Chapter XXII: Part V: =The Drawing Room.= (5)

But instead of many good, they have infinite bad; and go
stumbling from the right, as if they went blindfold for a
wager. Hence cometh the shifting of the scholler from master
to master; who, poor boy (like a hound among a company of
ignorant hunters hollowing every deer they see), misseth the
right, begetteth himself new labour, and at last, by one of
skill and well read, beaten for his paines," pp. 29, 30.
Peacham next notices the extreme severity of discipline
exercised in some schools. "I knew one, who in winter would
ordinarily, in a cold morning, whip his boys over for no
other purpose than to get himself a heat: another beats them
for swearing, and all the while sweares himself with
horrible oaths. He would forgive any fault saving that! I
had, I remember, myself (neer St. Alban's in Hertfordshire,
where I was born) a master, who, by no entreaty, would teach
any scholler he had farther than his father had learned
before him; as if he had only learned but to read English,
the son, though he went with him seven years, should go no
further: his reason was, they would then prove saucy rogues,
and controle their fathers! Yet these are they that
oftentimes have our hopefull gentry under their charge and
tuition, to bring them up in science and civility!" p. 27.
This absurd system is well contrasted with the following
account of the lenity observed in some of the schools on the
continent: "In Germany the school is, and as the name
imports, it ought to be, merely, LUDUS LITERARIUS, a very
pastime of learning, where it is a rare thing to see a rod
stirring: yet I heartily wish that our children of England
were but half so ready in writing and speaking Latin, which
boys of ten and twelve years old will do so roundly, and
with so neat a phrase and style, that many of our masters
would hardly mend them; having only for their punishment,
shame; and for their reward, praise," p. 24. "Wherefore I
cannot but commend the custome of their schools in the
Low-countries, where for the avoyding of this tedious
sitting still, and with irksome poring on the book all day
long, after the scholler hath received his lecture, he
leaveth the school for an houre, and walkes abroad with one
or two of his fellows, either into the field or up among the
trees upon the rampire, as in ANTWERP, BREDA, VTRECHT, &c.,
when they confer and recreate themselves till time calls
them in to repeat, where perhaps they stay an hour; so
abroad again, and thus at their pleasure the whole day," p.
26. Thus have we pursued the _History of the Education of
Boys_ to a period quite modern enough for the most
superficial antiquary to supply the connecting links down to
the present times. Nor can we conclude this prolix note
without observing upon two things which are remarkable
enough: first, that in a country like our own--the
distinguishing characteristics of whose inhabitants are
gravity, reserve, and good sense--lads should conduct
themselves with so much rudeness, flippancy, and tyranny
towards each other--and secondly, that masters should, in
too many instances, exercise a discipline suited rather to a
government of despotism and terror than to a land of liberty
and social comfort! But all human improvement, and human
happiness, is progressive. Speramus meliora!]

LYSAND. But you must not believe every thing that is said in favour of _Continental_ lenity of discipline, shewn to youth, if the testimony of a modern newspaper may be credited!----

LIS. What your newspaper may hold forth I will not pretend to enter into.

LYSAND. Nay, here is the paragraph; which I cut out from "_The Observer_," and will now read it to you. "A German Magazine recently announced the death of a schoolmaster in Suabia, who, for 51 years, had superintended a large institution with old fashioned severity. From an average, inferred by means of recorded observations, one of the ushers had calculated that, in the course of his exertions, he had given _911,500 canings, 121,000 floggings, 209,000 custodes, 136,000 tips with the ruler, 10,200 boxes on the ear, and 22,700 tasks by heart_. It was further calculated that he had made _700 boys stand on peas, 6000 kneel on a sharp edge of wood, 5000 wear the fool's cap, and 1,700 hold the rod_. How vast (exclaims the journalist) the quantity of human misery inflicted by a single perverse educator!" Now, my friends, what have you to say against the _English_ system of education?

PHIL. This is only defending bad by worse.

LIS. Where are we digressing? What are become of our bibliomaniacal heroes?

LYSAND. You do right to call me to order. Let us turn from the birch, to the book, history.

Contemporaneous with Peacham, lived that very curious collector of ancient popular little pieces, as well as lover of "sacred secret soul soliloquies," the renowned _melancholy_ composer, ycleped ROBERT BURTON;[345] who, I do not scruple to number among the most marked bibliomaniacs of the age; notwithstanding his saucy railing against Frankfort book-fairs. We have abundance of testimony (exclusive of the fruits of his researches, which appear by his innumerable marginal references to authors of all ages and characters) that this original, amusing, and now popular, author was an arrant book-hunter; or, as old Anthony hath it, "a devourer of authors." Rouse, the Librarian of Bodleian, is said to have liberally assisted Burton in furnishing him with choice books for the prosecution of his extraordinary work.

[Footnote 345: I suppose Lysander to allude to a memorandum
of Hearne, in his _Benedictus Abbas_, p. iv., respecting
ROBERT BURTON being a collector of "ancient popular little
pieces." From this authority we find that he gave "a great
variety" of these pieces, with a multitude of books, of the
best kind, to the "Bodleian Library."--One of these was that
"opus incomparabile," the "_History of Tom Thumb_," and the
other, the "_Pleasant and Merry History of the Mylner of
Abingdon_." The expression "sacred secret soul soliloquies"
belongs to Braithwait: and is thus beautifully interwoven in
the following harmonious couplets:

----No minute but affords some tears.
No walks but private solitary groves
Shut from frequent, his contemplation loves;
No treatise, nor discourse, so sweetly please
As sacred-secret soule soliloquies.

_Arcadian Princesse_, lib. 4, p. 162.

