98 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 



be had told mc before be dispatched me to London, concerning 

 his intentions, as to that part of his books at Fresingfield ; viz. 

 that he intended part of them to be left for the use of the family 

 there, enough to be a good library for a gentleman ; but that 

 the books of learning should be for your College. By which I 

 understood his meaning was, that so much of history, geo- 

 graphy, and of the arts, as the heir of that family might be sup- 

 posed to be inclined to, were the sort he intended for that 

 place. And, in particular, I remember he said, he would stock 

 them well with practical divinity, but would be more sparing 

 as to controversy. By which (as indeed by all he said) it 

 seemed very plain to me, that he meant not to leave there a 

 library for a scholar or a divine, but for an ingenious and well 



• inclined heir to an estate. And this, I conceive, both his 

 nephews, Mr. Green, Mr. Sheppard, and Mr. NicoUs, cannot 

 be strangers to. For his Grace made these matters no secret, 

 and I do not remember that he ever discoursed me alone about 

 them, more than once, during my last attendance upon him -, it 

 being his manner to have his friends about his bed (if they 

 were within call) when he expressed himself as to this concern. 

 And I ever took it as an unquestionable declaration of his 

 Grace's design, that all his books, (save only such sorts, and fit 

 for such an use, as I before mentioned,) should be given to the 

 College, there to be kept entirely together, as a monument of 

 his Grace's great affection to learning, and of that delight 

 which he took in it himself, during his whole life : he being 

 (as he was pleased to tell me expressly,) very unwilling to 

 have that libraiy dissipated, the collecting of which had been 

 one of the great comforts and pleasures of his life. It was the 

 ha^dng them thus kept entirely together, which inclined his 

 thoughts towards building on your ground. And, therefore;, 

 should his library be mutilated and maimed of any considerable 

 number of learned, critical, classical, or theological books, be- 

 fore it come to you, I am sure it must grieve his most learned 



'and generous soul, if it be at all capable of any such impressions. 



