xliii. _Edit. Hearne._ Wood's study, in the Ashmolean museum, is yet to be seen. It is filled with curious books, which, however, have not hitherto been catalogued with accuracy. Ritson has availed himself, more successfully than any antiquary in poetry, of the book treasures in this museum.

[Illustration]]

A very few years after the death of this distinguished character, died Dr. FRANCIS BERNARD;[362] a stoic in bibliography. Neither beautiful binding, nor amplitude of margin, ever delighted his eye or rejoiced his heart: for he was a stiff, hard, and straight-forward reader--and learned, in Literary History, beyond all his contemporaries. His collection was copious and excellent; and although the compiler of the catalogue of his books sneers at any one's having "an entire collection in physic," (by the bye, I should have told you that Bernard was a _Doctor of Medicine_,) yet, if I forget not, there are nearly 150 pages in this said catalogue which are thickly studded with "_Libri Medici_," from the folio to the duodecimo size. Many very curious books are afterwards subjoined; and some precious _bijous_, in English Literature, close the rear. Let Bernard be numbered among the most learned and eminent bibliomaniacs.

[Footnote 362: I do not know that I could produce a better recipe for the cure of those who are affected with the worst symptoms of the BOOK-MANIA, in the _present day_, than by shewing them how the same symptoms, upwards of a _century ago_, were treated with ridicule and contempt by a collector of very distinguished fame, both on account of his literary talents and extensive library. The following copious extract is curious on many accounts; and I do heartily wish that foppish and tasteless collectors would give it a very serious perusal. At the same time, all collectors possessed of common sense and liberal sentiment will be pleased to see their own portraits so faithfully drawn therein. It is taken from the prefatory address,

"TO THE READER.

The character of the person whose collection this was, is so well known, that there is no occasion to say much of him, nor to any man of judgment that inspects the catalogue of the collection itself. Something, however, it becomes us to say of both; and this I think may with truth and modesty enough be said, that as few men knew books, and that part of learning which is called _Historia Litteraria_, better than himself, so there never yet appeared in England so choice and valuable a catalogue to be thus disposed of as this before us: more especially of that sort of books which are out of the common course, which a man may make the business of his life to collect, and at last not to be able to accomplish. A considerable part of them being so little known, even to many of the learned buyers, that we have reason to apprehend this misfortune to attend the sale, that there will not be competitors enough to raise them up to their just and real value. Certain it is this library contains not a few which never appeared in any auction here before; nor indeed, as I have heard him say, for ought he knew, (and he knew as well as any man living) _in any printed catalogue in the world_."--"We must confess that, being a person who collected his books for use, and not for ostentation or ornament, he seemed no more solicitous about _their_ dress than _his own_; and therefore you'll find that a _gilt back_, or a _large margin_, was very seldom any inducement to him to buy. 'Twas sufficient that he had the book." "Though considering that he was so unhappy as to want heirs capable of making that use of them which he had done, and that therefore they were to be dispersed after this manner; I have heard him condemn his own negligence in that particular; observing, that the garniture of a book was as apt to recommend it to a great part of our _modern collectors_ (whose learning goes not beyond the edition, the title-page, and the printer's name) as the intrinsic value could. But that he himself was not a mere nomenclator, and versed only in title-pages, but had made that just and laudable use of his books which would become all those that set up for collectors, I appeal to the Literati of his acquaintance, who conversed most frequently with him; how full, how ready, and how exact he was in answering any question that was proposed to him relating to learned men, or their writings; making no secret of any thing that he knew, or any thing that he had; being naturally one of the most communicative men living, both of his knowledge and his books."--"And give me leave to say this of him, upon my own knowledge; that he never grudged his money in procuring, nor his time or labour in perusing, any book which he thought could be any ways instructive to him, and having the felicity of a memory always faithful, always officious, which never forsook him, though attacked by frequent and severe sickness, and by the worst of diseases, old age, his desire of knowledge attended him to the last; and he pursued his studies with equal vigour and application to the very extremity of his life." It remains to add a part of the title of the catalogue of the collection of this extraordinary bibilomaniac [Transcriber's Note: bibliomaniac]: "_A Catalogue of the Library of the late learned_ DR. FRANCIS BERNARD, _Fellow of the College of Physicians, and Physician to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, &c._," 1698, 8vo. The English books are comprised in 1241 articles; and, among them, the keen investigator of ancient catalogues will discover some prime rarities.]

