OF THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE LIBRARY OF Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. BY THE REV. J. J. SMITH, M. A., SENIOR FELLOW, AND LATE LIBRARIAN. CAMBRIDGE: J. DEIGHTON, AND MACMILLAN & CO. M.DCCC.XLIX. 397.133-R PREFACE. THE Editor of the Catalogue, which is now presented to the public, cannot allow his work to go forth without a brief apology. When in the year 1832 he accepted the office of Librarian, although he was little furnished with the particular accomplishments requisite for the proper discharge of his new duties, he yet resolved to fulfil them, if possible, not less worthily than his predecessors. Having continued to be honoured with the appointment, and to be influenced by the same mind towards his charge, he has at length been enabled, through the due regard of the College to this part of its trust, and the liberal aid of some of his brother Fellows, to complete a new Catalogue of the Printed Books and Tracts; and likewise to prepare and pass through the press this Catalogue of the Manuscripts. At the present day the objects with which a work of this kind is undertaken do not stand in need either of explanation or of commendation. For it is now universally acknowledged that a printed and published Catalogue is at once a mean to the safety and to the usefulness of a collection of literary treasures; and that the guardians thereof ought, in both points of view, to possess such a resource. Of the way in which the work in this instance has been executed the author hopes to find a favourable judgment. For himself he will only assert that he has taken pains to qualify himself for the performance of his labour. Accuracy having been his first aim, he thought it well to let each volume speak, as much as possible, for itself; and therefore he has generally given the title as he found it, in full and exact form. This will cause no inconvenience to those who would use the book; and will also improve the Catalogue as a mean of security. Incidental notices inserted in the volumes have been carefully noted as tending to mark their identity, and as evidence of their origin and history. In the course of his investigation the Editor has collected matter of illustration, which he was precluded by the conditions of the undertaking from introducing. This matter he proposes to print separately in numbers, accompanied with a few engravings, whereby he hopes to increase the public benefit arising from a description of this Collection; and likewise to augment its interest, especially to the members of the College. In order to explain the details of the work a few further remarks are requisite. Two tables are affixed, shewing the mutual correspondence of the numbers in the printed Catalogue, Fol. Oxon. 1697, and in the present arrangement. A very few blanks will be observed. There is, for instance, no number in the present arrangement corresponding to 1180 in the printed Catalogue. There seems sufficient reason to suppose that Ff. I. 33, in the University Library once occupied this place. That MS. was given to the University by HEN. TURNER, Vicar of Burwell, through Dr FARMER, in 1786. The following list of its contents agrees very closely with the account of the contents of 1180 given in the printed Catalogue. 1. List of Contents. 2. Acts, Orders, Othes, upon matters of the Town. 3. Composition between the Town of Cambridge and the Prior of Barnwell for Sturbridge fair and other thynges, written 1594, by WILL. ARCHIBOLDE: (what precedes is in the same hand.) ff. 103—7 The composition between the Town of Cambridge and the Town The University Charter by Q. ELIZ. concerning Sturbridge Faire. 7. The Town of Cambridge's Charter concerning Sturbridge Faire. University Charter, as to Privileges within the precincts of the Pontage,-what lands charged to mayntayne the great Bridge in 10. Several Wills relating to Cambridge. The composition between the Town and University of Cambridge. 12. The Cry in Sturbridge Faire. 13. Custome and Toll to be taken at Sturbridge Faire. 14. Sir THO. WHITE'S Gift of £100 to 24 Cities and Towns, with the order of the Towns in receiving thereof. 15. A new composition between the Town and University of Cam- 17. Names of Mayors, Bailiffs, and Treasurers of Cambridge, from 18. Plea for the Town's control of the Chapel field, Sturbridge. 294-9 A separate list of Donors has been appended as a Many of the MSS. have been bound during the last |