The Calvinist theologian and biblical translator Theodore Beza gave this copy of his Latin New Testament (1574) to Edward Bacon, as recorded in this note by the latter's son Philip found in the volume. Bacon was the son of a local politician, who left for a two year continental trip in which he studied protestant theology whilst staying in Beza's house.

The autograph of Sir Walter Ralegh, courtier to Elizabeth I, explorer and author of a history of the world, can be seen at the top left of the title-page to this copy of Werner Rolevinck's chronological work, Fasciculus temporum (1518).

The gold-stamped arms of Jacques Auguste de Thou, French historian and politician, from Jacob Middendrop's work on monasticism, Originum anachoreticarum sylva (Koln, 1614).

Bookplate of William Oliver, physician and philanthropist, from an early 18th-century edition of Santorio Santorio's work on hygiene, De statica medicina. Born in Cornwall, Oliver's medical skill brought him to the fashionable spa town of Bath, where he became acquainted with figures such as Alexander Pope.

Hugh Morgan was appointed apothecary to Queen Elizabeth in 1583 after a career working in the city of London. He had a keen interest in the various plants he used and had a notable botanical collection. He also traded in spices, and has been credited with the introduction of vanilla to Britain. There are two theological works in the Library which bear his inscription, both dated February 1599.

The arms of Sir Peter Manwood, judge, antiquary and M.P. for Sandwich, appear stamped in gilt on a volume of 1600, Samuel Lewkenor's A discourse not altogether unprofitable, nor unpleasant for such as are desirous to know the situation and customes of forraine cities without trauelling to see them.

Annotations to a copy of John Sergeant's Solid philosophy asserted, against the fancies of the ideists, or, The method to science farther illustrated : with reflexions on Mr. Locke's Essay concerning human understanding (1697) in the hand of John Locke, the empiricist philosopher. Locke replies to Sergeant's criticisms of his system referring to himself in the third person. For further information see John W.

Bookplate of the Scottish historian and philosopher David Hume in one of two composite volumes of miscellaneous works belonging to him, now in St John's Library.

Donated by Herbert Somerton Foxwell.

Two volumes in the Library bear the bookplate of Pierre-Daniel Huet, scholar, scientist and Bishop of Avranches, whose attacks on the rationalism of Descartes made him a leading proponent of fideism.

Autograph of William Gilbert, royal physician and author of a pioneering work on magnetism in which he coined the term 'electricity', here latinized as "Guil. Gylberde" on the title-page of an edition of Galen (1562).