Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867 Part 8

Another reason for Selden's withholding his library in its entirety has, however, been a.s.signed, besides those mentioned above, and this, too, by closely contemporary writers. In July, 1649, the new intruded officers and fellows of Magdalene College found in the Muniment-room in the cloister-tower of the College, a large sum of money in the old coinage called _Spur-royals_[117], or _Ryals_, amounting to 1400, the equivalent of which had been left by the Founder as a reserve fund for law expenses, for re-erecting or repairing buildings destroyed by fire, &c., or for other extraordinary charges. This gold had been laid up and counted in Q. Elizabeth's time and had remained untouched since then; consequently, although some of the old members of the College were aware of its existence, to the new-comers it seemed a welcome and unexpected discovery, especially as the College was at the time heavily in debt.

They immediately proceeded to divide it among all the members on the Foundation proportionately, not excluding the choristers, (who were at that time undergraduates), the Puritan President, Wilkinson, being alone opposed to such an illegal proceeding, and being with difficulty prevailed upon to accept 100 as his share, which, however, upon his death-bed he charged his executors to repay. The spur-royals were exchanged at the rate of 18_s._ 6_d._ to 20_s._each, and each fellow had 33 of them. But when the fact of this embezzlement of corporate funds became known, the College was called to account by Parliament, and, although they attempted to defend themselves, they individually deemed it wise to refund the greater, or a considerable, part of what had been abstracted.[118] Fuller, whose _Church History_ was published in the year following Selden's death, after telling this scandalous story, proceeds thus (book ix. p. 234):--'Sure I am, a great antiquarie lately deceased (rich as well in his state as learning) at the hearing hereof quitted all his intention of benefaction to Oxford or any place else, on suspition it would be diverted to other uses, on the same token that he merrily said, I think the best way for a man to perpetuate his memory is to procure the Pope to canonize him for a saint, for then he shall be sure to be remembred in their Calender; whereas otherwise I see all Protestant charity subject to the covetousness of posterity to devour it, and bury the donor thereof in oblivion.' And the name of this 'great antiquarie' was supplied in 1659 by the Puritan writer Henry Hickman, who, as a Demy of Magdalene College, had shared in the spoils. He, in the Appendix to his _Justification of the Fathers and Schoolmen_, gives (in answer to a pa.s.sage in Heylin's _Examen Historic.u.m_) a full account of the dividing of the gold, adding, 'which, as is said, did hinder Mr.

John Selden from bestowing his library on the University.' And Wood (_Hist. and Antiq._ by Gutch, ii. 942) says that he had been told that this misappropriation was one reason of Selden's distaste at Oxford.

From all this it is clear that Burnet's narrative gives a very inaccurate account of the matter.

It was in the year 1659 that the great ma.s.s of Selden's collection was forwarded by his executors. In the accounts for 1660 appear payments to Barlow of 20 'for his paines in procuring Mr. Selden's books,' and of 51 for his expenses thereon. The bringing the books from London cost about 34, and the providing chains for them 25 10_s._[119]

Unfortunately, during the interval, many books had been lost which had been borrowed in London, and were never returned. (Life, in _Works_, I.

lii.) And a part, which somehow was not sent to Oxford, afterwards altogether perished, 'for the fire of the Temple destroyed in one of their chambers eight chests full of the registers of abbeys, and other ma.n.u.scripts relating to the history of England; tho' most of his law-books are still safe in Lincoln's Inn[120].' Some medical books were bequeathed to the College of Physicians. Some of the original deeds relating to the gift were bought for the Library in 1837 for 1 1_s._

About 8000 volumes were, in all, added to the Library by this gift, most of which bear Selden's well-known motto: 'pe?? pa?t?? t?? e?e??e??a?.'

