SION COLLEGE LIBRARY: TRANSCRIPT OF THE BOOK OF BENEFACTORS

Transcriptum registri illius magni benefactorum'. A transcript of the Book of Benefactors of Sion College (Sion L40.2/E64) from the foundation of Sion College Library to the Fire of London in 1666. In the hand of John Spencer (d. 1680), Sion College Librarian. Although described as a transcript by its compiler, John Spencer, the volume is in many respects an independent and parallel record of gifts to Sion College Library. For instance it records prices of books purchased with gifts of money; these are not found in the Book of Benefactors. The volume also occasionally includes additional notes on locations, exchanges, sales of duplicates, as well as other details (eg. a gift recorded in the Book of Benefactors as given by 'T.B.' is entered here, at f. 45v, as the gift of 'Thomas Boreman, mathematicus'). On John Spencer's practice in recording gifts to Sion College Library, see Sion L40.2/E169. The following entries, found here, do not occur in the Book of Benefactors: f. 66v. 1657. 'Col. Edward Leigh'. Gift of a printed book. f. 67v. 1657. A list of books given by Cornelius Bee 'in lieu of his fine, coming to eleaven pounds and ten shillings for his warehouse'. f. 71r. 1658. 'Jos. Brooksbank, Minister' [Joseph Brooksbank]. Gift of printed books. f. 71v. 1658. 'Tho. Jenner, stationer' [Thomas Jenner]. Gift of printed books. f. 72r. 1658. 'John Beveridg of S. Johns Camb'. Gift of a printed book. f. 72r. 1658. 'Samuel Morland'. Gift of a printed work written by him. f. 72v. 1659. 'William Wickins, Rector of St. Andrew Hubbard, Eastcheap, London'. Gift of a printed book. f. 72v. 1659. 'Edw. Leigh Esq'. Gift of printed books. f. 72v. 1659. 'Anonymus Londinensis'. Gift of a printed book. f. 72v. 1660. 'John Sheffeild, Minister'. Gift of printed books. f. 72v. 1660. 'Tho. Salusbury' [cf. f. 76v, Thomas Salusbury, mathematician]. Gift of printed books. f. 72v. 1660. 'Sam. Winter, Provost of Dublin College' [Samuel Winter]. Gift of a printed book. f. 73r. 1660. 'Joh. Walker, Minister' [John Walker]. Gift of a book. f. 73r. 1661. 'John Boys of Hode Court'. Gift of printed books. f. 73v. 1661. 'John Lloyd, Minister'. Gift of a printed book. f. 73v. 1661. 'Henry Leigh, Gent'. Gift of printed books. f. 73v. 1661. 'Richard Smith of London, Gent'. Gift of a printed book. f. 73v. 1661. 'Thomas Smith of Queens College Oxon'. Gift of a printed book. f. 74r. 1661. 'The College upon contract with Richard Hodgkinson, stationer'. Gift of a printed book. f. 74r. 1661. 'Cornelius Bee, bookseller'. Gift of a printed book. f. 74r. 1661. 'George Davenport, Minister'. Gift of a printed book. f. 74r. 1662. 'The College'. 'Prayer by authority of Parliament anno Car. II 14'. f. 75r. 1663. 'Car. Mason S. Th. D., ecclesiae S. Mariae Wolchurch London' [Charles Mason]. Gift of a printed book. f. 75v. 1663. 'Anonymus'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76r. 1664. 'James Wright'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76r. 1664. 'Richard Atkins Esq.'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76r. 1664. 'Martha Hammond, widow'. Gift of printed books. f. 76v. 1665. 'George Wilson, Minister'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76v. 1665. 'Cornelius Bee, bookseller'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76v. 1665. 'Thomas Salusbury, Mathemat.' Gift of a printed book. f. 76v. 1666. 'Thomas Phillipot, armiger'. Gift of a printed book. f. 76v. 1666. 'Jac. Arderne, Minister' [James Arderne]. Gift of printed books. At ff. 77r-78v is the beginning of an alphabetical catalogue of printed books, A-B, not in Spencer's hand. The latest book included is dated 1662.

Sion L40.2/E64, the Book of Benefactors of Sion College Library. Sion L40.2/E105 is a register of the names of benefactors of Sion College Library. This was displayed on a desk in Sion College Library, to which it was attached by a chain, part of which survives. It contains the names of benefactors only, without details of the books which they gave.

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