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The Injunction of Edward VI must not be regarded as a statement that there was no library in existence at York, but, rather, that it should be provided with the works of certain Fathers. Archbishop Holgate adds to these some modern Commentators and takes care for the security of the Library. In 1572 Archbishop Grindal orders that no book should be taken out of it unless the borrower's name is put down in a book to be provided for that purpose. After this we hear nothing, or next to nothing, about the library in archiepiscopal visitations until the year 1685, and it is probable that little attention was paid to it by any one until the year 1628, when a magnificent gift aroused the authorities of York from their slumbers, and then 'Dux fœmina facti!'

Edmund Bunney, Subdean, prebendary of Wistow, and rector of Bolton Percy, is mentioned as a benefactor in the Liber Donorum. In his will, dated 26th February, 1612-13, he says 'My bookes, the cheefe of them and such as are meetest to that purpose, I give to the librarie of the Church of Yorcke, if the Residenciaries there shall thinke good so to make that use of them, the others to be sold' (Proved Feb. 1617-18). A few only of these books can be traced. There is an interesting account of Dr. Bunney in the Athenæ Oxonienses. An original copy of the Latin Sermon which he preached at Oxford on Feb. 22nd 1570 on taking the degree of B.D., was presented to the library by Dr. Collins in 1894.

In 1628, the York Library acquired by the gift of Frances Mathew, the very extensive collection of books made by her husband, Toby Mathew, Archbishop of York. He was born at Bristol in 1546, and between 1559 and 1583 his life was passed in various positions in the University of Oxford. Anthony à Wood says of him that 'he was much respected for his great learning, eloquence, sweet conversation, friendly disposition, and for the sharpness of his wit." The learned men of the day were his friends, and we are not surprised at finding that he gave the sum of one hundred marks to Sir Thomas Bodley's noble foundation.

In 1583 Mathew went into the North where he became Dean of Durham and afterwards Bishop. During this part of his life he added very largely to his library. Prior to the Reformation the Monastery of Durham had at least two collections of MSS. and printed books. Several of the MSS. and about a dozen of the printed books are at York, each bearing an inscription which indicates the place to which it originally belonged. The printed books at Durham seem to have been dispersed at the Reformation, and a number of them found their way into the possession of the family of Tempest of Holmside, and were re-purchased by the Dean and Chapter of Durham from Emerson Charnley, a bookseller in Newcastle, about the year 1828. Mathew had also opportunities of adding to his Collection whenever one of the prebendaries of Durham died. It was not usual at such times to have a public sale, but the effects of the deceased were privately disposed of by the executors. Then came Mathew's opportunity. We find in some of his books the names of Adam Haliday, Robert Swift, Clement Colmore, Henry Ewbank, Emmanuel Barnes, and Leonard Pilkington, all of whom were prebendaries of Durham. John Calfhill had

also a stall in the same rich foundation, and through him probably we find some volumes which had belonged to James Calfhill, the well-known writer and controversialist.

The ownership of Mathew's books is often attested by his name 'Tobias Mathew,' or 'Tobias Dunelm.' A few have his arms stamped in gold on the sides, or the letters 'T. D.' He frequently adds his motto after his name, ' Vita Christus, mors lucrum.' The motto was the predecessor of the modern book-plate. That of Bishop Barnes of Durham was 'Crux veritatis comes,' which was taken up in hereditary succession by his son, Emmanuel Barnes the poet, whilst John Barnes, another son, struck out a line for himself in 'Timor Domini principium Sapientiæ. Bishop Jewell's motto was 'In solo Deo salus,' and that of Isaac Casaubon 'Deus meus adjutor,' while Archbishop Neilé chose the words 'Vivit Redemptor, quid desperem ?' All these are evidenced by inscriptions in the York library. The motto chosen by the erratic Sir Toby Mathew was 'Præmium virtutis honor,' almost the most inappropriate that he could have chosen.

Among the books with autograph dedications to Mathew are works by Robert Abbot, Francis Anthony, Isaac Casaubon, Sir Edward Coke, Richard Cosin, Johannes Drusius, John Florio, and Thomas James, whilst others contain the handwriting of Erasmus, H. Stephens, Bishop Tunstall, Bernard Gilpin, Cranmer, Bishop Hooper, Dean Nowell, Archbishop Parker, Lord Burleigh, Sir Christopher Hatton, and James Calfhill. There are also many presentation and dedication copies bound in gilt vellum. One volume is in the binding of Henry VIII, and came from his books when they were in the Jewel House in the Tower; another belonged to Queen Elizabeth; another to James I.

