INSTRUCTIONS Concerning Erecting of a LIBRARY: Presented to My LORD The PRECEDENT De MESME.  
BY GABRIEL NAUDEUS, P. And now Interpreted BY JO. EVELYN, Esquire.  
LONDON, Printed for G. Bedle, and T. Collins, at the Middle-Temple Gate, and I. Crook in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1661.   

To the Right Honourable EDWARD, Earl of CLARENDON, Viscount CORNBERY, Baron HYDE of HYNDON; Lord High Chancellor of England, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and one of the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council.  
MY LORD,  
I have had so great a thirst to testify to your Lordship, and to publish to the World the extraordinary Zeal which I have for your service; that pretending to so little merit of my own, and yet having so many obligations upon me, I am to be excused, if in making use of another's Labours to accomplish my design, I take occasion by this Dedication, to declare to the world, how immense your favours are, and how prone I am to acknowledge them to the utmost of my Talents: And perhaps it will be more acceptable to your Lordship, that I express this rather by putting an excellent Author into your hands (of which I pretend only to have been the Interpreter) than, whilst that learned person discourses so well of excellent Books, to have multiplied the number of the ill-ones, by some production of my own. I have made choice (my Lord) of this Argument to present to your Honour, because I esteem it the most apposite, and the most becoming, as it has an aspect to your Lordship's noblest Character, which is to be as well L. Chancellor of the most famous University of the World, as L. High Chancellor of England; and, because I think, worthily to preside over Men of Letters, is a greater dignity than to be born to the name of Empire; so, as what was said of the great Themistius in the Epigramm, may with equal truth be applied to your Lordship in all the glorious steps which you have ascended— 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. That you were never less than now you are; especially, since your Lordship's Titles are not so much the product of your Fortune, as the effect of your Merits; verifying by your universal knowledge, the Rank you hold over the Learned Republic, as well as over the Political; which is, in sum, to be the greatest and most accompplished Minister, that this Nation has ever celebrated. But in nothing does this appear more conspicuous, and for which your Lordship has greater cause to rejoice in, then that God has enlightened your great Mind, with a fervour so much becoming it in the promoting and encouraging of the ROYAL SOCIETY; which is in one word, to have dared a nobler thing, than has been done these fifty Ages and more, that the Knowledge of Causes, and the Nature of Things have lain concealed from us; and that the World has continued, without once having assumed the Courage and Resolution, which our Illustrious Prince, and your Lordship, have showed in establishing, and cultivating a Design so worthy, and perfective of Humane Felicity, as far, at least, as in this life men may hope to attain it. My Lord, This is your Honour, and this is truly to fix and to merit it. For let men talk what they please of the Laurels of Conquerors, the Titles of great men, illustrious and ample Posterity; all the pleasures of the lower senses how exalted soever by the effects of Opulence, and Fortune; which make indeed a great noise, and stir for the time; and, whilst the World is in the Paroxysm, bear much before them; dazzling the eyes of the Vulgar, and flattering the weaker discernements; They arrive not to the least perceptible degree of that Dignity, and true honour which a man may raise to himself by noble and virtuous Actions; Because there is nothing solid in them, they last but for a moment, in their using languish and expire. He that would lay a Foundation of true and permanent Honour, that would place it beyond the reach of Envy, must qualify it with something more noble and intellectual, and which is not obnoxious to the common vicissitudes; because, by whatever circumstances such a worthy Design may happen to be discomposed, it will nevertheless be celebrated as long as Virtue shall have an Advocate here; and when the World shall become so depraved, that there is nothing sincere remaining in it, God himself will remunerate it hereafter. If the Sovereigns and Puissances of the Earth (having sated themselves with their Triumphs over Men and Provinces, enlarged their Dominions, and established their estates) would one day think (as our glorious Prince has begun to them) of extending, and amplifying the Bounds and Empire of real Philosophy, in pursuit of those Magnalia Naturae, to the glory and contemplation of the Maker, and the universal benefit of Mankind; how happy would such Princes be, how fortunate their People! And truly this has made me frequently to consider, wherein the felicity of that great Monarch consisted, whose heart was so enlarged with knowledge, improved to the good of his Subjects, where silver was as the stones of the streets for abundance, and the conveniences of life so generally affluent: Certainly it is by such a Design as our own Solomon, and your Lordship, is about to favour, that even We may hope for those glorious times again, and by which the public health may be confirmed, our Lives produced, knowledge and conversation improved, and joy and contentedness become as universal as the Air which gives us breath: For my Lord, what can be more glorious, and worthy a Prince, to which God himself has said, Dixi, Dii estis, I have said ye are Gods, then by this means to aid, and to comfort Mankind, which is environed with such variety of Miseries? And to emancipate, and redeem the rest, who by the utmost of their endeavours aspire to more happiness, to be freed from the Pressures, Errors and infinite Mistakes which they fall into, for want of Experiences, and competent subsidiaries to essay them. But to accomplish this, my Lord, There is certainly nothing more expedient, than in pursuit of that stupendious Idea of your Illustrious Predecessor, to set upon a Design no way beneath that of his Solomon's House; which, however lofty, and to appearance Romantic, has yet in it nothing of Impossible to be effected, not only considering it as Himself has somewhere defined the Qualifications, but as your Lordship has designed the Instruments (and may in time, the Materials) as all the World must needs acknowledge, that shall but cast an eye over the Catalogue of such as have already devoted themselves; Because (but for the mistake which they made in honouring me with their suffrages) I should not blush to pronounce the Royal-Society furnished with an Assembly as accomplished for that noble and great Attempt, as Europe, or the whole World besides, has any to produce; And that, my Lord, because it does not consist of a Company of Pedants, and superficial persons; but of Gentlemen, and Refined Spirits that are universally Learned, that are Read, Travelled, Experienced and Stout; in sum, my Lord, such as becomes your Honour to cherish, and our Prince to glory in. These are the Persons, my Lord, that without the least of sordid, and self interest, do supplicate the continuance of your Lordship's Protection, and by your Influences to put them into a farther capacity to proceed in that glorious Work of Restoring the Sciences, Interpreting Nature, unfolding the obstrusities of Arts, for the Recovery of the Lost; Inventing, and Augmenting of new and useful Things, and for whatsoever else is in the Dominion of inferior Agents. For my own part, my Lord, I profess it, that were it in my power to choose, I had rather be the Author of one good and beneficial Invention, than to have been julius Caesar, or the great Alexander himself; and do range the Names of a Gilbert, a Bacon, a Harvey, a Guttemberge, Columbus, Goia, Metius, janellus, Thyco, Galileo (not to mention Hypocrates, Proclus, Hieron, Archimedes, Ctesibes, Boetius, and what more of the Ancients) who gave us the Use of the Loadstone, Taught us the Art of Printing; found out the Circulation of the Blood, detected new Worlds, invented the Telescope, and other optical Glasses, Engines and Automates, amongst the Heroes, whom they Deified, and placed above the Stars; because they were the Authors of ten thousand more worthy Things, than those who had never been named but for their bloodshed and cruelty, pride and prodigious lusts; nor would any memory of them have been preserved from oblivion, but for the Pens of such great Genius's and learned men, of whom some of them did the least deserve. The noble Verulam your Lordship's Predecessor, as he outstripped all who went before him; so is he celebrated as far as knowledge has any Empire; and (maugre the frowardness of his latter Fortune) the Learned rise up at the sound of his very Name; And for what is all this? But his great and shining endeavours to advance the excellency of men's Spirits, cultivate humane Industry, and raise an Amphitheatre of Wisdom, without which this public Soul of his had slept as much neglected and forgotten, as those who only became great by their power, and perished with it. All this your Lordship knows; and therefore as your Education has been amongst the most refined, you burn with a desire to improve it also amongst others; so that the Chancellors of France shall not for ever bear away the Reputation of having rendered that Spot the envy of Europe, for being Fautors and Mecoenas' to so many rare Wits, and laudable Societies, as are amongst that Mercurial people; since there is that left for your Lordship and our Nation, which is as far beyond the polishing of Phrases, and cultivating Language, as Heaven is superior to Earth, and Things are better than Words; Though even those also will not be neglected in their due Time and Order: But it is prodigious only to consider, how long these shells have been played with, and pleased the World; That after so many Revolutions, in which Learning has been seen as it were at its highest Ascendent, there never yet appeared any man of Power, who possessed a Soul big enough, and judgement suitable, to erect some considerable Foundation for Practical Philosophers, and for the Assembling of such whose united, and assiduous Endeavours, might penetrate beyond the Walls of what is yet discovered, or received upon trust 
Atque omne immensum peragrarent ment, animoque  That might redeem the World from the Insolency of so many Errors as we find by daily experience will not abide the Test, and yet retain their Tyranny; and that by the credit only and address of those many Fencing-Schools which have been built (not to name them Colleges) and endowed in all our Universities: I speak not here of those reverend, and renowned Societies which converse with Theologie, cultivate the Laws, Municipal, or Foreign; But, I deplore with just indignation, the supine neglect of the Other, amongst such numbers as are set apart for empty, and less fruitful Speculations; especially, since I find the pretences of so many sober and qualified persons as have deplored this effect, so very reasonable, and so eminently beneficial. But why do I abound? Your Lordship who is already possessed with all this, is not to be instructed, without presumption and impertinence, which cannot be the least design of this Epistle; since those who know both your Lordship's affection, and inclination to promote so glorious a Work, know also, that there is none more able to make it attain to its desired protection. And this is, my Lord, worthily to consult your Fame, and to eternize your Name in the World amongst the Good and the Virtuous; which will make you live not only in the Mouths and Pens, but in the Hearts of gallant Persons, and such as best skill to make Estimates of the Favours you shall confer upon them; because they seek it not out of private advantage, sordid purposes, or artificially; but to the ends proposed; The enlargement of real knowledge, and for the public benefit; in sum, my Lord, for the most useful and noblest effects, and for the Glory of God. And thus, my Lord, I have taken the boldness in presenting your Honour with this little Discourse of Books and Libraries, to put these Reflections of mine into your Lordship's hands; Because, as having myself the honour to have some Relation to that Assembly, who make these their pretences to conciliate your Esteem, I think myself obliged to acknowledge with them likewise, your Lordship's favourable Reception of their late Addresses; and because I am for so many other obligations in particular, to publish to the world, how perfectly I am,  
My Lord, Your most humble, and most obliged Servant, J. EVELYN.   

