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ceeded James the Second. The Ushers, in reply to the question, whether they had taken the oath of allegiance? declared that they had taken it. But Bonwicke, requesting further time to give a direct answer, a month's indulgence was allowed him, which was afterwards tacitly extended to a twelvemonth, during which period all proceedings against him were discontinued."— June 11, 1691, three Scholars were elected to St. John's; "and soon after the trying hour arrived in which Bonwicke was to choose between his duty and his interest, his conscience and his means of subsistence. On the 27th of July, the Court being informed that he had not taken the oaths, ordered him to appear at their next meeting, which he did on the 5th of August, and not being able to urge any plea against a positive Act of Parliament, which declared him as a Nonjuror incapable of holding his place, received notice to provide for himself at the ensuing Michaelmas, after having discharged the duties of his office with great fidelity during the few years he had been suffered to preside over the School, and completed the education of Zinzano, Dawes, Boulter, Knight, Archer, and Bridge, two of whom attained archiepiscopal dignity, the one in England and the other in Ireland." Hist. of Merchant-Taylors' School, pp. 387-393.

Rawlinson, in his MS History of St. John's, Oxford, has these words: "Ambrosius Bonwicke, Archididascalus Scholæ Mercatorum Scissorum Londinensium, munere functus est non sine laude, sed bonæ conscientiæ ergô amotus 1690, obiit apud Hedley, com. Surriensi, 20 Oct. 1722. In Usum Amicorum, post Mortem, Schedam volantem suis Sumptibus imprimi fecit Gulielmus Bowyer, non ita pridem Joannensis Cantabrigiæ Pensionarius, posteaque Typographus.—To the Memory of the truly pious Sir George Freeman *, Knight of the Bath, his ever-honoured Godfather. Stanzas, fol. sine Anni Ærá,”

P. 70. Mr. Nelson, in a Letter to Dr. Charlett, says, "" I forgot to acquaint you that the Lord Keeper has bestowed Reading upon Mr. Reeves, which gives general satisfaction."

Ibid. Thomas Burton, of Bene't College, Cambridge; B. A. 1686, M. A. 1690; rector of Lofthouse, and curate of Yarum, in Yorkshire; was instituted March 28, 1712, to the vicarage of Halifax, on the presentation of Queen Anne. He was made prebendary of Gevendale, in the Cathedral of York, March 1, 1715; died July 22, 1731; and was buried in the chancel at Halifax without a monument. He published "A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Halifax, from Psalm xlvi. 10, on Tuesday July 7, 1713, being the Day appointed by her Majesty for a Public Thanksgiving for the Peace; London, 1713," 8vo. The principles advanced in this Discourse are somewhat extraordinary. At p. 7, he says, "Kings receive no authority and power from their subjects, and therefore it is neither reasonable nor just that they should be accountable to them for * Of Betchworth in Surrey. He was the son of Sir Ralph Freeman, Master of the Mint to King James I.; and died in 1678,

what

what does not belong to them. Some men are for storming Heaven, and snatching God's authority out of his hands, who has declared that by Him Princes reign; and yet they will tell you it is by them they reign; and the plainest Scriptures in the world cannot drive them out of this wicked and blasphemous opinion."- Speaking of the Peace, he says, "It is such as our Allies could reasonably hope for, and we reasonably desire; 'tis a just and therefore an honourable Peace; a Peace that answers all the ends proposed when we engaged in a most bloody and expensive War. We ought thankfully to own that God over threw our Enemies,' and reduced a powerful Prince to sue for peace; and it would have been hard measure not to have granted it to him on such terms as we among our little selves should think it hard to be denied it. To take from him what was his own, would be nothing less than robbery; and to reduce him to such circumstances that he shall not be capable of doing us and his neighbours mischief, is as much as any honest and good man ought to desire; and that he is reduced to such circumstances, no man can doubt, but such to whom it is natural to find fault with every thing, and who are of such a querulous temper as to complain when they are not hurt, and who, rather than not quarrel, will quarrel even with Peace itself, and who endeavour to disturb the Nation with noise and clamour, without either sense or reason." (Watson's History of Halifax, pp. 372, 462.)

"He married (at Sheffield 10 April 1700) Elizabeth Jessop, of Broom-hall, in the parish of Sheffield. This lady was one of the daughters of Francis Jessop, esq. one of the earliest members of the Royal Society, a mathematician and naturalist, and intimate friend of Ray and Willoughby." J. H.