And see, gentle reader, how the charms of solitude--of
"walking alone in some solitary grove, betwixt wood and
water, by a brook-side, to meditate upon some delightsome
and pleasant subject" are depicted by the truly original
pencil of this said Robert Burton, in his _Anatomy of
Melancholy_, vol. i., p. 126, edit. 1804. But our theme is
Bibliomania. Take, therefore, concerning the same author,
the following: and then hesitate, if thou canst, about his
being infected with the BOOK-DISEASE. "What a catalogue of
new books all this year, all this age (I say) have our
Frank-furt marts, our domestic marts, brought out! Twice a
year, 'Proferunt se nova ingenia et ostentant;' we stretch
our wits out! and set them to sale: 'Magno conatu nihil
agimus,' &c. 'Quis tam avidus librorum helluo,' who can read
them? As already, we shall have a vast chaos and confusion
of books; we are oppressed with them; our eyes ake with
reading, our fingers with turning," &c. This is painting _ad
vivum_--after the life. We see and feel every thing
described. Truly, none but a thorough master in
bibliomaniacal mysteries could have thus thought and
written! See "_Democritus to the Reader_," p. 10; perhaps
the most highly finished piece of dissection in the whole
_anatomical work_.]

About this period lived LORD LUMLEY; a nobleman of no mean reputation as a bibliomaniac. But what shall we say to Lord Shaftesbury's eccentric neighbour, HENRY HASTINGS? who, in spite of his hawks, hounds, kittens, and oysters,[346] could not for [Transcriber's Note: extraneous 'for'] forbear to indulge his book propensities though in a moderate degree! Let us fancy we see him, in his eightieth year, just alighted from the toils of the chase, and listening, after dinner, with his "single glass" of ale by his side, to some old woman with "spectacle on nose" who reads to him a choice passage out of John Fox's _Book of Martyrs_! A rare old boy was this Hastings. But I wander--and may forget another worthy, and yet more ardent, bibliomaniac, called JOHN CLUNGEON, who left a press, and some books carefully deposited in a stout chest, to the parish church at Southampton. We have also evidence of this man's having _erected a press_ within the same; but human villany has robbed us of every relic of his books and printing furniture.[347] From Southampton, you must excuse me if I take a leap to London; in order to introduce you into the wine cellars of one JOHN WARD; where, I suppose, a few choice copies of favourite authors were sometimes kept in a secret recess by the side of the oldest bottle of hock. We are indebted to Hearne for a brief, but not uninteresting, notice of this _vinous_ book collector.[348]

[Footnote 346: Of the bibliomaniacal spirit of LORD LUMLEY
the reader has already had some slight mention made at pages
273, 281, ante. Of HENRY HASTINGS, Gilpin has furnished us
with some anecdotes which deserve to be here recorded. They
are taken from Hutchin's _Hist. of Dorsetshire_, vol. ii.,
p. 63. "Mr. HASTINGS was low of stature, but strong and
active, of a ruddy complexion, with flaxen hair. His cloaths
were always of green cloth. His house was of the old
fashion; in the midst of a large park, well stocked with
deer, rabbits, and fish-ponds. He had a long narrow bowling
green in it, and used to play with round sand bowls. Here
too he had a banquetting room built, like a stand in a large
tree. He kept all sorts of hounds, that ran buck, fox, hare,
otter, and badger; and had hawks of all kinds, both long and
short winged. His great hall was commonly strewed with
marrow-bones, and full of hawk-perches, hounds, spaniels,
and terriers. The upper end of it was hung with fox-skins of
this and the last year's killing. Here and there a pole-cat
was intermixed, and hunter's poles in great abundance. The
parlour was a large room, completely furnished in the same
style. On a broad hearth, paved with brick, lay some of the
choicest terriers, hounds, and spaniels. One or two of the
great chairs had litters of cats in them, which were not to
be disturbed. Of these, three or four always attended him at
dinner, and a little white wand lay by his trencher, to
defend it, if they were too troublesome. In the windows,
which were very large, lay his arrows, cross-bows, and other
accoutrements. The corners of the room were filled with his
best hunting and hawking poles. His oyster table stood at
the lower end of the room, which was in constant use twice a
day, all the year round; for he never failed to eat oysters
both at dinner and supper, with which the neighbouring town
of Pool supplied him. At the upper end of the room stood a
small table with a double desk; one side of which held a
CHURCH BIBLE: the other the BOOK OF MARTYRS. On different
tables in the room lay hawks'-hoods, bells, old hats, with
their crowns thrust in, full of pheasant eggs, tables, dice,
cards, and store of tobacco pipes. At one end of this room
was a door, which opened into a closet, where stood bottles
of strong beer and wine; which never came out but in single
glasses, which was the rule of the house, for he never
exceeded himself, nor permitted others to exceed. Answering
to this closet was a door into an old chapel; which had been
long disused for devotion; but in the pulpit, as the safest
place, was always to be found a cold chine of beef, a
venison pasty, a gammon of bacon, or a great apple-pye, with
thick crust, well baked. His table cost him not much, though
it was good to eat at. His sports supplied all but beef and
mutton, except on Fridays, when he had the best of fish. He
never wanted a London pudding, and he always sang it in with
"_My part lies therein-a_." He drank a glass or two of wine
at meals; put syrup of gilly-flowers into his sack, and had
always a tun glass of small beer standing by him, which he
often stirred about with rosemary. He lived to be an
hundred, and never lost his eyesight, nor used spectacles.
He got on horseback without help, and rode to the death of
the stag till he was past fourscore." Gilpin's _Forest
Scenery_, vol. ii., pp. 23, 26. I should add, from the same
authority, that Hastings was a neighbour of Anthony Ashley
Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, with whom (as was likely
enough) he had no cordial agreement.]

[Footnote 347: "In the northern chapel which is parted from
the side aile by a beautiful open Gothic screen, is a
handsome monument to the memory of the lord Chancellor
Wriothesly, and a _large and costly standing chest_, carved
and inlaid, and stated, by an inscription on its front, to
have been given, _with the books in it_, by JOHN CLUNGEON.
The inscription is as follows:

"John, the sonne of John Clungeon of this towne, Alderman,
_erected this presse_ and gave certain books, who died, anno
1646.

