HUMPHREY, Duke of GLOUCESTER, "commonly called _the good_, was youngest brother to Henry V. and the first founder of the university library in Oxford, which was pillaged of the greater part of its books in the reign of Edward the Sixth." Park's edit. of the _Royal and Noble Authors_; vol. i., 198. "As for the books which he gave (says Wood) they were very many, more by far than authors report; for whereas 'tis said he gave 129, you shall find anon that they were more than treble the number." The Duke's first gift, in 1439, of one hundred and twenty-nine treatises, was worth, according 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.