BODLEYAN LIBRARY. 



BODLKYAN LIBRARY. 



very dear whether this was a public library in the usual meaning of 

 the tana, or on* restricted to the use of the monks of Durham 



Thfnel/we read of waa called Cobham'a Library, which would 

 uaw been the first, if Thomaa Cobham, bishop of Worcester, had 

 lived to have executed his own purpose. About the year 1820, he 

 ito make MM preparations for a library over the old Congre- 

 IOOM, in the North Churchyard of St. Mary's ; but dying 

 i altar, httle progress waa made in the work till 1867, when his 

 booki were deposited in it, and the scholar* permitted to consult 

 <tffr on certain conditions. But the property of the site being con- 

 tended between the University and Oriel College, the dispute was 

 no* finally determined till 1*0$, when the room was fitted up with 

 daks, window*, ftc., by the benefactions of King Henry IV., of his 

 four sons, Henry, Thomaa, John, and Humphrey, of Thomas Arundel 

 arehbiabon of Canterbury, Philip Repindon bishop of Lincoln, Edmund 

 earl of March, and Richard Courtney rhanoidlnr of the University, in 

 whoaa time it waa completed about the year 1411. Thi* appears to 

 have bera the first public library, and continued hi use until 1480, 

 when the booka were added to Duke Humphrey's collection, for the 

 reception of which a library-room had been completed. 



Humphrey, untamed the Good Duke of Gloucester, was the real 

 founder of the library which was restored and Mounded by Sir Thomas/ 

 Bodley. The number of books given by Duke Humphrey is variously 

 represented. Wood(' Hist, and Antiq. of the Univ. of Oxford,' vol. ii. 

 Ito, Oxf. 1796, p. 715) say* the different treatises amounted to six 

 hundred ; only one specimen at present remains, a manuscript in folio 

 of Valerius Maximus, enriched with the most elegant decoration*, and 

 written in Duke Humphrey's age, evidently with the design of being 

 placed in his sumptuous collection. The rest of the books, which, like 

 this, being highly ornamented, and looking like missals, were supposed 

 to convey ideas of Popish superstition, were destroyed or removed by 

 the visitors of the university in the time of Edward VI., whose zeal 

 was equalled only by their ignorance. A manuscript commentary on 

 Genesis, by John Capgrave, belonging to Duke Humphrey's library, is 

 still piesei'ttd in that of Oriel College, Oxford ; and one, if not more 

 manuscript*, formerly belonging to the collection, are in the British 

 Museum; most of them, at the end, had usually this inscription 

 written in the duke's own hand, " Cert livro cut a moy Humfrey 

 Ihir de Glouceetre." Before the year 1555 the Duke of Gloucester's 

 Library was totally despoiled of ita content*, and the desks and benches 

 ordered to be sold : the room continued empty until restored by Sir 

 Thomaa Bodley. 



It was in 1597 that Sir Thomas Bodley set himself the task of 

 restoring the public library. With this view he sent a letter from 

 London to the vice-chancellor Dr. Ravis, dean of Christ Church, 

 offering to restore the building, and settle a fund for the purchase 

 of hooka, aa well as the maintenance of proper officers. This offer 

 being gladly accepted, he commenced his undertaking by presenting a 

 huge collection of books purchased on the Continent, and valued at 

 10,0007. Other collections and contributions were sent in, by his 

 example and persuasions, from various noblemen, clergymen, and 

 others, to such an amount, that the old building was no longer 

 sufficient to contain them. He then proposed to enlarge the building ; 

 and the first stone of the new foundation was laid with great solemnity 

 on the 17th of July, 1610, and so amply promoted by his liberality, 

 as well as by the benefactions of many eminent persons, that the 

 University was enabled to add three other sides, forming the quad- 

 rangle sad rooms for the school*, He. Bodley did not however live to 

 see even the wing he had commenced finished, luiving died in 1612, 

 the year before ita completion. 



