William Nicolson (1655–1727)
The English historical library … giving a short view and character of most of our historians either in print or manuscript
Second edition. London: for Timothy Childe and Robert Knaplock, 1714

William Nicolson’s famous compliment to Moore, that his library was ‘universally and justly reputed the best furnish’d of any (within the Queen’s Dominions)’, was based on the experience of frequent visits. Nicolson’s work was intended to be an impartial bibliography of English history, noting the locations of the public records upon which serious study should be based. Amongst the highlights listed here is Moore’s copy of Bede, ‘the very best copy which is perhaps anywhere extant’.

7540.a.16, pp. xii–xiii