From the fragmentary
Christ Church catalogue of 1170, Dr. James has identified
two, and possibly six, manuscripts; from Henry Eastry's
catalogue (14 cent.) of Christ Church books, he has identified
either certainly or with much probability about one hundred
and eighty; from the catalogue of St. Augustine's Abbey
library (c. 1497) over one hundred and seventy-five; as well
as twenty from the Dover catalogue (1389). In addition,
Dr. James has identified about one hundred and fifty manuscripts
still extant which are certainly or probably attributable
to Christ Church monastic library, but which are not
in the catalogues handed down to us; and over sixty which
are likewise attributable to St. Augustine's monastery.[3]
There are therefore about five hundred and seventy Canterbury
manuscripts now remaining to us.
[1] Strype, Parker (1711), 528.
[2] James (M. R.), Sources of Archbishop Parker's MSS. (Camb.
Antiq. Soc.).
[3] James (M. R.), 505-534.
By making a similarly thorough investigation Dr. James
has traced about three hundred and twenty-two manuscripts
from Bury St. Edmunds.[1] Of the Westminster Abbey
manuscripts it is difficult to say how many are extant, as
the common medieval press marks are absent from the
books of this house.
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