This guide provides an overview of the Bolton Library (also known as the Cashel Diocesan Library) held in the Special Collections and Archives department at the Glucksman Library.
Click to expand the Table of Contents on this page to jump to individual research themes within the collection.
1. Overview
This research guide is a snapshot of the Bolton Library as it stands during the compilation of the Glucksman Library’s digital catalogue of the collection. Commencing in January 2018, the project is now close to completion, and the themes and works listed in this guide have been selected from the titles completed so far.
The core of what has become known in the 21st century as the Bolton Library was circa 75 years in the making and began life as two separate collections being amassed at various locations across the four provinces of Ireland, principally during the years 1669–1744. These collections were the passions of two future Church of Ireland archbishops: William King (1650–1729) and Theophilus Bolton (–1744). Bolton acquired a large portion of King’s collection after his death in 1729, and brought it to his home in Cashel, Co Tipperary, to join the shelves of his own growing collection there.
The material collected by these two men reflect individual interests and passions, as well as the output of increasingly enlightened times. It would be a mistake to consider the Bolton Library a religious collection. It is so much more.
This guide has been arranged thematically, with rare, interesting, and keystone works selected under each theme. As the cataloguing project proceeds, more themes and more treasures will come to light, and this guide will be broadened accordingly.
A sample of research topics from the Bolton collection is available here.
2. Bolton Library catalogues
Three published catalogues have been produced throughout the Bolton Library’s lifetime:
- Catalogue of the Library of the Dean and Chapter of Cashel (Dublin, 1873) The least comprehensive of the three, this catalogue details less than 50% of the collection. It does have one advantage in that it has been digitised in full and is available online.
- Jean Miller’s Catalogue of the Cashel Diocesan Library, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland (Boston, 1973) Jean Miller worked in difficult conditions to produce this catalogue, working in situ in Cashel photostatting the library’s card catalogue. She added her own notes and findings in places, to produce an invaluable picture of the library as it existed in the late 20th century.
- Robert Matteson’s A Large Private Park (Cambridge, 2003) Robert Matteson’s catalogue focuses solely on items collected by Archbishop William King, an estimated 5000 of which are now in the Bolton Library.
New Bolton Library catalogue, Glucksman Library (2018–)
The current cataloguing project underway at UL aims to produce the most complete catalogue to date, detailing not just the printed works and manuscripts themselves, but also for the first time presenting comprehensive copy specific information on provenance, bookbinding and waste fragments throughout the collection.
Note: if a text is represented in a previous catalogue, the new Glucksman Library catalogue will note all relevant citations, i.e. Bolton Library B.5.1 contains references to all three previous catalogues, as well as the English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC):
For more information on how to search the new catalogue, click here.
3. Highlighted Bolton texts
Chronology (history)
- Speculum historiale by Vincent of Beauvais (Strasbourg: Rusch, [1473]) Q.9.1
- Fasciculus tempor[um] by Werner Rolevinck (Basel: Richel, 1482) Q.20
- Liber chronicarum by Hartmann Schedel (Nuremberg, Koberger, 1493) Q.9.3
- Adversvs paganos historiarvm by Paulus Orosius (Cologne: Cholinus, 1582) L.10.21
