voluminous MSS. of Leland were doomed to
suffer a fate scarcely less pitiable than that of their
owner. After being pilfered by some, and garbled by others,
they served to replenish the pages of Stow, Lambard, Camden,
Burton, Dugdale, and many other antiquaries and historians.
Polydore Virgil, who had stolen from them pretty freely, had
the insolence to abuse Leland's memory--calling him "a vain
glorious man;" but what shall we say to this flippant
egotist? who, according to Caius's testimony [_De Antiq.
Cantab. head. lib._ 1.] "to prevent a discovery of the many
errors of his own History of England, collected and burnt a
greater number of ancient histories and manuscripts than
would have loaded a waggon." The imperfect remains of
Leland's MSS. are now deposited in the Bodleian Library, and
in the British Museum.

Upon the whole, it must be acknowledged that Leland is a
melancholy, as well as illustrious, example of the influence
of the BIBLIOMANIA!]

[Footnote 23: In spite of BALE'S coarseness, positiveness,
and severity, he has done much towards the cause of
learning; and, perhaps, towards the propagation of the
disease under discussion. His regard for Leland does him
great honour; and although his plays are miserably dull,
notwithstanding the high prices which the original editions
of them bear, (vide ex. gr. Cat. Steevens, No. 1221;
which was sold for L12 12_s._ See also the reprints in the
Harleian Miscellany) the lover of literary antiquities must
not forget that his "_Scriptores Britanniae_" are yet quoted
with satisfaction by some of the most respectable writers of
the day. That he wanted delicacy of feeling, and
impartiality of investigation, must be admitted; but a
certain rough honesty and prompt benevolence which he had
about him compensated for a multitude of offences. The
abhorrence with which he speaks of the dilapidation of some
of our old libraries must endear his memory to every honest
bibliographer: "Never (says he) had we been offended for the
loss of our LIBRARIES, being so many in number, and in so
desolate places for the more part, if the chief monuments
and most notable works of our excellent writers had been
reserved. If there had been in every shire of England, but
one SOLEMPNE LIBRARY, to the