the winter of 1893-94 as the University Extension Lectures +then inaugurated were regarded as sufficient, but these appealed to a +different class, and never took the place of the others.</p> +<p>In that year the Committee-room was in frequent use by three public +circles of the Norwich Branch of the National Home Reading Union, and by +the Norwich Students’ Association, which again used the room in +1894-95. The National Home Reading Union continued to use the room +for several years.</p> +<p>Lectures organised by the Committee were again revived in 1916 on the +occasion of the Tercentenary of the death of Shakespeare, when the +following lectures were delivered at the Technical Institute, the lecture +room at the Library being too small for the purpose: “Shakespeare as +National Hero,” by Sir Sidney Lee, D.Litt., F.B.A.; +“Shakespeare and the English Ideal,” <a +name="citation84"></a><a href="#footnote84" class="citation">[84]</a> by +the Dean of Norwich (The Very Rev. H. C. Beeching, D.D., D.Litt.); +“Shakespeare and Music,” by Mr. A. Batchelor, M.A.; +“Dramatic Companies in Norwich of Shakespeare’s Time,” by +Mr. L. G. Bolingbroke; and “The Plant Lore of Shakespeare,” +<!-- page 85--><a name="page85"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 85</span>by +Mr. Edward Peake. For the first two lectures one shilling was charged +for admission, and the net proceeds were sent to the Jenny Lind Hospital in +Norwich (£7 : 12 : 6) and the Camps Library (£8 : 5 : 6). +The remaining lectures were free, but collections were taken on behalf of +the Camps Library, and £3 : 19 : 6 was received.</p> +<p>The Shakespeare Tercentenary was also commemorated by an exhibition in +the Reading Room, consisting of books, prints and other material +illustrative of the life and works of Shakespeare. The prints were +arranged in groups as follows: Portraits, Shakespeare’s country, +Contemporaries, Actors, Costume, Music, Pictorial illustrations of +Shakespeare, Elizabethan London, and Shakespeare Memorials.</p> +<p>In connection with the Gray bicentenary, which took place on December +26th, 1916, the Dean of Norwich, who is a member of the Public Library +Committee, delivered a lecture on Thomas Gray at the Technical Institute on +December 15th, when the Deputy Mayor, Alderman H. J. Copeman, J.P. +(Chairman of the Public Library Committee), presided. A small +exhibition of prints, and works by and about Gray was arranged in the +Reading Room.</p> +<p>It is hoped that in future lectures on literary subjects or connected +with classes of books in the Library may be arranged from time to time.</p> +<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> +<p>In the annual reports various statistics have been given of the visits +to the News and Reading Rooms, and the number of books issued from the +Lending and Reference Libraries, but as there was no uniform system of +compilation, and the methods employed were not stated, an accurate +statistical comparison between the past and present work of the Library is +impossible. Suffice it to say that at no time of its history has it +been so well equipped in all directions, and at no time has it stood higher +in public esteem than it does at present. The old City Library +possesses treasures befitting an old English “City of +Churches,” and the present Public Library fulfils the general +purposes of a modern rate-supported <!-- page 86--><a +name="page86"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 86</span>Library. The +Lending Library consists of about 18,000 volumes in all departments of +knowledge, from which some 6,000 adults and juveniles borrow about 110,000 +volumes annually. The Reading Room and News Room contain a careful +selection of the leading newspapers, and a large variety of the best +periodicals. The Reference Library contains about 24,000 volumes, +including sets of the publications of several learned societies, and is +being brought up to date by the purchase of recent standard works of +reference. The Local Collection, which for completeness probably +equals that of any other county, has a rich store of material, valuable not +only to the antiquary, but to all those who desire to know something of the +literature and art of the county, or its natural and geological history, or +the part played by Norfolk and Norwich in the general history of +England. Further, the Library, being encyclopædic in character, +may be regarded as a bureau of information, and as such it is playing an +important part in the educational, industrial and social life of the +City.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Printed by Jarrold & Sons</i>, +<i>Ltd.</i>, <i>Norwich</i>, <i>England</i>.</p> +<h2>Footnotes:</h2> +<p><a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1" +class="footnote">[1]</a> A. Jessopp’s Norwich (Diocesan +histories), 1884, p. 155.</p> +<p><a name="footnote2a"></a><a href="#citation2a" +class="footnote">[2a]</a> Leland’s “Laboryouse Journey +and Serche of Johan Leylande for Englandes Antiquitees,” enlarged by +John Bale. 1549.</p> +<p><a name="footnote2b"></a><a href="#citation2b" +class="footnote">[2b]</a> London apparently is entitled to claim the +distinction of having established the earliest British library under +municipal control. In an article in the “Library Association +Record,” vol. 10, 1908, the late Mr. E. M. Borrajo, formerly +Librarian to the Corporation of the City of London, wrote: “The +citizens of London may fairly claim to be the parent, in a sense, not only +of the National Library, but of every public library in the +country.” He also stated: “The earliest association of a +library with the Guildhall dates from some period anterior to the year +1425, when it is recorded that the executors of Richard Whittington and +William Bury built the ‘new house or library, with the chamber +under,’ the custody of which was entrusted to them by the +Corporation.” About the year 1549 the Lord Protector Somerset +carried off three cart loads of books from the Library, and the following +year saw its final disappearance. This library was a collegiate +library and probably opened its doors to non-collegiate students, who were +properly accredited. In the will of John Carpenter, proved in 1442, +this library is referred to as the “common library at +Guildhall.”</p> +<p><a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3" +class="footnote">[3]</a> “The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar by +Robert Ricart Towm Clerk of Bristol, 18 Edward IV.” (Camden +Society), 1872, p. v.</p> +<p><a name="footnote4a"></a><a href="#citation4a" +class="footnote">[4a]</a> J. Kirkpatrick’s “History of +the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich . . . written about the year +1725.” 1845, p. 80.</p> +<p><a name="footnote4b"></a><a href="#citation4b" +class="footnote">[4b]</a> <i>ib.</i></p> +<p><a name="footnote5a"></a><a href="#citation5a" +class="footnote">[5a]</a> “Records of the City of +Norwich,” vol. 2, 1910, p. clxv.</p> +<p><a name="footnote5b"></a><a href="#citation5b" +class="footnote">[5b]</a> F. Blomefield’s +“Norfolk,” vol. 4, 1806, p. 262.</p> +<p><a name="footnote8"></a><a href="#citation8" +class="footnote">[8]</a> Depositions . . . Extracts from the Court +Books of the City of Norwich, 1666-1688, ed. by Walter Rye, 1905, p. +130.</p> +<p><a name="footnote11"></a><a href="#citation11" +class="footnote">[11]</a> “A New Catalogue of the Books in the +Publick Library of the City of Norwich, in the year 1732,” pp. +iii-iv.</p> +<p><a name="footnote13a"></a><a href="#citation13a" +class="footnote">[13a]</a> Typewritten copy in the Norwich Public +Library (vol. 2 p. 217) of the manuscript of Mackerell’s +“History of Norwich,” in the possession of J. H. Gurney, Esq., +J.P., F.Z.S., of Keswick Hall, Norwich.</p> +<p><a name="footnote13b"></a><a href="#citation13b" +class="footnote">[13b]</a> Assembly Book, Sept. 21st, 1801.</p> +<p><a name="footnote13c"></a><a href="#citation13c" +class="footnote">[13c]</a> Assembly Book, May 3rd, 1805.</p> +<p><a name="footnote14"></a><a href="#citation14" +class="footnote">[14]</a> “Catalogue of the Books belonging to +the Public Library and to the City Library of Norwich,” 1825, p. +xxvi.</p> +<p><a name="footnote15a"></a><a href="#citation15a" +class="footnote">[15a]</a> “Second Catalogue of the Library of +the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution,” 1825, p. I.</p> +<p><a name="footnote15b"></a><a href="#citation15b" +class="footnote">[15b]</a> <i>Norfolk Chronicle</i>, July 12th, 1856, +p. 2.</p> +<p><a name="footnote15c"></a><a href="#citation15c" +class="footnote">[15c]</a> <i>ib</i>.</p> +<p><a name="footnote15d"></a><a href="#citation15d" +class="footnote">[15d]</a> <i>Norfolk Chronicle</i> and <i>Norwich +Mercury</i>, Nov. 22nd, 1856.</p> +<p><a name="footnote17"></a><a href="#citation17" +class="footnote">[17]</a> <i>Norwich Mercury</i>, March 21st, 1868, +p. 3.</p> +<p><a name="footnote20a"></a><a href="#citation20a" +class="footnote">[20a]</a> F. Blomefield’s +“Norfolk,” vol. 3, 1806, p. 366.</p> +<p><a name="footnote20b"></a><a href="#citation20b" +class="footnote">[20b]</a> “Norfolk and Norwich Notes and +Queries,” First Series, 1896-99, p. 193.</p> +<p><a name="footnote22"></a><a href="#citation22" +class="footnote">[22]</a> F. Blomefield’s +“Norfolk,” vol. 3, 1806, p. 414.</p> +<p><a name="footnote24"></a><a href="#citation24" +class="footnote">[24]</a> “Dictionary of National +Biography,” vol. 33, 1893, p. 37.</p> +<p><a name="footnote25a"></a><a href="#citation25a" +class="footnote">[25a]</a> “Letters written by eminent persons +in the 17th and 18th centuries,” vol. 2, 1813, p. 104.</p> +<p><a name="footnote25b"></a><a href="#citation25b" +class="footnote">[25b]</a> Mayoralty Court, 9th Jan., 1677/8.</p> +<p><a name="footnote25c"></a><a href="#citation25c" +class="footnote">[25c]</a> Kirkpatrick’s “History of the +Religious Orders . . . of Norwich, written about the year 1725,” +1845, p. 81.</p> +<p><a name="footnote35"></a><a href="#citation35" +class="footnote">[35]</a> It is interesting to note that in the +critical part of this work Raleigh was assisted by the Rev. Robert Burhill, +rector of Northwold, Norfolk, 1622-41.</p> +<p><a name="footnote38"></a><a href="#citation38" +class="footnote">[38]</a> In the “Calendar of State Papers, +Domestic Series, Charles I., 1628-29,” p. 188, it is stated that he +translated the English Liturgy into French.</p> +<p><a name="footnote40"></a><a href="#citation40" +class="footnote">[40]</a> This is undoubtedly the shelf-mark of the +Norwich Public Library.</p> +<p><a name="footnote43"></a><a href="#citation43" +class="footnote">[43]</a> John Dury’s “The Reformed +Librarie-Keeper” (Chicago), 1906, p. 45.</p> +<p><a name="footnote47"></a><a href="#citation47" +class="footnote">[47]</a> The Library contains one copy, the Bodleian +Library has two copies, and there is one in the Norfolk and Norwich +Library.</p> +<p><a name="footnote50a"></a><a href="#citation50a" +class="footnote">[50a]</a> “Catalogus Librorum in Bibliotheca +Norvicensi,” 1883.</p> +<p><a name="footnote50b"></a><a href="#citation50b" +class="footnote">[50b]</a> Henry Harrod’s “Castles and +Convents of Norfolk,” 1857, p. 82.</p> +<p><a name="footnote51"></a><a href="#citation51" +class="footnote">[51]</a> Kirkpatnck’s “History of the +Religious Orders . . . of Norwich, written about the year 1725,” +1845, p. 57.</p> +<p><a name="footnote53a"></a><a href="#citation53a" +class="footnote">[53a]</a> Probably purchased with her donation of +£20.</p> +<p><a name="footnote53b"></a><a href="#citation53b" +class="footnote">[53b]</a> Probably purchased with his donation of +£5.</p> +<p><a name="footnote53c"></a><a href="#citation53c" +class="footnote">[53c]</a> This entry is not in the Vellum Book, but +is in the Minute Book.</p> +<p><a name="footnote53d"></a><a href="#citation53d" +class="footnote">[53d]</a> Probably purchased with his legacy of +£20.</p> +<p><a name="footnote54a"></a><a href="#citation54a" +class="footnote">[54a]</a> Vellum Book adds: “And other money +from many others received with which four books were purchased.”</p> +<p><a name="footnote54b"></a><a href="#citation54b" +class="footnote">[54b]</a> Ten books were purchased with the +donations from Brigges, £5, Wisse, £3, and Church, +£3.</p> +<p><a name="footnote55a"></a><a href="#citation55a" +class="footnote">[55a]</a> “More than 100 +books.”—Vellum Book.</p> +<p><a name="footnote55a"></a><a href="#citation55a" +class="footnote">[55a]</a> “Several law books and +others.”—Vellum Book.</p> +<p><a name="footnote55a"></a><a href="#citation55a" +class="footnote">[55a]</a> The Vellum Book states that he gave +“More than three score books.”</p> +<p><a name="footnote55a"></a><a href="#citation55a" +class="footnote">[55a]</a> The Minute Book states: Mr. Clayton +brought in “History of Parliament,” being the gift of the +author.</p> +<p><a name="footnote59"></a><a href="#citation59" +class="footnote">[59]</a> This trowel is now in the possession of +Miss Lucy Bignold of Norwich, who has kindly promised to lend it to the +Public Library Committee in connection with an exhibition of books and +prints illustrative of the history and work of the Library, which will be +held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the opening of the +Library.</p> +<p><a name="footnote70"></a><a href="#citation70" +class="footnote">[70]</a> Annual Report, 1907-8, pp. 3-4.</p> +<p><a name="footnote84"></a><a href="#citation84" +class="footnote">[84]</a> Published in the “Readers’ +Guide,” vol. 5, no. 3, 1916, and reprinted as a pamphlet.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 19804-h.htm or 19804-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/8/0/19804 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Stephen + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Three Centuries of a City Library + an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the present Public Library opened in 1857 + + +Author: George A. Stephen + + + +Release Date: November 14, 2006 [eBook #19804] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY*** + + + + +Transcribed from the 1917 Norwich Public Library Committee edition by +David Price, ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + +THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY + + + AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY + ESTABLISHED IN 1608 AND THE PRESENT PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENED IN 1857 + + BY + GEO. A. STEPHEN + + City Librarian, Norwich + Fellow of the Library Association + Silver Medallist of the Royal Society of Arts +Author of "Guide to the Study of Norwich," "Commercial Bookbinding," etc. + Joint-author of "Manual of Library Bookbinding" + + NORWICH + THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE + 1917 + + [Picture: Blackfriar's Church, now called St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, + circa 1650. Showing House in which the Public Library was originally + established] + +"I can wonder at nothing more, than how a man can be idle; but, of all +other, a Scholar; in so many improvements of reason, in such sweetness of +knowledge, in such variety of studies, in such importunity of thoughts. +. . . To find wit, in poetry; in philosophy, profoundness; in mathematics, +acuteness; in history, wonder of events; in oratory, sweet eloquence; in +divinity, supernatural light and holy devotion; as so many rich metals in +their proper mines, whom would it not ravish with delight!"--_Joseph +Hall_, _Bishop of Norwich_, 1641-7. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This book was prepared by instruction of the Norwich Public Library +Committee, and it is now published as a souvenir of the sixtieth +anniversary of the opening of the present Public Library, which will take +place on March 16th, 1917. Norwich occupies a unique place in the +history of libraries: it has the distinction of having established in +1608 one of the earliest provincial public libraries, if not the first in +England, and it was the first municipality to adopt the Public Library +Act, 1850. It is hoped, therefore, that the following sketch, besides +giving local readers and archaeologists a detailed account of an +important Norwich institution, will form an interesting chapter in the +history of British Libraries. + +The compilation has been made from the recently discovered Minute Book of +the old Public Library, covering the period 1656-1733, from annual +reports and other official records, and from notes accumulated since +1911. The work has been done under difficulties due to the abnormal +conditions caused by the Great War, and I am conscious that imperfections +have resulted; for these I crave the reader's indulgence. + +I am grateful to the Dean of Norwich (the Very Rev. H. C. Beeching, D.D., +D.Litt.) for his kind help in several matters, for many suggestions, and +for reading the galley proofs. To Mr. Walter Rye I am indebted for +reading the proofs, and for assistance. Thanks are also due to Mr. F. +Johnson, the Assistant City Archivist, for consulting the City Records +and providing me with some extracts; and to Mr. F. R. Beecheno, the +historian of the parish of St. Andrew's, for assistance and information. +My obligations to Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost of King's +College, Cambridge, and Mr. A. W. Pollard, M.A., of the British Museum, +are acknowledged in the text. For any errors in the book I am solely +responsible. + + _January_, 1917. + GEO. A. STEPHEN. + + + + + INTRODUCTION. + + +In mediaeval times the making, collecting, and preserving of books, as +well as the maintenance of learning, were almost exclusively confined to +monastic institutions, some of which lent books to laymen, and thus +became the public libraries of the surrounding district. As to the +literary life of Norwich in the fifteenth century, the late Dr. Jessopp +wrote: "Whatever may have been the case in other dioceses, it is certain +that the bishops of Norwich during the fifteenth century were resident in +their see, and that they were prominent personages as scholars and men of +culture and learning. . . . It is clear that . . . their influence was +not inconsiderable in encouraging literary tastes and studious habits +among their clergy. Pitts, in his list of distinguished Englishmen of +letters who flourished during the latter half of the fifteenth century, +mentions no less than twenty-four Norfolk men who were recognised as +prominent scholars, controversialists, historians, or students of +science." {1} Coincident with the decline of monastic learning in Europe +were the revival of secular learning and the invention of printing, which +gave a great impetus to the collection of books, especially on the +continent. The sixteenth century was a dark age in the history of +British libraries, the iconoclasts of the Reformation ruthlessly +destroying innumerable priceless treasures both of books and bindings. +John Bale, Bishop of Ossory, who was educated at a Carmelite Convent in +Norwich, and became vicar of Swaffham, Norfolk, in 1551, wrote scathingly +of the literary condition of England in the middle of the sixteenth +century, and referred specifically to Norwich: "O cyties of Englande, +whose glory standeth more in bellye chere, than in the serch of wysdome +godlye. How cometh it, that neyther you, nor yet your ydell masmongers, +haue regarded thys most worthy commodyte of your contrey? I meane the +conseruacyon of your Antiquytees, and of the worthy labours of your +lerned men. . . . I have bene also at Norwyche, oure seconde cytie of +name, and there all the library monumentes are turned to the vse of their +grossers, candelmakers, sope sellers, and other worldly occupyers." {2a} + +In the early years of the seventeenth century many famous collegiate and +town libraries--i.e., libraries under the guardianship of +municipalities--were founded throughout the country, and in the history +of the latter Norwich has a unique place. So far as can be ascertained +from the published historical accounts of libraries, Norwich has the +distinction of having established in 1608 (six years after the foundation +of the Bodleian Library, and 145 years before the foundation of the +British Museum) the first provincial town library under municipal +control. {2b} The other earliest popular town libraries are those of +Ipswich (1612), Bristol (founded in 1613 and opened in 1615), and +Leicester (1632). Mr. Norris Mathews, the City Librarian of Bristol, +contends that "The claim to the earliest [public library] in England +still belongs to Bristol. This library was that of the Kalendars or +Kalendaries, a brotherhood of clergy and laity who were attached to the +Church of All-Hallowen or All Saints, still existing in Corn Street" +("Library Association Record," vol. 2, 1900, p. 642). In some notes +regarding this Gild of Kalendars in Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith's +Introduction to "Ricart's Calendar" {3} it is stated that "In 1464 +provision was made as to a library, lately erected in the house of the +Kalendars," and reference is made to a deed of that date by which it was +"appointed that all who wish to enter for the sake of instruction shall +have 'free access and recess' at certain times, and that, lest the books +should be lost, three inventories shall be made, to be yearly collated +with the books, which books shall be chained in a room, and for the loss +of which heavy penalties are imposed on the prior. The prior to be +appointed by the Mayor." Mr. John Taylor in his article on "The earliest +English free libraries" ("Library Chronicle," vol. 3, 1886, p. 156), +stated that these regulations were made by an ordinance of John, Bishop +of Worcester, A.D. 1464. From the foregoing quotations it is obvious +that the Library was under the control of the Gild, and not of the +municipality, and therefore while, as a semi-monastic library, it may be +regarded as a prototype of the modern public library, it cannot be justly +claimed as the first public town library. + +The following account of the first provincial town library and its +successor is in two parts: part I. deals with the Library established in +1608 and now known as the City Library, and part II. deals with the +Public Library, established under the Public Library Act of 1850. + + + + +PART I. THE CITY LIBRARY. + + +FOUNDATION AND HISTORY. + + +According to the judicious Norfolk antiquary John Kirkpatrick, who +accumulated vast collections of material relating to Norwich, "There was +a design of erecting a Public Library in this City, in the reign of +Edward the Fourth, as appears by this legacy, in the will of John +Leystofte, vicar of St. Stephen's church, here, A.D. 1461, +namely,--"Item. I will that, if a library be begun in Norwich, within +two years after my decease, I bequeath to the same, my book called +Repyngton." {4} Kirkpatrick was unable to say whether the legacy was +effected, and no record remains. + +The first City Library of which there is any record was founded on the +3rd May, 1608, and by the following order of Assembly which was then +recorded, it will be observed that it had an ecclesiastical basis, like +so many libraries of previous centuries: "Ordered, with the consent of +Jerrom Goodwyne, sword-bearer, that iij chambers, parcel of his +dwelling-howse, which he hath by lease of the cyttie, shal be converted +to a lybrary for the use of the preachers, and for a lodging chamber for +such preachers as shall come to this cittie, to preach on the +sabboth-dayes, and at other tymes, in the common place, and elsewhere, +within this cittie; where the said Jerrom Goodwyn shall fynd beddyng, +lynnynge, and other necessaries for lodging, for the preachers that so +shall come, during their abode in the cittie for the intent aforesaid: +which said romes for the lybrary shal be made fytt at the charge of this +cittie; and the said Goodwyn to allowe one of his servants to attende the +preachers. In consideration whereof, the said Goodwyne shal be allowed +yearly the rent which he now payeth, and his lease, notwithstanding, to +stand good for the terme therein expressed." {4} + +The Library, however, was not intended solely for ministers. The wording +of the title-page of the first donation book, commenced in 1659, states +that it was founded for students: "Bibliotheca publica Norvicensis +communi studiosorum bono instituta incoepta et inchoata fuit Ano Domini +MDCVIII." (See reproduction, facing page 46). Moreover, the list of the +early members of the Library includes the names of people who were not +ministers. Facing pages 4 and 6 are facsimiles of the two pages in the +Minute Book bearing signatures of early members who subscribed to the +rules of the Library. Perhaps the most notable autographs are those of +Charles Trimnell, Bishop of Norwich, William Whiston, translator of +Josephus, and chaplain to John Moore, Bishop of Norwich, Thomas Tanner, +Bishop of St. Asaph, and Benjamin Mackerell, a Norfolk antiquary and +Librarian of the Norwich Public Library. + + [Picture: Autographs of early members of the City Library 1] + +To Judge by the existing records, the City had then received no books for +placing in the rooms. Mr. J. C. Tingey, {5a} however, considers it +"rather strange that when, in 1608, three rooms were fitted up for the +reception of the library at the New Hall there should be no existing +books to be placed in the presses, though promises of donations may have +been given. As a matter of fact the compilers of the old catalogues +mention several works without being able to say by whom they were +presented, and as many of these were printed in the 16th century it is +not impossible that some of them constituted a primary stock. On the +other hand many books whose donors are unknown were issued after the +library was inaugurated, so of these it is certain that they were +presented later." The number of works whose donors are not stated in the +first printed catalogue of 1706 is 51, but in the second printed +catalogue of 1732 the donors of 36 of these are stated, so there remain +only 15 works in the first printed catalogue of which the donors are +unknown. Of these fifteen one was printed after the establishment of the +Library, and so the primary stock suggested by Mr. Tingey