Such a collector of books as Mathew was, living for many years at Oxford, and paying frequent visits to London, had many opportunities of increasing his library. I have reason also to believe that he paid at least one visit abroad and that he knew something of the French and Italian languages. An examination of his books reveals the fact that most of them were the product of foreign printing-presses. Many of these must have been bought through some English agent out of the printed catalogues of the books sold at the famous Frankfort fairs. There is nearly a complete set of these at York between 1599 and 1623, and the Archbishop has put his cross in the margin against any book which he desired to possess.

Many of Mathew's books are of a controversial character and represent both sides in the religious struggles of the time. This is especially the case with the Roman Catholic series, which is remarkably rich. This contention gave a strong colouring to the Archbishop's life, which could not have been a happy one. In the early part of his residence at Durham a statement made by Edmund Campian the Jesuit in his Decem Rationes threw some doubt upon the fidelity of Mathew to the Church of England. The truth of this was vigourously denied by the assailed person and his friends, and he met the charge himself in a Sermon or Address which was shown in MS., and was not printed until 1638, ten years after the writer's death. When Mathew occupied in succession the sees of Durham and York

he found himself face to face with the Seminary priests and their work, and strained every nerve to counteract the efforts they were making. He was not in favour of capital punishment for these offenders, but the Privy Council in London and the Council in the North at York insisted on it. He himself was moderate in his views, but his wife was a strong Puritan, and then, to add to his mortification, his two surviving sons joined the Roman Catholic Church, whilst the judgment of Campian was constantly thrown against himself. Mathew was therefore forced into a position which he did not like, but when it was once adopted, half-measures were thrown aside.

The battle between the two contending parties was chiefly fought out in the North of England. On the Roman side was the ubiquitous personality of Robert Parsons, on the other side were two Yorkshiremen, Matthew Sutcliffe and Thomas Bell, one of them a canon of York, and both of them controversial retainers of Mathew. It is not easy to say which of the three made use of the most violent and reprehensible language. John Favour, vicar of Halifax, Alexander and Robert Cook, each vicar of Leeds, and the two brothers Edmund and Francis Bunney, all North countrymen, took a minor part in the same struggle, but, infinitely superior to everyone in tone and learning, there arose for the occasion a new writer, the son of a merchant in York, Thomas Morton, afterwards bishop of Durham, a scholar and divine as skilful in fence as he was eminent in learning and piety. Morton and Andrews practically brought this phase of the controversy to an end with their persistent and flail-like blows. Mathew took the greatest interest in the struggle. Anyone who sees his marked copy of William Watson's strange and destructive book 'A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibetical Questions concerning Religion and State' will think that one Bishop at least had it nearly by heart. There are some books in the Archbishop's library connected with this controversy which it would be treason for an ordinary person to possess, and there are some others which must have taken from the book and vestment bags of seminary priests when they fell into the hands of the pursuivant.

The Archbishop also possessed many books connected with the Puritan controversies, especially with Brownism. When Dr. Dexter was drawing up his History and Bibliography of Congregationalism, he derived much information from the York Library, which contains more than one unique volume on the subject. Many of the Pilgrim Fathers went out from the diocese of York; Brewster and Bradford were both Yorkshiremen; nay the former was actually for many years the keeper of the archiepiscopal palace at Scrooby near Bawtry.

Any one who handles Archbishop Mathew's books will soon discover that he was a very diligent reader. In many of them striking passages are underlined and marginal notes and references are frequent.* Occasionally

* John Favour's' Antiquitie triumphing over Noveltie,' which was published in 1619, and dedicated to Archbp. Mathew, has a reference to that prelate's library.

He speaks of those multitudes of authors, sacred, profane, old, new, friends,

there is a humourous or sarcastic criticism upon the writer or his work. It seems strange that, with all the Archbishop's learning, which was indeed considerable, he should have printed next to nothing. Anthony à Wood says 'I have been informed that he had several things lying by him worthy of the press, but what became of them I know not.' They were probably retained by one of the Wickhams, or by some other nephew of Mrs. Mathew; and this is the more probable because at the close of the 17th century his so-called Diary was given by Tobias Wickham, Dean of York to Archbishop Sharp. I have seen two transcripts of it, both of which are now at Leeds, and I possess a third myself. The MS. is of a very trivial kind and is little more than a list of the places at which the Archbishop preached and the texts on which he spoke, together with an occasional note upon some topic of very little interest or moment.

The books which came to the Dean and Chapter are chiefly classical, theological, or historical. Dramatic literature is altogether absent at a time when it was most rich. Not a play of Shakespere or of Ben Jonson is there, and the golden age of Elizabethan literature is totally unrepresented. Did Mathew eschew such books, or did those which he possessed go to some member of his own, or his wife's family? This is the most probable explanation of their absence. The York library probably contains all the graver portion of the Archbishop's books, with the exception of some which he presented to the Corporation of his native city of Bristol. There is a portrait of him in the library, which probably came with the books. It was evidently painted towards the close of his life, and represents an old man with a very Puritanical aspect; and yet, in spite of the sour visage and grave look, there was in the Archbishop a very lively vein of humour which was continually manifesting itself.