Having at length reached the threshold, let us knock at the door, of the eighteenth century. What gracious figures are those which approach to salute us? They are the forms of BISHOPS FELL and MORE:[363]

prelates, distinguished for their never ceasing admiration of valuable and curious works. The former is better known as an editor; the latter, as a collector--and a collector, too, of such multifarious knowledge, of such vivid and just perceptions, and unabating activity--that while he may be hailed as the _Father of_ =black-letter= _Collectors_ in this country, he reminds us of his present successor in the same see; who is not less enamoured of rare and magnificent volumes, but of a different description, and whose library assumes a grander cast of character.

[Footnote 363: As I have already presented the public with some brief account respecting BISHOP FELL, and sharpened the appetites of Grangerites to procure rather a rare portrait of the same prelate (See _Introd. to the Classics_, vol. i., 89), it remains only to add, in the present place, that Hearne, in his _Historia Vitae et Regni Ricardi II._, 1729, 8vo., p. 389, has given us a curious piece of information concerning this eminent bibliomaniac, which may not be generally known. His authority is Anthony Wood. From this latter we learn that, when Anthony and the Bishop were looking over the _History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford_, to correct it for the press, Fell told Wood that "WICLIFFE was a grand dissembler; a man of little conscience; and what he did, as to religion, was more out of vain glory, and to obtain unto him a name, than out of honesty--or to that effect." Can such a declaration, from such a character, be credited? BISHOP MORE has a stronger claim on our attention and gratitude. Never has there existed an episcopal bibliomaniac of such extraordinary talent and fame in the walk of _Old English Literature_!--as the reader shall presently learn. The bishop was admitted of Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1662. In 1691, he became Bishop of Norwich; and was translated to Ely in 1707; but did not survive the translation above seven years. How soon and how ardently the passion for collecting books possessed him it is out of my present power to make the reader acquainted.

But that More was in the zenith of his bibliomaniacal reputation while he filled the see of Norwich is unquestionable; for thus writes Strype: "The Right Reverend, the Lord Bishop of Norwich, the possessor of a great and curious collection of MSS. and other ancient printed pieces (little inferior to MSS. in regard of their scarceness) hath also been very considerably assistant to me as well in this present work as in others;" &c. Preface (sign. a 2) to _Life of Aylmer_, 1701, 8vo. Burnet thus describes his fine library when he was Bishop of Ely. "This noble record was lent me by my reverend and learned brother, Dr. MORE, Bishop of Ely, who has gathered together a most valuable treasure, both of printed books and manuscripts, beyond what one can think that the life and labour of one man could have compassed; and which he is as ready to communicate, as he has been careful to collect it." _Hist. of the Reformation_, vol. iii., p. 46. It seems hard to reconcile this testimony of Burnet with the late Mr. Gough's declaration, that "The bishop collected his library by plundering those of the clergy in his diocese; some he paid with sermons or more modern books; others only with '_quid illiterati cum libris_.'" On the death of More, his library was offered to Lord Oxford for 8000_l._; and how that distinguished and truly noble collector could have declined the purchase of such exquisite treasures--unless his own shelves were groaning beneath the weight of a great number of similar volumes--is difficult to account for. But a public-spirited character was not wanting to prevent the irreparable dispersion of such book-gems: and that patriotic character was GEORGE I.!--who gave 6000_l._ for them, and presented them to the public library of the University of Cambridge!--

"These are imperial works, and worthy kings!"

And here, benevolent reader, the almost unrivalled _Bibliotheca Moriana_ yet quietly and securely reposes. Well do I remember the congenial hours I spent (A.D. 1808) in the _closet_ holding the most precious part of Bishop More's collection, with my friend the Rev. Mr. ----, tutor of one of the colleges in the same University, at my right-hand--(himself "greatly given to the study of books") actively engaged in promoting my views, and increasing my extracts--but withal, eyeing me sharply "ever and anon"--and entertaining a laudable distrust of a keen book-hunter from a rival University! I thank my good genius that I returned, as I entered, with clean hands! My love of truth and of bibliography compels me to add, with a sorrowful heart, that not only is there no printed catalogue of Bishop More's books, but even the FINE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY remains unpublished in print! In this respect they really do "order things better in France." Why does such indifference to the cause of general learning exist--and in the 19th century too? Let me here presume to submit a plan to the consideration of the syndics of the press; provided they should ever feel impressed with the necessity of informing the literati, of other countries as well as our own, of the book treasures contained in the libraries of Cambridge. It is simply this. Let the books in the Public Library form the substratum of the _Catalogue Raisonne_ to be printed in three or more quarto volumes. If, in any particular department, there be valuable editions of a work which are _not_ in the public, but in another, library--ex. gr. in Trinity, or St. John's--specify this edition in its appropriate class; and add _Trin. Coll., &c._--If this copy contain notes of Bentley, or Porson, add "_cum notis Bentleii_," _&c._: so that such a catalogue would present, not only _every_ volume in the _Public Library_, but _every valuable_ edition of a work in the whole University. Nor is the task so Herculean as may be thought. The tutors of the respective colleges would, I am sure, be happy, as well as able, to contribute their proportionate share of labour towards the accomplishment of so desirable and invaluable a work.]