Amongst them are some which belonged to Ben Jonson, Dr. Donne, and Sir Robert Cotton. The number of miscellaneous foreign works, in several European languages, is noticeable, many of which had been published but a short time before Selden's death. In curious contrast to the character of the greater part of his collection (rich in cla.s.sics and science, theology and history, law and Hebrew literature) there occurs one volume (marked 4^o C. 32. Art. Seld.) which is priceless in the eyes of the lovers of old English black-letter tracts. It contains twenty-six tracts (most bearing the name of a previous possessor, one Thomas Newton) which are among the rarest of early popular tales and romances.

As mere specimens of the collection may be mentioned, _Richard Cuer de Lyon_, _Syr Bevis of Hampton_ (unique edit.?), _Syr Degore_, _Syr Tryamoure_ (only two copies known), _Syr Eglamoure_ (unique?), _Dan Hew of Leicestre_ (unique?), _Battayle of Egyngecourt_ (unique?), _Mylner of Abyngton_ (unique?), _Wyl Bucke_, _&c._ Among the MSS. is one of Harding's _Chronicle_ (Arch. Seld. B. 10) which appears to have belonged to Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, from his arms being painted at the end, and which some have supposed was also a presentation copy to Edward IV. A curious map accompanies the description of Scotland (here given in prose, not, as in the printed editions, in verse), in which, next to Sutherland and Caithness, the author, who would have won Dr.

Johnson's respect as being 'a good hater,' places 'Styx, the infernal flode,' and 'The palais of Pluto, King of hel, _neighbore to Scottz_.'

This map was engraved for the first time in Gough's _British Topography_, vol. ii. pl. viii.; the description of it occupies pp.

579-583 in that volume. Another interesting volume is a copy of the Latin _Articles_ of 1562, printed by Reginald Wolfe in 1563, with the autograph signatures of the members of the Lower House of Convocation (Arch. Seld. A. 76). Fifty-four Greek MSS. are described in Mr. c.o.xe's Catalogue, vol. i. cols. 583-648.

[109] As Aubrey (_Lives_, with _Letters by Eminent Persons_, ii. 532) has preserved a story that Selden on his death-bed refused, through Hobbes' persuasion, to see a clergyman (Mr Johnson) who was coming 'to a.s.soile him,' it is worth while to print the following notice of his death from Rawlinson MS. B. clviii. fol. 75, a volume containing a collection of biographical anecdotes, &c., written in a rather clumsy copyist's hand, about the beginning of the last century: 'Mr. Selden upon his death-bed disclaimed all Hobbisme and the like wicked and Atheisticall opinions, commanded that neither Mr. Hobbs nor Capt.

Rossingham should be admitted to him, confessed his sins, and desired absolution, which was given him by Archbp. Usher; but amongst other things he much deplored the loss of his time in studying of things more curious than usefull, and wished that he [had] rather executed the office of a justice of peace than spent his time in that which the world calls learning.'

[110] See also Aubrey's _Lives_, _ut supra_, ii. 536.

[111] Nichols (_Lit. Anecd._ i. 333) gives another and very different story, for which he produces no authority. He says that Selden had actually sent his library to Oxford during his lifetime, but hearing that they had lent out a book _without sufficient caution_, he sent for it back again.

[112] Twells' Life of Poc.o.c.ke, in Poc.o.c.ke's _Theol. Works_, 1740, vol.

i. p. 43.

[113] Reg. Conv. T. p. 251. It is added, as an additional reason for the concession, 'porro spes sit virum in rem nostram academicam optime affectum, hanc ei extra ordinem gratiam factam abunde olim compensaturum.'

[114] A copy also exists of this paper made by Hearne with a view to publication, and, as appears from a short preface by him, from a double motive; firstly, to prevent persons taking offence in his own day at refusals; secondly, to afford warning to persons with 'fanatical consciences,' who seem to have thought there was no harm done in carrying books away secretly, provided they returned them again.

