Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867: With a Preliminary Notice of the earlier Library founded in the Fourteenth Century — John Shaqi
Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867: With a Preliminary Notice of the earlier Library founded in the Fourteenth CenturyMacray, William Dunn
History
Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867: With a Preliminary Notice of the earlier Library founded in the Fourteenth Century
Macray, William Dunn
Bodleian Library
The second edition of the Catalogue was issued by James, shortly after
his resignation of his office, with a Dedication to Prince Charles, and
a Preface dated June 30. It consists of 539 quarto pages, in double
columns. It abandons the classified arrangement of the former Catalogue,
and adopts that (followed ever since) of one alphabet of names. James,
in his Preface, gives as his reason for this course, the frequent
difficulty (already experienced even in so small a collection) of
deciding to what class a book should be assigned, and the inconvenience
resulting from division of the works of the same author. He points out
the value of the Library to foreigners, who can there consult 16,000
volumes for six hours a day, excepting Sundays and holidays[72]. As
instances of the copiousness of its stores, he mentions that there are
to be found above 100 folio and quarto volumes on Military Art, in
Greek, Latin, and other languages; and that there are 3000 or 4000 books
in French, Italian, and Spanish. He notes that heretical and
schismatical books are not to be read without leave of the
Vice-Chancellor and Regius Professor of Divinity; and makes some remarks
on the method of keeping a Common-place-book. He gives as the reason for
his quitting his post, his severe sufferings from stone and
paralysis[73].
On June 4, King James presented the folio edition of his _Works_ as
edited by Bishop Montague. The book (now marked B. 14. 17. Theol.)
contains the following presentation inscription, written and signed by
Sir R. Naunton:--
'Jacobus Dei gratia Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ Rex, fidei
defensor, &c. Postquam decrevisset publici juris facere quæ sibi erat
commentatus, ne videretur vel palam pudere literarum quas privatim
amaverat, vel eorum seu opinioni seu invidiæ cedere qui Regis Majestatem
literis dictitabant imminui, vel Christiani Orbis et in eo Principum
judicia expavescere, quorum maxime intererat vera esse omnia quæ
scripsit; circumspicere etiam cœpit certum aliquod libro suo
domicilium, locum, si fieri possit, semotum a fato, æternitati et paci
sacrum. Ecce commodum sua se obtulit Academia, illa pæne orbi notior
quam Cantabrigiæ, ubi exulibus Musis jam olim melius est quam in patria,
ubi a codicibus famæ nuncupatis tineæ absterrentur legentium manibus,
sycophantæ scribentium ingeniis. In hoc immortali literarum sacrario,
inter monumenta clarorum virorum, quos quantum dilexit studiorum
participatione satis indicavit, in bibliotheca publica, lucubrationes
has suas Deo Opt. Max., Cui ab initio devotæ erant, æternum consecrat,
in venerando Almæ Matris sinu, unde contra seculorum rubiginem fidam
illi custodiam promittit, et contra veritatis hostes stabile
patrocinium.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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