of the Bibliomania.
Indeed, such was the progress of the book-disease that, in the very
year of Henry's death, appeared, for the first time in this country,
an edition of _The Ship of Fools_--in which work, ostentatious and
ignorant book-collectors[290] are, amongst other characters, severely
satirized.

[Footnote 289: Harpsfield speaks with becoming truth and
spirit of Henry's great attention to ecclesiastical
establishments: "Splendidum etiam illud sacellum
westmonasterij, magno sumptu atque magnificentia ab eodem
est conditum. In quod coenobium valde fuit liberalis et
munificus. Nullumque fere fuit in tota Anglia monachorum,
aut fratrum coenobium, nullum collegium, cujus preces, ad
animam ipsius Deo post obitum commendandam, sedulo non
expetierat. Legavit autem singulorum praefectis sex solidos
et octo denarios, singulis autem eorundem presbyteris, tres
solidos et quatuor denarios: ceteris non presbyteris viginti
denarios." _Hist. Eccles. Anglic._, p. 606, edit. 1622,
fol.]

[Footnote 290: The reader is here introduced to his old
acquaintance, who appeared in the title-page to my first
"_Bibliomania_:"--

[Illustration]

I am the firste fole of all the hole navy
To kepe the pompe, the helme, and eke the sayle:
For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure have I--
Of bokes to haue great plenty and aparayle.
I take no wysdome by them: nor yet avayle
Nor them perceyve nat: And then I them despyse.
Thus am I a foole, and all that serue that guyse.

_Shyp of Folys_, &c., _Pynson's edit._, 1509, fol.]

We have now reached the threshhold of the reign of HENRY VIII.--and of
the era of THE REFORMATION. An era in every respect most important,
but, in proportion to its importance, equally difficult to
describe--as it operates upon the history of the Bibliomania. Now
blazed forth, but blazed for a short period, the exquisite talents of
Wyatt, Surrey, Vaux, Fischer, More, and, when he made his abode with
us, the incomparable Erasmus. But these in their turn.

PHIL. You omit Wolsey. Surely he knew something about books?

LYSAND. I am at present only making the sketch of my grand picture.
Wolsey, I assure you, shall stand in the foreground. Nor shall the
immortal Leland be treated in a less distinguished manner. Give me
only "ample room and verge enough," and a