- Chronicon Carionis by Johannes Carion (Berne: Le Preux, 1601) I.10.4
- Historia compendiosa dynastiarvm by Bar Hebraeus (Oxford: Hall, 1663) G.6.15(1–2)
- Chronographia by John Malalas (Oxford: Sheldonian Theatre, 1691) G.16.29

Geography and travel
- Periplous Eukseinou pontou by Arrian (Basel: Froben, 1533) D.17.15
- Geographia by Ptolemy (Basel: Froben, 1533) D.17.15a
- Notitia episcopatvvm orbis Christiani by Aubert Le Mire (Antwerp: Plantin, 1613) E.18.28
- Missi evangelici ad Sinas, Japoniam et oras confines by Théophile Raynaud (Antwerp: [s.n.], 1659) E.18.38
- Relation d’vn voyage fait av Levant by Jean de Thévenot (Paris: Billaine, 1663) G.16.9
- A brief account of some travels in Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli by Edward Brown (London: Roycroft, 1673) K.9.13
- Description of the western islands of Scotland by Martin Martin (London: Bell, 1703) G.7.34
- History of Lapland by Johannes Scheffer (London: Newborough & Parker, 1704) G.7.10
- Description de l’isle Formosa en Asie by George Psalmanazar (Amsterdam: Mortier, 1708) F.15.18
- Amœnitatum exoticarum politico-physico-medicarum fasciculi V by Engelbert Kaempfer (Lemgo: Meyer, 1712) B.14.15
- New method for discovering the longitude both at sea and land by William Whiston (London: Phillips, 1714) I.19.17(2)
- Account of the religion, and government, learning, and oeconomy, &c. of the Malabarians by Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg (London: Downing, 1717) F.9.9(4)
- Journey to Mequinez by John Windus (Dublin: Ewing, 1725) I.19.2(1)
Languages
- Introdvctio in Chaldaicam lingua by Teseo Ambrogio (Pavia: Simonetta, 1539) B.6.20
- Syriacae lingvae by Johann Albrecht Widmanstetter (Vienna: Zimmermann, 1555) E.9.27(1)
- Alphabetvm hebraicum by Antoine-Rodolphe Chevalier (Geneva: Estienne, 1566) D.15.40(2)
- Grammatica arabica by Thomas Erpenius (Leiden: Raphelengius, 1613) G.3.13(1)
- Grammatica linguarum orientalium by Lodewijk de Dieu (Leiden: Elzevir, 1628) G.16.20
- Elementa linguæ Persicæ by John Greaves (London: Flesher, 1649) D.16.26(2)
- Lexicon Æthiopico-Latinum by Hiob Ludolf (London: Roycroft, 1661) B.5.3
- Historical essay endeavoring a probability that the language of the empire of China is the primitive language by John Webb (London: Brook, 1669) G.17.13
- Grammatica linguæ Turcicæ by William Seaman (Oxford: Hall, 1670) G.14.18
- Dictionariolum Latino-Græco-Gallicvm by Fédéric Morel (Rouen: Berthelin, 1673) G.18.18
- Summarium lingvæ aramææ by Johann Wilhelm Hilliger (Wittenberg: Mevius, 1679) G.14.23
- Institutiones grammaticæ Anglo-Saxonicæ, et Moeso-Gothicæ by George Hickes (Oxford: Sheldonian Theatre, 1689) G.14.11
- Introductio ad linguas orientales by Simon Ockley (London: Bray, 1706) D.17.37
- [Selection from standard Irish texts] by Dermod O’Connor (Unpublished manuscript, 1714) MS22
Liturgy and Private Devotion
- Animaduertendum by attributed to Clement Maydeston (London: Pynson, 1501) E.6.45
- Sermones discipuli de tempore de sanctis by Johann Herolt (London: Notary, 1510) I.17.21
- Hore Beatissime virginis marie ad legitimum Sarisburiensis Ecclesie ritum by the Catholic Church (Paris: Regnault, 1534) E.4.47
- Super canone misse by Gabriel Biel (Lyon: [s.n.], 1542) A.17.2
- Missale ad vsvm ecclesiae Romanae by the Catholic Church (Lyon: Vincent, 1550) E.6.46
- Booke of Common Prayer by Church of England (London: Barker, 1596) E.9.25(1)
- Whole booke of Psalmes by Thomas Sternhold et al (London: Windet, 1596) E.9.25(2)
- Oratio qvadraginta Horarvm by Ferdinando Bongiorno (Venice: Rampazetto, 1601) A.17.6
- Natales sanctorvm Belgii by Johannes Molanus (Douai: Borremans, 1616) F.9.22
- Romanum Calendarium compendiose expositum by Pierre Gassendi (Paris: Du Puis, 1654) A.17.3
