  List of MSS. and Miscellaneous Objects of interest exhibited in the Library. GLASS CASE NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE LIBRARY.1. A Telugu MS. on palm-leaves, brought from India by Sir Thos. Strange, formerly Chief Justice of Madras, together with a style employed for writings of this kind, and a pocket-knife. Given by Sir T. Strange's daughter, Mrs. Edmund Foulkes, in 1864. 2. Drawings and engravings of Buddhist idols; brought from a Joss-house in a Llama monastery in Pekin, in 1862, and given to the Library by Lieut.-Col. Gibbes Rigaud, of the 60th Rifles. 3. Autograph book of distinguished visitors. This book commences at the year 1820. Among the autographs which it contains may be mentioned the following in particular:—
Until the year 1861 it was also the custom for all graduates of Cambridge and Dublin who were admitted ad eundem to enter their names in this book; it is to this custom that we owe possession of the signature of the ex-Metropolitan of New Zealand 4. New Testament, said to be bound in a piece of a waistcoat of King Charles I. See p. 53. 5. Another, bound by the Sisters of Little Gidding. See p. 53. 6. Xiphilini Epitome Dionis NicÆi; Gr. 4to. Par. printed by Rob. Stephens, 1551. Bound in a handsomely tooled and gilt calf binding, in the Grolier style, with the badge of Dudley, Earl of Leicester, viz. the Bear and Ragged Staff, in the centre. Bequeathed by Selden. 7. Bacon's Essays; in a worked binding. See p. 51. 8. Specimen of the early Block-books, or books printed from engraved blocks before the invention of moveable types; being the Apocalypse, represented in a series of rudely-engraved scenes, with short explanatory descriptions. This is a copy of the edition called by Mr. S. Leigh Sotheby, in his Principia Typographica, the Second; it belonged to Mr. Douce, who bought it for thirty-one guineas at Mr. Inglis' sale 9. The first book printed from moveable types; being a very fine copy, of the grand Latin Bible, printed by Gutenberg at Mentz about 1455. See p. 202. A copy was sold at the auction of the library of the Duke of Sussex, in 1844, for the moderate sum of £190; when the same copy, however, was re-sold at the auction of the library of Dr. Daly, Bishop of Cashel, in 1858, it produced no less than £596. 10. A copy of the first book printed in the English language, being The Recuyell of the Histories of Troy, printed by Caxton, most probably at Bruges, about 1472. This copy wants three leaves; it was given to the Library in 1750, by James Bowen, a painter of Shrewsbury, well known as a local antiquarian. A second copy, which wants seven leaves, is also in the Library. A copy, wanting forty-four leaves, was sold at Utterson's sale in 1852 to the Earl of Ashburnham for £155. 11. The English Bible, translated by Myles Coverdale from the Vulgate, and printed abroad in 1535. This copy of the first complete Bible printed in our language, is one of the largest and soundest known to be in existence, although, like almost all other copies, it wants the title. It was formerly in the possession of Selden. A facsimile title, engraved by Mr. Fry, of Bristol, from the Marq. of Northampton's copy, accompanies it, together with another leaf in facsimile, from the Earl of Leicester's copy. Another and more imperfect copy came to the Library among the books 12. Hieronymus (rectius, Rufinus) de Symbolo Apostolorum; printed at Oxford in 1468. See p. 111. 13. Latin verses in the autograph of Milton. See p. 45. 14. The original MS. of Addison's Letter (in verse) from Italy to Lord Halifax. A Rawlinson MS. 15. Letter from Alex. Pope to H. Cromwell, Esq.; dated July 15, 1711. The same volume contains various other letters from the same to the same, which were printed by Curll in 1727; one by Dryden, three by J. Norris of Bemerton, three short notes from Young, and several letters by Ladies Hester Pakington and Mary Chudleigh. It belongs to the Rawlinson collection of MSS. 16. Letter from Archbp. Laud to Sir W. Boswell, the English Resident at the Hague; dated from Lambeth, Nov. 26, 1638. It refers to libels printed in Holland, and particularly to one against Laud, supposed to be then printing at Amsterdam, entitled, The Beast is Wounded. 'I thanke God I trouble not myselfe much with these things; but am very sorry for the Publicke, which suffers much by them.' Bought in 1863 at a sale at the Hague for £7 17s., together with a letter on diplomatic business signed by Sir Thomas Bodley, and dated at the Hague, April 11, 1589, which is now bound in the same volume. 