It was not drawn up in anticipation of the formation
of a library, for the founder himself gave seventy
volumes on civil and canon law and theology, besides
fourteen books for the chapel; forty-eight, including seven
chapel books, were reserved for the Bishop's own use during
his life.[1] To Gonville College, founded as the Hall of the
Annunciation in 1348, Archdeacon Stephen Scrope left a
Catholicon in 1418[2] King's Hall, later absorbed in
Trinity College, some sixty years after its foundation,
possessed a library of eighty-seven volumes (1394). Gifts
of books were made to Corpus Christi College soon after
its foundation in 1352, but a library is not referred to in
the old statutes. Thomas de Eltisle, the first Master,
gave several books, among them a very fine missal, "most
excellently annotated throughout all the offices, and bound
with a cover of white deer leather, and with red clasps."
At this time (1376) we find an inventory showing that
the contents of the library were chiefly theological and
law books.
[1] C. A. S. Comm., ii. 73; Willis, iii. 402.
[2] Surtees Soc,, iv. 385.
The intention of King Henry VI was to make the
library of King's College and that of Eton very good.
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