gold in it, to be borrowed by the Fellows for their relief; bond being first given in by them to repay it at their departure from the college; or, in case they should die, to be paid by their executors: A.D. 1376. He also built, about the same time, _a Library_ in the college; being the first that the society enjoyed, and gave books thereunto." Wood's _History of the Colleges and Halls_, p. 15, Gutch's edit. In Mr. Nicholl's _Appendix to the History of Leicester_, p. 105, note 20, I find some account of this distinguished literary character, taken from Tanner's _Bibl. Britan._, p. 618. He is described, in both authorities, as being a very learned Fellow of Merton College, where he built and furnished _a noble library_; on the wall of which was painted his portrait, with this inscription: "GULIELMUS REDAEUS, EPISCOPUS CICESTRENSIS, MAGISTER IN THEOLOGIA, PROFUNDUS ASTRONOMUS, QUONDAM SOCIUS ISTIUS COLLEGII, QUI HANC LIBRARIAM FIERI FECIT." Many of Read's mathematical instruments, as well as his portrait, were preserved in the library when Harrison wrote his description of England, prefix'd to Holinshed's Chronicles; some of the former of which came into the possession of the historian. For thus writes Harrison: "William Read, sometime fellow of Merteine college in Oxford, doctor of divinitie, and the most profound astronomer that liued in his time, as appeareth by his collection, which some time I did possesse; his image is yet in the librarie there; and manie instruments of astronomie reserued in that house," &c. _Chronicles_ (1587), edit. 1807, vol. i., p. 237. In the year 1808, when I visited the ancient and interesting brick-floored library of Merton College, for the purpose of examining early printed books, I looked around in vain for the traces, however faded, of Read's portrait: nor could I discover a single vestige of the BIBLIOTHECA READIANA! The memory of this once celebrated bishop lives therefore only in what books have recorded of him; and this brief and _verbal picture_ of Read is here drawn--as was the more finished resemblance of Chaucer by the pencil, which Occleve has left behind-- =That thei that have of him lost thoute and mynde By this peinture may ageine him fynde.=