Thomas Bodley

“ We know how he broke into a 'noble speech' when he visited Bodley at Oxford, with the librarian trembling lest the King should see a book by Buchanan, who had often whipped his royal pupil in days gone by: 'If I were not a King I would be an University-man, and if it was so that I must be a [116] prisoner I would desire no other durance than to be chained in that library with so many noble authors.'
The King gave Sir Thomas Bodley a warrant under the Privy Seal to take what books he pleased from any of the royal palaces and libraries ”

“ Little Thomas Bodley opened his eyes in a land distracted with the religious difficulty. Listen to his own words; they are full of the times: 'My father, in the time of Queen Mary, being noted and known to be an enemy to Popery, was so cruelly threatened and so narrowly observed by those that maliced his religion, that for the safeguard of himself and my mother, who was wholly affected as my father, he knew no way so secure as to fly into Germany, where after a while he found means to call over my mother with all his children and family, whom he settled for a time in Wesel in Cleveland. ”

“ He next edited Bishop Aungervile's 'Philobiblon,' 4to, Oxford,1599, which he dedicated to Sir Thomas Bodley. About this time he obtained leave to examine the manuscripts in the college libraries at Oxford, and was allowed by the easy-going heads of houses (especially those of Balliol and Merton) to take away several, chiefly patristic, which he gave in 1601 to the Bodleian Library, together with sixty printed volumes. As the result of his researches he published 'Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis, tributa in libros duos,' 4to, London, 1600, a work much commended by Joseph Scaliger. ”

“ The rest disappeared mysteriously, but so completely that, six years later, the university itself, having no books, sold the very shelves and benches, and the room was left desolate. And so young Thomas Bodley found it when he was entered at Magdalen College four years after the final ruin had been wrought. He must have been deeply touched by the traces of recent destruction; for the thought of them followed him through the years spent away from Oxford, and was destined finally to bear rich fruit. ”

“ Bogan was a great-nephew of Sir Thomas Bodley. Bogan’s skill in languages was universally recognised in his lifetime, and had not his years been prematurely cut short, his learning would have made a permanent mark in literature. ”

“ The Curators gave the Petitioners the sum of four pounds out of Sir Thomas Bodley's chest. Dr. Altham, Hebrew professor, and Dr. Hudson, Library-keeper, gave, each of them, ten shillings.'
An alphabetical catalogue was prepared in this year by James, but was not printed. The MS, in two small hand-books, remains in the Library. It was ordered by the Curators, at the Visitation [Pg 40] on Nov. 13, that 6s. 8d. be paid quarterly to the Bedel of the Stationers' Company as a gratuity for his trouble. MSS. were received from Edw. James, B.D., who had been a contributor already in the year 1601. ”

“ The celebrated Sir Thomas Bodley lived at Parson’s Green from 1605 to 1609. The old mansion at the west side of the Green was formerly the Rectory House, and is traditionally reported to have been the residence of Adoniram Byfield, the noted Presbyterian Chaplain to Colonel Cholmondeley’s regiment in the Earl of Essex’s army, who took so prominent a part in Cromwellian politics, that he became immortalized in Hudibras. ”

“ Sir William Jones gives a similar saying in India: "Words are the daughters of earth, and deeds are the sons of heaven."
See Herbert, page 206. Sir Thomas Bodley: Letter to his Librarian, 1604.
[369:1] From the London edition, 10 volumes, 1835.
Dr. Johnson, it is said, when he first heard of Boswell's intention to write a life of him, announced, with decision enough, that if he thought Boswell really meant to write his life he would prevent it by taking Boswell's!—Carlyle: Miscellanies, Jean Paul Frederic Richter. ”

“ An Irish chemist and philosopher. He has been called the inventor of the air pump, and by it he demonstrated the elasticity of the air. His charity and philanthropy gave him the reverence of his associates and his philosophical experiments placed him among scientists. He has been called “the great Christian philosopher.”
P. 15, c. 2—“Bodleian,” bōd ́le-an. Pertaining to Sir Thomas Bodley, who founded a celebrated library in Oxford in the sixteenth century.
P. 15, c. 2—“Văt ́i-can.” An assemblage of buildings in Rome, including the Pope’s palace, museum, library, etc. ”

“ It was afterwards improved, as well as enlarged, in the folio edition of 1697, by Bernard; which contains the MSS. subsequently bequeathed to the library by Selden, Digby, and Laud, alone forming an extensive and valuable collection. The editor of Morhof (vol. i., 193, n.) has highly commended this latter catalogue. Let the purchaser of it look well to the frontispiece of the portraits of Sir Thomas Bodley and of the fore-mentioned worthies, which faces the title-page; as it is frequently made the prey of some prowling Grangerite. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Springing out of the mind, heart, and head of one strong, efficient, and resolute man, it is matter for rejoicing with every honest gentleman to be able to observe how quickly the idea took root, how well it has thriven, by how great a tradition it has become consecrated, and how studiously the wishes of the founder in all their essentials are still observed and carried out. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Nicholson, the librarian of to-day, presides, and we can but repeat, with emphasis which the years increase, the words of Anthony à Wood: "Another Ptolemy! . . . by his noble and generous endeavours he hath been the occasion of making hundreds of public writers, and of increasing in an high degree the commonwealth of learning." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 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. ”

“ 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. ”