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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by 
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
+
+Author: Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21630]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIBLIOMANIA IN THE MIDDLE AGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
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+
+
+BIBLIOMANIA
+
+IN
+
+THE MIDDLE AGES
+
+BY
+
+F. SOMNER MERRYWEATHER
+
+_With an Introduction by_
+CHARLES ORR
+Librarian of Case Library
+
+
+
+NEW YORK
+MEYER BROTHERS & COMPANY
+1900
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1900
+By Meyer Bros. & Co.
+
+
+
+
+Louis Weiss & Co.
+Printers....
+118 Fulton Street
+... New York
+
+
+
+
+Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
+
+OR
+
+SKETCHES OF BOOKWORMS, COLLECTORS, BIBLE STUDENTS, SCRIBES AND
+ILLUMINATORS
+
+_From the Anglo-Saxon and Norman Periods to the Introduction of Printing
+into England, with Anecdotes Illustrating the History of the Monastic
+Libraries of Great Britain in the Olden Time by_ F. Somner Merryweather,
+_with an Introduction by_ Charles Orr, _Librarian of Case Library._
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+In every century for more than two thousand years, many men have owed
+their chief enjoyment of life to books. The bibliomaniac of today had his
+prototype in ancient Rome, where book collecting was fashionable as early
+as the first century of the Christian era. Four centuries earlier there
+was an active trade in books at Athens, then the center of the book
+production of the world. This center of literary activity shifted to
+Alexandria during the third century B. C. through the patronage of
+Ptolemy Soter, the founder of the Alexandrian Museum, and of his son,
+Ptolemy Philadelphus; and later to Rome, where it remained for many
+centuries, and where bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs were gradually
+evolved, and from whence in time other countries were invaded.
+
+For the purposes of the present work the middle ages cover the period
+beginning with the seventh century and ending with the time of the
+invention of printing, or about seven hundred years, though they are more
+accurately bounded by the years 500 and 1500 A. D. It matters little,
+however, since there is no attempt at chronological arrangement.
+
+About the middle of the present century there began to be a disposition
+to grant to mediæval times their proper place in the history of the
+preservation and dissemination of books, and Merryweather's _Bibliomania
+in the Middle Ages_ was one of the earliest works in English devoted to
+the subject. Previous to that time, those ten centuries lying between the
+fall of the Roman Empire and the revival of learning were generally
+referred to as the Dark Ages, and historians and other writers were wont
+to treat them as having been without learning or scholarship of any kind.
+
+Even Mr. Hallam,[1] with all that judicial temperament and patient
+research to which we owe so much, could find no good to say of the Church
+or its institutions, characterizing the early university as the abode of
+"indigent vagabonds withdrawn from usual labor," and all monks as
+positive enemies of learning.
+
+The gloomy survey of Mr. Hallam, clouded no doubt by his antipathy to all
+things ecclesiastical, served, however, to arouse the interest of the
+period, which led to other studies with different results, and later
+writers were able to discern below the surface of religious fanaticism
+and superstition so characteristic of those centuries, much of interest
+in the history of literature; to show that every age produced learned and
+inquisitive men by whom books were highly prized and industriously
+collected for their own sakes; in short, to rescue the period from the
+stigma of absolute illiteracy.
+
+If the reader cares to pursue the subject further, after going through
+the fervid defense of the love of books in the middle ages, of which this
+is the introduction, he will find outside of its chapters abundant
+evidence that the production and care of books was a matter of great
+concern. In the pages of _Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith_, by Mr.
+Kenelm Digby,[2] or of _The Dark Ages_, by Dr. S. R. Maitland,[3] or of
+that great work of recent years, _Books and their Makers during the
+Middle Ages_, by Mr. George Haven Putnam,[4] he will see vivid and
+interesting portraits of a great multitude of mediæval worthies who were
+almost lifelong lovers of learning and books, and zealous laborers in
+preserving, increasing and transmitting them. And though little of the
+mass that has come down to us was worthy of preservation on its own
+account as literature, it is exceedingly interesting as a record of
+centuries of industry in the face of such difficulties that to workers of
+a later period might have seemed insurmountable.
+
+A further fact worthy of mention is that book production was from the art
+point of view fully abreast of the other arts during the period, as must
+be apparent to any one who examines the collections in some of the
+libraries of Europe. Much of this beauty was wrought for the love of the
+art itself. In the earlier centuries religious institutions absorbed
+nearly all the social intellectual movements as well as the possession of
+material riches and land. Kings and princes were occupied with distant
+wars which impoverished them and deprived literature and art of that
+patronage accorded to it in later times. There is occasional mention,
+however, of wealthy laymen, whose religious zeal induced them to give
+large sums of money for the copying and ornamentation of books; and there
+were in the abbeys and convents lay brothers whose fervent spirits,
+burning with poetical imagination, sought in these monastic retreats and
+the labor of writing, redemption from their past sins. These men of faith
+were happy to consecrate their whole existence to the ornamentation of a
+single sacred book, dedicated to the community, which gave them in
+exchange the necessaries of life.
+
+The labor of transcribing was held, in the monasteries, to be a full
+equivalent of manual labor in the field. The rule of St. Ferreol, written
+in the sixth century, says that, "He who does not turn up the earth with
+the plough ought to write the parchment with his fingers."
+
+Mention has been made of the difficulties under which books were
+produced; and this is a matter which we who enjoy the conveniences of
+modern writing and printing can little understand. The hardships of the
+_scriptorium_ were greatest, of course, in winter. There were no fires in
+the often damp and ill-lighted cells, and the cold in some of the parts
+of Europe where books were produced must have been very severe.
+Parchment, the material generally used for writing upon after the
+seventh century, was at some periods so scarce that copyists were
+compelled to resort to the expedient of effacing the writing on old and
+less esteemed manuscripts.[5] The form of writing was stiff and regular
+and therefore exceedingly slow and irksome.
+
+In some of the monasteries the _scriptorium_ was at least at a later
+period, conducted more as a matter of commerce, and making of books
+became in time very profitable. The Church continued to hold the keys of
+knowledge and to control the means of productions; but the cloistered
+cell, where the monk or the layman, who had a penance to work off for a
+grave sin, had worked in solitude, gave way to the apartment specially
+set aside, where many persons could work together, usually under the
+direction of a _librarius_ or chief scribe. In the more carefully
+constructed monasteries this apartment was so placed as to adjoin the
+calefactory, which allowed the introduction of hot air, when needed.
+
+The seriousness with which the business of copying was considered is well
+illustrated by the consecration of the _scriptorium_ which was often
+done in words which may be thus translated: "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to bless
+this work-room of thy servants, that all which they write therein may be
+comprehended by their intelligence and realized in their work."
+
+While the work of the scribes was largely that of copying the scriptures,
+gospels, and books of devotion required for the service of the church,
+there was a considerable trade in books of a more secular kind.
+Particularly was this so in England. The large measure of attention given
+to the production of books of legends and romances was a distinguishing
+feature of the literature of England at least three centuries previous to
+the invention of printing. At about the twelfth century and after, there
+was a very large production and sale of books under such headings as
+chronicles, satires, sermons, works of science and medicine, treatises on
+style, prose romances and epics in verse. Of course a large proportion of
+these were written in or translated from the Latin, the former indicating
+a pretty general knowledge of that language among those who could buy or
+read books at all. That this familiarity with the Latin tongue was not
+confined to any particular country is abundantly shown by various
+authorities.
+
+Mr. Merryweather, whose book, as has been intimated, is only a defense
+of bibliomania itself as it actually existed in the middle ages, gives
+the reader but scant information as to processes of book-making at that
+time. But thanks to the painstaking research of others, these details are
+now a part of the general knowledge of the development of the book. The
+following, taken from Mr. Theodore De Vinne's _Invention of Printing_,
+will, we think, be found interesting:
+
+"The size most in fashion was that now known as the demy folio, of which
+the leaf is about ten inches wide and fifteen inches long, but smaller
+sizes were often made. The space to be occupied by the written text was
+mapped out with faint lines, so that the writer could keep his letters on
+a line, at even distance from each other and within the prescribed
+margin. Each letter was carefully drawn, and filled in or painted with
+repeated touches of the pen. With good taste, black ink was most
+frequently selected for the text; red ink was used only for the more
+prominent words, and the catch-letters, then known as the rubricated
+letters. Sometimes texts were written in blue, green, purple, gold or
+silver inks, but it was soon discovered that texts in bright color were
+not so readable as texts in black.
+
+"When the copyist had finished his sheet he passed it to the designer,
+who sketched the border, pictures and initials. The sheet was then given
+to the illuminator, who painted it. The ornamentation of a mediæval book
+of the first class is beyond description by words or by wood cuts. Every
+inch of space was used. Its broad margins were filled with quaint
+ornaments, sometimes of high merit, admirably painted in vivid colors.
+Grotesque initials, which, with their flourishes, often spanned the full
+height of the page, or broad bands of floriated tracery that occupied its
+entire width, were the only indications of changes of chapter or subject.
+In printer's phrase the composition was "close-up and solid" to the
+extreme degree of compactness. The uncommonly free use of red ink for the
+smaller initials was not altogether a matter of taste; if the page had
+been written entirely in black ink it would have been unreadable through
+its blackness. This nicety in writing consumed much time, but the
+mediæval copyist was seldom governed by considerations of time or
+expense. It was of little consequence whether the book he transcribed
+would be finished in one or in ten years. It was required only that he
+should keep at his work steadily and do his best. His skill is more to be
+commended than his taste. Many of his initials and borders were
+outrageously inappropriate for the text for which they were designed. The
+gravest truths were hedged in the most childish conceits. Angels,
+butterflies, goblins, clowns, birds, snails and monkeys, sometimes in
+artistic, but much oftener in grotesque and sometimes in highly offensive
+positions are to be found in the illuminated borders of copies of the
+gospels and writings of the fathers.
+
+"The book was bound by the forwarder, who sewed the leaves and put them
+in a cover of leather or velvet; by the finisher, who ornamented the
+cover with gilding and enamel. The illustration of book binding,
+published by Amman in his Book of Trades, puts before us many of the
+implements still in use. The forwarder, with his customary apron of
+leather, is in the foreground, making use of a plow-knife for trimming
+the edges of a book. The lying press, which rests obliquely against the
+block before him, contains a book that has received the operation of
+backing-up from a queer shaped hammer lying upon the floor. The workman
+at the end of the room is sewing together the sections of a book, for
+sewing was properly regarded as a man's work, and a scientific operation
+altogether beyond the capacity of the raw seamstress. The work of the
+finisher is not represented, but the brushes, the burnishers, the
+sprinklers and the wheel-shaped gilding tools hanging against the wall
+leave us no doubt as to their use. There is an air of antiquity about
+everything connected with this bookbindery which suggests the thought
+that its tools and usages are much older than those of printing.
+Chevillier says that seventeen professional bookbinders found regular
+employment in making up books for the University of Paris, as early as
+1292. Wherever books were produced in quantities, bookbinding was set
+apart as a business distinct from that of copying.
+
+"The poor students who copied books for their own use were also obliged
+to bind them, which they did in a simple but efficient manner by sewing
+together the folded sheets, attaching them to narrow parchment bands, the
+ends of which were made to pass through a cover of stout parchment at the
+joint near the back. The ends of the bands were then pasted down under
+the stiffening sheet of the cover, and the book was pressed. Sometimes
+the cover was made flexible by the omission of the stiffening sheet;
+sometimes the edges of the leaves were protected by flexible and
+overhanging flaps which were made to project over the covers; or by the
+insertion in the covers of stout leather strings with which the two
+covers were tied together. Ornamentation was entirely neglected, for a
+book of this character was made for use and not for show. These methods
+of binding were mostly applied to small books intended for the pocket;
+the workmanship was rough, but the binding was strong and serviceable."
+
+The book of Mr. Merryweather, here reprinted, is thought worthy of
+preservation in a series designed for the library of the booklover. Its
+publication followed shortly after that of the works of Digby and
+Maitland, but shows much original research and familiarity with early
+authorities; and it is much more than either of these, or of any book
+with which we are acquainted, a plea in defense of bibliomania in the
+middle ages. Indeed the charm of the book may be said to rest largely
+upon the earnestness with which he takes up his self-imposed task. One
+may fancy that after all he found it not an easy one; in fact his
+"Conclusion" is a kind of apology for not having made out a better case.
+But this he believes he has proven, "that with all their superstition,
+with all their ignorance, their blindness to philosophic light--the monks
+of old were hearty lovers of books; that they encouraged learning,
+fostered it, and transcribed repeatedly the books which they had rescued
+from the destruction of war and time; and so kindly cherished and
+husbanded them as intellectual food for posterity. Such being the case,
+let our hearts look charitably upon them; and whilst we pity them for
+their superstition, or blame them for their pious frauds, love them as
+brother men and workers in the mines of literature."
+
+Of the author himself little can be learned. A diligent search revealed
+little more than the entry in the London directory which, in various
+years from 1840 to 1850, gives his occupation as that of bookseller, at
+14 King Street, Holborn. Indeed this is shown by the imprint of the
+title-page of _Bibliomania_, which was published in 1849. He published
+during the same year _Dies Dominicæ_, and in 1850 _Glimmerings in the
+Dark_, and _Lives and Anecdotes of Misers_. The latter has been
+immortalized by Charles Dickens as one of the books bought at the
+bookseller's shop by Boffin, the Golden Dustman, and which was read to
+him by the redoubtable Silas Wegg during Sunday evenings at "Boffin's
+Bower."[6]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] Hallam, Henry. "Introduction to the Literature of Europe." 4
+    vols. London.
+
+[2] Digby, Kenelm. "Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith." 3 vols.
+    London, 1848.
+
+[3] Maitland, S. R. "The Dark Ages; a Series of Essays Intended to
+    Illustrate the State of Religion and Literature in the Ninth, Tenth,
+    Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries." London, 1845.
+
+[4] Putnam, George Haven. "Books and their Makers during the Middle
+    Ages; a Study of the Conditions of the Production and Distribution
+    of Literature from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the Close of the
+    Seventeenth Century."
+
+[5] Lacroix, Paul. "Arts of the Middle Ages." Our author, however
+    (_vide_ page 58, _note_), quotes the accounts of the Church of
+    Norwich to show that parchments sold late in the thirteenth century
+    at about 1 d. per sheet; but Putnam and other writers state that up
+    to that time it was a very costly commodity.
+
+[6] Dickens's Mutual Friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+     _Introductory Remarks--Monachism--Book Destroyers--Effects of the
+     Reformation on Monkish Learning, etc._
+
+
+In recent times, in spite of all those outcries which have been so
+repeatedly raised against the illiterate state of the dark ages, many and
+valuable efforts have been made towards a just elucidation of those
+monkish days. These labors have produced evidence of what few
+anticipated, and some even now deny, viz., that here and there great
+glimmerings of learning are perceivable; and although debased, and often
+barbarous too, they were not quite so bad as historians have usually
+proclaimed them. It may surprise some, however, that an attempt should be
+made to prove that, in the olden time in "merrie Englande," a passion
+which Dibdin has christened Bibliomania, existed then, and that there
+were many cloistered bibliophiles as warm and enthusiastic in book
+collecting as the Doctor himself. But I must here crave the patience of
+the reader, and ask him to refrain from denouncing what he may deem a
+rash and futile attempt, till he has perused the volume and thought well
+upon the many facts contained therein. I am aware that many of these
+facts are known to all, but some, I believe, are familiar only to the
+antiquary--the lover of musty parchments and the cobwebbed chronicles of
+a monastic age. I have endeavored to bring these facts together--to
+connect and string them into a continuous narrative, and to extract from
+them some light to guide us in forming an opinion on the state of
+literature in those ages of darkness and obscurity; and here let it be
+understood that I merely wish to give a fact as history records it. I
+will not commence by saying the Middle Ages were dark and miserably
+ignorant, and search for some poor isolated circumstance to prove it; I
+will not affirm that this was pre-eminently the age in which real piety
+flourished and literature was fondly cherished, and strive to find all
+those facts which show its learning, purposely neglecting those which
+display its unlettered ignorance: nor let it be deemed ostentation when I
+say that the literary anecdotes and bookish memoranda now submitted to
+the reader have been taken, where such a course was practicable, from
+the original sources, and the references to the authorities from whence
+they are derived have been personally consulted and compared.
+
+That the learning of the Middle Ages has been carelessly represented
+there can be little doubt: our finest writers in the paths of history
+have employed their pens in denouncing it; some have allowed difference
+of opinion as regards ecclesiastical policy to influence their
+conclusions; and because the poor scribes were monks, the most licentious
+principles, the most dismal ignorance and the most repulsive crimes have
+been attributed to them. If the monks deserved such reproaches from
+posterity, they have received no quarter; if they possessed virtues as
+christians, and honorable sentiments as men, they have met with no reward
+in the praise or respect of this liberal age: they were monks!
+superstitious priests and followers of Rome! What good could come of
+them? It cannot be denied that there were crimes perpetrated by men
+aspiring to a state of holy sanctity; there are instances to be met with
+of priests violating the rules of decorum and morality; of monks
+revelling in the dissipating pleasures of sensual enjoyments, and of nuns
+whose frail humanity could not maintain the purity of their virgin vows.
+But these instances are too rare to warrant the slanders and scurrility
+that historians have heaped upon them. And when we talk of the sensuality
+of the monks, of their gross indulgences and corporeal ease, we surely do
+so without discrimination; for when we speak of the middle ages thus, our
+thoughts are dwelling on the sixteenth century, its mocking piety and
+superstitious absurdity; but in the olden time of monastic rule, before
+monachism had burst its ancient boundaries, there was surely nothing
+physically attractive in the austere and dull monotony of a cloistered
+life. Look at the monk; mark his hard, dry studies, and his midnight
+prayers, his painful fasting and mortifying of the flesh; what can we
+find in this to tempt the epicure or the lover of indolence and sloth?
+They were fanatics, blind and credulous--I grant it. They read gross
+legends, and put faith in traditionary lies--I grant it; but do not say,
+for history will not prove it, that in the middle ages the monks were
+wine bibbers and slothful gluttons. But let not the Protestant reader be
+too hastily shocked. I am not defending the monastic system, or the
+corruption of the cloister--far from it. I would see the usefulness of
+man made manifest to the world; but the measure of my faith teaches
+charity and forgiveness, and I can find in the functions of the monk much
+that must have been useful in those dark days of feudal tyranny and
+lordly despotism. We much mistake the influence of the monks by mistaking
+their position; we regard them as a class, but forget from whence they
+sprang; there was nothing aristocratic about them, as their constituent
+parts sufficiently testify; they were, perhaps, the best representatives
+of the people that could be named, being derived from all classes of
+society. Thus Offa, the Saxon king, and Cædman, the rustic herdsman, were
+both monks. These are examples by no means rare, and could easily be
+multiplied. Such being the case, could not the monks more readily feel
+and sympathize with all, and more clearly discern the frailties of their
+brother man, and by kind admonition or stern reproof, mellow down the
+ferocity of a Saxon nature, or the proud heart of a Norman tyrant? But
+our object is not to analyze the social influence of Monachism in the
+middle ages: much might be said against it, and many evils traced to the
+sad workings of its evil spirit, but still withal something may be said
+in favor of it, and those who regard its influence in _those days alone_
+may find more to admire and defend than they expected, or their
+Protestant prejudices like to own.
