I impoverish my self with buying books but over Shoes over boots my head is in and an auction on foot who can stop his hand?
I am got here into books very foolishly, I bought Villalpandus in Large paper 3 vol. 4//. I bought Bsp Halls 4 Vols 111. 8s.three vol. of Musculus…and Sev//. other books, I confess my infirmity and [pro]mise to amend. “
Two quotes from Archbishop William King about his weakness for buying books, a trait that reputedly amused his friend Dean John Stearne and upset his collector of rents Henry Green, who had the job of “hindering” the book buying.
Both are from letters written by William King to John Stearne, Dean of St Patricks, after book auctions in London (1710 and 1713).
Source: An Irish Archbishop and his library [JSTOR, limited free access].