Instructions concerning Erecting of a Library, presented to my Lord the Precedent De Mesine, by Gabr. Naudeus P. TO THE READER.  
THis Advice occasioned by a certain dispute, which was some months since controverted in his Library, who was then pleased to accept of it, had never been drawn out of the dust of my study, and exposed to the Light; till not finding myself able to render a better, or more speedy satisfaction to the curiosity of many of my Friends, who desired Copies of it, I at last resolved to print it: as well that it might deliver me from the charge and inconveniency of the Transcribers, as for my natural propensity to oblige the public; whom, if this Advice be not worthy to satisfy, it may yet serve as a Guide at least to those who desire to furnish the world with better, that it may no longer be deprived of a piece which seems wanting to its felicity; and, for which respect alone I have been first constrained to break the Ice, and trace the way cursorily for those who may render it more perspicuous at their leisure; This if you shall accept, I shall have cause to acknowledge your civility, and good will; If otherwise, I shall, at least, request you to excuse my faults, and those of the Printer.   

A Table of the principal Matters, treated of in these Instructions.  

Chap. 1. ONE ought to be curious in erecting of Libraries, and why?  
Chap. 2. How to inform one's self, and what we are to know concerning the erecting of a Library.  
Chap. 3. The Number of Books which are requisite.  
Chap. 4. Of what quality and condition they ought to be.  
Chap. 5. By what expedients they may be procured.  
Chap. 6. The disposition of the Place where they should be kept.  
Chap. 7. The Orders which it is requisite to assign them.  
Chap. 8. Of the Ornament and Decoration necessarily to be observed.  
Chap. 9 What ought to be the principal Scope, and end of such a Library.    

In primum struendae ordinatim Bibliothecae: Auctorem, Gabr. Naudaeum.  
Epigramma:  

Composuisse Libros, promptum & triviale cuique est;  
Librorum Auctores composuisse, Tuum est.   

EJUSDEM LUSUS.  
Bibliotheca licet tot sis Naudaee librorum,  
Cusa haec non tamen est Bibliotheca tua.  
Non etenim veluti plantam parit altera planta,  
Bibliothecam aliam Bibliotheca parit.  
Si tamen ista Tua est, mihi credito non nisi monstrum est,  
Cum Bibliothecam aliam Bibliotheca parit.  
At monstrum esse negas; quod docta lutetia laudat:  
Ergo divinae fabrica mentis erit.  
Non divuin est, inquis, humaná conditum ab arte:  
Dic ergo tua tu Bibliotheca quid est?   
J. C. FREY, Doct. Medic. & Philosoph, in Academia Paris. Decanus.  
JANUS CAECILIUS FREY.  
Invia ad artes & Scientias. Pars 4. praecepta continet ordinandi Bibliothecas.  
SCRIPSIT AUREUM NUPER DE HAC RE LIBELLUM GALLUM GABRIEL NAUDAEUS. EGO PAUCIS REM DIFFICILLIMAM ORDINATIM PROFERAM.   