Unfortunately 'consciences' such as these still exist, and there is reason for quoting, with a present application, the words with which the warm-hearted Hearne concludes: 'Let these men consider seriously how they will answer this before G.o.d, and withall a.s.sure themselves that if they be found out, they will, besides the punishment like to come upon them hereafter (without an earnest, hearty repentance) be expos'd to all that infamy and disgrace which the Statute enjoyns to be inflicted upon such notorious offenders.' (Misc. MSS. papers relating to the Library.)

The first actual theft of a book occurred in 1624. At the Visitation on Nov. 9, the Curators drew up a formal doc.u.ment, publishing and denouncing the deed, and exhorting the unknown doer to a timely repentance. A copy of it is preserved in volume 23 of Bryan Twyne's Collections, in the University Archives (p. 683), and runs as follows:--

'c.u.m in hac visitatione nostra anniversaria Bibliothecae Bodleianae, post diligentem et religiosam status ejus pro officii nostri ratione examinationem factam, compertum sit volumen unum (Jod. Nahumus. Conc. in Evangelia Dominicalia. Han. 1604. N. 1. 3[121]) in cla.s.se Theologica, catena abscissum et sacrilega nebulonis alicujus manu surreptum esse; c.u.mque ex fideli Bibliothecarii relatione (pensatis loci atque temporis circ.u.mstantis) constet, non nisi a jurato aliquo facinus hoc detestabile perpetratum esse;--

'Nos Curatores, quorum fidei et inspectioni Bibliothecae cura speciali nomine a n.o.bilissimo Fundatore concredita est, insolentis facti indignitate moti et perculsi, quamvis liber parabilis, exigui et pretii et usus sit, ne tamen lenti plus quam par est, et frigidi in causa tanti momenti videamur, post maturam deliberationem, programmate affixo, facinus publicandum duximus;--

'Impense rogantes omnes et singulos cujuscunque ordinis et loci genuinos Academia alumnos, ut sicubi librum offendant, sive in privatis musaeis, sive in bibliopolarum officinis, rest.i.tuendum curent, unaque operam n.o.bisc.u.m conferant, ut, si fieri possit, hoc propudium hominis, Bibliothecarum pestis et tenebrio sacrilegus, e latibulis suis in lucem extrahatur; denique, odium et indignationem suam contribuant, saltem ut publicae infamiae tuba miser experrectus, misericordiam divinam tempestive imploret, conspecta vel Bibliothecae porta posthaec attonitus resiliat, nec tanti putet libri contemptibilis acquisitionem ut animam pro qua mortuus est Christus ineptissime peric.l.i.tari sinat.

JO. PRIDEAUX, Vice-Canc. et S. Theol. Professor Regius.

THO. CLAYTON, Medic. Professor Regius.

DANIEL EASTCOT, Procurator Sen.

RICARDUS HILL, Procurator Jun.

EDOARDUS MEETKERKIUS, Ling. Hebr. Professor Regius.

JOHANNES SOUTH, Graecae Linguae Praelector Regius.'

More serious abstractions, however, than such as these, have lately (_i.e._ within the last twenty or thirty years) been practised. It has recently been discovered that two extremely rare tracts by Thomas Churchyard, his _Epitaph of Sir P. Sidney_, and _Feast full of sad Cheere_, have been cut out of the volume of tracts in which they were bound up. May it be hoped that Book-lovers, as well as lovers of honesty, will remember this, should unknown copies suddenly come to light? Another book, mentioned by Warton as being in Tanner's collection, _The Children of the Chapel Stript and Whipt_, is also not forthcoming; but no trace of its actual existence at any time within the walls of the Library has, as yet, been found. As in the course of making a new General Catalogue of the whole library, every separate volume and tract is now conspicuously stamped with the name of its _locale_, it is hoped that depredations of this character will be entirely checked.

