THE LIFE OF Sr THOMAS BODLEY, THE HONOURABLE FOUNDER OF THE PUBLIQVE LIBRARY in the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD.  
Written by Himself.  
ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS   printer's device consisting of the blazon of Oxford University 
June 9th OXFORD, Printed by HENRY HALL. Printer to the UNIVERSITY. 1647.   

To the READER.  
WHEN the Great Restorer of Learning, our Munificent Benefactor, Sir THOMAS BODLEY, made the happy Exchange of the troubles of this life, with the Glories of a better; The University, according to the greatness of his merits, and their loss, in solemn grief and sadness, attended at his Obsequies. But lest the uncharitable censure of the world should apprehend our thankfulness buried in the same grave with him, and cold as his dead ashes, in that we pay not after tribute to so engaging a desert; We bring to the Altar of Eternity that part of him which yet, and ever must survive. A Monument freed from the laws of time and ruin; Supported with the vigour of that name, which hath a seminal strength within itself, to make whole volumes live. But lest the judging and severer eye, viewing the nakedness of this relation, may thence despise the poorness of our endeavour: That I may speak the work above all scorn, above all praise; it was his Own. Nor durst we call that draught in question, which felt the hand of so exact a Master; but with awe looked on it, as on the fabric of an ancient Temple, where the ruin furthers our Devotion; and gaudy ornaments do but profane the sad religion of the place. 'Tis true, it savours not the language of our age, that hath the Art to murder with a smile, and fold a curse within a prayer, but speaks the Rhetoric of that better world, where virtue was the garb, and truth the compliment, Those action are of low and empty worth, that can shine only when the varnish of our words doth gild them over. The true Diamond sparkles in its rock, and in despite of darkness makes a day. Here than you shall behold Actions with the same integrity set down, as they were first performed. A History described, as it was lived. A Counsellor that admitted still Religion to the Cabinet: and in his active aims had a design on Heaven. A spirit of that height, that happiness, as in a private fortune to outdo the famed magnificence of mighty Princes: whilst his single work clouds the proud fame of the Egyptian Library; and shames the tedious growth o'th' wealthy Vatican. I know how hard a task 'twill be to persuade any to copy out from this fair pattern; however we cannot yet so fare despair of ingenuity, as not to expect even from th'unconcerned disinteressed Reader, a clear esteem and just resentment of it. If we gain but this, we shall in part rest satisfied: In an age so wholly lost to vice, conceiving it a great degree of virtue to confess the lustre of that good which our perverse endeavours still avoid.   

THE LIFE OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY.  
I Was borne at Exeter in Devonshire the second of March, 1544. descended both by Father and Mother of worshipful parentage. By my Father's side, from an ancient Family of Bodley, or Bodleigh of Dunscombe by Crediton; and by my Mother, from Robert H●ne Esquire, of Otterey Saint Mary, nine miles from Exeter; my Father in the time of Queen Mary, being noted and known to be an enemy to Popery, was so cruelly threatened, and so narrowly observed, by those that maliced his Religion, that for the safeguard of himself and my Mother, who was wholly affected as my Father, he knew no way so secure, as to fly into Germany: where after a while he found means to call over my Mother, with all his children and family, whom he settled for a time at Wesell in Cleveland, (for there, as then, were many English, which had left their Country for their conscience, and with quietness enjoyed their meetings and preach;) and from thence we removed to the Town of Franckfort, where was in like sort another English Congregation. Howbeit we made no long tarriance in either of those two Towns, for that my Father had resolved to fix his abode in the City of Geneva, where, as fare as I remember, the English Church consisted of some hundred persons. I was at that time of twelve year's age, but through my Father's cost and care, sufficiently instructed to become an Auditor of Chevalerius in Hebrew, of Berealdus in Greek, of Calvin and Beza in Divinity, and of some other Professors in that University, (which was newly then erected) besides my domestical teachers, in the house of Philibertus Saracenus, a famous Physician in that City, with whom I was boarded: where Robertus Constantinus, that made the Greek Lexicon, read Homer unto me. Thus I remained there two years and more, until such time as our Nation was advertised of the death of Queen Mary, & succession of Elizabeth, with the change of Religion, which caused my Father to hasten into England, where he came with my Mother, and with all their family, within the first of the Queen, and settled their dwelling in the City of London. It was not long after, 〈◊〉 was sent away from thence to the University of Oxford, recommended to the