INSRUCTIONS Concerning erecting of a LIBRARY, Presented to My LORD the Precedent De MESME.  
Horat. l. 1. Ep. 19  
— juvat immemorata ferentem  
Ingenuis oculisque legi, manibusque tueri.  
MY LORD,  
I Suppose it will not appear unreasonable, that I give the Title and Quality of a thing unheard of to this Discourse, which I present you with as much affection, as your favour, and the service which I owe you, oblige me to do: since it is certain, that amongst the almost infinite number which have to this day taken the Pen in hand, there never arrived any yet (to my knowledge) upon whose advice a man might regulate himself concerning the choice of Books, the means of procuring them, and how they should be disposed of, that they might appear with profit and honour in a fair and Sumptuous Bibliotheque.  
For though we have indeed the Counsel which is given us by john Baptist Card●n, Bishop of Tortosa, touching the erecting and entertainment of the Royal Library of the Escurial; yet he hath so lightly passed over this subject, that though we did not esteem it as good as nothing, yet at least ought it not to retard the happy design of those who would undertake to impart some greater light and directions to others, upon hope, that if they succeed no better, the difficulty of the Enterprise will not render them less excusable than him, and exempt from all sort of blame and reproach.  
As true it is, that it is not every man's Talon to acquit himself happily in this affair, and that the pains and the difficulty which there is in acquiring a superficial knowledge only of all the Arts and Sciences, to deliver one's self from the servitude and slavery of certain opinions, which make us speak and govern all things according to our Fancy, and to judge discreetly, and without passion, of the merit and quality of Authors; are difficulties more than sufficient to persuade us, that what justus Lipsius elegantly spoke, and much to the purpose, of two other sorts of persons, may be truly verified of a Library-keeper: consuls fiunt quotannis, & novi Proconsules: 
In Electis  Solus aut Rex aut Poeta non quotannis nascitur.  
And if I, my Lord, assume the boldness to present you these Memoires and Instructions; it is not, that I so much value and esteem my own Judgement, as to interpose it in an affair of so much difficulty; or that I am so far transported with self-love to imagine there is that in me, which is so rarely to be encountered amongst others: But the great affection which I have to perform a thing which may be acceptable to you, is the sole cause which excites me to join the common sentiments of divers persons, Learned, and extremely versed in the knowledge of Books, and the several expedients practised by the most famous Bibliothecaries, to that which the little Industry & Experience I have myself obtained, may together furnish me withal; that I may with this Advice, represent unto you the Precepts and the means on which it is necessary to regulate one's self, and attain a fortunate success in this noble and generous enterprise.  
And therefore, my Lord, after I have made it my most humble request, that you would rather attribute this tedious discourse to the candour and sincerity of my affection▪ then to the least presumption of being capable to acquit myself of it more worthily than another; I shall freely tell you, that unless your designs be to equal the Vatican Library, or the Ambrosiane of Cardinal Barromeus, you have already sufficient to give your mind repose, to be satisfied, and contented in possessing such a quantity of Books, and so rarely chosen, that though it be not arrived to those dimensions, it is yet more than sufficient, not only to serve your particular contentment, and the curiosity of your Friends; but to conserve likewise the reputation of being one of the most considerable, and best furnished Libraries of France; since you there enjoy all the Principals in the chief Faculties, and a very great number of others, which may minister to the various rencontres of particular and less obvious subjects. But if your Ambition be to render your name illustrious by that of your Bibliotheque, and to join this expedient also to those which on all occasions you practise by the Eloquence of your Discourses, the Solidity of your Judgement, and the glory of the noblest Dignities and Magistratures which you have so successfully borne, to render an eternal Lustre to your Memory, and assure you whilst you live, that you may with ease disinvelope yourself from the innumerable Volumes and Scrolls of Ages, to live and be famous in the Memories of men; it will then be needful to augment, and every day to perfect what you have so happily begun; and insensibly to give such, and so advantageous a Progress to your Library, that it may become as unparallelled as yourself, without equal; and as fair, perfect and accomplished, as it can be made by the Industry of those, who never effect any thing without some spot and imperfection. Adeo nihil est ab omni parte beatum.  

CHAP. I. One ought to be curious in erecting of Libraries, and why?  
ANd now, my Lord, since all the difficulty of this Design 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 persuade 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 sense will inform 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 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 expense, it can no ways 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 (says the same Author) rerum humanarum reginae sunt. And in earnest, if we find it not strange that Demetrius made a show and Parade of his Artillery, vast and prodigious Machine's; Alexander the Great of his manner of encamping; the Kings of Egypt of their Pyramids; 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 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 assured, 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 Public? 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 judged of such consequence, that not only particular persons have made it successful 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 Precedent 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 achievements, 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 Egypt, and of Pergamus, Xerxes, Augustus, Lucullus, Charlemagne, Alphonsus of Arragon, Matth. Corvinus, and that great Prince Francis the First, who have all of them had a particular affection, and sought (amongst the almost infinite number of Monarches and Potentates, which have also practised this Stratagem) to amass great numbers of Books, and erect most curious and well furnished Libraries: not that they stood in need of other subjects of recommendation and Fame, as having acquired 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 supreme and Sovereign degree of esteem and reputation. And truly, should one inquire 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 therefore, my Lord, it seems very much to the purpose, since you govern and preside in all signal Actions, that you never content yourself with a Mediocrity in things which are good and laudable; and since you have nothing of mean and vulgar, that you should also cherish, above all others, the honour and reputation of possessing a Bibliotheque, the most perfect, the best furnished and maintained of your time. In fine, if these Arguments have not power sufficient to dispose you to this Enterprise, I am at least persuaded, That of your particular satisfaction will of itself 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 accomplished felicity, I believe that there were certainly none more desirable 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 fancy, enjoy it when he would, quit it when he pleased, entertain himself in it at his liberty; and that without contradiction, without travail, and without pains, he may instruct himself, and learn the exactest particulars 
Of all that is, that was, and that may be  
In Earth, the farthest Heavens, and the Sea.   
I shall only add 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 express it, that I pretend not hereby to engage you in a superfluous and extraordinary expense, as being not at all of their opinion, who think Gold and Silver the principal nerves of a Library, and who persuade 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 design to persuade 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 less expense, to attain at last, the scope which I propose to you.   

