{2b} London apparently is entitled to claim the distinction of having established the earliest British library under municipal control. In an article in the "Library Association Record," vol. 10, 1908, the late Mr. E. M. Borrajo, formerly Librarian to the Corporation of the City of London, wrote: "The citizens of London may fairly claim to be the parent, in a sense, not only of the National Library, but of every public library in the country." He also stated: "The earliest association of a library with the Guildhall dates from some period anterior to the year 1425, when it is recorded that the executors of Richard Whittington and William Bury built the 'new house or library, with the chamber under,' the custody of which was entrusted to them by the Corporation." About the year 1549 the Lord Protector Somerset carried off three cart loads of books from the Library, and the following year saw its final disappearance. This library was a collegiate library and probably opened its doors to non-collegiate students, who were properly accredited. In the will of John Carpenter, proved in 1442, this library is referred to as the "common library at Guildhall." {3} "The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar by Robert Ricart Towm Clerk of Bristol, 18 Edward IV." (Camden Society), 1872, p. v. {4a} J. Kirkpatrick's "History of the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich . . . written about the year 1725." 1845, p. 80. {4b} _ib._ {5a} "Records of the City of Norwich," vol. 2, 1910, p. clxv. {5b} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 4, 1806, p. 262. {8} Depositions . . . Extracts from the Court Books of the City of Norwich, 1666-1688, ed. by Walter Rye, 1905, p. 130. {11} "A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick Library of the City of Norwich, in the year 1732," pp. iii-iv. {13a} Typewritten copy in the Norwich Public Library (vol. 2 p. 217) of the manuscript of Mackerell's "History of Norwich," in the possession of J. H. Gurney, Esq., J.P., F.Z.S., of Keswick Hall, Norwich. {13b} Assembly Book, Sept. 21st, 1801. {13c} Assembly Book, May 3rd, 1805. {14} "Catalogue of the Books belonging to the Public Library and to the City Library of Norwich," 1825, p. xxvi. {15a} "Second Catalogue of the Library of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution," 1825, p. I. {15b} _Norfolk Chronicle_, July 12th, 1856, p. 2. {15c} _ib_. {15d} _Norfolk Chronicle_ and _Norwich Mercury_, Nov. 22nd, 1856. {17} _Norwich Mercury_, March 21st, 1868, p. 3. {20a} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 3, 1806, p. 366. {20b} "Norfolk and Norwich Notes and Queries," First Series, 1896-99, p. 193. {22} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 3, 1806, p. 414. {24} "Dictionary of National Biography," vol. 33, 1893, p. 37. {25a} "Letters written by eminent persons in the 17th and 18th centuries," vol. 2, 1813, p. 104. {25b} Mayoralty Court, 9th Jan., 1677/8.