The death of John Selden occurred on Nov. 30[109]. By his will the
Library became possessed at once of his collection of Oriental and Greek
MSS., together with a few Latin MSS. specially designated, as well as of
such of his Talmudical and Rabbinical books as were not already to be
found there. It has generally been supposed that no part of his library
was received before the year 1659, and that none at all was actually
bequeathed by Selden. The account usually given (taken from Burnet's
Life of Sir M. Hales, p. 156[110]) is that Selden was so offended with
the University for refusing the loan of a MS., except upon a bond for
£1000, that he revoked that part of his will which left his library to
the Bodleian, and put it entirely at the free disposal of his executors,
and that they, when five years had passed, during which the Society of
the Inner Temple (to whom it was first offered) had taken no steps to
provide a building for its reception, conceiving themselves to be
executors not of Selden's passion but of his will, sent it in 1659 to
its original destination[111]. But it is clear from Selden's will (as
printed by Wilkins in his _Works_, vol. i. p. lv.) that the books
mentioned above were really bequeathed by him to Oxford; a line or two
appears to be somehow omitted, by which the sense of the passage is
lost, and in consequence of which the name of the Library does not
appear, but there is a general reference to it both in the specification
of such Hebrew books as are 'not already in the Library,' and in the
mention of the '_said_ Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars' of the
University (although no previous mention of them occurs); while all
other books not thus conveyed are left to the disposal of his executors.
But a letter from Langbaine to Pococke, written from London only three
days after Selden's death, furnishes proof positive; for there the
former writes, as executor, that all the Oriental MSS., with such
Rabbinical and Talmudical printed books as were not already in the
Library, and the Greek MSS. not otherwise disposed of, are left to
Oxford[112]. And in the Annual Accounts, under the year 1655, we find
the following entries:--
Pro vectura codicum MSS. a Londino Oxoniam £0 9_s._
D. Langbaine pro expensis cum Londinum petiit, libros a
Seldeno legatos repetiturus 5 0
D. Ed. Pococke eodem tempore in rem eandem Londinum misso. 7 0
It is clear, therefore, that a portion of Selden's collection came to
the Library by his bequest immediately after his death. And the reason
why the whole was not bequeathed is certainly not correctly stated by
Burnet, nor even by Wood, who says that he had been informed that it was
because the borrowing of certain MSS. had been refused. For the
Convocation Register shows that a grace was _passed_ in Convocation, on
Aug. 29, 1654, which sanctioned the giving leave to Selden to have MSS.
from the collections of Barocci, Roe, and Digby (these donors having
either expressed an opinion, or distinctly stipulated, that the rigour
of the Library Statutes should sometimes be relaxed), provided he did
not have more than three at a time, and that he gave bond in £100 (not
£1000) for the return of each of them within a year[113]. Had these
conditions been really the cause of Selden's taking offence, his
executors would hardly have stipulated, as they actually did, in their
own conditions of gift, that no book from his collection should
hereafter be lent to any person upon any condition whatsoever. But there
is certainly some obscurity hanging over the matter, which probably may
be dispersed by further investigation. The writer of the sketch of the
history of the Bodleian prefixed to Bernard's _Cat. MSS._, after quoting
Wood's account, only says, when barely more than forty years had
elapsed, that he will not venture to speak rashly about the case of the
lending of books; as if it were already forgotten how the facts stood.
On the proposal to lend being first mooted, Barlow, the Librarian, drew
up a paper on the general question, in which he opposed it both on the
grounds of Statute and expediency; the original MS. of which still
exists in the Library. Selden was at first mentioned in this paper by
name, with distinct reference to his application; but the name was
subsequently crossed out wherever it thus occurred, and the subject
treated without any personal reference[114]. In this paper the
Librarian objects to the proposal, firstly, on the ground of precedent,
since, though the University had power, with the joint consent of the
Chancellor, Heads of Houses, and Convocation, to lend books, yet it had
never thought fit to do so, except with regard to Lord Pembroke's MSS.;
secondly, on the ground that if the rule were once broken, it would be
impossible to refuse any person, without incurring great odium, while
the gratifying all applicants would disperse into private hands the
books intended for the public. He then proceeds as follows:--
'3. Suppose 3 bookes at a time be sent to any private man, 'tis true he
is furnish'd, but 'tis manifestly to the prejudice of the Publick, the
University wanting those books while he has them; so that if any
forreigner coming hither from abroad desire to see them, or any at home
desire to use them, both are disappointed, to the diminution of the
honour of the University, in the one, and the benefit it might have by
those books, in the other. And therefore it seems more agreeable to
reason and the public good (and the declared will and precept of our
prudent and pious Founder[115]) not to lend any books out of the
Library; for by not lending, private persons only want the use of those
books which are another's, whereas by lending, the University wants the
use of those books which are her own. Sure no prudent man can think it
fit to gratify particular persons with the publick detriment.
