On June 25, 1600, Bodley wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, mentioning that, as the mechanical work was now brought to a good pass, he had begun to busy himself in the gathering of books, and had provided a Register for the enrolment of the names of all benefactors, with particulars of their gifts. This Register (formerly, like all the books in folio, chained to its desk), consisting of two large folio volumes, on vellum, now lies on a table in the great room, and is an object of notice by most visitors. The volumes are ornamented exteriorly with silver-gilt bosses on their massy covers, on which are engraved the arms of Bodley and those of the University, and interiorly in many places with the donors' coats of arms painted in their proper colours, and with various devices. Vol. i. extends from 1600 to 1688, containing 428 pages in double columns; and commences with a printed record of the gifts for the first four years, on pp. 1-90. The following printed title is prefixed: 'Munificentissimis atque optimis cujusvis ordinis, dignitatis, sexus, qui Bibliothecam hanc libris, aut pecuniis numeratis ad libros coemendos, aliove quovis genere ampliarunt, Thomas Bodleius, eques auratus, honorarium hoc volumen, in quod hujuscemodi donationes, simulque nomina donantium singillatim referuntur, pietatis, memoriæ, virtutisque causa, dedit, dedicavit.' A paragraph follows, which mentions Bodley's own work of refitting and endowing, and notes that his own large gifts are not entered because he hopes throughout his life to make continually large additions. The whole of this title is printed in the preface to James' first Catalogue, issued in 1605, who was probably part-writer of it[22]. Wake (_Rex Platonicus_, p. 120) speaks of the Register, 'aureis umbilicis fibulisque fulgidum,' as always lying 'eminentissimo loco,' a prominent object of notice to all who entered the Library. Vol. ii. extends from 1692 to 1795, ending in the middle of the volume, on p. 216; but there is reason to fear that there are many omissions in the later portion of its period. Each volume has an index of names. The gifts of the principal donors, as recorded in this Register up to its close, are printed in Gutch's edition of _Wood's History_, vol. ii. part ii. pp. 920-950. It will not be necessary, therefore, to mention here the names of many, but of such only as are 'e principibus principes.' From the year 1796 inclusive, when the gifts of donors began to be entered in the annual printed catalogues of purchases and statements of accounts, this MS. Register ceased to be used. Among the first and largest benefactors in the year 1600 occur Lord Buckhurst (afterwards Earl of Dorset), the Earl of Essex, Lords Hunsdon, Montacute, [editions of the Fathers], Lisle (afterwards Leicester), Lumley[23], and William Gent, who gave a large collection of books, chiefly medical.