+
+But, leaving these things, I have only to deal with such remains as
+relate to the love of books in those times. I would show the means then
+in existence of acquiring knowledge, the scarcity or plentitude of books,
+the extent of their libraries, and the rules regulating them; and bring
+forward those facts which tend to display the general routine of a
+literary monk, or the prevalence of Bibliomania in those days.
+
+It is well known that the great national and private libraries of Europe
+possess immense collections of manuscripts, which were produced and
+transcribed in the monasteries, during the middle ages, thousands there
+are in the rich alcoves of the Vatican at Rome, unknown save to a choice
+and favored few; thousands there are in the royal library of France, and
+thousands too reposing on the dusty shelves of the Bodleian and Cottonian
+libraries in England; and yet, these numbers are but a small portion--a
+mere relic--of the intellectual productions of a past and obscure
+age.[7] The barbarians, who so frequently convulsed the more civilized
+portions of Europe, found a morbid pleasure in destroying those works
+which bore evidence to the mental superiority of their enemies. In
+England, the Saxons, the Danes, and the Normans were each successively
+the destroyers of literary productions. The Saxon Chronicle, that
+invaluable repository of the events of so many years, bears ample
+testimony to numerous instances of the loss of libraries and works of
+art, from fire, or by the malice of designing foes. At some periods, so
+general was this destruction, so unquenchable the rapacity of those who
+caused it, that instead of feeling surprised at the manuscripts of those
+ages being so few and scanty, we have cause rather to wonder that so many
+have been preserved. For even the numbers which escaped the hands of the
+early and unlettered barbarians met with an equally ignominious fate from
+those for whom it would be impossible to hold up the darkness of their
+age as a plausible excuse for the commission of this egregious folly.
+These men over whose sad deeds the bibliophile sighs with mournful
+regret, were those who carried out the Reformation, so glorious in its
+results; but the righteousness of the means by which those results were
+effected are very equivocal indeed. When men form themselves into a
+faction and strive for the accomplishment of one purpose, criminal deeds
+are perpetrated with impunity, which, individually they would blush and
+scorn to do; they feel no direct responsibility, no personal restraint;
+and, such as possess fierce passions, under the cloak of an organized
+body, give them vent and gratification; and those whose better feelings
+lead them to contemplate upon these things content themselves with the
+conclusion, that out of evil cometh good.
+
+The noble art of printing was unable, with all its rapid movements, to
+rescue from destruction the treasures of the monkish age; the advocates
+of the Reformation eagerly sought for and as eagerly destroyed those old
+popish volumes, doubtless there was much folly, much exaggerated
+superstition pervading them; but there was also some truth, a few facts
+worth knowing, and perhaps a little true piety also, and it would have
+been no difficult matter to have discriminated between the good and the
+bad. But the careless grants of a licentious monarch conferred a
+monastery on a court favorite or political partizan without one thought
+for the preservation of its contents. It is true a few years after the
+dissolution of these houses, the industrious Leland was appointed to
+search and rummage over their libraries and to preserve any relic worthy
+of such an honor; but it was too late, less learned hands had rifled
+those parchment collections long ago, mutilated their finest volumes by
+cutting out with childish pleasure the illuminations with which they were
+adorned; tearing off the bindings for the gold claps which protected the
+treasures within,[8] and chopping up huge folios as fuel for their
+blazing hearths, and immense collections were sold as waste paper. Bale,
+a strenuous opponent of the monks, thus deplores the loss of their books:
+"Never had we bene offended for the losse of our lybraryes beynge so many
+in nombre and in so desolate places for the moste parte, yf the chief
+monuments and moste notable workes of our excellent wryters had bene
+reserved, yf there had bene in every shyre of Englande but one solemyne
+library to the preservacyon of those noble workers, and preferrement of
+good learnynges in oure posteryte it had bene yet somewhat. But to
+destroye all without consyderacion, is and wyll be unto Englande for ever
+a most horryble infamy amonge the grave senyours of other nations. A
+grete nombre of them whych purchased those superstycyose mansyons
+reserved of those lybrarye bokes, some to serve theyr jakes, some to
+scoure theyr candelstyckes, and some to rubbe theyr bootes; some they
+solde to the grossers and sope sellers, and some they sent over see to
+the bokebynders,[9] not in small nombre, but at tymes _whole shippes
+ful_. I know a merchant man, whyche shall at thys tyme be nameless, that
+boughte the contents of two noble lybraryes for xl shyllyngs pryce, a
+shame is it to be spoken. Thys stuffe hathe he occupyed in the stide of
+graye paper for the space of more than these ten years, and yet hath
+store ynough for as many years to come. A prodyguose example is this, and
+to be abhorred of all men who love theyr natyon as they shoulde do."[10]
+
+However pernicious the Roman religion might have been in its practice, it
+argues little to the honor of the reformers to have used such means as
+this to effect its cure; had they merely destroyed those productions
+connected with the controversies of the day, we might perhaps have
+excused it, on the score of party feeling; but those who were
+commissioned to visit the public libraries of the kingdom were often men
+of prejudiced intellects and shortsighted wisdom, and it frequently
+happened that an ignorant and excited mob became the executioners of
+whole collections.[11] It would be impossible now to estimate the loss.
+Manuscripts of ancient and classic date would in their hands receive no
+more respect than some dry husky folio on ecclesiastical policy; indeed,
+they often destroyed the works of their own party through sheer
+ignorance. In a letter sent by Dr. Cox to William Paget, Secretary, he
+writes that the proclamation for burning books had been the occasion of
+much hurt. "For New Testaments and Bibles (not condemned by proclamation)
+have been burned, and that, out of parish churches and good men's houses.
+They have burned innumerable of the king's majesties books concerning our
+religion lately set forth."[12] The ignorant thus delighted to destroy
+that which they did not understand, and the factional spirit of the more
+enlightened would not allow them to make one effort for the preservation
+of those valuable relics of early English literature, which crowded the
+shelves of the monastic libraries; the sign of the cross, the use of red
+letters on the title page, the illuminations representing saints, or the
+diagrams and circles of a mathematical nature, were at all times deemed
+sufficient evidence of their popish origin and fitness for the
+flames.[13]
+
+When we consider the immense number of MSS. thus destroyed, we cannot
+help suspecting that, if they had been carefully preserved and examined,
+many valuable and original records would have been discovered. The
+catalogues of old monastic establishments, although containing a great
+proportion of works on divine and ecclesiastical learning, testify that
+the monks did not confine their studies exclusively to legendary tales or
+superstitious missals, but that they also cultivated a taste for
+classical and general learning. Doubtless, in the ruin of the sixteenth
+century, many original works of monkish authors perished, and the
+splendor of the transcript rendered it still more liable to destruction;
+but I confess, as old Fuller quaintly says, that "there were many volumes
+full fraught with superstition which, notwithstanding, might be useful to
+learned men, except any will deny apothecaries the privilege of keeping
+poison in their shops, when they can make antidotes of them. But besides
+this, what beautiful bibles! Rare fathers! Subtle schoolmen! Useful
+historians! Ancient! Middle! Modern! What painful comments were here
+amongst them! What monuments of mathematics all massacred together!"[14]
+
+More than a cart load of manuscripts were taken away from Merton College
+and destroyed, and a vast number from the Baliol and New Colleges,
+Oxford;[15] but these instances might be infinitely multiplied, so
+terrible were those intemperate outrages. All this tends to enforce upon
+us the necessity of using considerable caution in forming an opinion of
+the nature and extent of learning prevalent during those ages which
+preceded the discovery of the art of printing.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[7] The sad page in the Annals of Literary History recording the
+    destruction of books and MSS. fully prove this assertion. In France,
+    in the year 1790, 4,194,000 volumes were burnt belonging to the
+    suppressed monasteries, about 25,000 of these were manuscripts.
+
+[8] "About this time (Feb. 25, 1550) the Council book mentions the
+    king's sending a letter for the purging his library at Westminster.
+    The persons are not named, but the business was to cull out all
+    superstitious books, as missals, legends, and such like, and to
+    deliver the garniture of the books, being either gold or silver, to
+    Sir Anthony Aucher. These books were many of them plated with gold
+    and silver and curiously embossed. This, as far as we can collect,
+    was the superstition that destroyed them. Here avarice had a very
+    thin disguise, and the courtiers discovered of what spirit they were
+    to a remarkable degree."--Collier's Eccle. History, vol. ii. p. 307.
+
+[9] Any one who can inspect a library of ancient books will find
+    proof of this. A collection of vellum scraps which I have derived
+    from these sources are very exciting to a bibliomaniac, a choice
+    line so abruptly broken, a monkish or classical verse so cruelly
+    mutilated! render an inspection of this odd collection, a
+    tantalizing amusement.
+
+[10] Bale's Leland's Laboryouse Journey, Preface.
+
+[11] The works of the Schoolmen, viz.: of P. Lombard, T. Aquinas,
+     Scotus and his followers and critics also, and such that had popish
+     scholars in them they cast out of all college libraries and private
+     studies.--_Wood's Hist. Oxon._, vol. i. b. 1. p. 108. And "least
+     their impiety and foolishness in this act should be further wanting,
+     they brought it to pass that certain rude young men should carry
+     this great spoil of books about the city on biers, which being so
+     done, to set them down in the common market place, and then burn
+     them, to the sorrow of many, as well as of the Protestants as of the
+     other party. This was by them styled 'the funeral of Scotus the
+     Scotists.' So that at this time and all this king's reign was seldom
+     seen anything in the universities but books of poetry, grammar, idle
+     songs, and frivolous stuff."--_Ibid., Wood is referring to the reign
+     of Edward VI._
+
+[12] Wood's Hist. Oxon, b. i. p. 81.
+
+[13] "Gutch has printed in his 'Collectiana' an order from the
+     Queen's commissioners to destroy all capes, vestments, albes,
+     missals, books, crosses, and such other idolatrous and superstitious
+     monuments whatsoever.'--vol. ii. p. 280."
+
+[14] Fuller's Church History, b. vi. p. 335.
+
+[15] Wood's Oxon, vol. i. b. i. p. 107
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     _Duties of the monkish librarian.--Rules of the library.--Lending
+     books.--Books allowed the monks for private reading.--Ridiculous
+     signs for books.--How the libraries were supported.--A monkish
+     blessing on books, etc._
+
+
+In this chapter I shall proceed to inquire into the duties of the monkish
+amanuensis, and show by what laws and regulations the monastic libraries
+were governed. The monotonous habits of a cloistered bibliophile will,
+perhaps, appear dry and fastidious, but still it is curious and
+interesting to observe how carefully the monks regarded their vellum
+tomes, how indefatigably they worked to increase their stores, and how
+eagerly they sought for books. But besides being regarded as a literary
+curiosity, the subject derives importance by the light it throws on the
+state of learning in those dark and "bookless" days, and the
+illustrations gleaned in this way fully compensate for the tediousness of
+the research.
+
+As a bibliophile it is somewhat pleasing to trace a deep book passion
+growing up in the barrenness of the cloister, and to find in some cowled
+monk a bibliomaniac as warm and enthusiastic in his way as the renowned
+"Atticus," or the noble Roxburghe, of more recent times. It is true we
+can draw no comparison between the result of their respective labors. The
+hundreds, which in the old time were deemed a respectable if not an
+extensive collection, would look insignificant beside the ostentatious
+array of modern libraries.
+
+But the very tenor of a monastic life compelled the monk to seek the
+sweet yet silent companionship of books; the rules of his order and the
+regulations of his fraternity enforced the strictest silence in the
+execution of his daily and never-ceasing duties. Attending mass, singing
+psalms, and midnight prayers, were succeeded by mass, psalms and prayers
+in one long undeviating round of yearly obligations; the hours
+intervening between these holy exercises were dull and tediously
+insupportable if unoccupied. Conversation forbidden, secular amusements
+denounced, yet idleness reproached, what could the poor monk seek as a
+relief in this distress but the friendly book; the willing and obedient
+companion of every one doomed to lonely hours and dismal solitude?
+
+The pride and glory of a monastery was a well stored library, which was
+committed to the care of the armarian, and with him rested all the
+responsibility of its preservation. According to the Consuetudines
+Canonicorum Regularium, it was his duty to have all the books of the
+monastery in his keeping catalogued and separately marked with their
+proper names.[16] Some of these old catalogues have been preserved, and,
+viewed as bibliographical remains of the middle ages, are of considerable
+importance; indeed, we cannot form a correct idea of the literature of
+those remote times without them. Many productions of authors are recorded
+in these brief catalogues whose former existence is only known to us by
+these means. There is one circumstance in connexion with them that must
+not be forgotten: instead of enumerating all the works which each volume
+contained, they merely specified the first, so that a catalogue of fifty
+or a hundred volumes might probably have contained nearly double that
+number of distinct works. I have seen MSS. formerly belonging to
+monasteries, which have been catalogued in this way, containing four or
+five others, besides the one mentioned. Designed rather to identify the
+book than to describe the contents of each volume, they wrote down the
+first word or two of the second leaf--this was the most prevalent usage;
+but they often adopted other means, sometimes giving a slight notice of
+the works which a volume contained; others took the precaution of noting
+down the last word of the last leaf but one,[17] a great advantage, as
+the monkish student could more easily detect at a glance whether the
+volume was perfect. The armarian was, moreover, particularly enjoined to
+inspect with scrupulous care the more ancient volumes, lest the
+moth-worms should have got at them, or they had become corrupt or
+mutilated, and, if such were the case, he was with great care to restore
+them. Probably the armarian was also the bookbinder to the monastery in
+ordinary cases, for he is here directed to cover the volumes with tablets
+of wood, that the inside may be preserved from moisture, and the
+parchment from the injurious effects of dampness. The different orders of
+books were to be kept separate from one another, and conveniently
+arranged; not squeezed too tight, lest it should injure or confuse them,
+but so placed that they might be easily distinguished, and those who
+sought them might find them without delay or impediment.[18]
+Bibliomaniacs have not been remarkable for their memory or punctuality,
+and in the early times the borrower was often forgetful to return the
+volume within the specified time. To guard against this, many rules were
+framed, nor was the armarian allowed to lend the books, even to
+neighboring monasteries, unless he received a bond or promise to restore
+them within a certain time, and if the person was entirely unknown, a
+book of equal value was required as a security for its safe return. In
+all cases the armarian was instructed to make a short memorandum of the
+name of the book which he had lent or received. The "great and precious
+books" were subject to still more stringent rules, and although under the
+conservation of the librarian, he had not the privilege of lending them
+to any one without the distinct permission of the abbot.[19] This was,
+doubtless, practised by all the monastic libraries, for all generously
+lent one another their books. In a collection of chapter orders of the
+prior and convent of Durham, bearing date 1235, it is evident that a
+similar rule was observed there, which they were not to depart from
+except at the desire of the bishop.[20] According to the constitutions
+for the government of the Abingdon monastery, the library was under the
+care of the Cantor, and all the writings of the church were consigned to
+his keeping. He was not allowed to part with the books or lend them
+without a sufficient deposit as a pledge for their safe return, except to
+persons of consequence and repute.[21] This was the practice at a much
+later period. When that renowned bibliomaniac, Richard de Bury, wrote his
+delightful little book called _Philobiblon_, the same rules were strictly
+in force. With respect to the lending of books, his own directions are
+that, if any one apply for a particular volume, the librarian was to
+carefully consider whether the library contained another copy of it; if
+so, he was at liberty to lend the book, taking care, however, that he
+obtained a security which was to exceed the value of the loan; they were
+at the same time to make a memorandum in writing of the name of the book,
+and the nature of the security deposited for it, with the name of the
+party to whom it was lent, with that of the officer or librarian who
+delivered it.[22]
+
+We learn by the canons before referred to, that the superintendence of
+all the writing and transcribing, whether in or out of the monastery,
+belonged to the office of the armarian, and that it was his duty to
+provide the scribes with parchment and all things necessary for their
+work, and to agree upon the price with those whom he employed. The monks
+who were appointed to write in the cloisters he supplied with copies for
+transcription; and that no time might be wasted, he was to see that a
+good supply was kept up. No one was to give to another what he himself
+had been ordered to write, or presume to do anything by his own will or
+inclination. Nor was it seemly that the armarian even should give any
+orders for transcripts to be made without first receiving the permission
+of his superior.[23]
+
+We here catch a glimpse of the quiet life of a monkish student, who
+labored with this monotonous regularity to amass his little library. If
+we dwell on these scraps of information, we shall discover some marks of
+a love of learning among them, and the liberality they displayed in
+lending their books to each other is a pleasing trait to dwell upon. They
+unhesitatingly imparted to others the knowledge they acquired by their
+own study with a brotherly frankness and generosity well becoming the
+spirit of a student. This they did by extensive correspondence and the
+temporary exchange of their books. The system of loan, which they in
+this manner carried on to a considerable extent, is an important feature
+in connection with our subject; innumerable and interesting instances of
+this may be found in the monastic registers, and the private letters of
+the times. The cheapness of literary productions of the present age
+render it an absolute waste of time to transcribe a whole volume, and
+except with books of great scarcity we seldom think of borrowing or
+lending one; having finished its perusal we place it on the shelf and in
+future regard it as a book of reference; but in those days one volume did
+the work of twenty. It was lent to a neighboring monastery, and this
+constituted its publication; for each monastery thus favored, by the aid
+perhaps of some half dozen scribes, added a copy to their own library,
+and it was often stipulated that on the return of the original a correct
+duplicate should accompany it, as a remuneration to its author. Nor was
+the volume allowed to remain unread; it was recited aloud at meals, or
+when otherwise met together, to the whole community. We shall do well to
+bear this in mind, and not hastily judge of the number of students by a
+comparison with the number of their books. But it was not always a mere
+single volume that the monks lent from their library. Hunter has
+printed[24] a list of books lent by the Convent of Henton, A. D. 1343, to
+a neighboring monastery, containing twenty volumes. The engagement to
+restore these books was formally drawn up and sealed.
+
+In the monasteries the first consideration was to see that the library
+was well stored with those books necessary for the performance of the
+various offices of the church, but besides these the library ought,
+according to established rules, to contain for the "edification of the
+brothers" such as were fit and needful to be consulted in common study.