The opening of the 18th century was also distinguished by the death of a bibliomaniac of the very first order and celebrity. Of one, who had, no doubt, frequently discoursed largely and eloquently with Luttrell, (of whom presently) upon the rarity and value of certain editions of old _Ballad Poetry_: and between whom presents of curious black-letter volumes were, in all probability, frequently passing. I allude to the famous SAMUEL PEPYS;[364] Secretary to the Admiralty.

[Footnote 364: "_The Maitland Collection of Manuscripts_ was ever in the collector's (Sir Richard Maitland's) family."--"His grandson was raised to the dignity of Earl of Lauderdale." "The Duke of Lauderdale, a descendant of the collector's grandson, presented the Maitland Collection, along with other MSS., to SAMUEL PEPYS, Esq. Secretary of the Admiralty to Charles II. and James II. Mr. Pepys was one of the earliest collectors of rare books, &c. in England; and the duke had no taste for such matters; so either from friendship, or some point of interest, he gave them to Mr.

Pepys,"--who "dying 26 May, 1703, in his 71st year, ordered, by will, the PEPYSIAN LIBRARY at Magdalen College, Cambridge, to be founded, in order to preserve his very valuable collection entire. It is undoubtedly the most curious in England, those of the British Museum excepted; and is kept in excellent order." Mr. Pinkerton's preface, p.

vii., to _Ancient Scottish Poems from the Maitland Collection, &c._, 1786, 8vo., 2 vols. I wish it were in my power to add something concerning the parentage, birth, education, and pursuits of the extraordinary collector of this extraordinary collection; but no biographical work, which I have yet consulted, vouchsafes even to mention his name. His merits are cursorily noticed in the _Quarterly Review_, vol. iv., p. 326-7. Through the medium of a friend, I learn from Sir Lucas Pepys, Bart., that our illustrious bibliomaniac, his great uncle, was President of the Royal Society, and that his collection at Cambridge contains a _Diary_ of his life, written with his own hand. But it is high time to speak of the black-letter gems contained in the said collection. That the PEPYSIAN COLLECTION is at once choice and valuable cannot be disputed; but that access to the same is prompt and facile, is not quite so indisputable.

There is a MS. catalogue of the books, by Pepys himself, with a small rough drawing of a view of the interior of the library. The books are kept in their original (I think walnut-wood) presses: and cannot be examined unless in the presence of a fellow.--Such is the nice order to be observed, according to the bequest, that every book must be replaced where it was taken from; and the loss of a single volume causes the collection to be confiscated, and transported to Benet-college library. Oh, that there were _an act of parliament_ to regulate bequests of this kind!--that the doors to knowledge might, by a greater facility of entrance, be more frequently opened by students; and that the medium between unqualified confidence and unqualified suspicion might be marked out and followed. Are these things symptomatic of an iron or a brazen age! But the bibliomaniac is impatient for a glance at the 'forementioned black-letter treasures!--Alas, I have promised more than I can perform! Yet let him cast his eye upon the first volume of the recent edition of _Evans' Collection of Old Ballads_ (see _in limine_, p. ix.) and look into the valuable notes of _Mr. Todd's Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer_,--in which latter, he will find no bad specimen of these _Pepysian gems_, in the exultation of my friend, the author, over another equally respected friend--in consequence of his having discovered, among these treasures, a strange, merry, and conceited work, entitled "_Old Meg of Herefordshire for a Mayd-Marian; and Hereford Town for a Morris-daunce, &c._,"

1609, 4to., p. 273. EX UNO DISCE OMNES. The left-handed critic, or anti-black-letter reader, will put a wicked construction upon the quotation of this motto in capital letters: let him: he will repent of his folly in due time.]

