Had it not been so we
should have been surprised. From 1365 to 1450 was an
age of library building. Oxford University now had its
library: in quick succession the colleges of Merton,
William of Wykeham, Exeter, University, Durham, Balliol,
Peterhouse, Lincoln, All Souls, Magdalen, Queens'
(Cambridge), Pembroke (Cambridge), and St. John's
(Cambridge) followed the example. Library rooms also
had been put up in the cathedrals of Hereford, Exeter,
York, Lincoln, Wells, Salisbury, St. Paul's, and Lichfield.
Moreover, in London had been established the first
public library. Dick Whittington, of famous memory,
and William Bury founded it between 1421 and 1426.
The civic records tell us that "Upon the petition of John
Coventry, John Carpenter, and William Grove, the executors
of Richard Whittington and William Bury, the Custody of
the New House, or Library, which they had built, with the
Chamber under, was placed at their disposal by the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty."[1] The foundation is
described as "a certen house next unto the sam Chapel
apperteynyug, called the library, all waies res'ved for
students to resorte unto, wt three chambres under nithe
the saide library, which library being covered wt slate is
valued together wt the chambres at xiijs.
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