Sir Charles had no book of reference to guide him to its value.

But in the meantime, Stark had employed a friend to obtain for him the refusal of it, and had undertaken to give for it a little more than any sum Sir Charles might offer.

On finding that at least L5 could be got for it, Smith went to the chemist and gave him two guineas, and then sold it to Stark's agent for seven guineas.

Stark took it to London, and sold it at once to the Rt.Hon.Thos.Grenville for seventy pounds or guineas.
"I have now shortly to state how it came that a book without covers of such extreme age was preserved.

About fifty years since, the library of Thonock Hall, in the parish of Gainsborough, the seat of the Hickman family, underwent great repairs, the books being sorted over by a most ignorant person, whose selection seems to have been determined by the coat.