author:Thomas Bodley

“ All and every of the Statutes, Constitutions, and Decrees, either made already, or hereafter to be made that may in any wise concern the Duty of the Keeper, and good Estate of the Library, I will observe in mine own Person, and to the uttermost of my Power, will cause to be observed by all other Persons, to whom the same may belong, as I hope to be saved, by God's infinite Mercy, thro' the Merits of Christ Jesus, revealed unto me, by his Holy Evangelists. ”

“ Now because it is apparent, that Nothing makes more for the Ease of the Keeper, the Quietness of the Students, the Security of the Books, and the Honour and Dignity of the University, than that we should proceed with some choice Limitation, in the Admission of such Persons, as are to study in the Library; we do utterly reject the Opinion of those, that would have no Exception to no Man's Access: For that a Graunt of so much Scope, would not minister Occasion of daily pestering all the Room, with their gazing ”

“ But how well I have sped in all my Endeavours, and how full Provision I have made for the Benefit and Ease of all Frequenters of the Library, that which I have already performed in Sight, that which besides I have given for the Maintenance of it, and that which hereafter I purpose to add, by way of Enlargement of that Place, (for the Project is cast, and whether I live or die, it shall be, God willing, put in full Execution) will testify so truly and abundantly for me, as I need not be the Publisher of the Dignity and Worth of mine own Institution. ”

“ All which Perswasions notwithstanding, albeit I was often assaulted by him, in regard of my Years, and for that I felt my self subject to many Indispositions, besides some other private Reasons, which I reserve unto my self, I have continued still at home, my retired course of Life, which is now methinks to me, as the greatest Preferment that the State can afford. Only this, I must truly confess of my self, that though I did never yet repent me of those, and some other my often refusals of Honourable Offers, in respect of enriching my private Estate ”

“ Howbeit, because it is meet, we should afford some Leisure to the Keeper, for his private Study and Contemplation, whereof we should make but a slender Allowance, in case he shall be forced to serve the Turns of every one, as oft as they require to have the use of such Books; it hath been therefore thought expedient, to entertain a daily Minister, which must be evermore at hand, to aid and assist him, and to attend his Directions in all Occasions in the Library; Who must be sworn to be faithful, and for his Skill must be sufficient to seek out, and distribute any Books that are demanded ”

“ For in a case of shewing Gratitude, it is meet in all Congruity, that no man be defrauded of that measure of Thanks, that is due unto his Bounty: As commonly few are so careless of a publick good Opinion, but where they know they have deserved, they would be noted for desert. And in that respect we do resolve, that the Keeper shall procure that Book to be written, with a special, fair, and pleasing Hand; and withall to be exposed, where it may be still in sight, for every Man to view, as an eminent and endless Token of our thankful Acceptation of whatsoever hath been given ”

“ But if they cannot be had upon the suddain, he shall move the Vice-Chancellor then being, to have the Mony reserved, with the Library Revenue, till Books may be gotten for it; for which he must lay hold upon the soonest Opportunity, and use his uttermost Husbandry in buying, and Judgment in choosing good Authors and Prints, neglecting no Endeavour, that may make for Discharge of his Duty and Trust, and for the Giver's Contentation, to whom he shall first present in a list the Inscriptions and Prices of every single Book, before he doth possess the Library of his Gift ”

“ And some others to be bought with Mony contributed, or with that which is in Stock in the Iron Chest; whereof the Sum to be expended, must be carefully limited, thereafter as the Store may conveniently spare it: Which then the present Vice Chancellor is to pay unto the Keeper, who shall always be tied by virtue of his Oath, to bestow the same as soon as may be, and as they shall enjoin him, or (if they leave him to his Liberty) as he himself shall see Occasion; so that all be disbursed to the best Advantage of the Library, and a faithful reckoning yielded of it, in their next Visitation. ”

“ Also any other Person, for the Furtherance of his Study in whatsoever Science, although he should be no Contributer, may at any time obtain the aforesaid Freedom of recourse, the same being craved as a Grace in the Congregation-House, and the Oath taken after, before his Admittance. ”

“ The Course that must be held, in the Election and Admission of a Keeper to his Office, and the manner of delivering the Library-Keys into his Hands, shall be always like to that, which is yearly put in Practice in the Choice of the Proctors. ”

“ But if it fall out in Proof to be a manifest Enormity, their Authority shall stretch to censure his Offence, according to his Merit: and in all our former Acts, Constitutions, and Decrees, to expound and to alter, to abrogate and innovate, to add or to diminish, and to provide in all Events, for the Indemnity of the Library, as for a Treasure to Students of incomparable worth. ”

“ For the effecting whereof, I found my self furnished in a competent Proportion, of such four kinds of Aids, as unless I had them all, there was no hope of good Success: For Without some kind of Knowledge, as well in the Learned and Modern Tongues, as in sundry other sorts of scholastical Literature, without some Purse-ability to go through with the Charge, without great store of Honourable Friends, to further the Design, and without special good Leisure to follow such a Work, it could but have proved a vain Attempt and inconsiderate. ”

