[1] Oliver, Mon. Dioc. Exon., 332, 333.
[2] Sussex Archaeol. Collections, i. (1848), 168-187.
The friary collections in London seem to have been
important, especially that given to the Grey Friars in
1225,[1] just when they had settled near Newgate. The
Austin Friars may have owned a library before 1364, when
two of their number left the London house, taking with
them books and other goods.[2] Early in the fifteenth
century a library was built and a large addition was made
to the books of this house by Prior Lowe, a friar
afterwards occupying the sees of St. Asaph and of
Rochester.[3] At this time the friars of London were
specially fortunate. The White Friars enjoyed a good
library, to which Thomas Walden, a learned brother of
the order, presented many foreign manuscripts of some
age and rarity.[4] The Grey Friars' library was founded or
refounded by Dick Whittington (1421).[5] The room "was
in length one hundred twentie nine foote, and in breadth
thirtie one: all seeled with Wainscot, having twentie eight
desks, and eight double setles of Wainscot. Which in the
next yeare following was altogither finished in building, and
within three yeares after, furnished with Bookes, to the
charges of" over L 556, "whereof Richard Whittington
bare foure hundred pound, the rest was borne by Doctor
Thomas Winchelsey, a Frier there.
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