+The Bible and great expositors; _Bibliothecæ et majores expositores_,
+books of martyrs, lives of saints, homilies, etc.;[25] these and other
+large books the monks were allowed to take and study in private, but the
+smaller ones they could only study in the library, lest they should be
+lost or mislaid. This was also the case with respect to the rare and
+choice volumes. When the armarian gave out books to the monks he made a
+note of their nature, and took an exact account of their number, so that
+he might know in a moment which of the brothers had it for perusal.[26]
+Those who studied together were to receive what books they choose; but
+when they had satisfied themselves, they were particularly directed to
+restore them to their assigned places; and when they at any time received
+from the armarian a book for their private reading, they were not allowed
+to lend it to any one else, or to use it in common, but to reserve it
+especially for his own private reading. The same rule extended to the
+singers, who if they required books for their studies, were to apply to
+the abbot.[27] The sick brothers were also entitled to the privilege of
+receiving from the armarian books for their solace and comfort; but as
+soon as the lamps were lighted in the infirmary the books were put away
+till the morning, and if not finished, were again given out from the
+library.[28] In the more ancient monasteries a similar case was observed
+with respect to their books. The rule of St. Pacome directed that the
+utmost attention should be paid to their preservation, and that when the
+monks went to the refectory they were not to leave their books open, but
+to carefully close and put them in their assigned places. The monastery
+of St. Pacome contained a vast number of monks; every house, says
+Mabillon, was composed of not less than forty monks, and the monastery
+embraced thirty or forty houses. Each monk, he adds, possessed his book,
+and few rested without forming a library; by which we may infer that the
+number of books was considerable.[29] Indeed, it was quite a common
+practice in those days, scarce as books were, to allow each of the monks
+one or more for his private study, besides granting them access to the
+library. The constitutions of Lanfranc, in the year 1072, directed the
+librarian, at the commencement of Lent, to deliver a book to each of the
+monks for their private reading, allowing them a whole year for its
+perusal.[30] There is one circumstance connected with the affairs of the
+library quite characteristic of monkish superstition, and bearing painful
+testimony to their mistaken ideas of what constituted "good works." In
+Martene's book there is a chapter, _De Scientia et Signis_--degrading and
+sad; there is something withal curious to be found in it. After enjoining
+the most scrupulous silence in the church, in the refectory, in the
+cloister, and in the dormitory, at all times, and in all seasons;
+transforming those men into perpetual mutes, and even when "actually
+necessary," permitting only a whisper to be articulated "in a low voice
+in the ear," _submissa voce in aure_, it then proceeds to describe a
+series of fantastic grimaces which the monks were to perform on applying
+to the armarian for books. The general sign for a book, _generali signi
+libri_, was to "extend the hand and make a movement as if turning over
+the leaves of a book." For a missal the monk was to make a similar
+movement with a sign of the cross; for the gospels the sign of the cross
+on the forehead; for an antiphon or book of responses he was to strike
+the thumb and little finger of the other hand together; for a book of
+offices or gradale to make the sign of a cross and kiss the fingers; for
+a tract lay the hand on the abdomen and apply the other hand to the
+mouth; for a capitulary make the general sign and extend the clasped
+hands to heaven; for a psalter place the hands upon the head in the form
+of a crown, such as the king is wont to wear.[31] Religious intolerance
+was rampant when this rule was framed; hot and rancorous denunciation was
+lavished with amazing prodigality against works of loose morality or
+heathen origin; nor did the monks feel much compassion--although they
+loved to read them--for the old authors of antiquity. Pagans they were,
+and therefore fit only to be named as infidels and dogs, so the monk was
+directed for a secular book, "which some pagan wrote after making the
+general sign to scratch his ear with his hand, just as a dog itching
+would do with his feet, because infidels are not unjustly compared to
+such creatures--_quia nec immerito infideles tali animanti
+contparantur_."[32] Wretched bigotry and puny malice! Yet what a sad
+reflection it is, that with all the foul and heartburning examples which
+those dark ages of the monks afford, posterity have failed to profit by
+them--religious intolerance, with all its vain-glory and malice,
+flourishes still, the cankering worm of many a Christian blossom! Besides
+the duties which we have enumerated, there were others which it was the
+province of the armarian to fulfil. He was particularly to inspect and
+collate those books which, according to the decrees of the church, it was
+unlawful to possess different from the authorized copies; these were the
+bible, the gospels, missals, epistles, collects graduales, antiphons,
+hymns, psalters, lessions, and the monastic rules; these were always to
+be alike even in the most minute point.[33] He was moreover directed to
+prepare for the use of the brothers short tables respecting the times
+mentioned in the capitulary for the various offices of the church, to
+make notes upon the matins, the mass, and upon the different orders.[34]
+In fact, the monkish amanuensis was expected to undertake all those
+matters which required care and learning combined. He wrote the letters
+of the monastery, and often filled the office of secretary to my Lord
+Abbot. In the monasteries of course the services of the librarian were
+unrequited by any pecuniary remuneration, but in the cathedral libraries
+a certain salary was sometimes allowed them. Thus we learn that the
+amanuensis of the conventual church of Ely received in the year 1372
+forty-three shillings and fourpence for his annual duties;[35] and
+Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, in the tenth century, gave considerable
+landed possessions to a monk of that church as a recompense for his
+services as librarian.[36] In some monasteries, in the twelfth century,
+if not earlier, they levied a tax on all the members of the community,
+who paid a yearly sum to the librarian for binding, preserving, and
+purchasing copies for the library. One of these rules, bearing date 1145,
+was made by Udon, Abbot of St. Père en Vallée à Chantres, and that it
+might be more plausibly received, he taxed himself as well as all the
+members of his own house.[37] The librarian sometimes, in addition to his
+regular duties, combined the office of precentor to the monastery.[38]
+Some of their account-books have been preserved, and by an inspection of
+them, we may occasionally gather some interesting and curious hints, as
+to the cost of books and writing materials in those times. As may be
+supposed, the monkish librarians often became great bibliophiles, for
+being in constant communication with choice manuscripts, they soon
+acquired a great mania for them. Posterity are also particularly indebted
+to the pens of these book conservators of the middle ages; for some of
+the best chroniclers and writers of those times were humble librarians to
+some religious house.
+
+Not only did the bibliophiles of old exercise the utmost care in the
+preservation of their darling books, but the religious basis of their
+education and learning prompted them to supplicate the blessing of God
+upon their goodly tomes. Although I might easily produce other instances,
+one will suffice to give an idea of their nature: "O Lord, send the
+virtue of thy Holy Spirit upon these our books; that cleansing them from
+all earthly things, by thy holy blessing, they may mercifully enlighten
+our hearts and give us true understanding; and grant that by thy
+teaching, they may brightly preserve and make full an abundance of good
+works according to thy will."[39]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[16] Cap. xxi. Martene de Antiquis Ecclesiæ Ritibus, tom. iii. p.
+     262.
+
+[17] See Catalogue of Hulne Abbey, Library MS. Harleian. No. 3897.
+
+[18] Martene de Antiq. Eccle. Rit., tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[19] _Ibid._ Ingulphus tells us that the same rule was observed in
+     Croyland Abbey.--_Apud Gale_, p. 104.
+
+[20] Marked b. iv. 26. Surtee Publications, vol. i. p. 121.
+
+[21] Const. admiss. Abbat, et gubernatione Monast. Abendum Cottonian
+     M.S. Claudius, b. vi. p. 194.
+
+[22] Philobiblon, 4to. _Oxon_, 1599, chap. xix.
+
+[23] Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ribibus, tom. iii. p. 263. For an
+     inattention to this the Council of Soissons, in 1121, ordered some
+     transcripts of Abelard's works to be burnt, and severely reproved
+     the author for his unpardonable neglect.--_Histoire Littéraire de la
+     France_, tom. ix. p. 28.
+
+[24] Catalogues of Monastic Libraries, pp. 16, 17.
+
+[25] Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[26] _Ibid._
+
+[27] _Ibid._, tom. iii. cap. xxxvi. pp. 269, 270.
+
+[28] Martene, tom. iii. p. 331. For a list of some books applied to
+     their use, see MS. Cot. Galba, c. iv. fo. 128.
+
+[29] Mabillon, Traité des Etudes Monastiques, 4to. _Paris_ 1691,
+     cap. vi. p. 34.
+
+[30] Wilkin's Concil. tom. i. p. 332.
+
+[31] Stat. pro Reform. ordin. Grandimont. ap. Martene cap. x.
+
+[32] _Ibid._, tom. iv. pp. 289, 339.
+
+[33] Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[34] _Ibid._, cap. xxi. p. 263.
+
+[35] Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the Church of Ely, p.
+     51.
+
+[36] Thomas' Survey of the Church of Worcester, p. 45.
+
+[37] Mabillon. Annal. tom. vi. pp. 651 and 652. Hist. Litt. de la
+     France, ix. p. 140.
+
+[38] They managed the pecuniary matters of the fraternity. William
+     of Malmsbury was precentor as well as librarian to his monastery.
+
+[39] Martene de Antiq. Eccl. Ritibus ii. p. 302.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     _Scriptoria and the Scribes.--Care in copying.--Bible reading
+     among the monks.--Booksellers in the middle ages.--Circulating
+     libraries.--Calligraphic art, etc._
+
+
+As the monasteries were the schools of learning, so their occupants were
+the preservers of literature, and, as Herault observes, had they not
+taken the trouble to transcribe books, the ancients had been lost to us
+for ever; to them, therefore, we owe much. But there are many, however,
+who suppose that the monastic establishments were hotbeds of superstition
+and fanaticism, from whence nothing of a useful or elevated nature could
+possibly emanate. They are too apt to suppose that the human intellect
+must be altogether weak and impotent when confined within such narrow
+limits; but truth and knowledge can exist even in the dark cells of a
+gloomy cloister, and inspire the soul with a fire that can shed a light
+far beyond its narrow precincts. Indeed, I scarce know whether to
+regret, as some appear to do, that the literature and learning of those
+rude times was preserved and fostered by the Christian church; it is
+said, that their strict devotion and religious zeal prompted them to
+disregard all things but a knowledge of those divine, but such is not the
+case; at least, I have not found it so; it is true, as churchmen, they
+were principally devoted to the study of divine and ecclesiastical lore;
+but it is also certain that in that capacity they gradually infused the
+mild spirit of their Master among the darkened society over which they
+presided, and among whom they shone as beacons of light in a dreary
+desert. But the church did more than this. She preserved to posterity the
+profane learnings of Old Greece and Rome; copied it, multiplied it, and
+spread it. She recorded to after generations in plain, simple language,
+the ecclesiastical and civil events of the past, for it is from the terse
+chronicles of the monkish churchmen that we learn now the history of what
+happened then. Much as we may dislike the monastic system, the cold,
+heartless, gloomy ascetic atmosphere of the cloister, and much as we may
+deplore the mental dissipation of man's best attributes, which the system
+of those old monks engendered, we must exercise a cool and impartial
+judgment, and remember that what now would be intolerable and monstrously
+inconsistent with our present state of intellectuality, might at some
+remote period, in the ages of darkness and comparative barbarism, have
+had its virtues and beneficial influences. As for myself, it would be
+difficult to convince me, with all those fine relics of their deeds
+before me, those beauteous fanes dedicated to piety and God, those
+libraries so crowded with their vellum tomes, so gorgeously adorned, and
+the abundant evidence which history bears to their known charity and
+hospitable love, that these monks and their system was a scheme of dismal
+barbarism; it may be so, but my reading has taught me different; but, on
+the other hand, although the monks possessed many excellent qualities,
+being the encouragers of literature, the preservers of books, and
+promulgators of civilization, we must not hide their numerous and
+palpable faults, or overlook the poison which their system of monachism
+_ultimately_ infused into the very vitals of society. In the early
+centuries, before the absurdities of Romanism were introduced, the
+influence of the monastic orders was highly beneficial to our Saxon
+ancestors, but in after ages the Church of England was degraded by the
+influence of the fast growing abominations of Popedom. She drank
+copiously of the deadly potion, and became the blighted and ghostly
+shadow of her former self. Forgetting the humility of her divine Lord,
+she sought rather to imitate the worldly splendor and arrogance of her
+Sovereign Pontiff. The evils too obviously existed to be overlooked; but
+it is not my place to further expose them; a more pleasing duty guides my
+pen; others have done all this, lashing them painfully for their oft-told
+sins. Frail humanity glories in chastizing the frailty of brother man.
+But we will not denounce them here, for did not the day of retribution
+come? And was not justice satisfied? Having made these few preliminary
+remarks, let us, in a brief manner, inquire into the system observed in
+the cloisters by the monks for the preservation and transcription of
+manuscripts. Let us peep into the quiet cells of those old monks, and see
+whether history warrants the unqualified contempt which their efforts in
+this department have met with.
+
+In most monasteries there were two kinds of Scriptoria, or writing
+offices; for in addition to the large and general apartment used for the
+transcription of church books and manuscripts for the library, there were
+also several smaller ones occupied by the superiors and the more learned
+members of the community, as closets for private devotion and study. Thus
+we read, that in the Cistercian orders there were places set apart for
+the transcription of books called Scriptoria, or cells assigned to the
+scribes, "separate from each other," where the books might be transcribed
+in the strictest silence, according to the holy rules of their
+founders.[40] These little cells were usually situated in the most
+retired part of the monastery, and were probably incapable of
+accommodating more than one or two persons;[41] dull and comfortless
+places, no doubt, yet they were deemed great luxuries, and the use of
+them only granted to such as became distinguished for their piety, or
+erudition. We read that when David went to the Isle of Wight, to
+Paulinus, to receive his education, he used to sup in the Refectory, but
+had a Scriptorium, or study, in his cell, being a famous scribe.[42] The
+aged monks, who often lived in these little offices, separate from the
+rest of the scribes, were not expected to work so arduously as the rest.
+Their employment was comparatively easy; nor were they compelled to work
+so long as those in the cloister.[43] There is a curious passage in
+Tangmar's Life of St. Bernward, which would lead us to suspect that
+private individuals possessed Scriptoria; for, says he, there are
+Scriptoria, not only in the monasteries, but in other places, in which
+are conceived books equal to the divine works of the philosophers.[44]
+The Scriptorium of the monastery in which the general business of a
+literary nature was transacted, was an apartment far more extensive and
+commodious, fitted up with forms and desks methodically arranged, so as
+to contain conveniently a great number of copyists. In some of the
+monasteries and cathedrals, they had long ranges of seats one after
+another, at which were seated the scribes, one well versed in the subject
+on which the book treated, recited from the copy whilst they wrote; so
+that, on a word being given out by him, it was copied by all.[45] The
+multiplication of manuscripts, under such a system as this, must have
+been immense; but they did not always make books, _fecit libros_, as
+they called it, in this wholesale manner, but each monk diligently
+labored at the transcription of a separate work.
+
+The amount of labor carried on in the Scriptorium, of course, in many
+cases depended upon the revenues of the abbey, and the disposition of the
+abbot; but this was not always the case, as in some monasteries they
+undertook the transcription of books as a matter of commerce, and added
+broad lands to their house by the industry of their pens. But the
+Scriptorium was frequently supported by resources solely applicable to
+its use. Laymen, who had a taste for literature, or who entertained an
+esteem for it in others, often at their death bequeathed estates for the
+support of the monastic Scriptoria. Robert, one of the Norman leaders,
+gave two parts of the tythes of Hatfield, and the tythes of Redburn, for
+the support of the Scriptorium of St. Alban's.[46] The one belonging to
+the monastery of St. Edmundsbury was endowed with two mills,[47] and in
+the church of Ely there is a charter of Bishof Nigellus, granting to the
+Scriptorium of the monastery the tythes of Wythessey and Impitor, two
+parts of the tythes of the Lordship of Pampesward, with 2s. 2d., and a
+messuage in Ely _ad faciendos et emandandos libros_.[48]
+
+The abbot superintended the management of the Scriptorium, and decided
+upon the hours for their labor, during which time they were ordered to
+work with unremitting diligence, "not leaving to go and wander in
+idleness," but to attend solely to the business of transcribing. To
+prevent detraction or interruption, no one was allowed to enter except
+the abbot, the prior, the sub-prior, and the armarian,[49] as the latter
+took charge of all the materials and implements used by the transcribers,
+it was his duty to prepare and give them out when required; he made the
+ink and cut the parchment ready for use. He was strictly enjoined,
+however, to exercise the greatest economy in supplying these precious
+materials, and not to give more copies "nec artavos, nec cultellos, nec
+scarpellæ, nec membranes," than was actually necessary, or than he had
+computed as sufficient for the work; and what the armarian gave them the
+monks were to receive without contradiction or contention.[50]
+
+The utmost silence prevailed in the Scriptorium; rules were framed, and
+written admonitions hung on the walls, to enforce the greatest care and
+diligence in copying exactly from the originals. In Alcuin's works we
+find one of these preserved; it is a piece inscribed "_Ad Musæum libros
+scribentium_;" the lines are as follows:
+
+    "Hic sideant sacræ scribentes famina legis,
+      Nec non sanctorum dicta sacrata Patrum,
+    Hæc interserere caveant sua frivola verbis,
+      Frivola nec propter erret et ipsa manus:
+
+    Correctosque sibi quærant studiose libellos,
+      Tramite quo recto penna volantis eat.
+    Per cola distinquant proprios, et commata sensus,
+      Et punctos ponant ordine quosque suo.
+
+    Ne vel falsa legat, taceat vel forte repente,
+      Ante pios fratres, lector in Ecclesia.
+    Est opus egregium sacros jam scribete libros,
+      Nec mercede sua scriptor et ipse caret.
+
+    Fodere quam vites, melius est scribere libros,
+      Ille suo ventri serviet, iste animæ.
+    Vel nova, vel vetera poterit proferre magister
+      Plurima, quisque legit dicta sacrata Patrum."[51]
+
+Other means were resorted to besides these to preserve the text of their
+books immaculate, it was a common practice for the scribe at the end of
+his copy, to adjure all who transcribed from it to use the greatest care,
+and to refrain from the least alteration of word or sense. Authors more
+especially followed this course, thus at the end of some we find such
+injunctions as this.
+
+"I adjure you who shall transcribe this book, by our Lord Jesus Christ
+and by his glorious coming, who will come to judge the quick and the
+dead, that you compare what you transcribe and diligently correct it by
+the copy from which you transcribe it--this adjuration also--and insert
+it in your copy."[52]
+
+The Consuetudines Canonicorum, before referred to, also particularly
+impressed this upon the monks, and directed that all the brothers who
+were engaged as scribes, were not to alter any writing, although in their
+own mind they might think it proper, without first receiving the sanction
+of the abbot, "_on no account were they to commit so great a
+presumption_."[53] But notwithstanding that the scribes were thus
+enjoined to use the utmost care in copying books, doubtless an occasional
+error crept in, which many causes might have produced, such as bad light,
+haste, a little drowsiness, imperfect sight, or even a flickering lamp
+was sufficient to produce some trivial error; but in works of importance
+the smallest error is of consequence, as some future scribe puzzled by
+the blunder, might, in an attempt to correct, still more augment the
+imperfection; to guard against this, with respect to the Scriptures, the
+most critical care was enforced. Monks advanced in age were alone allowed
+to transcribe them, and after their completion they were
+read--revised--and reread again, and it is by that means that so uniform
+a reading has been preserved, and although slight differences may here
+and there occur, there are no books which have traversed through the
+shadows of the dark ages, that preserve their original text so pure and
+uncorrupt as the copies of the Scriptures, the fathers of the church, and
+the ancient writings of the classic authors; sometimes, it is true, a
+manuscript of the last order is discovered possessing a very different
+reading in some particular passage; but these appear rather as futile
+emendations or interpolations of the scribe than as the result of a
+downright blunder, and are easily perceivable, for when the monkish
+churchmen tampered with ancient copies, it generally originated in a
+desire to smooth over the indecencies of the heathen authors, and so
+render them less liable to corrupt the holy contemplations of the
+devotee; and while we blame the pious fraud, we cannot but respect the
+motive that dictated it.
