At this meeting they ordered two
frames for the "Orders"; that Mr. John Collinges should be Library Keeper
until January, 1657; that each minister admitted to the use of the
Library should pay 12d. quarterly; and that "a book should be bought for
registring the acts of the mins at their severall meetings in the
Library, and sheets of parchment fit for the engrossing of the orders,
and that the library keeper be desired to provide these against the next
meeting." This minute book is still in the City Library, but it has been
overlooked by all previous writers of notices of the Library. It
commences with the proceedings of the meeting on the 9th February, 1656,
and records the meetings until April 3rd, 1733. As the Assembly Minute
Books for the years 1632 to 1682 are missing the actual "orders"
previously mentioned cannot be quoted, but fortunately the other end of
the Minute Book was used to write in the declaration of admission and the
rules for the conduct of the Library. They are as follows:--

"We whose names are hereunto annexed upon our admission to ye use of
ye Publick Library in ye City of Norwch, in Complyance wth an Act of
ye Common Council of ye said City dated ye 16th January 1656, do
faithfully engage and promise,

"Imprimis That we will not at any time Carry out of ye said Library
any booke belonging to it.

"2 ly That we will not Leave any booke belonging to ye said Library
(after our using it) out of its due place, nor write any thing in any
of ye bookes, nor Leave them wth any Leaves turned downe.

"3 ly That we will not prejudice any other pson by our use of ye said
Library, to which purpose we shall not at any time delay our going to
ye Library after ye receipt of ye Keyes from ye Keeper, nor ye
restoring them when we Come out of ye said Library.

"4 ly That we shall as to all these Articles be Responsabl for our
friends who shall goe wth us to ye said Library, as for our selves.

"5 ly We shall (being duly Chosen thereto) not above once in seaven
yeares, discharge ye office of Library-Keeper.

"6 ly We shall faithfully pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of
ye said Library quarterly, and also our equall share wth ye rest of
our brethren in all Charges they shall be at for ye better preserving
of ye said Library.

"All these things we shall endeavour faithfully to observe & keep, if
through our ne