Volume 1

Catalogue of the Stowe manuscripts in the British Museum.

  • British Museum. Department of Manuscripts (Stowe MSS)
Date:
1895-1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Catalogue of the Stowe manuscripts in the British Museum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PEEFACE. Thk Stowe MSS. were collected early in this century by George Temple Nugent-Grenville, Marquis of Buckingham, and derive their name from having been kept at Stowe, his seat in Buckinghamshire. The majority of them belonged at one time to Thomas Astle, Keeper of the Eecords in the Tower. Astle, who was a zealous collector, died on the 1st December, 1803; and, having been under obligations to the Grenville family, he directed in his will that the Marquis of Buckingham should have the first offer of his library of MSS. for the nominal sum of £500, the next option of purchase on the same terms to be given to the British Museum, of which he was a Trustee. Unfortunately for the Museum, the Marquis exercised his right of pre-emption, and the Astle collection was consequently trans- ferred to Stowe in 1804. The MSS. which formed part of it relate mainly to the history and antiquities of this country; and, among other matter of interest, they include the valuable series of Anglo-Saxon Charters, Sir H. Spelman’s eleventh century Latin Psalter with an Anglo-Saxon Gloss, the eleventh century Eegister of Hyde Abbey, a number of English Chronicles and Monastic Chartularies, a volume of Homilies in English of the thirteenth century, a fourteenth century MS. of Lives of Saints in English verse, a Wardrobe-book of Edward II., and Inventories of plate, jewels, etc., of Queen Elizabeth ; together with the Hanover Papers, and several other series of state papers and political and private correspondence, and the historical, antiquarian, and miscellaneous collections of Sir Eoger Twysden, John Anstis and Philip Morant. An important addition was soon after made to them by the purchase of the collection of Irish MSS. and MSS. relating to Ireland formed by Charles O’Conor, of Balanagare, co. Eos- common, who died in 1791. O’Conor’s grandson. Dr. Charles