St. George's Chapel Adopt-A-Book Donations
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
A release of land in Iver, Buckinghamshire, by John Arundel Dean of Windsor to John and Johanna Gardner. The document dates from 1446 and its fragmentary seal is the earliest surviving example in our collection of the Dean and Canons’ Common Seal. Although only approximately 20% of the seal survives today, the impression is very clear and it is possible to see the crowned head of King Edward III (founder of St George’s Chapel) and the coat of arms of St Edward the Confessor (one of its patrons) as well as the words “de Wynde” (a portion of the original legend “Sigillum Custodis et Collegii Sancti Georgii de Wyndesore”). The document has been poorly stored in recent years, which has compounded damage done when it was scored through to show its cancellation at the end of the term. We would like to get it properly flattened and cleaned.
Photo used courtesy of:
©The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Books from 1680--4 volumes
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
volumes I-IV, Treaty of Nijmegen – Actes et memoires des negotiations de la paix de Nimegue. Seconde edition revue corrigee & augmentee...Amsterdam and The Hague, 1680
A record of the proceedings at the Treaty of Nijmegen, which in 1678 brought about the end of the Franco-Dutch war, bringing peace to much of western Europe and establishing the northern French border very close to its modern-day position.
For this we have selected all four volumes from the series above. I am particularly grateful for this donation as it is ideal for us to have multi-volume series conserved together – in order to retain uniformity in their condition and appearance – but it is rare that we have an opportunity like this to raise the money for it in one go. You can see in the photograph that a previous owner had these marked with matching gold tooling on the spine and our conservator will be able to replicate this. The black bands are in place to hold the spine and text-block together as these volumes are now very fragile.
Photo used courtesy of:
©The Dean and Canons of Windsor.
Book from 1544
1446 Manuscript With Wax Seal
Book from 1544
Georgius Major (Georg Meier) - Vitae Patrum, in vsum ministrorum verbi...Cum praefatione...Martini Lutheri (Lives of the Fathers…) Wittenberg, 1544
The author was a Professor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg and a Lutheran Minister. This is a collection of the lives of those saints whom he considered acceptable.
The preface was written by Martin Luther himself.
Photo used courtesy of:
©The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1548
Book from 1544
Theodore Bibliander – De ratione communi omnium linguarum… Zurich, 1548
A discussion of the common relationship of all languages by a Swiss theologian learned in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic.
Photo used courtesy of:
©The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1548
Inside of 1548 book
Photo used courtesy of:
©The Dean and Canons of Windsor.
Book from 1540
Raymundus de Sabunde – Liber creaturarum. Theologia naturalis… Lyon, 1540
A treatise on natural theology in which the author proposed that nature could be read like a book and produce Divine revelations in the same way that reading Scripture could. Formerly on the Catholic Church’s Index librorum prohibitorum.
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©The Dean and Canons of Windsor.
Book from 1582
Book from 1582
Book from 1582
Robert Parson: The Jesuit - De persecutione anlicana libellus...
Rome 1582
Printed in 1582 at the English College in Rome. Parsons established a secret printing press for pamplets in order to spread the Jesuit word. He attended Oxford but was expelled from teaching in 1575 due to clashes over his faith. This book is a valuable example of a changing shared religious phenomenon by a divided Christian cmmunity in England.
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(c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1585
Book from 1582
Book from 1582
Stephanus Kis of Szegedinus - Theologiae sincerae loci communes...
Kis was a 16th c. Protestant bishop & theologian who aided in the spread of Protestantism in Hungary. This is his most significant work. It has 4 basic parts; and he aimed to create an accessible text to be used by laypeople. This work became a crucial source for Reformed theology in Hungary and Europe. This is a 1st edition.
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(c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1612
Book from 1582
Albericus Gentilis - De armis romanis libri duo...
Gentili was a British-Italianl jurist and considered to be a founder of international law. He was the first non-English person to be granted Regius Professor at the University of Oxford. His books argued whether the Roman Empire was truly just. This book argues the case for justice system built and used by the Roman Empire including examinations of the impact of war and complex maritime issues.
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(c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Books from 1689--2 volumes
Des Satyres Personnelles by Adrien Baillet, Paris 1689, 2 volumes
Signed. Baillet was a French author and teacher who worked as a librarian to the de Lamoignon until his death in 1806. He wrote many books, many condemned by the Catholic Church for his criticisms of others. Baillet is best known for his biography of Rene Descartes.
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Book from 1577
In Haereticis Coercendis QuatenusProgredit Liceat: Mini Celsi...Disputatio...
by Mino Celsi, Basel/Strasbourg 1577
Mino Celsi was an Italian ambassador and scholar who fled to Basel, Switzerfland after his family lost power under the Medici's and after defending Protestant critics of Roman Catholicism. This ook aregued that the death penalty for heresy out to be abolished. He had run ins with the Roman Inquisition. He died penniless in 1575.
Photo used courtesy of: (c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1568
...AdConstantium, Constantini Magni f... by Bishop of Cagliari Lucifer, Paris 1568
This book has been in the library for a very long time. Lucifer de Cagliari was the bishop of Sardinia. He was a controversial figure in his lifetime for criticising Roman Emperor Constantius II, and even called him the Antichrist (over defense of Arianism). His works quoted a pre- 4th centure Bible translation. His works became popular again during the Protestant Reformation. He died in 370/371 and is now a saint.
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Seal from 1216-1272
Seal from 1216-1272
New Windsor, Berkshire, Release of Lands, 1216-1272
A release of land in Moore Street (one of the oldest streets in New Windsor), Windsor by Emma, widow of Roger Wauteri of Windsor, to Gerard Pictor in the reign of Henry III. It depicts a cross surrounded by legend attached by twisted parchment. It is the only New Windsor land grants with its seal. It is one of the earliest seals in the collection.
