on is too slender to perform, for
the present, any answerable act to my willing disposition:
but yet, to notify some part of my desire in that behalf, I
have resolved thus to deal. Where there hath been heretofore
a public library in Oxford, which, you know, is apparent by
the room itself remaining, and by your statute records, I
will take the charge and cost upon me to reduce it again to
his former use: and to make it fit and handsome, with seats,
and shelves, and desks, and all that may be needfull, to
stir up other men's benevolence, to help to furnish it with
books. And this I purpose to begin, as soon as timber can be
gotten, to the intent that you may reap some speedy profit
of my project. And where before, as I conceive, it was to be
reputed but a store of books of divers benefactors, because
it never had any lasting allowance, for augmentation of the
number, or supply of books decayed: whereby it came to pass
that, when those that were in being were either wasted or
embezelled, the whole foundation came to ruin:--to meet with
that inconvenience, I will so provide hereafter (if God do
not hinder my present design) as you shall be still assured
of a standing annual rent, to be disbursed every year in
buying of books, in officers' stipends, and other pertinent
occasions, with which provision, and some order for the
preservation of the place, and of the furniture of it, from
accustomed abuses, it may, perhaps, in time to come, prove a
notable treasure for the multitude of volumes; an excellent
benefit for the use and ease of students; and a singular
ornament in the University. I am, therefore, to intreat you,
because I will do nothing without their public approbation,
to deliver this, that I have signified, in that good sort,
that you think meet: and when you please to let me know
their acceptation of my offer, I will be ready to effect it
with all convenient expedition. But, for the better
effecting of it, I do desire to be informed whether the
University be sufficiently qualified, by licence of
Mortmain, or other assurance, to receive a farther grant of
any rent or annuity than they do presently enjoy. And, if
any instruments be extant of the ancient donations to their
former library, I would, with their good liking, see a