A note on the government of Ipswich in 16th, 17th and 18th centuries; William Smarte "first benefactor to this library"; the library housed for Samuel Ward, 1611-1618; early donors and their gifts; the Preachers' Library in use, 1619-1636; master and ministers take charge, 1636-1650; Cave Beck's first twenty years, 1651-1670; distinguished patrons, 1670-1705; Robert Coningsby - the first catalogue and a second library for the school, 1705-1712; political controversy and the collection closed, 1712-1766; John King, 1767-1799; the nineteenth century - five moves for the Library; the present century; manuscripts with Ipswich associations; the preacher's choice of books, Nicholas Cranfield and Anthony Milton. Appendices: lists of masters, ushers and town preachers; donors to the Library; printed gift-labels; the books bought with money from the Elizabeth Walter bequest; books bequeathed by Thomas Hewett; losses from the Library from the earliest days; former owners of the books and manuscripts; the maps in Dr John Knight's atlases.
