Exeter alumnus gives 17th century book to the College Library

An alumnus of Exeter has recently donated Humphrey Sydenham’s ‘Sermons upon solemne occasions: preached in several auditories’ (printed in London in 1637) to the College Library.

We were very grateful to receive it. Humphrey Sydenham is himself an alumnus of Exeter College, and the library does not hold any of his works.

Sydenham (1591-1650) matriculated at Exeter in 1606, and graduated in 1611. Two years later he was one of the founding fellows of Wadham. He became a Somerset clergyman and earned the name ‘Silver-tongued Sydenham’ because of his eloquent preaching style.

The book was found by the donor in a ‘job lot’ from a house clearance, so we are really fortunate that he recognised a work by a fellow Exonian and saved it for the College library.

Title page of Sermons upon solemne occasions: preached in several auditories.