could not have +consisted of more than 14 works. + +There is a hiatus in the records of the Library proceedings from its +establishment to 1656. Possibly the books presented to the Library from +1608 to 1656 were simply allowed to accumulate in the Library rooms, +without any regulations in regard to their use and safe-keeping. That +the books were sadly neglected is very evident from a codicil to the will +dated September 18th, 1655, of John Carter, Rector of St. Laurence's +Church, Norwich, giving to the Library "divers books, etc." He revoked +his bequest by the following codicil, and "instead thereof gave 5 pounds +to each of the three united parishes of St. Laurence, St. Swithin, and +St. Margaret, for a stock of coals for ever": "nowe seeinge (to my no +small grief) that that library is locked up, ministers shut out of it, +and that it is never like to be of publique use againe, but that the +books are devoted to the wormes, dust, and rotteness, to the dishonour of +God, the damage of the ministry, and the wrong of the benefactors, the +dead, and the living, &c." {5b} + + [Picture: Autographs of early members of the City Library 2] + +By 1656, the year of Carter's death, the Assembly had evidently realised +the necessity for making regulations for the use of the Library, and had +drawn them up before the 16th January in that year, when it was "ordered +that the Articles moved touching the ordering of the Library be +continued." + +On the ninth day of the following month eight ministers met at the +Library, when they received the "Orders" of the Council for the +regulation of the Library, and having subscribed to them, they were +admitted to the use of the Library. At this meeting they ordered two +frames for the "Orders"; that Mr. John Collinges should be Library Keeper +until January, 1657; that each minister admitted to the use of the +Library should pay 12d. quarterly; and that "a book should be bought for +registring the acts of the mins at their severall meetings in the +Library, and sheets of parchment fit for the engrossing of the orders, +and that the library keeper be desired to provide these against the next +meeting." This minute book is still in the City Library, but it has been +overlooked by all previous writers of notices of the Library. It +commences with the proceedings of the meeting on the 9th February, 1656, +and records the meetings until April 3rd, 1733. As the Assembly Minute +Books for the years 1632 to 1682 are missing the actual "orders" +previously mentioned cannot be quoted, but fortunately the other end of +the Minute Book was used to write in the declaration of admission and the +rules for the conduct of the Library. They are as follows:-- + + "We whose names are hereunto annexed upon our admission to ye use of + ye Publick Library in ye City of Norwch, in Complyance wth an Act of + ye Common Council of ye said City dated ye 16th January 1656, do + faithfully engage and promise, + + "Imprimis That we will not at any time Carry out of ye said Library + any booke belonging to it. + + "2 ly That we will not Leave any booke belonging to ye said Library + (after our using it) out of its due place, nor write any thing in any + of ye bookes, nor Leave them wth any Leaves turned downe. + + "3 ly That we will not prejudice any other pson by our use of ye said + Library, to which purpose we shall not at any time delay our going to + ye Library after ye receipt of ye Keyes from ye Keeper, nor ye + restoring them when we Come out of ye said Library. + + "4 ly That we shall as to all these Articles be Responsabl for our + friends who shall goe wth us to ye said Library, as for our selves. + + "5 ly We shall (being duly Chosen thereto) not above once in seaven + yeares, discharge ye office of Library-Keeper. + + "6 ly We shall faithfully pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of + ye said Library quarterly, and also our equall share wth ye rest of + our brethren in all Charges they shall be at for ye better preserving + of ye said Library. + + "All these things we shall endeavour faithfully to observe & keep, if + through our negligence we shall fail in any of them, we Agree to + subject our selves to ye Penalties mentioned in ye orders Confirmed + by the Court of Common Councill in ye said City." + +The Library at this time was clearly a Reference Library, and its +maintenance partly depended on the members who agreed to pay their +"proportions" of 12d. quarterly, and also their equal share in any +charges made for the "better preserving of the Library." The earlier +entries in the Minute Book give a fair record of the proceedings at the +meetings: they record the names of the members present, the names of new +members admitted to the use of the Library, the quarterly payments of the +members, the donations of books, books purchased with money given to the +Library, duplicate books exchanged for other books, the appointments of +the Library Keepers and Under Library Keepers, and other matters +connected with the administration of the Library; but the fulness of the +entries gradually diminishes until the records are little more than lists +of members present, and notes of quarterly payments. + +The meetings were held monthly, and on February 6th, 1656, it was +resolved that the meetings should be held on the second Monday in each +month between 2 and 3 o'clock. At that meeting a levy on the members was +recorded: "All the mins present at this meeting deposed Sixpence a piece +in Mr. Collinges hand towards the providing of frames and parchment for +the orders for the regulation of the library, in all 5/-: and ordered +such as were not present if admitted already, or such as hereafter should +be admitted, should at their admission or next appearing at meeting lay +down so much towards the frames and parchment aforesaid, and the buying +of a book to register the Acts of the mins in." + +That the members were permitted to enjoy the fragrant weed on the library +premises is evident from an entry under date October 12th, 1657: +"Threepence was laid out for tobacco pipes," and on April 1st, 1690 it +was recorded, "That Mr. Pitts is this day discharged from ye office of +Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye under=Library=Keeper for his 2 +years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink and paper, nine shillings." + +From many records it is obvious that the City Authorities closely +controlled the administration of the Library. According to the Minute +Book on January 12th, 1673, the members "consented yt Mr Riveley and Mr +Morley should attend yppon the Court to craue their Order for appoynting +the time for ye Ministers Meeting at the Library for future to be uppon +the first Tuesday in every moneth." The request was granted. On 29th +March, 1673, the Court ordered "36s. to be paid for six Russia leather +chairs for City Library." {8} + +The library receipts from fees and charges are not regularly entered, but +throughout the Minute Book there are occasional records of receipts and +payments, and under date March 3, 1684, is the following: "This day ye +account of ye Last year was stated. The Library keeper had received 4ll +3s & 4d and had expended 4l 11s 10d--due to Him 8s 6d." + +Either as a means of raising additional money for the Library or of +securing a better attendance of members at the meetings it was ordered on +Jan. 15th, 1677 "that all persons that will continue the use & benefitte +of the librarie shall pay for every omission of meeting upon the day +appointed the forfeiture of 2 pence, no excuse to be admitted for +absence; & the said forfeitures are to be dispos'd of every halfe year +according as the major part of psons at yt meeting shall determine." The +Minute Book does not show that the fines for absence were usually +disposed of half-yearly, but the following memorandum was made therein on +April 1st, 1690: "That this day we present cast up ye forfeitures of ye +two last years, viz. 1688, 1689 And the several persons are indebted in +all two pounds, ten shillings & four pence as appears by ye particulars +in ye Book of forfeitures." + +For the first 108 years of the Library's existence it remained a +reference library, and books were not lent, but surreptitious borrowing +probably took place occasionally. At any rate on December 2nd, 1684, the +following memorandum was made: "That BP J. Ushers treatise de Macedonum +et Assyriorum [Asianorum] anno solari was missing this meeting yt was, by +ye under-library-keepers attestation here the last meeting and has bin +missing this three weeks, 'tis desired that he that has it would be +pleased to restore it, and not to do any such thing as is contrary to wt +he hath subscribed." By 1716 the members had considered it desirable to +allow the borrowing of books for home reading, and on May 7th, 1716, +occurs the following record of the petition of the members to the City +Court: + + "This Society having requested ye Court to give leave yt an order + might be made to render ye Library more usefull it was accordingly + ordered by ye Court + + "Norwich. At an Assembly held the third day of May Anno Dnj 1716 + + "The Petition of ye Clergy about ye Books in ye Library is now agreed + to, so as such care be taken by ye Library-keeper yt there be no loss + of ye Books. + + P Cur: Chappell. + + "The Articles or Conditions of borrowing any book out of ye Library + are order'd to be written in ye first leave of a Register to be + provided for ye use of ye Society." + + "These Articles or Conditions are fortunately written at the end of + the Minute Book, and are as follows: + + "First, That every Person taking out any Book, shall enter ye same + into a Book to be provided for yt purpose. + + "2dly: That He shall be obliged to return ye same Book or Books wthin + one month from ye time of borrowing, & enter ye return of ye sd Book + in a Column of ye Register opposite to that wherein ye borrowing of + ye sd Book is mention'd. + + "3dly: That No Person shall have above ye Number of three Books (from + this Library) at one time, unless ye leave of ye Society be first + Ask'd & obtain'd. + + "4thly: That if any damage be done to any Book, He in whose hands it + is shall make it good, & to prevent disputes, if ye Book be damag'd + before taken out of ye Library it shall be shown to ye + Under=library=Keeper. + + "5thly: That there be some Persons appointed to assist ye Upper + Library Keeper in calling over ye sd Books ye first Monday of January + next, & so yearly & every year, & yt ye Library Keeper shall have + power to send for & call in such Books as are ytt abroad, & every + person in whose hands any Books have been above ye limited time of + one Month at such days of calling over ye sd Books shall forfeit two + shillings & six pence to be applied to such use as ye Society shall + adjudge proper. + + "6thly: That No Person shall be admitted to ye use of this Library, + (Those of this Court excepted) Nor have ye liberty of borrowing any + Book from ye sd Library who are not already, or shall not hereafter + be admitted to ye use of ye sd Library according to ye usages & + Customs of the Society Now in great measure entrusted wth ye Care & + Charge of ye Books of ye sd Library, except such Person shall first + give unto ye sd Library ye sum of fourty shillings or Books to yt + value. + + "7thly: Tis agreed yt there be two fair Catalouges made, One to be & + remain wth ye Court of this City, & ye other to be kept in ye + Library, yt ye Library Keeper do get ye sd Catalouges made wth all + convenient speed, yt ye Books be rang'd into some method & order, yt + ye Library Keeper shall take in such assistance as is wanting, & his + charge & trouble be allow'd according to ye discretion of ye + Society." + +These rules show that borrowers were permitted to record the books they +borrowed, that they were allowed to retain them for a month, that damaged +books should be reported to the Under Library Keeper before being taken +away, and that a stocktaking fine of 2s. 6d. was provided for in the +event of books not being returned in the January of each year. + +The Minutes between 1716 and 1731 chiefly record formal matters, and +little of note regarding the administration of the Library. On February +7th, 1731, "It was then unanimously agreed that the Members meet for the +future on the first Tuesday in every Month at two o'Clock in ye +afternoon." On the 7th of the following month two delinquent borrowers +were dealt with: "Whereas the Revd Mr. Francis Johnson took some time +since the Works of Bishop Bull in 4 volumes 8vo out of this Library, & +has return'd only ye 1st, 3rd & 4th Vols & instead of ye 2d Sherlock on +providence, it Was then Order'd, that that shd be return'd him again, & +that he be requir'd either to send back ye sd 2d vol. or take the +remaining three, & send an entire Sett. Order'd likewise that Mr Morrant +be requir'd to return B-p. Stillingfleets Origines Sacrae, being ye 2d +vol. of his works, Long since taken out by Him." + +The regulations for the administration of the Library were again revised +in 1732/3 by the City Council: {11} + + "At an ASSEMBLY held on _Feb._ the 24th, 1732/3. the Right Worshipful + the MAYOR, _Sheriffs_, _Aldermen_, and _Common-Council_ this Day + assembled, for the better Regulation of the _Publick Library_, have + unanimously appointed the following ORDERS to be observed, upon Pain + of Exclusion from the said _Library_. + + "ORDERED, That the Catalogues already printed be Six Hundred; and + that one Half of them be kept in the Town-Clerk's Office, to be + delivered out to the Members of the Corporation; and the other Half + be left in the Library, to be delivered out to the Subscribers. + + "ORDERED, That the Books in the said Library be Annually called over, + in the first Week of _June_, in the Presence of the _Chamberlain_; + and that such books as are found to be Duplicates, be sold by the + _Chamberlain_ and _Library-Keeper_; and that the Money arising by + Sale thereof, be laid out in the Purchasing of such Books as shall be + thought proper by the said Subscribers. + + "ORDERED, That after the said Annual Call is finished, the + Subscribers to the said Library, upon their next Monthly Meeting, + have Liberty to choose a _Library-Keeper_ for the Year ensuing. + + "ORDERED, That on the Reception of any Book or Books given to the + said Library, the _Donor's_ Name shall be written on the inside Cover + of the Book, and that the _Library-Keeper_ shall Register the same in + the Vellum Book. + + "ORDERED, That no Person shall have more than Three Books out of the + said Library at one Time, nor keep them longer than one Month, + without the Consent of the Majority of the Subscribers present at + their Monthly Meeting: And that an Account of every Book Lent, and + the Return thereof, be duly made and enter'd in a Book for that + Purpose. + + "ORDERED, That every Person who shall be admitted to the Use of the + said Library, shall declare his full and free Consent to comply with + the said Orders, as far as to him may appertain, according to the + true Intent and Meaning of the same; and particularly with the + following Orders or Articles, by subscribing his Name in the said + _Library-Book_ upon his Admission: And also that all the said Orders, + and the following Articles, shall be entred in the said + _Library-Book_, _viz_: + + "_First_, That every Subscriber upon Admission shall pay to the Under + _Library-Keeper_ one Shilling, and also one Shilling Quarterly, for + his Care of, and Attendance at the said Library: And every Subscriber + shall also pay his Proportion of all Charges that may be thought + necessary by the Subscribers, for the better preserving of the Books + in the said Library; or shall be excluded the Use thereof. + + "_Secondly_, That if any Book be lent out, and lost or damaged, the + Borrower shall be obliged to make good such Loss or Damage. + + "_Thirdly_, The Subscribers have Leave to meet the first _Tuesday_ in + every Month, to inspect the said Library, and take out such Books as + they may have Occasion for, then or at any other Time; and see that + the said Orders and Articles be duly observed. + + "_Per Curiam_, + + "LODGE." [i.e., Nehemiah Lodge, Town Clerk]. + +The Minute Book which finishes on April 3rd, 1733, is silent regarding +these new regulations, but Benjamin Mackerell (Librarian of the City +Library from 1724 to 1731) writing in 1737 shewed that they did not +result in improving the management of the Library: + + "For some few years it has been a Lending Library and some persons + have had books two or three years together contrary to an order to + the contrary. Here is no salary given by the city for anyone to take + care and the charge of the books upon him only the keys thereof are + left at the house of the Clark of St. Andrews Parish, and any man may + be admitted that will but give him twelve-pence a quarter, but unless + the Corporation would be at the expence of a salary for any sober + discreet person to take the charge of the said books upon himself and + have the sole custody of them, and pecuniary mulcts inflicted upon + such as break the orders already made, there is little hopes of + keeping the books there, or in any good order long together, besides + this is also made use of upon the account of the trustees for the + Charity Schools who frequently meet here, notwithstanding there are + so many more convenient rooms in the said hall. Especially that in + which the Grand Jury meet in at every Assizes. Persons may borrow + two books out of this Library at a time but ought not to keep them + above one month without giving notice to the Library keeper." {13a} + +Mackerell's remarks, and the fact that the Minute Book was not filled, +seem to indicate that the Library was neglected for some years. On +September 21st, 1801, the Assembly complied with the request of the +Committee of a subscription library, with the misnomer "Public Library" +(established in 1784 in St. Andrew's Hall) by granting them leave "to +have the use of the books in the City Library, to be kept under the care +of their Librarian apart from other books, the President giving a receipt +for the safe return of the same on demand." {13b} The City Committee +reported to the Assembly in 1805 "that the books in the City Library have +not of late been carefully preserved, that some valuable works have been +mutilated and others lost or mislaid." {13c} The Assembly thereupon +rescinded the order of September 21st, 1801, requested the President and +Committee of the "Public Library" to "make good all losses and injuries," +and committed the custody of the City Library to the Steward. In 1815 +the City Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library." Ten years +afterwards, the "Public Library," which still housed the City Library, +was removed to a building in St. Andrew's Street. The admission fee to +this Library in 1825, as stated in the Catalogue of the Library of that +date, was five guineas, and the annual subscription was one guinea. This +Catalogue contains the following rules regarding the City Library: + + "LIV. The books belonging to the City Library having been deposited + in the Library Room of the Public Library, by permission of the + Corporation, are accessible to the subscribers, and may be delivered + out under a written order of the president, or vice-president, + countersigned by an officer of the Corporation. + + "LV. The Librarian shall have charge of the books belonging to the + City Library, and shall procure the necessary authority for the + delivery of books to subscribers applying for them. + + "LVI. The books belonging to the City Library shall be returned to + the Librarian every quarter day; and the same fines and penalties + shall apply to subscribers not attending to this regulation, or to + losing, lending or injuring books belonging to the City Library, + which are laid down by the laws for the protection of the books + belonging to the Public Library." + +In the same catalogue it was stated that the City Library was under the +particular inspection of the Mayor and seven members of the Council who +constituted the Library Committee of the Corporation. "The Right +Worshipful the Mayor of Norwich, for the time being, is an Honorary +Member of the Public Library; and the Members of the Library Committee of +the Corporation, together with the Speaker of the Commons, the Town +Clerk, and the Chamberlain, if not already Members of the Society, have +the privilege of constant access to the Library Rooms during their +continuance of office." {14} These rules were in force in 1847, and were +reprinted in a new edition of the Catalogue printed in that year. The +members of the rival subscription library, called "The Norfolk and +Norwich Literary Institution," which was established in 1822, were also +allowed to borrow books from the City Library, by an order from the +Chamberlain of the City. {15a} In 1835 the "Public Library" with the +City Library was removed to a new building opposite the north door of the +Guildhall, on the site of the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription +Library. + +Ostensibly the City Library was adequately cared for by the "Public +Library," but in reality it was greatly neglected. At a meeting of the +Council on July 10th, 1856, the Town Clerk read a report from the City +Library Committee, stating that they had inspected the books of the City +Library, and "considered them in a very disorderly and dirty condition, +that they could not be compared with the catalogue till they were +re-arranged. They recommended that a grant of 25 pounds should be made +for the rearrangement of the books, and that Mr. Langton [the Librarian] +be employed for that purpose." {15b} In the discussion that ensued Mr. +Ling said some of the books "were lying on the floor, damaged by dust and +cobwebs, and an extremely valuable manuscript of Wickliffe's Bible was in +a bad state." {15c} Mr. Brightwell suggested that the City Library would +be a capital foundation for the Free Library, and the matter was referred +back for the consideration of the City Library Committee. Those +interested in the "Public Library" strove hard to retain the City +Library, and on November 20th, 1856, the following memorial signed by the +President was presented to the Council and discussed:-- + + To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Norwich, in Council + assembled. {15d} The Memorial of the Committee of the Norwich Public + Library + + Sheweth,--That at a quarterly assembly of the Corporation, held June + 19th, 1815, a certain Report of the Library Committee was agreed to, + and consent given for the city books to be taken to the Public + Library under the direction of the same Committee. + + That your memorialists have learned with deep regret that it is + contemplated to apply to the Council for power to remove the city + books to the Free Library. + + That upon the faith of their tenure of these books, as long as the + conditions imposed were satisfactorily complied with, various sums of + money, to a considerable amount, have from time to time been expended + by your memorialists from the funds of the Public Library in their + preservation. + + That the books of the City Library have been embodied in the + catalogues of 1825 and 1847, under the same scientific arrangement as + the books which are the property of the Public Library, + distinguishing those which are the property of the Corporation by a + prominent and appropriate designation; and that therefore by the + removal of the City Library, the catalogue, to which your + memorialists have recently published the first appendix, will be + rendered quite useless and an expense, otherwise unnecessary, will be + incurred. + + That although the books of the City Library were recently found in a + very dusty condition; yet that during the 40 years they have been in + the custody of your memorialists, they have suffered no deterioration + from damp, loss, or otherwise. + + That the contiguity of the Public Library to the Guildhall affords + the greatest convenience of application to the Town Clerk for + permission to take out books from the City Library, and of the access + of the Library Committee of the Corporation to inspect their + property. + + That it is in contemplation to place a fire in the room appropriated + to the City Library, and further to improve it by the insertion of a + large bay-window, which will make it a light and cheerful place for + all who need reference to these ancient and valuable books. + + That your memorialists venture to point out the entire + unsuitableness, in their judgment, of works in learned languages, on + abstruse subjects or in black letter, to the objects of the Free + Library. + + And your memorialists therefore pray that the books of the City + Library be allowed to remain, as heretofore, in their keeping. + + Signed on behalf of the Public Library Committee. + + Norwich, Nov. 10th, 1856. + + G. W. W. FIRTH, President. + +Edward Edwards, in his monumental "Memoirs of Libraries," 1859, (vol. 1, +p. 739) printed the above memorial which he said carried "its refutation +on its face." "On so puerile a production," he continued, "it were idle +to waste words. One remark, however, may be appropriate in anticipation +of the history and objects of the Act of Parliament in pursuance of which +the Free City Library of Norwich has been created. No Institution +established under that Act can with justice address itself to any "class" +of the population in particular. Rate-supported Libraries are _ipso +facto_ "Town Libraries." Their cost is defrayed by ratepayers of all +degrees. It is the imperative duty of every Town-Council so to manage +them as to make them conduce, in the utmost possible measure, to the +researches, the pursuits, and the profit of _every_ class of the +townspeople. For some readers it may also be desirable to add that the +so-called "Public" Library by whose managers this Memorial is drawn up, +is Public in name only." + +Notwithstanding the persistent attempts of the "Public Library" on futile +pretexts to retain the City Library, the Council on February 17th, 1857, +decided by a large majority in favour of the removal of the City Library +to the new library building under its own control. Even then the