teaching and tuition of Doctor Humphrey, who was shortly after chosen the chief Reader in Divinity, and Precedent of Magdalen College; there I followed my studies till I took the degree of Bachelor of Arts, which was in the year, 1563. within which year I was also chosen Probationer of Merton College, and the next year ensuing admitted Fellow. Afterwards, to wit in the year, 1565. by special persuasion of some of my fellows, and for my private exercise, I undertook the public reading of a Greek lecture, in the same College Hall, without requiring or expecting any stipend for it; Nevertheless it pleased the Fellowship of their own accord to allow me soon after four marks by the year, and ever since to continue that Lecture to the College. In the year of our Lord 1566. I proceeded Master of Arts, and read forth at year in the School streets Natural Philosophy; after which time, within less than three year's space, I was won by entreaty of my best affected friends, to stand for the Proctourship, to which I and my Colleague, Master Bea●blocke of Exeter College, were quietly elected in the year 1569. without any competion or countersuite of any other. After this for a long time, I supplied the office of the University Orator, and bestowed my time in the study of sundry faculties, without any inclination to profess any one above the rest, insomuch as at last I waxed desirous to travel beyond the Seas, for attaining to the knowledge of some special modern tongues, and for the increase of my experience in the managing of affairs, being wholly then addicted to employ myself, and all my cares, in the public service of the State. My resolution fully taken I departed out of England Anno 1576. and continued very near four years abroad and that in sundry parts of Italy, France, and Germany. A good while after my return, to wit, in the year 1585. I was employed by the Queen to Frederick Father to the present King of Denmark, to julius' Duke of Brunswick, to William Landgrave of Hesse, and other Germane Princes: the effect of my message was, to draw them to join their forces with hers, for giving assistance to the King of Navarre now Henry the fourth King of France. my next employment was to Henry the third, at such time as he was forced by the Duke of Guise to fly out of Paris; which I performed in such sort, as I had in charge with extraordinary secrecy: not being accompanied with any one servant (for so much I was commanded) nor with any other Letters, than such as were written with the Queens own hand, to the King, and some selected persons about him; the effect of that message it is fit I should conceal. But it tended greatly to the advantage, not only of the King, but of all the Protestants in France, & to the Duke's apparent overthrow, which also followed soon upon it. It so befell after this, in the year 88 that for the better conduct of her Highness' affairs in the Provinces united, I was thought a fit person to reside in those parts, and was sent thereupon to the Hague in Holland, where according to the contract that had formerly passed, between her Highness and the States, I was admitted for one of their Council of Estate, taking place in their Assemblies next to Count Maurice, and yielding my suffrage in all that was proposed. During all that time what approbation was given of my painful endeavours by the Queen, Lords in England, by the States of the Country there, and by all the English Soldiery, I refer it to be notified by some others relation; sigh it was not unknown to any of any calling, that then were acquainted with the State of that government. For at my first coming thither, the people of that Country stood in dangerous terms of discontentment, partly for some courses that were held in England, as they thought, to their singular prejudice, but most of all in respect of the insolent demeanour of some of her Highness' Ministers, which only respected their private emolument, little weighing in their dealing what the Queen had contracted with the States of the Country; whereupon was conceived a mighty fear on every side, that both a present dissolution of the Contract would ensue, and a downright breach of amity between us and them. Now what means I set a foot for redress of those perils, and by what degrees the state of things was reduced into order, it would require a long treatise to report it exactly; but this I may aver with modesty and truth, and the Country did always acknowledge it with gratitude, that had I not of myself, without any direction from my Superiors, proceeded in my charge with extreme circumspection, as well in all my speeches and proposals to the States, as in the tenor of my letters that I writ into England, some sudden alarm had been given, to the utter subversion and ruin of the State of those Provinces: which in process of time must needs have wrought in all probability, the selfsame effect in the state of this Realm. Of this my diligence and care in the managing of my business, there was, as I have signified, very special notice taken by the Queen and State at home, for which I received from her Majesty many comfortable Letters of her gracious acceptance: as