CHAP. I. One ought to be curious in erecting of Libraries, and why?

ANd now, my Lord, since all the diffi­culty of this Designe consists, in that (being able to execute it with facility) You think fit to undertake it. It will be re­quisite, that, before we arrive at those Precepts which may serve to put it in exe­cution, we first deduce, and explain the reasons which are most likely to perswade You, that it is to Your advantage, and that You ought by no means to neglect it. For not to go far from the nature of this En­terprise, common sence will informe us, that it is a thing altogether laudable, ge­nerous, and worthy of a courage which breathes nothing but Immortality, to draw out of oblivion, conserve, and erect (like another Pompey) all these Images, not of the Bodies, but of the Minds of so many gallant men, as have neither spared their time, nor their Industry, to transmit to us the most lively features and representati­ons of whatsoever was most excellent and conspicuous in them. And this is also a [Page 7] thing which the younger Pliny (who was none of the least ambitious amongst the Romans) would seem particularly to en­courage us in, by that handsome expression in the first of his Epistles; Epist. 5. Mihi pulchrum in primis videtur, non pati occidere quibus aeternitas debetur: since this curious passage, not trivial and vulgar, may legitimately pass for one of those lucky presages, Lib. de utilit. ca­pienda ex adver. of which Cardan speaks in his Chapter de si­gnis eximiae potentiae; for that being extra­ordinary, difficult, and of great expence, it can no wayes be effected without giving every man occasion to speak well of it, and with Admiration, as it were, of him who puts it in Execution: Ibidem. Existimatio autem & opinio (sayes the same Author) rerum hu­manarum reginae sunt. And in earnest, if we finde it not strange that Demetrius made a shew and Parade of his Artillery, vast and prodigious Machines; Alexander the Great of his manner of encamping; the Kings of Aegypt of their Pyramides; nay Solomon of his Temple, and others of the like: since Tiberius well observes it in Taci­tus caeteris mortalibus in eo stare consilia quid sibi conducere putent, principlum diversam esse sortem, quibus omnia ad famam dirigenda: How much ought we then to esteem of [Page 8] those, who have never sought after these superfluous Inventions, and, for the most part, unprofitable; well judging and be­lieving, that there was no expedient more honest and assur'd, to acquire a great repu­tation amongst the people, than in erecting of fair and magnificent Libraries, to devote and consecrate them afterward to the use of the Publick? As true is it, that this Enterprise did never abuse nor deceive those who knew how to manage it well, and that it has ever been judg'd of such con­sequence, that not only particular persons have made it successeful to their own ad­vantage, as Richard de Bury, Bessarion, Vin­centius Pinelli, Sirlettus, Henry de Mesme your Grandfather of most happy memory, the English Knight Bodley, the late Presi­dent Thuanus, and a world of others; but that even the most ambitious would still make use of this, to crown and to perfect all their glorious atchievements, as with the Key-stone of the Arch, which adds lustre and ornament to all the rest of the Edifice. And I produce no other proofs and testi­monies of what I say, than those great Kings of Aegypt, and of Pergamus, Xerxes, Augustus, Lucullus, Charlemain, Alphonsus of Arragon, Matth. Corvinus, and that great [Page 9] Prince Francis the First, who have all of them had a particular affection, and sought (amongst the almost infinite number of Monarchs and Potentates, which have also practis'd this Stratagem) to amass great numbers of Books, and erect most curious and well furnisht Libraries: not that they stood in need of other subjects of recom­mendation and Fame, as having acquir'd sufficient by the Triumphs of their great and signal Victories; but because they were not ignorant, that those persons, qui­bus sola mentem animosque perurit gloria, should neglect nothing which may easily elevate them to the supream and Sovereign degree of esteem and reputation. And tru­ly, should one enquire of Seneca, what are to be the actions of these gallant and puissant Genius's, which seem not to have been sent into the world but to do Miracles, he would certainly answer us, Neminem excelsi ingenii virum humilia delectant & sor­dida, Epist. 39▪ magnarum rerum species ad se vocat & allicit. And therfore, my Lord, it seems very much to the purpose, since you govern and preside in all signal Actions, that you never content your self with a Medio­crity in things which are good and lauda­ble; and since you have nothing of mean [Page 10] and vulgar, that you should also cherish, above all others, the honour and reputation of possessing a Bibliotheque, the most per­fect, the best furnish'd and maintain'd of your time. In fine, if these Arguments have not power sufficient to dispose you to this Enterprise, I am at least perswaded, That of your particular satisfaction will of it self be sufficiently capable to make you resolve upon it: For if it be possible in this world to attain any sovereign good, any perfect and accomplisht felicity, I believe that there were certainly none more desireable than the fruitful entertainment, and most agree­able divertisement which might be received from such a Library by a learned man, and who were not so curious in having Books, ut illi sint coenationum ornamenta, Seneca c. 9. lib. 1. de Tran­quillitat. quam ut stu­diorum instrumenta, since from that alone he might with reason name himself Cosmo­politan, or Habitant of the Universe; that he might know all, see all, and be igno­rant of nothing. Briefly, seeing he is ab­solute Master of this Contentment, that he might manage it after his own fancie, enjoy it when he would, quit it when he pleas'd, entertain himself in it at his liber­ty; and that without contradiction, with­out travail, and without pains, he may in­struct [Page 11] himself, and learn the exactest parti­culars

I shall only adde then, for the result of of all these reasons, and of many other; that it is easier for you to conceive, than 'tis for any other to expresse it, that I pre­tend not hereby to engage you in a super­fluous and extraordinary expence, as being not at all of their opinion, who think Gold and Silver the principal nerves of a Library, and who perswade themselves, (esteeming Books only by the price they cost) that there is nothing good to be had but what is dearly purchased. Yet, neither is it my designe to perswade you, that so great a provision can be made with a shut purse, and without cost; very well knowing that the saying of Plautus is as true on this occa­sion, as in many others, Necesse est facere sumptum qui quaerit lucrum: but to let you see by this present Discourse, that there are an infinity of other expedients, which a man may make use of with a great deal more facility and lesse expence, to attain at last, the scope which I propose to you.

CHAP. II. How to inform ones self, and what we ought to know concerning the erecting of a Library.

AMongst these now, my Lord, I con­ceive there are none more profitable and necessary, than to be first well instruct­ed ones self, before we advance on this enterprise, concerning the order, and the method which we ought precisely to ob­serve to accomplish its end. And this may be effected by two means, sufficiently easie and secure. The First is, to take the counsel and advice of such as are able to give it, con­cert and animate us viva voce: supposing that they are capable to do it; men of Let­ters, sober and judicious, and who by being thus qualified, are able to speak to the pur­pose, discourse and reason well upon every subject; or for that they also are pursuing the same Enterprise with the esteem and reputation of better successe, and to pro­ceed therein with more industry, precau­tion, and judgment than others do; such as are at present M M. de Fontenay, Hale, du Puis, Riber, des Cordes, and Moreau, whose examples one cannot erre in following; [Page 13] since according to the saying of Pliny the younger: Lib. 1. Epist. 5. Stultissimum esset ad imitandum, non optima quaeque sibi proponere: and for what concerns you in particular, the variety of their procedures may continually furnish you with some new addresse and light, which will not be, peradventure, unservice­able to the progresse and advancement of your Library; by the choice of good Books, and of whatsoever is the most curi­ous in every one of theirs. The Second is, to consult, and diligently to collect those few Precepts that may be deduc'd from the Books of some Authors, who have written but sleightly upon this matter; as for in­stance, The Counsel of Baptista Cardonius, the Philobiblion of Richardus de Bury, the life of Vincentius Pinelli, the Books of Pos­sevine, de cultura ingeniorum, of that which Lipsius has made concerning Libraries, and of all the several Tables, Indexes, and Cata­logues; and govern ones self by the greatest and most renowned Bibliotheques which were ever erected: since to pursue the ad­vice and precept of Cardan, L. 3. de util. cap. ex adver. cap. de contem­plat. His maxime in unaquaque re credendum est, qui ultimum de se experimentum dederint. In order to this, you must by no means omit, and neglect to cause to be transcrib'd all the Catalogues, not only [Page 14] of the great and most famous Libraries, whether ancient or modern, publike or pri­vate, with us, or amongst strangers; but al­so of the Studies and Cabinets, which for not being much knownn, or visited, remain buried in perpetual silence: A thing which will no way appear strange, if we consider four or five principal reasons, which have caused me to establish this proposition. The first whereof is, That a man can do nothing in imitation of other Libraries, unlesse by the means of their Catalogues he have knowledge of what they contain. The se­cond, For that they are able to instruct us concerning the Books themselves, the place, the time, and the form of their Impression. The third, Because that a minde which is generous and nobly born, should have a de­sire and an ambition to assemble, as in one heap, whatsoever the others possesse in par­ticular, ut quae divisa beatos efficiunt, in se mixta fluant. The fourth, For that by this means, one may sometimes do a friend ser­vice and pleasure; and when we cannot furnish him with the Book he is in quest of, shew, and direct him to the place where he may finde some Copie, a thing very fea­sible by the assistance of these Catalogues. Finally, Because it is altogether impossible, [Page 15] that we should by our own industry, learn, and know the qualities of so vast a number of Books, as it's requisite to have, it is not without reason, that we follow the judg­ments of the most intelligent and best ver­sed in this particular, and then to deduce this Inference; Since these Books have been collected and purchas'd by such and such, there is reason to believe, they deserv'd it for some circumstance unknown to us: And in effect, I may truly say, that for the space of two or three years, that I have had the honour to meet sometimes with M. de F. amongst the Book-sellers, I have fre­quently seen him buy Books so old, ill bound, and wretchedly printed, that I could not chuse, but smile and wonder together, till that he being afterwards pleas'd to tell me the cause and the circumstances for which he purchas'd them; his reasons seemed to be so pertinent, that I shall ne­ver otherwise think, but that he is a person the best versed in the knowledge of Books, and discourses of them with more experi­ence and judgment, than any man whatso­ever, not only in France, but in all the world besides.

CHAP. III. The Number of Books which are requisite.