"The books are, however, now gone, and the surplices, &c.
are kept in the chest." See a tasteful and elegantly printed
little volume, entitled "_A Walk through Southampton_;" by
Sir H.C. Englefield, Bart. 1801, 8vo., p. 64.]

[Footnote 348: Ward is described by Hearne as being "a
citizen and vintner of London," and "a lover of
antiquity's." He had a copy of the _Chartulary of
Dunstaple_, in MS., which was put by Wanley into the
Harleian collection. The following entry is too much of a
characteristic trait, not to be gratifying to the palate of
a thorough bred bibliomaniac; it relates to the said
Chartulary:--"also this vellum, at both ends of the booke,
was then added, put in, and inserted, at the costs of the
said Mr. (JOHN) WARD, in the said yeare of our Lord, 1655,

_s._ _d._
binding and claspes 4 00
vellum 4 00"

_Annals of Dunstaple Priory_, vol. i., p. xxx., note.]

LIS. If Master Cox, "by profession a mason," and living in the country, could have collected such a cabinet of romances and ballads--why should not a wine merchant, living in the metropolis, have turned his attention to a similar pursuit, and have been even more successful in the objects of it?

PHIL. I know not; particularly as we have, at the present day, some commercial characters--whose dealings in trade are as opposite to books as frogs are to roast beef--absolute madmen in search after black-letter, large paper, and uncut copies! But proceed, Lysander.

LYSAND. Such was the influence of the _Book Mania_ about, or rather a little before, this period that even the sacred retirement of a monastery, established upon Protestant principles, and conducted by rules so rigid as almost to frighten the hardiest ascetic, even such a spot was unable to resist the charms of book-collecting and book-embellishment. How St. Jerome or St. Austin would have lashed the FERRAR FAMILY[349] for the gorgeous decorations of their volumes, and for devoting so much precious time and painful attention to the art and mystery of Book-binding! Yes, Lisardo; it is truly curious to think upon the _Little Gidding Monastery_--near which, perhaps, were

----"rugged rocks, that holy knees had worn--"

and to imagine that the occupiers of such a place were infected--nay, inflamed--with a most powerful ardour for curious, neat, splendid, and, I dare venture to affirm, matchless copies of the several volumes which they composed! But I will now hasten to give very different evidence of the progress of this disease, by noticing the labours of a bibliomaniac of first rate celebrity; I mean ELIAS ASHMOLE:[350] whose museum at Oxford abundantly proves his curious and pertinacious spirit in book-collecting. His works, put forth under his own superintendence, with his name subjoined, shew a delicate taste, an active research, and, if we except his _Hermetical_ propensities, a fortunate termination. His "opus maximum" is the _Order of the Garter_; a volume of great elegance both in the composition and decorations. Your copy of it, I perceived, was upon _large paper_; and cost you--