withal from that time forward I did never receive almost any set instructions how to govern my proceed in her Majesty's occasions, but the carriage in a manner of all her affairs was left to me and my direction. Through this my long absence out of England, which wanted very little of five whole years, my private estate did greatly require my speedy return, which when I had obtained by intercession of friends, and a tedious suit, I could enjoy but a while, being shortly after enjoined to repair to the Hague again. Nevertheless upon a certain occasion to deliver unto her some secret overtures, and of performing thereupon an extraordinary service, I came again home within less than a Twelvemonth: and I was no sooner come, but her Highness embracing the fruit of my discoveries, I was presently commanded to return to the States with charge to pursue those affairs to performance, which I had secretly proposed; and according to the project which I had conceived, and imparted unto her, all things were concluded and brought to that issue that was instantly desired, whereupon I procured my last revocation. Now here I can not choose but in making report of the principal accidents that have fallen unto me in the course of my life, but record among the rest, that from the very first day I had no man more to friend among the Lords of the Council, than was the Lord Treasurer Burleigh: for when occasion had been offered of declaring his conceit as touching my service, he would always tell the Queen (which I received from herself & some other ear-witnesses) that there was not any man in England so meet as myself to undergo the office of the Secretary. And since his son, the present Lord Treasurer, hath signified unto me in private conference, that when his father first intended to advance him to that place, his purpose was withal to make me his Colleague. But the case stood thus in my behalf: before such time as I returned from the Provinces united, which was in the year 1597. and likewise after my return, the then Earl of Essex did use me so kindly both by letters and messages, and other great tokens of his inward favours to me, that although I had no meaning, but to settle in my mind my chiefest desire and dependence upon the Lord Burleigh, as one that I reputed to be both the best able, and therewithal the most willing to work my advancement with the Queen, yet I know not how, the Earl, who sought by all devises to divert her love and liking both from the Father and the Son (but from the Son in special) to withdraw my affection from the one and the other, and to win me altogether to depend upon himself, did so often take occasion to entertain the Queen with some prodigal speeches of my sufficiency for a Secretary, which were ever accompanied with words of disgrace against the present Lord Treasurer, as neither she herself, of whose favour before I was throughly assured, took any great pleasure to prefer me the sooner, (for she hated his ambition, and would give little countenance to any of his followers) and both the Lord Burleigh and his Son waxed jealous of my courses, as if under hand I had been induced by the cunning and kindness of the Earl of Essex, to oppose myself against their deal. And though in very truth they had no solid ground at all of the least alteration in my disposition towards either of them both, (for I did greatly respect their persons and places, with a settled resolution to do them any service, as also in my heart I detested to be held of any faction whatsoever) yet the now Lord Treasurer, upon occasion of some talk, that I have since had with him, of the Earl and his actions, hath freely confessed of his own accord unto me, that his daily provocations were so bitter and sharp against him, and his compatisons so odious, when he put us in a balance, as he thought thereupon he had very great reason to use his best means, to put any man out of hope of raising his fortune, whom the Earl with such violence, to his extreme prejudice, had endeavoured to dignify. And this, as he affirmed, was all the motive he had to set himself against me, in whatsoever might redound to the bettering of my estate, or increasing of my credit and countenance with the Queen. When I had throughly now bethought me, first in the Earl, of the slender holdfast that he had in the favour of the Queen, of an endless opposition of the chiefest of our Statesmen like still to wait upon him, of his perilous, and feeble, and uncertain advice, aswell in his own, as in all the causes of his friends: and when moreover for myself I had fully considered how very untowardly these two Counselors were affected unto me, (upon whom before in cogitation I had framed all the fabric of my future prosperity) how ill it did concur with my natural disposition, to become, or to be counted either a stickler or partaker in any public faction, how well I was able, by God's good blessing, to live of myself, if I could be content with a competent livelihood; how short time of further life I was then to expect by the common course of nature when I had, I say, in this manner represented to my thoughts my particular estate, together with the Earls, I