Life
1638-1713; b. 20 Dec., Hannington nr. Crockdale, Wiltshire; ed. BA Magdalen
Hall, Oxford, 1658; fellow of Exeter, and DD, 1671; incumbent Swindon,
1662-63, resigning in anticipation of simoniacal marriage; chaplain to
bishop of Exeter and Clarendon; principal of St. Alban’s Hall, Oxford,
1673; appt. provost Trinity College, Dublin, by the 1st Duke of Ormond Jan.
1678; encouraged Irish language, requiring that 30 scholars be of Irish
extraction, and engaging Paul Higgins to teach the language at TCD; prepared
Bedell’s Bible [OT] for publication with Robert Boyle; joined in
founding Dublin Philosophical Soc. [later RDS], contrib. essay on sound,
1683; suggested lute string as superior to whipcord employed in Molyneux’s
Dublin Hygroscope; orientalist; Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin and rector
of Killiban, 1683; fled to England, 1689; obtained preferment, returned
1690; Archb. of Cashel, 1691; translated to Dublin, 1674; gave Swift prebend
of Dunlavin, 1700, and a seat in the chapter of St Patrick’s Cathedral;
built new hall and chapel at TCD; estab. first public library in Ireland
at his palace while TCD library was inoperative; built St Sepulchre’s
[Marsh’s] Library and garden in St Sepulchre’s Close at St.
Patrick’s Cathedral; appointed as first librarian the Dr Hugenot
refugee Dr Elias Bouhéreau, who added his own Calvinist collection;
purchased the library of Edward Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester (d.1699)
in 1705; incorporated as Marsh’s Library by an Act of Parliament,
1707, in face of opposition from some Church of Ireland bishops who objected
to supposed elements of simony, sacrilege and purjury in the Act; several
times Lord Justice of Ireland; translated to Archbishopric of Armagh,
1703; acted as a benefactor to the Armagh diocese; fnd. almhouses, Drogheda;
issued miscellaneous works; remained unmarried; d. 2 Nov.; augmented the
Irish manuscript collection of the episcopal library through purchases
from the widow of Dudley Loftus, incl. O’Hussey’s Grammaticae
Hibernicae rudimenta (1655), and Richard Plunket’s Irish-Latin
dictionary (1662); the library also received the collection of Bishop
Stearne of Clogher, and was augmented in modern times by donations from
several collectors including from E. R. McClintock Dix and T. P. C. Kirkpatrick;
Elias Bouhéreau, librarian from 1701, and
left a valuable collection of French bibles; Swift called Marsh ‘the
first of the human race, that with great advantages of learning, piety,
and station, ever escaped being a great man’; notable twentieth-century
librarians have included Newport Benjamin White and Muriel McCarthy, the
present post-holder; a “Diary” giving an account of his proper
relations with women according to his own lights was published in 2003.
DNB DIB
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Works
Philosophy & Religion, Institutio logicae,
in usum juventutis Academicae Dubliniensis (1679), and Do.
[another edn.] (Dublini: apud S. Helsham ad Insignia Collegii, in vico
vulgo dicto Castle-Street 1681), [10], 270pp., 4 pls. 8vo.; Do. [trans
as] Richard Murray, trans., A Compendium of the Art of Logick As It
Is Read in the University of Dublin literally transl. from the Latin edition
(Dublin 1792); with Anthony Dopping, Comitia philologica, SS. &
Individuae Trinitatis Collegio, Dublinij, publicè ... celebranda, die
Lunae, 14 Julii […] (1684) [TCD copy presented by Mary Pollard]; An
Introductory Essay to the Doctrine of Sounds, containing some proposals
for the improvement of acousticks; in Philosophical Transactions,
No. 156 (Feb. 20 1683/4), pp.471-88; The Charge Given by Narcissus,
Lord Archbishop of Dublin, to His Clergy at His Primary Visitation held
in the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, in Dublin, June the 27th 1694;
together with his articles of visitation; whereunto are annext three acts