[Footnote 349: It remains here to make good the above
serious charges brought against the ancient and worthy
family of the FERRARS; and this it is fully in my power to
do, from the effectual aid afforded me by Dr. Wordsworth, in
the fifth volume of his _Ecclesiastical Biography_; where
the better part of Dr. Peckard's Life of Nicholas Ferrar is
published, together with some valuable and original addenda
from the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth. Be it, however,
known to Dr. Wordsworth, and the reviewer of the
Ecclesiastical Biography in the _Quarterly Review_, vol.
iv., pp. 93, 103, that Hearne had previously published a
copious and curious account of the monastery at Little
Gidding in the supplement to his _Thom. Caii. Vind.
Antiquit. Oxon._, 1730, 8vo., vol. ii.: which, as far as I
have had an opportunity of examining Dr. Wordsworth's
account, does not appear to have been known to this latter
editor. We will now proceed to the bibliomaniacal anecdotes
of NICHOLAS FERRAR, SENIOR AND JUNIOR. "Amongst other
articles of instruction and amusement, Mr. FERRAR (senior)
entertained an ingenious _Book-binder_ who taught the
family, females as well as males, the whole art and skill of
_book-binding_, gilding, lettering, and what they called
pasting-printing, by the use of the rolling press. By this
assistance he composed a full harmony, or concordance, of
the four evangelists, _adorned with many beautiful
pictures_, which required more than a year for the
composition, and was divided into 150 heads or chapters."
There is then a minute account of the mechanical process (in
which the nieces assisted) how, by means of "great store of
the best and strongest white paper, nice knives and
scissars, pasting and rolling-press" work--the arduous task
was at length accomplished: and Mary Collet, one of Mr.
Ferrar's nieces, put the grand finishing stroke to the
whole, by "doing a deed"--which has snapt asunder the
threads of Penelope's web for envy:--"She bound the book
entirely, ALL WROUGHT IN GOLD, in a new and most elegant
fashion." The fame of this book, or concordance, as it was
called, reached the ears of Charles I., who "intreated"
(such was his Majesty's expression) to be favoured with a
sight of it. Laud and Cousins, who were then chaplains in
waiting, presented it to the King; who "after long and
serious looking it over, said, 'This is indeed a most
valuable work, and in many respects to be presented to the
greatest prince upon earth: for the matter it contains is
the richest of all treasures. The laborious composure of it
into this excellent form of _an Harmony_, the judicious
contrivance of the method, the curious workmanship in so
neatly cutting out and disposing the text, _the nice laying
of these costly pictures, and the exquisite art expressed in
the binding_, are, I really think, not to be equalled. I
must acknowledge myself to be, indeed, greatly indebted to
the family for THIS JEWEL: and whatever is in my power I
shall, at any time, be ready to do for any of them.'"
_Eccles. Biogr._, vol. v., 172-8. This was spoken, by
Charles, in the true spirit of a Book-Knight! Cromwell, I
suppose, would have shewn the same mercy to this treasure as
he did to the madonnas of Raffaelle--thrown it behind the
fire, as idolatrous! The nephew emulated and eclipsed the
bibliomaniacal celebrity of his uncle. At the age of
twenty-one, he executed three books (or "works" as they are
called) of uncommon curiosity and splendour. Archbishop
Laud, who had a keen eye and solid judgment for things of
this sort (as the reader will find in the following pages)
undertook to introduce young Ferrars to the King. The
introduction is told in such a pleasing style of _naiveté_,
and the manual dexterity of the young bibliomaniac is so
smartly commended by Charles, that I cannot find it in my
heart to abridge much of the narrative. "When the king saw
the Archbishop enter the room, he said, 'What have you
brought with you those _rarities_ and _jewels_ you told me
of?' 'Yea, sire,' replied the bishop; 'here is the YOUNG
GENTLEMAN and his works.' So the bishop, taking him by the
hand, led him up to the king. He, falling down on his knees,
the king gave him his hand to kiss, bidding him rise up. The
box was opened, and NICHOLAS FERRAR, first presented to the
king that book made for the prince; who taking it from him,
looking well on the outside, which was _all green velvet,
stately and richly gilt all over, with great broad strings,
edged with gold lace, and curiously bound_, said, 'Here is a
fine book for Charles, indeed! I hope it will soon make him
in love with what is within it, for I know it is good,' &c.
And lo! here are also store of _rare pictures_ to delight
his eye with! &c., &c. Then, turning him to the Lord of
Canterbury, he said, 'Let this young gentleman have your
letters to the princes to-morrow, to Richmond, and let him
carry this present. It is a good day, you know, and a good
work would be done upon it.' So he gave Nicholas Ferrar the
book; who, carrying it to the box, took out of it a very
large paper book, which was the FOURTH WORK, and laid it on
the table before the king. 'For whom,' said the king, 'is
this model?' 'For your majesty's eyes, if you please to
honour it so much.' 'And that I will gladly do,' said the
king, 'and never be weary of such sights as I know you will
offer unto me.' The king having well perused the title page,
beginning, 'The Gospel of our Lord and blessed Saviour,
Jesus Christ, in eight several languages,' &c., said unto
the lords, 'You all see that one good thing produceth
another. Here we have more and more rarities; from print now
to pen. These are fair hands, well written, and as well
composed.' Then replied the Lord of Canterbury, 'When your
majesty hath seen all, you will have more and more cause to
admire.' 'What!' said the king, 'is it possible we shall
behold yet more rarities?' then said the bishop to Nicholas
Ferrar, 'Reach the other piece that is in the box:' and this
we call the FIFTH WORK; the title being _Novum Testamentum,
&c., in viginti quatuor linguis, &c._ The king, opening the
book, said, 'Better and better. This is the largest and
fairest paper that ever I saw.' Then, reading the
title-page, he said, 'What is this? What have we here? The
incomparablest book this will be, as ever eye beheld. My
lords, come, look well upon it. This finished, must be the
EMPEROR OF ALL BOOKS. It is the crown of all works. It is an
admirable masterpiece. The world cannot match it. I believe
you are all of my opinion.' The lords all seconded the king,
and each spake his mind of it. 'I observe two things amongst
others,' said the king, 'very remarkable, if not admirable.
The first is, how is it possible that a young man of
twenty-one years of age (for he had asked the Lord of
Canterbury before, how old Nicholas Ferrar was) should ever
attain to the understanding and knowledge of more languages
than he is of years; and to have the courage to venture upon
such an Atlas work, or Hercules labour. The other is also of
high commendation, to see him write so many several
languages, so well as these are, each in its proper
character. Sure so few years had been well spent, some men
might think, to have attained only to the _writing_ thus
fairly, of these twenty-four languages!' All the lords
replied his majesty had judged right; and said, except they
had seen, as they did, the young gentleman there, and the
book itself, all the world should not have persuaded them to
the belief of it." _Ecclesiastical Biography_, vol. v., pp.
216, 220. But whatever degree of credit or fame of young
FERRARS might suppose to have been attached to the execution
of these "pieces," his emulation was not damped, nor did his
industry slacken, 'till he had produced a specimen of much
greater powers of book-decoration. His appetite was that of
a giant; for he was not satisfied with any thing short of
bringing forth a volume of such dimensions as to make the
bearer of it groan beneath its weight--and the beholders of
it dazzled with its lustre, and astonished at its amplitude.
Perhaps there is not a more curious book-anecdote upon
record than the following. "Charles the 1st, his son
Charles, the Palsgrave, and the Duke of Lennox, paid a visit
to the monastery of Little Gidding, in Huntingdonshire--the
abode of the Ferrars."--"Then, the king was pleased to go
into the house, and demanded where the GREAT BOOK was, that
he had heard was made for Charles's use. It was soon brought
unto him; and the _largeness_ and _weight_ of it was such
that he that carried it seemed to be _well laden_. Which the
duke, observing, said, 'Sir, one of your strongest guard
will but be able to carry this book.' It being laid on the
table before the king, it was told him that, though it were
then fairly bound up in _purple velvet_, that the outside
was not fully finished, as it should be, for the prince's
use and better liking. 'Well,' said the king, 'it is very
well done.' So he opened the book, the prince standing at
the table's end, and the Palsgrave and Duke on each side of
the king. The king read the title page and frontispice all
over very deliberately; and well viewing the form of it, how
adorned with _a stately garnish of pictures, &c._, and the
curiousness of the writing of it, said, 'Charles, here is a
book that contains excellent things. This will make you both
wise and good.' Then he proceeded to turn it over, leaf by
leaf, and took exact notice of all in it: and it being _full
of pictures of sundry mens cuts_, he could tell the
palsgrave, who seemed also to be knowing in that kind, that
this and this, and that and that, were of such a man's
graving and invention. The prince all the while greatly eyed
all things; and seemed much to be pleased with the book. The
king having spent some hours in the perusal of it, and
demanding many questions was occasion as, concerning the
contrivement, and having received answers to all he
demanded, at length said, 'It was only _a jewel for a
Prince_, and hoped CHARLES would make good use of it: and I
see and find, by what I have myself received formerly from
this good house, that they go on daily in the prosecution of
these excellent pieces. They are brave employments of their
time.' The Palsgrave said to the prince, 'Sir, your father
the king is master of the goodliest ship in the world, and I
may now say you will be master of the GALLANTEST GREATEST
BOOK in the world: for I never saw _such paper_ before; and
believe there is no book of this largeness to be seen in
Christendom.' 'The paper and the book in all conditions,'
said the king, 'I believe it not to be matched. Here hath
also in this book not wanted, you see, skill, care, nor
cost.' 'It is a most admirable piece,' replied the Duke of
Richmond. So the king, closing the book, said, 'Charles,
this is yours.' He replied, 'But, Sir, shall I not now have
it with me?' Reply was made by one of the family, 'If it
please your highness, the book is not _on the outside so
finished_ as it is intended for you, but shall be, with all
expedition, done, and you shall have it.' 'Well,' said the
king, 'you must content yourself for a
while.'"--_Ecclesiastical Biography_, vol. v., p. 237.]