resolved thereupon to possess my soul in peace all the residue of my days, to take my full farewell of State employments, to satisfy my mind with that mediocrity of worldly living that I had of my own, and so to retire me from the Court, which was the epilogue and end of all my actions and endeavours of any important note, till I came to the age of fifty three. Now although after this, by her majesty's direction, I was often called to the Court, by the now Lord Treasurer, than Secretary, and required by him, as also divers times since, by order from the King, to serve as Ambassador in France; to go a Commissioner from his Highness, for concluding the truce between Spain and the Provinces, and to negotiate in other very honourable employments, yet I would not be removed from my former final resolution, insomuch as at length, to induce me the sooner to return to the Court, I had an offer made me by the present Lord Treasurer (for in process of time he saw, as he himself was pleased to tell me more than once, that all my dealing was upright, faithful, and direct) that in ease I myself were willing unto it, he would make me his associate in the Secretary's office; And to the intent I might believe that he intended it Bonâ fide, he would get me out of hand to be sworn of the Counsel. And for the better enabling of my state to maintain such a dignity, whatsoever I would ask, that might be fit for him to deal in, and for me to enjoy, he would presently solicit the King to give it passage. All which persuasions notwithstanding, albeit I was often assaulted by him, in regard of my years, and for that I felt myself subject to many indispositions, besides some other private reasons which I reserve unto myself, I have continued still at home, my retired course of life, which is now methinks to me as the greatest preferment that the State can afford. Only this I must truly confess of myself, that though I did never repent me yet of those and some other my often refusals of honourable offers, in respect of enriching my private estate, yet somewhat more of late I have blamed myself, & my nicety that way, for the love that I bear to my Reverend Mother the University of Oxford, and to the advancement of her good, by such kind of means as I have since undertaken. For thus I fell to discourse and debate in my mind, that although I might find it fittest for me, to keep out of the throng of Court contentions, & address my thoughts & deeds to such ends altogether, as I myself could best affect; yet withal I was to think, that my duty towards God, the expectation of the world, my natural inclination, & very morality, did require, that I should not wholly so hid those little abilities that I had, but that in some measure, in one kind or other, I should do the true part of a profitable member in the State: whereupon examining exactly for the rest of my life, what course I might take, and having sought (as I thought, all the ways to the wood) to select the most proper, I concluded at the last to set up my Staff at the Library door in Oxford; being throughly persuaded, that in my solitude and surcease from the Commonwealth affairs, I could not busy myself to better purpose, then by reducing that place (which then in every part lay ruined and waste) to the public use of Students; For the effecting whereof, I found myself furnished in a competent proportion, of such four kinds of aides, as unless I had them all, there was no hope of good success. For without some kind of knowledge, as well in the learned and modern tongues, as in sundry other sorts of scholastical literature, without some purse-ability to go through with the charge, without very great store of honourable friends to further the design, and without special good leisure to follow such a work, it could but have proved a vain attempt, and inconsiderate. But how well I have sped in all my endeavours, and how full provision I have made for the benefit and ease of all frequenters of the Library, that which I have already performed in sight, that besides which I have given for the maintenance of it, and that which hereafter I purpose to add, by way of enlargement to that place (for the project is cast, and whether I live or die it shall be, God willing, put in full execution) will testify so truly and abundantly for me, as I need not be the publisher of the dignity and worth of mine own Institution. Written with my own hand Anno 1609. December the 15.  
THO: BODLEY.   

Thus fare our Noble Author of himself. Who like to the first Penman of the sacred history, seems to survive his grave, and to describe unto us his own death. For having finished that great work which future times shall ever honour, never equal, he yielded to his fate. As being unwilling the glory of that deed should be deflowered by the succession of an act less high than it. On the 29th of january in the year, 1612. his pure Soul attained the freedom of its own divinity: leaving his borrowed earth, the sad remainder of innocence and frailty, to be deposited in Merton College: Who had the happiness to call his Education hers, and to be entrusted with so dear a Pledge of immortality.   
FINIS.