THe first Difficulty having been thus deduced and explain'd, that which ought to follow and approach us neerest, obliges us to enquire, if it be to purpose to make any great provision of Books, to ren­der thereby our Library famous, if not by the quality of them, yet at least by the un­parallel'd and prodigious quantity of its Volumes? For it is certainly the opinion of very many, that Books are like to the Laws and Sentences of the Iurisconsults, which (as one sayes) aestimantur pondere & quali­tate, non numero; and that it appertains to him only, to discourse handsomely upon any point of Learning, who is least conversant in the several Readings of those Authors which have written upon it: and really, it seems that those gallant Precepts, and Moral Advertisements of Seneca, Paretur Librorum quantum satis est, Epist. 2. L. 4. de Tranquil. L. 1. c. 9. nihil in appara­tum: Onerat discentem turba, non instruit, multoque satius est paucis te auctoribus tradere, quam errare per multos. Quum legere non possis quantum habeas, sat est te habere quantum legas, [Page 17] and divers other like it, which he gives us in five or six places of his Works, may in some measure favour, and fortifie this opinion, by the authority of so great a Per­son: But if we would entirely subvert it, to establish our own as the most probable, we need only fix our selves upon the great difference which there is between the In­dustry of a particular man, and the Ambition of him who would appear conspicuous by the Fame of his Bibliotheque: or 'twixt him that alone disires to satisfie himself, and him that only seeks to gratifie and ob­lige the Publique. For certain it is, that all these precedent reasons point only to the Instruction of those who would judiciously, and with order and method, make some progress in the Faculty which they pursue; or rather, to the condemnation of those that shew themselves sufficiently knowing, and pretend to great abilities, albeit they no more discern this vast heap of Books, which they have already assembled, then did those crooked persons (to whom King Alphonsus was wont to compare them) that huge bunch which they carried be­hind their Back; which is really very sea­sonably reproch'd by Seneca, in the places before alledged; and in plainer terms yet, [Page 18] where he sayes, Quo mihi innumerabiles li­bros & Bibliothecas, Lib. 1. de Tranquil. cap. 9. quarum dominus vix tota vita sua indices perlegit? As by that Epi­gram also which Ausonius so handsomly ad­dresses ad Philomusum.

But you, my Lord, who have the repu­tation of knowing more then can be taught you, and who deprive your self of all sort of contentments, to enjoy, and plunge your self, as it were, in the pleasure which you take in courting good Authors; to you it is that it properly aptains, to possess a Biblio­theque, the most august, and ample, that hath ever been erected: to the end it may never be said hereafter, that it was only for want of a little care which you might have had, that you did not bestow this Piece up­on the Publique; and of your self, that all [Page 19] the actions of your life had not surpassed the most heroick exploits of the most il­lustrious persons. And therefore I shall e­ver think it extreamly necessary, to collect for this purpose all sorts of Books, (under such precautions, yet, as I shall establish) seeing a Library which is erected for the publick benefit ought to be universal, but which it can never be, unlesse it compre­hend all the principal Authors that have written upon the great diversity of particu­lar Subjects, and chiefly upon all the Arts and Sciences; of which, if one had but considered the vast numbers which are in the Panepistemon of Angelus Politianus, or in any other exact Catalogue lately compi­led: I do not at all doubt, but that you will be ready to judge by the huge quantity of Books which we ordinarily meet with in Libraries) in ten or twelve of them, what number you ought to provide, to satisfie the curiosity of the Readers upon all that remains. And therefore I do nothing wonder, that Ptolemy King of Aegypt did not for this purpose collect one hundred thousand Volumes, Lib. 22. Lib. 1. de Tranquil. cap. 9. as Cedrenus will have it; not four hundred thousand, as Seneca reports; In Antiq. Jud. c. 2. not five hundred thousand as Io­sephus assures us; but seven hundred thou­sand, [Page 20] as witnesse, Lib. 6. Noct. At­tio. cap. ult. and accord, Aulus Gellius, Ammianus Marcellinus, Sabellicus Volaterran. Or that Eumenes the son of Attalus had col­lected two hundred thousand; Ennead. 6. Lib. 7. Lib. 17. Autrop. Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 2. c. 30. Constantine a hundred and twenty thousand: Sammoni­cus ( Praeceptor to the Emperour Gordian the younger) sixty two thousand, Epaphro­ditus, a simple Grammarian only, thirty thousand. Zonaras. Plutarch. in Sylla. And that Richard of Bury, Mon­sieur de Thou, and Sir Tho. Bodley have made so rare a provision, that the Catalogues on­ly of either of their Libraries do amount to a just Volume. For certainly there is no­thing which renders a Library more recom­mendable, then when every man findes in it that which he is in search of, and could no where else encounter; this being a per­fect Maxime, That there is no Book what­soever, be it never so bad or decried, but may in time be sought for by some person or other; since according to that of the Satyrist,

And that it is commonly amongst Readers as it was with Horace's three Guests,

[Page 21] There being no better resemblance of Li­braries, then to the Meadow of Seneca, where every living creature findes that which is most proper for him: Ep. 118. Bos herbam, Canis leporem, Ciconia lacertum. And be­sides, we are to believe, that every man who seeks for a Book, judges it to be good; and conceiving it to be so, without finding it, is forced to esteem it curious and very rare; so that coming at last to encounter it in some Library, he easily thinks, that the Owner of it knew it as well as himself: and that he bought it upon the same ac­count that excited him to search after it; and in pursuit of this, conceives an incom­parable esteem both of the Owner, and of the Library; which coming afterwards to be published, there will be need but of few like encounters, Sen Ep. 118. joyn'd to the common o­pinion of the Vulgar, Cui magna pro bonis sunt, to satisfie and recompence a man that accounts it never so little honour and glory in all his expences and pains. And besides, should one enter into the consideration of times, of places, and new inventions, no man of Judgement can doubt, but that it is much easier at present, to procure thou­sands of Books, then it was for the Anti­ents to get hundreds; and that by conse­quent, [Page 22] it would be an eternal shame and reproch in us, to come beneath them in this particular, which we may surmount with so much advantage and facility. Fi­nally, as the quality of Books does ex­treamly augment the esteem of a Library amongst those who have the means, and the leasure to understand it; so must it needs be acknowledged, that the sole quan­tity of them brings it into lustre, and repu­tation, as well amongst Strangers and Tra­vellers, as amongst many others, who have neither the time, nor the conveniency of ex­actly turning them over in particular; as may easily be judged by the prodigious number of Volumes, that there must needs be an infinity of good ones, signal, and re­markable. Howbeit, neither to abandon this infinite quantity without a definition, nor to put those that are curious out of hopes of being able to accomplish, and fi­nish so fair an enterprise; it would, me thinks, be very expedient to do like those Physitians, who prescribe the quantity of Drugs according to their qualities; and to affirm, that a man can never fail in col­lecting all those which shall have the qua­lities and conditions requisite and fit to be placed in a Library. Which that we may [Page 23] discern, one must be carefull to take with him divers Theorems, and praecautions; which may with more facility be reduc'd to practice as opportunity happens, by those who have the routine, and are vers'd in Books, and who judge of all things ma­turely and without passion, then possibly be deduced, and couch'd in writing, seeing they are almost infinite; and that, to speak ingenuously, some of them combat the most vulgar opinions, and maintain Para­doxes.

CHAP. IV. Of what Quality and Condition Books ought to be.

I Will now say notwithstanding, [...] to omit nothing which may serve us for a Guide, in this Disquisition, that the prime Rule which one ought to observe, is, in the first place to furnish a Library with all the chief and principal Authors, as well antient as modern, chosen of the best Edi­tions, in gross, or in parcels, and accompa­nied with their most learned, and best In­terpreters, and Commentators, which are to be found in every Facultie; not forget­ing [Page 24] those which are lesse vulgar, and by consequent more curious: As for Example, with the several Bibles, the Fathers, and the Councels, for the gross of Theology: with Lyra, Hugo, Tostatus, Salmeron, for the posi­tive: with S. Thomas, Occh [...], Durandus, Peter Lombard, Henricus Magnus, Alexan­der of Ales, Aegidius Romanus, Albertus magnus, Aureolus, Burleus, Capreolus, Major, Vasques, Suarez, for the Scholiastick: with the Body of the [...] Civil and Canon Laws; Baldus, Bartholus, Cujus, Alci­at, du Moulin for the Law: with Hippo­crates, Galen, Paulus Aeginetus, Oribasius, Aetius, Trallian, Avicen, Avenzoar, Fer­nelius, for Physick: Ptolomy, Pirmicus, Haly, Cardan, Stotlerus, Gauricus, Iunctinus, for Astrologie: Halhazen, Vitellio, Bacon, A­quillonius, for the Opticks: Diophantes, Boe­tius, Iordan, Tartaglia, Siliscus, Lucus de Bur­go, Villefranc for Arithmetick: Artemido­rus, Apomazar, Sinescus, Cardonius, for Dreams: And so with all the other, which it would be too long, and troublesome, to specifie and enumerate precisely.

In the second place; To procure all the old and new Authors that are worthy of consideration, in their proper Languages, and particular Idioms: The Bibles and Rab­bies [Page 25] in Hebrew; the Fathers in Greek and Latine; Avicenne in Arabick; Bocacio, Dantes, Petrarch, in Italian; together with their best Versions, Latine, French, or such as are to be found: These last being for the use of many persons who have not the knowledge of forrein Tongues; and the former, for that it is very expedient to have the sources whence so many streams do glide in their natural chanels without art or disguise; and that we ordinarily meet with a more certain efficacy, and richness of conception, in those that cannot retain and conserve their lustre save in their native lan­guages, as Pictures do their colours in pro­per lights: not to speak of the necessity also which one may have for the verifica­tion of Texts and passages ordinarily con­troverted, or dubious.

Thirdly, Such Authors as have best hand­led the parts of any Science or Faculty, whatever it be: As Bellarmine for Contro­versies, Tolet, and Navarr, Cases of Con­science, Vesalius Anatomie, Matthiolus the History of Plants, Gesner and Aldrovandus that of Animals, Rondoletius and Salvianus that of Fishes, Vicomercatus that of Mete­ors, &c.

In the fourth place, All those that have [Page 26] best commented, or explained any Author or Book in particular; as Pererius upon Ge­nesis; Villalpandus, Ezechiel; Maldonat, the Gospels; Monlorius and Zabarella the Analy­ticks; Scaliger, Theophrastus History of Plants; Proclus, and Marsilius Ficinus upon Plato; Alexander, and Themistius upon Aristotle; Flurancius, Rivaultius, Archime­des; Theon and Campanus, Euclide; Cardan, Ptolomie: And this should be observed in all sorts of Books and Treatises, antient or modern, who have met with Commenta­tors and Interpreters.

Next, all that have written and made Books and Tracts upon any particular sub­ject; be it concerning the Species or Indi­viduals, as Sanchez, who hath amply treat­ed de matrimonio: Sainctes and Perron of the Eucharist; Gilbertus of the Loadstone; Maier de volucri arborea; Scortia, Vende­linus, and Nugarola concerning the Nile: The same to be understood of all sorts of particular Treatises in matter of Law, Di­vinity, History, Medecine, and what ever else there may be: with this discretion ne­verthelesse, that he which most approches to the profession which he pursues, be pre­ferred before any other.

Moreover, All such as have written most [Page 27] successefully against any Science, or that have oppos'd it with most Learning and animosity (howbeit without changing the principles) against the Books of some of the most famous and renowned Authors. And therefore one must not forget Sextus Empiricus, Sanchez, and Agrippa, who have professedly endeavoured to subvert all the Sciences: Picus Mirandula, who has so learnedly refuted the Astrologers: Eugu­binus, that has dashed the impiety of the Salmones, and irreligious: Morisotus, that has overthrown the abuse of Chymists: Scaliger, who has so fortunately oppos'd Cardan, as that he is at present in some part of Germany more followed then Ari­stotle himself: Casaubon, who durst attaque the Annals of that great Cardinal Baronius: Argentenius, who hath taken Galen to taske: Thomas Erastus, who has so pertinently re­futed Paracelsus: Carpenter, who has so rigorously oppos'd Ramus: and finally, all those that have exercis'd themselves in the like conflicts, and that are so linkt toge­ther, that it were as great an error to read them separately, as to judge and understand one party without the other, or one Con­trary without his Antagonist.