When Sir Thomaa had succeeded in enriching liU collection, pro- 

 bably far beyond his expectation, he drew up a body of statutes, 

 which hare "been since incorporated with those of the university. 

 According to them, the librarian is to be a graduate, unmarried, and 

 without cure of souls ; and to be allowed deputies or assistant*. One 

 or two point* hi these regulations have been since altered ; the 

 librarian is allowed to marry, and he can hold parochial preferment 

 with his librarianship. The revenues for the maintenance of the 

 library are intrusted to the vice-chancellor and proctors for the time 

 being; sad the vice-chancellor and proctors, the three professors of 

 divinity, law, and physic, and the two regius professors of Greek and 

 Hebrew, are appointed visitor*. 



Th.- first catalogue of the printed books of the Bodleian was pub- 

 lished hi 4to, in 1605, by Dr. Thomas James, Sir Thomas Bodley V first 

 librarian. It was dedicated to Henry IVince of Wales ; and the booka 

 were clasaed hi four faculties, divinity, medicine, jurisprudence, and arts, 

 completed by aa index of authors' names, A more extensive catalogue, 

 In aa alphabetical form, was published by Dr. James in 4to, Oxford, 

 163* ; and another catalogue, which had been compiled by him, of 

 works in the Bodleian, printed and manuscript, hi interpretation of the 

 oertptnrea, was printed in a thin 4to at Oxford in 1685. 'A Nomen- 

 dator of such Tract* and Sermons as have been printed or translated 

 tote Encash upon any place or books of Holy Scripture; now to be 

 had in UM most famous Library of Sir Thomas Bodlcy in Oxford,' waa 

 also printed in Iftmo in 1642, by John Veneufl. 



* a new catalogue of the printed books of the Bodleian 

 wa published in a folio volume, under the care of Dr. Thomas Hyde ; 



and another, of the manuscript*, distinguishing the different collec- 

 tion*, was inserted in the general Catalogue of the Manuscripts of 

 England, folio, 1697. A still more extensive catalogue of the printed 

 booka was published in two volumes, folio, in 1 738, which was thought 

 so sufficiently perfect in its day, that almost every college library in 

 the university had a copy interleaved, to mark off the books in rl,,- 

 catalogue which they themselves possessed, and to insert additions. 

 This is the last general catalogue which has been published of the 

 books in the Bodleian Library ; but from the immense increase of the 

 collection it has become but of little use. Another was undertaken 

 some yean ago, and had proceeded, under the direction of the present 

 librarian, Dr. Bandinel, to some extent in the printing ; but the publi- 

 cation waa eventually abandoned. 



A few catalogues of particular portions of the Bodleian collections 

 have been published at different times. Dr. Uri printed the first part 

 of a catalogue of the Oriental manuscript* in folio, in 1787 ; which was 

 continued in 1821, in a catalogue of the Arabic manuscripts, prepared 

 l.y Mr., afterwards Dr. Alexander NicoL After the acquisitions made 

 I'inelli and some other sales, a small octavo volume, entitled 



Sutitia Kditionum quoad libroa Hebr. Gr. et Lat qua vel primarue, 

 vel Saw. xv. impresste, vel Aldinr, in Bibliotheca Bodleiana adaer- 

 vantur,' was published in 1795: another catalogue, entitled '( 

 Mrvnu*cri|.ti et Impress!, cum Notis Manuscript!*, olim D'Orvillioiii, 



I ui in Bibliotheca Bodleiana adaervantur,' was printed by Mr. Gai 

 afterwards dean of Christ Church, in 4 to, 1806 ; aud the first part 

 of another catalogue, of the manuscripts .collected in the Eo>-t l.y 

 L)r. E. D. Clarke, and purchased from him for the Bodleian, was 

 published also by Mr. Gaiaford in 4to, 1812 ; followed by a second part 

 In 1815, containing the Oriental USS., edited by Mr. >!.!. In 



a catalogue of the books relating to British (including Welsh, Scott Mi, 

 and Irish) topography, and Saxon and northern literature, bequeathed 

 by Richard Gough, Esq., was printed at the Clarendon press by 

 Dr. Bandinel. The curators of the Bodleian have for many years 

 published, or rather printed and distributed, annual alphabetical 

 catalogues of its acquisitions in the department of printed book*, for 

 the information of the university. 