'4. The Library is a magazine which the pious Founder hath fix'd in a
publick place for a publick use; and though his charity to private
persons is such that he will hinder none (who is justly qualify'd and
worthy) to come to it, yet his charity to the publick is such that he
would not have it ambulatory, to goe to any private person. And sure
'tis more rational that Mahomet should go to the mountaine, than that
the mountaine should come to Mahomet.
'5. Lending of books makes them lyable to many casualties, as, I.
absolute losse, either 1. _in via_, by the carrier's negligence, or
violence offer'd him, or, 2. _in termino_, they may be lost by the
person that borrows them; for (presuming the person noble, and carefull
for their preservation, yet) his house may be burn'd, or (by robbers)
broken open (as Mr. Selden's unhappily was not long since): or, (in case
they scape these casualties) they may be spoyl'd in the carriage, as by
sad experience we find, for above 60 or 100 leaves of a Greek MS.[116]
lent out of _Archiva Pembrochiana_ to Mr. Pat. Younge were irrecoverably
defaced. Now what has happen'd heretofore may happen hereafter; and
therefore to keep them sacredly (and without any lending) in the Library
(according to our good Founder's will and statute) will be the best way
for their preservation.'
Barlow adds finally, in the sixth and seventh places, that if all
lending were declared unlawful, it would greatly encourage others to
give more to the Library when they saw how religiously their gifts would
be preserved, and that if no exceptions were made (except, as allowed
by Archbp. Laud, for the purpose of printing), no applications would be
made, and no one would take it ill if he were denied.
Another reason for Selden's withholding his library in its entirety has,
however, been assigned, besides those mentioned above, and this, too, by
closely contemporary writers. In July, 1649, the new intruded officers
and fellows of Magdalene College found in the Muniment-room in the
cloister-tower of the College, a large sum of money in the old coinage
called _Spur-royals_[117], or _Ryals_, amounting to £1400, the
equivalent of which had been left by the Founder as a reserve fund for
law expenses, for re-erecting or repairing buildings destroyed by fire,
&c., or for other extraordinary charges. This gold had been laid up and
counted in Q. Elizabeth's time and had remained untouched since then;
consequently, although some of the old members of the College were aware
of its existence, to the new-comers it seemed a welcome and unexpected
discovery, especially as the College was at the time heavily in debt.
They immediately proceeded to divide it among all the members on the
Foundation proportionately, not excluding the choristers, (who were at
that time undergraduates), the Puritan President, Wilkinson, being alone
opposed to such an illegal proceeding, and being with difficulty
prevailed upon to accept £100 as his share, which, however, upon his
death-bed he charged his executors to repay. The spur-royals were
exchanged at the rate of 18_s._ 6_d._ to 20_s._each, and each fellow had
33 of them. But when the fact of this embezzlement of corporate funds
became known, the College was called to account by Parliament, and,
although they attempted to defend themselves, they individually deemed
it wise to refund the greater, or a considerable, part of what had been
abstracted.[118] Fuller, whose _Church History_ was published in the
year following Selden's death, after telling this scandalous story,
proceeds thus (book ix. p. 234):--'Sure I am, a great antiquarie lately
deceased (rich as well in his state as learning) at the hearing hereof
quitted all his intention of benefaction to Oxford or any place else, on
suspition it would be diverted to other uses, on the same token that he
merrily said, I think the best way for a man to perpetuate his memory is
to procure the Pope to canonize him for a saint, for then he shall be
sure to be remembred in their Calender; whereas otherwise I see all
Protestant charity subject to the covetousness of posterity to devour
it, and bury the donor thereof in oblivion.' And the name of this 'great
antiquarie' was supplied in 1659 by the Puritan writer Henry Hickman,
who, as a Demy of Magdalene College, had shared in the spoils. He, in
the Appendix to his _Justification of the Fathers and Schoolmen_, gives
(in answer to a passage in Heylin's _Examen Historicum_) a full account
of the dividing of the gold, adding, 'which, as is said, did hinder Mr.
John Selden from bestowing his library on the University.' And Wood
(_Hist. and Antiq._ by Gutch, ii. 942) says that he had been told that
this misappropriation was one reason of Selden's distaste at Oxford.
From all this it is clear that Burnet's narrative gives a very
inaccurate account of the matter.
