Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/29

Rh he seems to have spoken contemptuously of the Epistles, and of the members of a great College who proposed to issue a new edition of a worthless book. Bentley's manner and speech was always haughty and often insolent; and he may have said things which would have deeply offended Boyle and his friends at Christ Church had they been repeated. Bentley's reason for not getting the MS. at once (except the obvious one that he was not appointed Librarian until April 1694), was never given. One may suggest that this is what happened: Bentley promised the MS. at a time when he felt sure that he would succeed Justel, but difficulties arose about his appointment; and while they were being settled he felt that it would be unwise for him to act as though he had obtained the post. When his appointment was made he found that he had promised more than he should have done: hence the delay in getting the MS. and his anxiety not to let it remain long out of the Library.

When Bentley took office he claimed under the Licensing Act of Charles II (which would soon