D JOHN WICKHAM LEGG EATH came as a friend to Dr. Wickham Legg, for no one who cared for him could wish that he should have lived on in blindness and incipient mental trouble, and he had done fine work in two different fields. His first book, A Guide to the Examination of Urine, published in 1869, reached its sixth edition in 1885; between 1874 and 1887 he held various appointments at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and gave the Bradshaw Lectures at the College of Physicians. In 1881 he commenced liturgiologist with a paper on the lawfulness of the Sarum colours in the diocese of London, showed his full quality in his edition of the Quignon Breviary in 1888, found his appropriate place as chairman of Council of the Henry Bradshaw Society in 1895, and held it till 1915, and on either side of this last date produced one of his best works, English Church Life from 1660 to 1833 (1914), and an edition of the Sarum Missal from three early manuscripts (1916). He joined the Bibliographical Society about 1900, for some years served on the Council, and contributed to our Transactions papers on The Bibliography of Marcus Aurelius (x. 15-81), and on An Agreement in 1536 to bring out the second Breviary of Cardinal Quignon (xiii. 323-48). At our November meeting Mr. Madan briefly commemorated Dr. Legg's services to the Society, and the tribute was well deserved. A. W. P. New Series. Issued Quarterly. Vol. II, No. 4. March 1922 THE LIBREYR'S Published by Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York, Toronto, Melbourne 11 Grafton St., New Bond St. ANCIENT DEALER IN MANUSCRIPTS EARLY PRINTED BOOKS ENGLISH LITERATURE (both old and modern) BOOKS ON THE FINE ARTS SCIENTIFIC BOOKS ORIENTAL BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS JUST PUBLISHED A CATALOGUE of English and Foreign Bookbindings offered for sale by Bernard Quaritch, Ltd. Royal 4to. LARGE PAPER EDITION, with 70 plates (6 in colours); boards, £1 12s. Od. -the same. NON-ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 8vo, sewed, 1s. An extensive catalogue which describes specimens from the binderies of Europe from the Middle Ages to the present time. The series of plates fully illustrates the various English and Continental Schools of Bookbinding during the last four centuries. Fourth Series Vol. II. No. 4 I March 1922 SOME NOTES UPON THE MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY T AT HOLKHAM 1 BY C. W. JAMES, M.A. WO hundred years ago there were nearly 750 manuscripts in the possession of Lord Leicester's ancestor, Thomas Coke. They are in the library at Holkham to-day, and their number has been increased by not more than seven or eight. The history of the library begins with the collection of books and manuscripts made by Lord Leicester's ancestor, the famous Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of England, born 1551, died 1634. Certain volumes at Holkham had always been recognized as his, having his name inscribed in them. But three or four years ago there emerged from the seclusion of the Muniment Room a precious series of documents, one of which is A Catalogue of all my Books, both printed and MS.'. It is signed in twenty places with the stately signature of Edward Coke. Appended to this is a list of his Antiquities and Rarities'. Another document gives a list of his Plate, Pictures, Tapestries, etc.'; while the third is an instrument by which he conveys to trustees all my Bookes, Rolles, Institutes, Collec'tions out of the Records and rolles of Parliament, coppies of ' records, Reports and other collections and bookes whatsoever 'as well manuscript as printed of whatsoever kind of learninge science or art whatsoever. . . ' to the intent that 1 Read before the Bibliographical Society, 21 November 1921. P his heirs male may successively have and enjoye the use and 'the possession of them as a memorial of all my love and care of them', and that they may remain and continue to my 'posteritie'. His desire is that these possessions may be kept in his house of Godwick in some convenient place there, unless it is by licence of the trustees for the time being. He concludes with what is almost an imprecation on any successor who shall neglect or alienate his books. Lastlie, if any that 'shall hereafter be heir male of me, Sir Edw: Coke, shall... ' endeavour to do or to suffer any act . . . whereby any of my possessions shall be transferred or vested in any other person "... then I pronounce such person so endeavouring to be ungrate and unthankful to such an affectionate loving and provident ancestor.' The Catalogue is clearly written in a clerkly hand, on eighteen pieces of vellum, which form a roll 42 feet in length. It appears to have been made in 1630, and it must be fairly complete, but not quite so, for there still exist volumes which have Sir Edward Coke's autograph, but which are not entered in the Catalogue. Of 1,150 books mentioned, 140 are manuscripts, classified under the following heads: 'Divinitie MSS.; Popish MSS.; Legal MSS.; Historical ' and State MSS.; MSS. of Herauldry'. Each section has its preface. The Law Books, for instance, are thus introduced: Secondly, of the books of the lawes of England (because they are derived from the Lawes of God) whereof some be 'MSS. and some mixt (partlie in print and partlie written), ' others in print, and of these in order, and first of Manuscripts.' But Sir Edward had more manuscripts than those separately enumerated, for we read of 'Manie Breviaries, lady's psalters and manuells' in the Popish section; and 'Divers MSS. of writts and old statutes' in the legal. Not all of these manuscripts are now used and enjoyed' by Sir Edward's posterity. We can identify about sixty. |