UCSB LIBRARY
LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY
O^ CALIFORNIA
SANTA BARBARA
PRESENTED BY
Mrs. MacKinley Helm
^;VV•
■V
VY. [llUl£a »dj.l^»lh.
.r;i;,ii;>i» -- .i««e i/yTixo'ffhiikijfS.Ei^' t^
>:J:,-n Rihls-iM '~fili' !Uy TFPitdinJSZi
9[ebe0 aitfjorpianae^
OR
AN ACCOUNT OF THE MANSION,
BOOKS, AND PICTURES,
AT ALTHORP;
THE RESIDENCE OF
GEORGE JOHN EARL SPENCER, K. G.
TO WHICH IS ADDED
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE BIBLIOTHECA
SPENCERIANA.
BY THE REV.
THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN, F.R.S. S.A.
LIBRARIAN TO HIS LORDSHIP.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY W. NICOL, SUCCESSOR TO W. BULMER AND CO.
AND SOLD BY PAYNE AND FOSS, LONGMAN, HURST AND CO. .T. AND
A. ARCH, n. H. EVANS, K. TRIPHOOK, AND JOHN MA.TOR.
1822.
PREFACE.
The Public have been so long in possession of the
Prospectus of this Work, that it will not be neces-
sary to detain them with any lengthened description
of its contents.
Like almost every other publication, projected a
considerable period before its completion, the pre-
sent has received partial alterations; which will
nevertheless, it is presumed, be admitted as improve-
ments. The truth is, that in filling up the outline
of such a plan, many subordinate objects present
themselves, which had escaped previous attention ;
and many things become more important than they
had originally appeared. Thus, the personal his-
tory of the ancient noble occupiers of Althorp has
been unavoidably extended beyond the limits first
proposed ; but it was presumed that this portion
of the Work would be generally interesting, inas-
much as it would be difficult to write a history of
our country, for the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, in which the Ancestors of the present
VI PREFACE.
Noble 0\viier of Althorp did not act very distin-
guished parts.
The Accoiuit of the Mansion is comparatively
brief Unpretending as that Mansion is, in an archi-
tectiu*al point of view, and situated in a domain not
remarkable for picturesque beauty, I have been anx-
ious — notwithstanding the eulogies bestowed upon it
by ancient travellers — to introduce the visitor to its
interior attractions, and especially to its Library ;
which, as a private Collection, may be considered
muivalled. But it is in fact the number, condi-
tion, magnificence, and value, of the Books them-
selves, which have somewhat distracted me in the
choice to be presented to the Reader. Accord-
ingly, while I have made a systematic Catalogue
of that portion only which relates to impressions
of the Sacred Text, I have, in the selection of
other branches, given only what may be called a
bird's eye view of the treasures contained in them.
Hence, the well-informed may draw a pretty coi-rect
conclusion of the value of a complete Catalogue
of the Spencer Library executed in a similar
manner.
The Volumes, exclusively belonging to the Li-
brary of De Thou — instead of occupying a distinct
space — have been, for the greater part, embodied in
the respective classes to wliich they belong.
PREFACE. VH
The Aldine Volumes, once intended as a sepa-
rate division, have been given up, as an unnecessary
encroachment upon these pages ; first, because all
those printed in the Fifteenth Century ^vtU be found
described in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, and in the
second volume of this Work ; and, secondly, because
it has been judged expedient to preserve the Aldine
Collection in Lojidon, and not at Althorp.
Meanwhile, the Supplement to the Bibliotheca
Spencekiaxa, afforded in the second \'o\\ym.Q of this
Work, will be found to contain an account of many
rare and cimous volumes, both of a classical and
miscellaneous character, which were wanting in his
Lordship's Library. The embellishments in this
second volume are, with one exception (p. 134),
from WOODEN BLOCKS ; of which the greater number
wnU be found interesting of their kind ; while the
Art of Printing appears, in the same volume, more
beautiful if possible than in those which have pre-
ceded it.
As to the embellishments in the first volume,
which are exclusively from copper plates, it is
unnecessary to dilate upon their beauty and value.
They are taken from original subjects, which are
almost entirely now engraved for the^r*^ time.
If I have substituted some Portraits m preference
to others — originally announced to the Pubhc — I
vin PREFACE.
have only availed myself of the privilege held out
in the Prospectus ; and always with a view of bene-
fitting my readers by such exchange : so that, upon
the whole, it is hoped that this Work will be ho-
noured with the same favourable attention which
has been bestowed upon its precursors.
T. F. D.
Kensington ;
April 1, 182:.'.
CONTENTS.
Page
Account of the Proprietors ofAlthorp - lu
The Hall - - _ - - 1
The Dining Room - - - 6
The Drawing Room - . _ - 13
The Library — called The Long Library - - 20
The Raphael Library - 24
The Billiard Library - 25
The Marlborough Library 26
The Gothic Library - 31
Biblia Polyglotta - - - 38
Hebraica - - - 40
Grasca - - - 45
Latina - - - 49
French Bibles - - - 57
English Bibles - - - 61
Italian Bibles - - - 84
German and Dutch Bibles - - 88
Bibles in various Tongues - - 90
Editions of the Old Testament - 93
of' the Pentateuch - - 94
of the Psalter - - 96
of the Prophets - - 100
of' the New Testament - 101
of Portions of the N. Test. 119
Greek Classics - - - 123
Latin Classics - - - 136
CONTENTS.
Page
The Libraky — Miscellaneous Latin Books ~ 141
Editions of Ariosto - - 156
Miscellaneous English Books - 164
Illustrated Works - - 198
The Stair Case . _ . . 237
The PicTiRE Gallery _ . . _ 243
Bed Rooms . . _ . 274
ERRATA.
Page 145. — The ' Corpus Scriptorum Histori;e Byzantin.^,' is erro-
neously placed amonp Latin, instead of Greek Books.
Page 233, line 12, for Polity read Policy.
ADDITION.
Page 233. — ' Cl.\rendon's Relioion and Policy.' — The number of En-
gravings with which this copy of the above work is illustrated, amounts
to Elei-cn Hundred and Sixty, exclusively of the number in the History
of the Rebellion.
LIST OF PLATES TO VOLUME L
George John, Earl Spencer, K. G. ; from an original
portrait, by Phillips - - facing the title page.
South West View of Althorp - - - iii
Robert, First Baron Spencer _ . _ . xxiii
Henry, First Earl of Sunderland - _ . . xxviii
Anne, Countess of Sunderland - - - li
Archway and Dairy - - ... Ixji
Ground Plan of Althorp House — immediately following
the preceding.
Sophonisba Angosciola - - . _ . 6
A Calm, by Cuyp - _ _ . _ 9
Fragment, from RafFaelle - - - - 1 1
Masked Ball - - - - . - 14
Interior of the Long Library - _ _ . 20
Rembrandt's Mother - - - - 21
Viscount Althorp - - - - - 25
John, Duke of Marlborough - - - - - 26
The Stair Case - - - - - 237
John, Marquis of Blandford - ... 238
Georgians, First Countess Spencer .... 239
Margaret, Coimtess of Lucan ... 240
Sir John Spencer, Knt. - . . _ 241
Henry VIII., Queen Mary, and Will Somers . - 244
Nell Gwynn .... . . 247
The Duchess of Portsmouth .... 249
Lady Denham - - - ... 250
Mrs. Middleton - - . - .251
Colonel John Russell - . ... 259
Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough ... 263
Sir Kenelm Digby, ..... 265
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire ... 266
Unknown Portrait .... . 269
Algernon Sydney ..... 272
George John, Earl Spencer, iEtat. xvn., to face the title-
page of Vol. II.
SOME
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
VOL. I.
SOME
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
1 HE House and Park at Althorp* are situated in the parish of
Great Bringfon, in New Bottle Grove Hundred, in the county of
Northampton, at the distance of about six miles from Northamp-
ton. This domain has been possessed by the Spencer Family
upwards of three centuries ; but the exact period of the erection
of the house seems to be unknown. There is however no question
of its having received its principal improvements during the time
of the first Earl of Sunderland, (163G-1643) who was son of the
second Baron Spencer. The Lady of this Earl (daughter of
Robert Sidney, second Earl of Leicester, and better known as the
Sacharissa of Waller the poet) erected, and covered in, the great
staircase — which had been formerly an interior court yard, in the
fashion of the times. From that period, to the present, both the
house and park have continued to receive improvements which
will be duly noticed in the oi'der of these pages.
In the account of the Family, by whom the celebrity of this
place has been so long maintained, it will not be deemed neces-
sary to repeat those minute details of pedigree which are to be
found in the pages of county historians and genealogists. Satis-
fied with the recent efforts of Mr. Baker,f both the reader and
• Formerly called " Alidetorp"— " Olletorp," " Ol.lthoipe." See Baker's
Hkinry of the County of Northampton, p. 110. It is even yet spelt with a final
c, as Althorpe.
t History of the County of Northampton, pnrt i. p. 109. C'olliu?, in his
iv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1507
author may be anxious only for a few particulars which are con-
temporaneous with the fiimily's residence at Althorp; and which
relate to those characters — once famed for their hospitality and
wealth — of whom the monumental effigies are to be seen in the
chancel of the parish church.* The family of the Spencers be-
Peerage, vol. i. p. 378, Edit. Brydgcs, traces the pedigree up to the De Spen-
SERS, in the Conqueror's time, with a doubt however respecting its accnracy,
adding : — " The present family are suOicicntly great ; and have too long en-
joyed vast wealth and liigli honours, to require the decoration of feathers in
their cap, which are not their own. Sir John Spencer, their undisputed
ancestor, and the immediate founder of their fortune, lived in the reigns of
Henry W\. and Henry VIII. ; and three hunihed years of riches and rank may
surely satisfy a rfguhited pride." In Milles's Catalogue of Honor or Treasury
oJ'True XobUihi, IfilO, folio, I find the shield of Lord Spencer as the twenty-
ninth, which is filled, among the Barons. In the large folded plate, in this
same work, p. 382, there are also the Spencer arms ahove an account of Tho-
mas Spencer, " a noble Baron, son of the second Edward Spencer," &c.
created by King Richard II. Earl of Glocester; the year from Christ's birth
1398, &c.
* An aceomit of the parish church of Brington — wherein the ashes of the
Spencers lie " quietly inurned" — belongs rather to the county historian than
to the chronicler of x\lthorp. It may be sufiicient therefore to observe, that this
church is situated on the summit of the highest ground of Brington, or rather
of Great liringtun ; and that it is incirded by a stone wall, flanked, in the in-
terior, by trees. A more complete picture of a country church-yard is rarely
seen. A weU-trimmed walk encircles the whole of the interior ; and when
viewed from the eastern e.xtremitys in which the fine gothic windows, at the
end of the two chancels, come directly in view, the picturesque effect is very
pleasing. The church consists of a tower, containing five bells; a nave, with
north and south aisles ; a chancel, and a north chapel. This chapel is here
designated a second chancel. There is little of early or of beautiful architec-
ture to gratify the tasteful antiquary. The building cannot be traced to a more
remote period than the xivth. century ; but the door-entrances of the tower
and south aisle (the latter covered by a modern porch — one of the happiest, or
most imhappy, specimens of church-warden taste) of the period in question,
are entitled to particidar notice and praise. The discovery of an exterior
lateral tomb — probably that of Roger de Wyngfield, who was rector here in
the beguming of the xivtli. centiu-y — is properly mentioned (together with
every other necessary detail connected with the churcli) by Mr. Baker, in his
recent History of the County, p. 92, &c.
A great deal of beautiful carving in wood adorns the pew where the family
now sits; but this, to the eye of an antiquary, has a less powerful charm than
similar specimens of ait, of a much earlier date, which are attached to the
— 1512.]
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
came possessed of the park at Althorp about the year 1512.
This originated in a license from the King to John Spencer,
afterwards Sir John Spencer. At that time, the Park is described
as containing 300 acres of land, 100 acres of wood, and 40 acres
of water in " Oldthorpe ;" but this seems to have been only an
extension of some property previously acquired there ; for it is
certain that Althorpe, so called, was purchased by this Sir John
Spencer as early as the year 1508. The same Sir John afterwards
purchased Newbottle and Brington, and died in the year 1522.
His tomb, with the recumbent figures of his wife Isabella,
and himself, is the most ancient of those seen in the chapel of
Brington church. It is in the rich gothic style of that period, and
heads of the old pews in the chancel. As these are undoubtedly of the end of
the xivth or beginning of the xvth century, and as it is not very improbable
that the same fate of decapitation, or destruction, which has befallen their com-
panions, may in a few years attend these — I present the reader with the follow-
ing specimens ; taken, the one from the left, and the other from the right, on
entering the chancel. That, to the left, is St. Margaret. The right may be
— any thing the reader pleases.
^fh,
'^.. .
vi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1512
has been recently restored (in the decayed parts) with a strict
adherence to the original model.* Of his younger and only bro-
ther, Thomas, who was living in 1504, nothing is known.
The wealth of Sir John Spencer must have been prodigious ;-f-
for, exclusively of the purchases above mentioned, he became the
proprietor of Wormleighton in Warivickshire ; which place his
descendants seem to have occupied, for a long period, as their prin-
• The first print of these tomhs, in Mr. Baker's Hist, of the County of
Korlhamptnn, will give a correct notion of the beauty of the tomb in question.
Tlie inscription on the tomb is thus :
" Here lieth the Boddies of Sir John Spencer Knight &: dame Isabel! his Wife
one of the daughters & coheirs of Walter Graunt of Snittcrfield in the Countie
of War : Esquier her Mother was the daughter & heire of Huraphrie Rudinge
of the Wich in the coun: of Worcester Esq : which John and Isabell bad issu
Sir Will'm Spencer knight 1. Anthony Spencer 2. AMio died without issu.
Jane Wife to Rich : Knigbtley Esquier Son'e & Heire of Sir Richarde Knight-
ley of Fawsley in the countie of North : Knight. Isabell married to Sir Nic's :
Strelley of Sirelly, in the cou'tie of Nott. knight. Dorothye married to Sir
Rich: catesbie oflegers ashbie in the coun. of North: kni: which Sir John
Spenc: departed this life the 14 of Apr: Ao D'ni 1522.
t Arising chiefly, as was the case of nearly all proprietors of land of that
period, from the great stock of sheep. The injury sustained by the compa-
rative neglect of tillage, and the cultivation of pasture land, did not escape the
attention of the legislature, and accordingly the statute of the 25 Hen. VIII.
c. 13, recited — that " diners couetous persons, espying the great profit of #//pp/)f,
have gotten into theyr hands great portions of the grounds of this Realme,
conuerting them to pasture from tillage, and keepe some 10,000, some 20,000,
some 24,000 shcepe, whereby Churches and Towns be pulled down, rents of
land inhaunced, and the prices of cattell and vittaile greatly raised," &c. The
evil which arose from the excess of pasturage over tillage, has also been noticed
by Sir Thomas More ; who, about si,\ or seven years before the death of Sir
John Spencer, thus observed, in his Utopia, — "your sheep, that were wont to
be so meek and tame, and so small eaters ; now, as I hear say, be become so
great devourers, and so wild, that they eat up, and swallow down, the very men
themselves. They consume, destroy, and devour whole fields, houses, and
cities ; for look — in what parts of the realm doth grow the finest, and therefore
dearest wool — there, noblemen and gentlemen, yea, and certain abbots, (holy
men, no doubt!) not contenting themselves with the yearly revenues and profits
that were wont to grow to their forefathers, and predecessors of their lands,
now being content that they live in rest and pleasure, nothing profiting — yea,
much noying — the weal-public, leave no ground for tillage : they inclose all
into pastures : they throw down houses ; they pluck down towns, and leave no-
thing standing but only the church, to be made a sheep-house." Edit. 180S,
—1522.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. vii
cipal residence ; and from wliich Robert Spencer, tlie first Baron,
(and great-grandson to Sir John) was called up to the House
of Peers as " Baron Spencer of Wonnleighton." This latter
place was purchased by Sir John, of William Cope, Esq. in 1506;
and Dugdale tells us, that the purchaser " soon after began the
structure of a fair mansion-house, wherein, when that inquisition
was taken, he had his residence with Ix. persons of his family,
being a good benefactor to the church in ornaments and other
things." Hist, of Wanvlckshire, p. 405, 1G5G. But in Dugdale's
time Wonnleighton was also the residence of the first Earl of
Sunderland ; and the two houses of Wonnleighton and Althoi-jj
seem to have been maintained with an almost equally splendid
establishment, till the time of the second Earl of Sunderland,
who appears to have resided chiefly at Althorp. During his
time, this mansion was designated, by a foreign traveller of rank
and taste, " as the best planned and best arranged country seat in
the kingdom ; for though (in the same opinion) many surpassed
it in size, none were superior to it in symmetrical elegance."
Trarels of Cosmo the Third, 1669, 1821, 4to. p. 250.
However this noble family may have resided chiefly at Worm-
leighton, it is certain that they did not neglect either the rites of
hospitality, or the cultivation of the grounds, at Althoi-p. CoUins
tells us, that Sir John Spencer, gi-andfather of the first Baron,
(in the middle of the xvith century), " ordered hospitalitij to be
kept in his houses at Althorp, &c. by his heir, after his decease,
according as he had done ;* and there is no question that the
same spirit of hospitality was maintained by every succeeding
generation, at the same place. In regard to the preservation or
improvement of the park, we know that the oak trees, which ap-
pear at the extremity of it, nearest to the church at Brington,
vol. i. p. 58. Polydore Virgil, who \vas also a contemporary of Sir John Spencer,
" expatiates with \-isible complacency on the various pleasures of those tables
at which he had feasted ; on t)\e juicy flavniir of the mutton, and the sweetness
of the beef, especially when slightly salted." Henry's Hist, of Great Britain,
vol. xii. p. 375.
* Collins' s Peerage; vol. i. p. 386. Edit. 1812. Tlie portrait of this Sir
John Spencer, the earliest in the series of the Spencer Portraits, will be found
engraved on the opposite page. Some brief particulars about his character
will be given in the series of Portraits — hereafter described.
viii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 158G
and running in part parallel with the wall of separation, were grow-
ing there at the time of the purchase by the first Sir John Spen-
cer, in the reign of Henry VII. But his grandson Sir John
was, I apprehend, ihe first planter of trees ; of which the expe-
riment was commemorated by a stone tablet, with the following-
inscription thereupon :
this wood was planted by
Sir John Spencer Knight
GRANDFATHER OF RoBERT LoRD
Spencer in the yeares of
ovR Lord 1567 and 1568.
His son, also Sir John, who died quite at the conclusion of
of the xvith century, continued this good foshion of planting, and
of commemorating its date, by means of a similar tablet, on which
the inscription is as follows :
this wood was planted by
Sir John Spencer Knight
FATHER OF RoBERT LoRD
Spencer in the yeare
OF OVR Lord 1589.
The two oak-plantations of the father and son, run in a straight
Hne, at right angles, with the more ancient trees before described;
and those of the son, in particular, (from some supposed superior
congeniality of soil,) now assume a beautiful and picturesque ap-
pearance ; their forms being bold and towering. This part of
the park, although of limited dimensions, has somewhat of a forest-
cast of scenery ; and is also remarkable for having an Hernerij
— one of the very few in the kingdom.
The son of the last Sir John, afterwards the first Baron Spen-
cer, had the good sense to imitate the example of his forefathers.
He planted largely and successfully — as is attested by a stone
tablet, upon a somewhat larger scale than the two preceding, upon
which the inscription runs thus :
THIS WOOD WAS PLANTED
BY Robert Lord Spencer
IN THE yeares OF OVR LoRD
1602 AND 1603.
—1603.] ACCOUNT OF ALTIIORP. ix
The work of planting, and of commemorating the period
of plantation, continued under the Second Baron Spencer, se-
cond son of the first Baron, when he was Sir WilHam Spencer,
and Knight of the Batli. There is a wooded walk, running ob-
liquely from the N W. corner of the mansion, up a gentle ascent,
through which the family pass, as the nearest foot way, to the
church. This wooded walk contains beech trees on one side,
and oak trees on the other ; and the date of the plantation of
them is thus attested.
THIS WOOD WAS Oil the reverse of the Stone.
PLANTED BY SiR yP AND BEE
William Spencer doing and
Knight of the God will
Bathe in the prosper,
yeare of ovk
Lord 1624.
It has hence obtained tlie name of the " Up and be doing
Wood ;"* and some notion may be formed of its picturesque ap-
pearance, in certain points of view, from tlie following represen-
tation — looking from west to east — as executed by the pencil of
* This is a scriptural phrase : see i Chroii. c. xxii. v. 16. The earlier versions
of this passage come closer to the language of the above inscription. Thus in
Coverdale's Bible of 1535, it is, " Yet get tlie vp and be doynge, and the Lorde
shal be with the." In Matthews ; 1537- " Up therefore and set upo itand
y' Lord shal be w" the." In Gnif ton's ; 15-10. " Up therefore and be doynge,
and the Lord shal be wyth the." In Darker ; 1607. " Up therefore, and be
doing, and the Lord will be with thee." And in iJ«)-/f r ; ICll. "Arise there-
fore and be doing, and the Lord be with tliee " — which is the present received
text. It appears to have been a current expression of the day. Thus in Crom-
well's lime, in an original letteu, of that celebrated man, in the possession
of my friend Mr. Dawson Turner—" As if God should say ;•;) and beedueinge,
and I will help you, and stand by you," &c. The letter was written on the
capture of Gainsborough. The battle of Gainsborough was the most decisive
and important of Cromwell's earlier achievements. The letter, describing it,
is full of bustle and interest — " wee came vp (says Cromwell) horse to horse,
when wee disputed itt with our swords and pistoUs, a pretty tjine, all keepinge
close order," &c. Here fell the gallant Colonel Cavendish, on the part of the
Royalists. In Cromwell's letter, he is described as having been pursued into a
ditch, by Major ^^^laley, who stabbed him below " the short ribs."
X ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1603
Mr. Blore. At the same time it may be mentioned, that an
enlarged engraving of the stone, exhibiting that side on which
the arms of Sir William Spencer appear, may be seen at the last
page of the second volume of the Bibliotheca Spenceriana.
/5S/^ ^^^^^
Such was the state of the park at Althorp, when the famous
John Evelyn paid his first visit there during the time of Robert,
second Earl of Sunderland. The gradual advance of so many
young trees towards maturity, together with the dates of their
plantation, stiuck the inquisitive eye of our British Columella ;
and after observing (in his Sylva) that " it was the only instance
he knew of the Hke in our country," he recommends to general
—1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xi
adoption the practice of recording the time when any considerable
plantation is begun. The park now contains about 500 acres.
The Spencers had long possessed other property* in War-
wickshire, besides the estate at Wormleighton. The grand-father
of the first Sir John was in possession of Hodnell, in the manor
of Nun Eaton ; but his son John, an uncle of the first Sir John,
sold it, in conjunction with one Thomas Brauncefield, a co-pro-
prietoi-, to Thomas Wilkes " a merchant of the staple." Di/gdale,
p. 218. Herdwick Priors, in the same county, after being in the
possession of the Knightleys, was purchased of Arthur, son of
Sir William Samuel, of Upton, by William, the second Baron
Spencer, and whose younger son Robert was in possession of it
at the time of Dugdale. But it was at Claverdon, in the same
county, that the name of Spencer was hardly less respected for
its hospitable virtues than at Wormleighton. Thomas Spencer,
younger son of the second Sir John Spencer, and uncle of the
first Baron Spencer, purchased this place of the crown ; " which
Thomas, having obtained a lease of the Dean and Chapter of
Worcester of certain lands in this place, built a very fair mansion
thereupon ; and for the great hospitality which he kept thereat,
was THE MiRROUR OF THIS COUNTY. But having no issue male,
settled this manor (inter alia) upon Sir William Spencer, Baronet, ,
son and heir of Sir Thomas, and he of Sir William, sometime of
Yarnton in Oxfordshire." Dugdale, p. 497. The wealth of this
Thomas Spencer was very considerable ; for he also purchased
Packioood, in the same county, " for 2000 pounds for the term
of 2000 years — of Robert, the grandson of Robert Burdet of
Baumcote, Esq." This estate also vested in Sir William Spencer
of Yarnton-f- in Oxfordshire. Diigdale's Warwickshire, p. 583.
* Care must be taken to distinguish tlie Sir John Spencer, father of the first
Baron, from the Sir Jolin Spenser, Knt. and Lord Mayor of London — of about
the same period ; whose only daughter (jjcrhaps the richest heiress in the king-
dom) was married to the second Lord Compton, afterwards first Earl of North-
ampton. Consult the authorities referred to by Sir E. Briiiif^es in Ids Memoirs
of the Peers in the reign o/" James L p. 460. In Nichols's Dibliotheca Tnpogra-
phica. No. XLix. p. 12, &c.a most singular account is given of this most sin-
grdar lady. The wealth of her father seems to have been boundless ; and per-
haps equal to nearly two millions sterling of our present money.
+ The family monuments of the Spencers in Yarnton church are very fine,
according to some drawijigs of them wliich I liave seen.
xii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 160;J
Meanwhile the collateral branches had been ennobled by
several splendid alliances; and, among them, Alice Spencer,
j'oungest sister of the " hospitable" Thomas Spencer of Claver-
don, was married to Ferdinand the fifth Earl of Derby ; by
whom, if she had not " issue to a line of kings," she had three
daughters, all distinguished by their imion with three of the most
noble families in the realm; viz. those of Chandos, Bridge-
water, and Huntingdon. It was this Alice Spencer for whom
Milton is said to have written his Arcades ; and Sir John Har-
rington has celebrated her memory by an epigram, Book iii. Epigr.
47.* It was also to this same personage that the poet Spen-
ser dedicated his " Tears of the Muses;' and to her two sisters,
Elizabeth, Lady Carey, and Anne, Lady Compton and Mont-
eagle, that he dedicated his Mu'iopotmos and Mother Hubard!s
Tale : the poet himself, in his " Collin Clout's come home again,"
thus acknowledging his relationship with them.
Ne lesse prais -worthie arc the sisters three.
The honor of tlie noble fainilie :
Of which I, meanest, I)oast myself to I)e,
And most that unto them I am so nie,
Phi/lUs, ChnrilU.i, and sweet Amnnllis,
Phyllis the faire is eldest of the tlircc :
The next to her is bountifuU Charillis,
But the youngest is the highest iu degree.f
This circumstance has given occasion to a splendid and happy
remark of Gibbon, in the Memoirs of his own Life. " The nobi-
lity of the Spencers (says he) has been illustrated and enriched
by the trophies of Marlborough ; but I exhort them to consider
the Fairy Queen as the most precious jewel of their coronet."
* I gather the al)ove from Sir Egerton Brydges's Memoirs of the Peers in
the Reign of James I. 1802. 8vo. p. 394. Lysons, in his Environs of London,
p. 1 12, has given a print of her tomb, at Harefield ; whereon is " her figure,
recumbent, in the dress of the times, beneath a rich canopy, and below are the
(igiu-es of her three daughters, kneeling," Sec. Lysons notices a very rare en-
graved portrait of this Countess, of wliich only two copies are known to exist.
One is in the collection of the Marquis of Bute, the other in his o\ra. The
Countess died in 1 636.
t That is, the Countess of Derby. The fictitious names are applied to the
characters in the order above mentioned.
—1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xiii
Consult also Todd's Life of Spencer, xxv-vi. My business, how-
ever, is more particularly with the the inmates of Althorp.
It has been before observed, that Althorp was not so much
distinguished as the exclusive residence of the Spencers, till the
time of the first Earl of Sunderland, about the year 1640. Yet
it must not be forgotten, that it was during the first Lord Spen-
cer's possession of this place, that an entei'tainment was given to
the Queen of James the First, and Prince Henry, their son, on
their way to London, in 1603. This entertainment, or masque,
was composed by the vigorous muse of Ben Jonson, and has
been commemorated in a pamphlet, or small quarto tract,
published a few years afterwards, under the following title: " A
particular entertainment of the Queene and Prince their High-
nesse to Althorpe, at the Right Honourable the Lord Spencer's,
on Saturday being the 2ath of June, 1603, as theij came first into
the kingdom, being tvritten by the same author, and not before
published."*
* Tills tract is a small quarto volume of eight leaves : containing signa-
tures A and B, in fours. The " entertaimnent " was in the usual fashionable
style of the day — being a sort of rural or pastoral drama ; in which fauns,
satyrs, shepherds, and allegorical personages, were mixed together in the most
singular, and not unamuaing, manner. Tlie original tract (in the library at
Althorp) is considered to be rare. It was reprinted by the author in the folio
edition of his works, in 1616, and will be found in the editions oi Ben Jomon's
fForks, by JFhalley and Gifford, under the title of The Satyr. Mr. Gifford
savs, " The Queen and Prince Henry, in their journey from Edinbiu-gh to
London, came from Holdenby to Northampton, where they were received in
great state by the municipal magistrates. James, who had joined them at Eaton,
the seat of Sir G. Fermor in Northamptonshire, passed forward ; (perhaps, as
Mr. Gifford intimates, at p. 477, "with Sir Robert Spencer, aftenvju-ds Baron, to
Theobalds" — where we knoic that Sir Richard Spencer was made a Knight with
twenty-eight others ;) but the Queen and Prince were prevailed upon to take
up their residence for a few days at the seat of Sir Robert Spencer, about four
miles from the town. It was on this occasion that this exquisite entertain-
ment was presented to them as they entered the park and grounds at Althorpe."
Jonson's JVorhs, edit. 1816. vol. vi. p. 468.
The reader will probably not be displeased if a portion of this poetical en-
tertainment be " served up" to him; especially as Mr. Gilford thinks that
" Milton has numerous obligations " to it. I shall select only the commence-
ment and conclusion, adding the same gentleman's very just observations upon
the subject.
xiv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1608
" It is easy, or rather it is not easy, (says Mr. Giftbi-d) to con-
ceive the surprise and delight with which Queen Anne, who had
a natural taste for these elegant and splendid exhibitions, must
" The inuention wns, to haue a Satyre lodged in a tittle Spinel, hy which her
Muiestie, and the Prince were to come, who (at the report of certaine cornets
that were diuided in settcrall places of the Parke, to signify her approach) ad-
uanced his head ahoiie the toppe of the wood, wondring, and (with his Pipe
in his hand) began as folloieeth -.
Satire.
Here ! tliere ! and euery where !
Some solemnities are neare,
That these changes strike mine care :
My pipe and I a part shall beare.
And after a short straine u-ith his Pipe, again:
Look, see ; (beshrew this tree ;)
Wiat may all this wonder bee i
Pipe it, who that list for me :
I'le flic out abroad, and see.
There hee leaped downe, and gazing the Queene and Prince in the face, went
forward. ^
That is Cyparissus face !
And the Dame hath Syrinx grace !
that Pan were now in place !
Sure they are of heauenly race.
Here he ranne into the wood againe, and hid himselfe whilst to the sound of
excellent soft musique that was there concealed in the thicket, there came tripping
up the lawne a Bevy of Faeries, attending on Mab their Queene, who falling
into an artificiall ring, that was there cut in the path e, began to daunce u round,
whilst their mistresse spake asfolloweth .-
Faerie.
Haile, and welcome, worthiest Queene,
Joy had never perfect beene,
To the Nimphes that haunt this Greene,
Had they not this euening scene.
Now they Print it on the Ground
With their feele in figures round,
Markes that will be cuer found.
To remember this glad stound.
The Satyre peeping out of the bush, said.
Tnist her not you Iionny-bcll,
Shee will forty leasinges tell, —
1 doeknow her pranks right well.
—1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xv
have witnessed the present ; she, who in Denmark had seen per-
haps no royal amusement but drinking bouts, and in Scotland
been regaled with nothing better than " ane goodly ballad called
Faerie.
Satyre, wee must haue a spell.
For your tongue, it runnes to fleete.
Satyre.
Xot so nimbly as your ffeete.
When about the creame-boulcs sweete.
You, and all your Elues do raeete.
There was also another parting speuch, ichich teas to haue /jeen presented in
the person nf a youth, and accompamed irith diuerse Gentlemens yonger sonnes
of the Countrey, but by reason of the Multitudinous presse, was also hindred,
and tehich wee haue here adioyned.
And will you then Mirror of Queenes depart ?
ShaU nothing stay you? not my Master's heart,
That pants to leese tlie comfort of your light
And see his Day ere it l)e old grow night ?
You are a Goddesse, and your will be done;
Yet this oiu' last hope is, that as the Sunne
Cheares obiects far remou'd, as well as neare.
So wheresoere you shine, you'le sparkle here.
x\nd you deare Lord, on whome my couetous eye
Doth feede it self but cannot satisfie,
O shoote up fast in spirit, as in yeares ;
That when upon her head proud Europe weapes
Her stateliest tire, you may appeare thereon
The richest Gem without a paragon.
Shine bright and fi.xed as the Artieh starre :
And when slow Time hath made you fit for war,
Looke ouer the strict ocean, and thinke where
You may but leade us forth, that grow up here
Against a day, when our officious swords
Shall speake our action better than our words.
Till then, all good euent conspire to crownc
Your Parents hopes, our zeale, and your renowne.
Peace, vsher now your steps, and where you come.
Be Enuie stiU stroke blind, and Flattery dumbe.
Thus much {.which was the least of the Entertainement in respect of the reality,
ubondance, delicncie,and order of all things else) to doe that seruiceable right, to
xvi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. UW3
Philotas;" or the ribaldry of the Lion King, as his country-
men delight to call Sir David Lindsay." — The rich and beau-
tiful scenery of the music, soft or loud as the occasion required,
dispersed through the wood — the sweetness of the vocal per-
formers — the bevy of fairies, composed of the young ladies " of
the country" — (whose brothers appeared in the succeeding
" sports") the gay and appropriate dialogue, the light, airy, and
fantastic dances which accompanied it — the foresters, headed by
the youthful heir, starting forward to chase the deer at force at
the universal opening of hound and horn, together with the run-
ning down of the game in sight, must have afforded a succession
of pleasures as rare as unexpected." Ben Jonson's Works, vol.
vi. p. 468, 479; and see the conclusion of the note, in the preced-
ing page.
His Majesty, partly in return for the hberality of the reception
of his Queen and Son at Althorp, and still more in consequence
of the long established reputation, and great property of the pro-
prietor, created Sir Robert Spencer, the then owner, a peer of
THE REALM — the date of the creation, according to Dugdale, be-
ing 21st July in the same year. A testimony of the gratitude of
Lord Spencer, in return for such an honour bestowed upon him,
is yet in existence, by a stone building erected towards the N.W.
extremity of the park — called the Hawking Stand; in the front
of which are the Royal arms very beautifully cut in stone, while
/lis noble Friend rrhich his affection owes, and his Lordships merit may challenge,
the Author hath sufferd to come oat, and encounter Censure: and not here
unnecessarily adioyned, being performed to the same Queene 5f Prince ; who
were no little part of these more labord and Triumphall sheices. And to lehose
greatest part he hnotrs the Ho. L. (hud he heeneso blest as tohave seenhim at his
Lodge) votild haue stretcht in obseruance, though he could not in Lone or scale.
" It is very easy (says the last eminently successful Editor of Ben Jonson) to
stigmatise all this with the name of " pedantry," and to rave with IMr. Malone,
at " the wretched tast of the times," which could tolerate it : — but there are
still some who affect to think that this taste was not altogether so deploralile ;
and that nearly as much judgment was displayed in engaging the talents of a
man of genius and learning to produce an entertainment which should not dis-
grace the rational faculties of the Ijeholders, as in procuring the assistance of a
pastry-cook to honour a general festival by scrawling unmeaning flourishes on
a ball-room floor, at an expense beyond that of the graceful and elegant hospi-
tality of Althorp ;" vol. vi. p. 479.
—1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xvii
the arms of the owner, as a peer of the realm, are as beautifully
executed on the western side of the building. It was on this
SPOT where the first Baron Spencer used to resort, from the
neighbourhood of Wormleighton — bringing with him all his at-
tendants and visitors of every description — to witness the sports
of the field as connected with Hawking and Hunting.
All the jolly chase was here,
Witli hawk, and horse, and hunting spear!*
A discovery was made in the year 1818, singularly confirmative
of the amusements carried on at Althorp, during the time of the
first Baron Spencer. In pulling down and altering the upper story
of this Hawking Stand, a series of subjects,-f- in water colours, was
found to be painted upon the walls ; the whole of which, being
executed in the costume of the times, leaves no doubt of the period
of its completion.
The character of the first Lord Spencer is handed down to
us, by historians of unquestionable veracity, as almost destitute
of a blemish. His habits were those of a retired man ; yet abroad,
and in the senate, when occasion offered, he knew how to assume
what was due to the dignity of his station. " Like the old Roman
dictator from his farm, (says Wilson) Spencer made the countrey a
vertuous court, where his fields and flocks brought him more
calm and happy contentment, than the various and mutable dis-
* Edinb. Annual Register, vol. i. pt. ii. xxviii.
\ These subjeots were too mucli mutilated by the workmen, occupied in
the repairs, before I had an opportunity (passing a few summer-months at that
time at Brington) of examining them fully ; but sufficient was left to enable
me to form a pretty accurate idea of the mode of hunting. In one part, nets
were thrown over the liushes, and the foxes and hares were driven into a space,
between them, and cudgels and hunting staves were liberally tlirown at them.
In another part, the dogs were yoked in couples ; in anotlier, they were giving
chase to the stag. At a distance, was a full-dressed figure on horseback, in cap
and feather, preceded by a sort of nmning footman, with a hunting speai
slung across his shoulder; while, in the foreground, within some rails or paling,
a man was concealed in the branches of a tree, shooting with a cross-bow at
the animals below. The then hawking or hunting stand — supported by six
pillars — and having two stories of small glazed windows, is seen, above, to the
left; while the spectators are looking on from the windows.
Portions of this curious relic were taken down and preserved; but, on being
exposed to the air, the colours became gradually faded, and, in a short time,
will I apprehend become scarcely discernible. The hawking stand, as erected
XVllI
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. idOii
pensations of a court can contribute : and when he was called to
the senate, was more vigilant to keep the people;s liberties from
being a prey to the incroaching power of monarchy, than his
harmless and tender lambs from foxes and ravenous creatures."
Life of James I.* p. 162. Fuller (in his Worthies, p. 300,) calls
by the first Baron, is now the residence of the Game Keeper ; and after such a
history of the ancient purposes to which it was de\ oted, the reader may not
object to the foUomng representation of it — from the pencil of IVIr. Blore.
* Thus, in the entertainment, mentioned at p. xiii, the " Satyr" alludes to
the country occupations of the first Lord Spencer :
Say, that here he like the groves.
And pursue no foreign loves :
Is he therefore to be deem'd
Rude or savage?
—1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xix
him " a good patriot, of a quick and clear spirit." " He might
have extended his panegyric (adds Mr. GifFord) without any vio-
lation of truth." Vide infra.
Lord Spencer had hardly been raised to the peerage two
months, when he was chosen by his sovereign to be Ambassador
to Frederick, Duke of Wirtemberg, to invest him with the Order
of the Garter. He took with him Sir Gilbert Dethick, Knight,
Garter Principal King of Arms ; and setting out on their jour-
ney in the beginning of October 1603, they arrived at Stuttgart on
the second of November following. The account of this investi-
tin-e by Ashmole, {Order of the Garter, p. 411-416) may strike the
reader, at the present pageanVloving period, as reahsing the most
splendid fictions upon the subject. I cannot resist the temptation
of selecting a small portion of it. And first, of the dress of the
Duke, and of the earlier stages of the proceedings by the noble
Ambassador.
" The Elect Duke was most sumptuously habited from head to foot ;
his hose were ash-colour, and seamless ; his breeches, doublet, and sleeves,
were of silk prickt, slasht, and fringed, there shining all along through the cut-
work, the gilt plate upon which it was wTought ; his sleeves were wrought after
the manner of a long pretext or senator's robe, with the finest sort of linen,
embroidered with needlework blue ; upon his «Tists were bracelets of costly
gems ; upon his fingers gold rings, most exquisitely wrought and inlaid with
rubies, diamonds, saphirs, emeralds, and other such like precious stones, east-
ing forth a radiant mixture of divers colours ; the collar of his doublet was in
like manner of the finest and softest linen, and of a blue amethist colour, and
wrought all about with oylet holes ; his tap was of silk, ending in a cone at
the top, and girt about with a hat-band of gold and precious stones, especially
pearls of a very large size, and also a circle of white plumes erected up towards
the top, and bending a little douTiward at the end. His shoes were likewise of
silk, adorne_.
1627.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxiii
affairs, a constant promoter and maintainer of the manufactories,
trades, and liberties of the realm, an opposer of all arbitrary
grants, monopolies, or other indirect practices : ■ and finally, was
seasoned with a just tincture of all private and public virtues."
He died in 1G27 ; having been a widower thirty years. His wife,
Margaret, was daughter and coheir of Sir Francis Willoughby, of
Wollaton in Nottinghamshire ; by whom he had four sons and
three daughters. She died in childbed in 1597. Such a length
of widowhood has been justly attributed to his intense affection,
and deep respect, for the memory of the deceased. A passage
in Jonson's Entertainment, described at page xiii. thus alludes
to this circumstance :
Who, since Thamyra did die,*"
Hath not brook'd a lady's eye.
This nobleman, says Collins, " was buried in great splendour
with his ancestors and Lady at Brington, under a noble monu-
ment, &c." The monument is thus minutely described by the
recent historian of the county ; premising, that it appears as the
tJdrd, on the left, in the first view seen in Mr. Baker's work.
" The Baron is completely cased in a rich suit of plate armour,
with helmet plumed and the visor up. On the tassels are bla-
zoned Spencer, and seven quarterings. He is girded with a lea-
thern belt, from which was suspended a long strait sword, now
loose and displaced.-f- He has small mustachios but no beard.
His head rests on a high cushion ; his feet are on his gauntlets,
and beyond them is a talbot sejant Ar. eared S. The lady re-
clines on two flowered cushions, and over her head is a hood
with beaded edge, similar in form, but larger and still more outre
than the one described in a previous monument. Her hair is
combed back at the sides, and eyed with pearls, but concealed
on the forehead by a plain cap rounded in front, and expanding
* " Thamyra (the beloved consort of this nobleman') was the daughter of
Sir Francis Willoughby; she died August 17th, 1597, leaving several chil-
dren. There is nothing strained or exaggerated in what is here said of Lord
Spencer's attachment to his Lady's memory ; for though he survived her nearly
thirty years, he took no second wife." Jonson's Works, vol. yK. p. 475.
t It generally lies transversely across the bodies, and is of a verv consider-
able weight and length. I take it to have l)een a mere sword of state.
VOL. I. C
xxiv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 16.%
at the ears. An heraldic counterpane, bearing Willoughby, and
the eleven quarterings impaled in the last tomb, is spread smoothly
over her body, and folded down to the waist, displaying a plain
white vest conforming to the shape, laid in various formal plaits,
and finished with a large open ruff. Over the tomb, but com-
pletely detached from it, is an arched canopy, supported by four
fluted Corinthian columns, with black capitals gilt, and the soffit
of the arch decorated with escallops and flowers," p. 97. It
shovild seem from the epitaph — here added — that the noble Lord
built the monument during his life; in 1599.
Here hje ye Bodies of S'r Robert Sj)encer Knight Baron Spencer
Of Wormeleghto Sf Margaret his Wife one of ye daughters S(
Coheires of S'r Francis Wilhwghby of Wollato' in ye Co: of
Nottins- Knisht. u'ho had isstie 4 Sonnes and 3 daughters
Viz. 1. John Sjiencer Esq who died at Blois in France without
Issite : 2. William Lord Sjieneer who married ye Lady Penelope
Eldest daughter of Henry Earle of Southamp. 3. Richard Spenc'r
Esq. 4. S'r Edward Spencer of Boston in ye Co : ofMidd. Knight
Who married dame Mary Widow of S'r Willia' Reade of Aust-
erley in y'e same Co : Knight. 1. Mary married to Sir Richard
Anderson ofPenley in ye Co : of Hartford Knight. 2. Elixaheth
Married to S'r George Fane of Bust on in y'e Co : of Kent. Knit
Who died w'lthout issue. 3. Margaret who died unmarried
Which Robert Lord Spencer dep'ted this life y'e 25 OctoVr
An° D'jti 1627 and Margaret his wife y'e 17 of August 1597.
Robert Lord Spencer built this momime't in his life An° 1599.
The first Baron Spencer was succeeded in his title and estates
by his second son William ; his eldest son, John, having died
at Blois,* in France, about sixteen years before the death of
his father. Of the second Baron Spencer, who was created
Knight of the Bath in 1616, and had served in three Parlia-
ments, little is known and preserved : although Collins tells us,
• His son was one of the principal characters who figured in the entertain-
ment, or masque, described at page xiii, ante; thus :
His Sonne his heire ; who humbly bends
Lowe, as is his father's earth.
' Here the Satyre fetcht out of the wood, the Lord Specers eldest sonne,
attirde, and appointed like a huntsman."
\G36.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxv
upon the authority of his epitaph, that " he inherited his father's
conduct, as well as his honour and estate." He enjoyed his dig-
nities but a short time ; dying in the year 1636, and in the 46th of
his age. He married into the noble family of the Wriothesleys,
espousing Penelope eldest daughter of Heni-y Wriothesley,
third Earl of Southampton. There is a whole-length portrait of
the second Lady Spencer, by Vandyke, in the Long Gallery.
On the death of her Lord, she was pregnant with her thirteenth
child ; having had six sons and seven daughters by him. " She
remained a widow (says Collins) one-and-thirty years, leaving a
very shining character for her constancy of mind, prudent con-
duct, unaffected piety, and love to her deceased Lord."
The tomb of the second Lord and Lady Spencer, in the north
chapel of Brington church, is the most splendid specimen of mo-
numental sculpture within those precincts. It was executed
under the superintendance of the celebrated statuary Nicholas
Stone, and intended as a memorial of the affection of the widow
for her deceased Lord. Lady Spencer was at the expense of
the monument ; and although the sum received by the artist
(600/.) was the largest sum received by him for any of his works,
yet (says Walpole) " neither of the figures are from his own
chisel ; but an artist, of the name of John Ilargrave, executed
the Baron for 14/., and another, of the name of Richard Wliite,
executed the Baroness for 15/."* The figures (says Mr. Baker)
" are placed recumbent on a low table or altar, raised upon a
large basement table, under a canopy supported by eight black
Corinthian pillars, with white capitals. The Baron is in ermined
robes of state, very tastefully disposed. He is bai'e-headed, with
curling hair, mustachios, and forked beard ; a large embroidered
frill is round his neck, and a long sword at his side. A veil en-
circles the crown of the Lady's head, and falls behind her shoul-
ders, concealing her hair in front, and displaying it in ringlets
at the sides. To a pearl necklace is attached a long pendant,
with corresponding ear-drops. Her mantle is lined with ermine,
* The tomb was finished in 1638; and Stone died in 1647. The same sta-
tuary also executed the monument of their relation, Spenser the poet, for
which the Countess of Dorset paid him 40/. Il'ulpole's Jnecdotes of Painters
in the reign of James I. vol. ii. p. 29-31. Works, vol. iii. p. 169. Two heads
of Nicholas Stone, medallion-wise, are prefixed to the account of his works.
xxvi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A.D. 1643
and on the rich border round the top, is a collar of S S. Her
vest, which has embroidered ruffles at the wi-ists, is slightly drawn
up under her arms, and flows in graceful folds to her feet." * In
point of execution, I have little or no hesitation in affirming, that
this is one of the most beautiful monuments, in every respect, of
the period of its completion.
I return to the personal history of the proprietors of Althorp ;
and at the mention of the third Loi'd Spencer, first Earl of
Sunderland, can hardly help exclaiming, in the language of his
great contemporary, jNIilton —
O Fairest Flower, no sooner blown but blasted.
Summer's chief honour.-f
The widely extended reputation of the Spencers, added to the
shining personal virtues of Henry — eldest son of the pair whom we
have just consigned to their splendid tomb — was deemed amply
sufficient by Charles to call up the family to the rank of an Earl-
DOiM. Henry was the first of that family to receive the title of the
Earl of Sunderland. His career was short, but glorious. Every
thing that belongs to him seems to bear the stamp of splendid
romance. His early and illustrious marriage with Dorothy Sidney,
daughter of the second Earl of Leicester — which was celebrated
midst the classic groves of Penshurst, J when the bride and bride-
* iSee History of the County of Northampton ; pt. i. p. 98. The Latin epi-
taph upon this Noble Couple (too lone; for insertion here) may be seen in the
work just referred to.
t Poems on several Occasions.
* These " classic groves," as well as the above f.mrest ornament of them,
have been immortalised by the muse of fFaUer. I select the commence-
ment only of his lines upon Penshurst, and add the whole of his eulogy upon
Sacharissa, or the first Countess of Sunderland.
At Pexs-hurst.
While in the Park I sing, the list'ning Doer,
.\tten(l my passion, and forget to fear.
AATien to the beeches I report my flame.
They bow their heads as if they felt the same.
&c &c &c.
Another.
Had Saciiariss.a. liv'd when mortals made
Choice of their deities, this sacred shade
1643.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxvii
groom had each scarcely attained their nineteenth year — the
beauty and celebrity of the bride : — the wamith and constancy of
their attachment : — the close attendance of Lord Spencer in
Parliament, on his coming of age :— the part which he chose in
the unhappy times wherein his lot was cast : — his first bias to-
wards the popular side, and his subsequent and unalterable
attachment to his Sovereign to whose cause his heart, hands,
and property, were devoted without limit or restraint . . . his zeal,
his courage, his generosity as a soldier — and above all, his death
(which, says Burke, " canonises and sanctifies a character") at
the fatal battle of Newbury, when the deceased was only twenty-
Had held an altar to her power, that gave
The peace and glory whicli these alleys liave :
Embroider'd so with flowers she had stood.
That it became a garden of a wood.
Her presence has such more than human grace.
That it can civilize the rudest place :
And beauty too, and order can impart,
\\'here nature ne'er intended it, nor art.
The plants acknowledge this, and her admire.
No less than those of old did Orpheus' lyre.
If she sit down, with tops all tow'rds her bow'd.
They round about her into arliours crowd ;
Or if she walk, in even ranks they stand.
Like some weU-marshall'd and obsequious band.
Amphion so made stones and timber leap
Into fair figures, from a confus'd heap :
And in the symmetry of lier parts is found
A power like that of harmony in sound.
Ye lofty beeches, tell this matchless dame,
That if together ye fed all one flame.
It could not equalize the hundredth part
Of what her eyes have kindled in my heart !
Go, boy, and carve this passion on the bark
Of yonder tree, which stands tlie sacred mark
Of noble Sidney's birth ; when such benign.
Such more than mortal-making stars did shine ;
That there they caimot but for e\er prove
The monument and pledge of humble love :
His humble love, whose hope shall ne'er rise higher
Than for a pardon that he dares admire.
IFallet's Poems, 1/11. 8vo. p. 95-98.
xxviii ACCOUNT OF ALTHOKP. [A. D. 1643
three years of age — these, and very much more, of which there
is no room for the insertion, have thrown a halo of glory round
the head of the first Earl of Sunderland. Accordingly the
reader will be pleased to complete this rough, rather than faith-
less sketch, of so high a character, by perusing the fruitful pages
of Lloyd, Clarendon, and Sidney, from which Collins (the greater
part of whose account has furnished Mr. Lodge wth his own
admirable epitome of Sunderland's Life — )* has gleaned the ma-
terials for his Peerage of England of this period. It is only
necessary to add, that the body of this incomparable young noble-
man was carried to Brington church, and entombed among those
of his ancestors.
The first Lord Sunderland received his tuition under the
guardianship of the Earl of Southamjiton, the well-known patron
of Shakspeare ; and it is more than possible that a selected copy
of that poet's entire works, first pubhshed in 1623, might have
graced the book-shelves at Althorp, at the period of which we
are speaking; especially as this gallant young nobleman was
much addicted to literary pursuits, even at college, in his early
youth. His widow, the Sacharissa of Waller, has been cele-
brated for her worth as well as her personal charms.-f' She
* Portraits of Illustrious Characters. The portrait of the Earl in question,
here published, was taken from the original in the Gallery at Althorp. But
the present Lord .Spencer had first caused a private plate to be engraved, by
Bouquet, with which he has been pleased to allow me to enrich the pages of
this work. The opposite plate wiU not therefore fail to be among the most
interesting in the volume. There is an old copy of the head and shoulders
only, whith used to be in the Gallery at Althorp.
f " This truly amiable lady, who affected retirement, and was never vain of
that beauty which has rendered her fame immortal, was celebrated by Waller
under the name of Sacharissa. AVTien she was far advanced in years, and had
outlived every personal charm which had inspired the poet in his youth, she
asked him in raillery, " \Mien he would \mte such fine verses upon her
again?" "Oh, madam, (said he) when your ladyship is as young again."
Granger; vol. ii. p. 383. Edit. 1804. It is well observed, in the note here,
that the repartee would have been better, if Waller had said, " AMien we are
both young again." Feuton, in his Observations upon Waller, speaking of the
name of Sacharissa, says, that it " recalU to mind what is related of the Turks,
who, in their gallantries, think sucar birpara, i. e. bit of sugar, the most polite
and endearing compliment they can use to the ladies." Ibid. Waller's letter
FIiaST ]EA3E]L ®F STOTHBIEmiLAHB.
Tram an Original Portrait in the Gallerv st Althor!; .
London. rutUshfd for the Jler TFDii'/i.'
1643.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxix
survived her husband about forty years, and became a second
time a widow, having married, in 1653, Robert Smythe, Esq. of
Bounds, in the parish of Bidborough, in Kent, son and heir of
" To my ha.dy Luct/ Sydney, upon the marriage of my Lady Dorothy, her
sister, to my Lord Spencer"— "will without doubt (says the Editor of the
best edition of Waller's poems in 1711, 8vo.) be an entertainment to the
Publick, the writer and the occasion being both very extraordinary." The
letter in question runs thus :
" Madam; In this common joy at Penshurst, I know none to whom com-
plaints may come less unseasonable than to your Ladyship, the loss of a
bedfellow being almost equal to that of a mistress ; and therefore you ought
at least to pardon, if you consent not to the imprecations of the deserted,
which just heaven no doubt will hear. May my Lady Dorothy, if we may
yet call her so, suffer as much, and have the like passion for this young Lord,
wliom she has preferred to the rest of mankind, as others have had for her ;
and may tliis love, before the year go about, make her taste of the first curse
imposed on womankind ; the pains of becoming a mother. May her first-born
be none of her own sex, nor so like her, but that he may resemble her Lord as
much as herself. May she that always affected silence, and retiredness, have
the house filled with the noise and number of her children, and hereafter of
her grand-children ; and then may she arrive at that great curse so much de-
clin'd by fair ladies, old age ; may she live to be very old, and yet seem
yomig ; be told so by her glass, and have no aches to inform her of the truth j
and when she shall appear to be mortal, may her Lord not mourn for her, but
go hand in hand with lier to that place, where we are told there is neither
marrying nor giving in marriage ; that, being there divorced, we may all have
an equal interest in her again. My revenge being immortal, I wish all this
may also befall their posterity to the world's end, and afterwards.
" To you, Madam, I wish all good things, and that this loss may in good
time be happily supplied, &c. Madam, I humbly kiss your hands, and beg
pardon for this trouble, from your Ladyship's most humble servant, E. Wal-
ler." p. XV.
The finest print of the first Countess of Sunderland is that by Lom-
bart, from the well-known picture of Vandyke. It represents her pointing to
some withered branches of a tree, in a vase, being probably an allegorical allu-
sion to the death of her lord ; and is full of sweetness and lady-like expression.
Waller, who had also an original portrait of her, at his house near Beaconsfield,
has honoiu-ed it by the following verses :
On my Lady Dorothy Sidney's Picture.
Such was Philoclea, such Musidorus' flame ;
The matchless Sidney, that immortal frame
Of perfect beauty, on two pillars plae'd :
Not his high fancy could one pattern grac'd
XXX ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A.D. 1647
Sir Thomas Smythe ; and had by him Robert Smythe, governor
of Dover Castle in the reign of Charles II. She was buried in
the same tomb with her first husband, in 1683-4. Her second
match appears to have been rather from necessity than choice.
" When she had the hard fortune to lose her beloved Lord, she
entertained no thoughts of marriage for a considerable time,
living retired ; a rare example of all Christian virtue ; her house
(as Lloyd observes) being a sanctuary to the loyal sutierers, and
learned clergymen — 'till finding the heavy load of house-keeping
too troublesome, she thereupon went to her father at Penshurst,
and with his consent took to her second husband," &c. Collins ;
vol. i. p. 4-06.
It was duiing the infancy of the second Earl of Sunderland,
namely, in June, 1647, that Althorp was doomed to be the spot
in which the unfortunate Charles I. received the first intelli-
gence of the approach of those pursuers, from whose hands he
never escaped until his life had been laid down upon the scaf-
fold. Thus this place, which had been graced with the festivi-
ties given in honour of the visit of the Queen-mother (see p. xiii.
ante,) was doomed to be the scene from which the Royal Son
was hurried to a premature grave. Charles arrived at Holdenbij,
the then residence of his son the Duke of York (and which had
been purchased for himself by his mother, Queen Anne, when
With such extremes of excellence, compose.
Wonders so distant in one face disclose :
Such cheerful modesty, such humble state,
IMoves certain love, but with a doul)tful fate.
As when, beyond our p-eedy reach, we see
Inviting fruit on too sublime a tree.
All the rich flowers through his Arcadia found,
Amaz'd we sec in this one garland bound.
Had but this copy, which the artist took
From the fair picture of that noble book,
Stood at Kalander's, the brave friends had jarr'd ;
And, rivals made, th' ensuing story raarr'd.
Just nature, first instructed by this thought.
In his own house thus practis'd what he taught :
This glorious piece transcends what he could think,
.So much his blootl is nobler than his ink.
16t7.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxxi
he was Duke of York) in the latter end of May, 1647, in com-
pany with the Parhamentary Commissioners. This occurred
upon his return from the north, after he had been regally enter-
tained at Nottingham and Leicester. " Being arrived at Holmby,
(says Herbert) very many country gentlemen, gentlewomen, and
others of ordinary rank, stood ready there, to welcome the King,
with joyful countenances and prayers." Memoirs ,• reprinted in
1813. 8vo. p. 15.