+
+But as regards the Scriptures, we talk of the carelessness of the monks
+and the interpolations of the scribes as if these were faults peculiar to
+the monastic ages alone; alas! the history of Biblical transmission tells
+us differently, the gross perversions, omissions, and errors wrought in
+the holy text, proclaim how prevalent these same faults have been in the
+ages of _printed literature_, and which appear more palpable by being
+produced amidst deep scholars, and surrounded with all the critical
+acumen of a learned age. Five or six thousand of these gross blunders, or
+these wilful mutilations, protest the unpleasant fact, and show how much
+of human grossness it has acquired, and how besmeared with corruption
+those sacred pages have become in passing through the hands of man, and
+the "revisings" of sectarian minds. I am tempted to illustrate this by an
+anecdote related by Sir Nicholas L'Estrange of Hunstanton, and preserved
+in a MS. in the Harlein collection.--"Dr. Usher, Bish. of Armath, being
+to preach at Paules Crosse and passing hastily by one of the stationers,
+called for a Bible, and had a little one of the London edition given him
+out, but when he came to looke for his text, that very verse was omitted
+in the print: which gave the first occasion of complaint to the king of
+the insufferable negligence, and insufficience of the London printers and
+presse, and bredde that great contest that followed, betwixt the univers.
+of Cambridge and London stationers, about printing of the Bibles."[54]
+Gross and numerous indeed were the errors of the corrupt bible text of
+that age, and far exceeding even the blunders of monkish pens, and
+certainly much less excusable, for in those times they seldom had a large
+collection of codices to compare, so that by studying their various
+readings, they could arrive at a more certain and authentic version. The
+paucity of the sacred volume, if it rendered their pens more liable to
+err, served to enforce upon them the necessity of still greater scrutiny.
+On looking over a monastic catalogue, the first volume that I search for
+is the Bible; and, I feel far more disappointment if I find it not there,
+than I do at the absence of Horace or Ovid--there is something so
+desolate in the idea of a Christian priest without the Book of Life--of a
+minister of God without the fountain of truth--that however favorably we
+may be prone to regard them, a thought will arise that the absence of
+this sacred book may perhaps be referred to the indolence of the monkish
+pen, or to the laxity of priestly piety. But such I am glad to say was
+not often the case; the Bible it is true was an expensive book, but can
+scarcely be regarded as a rare one; the monastery was indeed poor that
+had it not, and when once obtained the monks took care to speedily
+transcribe it. Sometimes they only possessed detached portions, but when
+this was the case they generally borrowed of some neighboring and more
+fortunate monastery, the missing parts to transcribe, and so complete
+their own copies. But all this did not make the Bible less loved among
+them, or less anxiously and ardently studied, they devoted their days,
+and the long hours of the night, to the perusal of those pages of
+inspired truth,[55] and it is a calumny without a shadow of foundation to
+declare that the monks were careless of scripture reading; it is true
+they did not apply that vigor of thought, and unrestrained reflection
+upon it which mark the labors of the more modern student, nor did they
+often venture to interpret the hidden meaning of the holy mysteries by
+the powers of their own mind, but were guided in this important matter by
+the works of the fathers. But hence arose a circumstance which gave full
+exercise to their mental powers and compelled the monk in spite of his
+timidity to think a little for himself. Unfortunately the fathers,
+venerable and venerated as they were, after all were but men, with many
+of the frailties and all the fallabilities of poor human nature; the pope
+might canonize them, and the priesthood bow submissively to their
+spiritual guidance, still they remained for all that but mortals of dust
+and clay, and their bulky tomes yet retain the swarthiness of the tomb
+about them, the withering impress of humanity. Such being the case we,
+who do not regard them quite so infallible, feel no surprise at a
+circumstance which sorely perplexed the monks of old, they unchained and
+unclasped their cumbrous "Works of the Fathers," and pored over those
+massy expositions with increasing wonder; surrounded by these holy
+guides, these fathers of infallibility, they were like strangers in a
+foreign land, did they follow this holy saint they seemed about to
+forsake the spiritual direction of one having equal claims to their
+obedience and respect; alas! for poor old weak tradition, those
+fabrications of man's faulty reason were found, with all their orthodoxy,
+to clash woefully in scriptural interpretation. Here was a dilemma for
+the monkish student! whose vow of obedience to patristical guidance was
+thus sorely perplexed; he read and re-read, analyzed passage after
+passage, interpreted word after word; and yet, poor man, his laborious
+study was fruitless and unprofitable! What bible student can refrain from
+sympathizing with him amidst these torturing doubts and this crowd of
+contradiction, but after all we cannot regret this, for we owe to it more
+than my feeble pen can write, so immeasurable have been the fruits of
+this little unheeded circumstance. It gave birth to many a bright
+independent declaration, involving pure lines of scripture
+interpretation, which appear in the darkness of those times like fixed
+stars before us; to this, in Saxon days, we are indebted for the labors
+of Ælfric and his anti-Roman doctrines, whose soul also sympathized with
+a later age by translating portions of the Bible into the vulgar tongue,
+thus making it accessible to all classes of the people. To this we are
+indebted for all the good that resulted from those various heterodoxies
+and heresies, which sometimes disturbed the church during the dark ages;
+but which wrought much ultimate good by compelling the thoughts of men to
+dwell on these important matters. Indeed, to the instability of the
+fathers, as a sure guide, we may trace the origin of all those efforts of
+the human mind, which cleared the way for the Reformation, and relieved
+man from the shackles of these spiritual guides of the monks.
+
+But there were many cloistered Christians who studied the bible
+undisturbed by these shadows and doubts, and who, heedless of patristical
+lore and saintly wisdom, devoured the spiritual food in its pure and
+uncontaminating simplicity--such students, humble, patient, devoted, will
+be found crowding the monastic annals, and yielding good evidence of the
+same by the holy tenor of their sinless lives, their Christian charity
+and love.
+
+But while so many obtained the good title of an "_Amator Scripturarum_,"
+as the bible student was called in those monkish days, I do not pretend
+to say that the Bible was a common book among them, or that every monk
+possessed one--far different indeed was the case--a copy of the Old and
+New Testament often supplied the wants of an entire monastery, and in
+others, as I have said before, only some detached portions were to be
+found in their libraries. Sometimes they were more plentiful, and the
+monastery could boast of two or three copies, besides a few separate
+portions, and occasionally I have met with instances where besides
+several _Biblia Optima_, they enjoyed Hebrew codices and translations,
+with numerous copies of the gospels. We must not forget, however, that
+the transcription of a Bible was a work of time, and required the outlay
+of much industry and wealth. "Brother Tedynton," a monk of Ely, commenced
+a Bible in 1396, and was several years before he completed it. The
+magnitude of the undertaking can scarcely be imagined by those
+unpractised in the art of copying, but when the monk saw the long labor
+of his pen before him, and looked upon the well bound strong clasped
+volumes, with their clean vellum folios and fine illuminations, he seemed
+well repaid for his years of toil and tedious labor, and felt a glow of
+pious pleasure as he contemplated his happy acquisition, and the comfort
+and solace which he should hereafter derive from its holy pages! We are
+not surprised then, that a Bible in those days should be esteemed so
+valuable, and capable of realizing a considerable sum. The monk,
+independent of its spiritual value, regarded it as a great possession,
+worthy of being bestowed at his death, with all the solemnity of a
+testamentary process, and of being gratefully acknowledged by the fervent
+prayers of the monkish brethren. Kings and nobles offered it as an
+appropriate and generous gift, and bishops were deemed benefactors to
+their church by adding it to the library. On its covers were written
+earnest exhortations to the Bible student, admonishing the greatest care
+in its use, and leveling anathemas and excommunications upon any one who
+should dare to purloin it. For its greater security it was frequently
+chained to a reading desk, and if a duplicate copy was lent to a
+neighboring monastery they required a large deposit, or a formal bond
+for its safe return.[56] These facts, while they show its value, also
+prove how highly it was esteemed among them, and how much the monks loved
+the Book of Life.
+
+But how different is the picture now--how opposite all this appears to
+the aspect of bible propagation in our own time. Thanks to the
+printing-press, to bible societies, and to the benevolence of God, we
+cannot enter the humblest cottage of the poorest peasant without
+observing the Scriptures on his little shelf--not always read, it is
+true--nor always held in veneration as in the old days before us--its
+very plentitude and cheapness takes off its attraction to irreligious and
+indifferent readers, but to poor and needy Christians what words can
+express the fulness of the blessing. Yet while we thank God for this
+great boon, let us refrain from casting uncharitable reflections upon the
+monks for its comparative paucity among them. If its possession was not
+so easily acquired, they were nevertheless true lovers of the Bible, and
+preserved and multiplied it in dark and troublous times.
+
+Our remarks have hitherto applied to the monastic scribes alone; but it
+is necessary here to speak of the secular copyists, who were an important
+class during the middle ages, and supplied the functions of the
+bibliopole of the ancients. But the transcribing trade numbered three or
+four distinct branches. There were the Librarii Antiquarii, Notarii, and
+the Illuminators--occasionally these professions were all united in
+one--where perseverance or talent had acquired a knowledge of these
+various arts. There appears to have been considerable competition between
+these contending bodies. The notarii were jealous of the librarii, and
+the librarii in their turn were envious of the antiquarii, who devoted
+their ingenuity to the transcription and repairing of old books
+especially, rewriting such parts as were defective or erased, and
+restoring the dilapidations of the binding. Being learned in old writings
+they corrected and revised the copies of ancient codices; of this class
+we find mention as far back as the time of Cassiodorus and Isidore.[57]
+"They deprived," says Astle, "the poor librarii, or common scriptores, of
+great part of their business, so that they found it difficult to gain a
+subsistence for themselves and their families. This put them about
+finding out more expeditious methods of transcribing books. They formed
+the letters smaller, and made use of more conjugations and abbreviations
+than had been usual. They proceeded in this manner till the letters
+became exceedingly small and extremely difficult to be read."[58] The
+fact of there existing a class of men, whose fixed employment or
+profession was solely confined to the transcription of ancient writings
+and to the repairing of tattered copies, in contradistinction to the
+common scribes, and depending entirely upon the exercise of their art as
+a means of obtaining a subsistence, leads us to the conclusion that
+ancient manuscripts were by no means so very scarce in those days; for
+how absurd and useless it would have been for men to qualify themselves
+for transcribing these antiquated and venerable codices, if there had
+been no probability of obtaining them to transcribe. The fact too of its
+becoming the subject of so much competition proves how great was the
+demand for their labor.[59]
+
+We are unable, with any positive result, to discover the exact origin of
+the secular scribes, though their existence may probably be referred to a
+very remote period. The monks seem to have monopolized for some ages the
+"_Commercium Librorum_,"[60] and sold and bartered copies to a
+considerable extent among each other. We may with some reasonable
+grounds, however, conjecture that the profession was flourishing in Saxon
+times; for we find several eminent names in the seventh and eighth
+centuries who, in their epistolary correspondence, beg their friends to
+procure transcripts for them. Benedict, Bishop of Wearmouth, purchased
+most of his book treasures at Rome, which was even at that early period
+probably a famous mart for such luxuries, as he appears to have journeyed
+there for that express purpose. Some of the books which he collected were
+presents from his foreign friends; but most of them, as Bede tells us,
+were _bought_ by himself, or in accordance with his instructions, by his
+friends.[61] Boniface, the Saxon missionary, continually writes for books
+to his associates in all parts of Europe. At a subsequent period the
+extent and importance of the profession grew amazingly; and in Italy its
+followers were particularly numerous in the tenth century, as we learn
+from the letters of Gerbert, afterwards Silvester II., who constantly
+writes, with the cravings of a bibliomaniac, to his friends for books,
+and begs them to get the scribes, who, he adds, in one of his letters,
+may be found in all parts of Italy,[62] both in town and in the country,
+to make transcripts of certain books for him, and he promises to
+reimburse his correspondent all that he expends for the same.
+
+These public scribes derived their principal employment from the monks
+and the lawyers; from the former in transcribing their manuscripts, and
+by the latter in drawing up their legal instruments. They carried on
+their avocation at their own homes like other artisans; but sometimes
+when employed by the monks executed their transcripts within the
+cloister, where they were boarded, lodged, and received their wages till
+their work was done. This was especially the case when some great book
+was to be copied, of rarity and price; thus we read of Paulinus, of St.
+Albans, sending into distant parts to obtain proficient workmen, who were
+paid so much per diem for their labor; their wages were generously
+supplied by the Lord of Redburn.[63]
+
+The increase of knowledge and the foundation of the universities gave
+birth to the booksellers. Their occupation as a distinct trade originated
+at a period coeval with the foundation of these public seminaries,
+although the first mention that I am aware of is made by Peter of Blois,
+about the year 1170. I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter of
+this celebrated scholar, but I may be excused for giving the anecdote
+here, as it is so applicable to my subject. It appears, then, that whilst
+remaining in Paris to transact some important matter for the King of
+England, he entered the shop of "a public dealer in books"--for be it
+known that the archdeacon was always on the search, and seldom missed an
+opportunity of adding to his library--the bookseller, Peter tells us,
+offered him a tempting collection on Jurisprudence; but although his
+knowledge of such matters was so great that he did not require them for
+his own use, he thought they might be serviceable to his nephew, and
+after bargaining a little about the price he counted down the money
+agreed upon and left the stall; but no sooner was his back turned than
+the Provost of Sexeburgh came in to look over the literary stores of the
+stationer, and his eye meeting the recently sold volume, he became
+inspired with a wish to possess it; nor could he, on hearing it was
+bought and paid for by another, suppress his anxiety to obtain the
+treasure; but, offering more money, actually took the volume away by
+force. As may be supposed, Archdeacon Peter was sorely annoyed at this
+behavior; and "To his dearest companion and friend Master Arnold of
+Blois, Peter of Blois Archdeacon of Bath sent greeting," a long and
+learned letter, displaying his great knowledge of civil law, and
+maintaining the illegality of the provost's conduct.[64] The casual way
+in which this is mentioned make it evident that the "_publico mangone
+Librorum_" was no unusual personage in those days, but belonged to a
+common and recognized profession.
+
+The vast number of students who, by the foundation of universities, were
+congregated together, generated of course a proportionate demand for
+books, which necessity or luxury prompted them eagerly to purchase: but
+there were poor as well as rich students educated in these great
+seminaries of learning, whose pecuniary means debarred them from the
+acquisition of such costly luxuries; and for this and other cogent
+reasons the universities deemed it advantageous, and perhaps expedient,
+to frame a code of laws and regulations to provide alike for the literary
+wants of all classes and degrees. To effect this they obtained royal
+sanction to take the trade entirely under their protection, and
+eventually monopolized a sole legislative power over the _Librarii_.
+
+In the college of Navarre a great quantity of ancient documents are
+preserved, many of which relate to this curious subject. They were
+deposited there by M. Jean Aubert in 1623, accompanied by an inventory of
+them, divided into four parts by the first four letters of the alphabet.
+In the fourth, under D. 18, there is a chapter entitled "Des Libraires
+Appretiateurs, Jurez et Enlumineurs," which contains much interesting
+matter relating to the early history of bookselling.[65] These ancient
+statutes, collected and printed by the University in the year 1652,[66]
+made at various times, and ranging between the years 1275 and 1403, give
+us a clear insight into the matter.
+
+The nature of a bookseller's business in those days required no ordinary
+capacity, and no shallow store of critical acumen; the purchasing of
+manuscripts, the work of transcription, the careful revisal, the
+preparation of materials, the tasteful illuminations, and the process of
+binding, were each employments requiring some talent and discrimination,
+and we are not surprised, therefore, that the avocation of a dealer and
+fabricator of these treasures should be highly regarded, and dignified
+into a profession, whose followers were invested with all the privileges,
+freedoms and exemptions, which the masters and students of the university
+enjoyed.[67] But it required these conciliations to render the
+restrictive and somewhat severe measures, which she imposed on the
+bookselling trade, to be received with any degree of favor or submission.
+For whilst the University of Paris, by whom these statutes were framed,
+encouraged and elevated the profession of the librarii, she required, on
+the other hand, a guarantee of their wealth and mental capacity, to
+maintain and to appreciate these important concessions; the bookseller
+was expected indeed to be well versed in all branches of science, and to
+be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of those subjects and works of
+which he undertook to produce transcripts.[68] She moreover required of
+him testimonials to his good character, and efficient security, ratified
+by a solemn oath of allegiance,[69] and a promise to observe and submit
+to all the present and future laws and regulations of the university. In
+some cases, it appears that she restricted the number of librarii, though
+this fell into disuse as the wants of the students increased. Twenty-four
+seems to have been the original number,[70] which is sufficiently great
+to lead to the conclusion that bookselling was a flourishing trade in
+those old days. By the statutes of the university, the bookseller was
+not allowed to expose his transcripts for sale, without first submitting
+them to the inspection of certain officers appointed by the university,
+and if an error was discovered, the copies were ordered to be burnt or a
+fine levied on them, proportionate to their inaccuracy. Harsh and
+stringent as this may appear at first sight, we shall modify our opinion,
+on recollecting that the student was in a great degree dependent upon the
+care of the transcribers for the fidelity of his copies, which rendered a
+rule of this nature almost indispensable; nor should we forget the great
+service it bestowed in maintaining the primitive accuracy of ancient
+writers, and in transmitting them to us through those ages in their
+original purity.[71]
+
+In these times of free trade and unrestrained commercial policy, we shall
+regard less favorably a regulation which they enforced at Paris,
+depriving the bookseller of the power of fixing a price upon his own
+goods. Four booksellers were appointed and sworn in to superintend this
+department, and when a new transcript was finished, it was brought by the
+bookseller, and they discussed its merits and fixed its value, which
+formed the amount the bookseller was compelled to ask for it; if he
+demanded of his customer a larger sum, it was deemed a fraudulent
+imposition, and punishable as such. Moreover, as an advantage to the
+students, the bookseller was expected to make a considerable reduction in
+his profits in supplying them with books; by one of the laws of the
+university, his profit on each volume was confined to four deniers to
+student, and six deniers to a common purchaser. The librarii were still
+further restricted in the economy of their trade, by a rule which forbade
+any one of them to dispose of his entire stock of books without the
+consent of the university; but this, I suspect, implied the disposal of
+the stock and trade together, and was intended to intimate that the
+introduction of the purchaser would not be allowed, without the
+cognizance and sanction of the university.[72] Nor was the bookseller
+able to purchase books without her consent, lest they should be of an
+immoral or heretical tendency; and they were absolutely forbidden to buy
+any of the students, without the permission of the rector.
