edizione_
of the Giuntae edition of Boccaccio's Decamerone, 1527, 4to.,
as either Haym, Orlandi, or Bandini. Paterson, with all his
skill, was mistaken in this article when he catalogued
Croft's books. See Bibl. Crofts. No. 3976: his true
edition was knocked down for 6_s._!!!]

[Footnote 29: Spenser's general acquaintance with Italian
literature has received the best illustration in Mr. Todd's
Variorum edition of the poet's works; where the reader will
find, in the notes, a constant succession of anecdotes of,
and references to, the state of anterior and contemporaneous
literature, foreign and domestic.]

In the seventeenth century, from the death of Elizabeth to the
commencement of Anne's reign, it seems to have made considerable
havoc; yet, such was our blindness to it that we scrupled not to
engage in overtures for the purchase of Isaac Vossius's[30] fine
library, enriched with many treasures from the Queen of Sweden's,
which this versatile genius scrupled not to pillage without confession
or apology. During this century our great reasoners and philosophers
began to be in motion; and, like the fumes of tobacco, which drive the
concealed and clotted insects from the interior to the extremity of
the leaves, the infectious particles of the BIBLIOMANIA set a thousand
busy brains a-thinking, and produced ten thousand capricious works,
which, over-shadowed by the majestic remains of Bacon, Locke, and
Boyle, perished for want of air, and warmth, and moisture.

[Footnote 30: "The story is extant, and written in very
choice _French_." Consult Chauffepie's _Supplement to
Bayle's Dictionary_, vol. iv. p. 621. note Q. Vossius's
library was magnificent and extensive. The University of
Leyden offered not less than 36,000 florins for it. _Idem._
p. 631.]

The reign of Queen Anne was not exempt from the influence of this
disease; for during this period, Maittaire[31] began to lay the
foundation of his extensive library, and to publish some
bibliographical works which may be thought to have rather increased,
than diminished, its force. Meanwhile, Harley[32] Earl of Oxford
watched its progress with an anxious eye; and although he might have
learnt experience from the fatal examples of R. Smith,[33] and T.
Baker,[34] and the more recent ones of Thomas Rawlinson,[35]
Bridges,[36] and Collins,[37] yet he seemed resolved to brave and to
baffle it;