Free +Library Committee had difficulty in securing the books, and it was only +after their repeated applications that the City Library was installed in +the Library in 1862. Mr. John Quinton, the Librarian of the Norfolk and +Norwich Literary Institution, superintended the removal of the books, and +arranged them in their new quarters. The book-plate in the volumes was +printed from a wood-block engraved by his daughter, Miss Jane Quinton, a +student of the Norwich School of Art, which at that time occupied the top +floor of the Library. The books were shelved in cases on the ground +floor until 1879 when they were removed to their present glass cases in +the News Room. + +The Council on the 17th March, 1868, agreed to the recommendation of the +City Committee "that the Wyckliffe Bible and other books be committed as +a loan into the custody of the trustees of the [Norfolk and Norwich] +Museum, proper provision to be made for the exhibition and preservation +thereof." {17} Several manuscripts and printed books were sent to the +Museum, and Mr. J. J. Colman, the Mayor in that year, presented to the +city a glass case for the exhibition of the books. + +In 1872 the Norfolk and Norwich Law Library, which had just been +established, applied for the loan of between 30 and 40 legal works in the +City Library, and the Council acceded to its request on condition that +any person not a member of the Law Library should have access to the +books, and that the books should be returned to the City Library on +request. A list of the books lent was printed in the Catalogue of the +Law Library published in 1874. The books were returned during the year +ending March, 1900. + +The Catalogue of 1883 stated that the following was the rule for the use +of the City books: "A loan of these books may be obtained at the Free +Library, from 11 to 4 on any day of the week excepting Thursday, by +application to the Town Clerk, who will supply a Form to be filled up by +the applicant and forwarded to the Chairman of the Libraries Committee." +Now the books are issued by and at the discretion of the City Librarian, +for use in the Reference Library, in accordance with the rules of the +Public Library. + +The City Committee, which is responsible for the City Library, provided +in 1912 a large exhibition case in the Reading Room for the display of +some of the more rare and interesting books. + + + +DONORS. + + +The Library was formed almost entirely by donations, principally from +local residents, including bishops, deans, and other clergy, magistrates, +merchants and tradesmen. The donations from the inception of the Library +in 1608 to 1737 are enumerated in the Vellum Book provided for the +purpose in 1659, to which reference is made on page 46. The first +donation was a gift of fifteen volumes from Sir John Pettus who was Mayor +during the year of the foundation of the Library, viz., Severinus Binius' +"Concilia generalia et provincialia," 4 vols. in 5, (Cologne, 1606), +"Centuriones Magdeburgh," 7 vols., (Basel), and Bellarmine's +"Disputationes de controversiis Christianae Fidei," 3 vols., (Paris, +1608). His gift was followed by one in the same year from Susannah +Downing, wife of Alderman George Downing, who had been Mayor in the +previous year. She gave Hieronymus Zanchius' "Opera theologica," 8 vols. +in 3, 1605 (Excudebat Stephanus Gamonetus). In the following year Thomas +Corye, merchant, gave Luther's Works in 7 vols. and three volumes of +Ludwig Lavater's Commentaries, (Zurich); Sir Thomas Hirne, the Mayor, +gave ten volumes of Calvin's works, and a polyglot Bible--Biblia Sacra, +Hebraice, Graece, et Latine (1599), 2 vols.; Thomas Corbett gave St. +Augustine's Works (Basel, 1569); and Henry Doyly gave St. Bernard's Works +(Paris, 1586). + +The three chief benefactors to the Library were Richard Ireland, who at +the time of his death was rector of Beeston, Norfolk; Thomas Nelson, +rector of Morston, Norfolk; and John Kirkpatrick, a linen merchant, of +Norwich, the eminent antiquary. + +Ireland's bequest was made in 1692, and the entry in the Vellum Book is +as follows: + + "Mr Richard Ireland, Formerly Rector of Beeston and sometime also of + St Edmonds in the Citty of Norwich where he was born, gave by his + last Will all his Bookes to the publick Library of the Citty: where + they are set up on Shelves, and accordingly specifyed in the + Catalogue of the Library, viz, the Folios on Classis. 16 and the + smaller bookes on Classis 20 and 21. with some others of the Old + Citty Library distinguished in the said Catalogue. + + "Memorandum. Some of Mr Irelands bookes which the Library was + furnished with before, are set up in the outward Library to be Sold + and exchanged for others, as he gave leave." The total number of + volumes shown in the Library Catalogue of 1732 to have been given by + Ireland is 142. + +The entry in the Vellum Book regarding Nelson's bequest in 1714 reads: +"Mr Thomas Nelson Late Rector of Morston in the County of Norfolk gave by +his Last Will and Testament All his Books unto the Publick Library of +this City where they are placed upon Six Shelves by Themselves in the +Inner Room belonging to the said Library with his Name Over them in Gold +Letters." Numerically his gift was the largest to the Library, 570 +volumes being assigned to him in the Catalogue of 1732. + +The bequest of Kirkpatrick is recorded as follows under date 1728: "Mr +John Kirkpatrick Mercht and Treasurer to the Great Hospital in this City +did by his last Will and Testament Give (Note the following are the very +Words of his Will) To the Maior Sheriffs, Citizens & Commonalty aforesaid +All my Ancient Manuscripts and all my Medals and Ancient Coins of Silver +& Brass to be reposited in their Library at the New-Hall. Also my +Printed Books in the Anglo-Saxon Language, & all such of my Books which +were Printed before the Year of our Lord 1600 as are not already in the +said Library, together with Mountfaucon's Antiquities, & Maddox's Firma +Burgi lately printed; and I will & desire that all these things be kept +there For Publick Use as the other Books in the said Library are. (Thus +Far his Will.-- + +"Sometime after the Decease of the said Mr John Kirkpatrick there was +more than Two Hundred Books sent to this Library According to his Will +and Desire which are inserted in the Catalogue with his Name before Each +Book. + +"N.B. The Medals and Coins are not yet delivered But are still in the +Hands of John Custance, Esq." Although the memorandum following the +extract from the will states that more than 200 books were sent to the +Library, the total number of books assigned to him in the 1732 catalogue +is 168. Possibly the remainder were duplicates, and were sold or +exchanged for other books. + +Many other donations are worthy of special mention, but it is impossible +to enumerate all of them. Gabriel Barbar, in the name of the Society of +Virginia, gave 11 vols. in 1614, in which year, says Blomefield, "the +Lords of the _privy council_, by letters dated the 22nd of _March_, +desired the city to given [sic] encouragement to a _lottery_, set on foot +for the benefit of the _English Virginia_ plantation, . . . and by +another letter dated 21 Dec. 1617, they desired them to assist Gabriel +Barbor, &c in the management of a running _lottery_, to be by them kept +in Norwich." {20a} In 1618 Thomas Atkins, Merchant of Norwich, gave +seven volumes and 5 pounds for books. + +During the mayoralty of Thomas Cory, 1628-29, the City of Norwich gave a +copy of the second edition of John Minsheu's "The Guide into Tongues" +(London: John Haviland, 1627) for which twenty shillings were paid. {20b} +This work is still of value as a dictionary of Elizabethan English. In +1659 the City also gave a set of the famous English Polyglot Bible, +edited by Bryan Walton, in 6 vols., (London, 1657)--a work which was a +fine scholarly achievement of the Church of England at a time of great +depression. + +In 1658 Joseph Paine, Alderman of Norwich, who was Mayor in 1660, gave +one book and 20 pounds for the purchase of books. In the Minute Book the +donation is described thus under date Dec. 13, 1658: "Mr. Whitefoot, Mr. +Harmar, and Dr. Collings made report to ye rest of the Brethren mett this +day That Mr. Joseph Paine Alderman of the City of Norwich uppon Munday +preceding this meeting, sent for ye 3 minrs. aforesaid to his house, and +there did give into the hands of Mr. John Whitefoot one of the aforesaid +minrs. twenty pounds declaring it his mind that it should be laid out at +the discretion of ye 3 minrs. aforesaid together with Mr. George Cock to +bee added to them to buy such bookes with it as they shall judge most fit +for ye City Library." + +The ministers evidently desired to mark especially their appreciation of +Paine's gift. On February 9th, 1662/3 "The brethren taking notice that +no bookes were yet markd as the guift of Sr Jos. Paine, and Mr. Whitefoot +acquainting the brethren that he had procured printed paps to this +purpose--Ex Dono Dni _Josephi Paine_ militis hujus Civitatis praetoris, +they ordered that some of those papers should bee affixed to the 9 vol. +of ye Criticks: wch cost 15l & to the 4 vol. of Gerard's Comon places wch +cost 3l 13s & to the 2 vol. of Theophilact. wch cost 1l 02s: in all 19l +17s: the other 3s: beeing accounted for ye Carriage: they also ordered +that a like paper be affixed to Ravanella before giuen to the library by +ye said Sr Jos. Paine." + +In the Vellum Book under date Dec. 12th, 1659, are entered 29 volumes as +a gift from Thomasine Brooke, "Widow & Relict of Wm Brooke, Gent." These +were evidently purchased with a donation of 20 pounds, as under the same +date in the Minute Book is the following: "Mr. Whitefoot acknowledged +himself to have received of Mrs Brooke wid. to the use of the library to +bee laid out uppon bookes by ye Consent of ye minrs. the summe of twenty +pounds." + +Sir Thomas Browne, who made Norwich his home from 1637, gave in 1666 +eight volumes of Justus Lipsius' Works, (Antwerp, 1606-17), and under the +entry recording this gift, which describes the donor as "Thomas Browne, +Med: Professor", has been written in a different hand, "Opera sua, viz. +Religio Medicj, Vulgar Errors, &c." (A reproduction of the page in the +Vellum Book recording Browne's gift faces page 46.) The latter volume +was evidently a copy of his "Pseudodoxia Epidemica . . . together with +the Religio Medici," sixth edition, (London, 1672), which is still in the +Library. + +Another eminent benefactor was Thomas Tenison, who became Archbishop of +Canterbury in 1694, and is noteworthy to librarians as having established +a public library in his parish of St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London, in +1695. Tenison was educated at the Norwich Free School, and in 1674 he +was chosen "upper minister" of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, having been +previously preacher at that Church. He was admitted to the use of the +City Library on February 9th, 1673, and on March 2nd, 1674 and April 6th, +1675, he gave the following five volumes: Georgius Codinus' "De Officijs +et Officialibus Magnae Ecclesiae et Aulae Constantinopolitanae" (Paris, +1625); Edward Herbert's "De religione gentilium" (Amsterdam, 1663); Peter +Heylyn's "Historia Quinqu-Articularis" (London, 1660); Archbishop James +Ussher's "Chronologia sacra" (Oxford, 1660); and the "Racovian +Catechism," which is entered in the 1732 catalogue as "Moscorrow's +Catechism." + +Nathaniel Cock, described as a Merchant of London, but who was doubtless +connected with the county, is credited with a donation of 33 volumes in +1674. These volumes were evidently purchased with the legacy of 20 +pounds which Edmund Cock, his executor, paid to the Library-Keeper. This +legacy is mentioned in the Minute Book, and also by Blomefield, {22} who +states that he was the brother of Edmund Cocke, and that he also "gave +the _city chamberlain_ 100l, to be freely lent to five honest poor +_weavers_, housekeepers and freemen, without interest, they giving +security for the repayment at three years end." + +In 1676, the year of the death of Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich, the +Vellum Book records a donation from him of 24 volumes. These books, +however, were probably purchased with a legacy, as in the Assembly Book, +21st Sept., 1676, it is stated that the Clavors [Keepers of City Chest] +to pay Robt Bendish Esq. 20 pounds to be pd to Mr John Whitefoot senr. to +buy bookes for City Library according to will of Edward [Reynolds] late +Bp. of Norwich. + +Dean Humphrey Prideaux, the orientalist, was another distinguished +benefactor. In August, 1681, he was installed as a Prebendary of +Norwich, and in the following March he gave a copy of his edition of two +tracts by Maimonides which he published with the title "De jure pauperis +et peregrini apud Judaeos" (1679), "and other money [1 pound] from many +others received" with which were purchased Joannes Caspar Suicerus' +"Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus," 2 vols. (Amsterdam, 1682), and J. J. +Hoffman's "Lexicon Universale +Historico-Geographico-Chronologico-Poetico-Philologicum," 2 vols. (Basel, +1677). When Dean of Norwich he gave a copy of the two works upon which +his literary fame rests, "Life of Mahomet" and "The Old and New Testament +Connected," 2 vols. (1716-18), and also his "Validity of the Orders of +the Church of England," and "The Original and Right of Tithes," (Norwich, +1710). + +Three citizens and Aldermen of Norwich gave donations of money in 1678 +amounting to 11 pounds, with which ten volumes were purchased: Augustine +Briggs 5 pounds, Thomas Wisse 3 pounds, and Bernard Church 3 pounds. + +In 1700 William Adamson, Rector of St. John's Maddermarket, Norwich, who +was buried therein in 1707, "gave to this Library three shelves full of +books, viz. Classis 17, 18, and 19, the first in Folio, the Second in +quarto, the third in Octavo, and are Specifyed in the Catalogue of the +Library." The total number of the books assigned to him in the 1732 +catalogue is 118 vols. + +In 1706 John Moore, Bishop of Norwich "gave to this Library Eusebij, +Socratis, Sozomeni, Theodoriti, & Evagrij Hist. Ecclesiast. in 3 vol., +Paris, 1678," and Thomas Tanner, who had been made Chancellor of the +Norwich Diocese in 1701, gave a copy of La Bigne's "Sacrae Bibliothecae +Sanctorum Patrum," 5 vols. (Paris, 1589). Tanner also gave a large +donation in 1726 which was thus recorded: "Thomas Tanner, S.T.P. and +Chancellor of the Diocess of Norwich This year added more than an Hundred +Books to those which he had formerly Given to this Publick Library; Which +are particularly inserted in the Catalogue, with his Name before each +Book." Possibly some of the books he gave were duplicates and were +exchanged for others, as the 1732 Catalogue credits him with only 92 +vols. + +During the years 1707 to 1709 several Fellows of Trinity and other +Cambridge Colleges gave donations of books (See List of Donors at the end +of Part I., pp. 52-56). The Minute Book records that on August 5th, 1707 +"was brought into the Library by Mr. Reddington, Fellow of Trinity +College, in Cambridge, these following books being the gift of several +persons of the said college, as here follows." These donations, +numbering 28 volumes, were the gift of twelve Fellows, and may have been +the result of an organised effort by Reddington to increase the Library. +John Reddington was Rector of St. Edmund, Norwich, 1712, Rector of +Rackheath, 1711-39, and of Hethel, 1737-39, and master of Norwich Grammar +School from 1732 to 1737. He died in 1739, aged 57. In 1708 the Minute +Book states that on Sept. 6th Mr. Reddington brought in five books the +gift of five Fellows of Trinity College; and on Oct. 4, Mr. Brett brought +in 8 volumes the gift of John Lightwin, the President of Caius College, +and four other Cambridge men. + +Benjamin Mackerell, described as "of the City of Norwich, Gent.", gave +two volumes in 1716, and 13 volumes in 1731, when he held the office of +Library Keeper. + +John Jermy was stated in 1729 to "have sent & Given to this Library +several Law Books and others; which are particularly inserted in the +Catalogue, with his Name before Each Book." In 1733 he gave forty books, +and in 1737 fourteen books. In the 1732 Catalogue he is credited with 67 +volumes. + +Edmund Prideaux, the son of Dean Prideaux, in 1730 "gave to this Library +more than Threescore Books which are all of them inserted in the +Catalogue with his Name before each Book." In the 1732 Catalogue only 49 +volumes are shown to have been given by him. + +The last entry in the Vellum Book records a gift from Robert Nash, +Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, of a copy of "A Defence of Natural +and Revealed Religion: being an abridgment of the Sermons preached at the +Lecture founded by the Hon. R. Boyle," 4 vols. (London, 1737), by Gilbert +Burnet, vicar of Coggeshall, which was published in that year. + +Possibly it was the misfortune of the Library to lose a donation of +manuscripts from Peter Le Neve relating to Norfolk that would have been +of inestimable value, as the collector's work, said Mr. Walter Rye, "was +characterised by strictest honesty," and the material "formed the +backbone of the well-known county history, begun by Blomefield, and +completed by Parkin." {24} Bishop Tanner, one of Le Neve's executors, +stated in a letter to Dr. Rawlinson in 1735 that "There was an ugly +Codicil made a few days before his death in favour of his wife, upon +which she set up a claim for several of his Norfolk Collections, and has +hindered the execution of that part of his will, which relates to the +putting those papers into some public library in Norwich. But I have +hopes given me that she is coming into better temper, and will let us +perform our trust without entering into a chancery suit." {25a} There is +no codicil to the will at Somerset House, and the actual words relating +to his collections are as follows: "I give and bequeath unto the Revd. +Doctor Tanner Chancellor of Norwich and Mr. Thomas Martin of Palgrave all +my abstracts out of Records old Deeds Books pedigrees seals papers and +other collections which shall only relate to the antiquities and history +of Norfolk and Suffolk or one of them upon condition that they or the +survivor of them or the Exors or Admors of such survivor do & shall +within 12 months next after my decease procure a good and safe repository +in the Cathedral Church of Norwich or in some other good and publick +building in the said city for the preservation of the same collections +for the use and benefit of such curious persons as shall be desirous to +inspect transcribe or consult the same." Le Neve's widow evidently +impeded his purpose, as his collections did not come to the city. + +A donation, the loss of which, however, cannot be regretted, is referred +to in the Court Book for 1677: "The Chamberlain, with the advice of Rob' +Bendish & Jo: Manser, Esqrs are to consult a good workeman about ye +making of a Case of Deale for ye skeleton of a Man given to the City +Librarie & to report ye charge." {25b} Kirkpatrick quotes this and +remarks: "But it seems it was not made, for there is no skeleton in the +library now." {25c} Since the days of Rameses II., whose Egyptian +Library bore the inscription "Dispensary of the Soul," libraries have +often been properly so regarded, as their contents are undoubtedly +remedial agents of vigour and virtue, but it is not clear why a library +should be regarded as a repository for man's mortal frame. + + + +CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY. + + +The Library having been established primarily but not exclusively for the +clergy, by whom it was chiefly used, its contents were designed to +facilitate their studies, and pre-eminence was given to theological +works, and other works of particular interest or value to them. +Regarding the contents of the Library in 1706, when the first printed +catalogue was published, the Rev. Joseph Brett said in the preface: "It +may be more proper to observe, that upon the first Foundation of this +Library many and great Benefactions, (by which alone it was first raised, +and still encreases) were given by the Magistrates, Gentlemen and +Tradesmen of this City, by which means, here is no inconsiderable +Collection of Divinity Book, [sic] for that time especially. But +considering the great Advance of Learning, in the last Century, the fine +Editions of many of the Fathers, and the many learned Books that were +then published, it must be owned, that this Library is now very +deficient, even in Divinity itself. Besides here are very few Humanity +Books, few or none of Law, Physick, Mathematicks, or indeed of any +science but Divinity." Large donations from the Rev. Thomas Nelson, John +Kirkpatrick, and others greatly increased the usefulness of the Library, +and accordingly Mackerell, in his preface to the 1732 Catalogue, +considered that "this Library is far from being meanly provided with +Books (I wish I could say in all Faculties)." + +While time has caused many of the works to decrease in value and +practical interest, it has greatly enhanced the value of the few +manuscripts and the considerable number of early printed books in the +Library. The following are the most interesting and valuable +manuscripts, some of which are on loan at the Castle Museum for +exhibition. Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost of King's College, +Cambridge, one of the greatest authorities on early manuscripts, has +kindly examined and dated four of them, and he has also supplied detailed +descriptions which it is hoped will be published on another occasion. + + +MANUSCRIPTS. + + +Anon. IN APOCALYPSIN. XIIIth century. + +Vellum, 10.25 x 7.5 inches, ff. 5 + 74 + 28, double columns, the number +of lines varies. Bound in wooden boards. Presented to the Library in +1618 by Thomas Atkins, merchant, Norwich. + +Contains: 1. Anonymous comment on the Apocalypse, with a few very rough +pictures, coloured. + +2. The Summa of Richard de Wethersett, Chancellor of Cambridge, called +_Qui bene praesunt_. + +BIBLIA HIERONYMI, OR BIBLE OF ST. JEROME. XIIIth Century. + +Vellum, 9 2/10 x 7 1/10 inches, double columns of 52-53 lines. The +illuminated initial letters are unfinished. Brown leather binding. + +Presented to the Library in 1614 by Bassingbourne Throckmorton. + +Contains: Genesis--2 Chron. (imperfect), Proverbs--Ecclus. Then the +prologue to Wisdom and a small piece of the text of Wisdom repeated. +Matthew, 1 leaf of Mark. Philippians, Col. 1, 2 Thess. _Laodiceans_ +(apocryphal) 1, 2 Tim. Tit. Phil. Heb. Apoc. + +MEDICA. XIIIth century. + +Vellum, 7.5 x 5.5 inches, ff. 62, double columns of 40 lines, in a small +clear hand which Dr. James thinks may be South French. Initials in green +and red and blue. There is no binding; the first page is much soiled. + +Contains thirteen items: medical tracts, list of materia medica, etc. + +MANUALE. XVth century. + +Vellum, 9 7/8 x 7.25 inches, ff. 1 + 62 + 1, double columns of 27 lines, +early XVth century, well written. + +Original binding, white skin with circuit edge over wooden boards +bevelled at the edges; remains of two strap and pin fastenings. + +On the fly-leaf: John Kirkpatrick, Sept. 12, 1704. An old pressmark: 4to +K 147. An illegible (not early) note of price. + +The covers are lined with four half-leaves of a folio XVth century Missal +in double columns, with parts of the Offices for St. Thomas of Canterbury +and Sundays after Epiphany. At the end are bound in 7 smaller leaves of +paper on which Kirkpatrick (?) has carefully facsimiled alphabets and +abbreviations, and arranged the latter in alphabetical order. + +Contents: The occasional offices to be used by a priest, according to +Sarum use. The first page has a rather rough border in gold, red, and +blue, and an initial of the same. Other like initials head the principal +offices. + +BIBLE: GENESIS TO PSALMS. WYCLIFFE'S TRANSLATION. XVth century. + +Vellum, 17 2/10 x 12 inches, ff. 208 + 1, double columns of 59 lines. + +Original sides of brown leather have been laid down on modern binding; +ornamented in blind with rectangular panel formed by two roll stamps, +enclosing another panel formed by the same stamps. Illuminated page at +beginning of each book. + +It belonged to Sir James Boleyn of Blickling Hall, who died in 1561, and +was presented to the Library in 1692 by Richard Ireland. + +ASTROLOGICAL TRACTATES. XVth century. + +Paper, 5 3/4 x 4.5 inches, ff. 120, 32 lines to a page. In three hands; +clearly written. + +Original binding, wrapper of skin lined with linen. Contains thirteen +items: astrological treatises, tables, etc. + +PRECEDENTIA TEMPORE REGNI HEN. VIII. Circa 1500. + +Vellum, 11.5 x 8.5 inches, ff. 124 (imperfect, commences at f. 10), 37 +lines to a page. Rough calf binding. + +Book of Precedents of Royal Writs. + +SEARCH BOKE FOR LYNN, SWAFFHAM, WALSYNGHAM, AND FAKENHAM. XVIIth +century. + +Paper, 11 x 7.5 inches, ff. 81. Vellum binding. + +Alphabetical index of offenders at various sessions courts held at +Fakenham, Walsingham, Lynn and Swaffham, from 1651 to 1669. + +The early printed books in the Library include no less than twenty-eight +incunabula, four of these being from English presses, and two, the 1483 +"Scriptum super logica," printed at St. Albans, and the 1497 "Expositio +Hymnorum et Sequentiarum," printed by Pynson, are of great rarity. +Several of the incunabula are imperfect, but Mr. Alfred W. Pollard, M.A., +the Hon. Secretary of the Bibliographical Society and an eminent +authority on early printed books, very kindly identified them, and he +also undertook to edit the list of incunabula. To Mr. Pollard the +writer's thanks are tendered for the following annotated list, arranged +chronologically, and giving the place of printing and the name of the +printer:-- + + +WORKS REFERRED TO. + + +B.M. = Catalogue of Books printed in the XVth century now in the British +Museum. Parts 1-111. 1908-1913. + +Campbell. = Annales de la typographie neerlandaise au XVe siecle. Par M. +F. A. G. Campbell. 1874. + +Copinger. = Supplement to Hain's Repertorium Bibliographicum. By W. A. +Copinger. 