A catalogue of the coins in the cabinet of the Bodleian was pub- 

 lished by Mr. Francis Wise in 1750, in folio, illustrated by numerous 

 plates, under the title of ' Catalogus Nummorum Antiquormu in 

 Scriniia Bodleianis reconditorum cum Commentario.' 



An annual speech in praise of Sir Thomas Bodley was founded in 

 1681, by Dr. John Morris, canon of Christ Church ; the speaker to 1* 

 nominated by the dean of Christ Church, and confirmed by tl. 

 chancellor. These speeches are delivered at the visitation-day of the 

 library, November the 8th. 



It would be impossible to enumerate here the many important 

 additions, in books and manuscripts, made to this library by ita 

 numerous benefactors, or to give even a superficial skou-h of its 

 ample content* in every branch of science and learning. Among the 

 earliest benefactors were Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, Thomas 

 Sackville Lord Buckhurst and Earl of Dorset, Robert Sidney Lord 

 Sidney of Penshurst, Viscount Lisle and Earl of Leicester, George 

 Carey Lord Hunsdon, William Gent, Esq., Anthony Browne Viscount 

 Montacute, John Lord Lumley, Philip Scudamore of London. KH.|., :md 

 Lawrence Bodley, younger brother to tho founder. The contributions of 

 all these persons were made before the year 1600. 



In 1601, collections of books and manuscript* were presented by 

 Thomas Allen, some time fellow of Trinity College, Thomas James, 

 the first librarian, Herbert Westphaling, Li-li. nl, Sir John 



Fortescue, knight, Alexander Nowell, dean of St. Paul's, John Crooke, 

 recorder of London and chief-justice of the Common I'lens, and Nicho- 

 las Bond, D.D., president of Magdalen College. 



The most extensive and important collections however are those of 

 the Earl of Pembroke, the celebrated John Selden, Archbishop L.md, 

 Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Kenelm Digby, General Fairfax, Dr. Marshall, 

 Dr. Barlow, bishop of Lincoln, Dr. Richard Rawlinson, Mr. St. A 

 Bishop Tanner, Browne Willis, Thoma* Hearne, Mr. Nathaniel Cryiius, 

 and Mr. Godwin. The library bequeathed by Kielianl Gough, Esq., 

 which came to the Bodleian in 1812 (the catalogue of which lias been 

 already noticed), is one of the most perfect series of English topo- 

 graphical works ever formed, and is particularly rich hi topographical 

 manuscript*, prints, drawings, and books illustrated by the manuscript 

 notes of eminent antiquaries. The hut collections of great importance 

 bequeathed to the Bodleian have been those of Edmond Malone, Esq., 

 in 1812, and of Francis Douce, Esq., in 1834, but it is continually 

 being added to by smaller bequesta and donations. 



I'.'idlcian Library was fimt openl to tin- public en November 

 8th, 1602, and by the charter of mortmain obtained of King James, 

 Sir Thomas, then lately knighted by him, was declared founder; and, 

 in 1605, Lord Btickhurst, earl of Dorset and chancellor of the Uni- 

 versity, placed the bunt of Sir Thomas in the library. Since the year 

 1786 a fund of more than 400 J. a year has been established for the 

 purchase of books. This arises from n-nmall addition to the matricula- 

 tion fees, and a moderate contribution anmmlly from mich members of 

 the university as are admitted to the use of the library, or on their 

 taking their first degrees ; to which is to be added the privilege of 

 claiming as a matter of right under the copyright act, a copy of every 

 book printed in Great Britain and Ireland. 



