A.D. 1629
The extremely valuable series of Greek MSS., called from its collector the Barocci Collection, comprising 242 volumes, was presented by Will. Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Chancellor of the University. The manner of its acquisition is recorded in Archbp. Usher’s correspondence. In a letter from Dublin of Jan. 22, 1628-9, Usher says: ‘That famous library of Giacomo Barocci, a gentleman of Venice, consisting of 242 manuscript volumes, is now brought into England by Mr. Featherstone the stationer86.’ He recommended that the King should buy it, and add to it the collection of Arabic MSS. which the Duke of Buckingham had bought of the heirs of Erpenius87. On April 13, 1629, Sir H. Bourgchier writing to Usher, tells him that the Earl of Pembroke has bought the collection, for the University of Oxford, at the price of £700, and that it consists of 250 volumes88. It was forwarded to the University with the following letter, which is here copied from the Convocation Register, R. 24 (f. 9b.):—
‘Good Mr. Vice-Chancelor,
‘Understanding of an excellent collection of Greke manuscripts brought from Venice, and thincking that they would bee of more use to the Church in being kept united in some publick Librarye then scattered in particular hands; remembring the obligation I had to my mother the Universitie, first for breeding mee, after for the honor they did mee in making mee their Chancelor, I was glad of this occasion to repay some part of that great debt I owe her. And therefore I sent you downe the collection entire, which I pray present with my beste love to the Convocation house. And I shall unfaynedly remaine,
‘Your most assured freind,
‘PEMBROKE.
‘Greenewich, the 25th of May, 1629.’
The Earl was willing that the MSS. should, if necessary, be allowed to be borrowed. And, in pursuance of this expressed wish, Patrick Young had, in 1648, the use of various MSS. from this collection, as we find from a memorandum at the end of the Register of Readers in 1648-9. But one MS. suffered in consequence considerable injury89. A further portion of the collection (consisting of 22 Greek MSS. and 2 Russian), which had been retained by the Earl, was subsequently purchased by Oliver Cromwell, and given by him to the Library in 1654. There they still bear the Protector’s name; but, strange to say, no entry of the gift appears in the Benefaction Book90. These are all fully described in the first volume of the general Catalogue of MSS., published by Rev. H. O. Coxe in 1853. A Catalogue of the Barocci and Roe MSS., by Dr. Peter Turner, of Merton College, beautifully written, filling 38 folio leaves, is bound up among Selden’s printed books, marked AA. 1. Med. Seld.
On Aug. 27, the Library was visited for the first time by King Charles and his Queen, little anticipating under what circumstances that visit would be repeated. He was received with an oration by the Public Orator, Strode, a copy of which is preserved in Smith MS. xxvi. 26, and which, in the exaggerated style of the Court-adulation of the time, began with words that sound blasphemously in our ears, ‘Excellentissime Vice-Deus.’ From the Library the King ascended to the leads of the Schools; and there discussed the proposed removal of some mean houses in Cat Street, which then intervened between the Schools and St. Mary’s Church. A plan of the ground and buildings was made at his desire, which was sent up to him at London.
Notes
86 In the following year Mr. Henry Featherstone, bookseller in London, gave to the Library a number of Hebrew books.
87 Parr’s Life of Usher, Letters, p. 400.
88 Ibid. Quoted in Sir H. Ellis’ Letters of Eminent Literary Men, Camden Soc., 1843. p. 130.
90 Richard Cromwell proposed at one time to perpetuate his own name in the Library, together with his father’s, by sending a collection of the addresses which had been made to him, in order to show the temper of the nation, and the readiness of the greatest persons ‘to compliment people on purpose for secular interest.’ Reliquiæ Hearn. i. 263.