1895-1902. + +Hain. = Repertorium bibliographicum in quo libri omnes ab arte +typographica inventa usque ad annum MD typis expressi ordine alphabetico +vel simpliciter enumerantur vel adcuratius recensentur. Opera Ludovici +Hain. 1826-1838. + +Proctor. = An Index to the Early Printed Books in the British Museum from +the invention of printing to the year MD. By Robert Proctor. 1898. + + + +INCUNABULA. + + +1480 COLOGNE. Conrad Winters de Homborch. + JACOBUS DE VORAGINE. Legenda Aurea. + Quarto. + B.M. p. 248 (IB. 4043). +1481 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger + NICOLAUS DE LYRA. Postillae super + Biblia cum additionibus Pauli + Burgensis. Folio. + Hain *10369. B.M. p. 419 (IC 898). +[1482, after July end] WESTMINTSER. Wm. Caxton. + HIGDEN, Ranulphus. Polychronicon. + Folio. + Blades 46. De Ricci no. 19, copy 38. + Imperfect at beginning and end. +[1483] [ST. ALBANS. Schoolmaster printer.] + ANDREAE, Antonius. Scriptum super + logica. Quarto. + Imperfect copies at Jesus College, + Cambridge, and Wadham College, + Oxford. +[About 1483-85.] LONDON. Wilhelmus de Machlinia. + ALBERTUS MAGNUS. Liber aggregationis + seu De virtutibus herbarum. Quarto. + Proctor 9770. +[1485?] LOUVAIN. Johannes de Westphalia. + [ROLEWINCK, Werner]. De Regimine + Rusticorum. Quarto. + Campbell *1480. Proctor 9274. +1487 VENICE. Georgius de Arrivabenis. + Biblia Latina. Quarto. + Hain *3099. Proctor 4912. +1490 STRASSBURG. [Printer of Jordanus de + Quedlinburg]. + Modus legendi abbreuiaturas in + utroque iure, etc. Folio. Hain + 11485. B.M. p. 140 (IB. 2030). +1491 MAINZ. Jacobus Meydenbach. + Hortus Sanitatis. Folio. + Hain *8944. B.M. p. 44 (IB. 343). + Imperfect, wanting seven leaves at + the end. +1492 PARIS. Antoine Caillaut. + GUILLERMUS PARISIENSIS. Super septem + sacramentis. Quarto. + ?Hain 8313. Not described. +1493 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger. + SCHEDEL, Hartmann. Liber Cronicarum. + Folio. + Hain *14508. B.M. p. 437 (1C. 7451). +1494 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger. + DURANTI, Guilelmus. Rationale + diuinorum officiorum. Quarto. + Hain *6497. B.M. p. 439 (IB. 7478). +1494 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger. + HEROLT, Joannes. Sermones de tempore + et de sanctis. Folio. + Hain *8504. B.M. p. 440 (IB. 7485). +1494 STRASSBURG. [Martin Flach]. + MARCHESINUS, Joannes. Mammotrectus + super Bibliam. Quarto. + Hain *10573. B.M. p. 153 (IA. 2184). +1495 PARIS. Jean Petit. + Postilles des dimenches et des festes + de lanee. Quarto. + Not described. +[1495?] VENICE. Bernardus Benalius. + TERTULLIANUS. Apologeticus aduersus + Gentes. Folio. Hain 15443. Proctor + 4899. +[About 1495] [FRANCE?] + BURLEY, Walter. De vita et moribus + philosophorum. Quarto. + Copinger 1387. Copy in University + Library, Cambridge. +1496 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger. + GREGORY IX. Decretales cum + summariis. Folio. + Hain *8034. B.M. p. 442 (IB. 7519). +1496 VENICE. Baptista de Tortis. + GREGORY IX. Decretales cum + summariis. Folio. + Hain *8035. Proctor 4656. +1497 BOLOGNA. Benedictus Hectoris Faelli. + PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA (Giov. Fran.). + De morte Christi, etc. Quarto. + Hain *13002. Proctor 6634. +1497 LONDON. Richard Pynson. + Expositio Hymnorum secundum usum + Sarum. + Expositio Sequentiarum secundum usum + Sarum. Quarto. + Other copies known are at the + Bodleian Library and St. John's + College, Oxford. +1497 NUREMBERG. Anton Koberger. + Biblia Latina cum postillis Nicolai + de Lyra et additionibus Pauli + Burgensis. Folio. + A complete copy has four parts. This + contains only the first and about + half of the second. Wrongly lettered + 1481. + Hain *3171. B.M. p. 443 (IB. 7535). +1497 VENICE. Simon Bevilaqua. + LACTANTIUS. De diuinis + institutionibus, etc. Folio. + Hain *9818. Proctor 5401. +1497 VENICE. Bonetus Locatellus for + Octavianus Scotus. + GUAINERIUS, Antonius. Practica. + Folio. + Hain *8099. Proctor 5076. +1498 etc. BASEL. Johann Froben & Johann Petri. + Biblia Latina cum glosa ordinaria et + expositione Nicolai de Lyra. Folio. + Hain *3172. B.M. p. 791 (IB. 37895). + Imperfect, wanting parts 3, 5 and 6. +1499 VENICE. Simon de Luere for Andreas + Torresanus. + BARTHOLOMAEUS MONTAGNANA. Consilia + medica. Folio. + Proctor 5622. +1499 STRASSBURG. Johannes Gruninger. + SIBYLLA, Bartholomaeus. Speculum + peregrinarum quaestionum. Quarto. + Hain *14720. B.M. p. 113 (IA. 1486). +1500 VENICE. Johann Emerich for L. A. + Giunta. + JOANNES FRANCISCUS BRIXIANUS. + Quattuor viuendi regulae. Quarto. + Hain *13827. Proctor 5504. + +In addition to the foregoing early printed books the Library includes +examples from the English presses of Wynkyn de Worde, Julian Notary, +Peter Treveris, Thomas Berthelet, Richard Grafton, John Day, Richard +Tottell, Christopher Barker, Robert Barker, John Norton (celebrated for +his magnificent edition of St. Chrysostom's Works in 8 vols., printed at +Eton, 1610-1612--a copy of which is in the Library--which T. B. Reed +described as "one of the most splendid examples of Greek printing in this +country"), Thomas Roycroft, etc. Continental typography is also +represented by specimens from many presses, including those of Jean du +Pre, Jodocus Badius Ascensius (Josse Bade of Asch), the Estiennes, the +Elzevirs, Christopher Plantin, John Koberger, H. Petrus, Peter Perna, +etc. + +Coming to early Norwich printed books there are unfortunately no examples +of the rare works from the first Norwich press set up about 1566 by +Anthony de Solemne or Solempne, whose first extant printed work is dated +1570, and whose last is dated 1579. The Library, however, possesses an +example from the press established by Francis Burges, who in 1701 styled +himself "the first printer in Norwich." It is a copy of Erasmus Warren's +"A Rule for Shewing Mercy," printed by F. Burges, and "sold by the widow +Oliver, Bookseller in Norwich, 1706." When Burges died in 1706 his +business was carried on by his widow, and the 1706 catalogue of the City +Library (see page 47) "Printed by Eliz. Burges, near the Red-Well," is a +specimen from her establishment. The press of Freeman Collins is +represented by Dean Prideaux's "The Original and Right of Tithes," +printed in 1710. The second catalogue of the City Library, printed in +1732, (see page 48) was printed by "William Chase, in the Cockey Lane," +who founded the _Norwich Mercury_. + +A perusal of the 1883 catalogue will shew that the Library had indeed "no +inconsiderable Collection of Divinity Book[s], for that time especially," +as was said by Brett in his Catalogue of 1706, and repeated by Mackerell. +There are sixteen printed Bibles and five New Testaments in the Library, +including the second and fourth of the great Polyglots, the Plantin +edition (1572) and Brian Walton's (1655-57), and the following English +versions: Matthew's Bible (1549), The Great Bible (1553), and the first +edition of the Geneva version (1560). It is curious that there should be +no copy of any edition of the Bishops' Bible. + +Most of the principal Fathers are represented by some of their writings. +Of the ante-Nicene Fathers there are writings by Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, +Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen and Cyprian, and of the +post-Nicene Fathers there are writings by Eusebius of Caesarea, Hilary of +Poitiers, Athanasius, Basil, Cyril of Jerusalem, Ambrose, Epiphanius, +Chrysostom, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory the Great, and John +of Damascus. + +The literature of the theological controversies which raged in the +sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the writings of the principal +theologians of those centuries are fairly well represented in the +Library. + +Belonging to the period of the Revival of Learning are Hugh Latimer's +"Frutefull Sermons" (1575) Cranmer's "Defence of the True and Catholike +doctrine of the sacrament of the body and bloud of our Savior Christ" +(London: R. Wolfe, 1550), Thomas Becon's Works (London: various dates), +and others. The theological literature of the Elizabethan period is +represented by such works as the "Ecclesiastical Polity" (London, 1622) +by Richard Hooker--that great champion of Anglicanism--and some of the +published writings of the famous controversy between Bishop Jewel and the +Roman Catholic Thomas Harding. + +The works of Dutch scholars of the first half of the seventeenth century, +when Dutch scholarship was the ripest in Europe, are represented by five +works of G. J. Vossius (a German by birth), including his valuable +"Historia Pelagiana" (Leyden, 1618), three works of Daniel Heinsius, and +five works of Hugo Grotius, the great Dutch jurist and theologian. The +latter include an edition of "De Jure Belli ac Pads" (Amsterdam, 1667), +which was translated into the principal European languages, and "De +veritate religionis Christiana" (Paris, 1640), a popular treatise which +became for a time the classical manual of apologetics in Protestant +colleges. + +The "Annales Ecclesiastici" of the Italian Cardinal, Caesar Baronius--of +which the Library has an edition in twelve volumes, (Cologne, 1609)--a +work characterized by great learning and research, greatly stimulated +Protestant study no less than it provoked criticism. Its most important +critic was Isaac Casaubon, who issued a fragment of the massive criticism +which he contemplated, "Exercitationes in Baronium." The Library has a +copy of the edition printed in Frankfort, 1615. + +The Jacobean period was "The Golden Age of the English Pulpit," the +period when sermons were extremely popular, and discharged, with the +playhouse, some of the functions of the modern newspaper. At this time +Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, who was eminent in the +capacities of prelate, preacher, and writer, was generally regarded as +the very "stella praedicantium." Of his published sermons the Library +now possesses "XCVI Sermons," 3rd ed. (London, 1635), and "Nineteen +Sermons concerning Prayer" (Cambridge, 1641). The most erudite of +theologians in this erudite time was James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, +described by Selden as "learned to a miracle." Of his works the Library +contains eight, including his "Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti" +(London, 1650), which is regarded as his most important production, and +his "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates" (London, 1687). + +Joseph Hall, Bishop and satirist, who took an active part in the Arminian +and Calvinistic controversy in the English Church, is of particular +interest to Norwich, of which he became Bishop in 1641. In the Library +are his "Works" (London, 1647), "Resolutions and Decisions of Cases of +Divers Practicall Cases of Conscience" (London, 1649) and "Remaining +Works" (London, 1660). Just before he came to Norwich he wrote "An +Humble Remonstrance to the High Court of Parliament" (1640), in which he +skilfully vindicated liturgies and episcopacy. This provoked an answer +by "Smectymnuus," the pseudonym of five puritan divines, the initials of +whose names made up the word. This "Answer" (2nd ed., London, 1654), a +subsequent "Vindication" in reply to the Bishop's "Defence" (London, +1641), and Milton's "Apology for Smectymnuus" (London, 1642) are all in +the Library. + +An important theologian in the Caroline period was Jeremy Taylor, whose +works are only represented by "The Great Exemplar of Sanctity" (London, +1667), "Ductor Dubitantium" (London, 1696), which is still the chief +English treatise on casuistry, and "A Collection of Polemical and Moral +Discourses" (London, 1657). The Library contains two editions of the +works (1683 and 1716) of Isaac Barrow, whom Charles II. described as "the +best scholar in England." Other eminent writers of this period +represented in the Library are Thomas Fuller, Richard Baxter, William +Chillingworth, Henry Hammond, who has been called "the Father of English +Biblical Criticism," Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, John Gauden, +Bishop of Worcester, and Bishop Pearson, a Norfolk man, whose famous +"Exposition of the Creed" (the Library has a copy of the 3rd edition, +1669), is a masterpiece of the doctrinal exposition of the time. + +The theological writers of the Augustan age are also fairly represented +in the Library. For example, there are three works by Gilbert Burnet, +Bishop of Salisbury, including a copy of his "Exposition of the +Thirty-Nine Articles" (London, 1700), which was for more than a century +as famous as Pearson's "Exposition of the Creed," and his "History of the +Reformation," 2 vols. (London, 1681-83); the works (6 volumes, London, +1710) of Edward Stillingfleet, called because of his personal beauty and +piety "the beauty of holiness"; the works (6th edition, London, 1710) and +"Sermons" of John Tillotson, who rose to be Archbishop of Canterbury as +much through the pulpit as through politics; the "Opera Omnia" of George +Bull (London, 1703), and others. + +Works of history, antiquities and travel form the class which is next in +importance and extent to the theological works. In proportion to the +size and character of the Library, the selection in this class is +moderately good. Most of the chief or popular English historians from +Matthew Paris to Strype and Dugdale are represented by some of their +works. There are, for example, Fabyan's Chronicle (London, 1559), Hall's +"Union of the . . . famelies of Lancastre and Yorke" (London, 1550), +Grafton's Chronicle (1569), Holinshed's Chronicles, first and second +editions (1577 and 1587), Stow's "Annales" (1615), Speed's "Theatre of +the Empire of Great Britaine" (1611), Camden's "Remains concerning +Britain" (1657), "History of Queen Elizabeth" (in "A Complete History of +England," London, 1706), "Annals of King James I.", and "Britannia", +(1695), Sir Thomas Smith's "Commonwealth of England" (1633), Foxe's +"Ecclesiasticall Historie" (1597), Sir Walter Raleigh's "History of the +World" (1676), {35} Rushworth's "Historical Collections" (1659), Bacon's +"Life of Henry VII." (in "A Complete History of England," London, 1706), +Herbert's "King Henry VIII." (in "A Complete History of England," London, +1706), Heylyn's "Cosmographie" (1669), Clarendon's "History of the +Rebellion" (odd vols. of the 1706 edition), Bulstrode Whitelocke's +"Memorials of the English affairs" (1682), Burnet's "History of the +Reformation" (1681-83), Strype's "Annals of the Reformation" (1709), +Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum" (odd vols.), and his "Antiquities of +Warwickshire" (1730), and Anthony a Wood's "Athenae Oxonienses" +(1691-92). + +Other historical and geographical works are Munster's "Cosmographiae +Universalis" (Basel, 1559), the first detailed, scientific and popular +description of the world; Foresti's "Supplementum Supplementi +Chronicarum" (Venice, 1506), a universal history written by an Italian +monk and historian; Lonicerus' "Chronicorum Turcicorum in quibus Turcorum +origo" etc. (Frankfort, 1578); and Braun and Hogenberg's "Civitates Orbis +Terrarum" (Cologne, 1577-88), containing the earliest general collection +of topographical views of the chief cities of the world, including one of +Norwich. + +The Rev. Joseph Brett in 1706 pointed out that the Library possessed +"very few Humanity Books, few or none of Law, Physick, Mathematicks, or +indeed of any science but Divinity," and it never became strong in these +subjects. It is weak in the ancient classics, but the following are some +of the authors represented: Aristotle, Cicero, Cornelius Nepos, Diogenes +Laertius, Euclid, Eutropius, Juvenal, Livy, Lucan, Plato, Pliny, +Plutarch, Seneca, Suetonius, and Tacitus. In English belles-lettres the +chief works are Chaucer's Works (London, 1721), Abraham Cowley's Works +(1668), Michael Drayton's "Poly-Olbion" (1613), Gower's "Confessio +Amantis" (London, 1554), and George Herbert's "The Temple and other +Sacred Poems" (1633). + +The outstanding scientific works are Sir Isaac Newton's "Opticks" (1704), +Burnet's "Theory of the Earth" (1691), The Grete Herball (London: Peter +Treveris, 1526), Walter Charleton's "Physiologia +Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana" (London, 1654) and his "OEconomia +Animalis" (London, 1659), J. B. Duhamel's "Elementa astronomica" +(Cambridge, 1665), Galileo's "Systeme of the World," transl. by T. +Salusbury (London, 1661), Gassendi's "Institutio astronomica" (London, +1653), Johannes de Sacro Bosco's "Opus sphericum" (Cologne, 1508), +Munster's "Rudimenta mathematica" (Basel, 1551), "Hortus Sanitatis" +(Mainz, 1491), vol. 3 of John Ray's "Historia Plantarum" (London, 1704), +and Thomas Willis' "Cerebri anatome" (London, 1664). + +The bias of local patriotism is declared by Mr. Havelock Ellis in his +"Study of British Genius" to be "an unfailing sign of intellectual +ill-breeding," notwithstanding which no apology is herein made for +drawing special attention to the fact that the Library includes some of +the writings of more than a score of authors--most of whom achieved some +eminence--who are connected with Norfolk or Norwich, either by birth or +residence. Taking the names in alphabetical order, the first of the +Norfolk men whose writings are represented is Thomas Becon or Beacon, who +took orders in 1538, and preached in Norfolk and Suffolk. The edition of +his "Works," is that printed by John Day [? 1560-64], containing a tract +on "The Common-places of Holy Scripture," dedicated "To my deare +countrymen and faythfull Ministers of Iesu Christ watching and attending +upon the Lordes flocke in the Parishes of Norfolke and Suffolke," dated +1562. Francis Blomefield's "History of the Ancient City and Burgh of +Thetford," printed at the author's residence at Fersfield in 1739, +contains a book-plate, apparently printed by the author, stating that the +book was presented to the City Library. Samuel Clarke, who was born at +Norwich in 1675, became chaplain to Bishop Moore of Norwich, and +afterwards rector of Drayton, is represented by his "Scripture-Doctrine +of the Trinity," 1712, and his Boyle lectures of 1704 and 1705, viz., +"Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God," 1705, and "Discourse +concerning the unchangeable obligations of Natural Religion," 1706. Of +the works of the great Sir Edward Coke, judge and law writer, who came of +an old Norfolk family, there are the "First Part of the Institutes of the +Lawes of England," 1629, and "Les Reports de Edward Coke . . . donnes . . . +per les judges, et sages de la ley," 11 vols. The "Scholastic History +of the Canon of the Holy Scripture" (London, 1684) is the only volume of +the works of John Cosin, Bishop of Durham, who was born at Norwich in +1594. In the preparation of this, his most elaborate and important work, +he injured his eyesight. Thornhagh Gurdon, a receiver-general for +Norfolk, who is included in Mr. Walter Rye's "Norfolk Families," and who +resided mostly at Norwich, presented a copy of the first edition of his +"History of the High Court of Parliament" (London, 1731). The only work +of Hamon Le Strange, a Norfolk historian and theologian, is "The Alliance +of Divine Offices" (London, 1690), in the preface of which he speaks of +having undergone an eight years' sequestration, apparently between +1643-1651. John Pearson, Bishop of Chester, whose "Exposition of the +Creed" has already been referred to, was born at Great Snoring on 28th +Feb., 1612/3. + +Again taking the names in alphabetical order, the first author who is +connected with the county by residence is Edward Boys, who became rector +of Mautby in 1639, where he died in 1667. Of his publications the +Library contains "Sixteen Sermons preached upon several occasions" +(London, 1672). William Bridge, whose "Works" (London, 1649) are in the +Library, was born at Cambridge, became rector of St. Peter Hungate, +Norwich, in 1636, and afterwards settled at Yarmouth. John Collinges, a +Presbyterian, who came to Norwich in 1646, published controversial and +devotional tracts and sermons. He is only represented by "A Short +Discourse against Transubstantiation" (London, 1675), and "On the +Intercourse of Divine Love" (1676), but the Local Collection of the +Public Library contains many of his writings. "The Notion of Schism" +(London, 1676) is the work of another parson who came to Norfolk, Robert +Connould, rector of Bergh Apton. John Graile, rector of Blickling, whom +Blomefield referred to as "This learned and pious pastor," presented to +the Library his "Youth's Grand Concern" (London, 1711) and "Sacra +Privata" (London, 1699). Reference has already been made to the works of +Bishop Hall (see p. 33). There are two volumes, "The Open Door for Man's +approach to God" (London, 1650) and "A Consideration of Infant Baptism" +(London, 1653), by John Horne, who was beneficed at All Hallows, King's +Lynn. John Jeffery, who was elected to the living of St. Peter Mancroft, +Norwich, in 1678, and became Archdeacon of Norwich in 1694, is +represented by "Select Discourses" (London, 1710), "Complete Collection +of Sermons and Tracts," 2 vols. (London, 1753), and "Forms of Prayer" +(1706). Dr. Peter de Laune, a minister of the French Church in Norwich +during the early years of the seventeenth century, presented to the +Library a copy of his translation of the English Prayer Book into French, +entitled "La Liturgie Angloise; ou, le livre des prieres publiques" +(London: John Bill, 1616). His name is not printed in the book, but the +copy in the Library bears on the title-page the following inscription +which was probably written by him: "Liber bibliothecae publicae +Nordouicensis ex dono doctoris Petri Launaei quo authore Anglicanae haec +ecclesiae liturgia facta est Gallicana." {38} This book is the first +French edition of the English Prayer Book entered in the Catalogue of the +British Museum. Francis Mason's "Vindiciae Ecclesiae Anglicanae," is the +work of an Archdeacon of Norfolk, who is remembered for his vigorous +defence of the authority of the church, which earned for him the title of +"Vindex Ecclesiae Anglicanae." Another preacher with the memorable title +"Apostle of Norwich," procured by a great reputation, was John More, +minister of St. Andrew's Church, Norwich, whose posthumous work "Table +from the Beginning of the World to this Day" (Cambridge, 1593) is in the +Library. "An Explanation of the Epistle of St. Jude" (London, 1633) is a +series of sermons preached in the parish church of North Walsham by +Samuel Otes, rector of South Repps, Norfolk, who was chaplain to the Lord +Chief Justice Hobart. Reference has already been made to the works of +Humphrey Prideaux, Dean of Norwich. Anthony Sparrow, Bishop of Norwich, +who was born in Suffolk, published "Rationale upon the Book of Common +Prayer" (London, 1661), which was often reprinted and is still of some +value, and a companion volume "Collection of Articles, Canons," etc. +(London, 1684). Last but not least to be mentioned is the "Increpatio +Barjesu" (London, 1660) of Matthew Wren, who was successively Bishop of +Hereford, Norwich and Ely. It is a volume of polemical interpretations +of Scripture, in reply to the Racovian catechism--a copy of which was in +the Library--written during the author's imprisonment in the Tower, and +edited by his son Matthew. + +Many of the books have autographs of their former owners, and some have +inscriptions and annotations. Edward Lhuyd's "Archaeologica Britannica" +contains some notes made by George Borrow, who also wrote an English +translation of some Arabic in Thomas Erpenius' "Grammatica Arabica." The +second folio of the "Golden Legend" (1503) bears the signature of Thomas +Kirkpatrick, and the first fly-leaf has the following inscription: "This +book was given to the Publick Library of the City of Norwich, A.D. 1728, +by Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick, merchant there, and was bound at the expence +of Isaac Preston, Esq., 1742, that it might the better be preserv'd being +an Authentick & antient Evidence of the extravagant Foppery and +Superstition of the Church of Rome, & of the necessity of the +Reformation. Vide the Commandments page ye 20th in the life of Moses." + +An interesting request from Archbishop Wake for the loan of a Prayer +Book, which was not returned, is recorded in the Minute Book under date +February 2nd, 1718/9: "This day a Book wch has for some years been lodged +in ye Library of ye City entituled--The Book of Common-prayer & +Administration of ye Sacraments & other Rights & Ceremonies of the Church +of England, printed at London by Robert Barker, 1632--Wherein are several +Marginal Notes in Writing done by ye order of King Charles ye first was +delivered to Mr Brand of this city Clerke to be by Him transmitted to the +Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He having requested the said Book might be sent +to Him." A memorandum against this entry reads: "The order of the Court +dated Jan. 28, 1718, and enter'd in this book was alter'd May ye ninth +1719, and ye Common prayer book there nam'd deliver'd by Mr. Mott yn +Mayor to Dr. John Clark to be by Him sent to ye A: Bp: of Canterbury." +The Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (the Very Rev. Thomas B. Strong, D.D.), +after receiving a copy of the foregoing quotation, examined the Prayer +Books in the Wake Collection at Christ Church, and found one which +answers to the description. He has kindly consented to the publication +of the following quotation from his correspondence thereon: "I took the +book to the Bodleian Library yesterday; and Dr. Craster (the +Sub-Librarian), who is an expert in these matters, has verified the facts +for me. The book is a quarto book, 'printed by Robert Barker, Printer to +the King's Most Excellent Majesty and by the assignees of John Bull, +1632.' There are no marks of any kind in the book except the mark K11 (I +suppose a shelf-mark {40}) on the inside of the cover. It is bound in +limp vellum. A blank sheet of paper has been cut out in front of the +title-page. On the page opposite the beginning of the Morning Prayer, +and under the Ornaments Rubric, there is the signature of Charles I. +Under the signature is the following note, in a clear and formal hand, +which Dr. Craster has proved to be the handwriting of Archbishop Laud's +secretary:-- + + 'I gave the Arcbbp. of Canterburye