I have already observed that the boundaries of the Holdenby
and Althorp estates were only divided by the high road ; and that
the mansions, as they now exist, are about two miles apart. " The
King," (continues Herbert) " every Sunday sequestered himself
to his private devotions, and all other days in the week spent two
or three hours in reading, and other pious exercises : at other
times, for recreation, would, after meals, play a game at chess,
and for health's sake, walk oft in the garden at Holmby, with
one or other of the Commissioners. And in regard there was
no bowling green then well kept at Holmbj-, the King would
sometimes ride to Hanowden, a house of the Lord J'aiix's, about
nine miles off, where there was a good bowling green, with
gardens, groves, and walks, that afforded much pleasure. And
other whiles to Althorpe, a fair house, about two or three miles
from Holmby, belonging to the Lord Spencer, now Earl of Sun-
derland, where also there was a green well kept." . . . . " His
Majesty being one afternoon at Bowles in the green at Althorpe,
it was whispered amongst the Commissioners, who were then at
bowls with the King, that a party of horse, obscurely headed,
was marching towards Holmby ; and for no good it was pre-
sumed, in regard neither the Commissioners nor Colonel Graves,
who kept the guard at Holmby and was an officer in the army,
nor the Commissioner's sei-vants, had the least notice of it from
any officer, or other correspondent in the army. ^Miereupon
the King, so soon as he was aquainted with it, immediately left
the Green, and returned to Holmby," &c. It is well known that
this marauding party was headed by " Joyce, a Cornet in Colo-
nel ^Mialey's regiment, and his business was to speak with the
King." " From whom ? " said they ; " From myself," said he : at
which they laughed. " It's no laughing matter," said Joyce.
xxxii ACCOUNT OF ALTHOKP. [A. D. 1664
p. 17-25-27. The sequel but too strikingly proved that it was
any f king hut a " laughing matter." The conduct of Joyce was
brutal and insolent to his royal master.* From Ilolmby, Charles
was conducted to Hampton Court and Carisbrook Castle, and
from Carisbrook Castle back again to WTiitehall. The issue is
but too well known. I return to the inmates of Althorp.
The date of the bii"th of Robert, second Earl of Sunder-
land, is unknown ; but this nobleman was chosen Ambassador to
Madrid and Paris in 1671, and 1674; when he had probably not
* Yet Lord Clarendon says, that " Joyce, saving the bluntness and positive-
ness of the few words he spoke, behaved himself not rudely." His/, of the
Rebellion, vol. iii. pt. i. p. 82. Edit. Oxford, 1819, 8vo. With the greatest defer-
ence to this illustrious authority, I suspect that the materials, upon which he
has grounded his account of the above transaction, are not quite so correct
as tliose wliich appear in AMiitlocke and Herbert ; upon the former of which,
exclusively, Hume relies. But Herbert was in attendance upon the King.
Joyce first made a violent and ineffectual attempt to speak to Charles, by
coming in the night time with " a cockt pistol in his hand." His Majesty was
asleep ; but " the noise was so loud as it seems awakened his Majesty, for he
rung his silver bell, &c." Charles sent word that he would not see Joyce till
the morning : " which being told the Comet, he huff'd ; but seeing his design
could not be effected in the night, he retired," &c. The next morning Joyce re-
newed his attempt to get the Commissioners returned back to the Parliament,
and Charles to be removed. " By whose appointment ?" said the King. As
to that, the Cornet had no answer. The King then said, " by yoiu- favour. Sir,
let them have their liberty, and give me a sight of your instructions." " That
(.said Joyce) " you shall see presently ; and forthwith drawing up his troop
into the inner court, as near as he coidd unto the King, " these. Sir," (said he)
are my instructions." The King took a good view of them, and finding them
proper men, and well mounted and armed, smUingly told the cornet, " his in-
structions were in fair characters, legible, without spelling." Memoirs, p. 31.
This reminds us, upon a smaller scale, of the masterly stroke of policy re-
corded of Cardinal Ximenes — in enforcing ultra political reasons. — See Ro-
bertson's Charles V. vol. v. p. 43, 8vo. Lord Clarendon says that " Joyce only
shewed his Majesty his pistol," upon replying to the question of authority on
which he acted. This would, if possible, have been more insulting, and less
imposing and efficacious. Herbert's account is full and minute — and seems to
justify the above epithets of " brutal and insolent." The whole measure of the
surprisal originated with Cromwell, and the Commissioners shewed the virtues
of" passive obedience," to a miracle. I cannot help entertaining a suspicion
that there was a second, or intermediate plan, between the Commissioners and
Joyce, to surprise Charles at Althorp.
-16(jy.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxxiii
long turned his thirtieth year. It was at this period that Althorp
began to be adorned and enriched by those paintings obtained
chiefly from the continental travels of its noble proprietor. It
is thus that the place is spoken of in 1669, by Count Lorenzo
Magalotti, who travelled with the Grand Duke Cosmo III. in that
same year :
" After taking a view of Honby, we entered into a park, sepa-
rated by palisades from the adjacent territory, belonging to the
Villa of Althorp, a seat of my Lord Robert Spencer, Earl of
Sunderland, who had given his Highness repeated and pressing
invitations to visit hhn there. Before he reached the villa, his
Highness was received and escorted by the said Earl, who was
anxiously expecting his arrival. Immediately on alighting, he
went to see the apartments on the ground floor, from which he
ascended to the upper rooms, and found both the one and the
other richly furnished. His Highness paid his compliments to
my Lady, the wife of the master of the house, and daughter of
my Lord George Digbij, Earl of Bristol, by whom the Earl
had three children, one son and two daughters ; and when he
had spent some time in this visit, the hour of dinner arrived,
which was splendid, and served in the best possible style. At
table, his Highness sat in the place of honour, in an arm-chair,
he having previously desired that my Lady, the wife of the Earl,
might be seated in a sunilar one ; the Earl also was obliged by
his Highness to take his place close to him, the gentlemen of his
retinue sitting separately upon stools. \Vlien dinner was over,
his Highness was conducted through the other apartments of the
mansion, all of which were sumptuously furnished ; and having
observed the manner in which one apartment communicated with
another, he went down into the garden, in which, except some
ingenious divisions, parterres, and well arranged rows of trees,
there is little to be seen that is rare or curious ; as it is not laid
out and diversified with those shady walks, canopied with ver-
dure, which add to the pleasantness of the gardens of Italy and
France, but of which the nature and usuage of this country
would not admit.
" This villa is built at the bottom of a valley, sun-ounded by
beautiful hills, clothed with trees. To get into the court (which
xxxiv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1669
is situated betwixt two large branches of the building that bound
two of its sides wliich correspond with each other as to their
shape and style of architecture, and have betwixt them the
principal part of the house which is in front) we ascend a bridge
of stone, under which is to run the water, which will collect in
great abundance from the springs that issue from the surround-
ing hills. The whole of the edifice is regularly built, both as to
its exterior and interior, and is richly ornamented with a stone of
white colour, worked in the most exquisite manner, which is dug
from a quarry at Weldon, fourteen miles distant. If they could
take off a certain natural roughness from this stone, and give it a
polish, it would not be inferior to marble. The ascent from the
ground floor to the noble story above, is by a spacious staircase
of the wood of the walnut tree, stained, constructed with great
magnificence ; this staircase, dividing itself into two equal
branches, leads to the grand saloon, from which is the passage
into the chambers, all of them regularly disposed after the Italian
manner, to which country the Earl was indebted for a model of
the design, and it may be said to be the best planned, and best
arranged country seat in the kingdom ; for though there may be
many which surpass it in size, none are superior to it in symme-
trical elegance." Travels of Cosmo III. Grand Duke of Tits-
cany, through England, in 1669.; p. 248-250. edit. 1821.
About five years afterwards, Althorp was first visited by the
famous John Evelyn, whose description of it may be not less
interesting than the preceding : — " I went to see my Lord Sun-
derland's seat at Althoi-j5, four miles from the ragged towne of
Northampton (since burned, and well rebuilt.) Tis placed in a
pretty open bottome, very finely watred and flanqued with
stately woods and groves in a parke, with a canall, but the water
is not running, which is a defect. The house [is] a kind of
modern building, of fi-ee-stone ; within, most nobly furnished.
The apartments very commodious, a gallerie and noble hall,
but the kitchen being in the body of the house, and a cha-
pell too small, were defects.* There is an old, yet honorable
gate house, standing awry, and outhousing meane, but design'd
* These are seen, to the left dfthe house, in the view in Cosmo's Travels.
— 1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxxv
to be taken away. It was moated round after the old manner,
but it is now dry, and turfed with a beautiful carpet. Above all,
are admirable and magnificent, the severall ample gardens fur-
nished with the choicest fruite, and exquisitely kept. Create
plenty of oranges and other curiosities. The parke full of fowle,
especially hemes ; and from it a prospect to Holmby House,
which being demolished in the late civil warrs, shews like a
Roman ruine, shaded by the trees about it, a stately, solemn,
and pleasing view." Evelyns Memoirs, vol. i. 478.
From that period, till the death of Lord Sunderland in 1702,
Evelyn continued a constant visitor, and was a most welcome
guest, at Althorp. The intimacy between him and its noble pro-
prietors was of the most unreserved and confidential kind ; and
both the Countess of Sunderland and the Countess of Bristol*
her mother, relied upon his judgment, and were influenced by
his advice, upon all matters of importance. In the year 1688,
Evelyn thus describes his visit to Althoi-p — which proves that no
small pains were taken to make his journey thither in every
respect comfortable :
* Lady Bristol was the wife of the famous Earl of Bristol (of whom, hi the
ensuing pages) and sister of the imfortunate Lord Russell. She was, there-
fore, aunt to William, first Duke of Bedford, As a confirmation of the intimacy
between her and Evelyn, I present the reader with a transcript of an original
letter from her in the possession of Mr. Upcott — unimportant in itself, but
confirmative of the familiar manner in which they treated each other:
"Monday Night, 20th Jan. 1689-90.
Mr. Evelixg, — I send this to thanke you for y"' favour you did me this
morning, and hope you gott noe Cold, if it may not be prcjudiciall to your
healthe w*^*" 1 preferr before any thing in y*^ world, and if yo'': occasions will
pmit, I should be very glad, you could be at y'' House of Comons dore too
morrow, y' you may vnderstand w' is done in y Act of Inderanitye, for since I
saw vou, 1 am told there will be a great debate vpon it, and as you come fr(7
thence, be pleased to eate a bitt of mutton w"" me and y'': good friend Mr. Bris-
cawen, you will be extreamlye welcome and give great satisfaction to me, to
vnderstand w' is past. I \vill stay till two of the clock to receive y' satisfaction,
belcive this truth that I am w"' a most sincere heart,
yo'': most faithful and
affectionate freind to comand.
No. 69 A. Bristoll.
xxxvi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 166!)
" I went to Althorp, in Northamptonshire, 70 miles. A coach
and four horses took up me and my sonn at Wliite Hall, and
carried us to Dimstable, where we arrived and dined at noone ;
and from thence another coach and six horses carried us to
Althorp, four miles beyond Northampton, where we aiTived by
seven o'clock that evening. Both these coaches were hired for
me by that noble Countesse of Sunderland who invited me to her
house at Althorp, where she entertained me and my sonn with
extiaordinary kindness." Memoirs, vol. i. p. 651.
At the end of the year 1693, a shock of an earthquake was
felt at Althorp. " The 8th of this month " (October) says
Evelyn, " Lord Spencer wrote me word from Althorp, that
there happened an earthquake the day before, in the morning,
which though short, sensibly shook the house. The Gazette
acquainted us that the like happened at the same time, half-past
7 at Barnstaple, Holyhead, and Dubhn. We were not sensible
of it here."
Thus much respecting the House : a word now respecting its
noble Owners. The character of Robert, Second Earl of Sun-
derland, is too well known in the annals of political history to
render an elaborate account of it necessary in the present place.
I believe that his heartlessness and apostasies were too glaring
even for the ingenuity of an Apologist: and, accordingly, he
seems to be
danmed to everlasting fame
by the abuse of those talents, which, great by natui'e, and im-
proved by education,* and constant intercourse with the most
• Dryden dedicated his Troilus am! Cressida to this same nohleman ; whom
the recent editor, (Sir Walter Scott) of that Poet's works, designates as " being
a Tory under the reign of Charles, a Papist in that of his successor, and a
^^^lig in that of William, and a favourite minister of all these monarchs. He
was a man (continues the Editor) of eminent abilities ; and oitf Author shews
a high opinion of his taste, by abstaining from gross flattery which was then the
fasliionable style of dedication." It is, perhaps, difficiUt to say what was consi-
dered as " gross flattery " in the time of Charles II. : but Dryden does not
scruple to obser\-e that " he would say without flattery, he (Lord Sunderland)
had all the depth of understanding that was requisite in an able statesman, and
all that honesty which commonly is wanting ; that he was brave without vanity,
and knowing \vithout positiveness ; that he was loyal to his prince, and a lover
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxxvii
illustrious characters of the day, might have been directed to the
noblest of pui-poses. A Tory under Charles, a suspected Papist
under James, and a professed WTiig under William — distrasted
and hated, in turn, by Tory, Papist, and ^Miig — he seemed to
be, Uke the Zimri of Dryden,
every thing by starts, and nothing long.
His wealth, and the gieat respectability of his ancestors, added
to his naturally brilhant parts, smoothed his way to the highest
places in power ; and he might have long held the reins of go-
vernment in his hands as a popular and powerful Premier. But
his example proves the indelible disgrace attendant upon a
career commenced in duplicity, and terminated by an utter dis-
regard of all honourable engagements. There have been few
greater political si/Diers than the second Earl of Sunderland ; who
required a more than usual share of domestic %-irtues to redeem
the profligacy of his public hfe.* In 1687, Lord Sunderland
of his country ; that his principles were full of moderation, and aU his counsels
such as tended to heal, and not to ^viden, the breaches of the nation ; that in all
his conversation there appeared a native candour, and a desire of doing good in
all his actions." A little onward, we read thus. " Will your Lordship give
me leave to speak out at last? and to acquaint the world, that from your
encouragement and patronage, we may one day expect to speak and write a
language, worthy of the English wit, and which foreigners may not disdain to
learn ? Your birth, your education, yoiu- natural endowments, the former
employments which you have had abroad, and that which, to the joy of good
men, you now e.'jercise at home, seem all to conspire to this design : the genius
of the nation seems to call you out, as it were byname, to polish and adorn your
native language, and to take from it the reproach of its barbarity." Dryden's
fForku, vol vi. p. 233, 236: edit. 1821. As the Earl of .Sunderland was a
Tory, when Dryden published his Absalom and Ach'itopliel , two years after the
publication of the Troilus and Cressida, he of course escaped being introduced
into that strongly satirical poem ; but if Dryden had published something of
the kind in the reign of William III. after Sunderland had been a Tory, Papist,
and ^^^lig, it is difficult to conceive how he would have escaped the severest
castigation of the poet.
* The reader may consult the pages of Sir JFiUinm Temple, Burnet, and
Collins ; and, latterly, the brief but masterly summary of Lord Sunderland's
character by Mr. Lodge — attached to Portraits of Illustrious Characters. A
few words only need be submitted in this place. " Burnet," says Mr. Lodge,
" is the only wTiter who has endeavoured to find excuses for the frightful faults
xxxviii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. lOGf)
was made a Knight of the Garter, by James ; and, in return for
that Monarch's mark of distinction, he strove to bring about
those measures which compelled him to abdicate his throne, and
which brought about the Revolution of IfiSS.
The latter years of the reign of William witnessed the last
struggles and the final dismission of Lord Sunderland ; not,
however, before the mansion of Althorp had been hghted up by
the sunshine of another royal visit. In the year lG9o William
spent not less than a week at Althoi-p.* He came there direct
from Newmarket ; and during his stay (says Sir. Baker) " an
immense concourse of the nobility, gentry, and principal inhabi-
tants of the county, resorted to pay their respects to him."
Evelyn says, " he was mightily entertained at Althorp." Me-
moirs, vol. ii. p. 50.-f- In the year 1697, William was compelled,
reluctantly, to dismiss his favourite minister ; and there is good
reason to think, that the solitude of Althorp (which, in the vir-
tuous minds of his ancestors, produced other and better fruits)
begat those reflections which probably hastened his dissolution.}:
of this Nobleman's conduct." Yet Buniet allows that " Lord .Sunderland
changed sides after, with little regard either to religion or the interest of his
country. He had, indeed, (continues Burnet) the superior genius to all the
men of Inislness that I have yet known." Hist, of his 0>rn Times, vol. i. .S54.
James II. (in the Memoirs of his oicn Life published by Macphersoti) called him
" the most mercenary man in the world" — having not only a pension from the
Prince of Orange, but one also from the King of France. His conduct to the
Duke of Monmouth was a masterpiece of the most detestable and complex
treachery. And in regard to James himself, it is certain that he secretly agi-
tated and matured those measures, which led to that monarch's abdication :
although he must not be supposed to be a sharer in the " glory" of the Revo-
lution of 1CS8.
* Baker ; p. 111. Lord Spencer informs me that he remembers an old
woman, living upon the premises, and belonging to the establishment, who
told him that she had a perfect recollection of this visit — and especially of the
body guard of King William, being drawn up in the square, before the house,
with drawn swords.
t In the same breath, almost, he adds : — " I din'd at Lord Sunderland's, now
the greate favourite and underhand politician, but not adventuring on any cha-
racter, being obnoxious to the people for having twice changed his religion."
Ibid.
X It was diunng his last retreat at Althorp, that Lady Sunderland wrote thus
to Evelyn — in reply to a letter from him respecting an application to the King,
— 1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xxxix
From the recent publication of the Correspondence of Charlex
Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury * by that distinguished historian and
biographer the Rev. Mr. Archdeacon Coxe, we are enabled to
ascertain some few further particulars of the close of Lord Sun-
derland's political life. Never was there a more powerful instance
of " the ruling passion strong in death" than that which is
afforded by the latter daj-s of the nobleman in question. The
Earl of Sunderland panted to the very last for place and power ;
and whatever might have been his confessions to his ^vife, or the
philosophical turn of resignation given to his privacy and retire-
ment, yet it now appears, that, as late as the year 1700, he came
up again to town, with strongly renewed hopes of admission into
the ministry: — notwithstanding he had told his most confidential
friend, Mr. Vernon,-}" more than tivo years before — on the eve of
in favour of a friend, to obtain a medical professorship at Oxford. The letter
is dated froin Jlthorp, Sept. 31, 1698 : " To this matter you desire, I cant see
any way proper for me or my Lord to medle in it, he is now setled in this place
out of all businfg, nether wTites to y* king nor medls with any thing. So y" it
woidd be very improper for him to apear in this request." Yet they were then
gay at .\Ithorp. She says " she has had so much company, she has scarce had
time to «Tyte .'3 lines. She concludes by beseeching him to " pray for her as
he had often promised."
• Private and Original Correspondence of Charles Talbot, Duke of Shreirs-
bury, irith King fFilliam, the Leaders of the IPliig party, and other distinguished
Statesmen, Sfc. London, 1821. 4to.
+ This letter, with its introductory prefix, is well worth submitting to the
reader's particular attention. " The extraordinary incident, which the principal
actor thus briefly imparts, is detailed, with all its concomitant circumstances,
in a letter from Mr. Vernon to the Duke of S., dated Dec. 27th, Jan. 6th,
1697-8.
" I make the more haste to acknowledge the honour of your grace's letter of
the 25th, because I would not delay acquainting you, that my Lord Sunderland
woidd not stay to be addressed from court, and, therefore, last night, he deli-
vered up his key and staff. He was w\th the King about a quarter of an hour
before the cabinet sat, and when he came out of the closet, he took me do%vn
to his lodgings, and said, he had pressed the King he might resign, not being
able to bear any longer the life he had led. That the King did not think fit he
should leave his key there, but gave him leave to put it in my hands, which he
accordingly did, cutting it off from his side.
" When 1 came up stairs again, 1 found those were not the directions,
but what he would absolutely do ; for the King would not liave the key thus
VOL. I. d
xl ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1G69.
his departxire for Althorp — that " there was no rack like to
WHAT HE SUFFERED !" — a frightful picture of the fruits of insince-
rity and apostasy.
The year following the preceding declaration to his friend,
Lord Sunderland wrote to the minister, the Duke of Shrews-
bury — between whom and his correspondent a strong personal
intimacy seems to have subsisted — that " at Althorp and at Ken-
sington, he should always be of the same mind." Correspondence,
&c. p. 527. And in the following month, he comforted himself
with this avowal to the same noble correspondent : " I can say,
with exact truth, for five or six years, that I have had the honour
to be near the King, I have assisted the party I joined with, and
every individual man of the party, according to my dealing with
them, to the best of my understanding ; but if nineteen things
are done, and the twentieth remains undone, though it is impos-
sible, you know how it is ; and yet my politics are not changed,
nor shall they, no more than the sincerity with which I am, and
will for ever be," &c. p. 535.
In the month of June ensuing. Lord Sunderland writes again
to the Duke, and says, that he " intends going to Althorp next
delivered, much less through my hands, and when the cabinet was up, I was
sent to him to Erles Court [the seat of his friend Mr. Guy], to desire he would
take his key again, but he would not endure to hear of it. I begged only he
would suspend his resolution 'till next day, that he had spoke to my Lord Chan-
cellor, who had not then been then present at council, acquainting him, that
the King had told it to my Lord Orford, who very much disapproved of what
he had done. He was unalterably fixed to hear no more of it, and never to
meddle with that, or any other public employment. I put him in mind that
he would give contrary advices, to those who were as imeasy in their employ-
ments, as he might be ; and since he did it in consideration of the King's ser-
vice, whether the same considerations ought not to prevail on him when the
King found himself in such distress, by being forsaken of those, whom he
placed the greatest confidence in, and I hope whatsoever disgusted him might
be made easier. He said it was not on account of the Parliament only, that he
came to this resolution ; for he had otherwise led the life of a dog, having done
all that was in his power for the service of a party, whom he could never oblige
to live easily with him, or to treat him with common civility. He came out
with one expression, which I shall never mention, but to your grace — that
there was no rack like to what he suffered, by being ground as he had
been, between Lord Monmouth and Lord Wharton," p. 510, &c.
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xli
week, and designs to be there all winter, and never more to
trouble himself, or any 'body else, with public business " — and
from the sequel, he seems to have solaced himself with carrying
thither the kind remembrances of his friends, and the approba-
tion of his sovereign. That William adhered to him to the very
last, is most certain ; and that the Duke of Shrewsbury visited
Althorp in 1699, with the hope of getting hun again into the
cabinet, seems also certain — from the pages (586, &c.) of the
work last referred to. He however came up to to-mi, under the
alleged excuse of marrying his son to the Duke of Marlborough's
second daughter ; with an intimation, on the part of the Duke,
then Lord Marlborough, that " the King had said to him [the
Duke] that he thought it would be proper for him to come to
London." \Miereupon he " prays the Duke to assure His Ma-
jesty that he should always obey his commands" — p. 592: and
this, with the view of tlie rack before him . . . upon which he had
suflPered such tortures !
It seems certain (from this publication) that the famous Lord
Somers, then Chancellor, had long looked upon Sunderland with
a suspicious eye : but even the removal of that great man from
power, could not facilitate measures which were likely to lead to
the reinstatement of Sunderland. One more querulous and Je-
suitical letter was written by Sunderland, to the Duke of Shrews-
bury — dated Althorp, Nov. 1699 — and another from the same to
the same, dated London, Feb. 1700; but, says Mr. Coxe, "Sun-
derland was too much disliked and suspected by the Whigs, to
gain their attention to any proposal, of which he was the author."
p. 614. Yet the King " again recurred to Sunderland, and
earnestly required his presence at court. But the veteran states-
man (says Mr. Coxe) was now himself discouraged from all far-
ther interference ; and to avoid the blame of having recommended
such measures, as his royal master was disposed to adopt, he
positively declined to obey the order, though several times re-
peated, and finally by a letter in the King's own hand. This
conduct (continues the same writer) is a sh'ong proof of his good
faith in the preceding transactions, and evinces the sincerity of
his declaration, that if he could not conciliate the Whigs, he
woidd, at least, suffer with them," p. 625. Lord Sunderland
xlii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1(jG9
needed some salvo, however trifling, in the multipHcity of enor-
mities of which his political life was made up. He died at Al-
thorp two years after this fruitless negotiation, in 1702.
Upon the character of the second Earl of Sunderland, there
seems to be but one opinion. It remains to notice that of his con-
sort, Anne ; daughter, and afterwards heiress, of George Digbij,
second and last Earl of Bristol, (of that family) and Knight of the
Garter, who married the sister of the unfortunate Lord Russell.
Anne, second Countess of Sunderland, " was a lady (says Collins)
distinguished for her refined sense, subtle wit, admirable address,
and every shining quality." This opinion, however, may he con-
sidei'ed a little too unqualified ; or at least open to some animad-
version. My object, therefore, shall be to examine the premises
upon which a fair and impartial conclusion may be drawn re-
specting the character of this celebrated Lady. Luckily, some of
the most interesting and authentic anecdotes, relating to her,
have been preserved by Evelyn ; and I have had access to other
sources yet more interesting, and fully as authentic — namely, to
upwards of fourscore original letters,* written in the hand-
writing of the Countess, to Evelyn himself.
From the high circles in which she moved — arising as much
from the important situations filled by her husband, as from her
own hereditary rank — from the peculiar spirit of intrigue, slander,
and obloquy, as well as from the general prevalence of talent,
wit, and gallantry of the age in which she lived — the second
Countess of Sunderland has been described in language of a
very opposite character, according as her conduct was viewed by
rivals, by friends, or by dej)endants. By the former,t she has
* In the possession of Mr. Upcott, of the London Institution, who has trea-
snres of this kind of a very peculiar and vahiablc character. His ready com-
pliance ivith my recpiest, in the hian of this, and of other similar volumes,
demands my public acknowledgments and thanks.
t In a recent publication, entitled Some Account of the Life of Rachel fFrio-
theslei/ Ludy Russell, ^-c. 1820, 8vo. the Editor has supplied a note, in which
is the foUomng character of Lady Sunderland, by the Princess Anne of Den-
mark, to her sister, the Princess of Orange, a few months before the Revolu-
tion — taken from Dalrymple's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 298.
" His lady, too, (i. e. Lady Sunderland) is as extraordinary in her kind, for
she is a flattering, dissembling, false woman ; but she has so famiing and
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xliii
been accused of falsehood and hypocrisy. But accusations from
rivals are always to be received with caution ; and the political
annals of the latter half of the seventeenth century were so
much, if not entirely, governed by female influence and intrigue,
that it is entirely difficult, at this distant period, to come to a
satisfactory conclusion respecting them. Above all, do such ac-
cusations bear a very suspicious character, when they appear to
arise almost entirely from the bitterness of party spirit. That
the Countess of Sunderland was faithless to her husband (as the
preceding note intimates) appears to be wholly and grossly false.
That she was insincere in her devotions, by attending more to
the form than to the spirit of public worship, is, at any rate, a gra-
tuitous assertion on the part of her accuser — and is only one of
the many frequently-recurring instances of drawing general con-
clusions from particular circumstances. That she w ent hand in
endearing a way, that she mil deceive any body at lirbt, and it is not possible
to find out all her ways in a little time. Then she has had her gallants, though
may be not so many as some ladies here : and with all these good qualities,
she is a constant churchwoman ; so that to outward appearance, one would
take her for a saint, and to hear her talk, would think she was a very good Pro-
testant; but she is as much one as the other: for it is certain that her Lord
does nothing without her." March 13, 1688. - she goes to St. Martin's
morning and afternoon (because there are not people enough to see her in
^^'hitehalI chapel,) and is half an hour before other people come, and half an
hour after every body is gone, at her private devotions. She runs trom church
to church after the most famous preachers, and keeps such a clatter with her
devotions, that it really turns one's stomach. Siu-e never was a couple so well
matched as she and her good husband ; for as she is throughout, in all her ac-
tions, the greatest jade that ever was, so he is the subtillest, workingnest villain,
that is on the face of the earth." March 20, 1688, p. 100. Evelyn, however, is
referred to for frequent and more honourable mention of Lady Sunderland.
In the preceding letter, the Princess Anne pretty roundly calls the Earl of
Godolphin, " by all outward appearance, a great knave !" — and in the letter,
above quoted, she thus says of Lady Sunderland : " She cares not at what rate
she lives, but never pays any body. She will cheat, though it be for a little."
The recent Editor of Lady Russell's letters has (accidentally, I presume)
omitted this passage. See also Lady Rachel Russell's letters to Lady Sun-
derland, in the Letters of the former, published by Sir J. Dalrymple, 17/3,
4to. p. 155-187. If Lady Sunderland was insincere, Lady Russell must of
necessity l)e equally insincere — for her language to her correspondent is the
language of admiration and atTection.
xliv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. IGttD
Iiand with her husband hi all his acts of duplicity and baseness,
may be directly denied. Her own confessions of his errors, of
his misery, and penitence ; her hopes and prayers for his amend-
ment* — when writing to her most intimate friend and counsellor,
• Even when he was made Secretary of State, in 1678-9, she writes thus to
EveljTi : " I pray God direct my Lord, and prosper liim to y" good of his
contrey and to God's glory. Pray for him and niec, and loue race I beg of you,
for I am sincerely your freind, &c be so charitable as to furnish mee w""
some prayer particular to this occasion." She says at the beginning of her
letter, " I canot thinke it (the honor of being made S' of State) worth y" re-
joicing much at as times now arc." About ten years afterw'ards, she thus
addresses the same friend with considerable agony of feeling, at the end of a
short but very religious letter — October ii. [1688]: "Forget not my Lord
in your prayers for his couuersion, w'^'' if 1 could see, I could with comfort
line in any part of y« world on very little." And see the extract at p. .\xxix,
ante.
Her subsequent letters are full of similar demonstrations of feeling. Thus,
when at Amsterdam, in March, 1689, she writes to EvcIjti in the following
strain : " I am sure you have heard of y ^-nusual proceeding my L'' mctt w'"
in this contrey, but by y' king's grace and justice he is releast I thank
God my L'' is come to a most comfortable frame of mind, and a serious con-
sideration of his past life, w<^i> is so great a comfort to me ; y' I must call upon
you my good frend to thanke God for it, and to pray that I may be tndy thank-
full." Again in Jtine, in the same year; " I think I ought to be fiUed w""
praises to God Almightye y' by thes methods has reduct my husband from y«
error of his ways. Indeed I think he is a true penitent ; and when melancholy
thoughts lay hold on me, 1 fear 'tis a great fault, for y« punishments are so
litle in comparison of om- deserts y' wonder of his mercye ought to fill my
heart, and leaue no room for any sorrow but for ha\Tng sinned against so good
and gracious a God. Indeed when I thinke I may live and serve that God who
has done so much for us, \vith my poor Lord, in one and y'' same holy religion,
it dos transport me, and I thinke thers nothing I could not go through to have it.
Pray for it, pray for him, for me, and believe me y' I am," &c. The first part
of this letter relates to the illness and recovery of the son of the famous Earl of
Godolphin.
But once more — when at " Utrecht, Noue.n. y' 28, old stile, 1689 : we are, I
thanke God, in good health, and line a quiett, I hope honest, life. 'Tis so great
y"' comfort I enjoy, through God's mercye, in seeing ray Lord so convinct of his
errors y" I were highly to blame if I did not beg yoiir thankfull rcmeml)rance
of y' blessing so unworthy me, who have desemed nothing but stripes. Dear
frend remember me, pray for us, and love me." Now may it not be fairly asked,
whether a wife, who had connived at her husband's mal-practices (as the cha-
racter given of her by tlie Princess .\nne — abo\e quoted — implies) could pos-
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xlv
Evelyn — ought to be received as a complete refutation of such a
charge; especially as Evelyn, whose character was even above
suspicion, had been her adviser, and bosom friend, as it were, for
nearly thirty years : — while he was a man of too much penetra-
tion to be blind to such dupUcity, and of too unsullied an integ-
rity to wink at it if it existed.
It seems certain that her mother-in-law, the famous Dorothy
Sidney, better known by the name of Sacharissa, had a pretty
stronCT aversion to her, and to her eldest son, Robert.* She viewed
her daughter-in-law in the light of a rival, rather than in that of a
close and intimate alliance. They were both women of talent and
celebrity, and jealous of the increase of each other's reputation.
The Dowager Lady Sunderland seems rarely or never to have
been at Althorp, during the residence of her daughter-in-law
there ; but enjoyed an elegant retreat at Penshurst, with a join-
ture (from her late husband, the first Earl of Sunderland) of one
half of the rents and profits of Wonnleighton.-f The Princess
Anne, and the Dowager Lady Sunderland, are therefore not the
most unexceptionable authorities to which we must refer, in
forming a judgment of the character of the lady in question.
sibly have written in this strain to her most intimate friend ? — to a man, upon
whose judgment she always relied, and in whose confidence she most implicitly
trusted? Assuredly she could not.
* In the first of Sacharissa's, or of the Dowager Lady Simderland's letters
tpublished in the work mentioned in a note at page xliii) to her son-in-law.
Lord Halifax, there is the following flippant notice of the daughter-in-law and
grandson. " INIy son (says the Dowager) returned with His Majesty; but my
daughter is here to my cost ; she has begged a dinner of me to-day," p. 328.
Surely there was no very great stretch of liberality in giving her daughter-in-
law a dinner! At page 347, she alludes rather abruptly to the intended mar-
riage of her grandson, Robert, Lord Spencer — with (as I presume) the daughter
of Sir Stephen Fox — " My Lady Scroope had heard it, (she adds) but says she
is not fit for him: she is eighteen years old. Her mother sent my daughter
Sunderland a fan, with diamonds upon the sticks, that cost fifty pistoles : she
had sent her a Japan cabinet: this is Madame de Gorvenet." The Dowager
generally avoids the mention of her daughter-in-law with that of her son. She
was singular in this exception.
t So I find in one of Lady Sunderland's letters to Evelyn, of the date of May,
1681 ; — in which there is a very particular account of the proceeds of the War-
wickshire and Northamptonshire estates. It concludes thus: " Half of
Wormleighton is in joynture to my Lady Sunderland."
xlvi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1669
The recently published Memoirs of John Etcli/ii, which throw
an equal interest about the times to which they relate, and the
author by whom the narrative is given, have introduced us more
particularly to the mansion of Altiiorp, than any publication
with which I am acquainted. In those Memoirs, the frequent
and famiHar mention of Lady Sunderland, shews upon what
an intimate footing the author and the Countess lived; and
the express and studied eidogy upon her character (towards
the close of the first volume of his Memoirs) is a confimiation
that the Countess was above the petty intrigues and vile arts of
which a few of her contemporaries had accused her. The pas-
sage I allude to, is the following ; preceded, as the reader wiU
observe, by a brief description of the mansion, as it stood in 1688.
" The house, or rather palace at Althorf, is a noble, unifonn
pile, in form of a half H. built of biick and freestone, ballustred,
and a la moderne ; the hall is well, the staircase excellent ; the
rooms of state, gallerys, offices, and furnitiu-e, such as may be-
come a greate prince. It is situate in the midst of a garden, ex-
(juisitely planted and kept, and all this in a parke wall'd in with
he\vn stone, planted with rows and walkes of trees, canals, and
fish ponds, and stor'd with game. And what is above all this,
govem'd by a lady, who without any show of sollicitude, keepes
every thing in such admirable order, both within and without,
from the garret to the cellar, that I do not believe there is any in
this nation, or in any other, tliat exceedes her in such exact
order, without ostentation, but substantially greate and noble.
The meanest servant is lodg'd so neat and cleanly ; the service at
the several tables, tlie good order and decency — in a word, the
intire ceconomy — is perfectly becoming a wise and noble person.
She is one, who for her distinguish'd esteeme of me from a long
and worthy friendship, I must ever honour and celebrate. I
wish from my soul the lord her husband (whose parts and abili-
ties are othenvise conspicuous) was as worthy of her, as by a
fatal apostasy and court ambition he has made himself unworthy.
This is what she deplores, and it renders her as much affliction
as a lady of greate soul and much prudence is capable of."
Memoirs ,• vol. i. p. 6.'>2.
At the same time, it cannot be denied that Lady Sunderland's
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xlvii
civilities to Evelyn were not wholly disinterested.* I am willing
to admit that there was much in the character of that amiable
man, which, of itself, requited every one that sought his friend-
ship ; and that Evelyn counselled her to what was always most
just, honourable, and praiseworthy. t He united, in short, the
quaUties of steward, friend, and pastor. He rejoiced with her in
prosperity, and moui'ned with her in adversity.:[: She received
from him both temporal and spiritual comfort. Yet, in the strain
of her letters, there is a good deal that looks like obsequiousness,
and something that savors of being "righteous over much." That
her sorrows were at times severe, cannot be doubted. The
wretched hfe of her eldest son, and the premature death of the
virtuous Countess of Arran, her daughter§ — and, yet more than
either, the thorough detestation in which she must have seen the
• She was indebted to him (probably upon her husband's account?) in the
sum of 500/. and makes frequent apologies for the non-pajnnent of interest.
She was also too lavish of her expressions of admiration, obligation, and de-
votion. To say the tnith, Evelyn was a little susceptible of flattery ; and the
attentions of so celebrated a woman went a great way to \vin his heart.
t His conduct on the proposed marriage of Robert, Lord Spencer, with the
only daughter of .Sir Stephen Fox — which was urged by the Countess with an
indecent precipitancy — redoimds highly to his honoiu-. The anecdote is weU
told by him : see his Memoirs, vol. i. p. 533. It seems the young ladv was
scarcely thirteen. Nor did Sir Stephen behave with less prudence and i)ro-
priety. The Countess herself thus «Tites to Eveh-n upon the subject : " This
busincs lyes so much upon my heart, y' I canot let this post pass w^out assur-
ing you sincerly y' I had rather marry my son to S' Steuen Foxe's daughter w""
twelue thousand pound, if our circiunstancos woidd admitt of it, then to any
other I can thinke of w"" t«-ice y"^ sum, so great a ualew have I for thos two
good people, he and his lady." The match came to nothing. Sir Stephen's
daughter died — and her intended lover died at Paris, — a few years afterwards,
a bachelor.
+ EvelvTi used to dine with the Countess when she indted fire-caters, stone-
eaters, and opera singers, after the fashion of the day; see his Memoirs, \o\.\.
p. 458, 483, 5/9. On the other hand, he supplied her with manuals of devo-
tion; vol. ii. p. 230.
§ See EveljTi's letter of condolence to her upon this occasion, in his Me-
moirs, vol. ii. p. 252. Her marriage is noticed by him in the previous voliune,
p. 644 : " I and my family (says he) had most glorious favours sent us, the
wedding being celebrated "ith extraordinary splendour." She married the
Earl of Arran, eldest son to the Duke of Hamilton.
xlviii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1669
public character of her husband held — were doubtless suffi-
cient to tame the proudest spirit, and to humble the loftiest
hopes.
In the midst, however, of contending Mictions, and public and
private rivalries, the second Countess of Sunderland maintained
at Althorp all the splendour and hospitality which was worthy
of the renown of her husband's ancestors. After the fashion of
the age, she united in herself many excellent and useful qualities,
as a house-keeper ; and appeared to be as knowing in the proper-
ties of oatmeal and culinary plants,* as in the discipline of the
kitchen and buttery. Nor was she less aUve to out-of-door con-
cerns. In one of her letters to Evelyn, she gives instructions
about the building of a room, in which Sir Christopher Wren
was to be consulted ; and in another she betrays equal solicitude
about the conveyance of orange trees, and the safe arrival of the
baggage of her servants."^ The entire occupation of her hus-
* July 23, 1689. " I agree w"" you in y'' prais of oatmeal as I do in most
things; but canot alow any coments on Mrs. 'ExeXya'i pwling \v*'' I wont call
by y'' usnall name becavis you dont like it ; but I wish you had eat of it hccr on
Sunday, twould have been almost to y'' shame of oatmeal, &c. Y'' spirit of
cinamon ot'cnds you, but twas not posible to pour it of w"'out y' oyle, w'^'' I
was asured was not to itts prejudice. If Mrs. Susan would trust me w'" her
weaving loom it should be safely and speedily returned, and she would deserue
more thanks thei» her father, who wont trust me w"' a glass dropper. Never-
therless I am faithfully hers. A. S. To J. Evelyn " From Mr. Upcott's Col-
lection.
t In a letter dated Althorp, 4 Aug. 1677, she thus writes to Evelyn : — " my
servant \ATites mee word my U Chamberliu has sent to y' workmen not to
proceed till he has seen whether it will not preiudice my 1'' of Londons closet,
and y' he woidd come him self, but [by] y" last post I heer he has not been
ther, and so my poor palass stands at a stay ; I supose he has forgot it. Now
if you would be so kind as to speake w'"" his Lords'"' and represent to him y' y*
height of my ambition is to have a bricke penthous instead of a wooden one I
had before, &c and bee pleased once more to looke in, for I do thinke
y' by y' buttress of y^ chapele ther might be earyed up a very little chimney in
yo corner, so as to be built up aboue y chapell, &c I thinke you
had best say nothing of it to y" surueigher becaus he makes such a bustle, and
I am sure if it can be done in that comer it canot hurt y« chapell," &c. And
from the same place, dated March 16, 1G90 ; — after a bustling letter describ-
ing the removal to O.tford and .Vlthoi-p : " Pray tell redin y' if he can conue-
niently come down to me to be heer about y'' 26 of this month, or if by y' time
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. xlix
band, by public affairs, in which he had played the parts of
Ambassador, Secretary of State, and Prime Minister, rendered
it absolutely necessary that an establishment, like that of Al-
THORP, should be managed by prudent and skilful hands; and
from the testimony of EvehTi, it appears that such prudence and
skill were abundantly found in the then mistress of the mansion.*
Meanwhile, there can be no doubt that the conversation and
graces of the drawing-room were directed and displayed with
equal felicity ; and that Althorp, at this period, was not less
celebrated for the rank and distinction of its %nsitors, than for the
splendour and liberaUty of its entertainments.
Upon the whole, it cannot be denied that the second Coun-
tess of Sunderland was placed in a very delicate, and at times
critical, situation ; and that she fulfilled the duties of that situ-
ation with credit to herself, and satisfaction to her most intimate
friends. Wliile she was a liberal hostess, she was a fond wife
and an indulgent mother ; and her talents, as exercised in re-
flections upon public characters and public events, were vigorous
and sound.t Every thing human is, and ever will be, frail and
he has not dispatcht his afaires as soon as he can ; our Carier lies at y*^ ram in
Smithfield, and goes out euery thursday morning ; what things he has to send
down let him write on them his name — to be left at althorpe. They will come
safe. Excuse this trouble."
* See Evelyn's testimony at page xlvi.
f I put together a few extracts, taken from the valuable volume of letters,
noticed at page xlii , ante : — of a miscellaneous political complexion. First
from a letter (to EvehTi) dated Decern. 25, 1678, 8 « cloche at night — mention-
ing some particulars relating to the murder of Sir E. Godfray : " Y" day you
went, BEDLO cast his eye upon a man y' folowed his coach, and on the suden
cryed out that they should lay hold of him for y' was y*" man that he had de-
scribed to y*^ two houses, and that he could neuer find. Upon w** y'= man was
seised, loaded wi"' chains, and sent to newgate. bedlo swears he was one that
killed GODFRAY, and y' if he would confess he could make great discoverys;
upon vi^*' y lords ol)tained his pardon of y^ king and went on munday w"" it to
y= dungeon, wher they were a considerable time — my 1'' Winchester l"" Essex 1''
shaftesburj' F grey — at their coming away (for lie tell it you all in y" form) y'
king went to my 1'' i^inchester and askt him what they had discouered ? he an-
swered not any thing; y' y" felow seemed to be an idle felow and contra-
dicted himself, \y"' very well satisfied y'' king. But they had enterd into a
solemn oath not to discouer, and mundavnight [cpi :] obtained a warrant from
1 ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1669
faulty ; but the shining parts of this lady's character, which owe
their lustre to the integrity and fidelity of her conduct, throw her
demerits into a distant shade. She survived her husband about
secretary Williamson to search somerset hous, wher they found all y' people,
save one y' [he] had told them, and seised thcra."
" This made a great noys yesterday, and this felow, \v^'' is a siluer smith, and
ust to clean y"^ plate of y" queens chapel, was l)rought before y' king and coun-
cill, and upon search [they] are now satisfied y' murder [of Sir E. Godfray]
was done at Somerset hous. Y" king himself begins to belieue it. My H
belasis is still named to be y' chief in it by this felow to, seuerall other uery
scurveigh circumstances he told, and seueral more he has told in private, to a
comitee of y" hous of comons last night, who were WTiting down what he said 2
hours at y prison. One thing more I must not omitt — which is sad for somer-
set hous — y' in y* search after y' men this felow acused, they foimd betweeu 50
and 60 Irish and other priests, but not having [a] warrant to seis them they
could not. It was odious enough to y" people before this discouery. I am
called away, and can only assiu'e you of my sincere friendship." No. 18.
There is some point, and much good sense, in the following ; dated fFltite-
hall, 28 Oct. 1678: " This day the two houses were much alarmed w"' sir Ed-
ward Rich of Lincoln inn coming when they were sitting and bidding them
begon, or they w-ould be all blown up, upon w"'' ther was search made but
nothing found, and he lookt upon as a mad man for his intelligence. The
comons sent up to the Lords to joyn with them in making all papists incapable
of assisting in ether hous, but as yet they have don nothing in it. There is a
strange consternation amongst all sorts of people. I beseech god fitt us to
bear all y sad things wee liave in prospect pre])ared for us Madam
Masarin was named in the hous of comons to day for one of the popes emi-
sarys. Twere to be \risht that assembly would sticke to y^ weightier concerns
of our laws and religion, but gods will must be done, and he knows what's best
for us. Pray for mee, and be as much my frend as He indeauour to deserue.
1 wish w"' aU my soule youd shew mee your kindness in directing mee."
No. 17.
The following arc her sentiments upon the decapitation of her imcle, the
unfortunate Lord Russell. It is dated 22 July, 1683: " I have so much expe-
rience of your good nature and compassion to your friends to fear your thinking
me guilty of any neglect or want of kii.dnes or respect to my frends at detford,
becaus I haue not been to uisit your daughter as I ought to have done in her
lying in, and as I should certainly for more reasons than one have seen detford
long before this time, had I not bin ouenvhelmed w"" y" misfortunes of a famyly
who haue taken up all my thoughts this 3 weeks ; and indeed my mother's part
y' she bears in it is so grieuous that I was obliged to go down to althori)e to
her, she not being well." No. 50. Vet Lady Sunderland has been accused of
displaying no sympathy !
:.?irart Scz>\v^
IFrOTti an O-ri^iiDutl Eaijitmg V/ ?''^~ ■" ',<'■'■.'''." Ae ©allerjrat Ailiiarp.
—1702.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. K
thirteen years; dying in 1715, but not before she had seen her
second son, Charles, united in marriage ; first, with the noble
family of Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle ;* and, secondly, wth
the not less illustrious house of Marlborough — from which
second marriage the dukedom is now derived. She also saw him
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord Privy Seal : just before
her decease. It only remains to request the reader's attention to
the Portrait by Sir P. Lelyf of the lady whose character
has so long engaged his attention. It is taken from the original,
in the Gallery at Althorp ; although Granger notices another
portrait of her, at Windsor, which has been mistaken for that of
her mother-in-law.
Charles, third Earl of Sunderland, was distinguished from
his youth for his love of learning. On the death of his elder bro-
ther Robert, in 1688, he necessarily became Lord Spencer; and
I have perused a small volume| of original letters from him, to
Evelyn, of this period — in which he calls to mind the Althorp
Conversations of his friend — and sends him, as the fruits thereof,
* Lord Sunderland's marriage into the Newcastle family is thus menlioned
by his mother, in a letter to Evelyn , dated Altliorp, Oct. 15, 1694 : " You had
not heard the news of my Lord Spencers marriage from any before me, had
not thcr once bin a ndt in it, and when y' was ouer, the melancholy news I
heard of poor Mrs Draper [Evelyn's daughter^] made it I thought improper
to trouble you w* it. Tis now concluded, and y ^Tilings drawing in y*' law-
yers hands, who say they will be ready in a fortnight, by w"^'' time the Duches
of Newcastle and her daughter will be in town, and I and L'' Spencer ther to
meet them. She has 25000/. and I hear a good report [of her.] I beseech
God to give both them and us his blessing in this weighty afaire, that she may
prove every way a good wife for a very honest worthy good natm-ed man, as
indeed I think he is, without partialitye. I promise myself a double share in
your prayers upon this great concern of a famvlye that has receaued great
fauours from you," &c.
f See the opposite page.
\ In the possession of Mr. llpcott ; see page xlii, ante. The hand-writing
of the third Earl of Simderland may be called beautiful ; being, in this respect,
a great contrast to that of his noble mother ; of whose original letters (in the
same Collection) such ample use has been made. It should be noticed, that
Evelyn, in his Memoirs, always mentions Charles, the second son, as a yoimg
man of great promise and attainments.
X Who had then just recovered from a severe illness.
Hi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A. D. 1702
" a rough and unpolished, torn, and ragged dissertation" (I quote
his words) — written in the Latin language, upon the following
subject : " An in Dedifos qui inutili defensione ( quanquam omni
spe auxilii destitiiti essent) nobis negotium facesserunt, scevire
liceat."* It was composed in consequence of what took place at
the siege of Limerick, after the battle of the Boyne. In a pre-
vious letter, he makes mention of Evelyn's "true Tusculum Dept-
fordiense, and to the Christian Cicero that is in it."
About four years after the date of this letter, Lord Spencer
took his seat in Parhament for Tiverton, in the county of Devon,
and served four succeeding Parliaments, for the same place ; till
he was called up, as third Earl of Sunderland, to the House of
Peeis in 1702, on the death of his father. In the year 1705 his
Lordship was first engaged in a diplomatic capacity, as Envoy
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Vienna ; and
continued from that time, to the period of his death, to be em-
ployed in almost all the important offices of state. After having
been, in rapid succession, a Privy Counsellor, Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, Lord Privy Seal, and Secretary of State, he was made
Lord President and First Lord of the Treasury in 1718-19. He
received the Garter about the same time ; and died in 1722 — the
same year in which his father-in-law, the Duke of Marlborough,
expired. " In person (says Mr. Coxcf") he was highly favoured
by nature, and no less hberally gifted with intellectual endow-
ments, which he had improved by assiduous study. He was re-
markable for a sedateness above his years ; but in him a bold
and impetuous spirit was concealed under a cold and reserved
exterior. Imbued with that ardent love of liberty, which the
youthful mind generally draws from the writers of Greece and
Rome, and educated amidst the effervescence which produced
* It concludes thus — "Quapropter ctiamsi crudelis nomenapud homines de-
dinaret, qui in huiusmodi obstinatos defcnsores, ssewe voluerit, Impriidenlis
certt Imperatoris apud omnes, simul cum ingenti siio periculo nunquam effu-
giet. Adde quod
Sed iam tempus equftm fumantia solvere colla."
t Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough ; vol. i. p. 95. The above character
is given of him before his marriage witli the Duke of Marll)nrough's second
daughter. Consult also Memoirs of Sir Rnlierl ff^ulpole ; vol. ii. 73-5.
—1722.] ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. Hii
the Revolution ; he was a zealous champion of the Whig doc-
trines, in theii" most enlarged sense. Associating with tlie rem-
nant repubUcans who had survived the commonwealth, he caught
their spirit. He was an animated speaker ; and in the warmth
of debate, disdained to spare the prejudices or failings even of
those with whom he was most intimately connected. His politi-
cal idol was Lord Somers, though he wanted both the prudence
and temper of so distinguished a leader."
His character, as a politician and statesman, has been variously
appreciated. With natural and improved talents, scarcely inferior
to those of his father, there can be no doubt that both were de-
voted to better and more honourable purposes. He was from
principle, as well as from his aUiance with the Duke of Marlbo-
rough, a Whig ; although, after his resignation of power, he is
accused of having " intrigued with the Tories, and made over-
tures to Bishop Atterbury." His ascendancy over the minds of
the two sovereigns (Queen Anne and George I.) whom he had
served, was exti-eme ; and although, as Prime Minister, he had
necessarily the most accurate information, and could foresee re-
sults which few of his coadjutors, and still fewer of his opponents,
could anticipate, yet it is allowed that he came out " with clean
hands" from that monstrous bubble of the times, known by the
name of the South Sea Scheme* — of which he is considered as
the parent : and when at last he yielded to the influence of his
adversaries, it must be remembered that that " influence" was
maintained by the matchless talents of a Walpole.
* I have seen an original document, or order, (in the possession of Mr.
Upcott) from Lord Sunderland, to sell out 4000/. of South Sea Stock immedi-
ately. It is but due to Walpole to say, that the manner in which he defended
Lord Sunderland from any participation in the wickedness of the South Sea
scheme, was at once manly, noble, and heroic. It was the shield of Ajax
thrown round Teucer, to protect him from the darts and javelins of an active
enemy. " Even Rlr. Brodrick, who was one of the persons charged to investi-
gate the transaction, and fostered strong prejudices against him, acquits him of
any participation, and represents him as the dupe of the Directors." Coxe's
Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough, vol. vi. p. 362. Mr. Coxe adds, in a
note, that " the principal item of his personal property was 30,000/. in South
Sea stock, which, if sold at the height of the infatuation, would have produced
no less than 300,000/.
liv ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. [A.D.I 722
Lord Sunderland carried the favour of his sovereign with liim
to his retreat at Ahhorp ; wliere he died, the year following his
resignation of the Premiership. His political hfe, bustling and
important as it was, will be forgotten ... in the remembrance of
that NOBLE LIBRARY* whicli he gathered and left behind him —
now the brightest ornament of Blenheim. He was as worthy a
competitor of the Earl of Oxford in the character of a book-
collector, as he was of Sir Robei't Walpole in that of an orator
and statesman.
By the second marriage of this nobleman with Anne, the
second daughter of the famous John Duke of Marlborough,
the offspring of Lord Sunderland became entitled to the duke-
dom just mentioned, and to the palace and estate of Blenheim.
But this arose, in the first instance, from the death of the only
son of the Duke, and, in the second, from that of the only son of
Henrietta, eldest daughter of the Duke, who married the
eldest son of the celebrated Earl of Godolphin. By Anne
Churchill, Lord Sunderland had four sons and two daughters.
Of his sons, the first, Robert, died at the age of nine months;
the second, Robert, was the fourth Earl of Sunderland, having
survived his father seven years, and having enjoyed the estate
and title only five years. He died in 1729.-f- The third son,
Charles, was destined to be the second Duke of Marlborough,
• Evelyn makes frequent mention of the progress of this library during the
life time of Lord Sunderland's father. " I din'd (says he — March 10, 1695) at
the Earl of Sunderland's with Lord Spencer. My lord shewed me his library,
now again improved by many books bought at the sale of Sir Cliarles Scarbo-
rough, an eminent physician, which was the very best collection, especially of
mathematical books, that was I believe in Europe," &c. vol. ii. p. 46. Again,
at page 62, " Lord Spencer (A. D. 1699) purchased an incomparable library . .
[no name] wherein, among other rare books, were several that were printed at
the first invention of that wonderful art," &c. Tii!/i/'s Offices, Homer, and
St/idas, are mentioned by him. He adds, " this gentleman is a very fine scholar,
whom from a child I have known. His tutor was one Florival of Geneva."
The Editor of Evelyn says, that this "lilirary was the foundation of the noble
library now at Blenheim." It was pledged to his fatlier-in-Iaw, the Duke of
Marlborough, in part-payment of 10,000/. which he owed him. Co.Te ; vol. vi.
p. 362.
+ He is mentioned by Collins, in the 4to. edition of his English Banmage,
1727, as then living—" Robert, now Earl of Sunderland," p. 319.
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. Iv
the title, at the creation, having been settled upon the male
descendants of the daughters of the Duke, in default of the
Duke's issue male : and Henrietta, the eldest daughter of the
Duke, having no more children after the death of her son, the
second Marquis of Blandford — who died in 1731. It should be
mentioned that Chai-les, the third Earl of Sunderland, married a
third time, (in 1717) after the death of his second wife, in 1716.
His third wife was Judith, daughter and coheiress of Benjamin
Tichborne, brother of Henry Baron Farrand, in Ireland. By her
he had two sons and a daughter ; all of whom died before the
decease of their father. The Countess died in 1749.
But the destinies of the family of the Spencers may be said,
in a worldly point of view, to have been held in the hands of
Sarah, the mother-in-law of Charles, the third Earl of Sunder-
land, and better known as the famous Duchess of Marlborough
— whose beauty, talents, wealth, and love of political and domes-
tic intrigue, have obtained her a celebrity which renders but little
further notice of her here necessary. On the death of her hus-
band, she might be considered as the richest woman in England ;
for the Duke left her almost every thing, real and personal, that
had not been previously settled by Acts of Parliament. Her
eldest daughter, Henrietta, who assumed the title of Duchess of
Marlborough, (herself being Dowager Dueliess) died in the year
1733 ; and she survived her daughter eleven years. It was during
her widowhood that she built a fine mansion at Wimbledon, near
the scite of the old house of the Earl of Bristol, her grandson's
paternal great grandfather. This house,* which was burnt down
* Tlie old house of Lord Bristol (of which there are two scarce and curious
views, engraved by ff'instanlei/) \vas nsited Iiy Evelyn in 1662. He describes
it as " a delicious place for prospect and the thicketts, but the soil cold, and
weeping clay." The house built by tlie i)resent Earl Spencer is considerably
smaller, and more in the character of a villa. It is also built a little to the
north of the old house, and commands in consequence a better view of the
country ; especially in the approach. The burst, to tlie left, after entering the
gates at Wimbledon — in which the water appears below, and the high grounds
of Harrow, Hampstead, and Highgate in the distance — but more parricularly
the beauty of the timber in the foreground and throughout the park — is indeed
as "delicious" as it is unexpected. Nor are the views to the south, towards
Sutton, Banstead Down, and Epsom race-course, scarcely inferior. In tlie
VOL. II. e
Ivi ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
about thirty-seven year's ago, must have contained treasures
well worthy the examination of every man of taste and curiosity ;
but it seems tliat, latterly, the Duchess grew wearied both of her
house and of the park.*
During her widowhood, and more particularly from the death
of her grandson, the Marquis of Blandford, in 1731 — by which
event Charles, fifth Earl of Sunderland, became heir apparent to
the estates and title of her husband — Sarah regarded her
foreground of this latter view, are beds of flowers, bordered with basket-work.
In the front of the building is a large portico, of the Tuscan order. Through
the pillars of this portico, a portion of the view last described may be seen.
