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

John 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.—

“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

Munday 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 DⁿⁱJosephi 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