It was in the year 1659 that the great mass of Selden's collection was
forwarded by his executors. In the accounts for 1660 appear payments to
Barlow of £20 'for his paines in procuring Mr. Selden's books,' and of
£51 for his expenses thereon. The bringing the books from London cost
about £34, and the providing chains for them £25 10_s._[119]
Unfortunately, during the interval, many books had been lost which had
been borrowed in London, and were never returned. (Life, in _Works_, I.
lii.) And a part, which somehow was not sent to Oxford, afterwards
altogether perished, 'for the fire of the Temple destroyed in one of
their chambers eight chests full of the registers of abbeys, and other
manuscripts relating to the history of England; tho' most of his
law-books are still safe in Lincoln's Inn[120].' Some medical books were
bequeathed to the College of Physicians. Some of the original deeds
relating to the gift were bought for the Library in 1837 for £1 1_s._
About 8000 volumes were, in all, added to the Library by this gift, most
of which bear Selden's well-known motto: 'περι παντος την ελευθεριαν.'
Amongst them are some which belonged to Ben Jonson, Dr. Donne, and Sir
Robert Cotton. The number of miscellaneous foreign works, in several
European languages, is noticeable, many of which had been published but
a short time before Selden's death. In curious contrast to the character
of the greater part of his collection (rich in classics and science,
theology and history, law and Hebrew literature) there occurs one
volume (marked 4^o C. 32. Art. Seld.) which is priceless in the eyes of
the lovers of old English black-letter tracts. It contains twenty-six
tracts (most bearing the name of a previous possessor, one Thomas
Newton) which are among the rarest of early popular tales and romances.
As mere specimens of the collection may be mentioned, _Richard Cuer de
Lyon_, _Syr Bevis of Hampton_ (unique edit.?), _Syr Degore_, _Syr
Tryamoure_ (only two copies known), _Syr Eglamoure_ (unique?), _Dan Hew
of Leicestre_ (unique?), _Battayle of Egyngecourt_ (unique?), _Mylner of
Abyngton_ (unique?), _Wyl Bucke_, _&c._ Among the MSS. is one of
Harding's _Chronicle_ (Arch. Seld. B. 10) which appears to have belonged
to Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, from his arms being painted at
the end, and which some have supposed was also a presentation copy to
Edward IV. A curious map accompanies the description of Scotland (here
given in prose, not, as in the printed editions, in verse), in which,
next to Sutherland and Caithness, the author, who would have won Dr.
Johnson's respect as being 'a good hater,' places 'Styx, the infernal
flode,' and 'The palais of Pluto, King of hel, _neighbore to Scottz_.'
This map was engraved for the first time in Gough's _British
Topography_, vol. ii. pl. viii.; the description of it occupies pp.
579-583 in that volume. Another interesting volume is a copy of the
Latin _Articles_ of 1562, printed by Reginald Wolfe in 1563, with the
autograph signatures of the members of the Lower House of Convocation
(Arch. Seld. A. 76). Fifty-four Greek MSS. are described in Mr. Coxe's
Catalogue, vol. i. cols. 583-648.
[109] As Aubrey (_Lives_, with _Letters by Eminent Persons_, ii. 532)
has preserved a story that Selden on his death-bed refused, through
Hobbes' persuasion, to see a clergyman (Mr Johnson) who was coming 'to
assoile him,' it is worth while to print the following notice of his
death from Rawlinson MS. B. clviii. fol. 75, a volume containing a
collection of biographical anecdotes, &c., written in a rather clumsy
copyist's hand, about the beginning of the last century: 'Mr. Selden
upon his death-bed disclaimed all Hobbisme and the like wicked and
Atheisticall opinions, commanded that neither Mr. Hobbs nor Capt.
Rossingham should be admitted to him, confessed his sins, and desired
absolution, which was given him by Archbp. Usher; but amongst other
things he much deplored the loss of his time in studying of things more
curious than usefull, and wished that he [had] rather executed the
office of a justice of peace than spent his time in that which the world
calls learning.'
[110] See also Aubrey's _Lives_, _ut supra_, ii. 536.
[111] Nichols (_Lit. Anecd._ i. 333) gives another and very different
story, for which he produces no authority. He says that Selden had
actually sent his library to Oxford during his lifetime, but hearing
that they had lent out a book _without sufficient caution_, he sent for
it back again.
[112] Twells' Life of Pococke, in Pococke's _Theol. Works_, 1740, vol.
i. p. 43.
[113] Reg. Conv. T. p. 251. It is added, as an additional reason for the
concession, 'porro spes sit virum in rem nostram academicam optime
affectum, hanc ei extra ordinem gratiam factam abunde olim
compensaturum.'