comand to make the Alterations + expressed in this Booke, and to fitt a Liturgy for the Church of + Scotland. And whersoever they shall differ from another Booke signed + by Us at Hampt. Court September 28, 1634, Our pleasure is to have + these followed rather than the former, unless the Archbp. of St. + Andrews, and his Brethren who are upon the place, shall see apparent + reason to the contrary. At Whitehall Apr. 19, 1636.' + +The same hand has made various alterations in the book; and has written +the collect for Easter Even, which appeared first in the Scottish +Prayer-Book of 1637, in its place. The remaining notes and alterations +are in the hand of Archbishop Laud. The 1637 edition of the Scottish +Prayer-Book follows exactly, as far as I have been able to verify them, +all the notes in the book. One note is perhaps worth mentioning. In the +Quicunque, the verse, 'He therefore that will be saved must thus think of +the Trinity,' is altered as follows: 'He therefore that would be saved, +let him thus think'; and this alteration appears in the 1637 book." + +A fair number of the books are still in their original bindings or have +been so rebound that their original covers have been preserved. Of these +most are ornamented in "blind," i.e., impressed with tools or panel +stamps without being gilt or coloured, but a few have centre-pieces in +gold. A few examples may be noted. In the early Tudor period panel +stamps with heraldic or pictorial designs were frequently used by English +and foreign binders practising their craft in England. A number of +English binders adorned their books with a pair of large heraldic panel +stamps, the different binders making slight variations in the designs. A +fairly good example of a binding stamped with two such panels is that of +a copy of "Anticella cum quamplurimis tractatibus superadditis," (Venice, +1507) in the Library, which has had its original covers repaired and laid +down again. The lower cover shows the arms of Henry VIII. (France and +England) supported by two angels; the upper cover has a large Tudor rose +surrounded by two ribbons, supported by two angels, and bearing the +distich: + + Hec rosa virtutis de celo missa sereno + Eternum Florens regia sceptra feret + +which has been rendered: + + Virtue's a rose, which born of heaven's clear ray + Shall ever flourish and bear kingly sway. + +In the upper left-hand corner of the panel is the cross of St. George on +an escutcheon, and in the right-hand corner the arms of the city of +London, indicating that the binder was a citizen. Underneath the rose is +the mark of the London binder, G.G., who was one of the noteworthy +binders to use these panel stamps at the beginning of the sixteenth +century. + +Several of the bindings are adorned with rectangular panels formed by +fillets and bands, the enclosed space being divided, after the German +system, into lozenge-shaped compartments. Two such examples are the +following. The first is the binding of "Cathena aurea super Psalmos ex +dictis sanctorum" (Paris: Jehan Petit, 1520). The rectangular frame is +formed by vertical and horizontal three-line fillets, and adorned with a +roll-stamp representing a hound, a falcon, and a bee, amid sprays of +foliage and flowers. Above the hound is the binder's mark composed of +the letters I.R, i.e., John Reynes, a notable London binder of the +earlier part of the 16th century. The enclosed panel is divided by +three-line fillets, forming four lozenge-shaped and eight triangular +compartments stamped with a foliated ornament. The second example is the +binding of an edition in Latin of Plato's Works, printed by Jodocus +Badius Ascensius in 1518. The rectangular frame is formed by parallel +vertical and horizontal fillets intersecting each other at right-angles, +and adorned with a roll-stamp representing a portcullis, a pomegranate, a +griffin, a Tudor rose, a hound, and a crown. The enclosed panel is +divided by diagonal three-line fillets forming four lozenge-shaped and +eight triangular compartments, stamped with foliated ornaments. The +Library now contains about 2,000 volumes. + + + +THE LIBRARIANS. + + +When the Library was organised in 1656 it was made a condition of +membership that being duly chosen thereto a member should discharge the +office of Library-Keeper "not above once in seaven yeares." The +Library-Keeper elected in that year was Mr., afterwards Dr., John +Collinges, a well-known Presbyterian divine, who was a prolific writer +and a keen controversialist. Apparently the office was to be held for a +year, and the first three Library-Keepers held the office for that +period, but afterwards the usual period was two years. The Minute Book +records the appointment of the following thirty-six Library Keepers who +held office during the years 1656 to 1731: John Collinges, 1656-57; John +Whitefoote, 1658-59;--Harmar, 1660-61; George Cock, 1662;--Smith, 1664; +Thomas Morley, 1667; Ben Snowden, 1669;--Norgate, 1671: [Benedict] +Rively, 1673; [Jo:] Watson, 1675; Dr. Jon Elsworth, 1677; [Thomas] Studd, +1679; [William] Cecil, 1681; John Whitefoote, the younger, (Mr. Painter +was chosen but declined to serve), 1682; [John] Jeffery, [Archdeacon of +Norwich] 1683; [Jo:] Shaw, 1685-86; John Pitts, 1687-89; [W.] Adamson, +(Burges was chosen but declined to serve), 1690-91; [John] Graile, 1692; +[John] Richardson, 1694-96; [Joseph] Ellis, 1696-97; [Isa:] Girling, +1698; [Tho:] Clayton, 1699; [John] Barker, 1700; [Edward] Riveley, 1702; +[Joseph] Brett, 1704; [John] Havett, 1706-07; [W.] Herne, 1708-09; [Sam:] +Jones, 1710-11; [Francis] Fayerman, 1712; [Sam: or John] Clark, 1713-14; +[John] Brand, 1715-16; [Sam.] Salter, 1719;--Morrant, (John Fox was +chosen but declined to serve), 1722-23; Benjamin Mackerell, 1724-31; +William Pagan, 1731. Benjamin Mackerell, who held the office from 1724 +to 1731, is the best-known of the Library-Keepers. He wrote a History of +King's Lynn, which was published in the year of his death, 1738, and +several works relating to Norwich, which are still in manuscript; Mr. +Gordon Goodwin, the writer of his biography in the "Dictionary of +National Biography," says Mackerell was "an accurate, painstaking +antiquary, and left work of permanent value." Although he compiled the +second edition of the catalogue during his extended tenure of office, his +services were either not appreciated, or the members thought that the +rule regarding the period of office should not be indefinitely ignored, +for on December 6th, 1731, the following memorandum was made: "It was +then Order'd by the psons whose Names are above written that Peter Scott +wait upon Mr. Mackerell, Library Keeper, and desire him to meet them the +next Library day; they intending to proceed to the Election of a new one +The time for such Election being long since lapsed." + +The office of Library Keeper was an honorary one, a condition that agrees +with the opinion expressed by John Dury in his "Reformed Librarie-Keeper" +published in 1650, but it is doubtful whether the Library Keepers +fulfilled all his other qualifications: "His work then is to bee a Factor +and Trader for helps to Learning, and a Treasurer to keep them, and a +dispenser to applie them to use, or to see them well used, or at least +not abused." {43} The duties of the Library Keeper appear to have +included general responsibility for the Library, the cataloguing of the +Library, and the recording of the donations in the Vellum Book provided +for the purpose. To relieve the Library Keeper of the routine part of +his charge, an Under Library Keeper was appointed from time to time. The +sixth condition to which members had to subscribe from 1656 included a +promise to "pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of ye said Library +quarterly." This "proportion" was 12d. upon admission, and 12d. +quarterly, and was the Under-Library-Keeper's remuneration for services +rendered. This payment was still in force when the regulations were +revised in 1732, and were specifically provided for in the first +"Article." The Minute Book constantly records payments of arrears due to +the Under Library Keeper, showing that many of the Members were very +dilatory in their payments. Some of the Library Keepers were also +dilatory in their repayments to him of incidental expenses. On April +1st, 1690, a memorandum was made "That Mr. Pitts is this day discharged +from ye office of Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye +under=Library=Keeper for his 2 years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink, +& paper, nine shillings," and on Feb. 16th, 1699, it was recorded that +the Library Keeper, "Mr. Girling owe to the vnder libarey keeper for +three years and A half Fourten shillings 00ll-14s-00d." + +Provision was made for relieving members from the obligation to assume +the office in their turn, upon payment of a fine. On March 6th, 1682/3 +"Mr. Painter being chosen Library keeper for this yeare desired upon the +paymt of 20sh to the use of the library according to the order in that +case made to be excused and he was dismissed from his office, and Mr. +John Whitefoot the younger was chosen library keeper for the same yeare +in his stead." + +The Library was under the care of William Sayer, the Librarian of the +"Public Library," from 1801 to 1805, when it was committed to the custody +of the Steward. The Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library" +in 1815, and came under the care of its librarian Richard Langton, until +1833, when he was succeeded by Edward Langton, who retained the office +until the Library was housed at the Free Library in 1862. Henceforth the +books came under the charge of the following Librarians to the +Corporation for the periods stated: Mr. George Harper, 1862-76, Mr. +George Easter, 1877-1900, Mr. J. Geo. Tennant, 1901-11, and Mr. Geo. A. +Stephen, 1911-. + + + +DONATION BOOK AND CATALOGUES. + + +The first reference in the Minute Book to a catalogue is under date 8th +June, 1657: "The library keeper this day brought in catalogues of the +books wch were affixed. Sixpence was ordered to bee given to a boy for +pasting up the Catalogues." It may perhaps be assumed that these +catalogues were written lists which were displayed in the Library. + +At the meeting on Jan. 11th, 1657, an order was given for "a book +consisting of 3 qrs of thick venice paper, to be bound up to make a book +to contain Catalogues of the bookes in the library," and "Mr. Collinges +was desired to keep the office of library keeper untill the aforesaid +book be bought and the Catalogues made." + +On Dec. 13th, 1658 "The library keeper brought in a paper book ruled +containing a Classicall and an alphabetical catalogue of all ye bookes in +the library" . . . "He further informed them that hee had laid out 3s for +paper and 4s. for ye ruling & binding ye said book, in all 7s wch is more +then he received 2s 10d. That he had procured 2 catalogues to be wrote +in it fairly, that for ye catalogue of Comentators it was begun & should +before ye next meeting be pfected by his own hand." This book has +fortunately been preserved, and is in good state. It is a folio volume, +measuring 13.5 by 9.5 inches, and is in three sections. The first +section is a classified catalogue of the books on the east side of the +Library, which were arranged in two groups of sizes, (1) Folio, divided +into ten classes, and (2) Quarto and Octavo, divided into four classes. +At first an attempt was made to classify the books according to subjects, +the classification of the folios being I Bibles; II and III Old +Commentaries, etc.; IVa Theology, IVb History; V Canon Law; VI The +Fathers; VII Lexicons, Dictionaries, etc.; VIII Reformation Commentaries; +IX Ecclesiastical History; X Miscellaneous. The four classes in the +quarto and octavo section were not grouped according to subjects. A +heading was started in the catalogue for a classification of the books on +the west side, but that part of the work was not done. The second +section is an author catalogue of the books with two columns, the numbers +in the first column denoting the class and those in the second the book. +The third section of the catalogue, ruled in double columns, has a +heading in Latin, to this effect: "Catalogue of the authors whose books +are to be found in the Library of Norwich, who either illustrated the +whole book of Sacred Scripture or any part of it with their most +illuminating annotations or commentaries. The column towards the left +indicates the authors who have written on the whole Book, the other +indicates those who have written on any part of it." Following the names +of the authors are the class and book numbers. + +At the meeting on July 11th, 1659, "The library keep brought in a +Catalogue of the bookes & Benefactors names fairly written in a parchment +booke; For the wrighting wherof hee pd to the cleark 7s; For the repaymt +of wch monye it was aggreed every minister should pay viijd: wch monye +was paid by as many as were then present." This catalogue or "Donation +Book" is a folio volume measuring 14 3/4 by 9.5 inches, and is bound in +rough calf, with three small brass clasps. Later, in the Minute Book it +is generally referred to as the Vellum Book. In it are entered in +chronological order the names of the donors, the date of each gift, brief +author and title entries of the books, and frequently their date and +place of publication. The entries are all very clearly written, from the +date of the first donation in 1608, the year of inauguration, to 1737. +Facsimiles of the title-page, with the initials "J.S." in the lower +corners, and two typical pages face this page. The lettering of these +pages is characteristic of the period, and shows the decadence of the art +of manuscript writing. + + [Picture: The Vellum Book. Title-page and two other pages of the + Donation Book begun in 1659] + +In the "Extracts from the Court Books of the City of Norwich, 1666-1688," +edited by Mr. Walter Rye, there is one on Jan. 15, 1669, stating that +"Mr. Thos. Morly, clerk, keeper of the Library of the City, brought in a +catalogue of all the books there," but there is no reference to this in +the Library Minute Book. On January 12th, 1673, however, the ministers +"did appoynt yt Mr Norgate should agt their next meeting bring in a +Catalogue of the Bookes to be dd to the Court and yt he shall see yt the +Bookes given to the Library in his time be fayrely written in the +Vellam-booke appoynted to yt purpose." It is evident, therefore, that +reports regarding the stock of books had to be made to the Court. + +The first printed catalogue was an author catalogue, with brief +particulars of about 923 volumes, and was printed in 1706/7. On December +3rd, 1706, it was "Ordered then that ye Alphabeticall Catalogue of ye +City Library be printed by the Widow Burges," and on February 4th, +1706/7, when Joseph Brett was Library Keeper he "brought in the Catalogue +of Books, printed, wch cost two pds sixteen shillings & three pence & he +was allow'd also a shilling for printing an advertisement." This +catalogue, which is exceedingly scarce, {47} is entitled "A Catalogue of +the Books in the Library of the City of Norwich in the year 1706." It is +a crown 8vo volume, consisting of 38 pages. The catalogue proper is +preceded by an alphabetical list of the benefactors to the Library, +giving the dates of their donations, and abbreviations of their surnames, +(e.g., Ad. for Adamson, All. for Allen). The entries in the catalogue +are extremely brief, and frequently occupy only one line. Each entry is +preceded by an abbreviation for the author's name, and is followed by the +class and book numbers. + +In the preface it was confessed that while the catalogue would be useful +to the members of the Library, the "great motive, and main end of +Publishing this Catalogue was to encourage donations to the Library." +Possessors of the catalogue were recommended to interleave it with "spare +paper, on which may be added such books as shall be given, it may serve +for many Years, even till the number of Books here be doubled, which +when, (as is greatly to be wished for) it shall be, a new Edition of the +Catalogue may be expected." + +The cost of the catalogue involved the members in debt. Under the date +May 2nd, 1709, in the Minute Book is the following memorandum: "It is +this day Agreed by us whose Names are underwritten yt ye fourteen +shillings & three pence now paid by Mr Herne the present library keeper +to Mr Joseph Brett to clear his disbursemts for catalogus &c for ye +service of ye Library shal be repaid ye said Mr Herne by the succeeding +Library keeper upon his Election unles paid before." A further +memorandum dated May 6th, 1709, shows that a book was sold to raise the +money: "Recd of the Under-library keeper Fourteen Shillings for Sr Waltr +Raileigh: A super-numerary book sold to Mr. Lillington by order of the +Society which is towds ye discharge of the above sd 14s 3d paid to Mr. +Brett by me. W. Herne." + +The second edition of the author catalogue was compiled by Benjamin +Mackerell, the late Library Keeper, and published in 1732, the preface +being dated April 15th, 1732. Mackerell closely followed the plan of the +previous catalogue, using part of the preface for his "Dedication" "To +the Right Worshipful Robert Marsh, Esqr; Mayor, The Worshipful The +Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Norwich." The +entries are limited to one line each, and there is a column showing the +sizes. The catalogue consisting of 54 printed pages, and measuring 8.5 +by 6.5 inches, is entitled "A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick +Library of the City of Norwich, in the year 1732, to which is added, An +Account of the Orders prescribed by the Court and Common Council for the +regulation of the same, together with an account of Mr. John +Kirkpatrick's Roman and Other Coins," printed by William Chase, in the +Cockey Lane. Neither of the two copies of this catalogue in the Library +contains the account of Kirkpatrick's coins, and Mr. F. Kitton, the +compiler of the 1883 catalogue, had not seen a copy containing it. As +all the pages of the catalogue except the last one have a catchword it is +reasonable to assume that the account of the coins was not included. + +The next catalogue was published in 1817 as a supplement to that of the +"Public Library" where the City Library was housed. Unfortunately the +present writer has been unable to trace a copy of this catalogue, which, +however, is recorded in Samuel Woodward's "Norfolk Topographer's Manual," +1842: "A Catalogue of Books belonging to the Norwich City Library, which, +by permission of the Corporation, are now deposited in the Norwich +Public-Library Room; 35 pp., 8 vo. Norwich (1817)." This catalogue, +according to a paragraph in the Catalogue of the Public Library, 1825, +had an "alphabetical arrangement, in divisions of languages and sizes." +Perhaps this catalogue served as the "copy" for the catalogue of the City +Library which is printed at the end of the "Second Catalogue of the +Library of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution," 1825, pp. +105-137, as its arrangement is by languages and sizes. This arrangement +not being "calculated to be conveniently accessible" it was deemed +advisable by the Committee of the Public Library that "it should be +subjected to the same scientific arrangement as the books which are the +property of the Public Library; and in order to prevent the obvious +inconvenience of two references, the Committee have included both sets of +works under the same arrangement, distinguishing those which are the +property of the Corporation . . . by a prominent and appropriate +designation," i.e., the letters C. L. in black letter. This catalogue is +a classified catalogue with the following nine classes, seven of which +are subdivided, and the arrangement in each class is alphabetical by +authors' names: I. Theology; II. Ethics, Metaphysics, and Logic; III. +Sciences and the Arts; IV. Jurisprudence, Government, and Politics; V. +History and Biography; VI. Geography, Topography, Voyages and Travels; +VII. Polite Literature and Philology; VIII. Poetry and Dramatic Works, +Novels and Romances; IX. Transactions of Literary and Scientific +Societies, Reviews, Magazines and Reports. + +A new edition of the Public Library Catalogue was published in 1847, the +arrangement being the same as in the preceding one. + +The Library books having been repaired in 1879 and 1880, the City +Committee decided in 1882 to issue a new catalogue, with the view of +making the books accessible to the citizens. The work of compiling the +catalogue was entrusted to Mr. Frederic Kitton, Hon. F.R.M.S., an eminent +microscopist of his day, who resided in Norwich for many years, but who +apparently had no bibliographical knowledge or library experience. This +appointment was made in the days when it was the common fashion to regard +the work of compiling a library catalogue as within the capacity of any +intelligent person; whereas there are, in fact, many rules to be +observed, and much practical experience is necessary if the thousand and +one pitfalls which beset the path of the cataloguer are to be avoided. +The catalogue {50a} was on much more ambitious lines than its +predecessors, and the compiler claimed to "have carefully copied the +title pages, retaining their abbreviations, antique spelling, +inaccuracies, or other peculiarities." An examination of it, however, +shows that it abounds in inaccuracies, and exhibits most of the errors +that can be made in an author catalogue. A catalogue of the City Library +compiled in accordance with modern bibliographical practice is still a +desideratum. + + + +THE QUARTERS OF THE LIBRARY. + + +The first home of the Library, as stated on page 4, was parcel of the +dwelling house of Jerrom Goodwyne, the sword-bearer of the City. This +house was built over the south porch of the Church of the Black Friars, +now known as St. Andrew's Hall, which had been acquired by the City at +the Dissolution. It is clearly shewn in the frontispiece, which is a +reproduction of Daniel King's engraving of Black Friars' Hall, probably +executed about 1650. The Local Collection contains two copies of the +engraving which have different plate numbers: one, numbered 78, is from +the edition of Dugdale's "Monasticon" published in 1718, but the book +from which the other one, numbered 50, was taken, has not been traced. + +Writing in 1857 Henry Harrod remarked that "If the view engraved by King +correctly represents this house, it was by no means an ornamental +feature; still it was as good as the far more pretentious structure which +has replaced it." {50b} + +In regard to the building of this house Kirkpatrick gives an extract from +a record of 34th Henry VIII, showing that the city granted to John Kempe, +the chaplain, "in consideration that he, of his benevolence hath bestowed +about the buylding of a lodgyng with three chambers, over the porch of +the house, late the black friars, now the common hall of the city, and on +either side of the same porch, above sixty pounds;--that, therefore, the +said J. Kempe shall have the same lodgyng, with the office called the +_Chapleyn of the Chappell_, belonging to the said hall called, _St. +John's Chapel_, with all the oblacions; also, liberty of the garden and +yard called the prechyng-yard." {51} + +The first of the few entries in the Minute Book regarding the library +rooms shows that the books were not too well protected from the elements, +for on 10th August, 1657, "Mr. Collinges gaue an acct of 1s. laid out for +coale and wood for the drying of ye bookes harmed by ye raine." + +From the instructions, in Latin, to the Librarian which are set out in +the classified and alphabetical catalogue of 1658 we learn that the +library was arranged in two parts, East and West, and that the books were +classified. "On the East part the treasury of the books is double, major +and minor. The larger part is divided into ten classes folio. The +smaller has only four classes of books in 4to and 8vo. The numbering of +all classes must always be begun from the bottom. On the West part the +treasury of books is single, arranged in five larger classes. Here the +number must always be reckoned from the top." + +In 1664 the development of the Library necessitated the enlargement of +the accommodation, and on 11th July "All the minrs. present agreed in a +petition to ye Mayr Sherriffs Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for ye +addition of a roome to ye library, and ye better shelving of it. They +further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present ye petition +to ye Comon Councell at their next assembly. Mr. Chamberlain hauing +first viewed ye roome & computed ye charge." On the 12th January 1673 +the members decided to petition the Court for removing some wainscot +doors, and on March 9th it was recorded that by order of the Court of +Assembly "we haue also leaue to take downe ye waynscott Doores wch now +conceale the Bookes." + +The Library was removed about 1801, when it was lent to the "Public +Library" (see p. 13), to a building formerly a Roman Catholic Chapel, in +what is now St. Andrew's Street, which afterwards became a portion of the +old Museum Building, now the offices of the Norwich Guardians. In 1835 +the City Library, still on loan to the "Public Library," went with it to +its new building in the Market Place opposite the north door of the +Guildhall, on the site of its successor, the present Norfolk and Norwich +Subscription Library. The City Library returned to the direct control of +the Corporation in 1862, and was housed in the present Public Library +building then recently erected. + + DONATIONS TO THE CITY LIBRARY, 1608-1737. + (_Extracted from the Vellum Book_.) + + +DATE. DONOR. VOLS. +1608 Pettus, Sir John, 15 + Knt., Alderman of + Norwich +1608 Downing, Mrs. 3 + Susannah, wife of + Alderman George + Downing +1609 Corye, Mr. Thomas, 10 + Merchant +1609 Hirne, Sir Thomas, 12 + Knt. +1609/10 Corbett, Thomas, Esq. 6 +1609/10 Doyly, Henry, Esq. 2 +1610 Doyly, Charles, Gent. 11 +1610 Sedgwick, Robert, 12 + Merchant +1610 Peade, Michael, 2 + Notary Public and + Registrar to the + Archdeacon of Norwich +1610 Mingay, John, Gent. 2 +1610 Pettus, Augustine, 4 + Son