Lis.You have so thoroughly animated my feelings,and excited my curiosity, in regard toBibliography, that I can no longer dissemble the eagerness which I feel to make myself master of the several books which you have recommended.
Lysand.Alas, your zeal will most egregiously deceive you!Wherewill you look for such books? At what bookseller's shop, or at what auction, are they to be procured? In this country, my friend, few are the privatecollections, however choice, which contain two third parts of the excellent works before mentioned. Patience, vigilance, and personal activity, are your best friends in such a dilemma.
Lis.But I will no longer attend the sale of Malvolio's busts and statues, and gaudy books. I will fly to the Strand, or King-street: peradventure—
Phil.Gently, my good Lisardo. A breast thus suddenly changed from the cold of Nova Zembla to the warmth of the torrid zone requires to be ruled with discretion. And yet, luckily for you—
Lis.Speak—are you about to announce the sale of some bibliographical works?
Phil.Even so. To morrow, if I mistake not,Gonzalvo'schoice gems, in this way, are to be disposed of.
Lis.Consider them as my own. Nothing shall stay me from the possession of them.
Lysand.You speak precipitately. Are you accustomed to attend book-auctions?
Lis.No; but I will line my pockets with pistoles, and who dare oppose me?
Phil.And do you imagine that no one, but yourself, has his pockets "lined with pistoles," on these occasions?
Lis.It may be so—that other linings are much warmer than my own:—but, at any rate, I will make a glorious struggle, and die with my sword in my hand.
Phil.This isBook-Madnesswith a vengeance! However, we shall see the issue. When and how do you propose going?
Lis.A chaise shall be at this door by nine in the morning. Who will accompany me?
Lysand.Our friend and Philemon will prevent your becoming absolutely raving, by joining you. I shall be curious to know the result.
Lis.Never fear.Bibliomaniais, of all species of insanity, the most rational and praise-worthy. I here solemnly renounce my former opinions, and wish myerrors to be forgotten. I here crave pardon of the disturbed manes of the Martins, De Bures, and Patersons, for that flagitious act ofCatalogue-Burning; and fondlyhope that the unsuspecting age of boyhood will atone for so rash a deed. Do you frankly forgive—and will you henceforth consider me as aworth"Aspirant" in the noble cause of bibliography?
Lysand.Most cordially do I forgive you; and freely admit you into the fraternity of Bibliomaniacs. Philemon, I trust, will be equally merciful.
Phil.Assuredly, Lisardo, you have my entire forgiveness: and I exult a little in the hope that you will prove yourself to be a sincere convert to the cause, by losing no opportunity of enriching your bibliographicalstores. Already I see you mounted, as a book chevalier, and hurrying from the country to London—from London again to the country—seeking adventures in which your prowess may be displayed—and yielding to no competitor who brandishes a lance of equal weight with your own!
Lis.'Tis well. At to-morrow's dawn my esquire shall begin to burnish up my armour—and caparison my courser. Till then adieu!
Here the conversation, in a connected form, ceased; and it was resolved that Philemon and myself should accompany Lisardo on the morrow.
FARI QUÆ SENTIAT
"As to the late method used in selling books byauctionin London, I suppose that many have paid dear for their experience in this way—it being apparent that most books bought in an auction may be had cheaper in booksellers' shops."Clavel:Cat. of Books for 1680, Pref.
"As to the late method used in selling books byauctionin London, I suppose that many have paid dear for their experience in this way—it being apparent that most books bought in an auction may be had cheaper in booksellers' shops."
Clavel:Cat. of Books for 1680, Pref.
statue
The Auction Room
[Enlarge]
NEVER, surely, did two mortals set off upon any expedition with greater glee and alacrity than did Lisardo and Philemon for the sale, by auction, ofGonzalvo'sbibliographical library. The great pains which Lysander had taken in enumerating the various foreign and domestic writers upon Bibliography, with his occasionally animated eulogies upon some favourite author had quite inflamed the sanguine mind of Lisardo; who had already, in anticipation, fancied himself in possession of every book which he had heard described. Like Homer's high-bred courser, who
—ere he starts, a thousand steps are lost—
our young bibliomaniac began to count up his volumes, arrange his shelves, bespeak his binder,and revel in the luxury of a splendid and nearly matchless collection. The distance from my house to the scene of action being thirteen miles, Lisardo, during the first six, had pretty nearly exhausted himself in describing the delightful pictures which his ardent fancy had formed; and finding the conversation beginning to flag, Philemon, with his usual good-nature and judgment, promised to make a pleasing digression from the dry subject of book-catalogues, by an episode with which the reader shall be presently gratified. Having promised to assist them both, when we arrived at Messrs. L. and S., in the Strand, with some information relating to the prices of such books as they stood in need of, and to the various book-collectors who attended public sales, Lisardo expressed himself highly obliged by the promise; and, sinking quietly into a corner of the chaise, he declared that he was now in a most apt mood to listen attentively to Philemon's digressive chat: who accordingly thus began.
"Lord Coke,"—exclaimedPhilemon, in a mirthful strain—"before he ventured upon 'The Jurisdiction of the Courts of the Forest,' wished to 'recreate himself' with Virgil's description of 'Dido's Doe of the Forest;'[163]in order that he might 'proceed the more cheerfully' with the task he had undertaken; and thus exchange somewhat of the precise and technical language of the lawyer for that glowing tone of description which woodland scenes and hunting gaieties seldom fail to produce. Even so, my good friends (pursued Philemon), I shall make a little digression from the confined subject towhich our attentions have been so long directed by taking you with me, in imagination, to the delightful abode ofOrlando."