Now it was a convincing proof to me, my dear friends, that the indulgence of a PASSION FOR BOOKS is perfectly compatible with any situation, however active and arduous. For while this illustrious bibliomaniac was sending forth his messengers to sweep every bookseller's shop from the Tweed to Penzance, for the discovery of old and almost unknown ballads--and while his name rung in the ears of rival collectors--he was sedulous, in his professional situation, to put the _Navy of Old England_ upon the most respectable footing; and is called the _Father_ of that system which, carried into effect by British hearts of oak, has made the thunder of our cannon to be heard and feared on the remotest shores. Nor is it a slight or common coincidence that a spirit of book-collecting, which stimulated the _Secretary_ of the Admiralty at the opening of the 18th century, should, at the close of it, have operated with equal or greater force in a _First Lord_ of the same glorious department of our administration. But we shall speak more fully of this latter character, and of his matchless collection, in a future stage of our discussion.

While we are looking round us at this period, we may as well slightly notice the foundation of the _Blenheim Library_. The DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH[365] was resolved that no naval commander, or person connected with the navy, should eclipse himself in the splendour of book-collecting: but it was to PRINCE EUGENE that Marlborough was indebted for his taste in this particular; or rather the English commander was completely bitten with the bibliomaniacal disease in consequence of seeing Eugene secure rare and magnificent copies of works, when a city or town was taken: and the German Prince himself expatiates upon the treasures of his library, with a rapture with which none but the most thorough-bred bibliomaniacs can ever adequately sympathise.

[Footnote 365: The LIBRARY AT BLENHEIM is one of the grandest rooms in Europe. The serpentine sheet of water, which flows at some little distance, between high banks of luxuriant and moss-woven grass, and is seen from the interior, with an overhanging dark wood of oaks, is sufficient to awaken the finest feelings that ever animated the breast of a bibliomaniac. The books are select and curious, as well as numerous; and although they may be eclipsed, in both these particulars, by a few rival collections, yet the following specimen is no despicable proof of the ardour with which MARLBOROUGH, the founder of the Library, pushed forward his bibliomaniacal spirit. I am indebted to Mr. Edwards for this interesting list of the

ANCIENT CLASSICS PRINTED UPON VELLUM IN THE BLENHEIM LIBRARY.

Apoll. Rhodius 1496 Augustinus, _de Civ. Dei_ _Spirae_ 1470 A. Gellius, _Romae_ 1469 Aug. _de Civ. Dei_ _Jenson_ 1475 Biblia Moguntina 1462 Bonifacii Decretalia 1465 Ciceronis _Rhetorica_ _Jens_ 1470 ---- _Epist. Fam._ _Spirae_ 1469 ---- _Officia_ _Mogunt_ 1465 ---- ---- 1466 ---- _Tuscul. Ques._ _Jenson_ 1472 _Clementis Const._ _Mogunt_ 1460 ---- _Fust. s.a._ Durandus 1459 Horatius Landini 1482 ---- Epist. 1480 Justinian _Mogunt_ 1468 Lactantius _A Rot_ 1471 Lucian _Florent_ 1496 Petrarca _Spira_ 1470 Plinius _Jenson_ 1472 Quintilian _Campani_ 1470 Sallustius _Spira_ 1470 V. Maximus, s.a.

Virgilius _Spira_ 1470

The present MARQUIS OF BLANDFORD inherits, in no small degree, the book-collecting spirit of his illustrious ancestor. He is making collections in those departments of literature in which the Blenheim Library is comparatively deficient; and his success has already been such as to lead us to hope for as perfect a display of volumes printed by _Caxton_ as there is of those executed by foreign printers.