The whole domain, containing about 916 acres, is magnificent — considering
its proximity to the metropolis ; and abounds in rich and vigorously growing
shrubs and trees. Some years ago, the present Earl Spence caused a weU,
of the enormous depth of 563 feet, to be sunk — the deepest, I believe, in the
kingdom. Consult Maiming andBray's Stiri-ey, vol. iii. p. 272.
» In a privately printed l)ook, entitled " The Opinions of Sarah Duchess
Dowager of Marlborough, published from uriginul MSS." 1/88, 12mo. by the
late Sir J. Dalrymple, is the following memorandum — by the Duchess : 1737-
" Came yesterday from Wimbledon. — Though it stands high, it is upon clay,
an ill sod, very damp, and I believe an unhealthy place, which I shall very sel-
dom live in ; and consequently I have thrown away a vast sum of money upon
it to little purpose," p. 8-1. This is the peevish language of an old woman
who does not know what to do with her time or her money.
An anecdote, connected with the burning Aown of the house, (as built by the
Duchess) may be worth recording. AMien the house was on fire, the present
Earl and Countess Spencer were in London. The flames were seen distinctly at
Epsom ; where the late Rev. Jonathan Boucher, Vicar of Epsom, happening to
perceive them, guessed that it might lie the mansion in question. He mounted
his horse in speed : arrived quickly at Wimbledon, in time to direct the preser-
vation of many pictures and l)ooks : — and was of course heartily thanked by the
noble o\i-ner for his alacrity and zeal. An intimacy henceforward took place be-
tween Lord Spencer and Mr. Boucher. The latter was a frecjuent visitor at the
new house at Wimbledon, and his Lordship used as frequently to make his morn-
ing calls at the vicarage at Epsom. On the death of Mr. Boucher, Lord Spencer
found himself in possession of the famous Coverdale's Bible of 1 535, be(iueathed
to him by its late owner. The books of Mr. Boucher were sold by auction in
1806. I have a perfect recollection of the sale of them, having attended seve-
ral days. They were rich in divinity and lexicography. Mr. Boucher's speci-
men of an English Dictionary, of which the letter A only was published, is a
masterpiece of patient and felicitous research. Tlie remaining MS. as far as
the letter T, inclusivelv, is in existence.
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. IvJi
youngest grandson, John Spencer, with an eye of peculiar
favour ; resolving, upon the division of the family into two bran-
ches, to render the younger as opulent as the elder.* Accord-
ingly, in addition to her own paternal property, she left him her
house and estate at Wimbledon.-f- To these were added estates
in ten or eleven other counties. Her personal property, including
some fine pictures, became the exclusive property of the younger
branch. The Duchess died in 1744<.
It will here be necessary to travel back a little, in order that
the reader may clearly understand how the division of the Sun-
derland family, into that of the Marlborough and Spencer
took place. Wlien Charles, the third Earl of Sunderland, mar-
ried the Duke of Marlborough's second daughter, it was settled,
in case of his eldest son becoming Duke of Marlborough, that
his second son should inherit the paternal property of the Sun-
derlands. During the life time of the son of Henrietta, eldest
daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, it was clear that Lord
Sunderland's eldest son could not succeed to the dukedom ; but,
on the death of Henrietta, Duchess of Marlborough, in 1733,
Charles became Duke of Marlborough, although not possessor
of Blenheim ; and his brother, John Spencer, the youngest
and only surviving son, succeeded to the Sunderland property.
Yet there was a period — namely, from the death of Robert, fourth
Earl of Sunderland, in 1729, to that of Henrietta, in 1733 — dur-
ing which Charles, Earl of Sunderland, afterwards second Duke
* Consult Cnx^s Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough ; vol. vi. p. 391.
t In her " Opinions" (vide p. Ivi. last page) the Ducliess ^vrites thus : " I
have made a settlement of a very great estate, that is in my own power, upon
my grandson, John Spencer, and his sons : but they are all to forfeit it, if any
of them shall ever accept any employment, military or civil, or any pension
from any king or queen of this realm, and the estate is to go to others in the
entail. This I think ought to please every l)ody ; for it wiU secure my heirs
in being very considerable men. None of them can put on a fool's coat, and
take posts from soldiers of experience and service, who never did any thing
but kill pheasants and partridges. Their heirs may do great service to their
country, and ought to be well received when they go to court, since they will
have nothing to ask; for I would have them join with any king or minister,
when they desire nothing l)ut what is for the good of the nation and the King,
who in truth must always have the same interest," p. 15.
Iviii
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
of Marlborough, was possessed of the Sunderland estates and
title — and then it was that the park and house at Althorp re-
ceived many of its greatest improvements. The old gateway and
wall, which had so much offended Evelyn's eye, were taken down;
and the stables, as now seen, were built upon the site of them.
The Duke also considerably enlarged the park, and made seve-
ral large plantations ; and Althorp, which had been long distin-
guished for the flavour and abundance of its fruits,* could now
boast of a Gardener s House, not wholly unworthy of the treasures
over which its occupier presided. The following is a view of it,
from the pencil of Mr. Blore :
• See page xxxiv. ante : and in one of the ms. letters of the Countess of Sun-
derland to Evelyn, she writes, after regretting that the fruit at Deptford had
been all " blasted," that it had been plentiful and delicious at Althorp.
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. lix
The foregoing were the chief improvements introduced at
Althorp by Charles, second Duke of Marlborough ; on whom
however that title did not devolve till the death of his aunt Hen-
rietta, in 1733. But the pleasures of the chase, and the various
and useful occupations of the country, were promoted by him
with no less ardour and success ; and the then owner of Al-
thorp, caring little for the anxieties and ambition of a pohtical
life, renewed the hospitalities, and brought about the golden
days, of his Warwickshire ancestors.* On the assumption of
the ducal title, he lost his right to the Sunderland property ;
while, with the exception of a rent charge of 8000/. per ann.
pursuant to the will of his grandfather, and his pay as colonel of
the 38th regiment of foot, and afterwards as colonel of the first
regiment of dragoons, his income was greatly inferior to that of
his younger brother, John. Nor was it till the death of his
grandmother, the Dowager Duchess, in 1744, that Charles came
into possession of Blenheim, and of the property which enabled
his immediate descendants to make that place worthy of the cele-
brity of its founder.
The object of this work being exclusively the history of the
j^des Althorpiunte, I necessarily take leave of the first occupier
of Blenheim for the succession of the owners of Althorp. The
Honourable John Spencer, only brother of Charles, second Duke
of Marlborough, married Georgiana Caroline, third daughter of
the first Earl Granville, and ultimately a co-heiress on the death
* See page xi. ante. An anecdote is recorded of Charles, when Duke of
Marlborough, which does infinite honour to his memory. The park-wall of
Althorp, on the south side, divides the properties of the Andrews and the
Spencer families. In the time of Charles, some hoimds of Squire Andrews
broke loose, and trespassing upon the premises at Althorp, the Duke ordered
his gamekeeper to shoot one of them. A short time after, the Duke, riding
upon a gray horse, was met by the Squire, who, presenting a pistol towards
the horse, addressed him thus : " Duke, dismount — otherwise I may shoot you
as well as your horse. A horse for a dog, as long as your grace pleases." The
Duke, as may be naturally supposed, dismounted quickly, and his horse was
as qiuckly shot dead. Its noble owner, being struck with the decisive method,
as weU as the just cause, of retaliation, turned round and addressed the Squire
thus : " IMr. Andrews, you are a gentleman, and I have done wrong : give me
yoiu- hand" — and ever after, the closest intimacy subsisted between them.
Ix ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
of Robert, second Earl Granville. He survived the death of his
grandmother, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, only two years ;
dying in 1746. His widow was maitied, about two years after
his decease, to the second Earl Cowper, and survived her first
husband thirty-four years; dying in 1780. By her, the Ho-
nourable John Spencer had only two children ; a son and a
daughter. The daughter died young.
On the death of the Hon. John Spencer, his son was a minor
of about twelve years of age ; and he had scarcely attained his
27th year, when he was created Viscount Spencer, and Baron
Spencer of Althorp. His property was questionless vei'y
great ; and he gave early proofs of a good taste, in the applica-
tion of it, by the building of a magnificent mansion in St. James's
Place.* About four years after his being called to the Upper
House, he was created an Earl. He died at the age of forty-
nine, in the year 1783. " He possessed (says Mr. Baker) the
virtues of humanity and benevolence in a degree so eminent, as
to render his character as much distinguished through many
parts of Europe for its goodness, as that of his illustrious ances-
tor, the Duke of Marlborough, for its greatness." Bakers
Hisfori/, p. 108. He lies buried with his ancestors, in the chapel
at Brington Church, where there is a monument to his memory,
sculptured by NoUekens, from the design of Cipriani."-}-
The late Earl Spencer was succeeded in his title and estates
by his only son, the present George John Earl Spencer;
who, in 1781, married the present Countess, Lavinia, eldest
daughter of Chai'les Bingham, fii'st Earl of Lucan of that name.
In 1794 his Lordship was appointed First Lord of the Admi-
* There is an cnjjravinff of the front-elevation of this house, from which the
visfnette was copied at the end of the preface of the Bibliotheca Spexcer-
lANA. Views and plans of it, as well as of the house at Wimbledon, built by
Sarah Duchess of Marlborouffh, may be seen (tojifether with a view of Althorp)
in the Fitruvius Brilannkt(.i, 1771, folio. I have heard it asserted, that the shell
of Spencer House, consisting of solid stone, cost alone about 50,000 guineas.
The exterior design was planned by General Grey, and executed by Vardy :
the interior owes the beauty of its ornaments to the classical taste of Alhenian
Stuart — as he is called.
t Beneath his portrait, in profile, medallion-wise, which is supported by a
female figure, intended to represent Benevolence, is a tablet, upon which the
ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP. bd
rally, which situation he held till 1801 ; during which time, it
may, with the utmost truth be observed, with Mr. Baker, that
" the British navy attained the pinnacle of renown.'* His
Lordship was created a Knight of the Garter in 1 799 ; and in
1806 was appointed Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment. In 1807 his Lordship resigned this situation, and from
that period to the present has devoted his time and his wealth
to the enjoj-ment of domestic society and literary pursuits ; and
to the increase of a Library, which has placed htm at the head
of all private collectors in Europe. The pages of the Bibl.
Spenceriana — and of this work — wiU afford the best evidence of
the correctness of this remark ; although no account be found in
them of the number and value of modern books. The history of
the Library at Althorp will be developed in the immediately
following pages.
Meanwhile, as a material feature of the local history which
occupies the present pages, it .will be necessary to remark that, on
his Lordship's coming into possession of his ancestral property,
foUomng verses to his memon,- — composed by his son-in-law, the late Duke of
Devonshire, and the only poetry which he is known to have ever composed —
are inscribed :
To the Memory
Of John Earl Spencer
nut. 19 Dec. 1/34, ob : 31 Oct. 1783.
If e'er Sincerity inscribed the stone.
Giving the dead no merits but their own,
Behold it here. This Verse, with Sculpture's aid.
Records the debt by Love and Duty paid ;
That Strans;ers and Posterity may know.
How pure a spirit warmed the dust below :
For they, who felt the virtues of his Life,
^\^lether the Orphan, Friend, or Child, or Wife,
Need not the Poet's or the Sculptor's art.
To wake the feelings of a grateful heart.
Their Love, their Grief, his Honours best proclaim,
The living monuments of Spencer's fame.
• See Hist, of the County of Xorlhampton ; p. lOS. And here, as every
man has a right to claim his own property, I consider myself justified in refer-
ing to page 702 of the Bibliomania; and page 388 of vol. iii. of the Bibliogra-
phical Decameron.
Ixii ACCOUNT OF ALTHORP.
he improved the grounds and the mansion in a more extensive
and efficient manner than any one of his predecessors. He con-
verted the sheet of water into its original state of pasture or park-
ground ; and cased the house itself in a beautiful gray, or whitish
brick, brought from a kiln near Ipswich in Suffolk. He also
raised a fa9ade of Corinthian pilasters, built of stone brought
from Roche Abbey in Yorkshire ; and of which the capitals
prove the beauty and sharpness of execution of which that
stone is susceptible.* A particular description of the interior,
together with the improvements introduced by the present noble
occupiers, must necessarily be reserved for the following pages.
Ere we enter, however, I must be allowed to present the reader
with the two small opposite vignettes; of which the upper one
represents the arch-way, connecting the flower-garden and shrub-
bery ; and of which the lower is a front view of the Dairy, at the
extremity of the shrubbery.
* In the Parentalia of Sir Christopher Wren, p. 299, &e. I find that it was
proposed by Sir Christopher to build St. Paul's Cathedral of the same kind of
stone — there called Rock-Abbey stone.
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THE HALL.
On entering the house, you are immediately made acquainted
with what was, about a century ago, the raling passion of its
noble inmates. The sides of this Hall are covered with paint-
ings by the pencil of the once famed, and yet not despicable,
John Wooton; descriptive of the pleasures of the Chase. To
the left, covering the whole side, there is a hvely representation
of a Burst. Reynard is seen in the distance ; the dogs are in
full chase ; the huntsman winds his horn ; the whoop and halloo
are given : the horses are about to be put into a full gallop ; and
a numerous field of sportsmen brings up the rear. Among these
sportsmen, no one makes a more conspicuous figure than Charles,
the second Duke of Marlborough, and grandfather of the pre-
sent duke — who, at that time, was owner of the mansion. He is
riding upon a gray horse, in red breeches and waistcoat, with a
dark blue jacket flapping in the wind as he gallops at full speed.
He holds his whip a little like a truncheon ; so that, taken altoge-
ther, and judging from the present fashion, the dress and attitude
would be considered rather a la mtlitaire. Two shepherds, in
the foreground, and in shadow, appear to be giving intelligence
of the course of the fox. Upon the whole, this is a very joyous
and animated representation of the subject ; and as it occupies
the entire width of the Hall, twenty-four feet, it will not be con-
sidered as upon a very diminutive scale.
2
THE HALL.
Opposite, and of equal dimensions — is the companion to the
preceding. It may be called, in its waj', a Rtposo. The cliase
is over : reynard is slain, and held aloft by the huntsman, while
the dogs scramble up his knees for the tempting prey. To the
left of the picture, in the foregroimd, is a group — drawn and
executed with great spirit and truth, as the subjoined copy
attests :
The lower figure, to the left, is the Honourable John Spencer,
grandfather of the present Earl. The central figure is that of
Charles, Duke of Marlborough ; who makes so conspicuous an
.ippearance in the composition just described ; and tlie third
THE HALL. 3
figure, to the right, is that of Lord Vane, who used to hunt witli
the Duke. To the right of the above, is an excellent group of
three gentlemen, two on horseback, the other dismounted, and
talking to his companions. The hither mounted horseman, turn-
ing round, and looking at the group above described, is, with
his horse, very naturally and admirably executed. Again, to the
right, are various groups, unconnected with each other, and per-
haps too widely scattered apart ; but a dismounted gentleman —
with his hands behind him, holding a horsewhip in one of them,
bending forward — with his gloves under his left arm, to examine
a horse's near foot, shewn to him by a groom in a striped jacket
— must not be passed over without especial notice and commen-
dation. Several dogs, oppressed with heat and thirst, from the
length of the chase, are coming to drink at a running stream.
One gentleman, on horseback, is leaping this brook in a very
gay and aery manner. Two, on horseback, in the middle ground,
are quietly discoursing about the glories of the field. In the
distance, is a group of horses without their riders. A village
upon a hill, and a river to the left, occupy the back ground.
Upon the whole, this is one of those pictures, which, however
deficient in a general good effect of light and shade, cannot fail
to please, from the truth and spirit with which most of the de-
tached, or individual parts, are executed. It is a true sporting
field of the time of George II.
On each side of the dooi', opposite the entrance-door, is a
large picture of a horse and groom ; having no further merit to
recommend them than that they cover so many square yards of
wall or wainscoat.
Over the door, leading to the staircase, and opposite the door
of entrance, is a small picture — of about six feet by four — of
Dogs breaking loose from the kennel. It has really great
merit. The dogs are running and tumbling over one another,
in a perfectly natural manner, advancing towards the huntsman,
who is by the side of a gray horse. Above, is a bright, clear
sky, indicative of a fine day's sport. Beneath the larger pictures,
first described, there is, to the left, a horse as large as life — with
an inscription of " Sore Heels :" two boys are by the side of
a basket of hay. Again, to the left, in a corner, is a group of
4 THE HALL.
dogs, with a black servant, stooping : a French horn is suspended
to the bough of a tree, and a magpie is perched upon a pillar.
Below the large hunting-piece, to the right, is a horse, of the
size of life, called Brisk, drinking out of a trough ; while a groom
is drawing fresh water, which runs into it, from a well. To the
right of this, in the corner, is the Earth Stopper ; an old fellow
with a gray beard, and a spade in his right hand. He is caress-
ing a favourite dog, who looks up to him, and licks his beard. A
dead fox lies upon some pieces of wood above : five dogs are in
the back ground. The whole of the size of life. Wooton is
much to be preferred in his figures of a small size. His large
horses and dogs look as if they were made of pasteboard.
On each side of the entrance-door — and therefoie behind the
spectator on entrance — are two early pieces by Stiibbs ; which
are clever and interesting — as early specimens of the master.
To the right, is the portrait of a horse called Romulus, with the
date of 1777. There is a power of touch in this piece, which
marked Stubbs through life — and who has been called, by one of
the most knowing of modern artists in this department, " the
Emperor of horse-painters." The colouring and expression of
the face of the groom, or jockey, who holds Romulus by the
bridle, has considerable merit. Opposite, and on the left side on
entrance, is a much better performance, by the same master,
of a hunter called Scape-Flood. The shape of the animal is
full of grace and power ; and his countenance is vigorously ex-
pressed. The groom is, in my humble estimation, a mastei-piece
in its way : perfect nature : the vacant expression, yet coupled
with care and anxiety about the animal — and the tonsure of his
hair by the village barber — are as evident, as they are correctly
executed. In the horse, may be traced the rudiments of the
future excellence of the painter. The size of each of these two
paintings, is four feet by three.
This Hall is thirty-one feet three inches in height, by twenty-
four feet and a half in width, and thirty-three in length. The
ceiHng is coved ; having octagonal ornaments, with roses in the
centre. The freize below consists of the heads of dogs and
foxes — arabesques and capriccios — the whole painted in white.
Before passing through the door which faces the visitor on his
THE HALL. 5
entrance, and which conducts hun to the Great Stair Case, I
must request him to turn with me through the door to the left ;
and advancing, again to the left, to the further end of a corridor,
to accompany me through the entire suite of the ground apart-
ments — comprehending the Dining Room, Family Drawing
Room, and five large rooms devoted to the Library.
\OL. I.
THE DINING ROOM.
The Dining Room at Althorp, which occupies the first three
windows of the ground floor, seen in the View of the House, pre-
fixed to the first volume of this work, was considerably enlarged
by the present Earl Spencer. Its dimensions will be found in
the plate of the ground plan of the house. Upon a rich and
dark-crimson paper, the following interesting Pictures are sus-
pended.
Portrait of Sofonisba Angosciola.* — Painted by Herself.
The ANNEXED Engraving will give the most correct notion of
the beauty and simplicity of this composition. The picture is
among the most precious in this collection, and must on all ac-
counts be considered a very rare and estimable production. We
observe upon it, the coeval inscription of lussu Patris. When
Vasari wrote the first part of his celebrated work upon the Lives
of Painters, he had little knowledge of the productions of this
illustrious Artist. In a subsequent part, he has enlarged upon
his previous sketch ; and I make no apology to the reader for
presenting him with a very literal version of the whole of what
he has said concerning Sophonisba and her family :-f" Walpole,
* Tlie name is variously spelt in Vasari. The artist herself writes it as above.
f " But Sophonisba, of Cremona, daughter of M. Amilcaro Angusciuola, has
with more care, and with a hetter grace, than any other lady of her time, prac-
tised the art of painting : for she not only knew how to draw, colour, paint
from nature, and copy excellently from the works of others, but has also com-
posed some most rare and beautiful things herself. From which circumstance
Philip, King of Spain, having heard from the Duke of Alva of her taleuts,
sent for her, and had her honourably conducted into Spain, where he placed
her about the Queen, with a large pi'usion, and with the admiration of all that
court. And therefore it is not to be wondered at that M. Tommaso, a Ro-
man gentleman, sent to the Duke Cosimo, besides a picture by the divine
JBA AW©®,
jL'rom anSJJnSit;
Origit
THE DINING ROOM. 7
in his Anecdotes of Painting, vol. ii. p. 97, edit. 1T65, notices
this very picture ; as also does Pilkington, in his Dictionary of
Michel Angelo, in which is a Cleopatra, another picture by Sophonisba, of a
girl laughing at a boy, who is crying ; she having placed l)efore him a basket
full of lobsters, one of which has bitten his finger. The beauty and truth of
this painting cannot be too much praised; and therefore, in memory of the
talents of Sophonisba, (Italy having few of her productions, on account of her
residence in Spain,) I have introduced the mention of it in ray collection of
drawings. We may therefore say with truth of her, like tlie divine .\riosto,
" Le Donne son venute in cicellenza
" Di ciascun' arte ov' lianno posto cura."
Fasart, Pt. i. p. 17-1. E'lit. 1568.
" But the Scholar who did him [Bernardin Campi *] the most honour, and
who excelled greatly in painting, was Sophonisba Angusciuola, of Cremona, with
her three sisters. These virtuous young women were the daughters of Signor
Amilcar ANGrsciuoLA, and of the Signora Bianca Pmizona, both noble fami-
lies of Cremona. Speaking, then, of the Signora Sophonisba, (of whom I re-
lated some few particulars in the life of Properzia of Bologna, not then know-
ing more of her,) I said in that place, that I saw this year, m Cremona, at the
house of her father, a well executed picture of her performance, containing
the portraits of her three sisters, in the act of playing at chess, and with them
an old housekeeper; all done with so much care and diligence, that they ap-
pear really alive, and only to want the power of speech. In another picture,
painted by the same Sophonisba, is represented the Signor Amilcar, her
father, who has on one side of him one of his daughters, her sister, called
Minerva, who e.xcelled in literature and painting ; and on the other, his son
Asdrubal, their brother : these figures are also so well done, that they appear
quite to breathe.f In Placeutia are to be seen, painted by the same hand, at
the house of the Archdeacon of the cathedral, two most beautiful pictiu-es :
one contains the portrait of the Archdeacon himself, the other of Sophonisba :
both these figures almost appear to speak. Sophonisba, having been, as was
before mentioned, placed, by means of the Duke d'.Vlva, in the service of the
Queen of Spain, where she now is enjojang an excellent pension, and much
honoiu-ed, painted a great number of wonderful portraits and pictures ; the
fame of which productions caused the Pope Pius IV. to signify to Sopho-
nisba, that he desired to have from her hands the portrait of the aforesaid
Queen of Spain ; and Sophonisba having complied with his \vish, as speedily
as was possible, sent the portrait to Rome, writing to his Holiness a letjer in
the following terms :
• Vasari is in error in calling her a disciple of Giulio Campo.
t This picture was in the Borghese Gallery at Rome. See Baldinucci,
Notizie, 15511-1580. p. 15/. edit. 1688, 4to.
8 THE DINING ROOM.
Painters,* wlien the portrait was at Wimbledon. Why the
late Mr. Bryan, in his Dictionary of Painters, has chosen to omit
the mention of this — probably the most valuable of Sophonisba's
" Holy Fatheii,
" I heard from the most reverend Nuncio of your Hormess, that you desired
a portrait from my hands of her Majesty the Queen, my mistress. And as I
accepted this undertakinjj, considerinG; it as a mark of peculiar grace and fa-
vour, having to serve your Holiness, I asked permission of her Majesty, who
most willingly, and with great pleasure, granted it, thereby acknowledging
your Holiness's protection towards her. I avail myself of the opportunity of
this gentleman's going, to send it to you : and if, by my exertions, I shall have
satisfied the wishes of your Holiness, it will give me infinite consolation. It
only remains to say, that if, with the pencil, it were possible to represent to
the eyes of your Holiness, the beauties of the mind of this Queen, you could
behold nothing more wonderful. But of that which is in the power of art to
represent, all my endeavours have been exerted to convey to your Holiness a
faithful representation. And with this end, with all reverence and humility, I
kiss your Holiness's feet. Your Holiness's most humble servant,
Madrid, Septemlirr Ifi, 1561. " Sofonisba Angosciola."
" To which letter (the portrait having appeared to him so very wonderful
and beaulifid) his Holiness returned the following answer, accompanied with
presents worthy of the many virtues of ISophonisba.
" Pope Pii^s IV. Well beloved daughter ix Christ,
" A^'E ha\e received the portrait of the most serene Queen of Spain, our
dearest daughter, that you have sent us. It has given us the greatest satis-
faction, a< much on accoimt of tlie person it represents, (for whom we have a
paternal regard,) as well as for the religious virtues, and other fine parts of her
mind ; and also from its having been so diligently and beautifully executed by
your hands. We thank you for it, and assure vou that we shall keep it among
our most precious things : commending this your great talent, which, however
wonderful, we understand is among the least that you possess. And with this
end, we again repeat our blessin^f: fliat our Lord fJod may preserve you.
"Rome, October 15, 1561."
" This testimony is sufficient to demonstrate the talents of Sophonisba."
P'asari, Ft. iii. p. 661-3. Edit. 1568.
* Pilkington, after Baldinucci, says that by continual application to her
profession, she lost her sight ; and it is recorded that Vandyke, having bad an
opportunity of conversing with Sophonisba, used to say, that he received more
beneficial knowledge of the true principles of his art from one blind woman,
than by studying all the works of the greatest masters in Italy. She died in
the year 1626, and in the 93rd of her age.
THE DINING ROOM. 9
pieces — it is difficult to conceive. The only other acknowledged
specimens of her talents, in England, is the Marriage of Sty Ca-
therine, in the collection of the Earl of Pembroke, at Wilton; and
" a small head of Sophonisba, in a round," in Lord Ashburn-
ham's collection. The present picture was purchased by Sarah,
Duchess of Marlborough, for seven hundred guineas ; a price,
of very uncommon occurrence a century ago. This interesting
picture is here engraved for the first time.*
A Calm, by Albert CuYP.~The opposite engraving will
afford the best notion of the tranquillity which reigns throughout
this enchanting picture. The predominant colour is a deep or
sombre gray, relieved nevertheless with frequent little flashes of
light, which are always to be found upon the surface of the sea.
The gleam of sun-setting, to the left, affords a fine contrast to
the mass of dark clouds which is rolling away. The water is of
the most delicious transparency. Altogether, this picture is de-
serving of the highest praise ; and has never been before en-
graved. It belonged to Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.
Portrait, by Titian. — This portrait, which is worthy of the
great artist who painted it, is that of Luigi Cornaro, a noble
Venetian. Cornaro was born in 1467, and died in 1566. He
was naturally of a weak constitution, and of an irritable temper,
both of which were made much worse by every youthful excess
of which a man could be guilty. At forty years of age, rapid
infirmity obliged hun to have recourse to a complete reform of
life and to adopt the most rigid abstinence. This salutary deter-
mination restored his health, and softened and trancjuilised his
temper ; and he was enabled to reach his hundredth year in
* It may perhaps be considered idle to indulge in conjectures respecting the
occasion, or the period, of the execution of this portrait of Sophonisba ; but,
from the inscription upon it, mentioned above, I think it not altogether im-
probable, that it is the portrait of herself which she painted for Annibale
Caro, and which her father, after he had sent it to him, almost immediately
required Caro to return. The reader will find two rather interesting letters
on the sulyect in Baldinucci. Sophonisba is said to have been a most
sweet singer, which sufficiently accounts for the attitude and action in the
picture. The figure of the old woman, 1 have little doubt, i.s that of the
domestic represented in the game at chess, mentioned in p. /•
10 THE DINING ROOM.
comfort and content. The portion of sustenance which he al-
lowed himself daily, was twelve ounces of solid food, and fourteen
ounces of wine. From the Collection of Robert, second Earl of
Sunderland.
A Woman's Head, by Paul Veronese. — A plea.sing and
sweetly coloured picture, in excellent preservation. From the
same Collection.
A Madonna and Child, by Caravaggio. — A pretty gipsey-
faced woman and her child. A good example of the vigorous
colouring and strong effect of light and shade of this master.
From the same Collection.
Portrait, by Titian. — An admirable portrait of one of old
Cornaro's grandsons. In the famous picture of the Cornaro
family, in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland, this
young man is there represented as one of the group of grand-
children behind the old men. Bought at Rome, by the present
Earl Spencer.
A Farm Yard, by Hondekoeter. — A magnificent and well
painted picture of various fowl. From the Duchess of Marl-
borough's Collection.
A Head of a Woman as Psyche. — A noble specimen of the
Roman School. By whom painted is not decided — but no one
can doubt that the artist, whoever he may have been, ranks very
high among the great masters of that school. Bought at Rome,
by John, first Earl Spencer.
A Boy's Head. An antique encaustic painting. The inscrip-
tion in gilt letters, upon the mahogany frame by which this
curious treasure is surrounded, is as follows ; " An Ancient
Encaustic Painting, found on the walls of a sepulchral Chamber
near Beneventum ; first opened for the gratification of Geor-
giana, Countess Dowager Spencer, and cut out from thence,
under her inspection, in 1793, with the permis.sion of Ferdinand
IV. King of NajAes and Sicilij." Without such an authentic
3
fa
THE DINING ROOM. II
attestation, the spectator might doubt the genuineness of this ex-
traordinary performance ; which has all the freshness and force of
a subject of yesterday's execution. Something like a similar spe-
cimen of ancient art will be found in Caylus's Recueil d'Anii-
qtiites Egyptiemies, Etrusquen, Or. et Rom. vol. i. p. 153, pi. Lvi.
A Descent from the Cross, by Sebastian Bourdon.— A
strikino- and expressive representation of this awful scene. The
light, brought to bear wholly on the principal figure, is very
happily managed. The painter appears to have taken Poussin
as his model while composing this picture, and certainly has not
been unsuccessful in his imitation of him. From the Sunderland
Collection.
A Magdalen's Head, by Domenichino. — A beautiful in-
stance of this great painter's merit. He was one of the best of
the Bolognese School, so rich in first rate talent. From the
Sunderland Collection.
A Fragment of a Cartoon, by Raphael. — The subject of
which was the Murder of the Innocents. This magnificent spe-
cimen excites deep regret that the rest of the composition was
lost in its passage from Rome to Antwerp, whither it was going
to be executed in tapestry. Nothing can be finer than this head;
nor can any thing give a better idea of the style in which Ra-
phael executed his last and greatest works. The opposite en-
graving of it is here published for the first time. Purchased at
Rome by the present Earl Spencer.
Death of the Stag, by Snyders. — A very fine and genuine
picture of the master : nothing can be more beautiful or more
touching than the expression of the stag's head. From the
Collection of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.
A Battle, by Borgognone. — A good picture of the master.
From the Sunderland Collection.
A Skirmish between Turks and Christians, by Lingel-
bach. — An uncommonly pleasing cabinet picture.
12 THE DINING ROOM.
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, by G. Bassan. —
A favourable specimen of this expeditious artist.
Landscape, by Salvator Rosa. — Saint Anthony of Padua is
preaching to the fishes — a bright and pleasing picture. The
painter's monogram is very visible in the front ground. The hu-
man figures (and especially that of St. Anthony,) and the fishes
are touched with the spirit and truth of a great master.
Saint Charles Borromeo celebrating High Mass, by Do-
MENiCHiNO. — A capital picture ; probably an altar piece for some
private chapel. The Saint's head is evidently a portrait of St.
Charles Borromeo, and in all likelihood taken after death, from
his head still preserved in its crystal shrine at Milan. Who the
personage is, who appears to be devoutly attentive to the cere-
mony performing at the altar, is unknown ; but the crown and
the sceptre, beside him, denote him to be of illustrious rank. It
may not be considered as improbable that, to testify his peculiar
worship of St. Charles, the present picture might have been
painted for him. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Landscape, by David Teniers. — A good picture. The
figures in the front ground are very well painted. Purchased at
Rome by the present Earl Spencer.
Hero and Leander, by David Teniers. — Painted in imi-
tation of the Italian Masters.
Noah's First Sacrifice on coming out of the Ark, by
Castiglione. — An odd mass of strange articles — hair trunks,
Persian carpets, and household utensils ; nothing but anachron-
isms. A very good picture of the master.
A LARGE ChAPLET OF FrUIT SURROUNDING A BuST OF CeRES:
Fruit by Rubens, Animals by Snvders.— A most beautiful and
splendid picture ; gay, soft, and brilliant. The animals are
painted with admirable spirit and freedom. From the Sunder-
land Collection.
[ )- ]
THE DRAWING ROOM.
This room is immediately connected with the Dining Room;
and may be called rather the Family Sitting Room; it being
used only in the morning, and the Long Library (to which the
visitor is about to be speedily conducted) forming what is called
the Evening Drawing Room. It is, however, adorned with
several highly interesting pictures, as the following Catalogue
evinces.
Head of a Harper, by Sir Peter Lely. — This head of an
old blind harper is an uncommon performance of the master.
Lely is usually seen as the portrait painter of his day : and
lords and ladies, beauties and courtiers, alone appear to have
engaged his pencil. The picture under review proves that he
was equal to a much higher Une of art ; and probably had his
talents been as much encouraged in the prosecution of it, as his
interest was stimulated by the countless temptations offered to it,
through the vanity or the affections of portrait fanciers, he
might have left a name worthy of being placed amongst the
very first of his profession.
DvEDALUs AND IcARUs, by Vandyke. — A very fine picture,
and in perfect preservation.* The drawing of the young man's
figure, especially the foreshortening of his arm and hand, and
the carnation tints, so clear and pearl-like, are happy specimens
of the pamter's peculiar talent. From the Sunderland Collection.
Venus and Adonis, by Titian. — A very fine picture, and a
very beautiful composition. Adonis is eagerly withdrawing him-
self from the arms of Venus, in pursuit of his active amusement.
* This picture is noticed by Walpole: see his Works, vol. iii. p. 221.
VOL. I. C
14 THE DRAWING ROOM.
Venus is reluctant to let him go, as she foresees the sad catas-
trophe impending over him ; for his death was the result of the
chase. Cupids and dogs are in the fine Italian back-ground. A
second picture of this subject was painted by the master, for the
Colonna family, with trifling alterations in the disposition of the
back-ground. But the last prince of that family, from motives
of devotion, had it much covered over with drapery. This was
afterwards, as far as it was possible, obliterated ; and the picture,
thus restored, is at present in the possession of J. J. Angerstein,
Esq. The picture under consideration is wholly free from re-
storation or retouching : and is exactly in the condition it was
when Lord Sunderland prized it as one of the finest in his pos-
session, and shewed it to Evelyn as a favourite purchase. See
Evelyns Memoirs; vol. i. p. 579-80. The expression, as to
where it was, is ambiguous : Evelyn says " dining room and bed-
chamber."
A Ball, by Cornelius Polemburg. — An exquisitely gay re-
presentation (as the OPPOSITE engraving testifies) of a large
domestic society, enjoying themselves in various ways. Some
dancing, others conversing, all amusing themselves after a repast,
the remains of which attest the time of day. This picture is so
different in subject from those usually seen of the master, that it
raises a doubt whether indeed Polemburg be the painter of this
truly interesting composition. But the monogram used by Cor-
nelius Polemburg is ostentatiously displayed in the fore-gi'ound.
And Palamedes, the only artist, who, in the event of its not being
the production of Polemburg, would be the painter chosen as
capable of executing it, is named Anthony Palamedes,* and
* There were two Artists, brothers, of the name of Palamedes, or Stae-
vARTS, or Stevers. Of the christian name of the first, Pilkington gives us no
account ; l)ut the choice of the subjects — " encampments with sutlers' booths,
and battles of horse and foot" — proves that the above picture could not be by
the elder : and although the younger Palamedes painted " conversations of
persons of both sexes, as if they ivere engaged at cards, or at entertainments
of vocal and instrumental music, or at feasts or dances" — yet the monogram
of C. P. could never be intended for the initials of himself; and had he exe-
cuted a pictiu"e like this, he would have been too proud to have withheld his o^vn
THE DRAWING ROOM. 15
therefore can have no right to the monogram. It is from the
Sunderland Collection ; and has, from that time, been considered
as a picture by Polemburg ; being held, as it deserves to be, in
very high estimation for its enchanting delicacy, silver-toned
brightness, and extraordinary finish.
A Sketch, by Rubens. — This splendid composition and bril-
liant assemblage of rich objects, is apparently intended for the
purpose of being woven in the tapestry of Brussels, in former
times so highly renowned ; and for which the greatest painters
were employed to compose the designs. The subject is the
celebration of one of the highest rites of the Jewish religion.
The High Priest is at the altar to complete the sacrifice, and the
magnificence of the scene is almost peculiar to the wonderful
pencil of Rubens. The merit of this great artist is never per-
haps so powerfully exhibited as in his sketches. He executed
them entirely with his own pencil, which he could seldom afford
time to do in his larger pictures, so extensively was he employed :
while his sketches, of necessity, must be exclusively the work of
his own hand. The genius which conceived, could alone guide
the pencil which realised the conception. In this fine specimen
of his great mind there are many j)enthnenti, or corrections,
visible ; which render it very interesting to exanyne this picture
closely. It is part of the Sunderland Collection.
Diana and her Nymphs, bathing, by Van Balen and Vel-
vet Breughel. — This is a very highly finished picture. That
part of it which belongs to Breughel, is equal to any praise.
The dehcacy, the spirit, and the decision of touch, in the ani-
initials. The same may be said of Polemburg's disciple, John Vander Lis,
who imitated his master so successfully, that his paintings are often taken for
those of Polemburg. In this case he would have put his own initials. Wal-
pole tells us that Polemburg painted " an inside view of Theobald's, with
figures of the King and Queen, and the two Earls of Pembroke and Montgo-
mery," &c. Why, therefore, might he not have ])ainted the above ? The
objection lies in his having usually painted out-of-door subjects ; but such
objection, opposed to the above monogram, does not appear to me to be
conclusive.
16 THE DRAWING ROOM.
mals, birds, ornaments, and all the various small objects intro-
duced, as accompaniments to the subject, are truly exquisite,
and worthy of the wonderful pencilling of the master. The
goddess herself, and her attendants, by Van Balen, are very far
inferior in merit, and are true representations of a Dutchman's
notion of ideal beauty ; they are coarse, ill-formed, and slovenly
designed.
Portrait of a Lady, by Titian. — A fine and beautifully
coloured portrait of this favourite mistress of the painter. She
appears to have been Titian's model for almost all his female
characters. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Sea Port, by Claude Lorraine. — The sun is nearly set,
and the composition, as is ever the case with this celebrated
artist, is grand, rich, and full of picturesque objects ; but the
broad shadows incident to the time of day selected by the
painter, are a little darkened by age. From the Sunderland
Collection.
A Venetian Lady at her Toilet, by Titian. — A splendid
and uncommonly well preserved picture. The subject is not
clearly made out ; although evidently representing a scene in
real life. The business of the toilet is disagreeably interrupted.
The jewel casket, on being opened, is found to have been rifled
of its precious contents. The angry blush, mantling over the
bosom and face, and the indignant fire kindling in the dark eyes
of the beautiful and haughty Venetian, prove her to be insensible
to the soothings of her lover, who, shewing her herself in a
mirror, seems trying to convince her that she requires not the
" foreign aid of ornament." This portrait is exquisitely painted.
A cardinal's coat of arms is twice introduced in the back-ground
of this picture. It formed a part of Lord Sunderland's Col-
lection.
Morning and Evening, by Jean Asselyn. — Two pretty
and cheerful landscapes, in which Diana and her nymphs going
off, and returning from the chase, are beautiful accessories.
THE DRAWING ROOM. 17
The Crucifixion of St. Andrew, by Le Brun. — A clear
and good picture of the master, in which he appears to have
attempted to imitate Nicolo Poussin ; but his inferiority in taste
is strongly marked in the outre expression of the attitude and
countenance of the Roman magistrate superintending the execu-
tion of the martyr. It was engraved by Picart. From the
Sunderland Collection.'
Holy Family, by Rubens. — A very pleasing picture, brightly
and beautifully coloured. From the Sunderland Collection.
Landscape, by Berghem. — A most exquisite specimen of the
master in his best style. Nothing can be better composed than
the scenery, nor more soft than the silver-tone of the morning
gray tint thrown over the whole picture. From the Sunderland
Collection.
A Girl with Kittens in her Lap, by Agostino Carracci
DETTO IL GoBBO. — A merry little Italian maiden, probably a por-
trait. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Sea Port — a Calm, by Vandervelde. — This picture and
its companion, a violent Gale of Wind, are good and worthy spe-
cimens of the artist's powers. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Boy blowing upon a lighted Brand, by Schalcken. — A
fine picture of the mastei", and a very happy example of his un-
common power of producing the peculiar effect of the light of
fire. From the Sunderland Collection.
Cleopatra dying with the Asp at her Bosom, by Guido
Reni. — Guido, when a very young man, appears to have given
a more than natural strength and depth to his shadows, from a
great admiration which he is known to have entertained for
Caravaggio, whose peculiarity in this respect he imitated. But
his unequalled taste, and the exquisite elegance of his mind,
seemed to have prevailed over his inclination to follow, in other
18 THE DRAWING ROOM.
respects, the coarse and vigorous model who misled his youthful
judgment.
This picture and its companion, a Lucretia in the act of stab-
bing herself, are good proofs of this fact. The shadows are too
deep, much deeper than he practised in after life ; but the de-
sign of these beautiful female figures is as perfect as any this
great master ever produced— more especially the Lucretia. From
the Sunderland Collection.
Acis AND Galatea — Polyphemus at a distance. Nymphs
AND Tritons, by Nicolo Poussin. — The remarkable severity
and good taste of this very superior artist in the selection of his
subjects, make the picture under review rather a striking devia-
tion from his usual correct choice : not that the representation of
a well-known story in mythology is a circumstance to be won-
dered at, by a master whose profound knowledge of ancient
learning distinguished him above all painters ; but the mode of
treating it is liable to an imputation, in which he is guiltless in
every other picture known of his pencil. It is however a fine
and genuine instance of the perfection of his design, beautifully
and classically composed, and in perfect preservation. From the
Sunderland Collection.
The Personification of the Five Senses, by Simon de
Vos. — The subject is not agreeably treated, but the executive
part is not to be surpassed. The brilliancy and sharpness of the
touch, the beautiful clearness of the colouring, make up for the
deficiency to be lamented in the composition. Its companion,
by the same master, is a more agreeable picture, and a gay as-
semblage of careless revellers in the enjoyment of music and
feasting, is admirably grouped and thrown together in pictu-
resque confusion. The delicacy of the pencilling, and the effect
of the sun-beams through the windows of the apartments, are
beyond praise. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Shipwreck, by Bonaventure Peters. — A very fine pic-
ture, and apparently a too faithful representation of a sad scene.
THE DRAWING ROOM. 19
The figures, although so diminutive, are perfectly made out, and
bear the closest examination. From the Sunderland Collection.
A Spanish Bag-Piper, by Velasquez. — A good picture of
the master. From the Sunderland Collection.
[20]
THE LIBRARY.
The Library at Althorp occupies a suite of apartments, on the
ground floor ; of which the entire length — from the extremity of
the first apartment, called The Long Library, to that of the fifth
or last apartment, called The Gothic Library — cannot be less
than two hundred and twenty feet. These rooms may be said,
\rith very few exceptions, to be filled with books to the very
ceiling. I shall begin with the first, or the Long Library, in
which the foundation of this magnificent Collection may be said
to be laid.
THE LONG LIBRARY.
A screen, or partition, terminated by columns of the Ionic
order, is at each end of this room ; within about eleven feet of
the extremity. The subjoined plate wiU give a notion of one
of these extremities, and the spectator wiU suppose the corres-
ponding end, from which the view is taken, to be precisely like
it. The figures introduced wiU also give a notion of the usual
purposes to which this room is devoted ; namely, as a Morning
Sitting Room, or Drawing Room ; and it is indeed considered
the usual place of assembling, either morning or evening, by the
visitors. From the partial contraction of the room, by means of
of these screens, the proportion is better preserved. The whole,
in its present state, was executed by the late Mr. Holland, the
architect, under his Lordship's directions, and is painted white
— which colour, being balanced by the various hues of the
bindings of the books, gives the entire room a gay and cheerful
appearance.
In the day time, ample light is aflfbrded by means of five large
windows, which are seen on the left side of the house, in the ex-
terior view of it. In the evening, as before observed, it is used
^I'^'
£>.y,'V -*'■ .''■"'-*- ffifc-.i,' r.^r"- *M I'j,.
mEMBBANBTS MOTHEB, .
From the Original raiuting br Rembrandt, in the totsetsion of Earl Spencer, at Althorp.
/
Lrndi'ii. fuhltshtil rrr riK KtvUF.Dihdin. WZff.
THE LIBRARY. 21
as a Drcnving Room ; where the company assemble on rising
from the dinner table.
It is now scarcely twenty-five years since this room con-
tained the whole of his Lordship's library ; and that portion of
it which, in the engraving, is seen through the pillars, was set
apart for the reception of Editiones Principes, and Books
printed in the Fifteenth Century. Here it was that Gibbon
described himself " as having exhausted a whole morning (in
company with the noble owner) among the first editions of
Cicero."* Were that celebrated historian now alive, and en-
gaged in a similar pursuit, he would find the toil of investigation
a little more severe ; as the number in that class of Books (pre-
served for the last twenty years at Spencer House) is prodigi-
ously increased. The shelves, as seen in the view, and then
occupied by early printed volumes, now contain a selection of
volumes, in all classes of literature, which are distinguished for
their rarity and condition, and for the beauty of their bindings ;
and which form, in short, a little series of themselves..
The corresponding end of this room — or that part from which
the view is taken — is devoted almost entirely to Theology : the
bottom shelves being occupied by large paper copies of the
Polijglott and other Bibles. Before, however, we quit this Li-
brary for the adjoining apartment, it will be necessary to make
the visitor acquainted with the Pictures which it contains, and
which are grouped (if I may so speak) in the centre of the room,
about the fire-place, as the annexed view shews. The principal
of these, both for size and intrinsic merit, is supposed to be
Rembrandt's Mother, by her Son. — The opposite plate vrill
give the best idea of the composition of this picture ; and the ob-
server cannot fail to admire the consummate care and skill with
which the whole is executed. The chiaro-oscuro (of which how-
ever the effect is materially injured by its being placed opposite
the light,) is as perfect as it is charming. Seen by lamp-light,
the spectator cannot fail to be struck with its force and beauty.
The figure in question is habited in a vestment of a yellow
tint. Her head-dress is of a dark and variegated pattern. The
* Life and Memoirs, vol. i. p. 289. 4to. edit.
VOL. I. D
23 THE LIBRARY.
cloak is of a dark, or almost blackish tint. The curtain is a
deep neutralised green ; a colour, of which all painters, from
Titian to Reynolds, have been exceedingly fond ; but no artist
has managed it with more magical efiect than Rembrandt. This
fine painting has never been before engraved ; and if any criti-
cism may be offered upon the present graphic production, it is,
that the countenance is rendered a little too young. It was exe-
cuted from the copy, made in water colours, by the late Mr.
Satchwell — now in possession of Earl Spencer. The original
picture was in the Collection of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.
Under the Rembrandt, A round Landscape, by Breughel. —
A pretty little bit. The scene a wood, and the birds and foliage
most delicately handled. — On the right hand, A Concert of
Birds, by Van Kessel : — a miraculous display of the power of
his pencilling and of his miniature touch. Each bird, although
very diminutive, is so perfect, that it would bear examination
through a microscope. On the left hand is a dehghtful httle
Landscape, by Breenberg. The nymph who is bathing is said,
in the old catalogues, to be by Polemburg. This little landscape
is one of the most genuine and brilliant pictures at Althorp.
Under these three small pictures, are two frames filled by Por-
traits in enamel: — of the following personages; two of John
Duke of Marlborough, by Zinck : two of Sarah Duchess of
Marlborough, by an unknown artist : Lewis XIV, Cardinal
Richelieu, and an Unknown head of beautiful execution, by Pe-
titot : Lord and Lady Granville, Lady Anne Sunderland, and
Lady Rachel Russell ; by artists unknown.
Three oblong pictures by David Teniers. — This artist often
attempted subjects in the stj'le of the Italian masters. These
under review are cases in point. The subjects are mythological ;
and although the failure in giving gods and goddesses, nymphs
and tritons, Cupids and sea monsters, grace or classical dignity,
is truly ludicrous ; yet in spu'it, sharpness, clearness, and match-
less brilliancy and lightness, he far surpasses the Italian school.
These three pictures, and their companions on the other side of
THE LIBRARY. 33
the chimney, were painted for the purpose of forming the pan-
nels of a Corbeille de Manage, or casket, in which marriage gifts
are offered to foreign brides by the bridegroom on theu' wedding
day.
Two small pictures of Teniers, of Boors merry and half
DRUNK, WITH THEIR WINE JUGS IN THEIR HANDS. Above these
are two very interesting cabinet pictures in the best style of the
Italian school. That on the left hand is the Nativity, by Ba-
Roccio : a most happy composition, and perfect in expression
and eiFect. All the light proceeds from the holy child, and
strikes beautifidly on the mother, kneeling by the crib, and on a
group of angels hovering over them. Sir Joshua Reynolds stu-
died this identical picture very many times, while he was com-
posing the Nativity which forms the centre of the window at
New College, Oxford. The present is from the Sunderland
Collection.
The picture on the right hand is a very excellent specimen of
the Bolognese school — A St. Francis, by Giido Reni. The
head and hands of the saint are finely painted, and the ex-
pression of the countenance most beautiful. From the same
Collection.
Right side of the Chimney, at the bottom, A Dutch View, by
Van Mosker, a scholar of Hobbima. Three long pictures by
David Teniers. On the left of the upper one are the portraits
of two great artists, the elder of whom is Michael Angelo
Buonarotti, the other GiuLio Romano. They are painted
by Sebastian del Piombo, Michael Angelo's favourite scholar ;
altogether forming a singularly interesting picture.
On the right hand of the Teniers, A small Landscape, by Mola.
Above these, on the left hand, are Ayi Holy Family, by Carlo
Maratti. — A pretty cabinet picture ; and on the right of it a
Landscape, by Murillo, representing the Entrance of the
Grotto of Pausilippo, near Naples. An uncommon and beautifiil
picture of the master. All these are from the Sunderland
Collection.
24 THE LIBRARY.
At the top, on the left hand of the chimney, two small pictures,
with cattle, by Bfrchem ; and a Madonna and Child, by Piktro
Perugino, who was Raphael d'Urbino's master, in the centre.
At the toj), on the right hand, Two small Landscapes, by an
unknown hand ; and in the centre, an Entombing of Christ,
by Andrea Schiavone.
From the Long Library, the visitor retires, between the pillars
seen in the view, to the second room — which may be designated
THE RAPHAEL LIBRARY.
It takes this name from a very fine picture of the Holy Fa-
mily, by that master, which hangs over the fire-place.* This
picture is painted in the second style or manner of Raphael, and
the figures are of the size of life. It was purchased by the present
Earl Spencer when he was in Italy, in 1785, from a noble family in
whose possession it had remained ever since the time of Raphael.
By original documents, it was proved to have been expressly
painted by him, for an ancestor of the same noble family. It is
painted upon plaister, about three inches in thickness, laid upon
wood. There is another similar picture, by the same master, but
with a different back-ground, in the Royal Collection at Naples.
In the order of the arrangement of the books, this Library con-
tains a very choice collection oi Poetry and County History; most
of the latter class being upon large paper. To the left, on quit-
ting it, is hung up a curious old hunting horn,-f- of ivory, of the
execution of the xvith century, and of foreign workmanship ;
presented to his Lordship by George Ashby, Esq. of Hasel-
beach, in Northamptonshire.
* For some other subordinate notices, connected with it, see the Bibl'wgra-
graphical Decameron, vol. iii. p. 389.
t In the Althorp Library is a very fine, but not quite complete, copy oi' that
rare and most singular book, entitled, /4n /Iccadi'mie of Armory, &c. By Handle
Holme, [1688] Folio . . . l)oiiig a sort of Encyclopiedia, in its way. In the
III'' Book of this work, arc instructions for " blowing a horn," which, for
aught I know to the contrary, might have been put into practice by the above
iiistniment ; for surely it seems calculated, in every respect, to do justice to
.£tatis Sua? 1"'
L'om an OeI^IculL ]asJja«iiQ.g lay Sir ds.at Aiti*rp.
THE LIBRARY. 25
From this room you go immediately into
THE BILLIARD LIBRARY.
This room is so called, from a billiard table being placed in the
middle. This library is lighted by three large windows, of which
the centre is made to be raised up, with small folding doors
below, through which you walk into the park. This room con-
tains, in the order of arrangement, a fine collection of History
on one side, with the continuation of Poetrij, on the other.
But this room has other attractions, which cannot fail to delight
a lover of the fine arts. Here are two of the finest specimens
of the pencil of Sir Joshua Reynolds, which this mansion con-
tains. They are the portraits of the present Marchioness
Camden and Viscount Althorp — the latter when four years
old. As this is presented to the reader, through the me^
dium of the opposite engraving, it may be only necessary to
observe, that the portrait of Lady Camden is in a fine state of
preservation. The head-dress is a pink muslin, encircled by
white beads. The ghdle, or sash, is of a yellow tint : the
drapery is white. The attitude is undoubtedly one of the most
hazardous for a painter to execute with grace and good effect ;
but difficult and extraordinary indeed must have been that at-
tempt, in which the pencil of Reynolds could have failed. There
is a glow and radiance about the whole of this picture, which is
perfectly magical : the etching from it, by the late Schiavonetti,
in the dotting style, is undoubtedly a faithless resemblance.
Under the portiait is
An interesting picture by Callot, representing the Landing
OF the Duke of Buckingham on the island of Rhe during
such directions as these. On "The Mort or Death" of any deer. "Tone Ton
Tavern Ton-tavern Ton, Ion, tavern." To call the company in the morning ;
Tone, tavern, tavern tavern tone ton-tavern ; The stroaks to field. Ton-
ton-tavern, tone-ton-tavern, ton-tavern, ton-tavern, tone taverne, taverne tone.
To uncouple the hounds. Tone tavern, tavern, tavern, tavern, tavern, ton-
tavern tone."
26 THE LIBRARY.
the siege of La Rochelle. The details are curious ; and the
costume, and arms, and military arrangements, are very worthy
of close examination.
The Portrait of the present Viscount Althorp is a per-
foiTiiance of great sweetness and ability. The colouring, in
parts of the drapery, is flown a little ; the usual result of those
pictures of Sir Joshua in which the white colour predominates.
The dress is wholly white, with the exception of the sash, which
is light blue. This picture has never been before engraved.
Below it, hangs
A very pretty Landscape, by Van Goyen — surprisingly clear,
and brilliantly sketched : a very genuine specimen of the master.
You now resume your bibliographical journey, and enter a
fourth book-room, which is called
THE MARLBOROUGH LIBRARY,
from the Portrait of that great General, which is hung over the
fire-place. This is said to have been the favourite portrait of
the Duchess. It represents the Duke, as the opposite engrav-
ing shews, shortly after his return from one of his continental
campaigns. His countenance has a browner tint than is usually
seen in his portraits ; but the Duchess, having before had her hus-
band's likeness taken as the handsomest fair man, declared that
the present should represent him as the " handsomest broicn
man" — in England. It has never been before engraved. Of
the Painter, nothing is known with certainty ; and it must be
allowed that this countenance of the Duke differs much from the
usually received portraits of that great man. I cannot also but
consider it as the most genuine one ; and as most worthy of the
reputed beautj' of the original. This room is precisely of the
dimensions of the Raphael Library, and is commonly used as
an Evening Drawing Room for the family when they are alone.
The class of books contained in it, are chiefly Voyages and
, "D)1!J1S:E of MABiEJ&OB.Oir'G-H.
■ ,^*^^^^!- i?^
THE LIBKAKY. 27
Travels, and History. Among the latter, the curious will not
fail to notice one of the completest sets in England of that rare
and truly wonderful work called the Acta Sanctorum, in fifty-five
folio volumes.
Thus far the visitor has been conducted over what may be
called the old suite of apartments, devoted to the Library ; al-
though it is scarcely six years since this last room — hereto-
fore his Lordship's bed-chamber — was thrown open for the
reception of the overflowings of such a progressively increasing
Collection. We have now to tread iiew ground. Previously to
his Lordship's leaving England for Italy, in 1819, a plan was
projected for building a new room, of the Gothic form, for the
reception of more books — and which was to communicate to the
room, just described, by means of a Corridor. This plan was
carried into effect during the year of the absence of the Earl
and Countess ; and in the following year, 1 820, the Christ-
mas revelries at Althorp extended to this Gothic room. It is
indeed a beautiful and appropriate apartment; with a smTounding
gallery, six feet in width, lighted by four Gothic windows. In this
gallery there is ample room for chairs and tables ; and the stu-
dious may steal away from the animated discussions carried on
below, to the more perfect enjoyment of their favourite authors.
The spiral stair-case, leading to this gallery, is as neat in ap-
pearance as it is admirable in contrivance : no space being lost
for the reception of books.
But we must not forget that this new member of the mansion
is connected to the old body by means of a Corridor; in which
are several pictures, recently placed there, and which call for a
particular description. At the bottom of it, near the entrance to
the Gothic Library, is a Bust of his Lordship, (upon a term)
executed by Chauntrey, and considered to be a strong resem-
blance.
A Skirmish of Cavalry, by Borgognone. — A small picture,
very spirited, and in the best manner of the master.
A Landscape, by Gaspar Poussin, with shepherds in the
fore-ground. The tranquillity of the scene, the depth and clear-
28 THE LIBRARY.
ness of the whole, are remarkable ; and in this picture are seen
many of the peculiarities of the master.
A beautiful little bright picture, representing a Virgin and
Child, with St. Francis, in an attitude of devotion, and some
other figures, by Rothenamer. A perfect gem of its kind.
A most beautiful picture, by P. Wouwermans. — A Gentle-
man upon a curvetting Horse, with a riding-master standing
by, and giving him insti-uctions ; several spectators are on one
side, while on the other a beautiful white horse is breaking loose
and pursuing another. The landscape and the sky have the
usual beauty and softness of this master's paintings.
The Marriage of St. Catherine, by Carlo Dolci. —The
attitude of the Virgin is simple and graceful ; the kneeling figure
of St. Catherine has also a good deal of merit, and her drapery
is finely disposed. The colouring of the whole is excellent.