- Breviarivm Romanvm by the Catholic Church (Antwerp: Moretus, 1665) A.17.14
- Daily exercise for a Christian (London: Freeman, 1684) B.10.30
- Libro delle preghiere publiche translated by William Bedell (London: Pitt, 1685) B.10.13
- Short office of private devotions for the holy sacrament by Richard Willis (London: Hills, 1692) I.19.6(12)
- Book of Common Prayer in Hebrew (Unpublished manuscript, 1717) MS21

Mathematics
- In hoc libro contenta epitome, co[m]pendiosaq[ue] introductio in libros arithmeticos diui Seuerini Boetij (Paris: Hopyl & Estienne, 1503) E.4.34(2)
- Proteo militare by Bartolomeo Crescentio Romano (Naples: Carlino & Pace, 1595) H.15.17
- Arithmeticae by Petrus Ramus (Frankfurt: Wecheli, 1599) E.4.14
- Nvmerorvm mysteria by Pietro Bongo (Paris: Sonnius, 1618) B.14.20
- Cylindricorvm et annvlarivm by André Tacquet (Antwerp: Meurs, 1651) E.4.24
- Opvscvla varia mathematica by Scipione Chiaramonti (Bologna: Zenero, 1653) E.6.7
- New elements of conick sections by Philippe de La Hire (London: Midwinter, 1704) E.5.20
- Quadrature by William Nevill (Unpublished manuscript, 1712) I.19.17(3)
- Duodecimal arithmetic by Joshua Jordaine (London: Parker, 1718) E.5.24
- Opticks by Isaac Newton (London: Innys, 1721) C.6.35
Medicine
- De curatione per sanguinis missionem by Galen (Lyon: Payen, 1546) H.19.37(4)
- Anatomy of melancholy by Robert Burton (Oxford: Lichfield & Short, 1621) E.9.18
- Opobalsami veteribvs cogniti vindiciæ by Johann Vesling (Padua: Frambotto, 1644) I.19.19(2)
- De florvm vsv physico et morali by Johann Vesling (Padua: Frambotto, 1649) I.19.19(3)
- Medicina magica tamen physica by Samuel Bouton (London: Brook, 1656) D.16.12
- Hortus Regius Blesensis auctus by Robert Morison (London: Roycroft, 1669) H.10.10
- Pharmacia in artis formam redacta, experimentis, observationibus et discursu perpetuo illustrate by Georg Wolffgang Wedel (Jena: Bielcke, 1677) G.6.17(3)
- Antidiatribe by George Ent (London: Bromwich, 1679) D.16.4
- Methodus curandi febres by Thomas Sydenham (London: Crook, 1668) I.9.24(2)
- Praxis clinica (Unpublished manuscript, 1691) MS14
- Problem concerning the gout by George Philips (London: Goodwin, 1691) M.8.14(13)
- Institutiones rei herbariæ by Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (Paris: Typographia Regia, 1700) I.16.37–39
Miscellany
- Explicit abbreuiamentu[m] statutor[um] (London: Pynson, [?1503]) I.17.2
- Repertorium by Joannes Nicolaus Milis (Lyon: Rémy, 1522) E.9.19
- De publicis concubinarijs commentarij non minùs docti by Bermond Choveron (Lyon: Senneton, 1550) C.15.22
- Defence of priestes mariages (London: Kingston, [?1567]) H.5.39
- Angelographia by Otto Casmann (Frankfurt: Palthenius, 1597) B.19.18
- De temvlentiæ malo by Friedrich Forner (Ingolstadt: Ederiana, 1603) K.19.4
- Vxore dimissa propter fornicationem aliam non licet superinducere by John Howson (Oxford: Barnes, 1606) H.5.12
- Treatise of the lavves of the forest by John Manwood (London: Society of Stationers, 1615) E.10.15
- Satvrnalivm sermonvm by Justus Lipsius (Antwerp: Plantin, 1617) E.14.4(1)
- De arte bene moriendi libri dvo by Saint Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino (Paris: Cramoisy, 1620) B.20.40
- Concubinage and polygamy disprov’d (London: Baldwin, 1698) C.19.44
- Account of some charity-schools set up in the city of Dublin (Dublin: [s.n.], 1705) C.10.34(3)
- Advice to the Romish Catholick priests of Ireland (Dublin: Dickson, 1713) I.19.6(3)
- Of drinking to the memory of the dead by Peter Browne (Dublin: Waters, 1713) I.19.9(3)
- Synge’s sermon touching some errors therein by T.W ([S.l.: s.n.], 1714) I.19.13(2)
- Complete gard’ner by Jean de La Quintinie (London: Bell, 1719) H.17.14
- Several acts for the improvement of the hempen and flaxen manufactures in this kingdom (Dublin: Crooke, 1719) G.19.10(1)
