MR- BODLEY'S MUNIFICENCE
z$rd February MR BODLEY'S MUMFICENCE TO THE UMVER-
SITY OF OXFORD
Mr Thomas Bodley hath written to the Vice-Chancellor of
the University of Oxford that he will take upon himself the
charge and cost to reduce the Public Library again to its former
use, and to make it fit and handsome with seats and shelves and
desks and all that may be needful, to stir up other men's benev-
olence, to help to furnish it with books, all which he purposeth
to begin as soon as timber can be gotten Moreover, because
the Library never had any lasting allowance for the augmenta-
tion of the number or supply of books decayed (whereby when
those that were in being were either wasted or embezzled the
whole foundation was brought to ruin), now shall the University
be assured of a standing annual rent to be disbursed every year
in buying of books, in officers* stipends and other pertinent
occasions Thus, perhaps in time to come it may prove a
notable .treasure for the multitude of volumes, an excellent
benefit for the use and ease of students, and a singular ornament
in the University
25th February THE LORD TREASURER DANGEROUSLY SICK
Yesternight upon a sudden the Lord Treasurer grew ill of a
cough which put him to very great pain The Queen sent
very graciously to visit him , the Lord Cobham came to him,
and so did the Lady Derby He took his leave of her, charging
her to be good and careful of her two sisters, and as his pain
increased so did he think upon his end, calling upon God to
receive his soul, and with little rest he passed over a tedious
night But this morning it pleased God for the good of this
poor country to ease foJTn of his pain and to give him some rest
^6tb February SHAKESPEARE'S * HENRY THE FOURTH *
There is entered for printing the play of *Tbe History of
Henry the Fourth that is played by the Lord Chamberlain's men
and written by Mr William Shakespeare. Herein is shown the
battle of Shrewsbury, with Harry Hotspur of the North,
together with the humorous conceits of the fat knight, Sir John
Falstafre When the actors first pkyed this play, they called
the fat knight Sir John Oldcastle, which caused offence to a
certain nobleman whose wife is descended from that Oldcastle
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