Catalogue Of Foreign Books In The Chapter Library Of Lincoln Cathedral

This catalogue describes MSS 1-247 and 298 in the Chapter Library of Lincoln Cathedral, plus ten former Lincoln MSS now elsewhere. About half of the MSS were part of the cathedral's medieval Library; nearly all the rest came therebefore the late seventeenth century. Among the MSS, which date from the eighth to the early sixteenth century, are biblical commentaries and sermons, works of pastoral theology and an important corpus of Middle English texts, including the famous Thornton Romances. A group of MSS written at the Cathedral c.1100 is notable for its distinctive decoration. The Catalogue is preceded by a history of the Cathedral Library, based on the rich documentaryevidence, which includes two medieval catalogues. The plates illustrate bindings, ownership marks, important decoration and noteworthy script, including samples from all signed and dated books.

There was certainly a collection of books at Lincoln Cathedral in the twelfth century, and its origins were perhaps earlier still; but little interest seems to have been taken in building up the library until the second half of the seventeenth century, with the appointment in 1660 of the bibliophile Michael Honywood, a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, as Dean. The present Wren Library's collection of some 8,000 printed books is based largely on his private library, bequeathed to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln on his death in 1681. Much of Honywood's library was put together during seventeen years of voluntary exile in the Low Countries from 1643. It is consequently rich in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century continental literature, including rare Italian plays, European pamphlets and broadsides interpreting the English political situation, a collection of Dutch ballads, and many religious books and tracts. The splendid English collection includes 1600 STC items, and 2,650 printed between 1641 and 1700, over 100 of which are not recorded in Wing. In addition there are some 100 incunables. This complete catalogue of books printed before 1801 is the first since 1859, and offers the detail and precision required by modern scholars, bibliographers and libraries. Titles are given at some length to indicate subject coverage, and format, pagination, and details of illustrations are recorded. The catalogue notes which books belonged to Honywood, whose importance as a collector is thus established. A set of concordances keyed to the main entries covers STC, Wing, Adams, and Goff.

This is an illustrated volume of specially-commissioned studies of the history of the cathedral foundation of Lincoln which traces its historical development, architectural evolution and musical history from its post-Norman foundation to the present day. The book synthesises the findings of modern scholarship and presents an important and comprehensible interdisciplinary survey for anyone interested in English cathedral history and architecture, and above all for anyone who visits or frequents this great landmark of England's heritage.