[163]The quaint language of Lord Coke is well worth quotation: "And seeing we are to treat of matters of game, and hunting, let us (to the end we may proceed the more chearfully) recreate ourselves with the excellent description of Dido's Doe of the Forest wounded with a deadly arrow sticken in her, and not impertinent to our purpose:Uritur infælix Dido, totaque vagaturUrbe furens, &c.And in another place, using again the word (Sylva) and describing a forest saith:Ibat in antiquam sylvam stabula alta ferarum."Institutes, pt. iv., p. 289, ed. 1669.Thus pleasantly could our sage expounder of the laws of the realm illustrate the dry subject of which he treated!
[163]The quaint language of Lord Coke is well worth quotation: "And seeing we are to treat of matters of game, and hunting, let us (to the end we may proceed the more chearfully) recreate ourselves with the excellent description of Dido's Doe of the Forest wounded with a deadly arrow sticken in her, and not impertinent to our purpose:
And in another place, using again the word (Sylva) and describing a forest saith:
Thus pleasantly could our sage expounder of the laws of the realm illustrate the dry subject of which he treated!
Lis.I have heard of him: a very "Helluo Librorum!" Thus we only change sides—from things to men; from books to book-collectors. Is this digressive? Is this an episode?
Phil.Why this abrupt interruption? If I did not know you and myself, too, Lisardo, I should observe an obstinate silence during the remainder of the journey. An episode, though it suspend the main action for a while, partakes of the nature of the subject of the work. It is anappropriatedigression. Do pray read Dr. Blair[164]upon the subject—and now only listen.
[164]Lecturexlii., vol. iii.
[164]Lecturexlii., vol. iii.
Orlando (continued Philemon) had from his boyhood loved books and book-reading. His fortune was rather limited; but he made shift—after bringing up three children, whom he lost from the ages of nineteen to twenty-four, and which have been recently followed to their graves by the mother that gave them birth—he made shift, notwithstanding the expenses of their college education, and keeping up the reputation of a truly hospitable table, to collect, from year to year, a certain number of volumes, according to a certain sum of money appropriated for the purchase of them; generally making himself master of the principal contents of the first year's purchase, before the ensuing one was placed upon his shelves. He lives in a large ancestral house; and his library is most advantageously situated and delightfully fitted up. Disliking such a wintry residence as Thomson has described[165]—although fond of solemnretirement, and of Cowper's "boundless contiguity of shade,"—he has suffered the rules of common sense always to mingle themselves in his plans of domestic comfort; and, from the bow-windowed extremity of his library, he sees realized, at the distance of four hundred yards, Cæsar's gently-flowing riverArar,[166]in a stream which loses itself behind some low shrubs; above which is a softly-undulating hill, covered with hazel, and birch, and oak. To the left is an open country, intersected with meadows and corn fields, and terminated by the blue mountains of Malvern at the distance of thirteen miles. Yet more to the left, but within one hundred and fifty yards of the house, and forming something of a foreground to the landscape, are a few large and lofty elm trees, under which many a swain has rested from his toil; many a tender vow has been breathed; many a sabbath-afternoon[167]innocently kept; and many a village-wake cordially celebrated! Some of these things yet bless the aged eyes ofOrlando!
[165]"In the wild depth of Winter, while withoutThe ceaseless winds blow ice, be my retreatBetween the groaning forest and the shore,Beat by the boundless multitude of waves,A rural, sheltered, solitary scene!"——Winter.One would like a situation somewhat moresheltered, when "The ceaseless winds blow ice!"[166]"Flumen estArar, quod per fines Æduorum et Sequanorum in Rhodanum fluit, incredibili lenitate, ita ut oculis, in utram partem fluat, judicari nos possit."De Bell. Gall., lib. i., § x. Philemon might as happily have compared Orlando's quiet stream to "the silent river"——quæ Liris quietâMordet aquâ——which Horace has so exquisitely described, in contrast with——obliquis laboratLympha fugax trepidare rivo.Carm.,lib.i.,Od.xxxi.,lib.ii.,Od.ii.Yet let us not forget Collin's lovely little bit of landscape—"Where slowly winds the stealing wave."[167]There is a curious proclamation by Q. Elizabeth, relating to some Sabbath recreations or games, inserted in Hearne's preface to his edition ofCamden's Annals, p. xxviii. It is a little too long to be given entire; but the reader may here be informed that "shooting with the standard, shooting with the broad arrow, shooting at the twelve score prick, shooting at the Turk, leaping for men, running for men, wrestling, throwing the sledge, and pitching the bar," were suffered to be exhibited, on several Sundays, for the benefit of one "John Seconton Powlter, dwelling within the parish of St. Clements Danes, being a poor man, having four small children, and fallen to decay."
[165]
One would like a situation somewhat moresheltered, when "The ceaseless winds blow ice!"
[166]"Flumen estArar, quod per fines Æduorum et Sequanorum in Rhodanum fluit, incredibili lenitate, ita ut oculis, in utram partem fluat, judicari nos possit."De Bell. Gall., lib. i., § x. Philemon might as happily have compared Orlando's quiet stream to "the silent river"
which Horace has so exquisitely described, in contrast with
Yet let us not forget Collin's lovely little bit of landscape—
"Where slowly winds the stealing wave."
[167]There is a curious proclamation by Q. Elizabeth, relating to some Sabbath recreations or games, inserted in Hearne's preface to his edition ofCamden's Annals, p. xxviii. It is a little too long to be given entire; but the reader may here be informed that "shooting with the standard, shooting with the broad arrow, shooting at the twelve score prick, shooting at the Turk, leaping for men, running for men, wrestling, throwing the sledge, and pitching the bar," were suffered to be exhibited, on several Sundays, for the benefit of one "John Seconton Powlter, dwelling within the parish of St. Clements Danes, being a poor man, having four small children, and fallen to decay."
