[326] In the prayer-book which goes by the name of Queen Elizabeth's, there is a portrait of her Majesty kneeling upon a superb cushion, with elevated hands, in prayer. This book was first printed in 1575; and is decorated with wood-cut borders of considerable spirit and beauty; representing, among other things, some of the subjects of Holbein's dance of death. The last impression is of the date of 1608. Vide Bibl. Pearson; no. 635. The presentation copy of it was probably printed upon vellum.[F]

[327] The famous John Dee entreated Queen Mary to erect an institution similar the one above alluded to. If she adopted the measure, Dee says that "her highnesse would have a most notable library, learning wonderfully be advanced, the passing excellent works of our forefathers from rot and worms preserved, and also hereafter continually the whole realm may (through her grace's goodness) use and enjoy the incomparable treasure so preserved: where now, no one student, no, nor any one college, hath half a dozen of those excellent jewels, but the whole stock and store thereof drawing nigh to utter destruction, and extinguishing, while here and there by private men's negligence (and sometimes malice) many a famous and excellent author's book is rent, burnt, or suffered to rot and decay. By your said suppliant's device your Grace's said library might, in very few years, most plentifully be furnisht, and that without any one penny charge unto your Majesty, or doing injury to any creature." In another supplicatory article, dated xv. Jan. 1556, Dee advises copies of the monuments to be taken, and the original, after the copy is taken, to be restored to the owner. That there should be "allowance of all necessary charges, as well toward the riding and journeying for the recovery of the said worthy monuments, as also for the copying out of the same, and framing of necessary stalls, desks, and presses."—He concludes with proposing to make copies of all the principal works in MS. "in the notablest libraries beyond the sea"—"and as concerning all other excellent authors printed, that they likewise shall be gotten in wonderful abundance, their carriage only to be chargeable." He supposes that three months' trial would shew the excellence of his plan; which he advises to be instantly put into practice "for fear of the spreading of it abroad might cause many to hide and convey away their good and ancient writers—which, nevertheless, were ungodly done, and a certain token that such are not sincere lovers of good learning." [In other words, not sound bibliomaniacs.] See the Appendix to Hearne's edition of Joh. Confrat. Monach. de Reb. Glaston. Dee's "supplication" met with no attention from the bigotted sovereign to whom it was addressed. A project for a similar establishment in Queen Elizabeth's reign, when a Society of Antiquaries was first established in this kingdom, may be seen in Hearne's Collection of Curious Discourses of Antiquaries; vol. ii., p. 324,—when this library was "to be entitled the library of Queen Elizabeth, and the same to be well furnished with divers ancient books, and rare monuments of antiquity," &c., edit. 1775.

[328] In Mr. Gutch's Collectanea Curiosa, vol. ii., p. 275, we have a "Letter from Queen Elizabeth's high commissioners, concerning the superstitious books belonging to All Soul's College:" the "schedule" or list returned was as follows:

Three mass books, old and new, and 2 portmisses
Item, 8 grailes, 7 antiphoners of parchment and bound
—— 10 Processionals old and new
—— 2 Symnalls
—— an old manual of paper
—— an Invitatorie book
—— 2 psalters—and one covered with a skin
—— A great pricksong book of parchment
—— One other pricksong book of vellum covered with a hart's skyn
—— 5 other of paper bound in parchment
—— The Founder's mass-book in parchment bound in board
—— In Mr. Mill his hand an antiphoner and a legend
—— A portmisse in his hand two volumes, a manual, a mass-book, and a
processional.

[F] The two following pages are appropriated to copies of the frontispiece (of the edit. of 1608), and a page of the work, from a copy in the possession of the printer of this edition of the Bibliomania.

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Elizabeth Regina.

2 PARALIPOM 6.

Domine Deus Israel, non est similis tui Deus in coelo & in terra, qui pacta custodis & misericordiam cum seruis tuis, qui ambulant coram te in toto corde suo.