Before
his time we hear only of one or two books. In 1407
there was a collection of fifty service books, and a
Catholicon, the latter being perhaps the nucleus of a
library.[1] "At my lorde's auter," that is, at the Earl of
Warwick's altar, were to be found among other goods and
books, the Bible, the fourth book of the Sentenccs, Pupilla
Oculi, a work by Reymond de Pennaforte, Isidore, and
some canon law.[2] John Rous seems to have inherited the
bookish tastes of his relative, William Kous. William had
bequeathed his books to the Dean, charging him to allow
John to read them when he came of age and had received
priest's orders.
[1] Vict. Hist. Warwickshire, ii. 127 b.
[2] Ibid., ii. 128a.
Among the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum is
a small volume written on parchment by Humphrey Wanley,
which includes a copy of a curious inventory of vestments,
plate, books, and other goods made in the time of John
Rous, 1464. A portion of this inventory has been printed
in Notices of the Churches of Warwickshire, i. 15--16. "It.
v bokes beynge in the handes of Maister John Rous now
priest whuche were Sir William Rous and bequath hem to
the Dean and Chapitre of the forseide Chirche Collegiall
under condicon that the seid maister John beynge priest
shulde have hem for his special edificacon duryng his fief.
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