I have slightly noticed the comfortable interior of his library.—
Lis.You spoke of a bow-windowed extremity—
Phil.Yes, in this bow-window—the glass of which was furnished full two hundred and fifty years ago, and which has recently been put into a sensible modern frame-work—thereby affording two hours longer light to the inhabitant—in this bow-window, you will see a great quantity of stained glass of the different arms of his own, and of his wife's, family; with other appropriate embellishments.[168]And when the evening sun-beams throw a chequered light throughout the room, 'tis pleasant to observe how Orlando enjoys the opening of an Aldine Greek Classic—the ample-margined leaves of which receive a mellower tint from the soft lustre that pervades the library. Every book, whether opened or closed, is benefited by this due portion of light; so that the eye, in wandering over the numerous shelves, is neither hurt by morning glare nor evening gloom. Of colours, in his furniture, he is very sparing: he considers white shelves, picked out with gold, as heretical—mahogany, wainscot, black, and red, are, what he calls, orthodox colours. He has a few busts and vases; and as his room is very lofty, he admits above, in black and gold frames, a few portraits of eminent literary characters; and whenever he gets a genuine Vandyke, or Velasquez, he congratulates himself exceedingly upon his good fortune.
[168]The reader, who is partial to the lucubrations of Thomas Hearne, may peruse a long gossipping note of his upon the importance ofstained glass windows—in his account of Godstow nunnery. See hisGuil. Neubrig., vol. ii., 768.
[168]The reader, who is partial to the lucubrations of Thomas Hearne, may peruse a long gossipping note of his upon the importance ofstained glass windows—in his account of Godstow nunnery. See hisGuil. Neubrig., vol. ii., 768.
Lis.All this bespeaks a pretty correct taste. But I wish to know something of the man.
Phil.You shall, presently; and, in hearing what I am about to relate, only let us both strive, good Lisardo, so to regulate our studies and feelings that our old age may be like unto Orlando's.
Last year I went with my uncle to pay him our annual visit. He appeared quite altered and shaken from the recent misfortune of losing his wife; who had survivedthe death of her children fifteen years; herself dying in the sixtieth of her own age. The eyes of Orlando were sunk deeply into his forehead, yet they retained their native brilliancy and quickness. His cheeks were wan, and a good deal withered. His step was cautious and infirm. When we were seated in his comfortable library chairs, he extended his right arm towards me, and squeezing my hand cordially within his own—"Philemon," said he, "you are not yet thirty, and have therefore sufficient ardour to enable you to gratify your favourite passion for books. Did you ever read the inscription over the outside of my library door—which I borrowed from Lomeir's account of one over a library at Parma?[169]" On my telling him that it had escaped me—"Go," said he, "and not only read, but remember it."—The inscription was as follows:
INGREDERE MUSIS SACER, NAMET HIC DII HABITANT.ITEMNULLUS AMICUS MAGIS LIBET,QUAM LIBER.
[169]De Bibliothecis: p. 269, edit. 1680.
[169]De Bibliothecis: p. 269, edit. 1680.
"Have a care," said he, on my resuming my seat—"have a care that you do not treat such a friend ill, or convert him into a foe. For myself, my course is well nigh run. My children have long taken their leave of me, to go to the common parent who created, and to the Saviour who has vouchsafed to redeem, us all; and, though the usual order of nature has been here inverted, I bow to the fate which Heaven has allotted me with the unqualified resignation of a Christian. My wife has also recently left me, for a better place; and I confess that I begin to grow desolate, and anxious to take my departure to join my family. In my solitude, dear Philemon, I have found these (pointing to his books) to be whatCicero, and Seneca, and our own countryman De Bury,[170]have so eloquently and truly described them to be—our friends, our instructors, and our comforts. Without any affectation of hard reading, great learning, or wonderful diligence, I think I may venture to say that I have read more valuable books than it falls to the lot of the generality of book-collectors to read; and I would fain believe that I have profited by my studies. Although not of the profession of the church, you know that I have always cherished a fondness for sacred literature; and there is hardly a good edition of the Greek Testament, or a commentator of repute upon the Bible, foreign or domestic, but what you will find some reference to the same in my interleaved copy of Bishop Wilson's edition of the Holy Scriptures. A great number of these commentators themselves are in my library, as well as every authoritative edition of the Greek Testament, from the Complutensian to Griesbach's. Yet do not suppose that my theological books are equal in measure to one fourth part of those in the Imperial library at Paris.[171]My object has always been instruction and improvement; and when these could be obtained from any writer, whether Roman Catholic or Protestant, Arminian or Calvinistic, I have not failed to thank him, and to respect him, too, if he has declared his opinions with becoming diffidence and moderation. You know that nothing so sorely grieves me as dogmatical arrogance,in a being who will always be frail and capricious, let him think and act as he please. On a Sunday evening I usually devote a few hours to my theological studies—(if you will allow my sabbath-meditations to be so called) and, almost every summer evening in the week, saunter 'midst yon thickets and meadows by the river side, with Collins, or Thompson, or Cowper, in my hand. The beautiful sentiments and grand imagery of Walter Scott are left to my in-door avocations; because I love to read the curious books to which he refers in his notes, and have always admired, what I find few critics have noticed, how adroitly he has ingrafted fiction upon truth. As I thus perambulate, with my book generally open, the villagers treat me as Sir Roger De Coverley made his tenants treat the Spectator—by keeping at a respectful distance—but when I shut up my volume, and direct my steps homewards, I am always sure to find myself, before I reach my threshold, in company with at least half a dozen gossipping and well-meaning rustics. In other departments of reading, history and poetry are my delight. On a rainy or snowy day, when all looks sad and dismal without, my worthy friend and neighbour,Phormio, sometimes gives me a call—and we have a rare set-to at my old favourite volumes—the 'Lectiones Memorabiles et Reconditæ' ofWolfius[172]—a commonplace book of as many curious, extraordinary, true and false occurrences, as ever were introduced into two ponderous folios. The number of strange cuts in it used to amuse my dear children—whose parent, from the remembrance of the past, still finds a pleasing recreation in looking at them. So much, dear Philemon, for my desultory mode of studying: improve upon it—but at all events, love your books for the good which they may produce; provided you open them with 'singleness of heart—' that is, a sincerity of feeling.