17. Archbp. Laud's formal Letter of resignation of his office as Chancellor of the University, signed by himself, and dated from the Tower, June 22, 1641. In Latin; on parchment. Endorsed by Ant. À Wood with this memorandum: 'Given to me by Rob. Whorwood, of Oxon, Gent., 29 Feb., 1679 18. Lord Clarendon's Letter, resigning the same office upon his going into exile; written in a secretary's hand, but signed by himself. Very touching and beautiful. It runs as follows:— 'For Mr. Vicechancellor of Oxford. 'Having found it necessary to transport myselfe out of England, and not knowing when it will please God that I shall returne againe; it becomes me to take care that the University may not be without the service of a person better able to be of use to them, then I am like to be; and I doe therefore hereby surrender the office of Chancellor into the hands of the said University, to the end that they make choyce of some other person better qualifyed to assist and protect them then I am, I am sure he can never be more affectionate to it. I desire you, as the last suite I am like to make to you, to believe that I doe not fly my Country for guilt, and how passionately soever I am pursued, that I have not done any thing to make the University ashamed of me, or to repent the good opinion they had once of me, and though I must have noe farther mention in your publique devotions (which I have alwayes exceedingly valued) I hope I shall be alwayes remembred in your private prayers as 'Good Mr. Vicechancellor, 19. A volume of the Papers of W. Bridgeman, Under-secretary of State to James II (bequeathed to the Library by Dr. R. Rawlinson; see p. 173), open at a leaf containing the original declaration written and signed by the Duke of Monmouth, on the day of his execution, of the nullity of his claim to the Crown. The following is a copy:— 'I declare yt ye title of King was forct upon mee, & yt it was very much contrary to my opinion when I was proclam'd. For ye satisfaction of the world I doe declare that ye late King told mee that Hee was never married to my Mother. 'Haveing declar'd this I hope yt the King who is now will not let my Children suffer on this Account. And to this I put my hand this fifteenth day of July, 1685. 'MONMOUTH. Beside it is placed the Proclamation of James II, ordering the apprehension of all persons dispersing the Declaration issued by Monmouth upon his landing in England; dated but one short month previously, June 15, 1685. The same volume contains two letters from Monmouth to the King, begging for his life, and one to the Queen. These have been frequently printed. 20. A Sanscrit roll, written at the end of the last century, containing In a wooden case. One of the Frazer MSS. 21. A magnificent folio volume, containing a series of illustrations of Scripture History from Genesis to Job; written about the beginning of the fourteenth century. Each page contains, in double columns, four pairs of miniatures painted, in medallion-form, upon a gorgeous ground of gold; the first of each pair represents some historical scene, which the second treats allegorically, and applies to the condition of the Church or of individual Christians. Two other volumes are to be found in the British Museum, and in the Imperial Library at Paris. 22. A small oaken platter, bearing the following inscription: 'This Salver is part of that Oak in which his Majesty K. Charles the 2d, Concealed himself from the Rebells, and was given to this University by Mrs. LÆtitia Lane.' The donor was the daughter of Col. John Lane, the chief agent in the King's escape from Worcester; she died in 1709 23. Specimen of Javanese writing, being a letter from a Javanese Chief to the Resident of Soorabaya. The seal bears the date of 1780. 24. Small specimen of an Arabic MS. 25. A fragment in large Persian characters. 26. A specimen of Malabaric writing, upon a palm-leaf, three feet in length. 'Aug. 9, 1630. Ex dono Jo. Trefusis, generosi Cornubiensis, e Coll. Exon.' 27. A Russian painting upon a shell, representing a female saint called S. Parasceve, ? ???a ?a?as?e??, who is found in the Greek Menology, but whose history is believed by the Bollandists to be a pious fiction. 28. A Hebrew Bible, beautifully written in the fourteenth century; in triple columns, with the Masoretic commentary written in very minute characters, and frequently in fantastic figures, round each page. One of the Oppenheimer MSS. 29. HorÆ. An illuminated MS. of the middle of the fifteenth century, in 4to., probably by a French scribe and artist. From the Canonici collection. 30. Another MS. of the Hours, in folio, of the fifteenth century, beautifully illuminated, with many miniatures varying in the treatment of some of the scenes which they represent from the common type. Traditionally said, but on what evidence does not appear, to have belonged to Henry VIII. 31. A third fifteenth-century MS. of the Hours, in 8vo. From the Rawlinson collection. 