+
+But restricted as they thus were, the book merchants nevertheless grew
+opulent, and transacted an important and extensive trade; sometimes they
+purchased parts and sometimes they had whole libraries to sell.[73] Their
+dealings were conducted with unusual care, and when a volume of peculiar
+rarity or interest was to be sold, a deed of conveyance was drawn up with
+legal precision, in the presence of authorized witnesses.
+
+In those days of high prices and book scarcity, the poor student was
+sorely impeded in his progress; to provide against these disadvantages,
+they framed a law in 1342, at Paris, compelling all public booksellers to
+keep books to lend out on hire. The reader will be surprised at the idea
+of a circulating library in the middle ages! but there can be no doubt
+of the fact, they were established at Paris, Toulouse, Vienna, and
+Bologne. These public librarians, too, were obliged to write out regular
+catalogues of their books and hang them up in their shops, with the
+prices affixed, so that the student might know beforehand what he had to
+pay for reading them. I am tempted to give a few extracts from these
+lists:
+
+    St. Gregory's Commentaries upon Job, for reading 100 pages, 8 sous.
+    St. Gregory's Book of Homilies, 28 pages for 12 deniers.
+    Isidore's De Summa bona, 24 pages, 12 deniers.
+    Anselm's De Veritate de Libertate Arbitrii, 40 pages, 2 sous.
+    Peter Lombard's Book of Sentences, 3 sous.
+    Scholastic History, 3 sous.
+    Augustine's Confessions, 21 pages, 4 deniers.
+    Gloss on Matthew, by brother Thomas Aquinas, 57 pages, 3 sous.
+    Bible Concordance, 9 sous.
+    Bible, 10 sous.[74]
+
+This rate of charge was also fixed by the university, and the students
+borrowing these books were privileged to transcribe them if they chose;
+if any of them proved imperfect or faulty, they were denounced by the
+university, and a fine imposed upon the bookseller who had lent out the
+volume.
+
+This potent influence exercised by the universities over booksellers
+became, in time, much abused, and in addition to these commercial
+restraints, they assumed a still less warrantable power over the
+original productions of authors; and became virtually the public censors
+of books, and had the power of burning or prohibiting any work of
+questionable orthodoxy. In the time of Henry the Second, a book was
+published by being read over for two or three successive days, before one
+of the universities, and if they approved of its doctrines and bestowed
+upon it their approbation, it was allowed to be copied extensively for
+sale.
+
+Stringent as the university rules were, as regards the bookselling trade,
+they were, nevertheless, sometimes disregarded or infringed; some
+ventured to take more for a book than the sum allowed, and, by
+prevarication and secret contracts, eluded the vigilance of the laws.[75]
+Some were still bolder, and openly practised the art of a scribe and the
+profession of a bookseller, without knowledge or sanction of the
+university. This gave rise to much jealousy, and in the University of
+Oxford, in the year 1373, they made a decree forbidding any person
+exposing books for sale without her licence.[76]
+
+Now, considering all these usages of early bookselling, their numbers,
+their opulence, and above all, the circulating libraries which the
+librarii established, can we still retain the opinion that books were so
+inaccessible in those ante-printing days, when we know that for a few
+sous the booklover could obtain good and authenticated copies to peruse,
+or transcribe? It may be advanced that these facts solely relate to
+universities, and were intended merely to insure a supply of the
+necessary books in constant requisition by the students, but such was not
+the case; the librarii were essentially public _Librorum Venditores_, and
+were glad to dispose of their goods to any who could pay for them.
+Indeed, the early bibliomaniacs usually flocked to these book marts to
+rummage over the stalls, and to collect their choice volumes. Richard de
+Bury obtained many in this way, both at Paris and at Rome.
+
+Of the exact pecuniary value of books during the middle ages, we have no
+means of judging. The few instances that have accidentally been recorded
+are totally inadequate to enable us to form an opinion. The extravagant
+estimate given by some as to the value of books in those days is merely
+conjectural, as it necessarily must be, when we remember that the price
+was guided by the accuracy of the transcription, the splendor of the
+binding, which was often gorgeous to excess, and by the beauty and
+richness of the illuminations.[77] Many of the manuscripts of the middle
+ages are magnificent in the extreme. Sometimes they inscribed the gospels
+and the venerated writings of the fathers with liquid gold, on parchment
+of the richest purple,[78] and adorned its brilliant pages with
+illuminations of exquisite workmanship.
+
+The first specimens we have of an attempt to embellish manuscripts are
+Egyptian. It was a common practice among them at first to color the
+initial letter of each chapter or division of their work, and afterwards
+to introduce objects of various kinds into the body of the manuscript.
+
+The splendor of the ancient calligraphical productions of Greece,[79] and
+the still later ones of Rome, bear repeated testimony that the practice
+of this art had spread during the sixth century, if not earlier, to these
+powerful empires. England was not tardy in embracing this elegant art. We
+have many relics of remote antiquity and exquisite workmanship existing
+now, which prove the talent and assiduity of our early Saxon forefathers.
+
+In Ireland the illuminating art was profusely practised at a period as
+early as the commencement of the seventh century, and in the eighth we
+find it holding forth eminent claims to our respect by the beauty of
+their workmanship, and the chastity of their designs. Those well versed
+in the study of these ancient manuscripts have been enabled, by extensive
+but minute observation, to point out their different characteristics in
+various ages, and even to decide upon the school in which a particular
+manuscript was produced.
+
+These illuminations, which render the early manuscripts of the monkish
+ages so attractive, generally exemplify the rude ideas and tastes of the
+time. In perspective they are wofully deficient, and manifest but little
+idea of the picturesque or sublime; but here and there we find quite a
+gem of art, and, it must be owned, we are seldom tired by monotony of
+coloring, or paucity of invention. A study of these parchment
+illustrations afford considerable instruction. Not only do they indicate
+the state of the pictorial art in the middle ages, but also give us a
+comprehensive insight into the scriptural ideas entertained in those
+times; and the bible student may learn much from pondering on these
+glittering pages; to the historical student, and to the lover of
+antiquities, they offer a verdant field of research, and he may obtain in
+this way many a glimpse of the manners and customs of those old times
+which the pages of the monkish chroniclers have failed to record.
+
+But all this prodigal decoration greatly enhanced the price of books, and
+enabled them to produce a sum, which now to us sounds enormously
+extravagant. Moreover, it is supposed that the scarcity of parchment
+limited the number of books materially, and prevented their increase to
+any extent; but I am prone to doubt this assertion, for my own
+observations do not help to prove it. Mr. Hallam says, that in
+consequence of this, "an unfortunate practice gained ground of erasing a
+manuscript in order to substitute another on the same skin. This
+occasioned, probably, the loss of many ancient authors who have made way
+for the legends of saints, or other ecclesiastical rubbish."[80] But we
+may reasonably question this opinion, when we consider the value of books
+in the middle ages, and with what esteem the monks regarded, in spite of
+all their paganism, those "heathen dogs" of the ancient world. A doubt
+has often forced itself upon my mind when turning over the "crackling
+leaves" of many ancient MSS., whether the peculiarity mentioned by
+Montfaucon, and described as parchment from which former writing had been
+erased, may not be owing, in many cases, to its mode of preparation. It
+is true, a great proportion of the membrane on which the writings of the
+middle ages are inscribed, appear rough and uneven, but I could not
+detect, through many manuscripts of a hundred folios--all of which
+evinced this roughness--the unobliterated remains of a single letter. And
+when I have met with instances, they appear to have been short
+writings--perhaps epistles; for the monks were great correspondents, and,
+I suspect, kept economy in view, and often carried on an epistolary
+intercourse, for a considerable time, with a very limited amount of
+parchment, by erasing the letter to make room for the answer. This,
+probably, was usual where the matter of their correspondence was of no
+especial importance; so that, what our modern critics, being emboldened
+by these faint traces of former writing, have declared to possess the
+classic appearance of hoary antiquity, may be nothing more than a
+complimentary note, or the worthless accounts of some monastic
+expenditure. But, careful as they were, what would these monks have
+thought of "paper-sparing Pope," who wrote his Iliad on small pieces of
+refuse paper? One of the finest passages in that translation, which
+describes the parting of Hector and Andromache, is written on part of a
+letter which Addison had franked, and is now preserved in the British
+Museum. Surely he could afford, these old monks would have said, to
+expend some few shillings for paper, on which to inscribe that for which
+he was to receive his thousand pounds.
+
+But far from the monastic manuscripts displaying a scantiness of
+parchment, we almost invariably find an abundant margin, and a space
+between each line almost amounting to prodigality; and to say that the
+"vellum was considered more precious than the genius of the author,"[81]
+is absurd, when we know that, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries,
+a dozen skins of parchment could be bought for sixpence; whilst that
+quantity written upon, if the subject possessed any interest at all,
+would fetch considerably more, there always being a demand and ready sale
+for books.[82] The supposition, therefore, that the monastic scribes
+erased _classical_ manuscripts for the sake of the material, seems
+altogether improbable, and certainly destitute of proof. It is true, many
+of the classics, as we have them now, are but mere fragments of the
+original work. For this, however, we have not to blame the monks, but
+barbarous invaders, ravaging flames, and the petty animosities of civil
+and religious warfare for the loss of many valuable works of the
+classics. By these means, one hundred and five books of Livy have been
+lost to us, probably forever. For the thirty which have been preserved,
+our thanks are certainly due to the monks. It was from their unpretending
+and long-forgotten libraries that many such treasures were brought forth
+at the revival of learning, in the fifteenth century, to receive the
+admiration of the curious, and the study of the erudite scholar. In this
+way Poggio Bracciolini discovered many inestimable manuscripts. Leonardo
+Aretino writes in rapturous terms on Poggio's discovery of a perfect copy
+of Quintillian. "What a precious acquisition!" he exclaims, "what
+unthought of pleasure to behold Quintillian perfect and entire!"[83] In
+the same letter we learn that Poggio had discovered Asconius and Flaccus
+in the monastery of St. Gall, whose inhabitants regarded them without
+much esteem. In the monastery of Langres, his researches were rewarded by
+a copy of Cicero's Oration for Cæcina. With the assistance of Bartolomeo
+di Montepulciano, he discovered Silius Italicus, Lactantius, Vegetius,
+Nonius Marcellus, Ammianus Marcellus, Lucretius, and Columella, and he
+found in a monastery at Rome a complete copy of Turtullian.[84] In the
+fine old monastery of Casino, so renowned for its classical library in
+former days, he met with Julius Frontinus and Firmicus, and transcribed
+them with his own hand. At Cologne he obtained a copy of Petronius
+Arbiter. But to these we may add Calpurnius's Bucolic,[85] Manilius,
+Lucius Septimus, Coper, Eutychius, and Probus. He had anxious hopes of
+adding a perfect Livy to the list, which he had been told then existed in
+a Cistercian Monastery in Hungary, but, unfortunately, he did not
+prosecute his researches in this instance with his usual energy. The
+scholar has equally to regret the loss of a perfect Tacitus, which Poggio
+had expectations of from the hands of a German monk. We may still more
+deplore this, as there is every probability that the monks actually
+possessed the precious volume.[86] Nicolas of Treves, a contemporary and
+friend of Poggio's, and who was infected, though in a slight degree, with
+the same passionate ardor for collecting ancient manuscripts, discovered,
+whilst exploring the German monasteries, twelve comedies of Plautus, and
+a fragment of Aulus Gellius.[87] Had it not been for the timely aid of
+these great men, many would have been irretrievably lost in the many
+revolutions and contentions that followed; and, had such been the case,
+the monks, of course, would have received the odium, and on their heads
+the spleen of the disappointed student would have been prodigally
+showered.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[40] Martene Thesaurus novus Anecdot. tom. iv. col. 1462.
+
+[41] See Du Cange in Voc., vol. vi. p. 264.
+
+[42] Anglia Sacra, ii. 635. Fosbrooke Brit. Monach., p. 15.
+
+[43] Martene Thes. Nov. Anec. tom. iv. col. 1462. Stat. Ord.
+     Cistere, anni 1278, they were allowed for "_Studendum vel
+     recreandum_."
+
+[44] Hildesh. episc apud Leibuit., tom. i. Script. Brunsvic, p. 444.
+     I am indebted to Du Cange for this reference.
+
+[45] King's Munimenta Antiqua. Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham, p. 64.
+
+[46] Matt Paris, p. 51.
+
+[47] Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, p. cxiv. Regest. Nig. St. Edmund.
+     Abbat.
+
+[48] Stevenson's Sup. to Bentham's Church of Norwich, 4to. 1817, p.
+     51.
+
+[49] Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ritib., cap. xxi. tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[50] _Ibid._
+
+[51] Alcuini Opera, tom. ii. vol. i. p. 211. Carmin xvii.
+
+[52] Preface to Ælfric's Homilies MS. Lansdowne, No. 373, vol. iv.
+     in the British Museum.
+
+[53] Const. Can. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[54] MS. Harl. 6395, anecdote 348.--I am indebted to D'Israeli for
+     the reference, but not for the extract.
+
+[55] The monks were strictly enjoined by the monastic rules to study
+     the Bible unceasingly. The Statutes of the Dominican order are
+     particularly impressive on this point, and enforce a constant
+     reading and critical study of the sacred volume, so as to fortify
+     themselves for disputation; they were to peruse it continually, and
+     apply to it before all other reading _semper ante aliam lectionem_.
+     _Martene Thesan. Nov. Anecdot._, tom. iv. col. 1932. See also cols.
+     1789, 1836, 1912, 1917, 1934.
+
+[56] About the year 1225 Roger de Insula, Dean of York, gave several
+     copies of the bible to the University of Oxford, and ordered that
+     those who borrowed them for perusal should deposit property of equal
+     value as a security for their safe return.--_Wood's Hist. Antiq.
+     Oxon._ ii. 48.
+
+[57] Muratori Dissert. Quadragesima tertia, vol. iii. column 849.
+
+[58] Astle's Origin of Writing, p. 193.--See also Montfaucon
+     Palæographia Græca, lib. iv. p. 263 et 319.
+
+[59] In the year 1300 the pay of a common scribe was about one
+     half-penny a day, see Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the
+     Church of Ely. p. 51.
+
+[60] In some orders the monks were not allowed to sell their books
+     without the express permission of their superiors. According to a
+     statute of the year 1264 the Dominicans were strictly prohibited
+     from selling their books or the rules of their order.--_Martene
+     Thesaur. Nov. Anecdot._ tom. iv. col. 1741, et col. 1918.
+
+[61] Vita Abbat. Wear. Ed. Ware, p. 26. His fine copy of the
+     Cosmographers he bought at Rome.--_Roma Benedictus emerat._
+
+[62] Nosti quot Scriptores in Urbibus aut in Agris Italiæ passim
+     habeantur.--Ep. cxxx. See also Ep. xliv. where he speaks of having
+     purchased books in Italy, Germany and Belgium, at considerable cost.
+     It is the most interesting Bibliomanical letter in the whole
+     collection.
+
+[63] Cottonian MS. in the Brit. Mus.--_Claudius_, E. iv. fo. 105, b.
+
+[64] Epist. lxxi. p. 124, Edit. 4to. His words are--"Cum Dominus Rex
+     Anglorum me nuper ad Dominum Regum Francorum nuntium distinasset,
+     libri Legum venales Parisius oblati sunt mihi ab illo B. publico
+     mangone librorum: qui cum ad opus cujusdam mei nepotis idoner
+     viderentur conveni cum eo de pretio et eos apud venditorem
+     dismittens, ei pretium numeravi; superveniente vero C. Sexburgensi
+     Præposito sicut audini, plus oblulit et licitatione vincens libros
+     de domo venditories per violentiam absportauit."
+
+[65] Chevillier, Origines de l'Imprimerie de Paris, 4to. 1694, p.
+     301.
+
+[66] "Actes concernant le pouvoir et la direction de l'Université de
+     Paris sur les Ecrivains de Livres et les Imprimeurs qui leur ont
+     succédé comme aussi sur les Libraires Relieurs et Enlumineurs," 4to.
+     1652, p. 44. It is very rare, a copy was in Biblioth. Teller, No.
+     132, p. 428. A statute of 1275 is given by Lambecii Comment. de
+     Augus. Biblioth. Cæsarea Vendobon, vol. ii. pp. 252-267. The
+     booksellers are called "Stationarii or Librarii;" _de Stationariis,
+     sive Librariis ut Stationarus, qui vulgo appellantur_, etc. See also
+     _Du Cange_, vol. vi. col. 716.
+
+[67] Chevillier, p. 301, to whom I am deeply indebted in this branch
+     of my inquiry.
+
+[68] Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84. Chevillier, p. 302.
+
+[69] The form of oath is given in full in the statute of 1323, and
+     in that of 1342, Chevillier.
+
+[70] Du Breuil, Le Théâtre des Antiq. de Paris, 4to. 1612, p. 608.
+
+[71] _Ibid._, Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84.
+
+[72] Chevillier, p. 303.
+
+[73] Martene Anecd. tom. i. p. 502. Hist. Lit. de la France, ix. p.
+     142.
+
+[74] Chevillier, 319, who gives a long list, printed from an old
+     register of the University.
+
+[75] Chevillier, 303.
+
+[76] Vet. Stat. Universit. Oxoniæ, D. fol. 75. Archiv. Bodl.
+
+[77] The Church of Norwich paid £22, 9s. for illuminating a Graduale
+     and Consuetudinary in 1374.
+
+[78] Isidore Orig., cap. ii.--Jerome, in his Preface to Job, writes,
+     "_Habeant qui volunt veteres libros, vel in membranes purpurus auro
+     argentique colore purpuros aurum liquiscit in literis._" Eddius
+     Stephanus in his Life of St. Wilfrid, cap xvi., speaks of "Quatuor
+     Evangeliæ de auro purissimo in membranis de purpuratis coloratis pro
+     animæ suæ remidis scribere jusset." Du Cange, vol. iv. p. 654. See
+     also Mabillon Act. Sanct., tom. v. p. 110, who is of opinion that
+     these purple MSS. were only designed for princes; see Nouveau Traité
+     de Diplomatique, and Montfaucon Palæog. Græc., pp. 45, 218, 226, for
+     more on this subject.
+
+[79] See a Fragment in the Brit. Mus. engraved in Shaw's Illuminated
+     Ornaments, plate 1.
+
+[80] Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 437. Mr. Maitland, in his "Dark Ages,"
+     enters into a consideration of this matter with much critical
+     learning and ingenuity.
+
+[81] D'Israeli Amenities of Lit., vol. i. p. 358.