[170]Every school-lad who has written a copy under a writing-master, or who has looked into the second book of the"Selectæ è Profanis Scriptoribus," &c., has probably been made acquainted with the sentiments of the above ancient heathen philosophers relating to Learning and Books; but may not have been informed of the conciliatory manner in which our countryman De Bury has invited us to approach the latter. "Hi sunt magistri (says he) qui nos instruunt sine vergis et ferula, sine verbis et colera, sine pane et pecunia. Si accedis, non dormiunt; si inquiris, non se abscondunt; non remurmurant, si oberres; cachinnos nesciunt, si ignores." These original and apt words are placed in the title-page to the first volume ofDr. Clarke's Bibliographical Dictionary.[171]"Il y a 300 pieds cubes de livres de théologie,"—"qui tapissent les murs des deux premières salles de la Bibliothéque Impériale." Caillot:Roman Bibliographique, tom. i., 72, edit. 1809.[172]There are few men, of any literary curiosity, who would not wish to know something of the work here noticed; and much more than appears to be known of its illustrious author; concerning whom we will first discourse a little: "Johannes Wolfius(saysMelchoirAdam), the laborious compiler of theLectionum Memorabilium et Reconditarum Centenariixvi. (being a collection of curious pieces from more than 3000 authors—chiefly Protestant) was a civilian, a soldier, and a statesman. He was born A.D. 1537, at Vernac, in the duchy of Deux Ponts; of which town his father was chief magistrate. He was bred under Sturmius at Strasbourg, under Melancthon at Wittemberg, and under Cujas at Bruges. He travelled much and often; particularly into France and Burgundy, with the Dukes of Stettin, in 1467. He attended the Elector Palatine, who came with an army to the assistance of the French Hugonots in 1569; and, in 1571, he conducted the corpse of his master back to Germany by sea. After this, he was frequently employed in embassies from the electors Palatine to England and Poland. His last patrons were the Marquisses of Baden, who made him governor of Mündelsheim, and gave him several beneficial grants. In 1594, Wolfius bade adieu to business and courts, and retired to Hailbrun; where he completed his "Lectiones," which had been the great employment of his life. He died May 23, A.D. 1600—the same year in which the above volumes were published." Thus far, in part, our biographer, in hisVitæ Eruditorum cum Germanorum tum Exterorum: pt. iii., p. 156, edit. 1706. These particulars may be gleaned from Wolfius's preface; where he speaks of his literary and diplomatic labours with great interest and propriety. In this preface also is related a curious story of a young man of the name of Martin, whom Wolfius employed as an amanuensis to transcribe from his "three thousand authors"—and who was at first so zealously attached to the principles of the Romish Church that he declared "he wished for no heaven where Luther might be." The young man died a Protestant; quite reconciled to a premature end, and in perfect good will with Luther and his doctrine. As to Wolfius, it is impossible to read his preface, or to cast a glance upon his works—"magno et pene incredibili labore multisque vigiliis elaboratum"—(as Linsius has well said, in the opening of the admonition to the reader, prefixed to his index) without being delighted with his liberality of disposition, and astonished at the immensity of his labour. Each volume has upwards of 1000 pages closely printed upon an indifferent brown-tinted paper; which serves nevertheless to set off the several hundreds of well executed wood cuts which the work contains. Linsius's index, a thin folio, was published in the year 1608: this is absolutely necessary for the completion of a copy. As bibliographers have given but a scanty account of this uncommon work (mentioned, however, very properly by Mr. Nicol in his interesting preface to the catalogue of the Duke of Roxburgh's books; and of which I observe in theBibl. Solgeriana, vol. i., no. 1759, that a second edition, printed in 1672, is held in comparatively little estimation), so biographers (if we except Melchior Adam, the great favourite of Bayle) have been equally silent respecting its author. Fabricius, and the Historical Dictionary published at Caen, do not mention him; and Moreri has but a meagre and superficial notice of him. Wolfius'sPenus Artis Historicæ, of which the best edition is that of 1579, is well described in the tenth volume of Fournier'sMethode pour étudier l'histoire, p. 12, edit. 1772. My respect for so extraordinary a bibliomaniac asWolfius, who was groping amongst the books of the public libraries belonging to the several great cities which he visited, (in his diplomatic character—vide præf.) whilst his masters and private secretary were probably paying their devotions to Bacchus—induces me to treat the reader with the following impression of his portrait.WolfiusThis cut is taken from a fac-simile drawing, made by me of the head of Wolfius as it appears at the back of the title-page to the preceding work. The original impression is but an indifferent one; but it presents in addition, the body of Wolfius as far as the waist; with his right hand clasping a book, and his left the handle of a sword. His ponderous chain has a medallion suspended at the end. This print, which evidently belongs to the English series, has escaped Granger. And yet I know not whether such intelligence should be imparted!—as the scissars may hence go to work to deprive many a copy of these "Lectiones," of their elaborately-ornamented title-pages. Forbid it, good sense!