The Marquis's collection of _Emblems_ is, I believe, nearly perfect: of these, there are a few elegantly printed catalogues for private distribution. Lysander, above, supposes that Marlborough caught the infection of the _book-disease_ from PRINCE EUGENE; and the supposition is, perhaps, not very wide of the truth. The library of this great German prince, which is yet entire, (having been secured from the pillage of Gallic Vandalism, when a certain emperor visited a certain city) is the proudest feature in the public library at Vienna. The books are in very fine old binding, and, generally of the largest dimensions. And, indeed, old England has not a little to boast of (at least, so bibliomaniacs must always think) that, from the recently published _Memoirs of Eugene_ (1811, 8vo., p. 185), it would appear that the prince "bought his fine editions of books AT LONDON:"--he speaks also of his "excellent French, Latin, and Italian works, well bound"--as if he enjoyed the "arrangment" of _them_, as much as the contemplation of his "cascades, large water-spouts, and superb basins." _Ibid._ Whether Eugene himself was suddenly inflamed with the ardour of buying books, from some lucky spoils in the pillaging of towns--as Lysander supposes--is a point which may yet admit of fair controversy. For my own part, I suspect the German commander had been straying, in his early manhood, among the fine libraries in _Italy_, where he might have seen the following exquisite _bijous_--

_In St. Mark's, at Venice._

Apuleius 1469 } Aulus Gellius 1469 } PRINTED UPON VELLUM.

Petrarca 1479 }

_In the Chapter House at Padua._

Ciceronis _Epist. ad Atticum_ _Jenson_ 1470 } Quintilian _Jenson_ 1471 } Macrobius 1472 } Solinus _Jenson_ 1473 } PRINTED UPON VELLUM.

Catullus 1472 } Plautus 1472 } Ovidii Opera _Bonon._ 1471 }

The public is indebted to Mr. Edwards for the timely supply of the foregoing bibliographical intelligence.]

Ever ardent in his love of past learning, and not less voracious in his bibliomaniacal appetites, was the well known NARCISSUS LUTTRELL.

Nothing--if we may judge from the spirited sketch of his book character, by the able editor[366] of Dryden's works--nothing would seem to have escaped his Lynx-like vigilance. Let the object be what it would (especially if it related to _poetry_) let the volume be great or small, or contain good, bad, or indifferent warblings of the muse--his insatiable craving had "stomach for them all." We may consider his collection as the fountain head of those copious streams which, after fructifying the libraries of many bibliomaniacs in the first half of the eighteenth century, settled, for a while, more determinedly, in the curious book-reservoir of a Mr. WYNNE--and hence, breaking up, and taking a different direction towards the collections of Farmer, Steevens, and others, they have almost lost their identity in the innumerable rivulets which now inundate the book-world.

[Footnote 366: "In this last part of his task, the editor (Walter Scott) has been greatly assisted by free access to a valuable collection of fugitive pieces of the reigns of Charles II., James II., William III., and Queen Anne. This curious collection was made by NARCISSUS LUTTRELL, Esq., under whose name the Editor usually quotes it. The industrious collector seems to have bought every poetical tract, of whatever merit, which was hawked through the streets in his time, marking carefully the price and date of the purchase. His collection contains the earliest editions of many of our most excellent poems, bound up, according to the order of time, with the lowest trash of Grub-street. It was dispersed on Mr. Luttrell's death," &c. Preface to _The Works of John Dryden_, 1808: vol. i., p. iv. Mr. James Bindley and Mr. Richard Heber are then mentioned, by the editor, as having obtained a great share of the Luttrell collection, and liberally furnished him with the loan of the same, in order to the more perfect editing of Dryden's Works. But it is to the persevering book-spirit of Mr.

EDWARD WYNNE, as Lysander above intimates, that these notorious modern bibliomaniacs are indebted for the preservation of most of the choicest relics of the _Bibliotheca Luttrelliana_. Mr. Wynne lived at Little Chelsea; and built his library in a room which had the reputation of having been LOCKE'S _study_. Here he used to sit, surrounded by innumerable books--a "great part being formed by an eminent and curious collector in the last century"--viz. the aforesaid Narcissus Luttrell. (See the title to the Catalogue of his Library.) His books were sold by auction in 1786; and, that the reader may have some faint idea of the treasures contained in the _Bibliotheca Wynniana_, he is presented with the following extracts:

LOT 2 A parcel of pamphlets on poetry, 8vo. 2 0_s._ 0_d._

3 Do. Tragedies and Comedies, 4to. and 8vo. 3 13 6

4 Do. Historical and Miscellaneous, 4to. and 8vo. 1 1 0

5 Poetical, Historical, and Miscellaneous, folio 1 4 0

11 Do. giving an account of horrid Murders, Storms, Prodigies, Tempests, Witchcraft, Ghosts, Earthquakes, &c., _with frontispieces_ and _cuts_, 4to. and 8vo. 1606 1 14 0

