Part 5 (1/2)

4. A Testament in 16^o, printed by Norton and Bill in 1625. Very thick and clumsy embroidery: on one side, David, in a flowing wig, playing on the harp, with a dog, dragon-fly, &c; on the other, Abraham, in a similar wig and with a falling collar, stopped in the sacrifice of his son. There is a tradition that this formed part of a waistcoat of Charles I; but it is not known on what evidence it rests, nor does the material seem likely to have been so employed. In the Douce collection.

Exhibited in the gla.s.s case at the entrance of the Library.

5. Bible, 8^o Lond. 1639. Landscape, &c., worked in silk, with embroidery in gold and silver thread. Arch Bodl. D subt. 75.

6. Prayer-book, New Test., and Metrical Psalms, 1630-1, bound by the nuns of Little Gidding. Exhibited in the gla.s.s case. Bought in 1866 for 10[84].

7. New Testament, printed at Cambridge in 1628, in 16^mo. This was the first edition printed there of any portion of the Authorized Version, and only the second of any English translation[85]. The binding of the Library copy (which was bought, in 1859, for five guineas) is covered with silver filigree work.

Among Dr. Rawlinson's multifarious collections is a volume of curious early specimens of worked samplers, humorously lettered on the back, 'Works of Learned Ladies.'

[80] 'Reg. Conv. R. 1628. f. 6.' MS. note by Dr. P. Bliss.

[81] See _sub anno_ 1635.

[82] A lady, whose name is not mentioned, but who is graced with the appellation of 'heroina,' is recorded to have given to the University the Life of our Blessed Lord depicted in needle-work, 'byssina et aurata textura,' which was duly presented in Convocation on July 9, 1636. [Reg.

Conv. R. 24.] It is not now preserved in the Library.

[83] This note is printed and the book described in Hearne's Appendix to _t.i.ti Livii Forojul. Vit. Hen. V_, and, from thence, in Ballard's _Lives_; but not very correctly in either case. Also in Bliss' _Reliqq.

Hearn._ i. 104.

[84] In the life of Rich. Ferrar, junior, in Wordsworth's _Eccl. Biogr._ (third edit. vol. iv. p. 232) a note is quoted from a MS. stating that a copy of Ferrar's _Whole Law of G.o.d_, bound by the nuns of Gidding in green velvet, was given to the University Library by Archbp. Laud. This is a mistake; the book in question was given by the Archbishop to the library of his own college, St. John's, where it still remains.

[85] The first was the Genevan Version, printed in 1591.

A.D. 1629.

The extremely valuable series of Greek MSS., called from its collector the Barocci Collection, comprising 242 volumes, was presented by Will.

Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Chancellor of the University. The manner of its acquisition is recorded in Archbp. Usher's correspondence. In a letter from Dublin of Jan. 22, 1628-9, Usher says: 'That famous library of Giacomo Barocci, a gentleman of Venice, consisting of 242 ma.n.u.script volumes, is now brought into England by Mr. Featherstone the stationer[86].' He recommended that the King should buy it, and add to it the collection of Arabic MSS. which the Duke of Buckingham had bought of the heirs of Erpenius[87]. On April 13, 1629, Sir H. Bourgchier writing to Usher, tells him that the Earl of Pembroke has bought the collection, for the University of Oxford, at the price of 700, and that it consists of 250 volumes[88]. It was forwarded to the University with the following letter, which is here copied from the Convocation Register, R. 24 (f. 9^b.):--

'Good Mr. Vice-Chancelor,

'Understanding of an excellent collection of Greke ma.n.u.scripts brought from Venice, and thincking that they would bee of more use to the Church in being kept united in some publick Librarye then scattered in particular hands; remembring the obligation I had to my mother the Universitie, first for breeding mee, after for the honor they did mee in making mee their Chancelor, I was glad of this occasion to repay some part of that great debt I owe her. And therefore I sent you downe the collection entire, which I pray present with my beste love to the Convocation house. And I shall unfaynedly remaine,

'Your most a.s.sured freind, 'PEMBROKE.

'Greenewich, the 25th of May, 1629.'

The Earl was willing that the MSS. should, if necessary, be allowed to be borrowed. And, in pursuance of this expressed wish, Patrick Young had, in 1648, the use of various MSS. from this collection, as we find from a memorandum at the end of the Register of Readers in 1648-9. But one MS. suffered in consequence considerable injury[89]. A further portion of the collection (consisting of 22 Greek MSS. and 2 Russian), which had been retained by the Earl, was subsequently purchased by Oliver Cromwell, and given by him to the Library in 1654. There they still bear the Protector's name; but, strange to say, no entry of the gift appears in the Benefaction Book[90]. These are all fully described in the first volume of the general Catalogue of MSS., published by Rev.

H. O. c.o.xe in 1853. A Catalogue of the Barocci and Roe MSS., by Dr.

Peter Turner, of Merton College, beautifully written, filling 38 folio leaves, is bound up among Selden's printed books, marked AA. 1. Med.

Seld.

On Aug. 27, the Library was visited for the first time by King Charles and his Queen, little antic.i.p.ating under what circ.u.mstances that visit would be repeated. He was received with an oration by the Public Orator, Strode, a copy of which is preserved in Smith MS. xxvi. 26, and which, in the exaggerated style of the Court-adulation of the time, began with words that sound blasphemously in our ears, '_Excellentissime Vice-Deus_.' From the Library the King ascended to the leads of the Schools; and there discussed the proposed removal of some mean houses in Cat Street, which then intervened between the Schools and St. Mary's Church. A plan of the ground and buildings was made at his desire, which was sent up to him at London.

[86] In the following year Mr. Henry Featherstone, bookseller in London, gave to the Library a number of Hebrew books.

[87] Parr's _Life of Usher_, Letters, p. 400.