[170]Every school-lad who has written a copy under a writing-master, or who has looked into the second book of the"Selectæ è Profanis Scriptoribus," &c., has probably been made acquainted with the sentiments of the above ancient heathen philosophers relating to Learning and Books; but may not have been informed of the conciliatory manner in which our countryman De Bury has invited us to approach the latter. "Hi sunt magistri (says he) qui nos instruunt sine vergis et ferula, sine verbis et colera, sine pane et pecunia. Si accedis, non dormiunt; si inquiris, non se abscondunt; non remurmurant, si oberres; cachinnos nesciunt, si ignores." These original and apt words are placed in the title-page to the first volume ofDr. Clarke's Bibliographical Dictionary.
[171]"Il y a 300 pieds cubes de livres de théologie,"—"qui tapissent les murs des deux premières salles de la Bibliothéque Impériale." Caillot:Roman Bibliographique, tom. i., 72, edit. 1809.
[172]There are few men, of any literary curiosity, who would not wish to know something of the work here noticed; and much more than appears to be known of its illustrious author; concerning whom we will first discourse a little: "Johannes Wolfius(saysMelchoirAdam), the laborious compiler of theLectionum Memorabilium et Reconditarum Centenariixvi. (being a collection of curious pieces from more than 3000 authors—chiefly Protestant) was a civilian, a soldier, and a statesman. He was born A.D. 1537, at Vernac, in the duchy of Deux Ponts; of which town his father was chief magistrate. He was bred under Sturmius at Strasbourg, under Melancthon at Wittemberg, and under Cujas at Bruges. He travelled much and often; particularly into France and Burgundy, with the Dukes of Stettin, in 1467. He attended the Elector Palatine, who came with an army to the assistance of the French Hugonots in 1569; and, in 1571, he conducted the corpse of his master back to Germany by sea. After this, he was frequently employed in embassies from the electors Palatine to England and Poland. His last patrons were the Marquisses of Baden, who made him governor of Mündelsheim, and gave him several beneficial grants. In 1594, Wolfius bade adieu to business and courts, and retired to Hailbrun; where he completed his "Lectiones," which had been the great employment of his life. He died May 23, A.D. 1600—the same year in which the above volumes were published." Thus far, in part, our biographer, in hisVitæ Eruditorum cum Germanorum tum Exterorum: pt. iii., p. 156, edit. 1706. These particulars may be gleaned from Wolfius's preface; where he speaks of his literary and diplomatic labours with great interest and propriety. In this preface also is related a curious story of a young man of the name of Martin, whom Wolfius employed as an amanuensis to transcribe from his "three thousand authors"—and who was at first so zealously attached to the principles of the Romish Church that he declared "he wished for no heaven where Luther might be." The young man died a Protestant; quite reconciled to a premature end, and in perfect good will with Luther and his doctrine. As to Wolfius, it is impossible to read his preface, or to cast a glance upon his works—"magno et pene incredibili labore multisque vigiliis elaboratum"—(as Linsius has well said, in the opening of the admonition to the reader, prefixed to his index) without being delighted with his liberality of disposition, and astonished at the immensity of his labour. Each volume has upwards of 1000 pages closely printed upon an indifferent brown-tinted paper; which serves nevertheless to set off the several hundreds of well executed wood cuts which the work contains. Linsius's index, a thin folio, was published in the year 1608: this is absolutely necessary for the completion of a copy. As bibliographers have given but a scanty account of this uncommon work (mentioned, however, very properly by Mr. Nicol in his interesting preface to the catalogue of the Duke of Roxburgh's books; and of which I observe in theBibl. Solgeriana, vol. i., no. 1759, that a second edition, printed in 1672, is held in comparatively little estimation), so biographers (if we except Melchior Adam, the great favourite of Bayle) have been equally silent respecting its author. Fabricius, and the Historical Dictionary published at Caen, do not mention him; and Moreri has but a meagre and superficial notice of him. Wolfius'sPenus Artis Historicæ, of which the best edition is that of 1579, is well described in the tenth volume of Fournier'sMethode pour étudier l'histoire, p. 12, edit. 1772. My respect for so extraordinary a bibliomaniac asWolfius, who was groping amongst the books of the public libraries belonging to the several great cities which he visited, (in his diplomatic character—vide præf.) whilst his masters and private secretary were probably paying their devotions to Bacchus—induces me to treat the reader with the following impression of his portrait.
Wolfius
This cut is taken from a fac-simile drawing, made by me of the head of Wolfius as it appears at the back of the title-page to the preceding work. The original impression is but an indifferent one; but it presents in addition, the body of Wolfius as far as the waist; with his right hand clasping a book, and his left the handle of a sword. His ponderous chain has a medallion suspended at the end. This print, which evidently belongs to the English series, has escaped Granger. And yet I know not whether such intelligence should be imparted!—as the scissars may hence go to work to deprive many a copy of these "Lectiones," of their elaborately-ornamented title-pages. Forbid it, good sense!
