The Librarian of Cobham's Library was also entitled Chaplain to the University, and as such was ordered, in 1412, to offer masses yearly for those who were benefactors of the University and Library, and was endowed with half a mark yearly, as well as with £5 issuing from the assize of bread and ale, which had been granted to the University by King Henry IV, who was also a principal contributor to the completion of the Library, and is therefore to this day duly remembered in the Bidding-Prayer at all the academic 'Commemorationes Solenniores.' But no trace remains of the devotional and sacred duties once attaching to the office, and laymen have been eligible to it from the time of Bodley's re-foundation. The old regal stipend, however, amounting at last to £6 13_s._ 4_d._, continued to be paid to the Librarian, until in 1856, by the revised code of statutes, various small payments were consolidated; it is found entered in the annual printed accounts up to that year. But not a score of years had passed after Cobham's Library had been actually completed and opened before the building of a room more worthy of the University was commenced. In 1426 the University began to erect the present noble Divinity School for the exercises in that faculty; but as their own means soon failed they betook themselves to all likely quarters to procure help. And Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, the patron of all learning[5], and the fosterer of the New School of theological thought, the protector of Pecock, responded so liberally to the petition of the University for aid to the fabric of their Material School, that he is styled (says Wood) in the Bedell's Book its Founder, while the roof to this day perpetuates his memory among the shields of arms of benefactors with which its graceful pendants terminate. His gifts of money for the School were quickly followed by still larger gifts of books for the Library. Between the years 1439 and 1446 he appears to have forwarded about 600 MSS., which were for the time deposited in chests in Cobham's Library. The first donation, consisting of 129 volumes, was forwarded in November, 1439. The letter of thanks from Convocation is dated the 25th of that month, and on the same day a letter was sent to the House of Commons, to the 'ryght worshypfull syres, the Speker, knyghtes, and burges (_sic_) of the worshepfull parlament,' informing them that the Duke had magnified the University 'with a thousand pounds worth and more of preciose bokes,' and therefore beseeching their 'sage discrecions to considere the gloriose gifts of the graciose prince ... for the comyn profyte and worshyp of the Reme, to thanke hym hertyly, and also prey Godde to thanke hym in tyme comyng wher goode dedys ben rewarded.' Statutes for the regulation of the gift were made on the same day, prayers appointed, and provision made for the observance of the Duke's obit[6]. A catalogue of 364 of the MSS. is printed, from the lists preserved in the University Register, p.