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This handsome fellow, drawn in red ink, is an example of a ‘drôlerie’, and is found in the Library’s copy Biblia Latina, printed in Venice in 1489. This was originally a four volume Bible, but our copy only includes this, the fourth volume. The book has a large number of red ink doodles (see below), as well as contemporary marginal notes. Drolleries such as this are commonly found in medieval manuscripts, and incunabula, books printed in the 15th century. They are often grotesque and bizarre figures.

Renae Satterley

Librarian

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This 16th-century artwork is of a 'haut', which are said to live in the trees. It has been identified with species of three-toed sloths such as Bradypus variegatus which are found in the forests of Central and South America. This artwork comes from 'Cosmographie universelle' (1575) by the French explorer and writer Andre Thevet (1516-1590). The book describes the history and geography of the lands in which Thevet had travelled. The two volumes contain over 1000 pages divided into 23 books. This woodcut is from chapter XIII of book XXI.

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This 17th century woodcut depicts a group of witches adoring the devil. The illustration comes from the Compendium Maleficarum (Collection of the Evil Deeds of Witchcraft) by Francesco Maria Guazzo. Guazzo was an Italian priest and exorcist from the order of Saint Barnaba and Saint Ambrose ad Nemus. This work which describes the practice and profession of witchcraft was first published in 1608.

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This 19th-century artwork depicts a scene from 'Gargantua and Pantagruel' by French satirist Francois Rabelais (c.1494-1553). Pantagruel, the son of the giant Gargantua, is shown playing with cattle as a baby. The full title of the work is: 'The Horrible and Terrifying Deeds and Words of the Very Renowned Pantagruel King of the Dipsodes, Son of the Great Giant Gargantua'. The story was published in five parts from 1532, with the final part published posthumously in around 1564. This artwork, by French artist Gustave Dore (1832-1883) was published in 'Oeuvres de Rabelais' (1873).

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This 16th Century woodcut print of an bat was published in 'Histoire de la nature des oyseaux' by Pierre Belon (1555). Belon who was a naturalist, writer and diplomat wrote on a range of topics including botony, anatomy and Egyptology.

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This 17th century artwork shows a flying fish near a ship in stormy waters. This engraving is from 'An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China', by the Dutch writer and explorer Johan Nieuhof (1618-1672). The book describes Nieuhof's travels to India and China. This artwork is from an English translation, published in 1669.

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The animal in this engraving is identified as a 'Mus Norvagicus, vulgo Leming' (Norwegian mouse, commonly lemming).The modern Norway lemming is , a common species found in northern Scandinavia and parts of Russia. This engraving comes from Old Worm's Museum Wormianum, published at Amsterdam in 1655.

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Animals of Java. This 17th-century artwork features a rhinoceros, an elephant, a tortoise and an iguana. These animals were observed during a Dutch voyage to the East Indies (Indonesia). The artwork is from 'Rerum et urbis Amstelodamensium historia' (1611), a history of Amsterdam by Dutch-Danish royal historiographer Johannes Isacius Pontanus (1571-1639). This book includes descriptions of the first Dutch voyage to the East Indies in 1595 by Cornelis de Houtman. Javan elephants went extinct by the end of the 18th century but some survived on Borneo.

From Middle Temple Library's early printed books collections

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Provenance mysteries: A lively antithesis, or opposition, betweene the Church of Rome and the true church of God

This edition’s provenance mystery features Thomas Bedell’s A lively antithesis, or opposition, betweene the Church of Rome and the true church of God, printed in London by R. B[lower] for Roger Jackson in 1604. The author may be the Thomas Bedell who, according to the History of Parliament website, got into an argument with John Brudenell regarding the loyalty of Catholics, in relation to James VI and I’s Oath of Allegiance. The 1606 Oath of Allegiance was a response to the Gunpowder Plot, and required Catholics to swear allegiance to the King, not the Pope. The  Bedell/Brudenell argument led to a Star Chamber case (National Archives, STAC 8/11/23). This is a very rare book, with only two copies recorded in ESTC and USTC.

