ording to
Wood, a thousand pounds. All his book presents, "amounting
to above 600 (mostly treating of divinity, physic, history,
and humanity) which were from several parts of the world
obtained, were transmitted to the university, and for the
present laid up in chests in Cobham's library. The catalogue
also of them which were then sent, and the indentures for
the receipt of the said books, were laid up in the chest
called _Cista Librorum et Rotulorum_." _History_ (or Annals)
_of the University of Oxford_; vol. ii., pt. ii., 914.
Gutch's edit. Consult also the recent and very amusing
_History of the same University_, by Mr. A. Chalmers, vol.
ii., p. 459. Leland has not forgotten this distinguished
bibliomaniac; for he thus lauds him in roman verse:

Tam clari meminit viri togata
Recte Gallia; tum chorus suavis
Cygnorum Isidis ad vadum incolentum
Cui magnum numerum dedit BONORUM
LIBRORUM, statuitque sanctiori
Divinus studio scholae theatrum;
Nostro quale quidem videtur esse
Magnum tempore, forsan et futuro

_Cygn. Cant._ Vide Lelandi Itinerarium
Cura Hearne; edit. 1770, vol. ix., p. 17.]

The reign of his successor, HENRY VI., was the reign of trouble and
desolation. It is not to be wondered that learning drooped, and
religion "waxed faint," 'midst the din of arms and the effusion of
human blood. Yet towards the close of this reign some attempt was made
to befriend the book cause; for the provost and fellows of Eton and
Cambridge petitioned the king to assist them in increasing the number
of books in their libraries;[272] but the result of this petition has
never, I believe, been known.

[Footnote 272: In the manuscript history of Eton College, in
the British Museum (_MSS. Donat._ 4840, p. 154.), the
Provost and Fellows of Eton and Cambridge are stated, in the
25th of Henry the Sixth, to have petitioned the king that,
as these new colleges were not sufficiently seised of books
for divine service, and for their libraries, he would be
pleased to order one of his chaplains, Richard Chestre, "to
take to him such men as shall be seen to him expedient in
order to get knowledge where such bookes may be found,
paying a reasonable price for the same, and that the sayd
men might have the first choice of su