In
his great plan for the former, which was never carried out,
Henry proposed to have in the west side of the court,
"atte the ende toward the chirch," "a librarie, conteynyng
in lengthe . cx . fete, and in brede . xxiiij . fete, and under
hit a large hous for redyug and disputacions, conteynyng
in lengthe . xl . fete, and . ij . chambres under the same
librarie, euery conteynyng . xxix. fete in lengthe and in
brede . xxiiij . fete."[1] But an apartment was set aside
for books, and, as a charge was incurred for strewing it
with rushes in expectation of a visit from the king, it was
evidently a repository worth seeing.[2] Early in 1445 the
king sent Richard Chester, sometime his envoy at the
Papal court, to France and other countries, and to certain
parts of England, in search of books and relics for his
foundations. Within two years, however, a joint petition
came from Eton and King's College, stating that neither
of these colleges "nowe late fownded and newe growyng"
"were sufficiently supplied with books for divine service and
for their libraries and studies, or with vestments and
ornaments, whiche thinges may not be had withoute
great and diligente labour be longe processe and right
besy inquisicion.
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