and heir of the + said [Sir] John + [Pettus] + Howlett, Laurence, 1 + S.T.B., Minister of + St. Andrew's +1611 Newhowse, Thomas, 4 + A.M., & Minister of + God's Word +1611 Hannam, William, 3 + Gent., A.M. +1612/3 Garsett, Robert, Esq. 7 +1613 Blowe, Joanna, widow 4 +1613 Thurston, Hamond, 3 + Merchant +1613 Peckover, Mathew, 3 + late Sheriff of + Norwich +1614 Launey, Peter, 2 + Minister of the + Walloon Church [in + Norwich] + Wells, William, 5 + Theologiae + Baccalaureus + Throkmorton, 2 + Bassingbourne +1614 Cropp, John, 4 + Physician and Surgeon + Bird, Henry 1 +1615 Ross, Richard, Gent., 1 + late Sheriff of + Norwich +1614 Barbar, Gabriel, 11 + Gent., in the name of + the Society of + Virginia +1616/7 Nutting, Edward, late 5 + Sheriff of Norwich +1616/7 Batho, William, B.T. 1 +1617 Anguish, John, Gent., 7 + and Citizen +1617 Anguish, Edmund, 9 + Gent. +1617 Catelyn, Thomas, Esq. 7 + Corbett, Anne, widow 1 + of Thomas Corbett, + Esq. +1618 Atkins, Thomas, 5 pounds and 7 + Merchant, Norwich +1621 Scottowe, Augustine 17 + Gallard, Robert, 1 + formerly minister of + St. Andrew's +1625/6 Page, Francis 1 +1628 City of Norwich 1 + Remington, Nathaniel, 4 + Alderman [of Norwich] +1631 Borage, John 7 +1633 Chapman, Samuel, 2 + Merchant +1633 Barret, Thomas, 2 + Merchant +1634 Mingay, Antony, Gent. 11 + Mingay, Mrs., Widow 7 +1634 Freeman, John Map of Canaan +1634 Blosse, Prudence, 8 + Widow, Relict of + Alderman T. Blosse + Chappell, John, 4 + S.T.B., Minister of + St. Andrew's +1658 Payne, Joseph, 20 pounds and 1 + Alderman [afterwards + Sir] + Thornback, John, 1 + Minister of St. + Andrew's + Stinett, William, 7 + S.T.B., Rector of St. + John Maddermarket +1658/9 Collinges, John, 1 pounds and 6 + S.T.: Dr. +[1657] Whitefoote, John, 4 + Rector of Heigham, + next Norwich +1659 Brooke, Thomasine, 29 {53a} + Widow & Relict of Wm. + Brooke, Gent. +[1659] Allen, Thomas 1 +[1659/60] City of Norwich 6 +1661 Payne, Sir Joseph, 16 + Knt., late Mayor of + this City + Scottowe, Augustine, 7 {53b} + Merchant. +[1661] Smyth, John, Rector 1 + of St. Michael + Coslany +[1661] Barret, Thomas 5 {53c} +1662 Norris, Francis, 14 + Citizen and Alderman + [of Norwich] +[1664] Morley, Thomas, 2 + Curate of St. Peter + Hungate +1664 Mann, John, Citizen 38 + and Alderman [of + Norwich] +1665 Fromentell, Samuel, 1 + Citizen +1666 Meene, Joshua, 3 + formerly Curate of + St. Peter Per + Moutergate +1666 Browne, [Sir] Thomas, 9 + Professor of Medicine +1668 and 1673 Oliver, William, 2 + Bookseller +1673 Cock, George, Curate 18 + of St. Peter of + Mancroft +1671-1676 Barnham, John, 5 + Citizen +1673 Norris, Anthony, 3 + Merchant of Norwich +[1674] Ellsworth, John, 2 + Physician +[1674/5] Tenison, Thomas, 5 + S.S.T.B. [afterwards + Archbishop of + Canterbury] +1674 Cock, Nathaniel, 33 {53d} + Merchant of London +1676 [Reynolds,] Edward, 24 + [D.D.] Bishop of + Norwich +1678 Watson, John, Vicar 2 + of Wroxham +1678 Clarke, Samuel, 1 + Rector of Rainham +1681 Gardiner, Francis, 2 + Citizen and Alderman + [of Norwich] +[1681] Nurce, William, Clerk 2 +[1681/2] Prideaux, Humphrey, 1 pounds {54a} and 1 + S.T.P., and + Prebendary + [afterwards Dean of + Norwich] +1691 Adamson, William, 2 + Rector of St. John in + Maddermarket +1678 Brigges, Augustine, [10] {54b} + Citizen and Alderman + [of Norwich] + Wisse, Thomas, + Citizen and Alderman + [of Norwich] Church, + Bernard, Citizen and + Alderman [of Norwich] +1696 Penning, Benjamin, 1 + A.M., and Rector of + St. Clement's, + Norwich +1692 Ireland, Richard, His Library + formerly Rector of + Beeston and sometime + also of St. Edmond's, + Norwich, where he was + born +1700 Adamson, William, 3 shelves of books + Rector of St. John's + Maddermarket +1704 Trimnell, Dr., 3 + Archdeacon of + Norfolk, and + Prebendary of Norwich + [afterwards Bishop of + Norwich] +1704 Gardiner, Stephen, 1 + Esq., Recorder of + this City +1706 Gurdon, Thornaugh, 2 + Esq., [Letton] +1706 Resbury, Benjamin, 1 + Rector of Cranworth + cum Letton +1706 Adams, Archibald 1 +1706 Moore, John, [D.D.], 3 + Lord Bishop of + Norwich +1706/7 Tanner, Thomas, D.D., 5 + Chancellor of Norwich + [afterwards Bishop of + St. Asaph] +1706/7 Bacon, Waller, Esq. 1 +1706/7 Beverley, Michael, 8 + Esq., Citizen and + Alderman of Norwich +1707 Potts, Algernon, Esq. 1 + [of Norwich] +1707 Nelson, Thomas, 3 + Rector of Morston, in + Norfolk +1707 Cook, Sir William, 9 + Bart. +1707 Eden, Henry, Fellow 4 + of Trinity College, + Cambridge +1707 Laughton, John, 4 + Trinity College, + Cambridge, and + Library Keeper to the + University +1707 Rudd, Edward, Fellow 3 + of Trinity College, + Cambridge + Bradshaw, Samuel, 1 + A.B., Trinity + College, Cambridge + Granger, Gilbert, 1 + A.B., Trinity + College, Cambridge + Snow, Matthew, 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge + Chamberlain, William, 1 + Fellow of Trinity + College, Cambridge + Bourchier, Ralph, 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge + Cotes, Roger, Fellow 3 + of Trinity College, + Cambridge + Eusden, Lawrence, of 5 + Trinity College, + Cambridge + Smith, Edward, of 3 + Trinity College, + Cambridge + Fleming, David, A.B., 1 + of Trinity College, + Cambridge +[1707/8] Ganning, Nathaniel, 1 + Rector of + Reyme[r]ston, in + Norf. +1708 Doyly, Samuel, Fellow 1 + of Trinity College, + Cambridge + Farewell, Mr. [of 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge] + Andrews, Mr., [of 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge] + Foulis, [J.] Mr. [of 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge] + Hill, Mr., Fellow of 1 + Trinity College, + Cambridge +[1708] Lightwin, John, 2 + President of Caius + College, Cambridge +1708 Gurdon, Brampton, 2 + Fellow of Caius + College, Cambridge + Hawys, Roger, Fellow 1 + of Caius College, + Cambridge + Crask, Dr., of 1 + Cambridge + Dodd, Mr., Fellow of 1 + Clare Hall + Worts, William, A.M., 1 + of Cambridge +1709/10 Bedingfield, James, 1 + als De Grey, Fellow + of Gonvil and Caius + College, Cambridge +1709/10 Prideaux, Humphrey, 1 + D.D., and Dean of + Norwich +1712 [Trimnell], Charles, 3 + Lord Bishop of + Norwich +1713/4 Peck, John, Esq., of 2 + Bracondale +1714 Nelson, Thomas, Late His Library + Rector of Morston, in + Norfolk +1715 Herne, Clement, Esq., 2 + of Heverland +[1715/6] Seaman, Thomas, Esq., 2 + of Heigham +1716 Mackerell, Benjamin, 2 + of the City of + Norwich, Gent. +[1716] Helwys, Nicholas, 1 + Esq., Citizen and + Alderman of Norwich +1717 and 1718 Prideaux, Humphrey, 2 + D.D., and Dean of + Norwich +1718 Clark, Thomas, Esq. 3 +1719 Houghton, William 1 +1721 Grayle, John, Rector 9 + of Blickling +1725 Knyvett, John, of 1 + this City, Esq. +1726 Tanner, Thomas, 100 {55a} + S.T.P., and + Chancellor of the + Diocese of Norwich + [afterwards Bishop of + St. Asaph] +1727 Reveley, Edward 4 +1728 Kirkpatrick, John, His Library + Merchant and + Treasurer to the + Great Hospital in + this City +1729 Jermy, John, Esq. [?] {55b} +1730 Prideaux, Edmund, 60 {55c} + Esq. +1730 Wingfield, Robert, 13 + Writing master +1731 Pagan, William 7 +1731 Gurdon, Thornaugh, [2?] {55d} + [Letton] + King, Reuben, Primier 1 + [_sic_] English + Schoolmaster in this + City +1731 Mackerell, Benjamin, 13 + the present Library + Keeper +1733 Whaley, John 1 + Bennet, Gilbert 2 +1733 Jermy, John 40 +1732 Ellis, Ben-Jos[eph], 2 + Minister of St. + Andrew's in Norwich +1737 Jermy, John, Esq. 14 +1737 Nash, Robert, Esq., 4 + Chancellor of this + Diocese + + +PART II. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. + + +FOUNDATION AND HISTORY. + + +Warrington and Salford claim to have established the earliest examples of +municipally-controlled and rate-supported free popular libraries in the +United Kingdom, they having added books to the attractions of their +museums which were established in 1848 and 1849 respectively under the +Act of 1845 "for encouraging the establishment of museums in large +towns." Norwich, however, has the distinction of being the first +municipality to adopt the first public library act, which was due to the +labours of Mr. William Ewart. Ewart's act received the royal assent on +the 14th August, 1850, and within seven weeks Norwich had decided to +adopt it! + + [Picture: Norwich Public Library. Foundation Stone Laid 13th September, + 1854. Library Opened 16th March, 1857] + +The initiator of the library movement in Norwich apparently was Mr. +Thomas Brightwell, a man of scientific tastes, who was Mayor of the City +in 1837. At the Council meeting held on September 13th, 1850, he drew +attention to the new act, and, according to the first annual report of +the Library, he "presented a strongly worded memorial signed by 600 +persons." He succeeded in carrying his motion that the Mayor be directed +to ascertain the feeling of the citizens as to whether the provisions of +the new act should be adopted, and a poll of the burgesses was taken on +September 27th, when 150 voted in favour of the adoption of the act while +only 7 voted against it. The act provided that a rate of one halfpenny +in the pound might be levied for library purposes, but no provision was +made for buying books. In 1855 this act was repealed by another, which +remained the principal library act for England and Wales until 1892; it +allowed one penny in the pound to be levied, and provided for the +purchase of books. + +After the adoption of the act the Council appointed committees for making +all the necessary arrangements for the establishment of a Library, and it +received reports from them in 1851, 1852, and 1853. By September 1854 +two levies of the halfpenny rate had been made amounting to 500 pounds, +and with that sum in hand the Corporation ventured to purchase the +library site, and to approve the architectural plans, prepared by the +City Surveyor, Mr. Edward Everett Benest. + +The first stone of the building was laid on September 13th, 1854, by the +Mayor, Sir Samuel Bignold, who lent 4,000 pounds for the erection of the +building, and worked assiduously to promote the Library. The ceremony +was reported at length in the _Norfolk Chronicle_ of September 16th, +1854, from which the following extracts are taken: + + "The ceremony of laying the first stone took place on Wednesday + afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The + ground had been decorated for the occasion with numerous flags, + banners, and devices in flowers and foliage, and amongst the most + conspicuous of the mottoes was one complimentary to the Mayor, + bearing the words 'Bignold for ever!' surmounted by 'The Queen and + Constitution,' with 'Trade and Manufactures' on the right and + 'Commerce and Agriculture' on the left. In a convenient position a + platform had been erected for the express accommodation of the fairer + portion of the spectators. As the time for the performance of the + ceremony drew nigh all the neighbouring approaches to the spot were + densely crowded; every window within sight of the ground had its full + share of occupants, and daring spirits had even ventured to take up + their position on the surrounding walls and house-tops. + + "A few minutes after four the sounds of distant music intimated the + approach of Sir Samuel Bignold (the Mayor) and his friends, and, + after the lapse of another second or so, his worship appeared in + sight, accompanied by H. Birkbeck, Esq. (the Sheriff of the city), + the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Orford, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., + Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., Edmond Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., S. M. Peto, + Esq., M.P., the Rev. E. Sidney, most of the members of the city + magistracy and corporation, several county magistrates, a large + number of influential county gentlemen and citizens, J. R. Staff, + Esq. (the Town Clerk), Mr. E. E. Benest (the City Surveyor), the + Corporation officers bearing the city regalia, &c., &c.--followed by + a large procession of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, carrying + flags and banners, the most prominent of which bore the + mottoes--'Success to the Free Library,' 'Peto, the true Friend of + Civil and Religious Liberty,' 'The Durability of the Constitution,' + and 'Education for the People.' The procession was headed by an + excellent brass band, playing, as it approached, the popular air, + 'Cheer, boys, cheer!' At this stage of the proceedings the outer + crowd, in their anxiety to get within view of the proceedings, broke + the barriers, overpowered the police, and made a rush to the + palisades which surrounded the ground. These, by the weight of the + many persons who clung upon them, unfortunately gave way, bringing + with them a coping stone to which they were attached, and on which a + young man named Samuel Harper had been sitting. He was thrown to the + ground, and several people falling upon him he sustained a fracture + of one of his ankles. He was immediately conveyed to the hospital, + and we are glad to learn is doing well. Several other persons were + also injured, but not seriously. Beyond this no accident occurred. + + "With the assistance of the City Surveyor and Mr. Stanley, + stone-mason, the worthy Mayor then proceeded to discharge his + agreeable duty--the laying of the first stone. He used for the + purpose a very elegant silver trowel {59a} with ivory handle, + furnished by the Messrs. Etheridge (which had been presented to his + worship by Mr. E. E. Benest) bearing the following inscription on the + blade:-- + + Presented + to + Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight, + Mayor of Norwich, + on the occasion of his laying + the first stone + of + The Free Library, + September 13th, + 1854. + + "Upon the surface of the stone a brass plate was fixed, on which was + engraved the following inscription:-- + + This first stone + of the + Norwich Free Library, + was laid + on the 13th September, + A.D. 1854, + by + Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight, + Mayor of this City in the years + 1833-4, 1848-9, 1853-4. + Henry Birkbeck, Esq., Sheriff. + John Rising Staff, Esq., Town Clerk. + Architect--Edward Everett Benest, City Surveyor." + +The ceremony having been completed and the stone securely fixed in its +place, addresses were delivered on the contemplated advantages of the +library by the Mayor, the Rev. Edwin Sidney, M.A., Rector of Cornard +Parva, Suffolk, and author of various works, Mr. Samuel Morton Peto, M.P. +for Norwich, Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., an archaeologist of Ketteringham, +who was Sheriff of Norfolk in 1844, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., who in the +early part of his legal career was on the Norfolk circuit, and two +members of the Council, Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, and Mr. J. H. Tillett. +The Town Clerk presented to the Mayor an address from the Norwich +District of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, begging "most +respectfully to tender the thanks of our numerous association to you and +the Corporation of this city for the manifestation of regard for the +Working Classes in having determined on the erection of a Free Library; +feeling assured that such an institution will be welcomed by a large +number of the industrious inhabitants, and will prove largely beneficial +to all who will avail themselves of the advantages it offers." In the +course of his address the Mayor said: "It has been my lot now, during my +life, which has not been a short one, to aid a great many undertakings in +this city--insurance offices, spinning factories, waterworks, literary +and scientific institutions, and public charities; but I have never lent +my assistance to any undertaking which more entirely commends itself to +my judgment than that in which I am this day engaged in commencing" . . . +"and I must here say that Mr. Tillett has been the main-spring of this +undertaking, for he has never lost sight of it since the act placed it in +the hands of the Corporation." + +After the erection of the building had been commenced it was considered +that it would be highly advantageous if the School of Art was connected +with and formed part of the Library, and the Council authorised the +expenditure of a further sum in order to add another story for the +accommodation of the School of Art. This involved some delay in the +progress of the building, and for various reasons the Library was not +ready for opening until March, 1857. + +According to the first annual report issued on August 31st, 1858, a +special committee appointed by the Council estimated that the total cost +of the site and building would amount to 7428 pounds : 5 : 0. "In order +to repay Sir Samuel Bignold the amount advanced by him during the +progress of the works, and to complete the same, a loan of 6,000 pounds, +at 5 pounds per cent., was, in 1857, obtained from the Norwich Union +Office, and it is to be repaid by instalments of 200 pounds yearly, +which, with the interest on the loan, will nearly absorb for several +years the rate of one penny in the pound per annum, authorized to be +levied under the act . . ." The report proceeded: "The cost of the +building has, unfortunately been a subject much talked about and +misrepresented, and it should be remembered that the portion of the +building occupied by the Library is less than a third of the whole, the +other parts being occupied by the Museum, the Literary Institution, and +the School of Art. The cost of the building, giving accommodation to all +these institutions, has certainly been small compared with the cost of +buildings for similar purposes in other towns: in Liverpool, for +instance, the building cost 50,000 pounds." + +"Under arrangements made with the committee of the Museum, the advantages +of that institution have been secured to the citizens on two days of the +week, and that such advantages have been appreciated, is evinced by the +large number of visitors, chiefly of the working classes, every Monday +and Saturday, to inspect the splendid collection of specimens in Natural +History." + +"The School of Art was, early in 1857, removed to the upper story of the +new building, whereby the annual grant of 75 pounds made for the support +of the institution will be in future saved." + +As the first public library act made no provision for the purchase of +books, a subscription fund was commenced for that purpose about the time +of the laying of the foundation stone, and the following donations, with +others, were soon made: The Duke of Wellington 50 pounds, Lord Wodehouse +25 pounds, Lord Suffield 25 pounds, Sir Samuel Bignold 21 pounds, Mr. J. +H. Gurney, M.P., 50 pounds, and Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P., 50 pounds. At the +time of the first annual report the total amount of donations received +for the purchase of books, etc., and interest thereon was 357 pounds : 7 +: 1, nearly all of which had been expended in the purchase of books, +periodicals and newspapers. + +On September 30th, 1854, the Council proceeded to the formation of a body +of management, on lines suggested by a Committee which had been appointed +to arrange preliminary proceedings for establishing a free library, and +the following accepted office: President and Treasurer, Sir Samuel +Bignold, Mayor of Norwich. Vice-Presidents: The Lord Bishop of Norwich, +Lord Wodehouse, Lord Stafford, Lord Suffield, Sir J. P. Boileau, Mr. S. +M. Peto, M.P., Mr. J. H. Gurney, M.P., Mr. H. J. Stracey, and the Rev. +Edwin Sidney. Committee: Aldermen E. Willett and C. Darkins; Councillors +Thomas Brightwell, J. G. Johnson, J. H. Tillett, J. Barwell, W. J. Utten +Browne, O. Springfield, and two co-opted members, Dr. Goodwin and Mr. J. +W. Dowson. Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. D. Bayne, the author of the +"Comprehensive History of Norwich," 1869. The Committee had power to add +to its number not exceeding five, and it was also resolved that the +Committee should include five members to be nominated by the subscribers +and five by the working classes. The Committee shortly afterwards added +to its number. Protests were received regarding the proposal that +admission to the Library should be by subscription, and apparently it was +not proceeded with. In accordance with the other resolution of the +Council, to the effect that the working classes should nominate five +persons to serve on the Committee, the Mayor convened a meeting of the +"working classes" at St. Andrew's Hall on the 1st October, 1856, when the +following were selected for nomination to the Council, and were duly +elected on the 16th October: Mr. C. J. Bunting, printer, Mr. Daniel +Weavers, weaver, Mr. Henry Roberts, herbalist, Mr. L. Hill, news-vendor, +and Mr. James Lofty, hairdresser. + +The Library was opened on the 16th March, 1857, without any public +function, owing to the difficulty of getting an eminent person to perform +the ceremony, and the Committee resolved to celebrate the opening at a +later date, which, however, was not done, although Mr. Ewart had promised +to be present. According to the particulars in the appendices of J. J. +Ogle's "The Free Library," Norwich was the eleventh modern rate-supported +public library to open its doors, the previous ten libraries being those +of Warrington and Salford (established under the Museums Act of 1845), +Winchester, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Kidderminster, Cambridge, +Birkenhead and Sheffield. The following is a description of the building +which appeared in the _Illustrated London News_, May 16th, 1857: + +"The exterior of the lower story of the building is Roman Doric, the +second story Roman Ionic, and the third Italian. The Library and an +adjoining apartment, appropriated to the Museum, are on the ground floor; +and below are spacious vaults, which are devoted to trade purposes, and +from which a considerable annual revenue is expected to be derived. Over +the principal entrance is a well executed head of Homer, and in the +entrance-hall which has a tesselated pavement, are four scagliola columns +with Corinthian capitals. The Museum-room is 54 feet in length and 26 +feet wide, and the Library is 44 feet long and 33 feet wide. A broad and +handsome stone staircase conducts the visitor to the second floor, on +which is a lecture-room of the same dimensions as the Library, and two +apartments appropriated to the Literary Institution, which are +collectively of the same size as the Museum beneath. On the third floor +are two large rooms for the School of Art, with domed roofs and ample +skylights, and four smaller apartments for classes are also provided." A +reproduction of a recent photograph of the building, showing to the left +a portion of the Reading Room added in 1907, faces page 56. + +The Library proper at first consisted of one room, as stated above, which +combined a news and reading room, and reference and lending departments. +Books were not issued from the lending department until January 1st, +1858, when the books in two classes, "General Literature" and "Voyages +and Travels" were ready for circulation. Regarding rules for the loan of +these books, the Committee provisionally adopted those of the Sheffield +Free Library. By July of the same year all the books were available for +borrowing, and the circulation "reached 500 volumes, always on loan, +every volume being returned or renewed within a week." When the first +report was published in August, 1858, there were 3,354 volumes in the +Library, of which 2,468 volumes were presented, arranged in ten classes: +A, General Literature, 586 vols.; B, Geography, Voyages and Travels, 560 +vols.; C, Dramatists, Poets, and Novelists, 454 vols.; D, History and +Biography, 383 vols.; E, Bohn's Libraries, 318 vols.; F, Bonn's Libraries +and Cabinet Cyclopaedia, 315 vols.; G, Natural History and Sciences, 244 +vols.; H, Metaphysics, Logic and Religion, 306 vols.; I, Dictionaries, +Cyclopaedias, Reviews, 88 vols.; [J] Magazines, 100 vols. All the books +were apparently available either for reading at the library or for +home-reading. In 1858 a record of issues was kept which showed that +during the first half year 5,225 volumes were circulated "to nearly 700 +persons," and the total issue of books "for perusal" in the reading room +was 10,066 "issued to a large number of citizens." + +Owing to the small amount of money available for the purchase of books +and periodicals, the citizens were invited in the second quarter of 1857 +to contribute for the supply of reviews, periodicals and newspapers, and +by July 1858 nearly 60 pounds in subscriptions for this purpose had been +obtained. + +Mr. A. D. Bayne, as Hon. Secretary to the Committee, virtually acted as +Librarian until his resignation in April, 1860, attending its meetings, +conducting its business, purchasing the books for the Library, etc. The +first person to take charge of the Library was Mr. Henry Turner who was +engaged pro tem. on the 31st December, 1856, to take care of the new +building, to catalogue the books, collect the subscriptions, etc., at a +salary of 1 pounds weekly. For the first year he was regarded as an +attendant, but subsequently he was called the Librarian. Apparently by +reason of illness his engagement ceased at the end of 1858, and after a +short interval, during which time Mr. R. L. M. Overton and Mr. C. Hunt +were successively engaged, Mr. George Harper was appointed Librarian, the +Committee recommending his appointment to the Council on 30th June, 1859. +Mr. Harper remained the Librarian until his death at the end of 1876. +During his tenure of office very little progress in the development of +the Library was made, chiefly because the greater part of the library +rate was absorbed in extinguishing the building loan, and no annual +reports were issued. In a schedule in Edward Edwards' "Free Town +Libraries," 1869, it is stated that the aggregate number of volumes in +the Library in 1868 was 3,642, that the aggregate annual issues were +13,480, and that the annual expenditure on the Library was 600 pounds. +As a matter of fact, the expenditure for the year ending 1st September, +1868, was 634 pounds : 7 : 3, of which 492 pounds : 9 : 11 was for the +interest on, and repayment of, the loan. The product of the penny rate +was 740 pounds, and an additional 119 pounds : 6 : 5 was received as fees +for