“ But if so be the Keeper's Case be adjudged so favourable, as he may challenge in Reason, a further Enlargement of his Licence, than is formerly expressed; then ought the same to be accorded, by way of common Suffrage, in one of the Congregations; least otherwise in Continuance, the Facility of treating with one Man alone, should draw abuse unto it, of procuring Leave for Longer Absence, than shall be fitting, for the Regiment, and good Estate of such Charge. ”

“ But this I may aver with Modesty and Truth, and the Country did always acknowledge it with Gratitude, that had I not of my self without any Direction from my Superiours, proceeded in my Charge with extreme Circumspection, as well in all my Speeches and Proposals to the States, as in the Tenour of my Letters, that I writ into England, some sudden Alarm had been given, to the utter Subversion, and Ruin of the State of those Provinces: Which in process of time, must needs have wrought in all Probability, the self same effect in the State of this Realm. ”

“ In 1550 the commissioners appointed by Edward VI in his zeal for reformation visited the library at Oxford, destroying all illuminated manuscripts as "necessarily Popish," and leaving everything exposed to harm and pillage. Traditions have been handed from one generation to another of the vandalism that went on. ”

“ Sir Thomas Bodley died on January 28, 1613. He had married, when about forty years old, Ann Ball, a wealthy widow, whose death preceded his by a year and a half. He left no children and made the university his heir, causing thereby some reproach, although his carefully drawn will is full of bequests to various relatives, servants and friends. A sum of nearly seven hundred pounds was left to provide suits of mourning and a dinner for a large number of people, many of whom were poor scholars. ”

“ For the Execution whereof in every Particular, there shall no Man intermeddle, but the Keeper himself alone, who is also to proceed with the Knowledge, Liking, and Direction of those Publick Overseers, whose Authority we will notify in other Statutes ensuing. ”

“ His own account of his life ends here, with the wish that the library itself may show how well he has sped in his endeavours. And who could wish a nobler monument!
"It is surely unnecessary," says old Anthony à Wood, "to repeat the praise of such a man as Thomas Bodley, a man whose name will perish only with that of his country. The obligations which literature owes to the exertions of this individual can only be estimated by those who have opportunity as well as occasion to consult the inestimable treasures he bequeathed to the place of his education." A more modern tribute is paid by Mr. ”

“ That no Man shall enjoy the Freedom there of Study, but only Doctors and Licentiats of the Three Faculties, Batchelors of Divinity, Masters of Arts, Batchelors of Physick, and Law, Batchelors of Arts of two Years standing, and all other Batchelors ”

“ Above all things, that may concern the Preservation of this our publick Place of Study, or the Benefit, Use, and Ease of those that shall frequent it, it is deemed expedient, that some one be deputed to the Custody of it, that is noted and known for a diligent Student, and in all his Conversation to be Trusty, Active, and Discreet; a Graduat also, and a Linguist, not encumbred with Marriage, nor with a Benefice of Cure. For it cannot stand with Piety, that such a Charge should admit the continual Society of other publick Imployments ”

“ Yet I know not how the Earl, who sought by all Devices to divert her Love and Liking both from the Father and the Son, (but from the Son in special) to withdraw my Affection from the One, and the Other, and to win me altogether to depend upon himself, did so often take occasion to entertain the Queen. with some prodigal Speeches of my Sufficiency for a Secretary, which were ever accompanied with Words of Disgrace against the present Lord Treasurer, as neither She her self, (of whose Favour before I was thoroughly assured) took any great Pleasure to prefer me the sooner ”

“ If I could be content with a competent Livelihood; how short a time of farther Life, I was then to expect by the common Course of Nature; when I had, I say, in this manner represented to my Thoughts my particular Estate, together with the Earl's ”

“ Where, (as far as I remember) the English Church consisted of some hundred Persons. I was at that time of 12 Years of Age; but through my Father's Cost and Care, sufficiently instructed to become an Auditor of Chevalerius in Hebrew, of Beroaldus in Greek, of Calvin and Beza in Divinity, and of some other Professors in that University ”

“ Or of any Parcel of Mony, that may hereafter by any be conferred upon it. For we cannot but presume, that casting what number of noble Benefactors, have already concurred in a Fervor of Affection, to that Publick Place of Study, we shall be sure in time to come, to find some others in some Measure, of the Like Disposition to the Advancement of Learning. ”

“ At these prescribed Hours he shall also cause to be rung the Warning-Bell of his Ingress and Egress, that Men may shun the Discommodities of repairing thither oversoon, or abiding there too long, which the Difference of Clocks may occasion very often, to the Prejudice and Hindrance of himself as well as others. ”

“ We therefore the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and doctors, together with the Proctors, and Masters, Regents, and non-Regents of the Great Convocation of the University of Oxon, upon often Consultation and Conference had with Sir. Tho. ”