32. A fourth MS. of the Hours, very early in the fifteenth century, or about the close of the fourteenth. Also from the Rawlinson collection. All these copies of the HorÆ appear to be of French execution. 33. A pair of long white leather gloves, worked with gold thread, which were worn by Queen Elizabeth when she visited the University in 1566 34. A Latin exercise book, in 4to., which appears to have been filled up by Edward VI and his sister Elizabeth, jointly. Sentences written by the former are dated from Jan. 1548-9 to Aug. 1549. The boy-monarch has written his own name in several parts of the book. It came to the Bodleian 'ex dono doctissimi viri P. Junii, Bibliothecarii Regii, A.D. 1639.' Patrick Young also gave another book in Edward's handwriting in folio, containing Greek and Latin phrases, written very neatly in 1551-1552 35. Mexican Hieroglyphics; painted on a long skin of leather. 36. The Book of Proverbs, written by Mrs. Esther Inglis. See p. 48. 37. Two Runic Primstaves, or wooden Clog-Almanacks: one in the form of a walking stick; the other, an oblong block, with a handle. See pp. 105, 161. An engraving of the second may be found in the Anglican Church Calendar illustrated, published by Messrs. Parker. And a description of these primitive Calendars is given by Plot in his Natural History of Staffordshire, 1686, pp. 418-432, where there is an engraving of a Clog which was still in use in Staffordshire at that time. 38. Eight small wooden tablets, apparently a pocket-edition of a Clog-Almanack, with very quaint figures. Given by Archbp. Laud. 39. The Book of Enoch, in Æthiopic. See p. 267. 40. A Persian poem, by Jami, on the history of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Written A.D. 1569, and decorated with some very good paintings and arabesque borders One of Greaves' MSS. 41. A specimen of Telugu writing on palm-leaves; being an almanack for the year 1630. Given by Archbp. Laud. 42. A French panegyrical poem, presented to Queen Elizabeth, in 1586, by Georges de la Motthe, a French refugee; with a prefatory address in prose. Enriched with an exquisite portrait of the Queen, in all the grandeur of her wide circumference, and with golden hair of very prononcÉe hue; and with a great variety of beautifully-executed monograms, symbols, &c. around each page. The binding is richly tooled and covered with designs; while in the centre on either side, protected by glass, are brilliant bosses, said to be composed of humming-birds' feathers. 'Ex dono ornatissimi, simul ac optimÆ spei, juvenis D. Johannis Cope, armigeri, equitis aurati, baronetti f. natu maximi, olim Reginensis Oxon, AlmÆ Matris ergÔ. 4 Cal. Jan. 1626.' On a fly-leaf at the end is attached a fragment from some English theological treatise, in wonderfully minute, although clear, handwriting. 43. The Koran, on a long and narrow roll, very elegantly written in minute characters. Given by Archbp. Laud. 44. A Syriac fragment, on three leaves of paper. 45. A specimen of Chinese printing, on rice-paper. 46. A specimen of the Papyrus-plant, in its natural state. 47. A fine MS. of the Koran, from the library of Tippoo Sahib at Seringapatam. Given by the East India Company in 1806; see p. 208. 48. A small Egyptian mummy-figure, of baked clay. Given by Archbp. Laud. 49. A Burmese MS., written in large black characters on thirty-nine gilded palm-leaves. 'Taken from a priest's chest in an idol-house of the deserted village of Myanoung, on the Irawaddy, thirty-five miles below Prome, April 17, 1825.' Given by Rev. Joseph Dornford, Oriel College, Nov. 8, 1830. IN THE OPPOSITE, OR NORTH, WING.A large glass case containing a series of MSS. executed by English scribes, arranged chronologically, so as to exhibit the progress and development of the arts of caligraphy and illuminating in England. 1. King Alfred's Anglo-Saxon version of the treatise De cura pastorali of Pope Gregory the Great, being the copy sent by the King to Werfrith, Bishop of Worcester. Given by Lord Hatton; see p. 100. 2. A beautiful Latin Psalter of the tenth century, written in Anglo-Saxon characters, with an interlinear translation, and decorated with grotesque initial letters. Junius MS. 37. The volume is frequently called Codex Vossianus, from its having been in the possession of Isaac Voss, who gave it to Junius. Facsimiles are given by Professor Westwood, in his PalÆographia Sacra, and in his new and splendid book of Fac-similes of the Miniatures and Ornaments of Anglo-Saxon and Irish MSS 3. The Four Gospels, in Latin, written in Anglo-Saxon characters, about the beginning of the eleventh century. Noticed in Westwood's Miniatures, &c. (ut supra), p. 123. It appears to have belonged to the abbey at Barking, a gift of tithes at Laleseie, by Adam, son of Leomar de Cochefeld, being entered on a leaf at the end by order of the abbess Ælfgiva. Now numbered Bodl. 155. 