As can be seen on the title page, the book has been signed. Unfortunately, bookworm damage has obscured what is presumably the first name of the inscription completely. The surname of ‘Lugger’ is visible, however. Given the date of publication, the full name could be that of William Lugger/Luggar/d. William was a bookseller and publisher, who was active between 1597 and 1658 (the year of his death). He moved shop throughout his career, and was variously based at Holborn, Ludgate, and near the Tower of London.

The link to Lugger is potentially made more credible when examining the second photo, herein, which depicts the inside front binding of Daniel Mögling’s De chymiatria theses practica, 1595. The inscription reads ‘of Mr Lugger 1619 Aug 28,’ and is in Robert Ashley’s hand. This note suggests that Ashley purchased the book from Lugger who, in 1619, would have been based near Middle Temple, in Holborn. Ashley of course was the founder of Middle Temple Library.

As ever, if you recognise this hand or have further comments please get in touch: library@middletemple.org.uk.

Renae Satterley

Librarian

March 2024

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This 16th-century artwork shows a group of hunters attacking a 'thanacth'. This mythical creature was believed to live in the Calcutta region of India. This artwork comes from 'Cosmographie universelle' (1575) by the French explorer and writer Andre Thevet (1516-1590). The description of this creature resembles that of a tiger.

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Our assistant librarian, Jake Hearn discovered these two images while cataloguing the Library’s 18th century copy of Johannis de Fordun Scotichronicon: a 5-volume Mediaeval account of Scottish history by John Fordun (1360 – c. 1384)

The original work took the format of a Gothic manuscript, a copy of which is now housed at the British Library (Harley MS 4764).

Jake also found this old article from 1898 which provides some explanation to the two images.

“King Henry, in 1257, after marching to Chester, ‘unfurled his royal banner like a dragon {quasi draconem) which knew not how to spare, and threatened Wales with general extermination.' During the barons' war (see Blaauw, ed. 1871, pp. 190, 191), the dragon was turned against Englishmen, fulfilling, albeit by anticipation, the poetical prediction that one day they would be 'seized in the dragon's mouth' (Bower's Scotichronicon , ii. 309)”

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This engraved Artwork comes from a 1619 French edition of Schouten's account of his voyages ( Journal ou relation exacte du voyage de Guill. Schouten, dans les Indes). The artwork shows six explorers who circled the globe. In the upper left is Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese, 1519-1522), with the ship Victoria from his fleet. At upper right is Willem Schouten (Dutch, 1615-1617), with his ship Eendraght. Down left: Francis Drake (English, 1577-1580) and Olivier van Noort (Dutch, 1598-1601). Down right: Thomas Cavendish (English, 1586-1588) and Joris van Spilbergen (Dutch, 1614-1617). The map shows the Schouten-Spilbergen route. 

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Online Exhibition

Have you seen our exhibition on Islam, Astronomy & Arabic Print yet?

See it online here!

Tip: click on the social media icon in the right-hand corner of the text cards to see the corresponding images.

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We hosted a special Halloween event at the Library today. The 17th century works on display covered a variety of topic including witchcraft, magic and demonology. The highlight was probably the Compendium maleficarum shown in the first photo. The text is an encyclopedic work on the study of witchcraft and demonology.

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Provenance mysteries: Tre discorsi

The first provenance mystery of 2024 features Alessandro Farra’s Tre discorsi, printed in Padua in 1564. The book’s three discourses are: Discorso de’miracoli d’amore (of the miracle of love);  Discorso della divinita dell’huomo (of the divinity of man); Discorso dell’ufficio del capitano (of the captain’s office).

As can be seen on the title page, the book was possibly acquired from, or by, ‘Giaco. Casteluetri’ for 20d. That’s 20 pence in old money. The book is heavily annotated, in a very small, cramped hand, but contemporary to the book: sixteenth century. The marginalia seem to be mostly in English, but the handwriting is difficult to read, and the book was unfortunately trimmed when it was rebound. Two examples are included below.

The ‘tre discorsi’ that the book treats are love, human beings, and the command of troops. It is bound with a second book, by Torquato Tasso: an apology for his own Gierusalemme liberate, a ‘heroic poem’ that fictionalised ‘the vicissitudes of several leading historical figures from the First Crusade.’.