Photo used courtesy of: (c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Seal from 1392
Seal from 1216-1272
Great Seal of Richard II, 20 March 1392
(r. 1377-1399)
A pardon granted to the Dean and Canons of Windsor for entering on tenement lands in New Windsor acquired from Chaplain Stephen de Scaldeford without the royal license. The seal is made of natural beeswax. The College of St. George, Windsor Castle was established in 1348 by Edward III who endowed the college to setup support the Chapel's maintenance with 6 mian sources of financial support. This is the earliest example of a royal pardon granted to the Dean and Canons of Windsor.
Photo used courtesy of: (c)The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Seal from 1423
Seal from 1423
St. Mary Somerset, London, Grant of Rent, 7 June 1423
A grant of rent from lands in Thames Street, London, by Thomas, Duke of Exeter. Thomas (de Beaufort), Duke of Exeter, was the illegitimate son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, but he was ackowledged at birth. Thomas was formally legitimated when his parents married in 1396. He was the legitimated grandson of Edward III, cousin to Richard II, and half brother to Henry IV. This grant gave rental income to to Broken Wharf within the parish of St. Mary Somerset to maintain prayers for Thomas's soul. This grant was made toward the end of his life to the Dean and Canons of Windsor in 1432. He died on 31 December 1426.
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Book from 1599
Seal from 1423
Commentaria in Isaiae Prophetae Sermones by Benito Arias Montano, Antwerp 1599
Benito Arias Montano was a Spanish orientalist and polymath He successfully defended himself in Rome against the Spanish Inquisition. After, he returned to Spain and was appointed Royal Chaplain to King Philip II. His Bible included an influential world map; this was a new polyglot edition of the Bible. This book bein restored is a commentary on sermons on Isaiah. This book is very damaged.
Boxing Day 2022 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1613
Apologia Adolphi Schulckenii...pro by Roberto Bellarmino, Cologne 1613
The book is dedicated to the Archbishop of Cologne. It defends the actions and writings of Robert Bellarmine and Thomas Preston. Bellarmine was and Italian Jesuit cardinal who was canonized in 1930. He received votes to become Pope multiple times and was involved in the condemnation of the Copernican doctrine. Preston sought to re-establish the Benedictines in England after the dissolution of the monasteries. He wrote in favor of the oath of allegiance to King James I; he was expelled from England and died in prison on his return.
Boxing Day 2022 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1620
...Opera Theologica... by Gregory Sayer, Douai 1620
Gregory Sayer (1560-1602) was an English Catholic who spent time at Cambridge University before training at Douai (France) then Rome. His disagreements with the Jesuits at the English College led him to become a Benedictine. The rest of his life was spent teaching Moral Theology and writing while at Monte Cassino and Venice.
Boxing Day 2022 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1656
...Opera Canonica. In Tres Partes Distributa... by Jean d'Artis
Jean d'Artes was a professor at the Academy in Paris. This work is a collection of his writings on Purgatory, the Eucharist, the venefits of the Church, and other works including the state of the Church at the time of Apostles, natural law, and Pope Urban VIII. It is dedicated to Pomponne de Bellievre, the first President of the Parlement de Paris. He was once charge with making peace between King Charles I and the Long Parliament (unsuccessful). He was one of the greatest benefactors of the Hopital general de Paris (to house the poor and infirm.
Boxing Day 2022 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1598
De Origine et Progressu Oficii Sanctae Inquistionis by Ludovicus A Paramo
Paramo was the Inquisitor of Sicily. This was the first printed Catholic treatise which explained & defended the integrity of religion inquisition. Originally printed with permission of the church theologians & royal license, it was later placed on the Index of Prohibited Books. Paramo was one of the first to try and figure out the number of people put to death by the Inquisition - over 10,000.
Boxing Day 2023/Feb 2024 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1680
Book from 1680
Miscellenea Parliamentaria by William Petyt
Petyt was born in Bolton Abbey, educated locally then studied law in London at Barnard's Inn then to Cambridge before joining the Inner Temple. He become Keeper of the Records at the Tower of London & is buried in the Temple Church. This book includes many items including: Upon Members for Misdemeanours and Of Freedom from Arrests and Upon Such as Have Wronte Books to the Dishonour of the Lords or Commons, or to Alter the Constitution of the Government.
Boxing Day 2023/Feb 2024 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
Book from 1631
Book from 1631
Book from 1680
Suecia, Sive De Suecorum Regis Dominiis... by Henrik Soter (ed)
A book about Sweden written by Swedish cartographer Anders Bure and edited & enlarged by Henrik Soter.
Bure was a mathematician and cartographer best known for producing a comprehensive map of Sweden & Scandinavia and were used until 1956; he was the first to use the decimal system. Soter was a Swedish theologian who became a rector and Dean of the Old Church in Lundby.
This work covers history, runes, the political system of Uppsala, the habits & culture of Sweden, the Royal Family, a description of the constitution of Sweden, and more.
Boxing Day 2023/Feb 2024 donation.
Photo used courtesy of: (c) The Dean and Canons of Windsor
2024-2025 Social Season
Thurs 11/7 at The Delta Hotel
Thurs 12/12 at The House (Christmas, formal)
Thurs 2/13 at The House - Munyon's Paw Paw
March 2025 - Spanish Masters exhibit - Boca Museum
Thurs 4/10 at The House - Max Ansbacher
Rare book donation to FAU - date TBD
More information will be forthcoming. Keep checking back!