In regard to the building of this house Kirkpatrick gives an extract from a record of 34th Henry VIII, showing that the city granted to John Kempe, the chaplain, "in consideration that he, of his benevolence hath bestowed about the buylding of a lodgyng with three chambers, over the porch of the house, late the black friars, now the common hall of the city, and on either side of the same porch, above sixty pounds;--that, therefore, the said J. Kempe shall have the same lodgyng, with the office called the _Chapleyn of the Chappell_, belonging to the said hall called, _St. John's Chapel_, with all the oblacions; also, liberty of the garden and yard called the prechyng-yard." {51} The first of the few entries in the Minute Book regarding the library rooms shows that the books were not too well protected from the elements, for on 10th August, 1657, "Mr. Collinges gaue an acct of 1s. laid out for coale and wood for the drying of ye bookes harmed by ye raine." From the instructions, in Latin, to the Librarian which are set out in the classified and alphabetical catalogue of 1658 we learn that the library was arranged in two parts, East and West, and that the books were classified. "On the East part the treasury of the books is double, major and minor. The larger part is divided into ten classes folio. The smaller has only four classes of books in 4to and 8vo. The numbering of all classes must always be begun from the bottom. On the West part the treasury of books is single, arranged in five larger classes. Here the number must always be reckoned from the top." In 1664 the development of the Library necessitated the enlargement of the accommodation, and on 11th July "All the minrs. present agreed in a petition to ye Mayr Sherriffs Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for ye addition of a roome to ye library, and ye better shelving of it. They further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present ye petition to ye Comon Councell at their next assembly. Mr. Chamberlain hauing first viewed ye roome & computed ye charge." On the 12th January 1673 the members decided to petition the Court for removing some wainscot doors, and on March 9th it was recorded that by order of the Court of Assembly "we haue also leaue to take downe ye waynscott Doores wch now conceale the Bookes."