Three Centuries of a City Library, by George A. Stephen

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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, [email protected]

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

p. ii“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.

p. iiiPREFACE.

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.

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.

p. 1 INTRODUCTION.

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.” [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 p. 2of 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 p. 3Kalendars 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 p. 4Repyngton.” [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 incœpta et inchoata fuit An^o 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. 5To 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 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]

p. 6By 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 min^s 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 Norw^ch, in Complyance w^th 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 w^th 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 p. 7ye 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 w^th 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 w^th 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 min^s 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 p. 8ordered 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^s 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 y^t M^r Riveley and M^r 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^s. 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 4^ll 3^s & 4^d and had expended 4^l 11^s 10^d—due to Him 8^s 6^d.”

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^t meeting shall determine.”  The Minute Book does not show that the fines for absence were usually disposed of half-yearly, but the following memorandum p. 9was 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 B^p J. Ushers treatise de Macedonum et Assyriorum [Asianorum] anno solari was missing this meeting y^t was, by y^e 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^t 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 y^e Court to give leave y^t an order might be made to render y^e Library more usefull it was accordingly ordered by y^e Court

“Norwich.  At an Assembly held the third day of May Anno Dnj 1716

“The Petition of y^e Clergy about y^e Books in ye Library is now agreed to, so as such care be taken by y^e Library-keeper y^t there be no loss of y^e Books.

P Cur: Chappell.

“The Articles or Conditions of borrowing any book out of y^e Library are order’d to be written in y^e first leave of a Register to be provided for y^e use of y^e 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 y^e same into a Book to be provided for y^t purpose.

“2^dly: That He shall be obliged to return ye same Book or Books w^thin one month from y^e time of borrowing, & enter y^e return of y^e s^d Book in a Column of y^e Register opposite to that wherein ye borrowing of y^e s^d Book is mention’d.

“3^dly: That No Person shall have above y^e Number of three p. 10Books (from this Library) at one time, unless y^e leave of y^e Society be first Ask’d & obtain’d.

“4^thly: That if any damage be done to any Book, He in whose hands it is shall make it good, & to prevent disputes, if y^e Book be damag’d before taken out of y^e Library it shall be shown to y^e Under=library=Keeper.

“5^thly: That there be some Persons appointed to assist ye Upper Library Keeper in calling over y^e s^d Books y^e first Monday of January next, & so yearly & every year, & y^t y^e Library Keeper shall have power to send for & call in such Books as are y^tt abroad, & every person in whose hands any Books have been above y^e limited time of one Month at such days of calling over y^e s^d Books shall forfeit two shillings & six pence to be applied to such use as y^e Society shall adjudge proper.

“6^thly: That No Person shall be admitted to y^e use of this Library, (Those of this Court excepted) Nor have y^e liberty of borrowing any Book from y^e s^d Library who are not already, or shall not hereafter be admitted to y^e use of y^e s^d Library according to y^e usages & Customs of the Society Now in great measure entrusted w^th y^e Care & Charge of y^e Books of y^e s^d Library, except such Person shall first give unto y^e s^d Library y^e sum of fourty shillings or Books to y^t value.

“7^thly: Tis agreed y^t there be two fair Catalouges made, One to be & remain w^th y^e Court of this City, & y^e other to be kept in y^e Library, y^t y^e Library Keeper do get y^e s^d Catalouges made w^th all convenient speed, y^t y^e Books be rang’d into some method & order, y^t y^e Library Keeper shall take in such assistance as is wanting, & his charge & trouble be allow’d according to y^e discretion of y^e 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 p. 11in every Month at two o’Clock in y^e afternoon.”  On the 7th of the following month two delinquent borrowers were dealt with: “Whereas the Rev^d M^r. Francis Johnson took some time since the Works of Bishop Bull in 4 volumes 8^vo out of this Library, & has return’d only y^e 1^st, 3^rd & 4^th Vol^s & instead of y^e 2^d Sherlock on providence, it Was then Order’d, that that sh^d be return’d him again, & that he be requir’d either to send back y^e s^d 2^d vol. or take the remaining three, & send an entire Sett.  Order’d likewise that M^r Morrant be requir’d to return B-p. Stillingfleets Origines Sacrae, being y^e 2^d 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 p. 12on 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:

p. 13“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 p. 14the 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 p. 15books 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 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 p. 16your 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 p. 17so-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 p. 18obtained 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, 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).

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 p. 19John 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:

“M^r Richard Ireland, Formerly Rector of Beeston and sometime also of S^t 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 M^r 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: “M^r 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: “M^r John Kirkpatrick Merch^t 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. 20“Sometime after the Decease of the said M^r 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 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 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^e rest of the Brethren mett this day That Mr. Joseph Paine Alderman of the City of Norwich uppon p. 21Munday preceding this meeting, sent for y^e 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^e 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^e 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 S^r 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 prætoris, they ordered that some of those papers should bee affixed to the 9 vol. of y^e Criticks: w^ch cost 15^l & to the 4 vol. of Gerard’s Comon places w^ch cost 3^l 13^s & to the 2 vol. of Theophilact. w^ch cost 1^l 02^s: in all 19^l 17^s: the other 3^s: beeing accounted for y^e Carriage: they also ordered that a like paper be affixed to Ravanella before giuen to the library by y^e said S^r Jos. Paine.”

