“In the archives of the Church of Ravenna are divers instruments written upon bark.  You may see them.

“At Rome the Greek monks of St. Basil have very many old Greek MSS. written in capitals, particularly a book of the four Gospels, and some pieces of St. Gregory Nazianzen upon St. Paul’s Epistles.  Buy as many as you can, for I hear they are poor, and therefore, they may sell the cheaper.  They have likewise a Greek charter of Roger, King of Sicily, in five pieces, with some other instruments in Greek, written upon bark or vellum.  Buy these also if you can.

“The Fathers of the Oratory at Rome have many very ancient MSS., both Greek and Latin.  See them at least, even supposing that they will not sell.  In the Cathedral library at Pisa are many ancient MSS.  Let me have some account of these also.

“The monks of Bovio, near, if not in Pavia, have many very ancient MSS., and among the rest a book of the Gospels in Latin, wherein St. Luke is written Lucanus.  They have many old deeds in their archives.  Buy what you can.

“At Cava [about a day’s journey from Naples], is a Benedictine monastery.  In the archives or treasury is a Greek deed of Roger, King of Sicily, with his golden seal appendant.  Buy this if you can.  In the library are some old MSS.; see these at least, if you cannot buy.

“At Naples, in the library of the Augustin Friars of St. John de Carbonara is a Greek Ms. of the Gospels [or of homilies upon the Gospels] all written in capitals, with letters of gold upon purple parchment.  This must be bought.  There is also a Dioscorides in Greek capitals, being a large work with figures of the planets, etc.  This must also be bought.  There is also a good number of other ancient MSS., both Greek and Latin.  Among the latter is an Hieronimus de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, in Saxon letters, and the Gospels in Latin, where St. Luke is called Lucanus.  Buy of these what you can.

“If the Greek MSS. of the monastery of St. Saviour, near Messina in Sicily, or any of them do remain there yet, or in that neighbourhood, as it is probable they may, they will doubtless come exceeding cheap.  You will inquire, however, how this matter stands.

“Pray Sir, all along in your journey endeavour to secure what Greek MSS. and Latin classical MSS. you can, provided they come at reasonable prices, and let me be favoured with an account of your proceedings as often as may be convenient.”

And he adds: 

“Mr. Hay, in executing this commission, my noble Lord cannot give you positive directions how to bid upon every occasion, by reason of this his great distance from those parts, and must therefore rely upon your fidelity, your prudence, your usual dexterity in business, and your personal affection to him.  You will be sure always to buy as cheap as you can, for I foresee that some of the things his Lordship chiefly wants or is desirous of, will not come for a small matter.  In most of the monasteries you will be able to buy for ready money; but it may be at a cheaper rate with the Greek monks at St. Basil’s monastery at Rome, whose MSS. are good, and themselves in want.