[Footnote 350: In the year 1774, was published an octavo
volume, containing the lives of WILLIAM LILLY the
astrologer, and ELIAS ASHMOLE the antiquary: two of the
greatest _cronies_ of their day. The particulars of
Ashmole's life are drawn from his own _Diary_, in which is
detailed every thing the most minute and ridiculous; while
many of the leading features in his character, and many
interesting occurrences in his life, are wholly suppressed.
The editor has not evinced much judgment in causing
posterity to be informed when Ashmole's "_great and little
teeth ached, or were loose_:" when his "_neck break forth,
occasioned by shaving his beard with a bad razor_" (p. 312);
when "_his maid's bed was on fire, but he rose quickly
(thanking God) and quenched it_" (p. 313); and when he
"_scratched the right-side of his buttocks, &c., and applied
pultices thereunto, made of white bread crums, oil of roses,
and rose leaves_;" (p. 363--and see particularly the long
and dismal entries at p. 368.) All this might surely have
been spared, without much injury to the reputation of the
sufferer. Yet, in some other minute entries, we glean
intelligence a little more interesting. At p. 324, we find
that Ashmole had quarrelled with his wife; and that "Mr.
Serjeant Maynard observed to the Court that there were 800
sheets of depositions on his wife's part, and not one word
proved against him of using her ill, or ever giving her a
bad or provoking word:" at page 330, we find Ashmole
accompanying his heraldic friend Dugdale, in his
"visitations" of counties; also that "his picture was drawn
by Le Neve in his herald's coat:" Loggan afterwards drew it
in black lead: p. 352. But here again (p. 353) we are
gravely informed that "_his tooth, next his fore tooth in
his upper jaw, was very loose, and he easily pulled it out,
and that one of his middle teeth in his lower jaw, broke out
while he was at dinner_." He sat (for the last time) for "a
second picture to Mr. Ryley," p. 379. Ashmole's intimacy
with Lilly was the foundation of the former's (supposed)
profundity in alchemical and astrological studies. In this
Diary we are carefully told that "Mr. Jonas Moore brought
and acquainted him with Mr. William Lilly, on a Friday
night, on the 20th of November," p. 302. Ashmole was then
only 26 years of age; and it will be readily conceived how,
at this susceptible period, he listened with rapture to his
master's exposition of the black art, and implicitly adopted
the recipes and maxims he heard delivered. Hence the pupil
generally styled himself _Mercuriophilus Anglicus_, at the
foot of most of his title-pages: and hence we find such
extraordinary entries, in the foresaid diary, as the
following: "This night (August 14, 1651) about one of the
clock, I fell ill of a surfeit, occasioned by drinking
_water after Venison_. I was greatly oppressed in my
stomach; and next day Mr. Saunders, _the astrologian_, sent
me a piece of briony-root to hold in my hand; and within a
quarter of an hour my stomach was freed from that great
oppression," p. 314. "Sep. 27, 1652, I came to Mr. John
Tompson's, who dwelt near Dove Bridge; he used a call, and
had responses in a soft voice," p. 317. At p. 318 is
narrated the commencement of his acquaintance with the
famous Arise Evans, a Welsh prophet: whose "_Echo from
Heaven_," &c., 2 parts, 1652, 12mo., is a work noticed by
Warburton, and coveted by bibliomaniacs. Yet one more
quack-medicine entry: "March 11, 1681. I took early in the
morning a good dose of Elixir, and hung three spiders about
my neck, and they drove my ague away--Deo gratias!" p. 359.
It seems that Ashmole always punctually kept "_The
Astrologer's Feast_;" and that he had such celebrity as a
curer of certain diseases, that Lord Finch the Chancellor
"sent for him to cure him of his rheumatism. He dined there,
but would not undertake the cure," p. 364. This was behaving
with a tolerable degree of prudence and good sense. But let
not the bibliomaniac imagine that it is my wish to degrade
honest old Elias Ashmole, by the foregoing delineation of
his weaknesses and follies. The ensuing entries, in the said
Diary, will more than counterbalance any unfavourable effect
produced by its precursors; and I give them with a full
conviction that they will be greedily devoured by those who
have been lucky enough to make good purchases of the entire
libraries of deceased characters of eminence. In his 37th
year, Ashmole "bought of Mr. Milbourn all his books and
mathematical instruments;" and the day after (N.B. "8
o'clock, 39 min. post merid.") "he bought Mr. Hawkins's
books," p. 312. In the ensuing year he "agreed with Mrs.
Backhouse, of London, for her deceased husband's books," p.
313. He now became so distinguished as a successful
bibliomaniac that Seldon and Twysden sought his
acquaintance; and "Mr. Tredescant and his wife told him that
they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their
_closet of curiosities_, and at last had resolved to give it
unto him," p. 326. Having by this time (A.D. 1658) commenced
his famous work upon _The Order of the Garter_, he was
introduced to Charles II.: kissed hands, and was appointed
by the king "to make a description of his medals, and had
them delivered into his hands, and _Henry the VIIIth's
closet_ assigned for his use," p. 327. In this same year
came forth his "_Way to Bliss_;" 4to.: a work so invincibly
dull that I despair of presenting the reader with any thing
like entertainment even in the following heterogeneous
extract: "When our natural heat, the life of this little
world, is faint and gone, the body shrinks up and is
defaced: but bring again heat into the parts, and likewise
money into the bankrupt's coffers, and they shall be both
lusty, and flourish again as much as ever they did. But how
may this heat be brought again? To make few words, even as
she is kept and held by due _meat_ and _motion_; for if she
faint, and falleth for want of them only, then give her
them, and she shall recover herself again. Meat is the bait
that draws her down: motion comes after, like a _Gad-Bee_,
to prick her forward; but the work is performed in this
order. First this meat, which is that fine and æthereal oyl
often above-described, by the exceeding piercing swifteness,
divides, scatters, and scowres away the gross and foul dregs
and leavings which, for want of the tillage of heat, had
overgrown in our bodies, and which was cast, like a blockish
stay-fish in the way, to stay the free course of the ship of
life: these flying out of all sides, abundantly pluck up all
the old leavings of hair, nails, and teeth, by the roots,
and drive them out before them: in the mean while, our
medicine makes not onely clear way and passage for life, if
she list to stir and run her wonted race (which some think
enough of this matter), but also scattereth all about her
due and desired meat, and first moisture to draw her
forward. By which means our life, having gotten both her
full strength and liveliness, and returned like the sun in
summer into all our quarters, begins to work afresh as she
did at first; (for being the same upon the same, she must
needs do the same) knitting and binding the weak and loose
joynts and sinews, watering and concocting all by good
digestion; and then the idle parts like leaves shall, in
this hot summer, spring and grow forth afresh, out of this
new and young temper of the body: and all the whole face and
shew shall be young again and flourishing," pp. 119, 120.
With such a farrago of sublime nonsense were our worthy
forefathers called upon to be enlightened and amused! But I
lose sight of Ashmole's _book-purchases_. That he gave away,
as well as received, curious volumes, is authenticated by
his gift of "five volumes of Mr. Dugdale's works to the
Temple Library:" p. 331. "Again: I presented the public
library at Oxford with three folio volumes, containing a
description of the Consular and Imperial coins there, which
I had formerly made and digested, being all fairly
transcribed with my own hand," p. 332. But mark well: "My
first boatful of books, which were carried to Mrs.
Tredescant's, were brought back to the Temple:" also, (May
1667) "I bought Mr. John Booker's study of books, and gave
140_l._ for them," p. 333. In the same year that his _Order
of the Garter_ was published, his "good friend Mr. Wale sent
him Dr. DEE'S original books and papers," p. 339. But he yet
went on buying: "Nil actum reputans, dum quid superesset
agendum:" for thus journalises our super-eminent
bibliomaniac:--(June 12, 1681) "I bought Mr. Lilly's library
of books of his widow, for fifty pounds," p. 360. In August,
1682, Ashmole went towards Oxford, "to see the building
prepared to receive his rarities;" and in March, 1683, "the
last load of his rarities was sent to the barge." In July,
1687, he received a parcel of books from J.W. Irnhoff, of
Nurembergh, among which was his _Excellentium Familiarum in
Gallia Genealogia_: p. 379. But it is time to put an end to
this unwieldly note: reserving the account of Ashmole's
_Order of the Garter_, and _Theatrum Chemicum_, for the
ensuing one--and slightly informing the reader, of what he
may probably be apprized, that our illustrious bibliomaniac
bequeathed his museum of curiosities and library of books to
his beloved ALMA MATER OXONIENSIS--having first erected a
large building for their reception. It is justly said of
him, in the inscription upon his tombstone,