12 Do. Historical and Political, English and Foreign, from 1580 to 1707 2 0 0

13 Do. consisting of Petitions, Remonstrances, Declarations, and other political matters, from 1638 to 1660, during the great Rebellion, and the whole of the Protectorate: _a very large parcel, many of them with cuts_. Purchased by the present Marquis of Bute 7 7 0

14 Do. of single sheets, giving an account of the various sieges in Ireland in 1695-6; and consisting likewise of Elegies, Old Ballads, accounts of Murders, Storms, Political Squibs, &c. &c., _many of them with curious plates_, from 1695 to 1706. Purchased by the same 6 16 6

Lots 23-4 comprised a great number of "_Old Poetry and Romances_," which were purchased by Mr. Baynes for 7_l._ 9_s._ Lot 376 comprehended a "_Collection of Old Plays--Gascoigne, White, Windet, Decker, &c._," 21 vols.: which were sold for 38_l._ 17_s._ Never, to be sure, was a precious collection of English History and Poetry so wretchedly detailed to the public, in an auction catalogue!

It should be noticed that a great number of poetical tracts was disposed of, previous to the sale, to Dr. FARMER, who gave not more than forty guineas for them. The Doctor was also a determined purchaser at the sale, and I think the ingenious Mr. Waldron aided the illustrious commentator of Shakspeare with many a choice volume. It may be worth adding that Wynne was the author of an elegant work, written in the form of dialogues, entitled _Eunomus_, or _Discourses upon the Laws of England_, 4 vols., 8vo. It happened to be published at the time when Sir William Blackstone's _Commentaries on the Laws of England_ made their appearance; and, in consequence, has seen only three editions: the latter being published in 1809, 2 vols., 8vo.]

Why have I delayed, to the present moment, the mention of that illustrious bibliomaniac, EARL PEMBROKE? a patron of poor scholars, and a connoisseur, as well as collector, of every thing the most precious and rare in the book-way. Yet was his love of _Virt_ not confined to objects in the shape of volumes, whether printed or in MS.: his knowledge of statues and coins was profound;[367] and his collection of these, such as to have secured for him the admiration of posterity.

[Footnote 367:

[Illustration]

The reader will find an animated eulogy on this great nobleman in Walpole's _Anecdotes of Painters_, vol. iv., 227; part of which was transcribed by Joseph Warton for his variorum edition of Pope's works, and thence copied into the recent edition of the same by the Rev. W.L. Bowles. But PEMBROKE deserved a more particular notice. Exclusively of his fine statues and architectural decorations, the Earl contrived to procure a great number of curious and rare books; and the testimonies of Maittaire (who speaks indeed of him with a sort of rapture!) and Palmer show that the productions of Jenson and Caxton were no strangers to his library. _Annales Typographici_, vol. i., 13. edit. 1719.

_History of Printing_, p. 5. "There is nothing that so surely proves the pre-eminence of virtue more than the universal admiration of mankind, and the respect paid it by persons in opposite interests; and, more than this, it is a sparkling gem which even time does not destroy: it is hung up in the Temple of Fame, and respected for ever."

_Continuation of Granger_, vol. i., 37, &c. "He raised (continues Mr. Noble) a collection of antiques that were unrivalled by any subject. His learning made him a fit companion for the literati. Wilton will ever be a monument of his extensive knowledge; and the princely presents it contains, of the high estimation in which he was held by foreign potentates, as well as by the many monarchs he saw and served at home. He lived rather as a primitive christian; in his behaviour, meek; in his dress, plain: rather retired, conversing but little." Burnet, in the _History of his own Times_, has spoken of the Earl with spirit and propriety. Thus far the first edition of the Bibliomania. From an original MS. letter of Anstis to Ames (in the possession of Mr. John Nichols) I insert the following memoranda, concerning the book celebrity of Lord Pembroke. "I had the book of Juliana Barnes (says Anstis) printed at St. Albans, 1486, about hunting, which was afterwards reprinted by W. de Worde at Westminster, 1496--but the EARL OF PEMBROKE would not rest till he got it from me." From a letter to Lewis (the biographer of Caxton) by the same person, dated Oct. 11, 1737, Anstis says that "the Earl of Pembroke would not suffer him to rest till he had presented it to him." He says also that "he had a later edition of the same, printed in 1496, _on parchment_, by W.