Neither are you to omit all those which [Page 28] have innovated or chang'd any thing in the Sciences; for it is properly to flatter the slavery, and imbecillity of our wit, to con­ceal the small knowledge which we have of these Authors, under the disdain which we might have, because they oppose the Antients, and for that they have learnedly examin'd what others were used to receive, as by Tradition: And therefore, seeing of late more then thirty or fourty Authors of reputation have declared themselves against Aristotle; that Copernicus, Kepler, Galilaeus, have quite altered Astronomie; Paracelsus, Severinus the Dane, Du Chesne, and Crollius, Physick: and that divers others have intro­duced new Principles, and have established strange and unheard of Ratiocinations upon them, and such as were never foreseen: I affirm, that all these Authors are very re­quisite in a Library, since according to the common Saying,

and (not to insist upon so weak a reason) that it is certain, the knowledge of these Books is so expedient, and frugiferous to him who knows how to make reflection, and draw profit from all that he sees, that [Page 29] it will furnish him with a million of ad­vantages, and new conceptions; which be­ing received in a spirit that is docile, uni­versal, and disingag'd from all interests,

they make him speak to the purpose upon all subjects, cure the admiration which is a perfect signe of our weaknesse, and enables one to discourse upon whatsoever presents it self with a great deal more judgment, experience, and resolurion, then ordinarily many persons of letters and merit are u­sed to do.

One should likewise have this considera­tion in the choice of Books, to see whether they be the first that have been composed upon the matter on which they treat. Since 'tis with mens Learning, as with water, which is never more fair, pure, and limpid, then at its source; All the Invention come­ing from the First, and the Imitation with repetition from others: as 'tis easy to per­ceive that Reuchlin who first writ of the Hebrew Tongue, and the Cabal; Budeus of the Greek, and of Coyns; Bodinus of a Republique; Cocles of Physiognomie; Pe­ter Lombard, S. Thomas, of Scholastical Di­vinity, [Page 30] have done better then those many others, which ingag'd themselves in wri­ting since them.

Moreover ought one also to take notice, whether the Subjects of which they treat be trifling or less vulgar; curious▪ or negli­gent; spinie or facil; seeing what we use to say of all things else that be not common, may be so appositely applyed to curious new Books;

Under the notion then of this precept we should open our Libraries, and receive them therein, who first wrote of Subjects the least known, and that have not been treated of before, unless in Fragments, and very imperfectly; as Licetus, who hath written de spontaneo viventium ortu, de lucer­nis antiquorum; Tagliacotius, how to repair a decayed Nose; Libanius and Coclinus of the Magnetick Oyntment; Secondly, All curious and not vulgar Authors; such as are the books of Cardan, Pomponacius, Brunus, and all those who write concerning the Caball, Artificial Memory, the Lullian Art, the Philosophers Stone, Divinations, and the like matters. [Page 31] For, though the greatest part of them teach nothing but vain and unprofitable things, and that I hold them but as stumbling blocks to all those who amuse themselves upon them, yet notwithstanding that one may have wherwithal to content the weak­er wits, as well as the strong; and at the least satisfie those who desire to see them, to refute them, one should collect those which have treated on them, albeit they ought to be accounted amongst the rest of the Books in the Library, but as Serpents and Vipers are amongst other living Creatures; like Cockle in a Field of good wheat; like Thorns amongst the Roses: and all this in imitation of the world, where these unpro­fitable and dangerous things accomplish the Master-piece, and the Fabrick of that goodly composition.

And this Maxime should lead us to an­other of no less consequence, which is, not to neglect the works of the principal He­resiarchs or Fautors of new Religions dif­ferent from ours, more common, and re­vered, as more just and veritable: For it is very likely, since the first of them, (not to speak of the new ones) have been cho­sen, and drawn out from amongst the most learned personages of the precedent Age, [Page 32] who by I know not what Fancie, and ex­cessive love to novelty, did quit their Cas­socks, and the Banner of the Church, to enroll themselves under that of Luther and Calvine; and that those of the present time are not admitted to the excercise of their Ministry till after a long and severe Examen in the three Tongues of the Holy Scripture, and the chief points of Philosophy and Di­inity: There is a great deal of likelihood, I say, that excepting the passages controvert­ed, they may sometimes hit very luckily up­on others, as in many indifferent Treatises they have done, on which they often travail with a great deal of Industry and Felicity. And therefore, since it is necessary that our Doctors should finde them in some places to refute them; since M. de T. has made it no difficulty to collect them; that the antient Fathers and Doctors had them, that divers religious persons preserved them in their Libraries; that we make it no Scru­ple to have a Thalmud or an Alcoran, which belch a thousand Blasphemies against Jesus Christ, and our Religion, infinitely more dangerous then these: that God permits us to make profit of our enemies, and ac­cording to that of the Psalmist, Salutem ex inimicis nostris, & de manu omnium qui ode­runt [Page 33] nos; that they are prejudicial but to them onely, who destitute of a right con­duct, suffer themselves to be transported with the first puff of wind that blows.

And to conclude in a word, since the intention which determines all our actions to good or evil, is neither vi­tious not cauterised, I conceive it no ex­travagance or danger at all, to have in a Library (under caution nevertheless of a license and permission from those to whom it appertains) all the Works of the most learned and famous Hereticks, such as have been, — and divers others of lesser consequence, Quos fama obscura re­condit.

This also ought to be retained as a Maxime, that all the bodies and assemblies of several Authours writing upon the same subject; such as are the Thalmud, the Coun­cels, the Biblotheques of the Fathers, The­saurus Criticus, Scriptores Germanici, Turcici, Hispanici, Gallici, Catalogus testium veritatis, Monarchia Imperii, Opus magnum de Balneis, Authores Gyneciorum, De Morbo Neapolitano, Rhetores antiqui, Grammatici Veteres, Ora­tores Graeciae, Flores Doctorum, Corpus Poeta­rum, and all those which contain such like Collections, ought of necessity to be put [Page 34] into Libraries; forasmuch as they save us, first of all, the labour of searching an in­finity of Books extreamly curious and rare: and secondly, because they spare abundance of other, and make room in a Library. Thirdly, for that they handsomly com­prehend in one Volume, what we should be otherwise long in searching with a great deal of pains, and in divers places; and fi­nally, because they are less expensive, they being nothing so chargeable to purchase as they would be, should one buy separately all the Authours which they contain. I hold it also for a tenent as necessary as any of the precedent, that one should draw out and make election from amongst the great number of those who have written, and do daily write; those who appear as an Eagle in the Clouds, and as a Star twinkling and most refulgent in the midst of obscurity; I mean those great Witts, which are not of the common alloy;

And of whom one may make use, as of Masters the most expert in the know­ledge of all things, and of their works as [Page 35] of a Seminarie, perfectly sufficient to en­rich a Library not onely with all their Books, but even [...] the least of their Frag­ments, Papers, loose Sheets, and the very words which escape them. For as it would be amiss to employ the place and the mo­ney in amassing all the world, and I know not what gallimauphry of certain vulgar and despicable Authours; so would it be a notorious oblivion, and fault unexcusable in those who make profession of having all the best Books, to neglect any of Them; for example, of Erasmus, Chiaconus, Onu­phrius, Turnebus, Lipsius, Genebra [...]d, Anto­nius Augustinus, Casaubon, Salmasius, Bodi­nus, Cardan, Patricius, Scaliger, Mercuria­lis, and others, whose works we are to wink and take, [...] without choice; carefull, that we be not cheated in Books rampant, with Authours infinitely more rude and gross: since, as one cannot pos­sess too much of that which is good, and exquisitely chosen; so neither can one have too little of that which is bad, and of which we have no hopes of receiving any profit or utility.

Neither must you forget all sorts of Common places, Dictionaries, Mixtures, seve­ral Lections, Collections of Sentences, and o­ther [Page 36] like Repertories; seeing it is as so much way gone, and Matter ready prepa­red for those who have the industry to use them with due advantage; it being cer­tain, that there are many who speak and write wonderfull well, who have yet seen but very few Volumes, besides those which I have mentioned; whence it is, that they commonly say, the Calepine, which they take for all kind of Dictionaries, is the live­lyhood of the Regents; And if I should affirm it of many, even amongst the most famous persons, it would not be without reason, since one of the most renound a­mongst the last had above fifty of them, which he perpetually studied; and who having encountred a difficult word at the first offering of the Book of Equivocals, as it was presented to him, he had recourse immediatly to one of these Dictionaries, and transcribed out of it above a page of writing, upon the margent of the said Book, and that in presence of a certain Friend of mine and of his; to whom he could not abstain from saying, that those who should see this remark, would easily believe that he had spent above two dayes in composing it; though he had in truth but the pains onely of transcribing it: And [Page 37] in earnest, for my part, I esteem these Collections extreamly profitable and ne­cessary, considering the brevity of our life, and the multitude of things which we are now obliged to know, e're one can be rec­koned amongst the number of learned men, do not permit us to do all of our selves; besides, seeing it is not granted every man, nor in all ages, to have the means to labour at his own cost and char­ges, and without borrowing from others, what ill is there in it, I pray, if those who are so industrious to imitate nature, and so to diversifie and appropriate to their sub­ject what they extract from others, Ser. E­pis. 8. ut eti­am, si apparuerit unde sumptum sit, aliud tamen esse quam unde sumptum est appareat, do make bold with those who seem not to have been made but to lend, and draw out from the Reservatories & Magazines which are destin'd for this purpose: since we ordinarily see that both Painters and Archi­tects, make excellent and incomparable pieces by the assistance of Colours and Ma­terials which others grinde and prepare for them.

Lastly, 17. A­phor. [...] Sect. 1. we should upon this occasion reduce to practice that same Aphorisme of Hippocrates, which advertises us to yield [Page 38] something to time, to place, and to cu­stom; that is to say, that some kinde of Books be sometimes in vogue and repu­tation in one Countrey, and not so in ano­ther; and in the present age, which were not in the past: it is more expedient to make a good provision of these, than of the other; or at least to have such a quantity of them, as may testifie we com­ply with the times, and that we are not ignorant of the mode and inclination of men: And hence it proceeds, that we frequently find in the Libraries of Rome, Naples, and Florence, abundance of Positive Theologists; in those of Milan and Pavia store of Civil Law; in those of Spain, and antient ones of Cambridge and Oxford in England, a number of Scholasticks; and in those of France a world of Histories and Controversies. The same diversity may be also observed in the succession of ages, by reason of the vogue which have had the Philosophy of Plato, that of Aristotle, the Scholastique, the Tongucs and Controver­sies; which have every one had their turns, domineer'd in several times; as we see that the study of the Ethicks and Politicks do at present employ the greatest part of the most vigorous witts of this our age, [Page 39] whilst the weaker sort amuse themselves with Fictions and Romanc [...]es, of which I shall onely say, what has formerly been verified by Symmacus upon the like narra­tion, Sine argumento rerum loquacitas morosa displicet. Lib. 10. Epist. 5.