4. The famous Anglo-Saxon metrical paraphrase of parts of Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, &c. by CÆdmon The MS. is considered to have been written about A.D. 1000. The latest description of the volume is in Westwood's magnificent book of Fac-similes. See p. 102. 5. The Psalter, Canticles, &c., in Latin, with a Calendar; written in the first half of the eleventh century. Noticed in Westwood's Miniatures and Ornaments, &c., p. 122. Douce, 296. 6. A twelfth-century volume containing, besides various historical works, a Bestiary, or Natural History of Beasts, illustrated with very curious drawings. Given by Archbp. Laud. 7. A Bestiary of the beginning of the thirteenth century, enriched with many very curious paintings upon a ground of brilliant gold. Ashmole, 1511. 8. Another Bestiary, of slightly later date, illuminated in the same manner. Bodl. 764. 9. The Apocalypse, illustrated in a series of very curious drawings, lightly coloured. Executed about 1250. These illuminations have been pronounced by Mr. Coxe, to be, with little or no doubt, executed by the same hand as those of MS. Ee. III. 59. in the University Library, Cambridge, a volume which contains a Life of Edward the Confessor, in French verse, and which was printed in 1858, under the editorship of H. R. Luard, M.A., in the series of Chronicles published under the authority of the Master of the Rolls. In this Life is found a particular description of Westminster Abbey, which is not elsewhere met with, and it is consequently inferred that the writer was a monk of that church. And in the course of the restorations which are now being carried on in the Chapter House (which was built about 1250), a series of mural paintings, illustrating the history of St. John, has been brought to light, one of which is a representation similar to that in the Bodley MS. of St. John 'ante portam Latinam,' and in both cases the cauldron bears the same inscription of 'Dolium ferventis olei.' 10. A Primer, written about the middle of the fourteenth century. The arms of Edw. III (England 1 and 4, France 2 and 3) are painted on the first leaf. One of Rawlinson's MSS. 11. A beautiful Psalter, which belonged to Peterborough Cathedral. 'Psalterium fratris Walteri de Rouceby,' followed by the Canticles, Athanasian Creed, Litany, &c. A Calendar is prefixed, with Peterborough obits, from which it appears that Rouceby died May 4, 1341. A series of nineteen miniatures, illustrating the life of our Blessed Lord and of the Virgin Mary, precedes the Psalter. The arms of Edward III appear at the head of Ps. i. One of Bp. Barlow's MSS.; in 1604 it belonged to one John Harborne. 12. A Psalter, with Canticles, Hymns, &c., written in the latter half of the fourteenth century. Apparently one of Rawlinson's MSS. 13. 'Ye Dreme of Pilgrimage of ye Soule, translated out of French [of G. Guilevile] into Inglissh, with somwhat of addicions of ye translatour, ye zeere of our Lord, 1400.' Illustrated with curious coloured drawings. A precursor of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, with which it has been compared. It was printed by Caxton in 1483, and his edition was reprinted in 1859. This MS. was given to the Library, apparently in Bodley's time, by Sir James Lee, Knt. 14. Commentary on the Passion of our B. Lord ('Scripta super totam Written (as a final colophon records) by Ralph de Medyltone at Ingham (Suffolk?), A.D. 1405, for Sir Miles de Stapiltone. A drawing of the Crucifixion at the beginning. Bodl. MS. 758. 15. 'The Mirroure of the Worlde, that some calleth Vice and Vertu;' translated from the Latin of Laurence the Frenchman (Laur. Gallus), and illustrated with some drawings of remarkable grace and spirit, supposed to be by some Flemish artist. A MS. of the early part of the fifteenth century; on paper. Bodl. 283. 16. HorÆ, formerly in the possession of Queen Mary I. See p. 42. 17. Treatise of Roger Bacon, 'de retardacione accidentium senectutis;' with two drawings. Middle of the fifteenth century. Bodl. MS. 211. 18. An English astrological Calendar, in six divisions, folded for the pocket; written in the latter half of the fourteenth century. Extremely curious; contains prognostications of the weather, fatality of the seasons, &c., accompanied with innumerable figures of saints, illustrations of prognostics, the symbols found on the Runic Clog-Almanacks, the occupations of the several months, the signs of the Zodiac, and two quaint figures respectively labelled 'Harry ye Haywarde' with his dog 'Talbat,' and 'Peris ye Pyndare.' Formerly kept in a tin box. It contains the following note by T. Hearne: 'Oct. 17, 1719. This strange odd book (upon which I set a very great value, having never seen the like) was given me by the Rt. Reverend Father in God William [Fleetwood] Lord Bishop of Ely, to whom I am oblig'd upon many other accounts.' 