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PRINTED BOOKS, BOOK'TRADE, LIBRARIES 569
by reciting some of the statutes framed for the library (L&raria
communis} of the university of Oxford, which was founded by
Thomas Cobham, bishop of Worcester, between the years
1320 and 1327. The library, which was built above the Con'
gregation House adjoining St. Mary's church, was to be in the
charge oftwo chaplains, one ofwhom was to be on duty before
dinner, the other after. The books were to be secured by chains,
and no one was to be admitted unless one ofthe chaplains was
present. It was the duty of the chaplains to see that no reader
entered the library in wet clothes, or having pen, ink, or knife;
if notes had to be taken they were to be made in pencil.
Bishop Cobham died in 1327 heavily in debt, and there was
some delay in securing the use of the library for the university,
but by 1 3 3 7 its history may be said to begin, and by the begin'
ning of the fifteenth century it was fully established. In 1412
a new code of statutes was formulated. It provided that the
librarian, who in addition to his ordinary library duties said
masses in St. Mary's church for the souls ofbenefactors, should
once a year hand over to the Chancellor and Proctors the keys
of the library. The librarian's salary was fixed at ^5. 6s. 8