Robert Alne (1440),[1] and John Tesdale: other benefactors
gave one or two or three.[2]

[1] Surtees Soc., xxx. 78-79.

[2] Bradshaw, 19-34; Willis, iii. 404.


In 1423 one John Herrys or Harris gave ten pounds
for the library, possibly for a building, as books do not
seem to have been bought with it.[1] A common library
is mentioned in 1438.[2] In the same year a grant was
made by the king of the manor of Ruyslip and a place
called Northwood for a library. The first room was erected
between this year and 1457. After 1454 many entries
occur in the University accounts for the roof of the new
chapel and the library, for the general repairs of the same
buildings, for the chaining and binding of books, and for
their custody during a fire in King's College in 1457.[3] A
sketch of the Schools quadrangle drawn about 1459 shows
this library, libraria nova, above the Canon Law schools, on
the west side.[4] Between the completion of this library
and 1470 the south side of the quadrangle was built, the
school of civil law occupying the ground floor, and the
Great Library or Common Library the first floor. The
second extant catalogue of books (1473) relates to the
books in this room: possibly the west room had been
cleared for other purposes. Now the inventory proves the
library to have been in possession of three hundred and
thirty volumes, stored upon eight stalls or desks on the north