A Cottage on the Brow of a Hill, with a road by the side
of it, along which a lady is riding at a round pace, followed by a
falconer, with a hawk upon his fist, and a greyhound in a string ;
while other figures are seen descending the hill beyond the lady.
This beautiful picture is by Wouwermans. The clouds are
breaking away, and the sky brightening on the left, so as to set
off the principal figures ; and the shade on the right is relieved
by a white horse, beautifully painted. A companion to that be-
fore described by the same artist, and equal to it in merit.
A Magdalen at her Devotions, in a secluded scene. She
sits barefooted, and, with dishevelled tresses, and her hands
folded upon her bosom, is intent upon a skuU and some pious
book open before her upon a projecting rock, above which is a
crucifix. A sylvan glade, with a brook running through it, very
brightly painted, form the back-ground. Several birds appear
amongst the trees and on wing, and a lizard and a butterfly are
seen in another part of the picture. It is the joint composition
of three masters — the landscape being by Paul Bril — the Mag-
THE LIBRARY. g9
delen, after Annibal Caracci, by Rothenamer, and the birds
by Van Kessel.
The Dawn of a brilliant Day shining on a cahn sea and
upon a bold and picturesque coast ; by Pynaker. In the fore-
ground is a boat full of figures, comparatively in the shade ; and
in the distance a ship with all sails set, in a very beautiful light.
This picture can scarcely be surpassed in brightness, softness
of light and shade, and beauty of tint.
A Holy Family, by Albano. — In the principal group the
figure and colouring of the infant Christ, and of the drapery
that surrounds him, are particularly to be remarked. The land-
scape is beautiful ; and the whole forms one of the most pleasing
pictures of the master.
A Copy, upon a small scale, (twenty-eight and a half inches
by twentj'-three inches) of Raffaelle's Transfiguration, by
Baroccio. — It has very extraordinary merit in drawing, colour-
ing, and fidelity in details, especially in the heads ; and the value
of this early copy, which is in the highest preservation, is now
much enhanced, by the serious damage lately done to the ori-
ginal by picture-cleaners and restorers.
St. Jerome at his Studies, by Steenwyck. — The Saint sits
in an apartment which appears to be a sacristy, as it has a pulpit
on one side of it, and opens into a deep gothic oratory. There
is a fire-place and over-hanging chimney opposite the pulpit,
and books, and a variety of other objects in the room. A lion
is lying on the floor, and is introduced as the symbol of the
saint. A very brilliant picture, and in Steenwyck's best style ;
the perspective is admirable, and the nicety of the finishing
exquisite.
A Shepherdess, by Bloemart.
Landscape, by Albert Cuyp. — Although this picture has
not the golden splendour which often distinguishes the works of
VOL. I. E
30 THE LIBRARY.
this master, it has yet much warmth of colouring and softness of
touch. In the fore-ground are cattle and sheep very skilfully
painted in various groups. The head of a ram, conspicuous in
the front of the picture, is singularly well done. The distance is
glowing with a red evening sky, beautifully coloured.
A Piping Goatherd, with a goat looking up, and as it were
listening to him, by Bloemart. The Companion to the preced-
ing, by the same Painter.
A Personification of Charity, by Carlo Cignani. — The
figure is in a reclining posture, resting upon one arm, while the
other is extended gently to raise the drapery over the head of a
sleeping infant. She looks earnestly and complacently on the
babe. Another child is at her breast, and a third is flung back
upon her lap. There is a fine distribution of light over the
whole centre of this picture, which is the first beauty that strikes
the spectator ; but, on a closer examination, the expression and
the beautiful design of the female head, together with its masterly
execution, produce an admiration of a higher kind.
Maskers, by Watteau, and its Companion, A Lady prepar-
ing TO sing to a guitar, which a man is tuning. Both pretty
pictures, and the colouring of the latter, especially, very good.
A Sea Piece, by W. Vandervelde. — Ships in port ; amongst
which is a man of war just arrived, lowering her sails, and
saluting.
'&•
A Flight into Egypt, by Carlo Maratti. — One of the best
pictures of this master. The Virgin's head is singularly beau-
tiful. This picture was engraved by Jac. Frey at Rome, 1735.
A Landscape, by Decker. — The sky, and trees against it, are
well painted, in Ruysdaal's manner.
Over the Japan cabinet, west side, Hermits in a Cave; pea-
sants bringing them food, and receiving spiritual instruction in
THE LIBRARY. 31
return. A remarkably pretty picture of David Teniers, in his
best style.
All the pictures in this Corridor were part of the Sunderland
Collection.
Having thus conducted the visitor through the Corridor, we
enter, and examine more particularly.
THE GOTHIC LIBRARY.
The eastern and western extremities are nearly wholly occu-
pied by gothic windows, glazed with plate-glass; which, in
addition to the four smaller windows above the gallery, afford
abundance of light. In the further, or eastern extremity, there
is a bay-window ; of the construction of those of the time of Queen
Elizabeth. This window may be separated from the room, in case
of extremely cold weather, by means of a couple of glazed doors,
which are made to retire within the solid part of the building,
and to draw out, and meet in the centre, as occasion may require.
Sofas, chairs, tables, of every comfortable and commodious form,_
are of course Hberally scattered throughout the room. The
bay-window looks into the pleasure-garden, or rather into a
luxuriant shrubbery ; where both serpentine and straight walks
invite to a ramble among larches, elms, and oaks — the two
latter, of a size and antiquity not exceeded by any in the park.
Running parallel, a little to the right, is the flower-garden -of
Lady Spencer ; of small dimensions ; but neat in trim and per-
fect in cultivation. L^pon the whole, it must be confessed that
this room, both within and from without, has a character pecu-
liarly BOOKISH — and such as we might suppose to belong to a
well-endowed monastery.
The only embellishment in this room, in the character of a
picture, is a small and beautifully executed portrait of the family's
ancient poetical relative, Spencer.* The history of its occupy-
ing the present place is thus told in an inscription pasted at the
back :
• See page xii. ante.
32 THE LIBRARY.
" This portrait of Edmund Spencer, the author of the " Faerie
Queene," is a copy, painted by Raeburn, in 1820, of the origi-
nal, in the possession of the Earl of Kinnoul, at Dupplin Castle,
N. B. Another original portrait of this great poet was known to
have been at Castle Saffron, in the county of Cork, Ireland,
situated in the neighboui'hood of Kilcolnian Castle, the residence
of Spencer, which was destroyed by fire before his death. This
picture, in consequence of the roof of Castle Saffron fiilling in
from neglect, was utterly destroyed ; a fact ascertained by Ad-
miral Sir Benjamin Hallowell, during the period of his command
inchief of the port of Cork in 1818, at the request of George
John Earl Spencer, K. G."
In this Library are placed what may be called the finer copies,
and especially those upon large paper, in all classes of books.
The shelves, upon which the folio volumes are placed, contain a
display — which, for their extent, I do not remember to have seen
exceeded either at Paris or Vienna. Being nearly on a level
with the eye, and coming immediately in view, the knowing spec-
tator cannot fail to be struck with the richness, choice, and ex-
traordinary worth of the treasures which he surveys; and of
which a careful investigation only confirms the accuracy of a first
impression.
Thus has the reader been made acquainted, in as summary a
manner as possible, with the locale of the Althorp Library ;
although it should be mentioned that the dado, in the Picture
Gallery — which is one hundred and fifteen feet in length — is
fitted up with shelves about four feet from the ground, for the
-pui-pose of holding those works for which there may be no room
in the Library below. It is barely possible, even for the most
uninterested visitor, to walk through the apartments in which
this extraordinary library is deposited, without being struck with
the general beauty of the copies and of the bindings. Such an
assemblage of valuable, rare, and precious books — the result of
the ardour, judgment, and liberality of one man — its present
noble owner* — while it has very few similar examples in our
* It is ti'ue, that Lord Spencer's father purcliascd the library of Dr. George,
head master of Eton School, which contained about five thousand volumes :
and of which a great part consisted of volumes of Miscellaneous Tracts —
THE LIBRARY. 33
own, or other countries — cannot fail to produce reflections the
most congenial with enlightened minds, and of the most honour-
among which there are some, doubtless, of a peculiar rarity. But it is not
less true, that most of the remaining volumes have been exchanged for better
copies ; and that, of all those of the xvth century, only one copy (I believe) is
preserved ; namely, the Lascaris of 14/6 : see Bihl. Spenceriana, vol. ili. p.
76. The books, from the old Library, are known by the arms of John Earl
Spencer, with a roman capital letter, inscribed with the pen, below. Besides
this library of Dr. George, there was a small collection, some of which were
rather curious old English books, belonging to the family in the earlier times
of their inhabiting Althorp, and before the creation of the first Lord Spencer,
in 1603 — as appears by the famUy crest stamped on the binding of a few of
them, without a coronet. Before the purchase made from Dr. George's exe-
cutors, these books were kept in very coarse old wooden cases, in what is now
the Dining Room, but what was then the Billiard Room.
As a specimen of the contents of one of these volumes, in lirao. lettered
Miscellanies, at the back of the binding, I present the reader with the fol-
lowing titles of the pieces contained in it. It is iiiunbered 7257.
1. Ane Detect'iovn cf the dtiinges of Marie Queue 0/ Scot tes. Sec Original
edition, in the black letter. Rare. Reprinted by Constable.
2. Two Centvries of Pauls Church-yard : &c. Without date, mth the arms
of both Universities printed in the title-page. This is yet an amusing book,
and somewhat scarce. It ends thus : " Finis Bil/liothecw, & (proA dolor!) Par-
Uamenti."
3. Verses trritteh by Severall of the Author's Friends ; to be reprinted unth
the Second Edition of Gondibert. London 1653. Only eight leaves, including
the title. Scarce.
4. The Incomparable Poem Gondibert. /'indicated from the JFit Combats of
Four Esquires, Clinias, Dametas, Sancho, and Jack Pudding. 1653. The
same number of leaves. Of the same rarity.
5. A Xewe Booke called the Shippe of safeguarde, icrytten by G. B. Anno
1669. Imprinted at London by W. Seres. In the black letter. The auto-
graph of the celebrated Francis Thynne, 1569 (concerning whom see Todd's
Memoir of Gower and Chaucer, 1810. Introduction, p. x.) is at the bottom of
the title-page. This is the only copy of the book with which I am acquainted.
Mr. Haslewood favoured the public with an analysis of its contents, in the British
Bibliographer, vol. ii. p. 618 — 634.
6. T7ie Pleasant Fable of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis. By T. Peend
Gent. fFith a morall in English Verse. Anno Domini 1565. Mense De-
cembris. Contains Signature A to C, in eights. Printed by Colwell. Origi-
nal edition. Of great rarity. In the black letter. Ritson. Bibliog. Poet.
34 THE LIBRARY.
able and flattering description in favour of the founder of such
an intellectual banquet.
p. 296, supposes this to have been previously printed in 1564, but I doubt the
existence of such edition.
7. The excellent Hittorije of Theseus and Ariadne, ffc. By Thomas An-
derdowne. Imp. by Rycharde Juhiies. 1566. 2S. o/Januarie. In the black
letter. First edition. Very rare.
8. A poore munnes beneuolence to the afflicted Church. Imprinted at London
in little Britaine by Alexander Lacy 29 Jan. 1566. In the bliick letter.
9. Treatise of Dreames. (Title wanting.) In the black letter. No im-
print at the end.
10. A short Discourse of the meancs that the Cardinal of Loraine rseth to
hinder the staldishing of peace, ?f to moue new troubles in Fraunce. Imp. by
H.Bynneman for Ltccas Haryson. 1568. In the black letter. First Edition.
This book also belonged to Francis Thynne, and has his autograph, and the
price (ijd.) marked at the top of the title-page. There are some horrible nar-
ratives disclosed in this book. Among them, at F. j. rect., is related the
murder of a Captain Gosse — " whose wife was constrained to hold the candle
to light the murtherers, while they hewed her husband in pieces." But there
are hardly coloiu-s black enough for the historian to use in his delineation of
the character of the Cardinal of Lorraine.
\\. A Poesie in forme of a Fision, briefly inueyinff against the moste hatefull,
and prodigious Artes of Kecromancie, Witchcraft, Sorcerie, Incantations, i^c.
Compiled in Metre by I. II. Printed by Rowland Hall, 1563. In the black
letter. A very uncommon little volume. Every herb of the field seems to l)e
thrown into the alternate rhyme stanzas of this poem.
There was no herbe, nor pleasant flower
in such a felde to knowe :
But might be sene most fruitfully
within this feilde to grow.
The Hartscase, and the Pacience
and crimsen Pimpernell :
The Cammock, and the Caramomille
and caunterbury bell.
Rosecampany, Maudlen, and Coste
and London touft so red :
Agrimony, and Lians toth,
that children caule pisbed. A iii — iiii
The whole passes in a dream or vision. Ritson was ignorant of the author.
THE LIBRARY. 35
It is, in short, a General Library ; one, which, with the ex-
ception of merely technical or elementary works upon Law
12. TJie Grantes, Ordinances and Lau'es of Romeney Mars fie. At the end :
Londini, &CC. Thorn: Berthelet. 1543. I take this to be the Jirst edition of
this celebrated Ordinance. Consult the Ti/p. Antiq. vol. iii. p. 322. From
which it is evident that neither Herbert nor myself had seen the book. The
name of Francis Thynne also appears in this volume, at the top of the title.
It contains A B, in eights : the imprint, on a separate leaf, forming B viij.
13. ^ Seconds declaration of the Prince of Conde. Imp. by Henry Sutton
Jor Edward Sutton, S^c. 1562. In the black letter.
14. De CivHitate Moriim PueriUum per Des. Erasmiim Rot. &c. Antverpiie.
1554. The name of the original proprietor of the book is cut off.
The time is not very remote, when this duodecimo volume, containing
probably about 450 pages, would have produced, at a public auction, a sura
little short of fifty guineas.
Among the Quartos, denominated Miscellanies, there is one which has not
fewer than a hundred and fifty tracts of prose and poetry. Another, num-
bered 6912, contains the following tracts ; of which the reader will appreciate
the worth as he becomes better acquainted with them. They are bound in an
old vellum cover, and have the number 6912 in the fly leaf, whereon the old
Spencer Arms are pasted.
1. The yiew of Fraunce. London printed by Symon Stafford. 1604. 4to.
2. Tlie first and second part of the History of the famous Euordanus Prince
of Denmark ; icilh the strange Adventures of lagn. Prince of Sa,vonie : and of
both their severull fortunes in Loue. At London, printed by J. R. for R. B.
and are to be sold on Paules Church-yard, at the Signe of the Sun. 1605. 4to.
In the black letter. I have reason to think that this curious " history" is
unknown to most of our lovers and readers of old black letter romance. There
are no numbers to the folios, and the two parts extend from A to Z — A a and
B b — all in fours.
3. The Doirnefall of Popery. Proposed by way of a new Challenge, &c.
Printed by Thomas Purfoot, &c. 1605. The author is Thomas Bell, who
was a converted Papist and a very shrewd \vriter. pp. 155.
4. Ratseis Ghost, or The second Part of his madde Prankes and Robberies.
Printed by V. S. and are to be sold by John Hodgets in Paules Church-yard.
Date supposed to be cut oflf. In the black letter. The loss sustained by the
absence of the first part of these " mad pranks" may be easily conceived, when
the reader learns, not only that this second part is unique, but that no account
of it, in any shape, has yet appeared before the public. Nor is the present
a fit place for amplitude of detail. A rude wood cut of Ratsey's Ghost — a figure
naked to the waist — with a fire ball in one hand, and what looks like a torch
36 THE LIBRARY.
Botany, and Medicine, admits works of the highest character
upon ALL branches of Literature and Science; and astro-
nomy, chemistry, mathematics, fortification, and other similar
branches, will be found here as well those of philology, lexico-
graphy, belles-lettres, and divinity — in almost all languages.
in the other, is in the title-page, between the title and the imprint. Ratsey
appears to have been a mad, harum-scarum fellow — in drinking, thieving, and
cheating, &c. ; having two comrades, of like propensities, in Snell and Short-
hose. The running title is " Ratsey Ghost." The first chapter is entitled,
" A pretty pranke passed hi/ Ratsey, vpone certain Players that he met by chance
in an Line : U'ho denied their otcne Lord and Maister, and vsed another Xohte-
man's name." The second chapter, " How Ratsey robbed a Tapster of Maid-
stone, and gulled him the next day, being disguised" The third, " A pretie
conceit past vpon Ratsey by a fellow that he rob'd of ten pounds," &c.
Ratsey is betrayed Gike many of his fraternity) l>y his most intimate friend
and fellow robber, Snell. And the last chapter treats " Of Ratseys demeanour
towards the Sheriffe, and his carelesse carriage at the time of his eaecution." I
select a good portion of this chapter. Ratsey " having reccaued the dolefull
doome of death, being brought to the place of execution, Maister Sheriflfe
(sales he) though life failc me, yet while I doe iiue my heart shall not faint
me. I son'ow not to dye, I)ut I grieue at the manner of my death. For might
I in the field incounter the enemie, and so dye, it woidd nothing discontent
me. Rlight I be praie to some wild beast, and so perish, I were a happy man.
But to fall into the hangman's handes, oh mee thrice miserable and unfortu-
nate ! Euerie «Tong I haue done (called now to remembrance) wrings a drop
of blood from my heart. There is nothing [like nito] to the worme of Con-
science : no hell to [like viito] a mindc toucht with guilt. But doe me one
fauour, I pray you, Maister Sheriffe, before I die ? '\^^^at's that Maister Rat-
sey ? quoth the Sheriffe. Faith nothing (sales he) but that I might see the
others die before me, especially that villain Snell that betrayed mee," &c. The
tract contains F 3, in fours.
5. 'Ffie Fraternitie of Facabondes, Sfc. where unto also is adioyned the xxv
Orders ofKnaues, i^c. Confirmed for euer by Cache Lorelt, ?j-c. Ltip. at Lon-
don by W. tVhite dwelling in Cow Lane. 1603. 4to. Original, and rare
edition.
6. The Flea : sic parua componere magnis. London, Printed for John Smeth-
wick, !fc. 1605. 4to. A large wood cut of a shepherd in a tree ; ivith a bull
sitting in a chair ; a fox, rat, dog, and four elephants, below the tree. The
author is Peter Woodhouse, whose two dedicatory epistles preceded the text.
Then a poetical address, "In laudem Authoris," by R. P. Gent. On sig. B,
the poem begins with the title of " Dcmoeritus his Dreame, (which is the
THE LIBRARY. 37
The reader will probably now expect some account of the
Treasures of a Library, through which he has only passed in a
hasty manner, but which may have been sufficient to excite
a curiosity for more full and particular information. With every
disposition to gratify his wishes, it must, at the same time, be
obvious to him, that the present is not the place for a descrip-
tive Catalogue even of the principal articles in each depart-
ment ; but while he will here find little better than partial no-
tices of some of the more remarkable and magnificent copies of
Books in the branches of Literature and Belles-Lettres, he must
admit that such a partial selection has been in some measure com-
pensated by an account of the various impressions of Bibles and
Testaments, and of portions of the Sacred Text, in almost all
languages, which are contained in this extraordinary Collection.
While this task has been executed from a paramount professional
feeling, it must at the same time be observed, that it may be
questioned whether the departments of Classical Literature,
in the Greek, Latin, and ItaUan Languages, be not of yet greater
extent and value.
running title throughout) Or the Contention betvveene the Elephant and the
Flea." The verse is in heroic rhyming couplets ; but the poem is desperately
dull — fully justifying what the author says at the end. (D 5, in fours.)
Many, many things haue written,
^^'hen th' ad better still haue sitten.
Peraduenture so had I :
Yet I knowe no reason why.
It's a foolish toy I write.
And in folly mo.st delight:
Then (I hope) it \n]l please many.
And not be dislikte of any,
Euen from tales of Robin Hood,
Wise men always picke some good.
None (I trust) otfend I shall.
So I take my leaue of aU. Peter Woodhouse.
My friends Messrs. Douce and Hebcr inform me that they never saw, nor
heard of, another copy of this singular production.
6. Humors Aiithive Faces. Drawne in proportion to /lis seiierall Antique les-
tures. London Imp. 6j-c. for Henry Rockett, and are to bee solde at the long Shop
vnder S. Mildred's Church in the Poultrie. 1605. 4to. A rare piece ; being
a collection of epigrams in heroic verse ; on signatiu'es A — D, in fours.
VOL. I. F
[ 38 ] [Puhjgloft
BIBLIA POLYGLOTTA.
BiBLIA PoLYGLOTTA. Complutl. 1514. Folio,
6 vols,
A beautifully fair and full-sized copy. Bound in yellow morocco.
Consult the Bill. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 7^.
Antv. 1569, &c. Folio, 8 vols.
A truly magnificent, and perhaps unique copy; upon large paper —
formerly in the collection of De Thou. The three latter volumes are
unluckily upon smaU ])a|)er ; but still were the property of the same
illustrious owner ; from wliich it is most probable that they were ne\er
executed upon large paper. This copy is bound in red morocco.
Paris. 1645. Folio, 10 vols.
An exceedingly fine copy, in Frencli calf binding, witli gilt leaves
Formerly in the Crevenna library. It is a mistaken notion to su])pose
that there are copies of this work uj)on large paper.
JLondini. 1657- Folio, 6 vols.
One of the noblest sets of volumes in the world — upon labgf, paper.
The rarity of the work, in this condition, is extreme. In our own
country there are about ^'ue other similar copies;* of tlie twelve only
which were so struck off. The present, in its origin.al blue morocco
binding, was obtained of Mr. Payne ; who ]jurchascd it at Paris in the
beginning of the revolution. In general, copies of this character are
bound in twelve volumes ; as their thickness, in six, is enormous : yet
that act would be considered as little short of bibliographical sacrilege,
* A copy of this kind is ill tlie Library at Lambeth, in that of St. Paul's Cathedral, in
the British Museum, in St. Juhn's College, Canihridge, in the Library of His Majesty.
and in that of Shrewsbury School. Each of tlicse copies has Ihe Lexicon also upon
large paper.
Bibks.] THE LIBRARY. 39
which should disturb the original order, or diminish the massive di-
mensions, of this abnost matchless set of books. The copy is a royal
copy, as are, I believe, all those on large paper ; but his Lordship
possesses another copy, in plain good calf binding, upon small paper,
(along with the Lexicon of CasteU,) which is called the republican
copy. Unluckily the copy of CasteU, belonging to this set, is upon
small paper ; but it is a very fine one, bound in blue morocco.
The reader, I trust, wUl allow me to refer to my former bibliogra-
phical labours upon these Polyglott Bibles, as found in the Introd. to
the Classics, vol. i. p. I — 35 ; but more especially to the labours of my
friend the Rev. H. J. Todd, in his Memoirs of the Life and Writings of
the Editor of the Polyglott. London, IS21. 8vo.
BiBLiA Pentapla. 1. Der Romisch-Catholischen.
2. Lutherischen. 3. Reforiniten. 4. Der Ju-
dischen in Alt Test, des Jos. Athice der Neve in
JV. T. John Herrich Reitzen. 5. Der Holland-
ischen durch Herm. He Hoi. Hamburgh. Y'JW.
Quarto, 3 vols.
In the small, closely printed black letter — upon very indifiFerent paper.
This copy is in vellum binding, with blue morocco backs.
BiBLiA Sacra Quadralinguia. Sc. Syr. Grccc.
Vulg. Lot. et Germ. Accurante Reineccio.
IJpsice. 1/13. Folio.
Although this Polyglott edition of the sacred text be inferior to the
larger ones published at Antwerp, Paris, and London, it is neverthe-
less superior to aU the minor ones. Masch dates the edition 1550 : but
the present copy, containing only the N. T., is of the above date. The
Latin version is Schmid's, the German that of Luther. A copper-
plate frontispiece precedes the printed title. In veUum binding.
[ 40 ] [Hebrew
BIBLIA HEBRAICA *
BiBLiA Hebraica. Paris, ex Ojfflc. R. Stephani.
1543. Quarto, 4 vols.
A very beautiful copy of a beautifully executed impression ; in French
yellow morocco binding, gilt leaves.
Apud Eiindem. 1565. Sextodecimo.
Antv. in donio Christophori Plantini.
(1566.) Quarto.
To the Hebrew Old Testament, beautifully printed, is annexed the
Greek New Testament, printed by De La Rouiere, 1619, 4tQ. These
are fine copies, in one volume ; in russia binding
Curd Leusdeni. Sine Punctis. Amat. IT'OI.
Duodecimo.
A beautiful copy of an exquisitely printed little book : in blue
morocco binding.
Curd Vatider Hooght. Amst. 1705. Oc-
tavo, 2 vols.
Among the more celebrated impressions of the sacred text in tlie
Hebrew language, and highly commended by Masch and Boerner. It
is also an admirably printed edition. In blue morocco binding.
Studio et Opera D. H. Opitii. Kiloni.
1709. Quarto.
The dedication is equally singular and solemn — to the Triune Deity !
It commences thus : ' Douiine ac Deus Mi ! Ad tuam accedere Maies-
• A List of the impressions of the sacred text in the Hebrew language, in the xvth
CENTt/RY, will be found in the succeeding pages. Consult the Index.
Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 41
tatem, Teque meuin aUoqui Dominum pulvis ego & cinis sustineo.' The
editor was as learned as he was pious ; and the present unostentatious
volume, printed with a fine large Hebrew type ( ' in which the eyes of
the reader are judiciously consulted,') upon an indifferent paper, was
the fruit of thirty years incessant toil in the study and correction of the
sacred text. The result was perfectly successful ; for Opitius is justly
classed among the most erudite of Hebraic critics. Consult the Biblia
Sacra of Masch and Boerner, vol. i. p. 5'Z. The present is a sound de-
sirable copy in calf binding, with marble-edged leaves.
Biblia Hebraic a. Curdac Studio J. H. 3Iichaelis.
Hal. 3Ingdehiirg. 1720. Quarto, 2 vols.
By far the most critical and complete of all preceding — and proba-
bly not excelled by any succeeding — impression. The text is carefully
printed from a collation of ms. and printed authorities. Parallel
places of scripture, short notes, and various readings, are added ; but
these latter, as Masch justly observes, ' require the aid of a magnifying
glass to decypher' — so small is tlie character, so indifferent is the paper,
and so clumsy is the workmanship of the press. There are also learned
prefaces to the latter prophets ; and in short the edition has every advan-
tage which critical skill can confer upon it. The excellence of Vander
Hooght's type was only wanting to its perfection. There are copies
both in the quarto and octavo form ; but the former, as the preceding
authority intimates, — ' albedine chartae aliis omnino eminent.' The
present copy, in quarto, has indeed the appearance of large paper.
Masch says that by ' an unlucky accident, many copies of the book of
Genesis were destroyed ; so that, to complete the work, they were
obliged to be carefully reprinted.' This fine copy is handsomely bound
in blue morocco.
Cum Lat. Vers. Sebastiani Schmidii. Lip-
sice. 1740. Quarto, 2 vols.
Upon the basis of Vander Hooght's ; with some notes which this
latter had inserted in his own copy, and a defence of Vander Hooght,
by Clodius, against some imputed errors of his edition. Very much
inferior to its model on the score of beauty of printing and paper; but
the Latin Version, by Schmid, is considered by Masch and Boerner to
be eminently exceUeut — and superior to the similar versions by Mun-
ster, Montanus, Castellio, and Junius and Tremellius. It contains
42 THE LIBRARY, [Hebrew
Vander Hooght's jireface, with the testimonies of learned men in
favour of that critic's labours. A sound coi)y : in calf binding.
BiBLiA Hebraica. Sine Punctis : ylccurante
Nalh. Forster. Oxon. 1750. Quarto.
The type and printing reflect great credit upon the Clarendon Press;
but the work was too costly and too uncritical to satisfy the learned.
It is rather sharply censured by Masch and Boerner. The present fine
copy, in black morocco binding, looks like large paper.
Curd Johannis Simonis. ^mst. 1753.
Octavo.
' This is called a ' Hebrew Bible Manual ;' but that hand cannot lie of
small dimensions which shall consider it very portable. This, as well
as the preceding, is published upon the basis of Vander Hooght ; but,
unluckily, contains errors not chargeable to its precursor. It is how-
ever serviceable to beginners ; as containing, at the end, a Hebrew-
Chaldaic Dictionary, by the editor. The present is a clean, sound
copy ; in vellum binding. This edition should be exchanged for the
succeeding one of \76T , 8vo. which is greatly preferable. Consult the
Bill. Sacra, vol. i. p. 56-7-
Cum Notts Criticis et T^ersione Latind ad
Notas Crilicas factd, Sfc. Autore C. F. Hou-
higant. Lutct. Paris. 1753. Folio, 4 vols.
A splendid monument of individual labour and learning, and of cor-
porate liberality ; for the ' Fathers of the Oratory' were at the expense
of the publication. Upon the whole, it is by far the most costly of all
impressions of the Hebrew text. The author published his prolego-
mena separately, in 1746; which were again separately reprinted by a
Frankfort bookseller, after the amended edition of them in the present
performance. The Latin version is professed to be neither too literal
nor too ornate ; and the subjoined notes are at once learned and useful.
The prolegomena are full of curious and apposite research : but it is a
pity the learned editor did not inform us where, and what, were the
MSS. which he consulted. This large and exceedingly fine copy la
bound in russia, with marbled-edged leaves.
Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 43
Vetus Testamentum Hebraicum. Cu7n Variis
Lectiomhus. Edidit BenjaminusKennicott, S. T. P.
yEdis Christi Canonicus, et Bihliothecarius JRad-
clivianus. Oxon. 1776-80. Folio, 2 vols.
Such is the title of the Hebrew Old Testament, put forth by Dr. Ken-
nicott,* under the imprimatur of Lord North, then Chancellor of the
University of Oxford, and under the royal auspices of his late Ma-
jesty. It is a work which cannot fail to immortalise its author ; whom
the University of Oxford will never cease to rank among the most
grateful and most accomplished of her sons. Such a performance
abundantly redeems the theological scholars of our own country from
the sneers thrown out against them by Masch, at the conclusion of the
preceding article. With the history of the man, the reader must be
satisfied by a reference to the biographical pages of Messrs. Nichols and
A. Chalmers ; with that of the work, it may be only here necessary to
obser\'e, that, like Houbigant, Kennicott threw out his proposals to the
public in a sort of bibliographical precursor, (1760, 8vo.) inquiring into
the state and situation of Hebrew MSS. Of this, he gives a good
account in his Prolegomena, or ' Dissertatio Generalis,' as far as page
65. He had a bold antagonist in VVarburton, whom he afterwards
answered and silenced : but abroad, a more learned and successful critic
appeared in Tychsenius ; who however published his Tentamen before
the appearance of the edition itself. As it is, both the one and the
other are forgotten ... as opponents of Kennicott — whose profound re-
searches have justly entitled his work (in the opinion of Masch) to be
' in suo genere primum et imicum Bibliothecarum ornamentura.' In the
list of subscribers, which follows the Dissertation, it is pleasant to see
the names of the greater number of those who were eminent for rank,
influence, wealth, and learning. The present very fine copy is bound
in blue morocco, with gilt leaves.
* • When llie king asked Dr. KennicoU, on the completion of his great work, what was
the result of all his labours, the Doctor told his Majesty, that " of the immense number of
various readings which had been collected from manuscripts, there was not one that
affected the truth of any Scripture fact, or the certainty of any doctrine of faith or moral
tiuty.*' * GeMt. Mag. vol. .\ii. New Series, p. 323, note t.
44 THE LIBRARY. [Hebrew
BiBLiA Hebraica. Digessit et g^'aviores Lectio-
num Varietates adjecit Johannes Jahn. VienncB.
1806. Quarto, 4 vols.
This edition was printed entirely at the expense of Gaudbntius
DuNKLER, the Head of the monastery of CLosterncuherg* Such proofs
of an exalted and liberal spirit rarely occur. The president was at the
expense of new types, as well as of that of paper and printing ; and,
in such a manner, that copies of it might be printed in octavo (as well
as quarto) at a very moderate price. f Jahn, of course, dedicates his
performance to such a patron : calling him the modekn Ximenes. His
dedication glows throughout with a grateful ardour — and with justice.
The president wished to encourage the taste for Hebrew literature j
and when he found Jahn busied upon the sacred text, he exliorted him
to publish his labours ' ad usum juventutis.' Accordingly, much cri-
tical lore cannot be expected in the volumes before us ; and yet (in the
opinion of the editor) ' though they may not vie, in pomp of form and
quantity of matter, with the Complutensian Polyglott, they exhibit a
more perfect and copious collection of various readings from ancient
MSS. and printed books.'
This edition contains purely the Hebrew text, in a handsome legible
type, with short various readings at the foot of each page : the con-
tents of each chapter being designated in a Latin prefix. At the end
of the fourth volume is a view of Hebrew editions and MSS. — epito-
mised from Kennicott, Bi-uns, and De Rossi. The paper of this quarto
impression is too blue in tint, and too coarse in texture j and the press-
work is about equal to the common performances of a second rate
London printer. Upon the whole, however, they are handsome
volumes, and this copy is very elegantly bound in blue morocco by
Hering.
• See The Bibliographical, Antiquarian, and Picturesque Tour, vol. iii. p. 6l5 .
t In the third page of the preface, which follows the dedication, it is thus observed —
' ut opus omnibus venale fieret, & prctium cujuslibct plagulae vix excederet tres cruci-
ferosViennenses ;' that is, about three li;ilfpence per sheet in our money.
Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 45
BiBLiA Hebraica. Olim a Christiano Rei-
NECCio, edita, ^-c. Nunc denuo ad Fidem
Becensionis Masoreticce cum Var. Led. S^c.
Ediderunt Doederlein et Meisner. Lipsice,
Tmpen.^is Breitkopf et Soc. 1793. Octavo, 2
vols.
A copy upon large paper, of which the colour and quality are un-
worthy of the accuracy and critical value of the edition. Elegantly
bound in blue morocco.
BIBLIA GRy3^.CA.
BiBLiA GRiECA. Venet. Ex officind jdldind.
1518. Folio.
Editio Princeps. For some account of the critical merits of this
volume, consult tlie Iiitrod. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 36 ; and for that of
the arrangement of the contents, Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 76. The
present copy is in the most desirable condition, and upon thick papBH.
It was obtained at the sale of the duplicates of the Duke of Devon-
shire's library, in 1815, for 4ol.; and is in old red morocco binding.
The previous copy was as tall, but upon the usual paper.
Argentorati : apud Piiolpliium Cepha^
Icsicm. 1526. 4 vols.
Perhaps the most beautiful copy of this rare edition of which any
English library can boast. The Septuagint, occupying the first three
volumes, is bound in green morocco by C. Lewis. The New Tes-
tament, of the date of 1524, was a previous acquisition ; of inferior
condition, and is bound in red morocco, French binding. For an ac-
count of the critical value of the edition consult Introduction to the
Classics, vol. i. p. 37-
VOL. I.
46 THE LIBRARY. [Greek
BiBLTA Gr^eca et Latina. BasHecB. Ex Offi-
cind Bi-yUngeriand. 1582. Octavo, 4 vols.
A mere reprint of the previous edition of 1550, with a fresh title-
page only. A neat type, indifferently printed upon very indifferent
paper. The present copy, in old calf binding, is in sound condition.
Gr. et Lat. Romce. Curd Zanetti. 1586.
Folio.
Without the Neve Testament. The history of this splendid produc-
tion is perhaps sufficiently detailed in the work just referred to : p. 39,
&c. It remains only to add, that this sumptuous copy, from the Cre-
venna Collection, is upon large p.\pek, in old red morocco binding.
Gr. et Lat. Paris. Apud Buo7i. 1628.
Folio, 2 vols.
The editor was Morinus, whose ' Prafatio de Textu Grteco et He-
braico,' is well deserving of a careful perusal. The Latin version, by
the same learned hand, is from the text of the edition just mentioned,
and the Greek text itself is also a reprint of the same. In point of
typograj)liical splendor, the work is much inferior to its precursor. A
sound copy ; in russia binding.
Gr. et Lat. I^ondhiL Excudebat Ro-
ge7'us Daniel. 1653. Quarto, 2 vols.
This performance has been perhaps too severely criticised. See In-
trod. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 42. It was published expressly for the
use of Westminster ScnooL. Daniel's dedication to that Society is
so pithy and pertinent, that I have assigned to it a place below.* The
• IncljtEe Scholse Regiae Westmonasteriensi Salulem. Hxbo-oIs ?ti If ^t'Sij ro7( afp(a,'n>tf,
ita Coucionator omnium masimus : Ecce autem vobis, Juvenes, ipsam Celiam & Promp-
tnarium, ex quo bunum suum Vinum depronipsit Architriclinius ; Aquam Vita Graeca
testa conditam ; Arcam salutis, et Veritatis scriniura, inter Muscas hujus seculi & Ranaj
.^g;. ptiacas. Gra.C(t Unguie liudimeiita non ita prideni obtuii ; fero jam Grajcanira Scrip-
tionura facile principem : quodque felix faustumque sit, habete vobis Sacri VeterU Testa,
trienti a Versione lxx Interp-etum editionem juvenibus novam, parvulis modicam, vilem
egenis, oranibu.s bona tide recusara, & qua licuit diligentia procuratam. Dii^cilia satis
Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 47
copy before us is probably matchless. It is upon large papek, bound
in red morocco, from the Crevenna Collection.
BiBLiA Gr.s:ca. Cantab, per t/oannem Field,
Ti/pog. 1665. Duodecimo, 3 vols.
A remarkably sound and clean copy, in blue morocco binding ; but,
like all the copies which I have seen, it is too closely cut.
Card Ernesti Grabe. Oxon. I/O/. Folio,
4 vols. Octavo, 8 vols.
Without the New Testament. The folio copy is upon large paper,
in the good old Oxford binding of the times. It is also full of rough
leaves, exhibiting such a specimen of paper as we must almost despair
to see revived — even by the most successful efforts of the Maidstone
and Ensham mills. If Grabe, or rather the curators of the Clarendon
Press, had selected a less meagre and disproportionate type, — if we
had seen, in these costly pages, such a, full and flowing form of cha-
racter as we observe in the Greek volumes of Plantin— the eye would
have been as gratified, as the intellect is improved, by a perusal of the
valuable contents of this work. After all, Grabe may be revered as
the prototype of Kennicott : nor is this moderate praise. He was
the first Oxford man who set diligently about the collation of ancient
MSS. for the express purpose of giving an edition of the Greek Sep-
tuagint. Like Kennicott, he published under the auspices of Royalty;*
but in the prosecution of his labours he met with coldness and neglect.
haec pulchra ; multum autem a teiieris assuescere. Vobis, inquara, pii, eruditi, et uudlque
spci optimfe Juvenes sacrosancta ha^c Voluniina, vera Pietatis simul et Eruditioiiis funda-
menta, inscripsi, niemor admodum Pra?cepti, Ke. Sucra CanibuSf nea Porcis Margaritas.
R. D.' The iinpressiun was sold by .'\Iartin and Allestrye, at the sign of the Bell, in
St. Paul's Church-yard.
• Ghabe's edition was dedicated to Queen Anne. A large copper-plate, of the au-
thor presenting his book to her Majesty, faces the title-page. This is repeated, in small,
with her Majesty's face in profile, in the initial capita! of the dedication. The octavo
edition gives a reduced copy of tlie large plate, in which the countenance of Grabe seems
to be a strong resemblance. In the dedication, Grabe introduces the name and achieve-
ments of ]\lARLBonouGii rather happily ; * Dumque inter alia sacrum DehharcE ac Baraci
Hymnum manibus tuis insinuo, ex animo opio, ut quemadniodura pra-teritis aiinis Tibi
ac fortissimo invictissimoque E.vercitus Tui Duci Marlbup.io illud iterura iterumque
concinendi occasio feliciter obtigit, ita & imposterum idem laeto ore cantare pergatis, usque
dum pax, qualem poscis, a Deo per Te tuis reddatur,' &c.
48 THE LIBRARY. [Greek Bibles.
It must always be remembered that this edition contains the result of a
careful collation of the famous Alexandrine MS : — and that the colla-
tion >vas carried on and completed (as his own affirmation, after Grabe's
dedication, testifies,) by the famous Humfrey Wanley. The particular
account of this edition in the Iiitrod. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 44-8, ren-
ders it unnecessary to say further in the present place respecting it.
The octavo copy is bound in plain calf.
BiBLiAGR.a:cA. Curd Lamberti Has. Franequerce.
1609. Quarto, 2 vols.
Without the New Testament. A very beautiful copy, ruled in red
lines, and bound in red morocco — of an edition, which, for accuracy
and utility, has never been surpassed. The type is perhaps too small
and straggling ; but the subjoined notices of various readings present
a more compressed aspect of neat, small printing, and are replete
with curious and instructive research. Bos stands upon very com-
manding ground among the Editors of the sacred text in the Greek
language. Is it worth while to add, that a large (but unmeaning)
copper-plate precedes the title-page ?
Curd Davidis Millii. Amst. 1/25. Oc-
tavo, 2 vols.
Without the New Testament. Upon the basis of the preceding. A
neat, well printed impression. A sound copy, in calf binding
Curd J. J. Breitingeri. Tiguri lielveti-
orum. 1730. Quarto, 4 vols.
Without the New Testament. A truly excellent, as well as neatly
printed edition ; and now somewhat rare. The present is a large,
clean, and sound copy, in russia binding, with marble edged leaves.
Oxo7i. 1805. Octavo, 5 vols.
A reprint of the text of Bos : very neatly executed. The present copy
of this commodious edition is beautifully bound in blue morocco.
Latin Bibles.-] THE LIBRARY. 49
BIBLIA LATIN A.
BiBLiA Latina. (^Cum Concordant iis.) Venet.
Expensis L. A. cleGiunta. 1519. Octavo.
The reader will bear in mind the exquisitely precious collection of
the sacred text, printed in the Latin tongue in the xvth century,
which graces the shelves of the Library at Spencer House, in London,
before he enters upon the ensuing list of impressions in tlie xvith and
following centuries. Of the edition before us, printed in a very small
black letter, in double columns, this copy, though closely cut by a for-
mer binder, is exceedingly fair and sound ; having all the wood-cuts,
as well as the frontispiece, coloured and emblazoned by an ancient
hand. It has been recently beautifully bound in purple morocco, by
C Lewis.
(Curd Villanovani.^ Lugduni. 1542.
Folio.
This is the edition of Michael Servetus, under the feigned name
of Villanovanus, whose trivial notes are very sparingly scattered in the
margins. In the old school of bibliography much account was made of
its rarity and singularity, as may be seen on consulting De Bure, vol. i.
p. 57. It now seems, however, to have lost its attractions, for Brunet
has passed it ' sub silentio.' The present copy (which was purchased
at the sale of the Crevenna Collection for thirty florins,) is large, and
bound in red morocco ; but a yellow stain has disfigured the central
part of the first five leaves. The copies were originally sold (at Lyons)
by Hugo a Porta ; but Caspar Trechsel printed the edition.
Tiguri, Excudehat C.Froschoverus. 1543.
Folio.
I consider this to be an important edition of the sacred text : inas-
much as the author of the version (Leo Juds) diligently consulted the
Hebrew original, and is allowed to have performed his task with equal
purity of style and fidelity of rendering. It is also the first version of
the reformed church in Switzerland. There is an excellent account of
50 THE LIBRARY. [Latin
it inMasch, vol. iii. pt. ii. p. 439-441, with copious references to criti-
cal authorities. The preface, according to JNIasch, was written by Con-
rad Pellicanus ; wlio, at the intercession of the translator, completed
some portions of the sacred text — rendered imperfect by the death of
Leo — and superintended the printing of the work. This preface is, on
many accounts, worth a careful perusal. The good sense and right
feeling of the conclusion* are admirable. It is followed by a disser-
tation from Henry Bullenger, ' upon the excellence and dignity of the
sacred writings.' The text is printed in long lines, in a handsome ro-
man type, without distinction of verses. In this copy, there is a nis.
extract, from De Thou's history, lib. 35. A. D. 1564, p. 714, upon the
excellence of the edition. The margins of this copy are charged
throughout with ms. annotations, at the bottom of the page, in an ex-
tremely neat hand, being an abridgement of the contents of each
chapter ; and, what is very unusual, these ms. notes render the copy
rather desirable than otherwise. In the title-page, in an ancient hand,
is the following inscription : ' Will and Vl'alke aright Will Walker.' A
beautiful copy, in old red morocco binding.
BiBLiA Latin A. JLutetice. Ex Officind Roherti
Stephani. 1545. Octavo, 2 vols.
Printed in the smallest fount of letter. There are two versions : the
vulgate, and a new one from Pagninus ; corrected by Vatable — whose
notes, or rather those of R. Stephen himself, are added in the margin
and at the foot of the page — in which the sacred text is frequently
and almost wholly embedded. The difficulty and expense of such an
impression must have been enormous. The present is a sound copy,
bound in blue morocco.
Lugduni. .Apud Sehastianum Gryphium.
1550. Folio, 3 vols.
By far the most splendid edition of the Latin vulgate up to the
period of its publication. The type is a fine, large, well rounded, and
• It is in part as follows : * Dum vivimus, et in Tase fragili continemur, videntur ami-
corura prodesse studia, et nocere a^mulorura opprobria : postquam autem rever^a fueiit
terra in terram suain, et tam eos qui scribunt, quam ilios qui de scriptis judicant, pallida
mors subtraxerit, et alia venerit generatio, primisque cadentibus foliis, virens sylva succre-
verit, tunc sine nominura dignitate aut respectu sola judicantur ingenia, nee considerat
Lector cuius, bed quale sit quod legit ; sive ille episcopus, sive sit laicus ; aut purpura,
serico, ve! vilissimo panno iaceat, non honoram dirersitate sed operum merito iudicabitur.'
Bib/es.] THE LIBRARY. 51
therefore legible, roman letter. This copy is not upon large paper,
though in sound and fair condition. I have seen two copies of it upon
large paper, exhibiting the most magnificent appearance ; and my me-
mory seems to charge me \vith the existence of a copy upon vellum.
Yet Clement (to whose taste such a noble set of volumes would be
most congenial) mentions neither the one nor the other. Consult his
note (71) at vol. iv. p. 144. De Bure and Brunet wholly omit the
notice of it. In calf binding, old gilt leaves.
BiBLiA Latina. Lugduni. y^pud J. Tornaesium.
1567. Octavo.
Exceedingly desirable, on account of the beautiful wood cuts of the
Petit Bernard — of whom some account (with fac-similes) appears in
the Bibliogr. Decameron, vol. i. p. 181-!). Many of the impressions of
these cuts are but indifferent ; but more are beautifully brilliant. The
composition is of a very secondary character. What is singular, this
copy, in fine rich old binding, contains the Genealogies of Scripture, in
English, at the beginning, and the whole Book of Psalmes, of the date of
162'2, at the end. From the old Library: priced 2. 6. in pencil.
BiBLiA Sacra. Cum duplici Translaiione,
et SclioUis F. Vatabli, &c. Sahnanticce. 1584.
Folio. 2 vols, in 1.
a very beautiful copy, with many rough leaves ; in blue morocco
binding, formerly in the library of De Thou. The type and printing,
had the paper been a little stouter, and of a whiter tint, would have
appeared as brilliant as they really deserve to appear. The Salamanca
Press perhaps never exhibited a more difficult and yet successful speci-
men of its ingenuity. The type is very small; and consists of the roman
and italic ; of which the latter reminds us of some of the happier spe-
cimens of the press of the Gryphii, at Lyons.
Curd Cnrafce Cardinalis. Romce. 1588.
Folio.
Intended as a companion to the Greek Septuagint, of the date of
1586, noticed at page 46. The present copy, though not upon large
paper, is an exceedingly fine one ; in red morocco binding, with richly
gilt arms on the sides.
52 THE LIBRARY. [Lalin
BiBLiA Latina. RomcE. Ex Typographid jipos-
toUcd Vaticund. 1590. Folio.
Clement, De Bure, Mr. Charles Butler, and Renouard, have each,
in turn, more or less expatiated upon this celebrated edition, which
ought to have exhibited a pure copy of the Vulgate text — under the
immediate auspices of Pope Sixtus V. It is only the copies upon
LARGE PAPER — such as the one before us — which the curious desire ;
and these have been sometimes pushed to the price of £ 60. sterling.
This very fine book is bound in red morocco.
Romce. JEx Typog. ApostoUcd Vaticand.
1592. Folio.
The companion to the preceding ; also upon large paper. This edi-
tion ought to have corrected all the errors of the preceding ; but the
will and the deed were strangely at variance on the occasion. Con-
sult the Bellum Papale of James. This fine volume is of almost equal
rarity and price with the preceding. In red morocco binding.
BiBLiA Sacra VuLG. Edit. Eugduni Sumptihus
Hoered. G. Rouilii. 1609. Octavo.
From the revised editions of Sixtus V. and Clement VTII. At the
end ' Ex Typographid Irentei Barlet.' The printer deserves indeed to
be named and to be remembered ; for a neater and more perfect exhi-
bition of what may be called the Diamond (or the smallest) letter, can
rarely be seen. A somewhat finer toned colour paper is only wanting
to render this volume in every respect a typographical curiosity. At
the end of the New Testament are the third and fourth Books of Esdras;
followed by Indexes, and various little disquisitions appertaining to
the sacred text. This copy, from the library of De Thou, is quite
perfect on the score of condition ; and must have been put into the
hands of the binder in sheets. It is in red morocco binding.
BiBLiA Sacra Lat. ,Tuxta Vulg. Apud Pe-
trum Santandreaniim . 1614. Octavo.
A very beautiful copy of an impression executed in the small, or dia-
mond letter, upon paper of a quiet or rather sombre tint. The wood-
Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 53
cuts (in the Book of Exodus) are verj- neat. In the most perfect state
of preser\-ation ; and doubtless bound out of sheets. In red morocco
binding, From the library of De Thou.
BiBLiA Sacra Latina. Colon. Agrip Sumpti-
bus Hcered. Bern. Gualteri. 1639. Octodeci-
mo, 6 vols.
A neatly printed edition, in a very small letter : but this copy, although
elegantly bound in old French blue morocco, has had the margins too
much intruded upon.
E Typographid Regid. 1642. Folio,
8 vols.
This is the ' pompous edition' (as Tom Osborne would have called it)
of the Bible put forth under the auspices of Louis XIV., from the
Royal Press. It is destitute of engravings; but called by Clement,
very naturally, the ' Queen of Editions.' It is a specimen however of
bad taste ; not on the score of type and printing, but of arrangement
and object. The plan is taken from that of the old choir books, in
MS. from which they chanted — but it is unpleasant and tedious to be
turning over several leaves before one chapter only shcill have been
read through. The Lyons Bible of 1550, (see page 50, ante) is quite a
sufficient specimen on the ground of large printing. These volumes
scarcely now meet with a sale — like the Virgil, Terence, and Horace,
from the same press, in the same tj-pe. The present copy is bound in
red morocco, with gilt leaves.
Parisiis. E Typographid JRegid. 1653.
Quarto.
This, like the preceding, is from the revision of the text under Popes
Sixtus V. and Clement ^'III. It is an exceedingly elegant volume,
with rather interesting head and tail-pieces, printed in a small, but
very' clear tv'pe, in double columns, wthout any space between the
verses, excepting the Book of Job and the Psalms. A sound copy, in
calf binding, with russia back.
VOL. I. H
54 THE LIBRARY. [Latin
BiBLiA Sacra Latina. Pai'isiis. Apud Sehast.
3Iartm, &c. 1656. Octavo.
This is rather a celebrated little edition — put forth under the aus-
pices of Cardinal Richelieu ; but it requires eyes of no ordinary power
to read it with facility and comfort. The letter is the very smallest
that could be used ; and as there is no distinction of verses, the reader
will readily conceive its trying effect upon tlie eye. The paper is of
peculiar delicacy and thinness j but its tone is rather too sombre.
This copy (a little defaced by writing in the title-page) came from the
Lamoignon Collection ; but I tliiuk I have seen larger copies, as the
present is considerably choaked in the inner margin by the binding. It
contains all the pieces mentioned by De Bure. In red morocco, gilt
leaves.
Ah TremeUio ct Junio ex Hehr. Led. red'
dita. Amst. 1669. Octavo.
The Latin version of tlie New Testament is Beza's. A sound, clear
copy, but too closely cut in the binding, which is elaborately orna-
mented in blue morocco.
Curis J. Clerici et H. Hammondi. Amst.
1735. Folio, 7 vols.
' Editio Nova Auct. et Emend." This is a common book, but has
not been quite correctly or fully described. As it is also a most excellent
edition — worthy in every respect of tlie name of Le Clerc — such de-
scription may not be unacceptable. The first edition was in 1693,
dedicated to Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Privy Seal, afterwards
President of the Privy Council, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and First
Lord of the Admiridty. The dedication is reprinted here.* The Old
• ' I well know indeed (says Le Clerc — towards tlie conclusion of the dedication) that,
in your Lordship's country, tliere are those who would liave accomplished this work in a
more learned and successful manner ; since there are many Englishmen, who, in their an-
notations upon the sacred text, have justly acquired inunortal praise — and in your
Island, if in any other, these studies have iiourished, and will continue to flourish.' He
then goes on to say, that ' want of health, strength, and opportunity — together with the
diversity of other pursuits — may have diverted the most learned from accomplishing that
which seems to have been the pleasure as well as the constant aim and efforts of his ex-
istence to perform — in the volumes here presented to the public'
Bib/es.] THE LIBRARY. 55
Testament, in 4 vols., contains a new version of Le Clerc, together
with his running paraphrase, commentary, critical disquisitions, and
chronological and geographical tables. TheiVieu! Testament, in 2 vols,
has the \-ulgate version, with the paraphrase and notes of Hammond,
translated into Latin, and enlarged and corrected by Le Clerc. It was
printed at Frankfort in 1714. The 7th and last vol. contains a Har-
mony of the Gospels, by Le Clerc. A well engraved frontispiece pre-
cedes the title, which latter bears date, Amst. 1700. The present de-
sirable copy is botmd (as most of the copies usually are) in vellum.
BiBLioR. Sacror. Latince Persiones A7itiquce,
seu Vetus Italica, ei CcetercB qucecunque in
Codicihiis MSS. et antiquorum lihris reperiri
potuerunt : Sec. Opera et Studio D. Petri
Sabatier Remis. 1743. Folio, 3 vols.
With the Latin Vulgate, in a parallel coluum, and copious notes.
The prefaces are learned and interesting — bibliographically speaking.*
This edition should be in every library like the present : but it would
be singular if it presented the old Italic text, which is supposed to have
been of the 2nd century, and to have preceded the Vulgate, formed
upon it, by St. Jerom. The impression is dedicated to Lewis Duke of
Orleans, son of the Regent of France during the minority of Louis XV :
— Lewis is thus described. ' Tu verb, Princeps Celcissime, virtutibus
donisque coelestibus, qu&m Regio sanguine, et extern^ dignitatum
pomp^ longe nobilior, dignus eras cujus ilia sibi nomen praescriberet,"
&c. The sequel is in a yet more serious and laudatory strain : but it
was praise not unjustly bestowed — for the character in question was
one of the/eui of that name and blood which did honour to France. A
short Life of Sabatier is attached to the third volmne ; the editor
himself dying before the publication.
• The first preface is in the first volume, and the second in the third. Sabatier was
doubtless a little visionary when he supposed tliat the Latin vulgate might be traced to
the time of St. Paul, who is thought by him to have preaclied and taught in Latin. ' If
this were so, (says Masch) he would doubtless have written his Epistle to the Romans in
that tongue, that his readers might the more easily have understood it. But he wrote it
in Greek ; and hence all the conjectures and dissertations about the origin and integrity
of the Itaiic Text, are surrounded by difficulties, and accompanied by vague and false
conclusions." Bibl. Sacra, vol. iii. pi. U. p. 9-10. Sabaticr's prolegomena are yet worth
a very attentive perusal.
56 THE LIBRARY. [Latin Bibles.
BiBLiA Sacra Lat. et Ital. In Torino. 1776-
OctavO; 23 vols.
The Italian version is by Martini. This copy is perfectly new and
sound ; in calf binding, with marbled leaves
Lat. et Franc. Avec des notes littdrales,
critiques, et historiques, des prefaces et des disser"
tat ions tire'es du Comm. de Calmet, de M. V Ahhe
de Vence, et des Auteurs les plus c^lebres, &c.
A Toulouse, &c. 1779- Octavo, 17 vols.
Probably the most perfect and solidly useful edition of the sacred
text which has been put forth in France. Two-thirds of the first vo-
lume are occupied by learned Prolegomena by the above-mentioned
theologians. The engravings had better been elsewhere. This copy is
quite new, and handsomely bound in calf, with marble-edged lea^■es.•
Lat. Versiculis distincta, cum Optimis
Ediiionihus turn Greeds turn Latinis diligentis-
sime comparata. Venetiis. 1784. Octavo.
' Sumptibus Remondinianis.' In the above title I have set forth tlie
principal distinction of this edition to notice. Its typographical exe-
cution cannot be commended, either on the score of paper, type, or
arrangement. The present copy is bound out of sheets, in russia,
with gilt leaves. In form, the book approaches a quarto.
Venetiis. 1784. Duodecimo, 7 vols.
An indifferently ])rinted edition, by the same publisher. This co])y
is quite new, in russia, with gilt leaves.
Parisiis Exc. Fr. Amh. Didot Natu Max.
1785. Octavo, 2 vols.
For the use of the late Dauphin of France ; and forming one of the
publications in Didot's set of ' French and Latin Classical Authors.'
It is very beautifully printed, in long lines. In blue morocco, gilt leaves.
• A new edition of this useful Work N now (1820-2) under course of publication ; of
which 9 volumes have already appeared— and of which a copy, upon fine vellum paper,
is in the Library.
French Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 57
BiBLiA Sacra Lat. Parisiis. 1785. Quarto,
2 vols.
' Clero Gallicano Dicata.' a most beautifully printed edition, in
two handsome quarto volumes ; and an early acquisition of his Lord-
ship. It is in double columns, upon paper of admirable tone and tex-
ture, but probably executed with rather too delicate a letter. I
apprehend that the beautiful edition of the Bible, printed by Bensley,
was modelled upon the present. A very sound copy, but not appropri-
ately bound — in sprinkled calf, with yellow edges to the leaves.
FRENCH BIBLES.
La Saincte Bible, &c. Imprimc en ^nuera par
Martin Lempereur. mdxxx. Folio.