+
+[82] The Precentor's accounts of the Church of Norwich contain the
+     following items:--1300, 5 _dozen parchment_, 2_s._ 6_d._, 40 lbs. of
+     ink, 4_s._ 4_d._, 1 gallon of vini decrili, 3_s._, 4 lbs. of
+     corporase, 4 lbs. of galls, 2 lbs. of gum arab, 3_s._ 4_d._, to make
+     ink. I dismiss these facts with the simple question they naturally
+     excite: that if parchment was so _very scarce_, what on earth did
+     the monk want with all this ink?
+
+[83] Leonardi Aretini Epist. 1. iv. ep. v.
+
+[84] Mehi Præfatio ad vit Ambrosii Traversarii, p. xxxix.
+
+[85] Mehi Præf., pp. xlviii.--xlix.
+
+[86] A MS. containing five books of Tacitus which had been deemed
+     lost was found in Germany during the pontificate of Leo X., and
+     deposited in the Laurentian library at Florence.--_Mehi Præf._ p.
+     xlvii. See Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 104, to whom I am much
+     indebted for these curious facts.
+
+[87] Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 101.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+     _Canterbury Monastery.--Theodore of
+     Tarsus.--Tatwine.--Nothelm.--St.
+     Dunstan.--Ælfric.--Lanfranc.--Anselm.--St. Augustine's
+     books.--Henry de Estria and his
+     Catalogue.--Chiclely.--Sellinge.--Rochester.--Gundulph, a Bible
+     Student.--Radulphus.--Ascelin of Dover.--Glanvill, etc._
+
+
+In the foregoing chapters I have endeavored to give the reader an insight
+into the means by which the monks multiplied their books, the
+opportunities they had of obtaining them, the rules of their libraries
+and scriptoria, and the duties of a monkish librarian. I now proceed to
+notice some of the English monastic libraries of the middle ages, and by
+early records and old manuscripts inquire into their extent, and revel
+for a time among the bibliomaniacs of the cloisters. On the spot where
+Christianity--more than twelve hundred years ago--first obtained a
+permanent footing in Britain, stands the proud metropolitan cathedral of
+Canterbury--a venerable and lasting monument of ancient piety and monkish
+zeal. St. Augustine, who brought over the glad tidings of the Christian
+faith in the year 596, founded that noble structure on the remains of a
+church which Roman Christians in remote times had built there. To write
+the literary history of its old monastery would spread over more pages
+than this volume contains, so many learned and bookish abbots are
+mentioned in its monkish annals. Such, however, is beyond the scope of my
+present design, and I have only to turn over those ancient chronicles to
+find how the love of books flourished in monkish days; so that, whilst I
+may here and there pass unnoticed some ingenious author, or only casually
+remark upon his talents, all that relate to libraries or book-collecting,
+to bibliophiles or scribes, I shall carefully record; and, I think, from
+the notes now lying before me, and which I am about to arrange in
+something like order, the reader will form a very different idea of
+monkish libraries than he previously entertained.
+
+The name that first attracts our attention in the early history of
+Canterbury Church is that of Theodore of Tarsus, the father of
+Anglo-Saxon literature, and certainly the first who introduced
+bibliomania into this island; for when he came on his mission from Rome
+in the year 668 he brought with him an extensive library, containing many
+Greek and Latin authors, in a knowledge of which he was thoroughly
+initiated. Bede tells us that he was well skilled in metrical art,
+astronomy, arithmetic, church music, and the Greek and Latin
+languages.[88] At his death[89] the library of Christ Church Monastery
+was enriched by his valuable books, and in the time of old Lambarde some
+of them still remained. He says, in his quaint way, "The Reverend Father
+Mathew, nowe Archbishop of Canterburie, whose care for the conservation
+of learned monuments can never be sufficiently commended, shewed me, not
+long since, the Psalter of David, and sundrie homilies in Greek; Homer
+also and some other Greeke authors beautifully wrytten on thicke paper,
+with the name of this Theodore prefixed in the fronte, to whose librarie
+he reasonably thought, being thereto led by shew of great antiquitie that
+they sometimes belonged."[90]
+
+Tatwine was a great book lover, if not a bibliomaniac. "He was renowned
+for religious wisdom, and notably learned in Sacred Writ."[91] If he
+wrote the many pieces attributed to him, his pen must have been prolific
+and his reading curious and diversified. He is said to have composed on
+profane and sacred subjects, but his works were unfortunately destroyed
+by the Danish invaders, and a book of poems and one of enigmas are all
+that have escaped their ravages. The latter work, preserved in our
+National Library, contains many curious hints, illustrative of the
+manners of those remote days.[92]
+
+Nothelm, or the Bold Helm, succeeded this interesting author; he was a
+learned and pious priest of London. The bibliomaniac will somewhat envy
+the avocation of this worthy monk whilst searching over the rich
+treasures of the Roman archives, from whence he gleaned much valuable
+information to aid Bede in compiling his history of the English
+Church.[93] Not only was he an industrious scribe but also a talented
+author, if we are to believe Pits, who ascribes to him several works,
+with a Life of St. Augustine.[94]
+
+It is well known that St. Dunstan was an ingenious scribe, and so
+passionately fond of books, that we may unhesitatingly proclaim him a
+bibliomaniac. He was a native of Wessex, and resided with his father near
+Glastonbury Abbey, which holy spot many a legendary tale rendered dear to
+his youthful heart. He entered the Abbey, and devoted his whole time to
+reading the wondrous lives and miracles of ascetic men till his mind
+became excited to a state of insanity by the many marvels and prodigies
+which they unfolded; so that he acquired among the simple monks the
+reputation of one holding constant and familiar intercourse with the
+beings of another world. On his presentation to the king, which was
+effected by the influence of his uncle Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+he soon became a great favorite, but excited so much jealousy there, that
+evil reports were industriously spread respecting him. He was accused of
+practising magical arts and intriguing with the devil. This induced him
+to retire again into the seclusion of a monastic cell, which he
+constructed so low that he could scarcely stand upright in it. It was
+large enough, however, to hold his forge and other apparatus, for he was
+a proficient worker in metals, and made ornaments, and bells for his
+church. He was very fond of music, and played with exquisite skill upon
+the harp.[95] But what is more to our purpose, his biographer tells us
+that he was remarkably skilful in writing and illuminating, and
+transcribed many books, adorning them with beautiful paintings, whilst in
+this little cell.[96] One of them is preserved in the Bodleian Library at
+Oxford. On the front is a painting of St. Dunstan kneeling before our
+Saviour, and at the top is written "_Pictura et Scriptura hujus pagine
+subtas visi est de propria manu sei Dunstani_."[97] But in the midst of
+these ingenious pursuits he did not forget to devote many hours to the
+study of the Holy Scriptures, as also to the diligent transcription and
+correction of copies of them,[98] and thus arming himself with the sacred
+word, he was enabled to withstand the numerous temptations which
+surrounded him. Sometimes the devil appeared as a man, and at other times
+he was still more severely tempted by the visitations of a beautiful
+woman, who strove by the most alluring blandishments to draw that holy
+man from the paths of Christian rectitude. In the tenth century such
+eminent virtues could not pass unrewarded, and he was advanced to the
+Archbishopric of Canterbury in the year 961, but his after life is that
+of a saintly politician, and displays nothing that need be mentioned
+here.
+
+In the year 969,[99] Ælfric, abbot of St. Alban's, was elected archbishop
+of Canterbury. His identity is involved in considerable doubt by the many
+contemporaries who bore that name, some of whom, like him, were
+celebrated for their talent and erudition; but, leaving the solution of
+this difficulty to the antiquarian, we are justified in saying that he
+was of noble family, and received his education under Ethelwold, at
+Abingdon, about the year 960. He accompanied his master to Winchester,
+and Elphegus, bishop of that see, entertained so high an opinion of
+Ælfric's learning and capacity, that he sent him to superintend the
+recently founded monastery of Cerne, in Devonshire. He there spent all
+his hours, unoccupied by the duties of his abbatical office, in the
+transcription of books and the nobler avocations of an author. He
+composed a Latin Grammar, a work which has won for him the title of "_The
+Grammarian_," and he greatly helped to maintain the purity of the
+Christian church by composing a large collection of homilies, which
+became exceedingly popular during the succeeding century, and are yet in
+existence. The preface to these homilies contain several very curious
+passages illustrative of the mode of publication resorted to by the
+monkish authors, and on that account I am tempted to make the following
+extracts:
+
+"I, Ælfric, the scholar of Ethelwold, to the courteous and venerable
+Bishop Sigeric, in the Lord.
+
+"Although it may appear to be an attempt of some rashness and
+presumption, yet have I ventured to translate this book out of the Latin
+writers, especially those of the 'Holy Scriptures,' into our common
+language; for the edification of the ignorant, who only understand this
+language when it is either read or heard. Wherefore I have not used
+obscure or unintelligible words, but given the plain English. By which
+means the hearts, both of the readers and of the hearers, may be reached
+more easily; because they are incapable of being otherwise instructed,
+than in their native tongue. Indeed, in our translation, we have not ever
+been so studious to render word for word, as to give the true sense and
+meaning of our authors. Nevertheless, we have used all diligent caution
+against deceitful errors, that we may not be found seduced by any heresy,
+nor blinded by any deceit. For we have followed these authors in this
+translation, namely, St. Austin of Hippo, St. Jerome, Bede, Gregory,
+Smaragdus, and sometimes Haymo, whose authority is admitted to be of
+great weight with all the faithful. Nor have we only expounded the
+treatise of the gospels;... but have also described the passions and
+lives of the saints, for the use of the unlearned of this nation. We have
+placed forty discourses in this volume, believing this will be sufficient
+for one year, if they be recited entirely to the faithful, by the
+ministers of the Lord. But the other book which we have now taken in hand
+to compose will contain those passions or treatises which are omitted in
+this volume." ... "Now, if any one find fault with our translation, that
+we have not always given word for word, or that this translation is not
+so full as the treatise of the authors themselves, or that in handling of
+the gospels we have run them over in a method not exactly conformable to
+the order appointed in the church, let him compose a book of his own; by
+an interpretation of deeper learning, as shall best agree with his
+understanding, this only I beseech him, that he may not pervert this
+version of mine, which I hope, by the grace of God, without any boasting,
+I have, according to the best of my skill, performed with all diligence.
+Now, I most earnestly entreat your goodness, my most gentle father
+Sigeric, that you will vouchsafe to correct, by your care, whatever
+blemishes of malignant heresy, or of dark deceit, you shall meet with in
+my translation, and then permit this little book to be ascribed to your
+authority, and not to the meanness of a person of my unworthy character.
+Farewell in the Almighty God continually. Amen."[100]
+
+I have before alluded to the care observed by the scribes in copying
+their manuscripts, and the moderns may deem themselves fortunate that
+they did so; for although many interpolations, or emendations, as they
+called them, occur in monkish transcripts, on the whole, their integrity,
+in this respect, forms a redeeming quality in connexion with their
+learning. In another preface, affixed to the second collection of his
+homilies, Ælfric thus explains his design in translating them:
+
+"Ælfric, a monk and priest, although a man of less abilities than are
+requisite for one in such orders, was sent, in the days of King Æthelred,
+from Alphege, the bishop and successor of Æthelwold, to a monastery which
+is called Cernel, at the desire of Æthelmer, the Thane, whose noble birth
+and goodness is everywhere known. Then ran it in my mind, I trust,
+through the grace of God, that I ought to translate this book out of the
+Latin tongue into the English language not upon presumption of great
+learning, but because I saw and heard much error in many English books,
+which ignorant men, through their simplicity, esteemed great wisdom, and
+because it grieved me that they neither knew, nor had the gospel learning
+in their writing, except from those men that understood Latin, and those
+books which are to be had of King Alfred's, which he skilfully translated
+from Latin into English."[101]
+
+From these extracts we may gain some idea of the state of learning in
+those days, and they would seem, in some measure, to justify the opinion,
+that the laity paid but little attention to such matters, and I more
+anxiously present the reader with these scraps, because they depict the
+state of literature in those times far better than a volume of conjecture
+could do. It is not consistent with my design to enter into an analysis
+of these homilies. Let the reader, however, draw some idea of their
+nature from the one written for Easter Sunday, which has been deemed
+sufficient proof that the Saxon Church ever denied the Romish doctrine of
+transubstantiation; for he there expressly states, in terms so plain
+that all the sophistry of the Roman Catholic writers cannot pervert its
+obvious meaning, that the bread and wine is only typical of the body and
+blood of our Saviour.
+
+To one who has spent much time in reading the lives and writings of the
+monkish theologians, how refreshing is such a character as that of
+Ælfric's. Often, indeed, will the student close the volumes of those old
+monastic writers with a sad, depressed, and almost broken heart; so often
+will he find men who seem capable of better things, who here and there
+breathe forth all the warm aspirations of a devout and Christian heart,
+bowed down and grovelling in the dust, as it were, to prove their blind
+submission to the Pope, thinking, poor fellows!--for from my very heart I
+pity them--that by so doing they were preaching that humility so
+acceptable to the Lord.
+
+Cheering then, to the heart it is to find this monotony broken by such an
+instance, and although we find Ælfric occasionally diverging into the
+paths of papistical error, he spreads a ray of light over the gloom of
+those Saxon days, and offers pleasing evidence that Christ never forsook
+his church; that even amidst the peril and darkness of those monkish ages
+there were some who mourned, though it might have been in a monastery,
+submissive to a Roman Pontiff, the depravity and corruption with which
+the heart of man had marred it.
+
+To still better maintain the discipline of the church, he wrote a set of
+canons, which he addressed to Wulfin, or Wulfsine, bishop of Sherbourne.
+With many of the doctrines advocated therein, the protestant will not
+agree; but the bibliophile will admit that he gave an indication of his
+love of books by the 21st Canon, which directs that, "Before a priest can
+be ordained, he must be armed with the sacred books, for the spiritual
+battle, namely, a Psalter, Book of Epistles, Book of Gospels, the Missal
+Book, Books of Hymns, the Manual, or Euchiridion, the Gerim, the
+Passional, the Pænitential, and the Lectionary, or Reading Book; these
+the diligent priest requires, and let him be careful that they are all
+accurately written, and free from faults."[102]
+
+About the same time, Ælfric wrote a treatise on the Old and New
+Testaments, and in it we find an account of his labors in Biblical
+Literature. He did more in laying open the holy mysteries of the gospel
+to the perusal of the laity, by translating them into the Saxon tongue,
+than any other before him. He gave them, in a vernacular version, the
+Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Esther, Job, Judith, two Books of Maccabees,
+and a portion of the Book of Kings, and it is for these labors, above all
+others, that the bible student will venerate his name, but he will look,
+perhaps, anxiously, hopefully, to these early attempts at Bible
+propagation, and expect to observe the ecclesiastical orders, at least,
+shake off a little of their absurd dependence on secondary sources for
+biblical instruction. But, no; they still sadly clung to traditional
+interpretation; they read the Word of God mystified by the fathers, good
+men, many of them, devout and holy saints, but why approach God through
+man, when we have His own prescription, in sweet encouraging words, to
+come, however humble or lowly we may be, to His throne, and ask with our
+own lips for those blessings so needful for the soul. Ælfric, in a letter
+addressed to Sigwerd, prefixed to his Treatise on the Old and New
+Testament, thus speaks of his biblical labors:
+
+"Abbot Elfricke greeteth friendly, Sigwerd at last Heolon. True it is I
+tell thee that very wise is he who speaketh by his doings; and well
+proceedeth he doth with God and the world who furnisheth himselfe with
+good works. And very plaine it is in holy scripture, that holy men
+employed in well doing were in this world held in good reputation, and as
+saints now enjoy the kingdom of heaven, and the remembrance of them
+continueth for ever, because of their consent with God and relying on
+him, carelesse men who lead their life in all idleness and so end it, the
+memory of them is forgotten in holy writ, saving that the Old Testament
+records their ill deeds and how they were therefore comdemned. Thou hast
+oft entreated me for English Scripture .... and when I was with thee
+great mone thou madest that thou couldst get none of my writings. Now
+will I that thou have at least this little, since knowledge is so
+acceptable to thee, and thou wilt have it rather than be altogether
+without my books...... God bestoweth sevenfold grace on mankind, (whereof
+I have already written in another English Treatise,) as the prophet
+Isaiah hath recorded in the book of his prophesie." In speaking of the
+remaining books of the Pentateuch, he does so in a cursory manner, and
+excuses himself because he had "written thereof more at large." "The book
+which Moses wrote, called the book of Joshua, sheweth how he went with
+the people of Israel unto Abraham's country, and how he won it, and how
+the sun stood still while he got the victory, and how he divided the
+land; this book also I turned into English for prince Ethelverd, wherein
+a man may behold the great wonders of God really fulfilled." ......
+"After him known it is that there were in the land certaine judges over
+Israel, who guided the people as it is written in the book of Judges
+..... of this whoso hath desire to hear further, may read it in that
+English book which I translated concerning the same." ..... "Of the book
+of Kings, I have translated also some part into English," "the book of
+Esther, I briefly after my manner translated into English," and "The
+Widow Judith who overcame Holophernes, the Syrian General, hath her book
+also, among these, concerning her own victory and _Englished according to
+my skill for your example_, that ye men may also defend your country by
+force of arms, against the invasion of a foreign host." "Two books of
+Machabeus, to the glory of God, I have turned also into English, and so
+read them, you may if you please, for your instruction." And at the end
+we find him again admonishing the scribes to use the pen with
+faithfulness. "Whosoever," says he, "shall write out this book, let him
+write it according to the copy, and for God's love correct it, that it be
+not faulty, less he thereby be discredited, and I shent."[103]
+
+This learned prelate died on the 16th of November, 1006, after a life
+spent thus in the service of Christ and the cause of learning; by his
+will he bequeathed to the Abbey of St. Alban's, besides some landed
+possessions, his little library of books;[104] he was honorably buried at
+Abingdon, but during the reign of Canute, his bones were removed to
+Canterbury.
+
+Passing on a few years, we come to that period when a new light shone
+upon the lethargy of the Saxons; the learning and erudition which had
+been fostering in the snug monasteries of Normandy, hitherto
+silent--buried as it were--but yet fast growing to maturity, accompanied
+the sword of the Norman duke, and added to the glory of the conquering
+hero, by their splendid intellectual endowments. All this emulated and
+roused the Saxons from their slumber; and, rubbing their laziness away,
+they again grasped the pen with the full nerve and energy of their
+nature; a reaction ensued, literature was respected, learning prospered,
+and copious work flowed in upon the scribes; the crackling of parchment,
+and the din of controversy bespoke the presence of this revival in the
+cloisters of the English monasteries; books, the weapons spiritual of the
+monks, libraries, the magazines of the church militant were preserved,
+amassed, and at last deemed indispensable.[105] Such was the effect on
+our national literature of that gushing in of the Norman conquerors, so
+deeply imbued with learning, so polished, and withal so armed with
+classical and patristic lore were they.