DURANTE MUSÆO ASHMOLEANO OXON.
NUNQUAM MORITURUS.

A summer month might be profitably passed in the Ashmolean
collection of Books! Let us not despair that a complete
_Catalogue Raisonné_ of them may yet be given.]

LOREN. Not eight guineas--although you were about to say _fourteen_!

LYSAND. Even so. But it must have been obtained in the golden age of book-collecting?

LOREN. It was obtained, together with an uncut copy of his _Theatrum Chemicum_,[351] by my father, at the shop of a most respectable bookseller, lately living, at Mews-Gate, and now in Pall-Mall--where the choicest copies of rare and beautiful books are oftentimes to be procured, at a price much less than the extravagant ones given at book-sales. You observed it was bound in blue morocco--and by that Coryphæus of book-binders, the late ROGER PAYNE!

[Footnote 351: First let us say a few words of the THEATRUM
CHEMICUM BRITANNICUM, as it was the anterior publication. It
contains a collection of ancient English poetical pieces
relating to Alchemy, or the "Hermetique Mysteries;" and was
published in a neat quarto volume, in 1652; accompanied with
a rich sprinkling of plates "cut in brass," and copious
annotations, at the end, by Ashmole himself. Of these
plates, some are precious to the antiquary; for reasons
which will be given by me in another work. At present, all
that need be said is that a fine tall copy of it brings a
fair sum of money. I never heard of the existence of a
_large paper_ impression. It went to press in July 1651; and
on the 26th of January following, "the first copy of it was
sold to the Earl of Pembroke:" see the Diary, pp. 313-315.
In May, 1658, Ashmole made his first visit to the Record
Office in the Tower, to collect materials for his work of
"THE ORDER OF THE GARTER." In May following, Hollar
accompanied the author to Windsor, to take views of the
castle. In the winter of 1665, Ashmole composed a "good part
of the work at Roe-Barnes (the plague increasing)." In May,
1672, a copy of it was presented to King Charles II.: and in
June, the following year, Ashmole received "his privy-seal
for 400_l._ out of the custom of paper, which the king was
pleased to bestow upon him for the same." This, it must be
confessed, was a liberal remuneration. But the author's
honours increased and multiplied beyond his most sanguine
expectations. Princes and noblemen, abroad and at home, read
and admired his work; and Ashmole had golden chains placed
round his neck, and other superb presents from the greater
part of them; one of which (from the Elector of
Brandenburgh) is described as being "composed of ninety
links, of philagreen links in great knobs, most curious
work," &c. In short, such was the golden harvest which
showered down upon him on all sides, on account of this
splendid publication, that "he made a feast at his house in
South Lambeth, in honour to his benefactors of the work of
THE GARTER." I hope he had the conscience to make HOLLAR his
Vice-President, or to seat him at his right hand; for this
artist's _Engravings_, much more than the author's
composition, will immortalize the volume. Yet the
artist--died in penury! These particulars relating to this
popular work, which it was thought might be amusing to the
lover of fine books, have been faithfully extracted from the
'forementioned original and amusing Diary. _The Order of the
Garter_ was originally sold for 1_l._ 10_s._ See _Clavel's
Catalogue_, 1675, p. 31.]