This has been supposed to be theirs* edition of the French version
of the Bible, but it is the second of the Old Testament, and the third of
the New .- that of CoUmbus in 1.523, 5, 8, 12mo., being the first of the
Old, and the dateless edition, printed at Lyons in the xvth. century (see
vol. ii. p 269) being the first of the New. Brunet teUs us that the edition
of Colinaeus is very rare ; as there was an edict, issued by the Parliament
of Paris in 152.5, to interdict its circulation. The privilege of the
Emperor Charles V. precedes the table at the commencement of this
edition. The present copy is bound in old French red morocco, gilt
upon the marbled leaves.
A Lyon par Jean de Tournes. 1553.
Duodecimo, 5 vols.
A choice copy ; in old gilt-ornamented vellum binding, with clasps.
This edition is distinguished for the beauty of the wood-cuts ; yet there
are more interesting specimens of graphic skill to be found in the
productions of the Tournes.
58 THE LIBRARY. {French
La Bible, &c. De VImprhnerie de Francois
Estienne. 1566. Octavo.
A beautiful copy of a very neatly printed volume^ in double columns,
in a small roman letter. The N. T. and Book of Psalms, have each a
separate title. The latter of the date of 15fi7- In old splendid red
morocco binding.
La Bible, qui est toute la Saincte Escriture, &c.
A Geneve. Pour Sebastian Honorali. IS/O.
Octodecimo, 3 vols.
In long lines. A beautiful and truly desirable copy of an exceed-
ingly neat impression. In choice old red morocco binding.
La Saincte Bible Francoise. A Paris. 162L
Folio, 3 vols.
The editor is Pierre Frizon. The version is formed on the basis of
the Latin Vulgate, authorized by the Popes Sixtus V. and Clement
VJII. A fine engraved title following the printed one— in which, to
the right, is a whole-length portrait of Louis XIII. when young. The
work is dedicated to that monarch. This is a very fine copy, in old
French red morocco binding.
La Bible, &c. Se vend a Charenton , par udn-
thoine Celtier, demeurant a Paris, rue de la
Harpe, ^c. 1652. Duodecimo, 3 vols.
A copper-plate title precedes the printed one. The present beauti-
ful copy is elegantly bound in blue morocco by Roger Payne. In such
condition, this is a rare book.
La Sainte Bible. A Amsterdam, Chez Louis
et Daniel Elzevier. 1669. Folio, 2 vols.
The masterpiece of the Elzevir Press j unless the type should be
deemed too small for the size of the page. The typographical execu-
tion is beyond all praise ; and this copy is above all competition. It is
upon LARGE PAPER, delicately ruled witli red lines, and superbly bound
in old red morocco. It had graced the shelves of the Lainoignon
Library.
Bibfes.] THE LIBRARY. 59
La Sainte Bible. Tradnite sur Vancienne Edi-
tion Latine. A Trevoux. 1702. Octavo,
4 vols.
A copper-plate, and bastard title precede the full title. A very ex-
cellent edition, with brief notes. The present copy is most desirable :
in Frencli blue morocco binding, gilt leaves.
ExpUquez par des Notes de Theologie et
de Critique sur la version ordinaire des Eglises
reformes, &c. Par David Martin. Amst.
1707. Folio, 2 vols.
A most magnificent copy, bound in old red morocco, richly orna-
mented on the sides ; and apparently upon large or thick paper. This
impression is beautifully printed, and abounds with copper cuts ; two
being upon each plate. Some of these cuts are striking, and one — de-
scriptive of the creation of the world— is, to me, original in its compo-
sition. It should seem to have been designed after Milton's beautifiilly
expressive line :
' And earth, self-balanced, on its centre hung.'
The plates in Judges, have, upon the whole, the greater merit. .\
very costly publication.
Traduite en francois sur la Vidgate par M.
Le Maistre de Saci. A Paris. De Vlmpri-
merie de Monsieur. 1789 — 1804. Quarto,
12 vols, in 6.
The i)resent copy is upon the ordinary paper (approaching however
to vellum in its tone and texture,) but it is an exceedingly desirable one
— from tlie brilliancy of tlie impressions of the plates. Uj)on the
whole, this is not only the most beautifully ornamented of all the
Frencli c(Utions of tlie Bible with which I am acquainted, but I know
of no edition, in our own, or any other language, which rivals it —
upon a similar scale : for the cuts are comparatively small — being five
inches and a half, by three and a half: surrounded, however, by a
60 THE LIBRARY. [French Bibles.
handsome and appropriate border. There are not fewer than three
hundred of these engravings, from the designs of Marillier and Mon-
sian ; and it must be admitted that there is a general equality of ex-
cellence throughout them. Indeed, considering their number, these
engravings are above competition with us. The designs are also,
generally speaking, possessed of considerable merit — with the excep-
tion of those figures where an anatomical knowledge (or rather the
want of it) is displayed.* The printing is delicate, but too feeble for
a quarto page. It has a better effect in the octavo copies, generally
bound in 12 volumes. Brunei mentions a quarto veUum-paper copy,
containing the 300 original designs, and duplicate impressions of the
plates — one set with impressions ' before the letter' — selling for only
^ 50. of our money, ' but worth (as he suggests) a much larger price.'
The present copy is admirably well bound, out of sheets, in blue
morocco, by Hering.
La Sainte Bible traduite sur les Textes origi-
naux avec les diff'erences de la J^ulgate. A Co-
logne, &c. 1793. Octavo.
The title is an elegant copper-plate A beautiful large paper copy ;
in old red morocco binding.
• The French artists, since Ihe time of Poussin to that of Gerard and Girodet, seem, ge-
nerally, to have lost sight of correclnrsi of costimie. There are many flagrant violations
of it in these designs. Among tliem, it is impossible not to smile at the representation of
Agar, being banished with lier son Ishniael, vol. i. p. 44. She wears a gypsey hat, tied
nnder Uie chin, with her hair turned up— and is turning round with all the smartness of a
French Abigail. The grouping is generally better than the individual execution. It is
tlie clearness, and generally brilliant hnish of the plates, which produce tlie effect above
described.
English Bibles.] THE LIBRARY. 61
ENGLISH BIBLES.
The Bible {hy Myles Coverdale.^ Prynted in the
yeare of our Lorde mdxxxv, &c. Folio.
First English Bible. A full account of this truly precious volume
appears in Lewis's Hist, of the English Translations of the Bible, p. 91,
&c. in the Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. i. p. 78, &c. and Dr. Cotton's Various
Editions of the Bible, 1821, 8vo. p. 111. The central part of the wood-
cut title page is, in this copy, supplied by ms. : — which, with the defici-
ency of one leaf, at the end of the table, giving a list of the books in the
New Testament, are its only imperfections. Humphrey Wanley thought
(justly) by the types, that the text was printed at Zurich, in the house
of Christopher Froschover.* The dedication, however, and the address
to the Christian reader, are the production of a London printer. From
the style of the (russia) binding, this copy appears to have belonged
to Lord Oxford. It was bequeathed to his Lordship by the late Rev.
Jonathan Boucher. See the anecdote at p. Ivi. ante.
The Byble, &c. Imprynted in Southwarke iti
Saynt Thomas Hospitale, hy James Nycolson.
153/. Quarto.
Second Edition. Although this be only a reprint of Coverdale's, I
am not sure whether it be not even considerably rarer than its pre-
cursor. In the first place, it is clear that Lewis had never seen a copy
of it; as he speaks only of the quarto reprints of 1550 and 1553. In
the second place, it is equally certain that Herbert had never seen a
complete copy of the impression. The one described by him wanted
the New Testament ; and as to the preceding article, (see the Tijpog.
Antiq. edit. 1810, vol. iii. p. 51) described as of the same date, I appre-
• Concerning whom, with a fac-simlle of his devices, consult the Bibliographical Deca-
meron, vol. ii. p. 196-200. The wood-cuts are probably the production of Hans Sebild
Behau — of whose style of art, see fac-similes at pp. 169-172, of vol. i. of the same work.
VOL. I. I
62 THE LIBRARY. [English
hend the whole to be erroneous — and that one and the same volume is
by Herbert dhided into two. However, whether this be the case or not,
it is quite clear that that indefatigable bibliographer had never a perfect
copy of the first reprint of Coverdale under his eye. In the third place,
there does not appear to be any copy of this impression in the British
Museum, Libror. Impress, qui in Mus. Brit, adservantur Catalogus; vol. i.
sign. 3 P. fol. ii. or in the Bodleian Library. Cotton, p. 4. For these
reasons, therefore, I consider the present to be a volume of exceedingly
great rarity.*
The genealogy of this copy is most respectable ; it having been suc-
cessively in the collections of Lord Oxford and Dr. Charles Chauncey.
It was obtained by his Lordship of the gentleman who had purchased
it at the sale of the latter — at a sum by no means beyond its absolute
value. It is bound in red morocco, wth a broad border of gold upon
the sides, with red edges to the leaves. The condition is most sound
and desirable.
The Byble. Printed and Fyneshed in the yere
of our Lorde God 1537. Folio.
This is called Matthew's Bible ; but tlie name is purely fictitious,
as JounRogerh, a learned Divine, and the first martyr in Queen IMary's
reign, was in fact the editor of it — although he freely availed himself
of the labours of Coverdale and Tyndale. Concerning Rogers, consult
Strype's Cranmer, p. 58 — Lewis, p. 223 — and Holinshed's Chronicles,
* The ariangement of the Contents is as follows : The ' Cimlents' occupy the two pages
immediately after the Title: at the bottom of wliich latter, in Iara, Traduzida palabra
por palabra de la verdad Hebrayca, por muy ex-
celentes letrados, &c. E71 Amsterdam Im-
pressesadorie de Gilds loost, en el Nieuwe-straet,
1606. Folio.
The frontispiece, or title, is cut in wood ; and the figures of Moses
and Aaron, on each side of the letter-press, are master-pieces of art in
that department of engraving. The figures below, of Adam and Eve,
could hardly have been designed or engraved by the same artist. A
sound copy, in calf binding.
O Velho et O Novo Testamento, &c. Tra-
duzidos em Portuguez por Joao Ferreira A.
d'Almeida, &c. Batavia. Mulder, &ic. Impres-
sor. 1748-53-73. Octavo, 3 vols.
A remarkably neat copy of an edition now found with difficulty —
bound in russia, with gilt leaves.
GERMAN AND DUTCH BIBLES.
BiBLiA, das ist Die Gantze Heilige Schrifft
Deutsch, D. Mart. Luthers Lunehurg. 1627-
Duodecimo, 3 vols.
A most beautiful and uncommon book ; printed in a small gothic
letter, upon vellum of a stout and fair quality. The third volume
terminates with the Apocrypha. The fly-leaves of the first and third
volumes are charged with several ms. memoranda ; from %vhich I ex-
tract the last in the third volume. ' Ex donatione Castce megnoges.'\ THE LIBRA R Y. 93
BiBLiA Arabica et Lat. RomcB. 1671- Folio,
3 vols.
Published at the Propaganda Press. The Latin Vulgate occupies
the parallel column. A most desirable copy, bound in vellum,
BiBLiA Malaica. Typis Arahicis. Octavo, 6
vols.
a most beautiful copy, in blue morocco binding.
BiBLiA Tamulica, seu quod Deus Omnipoten-
tissimus Semetipsuin ex sua iEternitate clarius
manifestaturus de Ccelo est locutus. Tran-
gamharioB m litiore Cor omande lino, lypis Sf
Sujnptibus Missionis Danicce. 17l23-7- Quarto,
In 3 Parts.
The Old Testament is in the Talmudical types : exceedingly curious,
and of rare occurrence. Printed at Tranquebar on the Coromandel
coast.
OLD TESTAMENT.
Vet. Te.st. Hebraice. Printed by M. Stephen.
Octodecimo, 11 vols.
The most beautiful pocket edition of the Hebrew Bible which was
perhaps ever printed. The character is large, and the paper fine, and
of a mellow tint. This copy cannot be exceeded in soundness of condi-
tion and propriety of binding. It is in old foreign red morocco.
Hebraice. IVien, gedruckt hey Anton
Schmid K. K- priv. &c. 1815. Octavo, 5 vols.
I purchased this edition, at Vienna, for about seven shillings of our
money. It contains the Hebrew text as at present read by the Jews in
that capital. This copy is indifferently half-bound in sheep-skin,
VOL. 1. N
94 THE LIBRARY. [Pentateuch in
Vet. Test. Lat. Parisiis, Li Of. S.Coliua;i. 1532.
Duodecimo, 5 vols.
A beautiful copy, in old blue morocco binding. The text is printed
in long lines. From the old library at Althorp. On consulting tlie Bib-
liographical Decameron, vol. ii. p. 79, it should seem that Colinaeus had
printed a previous edition, in 1525, which used to be sold for twenty-
four sous. The New Testament, in the same year and form, was sold
for six sous.
Amst. ApudJo. Ja. Schipper. 1669. Oc-
tavo.
A truly beautiful copy, of a neatly printed edition, in double co-
lumns. In highly ornamented old blue morocco binding.
— Parisiis. 1660. Octavo, 2 vols.
A most beautifiil copy, in old French red morocco binding, of a
beautifully printed edition, with various readings in the margins.
THE PENTATEUCH,
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
The Pentateuch, by W. T. (William Tyn-
DAL.) 1534. Duodecimo.
Tills is a sound and perfect copy of an exceedingly rare book ; but
an imposition has been attempted in the title-page, by falsifying the
date of 1530, to make it pass for a copy of that edition. Each of the
five books has a title-page, followed by a prologue. The Book of
Numbers is printed in the black letter ; the rest are in the roman type.
This is the first English version of any portion of the Old Testa-
ment, and as such is both curious and important. This copy is bound
in old red morocco, after the manner of Ratcliffe's bindings. Consult
Herbert and Cotton.
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 95
LiBRi MoYSi QuiNQUE. Cum annotationibus &
observationibus Hebraicis haudquaquani poeni-
tendis, quae prolixi conimentarii vice esse pos-
sunt. Paris. 1541. Quarto.
In old calf binding; from the Pinelli Library — afterwards in the
possession of the late Mr. ^Vodhull.
Pentateuchus. ^gypt.-Lat. Londini. Bowyer.
1731. Quarto.
' Ex MSS. Vaticano, Parisiensi et Bodleiano descripsit ac Latine vertit
David Wilkins,' S. T. P. The work is dedicated to Dr. Chandler,
Bishop of Durham. A beautiful copy, in russia binding, gilt leaves.
Syriace. Ex Polyglott, Anglicanis. Edente
Kirsch, Rofce <^- Lipsice. 1787- Quarto.
Printed upon very indifferent paper. In calf binding, marbled
edges.
Hebr. - Samarit. Charactere Hebrseo-
Chaldaico. Cura et Studio B. Blayney. Oxon,
1790. Octavo.
A beautiful copy, bound in blue morocco ; but in the good old days,
for at the present splendid period of the Clare.vdon press, the paper
and printing would have been worthier of the subject.
The Pentateuch ; by Lion Soesmans, corrected
and translated by David Levi. Hebr. 8c Engl.
London, Johnson. 1799. Octavo, 4 vols.
An indifferently executed edition. Calf, neat.
96 THE LIBRARY. [Psalter in
Pentateuchus. E Codice Alexandrino. Cura
et Lahore H. H. Baber, &c. Ex prelo Ricardi
Taylor ^ Socii. 1821. Quarto.
This is one of the copies upon vellum. It is a publication which,
when completed, leaves us nothing to desire respecting further accu-
racy of investigation of the original, and entitles its editor to the best
thanks of his profession and country.
THE PSALTER,
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
PsALTERiUM QuiNcuPLEx. GalHcuni, Romanum,
Hebraicuni, Vetus, Conciliatum. In Coenobio
Sancti German! prope Muros Parisienses : anno
a natali C. D. &c. 1508. Et ex chalcotypd H.
Stephani officind ^^ emissutn, &c. 1 509. Folio.
A desirable copy of one of the earliest books from the press of old
Henry Stephen. In black morocco binding, by Roger Payne.
PsALTERiUM. Clialdaicc. Cura Potken. Hoince.
1513. Quarto.
The figure of King David, printed in red ink, is at the end. The
whole book is beautifully printed upon a stout mellow-toned paper.
The present copy is perhaps unrivalled. It is bound in calf, with
deeply stamped cameo-fashion ornaments, gilt, at the corners, and
in the middle.
QuiNcuPEEX, Hebr. Or. Arab. Chald. &
Lat. &c. Studio Augustini Justiniani. Genuce.
1516. Folio.
A magnificent copy ; printed upon vellum. For some account of
the work, consult Introd. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 33. This copy is
splendidly bound in blue morocco, by C. Lewis.
various Languages J\ THE LIBRARY. 97
PsALTERiuM. Gr. Argentovciti, apud Vuol Ce-
phalceum. 1524. 32mo.
A very uncommon little book, and the present is a most beautiful
copy of it : bound in the purest taste of C. Lewis, in dark blue mo-
rocco. A fly-leaf, at the end, gives the imprint and date, in Greek, on
one side, and the printer's device on the other.
Lat. Apud Simonem CoUnceum. 1524.
Duodecimo.
A most beautiful and uncommon book ; printed upon vellum. In
old handsome dark olive morocco binding. Obtained of M. Chardin,
at Paris.
The Psalter, &c. Prynted at Cantorhury in
suynt Paules pm'ysshe hy John Mychell. 1549.
Quarto.
The early Canterbury books are of rare occurrence. Consult Her-
bert, vol. iii. p. 1542, for a brief description of the present book
It is bound in black morocco.
The \^'hole Boke of Psalmes, &c. Printed by
Day. 1577- Quarto.
The poetical version of Sternhold and Hopkins, with musical notes.
The Book of Common Prayer, by Seres, precedes it, which is called
' the Psalter or Psalmes of Dauid.' A sound copy, in calf binding :
obtained from Mr. Trone.
PsALTERiUM. Gr. & Lat. Ad exemplar Com-
plutense. Antv. Ex Off. C. Plantini. 1584.
Duodecimo.
In double columrfs. This beautiful little book is nded with red
lines, and bound in black morocco, with fleurs-de-lis on the exterior.
Gr. Antv. Ex Off. C. Plantini. 1584
32mo.
Upon yellow-tinted paper. This little volume is contained within
one of the most briUiant specimens extant of C. Lewis's binding, in
yellow morocco, fly-leaf of gold, &c.
98 THE LIBRARY. [Psalter in
PsALTERiUM. Syriacc. Orat. Arab. JRomce.
1584. Duodecimo.
With small wood-cuts. A very hiindsomely printed book j but the
present copy is too much cropt. In calf binding.
PsALMORUM Davidicorum Librr, cx GalHcis
Rhythmis Veibum Verbo Latine redditus k
J. J. B. Exciidebat Joan. Torncesius Typ.
Meg. 1598. Duodecimo.
' In gratiam Generosi Juvenis, Domini Georgij Sigismundi P. a
Zastrisei., Moraui, primtim scriptus j nunc ver6 communem in usum
eanim Nationum Omnium, quae linguam Gallicam addiscere solent et
cupiunt, editus.' The preface is dated 1598, 'from the Leman Lake."
The French is on one side, and the Latin on the other, of each leaf.
An uncommon little book. Bound in calf.
PsALTERiuM Davidis. Lugd. Apud J. 4" ^•
JElseverios. 1653. Duodecimo.
a most beautiful copy, in old variegated morocco binding, by Pada-
loup. Obtained of M. Chardin at Paris for 1^. 10s.
PsALTERiuM. ^thlopicc ct Lat. Cura Jobi Lu-
dolfii. Fruncof. ad 3Ioenum. I7OI. Quarto.
The .31thiopic version is on one page, and the Latin on the other.
At the end are various readings and notes. A correct and valuable edi-
tion. Consult Masch's Bibl. Sacra, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 148. This is a very
desirable copy ; in russia binding.
Arabice. 17'25. Octavo.
AVhoUy Arabic, without a Latin title-page; and 'printed in the
year of the Messiah 1725 : no mention of place, but supposed to be at
0.\ford.' So a ms. memorandum, in this copy, designates. The volume
has every characteristic of having been printed at the University in
question. In old calf binding, with broad pattern of gold on the sides.
rarhus Languages.] T H E L I B R A R Y. 99
PsALTERiuM. Indostaiiicc. Halee. VJ4^, Duo-
decimo
The version is by Schultzius, and the preface and editorship by Cal-
lenbergius. A beautiful copy, in ornamented calf binding, with gilt
leaves.
Les Pseaunies traduits par G. F. Berthier.
Toulouse. 1801. Duodecimo, 5 vols.
The Latin Vulgate is added. Every chapter, and frequently every
versCj is accompanied by pious and instructive ' reflexions.'
Gr^ecum. E Codice MS. Alexandrino,
&c. Cura & Lahore Henrici Herveii Baber
A. M. Musei Britannici Bibliothecarii. Low
dini. Ex prelo Ricardi Taylor ^- Socii. 1812.
Quarto.
Dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury. One of the ten copies
only UPON VELLUJi. It was the precursor of the Pentateuch, from the
same MS., which was published last year : and which wiU be suc-
ceeded by the remaining part of the Old Testament. See p. 96, ante.
This is a splendid volume ; in every respect worthy of its precursor and
companion, the New Testament, also upon vellum, published by
Dr. Woide. See post.
PsALTERio Ebraico versificato dal Commendatore
Giovambatista Co. Gazola sulla Italianizazione
deir Abate Giuseppe Venturi col Testo e Note.
Verona dalV T'ipog. Mainardi. 1816. Quarto.
A most magnificent copy, upon large paper of a folio form. The
printing is not equal to the size and splendour of the volume. Superbly
bound in blue morocco by Hering.
PsALTERiUM. Arabicc. In TJrhe Jassy . Quarto.
In a loosely composed large character, upon paper of very indif-
ferent quality. A fine copy ; in russia binding, gilt leaves.
100 THE LIBRARY. [Prophets, 8(c.
PsALTERiUM. Gr. Copt. Witliout date. Quarto.
A very handsomely printed book, in red and black, with indiflferent
wood-cuts. A fine and perfect copy, in russia binding.
THE PROPHETS,
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
IsAiE. Par Berthier. Paris. 1788. Octavo, 5
vols.
A companion to the Psalter, by the same editor, and published in
the same manner. In calf, marble leaves.
Daniel. Sec. Edit. lxx. Interpret. ExTetraplis
desumptam. E Cod. Syro - Estranghelo Bibl.
Ambrosia.nse Syriace edidit &c. C. Bugatus. Me-
diol. 1788. Quarto.
With a Latin version and critic;il notes. A beautifid copy, in
foreign red morocco binding
Daniel. Gr. & Lat. Sec. Septuaginta. Romce.
1772. Folio.
' Ex TetrapUs Origenis nunc primum editus,' &c. From the Codex
Chisianus. ' At length (saysMasch) appeared this text of Daniel, from
the famous Chisian MS., which had long lain concealed, and which had
been so much commended by Blanchinius. Whoever was the editor of
such a xsifjLYikm, (continues he) it is clear, that, for himself, he was
desirous of being unknown. Some have supposed that Mazzochius,
and others that Simon de Magistris, was the editor. Wlioever he
may be, he has deserved well of the sacred cause of religion, and is
entitled to the grateful thanks of the public' Bibl. Sacra, vol. ii.
pt. ii. p. 320. Masch is very copious and particular, respecting this
learned and splendid work. The present is a l.^rge paper copy,
bound out of sheets, in russia, with gilt leaves.
New Test., ^c] T H E L I B R A R Y. 101
LiBRi Veteris Testamenti Apocryphi. Gr.
Lipsice. 1804. Octavo.
The editor is C.G. August! ; and the dedicatory epistle is addressed
to the famous Griesbach — ' Criticorum Germanice decus." There are a
few various readings at the foot of each page. This edition is neatly
printed, upon an indifferent paper. In russia binding, with marbled
edges.
THE NEW TESTAMENT,
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
Novum Testamentum. Gr. & Lat. Cura
Erasmi. Basil. 1516, 1519, 1522, 1527, 1542.
Folio, 10 vols.
These are the principal editions of the Greek Testament by Eras-
mus ; who died before the completion of the last. The Edit. Prin. of
1516 was, 'till of late, a very rare book. The present copy of it, bound
in russia, with gilt leaves, had belonged to Dr. Farmer. The copies
of the remaining impressions are half bound in russia.
Gr. Hagenoce, i/i cedibus T.^nshelmi Sa-
densis. 1521. Quarto.
A very scarce and very important edition. Consult the authorities
cited in the Introd. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 59. It is impossible to
possess a more beautiful copy than the present : as large and clean as
if it had just issued from the press. In blue morocco binding, gilt
leaves.
Gr. Basil, apud J. Behelium. 1524.
Octavo.
Once Lord Leicester's copy ; ' bought of Mr. Barratt, bookseller,
Bath : May 13, 1802, for one guinea ' In red morocco binding.
1535. Octavo.
A large and beautiful copy, in old stamped binding, and gQt-edged
leaves. On the outside cover, we read \'OL DE CiYV'LA.
VOL. I. o
102 THE LIBRARY. [New Test, in
Novum Testamentum, Gr. Tra^a eZ/aww tw Ko-
Xivcc'tu. [Apud S. Colin ceum.'] 1534. Octavo.
An edition j'et more important than the preceding, and a copy of
equal beauty and choice. Bound in blue morocco, by Roger Payne.
Gr. & Lat. Pai-is. Excudehat Carola
Guillard. 1543. Octavo.
A beautiful copy, in old French red morocco binding, gilt leaves.
Gr. Paris. Impensis A. Birkmanni.
1549. Duodecimo.
A beautiful copy (in blue morocco binding) of an edition, which
might at first be mistaken for a copy of the edition described in the
following article The device of the printer, in the title-page, may be
seen in the Bibliog. Decameron, vol. ii. p. 105.
Gr. Lutetice. Ex Off. B. Stephani, 4-c.
1549. Duodecimo.
A very fair and beautiful copy of the well known ' O miri/icam ' edi-
tion of R. Stephen. From the pattern of the binding, in red morocco,
it seems to have belonged to the Harleian Library. It had latterly
been the property of the well-known Caesar de Missy, whose name,
&c. is rather obtruded upon the title-page, with the date of 1748 sub-
joined.
Gr. LuteticE. Ex Officind R. Stephani
Typ. Beg. 1550. Folio.
A beautiful copy, delicately ruled in red lines, in old stamped calf
binding, gilt leaves. For the importance of this edition, consult the
authorities quoted in the Introd. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 68.
Gr. Apud J. Crispinum. 1553. 2 vols.
The Lamoignon copy ; but a little cropt, as the third page proves :
otherwise, most desirable : in blue morocco binding.
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 103
NovtrM Testamentum. Gr. Tiguri apud Fro-
schoverum. 1559. Octavo.
A large and clean copy ; bound in green morocco, by Hering.
Gr. Lipsice. In Offic Voegeliand. 1569.
Duodecimo.
In calf binding.
Gr. Lutetice. Ex Off. R. Stephani, Typog.
Regii. 1568. Duodecimo, 2 vols.
De Tliou's copy, upon vellum. A treasure of a very extraordinary
description ; but the veUum wants the delicacy and flexibility of that
of Aldus. In richly ornamented morocco binding.
Gr. & Lat. Cura Montani. Antv. 1583.
Octavo.
A very neat copy, ruled with red lines, and bound in blue morocco,
by Walther.
Gr. Excudehat T. Vautrollier. 1587-
Duodecimo.
Bound in three very small volumes. Tlie first volume is rather in-
different.
Gr. & Lat. Lugd. apud Jac. Ttoussium.
159/. Octavo.
A beautiful copy, in old calf binding, gilt leaves.
Gr. Sedani. Ex Typog. Sf typis novissimis
J. Jannoni. 1628. 32uio.
An edition well known to the curious ; but this copy, in old red mo-
rocco binding, has been cut too closely, as most of them are. In the
fine and curious old library at Blickling, Norfolk, there is an uncut
copy, upon what may be considered as large paper. A great curiosity.
Gr. Apud T. Buck. 1632. Octavo.
This is perhaps one of the very finest copies of this edition which
was ever obtained, and is bound in blue morocco, by R. Payne.
104 THE LIBRARY. [New Test, in
Novum Testamentum. Gr. Lugd. Bat. J'ypis
Elzevirianis. 1624, 1633, 1641, 1658, 16;8.
Duodecimo.
These are the earliest impressions of the New Testament, in Greek,
from the Elzevib Press ; and are always sought after by the curi-
ous. Consult the authorities referred to in Introd. to the Classics,
vol. i. p. 82. They are all clean and desirable copies, in red and
blue morocco bindings ; but the copy of the fourth impression seems
to me to be upon lakge paper.
Gr. 1638. Quarto, 2 vols.
This edition is curious, and should be in all libraries like the pre-
sent, as containing a modern Greek text. The ancient and modern
versions run in parallel columns. The author of the version, and edi-
tor of the work, was Maximus Kalliopolitanus. Consult Masch, vol. ii.
p. 325-329 — who is copious in adducing critical authorities for and
against the version. The date, beneath the Aldine anchor, is ex-
pressed in Greek capitals : the dominical year .500 consisting (as usual)
of an H between a n. The edition is supposed to have been printed at
Geneva. The present is a fair and beautiful copy, in russia binding,
gilt leaves.
. Gr. Paris. Typ. Reg. 1642. Folio.
The Lamoignon copy, upon large paper, in blue morocco binding.
A brief and yet ample description ; brief, in words — ample, to convey
the idea of a copy which cannot be surpassed in size and condition.
Gr. (Cura Episc. Fell.) Oxon. E
Thcat. Sheld. 16/5. Octavo.
A beautiful copy, upon thick paper, in original blue morocco
binding.
- Gr. Lat. & Fr. ^ Muns. 1673. Quarto.
2 vols.
The several texts are in parallel coluuuis. The publisher was ' Gas-
pard Migeot ct I'enseigne des trois Fertus.' A beautiful copper-plate, by
Van Schuppen, of the date of 1666, from the design of De Champagne,
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 105
faces the title. It is impossible to possess a more desirable copy of
this elegantly printed edition than the present — which is bound in old
French blue morocco, gilt leaves.
Novum Testamentusi. Gr. & Lat. Oxon. E
Theat. Sheld. 1678. Octavo.
The two texts are on the opposite pages. It is hardly possible to
possess a more beautiful copy than this : in yellow morocco, old
French binding, with a broad border of gold on the sides. It is a hand-
somely printed book. The copper-plate, facing the title, seems to be
one of the happiest efforts of Faithorne's burin.
Gr. Cantab. A.^. (I7OO.) Duodecimo.
In old morocco binding, gilt leaves.
Hebr. -Teuton. Cura Molleri. Franco/.
ad Oderam. I7OO. Quarto.
An uncommon book.
Gr. Cura Gresrorii. Oxon. JE Theat.
Sheld. 1703. Folio.
A LARGE PAPER copy, in the old Oxford calf binding.
Gr. Cura Millii 1707. Oxon. E Theat.
Sheld. 1707. Folio.
A magnificent copy, upon large paper, in old red morocco binding.
Gr. Halle. I7IO. Duodecimo, 2 vols.
An indifferent copy ; in calf binding.
Gr. Cura Maittaire. Lond. Ex Offic.
Tonson. 1714. Octavo.
Upon large paper, in French calf binding, with gilt leaves.
Gr. Cura Kusteri. Lipsice. 1723. Folio.
The Lamoignon copy, upon large paper, in blue morocco binding.
106 THE LIBRARY. [New Test, in
Novum Testamentum. Gr. Londini. 1728.
Octavo.
' Impensis Knaplock, Tonson, et Watts.' A copper-plate faces the
title. The text is in long lines. The present appears to have been a royal
copy, from the ornaments on the broad border of gold on the sides. In
old blue morocco binding.
In Greek & English. London. \'J29.
Octavo, 2 vols.
The English, is a new version by the anonymous editor. It is
printed, in italics, by the side of the Greek text, delicately cut, and
very easy of peruscJ — harmonising much with the effect of the italic.
In old calf binding.
Gr. Cura Bengelii. TubingcB. 1734.
Quarto, 2 vols.
A sound copy, in calf binding Consult the Introd, to the Classics,
vol. i. p. 98.
Gr. Wittehergae. 1736. Octavo.
With Latin notes beneath. The editor wasCristian Sigismund Geor-
gius. A sound and desirable copy.
Gr. Glasguee. In cedibus R. Urie. 1750.
Octavo.
The Lamoignon copy, upon large paper, bound in French calf,
with gilt leaves.
Gr. CuraWetsteinii. Amst. 1751. Folio.
2 vols.
It is needless to dwell upon the critical and surpassing excellencies
of this edition. Consult the Introd. to the Classics, vol. i. p. 103. A
beautiful copy, bound in russia, out of sheets.
Gr. Typis J. Baskerville. Oxon. 1763.
Quarto.
A beautiful copy, in blue morocco binding.
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 107
Novum Testamentum. Gr. Londini. Impensis
Editoris. 1768. Octavo, 2 vols.
This is tlie first edition of Hardy's Greek Testament, containing short
and pertinent Latin notes — which have rendered it among the most
popular impressions extant. It was reprinted in 1776, and has been
lately edited, with great advantage, by the Rev. Dr. Valpy of Nor-
wich. The plan of this work miglit form an excellent one for that of
an edition with similar notes in the English language ; which Har-
wood imperfectly attempted.
Glasguce. 1769. Quarto.
The printers were R. and A. Foulis. The text is from the ^^'etstein
edition of 1711) 8vo. The Greek character is very small, but beauti-
fully printed — in double columns. This copy is bound in russia, with
his Lordship's arms on the sides.
Gr. E Codice MS. Alexandrino. A Carolo
Godofredo Woide. Londini. Ex Prelo Joannis
Nichols, Ti/pis Jacksonianis. 1786. Quarto.
A magnificent copy, upon large (folio) paper. Bound in blue mo-
rocco. This library boasts of another copy of the same work, without
the prolegomena, printed upon vellum; of which latter there were
only ten.
■ Cura F. C. Alter. VienncB. 1787- Octavo.
2 vols.
Consult the Inlrod. to the Classics; vol. i. p. 112. In neat calf bind-
ing, marbled leaves.
Gr.&Lat. Edit. Mattbaei. Rigce. 1788.
Octavo, 12 vols, in 6.
A critical and valuable edition. In blue morocco binding.
Gr. Codex Tlieodori Bczoe, &c. Cura Kip-
ling. Cantah. E Prelo j^cademico. 1703. Folio,
2 vols.
A magnificent copy, of a work too generally known and esteemed
to require any detail here. Superbly bound in blue morocco, v.'\t\\ gilt
leaves.
108 THELIBRARY. [New Text, in
Novum Tkstamentum. Gr. Curii Schoettgenii.
1795. Octavo.
A critical edition — with the chapters divided into sections ; but
printed upon very indifferent paper.
Gv.LondiniupudP.Eimshj. 1796. Octavo,
2 vols. Lipsice. 1805, Cantab. Nov.'Anglor.
1809. Octavo, 2 vols.
These are the editions of the famous Griesbacii : too well known,
and too highly extolled, to stand in need of further observation here.*
Of the first edition, above specified, which was printed at the expense
of the late Duke of Grafton — the present is one of the few copies
upon LARGE PAPER ; which, till the death of the Duke, were extrennely
rare and high priced. They are yet however of uncommon occurrence.
Of the second edition, the present is also a large paper copy;
printed with a neat type, and presenting, at the foot of the page, a
selection from the various readings in the previous and more enlarged
edition. Both copies are handsomely bound in blue morocco.
Gr. Ex Recensione J. J. Griesbachii cum
Selecta Lectionum Varietate. Lipsice. Sum-
tibus G. J. Goschen. 1803. Quarto, 2 vols.
A short preface, by Griesbach, tells us that Goschen ' typographus
Lipsiensis, artifex in suo genere nobilis, et magnoruni artis typogra-
phicse monumentorum auctor probatissimus,' was desirous of printing
as splendid an edition of the New Testament, as he had done of some
of the more eminent German poets, and that he wished him (Griesbach)
to undertake the correction of the press. The present is doubtless a
splendid performance, both in respect of type and paper — having a few
various readings at the foot of each page : but it may be questioned
whether the printer has been happy in the choice of his letter ? It is
too round and yet dazzling ; and inferior to Baskerville's — although of
that capricious, and perhaps illegitimate, character. In the 2d page
of his preface Griesbach descants much in defence of this type. I
should add, that a copper-plate of the Virgin and Child, from Carlo
Dolce, faces the title. The present copy is very handsomely bound in
blue morocco, by Hering.
• Consult Inlrod. to Classics, vol. i. p. 108.
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 109
Nov^i Testamenti Omnia. Gr. Basilece. Joan.
Valderus. [15]36. Duodecimo.*
One of the most beautiful little editions of the Greek Testament ex-
tant : — printed in long lines. It is also among the scarcest. A Latin
notice, at the back of the title, tells us ' that there is a re-pagination,
after the Acts of the Apostles, which concludes at the 656th page — for
the sake of those who wish to bind the book in two volumes. A sepa-
rate leaf, at the end of the text, contains the printer's device — a dove,
with an olive branch in its mouth, having the motto ' Tardius, sed
Diligentius ;' which I here see for the first time. This desirable copy
is bound in handsome old calf binding.
Novum Test. Lat. JLondini. Anno a Messia nato
1540. 3Iens.Feh. Excud.Juan. 3Iayler. Quarto.
A fuU and particular account of this rare impression of the New
Testament \vill be found in the recent edition of our Typographical
Antiquities, vol. iii. p. 542. This copy once belonged to the late Mr.
Wodhull. A ms. note, in another hand-writing, observes, ' Detenus
[who was the editor] was pastor of the German church in London in
the reign of Edw. VI.'
Lat. Excusum JLondini in Officind Thomce
Gualtiei- pro J. C. 1540. Octavo.
An address of I. C. follows the title-page. Consult Cotton's Various
Editions of the Bible respecting the person supposed to be intended by
these initials : 1821. 8vo. p. 10 — note k. The impression is executed
in a small gothic letter, in double columns. This unusually fair and
sound copy belonged to Dr. Lort and G. Stevens, and is bound in black
calf.
Lat. Purisiis. Ex Off. JR. Stephani Typ.
Reg. 1541. Duodecimo.
This is probably the most beautiful and the most estimable copy — of
an edition, not particularly rare or curious — which can any where be
found. It contains an exquisitely executed portrait (hitherto unknown)
in water colours, upon vellum, of a man with a gold chain upon a
black gown, with a red cap and sand-coloured long beard. He holds
* OaiiUi.d to be inscilcd at page 102.
VOL. I. P
110 THE LIBRARY, {New Test, in
fruit (like an orange) in his right hand, and a knife in his left Below
we read thus ;
SIC OCVLOS. SIC ILLE GENAS.
SIC ORA FEREBAT.
ANNO SUE AETATIS 25.
His arms are emblazoned, on white vellum, on the opposite side, with
the date of 1540, and the motto of ' Suum Cuique Pulciirum' be-
neath. The design and portrait are clearly Italian. On the outside
of the binding was the following inscription, in gilt roman capitals—
' Sperantem in Domino Misericokdia Circundabit.' This has
been now placed inside, with the fleur-de-lis at each corner of the
square. The whole has been recently bound, in a very beautiful man-
ner, in Venetian morocco, by C. Lewis. This book was once in the
collection of the Rev. Theodore Williams.
Novum Testamentum. Vulg. Edit. Paris. E
Typ. Reg. 1649. Duodecimo, 2 vols.
A copper-plate title precedes the printed one. This edition is wor-
thy even of the Elzevir press, and the present is a most desirable copy
(from the library of Dr. Chauncey) in old red morocco binding.
Typis Barhou. 1/68. Duodecimo.
In French calf binding, gilt leaves.
Lat. Interprete Sebastiani Romano. Lon-
dini. 181 7- Typis Schulze. Octavo.
The author of this version was at the head of the Missionaries in
Persia. He is a Roman Catholic clergyman — and his preface is inter-
esting, from the events which it relates, and which led to his settlement
in London. The names Fatah Ali, Bonaparte, Lord Jlinto, David
Brown, &c. are all, thus, incorporated in his preface. The version is
professed to be a strict and close translation from the Alexandrine
MS. compared with other MSS. &c. This copy is upon large paper,
bound in russia.
Le Nouveau Testament, &c. par Martin L'Em-
pereur. En Anvers. 1535. Duodecimo.
From the folio impression of 1530 : see page 57- This text formed
the basis of aU the other French texts, whether by Protestants or Roman
Catholics. The present copy is in crimson morocco binding, gilt leaves.
various Lciiigiiages.] THE LIBRARY. Ill
Le Nouveau Testament, &c. Reueu de nou-
veau et corrige sur le Grec, par I'aduis des mi-
nistres de Geneue. U Olivier de Robert Esti-
enne. 1560. Duodecimo.
One of the largest and finest copies in existence. It belonged to
Caesar de Missy, and afterwards to the late Mr. Wodhull ; and has
been recently bound in purple morocco by C. Lewis.
Reveu, & corrige de nouveau sur le Grec
par I'advis des Ministres de Geneve. Avec An-
notations, &c. par M. Augustin Marlorat. A
Lyon, par J. Frellon. 1563. Duodecimo.
A remarkably neat and useful edition of the New Testament. The
margins contain references to parallel passages : the annotations are
placed below, in double columns, and the text is in long lines. An
epistle of the editor, and another from Calvin — each in French, the
latter being a version — precede the text. This is a beautiful copy, in
every respect ; and is elegantly bound in dark blue morocco.
Jesus Christ Gvre J^vnaren Testamentv
Berria. RocheUan. Pierre Hcmtin. 1571.
Octavo.
The New Testament in the Basque language. The translator was
Jean de Licarrague de Briscous, who dedicated his work to ' Dame Jeanne
d'Albret, Roine de Navarre, Dame souueraine de Beam, &c.' His de-
dication is rather interesting : he says ' toutes fois m'asseurant que les
Basques, entre toutes autres nations, n'estoyet point si barbares que de
ne pouvoir recognoistre le Seigneur en leur langue,' &c. A long ad-
vertisement precedes the sacred text. The present copy was in the
collection of Lord Spencer's father. It is a very rare book, and is
bound in vellum, with elaborate gilt ornaments on the sides, now much
faded.
Le Nouveau Testament. Lat. Fr. Paris. 1793.
Octavo, 4 vols.
The engravings are from the designs of Moreau le Jeune — who is
112 T H E L I B R A R Y. [New Test, in
much idolised by the French. These engravings are numerous and
brilliant ; but a little too sharp and severe, occasionally. They have
not that sobriety of effect which runs throughout those from the de-
signs of Marillier : vide p. 60, ante. The printing, by the younger
Didot, is very beautiful. The present is a LARriE paper copy, bound
in France, in white calf, with gilt leaves.
Le Nouveau Testament. Edition St^reotyije
d' Hernan, Paris. 1820. Duodecimo.
Elegantly boxmd in Venetian-colour morocco, by P. Doll —at Paris :
with gilt leaves.
The Newe Testament yet once agayne corrected
by Wylliam Tyndall, Whearevnto is added an
exhortation to the same of Erasmus Rot. &c.
1536. Duodecimo.
A Calendar, Erasmus's exhortation, and W. T's. (William Tindal's)
address to the reader, precede a separate title to the Testament, thus ,-
' The newe testament newlye corrected.' At the end of the New Testa-
ment ' folowe the Epystles taken out of the olde Testamet, which are
red in the church after the vse of Salsburye vpo certen dayes of the
yeare.' A table concludes the whole. Of all the copies of this estima-
ble \'olume, and perhaps of all the copies of the older English versions
of the Sacred Scriptures, the present is the finest which I ever saw.
It is in coeval calf stamped binding, fully gilt on the sides. The initials
II. D. with a unicorn in the centre, are on one side ; and those of
C — S, with a dog passant, in the centre, are on the other side. The
back, in bold broad bands, is unlettered. The margins are of primitive
dimensions. Tliis copy had belonged (as a contemporaneous ms. note
attests) to ' Henry Duke of Newcastle his booke 1676.' It was obtained
from the sale of the library of Dr. Chauncey. The artists of this
period generally reserved all their graphic talents for the illustration
of the Apocalypse. The wood-cuts here are very neatly executed, and
many of them appear very horrific. The other portions of the New
Testament are without them.
Translated into Englysshe by Thomas
Mathevv. 1538. Quarto.
Gratuitously supposed to have been printed by Treveris. It is exe-
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 113
cuted in a small gotliic type, in double columns, and contains C.xxxi.
leaves, including the table. There are wood-cuts (some of them rather
curious — see ch. xvii.) in the Apocalypse : of foreign workmanship.
The present beautiful copy, formerly George Mason's, is elegantly
ijound in black morocco, by R. Payne.
New Testament, Paraphrase of Erasmus upon.
Anno Domini 1548. Folio.
1551. Folio.
The former edition is printed by ^Vhitchurch ; the latter, ' with a
perfecte concordaunce diligently gathered by Nicolas Udall,' is also the
production of the same press. The latter copy is bound in three vo-
lumes. Each impression is in the black letter. The former copv is
bound in Venetian morocco, gilt leaves : the latter in calf.
The Newe Testament, &c. At Geneva Printed
B. Co7irad JBadius. 1557. Duodecimo.
A ms. observation of his Lordship, referring to Newcome's Historical
View, &c. p. 65-6f, informs us that ' this is the first edition of the
New Testament in the English language where the verses are distin-
guished by numerical figures.' The present copy is in such pristine
condition, as to have the appearance abnost of large paper. The title-
page only (where there is a brilliant little wood-cut) is in want of
repair. In russia binding, gilt leaves.
Printed by Jugge. Without Date. Quarto.
The portrait of Edward ^'I. is in the frontispiece. This edition is fuU
of cuts— a specimen of some of which may be seen in the Typog.
Antiq. Prelim. Diss. vol. i. p. xviii., xLx., Iv. : and in the Bibliog. Deca-
meron, vol. i. Second Day. The cuts to the Revelations are precisely
similar to those in the preceding impression of I53S. Consult the
recent edition of our Typographical Antiquities, vol. iv. p. 245. Although
soiled, the present is a sound copy, in old calf binding, with the royal
arms, gilt, on the sides. The date of 1552 is gratuitously assigned to
this impression.
114 T H E L I B R A R Y. [Neiv Test, in
New Testament. Imprinted at London, hij
Christopher Barker, &n:. 3579. Duodecimo.
Said to be a reprint of the German version of 1 5G0. A desirable
copy, in blue morocco binding.
Printed at Rhemes, hy John Fogny. 1582.
Quarto.
First edition of tlic Rhemhh Roman Catholic version. The notes (p. 79)
upon the Sacrament are curious enoughj and, of course, strongly cor-
roborative of the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. In the note
on Matth. c. xxvi. v. 26, the Protestants are called ' adversaries ;' in that
upon V. 28, tliey are called ' hereticks.' This impression is executed
in a roman letter, in long lines ; with the ' annotations,' following
each chapter, in a very small and neat similar type. The present may
be considered a large and beautiful copy ; in russia binding, with gilt
leaves.
By W. FuLKE D. iiiDIvinitec. Imprinted
at London hy Rohert Barker, Printer to the
Queenes most excellent Maiestie. 1601. Folio.
This very desirable edition, containing the Rhemish and the Bishops'
versions, in parallel columns, is now of rare occurrence. The present
copy of it is, for size and condition, as if it had been just purchased at
the shop of Robert Barker ' In russia binding, gilt leaves.
■ Ediiihurgh, Printed hy Rohert Young,
King's Printer. 1633. Octavo.
With the Book of Psalms at the end, London, 1611. Printed in
long lines. This copy, bound in old blue morocco, with gilt leaves,
contains a great number of nis. annotations, on loose pieces of paper,
inserted between the leaves. The edition is scarce.
Edinhurgh, Printed for Rohert Young, &c.
1636. Octavo.
A beautiful cojjy ; plentifully illustrated with brilliant i:opper-plates,
apparently by one of the H'irries ; to which is prefixed Robert
carious Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 115
Barker's edition of the Common Prayer, of the date of 1639. In old
dark blue morocco binding.
New Testament. Mr. Winston's Primitive New
Testament. Stamford and London. 1745. Octavo.
Purchased from the collection of Dr. N. Chauncey. In handsome
gQt red calf, with his Lordship's arms on the sides.
A Translation of the New Testament, by
Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. Late Fellow of Jesus
College, Cambridge. London, Deighton, Hol-
horn. 1791. Octavo, 2 vols.
In handsome blue morocco binding.
An attempt towards revising our English
Translation of the Greek Scriptures, &c. By
William Xewcombe, D. D. Member of the Royal
Irish Academy, and Archbishop of Armagh.
Dublin. ^796. Octavo, 2 vols.
In calf binding, marbled leaves.
Translated from the Original Greek, (hum-
bly attempted) by Nathaniel Scarlett, assisted
by Men of Piety and Literature. 1798. Octavo.
A copper-plate faces the engraved title : with two more copper-
plates — pp. 421, 468. A neatly printed, and by no means unfruitful,
performance. In neat calf binding, with marbled edges to the leaves.
Il Nv'ovo Testamento. Di Greco tradotto in vul-
gare Italiano, per Antonio Brucioli. In Lyone,
Da Guglielmo Gazello. 1547- Duodecimo.
A beautiful and scarce little volume, embellished with wood-cuts,
but not of the spirit and grace of those of the Petit Bernard. This is a
fair and most desirable copy, bound in russia.
116 T H E L I B R A R Y. [New Teal, in
II Nvovo TjiSTAMENTO. Tradotto da Giovanni
Diodati. 1608. Duodecimo.
The title is a beautifully composed and engraved copper-plate, exe-
cuted by P. Fivens. A clean copy, in vellum binding.
El Testamento Nuevo, &c. Hispanice. En
Vejiecia, en Casa de Juan Philadelpho. 1556.
Duodecimo.
A curious device, round the letter Y, is in the frontispiece. A neatly
printed edition, in long lines. Bound in blue morocco.
En Casa de Ricardo del Cumpo. 1596*.
Duodecimo.
A preface precedes the text of this Spanish version. Printed in long
lines, with marginal references.
El Nuevo Testament©, &c. por Du Sebastian de
la Enzina, Ministro de la Yglesia Anglicana y
Predicador a la Ilustre Congregacion de los Ho-
norables Sefiores tratantes en Espana. En A.m-
steldam, Impresso por Jacoho Borstio Lihrero.
I7I8. Duodecimo.
A very elegantly printed edition of the Spanish text of the New
Testament. The name of M. Cracherode in the title-page is a security
for the condition of the copy. It is elegantly bound in blue morocco.
De Dyth NYE Testament. Gedrucket tho Vuit-
temherch dorch Hans Lufft. 1524. Duodecimo.
The title-page is wanting; but the above is borrowed from I. Bu-
genhagen's address to the reader at the end of the volume. As the
name of ' Doctor Martin' is mentioned in this brief address, I conclude
the text to be according to that of Luther : and, if so, it is among
the very earliest extant. The Apocalypse only contains wood-cuts —
wliich are at once spirited and grotesque. This may be considered a
fine copy ; and is in blue morocco binding.
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 117
Dat Nye Testament Duedsch. Martinus Lu-
ther. Wittemberg, 1525. Duodecimo.
Tlie figure of a man, sitting before a crucifix, in the costume of the
time, with the dove at top, (this cannot be meant for Luther ? perhaps
for St. Jerom ?) precedes the preface. I should apprehend this to be
among the first impressions extant of Luther's version. A very curious,
but barbarous wood-cut, precedes the Apocalyjjse — which, as usual,
contains cuts. The present may be considered an almost matchless copy.
It is beautifully bound by Lewis in blue morocco, with the interior
ornaments upon red.
Das New Testament Deudsch. Widerumb
fleissig corrigiert, V'nnd gedriickt zil Augspurg
durch Hainrich Slayner. 1535. Duodecimo,
2 vols.
A beautiful copy, upon vellum. The type is large, and printed in
long lines : the wood-cuts (of the Evangelists) are rather too heavily
pulled. The Apocalypse is the only portion which contains cuts of the
subject matter. This copy is in dark blue morocco binding.
Test. Nov. iEthiopice. Romce. 1548. Quarto.
A very handsomely printed book, and of uncommon occurrence. It
also appears to be the first impression of the New Testament in the
^thiopic language. Consult Masch's Bibl. Sacra, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 152.
The title-page of this book has been frequently changed : the arms of
Pope Paul III. and those of Charles V., sometimes being to be seen —
with the fleur-de-lis, in the shield, always supporting either. The
present copy has the Papal arms. It had belonged to Colbert, and has
been recently bound in red morocco.
Thet Nyia Testamentet. Stockholm. 1549.
Quarto.
The New Testament in the Swedish language, and among the very
earliest impressions in that tongue. Notwithstanding the word Stock-
holm appears in the title-page, I am well persuaded that this book
was printed in Germany or Switzerland ; from the exact conformity of
the types and wood-cut embellishments with those inserted in tlie earlier
VOL. I. Q
118 THE LIBRARY. [Netv Test, in
versions of Luther's text, or of his Sermons. The present must be con-
sidered an exceedingly rare book ; and is a fine copy, bound in blue
morocco. As usual, the cuts are confined to the Apocalypse.
Nov. Test. Syriace. Viennce Aust. 1555.
Quarto.
First edition of the New Testament in the Syriac language. Con-
sult Masch's Bill. Sacra, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 71, where there is an ex-
tremely interesting account of this scarce and valuable impression. At
the end, in capital letters, we read as follows. ' In Urbe Vienna, Am.'
plissimarum Orientalis Auslrice Provinciarum Metropoli Flcirenlissima, ad
hunc exitum perductum est Divinum Hoc Opus, Anno a Christi Nativitate
M. D. LV, XXVII Septembris. Regiis Impensis. Caspar Craphtus Elvan-
gensis, Stievus, Characteres Syros ex Norici ferri acie scnlpebat. Michael
Cymbermannus Prelo et Opcris Suis excudc.bat.' The shelves of this
library do not contain a more beautiful copy of a curiously and splen-
didly printed volume than the present — which has the aspect of large
paper. It is in splendid blue morocco binding.
Syr. & Lat. Franco/. 1731. Octavo.
A copper-plate faces the principal title. This edition lias the points,
and Latin version of Mathseus. The editor was Gutbirius. A fair and
sound copy, in calf binding.
Turcice redditum. Opera Gu : Seaman.
Oxonice. 1666. Quarto.
A sound copy, in old calf binding.
Testamento Barou, &c. derri bassa Greco, La-
tino daen Hollanda bersalin betui, adil, daen
benar dallam Bassa Maleyo, derri pada Daniel
Brouwerius. De Negri Amsterdam, &c. 1668.
Octavo.
An engraved title precedes the printed one This version of the New
Testament is in the low Malay language. An edition now found with
great difficulty
various Languages.] THE LIBRARY. 119
Elkitab, S J a itu, &c. Dibendar Ainisterdam,
1733. Quarto, 2 vols.
In the Malay language. A very desirable copy, in old calf binding.
Det Nye Testamente. Dan ice. Risbenhaun.
17 80. Octavo.
The editor was C. Bastholm. At first view, the book has much of
the character of a German performance, both from the type, paper, and
reading of some of the words. A neat copy, in calf binding.
The New Testament, &c. Translated into the
Malabar language. Octavo.
A neatly printed — and, as it should seem from the price, (1^ 16s.) a
very rare — volume. Apparently in foreign binding.
PORTIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
Quat. Evang. Arabice. Ex Bibliotheca Lei-
densi. Edente Thoma Erpenio. Leidce, 1616.
Quarto.
A fair and beautiful copy, bound in russia. A half-title precedes
the general copper-plate title.
Sacrosancta Quatuor J. C. EvANGELiA. Arab,
et Lat, Figurisque ornata. Romce. Ex Tij-
pogr aphid Mediced. 1619. Folio.
This beautiful copy, bound in old red morocco binding, fonnerly be-
longed to the famous Tanaqull Faber, Anno 1672 : as his autograph
demonstrates.
120 THE LIBRARY. [Portions of N.T. in
EvANGELiA. Gothice et Anglo-Saxonice. Curis
Junii et Mareschalli. Dordrechti. 1665. Quarto.
I suspect that this book was, in fact, printed at Oxford. The types
and paper clearly indicate it. It is a celebrated, and truly valuable im-
pression. The present copy, handsomely bound in russia, with gilt
leaves, had belonged to the famous R. Bentley ; but it does not appear
to contain any ms. annotations by him.
EvANGELiA. Gr. Gothice cum Vers. Sueth. Goth.
Norv. seu Islandica, et vulg. Lat. Stockholmice
1671. Quarto.
The basis is the famous 7Wa?so-g^o8. Edit. Bliss.
t Wood sajs that she was the daughter of Sir Thomas Gamaoe — but erroneously. I
suspect that he had never seen this book. Humfre; Prichard, who wrote tlie preface,
(which follows the dedication) tells us that tlie author wrote the work for the better under-
standing of the recent traiislatiun of the Bible into Welsh — but this is specified in the
title-page itself; and considering that it was published, wlien Protestantism was gene-
rally established, and that Rhese's patron had received the honour of knighthood, and
was made a justice of the peace, by Queen Elizabeth, there is surely every reason to
think that the author was a Protestant. Wood loved to hook every body into tlie pale of
the Romish Church — if he could.
i Athen. iJion. vol. ii. col. 50. Edit. Bliis.
Latin Books.] THE LIBRARY. 14>S
and under the patronage, of William Eakl of Pembroke, at Milan,
when that nobleman resided there. Rhese speaks of the Earl as the
father of Edward Herbert, ' his most celebrated, learned, pious, ever
praise-worthy, and honourable friend.' Of this Milan publication I
should have known nothing, bibliographically speaking, had not Mr.
R. Triphook informed me that he once, and only once, possessed a
copy of it, printed in 1576, in octavo : that it is entirely in the Welsh
language — and that on Mr. Grenville's declining to become the pur-
chaser of it, it found its way into Mr. Heber's richly-stored library,
at the price of ,^8. 8s. A Welsh volume, printed at Milan in the
sixteenth century, must doubtless be considered as a curiosity. To
return to this Epistle Dedicatory, which concludes thus — ' Hand exi-
gua futura spes est hanc Cainbrobrytannicam Grammaticam tibi foelicis-
simfe nuncupatam, non soliim nostris Cambrobrjtannis, sed & exteris
quibusdam nationibus, Armoricis presertim, baud iniucundam fore, non
tantilni quod in ea, omnia ferfe, quae ad Cymnecae linguae naturam
optimfe intelligendam spectare videbantur, exquisitfe et ad amussim ex-
plicata reperire queas : verilm etiam quod indfe ad ea singula, quae de
carminum cymraecorum ratione ab antiquissimis simul & doctissimis
eius linguae Bardis, non paucis abhinc annorum centenis praecepta
sunt, cognitionem long^ gratissimam decerpere liceat.' This address
is dated the 9th July, 1.590. Rhese survived the publication about
nineteen years; dying in 1609 — ' his rare parts and curious learning
being in a manner buried where he lived,' says ^^'ood. Rhese was
also an adept in the Italian language, and published treatises upon
it. This volume, when complete, contains 304 pages, exclusively of
Rhese's dedication, Prichard's preface, and Rhese's Welsh preface, which
follows it. Note ; there should be a leaf of ' Emendata.' The present
is a sound copy, in old calf binding.