19. An Historical Roll, upwards of thirteen feet long, showing the descent of the English Kings, from the expedition of Jason in search of the Golden Fleece to the accession of Edward I (1272). Formerly belonging to the Abbey of St. Mary at York. Illustrated with representations of various scenes up to the landing of Brute in the Isle of Wight, and thenceforward with portraits of the monarchs. 20. Map of the Holy Land, on a paper roll, nearly seven feet long; written, apparently, in the first half of the fifteenth century. In the Douce collection. Engraved in facsimile during the past year, 1867, for the Roxburghe Club, to illustrate the Itineraries of William Wey, which were edited by Rev. G. Williams, B.D., for the same Club, from Bodl. MS. 565, in 1857. The Map in many points agrees very closely with the latter, but contains also some discrepancies, and is somewhat earlier in date. 21. A Psalter, with the usual Canticles, Litany, &c.; written about the middle of the fourteenth century. This magnificent volume was given by Robert de Ormesby, a monk of Norwich, to the choir of the Cathedral Church, 'ad jacendum coram Suppriore qui pro tempore fuerit inperpetuum.' It is illustrated with illuminations most beautifully executed, In a separate glass case adjoining the preceding (in which was formerly exhibited a fine specimen of the typography of the Royal Press at Berlin, in a German Bible given by the King of Prussia) is now displayed a fine Bible printed at Glasgow in 1862, in two folio volumes, and illustrated with very beautiful photographs by Frith, which was called the Queen's Bible from its being dedicated by permission to Her Majesty. In a glass case in the adjoining window is a German Bible, printed in 1541, with texts on the fly-leaves in the handwriting of Luther and Melanchthon, whose signatures, although much defaced by some possessor, are still very legible. See p. 245. IN A GLASS CASE, WEST END OF THE LIBRARY.1. Plinii Historia Naturalis; in folio. Printed 1476. From the Douce collection. See p. 250. 2. Breviary and Psalter according to the use of the Carthusian Order; written about 1480. A specimen of Italian art, from the Canonici collection. 3. HorÆ B. M. Virg. 12mo. An exquisite MS., of the school of Albert Durer, executed for Bona Sforza. See p. 249. 4. Psalter, on purple vellum, written about the close of the ninth century. From the old library of the kings of France. See p. 249. A MS. of the HorÆ, written on purple vellum, about 1500, is among the Canonici MSS. 5. Boccaccio's Il Filocalo; in folio, of the fifteenth century. A beautiful MS., with five exquisite miniatures, and interlaced arabesque borders of the richest character. A facsimile, with a notice of the book, will be found in Shaw's Illuminated Ornaments. From the Canonici collection. 6. HorÆ, quarto; fourteenth century. A beautiful book. From the Douce collection. 7. HorÆ, small quarto; end of the fifteenth century. The illuminations possess exquisite softness and delicacy. Also from the Douce collection. 8. The Miracles of the B. Virgin, in French. A Douce MS., in folio, 9. HorÆ, in quarto. A beautiful Douce book, the work of a French scribe in and about the year 1407. 10. HorÆ, in duodecimo. Another gem from the Douce collection, executed about the year 1500, for the Emperor Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy his wife. The margins are adorned with charming figures of birds, and in one instance a border is filled with representations of pottery and glass. 11. HorÆ, in quarto, of the commencement of the sixteenth century; from the Douce collection. An exquisite specimen of Flemish art. It belonged to Mary de Medici. 12. HorÆ, in small folio. A most sumptuous volume, executed about 1410. The illuminations are of the school of Van Eyck. The borders of birds, butterflies, flowers, landscapes, &c., are marvels of nature in art; and many of the initials are distinguished by the utmost delicacy in design and finish in execution. Also from the Douce collection. 13. Quatuor Evangelia; commencement of the seventh century. See p. 24. 14. Letters of Queen Henrietta Maria to Charles I before their marriage; in French. The volume forms part of the Clarendon State Papers, and contains fifteen of the Queen's letters, besides some from the King, and other documents. 