History. Many papers relating to different Colleges are in the libraries so rich in MSS. Archbishop Parker's in Bene't's College, and Gonville's and Caius's. In the University there are but two or three, with the exception of Mr. Baker's.

The Bodleian Library at Oxford contains MSS. which relate to Cambridge: but the Harleian, Cottonian, and Sloanian Libraries, in the British Museum, are very abundant. I am, indeed, disposed to believe, that those three libraries possess more concerning Cambridge than all the Cambridge MSS. in the public and private libraries put together; and of the principal of these MSS. whether in the libraries at Cambridge, or in the Museum, it may not be improper to say a few words.

The principal of those that relate to the University at large are preserved in the public chest, and by the ViceChancellor and Registrar; and of these the best known is the famous Liber Niger, or Black Book, of which more in its due place. At present I shall only say, that, before Mr. Hare made his Collection, this book was considered of great use, though some part was never considered as of any authority.

In the year 1587, Robert Hare, Esq. formerly of Caius College, completed his famous Register of all the Charters, Liberties, and Privileges of the University and Town, of which the original is in the public chest, The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar too has each a copy, made by Hare himself in 1589".

a In Caius's library there is, among the MS. collections, another MS. written by Mr. Hare.

It will be seen by the following inscription, that Hare was a catho

However little consequence some of the originals possess, yet as a transcript, Hare's Collections are allowed by all to be faithful, correct, and of the highest authority; and Hare received the public thanks of the University for his most assiduous performance.

There are four large volumes of this collection, of which three relate to the University, and one to the Town. An index to these volumes was written by Dr. Parris, of Sidney College, in 1735, and afterwards passed through the hands of Dr. Ashton, Master of Jesus College, Both were Vice-Chancellors in their turn, and by right of office possessed Hare's Register; and few men were ever better acquainted with the affairs of the University: but of this more hereafter,

There are not above three or four manuscripts in the public library of the University, except Thomas Baker's, which relate immediately to that body. Baker's are numerous, and as conspicuous for worth as number, though most are copies, and almost all copied by himself.

Baker left behind him forty-two volumes in all; of

lic; it is from the Registrar's copy-" Ad honorem et gloriam omnipotentis domini nostri Jesu Christi, Salvatoris Mundi, ejusdemq: gloriosissimæ et beatissima genetricis Mariæ Virginis, sanctorumq; omnium cœlestium. Ego, Robertus Hare, armiger, hoc opus privilegiorum, libertatum, aliorumq; rescriptorum negotia, almæ & immaculatæ Universitatis Cantabrigiæ concernentium, ex archivis regiis, variisq: regis. tris antiquis, & monumentis fide dignis, magno labore et sumptu in hunc ordinem per regum seriem collegi, & in trià volumina redegi in favorem & commodum tam modernorum, quam futurorum, venerabilium, cancellarii, magistrorum et scholarium ejusdem celebratissimæ Universitatis. Si quid eis cedat in commodum, sit honor & laus Deo, & mihi peccatori in salutem animæ.-Amen."

these, nineteen were left to the University; to the Earl of Oxford he left, or as matter of form sold, twenty-three volumes, which are now made public property, and are in the British Museum.

"It seemed," says M. M. some time since as if the University had intended to have perfected their number, a gentleman having been employed to copy some of these MSS. in the Museum for the public library at Cambridge. These two volumes are now in the public library." This business was undertaken by Mr. Ayscough of the British Museum, but was never completed.

There is one volume of Baker's writing and composition (for this is not a copy) which is entitled to particular and most honourable mention; a copy of it, but incorrectly made, is in St. John's College Library; the original, as written by Baker, is in the British Museum; it is entitled "A succinct and impartial Account of St. John's House and St. John's College, with some occasional and incidental account of the affairs of the University, and of such Private Colleges as held communication or intercourse with the Old House or College, collected principally by a member of the College, A. 1707. It gives a complete view of St. John's House or Hospital, when a priory of canons regular, proceeding to the foundation of the College, A. 1511, Robert Shipton being first master, and ending with Peter Gunning, twenty-second master, June 25, 1661. It also contains a catalogue of the masters or priors of the Old House or Hospital; a catalogue of the bishops, who went from the College; a catalogue of the fellows, from the foundation of the College to the year 1546, taken from the College Archives; the names of the masters and

the admissions from 1525 to March 1712. It contains further, an account of the old and new libraries; in short, it is as complete a book, as far as it goes, as can be well conceived, evidently written after much research, and with great judgment, with zeal and attachment to the College, with loyalty to the civil and ecclesiastical constitutions, with candour and liberality towards all parties. A man who lays down a maxim in his reflections on learning, That we should have more learning if we had fewer books,' and who observes of that work, that he has ventured to throw in one into the account, but it is a very small one, and writ with an honest design of lessening the number,' might easily find reasons for suppressing this manuscript as well as all the rest."

The reasons that have prevented some able person from perfecting and publishing this volume since Baker's death are best known to others. Some person, it seems, had in contemplation to publish it, when Dr. Newcome was Master of St. John's, but was forbidden, on account of some peculiarities contained in the work. What those are, this is not the place to inquire.-But here I beg the reader to notice, that the two writers, to whom we are wont to refer as of the greatest authority in matters concerning our University, had embraced certain opinions, not according with those of that learned body; one being, as before observed, a Catholic in Queen Elizabeth's reign, when the University was Protestant; the other, a nonjuror, when the University had sworn allegiance to William.-With respect to the worthy Baker, he was many years fellow of St. John's. At the Revolution he was obliged to resign on refusing to take the oath, but continued to reside in College; and there he died, Anno 1740.

In his books, now in the College Library, and MSS. he always styles himself Socius ejectus, ejected fellow; and seems, if I may hazard an opinion, to have been fond of his title, priding himself, probably, rather as being a man of conscience, than learning.

The College have, I understand, got over at last their difficulties; and a gentleman of St. John's was some time since preparing Mr. Baker's history for the press.

Mr. Baker only published a work, entitled, Reflections on Learning; and a Preface to Bishop Fisher's Funeral Sermon, for Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby, 1708. But his style and manner, and ample materials shew, that if he had actually written an Athenæ Cantabrigienses it would have far surpassed the Athenæ Oxonienses.

Previously to Mr. Baker's history there was a MS. account in St. John's Library, written by a fellow of that College, but according to Baker, very imperfect and erroneous: and Mr. Ashby, a fellow, who died a few years since, left some additions: these, from Mr. A.'s known acquaintance with the affairs of the College, are, it may be expected, valuable; but I can only say of these two latter works, such things are, having barely, through favour of a gentleman of that society, looked into them.

"Mr. Cole, whose MSS. relating to Cambridgeshire and Cambridge should next be mentioned, was born in Cambridgeshire: he combined the zeal of a native and the learning of an university man, with the patience of an antiquary. He was first of Clare-Hall, and afterwards fellow-commoner of King's College. He resided many years at Milton, near Cambridge, and died in Dec. 16, 1782. He was a thorough-paced Tory, and half a papist, which