great plate that stood on the Altar table, but took what was in a chest in the vestry to the value of about thirty pounds. There is no discovery yet made. The same night some malieiously destroyed all the young plantation in St. John's grove, notice of which being given to Mr. President* yesterday morning, he called the fellows together to consider of ways to find out the offenders, when he raised himself in some heat in passionately talking, and suddenly fell back in his chair stone dead. One of the fellows had a lancet, and endeavoured but could not make him bleed. Messengers were immediately sent to Dr. Delaune and Mr. Lowth. Mr. Torriano is upon the place, and 'tis thought, if the two former do not accommodate the matter between themselves, the latter will bid fair for the place, he having a great interest among the junior fellows. Mr. Hudson is gone to London to appear for the lecture. Mr. Creech, it is thought, will do so too, I do not hear any other yet. You may expect further trouble if any thing happens worth your notice, from, Sir, Your most obedient servant,

March 4th, [1697-8.]

WILL. SHERWIN.

These to the Rev. Dr. Thomas

Turner, at Ely, present.

* Dr. William Levinz. He was succeeded by Dr. Wil liam Delaune.

LETTER XXXVII.

Mr. HUMFREY WANLEY to Dr. CHARLETT.

Account of several MSS. in the King's Library.

HONORED SIR,

London, May 30, 1698.

I HAVE at length got the Dr.* in a perfect good humour, and this day began to take a specimen of the Alexandrian MS. the Dr. made me dine with him and treated me with great kindness; after dinner, I again moved to see the Library, having been put by 3 or 4 times before; which he now readily granted. The books lie in unexpressible disorder and confusion, and have done so, as I have been told, ever since K. Charles his time. I guess by the view of them that there are very many more Manuscripts than are expressed in Dr. Maurice's catalogue. The Greek Manuscripts are but few, and those mostly upon paper. there are about 3 upon parchment, whereof I saw 2, they are both of them pieces of the Septuagint, one of them seems about 600 years old, of which I had but a glance the other (but more valuable book) is about 400 years old, in this the book of Esther is distinguished with the Asterisks and Obelisks

* Dr. Bentley.

of St. Origen. I remember the Dr. told me at Oxford, that this book was 800 years old; to-day he said it was at least 600 years old: to which I seemed to acquiesce, tho' I remember that we have a book or two in the same hand in the Bodleian Library which appear by the date thereof to have been written about 400 years ago; and indeed considering the nature of the Character, with the older and more recent MSS. it must needs be about that time. I employed about 5 hours in turning over a vast heap of Manuscripts, wherein were many very good books, amongst some indifferent ones. There are some scarce copies of some Latin Fathers, and many good English Historians, among which, I took notice of Matthew Paris's history, said to be written with his own hand; in it are painted the Pictures of the Kings of England whose acts he treats of, viz. from Will. the Conq. to K. Henry the 3d. but no mention of King John's being poisoned by a monk, as I have seen represented in a picture and expressed in plain words in a MS. as old as K. Edward I. in the Cotton Library; this book of Matthew Paris is likewise considerable for the Coats of Arms of most of the great persons mentioned in his History, drawn upon the margent of the book, with his own picture prostrate at the feet of a Madonna. This picture is printed in Dr.

Watts's edition, but set upright: Dr. Watts's cut resembles the original more than, I believe, that did the man.

I found likewise 3 noble Latin copies of the Evangelists, one of them has had its cover which was of plate (I presume either massy gold or silver) impiously stole and torn from it. It seems to have been King Æthelstan's book, for here is a sort of a Pardon of his (in Saxon) to another man entred therein, and so worded as if it was the King's book, but the text itself is much older.

The second copie formerly belonged to St. Austin's at Canterbury, and is near a thousand years old, written in the English hand: 'tis ill used, but notwithstanding there remain many letters which I must needs copie.

The 3d is about 900 years old, in the same English hand, but somewhat newer in this, besides some variety of letters, are many considerable readings, which make this book as choice as either of the two former, tho' it be not so gloriously written: I ought to have a specimen. of this too.

My paper, Sir, will not permit me to enlarge any farther on the books I saw, which I humbly beg you, Sir, to dispense a little withall, tho' I do stay here beyond my time. I conceive it, Sir, a part of a Library-keeper's business to know what books are extant in other Libraries besides

his own; and as this qualifies him the better for his place, so by that means ne may prove the more serviceable, knowing what copies of such an author are in his own Library, and where they may be found elsewhere. I have e'en finished at Sir John Cotton's for this time; and will dispatch at St. James's and the Exchequer as fast as possible; and having shewed my book to half a dozen of my superior's will take my leave, and return forwith, and, Sir, I will (God willing) take care that my time I spend here shall not be missed by the 8th of November. I am,

WE have an account from the

Assizes of Horsham in Sussex that on Munday se'nnight last a fellow was indicted and tried