This sammelband volume forms part of the Robert Ashley bequest of 1641, and the owner/seller on the title page could be Giacomo Castelvetro (1546-1616). Castelvetro was an Italian exile in London, originally from Modena, who travelled extensively. Castelvetro had converted to Protestanism, and enjoyed the protection of Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Chistopher Hatton, and Sir Philip Sidney. He taught Italian to notable students in the sixteenth-century. Castelvetro is perhaps best known for his book on Italian fruits and vegetables, The fruit, herbs, and vegetables of Italy (1614).

The handwriting on the title page is not that of Robert Ashley, but it is reasonable to suggest that the two men knew each another. Christopher Hatton’s nephew, Sir William Hatton, was a patron of Ashley’s. Additionally, Castelvetro worked with John Wolfe (d. 1601), the publisher of a variety of political works in the sixteenth-century, and the publisher of two of Robert Ashley’s own translations: A comparison of the English and Spanish nation (1589) and L’Uranie ou muse celeste de G. de Saluste Seigneur du Bartas (1589). Like Ashley, Castelvetro had an interest in books, and was known to have attended the famous Frankfurt bookfair in 1586. According to Trecanni, the Italian biographical dictionary, Castelvetro also met Orazio Pallavicino while there. Ashley had a connection to Pallavicino and was intended to succeed him in a diplomatic position in 1590. Dudley Carleton, whom Ashley also knew, assisted Castelvetro in 1611, when he fell foul of the Inquisition.

As ever, if you recognise this hand or have further comments please get in touch: library@middletemple.org.uk.

Renae Satterley

Librarian

January 2024

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Provenance mysteries: Diodori Siculi historiarum libri aliquot, qui extant, opera & studio Vincentii Obsopoei in lucem editi

The fourth provenance mystery of 2023 features Diodori Siculi historiarum libri aliquot, qui extant, opera & studio Vincentii Obsopoei in lucem editi, printed in Basel by Johann Oporinus in 1530.

This work of Greek history by Siculus Diodorus, the ancient Green historian, is in Greek with a preface and opening poem in Latin. According to an auction record, this was the first edition to appear in print of Diodorus’s history in its original Greek. This edition consists of books 16-20 of the original forty books of Greek history written by Diodorus. It was edited by Vincentius Opsopäus (d. 1539), who is best known for writing De arte bibendi, a guide to drinking.

As can be seen on the title page, the book has many contemporary inscriptions. The first reads: ‘Thomas [L?]enerus dono dedit Rodol[?]’ and the second ‘Guielmi Fulconis emptus a prope/hta Cantab’ followed by a price paid for the book; as per the inscription, the book was purchased in Cambridge. Although the first inscriber has not been identified, it is possible that the second inscription refers to William Fulke (1538-1589), a Puritan divine and the author of at least one work on mathematics.

The longer inscription, in Greek, is a transcription of a poem ascribed to Theocritus, the Greek bucolic poet, and it is from his Idylls, number IX, line 31. The inscription is signed ‘Broughton’, and the hand is very similar to the British Library’s Royal MS 1AIX, The book of Daniel translated into Greek by Hugh Broughton. Hugh Broughton (1549-1612) was an English Hebraist, preacher, and translator who wrote A concent of scripture in 1588; he was a fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge. 

While I think it is safe to declare that the Greek inscription is in Hugh Broughton’s hand, there still remains the mystery of positively identifying Fulke’s hand, and identifying the inscription at the top of the title page. I have not found any evidence of what books Fulke or Broughton may have had in their personal libraries, nor what happened to them.

The book is bound in a Cambridge binding, with Oldham roll (SW.b(3)), as identified for me by David Pearson in 2021. As can be seen here, it is heavily damaged and the book as a whole requires conservation. If you would like to sponsor its repair, please get in touch.

As this mystery is literally all Greek to me, I relied on my colleague Kostas Tsilikas to identify the Greek text.

As ever, if you recognise this hand or have further comments please get in touch: library@middletemple.org.uk.

Renae Satterley

Librarian

September 2023