the hire of the upper rooms and the cellars of the Library. In the +early days of the Library these rooms were hired for many purposes, +including Sunday services, temperance meetings, Cambridge University +local examinations, lectures, dinners, entertainments, etc., the cellars +were used for the storage of wines and spirits, and the Norwich +Meteorological Society had an anemometer fixed on top of the building. + +Mr. George Easter, who succeeded Mr. Harper as Librarian in January 1877, +was a native of Norwich, who had followed the craft of a wood-carver in +Cambridge, and had had no training in library work. The burden of debt +upon the Library having been considerably diminished, and the librarian +coming to his duties with enthusiasm and a disposition to seek advice on +books and library matters from those competent to give it, he was able to +effect some improvements in the administration of the Library, and to +develop it. About six months after his appointment he had prepared for +the press an author catalogue of the books in the Lending and Reference +Departments of the Library, which was ready for sale at sixpence each in +December. One thousand copies of this crown octavo catalogue of 94 pages +were printed. In this catalogue the hours of the Lending Department were +stated to be from 11 a.m. till 3.30 p.m. on week-days. + +The publication of an annual report was revived in 1879 when a report +covering the period December 1st, 1877 to December 31st 1878 was +submitted to the Town Council. It showed that the stock consisted of +4,400 volumes, of which nearly 1,000 had been added during the year; and +that during the period 1,545 borrowers' tickets had been issued, and +27,408 volumes had been issued, as compared with 15,312 vols. issued from +September 1875 to September 1876. + +In 1879 the Librarian requested the Committee to allow him to purchase +works relating to Norwich, which eventually led to the formation of the +Local Collection, which is described on pp. 77-81. + +The library rate was one penny in the pound from the date of the opening +of the library until 1871, but for several years afterwards it was either +about three farthings or one halfpenny. The rate was raised to three +farthings in the pound in 1880, and in the following year it was raised +to one penny in the pound, thereby providing 937 pounds : 10 : 0 for the +year, since which time the full library rate has always been levied. Mr. +F. W. Harmer took a prominent part in securing the increase in the +library rate. He pointed out that to spend the product of a halfpenny +rate on the plea of economy was really the reverse of economical, as it +just sufficed to pay standing charges, leaving little or nothing for the +purchase of books. + +The annual report for the year ending March 25th, 1888, is interesting as +it records that the great burden of the debt on the building had been +cleared off, and briefly reviews the work of the Library after ten years' +service of the Librarian, as follows: + + "The present Librarian was appointed in 1877, starting with a stock + of 3,500 books in the Lending Department and almost none in the + Reference Department; whereas the present stock consists of 11,500 + for Lending and 5,000 for Reference purposes, about 1,200 of the + latter, with 1,650 pamphlets, pictures, &c., being of a local + character and purchased with fines imposed for detaining books beyond + the time allowed for reading. + + "The number of borrowers in 1877 was 1,540, whereas the number in + 1887 was 3,550; the number of issues of books in the same period + increasing from 27,000 to 77,000--about 10,000 of the population of + the city over 14 years of age having taken advantage of the boon + afforded by this department." + +The report draws attention to an increase in the hours of the lending +library, which hitherto had been 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., to 11 +a.m. till 9 p.m. every week-day except Thursday. + +The establishment of a juvenile department as a means of stimulating +interest in the Library was one of the first suggestions made by Mr. +Easter after his appointment, and although the Committee did not +entertain it then he did not abandon it, and the subject was raised in +the press and in Committee in 1885. As a result the Mayor, Mr. John +Gurney, who was keenly interested in the proposal, offered to give 100 +pounds on condition that an additional 150 pounds was raised, but he died +before the establishment of the scheme. The Chairman of the School +Board, Mr. (afterwards Sir) George White, who was a member of the +Committee, promised to raise the matter at a School Board Meeting, but +the scheme, to be financed by public subscription, did not come to +fruition until 1889. In that year the total amount of subscriptions +reached 276 pounds : 14 : 9, and 3,667 volumes suitable for juveniles +were obtained. + +Batches of books were forwarded to every elementary school in the City, +and the head teacher in each was made responsible for the distribution of +the books to the scholars in standards IV and upwards. The tables +published in the annual report for the year ending March 1890 show that +3,621 books were sent to 38 schools, and that the total issues for the +first seven months was 52,312. In the report for the year ending March +1893 the Committee reported: + +"The Juvenile Department having proved a source of labour and cost much +beyond what was anticipated, a Sub-Committee appointed to report on the +subject recommended that the School Board should be asked to contribute +to the expense of repair and renewal of books, and to urge upon their +staff increased care and vigilance in the management of the Department. +This expense the Board report they are unable legally to incur. Pending +this decision the distribution of the books was suspended, but the +Committee have now decided to continue the circulation for another twelve +months." + +The wear and tear of the juvenile books proceeded apace, and the report +for 1894-95 stated that when they were last called in "1,700 had to be +rebound or repaired, and in the four circulations about 800 volumes have +been found defective or worn out and withdrawn. The Committee therefore +decided to issue the reduced number of books, to such schools as made +application for them, under more systematic regulations." The juvenile +books went from bad to worse, and in the report for the year ending March +1900 it was stated that the Committee had decided to hand over the stock +to the Norwich School Board, which had recently decided to establish and +work a Juvenile Library of its own. Thus ended an experiment which was +financed unsatisfactorily, badly controlled, and of very doubtful utility +as a means of developing the work of the Library. + +The large increase in the stock of the lending library necessitated a new +catalogue, and one (304 pp.) was printed and published in 1889, which was +followed by supplements (88 pp. and 106 pp.) in 1889 and 1895. These +catalogues were compiled on the dictionary plan, the authors' names and +the titles and subjects of the books being arranged in one alphabetical +sequence. + +The question of Sunday opening was discussed by the Committee in July, +1884, but the Council declined to sanction the Committee's recommendation +to open the Reading Room. Five and a half years later the Council +revoked its decision, and the men's and women's reading rooms on the +first floor were opened on Sundays between the hours of 3 and 9 p.m. In +the annual report following the Sunday opening the experiment was +described as "quietly successful," and in the reports for the next few +years the visits were estimated at 15,000 annually--a daily average of +289. The Reading Room continued to be open all the year round until +1913, when owing to the small attendances during the summer months it was +closed from June to September inclusive; in that year the average +attendance on the Sundays was 117. Having regard to the small +attendances and the inadequate library staff, the Committee in 1915 +decided that the Reading Room should be closed on Sundays during the war. + +The Report for the year ending March 1894 briefly reviewed the work of +the Library after forty years. By that time the stock had reached 30,124 +volumes in all departments, and the annual issue from the lending +library, excluding 49,000 books issued by the teachers in 36 elementary +schools, was 86,355. The Reference Library, including the Local +Collection, contained 10,520 volumes and 5,367 pamphlets. + +The large room on the ground floor vacated by the Museum was extended and +renovated during the year 1895-6, and was partially furnished with +book-cases and shelving in order to provide accommodation for the +Reference Library, which then comprised 8,450 volumes and 2,081 +pamphlets, with 2,987 local books and 4,327 local pamphlets. + +In 1896 a loan of 1,300 pounds was sanctioned by the Local Government +Board for defraying the cost of the extension of the Reference Library +and fittings, the purchase of a Cotgreave Indicator, installed in 1897, +the restoration of the exterior stonework of the building, and interior +decoration and repairs. The total expenditure amounted to 1,740 pounds, +the difference between the cost and the amount of the loan being paid +from the balance in hand. + +During the year 1898-1899 a catalogue of the Reference Library was +prepared for printing in sections, and in the following year five were +printed. The entries in these sectional catalogues were single-line +author and subject entries, the latter being merely inverted +title-entries. + +Mr. J. Geo. Tennant, the Sub-Librarian, who had been appointed to that +position in 1888, having previously been engaged part-time at the +Library, was promoted to the office of Librarian in 1901, following the +death of Mr. Easter. A few months later the Committee advertised the +vacant office of Sub-Librarian, candidates to have had training and +experience in a public library, and Mr. Llewellyn R. Haggerston, an +assistant in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Libraries, was appointed. + +The safeguarded open-access system, by which borrowers are allowed to +choose books from the shelves, was considered by the Committee and the +Council in 1905, but not adopted. The system was then in its infancy, +but has since been introduced into many public libraries. + +The provision of catalogues of the Library was considered by the +Committee in 1905-6, and it was decided to provide type-written sheaf +catalogues of authors and subjects for the Lending Department, which were +completed in 1906-7. + +Owing to the inadequate accommodation in the Reading Room on the first +floor, the question of extending the Library building received the +attention of the Committee for a considerable period, and eventually the +City Engineer prepared plans for the extension of the building, to +provide a reading room on the ground floor. The new room cost about +1,640 pounds and was provided with book-cases, furniture, etc., at a cost +of 267 pounds, and was opened to the public in April, 1907. Most of the +book-cases were provided for shelving several classes of the Lending +Library books, partly because more shelving accommodation was required, +but principally to permit the public to inspect the books, "the object +being to induce a more general use of these works in place of fiction." +A collection of directories, annuals, and reference books was placed on +open shelves in the room for ready reference. + +In accordance with the Committee's decision to adopt the Dewey Decimal +System of Classification, some attempt was made to classify the books +according to this system. + +An experiment which aimed at fostering the use of the Library by school +children was made during the winter of 1907-8. "By arrangement with the +Education Committee a selection of books likely to meet the tastes of +elementary school children was made by several of the teachers. These +books were placed on Saturday mornings in one of the rooms on the top +floor where tables and chairs were provided. One or more teachers +attended in rotation to superintend the young readers . . . It has to be +confessed, however, that the attendance, once the novelty had worn off, +was not sufficient to justify the expenditure of time and trouble which +was necessarily involved." {70} + +Owing to ill-health Mr. Tennant, who had served the Library faithfully +for about 21 years, was compelled to vacate the office of Librarian in +1909, and light occupation was found for him in the capacity of +Superintendent of the Reading Room, which post he filled until his death +in August, 1911. He was succeeded as Librarian by the Sub-Librarian, Mr. +Haggerston, who resigned his appointment on 1st March, 1911. Following +Mr. Haggerston's resignation, the Committee advertised for a trained +librarian, and from 110 candidates the author of this History, who was +the Chief Assistant Librarian of the St. Pancras Public Libraries, and +who received his earlier training at the Bishopsgate Institute, was +appointed in May, 1911. + +The administration of the Library for many years had, in the words of the +Report for 1909-10 "proceeded steadily on the old lines," and when the +present Librarian took office his first duty was to present a +comprehensive report to the Committee on the condition of the Library, +and to make suggestions for its re-organisation on up-to-date methods of +library administration. The Report was approved in principle, and since +that date the work of re-organisation has proceeded as rapidly as the +conditions have allowed. + +The work of re-organisation may be briefly described. The rules and +regulations for the conduct and management of all departments of the +Library were revised with the view of affording additional facilities to +the public. Structural alterations were made for the better lighting and +arrangement of the Lending Library, and improvements were made in the +electric lighting of the several departments. + +The condition of the Lending Library was especially serious. The Library +had been in existence for over half a century, and the stock of books had +never been subjected to a thorough overhauling, so that there were +accumulations of old, useless and worn-out books, while numerous standard +works on various branches of knowledge were not in the Library. The work +of re-organisation was done systematically, class by class. First the +useless books were discarded, and new standard and popular books were +added. The class was then closely classified according to the Dewey +System of Classification, and catalogued. As complaints regarding the +lack of a printed catalogue had been made continuously for several years, +it was decided, as an immediate advantage to the public, to publish at +the price of one penny, a bi-monthly magazine entitled "The Readers' +Guide," which would contain the whole or a portion of an annotated and +classified catalogue of the books in one of the sections immediately +after its revision, and also an annotated list of new books added to the +Library. The Fiction Catalogue was published in the first number, which +was issued on 1st November, 1911, and the series of classified catalogues +containing altogether the titles of over 17,000 volumes was completed in +the issue for May, 1915, since which date the "Readers' Guide" has +contained special bibliographies of local subjects and topics of current +interest, in addition to the usual list of recent books. The special +bibliographies have included the subjects of the University Extension +lectures each year, George Borrow, Lord Nelson, Agincourt and Erpingham, +Norfolk Artists, the European War, Shakespeare, Child Welfare, and Thomas +Gray. For the use of borrowers two card catalogues have been installed +in the Lending Library, the one being a complete author catalogue, and +the other a complete classified catalogue, with numerous subject guide +cards to facilitate reference. + +A stock of books specially suitable for juvenile readers was obtained in +1911 to form a Juvenile Department of the Lending Library, in order that +the young people should acquire a facility in the use of a large library +which would be of value to them after leaving school. A classified +catalogue of the books in this Department was prepared by the +Sub-Librarian under the supervision of the City Librarian, and was +published in September, 1914, and an enlarged edition was published in +September, 1916. + +During the period 1911-1916 there were several changes in the personnel +of the staff. The great pressure of the re-organising work and the need +for a trained assistant on the staff led the Committee to advertise for a +Sub-Librarian in 1913, and in November Mr. Charles Nowell, Chief +Assistant of the Coventry Public Libraries, and the holder of four +certificates of the Library Association, was appointed to the position. +With the view of increasing the efficiency of the staff the Committee, in +common with many other Public Library Committees, has made the +appointments of junior assistants conditional on their obtaining the +professional certificates of the Library Association. + +The title of the Library was altered in July, 1911, by the Council from +"Free Library" to its statutory title "Public Library." + +The large oval room on the second floor, which in the early days of the +Library had been used as an art room, was converted into an exhibition +and lecture room in 1912. + +The Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Survey Record was inaugurated in +1913, particulars of which are given on pp. 81-82. + +The Library has fulfilled special national functions during the present +European War. Several thousand leaflets issued by the Central Committee +for National Patriotic Organisations were distributed at the Library. +The Committee realising the importance to the public of studying the +deeper causes of the war, and other important matters involved, appointed +a Sub-Committee to deal with the problem of war literature. A large and +representative selection, dealing with the subject from every point of +view, was made from the several thousand books published. The books thus +purchased made the collection of war books a thoroughly representative +one, and an annotated and classified catalogue of the books was printed +in the "Readers' Guide." The Library has also been at the service of +soldiers billeted in Norwich both for borrowing and for reference, and a +large number of soldiers have availed themselves of its facilities for +recreative reading and study. To assist the Camps Library, which +provides libraries for all the camps of the British armies at home and +abroad, the Committee sent many of its worn-out books, collected for it +hundreds of books and magazines from readers frequenting the Library, and +sent a donation of 12 pounds : 15 : 0, referred to on page 85. + +Three members of the staff enlisted in H.M. Forces in 1915, with the +promise of their positions being retained. The Sub-Librarian, 2nd Lieut. +Chas. Nowell (22nd London Regiment) was wounded in France in September, +1916, but he was able to return to his military duties in December; Mr. +F. T. Bussey, the Senior Assistant in the Lending Department is serving +in France with the Norfolk Division of the Royal Engineers; and Mr. A. R. +Nobbs, a Junior Assistant, is a Sick Berth Attendant in the Royal Navy. + + + +CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEE. + + +During the earliest years of the Library Committee, the Chairmen and +Vice-Chairmen were not regularly appointed annually. The following is a +list of the definite appointments:-- + +DATE. CHAIRMAN. VICE-CHAIRMAN. +1850-1856 Various. +1857 J. Godwin Johnson. J. H. Tillett. +1858-1860 Various. +1861 George Middleton (who + was generally in the + Chair during 1860). +1862 Various. +1863-1868 Councillor J. W. + Dowson. +1869-1870 Councillor Carlos + Cooper. +1871-1877 Councillor Thomas + Jarrold. +1878-1885 Councillor James + Freeman. +1886-1887 The Mayor, John Alderman James Freeman. + Gurney, Esq., of + Sprowston. +1887-1890 Councillor + (afterwards Alderman) + James Freeman. +1891-1892 Alderman Samuel Alderman George White. + Newman. +1893-1907 Councillor T. Breese. 1893-1902 Alderman George + White. + 1903-1907 Councillor H. + J. Copeman. +1908-1917 Councillor Alderman R. G. Bagshaw. + (afterwards Alderman) + H. J. Copeman. + + +DONATIONS. + + +Although the Public Library Act of 1855 amended the first act, and made +provision for the purchase of books, a power denied under the first act, +the Library was so deeply involved in debt at its commencement that +appeals had to be made for donations of books and money for the purchase +of books, newspapers, and periodicals. As previously stated, the +Committee's first annual report presented to the Council on 31st August, +1858, showed that donations in cash, with interest, had amounted to 357 +pounds : 7 : 1. The same report gave a list of the donors of 2,468 +volumes--about two-thirds of the entire stock--of which 833 were from the +People's College, and 1,000 were transferred from the Penny Library. + +The donations to the Library during its history have been many and +varied--good, bad, and indifferent--such as are usually offered to public +libraries. Notice may be made of some of the outstanding gifts. The +British Association in 1868, the year of its visit to Norwich, made a +grant of 50 pounds to the Library for the purchase of books, perhaps at +the suggestion of the Rev. (afterwards Canon) Hinds Howell, who was the +Organising Secretary for the visit. At any rate, at the meeting of the +Library Committee on 4th November, 1868, he attended to explain "that the +grant would be expended in the purchase of books, which embraced +thirty-five different scientific subjects, or such of them as the +Committee might think best adapted to the wants of, and most beneficial +to, the classes using the Library," and he received the thanks of the +Committee for representing the wants of the Library to the Association. +The Committee complied with the request that a bookcase should be +provided for the books, bearing a suitable inscription. + +A large number of patent specifications were presented by H.M. Patent +Office about the year 1865, and in 1889 the Office acceded to the +Committee's request for Abridgments of Specifications, since which time +they have been presented as issued. + +Having regard to the slender financial resources of the Library the Mayor +(Mr. H. Bullard) in 1879 suggested a public subscription, and headed the +list with 10 pounds. This was followed by donations of 10 pounds from +Mr. J. J. Colman, (who also gave 25 pounds in 1887), and Mr. Henry +Birkbeck, and by smaller sums from other people, amounting altogether to +91 pounds : 2 : 0. + +A successful application was made to H.M. Treasury in 1886, for a +donation of official publications, and some 260 volumes of Calendars of +State Papers, Chronicles, Records, etc. were received, followed in 1901 +by a further donation of 193 volumes. In 1900 the Library received from +the same source twenty-five Memoirs of the Geological Survey relating to +the Eastern Counties. + +In 1890 the late Alderman James Freeman, who was Chairman of the Public +Library Committee for several years, bequeathed 20 pounds for some +special purpose in connection with the Library, which enabled the +Committee to commence a Shakespeare Collection, now comprising over 600 +books and pamphlets. + +Mr. Russell J. Colman, J.P., D.L., made a handsome donation to the +Reference Library in 1900, when he presented a set of Parliamentary +Debates in 511 volumes, in half calf, comprising Cobbett's "Parliamentary +History," continued by Hansard, 1066-1803, Hansard's "Parliamentary +Debates," 1803-1890, and the "Official Parliamentary Debates" to 1897. +Since that date the following members of Parliament for Norwich have +partly kept the set up to date: Mr. Louis J. Tillett, Sir George White, +Sir Frederick Low and Lieut. E. Hilton Young. + +The firm of Messrs. J. and J. Colman, Ltd., of Norwich, presented 3,500 +Parliamentary Papers, Blue Books, etc. in 1900 which Mr. J. J. Colman had +accumulated. + +Mr. T. R. Kemp, K.C., Recorder of Norwich, 1892-1905, who had made a +study of the Letters of Junius, bequeathed his collection of various +editions of the Letters and works relating to them, numbering altogether +128 volumes. + +Mr. Henry F. Euren, a member of the Library Committee since 1880, gave +160 volumes on agriculture and other subjects in 1907, before and after +which date he made other donations. + +The Reference Library was largely increased in 1914 by a bequest of Mr. +Bosworth W. Harcourt, an esteemed co-opted member of the Committee who +had taken an active interest in the Library for over 27 years. The +bequest, comprising about 2,250 books and pamphlets, was made on +condition that such books and pamphlets should be known as the "Bosworth +Harcourt Bequest" and that the same should not be placed in circulation, +but only read or consulted in the Library. Miss C. M. Nichols, R.E., +S.M., N.B.A., designed a suitable book-plate for the books, and a +book-case, surmounted by the testator's name was provided. Mr. +Harcourt's library naturally reflected his tastes: works of and about the +chief poets and dramatists, well-illustrated volumes, and books on the +graphic arts preponderate, and there are many volumes dealing with the +history and antiquities of Norfolk and Norwich. + +The munificent bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, by which the +Library will receive 500 pounds for the advancement of local archaeology, +is mentioned in more detail on page 79. + +The chief benefactor to the Library is Mr. Walter Rye, who has been a +member of the Committee since 1904. In addition to his many and valuable +gifts to the Local Collection, which are described on pages 78-79, he has +given a large number of reference books, chiefly relating to heraldry and +history, but also including a collection of books and tracts on the Civil +War, and a number of calendars of patent rolls, and other official +publications. + + + +LOCAL COLLECTION. + + +The collection of literature relating to Norfolk and Norwich was first +mooted on January 15th, 1879, when the Committee