15. Latin Translation by Queen Elizabeth, while Princess, of an Italian sermon by Bern. Ochini, De Christo; written entirely by herself, and sent as a New-year's gift to her brother Edward VI It forms a small 8vo. volume of thirty-six pages, on vellum, and was given to the Library by J. Bowle, of Idmerston, Aug. 15, 1765. The following dedication (hitherto unprinted) is prefixed by the Princess:— 'Augustissimo et serenissimo Regi Edvardo Sexto. Si aliquid hoc tempore haberem (Serenissime Rex) quod mihi ad dandum esset accommodatum, & Maiestati tuÆ congruens ad accipiendum, equidem de hac re vehementer lÆtarer. Tua Maiestas res magnas & excellentes meretur, et mea facultas exigua tantum suppeditare potest, sed quamvis facultate possim minima, tamen animo tibi maxima prestare cupio, & quum ab aliis opibus superer, a nemine amore & benevolentia vincor. Ita iubet natura, authoritas tua commouet, & bonitas me hortatur, ut cum princeps meus sis te officio obseruem, & cum frater meus sis vnicus & amantissimus, intimo amore afficiam. Ecce autem pro huius noui anni felici auspicio, & observantiÆ meÆ testimonio, offero M. T. breuem istam Bernardi Ochini orationem, ab eo ItalicÈ primum scriptam, & a me in latinum sermonem conuersum. Argumentum 'Maiestatis tuÆ, 16. A Persian treatise, in prose and verse, on ethics and education, entitled, Beharistan, or, The Season of Spring; by Nurruddin Abdurrahman, surnamed Djami. The MS. was written at Lahore, for the Emperor of Hindustan, A.D. 1575, by Muhammed Hussein, a famous scribe, who was called the Pen of Gold; and illustrated by sixteen painters. Its modern velvet binding is adorned with gold corners and bosses; and a bag in which it was kept lies beside it. From the collection of Sir Gore Ouseley. 17. Evangeliarium, MS. in folio; of the tenth century. A fine MS., which formerly belonged to the abbey of St. Faron, near Meaux; bought at the sale of M. Abel-Remusat's library in 1833, by Mr. Payne, and sold to Douce, apparently for the sum of £31 10s. On the cover is an ivory diptych; in the centre, a figure of our Blessed Lord treading on 'the lion and adder, the young lion and dragon;' around, twelve scenes from His life and miracles. 18. Ivory triptych eleven inches high; North Italian work, of the fifteenth century. In the centre the Blessed Virgin and Child between St. Leonard and another saint; on the wings, St. John the Evangelist and St. Lawrence 19. Evangelia, secundum Matt. et Marc. A fine Douce MS. of the eleventh century, bound in thick boards, overlaid on one side with a brass plate, whereon are engraved the four Evangelists, with angels; in the centre, an ivory carving of our Lord, with the Evangelistic symbols. 20. Metal-Work. i. Crucifix; enamelled. ii. The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian; small, on brass. iii. Four enamelled round tablets, bearing portraits of 'Le iv. Two small enamelled representations of March and May. v. Dolphin, with boy on his back (the Dauphin); motto, 'Qui pense ma ... vy advient.' vi. Heads, enamelled, of the following Roman Emperors; Julius CÆsar, Augustus, Claudius and Otho. vii. English pocket-almanac, in brass, 1554-1579, with tidal tables for English ports, a compass, &c. On one side of its case is the following inscription:— 'Aske me not, for ye Gett me not.—'R. P.' viii. A small copper figure of our Blessed Lord, crowned and robed, with eyes open, and arms extended. The following account is given by Hearne in a volume of his MS. collections 'About five years since the workmen in digging the gardens that formerly belong'd to St. Frideswyd's, Oxford, found a crucifix; the figure in pontifical robes, enamelled and gilt, with stones in the arms and breast. It came afterwards into the hands of Mr. Edw. Thwaites of Queen's College, who gave it to the Bodleian Library, where in the Physick schoole 'tis now reserved, and seems to be very ancient.' A drawing of the figure made for Thwaites by J. T. [alman] lies beside it, which was given to the Library by the late Dr. Wellesley. The figure resembles a crucifix found at Lucca, of the seventh century. 21. Psalterium; close of thirteenth century. Bound in solid silver, on which are engraved the Annunciation and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, seen beneath a coloured transparency which gives an appearance of great richness to the otherwise uncoloured silver. A beautifully decorated volume, given by Sir Rob. Cotton to William Butler, M.D. of Cambridge, in 1614; and to the Bodleian, July 15, 1648, by Dame Anne Sadler, wife of Ralph Sadler, of Stonden, Herts. The following objects of interest are dispersed in various parts of the Library:— AT THE EAST END.1. A drawing by Holbein, framed and glazed, being a design for a cup. On the back is the following note:—'This is an original drawing by Hans Holbein, was actually executed, and in the possession of Queen Anna Bulleyn, 2. The original drawing, as is supposed, by Raffaele, for his picture of Attila stopped on his approach to Rome by the apparition of SS. Peter and Paul. Framed and glazed. This and the preceding form part of the Douce collection. 