March 21, 1891. 



OUR COLUMNS. 



9 



whose protection the Library "was placed, are annexed to the Deed. They are 62 in number 

 and include those of 28 clergymen and 34 laymen. Among the former are the Bishop 

 of Lincoln (James Gardiner) ; John Skelton, Archdeacon of Bedford ; Alexander Leith, 

 Vicar of St. Paul's, Bedford ; Dr. St. John, Rector of Yielden ; James Calamy, Rector of 

 Northill ; Joseph Margetts, Vicar of Kempston ; and among the latter, many time-honoured 

 Bedfordshire names pertaining to families that have long ago ceased to exist in the 

 villages vrhich once knew them, and of which in some cases only a faint tradition survives ; 

 as, for example. Sir William Gostwick of Willington, Sir Phillip Monoux of Wootton, 

 Sir Stephen Langham of Kempston, Oliver Luke of Cople Wood End, William Hillersdon 

 of Elstow, John Cater of Kempston, Samuel Rolt of Milton Ernest, William Beecher of 

 Renhold, W^illiam Spencer of Cople, William Faldo of Bedford, Sec, &c. 



The Deed of Settlement, of which this is an abstract, was executed on August 20, 1703, 

 and is preserved in the Churchwarden's Chest in St. Paul's Church. In 1704, for some 

 reason Avhich does not appear, the number of Trustees was more than doubled, being 

 increased to more than 130, — the additional list including Wriothesley, the Duke of 

 Bedford; Henry, the Duke of Kent; Powlet, Earl of Bolingbroke ; John, Lord Carteret; 

 John, Lord Ashburnham ; Lord Edward Russell ; Charles, Lord Bruce ; Sir John 

 Burgoyne ; Sir John Osborne ; Sir Thomas Allstone, &c., &c. There were four duplicates 

 of this Deed. 



The Rev. Edward Bourne, Rector of St. John's, who, apparently without remuneration 

 of any kind, took upon himself the duties of Librarian and Custodian, covenants with the 

 Trustees to preserve the books from damage and " Imbezilment," to mark every book in 

 the title-page with the Donor's name or the price which it cost, and to attend in the 

 vestry of St. Johns, where the books were placed, every Saturday, by himself or his deputy, 

 from ten o'clock to four, to deliver and receive the books. Only two books were to be 

 allowed to any one person at a time, nor to any unless either the price was deposited with 

 the Librarian, or an undertaking given in writing to restore the book within a specified 

 time without damage. An exception was made, however, in the case of authors, who 

 might borrow six at a time for four months, provided they gave security for their safe 

 return, and undertook to give the Library a printed copy of their books when finished. 

 Two months were allowed for the perusal of a folio, six weeks for a quarto, and one month 

 for books of smaller size. No books were to be lent until those previously borrowed were 

 returned. 



The Librarian had, in addition to his ordinary duties, to keep a register of all books and 

 money given, in short the offices of Secretary, Librarian, and Treasurer were combined 

 in the person of the Rector of St. John's, whose office, while the new institution was in 

 the hey-day of its youth and until the zeal of its supporters moderated somewhat, as it 

 apparently did after a time, could hardly have been a sinecure. 



BEDFORD IN 1700, A.D. 



We may for a moment endeavour to recall the Bedford of nearly two centuries ago, 

 when the goodly collection of ponderous folios and quartos, which now in their sombre 

 uncouth binding occupy the north-east corner of our beautiful library, and contrast so 

 strangely with the modern books, were located in the vestry of St. John's, and read by people 

 dressed in wigs, long waistcoats, reaching nearly to the knees, coats with broad lappets, 

 and buckled shoes. It was a picturesque little market town with a population scarcely 

 exceeding 3000. The two gate houses on its " fayre stone bridge " were still existing. The 

 «*Moote Hall" in the High Street, surrounded by gabled tenements with overhanging 