These ordinary precepts and maximes being so amply explain'd, there remains now no more to accomplish this Title of the Quality of Books, then to propose two or three others, which will undoubtedly be received as very extravagant, and very fit to thwart the common and inveterate opi­nion which many have taken up, that e­steem no Authours but by their number or bulk of their Volumes, and judge onely of their value and merit, by that which uses to make us despise all other things, viz. their age and caducity, like that of the old man in Horace, who is represented to us in his works;

The nature of these prepossessed spirits being for the most part so taken and in love with those Images and antique pieces, that they would not so much as look at the [Page 40] greatest upon any Book whatever, whose Authour were not older than the Mother of Evander, or the Grandsirs of Carpen­tras; nor believe that time could be well imployed, which was spent in reading any modern Books, since according to their maxime, they are but Rapsodists, Coppiers, or Plagiaries, & approach in nothing to the Eloquence, the learning and the noble con­ceptions of the Antients; to whom for this respect they hold themselves as firmly uni­ted as the Polypus does to the Rocks with­out departing in the least, or from their Books, or doctrine; and which they ne­ver think to have sufficiently comprehen­ded, till they have chewed them over all their life time; and therefore it is nothing extraordinary, if in conclusion of the whole sum, and when they have sufficiently sweat and tired themselves, they resem­ble that same ignorant Marcellus, who vaunted up and down in all places where he came, that he had read Thucidides eight times over; to that Nonnus of whom Sui­das speaks, that he had read his Demosthe­nes ten times without ever being able once to plead, or discourse of any thing: And to speak really, there is nothing more apt to make a man a Pedant, and banish him [Page 41] from common sense, then to despise all Mo­dern Authors, to court some few only of the Antient; as if they alone were, forsooth, the sole Guardians of the highest favours that the wit of man may hope for; or that Nature, jealous of the honour and repu­tation of her elder sons, would to our prejudice put forth all her abilities to the extreams, that she might Crown them a­lone with all her graces and liberality: Certainly I do not imagine that any except those Gentlemen the Antiquaries, can satis­fie themselves with such Opinions, or feed themselves with such Fables; since so ma­ny fresh Inventions, so many new Opi­nions and Principles, so many several and unthought of Alterations, so many lear­ned Books of famous Personages, of new Conceptions; and finally, so many Won­ders as we daily behold to spring up, do sufficiently testifie, that the wits are stron­ger, more polite, and abstracted than ever formerly they were; and that we may truly and assuredly affirm at this present day,

[Page 42]Or make the same judgement of our age as Symmachus did of his own, Habemus fae­culum virtute amicum, quo nisi optimus quis­que gloriam parit, hominis est-culpa, non tem­poris. From hence we may infer, that it would be a fault unpardonable in one who professes to store a Library, not to place in it Piccolomini, Zab [...]arell, Achillinus, Ni­phus, Pomponacius, Licetus, Cremoninus, next the old Interpreters of Aristotle; Alciat, Tiraqueaneus, Cujas, du Moulin, after the Code and Digest; the sum of Alexander of Hales, and Henry of Gaunt, next that of S. Thomas; Clavius, Maurolicus and Viet [...]a after Euclide and Archimedes; Montagne, Charon, Verulam, next to Seneca and Plutarch; Fernelius, Sylvius, Fusthius, Cardan, next to Galen and Avicen; Erasmus, Casaubon, Scaliger, Salmasius, next to Varro; Commi­nes, Guicciardin, Sleiden, next to Titus Li­vius and Cornelius Tacitus; Ariosto, Tasso, du Bartas, next to Homer and Virgil, and so consequently of all the Modern most fa­mous and renouned Authours; since if the capricious Boccalini had undertaken to ballance them with the Antients, he had haply found a great many of them more inconsiderable, and but very few which do at all surpass them.

[Page 43]The second Maxime, and which hap­ly will not less seem a Paradox than the first, is directly contrary to the opinion of those who esteem of Books onely as they are in price and bulk; and who are much pleased, and think themselves greatly ho­noured, to have Tostatus in their Libraries, because it is in fourteen Volumes; or a Salmeron, because there are eight; negle­cting in the mean time, to procure and fur­nish themselves with an infinity of little Books, amongst which there are often found some of them so rarely and learned­ly composed, that there is more profit and contentment to be found in reading them, than in many others of those rude, heavy, indigested and ill polished masses, for the most part; At least, so true is that say­ing of Seneca, 6. quaest. nat. cap. 18. Non est facile inter magna non desipere; and that which Pliny said of one of Cicero's Orations, M. Tullii Oratio fertur tima quae maxima, cannot be applyed to these monstrous and Gigantine Books; as in effect it is almost impossible, that the witt should alwayes remain intent [...] these great works, and that the heaps and grand confusion of things that one would speak choak not the fancy, and too much con­found the ratiocination; whereas on the [Page 44] contrary, that which ought to make us e­steem small Books, which nevertheless treat of serious things, or of any noble and sublime subject, is, that the Authour of them does perfectly command over his subject, as the Workman and Ar­tist does over his matter; and that he may chew, concoct, digest, polish and form it according to his fancy, then those vast collections of such great and prodigious Volumes, which for this cause are often­times but the Panspermia, Chaos's and Abys­ses of Confusion;

And hence it is that there results a suc­cess so unequal, as may be observed be­tween the one and the other; for exam­ple, 'twixt the Satyrs of Persius and Phi­lelphius; the Examen of Witts of Huarto, and that ef Zara; the Arithmetick of Ra­mus, and that of Forcudel; Machiavels Prince, and that of more than fifty other Pedants; The Logick of du Moulin, & that of Vallius; The Annales of Volufius, and the History [Page 45] of Salust: Epictetus Manuel, and the mo­ral Secrets of Loriotus; The works of Fracastorius, and an infinite of Philosophers and Physicians; so true is that which S. Thomas has well spoken, Nusquam ars magis quam in minimis tota est; and what Cornelius Gallus was wont to pro [...] him­self, of hsi small Elogies;

But that which on this encounter makes me most to admire, is, that such persons should neglect the Works and Opuscles of some Authour whilst they remain scattered and separated, which afterwards burn with a desire to have them when they are col­lected and bound together in one Volume: Such will neglect (for example) the Ora­tion of Iames Criton, because they are not to be found Printed together, who will nevertheless be sure to have those of Ray­mondus, Gall [...]tius, Nigronius, Bencius, Per­pinianus, and divers other Authours in his Library; not that they are better, or more disert and eloquent than those of this learned Scotchman; but because they are to be found in certain Volumes bound up [Page 46] together: Certainly, should all little Books be neglected, there were no recko­ning to be made of the Opuscles of S. Au­gustin, Plutarchs Morals, the Books of Galen, nor of the greatest part of those of Eras­mus, of Lipsius, Turnebus, Mazaultius, Syl­vius, Calcagninus, Franciscus Picus, and ma­ny like Authours; no more than of thirty or fourty minor Authours in Physick and Philosophy, the best, and most antient a­mongst the Greeks, and of divers other a­mongst the Divines; because they have all of them been divulged separately, and a­part, one after another, and in so small Vo­lumes, that the greatest of them do not frequently exceed half an Alphabet: And therefore, since one may unite under one Cover, that which was separate in the impression, conjoyn with others what would be lost being alone, and in effect we may meet an infinity of matters which have never been treated of but in these little Books onely, concerning which it may rightly be said, as Virgil does of Bees,

It appears to me to be very expedient, that we should draw them out of their [Page 47] Stalls and old Magazines, and from all places wherever we encounter them, to bind them up with those which are of the same Authour, or treat of the same mat­ter, to place them afterwards in our Li­braries, where I assu [...] my self they will make the industry and diligenee of those Esculapius's to be admir'd, who are so well skill'd to joyn and reassemble the scattered and separated members of those poor Hip­politus's.

The third (which at first appearance one would conceive to be contrary to the first) does in particular combat the opinion of those who are so wedded and besotted to all new Books, that they totally neglect, and make no esteem, not onely of all the Antients, but of the Authours which have had the vogue, & appeared flourishing and renouned since six or seven hundred years; that is to say, since the age of Boetius, Sym­machus, Sydonius, and Cassiodorus, down to that of Picus, Politianus, Hermolaus Gaza, Philelphus, Pogius, and Trapezontius; such as are divers Philosophers, Divines, Iuris-consults, Physitians and Astrologers, who by their black and Gothick impressions disgust our most delicate students of this age▪ not suffering them so much as to cast an eye [Page 48] upon them, but with a blush, and to the disdaining of those who composed them: All which properly proceeds from hence, that the ages or those witts which then ap­peared, have had [...] Genisu's and different inclinations, not long harping upon the same string of like study or affection to the Sciences; or having nothing so assured as their vicissitude [...] change; as in effect we see, that immediatly after the birth of the Christian Religion (not to take things any higher) the Philosophy of Plato was uni­versally followed in the Schools; and the greater part of the Fathers were Platonists: and so continued till Alexander Aphrodiseus gave it a forceable justle to instal that of the Peripateticks, and traced the way to the Greek and Latine Interpreters, who were so wedded to the Explication of Aristotles Text, that a man should yet erre in it without much benefit, if the Questions and Scholasticks introduced by Abelardus had not put themselves amongst the [...]; to domineer over all, with the greatest and most universal approbation, that was ever given to any thing whatsoever; and that for the space of about five or six ages, af­ter which, the Hereticks did recal us to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, [Page 49] and occasioned us to read the Bible and the Holy Fathers, who had continually been ne­glected amidst these Ergotismes; and in pursuite whereof Controversie comes now in request as to what concerns Theologie, and the Questionaries with the Novators, who build upon new Principles, or else re­establish those of the antients, Empedocles, Epicurus, Philolaus, Pythagoras, and Democri­tus, for Philosophy. The rest of the Facul­ties being not exempted from like altera­tions; amongst which, it has evermore been the custom of the Witts who follow these violences and changes, as the Fish do the Tyde, to think no more of what they have once quitted; and to speak rashly with the Poet Calphurnius,