3. Bust of Sir T. Bodley. See p. 26. 4. Bust of Charles I. See p. 61. 5. Small marble bust of Napoleon. Bequeathed by Capt. Montagu in 1863. See p. 299. 6. Engraved facsimile of the Rosetta Stone, published by the Antiquarian Society in 1803. 7. Egyptian scroll. [Five other Egyptian fragments hang at the other end of the Library.] 8. Map of England and Scotland, on parchment. Written in the fourteenth century. See p. 212, note. 9. An armillary sphere, in bronze, supported by three lions. Given by Capt. Josias Bodley. See p. 21. 10. Two small bronzes; one representing Narcissus contemplating his face in the stream; the other, Cupids disporting themselves on the backs of Tritons. 11. A plaster cast of young Bacchanals leading the goat. 12. A wood carving, coarsely executed, representing Hercules spinning, and exposed by Omphale to the ridicule of two female visitors. 13. Bronze, in fine alto-relievo, of Curtius leaping into the gulf in the Forum at Rome. 14. Carving, in soap-stone, of the Judgment of Solomon. 15. A geometrical, eleven-sided figure, inclosing an open and hollow iron ball with sixty sides, and surmounting a small pillar representing the five orders of architecture. Around the base of the column are eight other geometrical figures, with vacant spaces for two which have been lost. [Probably all the preceding articles, 10-15, came from Rawlinson.] 16. Model, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Bequeathed by Dr. Mason in 1841. See p. 265. 17. Four specimens of papyrus-rolls from Herculaneum, burnt to a crust. Presented to the Library by George IV. See p. 216. 18. Piece of wood from the south side of the curious timber Church at Greensted in Essex, built A.D. 1013. Presented by Mr. James Dix, of Bristol, Feb. 10, 1865. 19. Specimen of ornamental writing by Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, whose name is so well known in England, first, from his having accompanied Mr. Layard during his Assyrian researches, and next from his, now happily ended, captivity in Abyssinia; consisting of various chapters from the Old and New Testaments, in Chaldee, Arabic, and Turkish, beautifully written in the form of two angels supporting a cross, within a border. Presented by Mr. Rassam on leaving Oxford in January, 1849, after a stay of some months, as a mark of thanks for the manner in which he had been received. It occupied only forty-eight hours in execution, as he himself told the present writer AT THE WEST END.20. Sir Thomas Bodley's bell. See p. 33. 21. Maps of Oxford and Cambridge, by Ralph Aggas; the former dated 1578, the latter 1592; about three feet by four in size. These extremely curious and valuable maps were bequeathed by Dr. Rawlinson. Having become decayed and dilapidated by exposure, they were some few years ago carefully mounted on canvas, on a wooden frame, and covered with glass; by which means they are effectually secured from further injury of the same kind. 22. Four drawings of heads by Raffaele, or Giulio Romano. See p. 251. IN THE LIBRARIAN'S STUDY.23. A Roman inscription on a brazen plate:— FLORAE Given by Dr. Rawlinson. An engraving is extant, among the many which were executed for Rawlinson of various relics in his miscellaneous collection. It is described on the engraving as being 'Ex regiis ChristinÆ thesauris.' 24. A small plaster cast of the head of Torquato Tasso, from a wax model made by Mr. N. Marchant from a cast taken after Tasso's death, and preserved in the Convent of St. Onofrio at Rome, where his death occurred. IN THE OPPOSITE SUB-LIBRARIAN'S STUDY.25. A warrior on horseback, enamelled on copper, and marked 'Ezechias.' 26. A Greek painting on wood of St. George and the Dragon. 27. Another Greek painting on wood, on a gold ground, apparently representing two angels bowing before the Blessed Virgin, &c. 28. Heads of our Blessed Lord, and of King Charles I, painted on copper. See p. 148. 29. A Phoenician inscription, on stone. See p. 162. The following Portraits hang in the Library:— 1. Sir T. Bodley. By Corn. Jansen. 2. All the Librarians from James to Bowles; with a small engraved sketch of Price, and a photograph of Dr. Bandinel, taken in the year of his resignation of office. There are no portraits of Fysher or Owen. 3. Archbishops Usher and Laud; Bishops Crewe and Atterbury; Deans Nowell, Aldrich, and Hickes; Erasmus, Wanley, Lye, Gassendi, Sir Thos. Wyat, two of Chaucer, Gower, Junius (sketch by Vandyke), two of Selden (with his arms painted on panel), Sir K. Digby, Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia; Frederick, Elector Palatine; Mr. Sutherland. 4. Drawing of Thos. Alcock. By Cooper. Bequeathed by Rawlinson. The following note is written on the back:— 'This picture was drawne for mee at the Earle of Westmoreland's house at Apethorpe, in Northamptonshire, by the greate (tho' little) Limner, the then famous Mr. Cooper of Covent-Garden, when I was eighteen years of age. 