CHAP. II. How to inform one's 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 easy 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 success, and to proceed therein with more industry, precaution, and judgement than others do; such as are at present M M. de Fontenay, Hale, du Puis, Riber, des Cordes, and Moreau, whose examples one cannot err in following; 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 address and light, which will not be, peradventure, unserviceable to the progress 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 deduced from the Books of some Authors, who have written but slightly 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, Indices, 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 contemplate.  His maxim 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 transcribed all the Catalogues, not only of the great and most famous Libraries, whether ancient or modern, public 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, unless 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 mind which is generous and nobly born, should have a desire and an ambition to assemble, as in one heap, whatsoever the others possess 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, show, and direct him to the place where he may find some Copy, a thing very feasible by the assistance of these Catalogues. Finally, Because it is altogether impossible, 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 judgements of the most intelligent and best versed in this particular, and then to deduce this Inference; Since these Books have been collected and purchased by such and such, there is reason to believe, they deserved 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 Booksellers, I have frequently seen him buy Books so old, ill bound, and wretchedly printed, that I could not choose, but smile and wonder together, till that he being afterwards pleased to tell me the cause and the circumstances for which he purchased 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 judgement, 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 explained, that which ought to follow and approach us nearest, obliges us to inquire, 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 unparallelled 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 jurisconsults, which (as one says) 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 Readins 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, and divers other like it, which he gives us in five or six places of his Works, may in some measure favour, and fortify 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 ourselves 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 satisfy himself, and him that only seeks to gratify and oblige the Public. 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 show 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 reproached by Seneca, in the places before alleged; and in plainer terms yet, where he says, 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 handsomely addresses ad Philomusum.  

Emptis quod libris tibi Bibliotheca referta est,  
Doctum & Grammaticum te Philomuse putas?  
Hoc genere et chordas, et plectra, et barbita conde,  
Omnia mercatus, cras Cithrae●dus eris;   

That thou with Books thy Library hast filled,  
Think'st thou thyself learned, and in Grammar skilled?  
The stored with Strings, Lutes, Fiddle-sticks now bought;  
To morrow thou Musician may'st be thought.   
But you, my Lord, who have the reputation of knowing more than can be taught you, and who deprive yourself of all sort of contentments, to enjoy, and plunge yourself, 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 Public; and of yourself, that all the actions of your life had not surpassed the most heroic exploits of the most illustrious persons. And therefore I shall ever think it extremely 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 public benefit ought to be universal, but which it can never be, unless 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 satisfy the curiosity of the Readers upon all that remains. And therefore I do nothing wonder, that Ptolemy King of Egypt 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 josephus assures us; but seven hundred thousand, as witness, 
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 Emperor 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 finds in it that which he is in search of, and could no where else encounter; this being a perfect Maxim, 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 Satirist, 

Pers. sat. 5.  Mille hominum species, & rerum discolor usus,  
Velle suum cuique est, nec voto vivitur uno.  And that it is commonly amongst Readers as it was with Horace's three Guests, 

Lib 2. Epist. 2.  P●scentes vario nimium diversa palato.  There being no better resemblance of Libraries, then to the Meadow of Seneca, where every living creature finds 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.  joined to the common opinion of the Vulgar, Cui magna pro bonis sunt, to satisfy and recompense a man that accounts it never so little honour and glory in all his expenses 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, than it was for the Ancients to get hundreds; and that by consequent, it would be an eternal shame and reproach 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 extremely augment the esteem of a Library amongst those who have the means, and the leisure 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 Physicians, 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 discern, one must be careful to take with him divers Theorems, and precautions; which may with more facility be reduced to practise as opportunity happens, by those who have the routine, and are versed in Books, and who judge of all things maturely and without passion, then possibly be deduced, and couched in writing, seeing they are almost infinite; and that, to speak ingenuously, some of them combat the most vulgar opinions, and maintain Paradoxes.   

