, and apparently monstrous, conduct, on
the part of Edward, has not been told by Stow (_Chronicles_,
p. 426; edit. 1615), nor by Godwyn, (_Catalogue of the
Bishops of England_, p. 481, edit. 1601): both of whom
relate the fact with singular naivete. I have a strong
suspicion that Nevell was so far a bibliomaniac as to have
had a curious collection of _astrological books_; for "there
was greate correspondency betweene this Archbishop and the
Hermetique philosophers of his time; and this is partly
confirmed to me from Ripley's dedication of his '_Medulla_'
to him, ann. 1746; as also the presentation of Norton's
'_Ordinall_,'" &c. Thus writes Ashmole, in his _Theatrum
Chemicum_, p. 455.]

Enough has probably been said of Edward. We will stop, therefore, but
a minute, to notice the completion of the HUMPHREY LIBRARY, and the
bibliomaniacal spirit of master RICHARD COURTNEY,[283] during the same
reign; and give but another minute to the mention of the statute of
RICHARD III. in protection of English printers,[284] when we reach the
AUGUSTAN BOOK-AGE, in the reign of HENRY VII.

[Footnote 283: Speaking of the public library of Oxford, at
this period, Hearne tells us, from a letter sent by him to
Thomas Baker, that there was "a chaplein of the Universitie
chosen, after the maner of a Bedell, and to him was the
custodie of the librarye committed, his stipend--cvi_s_. and
viii_d_. his apparell found him _de secta generosorum_. No
man might come in to studdie but graduats and thoes of 8
years contynuance in the Universitie, except noblemen. All
that come in must firste sweare to use the bookes well, and
not to deface theim, and everye one after at his proceedings
must take the licke othe. Howers apoynted when they shuld
come in to studdie, viz. betwene ix and xi aforenoone, and
one and four afternoone, the keper geving attendaunce: yet a
prerogative was graunted the chancelour MR. RICHARD COURTNEY
to come in when he pleased, during his own lieffe, so it was
in the day-tyme: and the cause seemeth, that he was CHEIFFE
CAWSER AND SETTER ON OF THE LIBRARYE." _Curious Discourses
by Eminent Antiquaries_; vol. ii., p. 410., edit. 1775.]

[Footnote 284: See page 114, ante. When Lysander talks,
above, of the reign of Henry the Seventh being the "AUGUSTAN
AGE for BOOKS," h