Francis Combe 1583-1641

Francis COMBE 1583-1641

Biographical Note

Born at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, son of Francis Combe. Matriculated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge 1600, but did not graduate; he subsequently studied also at Trinity College, Oxford. His will reveals an extensive estate with bequests of money and property.

Books

Combe bequeathed his books, except his great English Bible, his papers and all books left by his father (which went to his brother Toby), and “somme fewe my friends desire”, to be divided equally between Sidney Sussex and Trinity. The books which went to Sidney, which cover many subjects, include a noteworthy proportion in Italian; there is no contemporary inventory. [What about Trinity? Are they listed in the donors’ book?] [?Size of collection overall]. Examples: Sidney Sussex, Cambridge K.5.10, L.7.26, M.7.25, and many more; Trinity, Oxford XXXX.

Characteristic Markings

Combe [usually?] inscribed his books with his name, sometimes in Italian [need to investigate in Sidney and Trinity]. The books given to Sidney Sussex were marked with a printed gift label.

Sources

N. Rogers, “Early history of the Library” in D. Beales and H. Nisbet (eds), Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge , 1996; R. Gameson and A. Coates, The Old Library, Trinity College, Oxford, 1988.