LYSAND. I observed it had a "glorious aspect," as bibliographers term it.

LIS. But what has become of Ashmole all this while?

LYSAND. I will only further remark of him that, if he had not suffered his mind to wander in quest of the puzzling speculations of alchemy and astrology--which he conceived himself bound to do in consequence, probably, of wearing John Dee's red velvet night cap--he might have mingled a larger portion of common sense and sound practical observations in his writings.

But a truce to worthy old Elias. For see yonder the bibliomaniacal spirit of ARCHBISHOP LAUD pacing your library! With one hand resting upon a folio,[352] it points, with the other, to your favourite print of the public buildings of the University of Oxford--thereby reminding us of his attachment, while living, to literature and fine books, and of his benefactions to the Bodleian Library. Now it "looks frowningly" upon us; and, turning round, and shewing the yet reeking gash from which the life-blood flowed, it flits away--

Par levibus ventis, volucrique simillima somno!

[Footnote 352: ARCHBISHOP LAUD, who has [Transcriber's Note:
was] beheaded in the year 1644, had a great fondness for
sumptuous decoration in dress, books, and ecclesiastical
establishments; which made him suspected of a leaning
towards the Roman Catholic religion. His life has been
written by Dr. Heylin, in a heavy folio volume of 547 pages;
and in which we have a sufficiently prolix account of the
political occurrences during Laud's primacy, but rather a
sparing, or indeed no, account of his private life and
traits of domestic character. In Lloyd's _Memoirs of the
Sufferers_ from the year 1637 to 1660 inclusive (1668, fol.)
are exhibited the articles of impeachment against the
Archbishop; and, amongst them, are the following
bibliomaniacal accusations. "Art. 5. Receiving a _Bible_,
with a crucifix embroidered on the cover of it by a lady.
Art. 6. A book of popish pictures, _two Missals_,
Pontificals, and Breviaries, which he made use of as a
scholar. Art. 7. His (own) admirable _Book of Devotion_,
digested according to the ancient way of canonical hours,
&c. Art. 19. _The book of Sports_, which was published first
in King James his reign, before he had any power in the
church; and afterward in King Charles his reign, before he
had the chief power in the church," &c., pp. 235-237. But if
Laud's head was doomed to be severed from his body in
consequence of these his bibliomaniacal frailties, what
would have been said to the fine copy of one of the
_Salisbury Primers or Missals_, printed by Pynson UPON
VELLUM, which once belonged to this archbishop, and is now
in the library of St. John's College, Oxford?! Has the
reader ever seen the same primate's copy of the _Aldine
Aristophanes_, 1498, in the same place? 'Tis a glorious
volume; and I think nearly equals my friend Mr. Heber's
copy, once Lord Halifax's, of the same edition. Of Laud's
benefactions to the Bodleian Library, the bibliographer will
see ample mention made in the _Catalogus Librorum
Manuscriptorum Angliæ, Hiberniæ_, &c., 1697, folio. The
following, from Heylin, is worth extracting: "Being come
near the block, he (Laud) put off his doublet, &c., and
seeing through the chink of the boards that some people were
got under the scaffold, about the very place where the block
was seated, he called to the officer for some dust to stop
them, or to remove the people thence; saying, it was no part
of his desire 'that his blood should fall upon the heads of
the people.' Never did man put off mortality with a better
courage, nor look upon his bloody and malicious enemies with
more christian charity." _Cyprianus Anglicus_; or the _Life
and Death of Laud_; 1668, fol.; p. 536. In the Master's
library at St. John's, Oxford, they shew the velvet cap
which it is said Laud wore at his execution; and in which
the mark of the axe is sufficiently visible. The archbishop
was a great benefactor to this college. Mr. H. Ellis, of the
Museum, who with myself were "quondam socii" of the same
establishment, writes me, that "Among what are called the
king's pamphlets in the British Museum, is a fragment of a
tract, without title, of fifty-six pages only, imperfect;
beginning, 'A briefe examination of a certaine pamphlet
lately printed in Scotland, and intituled _Ladensium
Autocatacrisis_,' &c., 'The Cantabarians Self-Conviction.'
On the blank leaf prefixed, is the following remark in a
hand of the time. 'This Briefe Examen following, was found
in the Archbishop's (Laud?) Library, wher the whole
impression of these seauen sheets was found, but nether
beginning nor ending more then is hearein contained. May
11th, 1644.' This work, (continues Mr. Ellis,) which is a
singular and valuable curiosity, is in fact a personal
vindication of Archbishop Laud, not only from the slanders
of the pamphlet, but from those of the times in general: and
from internal evidence could have been written by no one but
himself. It is in a style of writing beyond that of the
ordinary productions of the day."]

Peace, peace, thou once "lofty spirit"--peace to thy sepulchre--always consecrated by the grateful student who has been benefited by thy bounty!

