"[2] In 1483 the Church of
St. Christopher-le-Stocks, London, seems to have had a
collection only of service books; but five years later
mention is made of "a grete librarie." "On the south side
of the vestrarie standeth a grete librarie with ii longe
lecturnalles thereon to lay on the bookes."[3] About the
middle of the sixteenth century certain inhabitants of
Rayleigh held a meeting one Sunday, after service, and,
without the consent of the churchwardens, sold fifteen
service books, and "four other manuscript volumes," as
well as some other church goods, for forty shillings.[4]
[1] Library, i. 417.
[2] Stow, i. 194. Leland, iv. 48, has a note of four MSS. "in
bibliotheca Petrina Londini." Possibly this library was formed by
Rector Hugh Damlet, who was a learned man, and gave several books
to Pembroke College, Cambridge.--James 10, 184.
[3] Archaeologia, xiv. 118, 120.
[4] R. H. S., vi. 205.
But we might continue for a long time to bring
togather facts of this kind. Enough has been written to
suggest the character and extent of the work done by the
churches. Many of these small collections were for use
in connexion with the schools; they were formed for the
benefit of clergy and the increase of clergy.
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