The ‘Lost’ Library of William Burkitt, 1650–1703

摘要

In his will of 1 January 1700 the Revd William Burkitt gave his nephew, Myles Burkitt, ‘my Library of Books to be set up in the Study at Milding Parsonage’ with the stipulation that ‘they never be sold but goe along with the Studdy for the benefit of suceeding Incumbents, every Incum bent haveing power to exchange what he pleases of the Books and leave ing under his hand a catalogue of the Books he received from his predecessor and of what he leaves to his successor’. This paper describes the provenance, style and contents of that Milden Rectory Library Catalogue, compiled in 1842; it also re-examines the dubious circumstances in which Burkitt's generous provision eventually became one of ‘Three Lost Suffolk Libraries’; and, for the first time, it provides an opportunity for a preliminary assessment of Burkitt's bibliographical legacy.