Archbishop Mathew made his will on August 23rd, 1625, from which I give a few extracts. He says, in the first place, that he is weak in body by reason of his old age and the infirmities incident thereunto. "I commend my soule to the Almighty Creator therof in full assureance through that faith wherof it hath pleased God to appoint me an assiduous preacher in those eminent places of the Church which by His goodnesse I have sustained, that at the dissolution of this body I shalbe an happy pertaker of the inheritance of the glorious sonnes of light. To my eldest sonne, Sir Toby Mathewe, knight, a peece of plate of £20, as well remembringe the large porcion of my estate which my said sonne hath had from me in my life time to the value of £14,000 att the least, farr surmountinge all

and foes, with whose works your grace's great and good library is plentifully furnished.'

'Seeing I hold that the most ancient Religion is the best, why should I not offer it to the most ancient Doctor of Divinitie that I heare of in this land, and the most ancient Bishop, both for age and consecration, that I know in our Church, who hath not only read all the Ancient Fathers with a diligent eye, but hath also noted them with a judicious pen (as mine owne eyes are witnesses, and, God reward you for such my libertie) and made continuall use of them in his Sermons, as any Ancient Father in our nation, shall I say? Yea in all Christendome as I dare say, and verily do beleeve.'

that I can leave behind me for the provision of others that doe depend upon me.* To John Mathewe, my seconde sonne, a peece of plate of 20 markes, as callinge to minde with much greife the excessive charge I have beene put to by him, amountinge to the value of £2000 at the least by his unthrifty course of livinge, whome I humbly beseech God by the hand of His grace to call backe to a better consideracion of himselfe. The rest to my beloved wife, Frances Mathewe, whome I doe make sole executrix, relyinge with all confidence upon her care and providence (of which I have had good experience for the space allmoste of fiftie yeares, which time it hath pleased God of His goodnesse to continue us together husband and wife), to make provision for my grandchildren."

Mrs. Mathew took out administration to her husband's estate on 2nd April, 1628. On the 10th of that month an inventory of the Archbishop's effects was made, from which it appears that nearly all his books were at Cawood Castle.

"All his books, both Divinity, Humanitie, etc., were valued at £600. At there same place there was in his Bedchamber a large frame for bookes, etc., 138. 4d. In his Studie, a cupboard with divers lockers and drawers and a frame for a basin, 20s."

"His purse, with gould and silver therein x l. A sattin gowne, a damaske gowne, and v other gownes lined, some with baize, and some of them faced with foynes, squirrells, and cunnyl, xliv l. His Parliament Robes and Convocation Robes of scarlett xxx l. A mourninge gowne, a chimmer, a trayne and a hood, with all his apparrell of all sortes with cassocks and other thinges xxxv l. viijs. iiijd.

At York. Guilt Plate 123 oz. and a quarter at vjs. viijd. per oz.xxxiij la. xvijs. xd. A christall cupp set in silver and guilt, and a litle bowle of mother of pearle viij l. xiijs. iiijd. White Plate 453 oz.at vs. per oz. cxiij l. vijs. vid. Three spleenstone tankards set in silver v li. Divers Books, both Divinitie and Humanitie, v l.

The Archbishop died on March 29th, 1628, and was buried in the Minster immediately under the great east window where the great altar to the Blessed Virgin sometime stood. The architecture was interfered with and disfigured by the erection of a huge monument which was enclosed by iron grates, four yards long. This was destroyed in the great fire in 1829, and the sole remnant of it that has been preserved is the effigy which is now laid upon a new altar tomb on the south side of the Lady Chapel.

The Archbishop died in March, 1628, and his widow probably made her decision about his library without delay. It was idle, of course, to expect that her two sons Sir Toby and John Mathew would take any interest in

*In the Fairfax Correspondence (i. 162) there is a letter from the Archbishop to Sir Ferdinando Fairfax in which he mentions his sons, and says, "I have great reason of sorrow with respect to my sons; one having wit and no grace; another grace but no wit; and the third neither wit nor grace to direct him aright!"

Some forty years ago at a dinner-party in the College of Durham, some one said to the Bishop of who was present, "My Lord, I think you do not understand the modern acceptation of the word fast?" "O don't I," replied the Bishop, "I have had seven sons!"

The third son of Archbishop Mathew, who had grace but not wit, was Samuel, who was a student at Cambridge, and was buried there in the Church of St. Marythe-Less on June 17th, 1601.

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