Insomuch as the greatest part of good Authours, by this means, remain on the sands, abandon'd and neglected by every man; whilst our new Censors or Plagiaries possesse their places, and enrich themselves with their spoils. And it is in earnest a very strange and unreasonable thing, that we should follow and approve (for exam­ple) [Page 50] the Colledges of Conimbre and Suarez in Philosophy, and should come to neglect the works of Albertus Magnus, Niphus, Ae­gidius, Saxonia, Pomponacius, Achillinus, Hervi [...]us, Durandus, Zimares, Buccaferrus, and a number of the like, out of which all the great Books which we now follow, are for the most part compiled and transcribed word for word: That we should have an incomparable esteem of Amatus, Thrivie­rus, Capivaccius, Montanus, Valesius, and almost of all the modern Physitians, and be ashamed to furnish our Libraries with Books of Hugo Senensis, Iacobus de Forlivio, Iacobus de Valesius, Gordonus, Thomas, Di­nus, and all the Avicenists, who have really followed the Genius of their Age, rude and dull as to what concerned the barbari­ty of the Latine tongue; but who have yet so far penetrated into the profundities of Physick, according to Cardans own con­fession, that divers of our modern for want of sufficient resolution, constancy, and assi­duity to pursue and imitate them, are con­strained to make use of some of their Ar­guments to revest them a la mode, and make their braggs and parade, whilst they themselves dwell onely upon the topps of flowers, and superficial language, or with­out advancing farther▪ [Page 51]

What shall we then say, Lib. 16. de Subtil. Exerci­tat. 324.340. that Scaliger and Cardan, two of the greatest personages of the last age, consenting both in the same point concerning the [...] of Richard Suissent, otherwise called the Calculator, who lived within these three hundred years, to place him in the rank of ten of the rarest witts that ever appeared; whilst we are not able to find his works in all the most famous Libraries? And what hope is there that the Sectatots of Occham Prince of the Nominals, should eternally be depri­ved of once seeing his works, as well as all Philosophers, those of the great and renou­ned Avicen? In earnest, me thinks that it is wholly for want of judgement in the choyce and cognizance of Books, to neglect all these Authours, which are so much the more to be sought after, as they are more and may hereafter challenge the place of Manuscripts; since we have almost lost all hopes that they should ever be printed.

Finally, the fourth and last of these Maximes concerns onely the choice and election, which one ought to make of Ma­nuscripts, in opposition [...] that custome re­ceiv'd [Page 52] and introduced by many, from the great reputation of our present Criticks, who have taught and accustom'd us to make more account of one Manuscript of Virgil, Suetonius, Persius, Terence, or some others amongst the old Authours, than of those gallant persons who have never yet been either seen, or printed; as if there were any likelyhood that men should pre­sently pursue the capriciousness, imagina­tions or cheats of these modern Censurors and Grammarians, which uselesly apply the flower of their age in forging of emp­ty conjectures, and begging the corrections of the Vatican, to alter, correct or supply the Text of some Authour, who hath hap­ly already confirmed the labour of ten or twelve men, though one might very easily [...]e without it.

Or that it were not a miserable thing, and worthy of commiseration to suffer to be lost and rot amongst the hands of some ignorant possessors, the elucubrations and labours of an infinity of great personages, who have sweat and wrought perhaps all their lives long, to impart us the know­ledge of something that was never known before, or elucidated some profitable and necessary matter; And yet nevertheless, [Page 53] the example of these Censors ha [...] been such, Lib. de ratione corrigen­di veteres auctores. and their authority so strong and forceable, that notwithstanding the disgust which Robortel and others amongst them hath given us; nay, even of these Ma­nuscripts themselves; yet have they so far bewitched the world in search of them, that they are the onely things now in re­quest, and judged worthy of being placed in our Bibliotheques.

And therefore, since it is the very Essence of a Library, to have a great number of Manuscripts; because they are at present in most esteem, and less [...]ulgar; I con­ceive, my Lord, with respect to your bet­ter judgement, that it would be extreamly requisite for you to pursue as you have be­gun, in furnishing your Library with such as have been composed clearly, and full, upon any gallant subject, conformable to those which you have already made search of, In praefat. Gram. lib. 17. de Variet in Bibliot. not onely here; but at Constantinople, and whatsoever is to be obtain'd of many other Authours Antient and Modern, spe­cified by Neander, Cardan, Gesner, and all [Page 54] the Catalogues of the best Libraries; and not of all those Copies of Books which have been already printed, and which at best are onely capable to assist us with some vain and trifling conjectures: and yet it is not my intentions that men should undervalue and neglect all these kind of Books, as well knowing by the example of Ptolomy, what esteem one should alwayes have of Autographes, Lib. de ratione corrigen­di veteres autores. or of those two sorts of Manuscripts which Robortel (in relation to Criticism) prefers before all others.

Lastly, to close this point concerning the quality of Books, I add, that, as well concerning Books of this sort, as printed ones, you must not onely observe the afore­said circumstances, and choose them ac­cordingly; as for instance, be the question about Bodins Republique, to infer that he ought to be had, because the Authour has been the most famous and renouned of his age, and who amongst the moderns has first treated on this subject, that the sub­ject is exceedingly necessary, and in much request in the times wherein we live, that the Book is common, translated into seve­ral tongues, and printed almost every five or six years; but this we are also to ob­serve, viz. to buy the Book, if the Au­thour [Page 55] be good, though the matter it self be but vulgar and trivial; or, when the subject of it is difficult and little known, though the Authour thereof be not much esteemed; and thus practise a World of other Rules, as upon occasion we encoun­ter them, since it were impossible to re­duce them to an Art or Method; which makes me conceive such a man worthily to acquit himself of such a charge, who has not a perverted judgement, temera­rious, stuft with extravagances, and preoc­cupied with these childish opinions, which excite many persons to despise and sud­denly to reject whatsoever is not of their own [...] as if every one were obliged to govern himself according to the caprices of their fantasies, or as if it were not the duty of a discreet and prudent man, to discourse of all things indifferently, and never to judge according to the esteem which both one or the other admits of them, but rather conformable to the sen­timent which we ought to have in respect of their proper nature and use.

CHAP. V. By what Expedients they may be procured.

HAving now, my Lord, shewed by these three first Points, what one ought to pursue to inform himself in the e­recting of a Library; with what quantity of Books it is expedient to furnish it, and of what quality they ought to be chosen: That which now ensues, is to enquire, by what means a man may procure them, and what we are to do for the progress, and augmentation of them: Upon all which, I shall truly affirm, that the first precept which is to be given on this subject, is, that a man studiously preserve those which are actively acquired, and that he yet obtain new ones every day; not suffering any to be lost or embezled at any hand. Tolera­bilius enim est, faciliusque (sayes Seneca) non acquirere, quam amittere, ideoque laetio­res videbis quos nunquam fortuna respexit, quam quos deseruit. Add, that t'will ne­ver be this way to augment much, if that which you have collected with so much pains and industry, come to be lost, and [Page 57] to perish for want of care: And there­fore Ovid and the wisest men had reason to say, that it was no less vertue to preserve a thing well, than to acquire it so: Nec minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri.

The second is, that we neglect nothing which is worth the reckoning, and which may be of use, be it either to our selves or others; such as are Libels, Placarts, Theses, Fragments, Proofs, and the like, which one ought carefully to unite, and gather according to Titles, and subjects of which they treat; because it is the onely expedi­ent to render them considerable, and so or­der it, Ut quae non prosunt singula, juncta ju­vent. Otherwise, it ordinarily comes to pass, that whilst we despise these little Books, which appear onely as me [...] bau­bles, and pieces of no consideration, we happen to lose a world of rare collections, and such as are sometimes the most curious pieces of the whole Library.

The third may be deduced from the means that were practis'd by Richard de Bury Bishop of Durham, great Chancellour and L. Treasurer of England, which con­sists in publishing and making known to every body the affection which we have to Books, and the extraordinary desire which [Page 58] we have to erect a Library; for this being once divulged and communicated, it is certain, that if he who designes it be in sufficient credit and authority to do his friends pleasure; there will not be a man of them but will take it for an honour to present him with the most curious Books that come into his hands; and that will not voluntarily admit him into his Study, or in those of his friends; briefly, who will not strive to aid and contribute to his intention all that he can possibly? as it is very well observed by the same Richard de Bury, in these proper terms, which I therefore the more willingly transcribe, because his Book is very rare, and of the number of those which are lost through our neglect. Succe­dentibus (sayes he) prosperis, Philobi­blii cap. 8 Regiae maje­statis consecuti notitiam, & in ipsius accep­tati familia, facultatem suscepimus amplio­rem, ubilibet visitandi pro libitu, & ve­nandiquasi faltus quosdam delicatissimos, tum privatas, tum communes, tum regularium, tum saecularium Bibliothecas: and a little af­ter, Praestabatur nobis aditus facilis, regalis favoris intuitu, ad librorum latebras libere perscrutandas, amoris quippe nostri fama vola­tilis jam ubique percrebuit, tantumque libro­rum & maxime veterum ferebamur cupidi­tate [Page 59] languescere, posse vero quemlibet per qua­ternos facilius quam per pecuniam adipisci fa­vorem. Quamobrem cum supradicti Principis auctorita [...]e suffulti possemus obesse & prodesse, proficere & afficere vehementer tam majoribus quam pusillis, affluxerunt loco Enceniorum & munerum, locoque donorum & jocalium. Coenulenti quaterni, ac decrepiti Codices no­stris tam aspectibus quam affectibus pretiosi, tunc nobilissimorum Monasteriorum aperie­bantur armaria, reserabantur scrinia, & ci­stulae solvebantur, &c. To which he yet adjoyns, the several Voyages which he made himself in quality of Ambassador, and the great number of learned, and cu­rious persons, whose labour and industry he made use of in this research; and what yet induces me to believe that these practi­ses would have some effect, is, that I know a person, who being curious of Medalls, Pictures, Statues, Intaglia's and other Cabi­net pieces, hath collected by this sole indu­stry, above twelve hundred pounds worth, without ever having disbursed four. And in earnest, I hold it for a Maxime, that e­very civil and good natur'd man, should alwayes second the laudable intentions of his friends, provided they be not prejudi­cial to his own: So that he that has Books, [Page 60] Medalls, Pictures, which come to him by chance, rather than out of affection to them, may easily be perswaded to accom­modate such of his friends [...] he knows to desire, and is curious of them. I shall willingly add to this third Precept, the craft which Magistrates and persons of au­thority may practise, and exercise by means of their dignities: but I would not more nakedly explicate it, than by the simple narration of the Strategem which the Ve­netians made use of, to obtain the best Ma­nuscripts of Pinellus immediately after his decease; for upon the advice which they had, that they were about to transport his Library from Padua to Naples, they sud­denly dispatched one of their Magistrates, who seised upon a hundred Bales of Books, amongst which there were fourteen of them that contain'd Manuscripts, and two of them above four hundred Commentaries on all the affairs of Italy; alledging for their reasons, that though they had permitted the de­funct Seigneur Pinelli, in regard of his con­dition, his design, his laudable and re­proachless life, and principally, the friend­ship which he ever testified towards the Republique, to have Copies of their Ar­chives, and Registers of their affairs; yet [Page 61] it was neither fit nor expedient for them, that such pieces should come to be divul­ged, discovered and communicated after his death; whereupon at the instance of the Heirs and Executors of the Testament, who were powerful and authorised, they retained onely two hundred of these Com­mentaries, which were placed in a Cham­ber apart, with this inscription, Decerpta haec Imperio Senatus e Bibliotheca Pinelliana.

