DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51197#0009
PREFATORY NOTE
IT is hoped to issue with the final portion of this Catalogue a
detailed history of the Lambeth manuscripts as a collection: but
a few of the salient facts in that history may be given as an intro-
duction to this first division.
The Lambeth Library owes its inception, as a library available
for students, to Archbishop Richard Bancroft (1604-10), who be-
queathed it to his successors in the See: or otherwise to the then
projected Chelsea College: or to the University of Cambridge.
His successor, Archbishop Abbot (d. 1633), added considerably
to it: Laud not much.
In 1645/6, under the Commonwealth, the University of Cam-
bridge, at the suggestion of John Selden, petitioned Parliament
that the alternative provision in Bancroft’s will might take effect
in their favour, and in 1648 the books were all transferred to the
University Library, where they remained until after the Restoration.
Negotiations for the return of the books were begun in 1662 by
Archbishop Juxon (d. 1663) and continued by Sheldon. They were
finally restored to Lambeth in 1664.
The collection of manuscripts falls into several divisions which
have long been known by distinctive names, viz.:
I. Codices Lambethani. Nos. 1-576
This includes the MSS. collected by Bancroft and Abbot,
with considerable additions, of which I believe the greater
part to be due to Sheldon. The mediaeval MSS. are for the
most part in this section.
Among Bancroft’s MSS. are a large number from the
Augustinian priory of Lanthony near Gloucester.
II. Codices Whartoniani. Nos. 577-595
These are the collections, most of them in autograph, of
Henry Wharton (d. 1694), purchased and presented by
Archbishop Tenison.
IT is hoped to issue with the final portion of this Catalogue a
detailed history of the Lambeth manuscripts as a collection: but
a few of the salient facts in that history may be given as an intro-
duction to this first division.
The Lambeth Library owes its inception, as a library available
for students, to Archbishop Richard Bancroft (1604-10), who be-
queathed it to his successors in the See: or otherwise to the then
projected Chelsea College: or to the University of Cambridge.
His successor, Archbishop Abbot (d. 1633), added considerably
to it: Laud not much.
In 1645/6, under the Commonwealth, the University of Cam-
bridge, at the suggestion of John Selden, petitioned Parliament
that the alternative provision in Bancroft’s will might take effect
in their favour, and in 1648 the books were all transferred to the
University Library, where they remained until after the Restoration.
Negotiations for the return of the books were begun in 1662 by
Archbishop Juxon (d. 1663) and continued by Sheldon. They were
finally restored to Lambeth in 1664.
The collection of manuscripts falls into several divisions which
have long been known by distinctive names, viz.:
I. Codices Lambethani. Nos. 1-576
This includes the MSS. collected by Bancroft and Abbot,
with considerable additions, of which I believe the greater
part to be due to Sheldon. The mediaeval MSS. are for the
most part in this section.
Among Bancroft’s MSS. are a large number from the
Augustinian priory of Lanthony near Gloucester.
II. Codices Whartoniani. Nos. 577-595
These are the collections, most of them in autograph, of
Henry Wharton (d. 1694), purchased and presented by
Archbishop Tenison.