CHAP. IU. 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 ancient 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 Faculty; not forgetting those which are less vulgar, and by consequent more curious: As for Example, with the several Bibles, the Fathers, and the Counsels, for the gross of Theology: with Lyra, Hugo, Tostatus, Salmeron, for the positive: with S. Thomas, Occh●●, Durandus, Peter Lombard, Henricus Magnus, Alexander of Alice, 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 Hypocrates, Galen, Paulus Aeginetus, Oribasius, Aetius, Trallian, Avicen, Avenzoar, Fernelius, for Physic: Ptolemy, Pirmicus, Haly, Cardan, Stotlerus, Gauricus, junctinus, for Astrology: Halhazen, Vitellio, Bacon, Aquillonius, for the Optics: Diophantes, Boetius, jordan, Tartaglia, Siliscus, Lucus de Burgo, Villefranc for Arithmetic: Artemidorus, Apomazar, Sinescus, Cardonius, for Dreams: And so with all the other, which it would be too long, and troublesome, to specify 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 Rabbis in Hebrew; the Fathers in Greek and Latin; Avicenne in Arabic; Bocacio, Dantes, Petrarch, in Italian; together with their best Versions, Latin, French, or such as are to be found: These last being for the use of many persons who have not the knowledge of foreign Tongues; and the former, for that it is very expedient to have the sources whence so many streams do glide in their natural channels 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 Anatomy, Matthiolus the History of Plants, Gesner and Aldrovandus that of Animals, Rondoletius and Salvianus that of Fishes, Vicomercatus that of Meteors, etc.  
In the fourth place, All those that have best commented, or explained any Author or Book in particular; as Pererius upon Genesis; Villalpandus, Ezechiel; Maldonat, the Gospels; Monlorius and Zabarella the Analytics; Scaliger, Theophrastus' History of Plants; Proclus, and Marsilius Ficinus upon Plato; Alexander, and Themistius upon Aristotle; Flurancius, Rivaultius, Archimedes; Theon and Campanus, Euclid; Cardan, Ptolemy: And this should be observed in all sorts of Books and Treatises, ancient 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: Saints 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, Medicine, and what ever else there may be: with this discretion nevertheless, that he which most approaches to the profession which he pursues, be preferred before any other.  
Moreover, All such as have written most successfully against any Science, or that have opposed 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 Chemists: Scaliger, who has so fortunately opposed Cardan, as that he is at present in some part of Germany more followed than Aristotle himself: Casaubon, who durst attaque the Annals of that great Cardinal Baronius: Argentenius, who hath taken Galen to task: Thomas Erastus, who has so pertinently refuted Paracelsus: Carpenter, who has so rigorously opposed Ramus: and finally, all those that have exercised themselves in the like conflicts, and that are so linked 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 have innovated or changed any thing in the Sciences; for it is properly to flatter the slavery, and imbecility 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 Ancients, and for that they have learnedly examined what others were used to receive, as by Tradition: And therefore, seeing of late more than thirty or forty Authors of reputation have declared themselves against Aristotle; that Copernicus, Kepler, Galilaeus, have quite altered Astronomy; Paracelsus, Severinus the Dane, Du Chesne, and Crollius, Physic: 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, 
Est quoque cunctarum novitas gratissima rerum.  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 it will furnish him with a million of advantages, and new conceptions; which being received in a spirit that is docile, universal, and disengaged from all interests, 
Nullius addictus jurare in verba Magistri,  they make him speak to the purpose upon all subjects, cure the admiration which is a perfect sign of our weakness, and enables one to discourse upon whatsoever presents itself with a great deal more judgement, 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 men's Learning, as with water, which is never more fair, pure, and limpid, then at its source; All the Invention coming 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 Coins; Bodinus of a Republic; Cocles of Physiognomy; Peter Lombard, S. Thomas, of Scholastical Divinity, have done better than those many others, which engaged 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; spiny or facile; seeing what we use to say of all things else that be not common, may be so appositely applied to curious new Books; 
Rara juvant, primis sic major gratia pomis,  
Hibernae pretium sic meruere rosae.   
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 the spontaneo viventium ortu, de lucernis antiquorum; Tagliacotius, how to repair a decayed Nose; Libanius and Coclinus of the Magnetic Ointment; Secondly, All curious and not vulgar Authors; such as are the books of Cardan, Pomponacius, Brunus, and all those who write concerning the Cabal, Artificial Memory, the Lullian Art, the Philosopher's Stone, Divinations, and the like matters. 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 satisfy 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 Masterpiece, and the Fabric of that goodly composition.  
And this Maxim should lead us to another of no less consequence, which is, not to neglect the works of the principal Heresiarches 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, who by I know not what Fancy, and excessive love to novelty, did quit their Cassocks, and the Banner of the Church, to enrol 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 find them in some places to refute them; since M. de T. has made it no difficulty to collect them; that the ancient 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 than 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 nos; that they are prejudicial but to them only, 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 vicious not cauterised, I conceive it no extravagance or danger at all, to have in a Library (under caution nevertheless of a licence and permission from those to whom it appertains) all the Works of the most learned and famous Heretics, such as have been,— and divers others of lesser consequence, Quos fama obscura recondit.  
This also ought to be retained as a Maxim, that all the bodies and assemblies of several Authors writing upon the same subject; such as are the Thalmud, the Counsels, 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, aught of necessity to be put into Libraries; forasmuch as they save us, first of all, the labour of searching an infinity of Books extremely curious and rare: and secondly, because they spare abundance of other, and make room in a Library. Thirdly, for that they handsomely 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 Authors which they contain. I hold it also for a tenant 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 Wits, which are not of the common alloy; 
Quorum que ex ore profuso  
Omnis posteritas latices in dogmata ducit;   
And of whom one may make use, as of Masters the most expert in the knowledge of all things, and of their works as of a Seminary, perfectly sufficient to enrich a Library not only 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 Authors; 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; careful, that we be not cheated in Books rampant, with Authors infinitely more rude and gross: since, as one cannot possess too much of that which is good, and tightly 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 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 wonderful 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 livelihood of the Regent's; 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 renowned amongst the last had above fifty of them, which he perpetually studied; and who having encountered a difficult word at the first offering of the Book of Equivocals, as it was presented to him, he had recourse immediately to one of these Dictionaries, and transcribed out of it above a page of writing, upon the margin 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 days in composing it; though he had in truth but the pains only of transcribing it: And in earnest, for my part, I esteem these Collections extremely profitable and necessary, considering the brevity of our life, and the multitude of things which we are now obliged to know, ere one can be reckoned amongst the number of learned men, do not permit us to do all of ourselves; 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 diversify 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 destined 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 grind and prepare for them.  
Lastly, 
17. Aphor. ● Sect. 1.  we should upon this occasion reduce to practise that same Aphorism of Hypocrates, which advertises us to yield something to time, to place, and to custom; that is to say, that some kind of Books be sometimes in vogue and reputation in one Country, 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 testify 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 ancient 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 Scholastic, the Tongucs and Controversies; which have every one had their turns, domineered in several times; as we see that the study of the Ethics and Politics do at present employ the greatest part of the most vigorous wits of this our age, whilst the weaker sort amuse themselves with Fictions and Romanc●es, of which I shall only 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 maxims being so amply explained, 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 Authors but by their number or bulk of their Volumes, and judge only 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; 
— Laudator temporis acti, 
In Art Poet.   
Praesentis censor, castigatorque futuri:   
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 greatest upon any Book whatever, whose Author were not older than the Mother of Evander, or the Grandsires' of Carpentras; nor believe that time could be well employed, which was spent in reading any modern Books, since according to their maxim, they are but Rapsodists, Coppiers, or Plagiaries, & approach in nothing to the Eloquence, the learning and the noble conceptions of the Ancients; 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 Thucydides 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 from common sense, then to despise all Modern Authors, to court some few only of the Ancient; 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 extremes, 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 satisfy 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 testify, 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, 
Sumpserunt artes hac tempestate decorem,  
Nullaque non welior quam prius ipsa fuit.   
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 Euclid and Archimedes; Montagne, Charon, Verulam, next to Seneca and Plutarch; Fernelius, Silvius, 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 renowned Authors; since if the capricious Boccalini had undertaken to balance them with the Ancients, he had haply found a great many of them more inconsiderable, and but very few which do at all surpass them.  
The second Maxim, and which haply will not less seem a Paradox than the first, is directly contrary to the opinion of those who esteem of Books only 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 applied to these monstrous and Gigantine Books; as in effect it is almost impossible, that the wit should always remain intent 〈◊〉 these great works, and that the heaps and grand confusion of things that one would speak choke not the fancy, and too much confound the ratiocination; whereas on the 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 Author 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, than those vast collections of such great and prodigious Volumes, which for this cause are oftentimes but the Panspermia, Chaos' and Abysses of Confusion; 