[114] A copy also exists of this paper made by Hearne with a view to
publication, and, as appears from a short preface by him, from a double
motive; firstly, to prevent persons taking offence in his own day at
refusals; secondly, to afford warning to persons with 'fanatical
consciences,' who seem to have thought there was no harm done in
carrying books away secretly, provided they returned them again.
Unfortunately 'consciences' such as these still exist, and there is
reason for quoting, with a present application, the words with which the
warm-hearted Hearne concludes: 'Let these men consider seriously how
they will answer this before God, and withall assure themselves that if
they be found out, they will, besides the punishment like to come upon
them hereafter (without an earnest, hearty repentance) be expos'd to all
that infamy and disgrace which the Statute enjoyns to be inflicted upon
such notorious offenders.' (Misc. MSS. papers relating to the Library.)
The first actual theft of a book occurred in 1624. At the Visitation on
Nov. 9, the Curators drew up a formal document, publishing and
denouncing the deed, and exhorting the unknown doer to a timely
repentance. A copy of it is preserved in volume 23 of Bryan Twyne's
Collections, in the University Archives (p. 683), and runs as follows:--
'Cum in hac visitatione nostra anniversaria Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ, post
diligentem et religiosam status ejus pro officii nostri ratione
examinationem factam, compertum sit volumen unum (Jod. Nahumus. Conc. in
Evangelia Dominicalia. Han. 1604. N. 1. 3[121]) in classe Theologica,
catenâ abscissum et sacrilegâ nebulonis alicujus manu surreptum esse;
Cumque ex fideli Bibliothecarii relatione (pensatis loci atque temporis
circumstantis) constet, non nisi a jurato aliquo facinus hoc detestabile
perpetratum esse;--
'Nos Curatores, quorum fidei et inspectioni Bibliothecæ cura speciali
nomine a Nobilissimo Fundatore concredita est, insolentis facti
indignitate moti et perculsi, quamvis liber parabilis, exigui et pretii
et usus sit, ne tamen lenti plus quam par est, et frigidi in causa tanti
momenti videamur, post maturam deliberationem, programmate affixo,
facinus publicandum duximus;--
'Impense rogantes omnes et singulos cujuscunque ordinis et loci genuinos
Academia alumnos, ut sicubi librum offendant, sive in privatis musæis,
sive in bibliopolarum officinis, restituendum curent, unaque operam
nobiscum conferant, ut, si fieri possit, hoc propudium hominis,
Bibliothecarum pestis et tenebrio sacrilegus, e latibulis suis in lucem
extrahatur; denique, odium et indignationem suam contribuant, saltem ut
publicæ infamiæ tuba miser experrectus, misericordiam divinam tempestive
imploret, conspecta vel Bibliothecæ porta posthæc attonitus resiliat,
nec tanti putet libri contemptibilis acquisitionem ut animam pro qua
mortuus est Christus ineptissime periclitari sinat.
JO. PRIDEAUX, Vice-Canc. et S. Theol. Professor Regius.
THO. CLAYTON, Medic. Professor Regius.
DANIEL EASTCOT, Procurator Sen.
RICARDUS HILL, Procurator Jun.
EDOARDUS MEETKERKIUS, Ling. Hebr. Professor Regius.
JOHANNES SOUTH, Græcæ Linguæ Prælector Regius.'
More serious abstractions, however, than such as these, have lately
(_i.e._ within the last twenty or thirty years) been practised. It has
recently been discovered that two extremely rare tracts by Thomas
Churchyard, his _Epitaph of Sir P. Sidney_, and _Feast full of sad
Cheere_, have been cut out of the volume of tracts in which they were
bound up. May it be hoped that Book-lovers, as well as lovers of
honesty, will remember this, should unknown copies suddenly come to
light? Another book, mentioned by Warton as being in Tanner's
collection, _The Children of the Chapel Stript and Whipt_, is also not
forthcoming; but no trace of its actual existence at any time within the
walls of the Library has, as yet, been found. As in the course of making
a new General Catalogue of the whole library, every separate volume and
tract is now conspicuously stamped with the name of its _locale_, it is
hoped that depredations of this character will be entirely checked.
Two instances, however, in which 'consciences' have been sufficiently
awakened to make restitution of stolen goods, have occurred within the
last twenty years. In 185- (exact year forgotten), on a day on which a
Convocation had been held on some exciting subject, which had
consequently brought up country voters from all parts, the present
writer happened to notice that a small book had been laid in a shelf of
folios near the Library door. Taking it up, he found it to be a rare
volume of tracts by J. Preston and T. Goodwin, printed at Amsterdam, and
bearing a Library reference. On proceeding to restore it to its place,
that place was found to be occupied by another book; this, of course,
led to further examination, and it was then discovered that the former
volume had been missing for so many years, that at last, all hope of its
recovery being abandoned, its place had been filled up. The old
register-books of readers were then ransacked, and at length an entry
was found of the delivery of this book to a reader, who was still living
at the time of this Convocation, on Feb. 14, 1807. A quarto volume was
also found about the same time thrust in amongst other quartos in a
shelf near the door, but the particulars of this case have been
forgotten.
