Dibdin, Thomas Frognall; Spencer, George John [Bearb.]: Bibliotheca Spenceriana: or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century, and of many valuable first editions, in the library of George John Earl Spencer (Band 1) (London, 1814) [Cicognara, 4650-1]

75

Alcala; 1514 17-] POLYGLOTT BIBLE.

and are decorated with figures chiefly of the clerical order. Upon the
whole, this work is a magnificent monument of that best species of
patriotism, among men of wealth and power, which consists in be-
friending the researches of the learned in the cause of elucidating the
Holy Scriptures.

It may not be incurious to remark, that, of the Hebrew Type, while the above work af-
fords such a copious and beautiful specimen, our own country, nearly an hundred years
afterwards, was not able to print even three lines in the same language: from a deficiency
of Hebrew types. This I learnt from a discovery of Lord Spencer; who, in a volume of
miscellanies, which contained among other things * Academia Oxoniensis Pietas erga
Ser. et Pol. Jacob.Angl. &c. Oxon. 1603 , 4to, found the following observation, in a poem
composed by Dr. Thorne, Regius Professor of the Hebrew language—‘ Interserenda hoc in
loco:

vpb :TOr^ ny
:p7 rfen

HebraicS pluribus explicata, Sed enim Typographo deerant Characteres.’ p. 17.