THE INFANT BODLEIAN

Shannon News, 23 November 1928, Page 1

THE INFANT BODLEIAN

When, in the year 1605, King James 1., paid a State visit to Oxford, ho was taken to the newly fitted Bodleian Library, where he “did break out in noble speech ’' and declared, with evident sincerity: “If I might have my wish, I would desire i have no other prison than this Library, and to be chained together with so many good authors.''' This sentiment did credit to a monarch whose behaviour was not always what his successor used to call “discreet," but who did genuinely love learning as ho understood it. . . Sir Thomas Bodley, was a public servant of great activity and resource, but we should know little and care less about him it if were not that at a moment of sharp disappointment he abruptly withdrew into private life and began to,-endow the University of Oxford. By repudiating all ambition to be famous, he became far more celebrated than his gratified ambition could have .made him. . .

Bodley’s anxiety for the safety of the ,hooks was extraordinary. He would allow no visitor to enter , the building until every volume,, manuscript or printed, was completely fastened to the shelves. His letters expatiate on chains and locks, and the aspect of the library, when at length it was finished' must have been penitential in the extreme. On no pretence whatever, was a single volume allowed to leave the building. Books too small for chains were locked behind wire grating. This painful solicitude was overdone, and Bodley himself admitted in 1602 that “the multiplicity of chains" was interfering with “the sight and show of fhe books." ...

The collection of books went on slowly. Sir Thomas Bodley gave many, but had to depend on the generosity of donors, and he seems like many noble public benefactors, to have been a sturdy beggar. He made those who gave volumes pay for the binding also, and he insisted on important gifts. When Dr. James was appointed Keeper one of his duties was to deal with donors, who were to be wheedled, urged and squeezed. v All were to be thank-' ed, but in terms proportionate to their benefaction. When Tobias Matthew, Bishop of. after • presenting some books, visited the library, Dr. James was instructed to give him “a short, sweet welcome." . . .Janies said he would resign unless he was "allowed to have a wife, whereupon .Bodley, lamenting yielded. But James had even a move, dangerous weakness. He wanted to read the books—a monstrous pretension! Sir Thomas' Bodley had to remind him that this was'an unworthy ambition in a librarian. It upset Bodley very much, and we find him writing quite sharply to remind the peccant Jambs that the “perusing of titles and authors is not void of profit," and indeed much more suitable for a bibliographer than idling , his time away in reading, iso wonder that Jaihcs, who :was ! a bookworm born,' grumbled that “in a place of some eminency for books" he. had no opportunity to study them. . .

Many little points may be /collected., from the" letters to complete the picture of the ’infant Bodleian;. . The/ad.-. mil-able Pounder and his hardly less praiseworthy Keeper, learned by experience the tricks of their trade, for they had no previous experience to go upon. It canpot be too emphaticallysaid that their Library was' an liripre-' eedented institution. Europe had seen , large collections'of books brought together,, and in particular the Bibliotheca Orientalis had quite' lately been sumptuously housed in the Escorial by Philip 11. of Spain. But nowhere had there been instituted and endowed, a great .representative public library until the patience and generosity of Sir Thomas Bod ley were rewarded at Oxford. Hence the founden, of the Bodleian were thrown back upon theory ;uui experiment, and -tlicis.'delays-were many and exasperating. They were learning all the time. The Library proved stuffy, and -.casemates had tobe .lifted in." The floors grew dirty and' had to be cleaned and scented with.'rosemary. The transmission -of tilings which wc think of to-day as matters of course was difficult and uncertain. For instance, no good ink was available ki Oxford, and the carrier from London declined to carry what might break upon the journey and ruin all his goods.—Sir Edmund G-osso, in "Leaves and Fruit.”