Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/198

124 Whereas the Reverend Dr Bentley has thought fit, in the Appendix to Mr Wotton's Reflections on Ancient and Modern Learning (pp. 66 and 67), to insert the following words as matter of fact, viz., A bookseller came to me in the name of the Editors &c.: I think myself obliged to give the world the following account, wherein I have faithfully related what passed on that occasion.

I was employed by the Honourable Mr Boyle, and by him only, to borrow the MS. of Phalaris from Dr Bentley. After about nine months solicitation, it was delivered into my custody, without any time limited for the return of it. Within few days after, Dr Bentley called upon me to have it restored, and then told me that he was to go into the country. He stayed till I sent to the collator, and word was brought by the messenger that it was not collated. I then begged him to let me have it but till Sunday morning: it was Saturday noon when he came, and I engaged to oblige the collator to sit up all Saturday night to get it finished. But he utterly refused to leave it with me any longer, demanding to have it sent that day to Westminster, which was done accordingly;