Wh. Best of all: There's no body within hearing; and then we have our Books and Papers about us, and all in such Order, that I'le lay my Finger, Blindfold, upon any book you'le call for.
To. But what Subject are they mostly of?
Wh. Matters of State, History, Travells, The Rights and Power of the People, Reformation, Religion, Discipline, Admonitions, Remonstrances, Petitions, Appeals; as ye see'em mark'd upon the Shelves. But all this is nothing, you'l say, when y'ave seen my Gallery. Open that same Door before ye.
To. Bless me! What a Treasure's here?
Wh. Look ye now. That side is all News-Books, and Political Divinity.
To. You mean Polemical Divinity I suppose.
Wh. Ay Ay; 'Tis all one for that. Now all to'ther side is Dissenting Protestants; as Cartwright, Brown, Barrow, Robinson, Hetherington, Trask, Naylor, Best, Biddle, Muggleton. And here are your Muncerians, Apostoliques, Separatists, Catharists, Enthusiasts, Adamits, Huttites, Augustinians, Libertines, Georgites, Familists, Ranters Seekers, Sweet-Singers, Antinomians, Arrians, Socinians, Millenaryes, Quakers: And in Two words; all the Godly Party. They make Fourteen Folio's of Catalogue.
To. But ha'ye no Manuscripts?
Wh. Yes I have Three cases there beyond the Chimny, that I wou'd not change for Bodlies Library three times over.
To. What do they treat of?