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 manuscript
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 manuscripts
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 assured 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. Coxe 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 anticipating under what circumstances 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.
[88] _Ibid._ Quoted in Sir H. Ellis' _Letters of Eminent Literary Men_,
Camden Soc., 1843. p. 130.
[89] See _sub anno_ 1654.
[90] Richard Cromwell proposed at one time to perpetuate his own name in
the Library, together with his father's, by sending a collection of the
addresses which had been made to him, in order to show the temper of the
nation, and the readiness of the greatest persons 'to compliment people
on purpose for secular interest.' _Reliquiæ Hearn._ i. 263.