Shelf list of St John's College Library, Cambridge, with a record of later donations and purchases. English and Latin, 1634-90.

This manuscript comprises a shelf list of the contents of the Old Library in 1634-5, followed by a record of later donations and purchases up to 1690. The shelf list was compiled by William Rogers (BA 1632-3, fellow 1635, library keeper c.1634-8) and opens on fo. 6r with the title 'Catalogus librorum Bibliothecae Johannensis, quo libri quotquot ibi extant disponuntur ordine prout singulis forulis cuiusque classis reponuntur'. See also U.2.

Contents

• Fos 6v-18v give a shelf list of the books on the south side of the Old Library in classes C, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, and R. The other classes are empty, as are some shelves in the classes listed. The compiler gives the letter of the class (classis), the number of the shelf (forulus), and the number of volumes on that shelf (numerus librorum), and then briefly lists the books, giving author, title, number of volumes, and format. The list ends 'Libri praedicti a latere meridionali sunt 1197 Novembr. 13 1634. Accessit huic lateri meridionali librorum numerus 44 ut sequens monstrabit pagina Nouemb: 19 1634. Guilielmus Rogers.'
• Fo. 19r-v lists the 44 books referred to on fo. 18v.
• Fos 19v-21v lists medical books on the south side of the Old Library in classes R and S, under the heading 'Accessere et hi sequentes 215'.
• Fos 22r-44v give a shelf list of the books on the north side of the Old Library in classes C, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, and T. The other classes are empty, as are some of the shelves in the classes listed. The information is presented in the same way as for the south side. A note at the head of fo. 42v reads 'Libri predicti a latere septentrionali sunt 1512. Novembr. 13o 1634.'
• Fos. 45r-47r list 'Bp Morton's bookes' in classes Q, R, O, and P on the north side of the Old Library. Thomas Morton (BA 1587, fellow 1592) donated 100 pounds to the library in 1628, 1634, 1637, and 1639. The items listed here appear to have been purchased with his third donation of 1637.
• Fo. 47r-v lists 'Bookes bestowed by Mr Platt', arranged according to format. These entries relate to William Platt (matric. 1609, d 1637).
• Fo. 47v lists 'Manuscripts received from Mr Bodurda' and 'Manuscripts received from ye Master of ye Colledge'. These relate to William Bodurda? (fellow 1616-44) and William Beale (master 1633-44). At least some of the items received from Bodurda were given by Jeremiah Holt (BA 1599-1600, fellow 1603).
• Fos 48r-50r list medical books on the south side of the Old Library in classes S and T given by Dr Collins. John Collins (BA 1596, fellow 1613) bequeathed his medical books to the library, with 100 pounds, in 1634.
• Fo. 53v notes the number of manuscripts in the library as 162 and lists four books kept 'in inferiore cista'.
• Fo. 54r-v gives a list of eighteen manuscripts and printed books kept 'in cista septentrionali' as on 13 Nov. 1634, and then lists a further three.
• Fo. 54v records the following totals: 'Numerus omnium librorum 2771 Nouembris 19 1635, Guilielmus Rogers'; 'Februar: 26 1635 libri omnes (die et anno praedictis) sunt ter mille trecenti et viginti novem [3329]: quos omnes ego (subscripto nomine) agnosco, et in me recipio, Guilielmus Rogers. In presentia Tho: Fothergill, Arth: Heron.' Thomas Fothergill graduated BA in 1616-17 and became a fellow in 1618. Arthur Heron/Hearne received his BA in 1625-6 and was elected a fellow in 1628.
• Fo. 55r lists thirteen manuscript and printed volumes 'in cista meridionali repositi'.
• Fos 56r-57v give 'A catalogue of manuscripts given by ye right Honourable Thomas Earle of Southampton'. This lists 85 manuscripts in folio and 77 in quarto and octavo. These manuscripts were acquired by William Crashawe (BA 1592, fellow 1594) and were presented to St John's in 1635 by Thomas Wriothesley, earl of Southampton.
• Fo. 58r-v gives a list of 'Mr Lightfoot's bookes', arranged by format. These were bequeathed by Edward Lightfoot (BA 1584, d. 1635).
• Fos 58v-61r list books given by Bishop Dee, arranged by format. These were bequeathed by Francis Dee (BA 1600, fellow 1603, d. 1638).
• Fo. 61r lists 'other books in 27 volumes new bound some with bookes yt were in Librarie before', and a manuscript Qu'ran given by William Beale (master 1633-44) on 23 Jan. 1639.
• Fos 62r-70r give a list headed 'July 29 1639: my L. of Durhams books', arranged by format. In addition to recording author, title and number of volumes, this list gives place and date of publication. Thomas Morton (BA 1587, fellow 1592, bishop of Durham 1632-41) donated 100 pounds to the library in 1628, 1634, 1637, and 1639.
• Fo. 70v records books received into the library in Aug. 1639 viz 'bookes of Mr Glovers ... from Mr Wrench', 'two bookes cam in from Mr Dand', '2 bookes came in from Mr Heron'. These items relate to Thomas Glover (BA 1621-2, fellow 1622), Richard Wrench (BA 1631-2, fellow 1636), Oliver Dand (BA 1623-4, fellow 1626), and Arthur Heron/Hearne (BA 1625-6, fellow 1628).
• Fos 71r-73r give a list of 'Bookes provided by Mr Wrench & delivered to ye Library Keeper', arranged by format.
• Fo. 73r lists 'Books delivered to me Joh. Taylor librar. keep. from Dr Turner'. Taylor has not been identified. Francis Turner (DD 1669) was master 1670-79.
• Fo. 73v records books received from 'Dr Morton Praesid' and 'Dr Gower Mr Coll' i.e. David Morton (BA 1651-2, fellow 1652, DD 1675) and Humphrey Gower (master 1679-1711).
• Fo. 74r-v lists books 'Recd from Dr Berry, Dr Wigmore's bookes bought', giving author, title and price. The total expenditure is given as 14 pounds and 6 shillings. These items may relate to Richard Berry (BA 1667-8, fellow 1674) and Gilbert Wigmore of Queen's (DD 1661, d. 1682).
• Fos 75r-76r list books 'from Dr Gower bought out of Mr Peck's Library', giving author, title, number of volumes, format, and price. The total expenditure is given as 53 pounds and 9 shillings. These items relate to John Peck (BA 1659-60, fellow 1660, d. 1682). [Bodl. MS Lister 35 fol.84, a letter from John Place to Martin Lister, confirms that Gower had seen the catalogue of Peck's books.]
• Fos 76v-77v give totals for the number of books on each shelf in classes Bb to Tt and T to B. The list is dated 'July 11 [16]83'.
• Fos 78r-79r list books 'Delivered in by Dr Gower July ye 30th 1683'.
• Fo. 79r lists books under the heading 'Novemb 13 1687. Bookes bought for the Library by Dr Gower Mr Coll. of a London Bookseller Mr Clavill', giving their dates of publication. This must be Robert Clavell (d. 1711), London bookseller 1658-1711.
• Fos 79v-80r list books bought by Dr Gower for the library in Sep. and Nov. 1688, Feb. 1689, and Sep. 1690, giving place and date of publication.
• Fo. 80r-v lists books under the heading 'August ye 28th Books bought out of Mr Gould's Library, for ye Colledge', giving place and date of publication. These items relate to William Gould (BA 1660-1, fellow 1664, d. 1690).
• Fo. 81r-v contains the beginnings of a shelf list for the books in class A.