Brantingham, Stafford, and Lacy gave books.[2] In the
library room some of the books were chained to desks, and
some were kept in chests.[3] All this points to a flourishing
library at Exeter; although, on occasions when their yearly
expenses were heavier than usual, the Fellows were obliged
to pawn books to one of the loan chests of the University,
or even to their barber.[4]

[1] Hist. MSS. App. 2nd Rep., 129; O. H. S. 27, Boase, xlvii.

[2] Brantingham gave L 20 towards the building; More, L 10.
Account of building expenses, amounting to L 57, 13s. 5 1/2 d.,
is given in O. H. S., 27, Boase, 345, see p. xiii.

[3] O. H. S., 27, Boase, xlviii. In 1392 "iiiis pro ligacione
septem librorum et Id pro cervisia in eisdem ligatoribus, VId
erario pro labore suo circa eosdem libros, et IId Johanni Lokyer
pro impositione eorundem librorum in descis."

[4] Ibid., xlviii.


The monastic college of Durham enjoyed a "fayre
library, well-decked and well flowred withe a timber Flowre
over it," built in 1417 and fitted in 1431.[1] Another college
belonging to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury,
also had a library, which had been replenished with books
from the mother-house.[2] In 1431 a library building was
begun at Balliol College by Mr. Thomas Chace, after he
had resigned the office of Master. Bishop William Grey,