In the Vellum Book under date Dec. 12th, 1659, are entered 29 volumes as a gift from Thomasine Brooke, “Widow & Relict of W^m 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^rs 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 p. 22to 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.”

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, [22] who states that he was the brother of Edmund Cocke, and that he also “gave the city chamberlain 100^l, 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 Rob^t Bendish Esq. £20 to be p^d to M^r 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 Judæos” (1679), “and other money [£1] from many others p. 23received” 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, with which ten volumes were purchased: Augustine Briggs £5, Thomas Wisse £3, and Bernard Church £3.

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 “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.

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, p. 24these 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]  p. 25Bishop 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, Esq^rs are to consult a good workeman about ye making of a Case of Deale for y^e skeleton of a Man given to the City Librarie & to report y^e 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 p. 26library 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.

p. 27MANUSCRIPTS.

Anon.  In Apocalypsin.  XIIIth century.

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.

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, 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.

Contains thirteen items: medical tracts, list of materia medica, etc.

Manuale.  XVth century.

Vellum, 9 7/8 x 7¼ 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 p. 28by 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 4½ 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, 11½ x 8½ 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 7½ 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 néerlandaise au XV^e 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.

p. 29INCUNABULA.

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.

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 p. 32had 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, 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.

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 p. 33edition 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, 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.

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).

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 p. 34the 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 p. 35are, 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 à Wood’s “Athenæ 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 p. 36the 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 “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).

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 p. 37at 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” p. 38(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.” [38]  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 p. 39from 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 “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.”

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^ch has for some years been lodged in ye Library of y^e City entituled—The Book of Common-prayer & Administration of y^e Sacraments & other Rights & Ceremonies of the Church p. 40of England, printed at London by Robert Barker, 1632—Wherein are several Marginal Notes in Writing done by y^e order of King Charles y^e first was delivered to M^r 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 p. 41notes 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 p. 42formed 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; p. 43[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 p. 44to 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^ll-14^s-00^d.”

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^t of 20^sh 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 p. 45following 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 w^ch 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 q^rs 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 y^e bookes in the library” . . . “He further informed them that hee had laid out 3^s for paper and 4^s. for y^e ruling & binding y^e said book, in all 7^s w^ch is more then he received 2^s 10^d.  That he had procured 2 catalogues to be wrote in it fairly, that for y^e catalogue of Comentators it was begun & should before y^e 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 p. 46the 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 7^s; For the repaymt of w^ch monye it was aggreed every minister should pay viijd: w^ch 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.

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^t M^r Norgate should ag^t their next meeting bring in a Catalogue of the Bookes to be dd to the Court and y^t he p. 47shall see y^t the Bookes given to the Library in his time be fayrely written in the Vellam-booke appoynted to y^t 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 y^e Alphabeticall Catalogue of y^e 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^ch cost two p^ds 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 y^t y^e fourteen shillings & three pence now paid by M^r Herne the p. 48present library keeper to M^r Joseph Brett to clear his disbursem^ts for catalogus &c for y^e service of y^e Library shal be repaid y^e said M^r 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^d of the Under-library keeper Fourteen Shillings for S^r Walt^r Raileigh: A super-numerary book sold to M^r. Lillington by order of the Society which is tow^ds 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 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.

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 p. 49the 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 p. 50thousand 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 p. 51Chapleyn 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 acc^t of 1s. laid out for coale and wood for the drying of y^e bookes harmed by y^e 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 min^rs. present agreed in a petition to y^e May^r Sherriffs Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for y^e addition of a roome to y^e library, and y^e better shelving of it.  They further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present y^e petition to y^e Comon Councell at their next assembly.  Mr. Chamberlain hauing first viewed y^e roome & computed y^e 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^e waynscott Doores w^ch 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 p. 52building 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.)

p. 57PART 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!

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 p. 58establishment 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.

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 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 p. 59City 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.

p. 60“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 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 p. 61he 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 : 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.”

“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 p. 62of £75 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, 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.

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 p. 63Council, 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 p. 64above, 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.”

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.

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 p. 65by 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.

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 p. 66were 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 : 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.

p. 67“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 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.

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.  p. 68Pending 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 p. 69Committee 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 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.

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 p. 70by 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 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.

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 p. 71office 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 p. 72one 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 p. 73their 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 : 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.

p. 74CHAIRMEN 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:—

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, p. 75the 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.

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.

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.  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.

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 p. 76twenty-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 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 p. 77graphic 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 for the advancement of local archæology, 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 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 p. 78pamphlets, 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 p. 79Carpenters’ 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, 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 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. 80For 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 p. 81relating 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.

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 p. 82object: “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.

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. 83LECTURES, 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, 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 : 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 p. 84was 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,” p. 85by 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.

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 p. 86Library.  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.

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.

[53b]  Probably purchased with his donation of £5.

[53c]  This entry is not in the Vellum Book, but is in the Minute Book.

[53d]  Probably purchased with his legacy of £20.

[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, Wisse, £3, and Church, £3.

[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.

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