A third case of recovery, but of a different kind, occurred in 1851. In
the year 1789 the Library was visited by Hen. E. G. Paulus, of Jena,
afterwards the too-well-known author of the _Leben Jesu_, who copied
from Pococke MS. 32 (a small octavo volume) an Arabic translation of
Isaiah made, in Hebrew characters, by R. Saadiah, which he published in
the following year, transposed into Arabic characters. Thenceforward the
MS. was lost from the Library, although no direct evidence of the manner
of its disappearance appears to have been obtained. But after the death
of Paulus in the year 1850, a bookseller at Breslau, to whom the volume
had in some way been offered, entered into communication with the
Librarian, Dr. Bandinel, and the result was that the missing MS. was at
length restored, _clothed in an entirely different German binding_, and
with all trace of its original ownership removed, to its right place.
The abstraction of this MS. 'by an Oriental professor,' and its
recovery, are mentioned, without further particulars, by Dr. Pusey, in
his Evidence printed in the _University Report upon the Recommendations
of the University Commissioners_, 1853. p. 171.
[115] Bodley frequently in his letters expresses his positive
determination not to allow books to be removed from the Library by any
means. He mentions the having connived at first at Sir H. Savile's
having a book for a very short space of time, because he was like to
become a very great benefactor; but declares that after the making the
Statutes neither he nor any one else shall be allowed the same liberty
upon any occasion whatsoever. (_Reliquiæ Bodl._ pp. 176, 264.) And in
another letter he says, in reference to a particular application, 'The
sending of any book out of the Library may be assented to by no means,
neither is it a matter that the University or Vice-Chancellor are to
deal in. It cannot stand with my publick resolution with the University,
and my denial made to the Bishop of Glocester and the rest of the
Interpreters [_i.e._ the Translators of the Authorized Version of the
Bible] in their assembly in Christ Church, who requested the like at my
hands for one or two books.' (_Ibid._ p. 207.) In 1636 the University
refused leave to Archbishop Laud to borrow Rob. Hare's MS. _Liber
Privilegiorum Universitatis_ (compiled in 1592), when the Archbishop was
prosecuting his claim to visit the two Universities as Metropolitan. But
the refusal was doubtless rather from jealousy respecting their
immunities (as Wood says) than from regard to the rules of the Library
(Huber's _English Universities_, by F. Newman, vol. ii. p. 45.) However,
the book was at last produced before the Council. (Wood's _Hist. and
Antiq._, by Gutch, vol. ii. p. 403.)
[116] 'Μυριοβιβλος, num. 131' [Barocci].
[117] These were gold coins, of the value of fifteen shillings, which
derived their name from bearing a star on the reverse which resembled
the rowel of a spur.
[118] A few of these coins are still preserved in an ancient chest in
the same room where they were of old deposited. Here is also carefully
preserved a very large and valuable collection of early charters,
including all which belonged to the Hospital of St. John Bapt. upon the
site of which the College was built, and to several suppressed priories
which were annexed to the College, reaching back to the twelfth century.
Of these the author of this volume is engaged in preparing a MS.
catalogue, for the use of the College.
[119] The conditions imposed by the executors (which are printed in
Gutch's _Wood_, ii. 943, and elsewhere) expressly stipulated that the
books should be chained. As late as the year 1751 notices occur in the
Librarian's account-books of the procuring additional chains for the
Library. But the removal of them appears to have commenced as shortly
afterwards as 1757, and in 1761 there was a payment for unchaining 1448
books at one halfpenny each. Several of the chains are still preserved
loose, as relics.
[120] Ayliffe's _Ancient and Present State of the Univ. of Oxford_,
1714, vol. i. p. 462. Pointer, in his _Oxoniensis Academia_, 1749, p.
136, quotes the account of the Bodleian given by Ayliffe as having been
written by Dr. Hudson, under whose name it is also found in Macky's
_Journey through England_ vol. ii. The fire here mentioned was probably
that which occurred about 1679 or 1680, in which the chambers called the
Paper-Buildings were destroyed, where Selden's rooms were situated. At
Lincoln's Inn some MSS. are now amongst Sir M. Hale's.
[121] This was never recovered, but a later edition, in 1609, was
procured instead.