"In a short time," continued the venerable Orlando, after a pause of fifteen seconds, "in a short time I mustbid adieu to this scene; to my choice copies; beautiful bindings: and all the classical furniture which you behold around you. Yes!—as Reimannus[173]has well observed,—'there is no end to accumulating books, whilst the boundaries of human existence are limited, indeed!' But I have made every necessary, and, I hope, appropriate, regulation; the greater part of my library is bequeathed to one of the colleges in the University of Oxford; with an injunction to put an inscription over the collection very different from what the famousRanzau[174]directed to be inscribed over his own.—About three hundred volumes you will find bequeathed to you, dear Philemon—accompanied with a few remarks not very different from what Lotichius[175]indited, with his dying breath, in his book-legacy to the learned Sambucus. I will, at present, say no more. Come and see me whenever you have an opportunity. I exact nothing extraordinary of you; and shall therefore expect nothing beyond what one man of sense and of virtue, in our relative situations, would pay to the other."
[173]"Vita brevis est, et series librorum longa." He adds: "Æs magnum tempus, quo id dispungere conatus est, parvum."Bibl. Acroamat., p. 51, sign. d† 2.[174]"Henry de Ranzau—avoit dressé une excellente bibliothéque au chateau de Bredemberg, dans laquelle estoient conservez plusieurs manuscrits Grecs et Latins, et autres raretez, &c.—Ce sçavant personnage a fait un decret pour sa bibliothéque, qui merite d'estre icy inseré, pour faire voir a la posterité l'affection qu'il auoit pour sa conservation."... Libros partem ne aliquam abstulerit,Extraxerit, clepserit, rapserit,Concerpserit, coruperit,Dolo malo:Illico maledictus,Perpetuo execrabilis,Semper detestabilisEsto maneto.Jacob:Traicté des Bibliothéques, pp. 237, 240.I have inserted only the fulminatory clause of this inscription, as being that part of it against which Orlando's indignation seems to be directed.[175]"Petrus Lotichius Johanni Sambuco Pannonio gravissimo morbo laborans Bononiæ, bibliothecam suam legaverit,lib.3,eleg.9, verba ejus lectu non injucunda:Pro quibus officiis, hæres abeuntis amici,Accipe fortunæ munera parva meæ.Non mihi sunt Baccho colles, oleisque virentes,Prædiave Æmiliis conspicienda jugis.Tu veterum dulces scriptorum sume libellos,Attritos manibus quos juvat esse meis.Invenies etiam viridi quæ lusimus ævo,Dum studiis ætas mollibus apta fuit.Illa velim rapidis sic uras carmina flammisUt vatem ipse suis ignibus jussit Amor."Lomeier:de Bibliothecis, p. 288.
[173]"Vita brevis est, et series librorum longa." He adds: "Æs magnum tempus, quo id dispungere conatus est, parvum."Bibl. Acroamat., p. 51, sign. d† 2.
[174]"Henry de Ranzau—avoit dressé une excellente bibliothéque au chateau de Bredemberg, dans laquelle estoient conservez plusieurs manuscrits Grecs et Latins, et autres raretez, &c.—Ce sçavant personnage a fait un decret pour sa bibliothéque, qui merite d'estre icy inseré, pour faire voir a la posterité l'affection qu'il auoit pour sa conservation."
I have inserted only the fulminatory clause of this inscription, as being that part of it against which Orlando's indignation seems to be directed.
[175]"Petrus Lotichius Johanni Sambuco Pannonio gravissimo morbo laborans Bononiæ, bibliothecam suam legaverit,lib.3,eleg.9, verba ejus lectu non injucunda:
"So spake Orlando," said Philemon, with tears in his eyes, who, upon looking at Lisardo and myself, found our faces covered with our handkerchiefs, and unable to utter a word.
The deliberate manner in which this recital was made—the broken periods, and frequent pauses—filled up a great measure of our journey; and we found that St. Paul's dome was increasing upon us in size and distinctness, and that we had not more than three miles to travel, when Lisardo, wishing to give a different turn to the discourse, asked Philemon what was the cause of such extravagant sums being now given at book-sales for certain curious and uncommon—but certainly not highly intrinsically-valuable—publications; and whether our ancestors, in the time of Hen. VIII. and Elizabeth, paid in proportion for the volumes oftheirLibraries?
Upon Philemon's declaring himself unable to gratify his friend's curiosity, but intimating that some assistance might probably be derived from myself, I took up the discourse by observing that—
"In the infancy of printing in this country (owing to the competition of foreigners) it would seem that our own printers (who were both booksellers and book-binders) had suffered considerably in their trade, by being obliged to carry their goods to a market where the generality of purchasers were pleased with more elegantly executed works at an inferior price. The legislature felt, as every patriotic legislature would feel, for their injured countrymen; and, accordingly, the statute of Richard III. was enacted,[176]whereby English printersand book-binders were protected from the mischiefs, which would otherwise have overtaken them. Thus our old friend Caxton went to work with greater glee, and mustered up all his energies to bring a good stock of British manufacture to the market. What he usually sold his books for, in his life time, I have not been able to ascertain; but, on his decease, one of hisGolden Legendswas valued, in the churchwardens' books, at six shillings and eight pence.[177]Whether this was a great or small sum I know not; but, from the same authority we find that twenty-two pounds were given, twelve years before, for eleven huge folios, called 'Antiphoners.'[178]In the reign of Henry VIII. it would seem, from a memorandum in the catalogue of the Fletewode library (if I can trust my memory with such minutiæ) that Law-Books were sold for about ten sheets to the groat.[179]Now, in the present day, Law-Books—considering the wretched style in which they are published, with broken types upon milk-and-water-tinted paper—are the dearest of all modern publications. Whether they were anciently sold for so comparatively extravagant a sum may remain to be proved. Certain it is that, before the middle of the sixteenth century, you might have purchased Grafton's abridgment of Polydore Virgil's superficial work aboutThe Invention of Thingsfor fourteen pence;[180]and the same printer's book ofCommon Prayerfor four shillings. Yet if you wanted a superbly boundPrymer, it would have cost you (even five and twenty years before) nearly half a guinea.[181]Nor could you have purchased a decentBalladmuch under sixpence; andHall's Chroniclewould have drawnfrom your purse twelve shillings;[182]so that, considering the then value of specie, there is not much ground of complaint against the present prices of books."