resolved that works of +interest connected with Norwich should be purchased. This decision was +doubtless the result of a recommendation from the Librarian, Mr. George +Easter, as Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., then Curator of the Castle Museum, +had suggested to him the wisdom of forming a Local Collection. In April +of the following year the Librarian reported to the Committee that he had +received during the year 10 pounds for fines, and he requested that he +might retain the amount for the purpose of forming a Local Reference +Library. The Committee sanctioned his request, and from that time to the +present the fines imposed for the detention of lending library books +beyond the time allowed for reading have been exclusively devoted to the +Local Collection. Mr. Councillor Stanley, a member of the Committee, by +way of a commencement, gave "the books containing a complete list of the +city and county charities," and the annual report for 1880 stated that "A +collection of Books of local interest is proceeding very satisfactorily." +The collection had grown in ten years to 1,603 volumes and 1,933 +pamphlets. In the annual report for 1893-94 it was stated that the +receipts for fines from 1880 to that date had been 620 pounds, and that +the collection numbered 2,646 volumes, 3,462 pamphlets, and numerous +engravings, maps, portraits, etc. Mr. Easter was mainly responsible for +the selection of the books for the Local Collection, and owing to his +great enthusiasm in its development the collection comprised at his death +in December, 1900, nearly 4,000 volumes and about 5,100 pamphlets. + +Mr. Walter Rye joined the Committee as a co-opted member in the latter +part of 1904, and within a few months the Committee had accepted his +voluntary services as a Norfolk antiquary, to compile a card catalogue of +the local books and pamphlets. This catalogue he has kept up to date. +The collection soon engaged his special attention, and from the time of +his joining the Committee until the present year he has been zealous in +its development, giving each year donations from his private collection, +and working in its interest in various ways. In 1908 he published at his +own expense the following catalogues which he had compiled: "Catalogue of +the Topographical and Antiquarian portions of the Free Library at +Norwich" (81 pp.), "Calendar of the Documents relating to the Corporation +of Norwich, preserved in the Free Library there" (22 pp.), "Catalogue of +the Portraits referring to Norfolk and Norwich Men . . . preserved in the +Free Library at Norwich" (33 pp.), and "Short List of Works relating to +the Biographies of Norfolk Men and Women, preserved in the Free Library +at Norwich" (34 pp.). + +Mr. Rye's donations have been both numerous and valuable. In 1905-06 he +presented his collection of prints, comprising about 700 portraits and +nearly 7,000 views, which included the well-known Smith Collection. +During the years 1911-16 his donations became more extensive, and were +crowned by his promise made to the Committee in 1916 that he would +bequeath his valuable Norfolk manuscripts and the remainder of his +printed books, of which copies were not in the Library. Some of the more +important manuscripts which he has given to the Library are the +following: Friar Brackley's Armorial Manuscript, circa 1460--a paper +volume of 142 pages, with 75 coloured drawings of arms of the Pastens and +Mautbys and their matches, being the oldest Norfolk Armorial manuscript +known; Collection of original manuscripts relating to the Carpenters' +Company of Norwich, 1594; Rev. F. Blomefield's Original Entry Book for +his "History of Norfolk," 1733-6; Norfolk Pedigrees, compiled by Peter Le +Neve--a volume (86 pp.) of Norfolk pedigrees, with the arms in colours, +and an index of names. For these and other gifts the Committee provided +an oak exhibition case in the Reading Room in February, 1912. In May +1916 the Council placed on record its appreciation of, and grateful +thanks for, Mr. Walter Rye's munificence to the Library. + +At the close of 1911 the Committee, having a considerable balance in +hand, resolved to bid for a number of items at the auction sales of Dr. +Augustus Jessopp's Library and the Townshend Heirlooms. At these sales +many interesting and valuable documents relating to the history of +Norfolk and Norwich were purchased for about 92 pounds, including fifteen +of Dr. Jessopp's note-books and an "Address from the Gentry of Norfolk +and Norwich to General Monck" in 1660, bearing the signatures of about +800 persons. The latter manuscript was published in facsimile by Messrs. +Jarrold and Sons in 1913, the volume also including an introduction by +Mr. Hamon Le Strange, F.S.A., biographical notes and index by Mr. Walter +Rye, a catalogue of the collection of books in the Library on the Civil +War period by the City Librarian, and several portraits. + +The Committee received in 1915 an intimation of a munificent bequest of +500 pounds by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, of King's Lynn, for +the advancement of local archaeology, etc., on condition that the name of +Hillen should be permanently associated with the use of the money. The +Norwich Castle Museum also received a similar bequest. Mrs. Hillen was +the widow of Mr. Henry James Hillen, a native of King's Lynn, who died in +1910. After retiring from the profession of schoolmaster he devoted much +of his time to historical and archaeological research, and subsequently +published the fruits of part of his work in local newspapers, several +brochures, and his monumental "History of the Borough of King's Lynn," 2 +vols., 1907. Mr. Hillen made considerable use of the Local Collection, +and his wife's bequest was no doubt partly in recognition of the services +it had rendered. + +For many years the Committee has tried to make the collection as complete +as possible, its wise object being to collect everything local: it has +endeavoured to obtain all books, pamphlets, prints, plans and maps, and +important manuscripts relating to Norfolk and Norwich, all books and +pamphlets printed locally until about 1850, all books and pamphlets by +authors associated with the county either by birth or residence, +portraits and biographical publications relating to Norfolk people, local +newspapers, election literature, early theatre bills, broadsides, +book-plates, reports and proceedings of local authorities and societies, +etc. + +When the present Librarian commenced his duties in 1911 the collection, +as recorded in the stock-book of the Library, comprised 5,129 volumes and +6,362 pamphlets, since which time by purchase, spontaneous donations, and +systematic application for local publications the collection has +increased to 6,364 volumes and 8,126 pamphlets. In addition there are +about 7,900 topographical prints and photographs, 950 portraits, and 380 +maps, exclusive of the Photographic Survey Collection. + +The collection contains extremely valuable files of local newspapers, +including a rare volume of "Crossgrove's News or the Norwich Gazette" for +the years 1728-32, the "Norwich Gazette" 1761-64, a long file of its +successor the "Norfolk Chronicle" from 1772 with a few gaps to date, the +"Norwich Mercury" 1756-60, 1771-80, and from 1802 to date, and "The +Eastern Daily Press" from 1875 to date. Recent features introduced in +the Local Collection are files of obituary notices of Norfolk people, +extracted from various papers and mounted on large cards, and cuttings +from newspapers and periodicals of items of local interest, which are +mounted on uniform sheets, classified, and filed for reference. + +Donations to the Local Collection have been far too numerous even to +allow mention of the names of all the chief donors, but the interest of +Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., the Consulting Curator of the Castle Museum, +should not pass unnoticed. He has given in recent years several scarce +books and prints, including a copy of his rare monograph on "John Sell +Cotman," and a volume of etchings by the Rev. E. T. Daniell. + +In order to provide a handy guide to the extensive literature relating to +Norwich, the present writer prepared an annotated and classified +catalogue of the books, pamphlets, articles and maps in the Local +Collection dealing with the City under its most important aspects. The +catalogue, entitled "Guide to the Study of Norwich" was published in +1914, and the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society marked its +appreciation of it by purchasing 360 copies. In 1915 a series of special +annotated catalogues of literature in the Library relating to Norfolk +Celebrities was commenced in the "Readers' Guide." The first was devoted +to the collection of literature relating to Lord Nelson (comprising 218 +books, 39 pamphlets, 81 articles, and 31 prints), and the second to +Norfolk Artists. Both catalogues were reprinted as pamphlets for sale at +sixpence each. + +He also prepared a scheme of classification for the entire collection, +and began classifying and cataloguing the contents in 1915, but the work +has been suspended owing to the absence of his trained assistants on +service. However, about 3,000 books and pamphlets have been classified +and catalogued in accordance with modern bibliographical practice, and it +is hoped that in due course a complete catalogue will be prepared and +printed, which will not only serve as a key to unlock this vast store of +local information, but will also form an extensive bibliography of +Norfolk and Norwich. + + + +NORFOLK AND NORWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY. + + +A valuable adjunct to the Local Collection is the Norfolk and Norwich +Photographic Survey Record which was inaugurated in January, 1913. +Shortly after the disastrous flood in Norfolk and Norwich during August, +1912, the Committee favourably considered a report from the City +Librarian on the collection of photographs of everything interesting, +valuable and characteristic of Norfolk and Norwich. A conference was +convened between a Sub-Committee of the Public Library Committee and +representatives of the local learned and scientific societies on 13th +January, 1913, and ultimately a comprehensive scheme was adopted. It is +carried out by the Public Library in collaboration with the Norwich and +District Photographic Society and other local scientific societies, with +the following object: "To preserve by permanent photographic process, +records of antiquities, art, architecture, geology and palaeontology, +natural history, passing events of local or historical importance, +portraits, old documents, prints, and characteristic scenery of the +county of Norfolk." The photographs contributed to the Survey become the +property of the Public Library, under the care of the City Librarian, who +is the Secretary and Curator of the Survey. The Public Library has +undertaken the responsibility of the mounting, storage and cataloguing of +the photographs. The Collection is increased by donations of prints, and +the purchase of prints from money specially subscribed for the purpose. + + [Picture: Exhibition and Lecture Room] + +With the view of stimulating public interest in the Photographic Survey, +and of acquainting persons with the scope and methods of photographic +survey work, Mr. L. Stanley Jast, who was then the Chief Librarian of the +Croydon Public Libraries, and the Hon. Curator of the Surrey Photographic +Survey, delivered a public lecture with lantern illustrations to a large +audience at Blackfriars' Hall on 24th January, 1913. The first +exhibition of photographs illustrative of the work of the survey was +arranged by the City Librarian, and was held in the new Exhibition Room +at the Library during December, 1913. An illustration of the room, from +a photograph taken during the exhibition, faces this page. The opening +ceremony was performed by Mr. Russell J. Colman, D.L., J.P., the +President of the Survey, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of +Norwich (Mr. James Porter) who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and +the Sheriff (Mr. C. T. Coller). The collection of photographs, which +commenced in May, 1913, increased at a rapid rate, and although the work +of the Survey has been practically at a standstill since the beginning of +the war, the collection numbers 1,847 mounted prints and 59 lantern +slides. The technique of the photographs reaches a very high standard, +the majority of them are platinotypes, and many are of whole-plate size. +The collection will undoubtedly be of service to antiquaries, historians, +architects, geologists, naturalists, photographers, artists, and all +lovers of the beautiful in nature and art, and it will also be of +inestimable value to posterity. + + + +LECTURES, READING-CIRCLES, AND EXHIBITIONS. + + +For a long period lectures have been regarded as an important part of the +educational or "extension" work of organised public libraries throughout +the country, but in the case of Norwich lectures were instituted as a +means of promoting the extension of the Library itself. As soon as the +first stone of the building was laid the Committee in January, 1855, +authorised the Secretary to make arrangements for a course of lectures at +the Bazaar, St. Andrew's Street, in order to promote the objects of the +Library, and by the April meeting lectures had been given by the Rev. A. +B. Power (twice), the Rev. A. Reed, the Rev. J. Compton, the Rev. J. +Gould, Mr. J. Fox (twice), Mr. J. H. Tillett, and Professor Edward +Taylor, of Gresham College. Charges were made for admission, in aid of +the funds of the library, and the net proceeds amounted to about 10 +pounds, the attendances having been "better than usual at lectures in +Norwich." + +In October, 1861, a sub-committee was formed to arrange weekly penny +readings, interspersed with lectures, in the large room at the Library on +Thursday evenings, and in April of the following year the Secretary +reported a net balance in hand of 9 pounds : 6 : 0, which sum was spent +on books for the Library. In September, 1863, the Committee evidently +intended to continue the penny readings, as it was resolved that Mr. +Dowson, a member of the Committee, should have full liberty to make +arrangements for conducting the penny readings during the following +winter session. + +A course of popular lectures in connection with the Library by +distinguished scientists was inaugurated by Mr. F. W. Harmer, J.P., +F.G.S., F.R.Met.Soc., in the year of his mayoralty, 1888. +(Parenthetically it may be remarked that he has the distinction of being +the oldest member of the Public Library Committee, he having served on it +continuously since 1880.) Hoping to place the scheme on a permanent +basis, Mr. Harmer suggested the appointment of a Committee of the +Corporation to carry out arrangements for a yearly series of similar +lectures on science by distinguished men, under the provisions of the +Gilchrist Trust, and the matter was referred to the Library Committee. +The first of these series, delivered early in 1889 by Sir Robert Ball, +Dr. Lant Carpenter, Dr. Andrew Wilson, Professor Miall, Professor Seeley, +and the Rev. Dr. Dallinger, were "crowned with complete success." Under +the management of the Committee another course was delivered during the +following winter, when the lecturers were Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew +Wilson, Mr. Louis Fagan, and Mr. Henry Seebohm, and two lectures were +given during the winter of 1890-91, by Sir Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew +Wilson respectively. Unfortunately, for reasons of economy, these were +supplemented by a series by local gentlemen (which were given in +Blackfriars' Hall), but the result was the reverse of successful, and led +eventually to the abandonment of the original scheme. Lectures by Sir +Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew Wilson, with others by local gentlemen were +given, however, in the winter of 1892-93, and in the following winter by +Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew Wilson, and Dr. Drinkwater. No lectures were +given in the winter of 1893-94 as the University Extension Lectures then +inaugurated were regarded as sufficient, but these appealed to a +different class, and never took the place of the others. + +In that year the Committee-room was in frequent use by three public +circles of the Norwich Branch of the National Home Reading Union, and by +the Norwich Students' Association, which again used the room in 1894-95. +The National Home Reading Union continued to use the room for several +years. + +Lectures organised by the Committee were again revived in 1916 on the +occasion of the Tercentenary of the death of Shakespeare, when the +following lectures were delivered at the Technical Institute, the lecture +room at the Library being too small for the purpose: "Shakespeare as +National Hero," by Sir Sidney Lee, D.Litt., F.B.A.; "Shakespeare and the +English Ideal," {84} by the Dean of Norwich (The Very Rev. H. C. +Beeching, D.D., D.Litt.); "Shakespeare and Music," by Mr. A. Batchelor, +M.A.; "Dramatic Companies in Norwich of Shakespeare's Time," by Mr. L. G. +Bolingbroke; and "The Plant Lore of Shakespeare," by Mr. Edward Peake. +For the first two lectures one shilling was charged for admission, and +the net proceeds were sent to the Jenny Lind Hospital in Norwich (7 +pounds : 12 : 6) and the Camps Library (8 pounds : 5 : 6). The remaining +lectures were free, but collections were taken on behalf of the Camps +Library, and 3 pounds : 19 : 6 was received. + +The Shakespeare Tercentenary was also commemorated by an exhibition in +the Reading Room, consisting of books, prints and other material +illustrative of the life and works of Shakespeare. The prints were +arranged in groups as follows: Portraits, Shakespeare's country, +Contemporaries, Actors, Costume, Music, Pictorial illustrations of +Shakespeare, Elizabethan London, and Shakespeare Memorials. + +In connection with the Gray bicentenary, which took place on December +26th, 1916, the Dean of Norwich, who is a member of the Public Library +Committee, delivered a lecture on Thomas Gray at the Technical Institute +on December 15th, when the Deputy Mayor, Alderman H. J. Copeman, J.P. +(Chairman of the Public Library Committee), presided. A small exhibition +of prints, and works by and about Gray was arranged in the Reading Room. + +It is hoped that in future lectures on literary subjects or connected +with classes of books in the Library may be arranged from time to time. + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +In the annual reports various statistics have been given of the visits to +the News and Reading Rooms, and the number of books issued from the +Lending and Reference Libraries, but as there was no uniform system of +compilation, and the methods employed were not stated, an accurate +statistical comparison between the past and present work of the Library +is impossible. Suffice it to say that at no time of its history has it +been so well equipped in all directions, and at no time has it stood +higher in public esteem than it does at present. The old City Library +possesses treasures befitting an old English "City of Churches," and the +present Public Library fulfils the general purposes of a modern +rate-supported Library. The Lending Library consists of about 18,000 +volumes in all departments of knowledge, from which some 6,000 adults and +juveniles borrow about 110,000 volumes annually. The Reading Room and +News Room contain a careful selection of the leading newspapers, and a +large variety of the best periodicals. The Reference Library contains +about 24,000 volumes, including sets of the publications of several +learned societies, and is being brought up to date by the purchase of +recent standard works of reference. The Local Collection, which for +completeness probably equals that of any other county, has a rich store +of material, valuable not only to the antiquary, but to all those who +desire to know something of the literature and art of the county, or its +natural and geological history, or the part played by Norfolk and Norwich +in the general history of England. Further, the Library, being +encyclopaedic in character, may be regarded as a bureau of information, +and as such it is playing an important part in the educational, +industrial and social life of the City. + + _Printed by Jarrold & Sons_, _Ltd._, _Norwich_, _England_. + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{1} A. Jessopp's Norwich (Diocesan histories), 1884, p. 155. + +{2a} Leland's "Laboryouse Journey and Serche of Johan Leylande for +Englandes Antiquitees," enlarged by John Bale. 1549. + +{2b} London apparently is entitled to claim the distinction of having +established the earliest British library under municipal control. In an +article in the "Library Association Record," vol. 10, 1908, the late Mr. +E. M. Borrajo, formerly Librarian to the Corporation of the City of +London, wrote: "The citizens of London may fairly claim to be the parent, +in a sense, not only of the National Library, but of every public library +in the country." He also stated: "The earliest association of a library +with the Guildhall dates from some period anterior to the year 1425, when +it is recorded that the executors of Richard Whittington and William Bury +built the 'new house or library, with the chamber under,' the custody of +which was entrusted to them by the Corporation." About the year 1549 the +Lord Protector Somerset carried off three cart loads of books from the +Library, and the following year saw its final disappearance. This +library was a collegiate library and probably opened its doors to +non-collegiate students, who were properly accredited. In the will of +John Carpenter, proved in 1442, this library is referred to as the +"common library at Guildhall." + +{3} "The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar by Robert Ricart Towm Clerk of +Bristol, 18 Edward IV." (Camden Society), 1872, p. v. + +{4a} J. Kirkpatrick's "History of the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich +. . . written about the year 1725." 1845, p. 80. + +{4b} _ib._ + +{5a} "Records of the City of Norwich," vol. 2, 1910, p. clxv. + +{5b} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 4, 1806, p. 262. + +{8} Depositions . . . Extracts from the Court Books of the City of +Norwich, 1666-1688, ed. by Walter Rye, 1905, p. 130. + +{11} "A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick Library of the City of +Norwich, in the year 1732," pp. iii-iv. + +{13a} Typewritten copy in the Norwich Public Library (vol. 2 p. 217) of +the manuscript of Mackerell's "History of Norwich," in the possession of +J. H. Gurney, Esq., J.P., F.Z.S., of Keswick Hall, Norwich. + +{13b} Assembly Book, Sept. 21st, 1801. + +{13c} Assembly Book, May 3rd, 1805. + +{14} "Catalogue of the Books belonging to the Public Library and to the +City Library of Norwich," 1825, p. xxvi. + +{15a} "Second Catalogue of the Library of the Norfolk and Norwich +Literary Institution," 1825, p. I. + +{15b} _Norfolk Chronicle_, July 12th, 1856, p. 2. + +{15c} _ib_. + +{15d} _Norfolk Chronicle_ and _Norwich Mercury_, Nov. 22nd, 1856. + +{17} _Norwich Mercury_, March 21st, 1868, p. 3. + +{20a} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 3, 1806, p. 366. + +{20b} "Norfolk and Norwich Notes and Queries," First Series, 1896-99, p. +193. + +{22} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 3, 1806, p. 414. + +{24} "Dictionary of National Biography," vol. 33, 1893, p. 37. + +{25a} "Letters written by eminent persons in the 17th and 18th +centuries," vol. 2, 1813, p. 104. + +{25b} Mayoralty Court, 9th Jan., 1677/8. + +{25c} Kirkpatrick's "History of the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich, +written about the year 1725," 1845, p. 81. + +{35} It is interesting to note that in the critical part of this work +Raleigh was assisted by the Rev. Robert Burhill, rector of Northwold, +Norfolk, 1622-41. + +{38} In the "Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, Charles I., +1628-29," p. 188, it is stated that he translated the English Liturgy +into French. + +{40} This is undoubtedly the shelf-mark of the Norwich Public Library. + +{43} John Dury's "The Reformed Librarie-Keeper" (Chicago), 1906, p. 45. + +{47} The Library contains one copy, the Bodleian Library has two copies, +and there is one in the Norfolk and Norwich Library. + +{50a} "Catalogus Librorum in Bibliotheca Norvicensi," 1883. + +{50b} Henry Harrod's "Castles and Convents of Norfolk," 1857, p. 82. + +{51} Kirkpatnck's "History of the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich, +written about the year 1725," 1845, p. 57. + +{53a} Probably purchased with her donation of 20 pounds. + +{53b} Probably purchased with his donation of 5 pounds. + +{53c} This entry is not in the Vellum Book, but is in the Minute Book. + +{53d} Probably purchased with his legacy of 20 pounds. + +{54a} Vellum Book adds: "And other money from many others received with +which four books were purchased." + +{54b} Ten books were purchased with the donations from Brigges, 5 +pounds, Wisse, 3 pounds, and Church, 3 pounds. + +{55a} "More than 100 books."--Vellum Book. + +{55a} "Several law books and others."--Vellum Book. + +{55a} The Vellum Book states that he gave "More than three score books." + +{55a} The Minute Book states: Mr. Clayton brought in "History of +Parliament," being the gift of the author. + +{59} This trowel is now in the possession of Miss Lucy Bignold of +Norwich, who has kindly promised to lend it to the Public Library +Committee in connection with an exhibition of books and prints +illustrative of the history and work of the Library, which will be held +on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Library. + +{70} Annual Report, 1907-8, pp. 3-4. + +{84} Published in the "Readers' Guide," vol. 5, no. 3, 1916, and +reprinted as a pamphlet. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY*** + + +******* This file should be named 19804.txt or 19804.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/8/0/19804 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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