Two instances, however, in which 'consciences' have been sufficiently awakened to make rest.i.tution of stolen goods, have occurred within the last twenty years. In 185- (exact year forgotten), on a day on which a Convocation had been held on some exciting subject, which had consequently brought up country voters from all parts, the present writer happened to notice that a small book had been laid in a shelf of folios near the Library door. Taking it up, he found it to be a rare volume of tracts by J. Preston and T. Goodwin, printed at Amsterdam, and bearing a Library reference. On proceeding to restore it to its place, that place was found to be occupied by another book; this, of course, led to further examination, and it was then discovered that the former volume had been missing for so many years, that at last, all hope of its recovery being abandoned, its place had been filled up. The old register-books of readers were then ransacked, and at length an entry was found of the delivery of this book to a reader, who was still living at the time of this Convocation, on Feb. 14, 1807. A quarto volume was also found about the same time thrust in amongst other quartos in a shelf near the door, but the particulars of this case have been forgotten.

A third case of recovery, but of a different kind, occurred in 1851. In the year 1789 the Library was visited by Hen. E. G. Paulus, of Jena, afterwards the too-well-known author of the _Leben Jesu_, who copied from Poc.o.c.ke MS. 32 (a small octavo volume) an Arabic translation of Isaiah made, in Hebrew characters, by R. Saadiah, which he published in the following year, transposed into Arabic characters. Thenceforward the MS. was lost from the Library, although no direct evidence of the manner of its disappearance appears to have been obtained. But after the death of Paulus in the year 1850, a bookseller at Breslau, to whom the volume had in some way been offered, entered into communication with the Librarian, Dr. Bandinel, and the result was that the missing MS. was at length restored, _clothed in an entirely different German binding_, and with all trace of its original ownership removed, to its right place.

The abstraction of this MS. 'by an Oriental professor,' and its recovery, are mentioned, without further particulars, by Dr. Pusey, in his Evidence printed in the _University Report upon the Recommendations of the University Commissioners_, 1853. p. 171.

[115] Bodley frequently in his letters expresses his positive determination not to allow books to be removed from the Library by any means. He mentions the having connived at first at Sir H. Savile's having a book for a very short s.p.a.ce of time, because he was like to become a very great benefactor; but declares that after the making the Statutes neither he nor any one else shall be allowed the same liberty upon any occasion whatsoever. (_Reliquiae Bodl._ pp. 176, 264.) And in another letter he says, in reference to a particular application, 'The sending of any book out of the Library may be a.s.sented to by no means, neither is it a matter that the University or Vice-Chancellor are to deal in. It cannot stand with my publick resolution with the University, and my denial made to the Bishop of Glocester and the rest of the Interpreters [_i.e._ the Translators of the Authorized Version of the Bible] in their a.s.sembly in Christ Church, who requested the like at my hands for one or two books.' (_Ibid._ p. 207.) In 1636 the University refused leave to Archbishop Laud to borrow Rob. Hare's MS. _Liber Privilegiorum Universitatis_ (compiled in 1592), when the Archbishop was prosecuting his claim to visit the two Universities as Metropolitan. But the refusal was doubtless rather from jealousy respecting their immunities (as Wood says) than from regard to the rules of the Library (Huber's _English Universities_, by F. Newman, vol. ii. p. 45.) However, the book was at last produced before the Council. (Wood's _Hist. and Antiq._, by Gutch, vol. ii. p. 403.)

[116] '?????????, num. 131' [Barocci].

[117] These were gold coins, of the value of fifteen shillings, which derived their name from bearing a star on the reverse which resembled the rowel of a spur.

[118] A few of these coins are still preserved in an ancient chest in the same room where they were of old deposited. Here is also carefully preserved a very large and valuable collection of early charters, including all which belonged to the Hospital of St. John Bapt. upon the site of which the College was built, and to several suppressed priories which were annexed to the College, reaching back to the twelfth century.

Of these the author of this volume is engaged in preparing a MS.

catalogue, for the use of the College.