of parliament which are to be read in every parish-church yearly (Dublin:
Joseph Ray (1694), [6], 47 [1]pp.; The Church-Catechism Explain’d
and Prov'd by Apt Texts of Scripture: Divided into XXVI parts. Recommended
by his Grace Narcissus, late Lord Arch-Bishop of Dublin, for the Use of
That Diocese [10th Edn.] (Dublin: Samuel Fairbrother 1719), [4], 75,
[1]pp.;
Translation, An Biobla Naomhtha: iona bhfuil leabhair na Seintiomna / ar na ttarruing as an Eabhra go Goidheilg tré chúram agus dhúthrachd an Doctuir, Uilliam Bedel, Roimhe so Easbug Chille móire a Néirinn: agus na Tiomna Nuaidhe, ar na ttabhairt go fírinneach as Greigis go Goidheilg, re Uilliam O Domhnuill. Noch atá anois chum maitheas coitcheann na nGaóidheail Albanach, áthruighte to haireach as an litir Eíreandha chum na mion-litre shoi-léighidh Romhanta; maille re suim agus brígh na ccaibidleach ós a ccionn, a nTiodaluibh aithghearr; re claraibh fós, ag míniughadh na mfocal budh deacraigh ré na ttuigsin, le R.K. M.A. (A Lunnduin [London]: Ar na chur a gcló re R. Ebheringhtham, ag na seachd réultaibh sa tsráid da ngoirthear, Ave-Maria, abhfochair Luid-gheata, an bhlía. daóis an Tigh. 1690), 1,068, 120pp.; Leabhuir na Seintiomna ar na ttarrv`ng go gaidlig / tre cúram & dútras an Doctúir Uilliam Bedel, roime so easbug Chille Móire a Neirin, agus anois ar na ccur a ccló cum maitios pv`blidhe na tiresin (1685) [Bedell’s text revised by A. Sall and Narcissus Marsh before publication].
Musical, Narcissus Marsh’s Lyra Viol Book [Marsh’s Library, Z3.5.13] (1978); Ian Graham-Jones, ed., Music for the Lyra-viol: A Selection of Pieces for the Viol in Tablature (1980); The Marsh Lute Book: containing 152 solos and duets for 6-course renaissance lute, four solos for 7-course renaissance lute and nine pieces for 6-course bandora / with an introductory note by Robert Spencer (1981) [comp. c.1695].
Autobiography, Raymond Gillespie, Scholar Bishop: The Recollections and Diary of Narcissus Marsh, 1638-96 (Cork UP 2002), 106pp.
Miscellaneous, See also John Grant, Alpheus; or, A Pastoral Elegy on His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark [...] Dedicated to their Excellency’s the Lords Justices (1708), 8pp. [ded. to Narcissus Marsh].
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Criticism
J. D. White, Short Catalogue of Books in English in Archbishop Marsh’s
Library Dublin, Printed before MDCXLI [1641] (1905).
Muriel McCarthy, All Graduates and Gentlemen: Marsh’s Library (1980).
Muriel McCarthy, Marsh’s Library, Dublin: All Graduates and Gentlemen (Dublin: Four Courts Press 2003), 256pp.
Newport J. D. White, ed., A Short Catalogue of English Books in Archbishop Marsh's Library, Dublin, Printed Before MDCXLI (1905), viii, 90pp.
Newport J. Davis White, ed., An Account of Archbishop Marsh’s Library, Dublin […] with a note on autographs by Newport B[enjamin] White (Dublin : Hodges, Figgis & Co., 1926), 43pp.;
Muriel McCarthy and Caroline Sherwood-Smith, Catalogue: Hibernia Resurgens, Marsh’s Irish Books (Archbishop Marsh’s Library June 1994), 96pp. [ltd. edn. 750].
Mirjam M. Foot, Decorated Bookbindings in Marsh’s Library, Dublin (London: Ashgate 2004), c.154pp. [Feb. 2004].
W. B. Stanford, Ireland and the Classical Tradition (IAP 1976; 1984).
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Notes
Dictionary
of National Biography also lists Francis Marsh (1627-1693), Archbishop
of Dublin; ed. Cambridge; praelector rhetoricus, 1651-52 and 1654-57;
dean of Connor, 1660; dean of Armagh and archdeacon of Dromore, 1661;
bishop of Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe, 1667; bishop of Kilmore and
Ardagh, 1672; Archb. of Dublin, 1682; opposed Tyrconnell; withdrew to
England, 1689; included in act of attainder; returned after the battle
of the Boyne, 1690. NOTE that Mary Tighe was the daughter of a librarian
of Marsh’s library.
Sir William Robinson, Surveyor General, designed Marsh’s Library and also built the Royal Hospital, 1680-87.
