n of
Ballads--(an edition, by the bye, which gives us more of the
genuine spirit of the COXEAN COLLECTION than any with which
I am acquainted)--equally joyous would Mr. Evans have been
to have had the inspection of some of these 'bonny' songs.
The late Duke of Roxburgh, of never-dying bibliomaniacal
celebrity, would have parted with half the insignia of his
order of the Garter to have obtained _clean original copies_
of these fascinating effusions! But let us return, and take
farewell of Captain Cox, by noticing only the remaining
department of his library, as described by Laneham. "As for
ALMANACS of antiquity (a point for Ephemerides) I ween he
can shew from _Jasper Laet of Antwerp_, unto _Nostradam of
Frauns_, and thence unto our _John Securiz of Salisbury_. To
stay ye no longer herein (concludes Laneham) I dare say he
hath as fair a library of these sciences, and as many goodly
monuments both in prose and poetry, and at afternoon can
talk as much without book, as any innholder betwixt
Brentford and Bagshot, what degree soever he be." _A Letter
wherein part of the Entertainment untoo the Queenz Majesty
at Killingwoorth Castl in Warwick-Sheer, in this Soomerz
Progrest, 1575, is signefied_: Warwick, 1784, 8vo. O RARE
CAPTAIN COX!]

We now approach two characters of a more dignified cast; and who, in
every respect, must be denominated the greatest bibliomaniacs of the
age: I mean SIR ROBERT COTTON and SIR THOMAS BODLEY. We will touch
upon them separately.

The numerous relics which are yet preserved of the _Cottonian
Collection_, may serve to convey a pretty strong idea of its splendour
and perfection in its original shape. Cotton had all the sagacity and
judgment of Lord Coke, with a more beautifully polished mind, and a
more benevolent heart. As to books, and book men, he was the
Mecaenas[334] of his day. His thirst for knowledge could never be
satiated; and the cultivation of the mind upon the foundation of a
good heart, he considered to be the highest distinction, and the most
permanent delight, of human beings. Wealth, pomp, parade, and titles,
were dissipated, in the pure atmosphere of his mind before the
invigorating sun of science and learning. He knew that the tomb which
recorded the _worth_ of the deceased had more honest tears shed upon
it than the pompous mausoleum which spoke only of his pedigre