Dr Helen Kemp, Plume Librarian, writes: Thomas Plume’s Library would like to thank FNL for their generous support in helping to fund the purchase of four books. During the early 20th century many books went missing from Thomas Plume’s Library, when borrowers were permitted to use the vicar’s key to access the Plume building. Since this problem was identified in the 1980s, the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library have been raising funds to buy back replacement copies of the missing editions, but sometimes several books appear in the same auction and the cost of bidding for all of them is beyond our means. The Friends of the National Libraries has supported these acquisitions on three occasions in the past and we were delighted when they agreed to help us again in 2023.
The four books we acquired with FNL’s help have beautiful illustrations and are especially useful to us in our exhibitions. The books acquired are:
- Hiob Ludolf, A New History of Ethiopia, being a Full and Accurate Description of the Kingdom of Abessinia, first English edition, London, for Samuel Smith, 1682. [B07571]
- Nicholas de Bonnefons, The French Gardiner instructing how to cultivate all sorts of Fruit-Trees and Herbs for the Garden, translated by John Evelyn, third edition, London, by T.R. & N.T. for B. Tooke, 1675. [B07569]
- William Winstanley, Historical Rarities and curious Observations domestick & foreign, London, for Rowland Reynolds, 1684.[B07570]
- Garcilaso de la Vega, El Inca: The Royal Commentaries of Peru, 2 parts in 1, translated by Paul Rycaut, London, printed by Miles Flesher, for Christopher Wilkinson, 1688. [B07572]
To give a flavour of the contents, here are some quotations from the books:
In The Royal Commentaries of Peru, the translator explains that the original author claimed descent on his father’s side from one of the first conquerors of the New World on his father’s side, and the last King of Peru on his mother’s, but provides a caveat for the book’s reliability: ‘It is probable that a great part of this History, as far as concerns the Original of the Incas and the foundation of their Laws, is fabulous: howsoever, being, as our Authour says, delivered by Tradition, and commonly believed amongst their People of the better degree, it may contain divers Truths mixed with an abundance of Fictions and foolish Inventions.’
The title page of A New History of Ethiopia explains that the Kingdom of Abessinia is generally known as The Empire of Prester John, which is an erroneous claim. The book is in four parts covering (1) geography and wildlife; (2) the government, royal court, military power, and justice system; (3) conversion to Christianity and their own sacred writings, rites and ceremonies; and (4) the economy, scholarship, cultural traditions, and commerce. Ludolf’s friends had reassured him: ‘That never anything came forth perfect at first in all its parts: And that therefore this History was no longer to be conceal’d from the Christian and Learned World, which it concerned to know these things.’
John Evelyn dedicated his translation of The French Gardiner to his friend Thomas Henshaw, who had suggested that it would be a worthwhile endeavour. He explains to the reader that ‘If any man think it an employment fit for the Translator of this former part, it will become him to know, that though I have some experience in the Garden, ... yet I have none in the Shambles [slaughterhouse]; and that what I here present him was to gratify a noble Friend, who had only the Empire over me, as to make me quit some more serious Employments for a few daies, in obedience to his Command.’ Bound into this volume is another text: John Rose’s The English Vineyard vindicated, London, 1675.
Winstanley, in his Historical Rarities, refers to History as ‘the Work-mistress of Experience, and the mother of Prudence; it is the general Treasury of times past, present, and a lively pattern of things to come; It is that which reinforces Antiquity from her ruines, and makes the gray head of Time white again... Learning is such a precious Jewel, that it was highly honoured even amongst the Heathens themselves.’ A rousing endorsement for historical study, which is especially needed in the present day.