de Worde, which he had given away: but he could send to the person who had it." From another letter, dated May 8, 1740, this "person" turns out to be the famous JOHN MURRAY; to whom we are shortly to be introduced. The copy, however, is said to be "imperfect; but the St. Albans book, a fair folio." In this letter, Lord Pembroke's library is said to hold "the greatest collection of the first books printed in England." Perhaps the reader will not be displeased to be informed that in the _Antiquities of Glastonbury_, published by Hearne, 1722, p. LVIII, there is a medal, with the reverse, of one of the Earl's ancestors in Queen Elizabeth's time, which had escaped Evelyn. It was lent to Hearne by Sir Philip Sydenham, who was at the expense of having the plate engraved.]

While this nobleman was the general theme of literary praise there lived a _Bibliomaniacal Triumvirate_ of the names of BAGFORD, MURRAY, and HEARNE: a triumvirate, perhaps not equalled, in the mere love of book-collecting, by that which we mentioned a short time ago. At the head, and the survivor of these three,[368] was Thomas Hearne; who, if I well remember, has been thus described by Pope, in his Dunciad, under the character of Wormius:

But who is he, in closet close ypent, Of sober face, with learned dust besprent?

Right well mine eyes arede the myster wight, On parchment scraps y-fed, and WORMIUS hight.

[Footnote 368: The former bibliomaniacal triumvirate is noticed at p. 217, ante. We will now discuss the merits of the above, _seriatim_. And first of JOHN BAGFORD, "by profession a bookseller; who frequently travelled into Holland and other parts, in search of scarce books and valuable prints, and brought a vast number into this kingdom, the greater part of which were purchased by the Earl of Oxford. He had been in his younger days a shoemaker; and for the many curiosities wherewith he enriched the famous library of Dr. John More, Bishop of Ely, his Lordship got him admitted into the Charter House. He died in 1716, aged 65; after his death, Lord Oxford purchased all his collections and papers for his library: these are now in the Harleian collection in the British Museum. In 1707 were published, in the Philosophical transactions, his Proposals for a General History of Printing."--Bowyer and Nichol's _Origin of Printing_, pp. 164, 189, note. It has been my fortune (whether good or bad remains to be proved) not only to transcribe, and cause to be reprinted, the slender Memorial of Printing in the Philosophical Transactions, drawn up by Wanley for Bagford, but to wade through _forty-two_ folio volumes, in which Bagford's materials for a History of Printing are incorporated, in the British Museum: and from these, I think I have furnished myself with a pretty correct notion of the collector of them. Bagford was the most hungry and rapacious of all book and print collectors; and, in his ravages, he spared neither the most delicate nor costly specimens. He seems always to have expressed his astonishment at the most common productions; and his paper in the Philosophical Transactions betrays such simplicity and ignorance that one is astonished how my Lord Oxford, and the learned Bishop of Ely, could have employed so credulous a bibliographical forager. A modern collector and lover of _perfect_ copies, will witness, with shuddering, among Bagford's immense collection of title-pages in the Museum, the frontispieces of the Complutensian Polyglot, and Chauncy's History of Hertfordshire, torn out to illustrate a History of Printing.

His enthusiasm, however, carried him through a great deal of laborious toil; and he supplied in some measure, by this qualification, the want of other attainments. His whole mind was devoted to book-hunting; and his integrity and diligence probably made his employers overlook his many failings. His handwriting is scarcely legible, and his orthography is still more wretched; but if he was ignorant, he was humble, zealous, and grateful; and he has certainly done something towards the accomplishment of that desirable object, an accurate GENERAL HISTORY OF PRINTING. The preceding was inserted in the _first edition_ of this work. It is incumbent on me to say something more, and less declamatory, of so extraordinary a character; and as my sources of information are such as do not fall into the hands of the majority of readers, I trust the prolixity of what follows, appertaining to the aforesaid renowned bibliomaniac, will be pardoned--at least by the lover of curious biographical memoranda. My old friend, Tom Hearne, is my chief authority.

In the preface to that very scarce, but rather curious than valuable, work, entitled _Guil. Roper Vita D. Thomae Mori_, 1716, 8vo., we have the following brief notice of Bagford: --. ix. "Epistolas et Orationes excipit Anonymi Scriptoris chronicon; quod idcirco Godstovianum appellare visum est, quia in illud forte fortuna inciderim, quum, anno MDCCXV.