Perhaps Laud should have been noticed a little earlier in this list of bibliomanical heroes; but, having here noticed him, I cannot refrain from observing to you that the notorious HUGH PETERS revelled in some of the spoils of the archbishop's library; and that there are, to the best of my recollection, some curious entries on the journals of the House of Commons relating to the same.[353]

[Footnote 353: I am indebted to the same literary friend who
gave me the intelligence which closes the last note, for the
ensuing particulars relating to HUGH PETERS; which are taken
from the journals of the lower house: "Ao. 1643-4. March 8.
Ordered, that a study of books, to the value of 100_l._ out
of such books as are sequestered, be forthwith bestowed upon
Mr. PETERS." _Journals of the House of Commons_, vol. ii.,
p. 421. "Ao. 1644. 25 April. Whereas this House was formerly
pleased to bestow upon Mr. Peters books to the value of
100_l._, it is this day ordered that Mr. Recorder, Mr.
Whitlock, Mr. Hill, or two of them, do cause to be delivered
to Mr. Peters, to the value of 100_l._, books out of the
private and particular study of the ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY." _Id._, vol. iii., p. 469. "Ao. 1644. 26 Junij.
Dies publicæ Humiliationis. Mr. Peters made a large and full
relation of the state of the western counties, and of the
proceedings of my Lord General's army, since its coming
thither," &c. "Whereas, formerly, books to the amount of
100_l._ were bestowed upon Mr. Peters out of the
archbishop's private library, and whereas the said study is
appraised at above 40_l._ more than the 100_l._, it is
ordered this day that Mr. Peters shall have the whole study
of books freely bestowed upon him." _Id._ p. 544. "Ao. 1660.
May 16. Ordered, That all books and papers, heretofore
belonging to the library of the archbishop of Canterbury,
and now, or lately, in the hands of Mr. HUGH PETERS, be
forthwith secured." In Ashmole's life, before the first
volume of his Antiq. of Berkshire, it is said in Aug. 1660,
"Mr. Ashmole had a commission to examine that infamous
buffoon and trumpeter of rebellion, Hugh Peters, concerning
the disposal of the pictures, jewels, &c., belonging to the
royal family, which were committed chiefly to his care, and
sold and dispersed over Europe: which was soon brought to a
conclusion by the obstinacy or ignorance of their criminal,
who either would not, or was not able to, give the desired
satisfaction."]

LIS. This is extraordinary enough. But, if I well remember, you mentioned, a short time ago, the name of BRAITHWAIT as connected with that of Peacham. Now, as I persume [Transcriber's Note: presume] Lorenzo has not tied down his guests to any rigid chronological rules, in their literary chit-chat, so I presume you might revert to Braithwait, without being taxed with any great violation of colloquial order.

LYSAND. Nay, I am not aware of any _bookish_ anecdote concerning Braithwait. He was mentioned with Peacham as being a like accomplished character.[354] Some of his pieces are written upon the same subjects as were Peacham's, and with great point and elegance. He seems, indeed, to have had the literary credit and moral welfare of his countrymen so much at stake that, I confess, I have a vast fondness for his lucubrations. His "_English Gentlewoman_" might be reprinted with advantage.

[Footnote 354: The talents of RICHARD BRAITHWAIT do not
appear to me to be so generally known and highly commended
as they merit to be. His _Nursery for Gentry_, 1651, 4to.
(with his portrait in an engraved frontispiece by Marshall),
is written with the author's usual point and spirit; but, as
I humbly conceive, is a less interesting performance than
his _English Gentleman_, 1633, 4to. (with a frontispiece by
Marshall), or _English Gentlewoman_, 1631, 4to. (also with a
frontispiece by the same artist). There is a terseness and
vigour in Braithwait's style which is superior to that of
his contemporary, Peacham; who seems to excel in a calm,
easy, and graceful manner of composition. Both these eminent
writers are distinguished for their scholastic and
gentlemanly attainments; but in the "divine art of poesy"
(in which light I mean here more particularly to display the
powers of Braithwait) Peacham has no chance of being
considered even as a respectable competitor with his
contemporary. Mr. George Ellis, in his pleasing _Specimens
of the early English Poets_, vol. iii., p. 103, has selected
two songs of Braithwait "from a work not enumerated by
Wood;" calling the author, "a noted wit and poet." His fame,
however, is not likely to "gather strength" from these
effusions. It is from some passages in _The Arcadian
Princesse_--a work which has been already, and more than
once, referred to, but which is too dislocated and
heterogeneous to recommend to a complete perusal--it is from
some passages in _this_ work that I think Braithwait shines
with more lustre as a poet than in any to which his name is
affixed. Take the following miscellaneous ones, by way of
specimens. They are sometimes a little faulty in rhyme and
melody: but they are never lame from imbecility.

----he has the happiest wit,
Who has discretion to attemper it.
And of all others, those the least doe erre,
Who in opinion are least singular.
Let Stoicks be to opposition given,
Who to extreames in arguments are driven;
Submit thy judgment to another's will
If it be good; oppose it mildly, ill.

_Lib._ iv., p. 7.

Strong good sense has been rarely exhibited in fewer lines
than in the preceding ones. We have next a vigorously drawn
character which has the frightful appellation of

_Uperephanos_, who still thought
That th' world without him would be brought to nought:
For when the dogge-starre raged, he used to cry,
"No other Atlas has the world but I.
I am that only _Hee_, supports the state;
Cements divisions, shuts up Janus' gate;
Improves the publike fame, chalks out the way
How princes should command, subjects obey.
Nought passeth my discovery, for my sense
Extends itself to all intelligence."
&c. &c. &c.
So well this story and this embleme wrought,
_Uperephanos_ was so humble brought,
As he on earth disvalu'd nothing more,
Than what his vainest humour priz'd before.
More wise, but lesse conceited of his wit;
More pregnant, but lesse apt to humour it;
More worthy, 'cause he could agnize his want;
More eminent, because less arragant.
In briefe, so humbly-morally divine,
He was esteem'd the _Non-such_ of his time.

_Id._, pp. 8, 11.