'THOMAS ALCOCK, Preceptor.' 5. Pen-and-ink sketch of Ant. À Wood, dated 1677. 6. Pencil drawing of Pope. Bequeathed by Rawlinson. 7. Drawing of F. Douce. 8. Engraved portrait of Camden. Eighteen Oxford Almanacs, between the years 1812 and 1833, decorate the middle of the room. PICTURE GALLERY.A Catalogue of the Pictures (which are now exclusively Portraits) was printed some years ago by the Janitor. Since then, the following additions have been made Froben, the printer. By Holbein. Bequeathed by Rawlinson. Oliver Plunket, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh; executed in 1681. On panel. Bequeathed by Rawlinson. James Edward, the 'old Chevalier,' and his wife Clementina Sobieski. See p. 169. Bequeathed by Rawlinson. Sir R. Chambers, Chief Justice of Bengal. Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart. By Richmond. Dr. Routh, President of Magdalen College. By Thomson. Dr. Daniel Wilson, Bishop of Calcutta. The Earl of Derby. By Grant. See p. 281. The Prince of Wales. By Gordon. See p. 304. The following Curiosities and Models are exhibited in the Gallery:— 1. Chair made from the wood of Sir F. Drake's ship. See p. 94. 2. Chair of Henry VIII. See ib. 3. Guy Fawkes' Lantern. See p. 97. 4. A series of casts of various ancient Temples and other buildings. See p. 236. 5. Model, in teak wood, of a subterranean palace and reservoir, in Guzerat; beautifully carved, and exhibiting the whole of the interior construction and arrangement. Presented in 1842 by Sir J. W. Awdry, Chief Justice of Bombay. 6. Cases of Italian medals, medals by Dassier of English sovereigns, &c. See p. 182. 7. Two plaster casts of monuments from Nineveh, now in the British Museum, with cuneiform inscriptions. 8. Model, in papier-machÉ, of the Martyrs' Memorial, beautifully executed. Presented in 1844 by the late Rev. Vaughan Thomas, B.D. 9. Plaster model of the Waltham Cross. Presented by the same donor. 10. Casts of the Elgin marbles. 11. Alabaster model of the Cathedral at Calcutta. Given by the late Bishop Wilson in 1846. This beautiful model was executed at Pisa; it was exhibited in the Italian department of the Great Exhibition in 1861. 12. A large and fine model in cork, of the Amphitheatre at Verona; by Dubourg. 13. Model of the Royal Yacht in 1697. 14. Glass case, containing:— i. Two Chinese rolls, one silk, the other paper, containing coloured drawings of the banks of the river Tsing-Ming, with scenes illustrating the manners and amusements of the country. ii. Collection of Indian weapons presented by Mr. Elliott. See p. 291. iii. Series of clay figures, coloured, representing all degrees of rank, &c. among the Chinese. Brought by Col. Gibbes Rigaud, of the 60th Rifles, the donor, from Tien-tsin, and given in 1862. iv. Handbell from a temple at Tien-tsin. See p. 33. v. Small Chinese figure of a deity, in brass; from Pekin. vi. Half-burned copy of a Russian translation of the Pickwick Papers. Found in the Redan at Sebastopol, when that battery was stormed on Sept. 9, 1855. Given by Rev. F. J. Holt Beever in 1856. 15. Portrait, on a large roll, of the late Emperor of China, seated, with a bow and arrow in his hands. Above is an autograph inscription by the Emperor, in verse, in praise of archery. Brought by Col. Rigaud from the 'Summer Palace.' 16. Another glass case, containing:— i. A series of carved and coloured ivory tablets, representing Chinese life and manners, partly broken; with some grotesque figures, probably of deities, carved in wood. Believed to have been bequeathed by Rawlinson. ii. A series of small Chinese paintings on ivory. From the Douce collection. iii. Three sets of wooden roundels 'If that a bachelor thou bee Keepe thou so, still be ruled by mee, Leaste that repentance all to late Reward thee with a broken pate.' 'Content thyselfe with thyn estate, And send noo poor wight from thi gate: For why this councell I thee give To learne to die and die to lyve.' iv. A large set of wax impressions of seals. See p. 183. 17. Model, in wood, of the Temple at PÆstum. Carved by Mr. Thomas Wyatt, of Oxford, about 1830.
'Sir, 'I thank you heartily for your care of my books. And I beseech you that the Library-keeper may be very watchful to look to them since they stand unchain'd. And I would to God the place in the Library for them were once ready, that they might be set up safe, and chained as the other books are; and yet then, if there be not care taken, you may have some of the best and choisest tractats cut out of the covers and purloin'd, as hath been done in some other libraries.' 'W. CANT. |
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