[119] The conditions imposed by the executors (which are printed in Gutch's _Wood_, ii. 943, and elsewhere) expressly stipulated that the books should be chained. As late as the year 1751 notices occur in the Librarian's account-books of the procuring additional chains for the Library. But the removal of them appears to have commenced as shortly afterwards as 1757, and in 1761 there was a payment for unchaining 1448 books at one halfpenny each. Several of the chains are still preserved loose, as relics.

[120] Ayliffe's _Ancient and Present State of the Univ. of Oxford_, 1714, vol. i. p. 462. Pointer, in his _Oxoniensis Academia_, 1749, p.

136, quotes the account of the Bodleian given by Ayliffe as having been written by Dr. Hudson, under whose name it is also found in Macky's _Journey through England_ vol. ii. The fire here mentioned was probably that which occurred about 1679 or 1680, in which the chambers called the Paper-Buildings were destroyed, where Selden's rooms were situated. At Lincoln's Inn some MSS. are now amongst Sir M. Hale's.

[121] This was never recovered, but a later edition, in 1609, was procured instead.

A.D. 1655.

The stipends of the Librarian and a.s.sistants at this time amounted jointly to 51 6_s._ 8_d._ Of this it appears from the account for 1657 that the Librarian received 33 6_s._ 8_d._, the Second Keeper, then H.

Stubbe, 10, and [the janitor] S. Rugleye (?), 8. A volume of curious tracts, published during the early part of the reign of Charles I, now marked 4^o _F. 2 Art. B. S._, furnishes the name of a preceding janitor, by bearing the inscription, 'Liber Thomae Roch, defuncti, quondam janitoris bibliothecae.' The janitor originally appointed by Bodley appears to be mentioned in the following pa.s.sage in a letter from him to James: 'There is one Thomas Scott, Under-butler of Magdalen College, that hath made means unto me for the Porter's place, whom I propose to elect[122].'

John Evelyn appears in this year, as well as subsequently, as a donor of books. Nineteen MSS. were given by Peter Whalley, of Northamptonshire.

[122] _Reliquae Bodl._ p. 263.

A.D. 1656.

Cowley's _Poems_. See 1620.

A.D. 1657.

In this year the gifts to the Library, which since 1640 had been but few, begin once more to increase in number. Five hundred gold and silver coins were given by Ralph Freke, of Hannington, Wilts, and a cabinet for their reception, 'auro gemmisque corusc.u.m,' by his brother William.

Amongst various other donations occur a copy of Caxton's Description of Britain, 1480, from Ralph Bathurst, M.D., Trinity College, and four Oriental MSS. from William Juxon, 'Londinensis olim Episc.' One entry in the Benefaction Register has been at one time carefully pasted over, and at another brought again to light; it is the record of a gift from _Hugh Peters_. 'Hugo Peters, serenissimo Britanniarum Protectori Olivero a sacris, pro sua in academiam et rempubl. literariam benevolentia, codices insequentes Bibl. Bodleianae dono dedit Maii iiii^o, Anno CI?.

I?C. LVII;' viz. the great Dutch Bible with annotations, 'edit. ult.

[scil. Hague, 1637] auro sericoque compacta,' and the aethiopic Psalter of 1513. A leaf which followed this entry has been removed from the Register, probably because it contained some further particulars of Peters' gift, or possibly the record of the MSS. presented by the Protector himself in 1654[123]. The binding of silk and gold has now altogether disappeared, and the Bible is clad in a plain calf coat, with no note of its former condition or of its donor.

Francis Yonge, M.A. of Oriel College, the Sub-librarian, died in this year. In his place succeeded, through the influence of Dr. Owen, Dean of Ch. Ch., Henry Stubbe, M.A., the well-known violent and varying political writer, then a Student of that House. From the posts, however, of both Librarian and Student Stubbe was ejected in March, 1659, on account of the publication of his book ent.i.tled, _A Light Shining out of Darkness_, which was supposed to attack the Universities and clergy.

[123] See p. 55.

A.D. 1658.