[176]By the 1st of Richard III. (1433, ch. ix. sec. xii.) it appeared that, Whereas, a great number of the king'ssubjeetswithin this realm having "given themselves diligently to learn and exercisethe craft of printing, and that at this day there being within this realm a great number cunning and expert in the said science or craft of printing, as able to exercise the said craft in all points as any stranger, in any other realm or country, and a great number of the king's subjects living by the craft and mystery ofbinding of books, and well expert in the same;"—yet "all this notwithstanding, there are divers persons that bring from beyond the sea great plenty of printed books—not only in the Latin tongue, but also in our maternal English tongue—some bound in boards, some in leather, and some in parchment, and them sell by retail, whereby many of the king's subjects, being binders of books, and having no other faculty therewith to get their living, be destitute of work, and like to be undone, except some reformation herein be had,—Be it therefore enacted, &c." By the 4th clause or provision, if any of these printers or sellers of printed books vend them "at too high and unreasonable prices," then the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, or any of the Chief Justices of the one bench or the other—"by the oaths of twelve honest and discreet persons," were to regulate their prices. This remarkable act was confirmed by the 25th Hen. VIII., ch. 15, which was not repealed till the 12th Geo. II., ch. 36, § 3. A judge would have enough to do to regulate the prices of books, by the oaths of twelve men, in the present times![177]The reader will be pleased to refer to p. cx. of the first volume of my recent edition of theTypographical Antiquities of Great Britain.[178]The following is from 'the churchwardens' accompts of St. Margaret's, Westminster. "A.D. 1475. Item, for 11 great books, called Antiphoners, 22l.0s.0d."Manners and Expenses of Ancient Times in England, &c., collected by John Nichols, 1797, 4to., p. 2.Antiphonereis a book of anthems to be sung with responses: and, from the following passage in Chaucer, it would appear to have been a common school-book used in the times of papacy:This litel childe his litel book lerning,As he sate in the scole at his primereHeAlma Redemptorisherde sing,As children lered hirAntiphonere:Cant. Tales, v. 13,446, &c."A legend, anAntiphonarye, a grayle, a psalter," &c., were the books appointed to be kept in every parish church "of the province of Canterbury" by Robert Winchelsen.Const. Provin. and of Otho and Octhobone, fol. 67, rect., edit. 1534.[179]"The year books, 9 v. parcels, as published, impr. in different years by Pynson, Berthelet, Redman, Myddylton, Powell, Smythe, Rastell, and Tottyl, 1517 to 1531." Some of them have the prices printed at the end; as "The Prisce of thys Boke ys xiid. unbounde—The Price of thys Boke is xvid. un bownde;" and upon counting the sheets, it appears that the stated price of Law-Books, in the reign of Hen. 8, was ten sheets for one groat.Bibl. Monast-Fletewodiana, no. 3156.[180]In a copy of this book, printed by Grafton in 1546, which was in the library of that celebrated bibliomaniac, Tom Rawlinson, was the following singular MS. note: "At Oxforde the yeare 1546, browt down to Seynbury by John Darbyepryce14d.When I kepe Mr. Letymers shype I bout thys boke when the testament was obberagatyd that shepe herdys myght not red hit I pray god amende that blyndnes wryt by Robert Wyllyams keppynge shepe uppon Seynbury hill. 1546."Camdeni Annales: Edit. Hearne, vol. i., p. xxx.[181]From Mr. Nichol's curious work, I make the following further extracts:A.D.£s.d.1539.Item, paid for the half part of the Bybell, accordingly after the King's injunction0991544.Item, also paid for six books of the Litany in English0161549.Paid for iv books of the service of the church0160[This was probably Grafton's Prayer book of 1549, fol.]1559.Paid for a Bybyl and Parafrawse0160[From the Ch. Wardens Accts. of St. Margaret's Westminster]The Inventory of John Port, 1524.In the shop.Item, a premmer lymmed with gold, and with imagery written honds084(From the do. of St. Mary Hill, London.)To William Pekerynge, a ballet, called a Ryse and Wake004(From the books of the Stationers' Company).See pp. 13, 15, 126, and 133, of Mr. Nichols's work.[182]By the kindness of Mr. William Hamper, of Birmingham (a gentleman with whom my intercourse has as yet been only epistolary, but whom I must be allowed to rank among our present worthy bibliomaniacs), I am in possession of some original entries, which seem to have served as part of a day-book of a printer of the same name: "it having been pasted at the end of 'The Poor Man's Librarie' printed by John Day in 1565." From this sable-looking document the reader has the following miscellaneous extracts:A.D. 1553.£s.d.(Two) Meserse of bloyene in bordisOne Prymare latane & englis}0ii0Balethis (ballads) nova of sortis00iiBoke of paper 1 quire in forrell00ivMorse workes in forrell09viijCastell of Love in forrelle wi: a sarmo nova00xA.D. 1554.Balethis nova arbull in 8vo.1 catechis00viiijPrymare for a chyllde in 8vo.englis0ivHalles Croneckelle nova englis0xii0From a Household Book kept in London, A.D. 1561(in the possession of the same Gent.)Item, p-d for a Lyttellton in Englishxijd.—— —— for the booke of ij englishe loversvjd.—— —— for the booke of Songes and Sonnettes and thebooke of dyse, and a frenche booke}ijs.viijd.(viz. the frenche booke xvjd.the ij other bookes at viijd.the pece.)—— —— for printing the xxv orders of honest menxxd.