Ovid. 1. Metamorph. — rudis indigestaque moles,  
Nec quicquam nisi pondus iners congestaque eodem,  
Non bene junctarum discordia semina rerum.   
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 Wits of Huarto, and that of Zara; the Arithmetic of Ramus, and that of Forcudel; Machiavels Prince, and that of more than fifty other Pedants; The Logic of du Moulin, & that of Vallius; The Annals of Volufius, and the History of Sallust: 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 Eulogies; 
Nec minus est nobis per pauca volumina famae,  
Quam quos nulla satis Bibliotheca capit.   
But that which on this encounter makes me most to admire, is, that such persons should neglect the Works and Opuscles of some Author 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 james 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 Authors 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 together: Certainly, should all little Books be neglected, there were no reckoning to be made of the Opuscles of S. Augustin, Plutarch's Morals, the Books of Galen, nor of the greatest part of those of Erasmus, of Lipsius, Turnebus, Mazaultius, Silvius, Calcagninus, Franciscus Picus, and many like Authors; no more than of thirty or forty minor Authors in Physic and Philosophy, the best, and most ancient 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, conjoin 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 only, concerning which it may rightly be said, as Virgil does of Bees, 

4. Georg.  Ingentes animos angusto in corpore versant;   
It appears to me to be very expedient, that we should draw them out of their Stalls and old Magazines, and from all places wherever we encounter them, to bind them up with those which are of the same Author, or treat of the same matter, to place them afterwards in our Libraries, where I assu●● myself they will make the industry and diligenee of those Esculapius' to be admired, who are so well skilled to join and reassemble the scattered and separated members of those poor Hippolitus'.  
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 only of all the Ancients, but of the Authors which have had the vogue, & appeared flourishing and renowned 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, jurisconsults, Physicians 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 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 wits which then appeared, have had 〈◊〉 Genisus 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 immediately 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 install that of the Peripatetics, and traced the way to the Greek and Latin Interpreters, who were so wedded to the Explication of Aristotle's Text, that a man should yet err 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 Heretics did recall us to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, and occasioned us to read the Bible and the Holy Fathers, who had continually been neglected amidst these Ergotismes; and in pursuit whereof Controversy comes now in request as to what concerns Theologie, and the Questionaries with the Novators, who build upon new Principles, or else re-establish those of the ancients, 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 Wits who follow these violences and changes, as the Fish do the Tide, to think no more of what they have once quitted; and to speak rashly with the Poet Calphurnius, 
Vilia sunt nobis quaecunque prioribus annis 
Eclog. 7.   
Vidimus, & sordet quicquid spectavimus olim.   
Insomuch as the greatest part of good Authors, by this means, remain on the sands, abandoned and neglected by every man; whilst our new Censors or Plagiaries possess 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) the Colleges 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 Physicians, and be ashamed to furnish our Libraries with Books of Hugo Senensis, jacobus de Forlivio, jacobus 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 Latin tongue; but who have yet so far penetrated into the profundities of Physic, according to Cardan's 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 brags and parade, whilst they themselves dwell only upon the tops of flowers, and superficial language, or without advancing farther▪ 
Decerpunt flores, & summa cacumina captant.   
What shall we then say, 
Lib. 16. the Subtle. 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 wits 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 Occam Prince of the Nominals, should eternally be deprived of once seeing his works, as well as all Philosophers, those of the great and renowned Avicen? In earnest, me thinks that it is wholly for want of judgement in the choice and cognizance of Books, to neglect all these Authors, 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 Maxims concerns only the choice and election, which one ought to make of Manuscripts, in opposition 〈◊〉 that custom received and introduced by many, from the great reputation of our present Critics, who have taught and accustomed us to make more account of one Manuscript of Virgil, Suetonius, Persius, Terence, or some others amongst the old Authors, than of those gallant persons who have never yet been either seen, or printed; as if there were any likelihood that men should presently pursue the capriciousness, imaginations or cheats of these modern Censurors and Grammarians, which uselessly 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 Author, 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, 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 only things now in request, and judged worthy of being placed in our Bibliotheques.  
Tanta est p●enuria mentis ubique, 
Palinger. Lib. 3. Zodiaci.   
In nugas tam prona via est!  
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 extremely 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 only here; but at Constantinople, and whatsoever is to be obtained of many other Authors Ancient and Modern, specified by Neander, Cardan, Gesner, and all the Catalogues of the best Libraries; and not of all those Copies of Books which have been already printed, and which at best are only 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 Ptolemy, what esteem one should always 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 only observe the aforesaid circumstances, and choose them accordingly; as for instance, be the question about Bodins Republic, to infer that he ought to be had, because the Author has been the most famous and renowned 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 Author be good, though the matter itself be but vulgar and trivial; or, when the subject of it is difficult and little known, though the Author 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, stuffed 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, showed 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 inquire, 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 embezzled at any hand. Tolerabilius enim est, faciliusque (says Seneca) non acquirere, quam amittere, ideoque laetiores videbis quos nunquam fortuna respexit, quam quos deseruit. Add, that 'twill never be this way to augment much, if that which you have collected with so much pains and industry, come to be lost, and to perish for want of care: And therefore Ovid and the wisest men had reason to say, that it was no less virtue 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 ourselves 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 only 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 only 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 practised by Richard de Bury Bishop of Durham, great Chancellor 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 we have to erect a Library; for this being once divulged and communicated, it is certain, that if he who designs it be in sufficient credit and authority to do his friend's 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 (says 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 & maxim veterum ferebamur cupiditate 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, etc. To which he yet adjoins, 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 practices would have some effect, is, that I know a person, who being curious of Medals, 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 Maxim, that every civil and good natured man, should always second the laudable intentions of his friends, provided they be not prejudicial to his own: So that he that has Books, Medals, Pictures, which come to him by chance, rather than out of affection to them, may easily be persuaded to accommodate such of his friend's 〈◊〉 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 Milan to Naples, they suddenly dispatched one of their Magistrates, who seized upon a hundred Bales of Books, amongst which there were fourteen of them that contained Manuscripts, and two of them above four hundred Commentaries on all the affairs of Italy; alleging 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 Republic, to have Copies of their Archives, and Registers of their affairs; yet 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 only 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 expenses, 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 tranquil.  who handsomely 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 only to esteem a Book for its cover; seeing it is not with Books, as it is with men, who are only known and respected for their robes and their clothes, so that it is a great deal better, and more necessary, 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 nicety, 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 practice. Now, amongst these, I should willingly set down for the first, the speediest, easy and advantageous 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 day's 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 man's whole life. I call it facile, because one spares both the pains and the time which would be consumed in purchasing them separately; In fine, I name it advantageous, 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 Pass vinus so much esteems that of Cardinal de joyeuse, for that it was composed of three others, one whereof had been Monsieur Pitheus, and for that all the most renowned 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 ruin of Pinellis; 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 renowned 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, Marsillus, Turuebus, Passeratius, Lambinus, and by almost all the gallant persons of that strain, who have not been mindful of the benefit and instructions which they have received of them.  
After all which, me thinks, the means which nearest approaches to this first, is, to rummage and often to revisit 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. 
Ne toga cordivis, ne penula de sit olivis,  albeit we often encounter very excellent Books amongst them, and that (the expense well managed) one may chance to purchase more for ten crowns, than one can otherwise buy for forty 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, 
Quo primum nata est tempore, magna fuit:  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 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 entertained correspondency with an infinite number of friends, strangers, and foreign 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 one's self good cheap with them, is, to seek for them indifferently amongst the Stationers, amongst whom the length of time, and various occasions is used to disperse and scatter them.  
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 only 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 Hours, 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 japan Books, such as are drawn in Punchment, stained Paper, of extreme fine Cotton, and with large Margins, and 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; Tarqvinius, who bought the three Books of Sibyl, at as great a price as would have purchased all the nine; Aristotle, who gave threescore and twelve thousand Sesterces 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 Physicians of this City, as it is testified at large in the ancient Patent and Registers of their Faculty.  
To these I add, that it would be expedient also to know of the 〈◊〉 and Heirs of several gallant persons, whether they have not left some Manuscripts which they would part withal, 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 hindered by the expense, 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 deprived us of many Books of Postellus, Bodin, Marsillus, Passeratius, Maldonat, etc. whose Manuscripts are frequently lighted upon in particular men's studies, or in Booksellers shops. In like manner also ought one to know from year to year, what Tracts the most learned Regent's of the neighbouring Universities are to read, as well in their public 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 Druids of M. Marsillus; The History and Treatise of the French Magistrates of M. Grangier; The Geography of M. Belurgey; the sundry writings of M. M. Dautruy, Hambert Seguin, of du Val, of Artis; and in a word, of the most renowned 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 Cook's shop, during the time that he was at the Council of Constance, as also by that of Papi●ius Massonius, who encountered Agobardus in a Stationer's 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, nevertheless, 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 only appertains to those who would build places expressly 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 persuaded 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, 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 