The fourth is, to retrench and cut off all the superfluous expences, which many prodigally and to no purpose bestow upon the binding and ornaments of their Books, and to employ it in purchasing such as they want, that so they may not be obnoxious to that censure of Seneca, De tran­quill. who handsomly reproaches those, Quibus voluminum suo­rum frontes maxime placent titulique; and this the rather, that the binding is nothing but an accident and form of appear­ing, without which (at least so splendid and sumptuous) Books become altogether as useful, commode and rare; it becoming the ignorant onely to esteem a Book for its cover; seeing it is not with Books, as it is with men, who are onely known and respe­cted for their robes and their clothes, so that it is a great deal better, and more ne­cessary, [Page 62] for example, to have a good quan­tity of Books, well and ordinarily bound, than to have a little Chamber or Cabinet full of washed, gilded, ruled, and enriched with all manner of nicity, lux and super­fluity.

The fifth concerns the buying of them, and that may be divided into four or five Articles, suitable to the several expedients which may be observed in the practise. Now, amongst these, I should willingly set down for the first, the speediest, easie and advantagious of all the rest, that which is made by the acquisition of some other entire and undissipated Library. I call it prompt, and speedy; because that in less than a dayes time one may have a goodly number of Books curious and learned, which one shall not be able to amass and collect together during a mans whole life. I call it facil, because one spares both the pains and the time which would be consu­med in purchasing them separately; In fine, I name it advantagious, because, if the Libraries which we buy be good and curious, they serve to augment the credit and reputation of those who are enriched by them; whence we see that Passe vinus so much esteems that of Cardinal de Ioyeuse, [Page 63] for that it was composed of three others, one whereof had been Monsieur Pitheus, and for that all the most renouned Libra­ries have received their augmentation in this manner; as for instance, that of S. Mark at Venice by the donation of Cardinal Bessarion's; that of the' Escurial by that great one which Hurtado de Mendoza had collected; The Ambrosian of Milan, by the ninety Bales which were added to it at once by that one sole naufrage and ruine of Pinelli's; that of Leyden, by above two hundred Manuscripts in the Oriental Lan­guages, which Scaliger bequeathed to it by his Testament; and finally, that of Asca­nius Colomna, by that incomparable one which Cardinal Sirlettus left it; whence I conjecture, my Lord, that yours cannot but one day emerge one of the most famous and renouned amongst the greatest, by rea­son of that of your Fathers, which is alrea­dy so famous and universally known from the relation which has been left to poste­rity by La Croix, Fauchet, Marsillius, Turue­bus, Passeratius, Lambinus, and by almost all the gallant persons of that strain, who have not been mindfull of the benefit and instru­ctions which they have received of them.

After all which, me thinks, the means [Page 64] which nearest approaches to this first, is, to rummage and often to revisite the shops of frippery Booksellers, and the old Stores and Magazines as well of Books bound up, as of those which have so long remained in waste sheets, so many years, that there are many, not much knowing and versed in this kind of search, who conceive they can be of no other use then to hinder.

albeit we often encounter very excellent Books amongst them, and that (the ex­pence well managed) one may chance to purchase more for ten crowns, than one can otherwise buy for fourty or fifty, should one take them in several places and pieces; provided nevertheless, a man have a suf­ficient stock of care and patience, conside­ring that one cannot say of a Library what certain Poets said of our City,

It being impossible so speedily to accom­plish a thing, of which Solomon tells us there is no end; Libros enim faciendi non erit finis; and to the finishing whereof, though [Page 65] Monsieur Thuanus has laboured twenty years, Pinelli fifty, and divers others all their lives long, yet are you not to believe, that they are arrived to that utmost perfe­ction which were to be wished one might attain to, in point of a Library.

But since it is necessary for the growth and augmentation of such a piece, to fur­nish it diligently with all the new Books of merit and consideration that are printed in all parts of Europe; and that Pinelli [...] and the rest have for this purpose entertain'd correspondency with an infinite number of friends, strangers, and forreign Merchants; It would be very expedient▪ to put the same in practice, or at least, to make choice of two or three rich Merchants knowing and experienced in their vocation, who by their various intelligences, and voyages, might furnish us with all kinds of novelties, and make diligent perquisition of what e­ver we demand by Catalogues; which thing it is not so necessary to practise for old Books, forasmuch as the surest expedient to store ones self good cheap with them, is, to seek for them indifferently among [...] the Stationers, amongst whom the length of time, and various occasions is us'd to disperse and scatter them.

[Page 66]I will not yet infer, for all the good hus­bandry which we have proposed above, that it is not sometimes necessary to exceed the limits of this Oeconomy, to purchase at extraordinary prices some certain Books that are very rare, and which one shall hardly get out of their hands who under­stand them, but by this onely means. But the temper which is to be observed in this difficulty, is, to consider that Libraries are neither built nor esteemed but for the ser­vice and benefit which one may receive from them, and therefore one should ne­glect such Books & Manuscripts as are only valuable in respect of their Antiquity, fi­gures, paintings, binding, and other weak considerations; Such as were the Froissard, which certain Merchants would have sold not long since at three hundred Crowns; The Bocace of the unfortunate Nobles, which was estimated at a hundred; The Missal and Bible of Guinart; the Howres, which they are wont to say was inestimable for its curious figures and copartiments, The Titus Livius, and other Historians in Manuscripts & painted in miniature; Chinese and Iapan Books, such as are drawn in Punchment, stained Paper, of extream fine Cotton, and with large Margents, and [Page 67] several others of the like stuff; to employ the great sums which they cost, upon Vo­lumes more useful in a Library than all these we have mentioned, or such as re­semble them, which shall never make the passionate Collectors of them so much e­steemed, as was Ptolomeus Phil [...]delphus for giving fifteen talents for the works of Euripides; Tarquinius, who bought the three Books of Sibyll, at as great a price as would have purchased all the nine; Aristotle, who gave threescore and twelve thousand Se­sterc [...]es for the works of Speusippus; Plato, who employed a thousand denarii for those of Philolaus; Bessarius, who bought thirty thousand Crowns worth of Greek Books; Hurtado de Mendo [...], who procured a great Ships fraight, out of the Levant; Picus Mirandula, who expended seven thousand Crowns in Hebrew Manuscripts, Chaldean, and others; and in brief, that King of France who engaged his Gold and Silver Plate to have a Copy of [...], a Book belonging to the Library of the Physitians of this City, as it is testified at large in the antient Patent and Registers of their Faculty.

To these I add, that it would be expe­dient also to know of the [...] and [Page 68] Heirs of several gallant persons, whether they have not left some Manuscripts which they would part withall, seeing it fre­quently comes to pass, that the greatest number of them never print half of their works; being either prevented by their death, or hindred by the expence, the ap­prehension of many censures and judge­ments, the fear of not coming well off, the liberty of their discourse, their mode­sty, and other the like reasons which have depriv'd us of many Books of Postellus, Bo­din, Marsillius, Passeratius, Maldonat, &c. whose Manuscripts are frequently lighted upon in particular mens studies, or in Book­sellers shops. In like manner also ought one to know from year to year, what Tracts the most learned Regents of the neighbouring Universities are to read, as well in their publique Classes, as in particu­lar, thereby to procure Copies to be writ­ten; and by this means easily obtain a world of pieces, as good and estimable as are many Manuscripts which are dearly bought for their age and antiquity; for in­stance, the Treatise of the Druides of M. Marsillius; The History and Treatise of the French Magistrates of M. Grangier; The Geography of M. Belurgey; the sundry [Page 69] writings of M. M. Dautruy, Hambert Se­guin, of du Val, of Artis; and in a word, of the most renouned Professors of all France.

Finally, one that had as great an affe­ction for Books as the Sieur Vincentius Pi­nelli, may also, as he did, visit the Shops of those who often buy old Papers or Parchments, to see if there nothing chance into their hands that may be worthy the collection for a Library; And in truth, we should be much encouraged in this par­ticular, by the example of Pogius, who found Quintilian upon the Counter of a Cooks shop, during the time that he was at the Councel of Constance, as also by that of Papi [...]ius Massonius, who encountred Agobar­dus in a Stationers shop, who was ready to cover his Books with it; and of Asco­nius, which has been given to us by a like chance: But forasmuch, neverthelesse, that this expedient is [...] as extraordinary as is their affection who make use of it; I shall rather choose to leave it to their dis­cretion, than prescribe it as a general and necessary rule.

CHAP. VI. The Disposition of the place where they should be kept.

THis consideration of the place which ought to be made choice of to cor­rect and establish a Library in, would well take up as long a discourse as any of the precedent, could the Precepts which one might give be executed with as much faci­lity, as those which we have already dedu­ced and explicated above: [...] forasmuch as it onely appertains to those who would build places expresly for this purpose, pre­cisely to observe all the rules and circum­stances which depend on the Architecture, many particularities being necessarily ob­liged to submit to the divers shapes of their dwellings, to place their Library as conve­niently as they can; and to speak se­riously, I conceive it the sole occasion which has perswaded Architects to add no­thing to what Vitruvius has said thereupon. Howbeit, not to publish this advice lame and imperfect, I shall offer you my opinion in short, to the end that every body may make use of it according to his power, [Page 71] or as he shall judge it to his liking.

As to what concerns then the situation, where one would build, or choose a place convenient for a Library, it seems that this common saying

would oblige us to take it in a part of the house the most retired from the noise and disturbance, not onely of those without, but also of the family and domesticks; di­stant from the streets, from the kitchin, the common hall, and like places; to situate ir (if possible) within some spacious Court, or [...] Garden, where it may enjoy a free light, a good and agreeable pro­spect; the air pure, not near to marshes, sinks or dung-hills, and the whole disposi­tion of its edifice so well conducted and or­dered, that it participate of no kind of in­decorum or apparent incommodity.

Now to accomplish this with more plea­sure, and lesse pain, it will be alwayes fit to place it in the middle stages, to avoid the dampness of the ground, which engen­ders mouldiness, and is a certain rottenness that does ataque Books insensibly, and that the Garrets and Chambers above may pre­serve [Page 72] it from intemperatures of the air; as those whose roofs are low quickly re­sent the incommodity of the rain, snow, and heats; Which if there be no means easily to avoid, yet ought one at least to be careful that they ascend to them by four or five steps, as I have observed in the Am­brosian at Milan; and the higher the better, and that as well in respect of its beauty, as to avoid the named inconveniences; o­therwise, the place being humid, and ill situated, you must of necessity have re­course to mats or tapistries, to line the walls withall, and to the stove or chim­ney, in which nothing must be consumed save wood, which will burn without smoke, to heat and dry the room during the win­ter, and other wet seasons of the year.

