his Borcher bring Devoted, as to the service of RICHARD BAXTER'S AUTOGRAPH On the fly-leaf of a Copy of the "Saints' Rest," Presented by him to the High-Bailiff of Kidderminster. [From photo by Mr. M. Tomkinson.] BEING A CLASSIFIED CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, AND OTHER PRINTED MATTER RELATING TO THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER, Printed for the Worcestershire Historical Society, PROVISIONAL INTRODUCTION. IN N issuing this further instalment of the Bibliography of Worcestershire a few words of explanation will be sufficient for the present, reserving the complete Introduction for the final portion. The Plan adopted has been mainly that set forth in a Paper on County Bibliographies," read before the Bibliographical Society, March 18, 1895, by Mr. F. A. Hyett, with the suggestions, and recommendations approved by the Society, January, 1896. Such a Plan, based on such authority, will no doubt be adopted by other Counties which may take up similar work, and this will ensure uniformity in future bibliographies. Mr. Hyett's Paper gives what may be called the "Theory" of the system the "Bibliography of Gloucestershire," written by Mr. Hyett, in conjunction with the Rev. W. Bazeley, shews the practical working of the scheme: to these gentlemen I must express my deep obligation. The classification of books into two parts, relating (1) exclusively and (2) partially, to the County, can only be regarded as approximate. It seemed advisable to keep the Civil War Tracts to the same part, although many of them are concerned with the City of Worcester alone, and others pertain also to adjacent Counties. The "Boscobel " series again forms a natural sequel to the Battle of Worcester, though it relates largely to Shropshire, &c. The "Saints' Rest" and "Hudibras" are of such world-wide reputation that they seem to demand a place as County books, though they may hereafter also find notice under the head of Kidderminster, Rous Lench, and Strensham. The Seventeenth-century Tracts belonging to the late Mr. J. Grainger (marked J. G.) have since been presented to the Victoria Institute, Worcester. The drawback to a work of this kind is the want of finality. There must still be books left unrecorded: if particulars of these are sent to me they can appear in an Addendum. The "Acts of Parliament" appeared in 1898. The Botanical books concerning Worcestershire will form a continuation of the present part, together with "County Organization" and Diocesan and Nonconformist periodical literature. The last portion will embrace the various Towns and Villages in alphabetical order. The Newspapers, past and present, will fall under the place of publication. To make this part complete the co-operation of all the Members of the Society is earnestly invited. A full Index of Authors and Subjects will be made when the whole work is completed. I must take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to helpers in this work to Mr. John Cotton, architect, of Oxford, for valuable notes collected by himself and his lamented brother, Mr. W. A. Cotton, of Bromsgrove, the generous donor of many rare Worcestershire books to the Victoria Institute; to the Rev. J. Bowstead Wilson, Mr. John Amphlett, Mr. Gerald Mills, Mr. Charles Virgo, the late Mr. John Grainger, the Rev. E. R. Dowdeswell, Lieut.General H. F. Davies, Mr. Duckworth (Librarian of the Worcester Free Library), Mr. A. W. Worthington, Professor Wright, Mr. W. Wickham King, F.G.S., the Rev. W. C. Boulter, Mr. C. D. Sturge, Birmingham, Miss Tomkinson, the Officials of the great Public Libraries, &c. For the Geological Section we are indebted entirely to Mr. G. Mills, M.A. BITTERLEY RECTORY, LUDLOW, December 22, 1903, JOHN R. BURTON. |