Camoens. Os Lusiadas. Poema Epico de Liis
DE Camoks. Paris. ISl/". Quarto.
It is difficult to speak in due terms of commendation of this exqui-
sitely beautiful volume. Nor is its rarity less than its beauty ; for it
can only be found {' as presents') in the cabinets of Kings, Princes,
and Nobles, and the distinguished in learnins: and the fine arts. The
Editor, to his immortal praise, was D. Joze Maria de SoczaBotelho,
formerly Portuguese Ambassador at Paris ; and the edition is dedicated
to the French King. The printing, the paper, and yet more than either,
144 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
the engravings — are rich and costly in the extreme. This is probably
the first — though I trust it will not be the last — instance of an Ambas-
sador devoting some of the fruits of his yearly stipend to the erection of
a NATIONAL MONUMENT — Unquestionably ' more durable than brass.'
Such undertakings reflect lustre upon himself and the country which he
represents. Dinners, festivities, balls, and spectacles, are seen — en-
joyed — and forgotten ! But we have here ... in the first place, a por-
trait of Camoens, surrounded by a broad, elaborate arabesque border ;
the whole brilliant and eminently successful. This is by much the
most beautiful engraving in the volume. Gerard drew tlie head, as
he did all tlie designs ; but the exquisitely ornamental portions of the
border were supplied from the classical collection, or suggestions, of
Visconti. The engraver is Lignon ; quite unrivalled in his particular
line. To each of the X. Cantos is prefixed a large engraving, eight
inches by six and a half; which I am perfectly persuaded could not
have cost the liberal-minded Editor less than .^'200. sterling apiece.
These engravings, however, are of very unequal merit ; and upon the
whole are perhaps too glittering, hard, and metallic — as the chief de-
fect of the French school of Engraving consists, not in want of ability,
but in the want of paying sufficient attention to the surfaces of things.
Their draperies have sometimes the hardness of armour. Every thing
seems to have a glazed aspect ; and the flesh looks too frequently like
marble or brass. It would be an ungracious exercise of critical power
to say which were the worst ; but I will freely own that the two plates
attached to the IVth and Vth Cantos, are, of the ten just mentioned,
very much the best.
One of these represents the Geniuses of the rivers Ganges and Indus
appearing to Emanuel King of Portugal, in a dream. In the back-
ground of two mountains, are seen the sinuous courses of the respec-
tive rivers. The other represents the Genius of the Cape of Good
Hope [the giant Adamastor] appearing to A'asco de Gama ; and in a
voice of thunder — covering one of the two table-mountains with his
right hand, and elevating his left arm above the other mountain — for-
bidding that navigator to disturb those realms in which he had hitherto
reigned sole monarch, undisturbed. His head and his left arm
appear to be lost in the clouds. The whole is finely conceived and
equally well engraved by Boi-ine/. Yet we must not forget, that Mr.
Fuseli, in his representation of the ' Fertilisation of Egypt, in Darwin's
' Botanic Garden,' has imagined the source of the Nile^in a huge ex-
tended figure, with outstretched wings — shadowed in mist, and buoy-
Latin Books.'] THE LIBRARY. 145
ant midst thunder and lightning — with as much genius, but with less
aid from the author. Nor has Mr. Fuseli"s pencil met with an engraver
of equal power and splendor of execution. Reverting to the volume
before us, I shall only further observe, that the subject of the heavy
gale (prefixed to the Vlth Canto) usually attending the doubling of
the Cape-^and predicted in vengeance by the disturbed giant or ge-
nius — is among the . . . worst efforts of allegoric art. Didot has al-
most outdone himself in the printing. Had the verses been of the
same (or of nearly equal) length with the Roman hexameter, or En-
glish heroic, the typographic picture would have been more complete.
Mr. Bulmer, in his Milton, (for I have carefully placed and compared
the two, side by side) may yet hold up his head . . almost as high as
the Genius of the Cape ! One word more. Let me make honourable
mention of the binding, by C. Lewis. The volume is in Venetian mo-
rocco, with fuU charged gilt tooling within and without. Such an
assemblage of minute, graceful, and exquisite ornament — so perfectly
executed throughout — is hardly elsewhere to be seen. In olive-colour
morocco : with vellum fly-leaves.
Corpus Scriptorum Byzantine HisTORi.si. Pa-
ris. 1642—1670. Folio, 38 vols.
A truly magnificent set ; bound out of sheets, upon large fapeb,
in russia binding.
DUGDALE. MONASTICON AnGLICANUM. With
Stevens's Supplement. 1665, &c. Folio, 6 vols.
A magnificent copy, upon large paper : the third volume being, as
usual, inlaid. I believe no instance occurs of this third volume upon
large paper, in the same genuine condition as the two preceding. The
Supplement of Stevens, in this state, is not uncommon ; but the Dug-
dale, upon large paper, is so rare, that I cannot at this present moment
recollect when a copy was brought to sale. The second volume is in
a perfectly genuine state, and many of the leaves hav c rough edges. In
blue morocco.
146 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
Franchini Gafurii Laudensis Regii Musici
Publice profitentis, &c. De Harmonia In-
STRUMENTORUM Opus. Impvessum Mediolani
per Gotardum Pontanum Culcogruphum, &c.
1518. Folio.
On several accounts this volume is of a very interesting chariicter.
In the first place, Dr. Burney has spoken in the handsomest manner
possible of the work itself — which he calls ' a profound treatise on
the theory of harmony, and which was first published in 1480:
though the subject is dark and difficult, it was absolutely necessary for
understanding the ancient authors.' Hist, of Music, vol. iii. p. 154. In
the second place, this copy, of exceedingly fine dimensions, \vas not
only Grolier's, but the name of that Maecenas is introduced in some
complimentary verses, or ' Endecasyllabicks,' of Francois Philippe at
the end — thus :
In lucem redeunt noui Marones :
In lucem redeunt noue Camoente :
Nimirum : Italidas nouus Canioenas :
Mfecenas Grolierius reuisit.
In the third place, Pantaleone Melegulo, of Lodi, (the birth-place
also of the author) has written a pleasing but short biography of Gaf-
forio, printed at the end of the volume, from which I observe that Dr.
Burney has borrowed the materials of his account of the author. ' If,'
says Pantaleone, 'a life spent in labour for the advancement of science,
and in a series of laudable actions, can entitle a human being to
fame, in this world, and felicity in the next, the claim of Gafforio
to both seems indisputable.' He was the son of a common soldier,
and was at first intended for priest's orders. In the fourth place, there
are some very curious wood-cuts in this volume, including a portrait of
the author lecturing to his company. The wood-cutter seems to have
belonged to the family of Lesignerre, distinguished printers : see
their device in Bill. Sptncer. vol. i. p. 249. His name was Guillaume
Lesignerre, and in his verses, following Pantaleone's account of the
author, he designates himself of Rouen. Let him speak for himself.
Magister Gulielmus lesignerre Rothomagensis :
Figuranun Celator. Ad lectorem.
Latin Books.] THE LIBRARY. 147
Desine Mirari : si qua mendosa Figura
Lector : In hoc libro Cernitur esse : Rogo :
Ingenii Studiiq ; mei Coinplesse putaui
Partes : Ast doleo noii placuisse Tibi :
Dum madet ac siccat (quod nosti) tanta papyrus
Spargitur : Inuito saepius artifice : Vale.
The cuts are chiefly mechanical figures, if we except two rows of
trumpeters on the reverse of fol. Lxiiii,and an exceedingly curious al-
legorical cut on the reverse of fol. lxxxxiiii, of Apollo and the Muses,
&c. On the reverse of folio cii is the colophon, with the printer's initials
and device beneath : to the right of which is a large clumsy wood-cut,
explanatory of GafForio's introduction to the study of harmony.
This fine book, in dark binding, gilt leaves, with the usual ornaments
of Grolier on the sides, was doubtless a presentation copy.
Hevelii (I.) Machina Ccelestis. Gedani. Auc-
toris Typis & Sumptibus. Imprim. Simon Re i-
neger. 1673-9. Folio, 2 vols.
The possession of a complete copy of this work (that is to say, a
copy with both the parts) is no mean subject of congratulation. The
work is dedicated to Louis XIV. The expense, when the number of
copper-plates is considered, must have been immense ; nor does it ap-
pear, either from the title-page, or the dedication, that his most Chris-
tian Majesty of France gave the author ' an helping hand ' in the
defraying of the same. Is the figure attached to the plate (Chapter
V.) ' De Quadrante Horizontali ligneo,' and in other similar plates fol-
lowing it, meant for a portrait of some one ? The countenance has a
good deal of individuality about it, and is upon the whole very pleasing,
and skilfully engraved.* Of the copy before us, the second volume,
or ' pars posterior,' is very much the finest in point of size : though
both are equally choice for condition. This second part is dedicated
to John III. King of Poland. In the dedication, the author tells His
Majesty that he presumes to place at the foot of his throne—' Opuscu-
lum hocce sidereum, jam a multis quidem bene annis, Illustrium, et
* r conceive the engraved title-page to represent tlie portrait of the author, standing,
with a booli under his arm. He is in the midst of three other figures. But the finest spe-
cimen of figure-engraving will be found attached to the xith chapter, ' De Seitante magno
Oiichalcu' — wherein we observe a man and woman at either extremity of the hislrument.
'I'lie female h rather elegantly designed as to drapery. Of the above copy the first three
in tl)c first volume are fine impressions.
148 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
Magnorum Virorum hortatu, ac persuasu inchoatum, nunc verb pri-
mtlm, decimo viilelicet labente lustro, non sine aliquo diurno, ac noc-
turno baud leviusculo labore, cur4 atque suniptu exantlatum, et
successibus secundisad fineni perductum," &c. A fine strain of manly
piety runs throughout tliis dedication and the whole work. The pre-
face follows, comprehending 48 pages. Then seven leaves of compli-
mentary addresses. Next, 8-10 pages. Then the iiid and ivth books,
with inde.\, &c. 446 pages. A single leaf, being a list of ' Opera Jo-
hannis Hevelii divine adspirante numine edenda,' follows. This is a
very desirable copy, in russia binding.
Mabillon, De Re Diplomatic a. Paris. 1681-
1704. Folio, 2 vols.
The presentation copy, upon L.\RrTE p.\per, to the great Colbert ; to
whom this learned and valuable work is dedicated. Bound in red mo-
rocco, with Colbert's arms at the back and sides. The library at
Althorp boasts not of a nobler volume, in every respect, than the one
under consideration. The text, the printing, the paper, the plates —
are all worthy of the truly illustrious man under whose auspices they
were executed. The supplemental volume, always thin, is in a similar
condition and binding.
OpusculaGrammatica. Tuhhigce. 1537- Quarto.
I have affixed the above title to a collection of grammatical tracts,
contained in this volume, from Victorinus, Servius Honoratus, Euty-
chus, and Servius Maurus Honoratus ; of which some are here the
. FIRST IMPRESSIONS. One-half of this volume is howcvcr occupicd by
a collection of pieces of ancient rhetorical writers: printed by Froben
in 1591. The present sound and large volume (valued at a^2..1'2..6.
by Mr. Payne) is bound in what may be called yellow morocco, the
leaves not gilt. It had belonged to De Thou.
[Marlborough Gems.] Gemmarum Antiqua-
RUM Delectus ; Ex prtestantioribus desumptus,
quee in Dactyliothecis Ducis Marlburiensis
conservantur, &c.
Prefixed to the title-page is a large engraving, in the line manner,
byBartolozzi : from Plin.Hist. Nat. lib. xxxvii. c. ir. The above Latin
Latin Books.] THE LIBRA R Y. 149
title is accompanied by a French title, or version ; as is indeed every
Latin description of the gems. On the recto of the leaf following the
title, we read ' Gemmarum Antiquarum Delectus — Choix de Pierres
Antiques Grav&s.' On the reverse, commences the first description,
which is always in Latin. After the plate of the gem, succeeds the
French translation of such description. This uniformly throughout.
Order of the Pj-atks.
VOL. L
I. Publii Scipionis Africani Caput Juvenile. Opus elegantissimum.
Stipling. A'ery elegant.
II. Lucii Cornelii Syllse Caput. Stipling ; excellent.
III. Julii Caesaris Caput Laureatum, cum lituo et astro. Line.
IV Marci Junii Bruti Caput. Line.
V. Marci Junii Bruti Caput, cum caduceo et testudine. Stipling.
Fine.
VI. Lepidi Caput cum lituo. Line. Fine.
VII. August! Caput cum Coroni radiattl. Line. Very fine.
VIII. Augusti Pontificis Maximi insignibus induti Caput cum pectore :
plen&. facie. Line. Fine.
IX. Marcelli, OctaviaeFilii, Augusti Nepotis, Caput. Opus elegan-
tissimum. Line. Very fine.
X. Liviae Protome cum Capite laureato, et velato Pectore ; simul
Tiberii Pueri prope adstantis Caput, arboris ignotae foliis re-
dimitum. Stipling. Very beautiful.
As this is a short and interesting description, I subjoin it by
way of a specimen of the work.
' Gemma sane per se pretiosa : sed artificio longe pretiosior.
Siunma est in Liviae vultu venustas : neque Tiberio deest
dignitas, et virilis pulchritudo, quamvis severitate quadam
castigata. Contracta sunt leviter supercilia : frons etiam ob-
nubila, et panum laeta ; tanquam, quis esset futurus, etiam in
pueritia portenderet. Matris in natum pietas probe adum-
brata est : quam tamen ejus temporis poeta nunquam exti«
tisse, neque potuisse, contendit.
Asper, et immitis, breviter vis omnia dicam r
Dispeream, si te Mater amare potest.
Turcois, rarae magnitudinis : opere Anaglypho, quod max-
ime prominet.'
XI. Tiberii Caput Juvenile. Stipling. Beautiful.
VOL. I. U
150
THE LIBRARY.
[Miscellaneous
XII. Germanici Togati Protome cum Capite laureato. Facie plenft,
et Figure extante, et rotundiori ; pereleganti opificio ela-
borata. Line. Very fine.
XIII. Agrippinse Majoris, Uxoris Germanici et Caligulse Matris,
Caput laureatimi, sub effigie Dianee, absolutissimo opere
perfectum. Line. Exquisite.
XIV. Ejusdem Agrippinae, sub effigie Caesaris, Caput elegantissi-
mum. Line. Fine.
XV. Galbae Caput laureatum. Stipling. Feeble.
XVI. Ejusdem Galbae Caput. Stipling. Fine.
XVII. Nervae Togati Protome, cum capite laureato, pleni facie,
Anaglypho opere pulcherrimo, quod maxime prominet.
Stipling. Meagre.
XVIII. Ejusdem Nervae Caput. Line. Very fine ; but the nose dis-
proportionably prominent.
XIX. Marcianae, Trajani Sororis, Caput, elegantissim^ manu in-
scalptum. Line. Very beautiful.
XX. Sabinae, Hadriani Uxoris, Caput, exquisitissimo opere, aprae-
stantissimo lithographo inscalptum. Line. Very beautiful.
XXI. Antinoi Caput, cum pectore velato. Line. Beautiful.
XXII. Caracallae Togati Protome, Facie pleni. Stipling. Very indif-
ferent : and what artists call ' rotten ' in the drapery and
back -ground.
XXIII. Ejusdem Caput laureatum. Stipling. Beautiful.
XXIV. Juliae Domnae, Severi Uxoris, Caput pulcherrimum, cum pec-
tore velato. Stipling. A very faint impression — and appa-
rently a feeble engraving.
XXV. Laocoontis Caput. Line. Fine.
XXVI. Semiramidis, vel potius Museb, Caput cum pectore. Line.
E.xceedingly beautiful.
XXVII. Minervae Alcidae Caput galeatum : operis egregii. Stipling.
An exquisite head : but somewhat too feebly executed.
XXVIII. Phocionis Caput. Stipling. Fine.
XXIX. Jovis et Junonis Capita jugata : utrique coUum deest, quod
tamen auro artifex restituit. Stipling. Very beautiful
heads ; but wanting in strength.
XXX. Veneris Caput. Stipling. Beautiful in every respect.
XXXI. Bacchae caput, pereleganti opificio Graeco exscalptum. Slip-
ling. Perfectly beautiful head, but the drapery and hair
rather want force. The face has nothing superior to it.
Latin Books.'\
THE LIBRARY.
151
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
XLI.
XLII.
Hercules Bibax, stans, leonin^ pelle ad collum adligatft, et
a tergo dependente : sinistra manu clavam erectam
tenet, dextr&. scyphum. Epigraphe.. AAMQN Line.
Fine.
Bacchus stans : laev^ thyrsum, dextr^ cantharum tenet.
Line. Exceedingly beautiful; but the head seems a
little too large.
Faunus Tigridis pelli insidens, caudd. acutisque auribus
spectabilis, &c. Epigraphe NICOAAC. Line. Beau-
tiful ; but perhaps a little too coarse in the back-ground.
Athleta stans, qui dextr& manu strigilem aversae cervicis
patri admovere videtur ; dum sinistra sese ungit : juxta
mensa cum vel olei vel unguenti ampulla. Epigraphe
FNAIOT. Line. The most perfect specimen, in every
respect, of the talents of Bartolozzi. The figure stands
out beautifully in light and shade, and care has been
taken to make the back-ground worthy of it. This
back-ground is a specimen of the manner in which the
others should have been. It is soft, clear, and in beauti-
ful harmony with the figure ; which is drawn in better
style than the Bacchus of No. XXXIII.
Mercurius stans : dexterfl manu crumenam, laev^ caduceum
tenet j ad pedes Gallus : juxta altare, et cancer superim-
positus. Stipling. Very much inferior to the preceding.
Mars stans, armatus. Epigraphe MARS VLTOR. Line.
Beautiful ; but the head yet too large, and the eflfect too
feeble.
MUes de rape descendens. Eximii scalptoris Graeci opus.
Line. Exceedingly beautiful ; and in Bartolozzi's very
best manner.
Diomedes Palladio potitus cum Ulysse altercatione con-
tendit. Epigraphe KALnOTPNIOT CEOTHPOY
4>HAIH EnOIEI. Line. Perfectly beautiful.
Dei Marini natantes. Epigraphe 'TAAOT. Stipling.
Feeble, and not free from vulgarity of effect ; especially
in the countenance of the man.
Miles vulneratus a militibus duobus sustentatur. Line.
Fine subject ; but somewhat coarsely executed.
Miles Militi vulnerato opitulatur. Stipling. Beautifully
drawn, but the effect is too feeble.
152
THE LIBRARY.
[Miscellaneous
XLIIl. Mulier stolata cum Virgine, quae tevfl thyrsum, dexterfl
cantharum gerit. Stipling. Too coarsely engraved for
the delicacy of the composition.
XLIV. Fiiunus pelle caprinil ex humeris pendente vestitus, &c.
Stipling. Fine composition ; but should have been line.
XLV. Alexandri Magni Effigies, cum Ecjuo et Tropjeo. Opus ele-
gantissimum. Liyie. Ex{iuisitely engr.aved.
XXiVI. .^neani a Diomede saxo percussum Apollo conservat. Line.
Beautifully executed throughout.
XL VII. Pompae cujusdam ob Victoriam partam Descriptio. Stipling i
and perhaps the most successful, of this kind of engrav-
ing, in the volume.
XL VIII, Amazon Amazonem morientem sustinet : juxta Equus. Line.
Exquisite. This print shews how Bartolozzi could en-
grave — if he chose.
XLIX. Fragmen Gemmae, Bacchi Pompam, ut videtur, exhibens.
Line. Very fine.
L. Nuptioe Psyches et Cupidinis. Epigraphc TPTi2N
EnOIEI. Stipling. A fine impression of this well-known
subject ; but the back-ground is too coarse for the deli-
cacy of the group : and, after all, the engraving is not
quite rich and mellow enough for the exquisite beauty of
the composition.
VOL. II.
1. Ptolemaeus. Line. In parts too spotty and harsh : a fine
subject.
II. Metrodorus. Stipling. A coarse and loose effect ; but fine head.
III. Socrates et Plato. Stipling. Very coarse and inferior.
IV. Alexandri Magni Caput. Stipling. A grand head, but coarsely
and inadequately executed.
V. Sappho. Line. Exceedingly tender and beautiful.
VI. Phryne. Stipling. Beautifid subject — wretchedly engraved.
VII. Pyrrhus. Stipling. Feeble, and coarse back-ground.
VIII. Unknown Head. Stipling. Too dark and coarse. CKTAAKO
inscribed.
IX. The same. Stipling. ^'ery tame and coarse.
X. Medusa. Stipling. The same.
Latin BooksJ\
THE LIBRARY.
153
XI. Medusa. Stipling. Very tame and coarse.
XII. Minerva, Eutychis Mgeazi, Dioscoridis filii, opus. Stipling.
Bad effect.
XIII. Bacchus. Stipling. Very indifferent.
XIV. Deee Liberse Caput. Stipling. Fine subject; but executed
too feebly and too coarsely.
XV. Bacchans Foemina. Stipling. The same remark.
XVI. Mercurius. Stipling. Beautiful subject, but poorly executed.
XVII. Isis. Stipling. Very singular, and sufficiently coarse. Bar-
tolozzi now seemed to be growing tired of his task.
XVIII. Hercules and lole. Stipling. A lovely head of Hercules ;
but the accompaniments and back-ground are not suffici-
ently attended to.
XIX. Brutus. Stipling. Very coarse.
XX. Annibal. Line. The finest head hitherto in the volume.
XXI. Lucius Cornelius Sylla. Stipling. Feeble, and inefficient.
XXII. C. Cilnius Mecsenas. Stipling. A fine head, but inade-
quately engraved.
XXIII. M. Agrippa. Stipling. Very coarse and feeble.
XXIV. Livia Drusilla. Stipling. A beautiful subject, but exceed-
ingly ill engraved.
XXV. Drusus, Tiberii Filius. Stipling. Fine head ; but too feeble.
XXVI. Drusus, Gennanici Filius. Stipling. The same inference.
XXVII. Antonia, vel Agrippina. Stipling. Very fine.
XXVIII. Domitia, vel Julia Titi. Stipling. Very poor.
XXIX. Hadrianus. Stipling. The same inference.
XXX. Antinous. Stipling. Beautiful head ; and, upon the whole,
worthy of Bartolozzi.
XXXI. Caput ignotum, Antonini forsan junioris. Inscribed AEAIOE.
Stipling. Verj' coarse.
XXXII. Lucilla. Stipling. Beautiful subject; but coarsely and
feebly executed.
XXXIII. Didius Julianus Augustus, et Manila Scantilla Augusta.
Stipling. A rich and beautiful subject : but in parts, as
usual, feeble and coarse.
XXXIV. Caput Sirii Canis. Stipling. A very fine and striking efifort
of the burin.
XXXV. Vaccae. Line. Delicate and beautiful.
XXXVI. E(iui. Line. Too harsh — especially the further horse and
the back-ground.
154
THE LIBRARY.
^Miscellaneous
Faunus a Leone interfectus. Stipling. As bad, as No.
XXXV. is beautiful,
Mercurii Templuni. Line. Very clever.
Imperator Hostem prosternens. Line. Beautiful : in every
way worthy of Bartolozzi — by far the best, hitherto, in
the volume.
Coronis. (Apollo et Coronis) cum Cor\'o. See Ovid. Me-
tamorph. 1. ii. Line. Still more beautiful ; and perhaps
equal to any thing in either volume.
Cupidines. Line. A complete failure.
Ganyinedes. Epigraphe KOIMOV. Stipling. Beautifully
drawn, but the grain is too coarse.
Ganymedes et Aquila. Stipling. Coarse and black.
Hercules Asovrofovoi. Stipling. Very poor.
Faunus. Stipling. Feeble and inefficient.
Omphale incedens. Stipling. A beautiful subject : inade-
quately executed.
Triumphus. Stipling. Interesting subject, and rather better
executed.
Biga. Line. Too coarse and black.
Biga. Stipling. Very coarse : the same subject, with the
near horse mutilated.
L. Silenus, Tigris, &c. Line. Very coarse, and quite un-
worthy of Bartolozzi.
A tail-piece, in the line manner, concludes the volume : which is in
Bartolozzi's true style of excellence : except that the head of the female
is too large. The Latin of the first volume of this work was the com-
position of the late celebrated Jacob Bryan, and that of the second
volume, of the late Rev. Dr. Cole, Prebendary of Westminster. The
whole is considered to be very pure Latinity. The curious are suflR-
ciently aware of the extreme rarity and value, as well as beauty,
of these precious volumes. The present choice copy is bound in yel-
low morocco. The first volume, divided into separate prints, was
sold at the sale of Mr.Wodehouse's books in 1801, for £145 ; of which,
lot XXXII. alone produced £l5..4..6. Of the second volume, only
twenty-three subjects had been collected; notwithstanding we are in-
formed that Mr. Wodehouse was twenty years in making the collection.
Bibliomania, p. 591-4.
XXXVIl.
XXX VUl.
XXXIX.
XL.
XLI.
XLU.
XLIU.
XLIV,
XLV.
XLVI
XLVU.
XLVUI.
XLIX.
Latin Books.] T H E L I B R A R Y. 1 55
RicHARDi Croci Britanni Introductioncs in
Rudiraenta Graeca. Colonice. 1520 Quarto.
I make no question of this being one of the very rarest grammatical
tracts of our learned countrymen at the beginning of the xvith cen-
tury. It is clear that Ant. a Wood never saw the work ; but it is probably
what he designates as ' Introductiones ad Linguam Gracam.' ' Elementa
Gram. Gracee.' See the Athen. Oxon., vol. i. col. 260 ; where there is
a good account of the author, who died in 1.558. That he was greatly
patronised by Abp. Warham, as Mr. Bliss intimateSj is evident from
the dedication of this work to him,* and which was doubtless printed
abroad before the author had returned from his travels. Croke was a
Northamptonshire clergj'man (of Long Buckby, within three miles of
Althorp), and therefore his work is appropriately found upon the
shelves of this library. On the reverse of g iij, in fours, is the colo-
phon thus :
Coloniee in aedibus Eucharij Ceruicorni,
Anno a Christo nato. M.D. XX. mense
Maio . expensis providi uiri domini Joannis
Lair de Siborch.
A neat wood-cut of St. George and the Dragon on one side, and of
St. Jerom on the other side, of the following and last leaf, closes the
volume. A remarkably soimd and desirable copy ; in russia binding.
Thuerdanck. Nuremhurg. 1517. Folio.
First edition, upon vellum : the cuts uncoloured. A copy, which,
in its original binding, must have been exquisite. It is yet a very fine
book. Consult for one minute the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i.
p. ICH. The finest veUum copy of this truly magnificent work is pro-
bably that in the Imperial Library at Vienna. Tour, vol. iii. p. 529.
Mr. Payne had one nearly as fine — in its original binding — but it was
imperfect. The present is bound in red morocco, by Kalthoeber.
• * Vtpote qui possem uideri immensos, quos in me a duodecimo iam anno fecbti sump-
tus, prieter labores plurimos, quos in componendas in rem meam liles impeudisti, lantulo
opusculo uelle compensare. Sed fidero meam tibi minime suspeclam scio, et nunc urgent
Chrjsostomus tuus in vetus instruraentura latinitati a nie donandus, et in Theodori quar-
tuiD coramentarij,' &c.
156 THE LIBRARY. [Editions of
EDITIONS OF ARIOSTO.
As the Public have been led to expect some account of his Lordship's
Italian Books, I am not aware that a better method can be devised, by
way of a specimen of such books, than tliat of submitting a list of those
editions of the Orlando Furiosn of Ariosto, to be found in the Library
at Althorp, which are printed in the Sixteenth Century. To enumerate
those in the two succeeding centuries, would be not only to swell the
list to an inordinate size, but to exhibit such as are in most of the
libraries of collectors of Italian poetry. At the same time it must be
admitted, that his Lordship's collection is not yet complete — since it
has only the editions of the years 1516, 1527, and 1532; and wants
the Giolito impression of 1542. On the other hand, the acquisition
of the FIRST and sixth impressions (for I consider that of 1530 to
be supposititious), together with the Aldine, Giunia, and the Porro
editions, renders this collection unique in our own country.
It cannot, however, be dissembled, that a critical investigation of
the EAKLY text of Ariosto, is yet a desideratum of no inconsiderable
importance to the lovers of old Italian literature ; the more so, as De
Bure, Mazuchelli, Apostolo Zeno, Orlundi, and Haym, are generally
superficial and incorrect. It is asserted that Ariosto again corrected
the text of his poem — even after the edition of 1532, which is al-
lowed to have been put forth under his own superintendence. He
died in June, 1533 ; according to Sismondi, vol. ii. p. 63. It is per-
haps not very unreasonable to indulge tlie hope, that the very able hands
which have executed sucli masterly memorials relating to Daxte, Pe-
trarch, and Tasso, in two of our most popular critical journals,
will be exercised in due time upon Ariosto — the most wild and per-
haps popular of these four great poets of Italy. It only remains to
submit the promised list of most of the earUer and rarer editions of
the poet under consideration.
Afiosto.] THE LIBRARY. 157
Orlando Furioso, &c. At the end : Impresso
in Ferrara per Maestro Giouanni Mazocco dal
Bondeno adi xxii de Aprils, m.d.xvi. Quarto.
First Edition ; of such excessive rarity, that I know of no other
copy but that in the Royal Library of France. The reader will find a
particular description of it in the Bibliog. Decameron, vol. i. p 286.
The privilege of the Pope, extracted in the page here referred to, is
certainly confirmative of this impression being the first ; although men-
tion is made of a privilege of the date of the 25th of October, 1515,
towards the end of the edition of 1532 — described below. Barotti, in
his Life of Ariosto, thinks, with great probability, that this edition was
begun in 1515, and finished in 1516. Consult Ginguene, vol. iv. p.
354. The present copy, of which the title-page is unfortunately sup-
plied by ms., affords one of the most brilliant specimens known of the
binding of the late Mr. Mackinlay ; in dark green morocco.
rlstampato et con molta diligentia da lui
corretto et quasi tutto formato di nvovo et am-
pliato. Cumgrat. et priv. Venet. 1527- Quarto.
The preceding is within a rude wood-cut border, having, at toj),
' PRO bono' — at bottom, ' malvm.' A device of bees flying from a hive,
with fire beneath, is on the reverse. Then the text, on the recto of the
followng leaf, numbered ii — as in the first edition of 1516. The leaves
are numbered throughout as far as fol. ccviii, which concludes the
XLth Canto, and the text : at bottom, we read, in seven lines, ' Finisse
Orlando Furioso de Ludotnco Ariosto : Stampato in linclita Citta di Ve-
netia Per Madonna Helisabetta de Rusconi Net. m.d.xxvii. Adi xxvii.
De Zugno Regnante linchjto Principe Andrea Gritti. Con licentia del
ditto autore: The register is beneath : On the reverse is the same de-
vice as that on the reverse of the title. This copy is in fair good con-
dition : in old calf binding, with red edged leaves. This edition is briefly
noticed by Mazzuchelli, but not by De Bure, Haym, or Brunet. The
Ferrara edition, of the following year, is proljably only a reprint of the
present. Brunet considers it to be a reprint of the edition of 1521.
Both conjectures may be true. Consult the note, by Mr. Evans, in the
catalogues of Col. Stanley and the Duke of Marlltorough.
VOL. I. X
158 THE LIBRARY. [Edilions of
Orlando Furioso di Messer Ludovico Ariosto
Nobile Ferrarese Nvovamente da lui proprio
Corretto e d' Altri Canti Nuovi ampliato con
gratie e Privilegii. Ferrara. 1532. Quarto.
The preceding title is printed in red capital roman letters (in eleven
lines), within an elaborated wood-cut border, composed chiefly of mi-
litary trophies. The privilege for printing, by Pope Clement A'll., is
on the reverse ; followed by that of Charles V., Emperor of Germany.
The poem begins on the recto of the following leaf, A ii, thus :
Le donne i caualier : 1' arme : gli amori
Le cortesie : 1' audaci iprese io canto.
&c. &c. &c.
This is the first edition of the entire poem (46 Cantos), corrected
under the care of Ariosto himself : the preceding edition of 1527 con-
taining only 40 Cantos. This edition is printed in a roman type,
in double columns, witli a large capital initial, in outline, prefixed to
each canto. The signatures extend from A to Z, and a to h, each
alphabet being in eights. On the conclusion of the poem, h vj. re-
verse, we read, in roman capitals, ' Finis Pro Bono Malvm.' On the
recto of the following leaf is the profile of Ariosto, cut in wood, within
the same border as in the title-page — and perhaps the first engraved
head of the poet. On the reverse are two privileges j one from An-
dreas Gritti, Doge of Venice, dated 14tli of January 1527 ; in which
however mention is made of a previous privilege, dated 25th of Oc-
tober 1515. Then follows a privilege of Francis II., Duke of Milan,
dated xx. July 1531 ; at the bottom of wliich it is intimated, that simi-
lar privileges, for exclusive sale, were granted the author by several
Italian potentates. On the recto of the following and last leaf is the
imprint thus :
Impresso in Ferrara per maestro Francesco Rosso da V^a-
lenza, a di primo d' Ottobre. m.d.xxxii.
The register is beneath. Then the device of a hand, from the clouds,
with a pair of shears extended over two serpents ; of which one has had
the tongue cut out, and the other seems to be about to receive the same
punishment. The motto, across the clouds, is this : ' Dilexisti Ma-
I.ITIA sup[eb] Benignitatem.' The reverse is blank.
Ariosto.] THE LIBRARY. 159
The extreme rarity, and great intrinsic worth, of tliis impression,
almost seem to require a description at least as minute as the foregoing.
This copy, although not large, is quite sound and perfect ; and bound
in yellow morocco, by Mackinlay.
Orlando Furioso con le Notation! di tutti gli
luoghi done per lui e stato ampliato, Come nel
Fine de I' opera chiaro si uede. In Venegia
per Benedetto de Bendonis. 1537- Quarto.
A wood-cut of the head of Ariosto, the same as to the edition of
1532, is below the title : the whole in a rude wood-cut border. A
large, and not inelegant wood-cut, with a black back-ground, precedes
the text on the recto of folio 2. Each canto is preceded by a small
wood-cut of very barbarous art. The poem ends on the reverse of
folio 238. Then a leaf of the ' Nottationi delli Loghi." Another, and
the last leaf in the volume, with the colophon and printer's device —
the figure of Justice, sitting, with a pair of scales in the left, and a
sword in the right hand. The colophon is thus : ' In Vinegia per Be-
nedetto de Bendonis De I' Isella del Lago niaggiore. Ne V Anno del
Signore. mdxxxvii. adi prima Marzo Regnante V Inclito Principe Mcs-
ser Andrea Gritti. A desirable copy ; in russia, gilt leaves.
. In Venetia per Domenego Zio, &c. 1539-
1540. Quarto.
The portrait of Ariosto, as before, is in the title-page. There are wood-
cuts throughout, copied after the preceding — but not the cuts themselves.
The first cut, however, is here essentially different, and much inferior.
The text ends on the reverse of the 246th leaf; with an imprint indi-
cating the edition to have been printed by Pietro di Nicolini da Sabio,
in 1540. But, after the leaf of 'Notationi,' &c. we observe, on the
following and last leaf, an imprint, of the date of 1539, denoting the
impression to have been executed by 'Domenego Zio & Fratelli J'eneti,'
having the device of those printers, composed of the letters V. D. Z. F.
below, in white, upon a black ground. This is a sound copy ; in calf,
marbled leaves.
160 THE LIBRARY. [Editions of
Orlando Furioso ridotto et ornato di Varie Fi-
gure, &c. RomcB. 1543. Quarto.
Although published at Rome, I suspect this edition to have been
printed at Venice, The wood-cuts are clearly those of the Petit Ber-
nard ; and were copied in the edition about to be described. The
printer, Jolito di Ferrarii, tells us, in the usual strain of rival publish-
ers, that the text of the poet had been ' oltre modo guasta e lacerata
daUa auaritia d' alcuni Impressori : e percio hauendola io non senza
infinita mia fatica et spesa in bella e corretta e commoda forma ri.
dotta,' &c. At the end of the text of Ariosto, are ' Stanze del Signer
Alvigi Gonzaga dello Rodomonte a Messer Lvdovico Ariosto' — in
two leaves — terminated by the usually received head of the poet, with
a sonnet of Ludovico Dolce beneath.* This copy is bound in red mo-
rocco.
ridotto et ornato di varie figure, &c. In
T^enetia per G. Jolito. 1543. Small Quarto.
A beautiful little edition ; of which the wood-cuts are singularly
spirited — and which wood-cuts were repeated in a variety of editions.
At the end is a tract, by Ludovico Dolce, of the Explanation of the
words and difficult passages found in Ariosto, with a separate title-
page, and the printer's device. The date of this tract is 1540. Another
similar tract follows, concluded by a table or index. This copy is in
blue morocco binding. The cuts are copied from those in the preced-
ing edition; but are not absolutely the same. Many are preferable ;
* The sonnel is thus :
Spirto Diuin : ue le cui dotte carte
Fra bei concenti al grand Virgilio eguali
SI uiostra, tuentre al ciel spiegano V ali,
Tutto quel, che puo far I' ingegno & 1' arte
Ei con sonora Troraba in ogni parte
Mando gli honor d" Enea, chiari e immortali:
Per te i pregi de 1' arme, in nessun tali,
II figliuol di Milone inuola a Marte,
Onio di lui 1' etemo alto lauoro
II bel norae Latin : tu con si chiara
Voce, che I' ode ogn' un Toscano illustri.
Tal che 'I gran Mincio e '1 Po cinti d' Alloro
Di tempo in tempo affar di tutti i lustri :
Quel Mantoa esaltera, questo Ferrara !
Ariosto.] THE LIBRARY. 161
witness that at the commencement of the fourth canto. Dolce's anno-
tations render it clear that this edition was printed after that at Rome.
Orlando Furioso. Con molte Espositioni illus-
trate : In Fh-enze m.Ji.'s.i.iiii. Quarto.
The title is within an handsome ornamented border, with the device
of the Junta lily below. \'archi's address follows. Then the argu-
ments to the several Cantos : next, the table or index, terminated by a
fresh portrait of Arlosto, cut upon wood, with the sonnet of L. Dolce at
bottom — as before. The whole on 10 leaves, ending on the reverse of
A ii. On A iii the text begins, \vith the cuts of the Roman edition of
1543. The text ends on the reverse of folio 260, numbered, with the
head of Ariosto and Dolce's sonnet, as before. In this copy there fol-
lows ' Dimostratione delle comparationi, et altre annotationi nvomamente
aggiunte con le c'daliuni de luoghi de V autore imitati," &c. printed at the
press of Benedetto Giunta in the same year — ^with two other tracts re-
lating to Ariosto. In the whole, 22 leaves. On the reverse is the same
device as in the title of the edition of the text. This copy also contains
' Cinque Canti di vn Nvovo Libra di M. Ludovico Ariosto, i quali seguono
la materia del Ffurioso -. di nvovo mandati in Luce.' — 15J6, containing
28 numbered leaves. I consider this edition to be among the very
rarest of the poem in question. It has escaped all the bibliographers,
including Bandini and Brunet ; and was purchased at Rome, by his
Lordship, of Petrucci the bookseller.
aggivntovi in fine piv di cinqvecento Stanze,
&c. non piv vedvte, &c. In T^e^ietia, In Casa
de' Figlivoli d'Aldo. 1545. Quarto.
This may be considered as one of the rarer editions of the Orlando
Furioso. Mazzuchelli, p. 1071, informs us, that it is the first edition in
which are added the five Cantos subsequently written by Ariosto;
these were communicated to Antonio Manuzio, by ^'i^ginio Ariosto,
the poet's son ; and he adds, that though they want here and there some
stanzas, and the edition contains none of the labours of other authors
on the poem, it is nevertheless a very rare one. These five cantos were
usually printed in all following editions.' M. Renouard has been less
particular in his account of this impression, in the first ^ olunic of his
Aldine Annals, p. 234, than in his Supplement, p. 21 : in which latter
THE LIBRARY. [Editions of
place the notice is curious. He classes it, however, in vol. i. p. 234,
among ' the rarest of the Aldine publications.' This edition contains
248 leaves, exclusively of the five cantos ; to which must be iidded 28
leaves, with a separate one for the title, of the supplemental cantos.
The present desirable copy, from the Borromeo collection, is bound in
vellum.
Orlando Furioso. In Vinegia. Appresso Ga-
briel Giolito, &c. 1547. Quarto.
With the emendations of Gonzaga. The address of Giolito, as of
1542, follows. The same kind of cuts as before, with a border at each
end. At the end is an Espositione di tutti \'ocaboli, &c. with a fresh
title-page, of the same date; concluding with sign. ***« vj. Then
the Cinque Canti, &c. with the elaborate device of the Gioliti ; 31 num-
bered leaves.
traduzido en Romance Castellano, &c.
G. Giolito. En Venecia. 1553. Quarto.
Containing all the pieces, with the wood-cuts^ as before. A beauti-
tifiil copy of a rare and most estimable volume ; in old red morocco
binding, gUt leaves.
— In Vinegia. G. Giolito. 1555. Quarto.
With all the fore-mentioned pieces. A beautiful copy, in vellum
binding.
In Venetia. Appresso Vicenzo Valgrisi,
nella hottega d'Erasmo. 1556 Quarto.
Apparently the first with large wood-cuts. The title-page, including
the beaiitiful little head of Ariosto at top, is a masterpiece of graphic
art. Following page 556, is a piece, with a fresh title (1 556,) and with
the twisted snake of Valgrisi — called ' Annolationi et A vvertimenti di
Girolamo Ruscelli sopra luoghi difficili et important! del Furioso,"
concluding at C 4, in fours. Then a table, m, n, o, p, in fours. An
indifferent copy, in vellum binding. Consult Mazzuchelli, vol. ii. p.
1071, in praise of this edition.
Ariosto.] THE LIBRARY. 163
Orlando Furioso. In Venetia. Appresso Do-
menico §• G. B. Guerra, fratelli. 1568. Duo-
decimo.
A beautiful little edition, with cuts after the manner of those of 1543,
if not by the same hand. It contains only the text of the poet, in a
small neat reman type. A fine copy of this book is however a desi-
deratum in this library.
Traduzido en Romance Castellano. En
Venecia Ala Ensena dela Salamandra. 1575.
Quarto.
A fresh set of wood-cuts, very inferior.
In Venetia. Appresso gli Heredi di Vin-
cenzo Valgrisi. 1580. Quarto.
The same as the edition of 1.556 ; with a repetition of the large cuts.
In vellum binding.
adornato di figure di rame da Gir. Porro.
Venetia, Fr. de Franceschi. 1584. Quarto.
De Bure has almost compensated for the barrenness of his account
of the previous editions of the Orlando Furioso, by the length and par-
ticularity of his description of the present ; — which, however, is pro-
perly called ' assez belle,' by Brunei. The truth is, the copper-plate
engravings of Porro are very poor, both in design and execution ; and
the test of a perfect copy of this edition is, the possession of the origi-
nal impression of the 34th plate — which is oftimes missing, and as fre-
quently supplied by a counterfeit, or the 33rd plate. The head of
Ariosto in the beginning is unequal to the first wood-cut portrait of
him. Consult De Bure, vol. iii. p. 661. n^. 3397j and Brunet, vol. i.
p. 78, edit. 1814. Mazzuchelli, vol. ii. p. 1073. The present copy, in
blue morocco binding, belonged to La.moigxon ; and therefore may
be considered to be in the finest condition.
164 THE LIBRARY. [Miscc'l/aHcou.i
Orlando Furioso. In Venetia. G. Angelieri.
1585. Quarto.
With a short life of Ariosto. A fresh set of small wood-cuts, of
which the first is by far the best. After the Cinque Canti, are 57
leaves of dissertation, chiefly by G. Pigna and Nicolo Eugenico. A
table of 16 leaves concludes the volume.
MISCELLANEOUS ENGLISH BOOKS.
I now come to the selection of a few articles in that department
where there is a comparatively considerable difficulty ; because the
choice is greater, and because almost every reader will be disposed to
maintain his own, and perhaps an opposite, opinion, upon the propriety
of this selection. Be this as it may, 1 am willing to hope, and believe,
that such a list of articles, as is here e.xhibited, will not be thought un-
worthy of the treasures by which they have been preceded. To avoid
numerous divisions, I have thrown the whole, whether poetry or prose,
into alphabetical order.
Bacon's [Lord] Essays. Printed by Bensley , for
J. Edwards and T. Payne. 1798. Duodecimo.
One of the four large paper copies, printed exclusively for the
Countess Spencer. To give some idea of the whimsical proportions
of this rare volume, it is only necessary to observe that the text is not
quite four inches and a half in length, by two and a half in width —
while the book measures sixteen inches and a half in length, by nearly
thirteen in width — so that we have here literally the ' cymba in oceano '
of Ernesti, or the ' river of text in a meadow of margin ' of Sheridan.
These four copies were presented by Lady Spencer — one to the late
Duke of Devonshire, a second to the late Rev. C. M. Cracherode, a
third to the late Mr. James, and the fourth to his Lordship. On the
death of Mr. James, his copy was purchased by Messrs. Payne and
Foss; and it appears, in a recent catalogue published by them, marked
at the price of i,'S..8.
English Boohs.] THE LIBRARY. 165
The Catalogue of Honor, or Tiesury of Trve
Nobility pecvliar and proper to the Isle of Great
Britaine. &c. (By Tho. Milles.) London,
printed for TVilUam laggard. 1610. Folio.
This is the costliest work, up to the period of its publication, of any
which had been printed upon the subject of noble genealogies. It
takes no notice of degrees of rank below that of an Earl : and is
arranged according to the usual method of allotting the counties —
whence the titles are derived. The copy under description is upon
LARGE PAPER, and fuled in red lines by an ancient hand. It appears
to have formerly belonged to an Earl of ' Tankerville,' whose title
is inscribed on the reverse of the fifth leaf. Sound and desirable as
this copy is, it yet appears, from some memoranda at p. 546, to have
been once larger, and to have suffered from the binder, although the
date of the binding (in old calf, with arms stampt on the sides) may
be nearly coeval with that of the publication. There are some copper-
plates in this book deserving of commendation. They shew the dif-
ferent orders of rank, by full-dressed figures, beginning with a Baron —
concluding with the Prince of Wales ; which latter figure seems here
intended for that of Prince Henry.* These figures are about eight
inches in height. One large folded plate, representing the King sitting
in the House of Lords, follows two previous ones, not folded, in which
his Majesty (James I.) is sitting upon the throne. There is something
in the style of art which reminds us of Hollar. The arms of the nobi-
lity are represented by wood-cuts. In the whole, there are 1131
pages — exclusively of the last page of errata, the title, dedication,
address to the reader, 99 pages of nobility, political and civil, and five of
a 'peroration or epilogue.' On the reverse of the last leaf of the
discourse on nobility, are two figures, shewing the back and front dress
of a Knight of the Garter. This work includes a History of England
to the time of Elizabeth. I should add, that the name of Milles
appears at the bottom of the dedication to Cecil, Earl of Salisbury,
Prime Minister to King James — a character, whom Sawyer, in the
preface to his edition of fVinwood's Memorials, 1725, labours hard to
defend against the attacks ' of all the little wits of his own and suc-
ceeding times.' f
* He was created Prince of Wales June 5, 1610.
t Rlillcs's language is quite his own, and perfectly 'sui generis." It is at times
VOL. I. Y
166 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
I do not notice this book so much from its rarity, as from its being
the parent of the subsequently celebrated works of Asiimole, Anstis,
and Sandford. It is, however, unique of its kind; the production
of a man of unquestionable talent ; and there is a sobriety, and even
occasional splendour, of decoration about it, in the plates, which always
render it an object for attainment.
Castro, Guillen de, — Some Account of the Life
and Writings of By Henry Richard Lord
Holland. ]817. Octavo.
It will be presently seen why this modern, and necessarily not un-
common work finds a place in this catalogue. Below the title, as
above, we read ' An unique copy. Printed for John Lord Spencer.'
It is upon lage paper, in russia binding ; but in the foregoing desig-
nation of the owner of the copy, the printer has obviously erred. The
work itself is justly popular. The noble author (' ille si quia alius')
may one day be prevailed upon to give us a Flos Poet arum His-
PANOBUM. Such a nosegay cannot fail to have a perennial bloom.
Devonshire Gems ; or Engravings from a Portion
of the Collection of Gems in the possession of
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. (1730.)
Quarto,
The late Mr. Beloe (Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, vol.
i. p. lS2j) was supplied with his account of this work from the source
whence the present description, or rather narrative, is taken : a nar-
rative, that discloses an act of profligacy and perfidiousness rarely
exceeded. It is as follows ; from a ms. memorandum in this copy.
' The following Collection of Gems was begun to be formed by Wil-
liam, the third Duke of Devonshire ; and enlarged by William, the
quaint and sententious ; at otiiers, full, vigorous, and eloquent. Milles seems to have been
acquainted will) the famous Sir Robert Cotton — or at least with his lihrai-y — in its ori-
ginal, rich, and unsophisticated state : ' whose Private Study (says he) seems to be the Pit
"herein our forefathers laid up and preserved their holy, hidden-fire, and protocols of
truth, to sanctifie the vowes of all onr Modeme Antiquaries, by the sunshine of tlicse our
latter happie ilaies.' Machab. lib. 1, Ca. 2. On revision, it should seem that Lord
Spencer's copy was once in the library of De Thou — as the letters of direction — 2 C. P.
T. 2. F. 47 — are precisely like those usually seen in the volumes of that library.
English Boohs.] THE LIBRARY. ir>7
fourth DukCj who was desirous of having the whole series engraved.
He wished the engravings to be the precise representations of the ori-
ginals. In his search, therefore, he was anxious to obtain an artist,
whose abilities were equal to the copying of the Antique, and yet so
much under command as not to improve any imperfection of the more
moderate, or to fling, on the more beautiful, a cast of style, however
admirable in itself, which the gems did not justify.
' Such a plan was necessarily attended with difficulty. When an
artist has acquired a sufficiently extensive taste to feel the beauties of
a work, and to disreUsh its faults, it seldom happens that he can induce
himself not to remove the defect in his copy. Whether it is that he
has an unconquerable antipathy to deformity, or that he fears lest the
blemish should be attributed to himself, certain it is that he labours to
amend it. It is the same disposition which urges his endeavour to
heighten even what is beautiful ; and thus it arises, that in copies by
our best artists, we perceive a general resemblance of the original, witii
a spirit characteristic of their own peculiar manner. It is not surpris-
ing, tlierefore, that some time elapsed before the Duke's inquiries met
with success.
' At length, about the year 1724, M. Gosmond, a Frenchman, was
recommended to his Grace as well qualified to answer his Grace's
expectations ; and indeed the specimens, which are here collected,
place his talents as an artist in a respectable point of view. They pos.
sess no inconsiderable share of breadth and simplicity of style, and have
the further recommendation of faithfulness.
' The Duke, as was natural for a liberal man, evinced his satisfaction
by many offices of generosity. But these unfortunately met with no
grateful return : perhaps they were e\ en the very cause of ingratitude.
For Mr. Gosmond, conceiving that he had so strong a hold of his Pa-
tron's good opinion as to establish himself in the family, relaxed in his
attention, and by degrees entered into dissipation. The work now went
on slowly, and objects of expense continued to increase on him. His
calls on the Duke, therefore, were more frequent, while his claims for
patronage were diminishing ; and thus every day forfeiting the esteem
of his noble employer, the Duke was under the necessity of declaring
to him, when 99 plates were finished, that he had already paid consi-
derably more than the stipulated sum for the whole work ; and, with
the hope of obliging him to be more attentive, refused to answer any
further demands till the work should proceed less negligently.
168 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
' Meeting with this unexpected refusal, and fearing the impatience
of his creditors, M. Gosmond secretly left the kingdom, and carried
many of the plates with him. \\Tiat became of him, after his return to
the Continent, is uncertain : enquiries were made, but they proved in-
effectual. Probably as no work, bearing his name, has appeared, he
died soon after his return to his native country.
' From this unlucky accident the Duke was frustrated in his pur-
pose ; nor was he enabled to make up a few sets for his friends of what
even were done. For, either impressions from several of the plates
were not taken, or, if they were, they had been carried away by M.
Gosmond. It does not appear what the number of plates left m the
possession of the Duke amounted to. The Rev. C. M. Cracherode,
whose tase and munificence are well known, could never obtain, though
he made it an object, more than 101. But the scarcity of these plates
may be collected from the following anecdote in Mr. West's Catalogue
of Books : n° 2790. ' The Duke of Devonshire's Cabinet of Gems, by
Gosmond, 39 Plates, being all that were engraved. M. Gosmond, a
Frenchman, was employed by the old Duke of Devonshire to engrave
his cabinet of gems, but when he had gone through the few here col-
lected, he ran away, leaving some plates behind, and carrying the rest
with him. What plates came into the Duke's hands, he favoured me
with proofs from : another parcel was purchased in France by the
Hon. B. Bathurst, and presesented to me by him. A. D. 1730.'
The numbers at the end of the description, refer to a catalogue in
the Duke of Devonshire's library.
List of the Plates, in the Order in which they appear in the
Copy at Althorp.
1. Priamus. .^tionis Opus. Corniol. incisum. An intaglio Cor-
nelian. 42.
2. Jupiter Ammon. (Cornelian.) 49.
3. .Tupiter Serapis. (Cornelian.) 47.
4. Apollo, by Thesmos. 96.
.5. Perseus. 87.
6. Pyrrhus. 79.
7. Head of a Warrior. 75
8. Mercury. 54.
9. Hercules. 97.
10. The Same. (Beryl.) 1.
EngUsh Books.] THE LIBRARY. 1G9
11. lole. (Cornelian.) 40.
12. Psyche. 98.
13. The Same. (Garnet.) 21.
14. Medusa. 81.
15. Perseus. (Onyx.) 11.
16. Ceres. 88.
17. Medusa. (Amethyst.) 43.
18. Silenus. 6'2.
19. Ariadne. (Cornelian.) 23.
20. Priest of Pan. 94.
21. Socrates, by Agathemeros, an intaglio, vide Stosch, n" 4. (Cor-
nelian.) 36.
22. Unknown Head. (Beryl.) 9.
23. Sappho. (White Cornelian.) 24.
24. Laocoon. (Sardonyx.) 18.
25. Ptolemy Dionusos. (Hyacinth.) 37-
26. Ptolemy Neoteros. (Sapphire.) 2.
27. Triptolemus. 90.
28. Scipio Africanus. S3.
29. Ptolemy the Great. (Onyx.) 39.
30. Cleopatra. 72.
31. Augustus. 69.
32. The same. 68.
33. Meecenas. (Cornelian.) 7.
34. Tiberius. (Berjl.) 31.
35. Antonia, Wife of Drusus. (Onyx.) 48.
36. Claudius. (Cornelian.) 61.
37. Nero and Agrippa. (Emerald.) 33.
38. Marciana. (Nearly 5-8ths by 4-8ths inch. Cornelian.) This
gem the present Duke of Devonshire lost ofiF his finger. 10.
39. Hadrian. (Cornelian.) 58.
40. Sabina (Agua Marina.) 45.
41. Marcus Aurelius Ant : by /Epolian. (Intaglio. Amethyst. See
Stosch, n" 2.) 32.
42. Mask, by Aucteus. (Cornelian.) 34.
43. (Qu. Young Hercules?) (Hyacinth.) 60.
44. Marias. (Sapphire.) 59.
45. Cicero. (Sapphire.) 66.
46. Unknown Head. 71-
47. The Same. (Very fine.) 56.
170 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
48. The Same. (Qu. an Apollo — wreath of laurel or bay round the
head.) 1)5.
49. The Same. (Lapis Lazuli.) 6.
50. Tlie Same (a female) by Dioscorides ; very fine. (Topaz.) 12.
51. The Same, (a female) with necklace, ear-rings, and braided hair;
beneath, an eagle, with Jove's thunder, &c. The bird has its
wings stretched out, and is in the act of running. Size, 6-8ths
by 5-8ths in. 56.
52. The Same. 67.
53. Mariana Russina : vide Gruteri Inscript. p. 433. n" 5. (Red
Jasper.) 22.
54. Unknown Head. (Agate.) A female ; very fine. 26.
55. The Same: a female. (Agate.) 6-8ths by 4-8ths and j. Very
fine. 6.
56. Unknown Head ; female. (Cornelian.)
.57. Hercules Buphagus Anterotis Opus. Agua Marina incisum. 44.
58. Saturn. (Black Agate.) 63.
59. Venus and Capid. (Nicolo.) 50.
60. Achilles playing on the Harp, by Pamphilus : an intaglio. Vide
Stosch, no 48. (Beryl.) 20.
61. Apollo : standing resting upon his Lyre. (Agate.) 25.
62. The Same, sitting. (Hyacinth.) 62.
63. The Same, standing ; with a branch of laurel. (Onyx.) 41,
64. The Same, standing ; with his Lyre in his right hand. 85. lSIzc
of the original not added.
65. Hercules and Antaeus : miserably copied. (Hyacinth.) 14.
66. Hercules reposing.
67. lole. 46.
68. Bacchanalian. 86.
69. Bacchante. (Beryl.) 8. ,
70. Silenus, with a Lyre. 52.
71. Silenus, drunk, surrounded by Satyrs, &c. 74.
72. Hebe, with the Eagle. 60.
73. Ganymede. 57-
74. Scylla. (Sardonyx.) 17-
75. Unknown subject : a male sitting, a female standing, with an in-
verted olive branch. Exceedingly beautiful. 75.
76. Unknown subject : man and woman sitting ; the woman veiled as
a vestal ; the man is delivering his sword to a third person.