- Letter from a lay-patron to a gentleman designing for holy orders by Jonathan Swift (Dublin: Waters, 1720) I.19.9(5)
- Every-body’s business, is no-body’s business by Daniel Defoe (Dublin: Gowan, 1726) I.19.11(7)

Music
- Concordiaeqve comitis hymni heroici tres by Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola (Strasbourg: Schürer, 1511) M.3.13(2)
- Canzonette a quattro voci di Horatio Vecchi da Modena by Orazio Vecchi (Nuremberg: Gerlach, 1593) E.9.26(1)
- Processionale monasticvm by the Catholic Church (Saint-Mihiel: Du Bois & François, [16??]) E.7.46
- Psalmes of King David translated by James I (London: Harper, 1636) E.4.46(2)
- Treatise of the natural grounds, and principles of harmony by William Holder (London: Heptinstall, 1694) G.18.32(3)
- Treatise concerning the lawfulness of instrumental music in holy offices by Henry Dodwell (London: Haws, 1700) C.8.34
- Chant book by Cashel Cathedral (Unpublished manuscript, [?1819]) MSA
Natural philosophy (Sciences)
- De communibus omnium rerum naturalium principiis & affectionibus by Benedictus Pererius (Paris: Sonnius, 1579) K.6.2
- De destillatione by Girolamo Rossi (Basel: Henricpetri, 1585) F.17.36
- In sphæram Ioannis de Sacro Bosco, commentarivs by Christoph Clavius (Geneva: Crespin, 1608) E.5.12
- Tabvlae Frisicæ lunæ-solares quadruplices by Nicolaus Mulerius (Alkmaar: Meester, 1611) B.14.11
- Quòd animalia bruta ratione utantur meliùs homine by Girolamo Rorario (Amsterdam: Ravestein, 1654) F.10.27
- Origine of formes and qualities by Robert Boyle (Oxford: Hall, 1667) C.6.29
- Exercitatio de origine & viribus gemmarum by Robert Boyle (London: Godbid, 1673) F.10.47
- Rhabarbarologia by Mathias Tiling (Frankfurt: Seyler, 1679) I.16.17
- Telluris theoria sacra by Thomas Burnet (London: Norton, 1681) L.5.26
- Salamandrologia by Johann Paul Wurfbain (Nuremberg: Scheurer, 1683) I.16.32
- Merycologia by Johann Konrad Peyer (Basel: König & Brandmüller, 1685) D.15.1
- Notes upon both globes celestial and terrestrial (Dublin: Ray, 1699) I.19.14(10)
- Miscellaneous reflections occasion’d by the comet which appear’d in December 1680 by Pierre Bayle (London: Morphew, 1708) C.5.4–5
- Discourse concerning eclipses by John Knapp (Dublin: Fairbrother, 1715) I.19.17(5)
Reformation
- Enchiridion locorvm commvnivm Ioannis Eckii, aduersus Martinum Lutherum & asseclas eius by Johann Eck (Paris: Regnault, 1535) B.20.34
- Acta synodi Tridentinæ by John Calvin ([S.l.: s.n.], 1547) D.9.27(2)
- ‘Bug’ Bible translated by William Tyndale (London: Raynalde & Hill, 1549) F.15.24
- De statv religionis et reipvblicæ, Carolo Quinto, Cæsare, commentarii by Johannes Sleidanus (Geneva: Poullain & Reboul, 1557) E.19.21a(1)
- Catechesis by Martin Luther (Basel: Oporinus, 1567) K.6.16
- Epistolarvm by Philipp Melanchthon (Wittenberg: Schleich & Schöne, 1570) D.9.31
- De origine ac progressu schismatis Anglicani, liber by Nicholas Sander (Cologne i.e. Rheims: Foigny, 1585) B.19.23
- Index expvrgatorivs librorvm qvi hoc secvlo prodiervnt (Heidelberg: Mareschal, 1586) H.20.23
- Libri tres harmoniæ evangelicæ by Martin Chemnitz (Frankfurt: Spies, 1608) E.6.20
- Annalivm evangelii passim per Europam decimo quinto salutis partæ seculo renovati by Abraham Scultetus (Heidelberg: Lancelot, 1618) L.9.37
- De Luthero-Calvinismo, schismatico qvidem, sed reconciliabili by Augustinus Gibbon (Erfurt: Dedekind, 1663) K.6.15
- Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the church by John Foxe (London: Company of Stationers, 1684) E.2.1-3
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Religion
- In D. Ioannis euangelion commentariorum by Alcuin (Strasbourg: Herwagen, 1511) I.17.12
- Cathena aurea by Saint Thomas Aquinas (Lyon: Giunta, 1542) E.6.40
- Psalterivm Davidis carmine redditum by Helius Eobanus Hessus (Dortmund: Maurer, 1551) A.20.13
