So complete was
the destruction that in 1555 an order was made to sell the desks and
book-shelves, as if it were finally admitted that Oxford would never have
a library again.
Some few of the Duke's books escaped the general destruction. Of the
half-dozen specimens in the British Museum three are known by the ancient
catalogues to have been comprised in his gifts to the University. Two
more remain at Oxford in the libraries of Oriel and Corpus Christi. We
learn from Mr. Macray that only three out of the whole number of his MSS.
are now to be found in the Bodleian. One of them contains the Duke's
signature: another is of high interest as being a translation out of
_Aristotle_ by Leonardo Aretino, with an original dedication to the
Duke. The third is a magnificent volume of _Valerius Maximus_ prepared,
as we know from the monastic annals, under the personal supervision of
Abbot Whethamstede, the 'passionate bibliomaniac' of St. Alban's. It
contains inscriptions, says Mr. Macray, recording its gift for the use of
the scholars, with anathemas upon all who should injure it. 'If any one
steals this book,' says the Abbot, 'may he come to the gallows or the
rope of Judas.'
[Illustration: THE DUKE OF BEDFORD PRAYING BEFORE ST. GEORGE. (_From the
"Bedford Missal."_)]
Many of the Duke of Gloucester's books had come to him from the library
of the French Kings at the Louvre, which had been purchased and dispersed
by John, Duke of Bedford. The Duke himself was in the habit of ordering
magnificently illuminated books of devotion, which he gave as presents to
his friends.
Pages:
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67