P. 73. “I think I have heard that Barber was born in Newgate. I have lately by accident become possessed of, the most pompously printed book, I believe, in my library, two volumes quarto, The Works of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, printed by John Barber, Alderman of London, 1723, collected by the Direction of his Duchess, and inscribed to his Memory," which several of them do no credit to. The letters are large, and there are fine frontispieces, vignettes, and tail-pieces, some on copper, others on wooden plates." J. BROWN.

P. 80, 1. 5, r. “August 8."

P. 81. "The family of Piers is an old Irish Baronet, no way connected with the City family of Sir Charles Peers, or his descendant Alderman Richard Peers, whose son of the same names assumed the name of Symonds for a Herefordshire estate, and was created a Baronet in 1774; but I find the title is now extinct, but know not when. Sir Richard Symonds's sister married Sir Charles William Blunt, bart." J. BROWN.

P. S4. The following Letter from Humphry Wanley to Dr. Charlett is preserved by Sir John Hawkins, in a note on the curious MS. to which the Letter has reference:

"Honoured

"Honoured Sir, London, June 13, 1699. "I cannot forbear sending you word of the good fortune I have lately had, to compass a Greek Manuscript, which contains the art of singing, with the names, powers, and characters of their musical notes, in great variety; and a collection of anthems, hymns, &c. set to their musick by the best Masters of Constantinople, as intended and used to be sung in their churches upon all the chief festivals of the year. It has likewise the musical part of their common Liturgy, with the notes; and both these not only of the later musick of the said Masters, but very often the more antient too, used before their times. The names of these Masters, prefixed to their compositions, are about threescore in number, some of which I here set down. [Here follows a long list of Greek names, which it is needless to insert, as the MS. is yet in being and accessible.] I believe many of their names, and much more of their works, might have been long enough unknown to us without the help of this book. Here is likewise a sprinkling of the musick used in the churches of Anatolia, Thessalonica, Thebes, and Rhodes, besides that piece called Пepoixay, and other tracts. The MS. was taken from the Turks, in plundering Buda, about the year 1686, and was afterwards bought by an English gentleman for 4.; but I, lying here at great charges, cannot afford to sell it so cheap. It is about 300 years old, fairly written upon cotton-paper, taking up above 400 leaves in a large octavo. The book ought to be placed in the Public Library; and if, Sir, you are willing to think that the University will consider me for it, I will bring it along with me the next week; if not, I can be courted to part with it here upon my own terms. I am, reverend and honoured Sir, your most faithful and obedient servant, HUMFREY WANLEY." The MS. was afterwards purchased by Lord Oxford, and is now in the British Museum; Harl. MSS. No 1613. Hawkins's History of Musick, vol. I. p. 392.

"Mr. Badger, master of New College School, left his study full of the most antient Italian, French, and German editions of the Classicks. Sir Thomas Sebright, who is grown a great collector of scarce and valuable books, has given 500l. for it. He bought, formerly, all the Twisden Library." Dr. Churlett to Humphrey Wanley, 30 Dec. 1717." MS. Harl. 3780. 187.

P.86. A few more extracts from Wanley's * Diary shall be given: Sept. 4, 1714. Mr. Wanley rejoices" that the Bishop of Ely's Library is in so fair a way of coming into the Harleian."— On this subject he had that day received the following letter:

"See yonder the rough rude features of Humphrey Wanley peering above the crowd! All hail to thy honest physiognomy-for thou wert a rare Book-wight in thy way! and as long as the fame of thy patron Harley shall live, so long, honest Humphrey, dost thou stand a sure chance of living for aye' in the memory of all worthy Bibliomaniacs." Dibdin's Bibliomania, p. 459.

"SIR, The persons concerned in the division of my late Lord of Ely's estate cannot think of offering the books at less than 8000l. It will be your care to let me know my Lord Harley's intention as soon as conveniently you can, the persons concerned being willing to agree with any one that shall make the first reasonable offer. I am, Sir, your assured friend and servant, Piccadilly, Sept. 4, 1714. SAM. CLARKE."

They seem to have fallen out soon after; "because," Wanley (Oct. 23, 1714) said, "my Lord wanted receipts of Harley before the books were delivered, which was never done before;" and Harley writing to Anstis, who had offered to get the MSS. for him, says, "he cannot reconcile this with his Lordship's character of the great and generous Patron of Learning."