But all these difficulties and circumstan­ces are nothing to those which are to be observed for the giving light, and conve­niently placing the windows of a Library, as well for being of so great importance, that it be fully illuminated to the very far­thest corners, as in respect likewise of the several natures of the winds which ordina­rily blow, and which produce effects as different as are their qualities and the pla­ces through which they pass; upon which, [Page 73] I say, there are two things to be observed; the first, that the transum and the win­dows of the Library (if they must be through-lights) be not diametrically oppo­site, unless those onely which give day to some table; that so the lights passing not through, the place be sufficiently supplyed. The second, that the principal overtures be alwayes placed towards the East, as well because of the early light which the Library may receive in the morning, as in respect of the winds which spire from that quarter, which for being hot and dry of nature, do wonderfully attemper the air, fortifie the senses, subtilize the humors, depure the spirits, preserve a good consti­tution, correct the bad, and in a word, are very healthy and salubrous: whereas on the contrary, those which blow from the West are more troublesom and noxious, and the Meridional more dangerous than all the rest, for that being hot and moist they dispose things to corruption, thicken the air, nourish wormes, engender ver­mine, foment and create sicknesses, dispo­sing us to new ones; whence that of Hip­pocrates, Austri auditum hebetantes, Caligi­nosi, caput gravantes, pigri, dissolventes; for that they fill the head with certain vapors [Page 74] humidities which cloud the spirits, relax the nerves, obstruct the conduits, obfusk the sense, and render us dull and almost unfit for all sorts of actions; Therefore, in defect of the first, you should have re­course to the septentrionall, and which by reason of their qualities, cold, and drye, ingenders no humidity, and do well con­serve both the Books and Papers.

CHAP. VII. Of the Order which it is requisite to assign them.

THe seventh point, and which seems absolutely necessary to be treated of after the precedent, is that of the Order and Disposition which Books ought to ob­serve in a Library; for without this, doubt­less, all inquiring is to no purpose, and our labour fruitless; seeing Books are for no other reason laid and reserved in this place, but that they may be serviceable up­on such occasions as present themselves; Which thing it is notwithstanding impossi­ble to effect, unless they be ranged, and disposed according to the variety of their subjects, or in such other sort, as that they [Page 75] may easily be found, as soon as named. I affirm, moreover, that without this Or­der and disposition, be the collection of Books whatever, were it of fifty thou­sand Volumes, it would no more merit the name of a Library, than an assembly of thirty thousand men the name of an Army, unlesse they be martiall [...] in their several quarters, under the conduct of their Chiefs and Captains; or a vast heap of stones and materials, that of a Palace or a house, till they be placed and put together accor­ding to rule, to make a perfect and accom­plished structure. And just as we see Na­ture, Quae nihil unquam sine ordine meditata est vel effecit, Aristot. Politic. does govern, entertain, and conserve, by this onely way, so great a di­versity of things, without the use whereof we could not sustain and preserve our bo­dies; so ought we to believe, that to en­tertain our spirit, it is fit that the objects and things which it makes use of, be in such sort disposed, that it may alwayes and at pleasure discern the one from the other; draw, and separate them at his fantasie, without labour, without pains, without confusion. Which yet it could never ac­complish in the affairs of Books, if one should range them by a design of a hun­dred [Page 76] Presses, as la Croix du Maine propo­ses towards the conclusion of his French Bi­bliotheque; or the Caprices which Iulius Ca­millus exposes in the Idea of his Theatre; and much less yet, should one pursue the triple divisions which Iohn Mabun infers from these words of the Psalmist, Discipli­nam, bonitatem, & scientiam doce me, for the distribution of all sorts of Books under the three Classes, and principal heads of Mo­rals, of the Sciences, and of Devotion; For as the Eele escapes, by being too hard pressed, that Artificial Memory spoils and perverts the natural, and that we frequent­ly fail of accomplishing many affairs, by crouding them with too many circumstan­ces and precautions; so is it certain, that it would be extreamly difficult for any spi­rit, to regulate, and accustom it self to this Oeconomy, which seems not to have any other scope but to torture and eternal­ly crucifie the Memory, under the Thorns of those frivolous Punctilios and Chymerick subtilties; so far is it from rendring us the least aid, 2. de O­rat. and verifie the saying of Cicero, Ordo est maxime qui memoriae lumen assert. And therefore making no more esteem of an order that can onely be followed by an Author, which will not be understood, [Page 77] I conceive that to be alwayes the best which is most facil, the least intricate, most natural, practised, and which follows the Faculties of Theologie, Physick, Iuris­prudence, Mathematicks, Humanity, and o­thers, which should be subdivided each of them into particulars, according to their several members, which for this purpose ought to be reasonably well understood by him who has the charge of the Library; as for example, in Divinity, you should ever place the Bibles first, according to the order of the tongues, next these, the Councells, Synods, Decrees, Canons, and all that concerns the Ecclesiastical constitutions; forasmuch as they retain the second place of authority amongst us; After these, the Fathers, Greek and Latine; then the Commentators, Scholasticks, Mix'd Doctors, Historians, and finally, the Heretiques. In Philosophy, to begin with that of Tris­megistus as the most antient, follow by that of Plato, of Aristotle, of Raymondus Lul­lius, Ramus, and finish with the Novators, Telesius, Patricius, Campanella, Verulamius, Gilbert, Iordanus Brunus, Gassendus, Basso­nus, Gomesius, Carpenter, Gorleus, which are the principal amongst a thousand o­thers: and so to observe the like in all Fa­culties, [Page 78] with these cautions, sedulously observed: the first, that the most univer­sal and antient, do alwayes march in front; the second, that the Interpreters and Com­mentators be placed apart, and rang'd ac­cording to the order of the Books which they explicate; the third, that the parti­cular Treatises follow the rank and disposi­tion of their matter and subject, in the Arts and Sciences; the fourth and last, that all Books of like argument and subject be precisely reduced, & disciplin'd in their destin'd places; since in so doing, the me­mory is so refreshed, that it would be easie in a moment onely to find out whatever Book one would choose or desire, in a Li­brary that were as vast as that of Ptolomy; to effect which yet with more ease and contentment, care must be had, that those Books which are in too small Volumes to be bound alone, be joyned onely with such as treat upon the like or very same sub­ject; and yet it were better to bind them also single, then to make so great a confu­sion in a Library as joyning them with o­thers of subjects so extravagant and wide, that a man should never imagine to find them in such Companies. I know well, that one may represent to me here [Page 79] two notable inconveniences, which ac­company this order; viz. the difficulty of handsomly reducing and placing of certain mixed Books in any Classes or principal Fa­culty, and the continual pains which at­tends the disturbing of a Library when one is to range a thirty or fourty Volumes into several places thereof: But to this I re­ply, First, that there are but very few Books but what are reducible to some or­der, especially when one has many of them; being once placed, a very sleight memory will serve to admonish one where they stand; and at the worst, it is but to destine a certain place to martial them in altogether: And as to the second Obje­ction, It is true, that a man might avoid some trouble by setting the Books loose, or in leaving some small place at the extreams of the shelves, or places, where every fa­culty ends: but it would yet, me thinks, be much more advantagious, to choose some place destin'd for such Books as should be purchased during every six moneths, at expiration whereof they should be ranged amongst the rest, each in their proper stages; since by this means also they would be the better, being dust­ed and handled twice a year; And how­ever, [Page 80] I conceive, that this order being the most practised will ever be esteemed much better and easier than that of the Ambrosian Library, and some others, where all the Books are indifferently ranged pell­mesle, according to the order of their Vo­lumes and Ciffers, and onely distinguished in a Catalogue, wherein every piece is found under the name of its Author; forasmuch as that to avoid the precedent inconvenien­cies, it draws along with it an Iliad of o­thers, to many whereof one may yet pre­scribe a remedy, by a Catalogue faithfully compiled according to the Classes, and each Faculty subdivided to the most precise and particular of their parts.

There now remains only Manuscripts to be spoken of, which cannot be better placed then in some quarter of the Library, there being no occasion to separate and sequester them from it; since they compose the best part and the most curious, and esteemed; to this add, that divers easily perswade themselves, when they do not see them a­mongst the rest of the bookes, that all those Chambers where we use to say they are lock't up, are onely imaginary, and only destin'd to excuse such as indeed have none. There we may see one intire side of [Page 81] the Ambrosian Library which is filled with nine thousand Manuscripts, which have all been assembled by the care and diligence of the Sieur Iovanni Antonio Olgiati; And in that of M. the President Thuanus, there is one Chamber of the same floor with the rest, destin'd for this purpose. And there­fore, in prescribing the order which one might thence observe, you must consider that there are two sorts of Manuscripts, and that those which are of a just Volume and Bulk may be martial'd as other Books are; with this precaution nevertheless, that in case there be any of great consequence, prohibi­ted, and defended, they be placed upon the upmost shelves, and without any exteriour Title, that so this may be the farthest distant both from hand and eye, and so neither to be known nor handled but at the discretion of him which hath the charge of them; the same which ought also to be put in pra­ctice with the other sort of Manuscripts which consist in sheets, and small loose pie­ces; which should be united by bundles and parcels according to their subjects, and pla­ced upmost of all the rest, because being small, and easily transcribed, they would be daily obnoxious to be taken away or borrowed, if they should be placed in a­ny part where they might be seen and han­dled [Page 82] by every one, as it frequently happens to Books which lye upon desks in antient Libraries: And this is sufficient to have been spoken upon this point on which there is no farther need of enlarging, since the or­der of Nature which is alwayes uniform and like her self, not being to be exactly imitated, by reason of the extravagancy and diversity of Books, there onely remains that of Art, which every man will for the most part e­stablish according to his own fancy, and as he finds best to suite his purpose, by his own judgement and understanding, as well to satisfie himself, as because he will not fol­low the tracks and opinions of others.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Ornament and Decoration necessarily to be observed.

I should willingly dispense with this last Consideration, to pass to that which ought to close and shut up these Instru­ctions, were I not advertis'd by that excellent saying of Typotius, Lib. de fama. Ignota populo est & mortua pene ipsa virtus sine lenocinio, to speak a word by the way concerning the exteriour parade and ornament which is requisite to a Libra­ry, considering that this fard and decoration [Page 83] seems to be necessary, since according to the saying of the same Author, Omnis apparatus bellious, omnes machinae forenses, omnis deni­que suppellex domestica, ad ostentationem com­parata est: and to speak truth, that which makes me the more easily excuse the passion of those who at present seek after this pomp with a great deal of expence and useless cost, is, that the Antients have therein been more prodigal than we; for let us first of all con­sider, what the structure and building of their Libraries were; Isodorus will tell us, that they were all paved with Serpentine marble, Apud Lipsum Syntag. de Biblioth. cap. 9. & 10▪ and the roof overlaid with Gold; Boetius, that the Walls were lined with Glass and Ivory; Se­neca, that the Presses and Desks were of Ebony and Cedar: If we enquire what rare and exquisite pieces they put into them; Both the Plinies, Sueton, Martial, and Vopis­cus, will testifie through all their works, that they spar'd neither Gold nor Silver to decore them with the Images, and lively Statues of all the gallant men. And finally, if you would know what was the Ornament of the Books; Seneca does nothing else than repre­hend the lux and excessive expences which they were at in painting, gilding, limming, co­vering and binding, with all kind of bumbast miniardise and superfluity. But that we may extract some instructions from these disor­ders, [Page 84] we ought to choose and draw out of these extreams that which is so requisite for a Library, that we may at no hand neglect it, without avarice, nor exceed without prodi­gality; I say, first of all, That as to the binding of Books, there is no need of extra­ordinary expence; it were better to reserve that mony for the purchasing of all the books of the fairest and best editions that are to be found; unless that to delight the eyes of Spectators, you will cause all the backs of such as shall be bound as well in Rough, as in Calveskin, or Morroccin, to be gilded with fi­lets, and some little flowers, with the name of the Authors; for which you may have re­course to the They are two several Trades in France Guilder that is used to work for the Library, as also to the Binder, to re­pair the backs and peeled covers, re­stitch them, accommodate the transposi­tions, new paste the Mapps and Figures, cleanse the spoiled leaves, and briefly, to keep all things in a condition fit for the orna­ment of the place, and the conservation of the Books.