- ‘Breeches’ Bible (London: Barker, 1580) E.7.44
- Tvvo right profitable and fruitfull concordances by Robert F. Herrey (London: Barker, 1594) W.3.2(2)
- Sanctvs Marcvs (Nuremberg: [s.n.], 1600) A.14.31
- Petition to the King. for avthority and allowance to expound the Apocalyps in Hebrew and Greek by Hugh Broughton ([?Amsterdam: Thorp], 1611) H.7.19(1)
- al-Coranus (Hamburg: Schultzio-Schilleriana, 1694) E.6.42
- A list of editions of the Bible and parts thereof in English, from the year MDV to MDCCCXX by Henry Cotton (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1821) A.6.32
Superstition and (Natural) Magic
- De veritate et antiqvitate artis chemicæ et pvlveris by Robertus Vallensis (Leiden: Plantin, 1593) E.8.20(1)
- Disqvisitionvm magicarvm libri sex by Martin Antoine del Rio (Mainz: Albin, 1600) E.6.31a–b
- Dæmonologie by James I (London: Hatfield, 1603) I.15.2
- Zodiacus vitæ by Marcello Palingenio Stellato (Geneva: Tournes, 1608) H.20.17
- Divine pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus (London: White, 1650) H.20.46
- Introductiones apotelesmaticæ in physiognomiam by Johannes Hagen (Strasbourg: Pauli, 1663) D.16.10
- True interpretatjon of the vvitch of Endor by Lodowick Muggleton (London: [s.n.], 1669) I.19.23(8)
- Opus tripartitum de philosophorum arcanis by Eirenaeus Philalethes (London: Cooper, 1678) D.16.6
- Sadducismus debellatus by Francis Grant (London: Newman & Bell, 1698) H.15.13(5)
- Histoire critique des pratiques superstitieuses by Prêtre de l’Oratoire (Amsterdam: Schelte, 1702) C.19.23–24
- Historical, physiological and theological treatise of spirits by John Beaumont (London: Browne, 1705) I.16.10
- Prodigiis by Julius Obsequens (Leiden: Luchtmans, 1720) C.18.32
4. Further reading and resources
Online catalogues and digitised texts
- For those volumes contained in the Bolton which were printed, principally in the British Isles and/or in the English language before 1801. Digital copies may be available to view through the English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC), British Library.
- Users may also wish to consult the Incunabla Short Title Catalogue (ISTC), British Library for works printed in any language before the year 1500.
- European manuscript and archival collections arranged by country, Marian Lefferts, Executive Manager at the Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL)
Related collections
- Other texts owned by Archbishop William King are held by The Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Library, Ulster University Magee Campus.
- For other collections related to the Church of Ireland, view the Representative Church Body (RCB) Library, Dublin.
Further reading and archive collections relating to Archbishop William King
- Robert S Matteson and Gayle Barton, ‘A large private park: the collection of Archbishop William King 1650–1729‘, (Cambridge, 2003).
- Philip O’Regan, ‘Archbishop William King of Dublin (1650–1729) and the constitution in church and state‘, (Dublin, 2000).
- Early catalogue of Archbishop William King’s library, Manuscript Department, Trinity College Dublin.
- For other archival collections relating to King held in the UK, see summary by the National Archives, UK.
Online resources relating to rare books
- Incunabla: The Art & History of Printing in Western Europe, c. 1450–1500, Library of Congress
Other rare book libraries and resources in Ireland and the UK
- Cathedral Archives, Libraries & Collections Association (CALCA)
- Centre for Early Modern Studies (CEMS), Limerick
- The Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Library, Ulster University Magee Campus
- Marsh’s Library, Dublin
- Robinson Library, Armagh
- St Canice’s Library, Maynooth University
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