Standing, who appears to have already received his shield. Both
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 171
man and woman, sitting, place their feet upon an ornamented
circular base :
90. Cupid, bound. (Beryl.) 35.
91. Theseus. 77-
92. Unknown Subject : man standing, looking at his helmet in his
right hand. 78.
93. Unknown Subject; female standing, with vase in her hand; a
base of a pillar to the right. 89.
94. Unknown Subject : man about throwing a dog with his right
hand ; standing, in the act of throwing it. 19.
95. A Gladiator, by Caecas. (Intaglio: see Stosch, n" 21.) 65.
96. Unknown Subject : youth blowing a conch. 99.
97. Female, sitting on a sea-horse : very beautiful. 84.
98. Bull drinking. 15.
99. Bull (Beryl.) 4.
A note of Lord Spencer's says, that Nos. 9, 19, 24, 26, 28, 31, 34,
36, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 52, 71, 76, 77, 78, 86, and 89, are wanting in
Lord Besborough's copy of this work.
Nos. 1 and 57 are the only engravings to which a printed inscrip-
tion belongs. Upon the whole, while one regrets the feebleness,
and apparent infidelity, of these engravings — executed in a sort of
172 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous.
scratchy, line manner — one cannot but indulge a liope that his present
Grace the Duke of Devonshire may avail himself of the superior
skill and integrity of living artists, in making these Gems public, in a
manner worthy of the exquisite collection to vvliich they belong, and
of which they only form a portion.
It is supposed that there are only four copies of this work extant ;
namely, the one in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire, the se-
cond in that of the late Mr. Cracherode (now in the British Museum,
and containing 101 plates), the third in the Earl of Besborough's
collection, and the present — which is bound in dark red morocco.
Dives Pragmatic us. Imprinted at London in
jildersgate strete, hy Alexander Lacy , dwellyng
beside the fVall. The .xx.v. of Apr ell. 1563.
Quarto.
This very curious and amusing little poetical volume is considered
to be unique. The title, at full length, is given below.* The author
is Ralph Newbery ; but his name appears to have escaped Ritson.
The title-page is succeeded by a poetical ' preface ' of three pages, in
whicli an address is made to every class and occupation of men : to
' Al occupations, now vnder the Sunne,'
beginning with the Pope, and ending with
' Al maisters of Musicke, and luglers stout,
Al Players and Minstrelles, and the ruflyng rout.'f
• * A booke in English metre, of the great marchaunt man called D'rncs Pragmalicus,
very preaty for cliildren to rede : whereby they may the better, and more readyer, rede
and wryte wares and Implementes, in this world contayned. Deut. 23. Levit. 19. When
thou sellcst aught vnto tliy neighbour, or byest any thing of him : deceaue not, nor op-
presse him &c !' A small wood-cut of a man leading a child, with the word PRO on one
side, and 10. on the other, is below. Then the imprint — as above given,
t The burden of the song, in this metre, begins thus :
Al Brewers, Bakers, Butchers and Cookes
Al Printers, Stacioners, and sellers of buokes
Al Poulters, and Pedders, that ryde day and nyght
Al Farmours, and owners, that in Money delyght.
Al Poticaries, Grocers, to me wyll inclyne ;
Al Tapsters, Vintners that selletli good wyne :
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 173
At the end we read : ' And thus endeth the declaration, of the great
Marchaunt of the world ; called Diues Pragmaticus.' ' Here foloweth
the booke, and his callyng of people to sale of his marchaundyse :
with a reliearsall of part of his wares by name.' The poem then im-
mediately follows, on the reverse, in the ensuing strain :
What lacke ye sir, what seke you, what \vyll
Come hether to me, looke what you can spye : you bye ?
I haue to sell of all thynges vnder the Skye
What lacke you my masters ? Come hether to me.
I have to sell bookes, for men of Deuyne,
And bookes of all lawes, most pleasaunt and fyne :
Of al Artes and Storyes, as men wyll enclyne.
What lacke you Gentylmen ? Come hether to me.
I haue inke, paper, and pennes, to lode with a barge,
Inke homes, and pennours, fine small and large :
Primers and a b ces, and bookes of small charge,
AVhat lacke you Scollers ? Come hether to me.
&c. &c. &c.
Al Haberdashers, Pedlers, and makers of pinnes,
AI true Hostellers, aud Keepers of Innes.
Al Websters, Weauers, Sheremen and Fullers,
Al Carders, Spinners, and shecpeskin pullers :
Al Dyers, Drapers, and Mercers lykewjse,
A] Sylkeraen, and Semesters, that I can deuyse
Al Blackesmithes, Bladesmithes, and Glouers certaine.
Al Bag makers. Pursers, and turners of tops,
Al women hosiers, and makers of slops :
Al Coller makers. Ropers, and Turners of dyshes,
Al makers of Nets, and catchers of Fyshes.
Al Pewterers, Tynkers, Glasiers, and Plumraers,
Al Lawyers, Proctours. Scriueners, and Sumners :
Al Graucrs, Caruers, and Paincters of clothes,
Al Dice makers, Carde players, and swearers of othes.
Al Armourers, Furbushers, and Cutlers also,
Al Costard mongers, that by the way go.
&c. &c. &c
There are about as many more designations of trades, professions, &c. in tlie same
metre.
' VOL. I. Z
174 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
I hiiue fine gownes, clokes, iackets, and coates,
Fyne iurkins, dublets, and hosen without moates :
Fyne daggers, and knyues, bags, purses for grotes,
\\'Tiat lacke you my friend ? come hether to me.
1 haue fine peticotes, kyrtels and cassocks.
West cotes, safegardes, vardyngales and frocks :
Fyne muflers, and rayles, fine shyrtes and smocks.
What lacke you gentylwoman ? corae hether to me.
I haue partlets, fillets, fruntlets and sleues,
Fyne napkyns, pastclothes, and gibbets for theues :
Sylke baskets, fine maundes, and preaty Bee heeues,
Whut by you good woman ? Come hether to me.
&c. &c. &c.
I have ladels, Scummers, Aundyrons and spits,
Drippyng pannes, pot hookes, ould Cats and Kits ;
And preaty fine dogs, without fleas or nits,
What lack you my friend ? come hether to me.
I have fier pannes, fier forks, tongs, treuets and trammels
Rost yrons, flesh hookes, and buckets for welles :
Troughes, trayes, flaskets, mortars and pestels.
What lack you good mother ? come hether to me.
&c. &c. &c.
But there must be some limits to quotation ; and yet perhaps the
most interesting stanzas are behind. On the recto of B 4, in fours,
he last stanza runs thus :
Honest myrth in measure, is a pleasaunt thyng.
To wryte and to rede well, be gyftes of learnyng :
Remember this well, all you that be young.
Exercise vertue, and i-ule well your toung.
Finis. (q) Thomas Newbery.
A rude wood-cut, from the Dance of Death, of a nun seized by the
King of Terrors, is immediately below. The reverse is blank. This
extraordinary little volume was purchased at the sale of the Duke of
Roxburghe's Library (see Bibl. Roxburgh, no. 331'i.) for £30. It is
bound in russia, with the Duke's crest on the exterior.
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 175
Donne's Poems. With Elegies, &c. London.
&'
1633. Quarto.
This volume is rather common than otherwise ; but the copy of it,
now under description, was not obtained under the sum of ^4. .14. .6. —
from Mr. Payne — owing to the portraits with which it is ornamented.
There are — 1. The author, by Marshall — among the prettiest speci-
mens of his burin ; the head is in stipling, the drapery in line : a re-
markably fine impression. 2. The author in his shroud, by Droeshout
— a frightfully whimsical performance, but not very unlike the portrait
of Henry IV. of France.* 3. Sir Henry Wotton, by Lombart. 4. Coun-
tess of Bedford, after Pass : (very poor.) 5. Prince Henry, by Hole :
good impression. 6. Shakspeare, with a wreath in his left hand.
Eight verses below : evidently a reversed copy, in small, of the por-
trait prefixed to the folio edition of 1623. 7- The Author, by Lom-
bart — common, but a fine head, and beautifully engraved. This
desirable copy is bound in blue moroco.
The Dove : or Passages of Cosmography. By
Richard Zovche Ciuillian, of New CoUedge
in Oxford. Sicut Columbse. London ; Printed
for George Norton, and are to he sould at his
shop vnder the hlacke Bell, neere Temple- barre.
1613. Duodecimo.
We have here one of the scarcest little volumes in the whole com-
pass of English poetry. It was among the earlier books of the library,
obtained by the late Earl Spencer in the purchase of Dr. George's col-
lection. Mr. Perry had a copy; and Mr. Heber has a third, lately
• There is an exceedingly rare print of Henri I\'., also in his defunct state, entitled * Le
Portraict du Dufunct Roy Henry le Grand lUI. du nom Roy de France et de Navarre en
Son Lict de Dcnil,' engraved by Petrus Firens, 1610. Tlie royal body is lying in state,
with lighted tapers, &c.— but the fore-shortening is perfectly extravagant and ridiculous,
and the monarch's eyes are wide open, fixed upon the spectator. The engraving itself is
beautiful. A copy is in this library ; attached to an inlaid copy, in quarto, of a treatise
entitled ■ Lettre d'vn Gentil- licmme a un sien amy, ^c. A ParU, 1610,' followed by three
other treatises of the same date — relating to the death of Henry. Tliis slender but very
precious volume (m elegant blue morocco binding) was purchased of IVIr. R. Triphook
for the considerable sura of 10/. 10s.
176 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
purchased of Messrs. Payne and Foss. A fourth is in the Bodleian
library. The contents of it by no means render the rarity of the vo-
lume its chief attraction. There is a good deal of very pleasing and
very melodious poetry ; and the ' Dove ' — the prototype of the Child
Harold — ^goes wandering from country to country, describing the pro-
perties of the soil, the manners of the people, and the characters of the
government of those places where she visits. The stanza is uniformly
composed of six verses. A dedication, by the author, ' to the Trvely
Noble, and worthily honoured, Edward Lord Zouche, St. Maur and
Cantelupe, of his Maiesties Priuie-Councell,' follows the title-page.
Then some Latin verses by Tho. Lake — and Joan : Harris, N. C : fol-
lowed by Richard Yong's poetical address to his ' dearely affectionate
friend Mr. Richard Zovche ' — which concludes thus :
Ingenious Zovche, liue thy Verses long.
Fly faire, and far thy Doue, with her smooth song :
Of thy all-Noble name for Armes long knowne.
These Lettered times haue thee design'd their owne.
We have, next, the following tender poetical address to the author,
by ' Nic. Stoughton' of the Inner Temple.
Behold, a miracle, a singing Doue,
Which sweetly sings, yet sings not sweets of Loue.
Each studie be her Doue-house, and each breast,
HTiich harbours studious thoughts, her gentle neast.
Some Latin verses, by Car. Herbert. N. C. are beneath. The open-
ing of the poem, which is solemn, sweet, and yet somewhat whim-
sical, shews the religious feelings of the author :
Take wing my Muse, and like that silver Dove
Which o'er the world new bath'd, did hov'ring fly
The low-coucht Seas, and high-plac't Land aboue,
Discerne with faithfull, though with fearefull eye.
That w hat both Land and Sea resounding ring
We may to this All-makers prayses sing.
He who directs the Sparrowes tender flight.
And sees him safely reach the hurtlesse ground,
Guide thee in all thy Pass.\ges aright,
And grant thy course be sure, thy resting sound
From IMount of Oli-.es, as from Hill of Bayes,
Blest with the branch of Peace though not of Praise.
English BooAs.] THE LIBRARY. 177
And you whose Care our Floating house yet saues
From sinking in the Deluge of Despayre,
Whilst with poore feather'd oares she passe the waues
Of this all- vulgar-breath 'd, storme-threatning Ayre :
Deare Lobed vouchsafe with patient looke t'attend
Her flights both trembling rise, and humble end.
The description of Venice is rather poetical.
Bath'd in the Adriatiques farther waue.
As some faire Sea-nymph, famous Venice sits,
^Vhom all the prayse which fiction freely gaue
To Sea-borne Venus, farre more truely fits
Earths richest Jewell, Beauties brightest starre.
Mother of Loue, Loue of the God of Warre. Sign. C 8.
Speaking of the Rhine and Necker, he breaks forth :
Now stay you gentle streames, and let that ayre
Which sweetens your pure waues, refresh my Muse,
Ne'er may my silence passing by that Paire,
Which make Earth happy, courteous Heav'n abuse.
A^Tiat Loue-taught Turtles onely best expresse,
Lesse may my Doue adorne, admire no lesse. Sign. D 2.
A little farther — we have lines more generally interesting to En-
glishmen :
Beige's faire Daughters midst these flouds remaine.
Of which with low obeysance some doe bowe.
Bearing vp Isabel* th' Infanta's traine.
For whose deare Loue oblieg'd in Nuptiall vowe.
Her coosen Austrich from the Church estrang'd.
His scarlet Bonnet for Steele Beauer chang'd.
The rest to Faiths aUegeance firme adhere.
Freed by the Christian Faiths Defendres ayde.
Her Champions hauing them secur'd from feare,
And Superstitions strong encroaching staid :
All vertuous Captaines, most praise-worthy all,
Braue Norris, Sydney, Vere, and Vuedall.
And may not Enuy here my Loue debarre.
Or Zouches name be in my name deprest,
• The Infanta Isabella, married to Albert Aichduke of Austria, who became Governor
of the Low Countries, and commanded the Spanish Arniv there ; having quitted his Car-
dinal's Hat.
178 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
Both* you who yet attend the charge of Warre,
Andt you whose happy Soules in Peace doe rest,
Deare, Loue-deseruing Brothers, ought to be.
By them remembred, not forgot by mee. ^ign. D3.
The author thus speaks of the premature and bitterly-himented
death of Prince Henry :
Too soone our Ivlian-Starre, late Prince of Light,
The sparkling lustre of whose vertuous ray
To Brittaine hearts content with shortest night,
Promis'd the comfort of eternall day :
Too soone expir'd, 6 worthy long to proue
The World's great Wonder, & his Countries Loue.
Yet like those glistring Emblems neare the Pole,
Still aboue Earth's Horizon eleuate.
May our Heroicke Princes name controule
The starry orders of this well-rul'd State.
And Brittaines Chariot as the Northern Wayne,
With great Arclurus ioyne her Charlbmaigne.
Sign. E 1-2.
The following is the concluding stanza :
As that true Ensigne of th' Almighties Loue,
Liuely displayed in the Cloudy Skye,
Tlie gazers eye astonished dotli moue
To wonder at such strange varietic.
Rain-bow-resembling London, England's Blisse
The Heau'ns great Mercy, and Earth's ManueU is.
A prosaic epistle to the reader, sufficiently quaint and dry, concludes
the performance. The signatures run A 4, B to E, inclusively, in
eights. The present copy is in the most genuine and desirable con-
dition. In red calf, with gilt leaves.
In the new edition of the Allien. Oxon. there are copious extracts
from this volume, by Mr. Bliss, the editor, — from the persuasion that
' few will have an opportunity of inspecting the original.'
• William and Allan Zmiche t Henry and Francis Znitche.
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 179
Op Euyll Tonges. Enpnjnted at London ivith-
out Tempel harre In saynt Clementys pa7ysshe
by me Julya Notary divellynge at the sygne of
the Thre Kynges. Quarto.
Our tj^ographical Antiquaries appear to have been entirely ignorant
of this rare piece. The above title, in lower case black letter, is within
a border, over three wood-cut figures, very common in books of this
period, and similar, in size and character, to what may be seen in
vol. ii. p. 534, of the recent edition of the Typographical Antiquities.
On the reverse of the title, the poem, in seven-line stanzas, begins
thus :
With pite moued to my payn I dyd me dres
To shew y^ peple what do the most greuas
I say yl toges ful of bytter cruelnes
In this world ther may be no gretter penas
They be y'= clappers of sorow y'' skorges of vegas
These preuy mordrers these cobero' hel wedes.
Because of grete myscheef & distroyers of gode dedys.
&c. &c. &c.
These lines are sufficiently harsh and repulsive ; but the opening of
the vith stanza tells us that
Some theues escapen — many trew men be hanged
It is dayly syn in this worlde rounde
Faythful people by yl tonges be condempned
That to vntrouth theyr dedys neuer dyde sounde.
&c. &c. &c.
In the whole, 4 leaves : each page having a border. The imprint
(as above given) is on the recto of the last leaf. On the reverse is
Notary's enlarged device ; containing what appears as the second of
my fac-similes (in the Typog. Antiq. vol ii.), with the accompaniment
of birds and trees, &c. This copy is in a remarkably sound state of
preservation ; being bound in old calf, with a border of gold on the
sides.
180 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
The Father's Revenge, &c. By Frederic
Earl of Carlisle. London. Buhner. 1800.
Quarto.
This is really a lovely volume. It is a present from the noble author
to his Lordship, ' as begging it to be understood strictly to confine its
pretension to a place in his Lordship's library, to the specimen it
affords of superior printing and engraving.' Such are the words of the
noble author in a letter inserted immediately after the title-page. All
the quarto copies, like this, wherever found, were presents. They are
adorned with Engravings which do not belong to the octavo impres-
sions ; and these engravings, executed in the stipling manner, afford
the best specimens with which I am acquainted, of the nature and
power of that particular line of art in producing the effect here seen.
Such effect is quite perfect. The plates in this volume are indeed
sweetly tender and striking. They exhibit too some of the best speci-
mens of Westall's pencil. Mr. Bulmer has neglected nothing to make
his department worthy of every thing about tlie volume. Whether we
consider the work, or its embellishments, we may fairly add, that time
and money, so devoted, are wisely and substantially devoted. This
choice copy is beautifully bound in blue morocco.
FrOISSART & MONSTRELET, ThE ChRONICLES OF.
Printed at Hafod. 1805-9. Folio, 8 vols.
Translated by the late Thomas Johnes, M. P., and printed at his own
press at Hafod, in S. Wales. A beautiful set, upon large paper, of a
folio form, with a duplicate set of the plates coloured ; and bound with
great elegance and propriety, by Hering, in russia. Such a copy has
been sold for ^1.50. There were only twenty-five, in this form.
Genealogie of theKinges of England. Printed
by Gylles Godet. 1560. Folio.
I consider this publication as one of the greatest curiosities in the
early history of the British Prf.ss. It was obtained by his Lordship
from Mr. T. Sharp, of Coventry, (a gentleman much given to re-
searches connected with ancient art and literature) in the shape of a
ROLL — upwards oi forty feel long : and it was originally made to turn
round, by means of a wire, within a box, in order that each part might
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. ISl
be separately and carefully seen — as is adopted in the exhibition of
play-things to children. It now assumes the more dignified and ap-
propriate form of a folio volume. But the work is in itself rather ' a
manel.' It contains brief notices of all our Kings, fabulous and real,
from the time of Brute to that of Elizabeth ; but it begins with ' Noe,'
running down to Eneas and Sylvius (in the whole, 13 subjects), before
it reaches Brute : and every subject, throughout the whole, is illus-
trated by a wood-cut half-length portrait of the character mentioned.
Each portrait is about six inches in height ; and, for the credit of the ar-
tist, it must be allowed that these cuts are spiritedly, and some of them
ably, designed. The engravings are perhaps a little too coarse ; but
it is a question worth pursuing, not only who was the artist, or artists,
but for what an extraordinary sum such a very elaborate performance
must have been executed ? It is wholly unlike any thing and every
thing else which I have seen in the annals of press-work ; and in all
probability was intended for an ornament to hang round a room, or
along a gallery.
I proceed to more essential particulars. The publication commences
with an address ' To the Reader,' (by Godet) in 29 lines : in which
he tells us, ' if by chaiice we finde any thyng herein fautye, or not
agreeing with some other cronicles, [we are to] vnderstand that the
diuersities of the cronicles of our realme, be so great, (especially in
thiges log past) that it is very difficult to make a certaine and true re-
port therof. Not with standlg he has used the helpe of the best Cro-
nicles that have wrytte thereof, and gone so neare to the truth, as to
him semed possyble, and has also set forth the pourtraiture of their
personages, with their true armes :* also briefly their gestes, and deedes
with the yeares of their raygnes and places of their burials, according
as he had foiid mentio thereof: Beesechyng the [reader] to accept his
good wyll, and to receyue thys his laboure in good part : which if he
does, it shal not only be the accomplishyng of his request, but also shal
ecouragehim hereafter, to vse his little talent, farther. FareweL' I
beUeve nothing ' farther' is known of the ' little talent' of Godet ; at
which the lovers of black letter lore have reason to weep grievously.
The preceding address is printed in a large, lower-case gothic type ;
evidently worn. The ' exposition of Noe,' Cham, Mesraim, &c.
follow : each subject having from 10 to 14 lines, in prose, beneath.
• I forgot before to state, tliat, above tlic portraits, are the banners and arms of the
several kings ; supported by a rampant lion ; but with Athelslan, the regular coat
armour, in a shield, commences.
VOL. I. A a
18S THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
The xivth subject, as before intimated, is Brute, who cuts a grand fi-
gure, with his drawn sword in his right hand. By the side of him is
a wood-cut of ' The foundation of the cytie of London. In the subjoined
description we gather the date (1560) of the publication. Then fol-
low a line of Kings ; of which only Tom Hearne, and sundry other
credulous antiquaries, even of the present day, could possibly have any
acquaintance.
After King ' Leir,' we have ' Queen Cordeille," and others : and in
a printed note, at bottom, are requested to ' Looke for Reynold Cone-
dags sonne in the great Englishe cronicle;' but of ' Riueall,' another
son of Conedag, we learn that in ' this kinges dayes was a great tem-
pest, so that the Byes dyd assaile him by the space of three dayes, and
so enuenimed him, that he dyed therwith : also in his dayes it rained
blood three dayes, which caused great death amonge the people." At
the end of the account of ' Dunwallon' — the vith following king — who
' was the first king of this land that was crowned with gold : as some
cronyclers saye' — and who 'founded S. Paules Churche in London, in
the which churche after he had raigned xl yeares he was buried" — we
read the following imprint :
^Iniprintcb flt HonUon Bp
<0pncjS rintcb ab Eonbon 6p
charges." A fine bold portrait of " John Earl of Sutherland, 1669,
from an original picture at Dunroben Castle," faces the title-page. A
vignette of the castle of Dunroben, from the pencil of the noble patro-
ness, graces the title-page. The " Armorial Bearings of the Earls of
Sutherland, 1639," is the only remaining engraved ornament. The
paper, printing, and style ' of getting up,' are worthy of the intrinsic
value of the volume. Such works are sometimes not only highly curi-
ous and interesting, but are absolutely necessary to the historian and
antiquary, for the satisfactory completion of their historical labours.
In the volume before us, we have materials which equally appertain to
English and to Scottish history.* This copy is handsomely bound in
russia by Hering.
Gerard's Herbal ; by Johnson. 1636. Folio.
A very fine copy, upon large paper, bound in two volumes in green
morocco. 1 introduce this book in order to recommend the fine and
pleasing portrait of Old Gerard (of which this copy exhibits a fine
impression) in the frontispiece : engraved by John Payne : and further,
to notice the very interesting prefix by " George Baker one of her Ma-
jesties chiefe Chirurgions in ordinarie, and M[aster] of the Chirurgions
of the Citie of London" — one of those critics, whose commendations
grace the edition. Baker is here no mean authority — in regard
to the talents of Gerard. He knew him well, and, as a professional
man, his praise was worth obtaining. Of this author, he says, " he
was never content with the knowledge of those simples which grow in
those [foreign] parts, but upon his proper costs and charges hath had
out of all those parts of the world, all the rare simples which by any
means he could attain unto, not only to have them brought, but hath
procured by his excellent knowledge to have them growing in his
GARDENjf which as the time of the yeare doth serve may be seene : for
there you shall see all manner of strange trees, herbs, roots, plants,
floures, and other such rare things, that it would make a man wonder,
how one, of his degree, not having the purse of a number, could ever
* At page 249, it is said, that " though king Henry the Eight was one of the goodliest
persons of liis tjrae, jet he left by his syx wylTs thrie children only." The author's opi-
nion of Buchanan, in regard to his leaning towards the Earl of Murray, is undisguisedly
and freely expressed at page 142. But we look in vain for any interesting, private ac-
counts of Mary herself. At page 139, Holinshed appears to be consulted.
t lliis garden was where Bunhill Row, Moorfields, now is. His address to the Reader
is dated from Iiis house '* in Holbont, within the sttburbs of' London ; 1st. Dec. 1597."
186 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
accomplish the same. I protest upon my conscience, I do not think for
the knowledge of plants that he is inferior to any : for I once did see
him tried with one of the best strangers that ever came into England,
and was accounted in Paris the only man, being recommended unto
me by that famous man Master Amb. Parens ; and he being here was
desirous to goe abroad with some of our Herbarists,for the which I was
the meane to bring them together, and one whole day we spent herein,
searching the rarest Simples : hut when it came to the trial, my French-
man did not know one to his /oure."
It seems that the study of Botany was not patronised by the Great —
however popular, or otherwise, it might have been with the public.
Baker concludes his preface thus — " and yet I doubt whether he [Ge-
rard] shall taste of the liberalitie of either Prince, Duke, Earle, Bi-
shop, or publique estate. Let a man excell neuer so much in excellent
knowledge, neuertheless many times he is not so much regarded as a
Jester, a Boaster, a Quacksaluer, or Mountebanke : for such kinde of
men can flatter, dissemble, make of trifles great matters, in praising of
this rare secret, or that excellent spirit, or this Elixir or Quintessence;
which, when it shall come to the triall, nothing shall be found but
boasting words.'* This was rather bold language for " one of her
Majesties chiefe Chirurgions, in ordinarie." I know not why it is —
but, though no " herbarist," — I love to hnger over the pages of old
Gekakd, who writes as pleasantly, and as gossipingly, as Master
Richard Burton upon Melancholy. Speaking of the " Tree Night
Shade," p. 361 : he calls it " a rare and pleasant plant " — " which
groweth not wild in these cold regions ; but (adds he) we have them
in our gardens, rather for pleasure than for profit — or any good qua-
lity as yet known. It is kept in pots and tubs, in houses during
the extremitie of Winter, and is set abroad in the garden in March
or Aprill, because it cannot endure the coldness of our Climate."
Succinct Genealogies of Noble and Ancient
Houses, &c. By Robert Halstead. London,
1685. Folio.
The excessive rarity of this volume is well known to collectors. It
is the scarcest of all works upon noble genealogies, and is supposed to
have been limited in its impression, to a very few copies; probably to
not more than twenty-Jive. The " Noble and Ancient Houses " herein
described, are as follow : — premising, that each house has a whole and a
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 187
half title-page. 1. Alno de Alneto, two plates, with an half title. 2.
Broc o/" SAep/ta/e, two plates. 3. Latimer of Duntish, two plates. 4.
Drayton of Drayton, two plates, a third with letter press. 5. Mauduitof
Werminster, three plates. 6. Greene of Drayton, three plates, the rest
with letter-press. 7- Veres of Addingtun, three -phAes ; the rest with the
lettter-press. 8. Filz Lewis of W^esthornedon, two ^XaXes. 9. Howard of
Effingham, one large folding plate. 10. Mordaunt of Turvey, four
plates. After page 697, are nine copper plates of the collateral bran-
ches of the house of Mordaunt, preceded by a title and brief account,
in the way of avant-propos. I had forgotten to observe that a Dedi-
cation* and Preface follow the first general title.
The copy under description, is a very remarkably sound and desir-
able one, and bound in old calf, with a broad gilt border on the sides.
In the fly leaf is the following old ms. entry. ' In 2d. Tome of the
O.xford Catalogue of MSS. p. 196, amongst those of H. E. of Petrebo-
ros MSS. folio 6333, no. 8. " A large MS. being a Manuscript of the
Deeds relating to P. Alno, Vera, Mordaunt and others, being the first
draught of a most fair printed book of the family of the Rt. Hon*"'', the
E. of Peterborough, which his Lordship caused to be collected and
printed with the pedigrees, seales, arms, and other embellishments ap-
pertaining to that antient noble family, in copper plates, whereof his
Lordship caused only about Twenty to be printed for the use of his
Lordship and his Noble Relations." This is in a very large hand, not
unlike that of the late George Mason. In all probability that very
MS. or " first draught," is at this moment in his Lordship's collection j
standing by the side of the printed book.
The late General Mordaunt bequeathed his Lordship a folio MS.
upon vellum, richly emblazoned with the arms, which had been engraved
by Halstead, and in a hand-writing of the Litter end of the XVIIth. cen-
tury. At the top of the title is the following very neatly written me-
morandum. " This book was given by y' Right Hon. the Lady Eliza-
beth Germaine to Anna Maria Poyntz wife to the Right Hon''''. Stephen
Poyniz Esq. and Daughter to the Hon''''. Brigadeir Lewis Mordaunt
third brother to the late Earl of Peterborow, and by Her to her dear
Brother Charles Mordaunt Esq. May '20th. 1720." In this MS. the title
mentions ' Le Strange of Ampton,' which is not in the printed work.
• To the Earl of Peterborow, Lord Blordaunt, then Lord Lieutenant of the County of
Northampton, ii.c. Halstead begins his dedication in the following quaint manner : " The
love and prelection your Lordship has ever shown to Letters and Antiquity, has long
since demanded some return from the melancholy porers upon wa.x and parchment."
188 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
But it may be material to remark, that this MS. is confined almost en-
tirely to the emblazoning of arms, with brief genealogical and heraldic
descriptions. It should seem that the late General Mordaunt had ex-
amined his Lordship's copy of the printed work ; for the following let-
ter by him, worth transcribing, is enclosed in it. " The genealogical
history of the Mordaunt Family, now in your Lordship's library, is in
better condition, and a more superb book, than any of those in the pos-
session of the Family : which are about /our in number. This book
seems to have been put in a better dress, in order to have been pre-
sented to y*^ University of Oxford : which, if I understand right y' Me-
moranda Document in y'' blank leaf, was so done. The Book sold at
y' Duke of St. Albans sale,* (1796) was tlie one that always lay on
the table, in y' portrait-room, of y^ Mordaunt family at Drayton, in
Northamptonshire : and was brought from thence. This however is
only my own conjecture."
" Your Lordship will observe there is no name of any printer in the
title-page, from whence we may conclude this edition was printed at a
PRIVATE Press to prevent surreptitious copys : as I always under-
stood about twenty only were printed for y'use of y'= Family and private
donations. This book is very valuable for its preservation, correctness,
and chastity of its impression, and an actjuisition to any Library. And
I am very happy it has found its way to so distinguished a one as your
Lordship's. We probably never shall — but I should be curious to
know — how this book came into y' possession of Mr. White :f which is
so superior and so select a copy. I have the Honour to be Your Lord-
ship's very obedient Servant,
(No Date.) Osbert Mordaunt."
On the death of General Osbert Mordaunt, son of Charles Mor-
daunt, to whom this MS. was left by Mrs. Foyntz — the former, by
will, left his books, among other things, to WiUiam Stephen Foyntz,
with a proviso, that Lord Spencer might select, from among them,
such as he was in want of. His Lordship selected this Book ; and a
very few other printed ones, of no great value. Mr. Foyntz has also,
in his possession, a copy of the printed edition of these Genealogies,
which had belonged to General Mordaunt ; but wliich his Lordship
did not take, being already in possession of the copy here described —
and for which he gave 60 guineas to Mr. White, the late bookseller.
* Tliat copy, inferior lo the present, was sold for 56'. 1 4s.
t I saw this copy. It was a very sound and desirable one : and was, 1 believe, sold to
Sir M. Sykes, Bart, for fourscore guineas.
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 1.S9
But the General's copy is much more magaificently bound than tlie pre-
sent ; it being in old red morocco binding, covered with rich gilt
tooling.
HoRTUs Gramineus Woburnensis :*By George
Sinclair, Gardener to his Grace the Duke of
Bedford. London. 1816. Folio.
This is not only a very sumptuous volume, but a very useful and valu-
able work. In the fly-leaf of the present copy, we observe, from the
hand writing of his Grace, that it was a present from the Duke of
Bedford to his Lordship. I understand that his Grace has the prin-
cipal distribution of the copies, as he was at the exclusive cost of the
printing of the work : a circumstance, equally redounding to his judg-
ment and liberality. The author is sufficiently grateful, not only for
the particular kindness of his patron, but for the aids and helps he has
received from the different scientific gentlemen who are occasionally
visitors at Woburn Abbey. The plan is excellent of its kind. Every
specimen, whether seed or plant, is stuck on with gum ; beneath which
the name and property of the grasses are printed. These are always
on the rectos of the several leaves : and each leaf is prevented from
rubbing against the other, by the insertion of two blank leaves, pasted ;
of which the one, coming in contact with the opposite plant, is silver
paper. The reverses of the leaves, upon which the plants are pasted,
contain more extended accounts of their properties. This magnificent
volume is appropriately and splendidly bound in green morocco, by
Hering.
Hasted's History of the County of Kent.
1778-99. Foho. 6 vol.
One of the only six copies, printed upon large paper. The
present copy is indeed of a most splendid description ; as all the
ARMS of the principal families, described in the notes or text, are
EMBLAZONED by the pencil of an heraldic illuminator. There are se-
veral hundred decorations of this kind ; which were charged at half a
" " Or an Account of the results of Experiments on tlie jjroduci and nutritive Quali-
ties of Different Grasses, and other plants, used as the food of the more valuable
domestic animals : instituted by JonN Dukeof Bedford. Illustrated with dried speci-
mens of Plants ui)Oii which these Experiments have been made, &c.''
VOL. I. B b
190 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
guinea eacli. The present work is among the costliest in this Library,
and is bound in russia, witli gilt leaves.
Lister's Conchology. 1685. Small Folio.
This copy is precious in many respects. On the first fly-leaf, we
read the following memorandum, or autograph : — ' For the right ho-
nourable my Lord Marlborough by his most humble Servant M, Lister.'
On the second fly-leaf we observe, with something like pretensions to
caligraphy (of which the preceding is wholly destitute), Uie following
memorandum : " Humphrey Fyshe. This book was given me by Her
Grace the Dutchess of Marlborough, Dec. 1720:" and so pleased was
' Humphrey Fyshe' with the donation, that he inscribed his name again
in the engraved title page of the work : but with less attention (which
was incorrect) to caligraphical execution. The work itself, or ra-
ther, perhaps, this copy of it, presents a beautiful specimen of art j
each plate being engraved upon French paper of thin and most delicate
texture. What is singular, it should seem that the sisters, Susanna
and Ann, painted the subjects for ' the amusement of their leisure
hours '* and tliat tlie plates were engraved at the expense of the
brother: a spirited and praise worthy effort ! The cabinet of the
' illustrious D. William C." of the Middle Temple, appears to have
supplied the chief materials of the work. The present copy, sumptu-
ously bound in yellow morocco by Hering, cannot be e.xceeded for size
and condition.
Museum WoRSLEYANUM.f London. 1794-1802.
Folio, 2 vols.
There is an engraved title-page to this costly, distinguished, and ex-
ceedingly scarce and high-priced work. Some account of the expense
* The General Biographical Dictionary, (Edit. Chalmers, vol. xx. p. 324.) says that this
work contains " very accurate figures of ail tlie sliells liiiown at the time, amounting to
upwards of a thousand." The last plate is numbered 1057. iMany of the plates contain
two or more subjects. The title page says, ** Susanna et Anna Lister Figuras pin.'' In
the authority just quoted, these are called the author's daughters. In the dedication which
follows, these paintings are called " ludentis otij Tabulas." One is almost at a loss to
mention a parallel case of thus " amusing one's leisure hours.*'
+ ' Or a Collection of Antique Basso Relievos Bustos Statues and Gems with Views of
Places in the Levant taken on the Spot in the Years MDCCLXXXV. VI. and VII.
' Ducti rationem artis intelliguut, indocti voluptatem.' Quin. lib. IX. 4."
English Books.] THE LIBRARY. 191
and nature of it may be seen in the Bibliomania, p. 712. My pre-
sent object, is a description of the pages themselves. Tlie editor was
the late Right Hon. Sir Richard Worsley, Bart, M. P. ; whose portrait,
in a stippled small oval form, faces the title-page. An Introduction (in
English and Italian) of seven pages, follows. Then a list of the Plates
of the Marbles contained in this first volume,' with a pleasing vignette of
' Apuldurcombe House ' at top : these plates appear to be thirty-six in
number.* One leaf, ' Class I. Antique Basso-Relievos,' foUows. The
plates, \vith their appropriate descriptions, ensue, as far as page 100.
Each description is translated into Italian. At page 103, the first
volume seems to end, with a small plate of the intervjiew of Glaucus
and Scylla.
A title-page (the same as before) is prefixed to the Second Volume.
An address in Latin, of the University of Cambridge to the author —
returning thanks for the present of his Book — foUows this title-page.
Then a prefix, entitled " Museum Worsleyanum" — mentioning the
favourable reception of the first, volume of this work, " by the friends
of the Author in 1798." Next, "Observations onAntique Gems:" three
pages not numbered, concluding with an anti(jue head in profile. The
same in Italian, in the same number of pages, follows. Next, " Gems,
Sculptures, and Views, contained in Volume II." These are eighty-four
in ninnber ,• the first thirteen (with the exception of the very first
plate) containing two subjects in each plate. The forty-three plates
devoted to the Alto Relievos of the Temple of Minerva, now in the
British Museum — and called the Elgin Marbles — being inserted im-
mediately after page 6". After the last of these plates, comes a half-
title : " Class IV. Antique Gems." The pages here begin to be num-
bered anew, and continue consecutively to page 120 — where the se-
cond volume ends. This fine work was printed at the Shakspeare
Press, in every style of typographical luxury.
A copy of this book has been sold as high as X'lOO. It is a noble
monument of individual spirit, taste, and liberality of feeling and senti-
ment. To criticise the plates, were equally an envious and profitless task.
Considering the enormous expense and difficulties of such an under-
taking, this production is equally creditable to the classical accomplish-
ments of the author, and to the state of British Art. It abounds
with beautiful subjects beautifully executed. The present, like every
copy extant, during the life time of Sir Richard, came from its author
* Some plates have two, iiiul some three, subjects.
192 THE LIBRARY. [Miscellaneous
in the shape of a Gift — and is treasured accordingly. In handsome
russia binding.
Treatise called Parvula. Printed hy N. Mar-
cant. Without Date. Quarto.
Probably this little volume is unique. The printer of it no where
appears in the Typographical Antiquities of our own country. On look-
ing into the recent edition of the work so called, vol. ii. p. 150, it should
seem that this was a reprint of what is there designated as Longb
Paruula and Peruula j as it commences (sign, a j. having no title-
page) with precisely the same words. But this edition has only four
leaves : ending on the reverse of the 4th, thus :
J^ftc cn&ctf) a trcatisfc cailcb ^puula. for tl^c in^ftru
ction of cp&eni. /arde's
The Three First Bookes of Quids de Tristi-
Bus. Ti'anslated into Enghsh. 1578. Quarto.
The translator was Churchyahde : the printer Thomas Marsh. This
is one of the copies of the original edition, in his Lordship's Library at
Althorp (and hitherto considered as unique), which was printed upon
VBLLUM ; being the only one of such reimpression* so executed. But
it has other and strong claims to the attention of the curious ; inas-
much as it is embellished by the pencil of the artist to whom the work,
previously described, is indebted for its chief attractions, in a manner
worthy of the place which it here occupies. As before, I shall avail
myself of the minuteand appropriate descriptions of the ornaments, by
the pen of the same person whose pencil has been so advantageously
exercised.
Account of the Illuminations in Churchyarde's Translation of Ovid
de Tristibus.
Ovid's book ' of Sorrows' is not by any means so wide a field for
the illuminator's pencil as Magna Carta : indeed the author himself
is continually deprecating the idea of ornamenting his volume ; as for
instance, in the commencement of the first book are the following
lines, which allude to the ancient custom of staining vellum purple.
' Go now thy way : yet sate thy selfe, in sad and simple geare.
Such exiles weede as time requyre I will y' thou do weare.
No hastie violet shalt thou vse, nor robe of purple hue.
Those costlie coulours be vnfit, our carefull cause to rue.
With ruddy redde dye not thy face, nor sappe of Cedar tree.
Such outwarde hue see that thou have, as cause assignes to thee.
But notwithstanding this disclaiming of decoration, the margins of
every page in the present vellum copy are illuminated, either after the
best or the most peculiar models now in preservation. This reprint
of Churchyarde's Ovid is in small quarto ; and the number of painted
pages is sixty-five, which are carefully described in a small octavo
manuscript, written to illustrate the paintings, and to state from
whence they were copied. From this description the present account
has been abstracted.
• The reimpression was for the Roxburghe Club, of which his Lordship is President.
Ovid lie Tristibus.] T H E 1. 1 B R A RY. 225
The volume commences with the
Half-TMe.
Round which is a border drawn from a copy of the Evangelists in Greek,
written and illuminated in the thirteenth century, (no. 5970, Harleian.)
Reverse of the Half -Title.
Armorial ensigns of the late Duke of Roxburghe.
Names of the Members of the Roxburghe Club.
This page is surrounded by their various heraldic devices, placed in the
same order as the printing : viz. the sL\. titles at the upper part, the
others counting from left to right.
Modern Title Page.
Ornamented with a border of subjects taken from the work. The
upper part contains a representation of Churchyarde presenting his
translation to Sir Christopher Hatton ; on either side of which minia-
ture, are scrolls expressive of the dates in which these elegies were
written and translated. On the left hand margin is a picture of Ovid's
friend, (to whom many of the subsequent poems are addressed,) with a
scroll beneath, containing the motto of the Spencer family. As it was
usual for the ancient illuminators to place what were denominated the
name-saints of those persons by whom they were employed : this scroll
is followed by a drawng of St. George, taken from the ' Bedford Mis-
sal," corresponding with another of Saint John on the opposite side,
from an Italian book of Horse, (No. 2936, Harleian) both of them
being allusive to the christian names of the noble owner of the volume.
The deTaces of the fret, escallop, and fleur de lis, alluding to the same
nobleman, are also scattered over the ground of the whole page. Im-
mediately beneath the portrait of St. George, are the armorial en-
signs of Augustus Csesar, Emperor of Rome, in whose time Ovid flou-
rished, and by whom he was banished to the country of Tomos on the
banks of the Euxine Sea, then inhabited by the Scythae. It was in this
exile that he composed the present work, which he entitled the 'Book
of Sorrows.' On the right hand border at the top is a drawing of the
wife of Ovid, to whom also several of the epistles were addressed;
and beneath this miniature is the garter bearing the name of Spencer,
as an allusion to the knighthood of his Lordship. This is followed by
the portrait of St. John, as already described. Below the drawing of
226 THE LIBRARY. [Clmrchyanle' s
the Saint, are the Anns of Queen Elizabeth, in whose time Church-
yarde translated and published these poems. The lower part of the
page is filled up with a miniature of the banishment of Ovid, composed
from an illuminated manuscript of Valerius Maximus, in the Harleian
Library, (no. 4374-5) from whence also the portraits in the upper divi-
sion of this page were copied. On the title itself, above the imprint, is
placed the Spencer crest.
Dedication Modern. To the Roxburghe Club.
The border which surrounds this page is composed of eight armo-
rial ensigns connected with the Spencer family ; namely, Spencer,
Grant, WiUoughby, Digby, Churchill, Jennings, Gran\ille, and Carte-
ret, suspended together by the cordon of the order of the garter, which
meets at the lower part in the effigy of St. George. Trophies and
wreaths are placed round each shield, as allusive to the ecclesiastical,
martial, and scientific members of each family. The upper part of the
page is crowned with the arms of Earl Spencer, as a knight of the gar-
ter, and the back ground is diapered with golden studs, crosses, and
the letter S.
Ancient Title Page.
The border which is painted on this page, is intended to unite the
appearance of a book printed early in the sixteenth century, with the
colouring and gilding of an illuminated manuscript ; a practice not un-
common at that period, as may be proved by a reference to Archbishop
Parker's ' De Antiquitate Britannicae Ecclesiae, 15*2, or to the ' Me-
thodus Medendi ' of Galen, as it was presented to King Henry the
Eighth. — For this reason a part of the border has been drawn from a
Breviary in the Harleian Library, (No. 2971) and the other ornaments
have been adopted from various printed authorities. At the upper
part are placed the Stationers' Arms and supporters, in consequence of
their having been used in the original wood-cut title to this work. Oa
the left, is a skeleton under a gothic arch, holding a dart stained with
blood, and a scroll on which is written the following verse, alluding to
the near connection between Death and a Churchyard.
The hero bleeds to triumph in the fight.
And Minstrel honours deck the Minstrel bard ;
Each Son of Earth on Earth hath his delight.
And Death hath triumphed o'er his own Churchyard.
Under a similar arch on the opposite side, stands a figure representing
Ovid de Tristibus.-] THE LIBRARY. 227
that voluminous poet, who also holds a scroll on which is inscribed his
epitaph, as it is preserved in Camden's Remains :
Come Alecto, — and lend me thy torch.
To find a Churchyard, in the church-porch.
Poverty and Poetry this tomb doth enclose.
Therefore gentlemen, — be merry in prose.
Above each of these figures is a sliield and heraldic device. The
lower part is occupied by a portrait of Ovid, taken from an antique
gem, around which are boys playing with arabesque foliage, after Hol-
bein, taken from one of the titles to Grafton's Chronicle, Folio, 1569.
' The occasion of this Book.'
This note or prologue is surrounded by a border from a psalter of
the fourteenth century; and beneath it is placed a coloured drawing
from the seal used by Sir Christopher Hatton, after he was created a
knight of the bath.
Dedication ^indent. To Christopher Hatton, Esq.
The border and capital initial on the first page of this epistle, are
drawn from a manuscript of Froissart in the library of the London In-
stitution. In the letter are the arms of the Hattons, and on a shield in
the margin, is the monogram device of Thomas Rlarsh, the printer of
Churchyarde's Ovid. On the second page is a border somewhat similar
to the former, in which are introduced several armorial ensigns, allu-
sive to works mentioned in this dedication, or others produced by T.
Churchyarde. The arms and publications to which they refer are as
follow. — Ancient Wales — ' The Worthinesse of 'Whales,' printed in 1580.
— Leith — ' The Seige of Leetli.' — Frobisher, — ' A prayse and reporte
of Maister Martyne Frobysher's Voyage to ]Meta Incognita,' printed
1578. — St. Quentin, The Seige of St. Quentin. — Scotland, Ireland, and
England, — ' The miserie of Flavnders, Calamitie of Fravnce, Misfor-
tune of Portugall, Unquietnes of Irelande, Troubles of Scotland, and
the blessed state of Englande ;' printed in quarto without a date.
Ovid de Tristibus. — Booke 1st.
The poems of Ovid are divided into three books, to each of which a
general illuminated border is adapted, the commencement and conclu-
sion of the same have other borders, and the beginning of every elegy
in the volume is varied again. As the greater part of these illumina-
THE LIBRARY. [Churchy arde's
tions consist of the usual omainents of flowers, foliage, and waving
lines : a very few words will be requisite for the description of each
book. The opening illumination for the 6rst book, is taken from a
beautiful ' Office of the Holy Virgin,' in the Harleian Library (no.
2948). The general border for this book is a simple line ornamented
with golden leaves, drawn from a psalter illuminated for King Henry
VI, when young ; preserved in the Cottonian Library (Domitian
A xvn.). The other principal borders in this part of the volume, are
two from Persian MSS. in the library of the East India Company ; one
singularly grotesque, from a breviary in the Harleian collection ; (no.
2975) and one which concludes the book, composed of flowers and
birds, drawn from the celebrated alchemical manuscript, executed in
the sixteenth century (Harleian no. 3469).
' Here heginneth the second book.'
As the whole of this book is occupied by one elegy, and as the con-
clusion occurs on the commencement of the third book, there is but
one border used for the whole of it. This is taken from the splendid
Valerius Maximus already mentioned : and, as the book itself is ad-
dressed to Augustus Caesar, a miniature of that prince, from the same
authority is placed on the right hand margin of the first page.
' The ihirde Booke.'
This commences with a border composed from various manuscripts,
and contains two drawings of the Roman poet ; one representing him in
exile, and the other at court. The Spencer arms also appear upon this
page. The general border of the third book is a rich French illumina-
tion taken from a beautiful breviary in the Harleian library (no 2971).
The remaining decorations in this division, are principally as follow.
A border from an exquisite missal formerly belonging to Elias Ash-
mole, the antiquary (Harleian, no. 2900) ; three singular borders from
a manuscript missal (Harleian, nos. 2950, 3000). A curious ornament
from an English manuscript on hunting, ' clepyd y' Maistre of y'
Game ' (Vesp. B. xii.) and a very remarkable border from a volume of
Petrarcha's Sonnets in the Lansdowne library, which concludes the
third book (no. 787.)
On the reverse of the last page is a vignette of Italian illuminating,
from a manuscript of Boetius, on ' the Consolations of Philosophy ;' in
which the arms of Spencer are introduced in lieu of those of Medici,
Ovid de Tristibus.] THE LIBRARY. 229
which appear in the original. This manuscript is in the Lansdowne
collection.
Imprint. — London : from the Shakspeare Press, SfC.
The border on this page, which is drawn in pen and ink, was copied
from a book of the original designs of ^Eneas Vico of the imperial ■
coins of Rome ; for the work which he published entitled ' Le Imagini
degl' Imperadorij' &c. Ven. 1548. Quarto. At theupper partof the draw-
ing, is a coin of Augustus Caesar, and the whole design formed the
title-page to the coins of that reign. This manuscript is of vellum,
and is preserved in the Harleian Library : no. 5381.
It may with perfect truth be said, that Mr. Thomson has here
woven another garland of bright and lasting flowers to perpetuate his
name as a careful and skilful illuminator of ancient lore. It is impos-
sible to open the leaves of this decorated book, without being struck
with the variety, the richness, and the good taste of the embellishments.
The binding, by C. Lewis — in green velvet, within a morocco case — is
worthy of what it envelopes.
Romeo and Juliet.
We have here a very limited reprint, struck off upo\ vellum, of the
original edition of the well known story of Romeo and Juliet, upon
which our immortal dramatist has founded one of the most popular of
his plays. But such a copy as the present, illustrated with seven
ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, by the inimitable pencil of Giambattista Gigola,
can with difficulty be conceived, and is with still greater difficulty de-
scribed. It is not without due consideration that I venture to pro-
nounce it an almost unrivalled ge.m — of its kind. Those only, who
possess other copies of the same impression, illustrated in the like
manner, have it in their power to place any thing in competition with
it. I proceed to give a detailed account of it, leaving the reader to
form his own opinions as he travels with me in the description.
This is a thin octavo volume, executed upon fair sound vellum, in a
roman type sufficiently bold, and skilfully printed. There are two ti-
tles. The first is printed, and is as follows : ' Storia di Due Nobili
Amanti colla lore Pietosa Morte Avvenuta gia in Verona net tempo del
Signor Bartolomeo dalla Scala, e scritta da Luigi da Porto.' The second
is executed with the pencil, in letters of gold, red and black lines alter-
nately ; within a border of gold and light blue. This ms. title is as
follows : ' Historia Nouellamente Ritrouata di due nobili Amanti con la
VOL. I. G g
230 THE LIBRARY. [Romeo
loro Pietosa Morte interuenuta gia nella Citta di Verona ntl Tempo del
Signor Bartholomeo dalla Scala.' This is executed in the gothic letter.
The frame-work is not among the most successful efforts of Gigola,
but the small group below, in cameo gris (as it is called), upon a gold
ground, is very beautiful. Above this group, on each side, a weeping
Cupid is sitting. Then follows the
Address to the Reader.
Prefixed to this address, is a most exquisite specimen of the taste of
of the artist in vignette composition. The forms are gracefully
arabesque, and the colours, although extremely vivid, harmonize in
a striking manner. This address informs us, that ' the number of
copies of this edition is restricted to six — all upon vellum : because
the illuminator purposed to ornament only that number ... In the
course of his labours, he endeavoured to discover the ancient method
of gilding, &c. ,• and he leaves the learned to judge whether he has
succeeded, or whether that method be still to be considered as a desi-
deratum.* In order that each copy may be considered as an original
performance, and not as displaying a mere repetition of the orna-
ments of its precursor, he has endeavoured to vary the attitudes of the
figures, and sometimes even the subject, as well as the accompanying
ornaments — which he trusts will be an additional reason for valuing
each respective copy." This is the substance of Gigola's address.
Dedication.
The dedication is ' Alla bellissi.ma e leooiadra Madonna Lu-
ciNA Savorgnana.' It is preceded and terminated by a vignettef of
equal elegance and effect.
First Illumination i
Two Knights on horseback, in a gentle trot, are in earnest dis-
course with each other. One horse is brown, the other black. The
* Candidly speaking, Gigola appears to liave failed in his gilding. Our countrjiuaii,
Mr. Richard Thomson, "hose merits have been detailed in tlie previous pages, apinoach.es
much nearer to the splendor of the gilding of the xiilh and following centuries. But he
has not yet reached it.
t The vignettes are in the manner of some of tliose attaclied to the famous Giulio
Ciovio, iu the possession of Mr. Grenville : see the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i.
p. clxxxviii.
X These illuminations are of small dimeusiuns : measuring only ihree inches and a hall
by two inches and a quarter. The borders are about an inch in breadth.
andJnliet.] THE LIBRARY. 231
nearest knight has pink, green, and yellow feathers upon his helmet,
beautifully executed. A distant mountainous back-ground : bright,
and well preserved in the keeping. A delicious atmospherical trans-
parency pervades this picture. The border consists of a gray ground,
with yellow ornaments, shaded ; very sweet.
Second Illumination.
A Dance. The figures are forming a circle j in which Jidiet, dressed
in light blue, is immediately conspicuous. Her countenance is of the
sweetest expression. At top, being a portion of the border, is a band,
or orchestra, of Cupids playing. A most captivating composition.
Third Illumination.
The Marriage of Romeo and Juliet. The former is sitting at the
extremity of a bench, placing his left leg under his right, turning to
Juliet — whose head and shoulders only appear through an aperture in
the wainscot. Her countenance is the most perfect that can be ima-
gined. Romeo is putting the ring on her finger ; while by the side
of them stands the friar, raising his right arm, and apparently pro-
nouncing a benediction. Romeo is habited in a rich crimson velvet
cloak. His hat and feather lie upon the seat : his profile is turned to
the spectator. The ornaments in the surrounding border are pro-
phetic of woe. Above, is a Cupid with sable wings, with a thought-
ful brow : at bottom, is a figure with sable wings, and shrouded in a
black hood and mantle. The colouring and general effect are perfect.
Fourth Illumix.^tiox.
Duel between Tibalt and Romeo. The artist has chosen the moment
when the latter runs the former through the body ; but I submit that
he has erred in the attitude of the successful assailant. It is an atti-
tude of defence rather than of attack : a full, bold lunge always accom-
panying the passing of the sword through the body. This piece is full
of brilliant colour j and the border, consisting chiefly of warlike instru-
ments, is elaborate and splendid in the extreme.
Fifth Illumination.
Juliet in a Trance. Her countenance is, if possible, more lovely than
before. Her relations surround her — stretched out as if a corpse —
with anxious looks and throbbing hearts. The border is full of por-
tentous omens. Abo^e, is a heart within a flame of fire ; whilst two
2S2 THE LIBRARY. [Romeo and Juliet.
furies, each on horseback, are about to contend for it. Below, is
a similar heart, environed with flame — having a cord round it, fastened
to two Cupids, each on horseback — pulling it a different way.
Sixth Illumination.
Death of Romeo. Juliet awakes ; and with frantic looks, and
dishevelled hair, is receiving the last breath of her expiring husband;
whose right hand, gently raised to accompany his expiring sigh, is
touchingly conceived and executed. Tlie friar is in the foreground to
the right. The light of a lamp, placed below, gleams upon the dis-
tracted countenance of Juliet, and throws a fine effect of chiar-oscuro
about the vault. The borders become yet more and more typical of
death. A bat, with extended wings, on each side and at bottom,
prepares us for the melancholy sequel.
Seventh Illumination.
Death of Romeo and Juliet. The unfortunate lovers are extended
upon a bier — side by side — each beautiful in death. It is impossible to
conceive any thing more placid, and yet more touching, than are the
countenances of this hapless pair. A figure, overwhelmed with misery,
is prostrate in the fore-ground, habited and wholly covered in a white
drapery. The attitude and execution of this figure are beyond praise.
Behind the dead bodies is a gothic interior; while the crucifix is raised,
and the surrounding relatives and friends of each party appear to be
overwhelmed in woe. At the top of the border. Mercury is conducting
the departed spirits of the deceased towards the banks of the river
Sty.x : below, Charon is advancing to receive them. It is evident that
such an illustration, or concetto, is ill-placed, considering the time
when the event is supposed to have happened. This last illumination
is worthy of every thing that precedes it.
A notice at the end says, that the text of this edition is faithfully
taken from that of Benedetto Bendoni, in octavo, supposed to be the
first.* A word respecting the binding — which I consider as impossible
* BTr. Blalone (^Variorum Shahpearc, edit. 1813, vol. xx. B. I.) says, that tlie novel of
Borneo and Juliet did not appear till 1535, when it was printed at Venice, under the title
of Giulietla : a second edition was published in 1539, and a third in 1553 — without tlie
author's name. However this may be, it is certain that a dateless edition of this novel,
printed by Benedetto Bendoni, at Venice, q\iarlo, and which seems to have been reprinted
for the purpose of Oigola's illustrations, is considered to be the first ; and >\a5, in con-
sequence, reprinted by the Rev. W. II. Carr, for the Members of the Roxburghe Club.
Clarendon's Hist, ^c] T H E L I B R A R Y, 23:i
to be surpassed. It is by C. Lewis. The volume is bound in black
velvet, entirely plain; having the insides, of vellum, thickly and richly
covered with gilt ornaments of the most delicate forms, and tasteful
disposition. His Lordship's coronet and cipher are in the centre.
The vthole is preserved in a wooden case, covered with black leather,
which shuts up in the form of a book, and bears the lettering of the
title. Upon the whole, the noble owner of this volume may place it
among the choicest treasures of his Library. It was obtained, from
Milan, through the polite intercession of the Marquis of Trivulzio, at a
price by no means disproportionate to its extraordinary merits.
Clarendon's History of the Rebellion ; with
his Religion and Polity. Printed at the Cla-
7'endon Press. Octavo.