+
+Foremost in the rank we find the learned Lanfranc, that patron of
+literature, that indefatigable scribe and anxious book collector, who was
+endowed with an erudition far more deep and comprehensive than any other
+of his day. He was born at Pavia, in 1005, and received there the first
+elements of his education;[106] he afterwards went to Bologna, and from
+thence to Avranches, where he undertook the education of many celebrated
+scholars of that century, and instructed them in sacred and secular
+learning, _in sacris et secularibus erudivi literis_.[107] Whilst
+proceeding on a journey to Rome he was attacked by some robbers, who
+maltreated and left him almost dead; in this condition he was found by
+some peasants who conveyed him to the monastery of Bec; the monks with
+their usual hospitable charity tended and so assiduously nourished him in
+his sickness, that on his recovery he became one of their fraternity. A
+few years after, he was appointed prior and founded a school there, which
+did immense service to literature and science; he also collected a great
+library which was renowned and esteemed in his day,[108] and he increased
+their value by a critical revisal of their text. He was well aware that
+in works so voluminous as those of the fathers, the scribes through so
+many generations could not be expected to observe an unanimous
+infallibility; but knowing too that even the most essential doctrines of
+the holy and catholic church were founded on patristical authority, he
+was deeply impressed with the necessity of keeping their writings in all
+their primitive integrity; an end so desirable, well repaid the
+tediousness of the undertaking, and he cheerfully spent much time in
+collecting and comparing codices, in studying their various readings or
+erasing the spurious interpolations, engendered by the carelessness or
+the pious frauds of monkish scribes.[109] He lavished his care in a
+similar manner on the Bible: considering the far distant period from
+which that holy volume has descended to us, it is astounding that the
+vicissitudes, the perils, the darkness of near eighteen hundred years,
+have failed to mar the divinity of that sacred book; not all the blunders
+of nodding scribes could do it, not all the monkish interpolations, or
+the cunning of sectarian pens could do it, for in all times the faithful
+church of Christ watched over it with a jealous care, supplied each
+erasure and expelled each false addition. Lanfranc was one of the most
+vigilant of these Scripture guards, and his own industry blest his church
+with the bible text, purified from the gross handmarks of human meddling.
+I learn, from the Benedictines of St. Maur, that there is still preserved
+in the Abbey of St. Martin de Sécz, the first ten conferences of Cassian
+corrected by the efficient hand of this great critical student, at the
+end of the manuscript these words are written, "_Hucusque ago Lanfrancus
+correxi_."[110] The works of St. Ambrose, on which he bestowed similar
+care, are preserved in the library of St. Vincent du Mans.[111]
+
+When he was promoted to the See of Canterbury, he brought with him a
+copious supply of books, and spread the influence of his learning over
+the English monasteries; but with all the cares inseparably connected
+with the dignity of Primate of England, he still found time to gratify
+his bookloving propensities, and to continue his critical labors; indeed
+he worked day and night in the service of the church, _servitio
+Ecclesiæ_, and in correcting the books which the scribes had
+written.[112] From the profusion of his library he was enabled to lend
+many volumes to the monks, so that by making transcripts, they might add
+to their own stores--thus we know that he lent to Paulen, Abbot of St.
+Albans, a great number, who kept his scribes hard at work transcribing
+them, and built a scriptorium for the transaction of these pleasing
+labors; but more of this hereafter.
+
+Anselm, too, was a renowned and book-loving prelate, and if his pride and
+haughtiness wrought warm dissensions and ruptures in the church, he often
+stole away to forget them in the pages of his book. At an early age he
+acquired this fondness for reading, and whilst engaged as a monkish
+student, he applied his mind to the perusal of books with wonderful
+perseverance, and when some favorite volume absorbed his attention, he
+could scarce leave it night or day.[113] Industry so indefatigable
+ensured a certain success, and he became eminent for his deep and
+comprehensive learning; his epistles bear ample testimony to his
+extensive reading and intimate acquaintance with the authors of
+antiquity;[114] in one of his letters he praises a monk named Maurice,
+for his success in study, who was learning _Virgil_ and some other old
+writers, under Arnulph the grammarian.
+
+All day long Anselm was occupied in giving wise counsel to those that
+needed it; and a great part of the night _pars maxima noctis_ he spent in
+correcting his darling volumes, and freeing them from the inaccuracies of
+the scribes.[115] The oil in the lamp burnt low, still that bibliomaniac
+studiously pursued his favorite avocation. So great was the love of
+book-collecting engrafted into his mind, that he omitted no opportunity
+of obtaining them--numerous instances occur in his epistles of his
+begging the loan of some volume for transcription;[116] in more than one,
+I think, he asks for portions of the Holy Scriptures which he was always
+anxious to obtain to compare their various readings, and to enable him
+with greater confidence to correct his own copies.
+
+In the early part of the twelfth century, the monks of Canterbury
+transcribed a vast number of valuable manuscripts, in which they were
+greatly assisted by monk Edwine, who had arrived at considerable
+proficiency in the calligraphical art, as a volume of his transcribing,
+in Trinity college, Cambridge, informs us;[117] it is a Latin Psalter,
+with a Saxon gloss, beautifully illuminated in gold and colors; at the
+end appears the figure of the monkish scribe, holding the pen in his hand
+to indicate his avocation, and an inscription extols his ingenuity in the
+art.[118]
+
+Succeeding archbishops greatly enriched the library at Canterbury. Hubert
+Walter, who was appointed primate in 1191, gave the proceeds of the
+church of Halgast to furnish books for the library;[119] and Robert
+Kildwardly, archbishop in 1272, a man of great learning and wisdom, a
+remarkable orator and grammarian, wrote a great number of books, and was
+passionately fond of collecting them.[120]
+
+I learn from Wanley, that there is a large folio manuscript in the
+library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, written about the time of Henry V. by
+a monk of St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, containing the history of
+Christ Church; this volume proves its author to have been something of a
+bibliophile, and that is why I mention it, for he gives an account of
+some books then preserved, which were sent over by Pope Gregory to St.
+Augustine; these precious volumes consisted of a Bible in two volumes,
+called "Biblia Gregorian," beautifully written, with some of the leaves
+tinted with purple and rose-color, and the capital letters rubricated.
+This interesting and venerable MS. so immediately connected with the
+first ages of the Christian church of Britain, was in existence in the
+time of James I., as we learn by a passage in a scarce tract entitled "A
+Petition Apologetical," addressed by the Catholics to his majesty, where,
+as a proof that we derive our knowledge of Scripture originally from the
+church of Rome; they say, "The very original Bible, the self-same
+_Numero_ which St. Gregory sent in with our apostle, St. Augustine, being
+as yet reserved by God's special providence, as testimony that what
+Scriptures we have, we had them from Rome."[121]
+
+He next mentions two Psalters, one of which I have seen; it is among the
+manuscripts in the Cotton collection,[122] and bears full evidence of its
+great antiquity. This early gem of biblical literature numbers 160
+folios; it contains the Roman Psalter, with a Saxon interlinear
+translation, written on stout vellum, in a clear, bold hand. On opening
+the volume, we find the first page enriched with a dazzling specimen of
+monkish skill--it is a painting of our Saviour pointing with his right
+hand to heaven, and in his left holding the sacred book; the corners are
+occupied with figures of animals, and the whole wrought on a glittering
+ground work, is rendered still more gorgeous by the contrast which the
+purple robes of Jesus display; on the reverse of this fine illumination
+there is a beautiful tesselated ornament, interwoven with animals,
+flowers, and grotesque figures, around which are miniatures of our
+Saviour, David, and some of the apostles. In a line at the bottom the
+word CATVSVIR is inscribed. Very much inferior to this in point of art is
+the illumination, at folio 31, representing David playing his harp,
+surrounded by a musical coterie; it is probably the workmanship of a more
+modern, but less skilful scribe of the Saxon school. The smaller
+ornaments and initial letters throughout the manuscript display great
+intricacy of design.
+
+The writer next describes two copies of the Gospels, both now in the
+Bodleian Collection at Oxford. A Passionarium Sanctorum, a book for the
+altar, on one side of which was the image of our Saviour wrought in gold,
+and lastly, an exposition of the Epistles and Gospels; the monkish
+bookworm tells us that these membraneous treasures were the most ancient
+books in all the churches of England.[123]
+
+A good and liberal monk, named Henry De Estria, who was elected prior in
+the year 1285, devoted both his time and wealth to the interests of his
+monastery, and is said to have expended £900 in repairing the choir and
+chapter-house.[124] He wrote a book beginning, "_Memoriale Henerici
+Prioris Monasteri Xpi Cantuariæ_,"[125] now preserved in the Cotton
+collection; it contains the most extensive monastic catalogue I had ever
+seen, and sufficiently proves how Bibliomania flourished in that noble
+monastery. It occupies no less than thirty-eight treble-columned folio
+pages, and contains the titles of more than three thousand works. To
+attempt to convey to the reader an idea of this curious and sumptuous
+library, without transcribing a large proportion of its catalogue, I am
+afraid will be a futile labor; but as that would occupy too much space,
+and to many of my readers be, after all, dry and uninteresting, I shall
+merely give the names of some of the most conspicuous. Years indeed it
+must have required to have amassed a collection so brilliant and superb
+in those days of book scarcity. Surprise and wonder almost surpass the
+admiration we feel at beholding this proud testimonial of monkish
+industry and early bibliomania. Many a choice scribe, and many an _Amator
+Librorum_ must have devoted his pen and purse to effect so noble an
+acquisition. Like most of the monastic libraries, it possessed a great
+proportion of biblical literature--copies of the Bible whole and in
+parts, commentaries on the same, and numerous glossaries and concordances
+show how much care the monks bestowed on the sacred writings, and how
+deeply they were studied in those old days. In patristic learning the
+library was unusually rich, embracing the most eminent and valuable
+writings of the Fathers, as may be seen by the following names, of whose
+works the catalogue enumerates many volumes:
+
+    Augustine.
+    Ambroise.
+    Anselm.
+    Alcuin.
+    Aldelm.
+    Benedict.
+    Bernard.
+    Bede.
+    Beranger.
+    Chrysostom.
+    Eusebius.
+    Fulgentius.
+    Gregory.
+    Hillarius.
+    Isidore.
+    Jerome.
+    Lanfranc.
+    Origen.
+
+Much as we may respect them for all this, our gratitude will materially
+increase when we learn how serviceable the monks of Canterbury were in
+preserving the old dead authors of Greece and Rome. We do not, from the
+very nature of their lives being so devoted to religion and piety, expect
+this; and knowing, too, what "heathen dogs" the monks thought these
+authors of idolatry, combined with our notion, that they, far from being
+the conservers, were the destroyers, of classic MSS., for the sake, as
+some tell us, of the parchment on which they were inscribed, we are
+somewhat staggered in our opinion to find in their library the following
+brilliant array of the wise men of the ancient world:
+
+    Aristotle,
+    Boethius,
+    Cicero,
+    Cassiodorus,
+    Donatus,
+    Euclid,
+    Galen,
+    Justin,
+    Josephus,
+    Lucan,
+    Martial,
+    Marcianus,
+    Macrobius,
+    Orosius,
+    Plato,
+    Priscian,
+    Prosper,
+    Prudentius,
+    Suetonius,
+    Sedulus,
+    Seneca,
+    Terence,
+    Virgil,
+    Etc., etc.
+
+Nor were they mere fragments of these authors, but, in many cases,
+considerable collections; of Aristotle, for instance, they possessed
+numerous works, with many commentaries upon him. Of Seneca a still more
+extensive and valuable one; and in the works of the eloquent Tully, they
+were also equally rich. Of his _Paradoxa, de Senectute, de Amiticia_,
+etc., and _his Offices_, they had more copies than one, a proof of the
+respect and esteem with which he was regarded. In miscellaneous
+literature, and in the productions of the middle age writers, the
+catalogue teems with an abundant supply, and includes:
+
+    Rabanus Maurus,
+    Thomas Aquinas,
+    Peter Lombard,
+    Athelard,
+    William of Malmsbury,
+    John of Salisbury,
+    Girald Barry,
+    Thomas Baldwin,
+    Brutus,
+    Robert Grosetete,
+    Gerlandus,
+    Gregory Nazianzen,
+    History of England,
+    Gesti Alexandri Magni,
+    Hystoria Longobardos,
+    Hystoriæ Scholasticæ,
+    Chronicles _Latine et Anglice_,
+    Chronographia Necephori.
+
+But I trust the reader will not rest satisfied with these few samples of
+the goodly store, but inspect the catalogue for himself. It would occupy,
+as I said before, too much space to enumerate even a small proportion of
+its many treasures, which treat of all branches of literature and
+science, natural history, medicine, ethics, philosophy, rhetoric,
+grammar, poetry, and music; each shared the studious attention of the
+monks, and a curious "_Liber de Astronomia_" taught them the rudiments of
+that sublime science, but which they were too apt to confound with its
+offspring, astrology, as we may infer, was the case with the monks of
+Canterbury, for their library contained a "_Liber de Astroloebus_,"
+and the "Prophesies of Merlin."
+
+Many hints connected with the literary portion of a monastic life may
+sometimes be found in these catalogues. It was evidently usual at Christ
+Church Monastery to keep apart a number of books for the private study of
+the monks in the cloister, which I imagine they were at liberty to use at
+any time.[126]
+
+A portion of the catalogue of monk Henry is headed "_Lib. de Armariole
+Claustre_,"[127] under which it is pleasing to observe a Bible, in two
+volumes, specified as for the use of the infirmary, with devotional
+books, lives of the fathers, a history of England, the works of Bede,
+Isidore, Boethius, Rabanus Maurus, Cassiodorus, and many others of equal
+celebrity. In another portion of the manuscript, we find a list of their
+church books, written at the same time;[128] it affords a brilliant proof
+of the plentitude of the gospels among them; for no less than twenty-five
+copies are described. We may judge to what height the art of bookbinding
+had arrived by the account here given of these precious volumes. Some
+were in a splendid coopertoria of gold and silver, and others exquisitely
+ornamented with figures of our Saviour and the four Evangelists.[129] But
+this extravagant costliness rendered them attractive objects to pilfering
+hands, and somewhat accounts for the lament of the industrious Somner,
+who says that the library was "shamefully robbed and spoiled of them
+all."[130]
+
+Our remarks on the monastic library at Canterbury are drawing to a close.
+Henry Chiclely, archbishop in 1413, an excellent man, and a great
+promoter of learning, rebuilt the library of the church, and furnished it
+with many a choice tome.[131] His esteem for literature was so great,
+that he built two colleges at Oxford.[132] William Sellinge, who was a
+man of erudition, and deeply imbued with the book-loving mania, was
+elected prior in 1472. He is said to have studied at Bonania, in Italy;
+and, during his travels, he gathered together "all the ancient authors,
+both Greek and Latine, he could get," and returned laden with them to his
+own country. Many of them were of great rarity, and it is said that a
+Tully _de Republica_ was among them. Unfortunately, they were all burnt
+by a fire in the monastery.[133]
+
+I have said enough, I think, to show that books were eagerly sought
+after, and deeply appreciated, in Canterbury cloisters during the middle
+ages, and when the reader considers that these facts have been preserved
+from sheer accident, and, therefore, only enable us to obtain a partial
+glimpse of the actual state of their library, he will be ready to admit
+that bibliomania existed then, and will feel thankful, too, that it did,
+for to its influence, surely, we are indebted for the preservation of
+much that is valuable and instructive in history and general
+literature.[134]
+
+We can scarcely leave Kent without a word or two respecting the church of
+the Rochester monks. It was founded by King Ethelbert, who conferred upon
+it the dignities of an episcopal see, in the year 600; and, dedicating it
+to St. Andrew, completed the good work by many donations and emoluments.
+The revenues of the see were always limited, and it is said that its
+poverty caused it to be treated with kind forbearance by the
+ecclesiastical commissioners at the period of the Reformation.
+
+I have not been able to meet with any catalogue of its monastic library,
+and the only hints I can obtain relative to their books are such as may
+be gathered from the recorded donations of its learned prelates and
+monks. In the year 1077, Gundulph, a Norman bishop, who is justly
+celebrated for his architectural talents, rebuilt the cathedral, and
+considerable remains of this structure are still to be seen in the nave
+and west front, and display that profuse decoration united with ponderous
+stability, for which the Norman buildings are so remarkable. This
+munificent prelate also enriched the church with numerous and costly
+ornaments; the encouragement he gave to learning calls for some notice
+here. Trained in one of the most flourishing of the Norman schools, we
+are not surprised that in his early youth he was so studious and
+inquisitive after knowledge as to merit the especial commendation of his
+biographer.[135] William of Malmsbury, too, highly extols him "for his
+abundant piety," and tells us that he was not inexperienced in literary
+avocations; he was polished and courageous in the management of judicial
+affairs, and a close, devoted student of the divine writings;[136] as a
+scribe he was industrious and critical, and the great purpose to which he
+applied his patience and erudition was a careful revisal of the Holy
+Scriptures. He purged the sacred volume of the inadvertencies of the
+scribes, and restored the purity of the text; for transcribing after
+transcribing had caused some errors and diversity of readings to occur,
+between the English and foreign codices, in spite of all the pious care
+of the monastic copyists; this was perplexing, an uniformity was
+essential and he undertook the task;[137] labors so valuable deserve the
+highest praise, and we bestow it more liberally upon him for this good
+work than we should have done had he been the compiler of crude homilies
+or the marvellous legends of saints. The high veneration in which
+Gundulph held the patristic writings induced him to bestow his attention
+in a similar manner upon them, he compared copies, studied their various
+readings and set to work to correct them. The books necessary for these
+critical researches he obtained from the libraries of his former master,
+Bishop Lanfranc, St. Anselm, his schoolfellow, and many others who were
+studying at Bec, but besides this, he corrected many other authors, and
+by comparing them with ancient manuscripts, restored them to their
+primitive beauty. Fabricius[138] notices a fine volume, which bore ample
+testimony to his critical erudition and dexterity as a scribe. It is
+described as a large Bible on parchment, written in most beautiful
+characters, it was proved to be his work by this inscription on its title
+page, "_Prima pars Bibliæ per bona memoriæ Gundulphum Rossensem
+Episcopum_." This interesting manuscript, formerly in the library of the
+monks of Rochester, was regarded as one of their most precious volumes.
+An idea of the great value of a Bible in those times may be derived from
+the curious fact that the bishop made a decree directing "excommunication
+to be pronounced against whosoever should take away or conceal this
+volume, or who should even dare to conceal the inscription on the front,
+which indicated the volume to be the property of the church of
+Rochester." But we must bear in mind that this was no ordinary copy, it
+was transcribed by Gundulph's own pen, and rendered pure in its text by
+his critical labors. But the time came when anathemas availed nought, and
+excommunication was divested of all terror. "Henry the Eighth," the
+"Defender of the Faith," frowned destruction upon the monks, and in the
+tumult that ensued, this treasure was carried away, anathema and all.
