Quesnell's Interest in Another Voss in Judean Library

[Secret Alias]

In Stonyhurst halls, where history's whispers dwell,
A book lies silent, its story to tell.
"Bibliotheque Maj. Coll. 1776" in gold,
Ownership marked, a tale unfolds.

From St Omer's Jesuit seeds, wisdom grew,
Catalogues of tomes, in bindings true.
"Catalogus librorum," a list so grand,
In 1752, it marked the learned stand.

But fate, a harsh mistress with shifting sands,
Moved the Jesuit scholars to Bruges lands.
And when 1773 saw the Society's fall,
Their journey took them beyond recall.

The Prince Bishop's hand, in Liège laid down,
Turned Jesuit teachings to academic crown.
Yet, Stonyhurst called, 'cross tempest's roar,
In 1794, a new chapter bore.

But Liège's library, with secrets old,
Remained behind, tales untold.
For hope whispered of return,
A flame in the heart, forever to burn.

Stonyhurst now guards, in quiet repose,
A manuscript catalogue, history's prose.
"Stonyhurst MS B.I.9," a key,
To a past locked in silent decree.

Drawn up in 1823, a sheet reveals,
The breadth of knowledge, time conceals.
Chadwick penned, in '60's light,
Of Stonyhurst's treasures, hidden from sight.

These catalogues, survivors of time's test,
Of English Jesuit seminaries, among the best.
In pages worn, in ink that fades,
Lies the spirit of those scholarly shades.

So here within these walls, let it be known,
Each book, each leaf, history has sown.
"Bibl. de Louvain Double Vendu," it reads,
A journey of faith, of knowledge, of deeds.

[Secret Alias]

How the Manuscripts Got to England

In the heart of Liège, where whispers of faith reside,
A collection of manuscripts, in leather bound pride.
Forty-three texts, in fifteen volumes lay,
Theology their theme, light unto the gray.

A treatise on horography stands alone,
Amongst the texts, its unique tone sown.
From sixteen sixty to seventeen thirty span,
The Jesuit course, a scholarly plan.

Maryland's first missionaries, trained in these halls,
Echoes of their footsteps, in Liège's sacred walls.
Authors of faith, Gooden, Musson, and more,
Taught at Liège, knowledge's shore.

Printed by Streel, in volume three,
A testament of scholarship, for all to see.
The English College, refuge of the chased,
By Jesuit novices, its foundations graced.

Founded in sixteen sixteen, amid persecution's night,
Offering a beacon, a guiding light.
Though the novitiate moved, the scholars stayed,
Until suppression's hand, their mission swayed.

To Bruges, then Liège, their journey led,
Until the French advance, their path they fled.
To England's shores, less hostile, more kind,
Stonyhurst they found, peace of mind.

From Lancashire's country house, a school did rise,
Under Jesuit guidance, reaching for the skies.
Stonyhurst College, legacy of those days,
Continues the mission, in modern ways.

This collection, a bridge across the sea,
Linking past to present, in scholarly decree.
The Liège Jesuit Manuscript, a treasure untold,
Of faith, of learning, of spirits bold.

[Secret Alias]

The Foundation of the Ecole Biblique and the Mysterious Journey of the Book from England


In Jerusalem's heart, where history's whispers call,
A school took root in 1890, standing tall.
Founded by Lagrange, a Dominican's dream,
Under Leo XIII's auspice, it found its theme.

École pratique d’études bibliques, named with care,
A beacon of biblical studies, rare and fair.
By Providentissimus Deus, in 1893, blessed,
Its scholarly journey, by the Pope confessed.

Yet, as the century turned, storms did brew,
Modernist debates, in the church's view.
Père Lagrange, amidst suspicion, found his work contested,
By a Vatican wary, his methods questioned.

1904 brought The Historical Method to light,
Drawing criticism, sparking academic fight.
Warnings issued, by the Commission's word,
In 1905, doubts about his principles stirred.

Condemnations followed, in 1907's wake,
Lamentabili and Pascendi, for Modernism's sake.
Conflicts with Jesuits, tension in the air,
1909 saw the Pope's decision, a new institute to declare.

Silenced was Lagrange, his Revue Biblique paused,
To France he was called, his work momentarily caused.
Yet, hope's light flickered, not to be outdone,
1912, under Benedict XV, reopening begun.

The École, renamed in 1920's stride,
By France acknowledged, with national pride.
Divino afflante Spiritu, in 1943, a shift,
Historical criticism embraced, a scholarly gift.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, a revelation profound,
The school's scholars, in translation and interpretation, found.
1956, La Bible de Jérusalem was birthed,
A textual masterpiece, of immeasurable worth.

From 1890’s foundation, through trials, through light,
The École Biblique, in Jerusalem's historic site.
A testament to learning, to scholarly flights,
In the city of prophets, of ancient rights.

[Secret Alias]

From Louvain's learned halls it set sail,
A tome of ancient words, a scholarly grail.
Isaac Voss's Septuagint, bound and sealed,
Its journey through time, quietly revealed.

To Stonyhurst it traveled, under England's rain,
Within its walls, it quietly did remain.
A beacon of knowledge, in Jesuit care,
Its pages of wisdom, scholars came to share.

But time's a river, with its own secret course,
And the book, it seemed, had another source.
Mysteriously it vanished, under cover of night,
To Jerusalem it fled, a beacon of light.

In the city of prophets, where history dwells,
Among ancient stones, and sacred wells.
The Septuagint found a final rest,
In a land that’s always been blessed.

No record tells how it made its way,
Across continents, in night and day.
A journey wrapped in mystery’s shroud,
Silent as a whisper, loud as a cloud.

Now in Jerusalem, it sits in silent repose,
Among texts and relics, its mystery grows.
From Louvain to Stonyhurst, then to ancient sands,
The Septuagint's travels, through many hands.

A testament to the quest for divine word,
In its journey, the heart of faith is stirred.
From Belgium to England, and then to the East,
In Jerusalem, its journey ceased.

But still, it whispers to those who seek,
Of ancient truths, and the wisdom they speak.
Across the ages, its journey spans,
A testament to the work of divine hands.

[Secret Alias]

From the Stonyhurst librarian.

Thanks Stephan

I have now had time to check our catalogues, including the early listings, and sadly have drawn a blank. No mention of Voss/Vossius, either currently present or withdrawn/lost.

I have had a chance to check the googledrive images, and, similarly, none of the inscriptions, stamps or shelfmarks relate to our libraries.

I am sorry not to be more helpful, and apologise for keeping you waiting for this information. Good luck in your research!

best wishes

Jan