From the beauties of the Pencil, we descend naturally and plea-
santly, as it were, to those of the Burin. Whatever merit may be due
to either, or even to the whole, of the treasures previously described,
is abundantly due to the present set of volumes . . . which comprise the
labours of the immortal Cl.\rendon. The copy of the History of the
Rebellion, now under consideration, is divided into the same number of
Volumes as there are Books: namely, sixteen — as it would have been
difficult to adopt any other plan which should so readily have suited
itself to the purpose of Illustration. Another preliminary observation
must be submitted. The form of this impression being the large
PAPER OCTAVO, recently printed at the University of Oxford, it has uni-
formly been his Lordship's object to obtain only those engravings which
could be adapted to the size of the printed page — without folding, or
much cutting down. The text therefore is not inlaid, and thereby
made to become the vehicle of a larger set of volumes — as may be seen
in the matchless copy, of this description, which was in the possession
of the late Mr. Sutherland.*
Although such a plan as the present, when compared with that of Mr.
Sutherland, would necessarily deprive this work of a great number of
magnificent, and curious embellishments, yet, at the same time, it has
That edition is a sraall quarto, containing A B C, D, in eights, and having a red and
black title-page, in tlie gothic letter, in which the name of the author is omitted. The
colophon: Qui Finisse la infelice Innamoramento ili Romeo Montecchi Et di GiuUetta
Cupelletti. Stampato in la inclitta citta di Fenetia Per Benedetto de Bendoni.'
' This copy is briefly noticed in the Bibliomania, p. 668.
234
THE LIBRARY. [Clarendon's Hint.
not led to the exclusion of a great number, which are not less distinguish-
ed for brilliancy of execution and rarity of occurrence. The reader will
therefore readily conjecture that a profusion of exquisite specimens of
the talents of Hollar * Pass, Delaram, Faithorne, &c. enrich the pages
• To give some notion of the value of tlie impressions from all these artists, collectively,
the reader is here presented with a list of tho-^e only which were engraved by Hoi.i.An :
the favourite of our countrymen.
Bishop Andrews.
Anna Maria, Q. of Philip IV. of Spuin.
View of Antwerp.
7 Thomas Earl of Arundel, 4 portraits.
10 Alathea Countess of ."irundel, 3 portraits.
Countes.s of Kent.
View of Arundel Castle
Arundel House, 2 views.
15 J. Bastwick.
View of Beeston Castle.
Sir Robert Berkley.
View of Birmingham.
View of Bonne.
20 View of Brussels.
George Duke of Buckingham.
Earl of BuUinbroke.
Henry Burton.
View of Cadiz,
2.5 Small Plan of Cambridge.
Charles I. Prince of Wales.
Ditto King, 7 portraits.
His Statue at Charing Cross.
Charles II. Prince of Wales.
34 Ditto King, 5 portraits.
Charles Lewis, Elector Palatine.
I'uraults in Cheapside.
View of Chester.
Christina Q. of Sweden.
View of Cologne.
40 Sir Francis Cottiugton.
View of Covent Garden.
View of Coventry.
View of Crew House.
Sir George Croke.
45 Sir Ed. Deering.
Basil Earl of Denbigh, 2 portraits.
Lord Denny.
Ed. Earl of Dorset.
50 View of Dort.
Dover, 4 views
.57 Dover Castle, 3 views.
The Downs, 4 views.
View of Deal Castle.
Plan of Edinburgh.
Edward Vf.
65 Prss. Elizabeth, Daughter to Charles I.
Robert Earl of Essex.
View of Royal Exchange,
Sir Thomas Fairfax.
John Lord Finch.
71 James Marquess of Hamilton, 2 portraits.
Sir Robert Heath.
Alexander Henderson.
80 Queen Henrietta Maria, 7 portraits.
Ditto sent away by Sea.
Henry VIII.
Lord Herbert of Ragland.
Earl of Hertford .
85 Richard Hooker.
Queen Katharine Howard.
View of Hull.
H. Earl of Huntingdon.
90 Judge Hutton, 2 portraits.
Queen Jane Seymour.
95 Castles in Jersey, 4 views.
Lord Kimbolton.
Prentices, &c. assaulting the G.ite of
Lambeth.
View of Lambeth.
Abp. Laud, and Lord Strafford.
101 Abp Laud, 2 portraits.
Trial of ditto, 2 views.
John Lilbum.
London, 5 views.
1 10 Christopher Love.
Col. Lunsford driving the Londoners out
of Westminster.
Elizabeth Lady Maltravers.
of the Rebellion !\
THE LIBRARY.
235
of this very extraordinary copy ; especially as the size of the book does
not exclude a great number of small whole-length portraits, whether
on foot or on horseback, which are well known to the curious for their
extreme rarity and value. Thus, these volumes comprise not fewer
than one hundred anrf/our whole-length portraits, which may be called
pedestrian ; and one hundred and twenty whole-lengths of such as are
usually called equestrian — portraits. This copy also contains several
drawings, in black and white, of portraits, of which there exist no en-
gravings ; among which, is one of Sir Arthur Hesilrige, from an original
picture now preserved at his family seat in Leicestershire ; of which
his Lordship was permitted by its owner, to have a copy, on the con-
dition that it should never be engraved. Several impressions, from
private plates, also adorn this copy.
Of course it would be as injudicious as impracticable — consistently
with the plan of this work — to give a detailed account of every engrav-
The Isle of Man, 2 views.
116 Alary Prss. of Orange, 2 portraits.
Mary of Medici.
View of the Churcli of St. Mary Overy.
1S!0 Mentz, 2 views.
Lionel Earl of Middlesex.
Samuel Morland.
Lord Mowbray, 2 portraits.
125 Marquess of Newcastle.
Earl of Newport.
Fred. H. Prince of Orange, 2 portraits.
130 William IL Prince of Orange, S ditto.
Bishop Overall.
Small Plan of Oxford.
View of Oxford.
Parliamentary Mercies.
135 Philip Earl of Pembroke ac Montgomery
Philip IV. King of Spain.
Plymouth, 3 views.
140 Jerome Earl of Portland.
Frances Countess of Portland.
Protestation taken by Ministers and
People.
William Prynne.
John Pyro.
145 Reconciliation of the English 6l Scotch
Armies.
John de Recdc.
James Duke of Richmond and Leno.x.
Mary Duchess of Richmond, 2 portraits.
150 View of Richmond.
Sir Benjamin Riidyard.
Prince Rupert, 3 portraits.
156 W. Earl of Salisbury, 2 portraits.
Bishop Sanderson.
Lord Say and Sele, 2 portraits.
160 Abp. Spottiswood.
Lord Strafford, 2 portraits.
E,xecution of ditto.
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.
165 View of the Texel.
View of the Tower of London.
Bishops committed to the Tower.
Sir W. Waller.
Robert Earl of Warwick.
170 View of Warwick Castle.
View of Westminster Abbey.
View of Westminster Hall.
Earl of Westmoreland.
Philip Lord Wharton.
170 Whitehall, 2 views.
View of the Isle of Wight.
.Tohn Wildman.
176 Abp. Williams, 2 portraits.
Marquess of Winchester.
Windebank & Fyuch flying beyond Sea.
View of Windsor Castle.
Cornelius de Witt.
236 THE LIBRARY. [Clarendon's Hist. ^c.
ing even of a few of the more celebrated portraits : but when it is
known that, of Charles I., there are here not fewer that one hundred
and seventy engraved portraits — of Charles II., one hundred and
twenty-two — and of Cromwell, seventy-four — each, and all, of a size
proportioned to these pages — it will be naturally concluded that almost
every thing exquisite and uncommon, of such a form, may be found
within these matchless volumes. This pleasurable toil of illustration
has engaged his Lordship's attention for the last fifteen years ; and
although such a pursuit may be considered as endless, yet it is now
terminated in a manner to satisfy even the most fastidious and most
unremitting of Print- Collectors. The united diUgence and judgment
of Messrs. Woodburn and W. Scott, have chiefly contributed to such a
Collection ; which has necessarily been attended with an expense pro-
portionate to the number and value of the engravings ; which amount
to at least three thousand two hundred.
These volumes have been recently bound, in the most splendid and
appropriate manner, by C. Lewis, in dark green morocco.
Thus has the reader been conducted round the Library at Althorp.
The circuit, or rather bibliographical journey, has been necessarily
rapid ; yet enough has been seen to convince him of what a more lei-
surely survey would produce. The preceding may indeed be called
little better than an Epitome of the contents of this extensive and mag-
nificent Collection.
[ P.37 ]
THE STAIR CASE.
On passing through the door, immediate^ opposite the entrance
into the house, in the hall before described, (see page 1) the
visitor casts his eye, with no small gratification, on the scene —
which is represented in the annexed Engraving. This is the
stair case of which such handsome mention is made in the Travels
of Cosmo III., Grand Duke of Tuscany, at page xxxiv. ante ;
and of which the fair Sacharissa, as has been before observed,
was the architectress or planner. But this magnificent ascent to
the upper, or what was formerly used as state apartments, led to
scarcely any thing but the rooms immediately connected with it ;
and in order to remedy so palpable an inconvenience, the present
proprietors of Althorp caused those galleries to be built,
which are seen in the annexed view; and which, while they greatly
add to the beauty of the coup d'oeil, contribute as essentially to
the convenience of the mansion. The whole of this interior view
has a very pleasing and peculiar effect.
Before we mount the stair-case, and join the party who are
represented in the engraving, as in the act of ascending, we may
Unger for a few minutes below — and make ourselves acquainted
with the pictures which are seen on the floor. The portrait,
opposite — which is over a door — ^leading into the bilhard library,
is Elizabeth, Duchess of Bridgewater, third daughter of John
Duke of Marlborough. She was, first. Countess, and afterwards
Duchess of Bridgewater, by her marriage with Scroop Egerton,
Duke of Bridgewater, and was also the mother of Lady Ann
Egerton, to be presently described. She had also two sons.
The countenance of this lady is certainly that of a fine and
beautiful woman. The artist was Jarris ; and the perfonnance
is more creditable to his memory than most of the specimens
which have survived him.
To the left, is her sister Henrietta, Eldest Daughter of
the Duke of Marlborough, and wife of the son of Francis,
VOL. I. H h
S38 THE STAIR CASE.
the famous Earl of Godolphin ; the great favourite of Henrietta's
mother; see page 78, ante. The painter is Kiieller. Still more to
the left, is a portrait of Sir Robert Spencer, of Offley ; in the
county of Herts. Facing the bottom of the staircase, is a large
painting, representing William Godolphin, Lady Anne Eger-
TON, and Viscount Brackley ; being whole lengths of them
when young. Go-dolpliin was grandson of John Duke of Marl-
borough, by Henrietta, his eldest daughter, and on the death of
the Duke, became Marquis of Blandford ; but died in 1731,
(liaving married a lady of Dutch extraction at Utrecht, in 1729)
without issue. See page Iv. ante. Lady Ann Egerton was the
only daughter of Elizabeth, third daughter of the Duke of
Marlborough, and first wife of Scroop Egerton, first Duke of
Bridgewater. She mai'ried, first, Wriothesley, third Duke of
Bedford ; and secondly, William, grandfather of the present
Earl of Jersey. John, Viscount Brackley, was her brother.
To the right of this picture, is a portrait of Helen, Lady
Spencer, wife of Sir Robert Spencer of Offley. Below, is a
portrait of Henry Spencer of Offley. Over a closed door,
under the gallery, to the left on entering the area — as in the
view — is a half-length portrait of Mary, yo?/r//i daughter of the
Duke of Marlborough, who married John Duke of Montagu.
Over the door or entrance, to the left of the Duchess of Mon-
tagu, is a portrait of the twelfth Earl, and only Duke of Shrews-
bury ; prime minister of William IIL and whose name has
recently received a good share of popular attention, from his
Private and Original Correspondence with King William, S(C.
edited by the Rev. Mr. Coxe, and of which some use has been
made in the preceding pages of this work ; vide p. xxxix-
xlii.
The portraits under the gallery, on the left hand of the fire-
place, are as follow : Lady Clancarty, an Unknown Lady,
General Sir John Mordaunt, K. B. Mary, Duchess of
Richmond, a copy from Vandyke. Lord Chancellor Mac-
clesfield, in his robes of Office. The portraits under the gal-
lery on the right of the fire-place, are as follow : two of Ladies,
Unknown. Charles IL a full length in his robes as a knight of
the garter. Next to this pottrait, b one of which the annexed
T.Uwins del.
Worthin^con Sc.
Only Son of John, Duke :f '^sr'Tiorougll.
tnMUdlyLakM
From ibe Ori^nal FaiDtin^ by Fompeio Banoni.at Althorp.
FDii:lin,JS2.'
THE STAIR CASE. 239
ENGRAVING afFords the best idea. It is that of John, Marquis
OF Blandford, eldest son of John Duke of Marlborough, who
died of the small-pox in the sixteenth year of his age. A very
particular and interesting account of his last Ulness and death
will be found in the XVth. chapter of Mr. Coxe's Memoirs of
the Duke of Marlborough. The painting is by Sir Godfrey
Kneller. Next to this is a whole length portrait of Charles, se-
cond Duke of Marlborough, in his coronation robes, as fifth
Earl of Sunderland.
Having surveyed this curious collection of Family Portraits
on the ground floor, I must again call upon the visitor to make
the circuit of the lowev apartments complete, before he mount
the stair case. Accordingly, passing round under the north
gallery, he wiU be conducted into
Lord Spencer's Bed Chamber.
Over the chimney-piece is a very beautiful specimen of the talents
of Pompeio Battoni, in a portrait of the First Countess Spen-
cer; mother of the present Earl: — of which the opposite En-
graving is a faithful representation. This picture was painted
at Rome in 1763. Over the entrance-door, is a portrait of her
husband, John, First Earl Spencer, by Gainsborough. His
Lordship (father of the present Earl) was about the age of
thirty-five, at the time of its execution. On the other side of the
chimney, there is another portrait of him when he was fourteen
years old. The painter is unknown. On the opposite side of
the room, are portraits of the present Countess Spencer,
Lady Ann Bingham, her sister, and the late Countess of Bess-
borough, sister of the present Earl Spencer. They are all three
executed by Sir Joshua Reynolds ; the two first being yet fresh
and vigorous specimens of his pencil. They are known to the
virtuoso by the charming engra\ings of them, in stippling, by
Bartolozzi. The portrait of the Countess of Bessborough has
been engraved in mezzotint. In the pier between the windows,
is a portrait of the present Earl of Bessborough, also by
Reynolds ; but a less favourable performance, in every respect,
than that of the Countess, his late consort. In this room is
preserved the original drawing, by the late Mr. Alexander,
240 THE STAIR CASE.
(draftsman to the British Museum) of the huge Silver Vase
presented to his Lordship, by his tenantry at AUhorp, on the
23d of December, 1815. Opposite his Lordship's bed chamber,
having the entrance passage between, are
Lady Spencer's Dressing and Bed Room.
These rooms look into a small flower-garden. The dressing
room is wainscoted in pannels, and painted in arabesque by Boi-
leau. We pass through it into her Ladyship's bed-room, where
are the following portraits. Over the door, on entrance, is a por-
trait of Charles, first Earl OF LucAN,by Sir Joshua Reynolds
— in fine preservation. To the right, is a portrait of Richard,
the present Earl of Lucan (when Lord Bingham) by the same
artist. Over the chimney, is a picture containing small whole
lengths of Georgiana, the late Duchess of Devonshire, Hen-
rietta Frances, late Countess of Bessborough, and the
present Earl Spencer, their brother, when in his sixteenth year.
The artist is Angelica Kauffnmn.
But a most biilliant specimen of the pencil of Angelica Kauff-
fiian-r^xs ^ small whole length portrait of the late first Countess
of Lucan, mother of the present Countess Spencer — and of which
the opposite Engraving, beautiful and faithful as it is,* is
hardly sufiicient to give an adequate idea. The original mea-
sures four feet by three : and is in a perfectly fine state of pre-
servation. The visitor and reader will contemplate such a pic-
ture with increased satisfaction, when it is known to be a resem-
blance of the Illustrator of the SiMkspeare, of which so particular
an account has been given in the preceding pages. t Opposite
the bed, is a head of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, when
a child. In the centre, is a group of four children of the late
Earl Spencer, and on the right is a head of the present Earl
Spencer, when a child. All these are in crayons, by Miss Read.
To the left of the group by Angelica Kauffinan, is another por-
trait of the present Earl Spencer, when a child ; with a black
cap and feather, and a dog by the side of him,
* From the necessity of adapting it to the pages of this work, the above en-
graving occupies only two thirds of the figure of the original.
fSee p. 200, ante.
i:)KAIE,(&A]a]ET,©(n)TirHTr]E§S ©ifLUCAM.
From an Original Fainting fcy Angelina fCaiiffman .
In the Fofsefsion of Earl Spence "p •
I.Uwins del .
Wiij-lhin^loii ic .
Father of the fipst Iffarom Spencer.
AD. ISBO.JEtat 5/.
tri n.-fd fry '..th*i
LcndonfahUskeA ferine Rev rFJ>i/>ifjfi.lVy::
THE STAIR CASE. 241
We now mount the Stair Case, with the company in the en-
graved view — so often referred to — and stop at the landing-
place, to notice the following pictures, which face the visitor
on ascending. Four kit-kat pictures — the first on the left hand.
Queen Anne with her son the Duke of Glocester: the next,
Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, with the key as groom of the
stole. Next, Mary Queen of England, and lastly George, Prince
of Denmark. Above these four pictures on the left hand, is
John Carteret, first Earl Granville : whole length of Robert, first
Lord Spencer : in the centre Lord Lisle, and his sister, children
of the Earl of Leicester, nephew and neice of Dorothy, Countess
of Sunderland ; a charming, and interesting picture by Sir P.
Lely. Next to them, Margaret WiUoughby Lady Spencer, wife
to Robert first Lord ; Frances Worsley Countess Granville, she
was Mother to Lady Georgiana Carteret, wife to the Honourable
John Spencer, and grandmother of the present Earl. In the
right hand gallery, the Duke of Roxburghe, and five fuU length
pictures — First, Ann Churchill, Countess of Sunderland, with
her daughter Diana, afterwards Duchess of Bedford — Ann Vis-
countess Bateman, sister to Charles Duke of Marlborough —
Lady Longueville, — her son was created Earl of Sussex ; — Ann
Countess of Sunderland with her son Robert, who died young at
Paris. On the left side of the window — Adelaide, Widow of the
3Iarquis Paleotti — Duchess of Shrewsbury ; Anna Maria Brude-
nell, Countess of Shrewsbury, Mother of the only Duke of
Shrewsbui7; under her, the portrait of Sir John Spencer,
the father of the first Lord Spencer.* On the right hand of
the window, the Duke of Manchester ; under him, Sir John
Spencer of Ofiley ; over the door. Lady Georgiana Carteret,
wife of the Honourable John Spencer, and grandmother to the
present Earl. In the left hand gallery, a portrait of a Lady un-
known, and three full length pictures :— first, Charles third Earl
of Sunderland : second, Lady Georgiana Spencer, and her son
John, first Earl Spencer, and Lady Masham ; third, Heneage
Finch, Earl of Nottingham. Over a door a j)ortrait of a Lady
unknown, and next to her, a portrait of Juliana Countess of
Burlington.
* See the Opposite Engravixg.
242 THE STAIR CASE.
In the lobbies are five portraits of the Spencers of Offley, in
the county of Herts.
In the anti-chamber of the picture gallery is the marble bust
of the Earl of Godolphin, by Rysbrach ; and a terra cotta of
Vandyck ; two landscapes by Moore, painted at Rome in 1 786,
and over the door into the gallery, a man in armour sleeping on
a drum head.
Over the chimney of the stair case is a window of ancient
painted glass, representing armorial bearings; and under it is
fixed a banner inscribed with the word gratitude: presented to
the present Earl Spencer by his tenants.
[ 24.1 ]
THE PICTURE GALLERY.
' . . . the Gallery at Althorp, one of those enchanted scenes which a thou-
sand circumstances of history and art endear to a pensive spectator.'
Walpole : Anecdotes of Painting, vol. iii. p. 18; edit. 1765.
This highly interesting Collection of Pictures, or rather of His-
torical Portraits, is contained in a room of one hundred and
fifteen feet in length, by twenty feet and a half in width, and
nineteen in height. It is usually entered at the northern extre-
mity ; from which a splendid coup d'oeil is obtained of the entire
series — terminated, at bottom, by one of the finest whole-length
specimens of Vandyke's pencil, between two similar specimens,
of scarcely less brilliancy, from the pencil of Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds. These shall be described in their proper order. We
begin by turning round to the left, as we enter the room, with
the pictures which are placed opposite the windows. Over the
entrance door is an original portrait of
Monsieur de Colbert, by Mignard. — This fine picture has
been described in the Bihfiograp/iical Tour, vol. ii. p. 477 ; and
was purchased at the sale of the late Quintin Craufurd's col-
lection, at Paris. It was fitting that the portrait of a great
Minister, and great Collector of Books — from whose library so
many fine copies grace the shelves below — should find a place
in a Gallery like this. We proceed to the right
John Duke of Marlborough, by Sir G. Knelleb. — This is
a half-length, and the usually received portrait of Marlborough.
It has been recently, but not very faithfully, engraved, for Mr.
Coxe's Life of that hero.
344 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
Philip H. King of Spain, by Sir Antony More. — A ge-
nuine picture ; painted upon wainscot. Philip is in a black
dress, richly studded ; with a gold chain across the neck, and a
belt and sword below. The countenance exactly resembles that
in the fine whole-length of the same monarch, in the collection
of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire.
King Henry VIIL, Queen Mary, and Will. Sommers the
Jester. — ^The opposite engraving will give the best notion of the
composition of this picture, which I consider as one of the most
curious and valuable in the collection. It is presumed that Hans
Holbein was the painter of it ; for although the tone .of colour
be darker than that which is usually seen in his productions, yet
the ground-work of the King's tunic, or vestment, in crimson foil,
such as we see in the undoubtedly genuine picture of the same
monarch, by the same artist at Somerset House ; is strongly indi-
cative of that painter's style. That Will Sommers was also a
subject upon which his pencil was exercised, may be seen on
consulting Granger, vol. i. p. 116-17. I should add, that all the
figures are of the size of life.
The Sforzas, by Albert Durer.
Maximilian Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1512. Eldest son
to Ludovico, surnamed the Moor, and Beatrix D'Est : died in
1530, unmarried.
Francis Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1529. Second son to the
Moor, married Christiana, daughter to Christian II. King of
Denmark : died in 1 535, without issue.
The above portraits are curious and interesting specimens of
Albert Durer's art ; they appear in one of the compartments of
a picture painted in wood by that artist ; the middle division of
which represents a man sitting at a table with a skull before him;
and the opposite compartment to that above described, contains
the Salutation of the Virgin. It is in good preservation.
Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, by Sir Peter Lely. —
She was daughter to Villiers, Viscount Grandison, who was son
to Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. She married Palmer, Earl of
14
O
5>-
H
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 245
Castlemain ; and being mistress to Charles IL was created Du-
chess of Cleveland by that monarch : by whom~she had several
children. 'She was,' says Bishop Bumet, 'a -woman of great
beauty, but most enormously vicious and ravenous ; foolish but
imperious ; very uneasy to the King ; and always carrying on in-
ti-igues with other men, while yet she pretended she was jealous
of him. His passion for her and her strange behaviour to him did .
so disorder him, that often he was not master of himself, nor
capable of minding business, which in so critical a time required
great application.' Granger observes that 'she was the most
inveterate enemy of the Earl of Clarendon, who thought it an
indignity to his character to show common civilities, much more
to pay his court, to the mistress of the greatest monarch upon
earth. ^Mien this honoured nobleman was going from court,
upon his resignation of the Great Seal, the Duchess of Cleveland,
who knew him to be her enemy, insulted him from a window of
the palace. He turned to her and said, with a calm but spirited
dignity, ' Madam, if you live you will grow old.' After a life of
continued profligacy, she died of a dropsy, in her sixty-ninth
year, A. D. 1709.
She is here painted in the character of a shepherdess, with a
crook in her hand. This is in every respect a genuine picture —
in fine preservation.
La Comtesse de Grammont, by Sir Peter Lely. — A charm-
ing portrait of a beautiful and virtuous woman. The drapery is
blue, with a straw-coloured handkerchief. The Countess of
Grammont was sister to Count Hamilton, whose interesting me-
moirs make us so intimately acquainted with the manners of
the court of Charles H. Her father was Sir George Hamilton,
one of the sons of the first Earl of Abercorn. By Philibert,
Comte de Grammont, her husband, she had two daughters;
one married the Earl of Staflbrd, the other was Lady Abbess of
the Canonesses in Lorraine. Her conduct was without reproach
at the court of Charles IL, and of Louis XIV. — A sure test of
her virtue and good taste. There is an engraving of her (but I
know not whether from this picture) in the edition of the Mi-
moires de Grammont, published at Strawberry Hill in 1772,
M6 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
quarto. The engraving is by G. Powle — ' executed in a style
of beauty and spirit that has been seldom surpassed.' Biblio-
mania, p. 720. It is, I presume, to t/iis engraving that Bromley
refers : p. 244.
Sir p. p. Reubens, by Vandyke. — A whole length. The at-
titude is as graceful as the finishing is delicate. A gold chain,
pending from the right shoulder, vanishes a little below the left
arm. A key is stuck in the girdle ; and the gloves are held in
the left hand. The subject is dressed wholly in black.
Unknown Portrait : apparently of a Man of Letters, by Sir
Antony More. — A very fine specimen of the master. It is
painted upon panel. The following engraving of it is by Profes-
sor Hesse of Munich, from an exquisite copy, in water colours,
of the same size, by the late Mr. Satchwell.
T.TTwriiis del.
E-Scriven Sc.
WlEILm (Q^^/^mtl
From a Paimttiim^'lry Sir FXelf, in nil© Pofsefsiom of
Earl ST»eiiiceii>, at AleliS'rp-
Lon4^m fUilirhed for e/ie Rev. 7'.FDUidui. K2:: .
frinr/d'tyZithfe.
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 247
Sir Antoxy Vandyke, by Sir P. P. Reubens, — A head
and shoulders only.
Nell Gwynn, by Sir Peter Lely. — The Ojiposite Engraving
will convey some notion of the beauty and elegance of this pic-
ture. It has greater feminine attraction than any one which I
remember to have seen of the Original. Granger, in his list, does
not describe the present ; of the genuineness of which there can-
not be a doubt.* She is dressed in a yellow or straw-coloured
gown, with a lavender-coloured mantle thrown over it. The cha-
racter of the Original is too notorious to need recital. Granger,
vol. iv. p. 188, has given a brief but vigorous delineation of her.
She was the most celebrated low comic actress of her day; and
having become mistress to Lord Dorset, and afterwards to Charles
II., she had, by the latter, two sons ; the Duke of St. Albans
and James Beauclerk. She was a taunting rival of the Duchess
of Portsmouth ; and Madame de Sevigne, in one of her letters,
gives an amusing anecdote of her spirit and impertinence, upon
some occasion in which the Duchess was concerned. See the
Memoires de Grammont, Paris, 1812, octavo, p. 381. Burnet calls
her ' the most indiscreet and extravagant person that ever ap-
peared at court.' Notwithstanding she had grossly abused the
King's liberality, or rather profligacy, (for Charles had bestowed
not less than ^60,000. upon her,) she was remembered by the
dying monarch in his last moments. ' Do not let poor Nelly
starve ! ' — were his words to those who stood round his death-
bed. Dryderis Works, Edit. Scott: vol. x. p. 82, edit. 1821.
The anecdote of her, related in the ixth volume, p. 426, of the
same work, is better told in Granger.
The Duchess of Portsmouth, by Sir Peter Lely*. — The
most constant, and the most favoured, but most unpopular of
all the mistresses of Charles II. Her name was Louise de
* The portrait of her, among Harding's \vretched engravings, in the quarto
edition of Grammont, p. 259, seems to be a copy of the above. That of her,
sitting between her two sons, and considered to be so very rare and expensive,
is, to the best of my recollection, a vulgar and insipid performance.
VOL. I. I i
248 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
QuEROUAiLLE. She came over in the train of the King's sister,
who was married to Philip, Duke of Orleans, in order to entice
Charles into an union with Louis XIV. — which unhappily suc-
ceeded but too well. She was created Duchess of Portsmouth
on August 9th, 1 673 ; and is thus noticed by Evelyn, about three
years before her creation: ' Nov. 4, 1670, I now also saw that fa-
mous beauty, but in my opinion of a childish, simple, and baby
face, Mademoiselle Querouaille, lately Maide of Hon' to Madame,
and now to be so to y" Queene.' Memoirs, vol. i. p. 432. Evelyn
relates a droll story about her, in the following year, when she
was ' coming to be in greate favor with the King' — and in which
story he seems to repel, with some degree of indignation, the
charge imputed to him, of having witnesssed some indiscretions
of that ' young wanton.' There were certainly strange proceed-
ings at Euston, a ' place of Lord Arlingtons.'
Charles was unwearied in his attentions, and unbounded in
his gifts and marks of distinction, to this extraordinary woman.
Her apartments at Whitehall, in 1675, were (says Evelyn) ' lux-
uriously furnished, and with ten times the richnesse and glory
beyond the Queenes ; such massy pieces of plate, whole tables,
and stands of incredible value.' Memoirs, vol. i. p. 480. Again,
at p. 539, Evelyn describes an entertainment given to the Am-
bassador of Morocco ' at the Dutchesse of Portsmouth's glo-
rious apartments at ^Aliitehall.' In the company, he describes
Lady Lichfield and Sussex, the Duchess of Portsmouth, Nelly,
&c. concubines, and cattell of that sort, as splendid as Jewells
and excess of bravery could make them.' The foreigners ' tooke
leave with this compliment, that God would blesse the Duchesse
of Portsmouth and y' Prince her Sonn, meaning the little Duke
of Richmond ;' p. 539. This took place in 1682.
These apartments (says Evelyn) had been pulled down and
rebuilt three times to please the Duchess : but in 1691 were
destroyed by fire, which consumed ' other lodgings of such lewd
creatures, who debauched both King Clia. 2, and others, and
were his destruction.' Granger says (apparently upon the au-
thority of Voltaire's Steele de Louis XIV.) that 'her beauty,
which was not of the most delicate kind, seemed to be very little
kvy..^-.v ' . 7 .
Tmw
.HIESS ©F 2
MO'^Tm.
'■.r>]'-_jl Tiiintin^ bj^Sir Pi'ler I-e)v.,
liery at Altliorp.
I.iulcn, rut/uhat rord,t.KirfrEDibdui,18ZC.
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 24©
impaired at seventy years of age.* Charles, on his death-bed,
particularly recommended her and her son to the protection of
his successor. She herself died as late as the year 1734, in the
eighty-ninth of her age. To return to the portrait ; of which so
beautifully an engraved copy embellishes these pages. The
Duchess is dressed in an oi-ange-coloured gown. The mantle is
light blue. Her right hand holds a sprig, or some leaves, which
are offered to a lamb — here obliged to be omitted for want of
room. The colouring and expression of the face are perfect ;
and, on the whole, this fine original picture merits every thing
said of the painter by Walpole, in his Works, vol. iii. p. 27. The
back-ground is among the happiest specimens of the master ;
and the back-grounds of Lely appear occasionally to have been
successfully imitated by Sir Joshua RejTiolds.
Penelope Wriothesley, Second Lady Spencer, by Van-
dyke. — A ' Spencer' by Vandyke is a treasure : as was the lady
herself to her husband. See p. xxv. ante. This is a whole-
length portrait, well conceived, and as ably executed : and ap-
parently a most faithful resemblance. The subject is looking
over the right shoulder ; habited in light blue satin. A favourite
little dog is before her, with his back to the spectator.
William, Duke of Devonshire, by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
A head and shoulder portrait : admirably pencilled and coloured,
* Drjden addressed her in a song, not long after her arrival, entitled, ' The
Fair Stranger' — of which the two concluding stanzas are these :
Your smiles have more of conquering charms,
Than all your native country's arms ;
Their troops we can expel with ease,
VMio vanquish only when we please.
But in your eyes, O ! there's the spell !
WTio can see them, and not rebel?
You make us captives by your stay;
Yet kill us if you go away.
But Evelyn was not far short of the mark, when he described her counte-
nance as having something in it ' childish and baby-like.'
Q.'iO THE PICTURE GALLERY.
and in a fine state of pi-eservation. The resemblance to his
son, the present Duke, is most striking.
Makechale de Mury, by Sir Joshua Reynolds. — She was
an intimate friend of the late Countess Spencer ; and is Jiere re-
presented sitting, witli her head resting upon her left hand and
arm, supported by the knee. She is decorated with a blue ri-
band, indicating her being (at the time this pictiue was painted)
a Chanoinesse of the noble Chapter of Nuys, near DusseldorfF.
Lady Denham, by Sir Peter Lely. — This lady makes a
brief, but a brilliant figure, also, upon the canvas of Grammont.
In other words, she is there introduced almost for the sake of
ridiculing her husband. Sir John Denham, the famous poet,
whose wife she became when she was only eighteen years of age,
and when her husband was in his seventy-ninth year. A short
time afterwards, she became lady of the bed-chamber to the
Duchess of York, and sullied her reputation by her intrigues
with the Duke. She was the beautiful Miss Brooks. The
fruits of her marriage were only jealousy on the one part, and
indifference on the other; and her death is supposed to have
been precipitated at Sir John's house, where she was confined,
by poison.* The annexed engraving is doubtless the most
faithful of those which have been executed of the subject. The
drapery consists of a light blue mantle upon a straw-coloured
gown ; very harmonious in its effect. Walpole has certainly
treated the draperies of Lely with too much severity — in saying
that they appear to be ' supported by a single pin.'
• In the /Ithen. Oxon. vol. iii. col. 823-7, edit. Bliss — we are informed, on
the authority of Aubrey, that ' Sir John was ancient & limping. The Duke
of York fell desperately in love with his second wife ; which occasioned Sir
John's distemper of madnesse. His second Lady had no child, and was poy-
soned by the hands of the co. of Roc. with chocolate.' Sir John was Clerk of
the Board of AA'orks, and Architect in ordinary to the King. Evelyn, however,
had but a poor opinion of his architectural talents — 'knowing him to be a
better poet than architect, tho' he had Mr. Webb, (Inigo lones's man) to
jissist him.' Memoirs, vol. i. p. 341.
'ILabtBehmam,
Irumi due ®iigiiiai Brtcait W Sir P.lelj^in. die Gallerp-at Alttcirp.
IkiUsTiedj^Ai Sey.TFl>iMrt,J'f2i
i uv?\r. ::■. i.'c-.
W^ I£2©BLET(DI-",
Frwrn. an .
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 259
Colonel John Russell, by Dobson. — A charming por-
trait of the gallant Original, as the opposite engraving testi-
fies. The sleeves are yellow ; the riband, at the top of the
shoulder, is crimson ; as is also the sash. The bow beneath the
cravat is blue. Colonel Russell was brother to the first Duke of
Bedford. He served in the royal cause, and after the Restora-
tion was made colonel of the first regiment of foot guards, and died
umnarried.
Unknown Portrait of a Lady, by Hans Holbein. — This
very singular and precious portrait has strong claims upon the
attention of the curious. A notion once prevailed that it was in-
tended as a representation of Mary I., daughter of Henry VHL :
but, besides that the costume of the dress, and especially of the
head-dress, is different to what has been handed down to us as
that of Mary — the inscription, upon a gold medal hanging at her
breast, of the words ' BoTZHEiM,*iETATis xxv.' — clearly proves
it to have no connection with our Queen. That the subject is
executed by the pencil of Holbein, there can be no doubt : for no
contemporaneous artist possessed the same freedom of design and
delicacy of touch combined. This picture measures two feet by
one foot and seven inches ; representing about one-third of the
figure, of the size of life. The head-dress is white muslin, em-
broidered with gold. The same kind of muslin is adopted for
the friU and covering of the breast. The body and shoulders
are covered with a crimson satin, hned with crimson velvet, finely
touched and shaded. The sleeves are white linen. The hands,
* It is possible, and even probable, that the lady in question may be some
relation, or wife, to a civilian of Constance, of the same name ; for, in the
Progymnasmata Greets Litteraturee of Ottomarus Liiscinius, a Strasbourg
civilian — published at Strasbourg, by J. Knoblouch, in 1521, octavo, there
is a nimcupatory, or prefatory epistle dedicated to one John Botzheim. " Ju-
ricons. & Canonico Constantiensi prl*din, JSiO.
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 265
England. She was the wife of Jocelyn, eleventh and last Earl
of Northumberland, of the direct male hne. After the death of
the Earl, in 1670, she married Ralph Lord Montague ; by whom
she had a son, afterwards John, Duke of Montague. By her
first husband she had a daughter, Elizabeth Percy, who be-
came one of the greatest heiresses in England. Lady Northum-
berland was celebrated for her beauty. She was niece to Pene-
lope, Lady Spencer, and sister to Rachel, Lady Russell.
Lady Elizabeth Thimbleby, and Catherine Countess Ri-
vers, by Vandyke. — Half-length portraits, on the same piece of
canvas. Lady Rivers is sitting, receiving a basket of flowers
from a winged boy. Her sister-in-law stands by the side of her.
Lady Rivers was daughter to Lord Morley and Monteagle, and
wife to I. Savage, Earl Rivers. This is in perfect preservation,
and is one of the finest pictures by Vandyke in the Gallery.
Otway the Poet, by Sir P. Lely. — Head and shoulders.
Cowley the Poet, by the Same. — The same.
Sir Kenelm Digby, by Cornelius Jansen. — The opposite
ENGRAVING will give a good notion of the expression and manner
of treatment of this valuable portrait, of which I have understood
that Sir Joshua Reynolds considered it to be one of the finest,
of the master, in the kingdom. It represents the well known
Original when a very young man ; and the colouring of the coun-
tenance, and of the hand, is of the most delicate transparency.
The dress is black. The present engraving is the more interest-
ing, since it is the first which has been made of this particular
portrait. Another porti-ait, together with an interesting memoir
of him, appears in Mr. Lodge's work, so frequently referred tc.
Charles I. of England, after Vandyke. — Head and shoul-
ders, within an oval. It has the date of 1638.
Michel de Montaigne. — A curious old picture. Obtained at
the sale of Mr. Quintin Craufurd's collection, at Paris, in 1820.
266 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
David Garrick, by ZoFFANi. — An interesting original pic-
ture. Garrick is dressed in white, with a bag wig, and wand in his
hand, looking, in profile, at a medal of Shakspeare ; being tlie
dress he wore as master of the ceremonies, at the Shakspeare
Jubilee, in 1769, celebrated at Stratford-upon-Avon. Of this
portait there is, to the best of my recollection, a stippled engraving.
Frederick, Duke of Schomberg, — In the dress of the time of
Louis XIV. He served under William, when Prince of Orange ;
and his name, as a soldier, was known and respected in France,
the Low Countries, Piiissia, and Spain. He came with William
from Holland into England, and was killed a!|t the battle of the
Boyne, after having completely routed the Irish infantry, and
exposed his person with all the indifference of a common soldier.
He fell, full of honours ; and esteemed, in every country where
he had served, as a soldier, statesman, and general.
Cardinal Pole, By Perino del Vaga. — ^A valuable and ori-
ginal picture. It represents this celebrated character before he
had obtained the Cardinal's hat. The fingers of the right hand
are charged with rings, most brilliantly touched. The whole is
rather a dark picture ; in the style of the Roman school.
The preceding magnificent Series of Portraits, which abun-
dantly justifies what has been said of this Gallery by Walpole,
covers the eastern side, or the entire wainscot which faces the
windows ; and affords an inexhaustible subject of reflection, as
well as objects of contemplation, for ' the pensive spectator.' The
journey round the other divisions, or portions of the Gallery, is
comparatively short ; and yet the following three Portraits
— which occupy the extremity, or south end of the Gallery, are
perhaps — as objects of Art — superior to all that have preceded
them.
Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, by Sir Jo-
shua REYNOLDS.—This is the celebrated whole-length picture.
From (!
■;g"l»v Sir .foshtra Hcynolds,
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 267
from which a large mezzotint was pubhshed by Valentine Green,
and of which two-thirds, on a smaller scale, and with greater de-
Hcacy of execution, are presented to the reader in the opposite
Plate. The Original is full of all the excellences, with none of
the defects, of the great artist by whom it was painted. The
composition is full of grace ; while the colours are yet warm and
fresh, and the drawing is deficient neither in correctnes nor force.
Her Grace was sister to the present Earl Spencer, and died in
1806, in the 49th year of her age. The present subject was
executed when she was in her 18th year.
George Digby, Second Earl of Bristol ; and William,
Earl, and afterwards First Duke, of Bedford, by Vandyke. —
A most magnificent performance ; and which may be considered
as the Sun of the Althorp Gallery. We have here two young no-
blemen, brothers-in-law, in the full bloom of health and beauty ;
exhibited by the pencil of the painter, in dresses, attitudes, and
expression, worthy of their distinguished station, and of the
artist's high fame. They are whole-lengths. The Duke, habited
in red, relieved by silver lace, first bespeaks our attention. His
attitude is more commanding, and he occupies a larger portion
of the canvas. His right arm, supporting a scarlet cloak, is bent,
and rests on his side. He looks to the right, and is stepping
forward with admirable spirit. A finer expression of a noble
character can hardly be seen. He holds his hat in his left hand,
which hangs down. He is booted (in gray leather) with spurs.
A coat of armour is placed on the ground before him, and a
helmet behind.
The Earl of Bristol, a little behind the Duke, occupies the
left part of the picture. He is dressed in black satin, with a
broad-laced falhng mflT. He leans with his right arm upon the
pedestal of a column ; his left is turned up, holding a piece of
drapery. These hands are the perfection of drawing and colour-
ing. The Earl's countenance is nearly full ; he being considered,
according to Grammont, one of the handsomest men of his time.
Had the beauty of his moral character equalled that of his face and
form, he had been more respected by posterity than the pages of
Clarendon and Lord Orford will allow us to consider him. Even
from Grammont, we may infer that he was, latterly, little better
2G8 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
than the pander to the ilHcit pleasures of Charles IL His daugh-
ter Anne, the second Countess of Sunderland (who has occupied
so large a portion of these pages), has, in some measure, redeem-
ed the character of her parent. Lord Orford, in his Anecdotes
of Painting, vol. ii. p. 101, edit. 17G5, quarto, has the following
remarks upon this pictiu-e. Among the works of Vandyke, at
Althorp, is ' a celebrated double whole-length of the first Duke
of Bedford, and the famous Lord Digby, afterwards Earl of
Bristol. The whole figure of the latter is good, and both the
heads fine' — and then he goes on (strange enough) to say, that
' the body of Bedford is flat, nor is this one of Vandyke's capital
works.' On the conti'ary, this picture, as a whole, may be pro-
nounced one of the finest works of Vandyke in the kingdom.
There is a copy of it, by Knapton, at Woburn-Abbey. Two-
thirds of the upper part of the figure of the Duke of Bedford
were copied for the purpose of supplying an engraving of that
character, in Mr. Lodge's Illustrious Portraits; and my friend
Mr. Utterson has been allowed, by the present noble owner of
the picture, to have a copy of the ivhole, in oil, on a small cabi-
net scale — by Mr. Steevens — as a companion to a similar copy,
by the same artist (and in the possession of the same friend), of
Vandyke's celebrated picture of Algernon Earl of Northumber-
land, with the Countess and their daughter. The Memoirs of
Grammont, edit. Miller, 1811, vol. ii. p. 36, contain an en-
graving, by Scriven, of the head and shoulders only of the Earl
of Bristol.
George John Earl Spencer, by Sir J. Reynolds. — Van-
dyke is here supported by two of Sir Joshua's most splendid per-
formances — that of the Duchess of Devonshire, before mentioned,
and this of her brother, the present Earl Spencer, when in his
seventeenth year ; and the opposite Engraving, which gives us
the upper half of the Original, will convey a pretty accurate no-
tion of the beauty and harmony of this picture. The figure is
dressed in black. A view in a park affords at once a pleasing
and appropriate back-ground. This picture is in a fine state of
preservation ; and it must be allowed, without flattery, that both
the artists, who were engaged in a copy of it, have rendered
ample justice to the Original.
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 269
Window Side of the Gallery.
Portrait of a Boy, Unknown. — Sir P, Lely.
Portrait of a Man, Unknown.
Venetia Lady Digby, after Vandyke. — She was the wife of
the celebrated Sir Kenehn Digby ; and as distinguished for her
gallantries and indiscretions, as her husband was for his literary
and philosophical attainments. Granger mentions this very por-
trait " done after she was dead, by Vandyck." The figure ap-
pears sleeping, and resting upon the right hand, supported by a
pillow. Of this picture, Walpole had a miniature by Peter Olirer.
Consult the Anecdotes of Painting, vol. ii. p. 102, edit. 1765.
Lord Clarendon throws out a strong insinuation against her fame,
with an unqualified admission of her beauty. Mi-. Lodge men-
tions the unbridled frailties of the same lady. Sir Kenelm survi-
ved her, and erected a superb monument to her memory in
Christ Church, Newgate Street, where he was himself interred.
It should seem that several portraits and busts of her are extant.
Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, after Vandyke.
Hugo Grotius. — When a boy. An extremely interesting
head ; but differing from a similar head of the same character,
inserted in the Satyricon of Alartianus Capella, 1599, 8vo. al-
though the period of life, in each, be pretty nearly the same.
BiANCA Di Capello, Artist unknown. — Head and shoulders
only ; one size smaller than life. A countenance full of fire and
intelligence. The Original was daughter to Barto Capello, a
Venetian gentleman ; and wife, first, to Pietro Buonaventura, a
young Florentine ; and secondly, to Francis, first Duke of Tus-
cany. Her elevation to this high rank precipitated her death,
which was occasioned, together with that of her husband — at
nearly the same moment — by poison : administered by the bribed
servants of Ferdinand de Medicis, the brother of the Grand
Duke. Her life, so full of singular and splendid events, has
afforded ample materials for the leading biographical memoirs
of the times.
270 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
Verrio the Painter, by Himself. — A curious and original
portrait. He wears spectacles ; which rest upon the nose,
without any communication with the temples.
Algernon, tenth Earl of Northumberland. — A copy
from Vandyke.
Robert Smyth, Esq. by Sir P. Lely. — He was second hus-
band to Dorothy, first Countess of Sunderland. Consult page
xxLx — XXX. ante.
Dorothy Sydney, wife of the preceding. Painter unknown. —
She is here advanced in life, with somewhat of an elongated
countenance, different from all the preceding pictures of her.
Thomas, third Earl of Southampton, after Vandyke.
Husband of Lady Southampton, mentioned at p. 263, ante.
Philip, third Earl of Leicester, brother to Dorothy, first
Countess of Sunderland, by Sir P. L ely. He married Cathe-
rine Cecil, daughter to the second Earl of Salisbury. His survi-
ving children were, Robert, afterwards fourth Earl of Leicester :
and Dorothy, married to Thomas Cheek, Esq.
Anne Digby, Countess of Sunderland, Sir P. Lely. — The
original picture from which the engraving appears at page li.
ante. Her character has occupied a large portion of the pre-
ceding pages.
Lady Dorothy Sydney, after Vandyke.— This is her por-
trait before her marriage with the first Earl of Sunderland. It is
gay and beautiful. She wears a hat, lined with light blue, which
is turned up : and holds a crook in her hand, being attired in
the character of a shepherdess. A kit-cat size.
Robert, Second Earl of Sunderland, by Sir P. Lely. —
A dark, but not unpleasing picture : differing much, in the ex-
pression of countenance, from the large whole length picture of
the same character, by Carlo Maratti, now placed in the bed-
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 271
chamber of King William — as it is called. The right hand rests
upon a female bust; the left, which is charmingly painted, but
perhaps a little too effeminate, is placed above the hilt of a sword.
A fine countenance, and in good preservation. The date of
1660 is upon the canvas. Note ; the portrait of this nobleman, in
the 3rd volume of Thane's Autographs, though said to be en-
graved from a picture at Althorp, is unlike both the portraits
here.
Henry Percy, created Lord Percy of Alnwick, after Van-
dyke. — He was second son of Henry, the ninth Earl of Nor-
thumberland, and a favourite of Queen Henrietta. He died a
bachelor, at Paris, in attendance upon her majesty ; before the
restoration. A finely composed half length picture, with a
countenance at once noble and commanding. This is an old copy.
Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury, by Sir P. Lely. — He is
clothed in armour, and holds a truncheon in his right hand. The
aquiline nose leaves little doubt of its being intended for Shaftes-
bury. In the IXth. volume of the new edition of Dry dens
Works, the reader will find many interesting notices of this won-
derful man — whose latter days, spent in a foreign land, show the
melancholy fruits of unsettled principles in matters of politics and
reUgion. Lord Shaftesbury seems to have died as much out of
humour with himself as with mankind. His parts were great
and brilliant; but wanting that ballast or equipoise which can
only be sought in habits of right thinking and moral action, he
became a prey to those conflicting passions which seem to have
hurried him to his grave. Dryden has drawn a masterly cha-
racter of him, in his celebrated Achitophel.
Henry Howard, third son to Thomas Earl of Berkshire,
by Sir P. Lely. — This head will be found engraved in Birch's Il-
lustrious Portraits.
Margaret Spencer, Countess of Shaftesbury, by Sir P.
Lely. — She was sixth daughter to William, the second Baron
vol. I. M m
272 THE PICTURE GALLERY.
Spencer. A darkly painted picture ; but the composition of the
backgi'ound is in good taste.
Lord Crofts, Painter unknown. — In a Roman military cos-
tume ; resting his right hand upon a truncheon. The body
dressed in a blue and gold vesture, with a crimson tunic. An
apparently original picture.
Anne Countess of Suffolk, by Sir P. Lely. — She was
daughter to the third Earl of Manchester, and wife of James
Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk. This is a sound, genuine, and beau-
tiful picture. It is of a kit-cat size. The Countess is habited
in red velvet, with a white satin petticoat.
Robert Earl of Leicester, after Vandyke. — This picture,
which is an old copy, is unluckily a good deal defaced. The
Eari was father of the famous Sacharissa, and of the yet more
famous Algernon Sidney.
Algernon Sidney, by Sir P. Lely. — The Opposite Engra-
ving, testifies the present to be one of the most interesting por-
traits in this extensive collection of the worthies of former times.
This picture represents the Oi'iginal probably from his 22nd to
his 25th year. The inscription " Algernon Sydney, second son
to Robert Earl of Leicester," is painted in white, in an old form
of character, upon the canvas. The expression of the counte-
nance is most intellectual ; and the reader is introduced to it, in
this engraving, for the first time. The history and fate of the
original, are too well known to require any detail in the present
place.
The Hon. John Spencer, and the first Earl Spencer, by
Knapton. — We have here a large family picture, by no means
of an uninteresting description, as it relates either to the compo-
sition, or to the colouring ; add to which, the whole length por-
traits of Knapton are of unconunon occurrence. This picture
represents the present Earl Spencer's grandfather and father.
/t.»- J.,.A-,
THE PICTURE GALLERY. 273
The former is standing with a gun in his hand, about to raise it
to his shoulder ; as his eyes are indicative of taking aim at some
object. He is dressed in the sporting costume of the time. His
figure is Hterally of the most perfect manly form. His son,
the first Earl Spencer, is to the left of him, on horseback :
turning gently to the right, and looking at his father. A black
servant is in the foreground, holding back a dog (apparently a
setter).
Two Unknown Portraits.
Ignatius Loyola. These are by unknown masters — appa-
rently of the XVIth. century. The portrait of Ignatius Loyola
has all the force and severity of the pencil of Spagnoletto.
North End of the Gallery.
Over the door, next the window.
Lady Morton, by Vandyke. — This was the famous beauty of
whom Waller has recorded the charms. Her portrait is not
uncommon.
George John Earl Spencer, K. G, by Copley. — A whole
length ; painted in the full robes of the order of the garter, A. D.
1800. From this picture a large mezzotint print was engraved by
Dunkarton.
Margaret Lemon, Mistress of Vandyke, by Vandyke.
[274]
BED ROOMS.
The First Apartment, on the left hand, on reaching the top
of the Great Stair-case.
Opposite the Bed.
Lady Caroline Lamb, by Hopner.
Head of a Man, in a large hat, with a sprig of holly in his
hand, by Francis Hals. — Probably the portrait of some lively
tavern companion ; for the painter sorted much with such. Van-
dyke highly and justly esteemed the talent of Hals. He went
to Haarlem expressly to pay him a visit. On his arrival Hals
was, as usual, at the tavem. On his answering Vandyke's sum-
mons, he was desired by him to draw his likeness, premising, that
only two hours would he give him to perform this task. Hals
undertook it, and executed it within the specified time. Vandyke
expressed his approbation of the result, but coldly added, that
drawing was an art which appeared so easy, that he was sure he
could do the like himself. Hals with readiness took the seat
Vandyke had just quitted, and at the end of the two hours was
shown his own portrait, drawn with equal skill and despatch.
• You are either Vandyke or the devil,' cried out Hals.
Mrs. Godfrey, by Sir P. Lely. — She was sister to John,
Duke of Marlborough ; and Mistress to James IL, by whom she
had a son, afterwards Marechal de Berwick. Charles IL said,
that his brother's confessors chose his mistresses as penances,
they were so ugly. This portrait, however, does not justify this
opinion.
BED ROOMS. 27.5
Head of a Young Man, in a green robe, by Rembrandt.
On the side opposite the Windows.
Amongst other pictures — a full-length of Georgiana, Du-
chess of Devonshire, by Gainsborough ; and a portrait of a
Woman, by Tintoretto.
Dressing Room to the Apartment.
Five Heads of Apostles, by Vandyke. — Admirable sketches
for tapestry. They are engraved.
A good portrait of a Woman, by Spagnoletto.
A spirited sketch of an Old Man's Head, by Rembrandt.
Over the Bed room Door.
A Mountebank and Peasants, by Lucas Van Leyden. — A
curious specimen of the early state of oil-painting. His style is
more dry, and less graceful than that of Albert Durer, his friend
and contemporary ; but his compositions are generally considered
as superior in. merit. This patriarch of the Dutch school was
born in 1494, and died in 1533.
Two oblong pictures, representing Taylors at work, by
Quintin Matsys, commonly known as the Antwerp blacksmith.
A pretty oval Landscape, by Salvator Rosa.
Architecture and Figures, by Viviani. — A good picture.
Fifth Apartment, on left hand side of the Great Stair-case.
Portrait of Charles V., Emperor, and King of Spain. — School
of Reubens.
Witches at their Incantations, by Salvator Rosa. — A
disagreeable composition.
276 BED ROOMS.
Job, and his Wife aggravating his misery by her ill-timed
arguments, by Spagnoletto.
Sixth, or following Apartment.
Among many others, the following pictures may be noticed.
An old and highly interesting picture, a copy, by Michele
Venusti, of Michel Angelo's famous ' Last Day,' in the Sixtine
Chapel at Rome.
Hagar and the Angel, by Domenico Fetti. — A good and
rare painter, for he died young, and few of his pictures are seen
out of Italy.
An Assumption of the Virgin, by Rothenhamer.
Bed Room, called King William's Room, on account of that
Monarch's having occupied it for a week in the time of Ro-
bert, Lord Sunderland.
A large picture, by Guercino, of St. Luke painting, and
Angels assisting him.
In the centre of the side, opposite the Bed, is
An Allegorical picture, by Bronzino, or Allori. — He was
contemporary of Michel Angelo, and a Florentine. This pic-
ture, a very fine one of the master, was painted for Francis L
King of France.
Lord Roscommon on the left hand, and on the right hand,
Robert, Earl of Sunderland ; both by Carlo Marratto.
Bed Room next to the North End of Gallery.
Among various pictures, may be noticed the following.
Over the Chimney.
A portrait of Julie D'Argennes, Duchesse de Montausier,
by Mignard. — A very beautiful and interesting countenance,
BED ROOMS. 277
and an admirably executed picture. Of this picture (mentioned
in the Tour, vol. ii. p. 473), an Engraving is now in the course
of execution, by Mr. Wright. It may be added, that the picture
was purchased at the sale of Mr. Craufurd's collection.
A portrait of Madame de Montespan, the beautiful, witty,
and capricious mistress of Louis XIV., by Mignard. Purchased
from the same collection.
Over the Door into Gallery.
Artemisia Gentileschi, by Herself.
South east Angle Bed Room.
Annunciation, by Parmigiano. — Avery good specimen of
the master. His merits, and above all his defects, are glaringly
exhibited in this composition.
A Woman's Head, by Rembrandt. — She is fantastically
dressed. A very beautiful picture.
A spirited Portrait of a Wolf Dog, by Stubbs.
Dressing Room to South Apartment.
Among a number of Cabinet Pictures may be selected, as worthy
of notice, the following.
The Miracle of Bolsena, by Nicolo Poussin. — This is a
copy of part of the Original, painted by Raphael, in the Vatican.
Landscape and Figures, representing the Flight into Egypt,
by MoLA. — A very pretty picture.
A Subject from Scripture, but not clearly specified, by
Andrea Sacchi. — Our Saviour is conversing with his Follow-
ers ; but the exact moment of the conversation, or its subject, is
not decided.
278 BED ROOMS.
A School-Mistress and her Scholars, by LuDovrco Car-
RACCi. — A good picture of the master.
South Bed Room.
Nine Three-quarter Portraits, by Sir P. Lely, and by Sir
Godfrey Kneller.
Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, by Kneller.
Two of her Daughters, Henrietta and Anne Churchill,
by the Same.
Queen Mary, by the Same.
Lady Unknown, by Sir P. Lely.— An excellent picture.
Mrs. Middleton.
Queen Anne, by Kneller.
Nell Gwynn, Copy from Sir P. Lely.
Lady Middleton, by Kneller. — A very pretty portrait.
Anne Hyde, Duchess of York, by Sir P. Lely.
A Nativity, by Sasso Ferrato. — A beautiful specimen of
the master.
South West Angle Apartment.
There are several family portraits in these Apartments —
mostly of the Poyntz family. One of William Poyntz, Esq.,
the uncle of the present Earl Spencer, is worthy of being re-
garded as one of the best portraits produced by the pencil of
Gainsborough. He is in a shooting costume of that day, and is
pursuing his amusement by the side of a brook, amongst willows
and aquatic trees, beautifully painted. His dog, a water spaniel,
is resting by his side, watching his master, and is admirably
painted.
A Nun and Sleeping Cupid, by Simone da Pezaro.
A Boy's Head, by Annibale Carracci.
BED ROOMS. 279
Christ presented at the Temple, by Luca Giordano.
The Circumcision, by Rembrandt.
The Nativity, by Sebastian Ricci.
A Frost Scene and Skaiters, by Brughel.
THE END.
VOL. r. N n
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