A great many of these parochial libraries were founded early in the last century by Dr. Thomas Bray, during his lifetime, and by a body calling themselves the 'Associates of Dr. Bray,' after his death. It was at Bray's instance that the Act of 7 Anne, 'for the better Preservation of Parochial Libraries,' was passed by Parliament. One of the earliest of the foundations under it was in 1720. It is probable that the 'Associates' issued book-plates for placing in the volumes of the different libraries established; for there is, in the design, a space left blank for the insertion, with pen and ink, of the name of the particular library using the book-plate. These book-plates generally bear texts or some appropriate words, such as, 'Accipe librum et devora illum' (Rev. x. 9), the scene depicted being St. John, in the isle of Patmos, receiving the book from the angel; or sometimes a reminder to the borrower that he needs to do more than borrow the volume in order to profit by its contents, such as _Tolle, Lege_, which appears on the book-plate of the parish library of Weobley! Grotesque heraldry is not often met with in England on genuine book-plates. We have seen that on many examples the decorative accessories of the shield have a certain appropriateness to the owner; besides this, the arms borne have frequently a direct reference to the bearer's name. But grotesque heraldry, such as that which Hogarth was so fond of designing, is certainly rare in engravings prepared for book-plates. There is, however, one example of such heraldry on an English book-plate, which is worth referring to--I mean the very interesting example figured on p. 229. This belonged to the shoemaker-poet, Robert Bloomfield, and certainly the arms upon it are both grotesque and appropriate to the owner, since they commemorate his only really successful literary effort, _The Farmer's Boy_. Look for a moment at the details, for they repay inspection. A figure on cow-back holding a shoe on the end of a stick, does duty as a crest, two ploughmen act as supporters, whilst the bearings on the shield represent every variety of agricultural implement, every occupant of a farm-yard ordinarily met with, and various tools connected with the owner's craft; besides, on the sinister half of the shield, is a cobbler in an attitude suggestive of his having done full justice to a feast in honour of St. Crispin--not conducted on total abstinence principles. The quarterings also include three open volumes, and across the pages of one is printed 'Farmer's Boy.' The whole--even to its motto, 'A fig for the Heralds'--is most characteristic of Bloomfield, and was engraved for him, in 1813--ten years before his death--by a Cheapside engraver. [Illustration] * * * * *