Thomas Barlow, D.D. (who had been elected Provost of Queen's College in
1658), resigned the Librarianship on Sept. 25, in consequence of his
appointment to the Margaret Professorship of Divinity. Thomas Lockey,
B.D., Student of Ch. Ch., was elected in his place, on Sept. 28, by 102
votes to 80, over Mr. [John] Good, M.A., Balliol College[124].
A curious story is preserved by Wanley and Dr. Wallis, in memoranda,
dated 1698-1701, on the fly-leaves of a copy of the rare _Index Librorum
prohibitorum_ printed at Madrid in 1612-14 (4^o U. 46. Th.), respecting
the visit of a Roman Catholic priest to the Library during the period of
Barlow's headship. In the course of conversation with Barlow, the priest
denied that such a book as this Index had ever been printed at Madrid
(there being various discrepancies between it and the Roman Index),
whereupon this copy was produced, bearing the names of several
inquisitors who had from time to time possessed it. The visitor was
extremely surprised, and, being very desirous of purchasing it, offered
any sum for it that might be demanded, with the intent (as the somewhat
suspicious tellers of the tale suggest) to destroy it; but the Doctor
was above corruption. The vigilance of the Librarians being aroused, the
book was removed from an exposed place where it had formerly been kept,
to a less accessible situation in the gallery, and securely chained.
Wallis adds that one fly-leaf, containing some of the previous owners'
names, had since then been torn out[125].
[124] Reg. Convoc. T^a. 27, p. 57.
[125] The memoranda are printed in Mendham's _Lit. Policy of the Church
of Rome_, second edit., pp. 152-4, and in Bliss' _Reliquiæ Hearnianæ_,
i. 12-14.