Carmina secessum scribentis & otia quaerunt,  would oblige us to take it in a part of the house the most retired from the noise and disturbance, not only of those without, but also of the family and domestics; distant from the streets, from the kitchen, the common hall, and like places; to situate it (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 dunghills, 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 less pain, it will be always 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 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 tapestries, to line the walls withal, 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, 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 only which give day to some table; that so the lights passing not through, the place be sufficiently supplied. The second, that the principal overtures be always 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, fortify the senses, subtilise the humours, 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 troublesome 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 worms, engender vermin, foment and create sicknesses, disposing us to new ones; whence that of Hypocrates, Austri auditum hebetantes, Caliginosi, caput gravantes, pigri, dissolventes; for that they fill the head with certain vapours 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 septentrional, and which by reason of their qualities, cold, and dry, engenders 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 enquiring 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 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, unless they be martial ● 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 only 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 always and at pleasure discern the one from the other; draw, and separate them at his fantasy, 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 Presses, as la Croix du Maine proposes towards the conclusion of his French Bibliotheque; or the Caprices which julius Camillus exposes in the Idea of his Theatre; and much less yet, should one pursue the triple divisions which john 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 Eel escapes, by being too hard pressed, that Artificial Memory spoils and perverts the natural, and that we frequently fail of accomplishing many affairs, by crowding them with too many circumstances and precautions; so is it certain, that it would be extremely difficult for any spirit, to regulate, and accustom itself to this Oeconomy, which seems not to have any other scope but to torture and eternally crucify the Memory, under the Thorns of those frivolous Punctilios and Chymerick subtleties; so far is it from rendering us the least aid, 
2. de Orat.  and verify the saying of Cicero, Ordo est maxime qui memoriae lumen assert. And therefore making no more esteem of an order that can only be followed by an Author, which will not be understood, I conceive that to be always the best which is most facile, the least intricate, most natural, practised, and which follows the Faculties of Theology, Physic, jurisprudence, Mathematics, 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 Bible's first, according to the order of the tongues, next these, the Counsels, 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 Latin; then the Commentators, Scholasticks, mixed Doctors, Historians, and finally, the Heretics. In Philosophy, to begin with that of Trismegistus as the most ancient, follow by that of Plato, of Aristotle, of Raymondus Lullius, Ramus, and finish with the Novators, Telesius, Patricius, Campanella, Verulamius, Gilbert, jordanus Brunus, Gassendus, Bassonus, Gomesius, Carpenter, Gorleus, which are the principal amongst a thousand others: and so to observe the like in all Faculties, with these cautions, sedulously observed: the first, that the most universal and ancient, do always march in front; the second, that the Interpreters and Commentators be placed apart, and ranged 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, & disciplined in their destined places; since in so doing, the memory is so refreshed, that it would be easy in a moment only to find out whatever Book one would choose or desire, in a Library that were as vast as that of Ptolemy; 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 joined only 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 joining 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 two notable inconveniences, which accompany this order; viz. the difficulty of handsomely 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 forty 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 destiny 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 extremes of the shelves, or places, where every faculty ends: but it would yet, me thinks, be much more advantageous, to choose some place destined for such Books as should be purchased during every six months, 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, 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 only 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 persuade themselves, when they do not see them amongst the rest of the books, that all those Chambers where we use to say they are locked up, are only imaginary, and only destined to excuse such as indeed have none. There we may see one entire side of the Ambrosian Library which is filled with nine thousand Manuscripts, which have all been assembled by the care and diligence of the Sieur jovanni Antonio Olgiati; And in that of M. the Precedent Thuanus, there is one Chamber of the same floor with the rest, destined 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 exterior 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 by every one, as it frequently happens to Books which lie upon desks in ancient 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 always uniform and like herself, not being to be exactly imitated, by reason of the extravagancy and diversity of Books, there only remains that of Art, which every man will for the most part establish according to his own fancy, and as he finds best to suit his purpose, by his own judgement and understanding, as well to satisfy 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 advertised 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 exterior parade and ornament which is requisite to a Library, considering that this fared and decoration 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 expense and useless cost, is, that the Ancients 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 inquire what rare and exquisite pieces they put into them; Both the Pliny's, Sueton, Martial, and Vopiscus, will testify through all their works, that they spared 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 expenses which they were at in painting, gild, limming, covering and binding, with all kind of bombast miniardise and superfluity. But that we may extract some instructions from these disorders, we ought to choose and draw out of these extremes 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 expense; it were better to reserve that money 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 fillets, 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 Hinder, to repair the backs and peeled covers, restitch them, accommodate the transpositions, new paste the Maps 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, 
Et Curios jam dimidios, humeroque minorem,  
Corvinum, & Galbam auriculis nasoque carentem;  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 Authors by their Books, and by their bodies, figure, and physiognomy by these Pictures and Images, which joined to the description which many have made of their lives, may serve, in my opinion, as a puissant spur to excite a generous and wellborn Soul to follow their tract, and to continue firm and stable in the ways and beaten paths of some noble enterprise and resolution.  
Much less ought one to employ so much gold on the Ceiling, 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 ancients did; but upon Shelves that hide all the Walls; but in lieu of such gildi●●● and adorn, one may supply it in Mathematicàl Instruments, Globes, Maps, Spheres, Pictures, Animals, Stones, and other curiosities as well Artificial as Natural, which are ordinarily collected from time to time, with very little expense.  
Finally, it would be a great forgetfulness, if after we have thus furnished a Library with all things requisite, it should not have the Shelves garnished with some sleight serge, buckram or canvas, fitted on with nails silve, red or gilded, as well to preserve the Books from dust, as to render a handsome 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-knives, Sand, Almanacs, 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 expense, these lights are to be set under a Bushel, and condemn so many brave wits to a perpetual silence and solitude, is ill to understand the scope of a Library, which nor more nor less than Nature herself, Perditura est fructum sui, si tam magna, tam praeclara, 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 public use, or denies to communicate them to the least, who may reap any benefit thereby; so true is that sayingof the Poet, 
Vile latens virtus, 
Claudian de 4. Consul. Honorii.  quid enim demersa tenebris  
Proderit, obscura veluti sine remige puppis,  
Vel lyra quae reticet, vel qui non tenditur arcus.  So far was it one of the principal Maxims of the most sumptuous and splendid amongst the Romans, or of those who were most affected to the public good, to enrich many of those Libraries, to bequeath and destiny 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 Antiquity, which descended not to our times, these assured testimonies of the opulency, and good affection of the Ancients 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 Friars 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 Padova; of the jacobins, at Boulogne; of the Augustine's, at Cremona; of Cardinal Siripandus, at Naples; of Frederick, Duke of Urbino; 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 easy of access, as are the three precedent: for to speak of the Ambrosian of Milan only, and show how (by the same means) it surpasses as well in greatness and magnificence, as in obliging the public, many of those that were even amongst the Romans; is it not a thing altogether extraordinary, that any one may 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 public or particular, and that without any other labour, than visiting it himself at the ordinary days, and hours, placing himself in the seats destined for this purpose, and ask 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 entertained 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 experienced in Books, to give, together with the charge and requisite stipends, the title and quality of Bibliothecary unto, as we see it has been practised in all the most renowned Libraries, where divers gallant men have always thought themselves much honoured in executing this charge, and have rendered it most illustrious and recommendable by their great learning and capacity; as for instance, Demetrius Phalerius, Callimachus, Apollonius, Alexandrinus, Aristoxenus, & Zenodotus, who had the charge heretofore of that of Alexandria; Varro and Hyginus, who governed that on Mount Palatinus at Rome; Leidratus and Agobardus, that of the Island Barbe near Lions under Charlemagne; 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 extreme 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 disposed 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 Authors, as well to avoid the buying of them twice, as to know what are wanting, and satisfy a number of persons that are sometimes curious of reading all the works of certain Authors in particular. Which being thus established, the advantage to be gained is in my opinion extremely 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 avaricious 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, 
Odisti claves & grata sigilla pudice  
Paucis ostendi gemis, & communia laudas.  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 access to the Bibliothecary, who should introduce him with the least delay or difficulty; secondly, that those which were altogether strangers, and all others that had use only 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 destined 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 cancelled when the Book is returned, and the day of its reddition put in the margin, 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 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 Progress of the Sciences, the Diversity of Sects, the Revolutions of Arts and Disciplines, the Decadence of the Ancient, the several Principles of the Novators; and that Excellent Law of the Pyrrhenians founded upon the ignorance 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.  
Nunc te marmoreum pro tempore fecimus, at tu  
Si foetura gregem suppleverit, aureus esto.  Virg. Eclog. 7.  
FINIS.   