[176]By the 1st of Richard III. (1433, ch. ix. sec. xii.) it appeared that, Whereas, a great number of the king'ssubjeetswithin this realm having "given themselves diligently to learn and exercisethe craft of printing, and that at this day there being within this realm a great number cunning and expert in the said science or craft of printing, as able to exercise the said craft in all points as any stranger, in any other realm or country, and a great number of the king's subjects living by the craft and mystery ofbinding of books, and well expert in the same;"—yet "all this notwithstanding, there are divers persons that bring from beyond the sea great plenty of printed books—not only in the Latin tongue, but also in our maternal English tongue—some bound in boards, some in leather, and some in parchment, and them sell by retail, whereby many of the king's subjects, being binders of books, and having no other faculty therewith to get their living, be destitute of work, and like to be undone, except some reformation herein be had,—Be it therefore enacted, &c." By the 4th clause or provision, if any of these printers or sellers of printed books vend them "at too high and unreasonable prices," then the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, or any of the Chief Justices of the one bench or the other—"by the oaths of twelve honest and discreet persons," were to regulate their prices. This remarkable act was confirmed by the 25th Hen. VIII., ch. 15, which was not repealed till the 12th Geo. II., ch. 36, § 3. A judge would have enough to do to regulate the prices of books, by the oaths of twelve men, in the present times!
[177]The reader will be pleased to refer to p. cx. of the first volume of my recent edition of theTypographical Antiquities of Great Britain.
[178]The following is from 'the churchwardens' accompts of St. Margaret's, Westminster. "A.D. 1475. Item, for 11 great books, called Antiphoners, 22l.0s.0d."Manners and Expenses of Ancient Times in England, &c., collected by John Nichols, 1797, 4to., p. 2.Antiphonereis a book of anthems to be sung with responses: and, from the following passage in Chaucer, it would appear to have been a common school-book used in the times of papacy:
"A legend, anAntiphonarye, a grayle, a psalter," &c., were the books appointed to be kept in every parish church "of the province of Canterbury" by Robert Winchelsen.Const. Provin. and of Otho and Octhobone, fol. 67, rect., edit. 1534.
[179]"The year books, 9 v. parcels, as published, impr. in different years by Pynson, Berthelet, Redman, Myddylton, Powell, Smythe, Rastell, and Tottyl, 1517 to 1531." Some of them have the prices printed at the end; as "The Prisce of thys Boke ys xiid. unbounde—The Price of thys Boke is xvid. un bownde;" and upon counting the sheets, it appears that the stated price of Law-Books, in the reign of Hen. 8, was ten sheets for one groat.Bibl. Monast-Fletewodiana, no. 3156.
[180]In a copy of this book, printed by Grafton in 1546, which was in the library of that celebrated bibliomaniac, Tom Rawlinson, was the following singular MS. note: "At Oxforde the yeare 1546, browt down to Seynbury by John Darbyepryce14d.When I kepe Mr. Letymers shype I bout thys boke when the testament was obberagatyd that shepe herdys myght not red hit I pray god amende that blyndnes wryt by Robert Wyllyams keppynge shepe uppon Seynbury hill. 1546."Camdeni Annales: Edit. Hearne, vol. i., p. xxx.
[181]From Mr. Nichol's curious work, I make the following further extracts:
[From the Ch. Wardens Accts. of St. Margaret's Westminster]
The Inventory of John Port, 1524.In the shop.
(From the do. of St. Mary Hill, London.)
(From the books of the Stationers' Company).
See pp. 13, 15, 126, and 133, of Mr. Nichols's work.
[182]By the kindness of Mr. William Hamper, of Birmingham (a gentleman with whom my intercourse has as yet been only epistolary, but whom I must be allowed to rank among our present worthy bibliomaniacs), I am in possession of some original entries, which seem to have served as part of a day-book of a printer of the same name: "it having been pasted at the end of 'The Poor Man's Librarie' printed by John Day in 1565." From this sable-looking document the reader has the following miscellaneous extracts:
From a Household Book kept in London, A.D. 1561(in the possession of the same Gent.)
Lis.All this is very just. You are now creeping towards the seventeenth century. Go on with your prices of books 'till nearly the present day; when theBibliomaniahas been supposed to have attained its highest pitch.
"Don't expect," resumed I, "any antiquarian exactness in my chronological detail of what our ancestors used to give for their curiously-covered volumes. I presume that the ancient method ofBook-Binding[183]addedmuch to the expense of the purchase. But be this as it may, we know that Sir Ralph Sadler, at the close of the sixteenth century, had a pretty fair library, with aBiblein the chapel to boot, for £10.[184]Towards the close of the seventeenth century, we find the Earl of Peterborough enlisting among the book champions; and giving, at the sale of Richard Smith's books in 1682, not less than eighteen shillings and two pence for the first English edition of his belovedGodfrey of Boulogne.[185]In Queen Ann's time, Earl Pembroke andLord Oxford spared no expense for books; and Dr. Mead, who trod closely upon their heels, cared not at what price he purchased hisEditiones Principes, and all the grand books which stamped such a value upon his collection. And yet, let us look at the priced catalogue of his library, or at that of his successor Dr. Askew, and compare the sumsthengiven for thosenowoffered for similar works!"