Dean
Gunthorpe is well known as a pilgrim to Italy, who returned laden
with manuscripts (see p. 192).
Shortly after the date of Bubwith's will Bishop Stafford
(1425-43) gave ten books--not an inspiriting collection--
but he desired to retain possession of them during his
lifetime.[1] In 1452 Richard Browne (alias Cordone),
Archdeacon of Rochester, left to the library of Wells,
Petrus de Crescentiis De Agricultura, and two other books,
Jerome's Epistles, and Lathbury Super librum Trenorum,
which were to be kept in the church in wooden cases.[2]
Were these cases to resemble the boxes still remaining
in Exeter Cathedral? The same will ordered the Decretales
of Clement, which had been borrowed for copying, to be restored
to this library; two other books were also given back;
and the will further notes that there are several books
belonging to the library in a certain great bag in the inner
room of the treasury at Wells.[3]
[1] Hist, MSS. Rept. 3, App. 363a.
[2] Mun. Acad., 649,
[3] Mun. Acad., 652-653.
Leland only mentions forty-six books in the library
in his time. "I went into the library, which
whilome had been magnificently furnished with a considerable
number of books by its bishops and canons,
and I found great treasures of high antiquity.
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