Mr. Dibdin observes, “That Bishop More was in the zenith of his Bibliomaniacal reputation while he filled the see of Norwich, is unquestionable; for thus writes Strype: 'The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Norwich, the possessor of a great and curious collection of MSS. and other antient printed pieces (little inferior to MSS. in regard of their scarceness) hath also been very considerably assistant to me as well in this present work as in others;' &c. Preface to Life of Aylmer, 1701, 8vo.-Burnet thus describes his fine library when he was Bishop of Ely. This noble record was lent me by my reverend and learned brother, Dr. More, Bishop of Ely, who has gathered together a most valuable treasure, both of printed books and manuscripts, beyond what one can think that the life and labour of one man could have compassed; and which he is as ready to communicate as he has been careful to collect it.' History of the Reformation, vol. III. p. 46.-It seems hard to reconcile this testimony of Burnet with the late Mr. Gough's declaration;" [which sce in vol. V. p. 410]. Bibliomania, p 420.

The following extracts, communicated by my good Friend Mr. D'Israeli, are drawn from the original correspondence of T. Baker to Wanley. The first alludes to his personal character; the second shews that the high price of books, as raised by Noble Collectors, was a grievance felt in Baker's days [see p. 364]:

"I know my Lord Harley's character very well, and have a great honour for his Lordship; but for that reason I dare not wait on so great a man. Mỳ life is monastic as my studies, and has unfitted me for the world, or for any conversation unless with the dead; and therefore I desire you will not engage me in so rash an adventure." Harl. MS. 3778.

He was quite alarmed at having his portrait taken;-he answered, "I could never be guilty of so much folly;" and requests to hear no more of it.

"Oct. 25, 1719. I congratulate my Lord and you upon the great and valuable accession made to his noble Library; though, I will confess to you, I begin to complain of the Men of Quality who lay out so every where for books, and give such prices, that there is nothing to be had for poor Scholars; whereof I have found

the

the effects. When I bid a fair price for an old book, I am answered, the Quality will give twice as much, and so I have done. I have had much ado to pick up a few old books at tolerable prices, and despair of any more."

The following Letters are transcribed from the originals: "DEAR MR. WANLEY, [5 Ap. 1718.] "I torment you before my appointed time, finding this sheet at home; and as soon as you have looked it over, it may be carricd immediately to the printer. I will trouble you to-morrow morning for the sheet which you have. It is compliment in the most refined French Dictionaries: but I submit it to you, as I ought with great reason to do every thing concerning LitteraYours ever, M. PRIOR."

ture.

66

MY GOOD AND KIND WANLEY, I send you these sheets, as lookt over first by Mr. Bedford, and then by myself. I have made great letters at Ye, Me, and emphatical words, that this may answer to the tenor of the other Poems: but if in the old it be otherwise printed, or you please to alter any thing, you know, and may use your dictatorial power. In a book called "The Customs of London," a folio, printed, I think, in Harry the Eighth's time, which I gave our well-beloved Lord Harley, you will find this Poem. I hope I am to see you at dinner at Mr. Black's; and am always your obedient and faithful servant, M. PRIOR.

Thursday noon, [11 Ap. 18.]"

"DEAR WANLEY, I must beg the continuance of your care in the names of the Subscribers as you have given it to me in the printing of the books. I send you my phiz. Pray give my service to Mrs. Wanley, desiring her to accept it, and assuring her that no man loves or esteems her husband and my friend more Yours, M. PRIOR. Jan. 8 [18-19.]"

than

"From Twickenham, this fyrste of Julie, 1725. "WORTHY SIR, I shall take it as a signal mark of your freindly love and kindnesse unto mee if you will recommend to my palate from the experienced taste of yours, goode Mr. Wanley, a dousaine of quartes of goode and wholesome Port wine, such as yee drinke at the Genoa Armes; for the which I will in honourable sort be indebted, and well and truelie pay to the owner thereof, your saide Merchant of Wines at the saide Genoa Armes. As witness this myne hand, which also witnesseth its master to bee in sooth and sincerity of harte,

Goode Syr, yours ever bounden, A. POPE." Superscribed, "This to my worthy and special friend Master Wanley, dwelling at my singular goode Lord's, my Lorde of Oxford's, kindly present."

"WORTHY SIR, I am greatly contented with your kind token of affection; although I meant not, in any wise, to have put you to so sudden a discharge of the trust I reposed in you; nor to have caused you a journey to a distant part of the towne; nor to have obliged you to renew an acquaintance with Signior Alberto after an intermission of divers yeares. Signior

Alberto

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