The Copy of a Letter sent to the Learned, my most honoured and worthy Friend, Dr. Barlow, D.D. Provost of Queen's College, and late Proto-Bibliothecary of the Bodleian Libary in Oxford.  
Reverend Sir,  
TO what purpose I had designed the Copy which you were long since pleased to favour me with accepting, I do now publish; and by this acknowledgement express my obligations to you; that though there was nothing of mine in what I transmitted to you beside the pleasure of putting a subject into English, which I thought might be acceptable to you; you would yet honour me with Printing at Oxford; and where, since it was lost, it is here retrieved, and by the same hand presented again to you; but not as a thing which can in the least pretend to instruct you, who not only have presided over one of the most illustrious. Libraries in the World; but are also of yourself (as Eunapius would express the merits of the Sophist Longinus) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; 
In Vita Porphyr.  and to whom, with no less reason, may well be applied what S. Hierom said once of Origen; Auxerunt aliorum studia Bibliothecas, ac per partes compleverunt: unus tamen (Barlous) ingenii facilitate, Bibliothecam unam quamvis ingentem, implere potuit. Nor do I believe that I shall hereby inform you of a thing unknown to you, by telling you that the person who published these Instructions, P. Ludovicus Jacobus, a Monk, has set forth a larger Treatise or History of the most famous Libraries, as well public, as particular, which have either been heretofore, or are at present extant in all the World; where, what he hath spoken in commendation of this Piece, and the learned Author of it; what honourable mention he makes of the Bodlean especially, and of all those of the several Colleges in both our Universities, cannot but extremely affect you, and be very acceptable to all those that delight in the progress and advancement of Learning. But Sir, I do but touch it, and, after my Addresses to my L. Chancellor, submit these papers to your favourable censure; becuase I know, if they receive it now a second time, they will be doubly fortified; if not for the subject, for the great Names which comprehend them. But, if from hence also the Gentlemen of our Nation derive such encouragements, as may any way incite them to imitate those gallant and renowned Genius's of our de Bury, Bodley, Cotton, Hales; Their Memmius, Thuanus, Putean, Cordesius, and a thousand more celebrated for their Libraries, affection to Books, and promotement of public designs, I shall then esteem myself extremely fortunate, in having contributed to so great a good; and especially, if to this also be added your Acceptation of these Expressions of it from  
Reverend Sir, Your most humble, and most affectionate Servant, I. EVELYN.