Nor is there any necessity of seeking for, and amassing in a Library all these pieces and fragments of old Statues,

[Page 85] It being sufficient to have good Copies drawn from such as are most famous in the profession of Letters; that thereby a man may at once make judgement of the wit of the Authours by their Books, and by their bodies, figure, and physiognomy by these Pi­ctures and Images, which joyn'd to the de­scription which many have made of their lives, may serve, in my opinion, as a puissant spurre to excite a generous and well-born Soul to follow their track, and to continue firm and stable in the wayes and beaten paths of some noble enterprise and resolu­tion.

Much less ought one to employ so much gold on the Cieling, Ivory and glass upon the Walls, the Cedar Shelves, and Marble Floors, seeing this is not now in use; nor do they now place their Books upon Desks, as the antients did; but upon Shelves that hide all the Walls; but in lieu of such gil­di [...] and adornings, one may supply it in Mathematicàl Instruments, Globes, Mapps, Spheres, Pictures, Animals, Stones, and other curiosities as well Artificial as Natural, which are ordinarily collected from time to time, with very little expence.

Finally, it would be a great forgetfulness, if after we have thus furnisht a Library with all things requisite, it should not have the [Page 86] Shelves garnish'd with some sleight searge, buckrom or canvas, fitted on with nails silve, red or gilt, as well to preserve the Books from dust, as to render a handsom orna­ment and grace to the whole place; and also, should it be unprovided of Ta­bles, Carpets, Seats, Brushes, Balls of Jasper, Conserves, Clocks, Pens, Paper, Ink, Penne-knifes, Sand, Almanacks, and other small moveables, and such like Instruments, which are of so little cost, and yet so necessary, that there is no excuse for such as neglect to make this provision.

CHAP. IX. What ought to be the principal scope and end of such a Library.

ALL things being in this equipage, there remains nothing more for the accom­plishment of this discourse, than to know what ought to be its principal end and use; for to imagine that after all this pains and expence, these lights are to be set under a Bushel, and condemn so many brave witts to a perpetual silence and solitude, is ill to understand the scope of a Library, which nor more nor lesse than Nature herself, Perditura est fructum sui, si tam magna, tam praeclara, [Page 87] tam subtiliter dicta, Seneca de Vita bea­ta cap. 32 tam nitida, & non uno ge­nere formosa, solitudine ostenderit, scias illam spectari voluisse, non tantum aspici. Therefore, I shall tell you, my Lord, with as much free­dom as affection, for your service, That in vain does a man strive to put in execution any of the foresaid Expedients, or be at any no­table charge for Books, who has not a design to devote and consecrate them to the publick use, or denies to communicate them to the least, who may reap any benefit thereby; so true is that sayingof the Poet,

So far was it one of the principal Maximes of the most sumptuous and splendid amongst the Romans, or of those who were most affe­cted to the publique good, to enrich many of those Libraries, to bequeath and destine them afterwards to the use of all the learned men; so that even according to the calcula­tion of Peterus Victor, there were nine and twenty at Rome, and as Pulladius reports, thirty seven, which were so evident indica­tions of the grandieur, magnificence, and sumptuosity of the Romans, that Pancirolus had reason to attribute to our negligence, and to range amongst those memorable things of [Page 88] Antiquity, which descended not to our times, these assured testimonies of the opulency, and good affection of the Antients towards those who made profession of Letters; and that with so much more reason, as that there are at present, as far as I can understand, none save those of the Knight Bodley in Oxford; of Car­dinal Borromeus at Milan, of the Augustine Fryers at Rome, where one may freely enter, and without difficulty; all the rest, as that of Muretus, Fulvius Ursinus, Montalto, and the Vatican; Of Medicis, and Petrus Victor, at Florence; of Bessarion, at Venice; of St. Anthony of Padoua; of the Iacobins, at Boulogne; of the Augustines, at Cremona; of Cardinal Siripandus, at Naples; of Fre­derick, Duke of Urbin; of Nunnesius, at Barcelona; of Ximenes, at Complutene [...]; of Ranzovius, at Brandeburg; of Foulcres, at Ausbourg; and finally, the Kings at S. Vi­ctor, and of M. de T. at Paris, which are all of them fair and admirable; but neither open to every one, nor so easie of access, as are the three precedent: for to speak of the Ambrosian of Milan onely, and shew how (by the same means) it surpasses as well in greatness and magnificence, as in ob­liging the publique, many of those that were even amongst the Romans; is it not a thing altogether extraordinary, that any one may [Page 89] come into it, almost at all hours he will, stay as long as he pleases, see, read, extract what Authors he desires, have all the means and conveniences to do it, be it in publique or particular, and that without any other la­bour, than visiting it himself at the ordi­nary dayes, and hours, placing himself in the seats destin'd for this purpose, and asking of the Bibliothecary for those Books which he desires to make use of, or of any three of his servants, who are well stipendiated, and en­tertain'd as well for the service of the Li­brary, as of all those who come every day thither to study in it.

But to regulate this liberty with civility, and all those precautions which are requisite, I suppose it would be expedient to make ele­ction and choice in the first place of some honest person, learned, and well experienc'd in Books, to give, together with the charge and requisite stipends, the title and quality of Bibliothecary unto, as we see it has been pra­ctis'd in all the most renoun'd Libraries, where divers gallant men have alwayes thought themselves much honoured in exe­cuting this charge, and have rendred it most illustrious and recommendable by their great learning and capacity; as for instance, Deme­trius Phalerius, Callimachus, Apollonius, Alexan­drinus, Aristoxenus, & Zenodotus, who had the [Page 90] charge heretofore of that of Alexandria; Varro and Hyginus, who govern'd that on Mount Palatinus at Rome; Leidratus and Agobardus, that of the Island Barbe near Lyons under Charlemaine; Petrus Diaconus that of Mount Cassin; Platina, Eugubinus and Sirlettus, that of the Vatican; Sabellius that of Venice; Wolphius of Basil; Greuter that of Heidelburgh; Douza and Paulus Merula that of Leyden, whom the learned Heinsius has succeeded; as after Budaeus, Gosselinus, and Casaubon, M. Rigaultius does at present govern the Bibliotheque Royal established by King Francis the first, and exceedingly aug­mented by the extream industry and dili­gence which he used.

After all which it shall be very requisite to make two Catalogues of all the Books contai­ned in the Library, in one whereof they should be so precisely dispos'd according to their several Matters and Faculties, that one may see & know in the twinkling of an eye, all the Authors which do meet there upon the first subject that shall come into one head; and in the other, they should be faithfully ranged and reduced under an Alphabetical or­der of their Authours, as well to avoid the buying of them twice, as to know what are wanting, and satisfie a number of persons that are sometimes curious of reading all the [Page 91] works of certain Authors in particular. Which being thus established, the advantage to be gained is in my opinion extreamly im­portant; be it in respect to the particular pro­fit which the Owner and Bibliothecary may thereby receive, or in regard of the renown to be acquired by their communication with everybody; that we may not be like to those avaritious persons, who take no felicity in their riches; or to that malicious Serpent, who suffered none to approach and gather the fruits of the Garden of Hesperides; espe­cially considering, that there is nothing esti­mable, but as it becomes profitable and useful: and for that, concerning Books in particular, they are like to the Man of whom Horace speaks in one of his Epistles,

However, since it were unreasonable to pro­fane that indiscreetly which should be mana­ged with judgement, we ought to observe; that seeing all Libraries cannot continually be so open as the Ambrosian; it were yet at least wise permitted, that whoever had oc­casion for it, should have free accesse to the Bibliothecary, who should introduce him with the least delay or difficulty; secondly, that [Page 92] those which were altogether strangers, and all others that had use onely of some passa­ges, might search and extract out of all prin­ted Books, whatever they stood in need of: thirdly, that persons of merit and know­ledge might be indulged to carry some few ordinary Books to their own Lodgings, ne­vertheless yet with these cautions, that it should not be for above a fortnight or three weeks at most, and that the Library-keeper be careful to register in a Book destin'd for this purpose, and divided by Letters Alpha­betically, whatsoever is so lent out to one or other, together with the date of the day, the form of the Volume, and the place and year of its impression; and all this to be subscribed by the Borrower, this to be can­cel'd when the Book is returned, and the day of its reddition put in the margent, thereby to see how long it has been kept; and that such as shall have merited by their diligence and care in conserving of Books, may have others the more readily lent to them. Assuring you, my Lord, that if it shall please you to pursue what you have al­ready begun, and augment your Library to make this use of it, or some other which you shall judge to be better, you shall obtain praises incomparable, infinite acknowledge­ments, not vulgar advantages, and in brief, a [Page 93] satisfaction indicible, when by running over this Catalogue, you shall consider the courte­sies which you have done, the gallant men you have obliged, the persons which shall have seen you, the new friends and servants which you shall have acquired, and in a word, when you shall have judged by the finger & the eye, how much glory & reputa­tion your Library shall have produced you; Towards whose progress and augmentation, I protest I would willingly, and whilst I live, contribute all that I could possible; as I have already taken the boldness to render you some testimonies of it by these Instructions, which I hope in time so to polish and aug­ment, that it shall not blush the publica­tion, to discourse and speak more at large on a subject not hitherto treated of, and let­ting the world see, under the Title of Bi­bliotheca Memmiana, what has been so long wished for, An ample and particular History, both of Letters and of Books; the Judge­ment and Censure of Authors, the Names of the best and most necessary in each Facul­ty; the Scourge of Plagiaries, the Progresse of the Sciences, the Diversity of Sects, the Revolutions of Arts and Disciplines, the De­cadence of the Antient, the several Principles of the Novators; and that Excellent Law of the Pyrrhenians founded upon the ignorance [Page 94] of all men; under the umbrage whereof I do most humbly, my Lord, beseech you, to ex­cuse my own, and to receive these slender Instructions, though course and ill woven, as pledges of my good will, and of that which I promise to present you one day, with a greater attendance, and better equipage.