Swift’s learning: The Institutio logicae of Narcissus Marsh (1679; reiss. 1681) was the particular manual on the topic used by Jonathan Swift as an unergraaduate at Trinity College, Dublin, and show to have been specifically remembered in his letter to Alexander Pope of 29 Sept. 1725 explaining much about his conception of man not as animale rationale but animale rationis capax. (See Claude Rawson, ‘Our Friend is not Well’, in Times Literary Supplement, 29 Nov. 2002, p.26.)
Hyland Books (Cat. 214) lists Newport J. D. White, Short Catalogue of Books in English in Archbishop Marsh’s Library Dublin, Printed before MDCXLI (1905).
COPAC lists The charge given by Narcissus,
Lord Archbishop of Dublin, to His Clergy at His Primary Visitation held
in the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, in Dublin, June the 27th 1694;
together with his articles of visitation; whereunto are annext three acts
of parliament which are to be read in every parish-church yearly (Dublin:
Joseph Ray (1694), [6], 47 [1]pp.; The Church-Catechism Explain’d
and prov'd by apt texts of scripture: Divided into XXVI parts. Recommended
by his Grace Narcissus, late Lord Arch-Bishop of Dublin, for the use of
that diocese [10th Edn.] (Dublin: Samuel Fairbrother 1719), [4], 75, [1]pp.;
with Anthony Dopping, Comitia philologica, SS. & Individuae Trinitatis
Collegio, Dublinij, publicè ... celebranda, die Lunae, 14 Julii […] (1684)
[TCD copy presented by Mary Pollard]; Institutio logicae, in usum juventutis
Academicae Dubliniensis (1679), and Do. [another edn.] (Dublini: apud
S. Helsham ad Insignia Collegii, in vico vulgo dicto Castle-Street 1681),
[10], 270pp., 4 pls. 8vo. TRANSLATIONS: An Biobla Naomhtha: iona bhfuil
leabhair na Seintiomna / ar na ttarruing as an Eabhra go Goidheilg tré
chúram agus dhúthrachd an Doctuir, Uilliam Bedel, Roimhe so Easbug Chille
móire a Néirinn: agus na Tiomna Nuaidhe, ar na ttabhairt go fírinneach
as Greigis go Goidheilg, re Uilliam O Domhnuill. Noch atá anois chum maitheas
coitcheann na nGaóidheail Albanach, áthruighte to haireach as an litir
Eíreandha chum na mion-litre shoi-léighidh Romhanta; maille re suim agus
brígh na ccaibidleach ós a ccionn, a nTiodaluibh aithghearr; re claraibh
fós, ag míniughadh na mfocal budh deacraigh ré na ttuigsin, le R.K. M.A.
(A Lunnduin [London]: Ar na chur a gcló re R. Ebheringhtham, ag na seachd
réultaibh sa tsráid da ngoirthear, Ave-Maria, abhfochair Luid-gheata,
an bhlía. daóis an Tigh. 1690), 1,068, 120pp.; Leabhuir na Seintiomna
ar na ttarrv`ng go gaidlig / tre cúram & dútras an Doctúir Uilliam Bedel,
roime so easbug Chille Móire a Neirin, agus anois ar na ccur a ccló cum
maitios pv`blidhe na tiresin (1685) [Bedell's text revised by A. Sall
and Narcissus Marsh before publication]. MUSIC: Richard Murray, trans.,
A Compendium of the Art of Logick As It Is Read in the University of Dublin
literally transl. from the Latin edition (Dublin 1792);Narcissus Marsh's
Lyra Viol Book [Marsh's Library, Z3.5.13] (1978); Narcissus Marsh's Lyra
Viol Book (1978); Ian Graham-Jones, ed., Music for the Lyra-viol: A Selection
of Pieces for the Viol in Tablature (1980); The Marsh Lute Book: c. 1[6]95
containing 152 solos and duets for 6-course renaissance lute, four solos
for 7-course renaissance lute and nine pieces for 6-course bandora / with
an introductory note by Robert Spencer (1981). BIBLIOGRAPHY: Newport J.
D. White, ed., A Short Catalogue of English Books in Archbishop Marsh's
Library, Dublin, Printed Before MDCXLI (1905), viii, 90PP.; Newport J.
Davis White, ed., An Account of Archbishop Marsh’s Library, Dublin
[…] with a note on autographs by Newport B[enjamin] White (Dublin : Hodges,
Figgis & Co., 1926), 43pp. See also Alpheus; or, A Pastoral Elegy on His
Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, / writ by John Grant. Dedicated
to their Excellency's the Lords Justices (1708), 8pp., which is ded. to
Narcissus Marsh.
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)