+Somehow or other it got to Amsterdam, perhaps sent over in one of those
+"shippes full," to the bookbinders, and having passed through many hands,
+at last found its way into the possession of Herman Van de Wal,
+Burgomaster of Amsterdam; since then it was sold by public auction, but
+has now I believe been lost sight of.[139] Among the numerous treasures
+which Gundulph gave to his church, he included a copy of the Gospels, two
+missals and a book of Epistles.[140] Similar books were given by
+succeeding prelates; Radolphus, a Norman bishop in 1108, gave the monks
+several copies of the gospels beautifully adorned.[141] Earnulphus, in
+the year 1115, was likewise a benefactor in this way; he bestowed upon
+them, besides many gold and silver utensils for the church, a copy of the
+gospels, lessons for the principal days, a benedictional, or book of
+blessings, a missal, handsomely bound, and a capitular.[142] Ascelin,
+formerly prior of Dover, and made bishop of Rochester, in the year 1142,
+gave them a Psalter and the Epistles of St. Paul, with a gloss.[143] He
+was a learned man, and excessively fond of books; a passion which he had
+acquired no doubt in his monastery of Dover which possessed a library of
+no mean extent.[144] He wrote a commentary on Isaiah, and gave it to the
+monastery; Walter, archdeacon of Canterbury, who succeeded Ascelin, gave
+a copy of the gospels bound in gold, to the church;[145] and Waleran,
+elected bishop in the year 1182, presented them with a glossed Psalter,
+the Epistles of Paul, and the Sermons of Peter.[146]
+
+Glanvill, bishop in the year 1184, endeavored to deprive the monks of the
+land which Gundulph had bestowed upon them; this gave to rise to many
+quarrels[147] which the monks never forgave; it is said that he died
+without regret, and was buried without ceremony; yet the curious may
+still inspect his tomb on the north side of the altar, with his effigies
+and mitre lying at length upon it.[148] Glanvill probably repented of his
+conduct, and he strove to banish all animosity by many donations; and
+among other treasures, he gave the monks the five books of Moses and
+other volumes.[149]
+
+Osbern of Shepey, who was prior in the year 1189, was a great scribe and
+wrote many volumes for the library; he finished the Commentary of
+Ascelin, transcribed a history of Peter, a Breviary for the chapel, a
+book called _De Claustra animæ_, and wrote the great Psalter which is
+chained to the choir and window of St. Peter's altar.[150] Ralph de Ross,
+and Heymer de Tunebregge,[151] also bestowed gifts of a similar nature
+upon the monks; but the book anecdotes connected with this monastic
+fraternity are remarkably few, barren of interest, and present no very
+exalted idea of their learning.[152]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[88] Bede, iv. cap. ii.
+
+[89] He died in 690, and was succeeded by Bertwold, Abbot of
+     Reculver, _Saxon Chronicle, Ingram_, p. 57. Bede speaks of Bertwold
+     as "well learned in Scripture and Ecclesiastical
+     Literature."--_Eccl. Hist._ b. v. c. viii.
+
+[90] Preambulation of Kent, 4to. 1576, p. 233. Parker's Ant. Brit.
+     p. 80.
+
+[91] He was consecrated on the 10th of June, 731, Bede, v. c. xxiii.
+
+[92] M.S. Reg. 12, c. xxiii. I know of no other copy. Leland says
+     that he saw a copy at Glastonbury.
+
+[93] Bede's Eccl. Hist. Prologue.
+
+[94] Pitseus Angliæ Scrip. 1619, p. 141. Dart's Hist. Canterbury, p.
+     102.
+
+[95] Cottonian MS. Cleopatra, B. xiii. fo. 70.
+
+[96] W. Malm, de Vita, Dunst. ap. Leland, Script. tom. 1. p. 162.
+     Cotton. MS. Fanstin, B. 13.
+
+[97] Strutt's Saxon. Antiq. vol. 1, p. 105, plate xviii. See also
+     Hicke's Saxon Grammar, p. 104.
+
+[98] MS. Cotton., Cleop. b. xiii. fo. 69. Mabd. Acta Sancto. vii.
+     663.
+
+[99] Saxon Chron. by Ingram, 171.
+
+[100] Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.
+
+[101] Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.
+
+[102] Can. 21, p. 577, vol. i.
+
+[103] Lisle's Divers Ancient Monuments in the Saxon Tongue, 4to.
+      Lond. 1638, p. 43.
+
+[104] MS. Cottonian Claudius, b. vi. p. 103; Dart's Hist. of Cant.
+      p. 112.; Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 517.
+
+[105] There was an old saying, and a true one, prevalent in those
+      days, that a monastery without a library was like a castle without
+      an armory, _Clastrum sine armario, quasi castrum sine armamentario_.
+      See letter of Gaufredi of St. Barbary to Peter Mangot, _Martene
+      Thes. Nov. Anecd._, tom. i. col. 511.
+
+[106] Mabillon, Act. S., tom. ix. p. 659.
+
+[107] Ep. i. ad Papæ Alex.
+
+[108] Vita Lanfr., c. vi. "_Effulsit eo majistro, obedientia coactu,
+      philosophicarum ac divinarum litterarum bibliotheca, etc._" Opera p.
+      8. Edit. folio, 1648.
+
+[109] "Et quia scripturæ scriptorum vitio erant ninium corruptæ,
+      omnes tam Veteris, quam Novi Testamenti libros; necnon etiam scriptæ
+      sanctorum patrum secundum orthodoxam fidem studuit corrigere." Vita
+      Lanfr. cap. 15, ap. Opera, p. 15.
+
+[110] Hist. Litt. de la France, vol. vii. p. 117.
+
+[111] _Ibid._ "Il rendit de même service à trois écrits de S.
+      Ambrose l'Hexameron, l'apologie de David et le traité des
+      Sacrements, tels qu'on les voit à la bibliothèque de St. Vincent du
+      Mans."
+
+[112] _Ibid._
+
+[113] Malmsb. de Gest. Pontif. b. i. p. 216.
+
+[114] See Epist. 16. Lib. i.
+
+[115] Edmer. Vit. Anselm, apud Anselm Opera.--_Edit. Benedict_,
+      1721, b. i. p. 4.
+
+[116] Epp. 10-20, lib. i. and 24 b. ii.
+
+[117] Codic. fol. first class, a dextr. Sc. Med. 5.
+
+[118] Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry. Dissert, ii.
+
+[119] Dart's Canterb. p. 132. Dugdale's Monast. vol. i. p. 85.
+
+[120] There is, or was, in St. Peter's college, Cambridge, a MS.
+      volume of 21 books, which formerly belonged to this worthy
+      Bibliophile.--_Dart_, p. 137.
+
+[121] Petition Apol. 4to. 1604, p. 17.
+
+[122] Brit. Mus. Vesp. A. i.
+
+[123] Wanley Librorum Vett Septentrionalium fol. Oxon, 1705, p. 172.
+
+[124] Dugdale's Monast. Angl. vol. i. p. 112.
+
+[125] MS. Cot. Galba. E. iv.
+
+[126] See what has been said on this subject in the previous
+      chapter.
+
+[127] MS. Galla, E. iv. fol. 133.
+
+[128] MS. fol. 122.
+
+[129] _Textus Magnus auro coopertus et gemmis ornatus, cum majistate
+      in media, et 4 Evangelistis in 4 Angulis. Ibid._
+
+[130] Somner Antiq. Cant. 4to. 1640, p. 174, he is speaking of books
+      in general.
+
+[131] Duck Vita Chich. p. 104.
+
+[132] Dugdale, vol. i. p. 86. Dart, p. 158, and Somner Ant. Cant.
+      174.
+
+[133] Somner, 294 and 295; see also Leland Scriptor. He was well
+      versed in the Greek language, and his monument bears the following
+      line:
+
+         "Doctor theologus Selling Græca atque Latina,
+          Linqua perdoctus."--See Warton's Hist. Poet., ii. p. 425.
+
+
+[134] There is a catalogue written in the sixteenth century,
+      preserved among the Cotton MS., containing the titles of seventy
+      books belonging to Canterbury Library. It is printed in Leland
+      Collect. vol. iv. p. 120, and in Dart's Hist. Cant. Cath.; but they
+      differ slightly from the Cott. MS. Julius, c. vi. 4, fol. 99.
+
+[135] Monachus Roffensis de Vita Gundulphi, 274.
+
+[136] Will. Malms. de Gest. Pont. Ang. ap Rerum. Ang. Script, 133.
+
+[137] Histoire Littéraire de Fr., tom. vii. p. 118.
+
+[138] Biblioth. Latine, b. vii. p. 519.
+
+[139] Hist. Litt. de Fr., tom. ix. p. 373.
+
+[140] Thorpe Regist. Roffens, fol. 1769, p. 118.
+
+[141] Wharton Angl. Sacr., tom. 1, p. 342.
+
+[142] Thorpe Regist. Rof., p. 120. Dugdale's Monast., vol. 1, p.
+      157.
+
+[143] Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[144] A catalogue of this library is preserved among the Bodleian
+      MSS. No. 920, containing many fine old volumes. I am not aware that
+      it has been ever printed.
+
+[145] "Textum Evangeliorum aureum." Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[146] _Ibid._, p. 121.
+
+[147] Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. 1, p. 156.
+
+[148] Wharton's Ang. Sac, tom. 1, p. 346.
+
+[149] Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[150] Thorpe Reg. Rof., 121. Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 158.
+
+[151] Reg. Rof., pp. 122, 123.
+
+[152] In a long list of gifts by Robert de Hecham, I find "librum
+      Ysidore ethimologiarum possuit in armarium claustri et alia plura
+      fecit."--_Thorpe Reg. Rof._, p. 123.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+     _Lindesfarne.--St. Cuthbert's Gospels.--Destruction of the
+     Monastery.--Alcuin's Letter on the occasion.--Removal to
+     Durham.--Carelepho.--Catalogue of Durham Library.--Hugh de
+     Pusar.--Anthony Bek.--Richard de Bury and his Philobiblon, etc._
+
+
+The Benedictine monastery of Lindesfarne, or the Holy Island, as it was
+called, was founded through the instrumentality of Oswald, the son of
+Ethelfrith, king of Northumberland, who was anxious for the promulgation
+of the Christian faith within his dominions. Aidan, the first bishop of
+whom we have any distinct account, was appointed about the year 635. Bede
+tells us that he used frequently to retire to the Isle of Farne, that he
+might pray in private and be undisturbed.[153] This small island, distant
+about nine miles from the church of Lindesfarne, obtained great
+celebrity from St. Cuthbert, who sought that quiet spot and led there a
+lonely existence in great continence of mind and body.[154] In 685 he was
+appointed to the see of Lindesfarne, where, by his pious example and
+regular life, he instructed many in their religious duties. The name of
+this illustrious saint is intimately connected with a most magnificent
+specimen of calligraphical art of the eighth century, preserved in the
+British Museum,[155] and well known by the name of the Durham Book, or
+Saint Cuthbert's Gospels; it was written some years after the death of
+that Saint, in honor of his memory, by Egfrith, a monk of Lindesfarne,
+who was made bishop of that see in the year 698. At Egfrith's death in
+721, his successor, Æthilwald, most beautifully bound it in gold and
+precious stones, and Bilfrid, a hermit, richly illuminated it by
+prefixing to each gospel a beautiful painting representing one of the
+Evangelists, and a tesselated cross, executed in a most elaborate manner.
+He also displayed great skill by illuminating the large capital letters
+at the commencement of each gospel.[156] Doubtless, the hermit Bilfrid
+was an eminent artist in his day. Aldred, the Glossator, a priest of
+Durham, about the year 950, still more enriched this precious volume by
+interlining it with a Saxon Gloss, or version of the Latin text of St.
+Jerome, of which the original manuscript is a copy.[157] It is
+therefore, one of the most venerable of those early attempts to render
+the holy scriptures into the vernacular tongue, and is on that account an
+interesting relic to the Christian reader, and, no doubt, formed the
+choicest volume in the library of Lindesfarne.[158]
+
+But imperfectly, indeed, have I described the splendid manuscript which
+is now lying, in all its charms, before me. And as I mark its fine old
+illuminations, so bright in color, and so chaste in execution, the
+accuracy of its transcription, and the uniform beauty of its calligraphy,
+my imagination carries me back to the quiet cloister of the old Saxon
+scribe who wrote it, and I can see in Egfrith, a bibliomaniac, of no mean
+pretensions, and in Bilfrid, a monkish illuminator, well initiated in the
+mysteries of his art. The manuscript contains 258 double columned folio
+pages, and the paintings of the Evangelists each occupy an entire page.
+We learn the history of its production from a very long note at the end
+of the manuscript, written by the hand of the glossator.[159]
+
+But sad misfortunes were in store for the holy monks, for about 793, or a
+little earlier, when Highbald was abbot, the Danes burnt down the
+monastery and murdered the ecclesiastics; "most dreadful lightnings and
+other prodigies," says Simeon of Durham, "are said to have portended the
+impending ruin of this place; on the 7th of June they came to the church
+of Lindesfarne, miserably plundered all places, overthrew the altars, and
+carried away all the treasures of the church, some of the monks they
+slew, some they carried away captives, some they drowned in the sea, and
+others much afflicted and abused they turned away naked."[160]
+Fortunately some of the poor monks escaped, and after a short time
+returned to their old spot, and with religious zeal set about repairing
+the damage which the sacred edifice had sustained; after its restoration
+they continued comparatively quiet till the time of Eardulfus, when the
+Danes in the year 875, again invaded England and burned down the
+monastery of Lindesfarne. The monks obtained some knowledge of their
+coming and managed to effect their escape, taking with them the body of
+St. Cuthbert, which they highly venerated, with many other honored
+relics; they then set out with the bishop Eardulfus and the abbot Eadrid
+at their head on a sort of pilgrimage to discover some suitable resting
+place for the remains of their saint; but finding no safe locality, and
+becoming fatigued by the irksomeness of the journey, they as a last
+resource resolved to pass over to Ireland. For this purpose they
+proceeded to the sea, but no sooner were they on board the ship than a
+terrific storm arose, and had it not been for the fond care of their
+patron saint, a watery grave would have been forever their resting
+place; but, as it was, their lives were spared, and the holy bones
+preserved to bless mankind, and work wondrous miracles in the old church
+of the Saxon monks. Nevertheless, considerable damage was sustained, and
+the fury of the angry waves forced them back again to the shore. The
+monks deeming this an indication of God's will that they should remain,
+decided upon doing so, and leaving the ship, they agreed to proceed on
+their way rejoicing, and place still greater trust in the mercy of God
+and the miraculous influence of St. Cuthbert's holy bones; but some whose
+reliance on Divine providence appears not so conspicuous, became
+dissatisfied, and separated from the rest till at last only seven monks
+were left besides their bishop and abbot. Their relics were too numerous
+and too cumbersome to be conveyed by so small a number, and they knew not
+how to proceed; but one of the seven whose name was Hanred had a vision,
+wherein he was told that they should repair to the sea, where they would
+find a book of Gospels adorned with gold and precious stones, which had
+been lost out of the ship when they were in the storm; and that after
+that he should see a bridle hanging on a tree, which he should take down
+and put upon a horse that would come to him, which horse he should put to
+a cart he would also find, to carry the holy body, which would be an ease
+to them. All these things happening accordingly, they travelled with more
+comfort, following the horse, which way soever he should lead. The book
+above mentioned was no ways damaged by the water, and is still preserved
+in the library at Durham,[161] where it remained till the Reformation,
+when it was stript of its jewelled covering, and after passing through
+many hands, ultimately came into the possession of Sir Robert Cotton, in
+whose collection, as we have said before, it is now preserved in the
+British Museum.
+
+I cannot refrain, even at the risk of incurring some blame for my
+digression, presenting the reader with a part of a letter full of
+fraternal love, which Alcuin addressed to the monks of Lindesfarne on
+this sad occasion.
+
+"Your dearest fraternity," says he, "was wont to afford me much joy. But
+now how different! though absent, I deeply lament the more your
+tribulations and calamities; the manner in which the Pagans contaminate
+the sanctuaries of God, and shed the blood of saints around the altar,
+devastating the joy of our house, and trampling on the bodies of holy men
+in the temple of God, as though they were treading on a dunghill in the
+street. But of what effect is our wailing unless we come before the
+altars of Christ and cry, 'Spare me, O Lord! spare thy people, and take
+not thine inheritance from them;' nor let the Pagans say, 'Where is the
+God of the Christians?' Besides who is to pacify the churches of Britain,
+if St. Cuthbert cannot defend them with so great a number of saints?
+Nevertheless do not trouble the mind about these things, for God
+chasteneth all the sons whom he receiveth, and therefore perhaps afflicts
+you the more, because he the more loveth you. Jerusalem, the delightful
+city of God, was lost by the Chaldean scourge; and Rome, the city of the
+holy Apostles and innumerable martyrs, was surrounded by the Pagans and
+devastated. Well nigh the whole of Europe is evacuated by the scourging
+sword of the Goths or the Huns. But in the same manner in which God
+preserved the stars to illuminate the heavens, so will He preserve the
+churches to ornament, and in their office to strengthen and increase the
+Christian religion."[162]
+
+Thus it came to pass that Eardulphus was the last bishop of Lindesfarne
+and the first of Cunecacestre, or Chester-upon-the-Street, to which place
+his see was removed previous to its final settlement at Durham.
+
+After a succession of many bishops, some recorded as learned and bookish
+by monkish annalists, and nearly all benefactors in some way to their
+church, we arrive at the period when Aldwine was consecrated bishop of
+that see in the year 990. The commotions of his time made his presidency
+a troubled and harassing one. Sweyn, king of Denmark, and Olauis, king of
+Norway, invaded England, and spreading themselves in bodies over the
+kingdom, committed many and cruel depredations; a strong body of these
+infested the northern coast, and approached the vicinity of
+Chester-on-the-Street. This so alarmed Aldwine, that he resolved to quit
+his church--for the great riches and numerous relics of that holy place
+were attractive objects to the plundering propensities of the invaders.
+Carrying, therefore, the bones of St. Cuthbert with them--for that box of
+mortal dust was ever precious in the sight of those old monks--and the
+costly treasures of the church, not forgetting their books, the monks
+fled to Ripon, and the see, which after similar adversities their
+predecessors one hundred and thirteen years ago had settled at Chester,
+was forever removed. It is true three or four months after, as Symeon of
+Durham tells us, they attempted to return, but when they reached a place
+called Werdelan, "on the east and near unto Durham," they could not move
+the bier on which the body of St. Cuthbert was carried, although they
+applied their united strength to effect it. The superstition, or perhaps
+simplicity, of the monks instantly interpreted this into a manifestation
+of divine interference, and they resolved not to return again to their
+old spot. And we are further told that after three days' fasting and
+prayer, the Lord vouchsafed to reveal to them that they should bear the
+saintly burden to Durham, a command which they piously and cheerfully
+obeyed. Having arrived there, they fixed on a wild and uncultivated site,
+and making a simple oratory of wattles for the temporary reception of
+their relics, they set zealously to work--for these old monks well knew
+what labor was--to cut down wood, to clear the ground, and build an
+habitation for themselves. Shortly after, in the wilderness of that
+neglected spot, the worthy bishop Aldwine erected a goodly church of
+stone to the honor of God, and as a humble tribute of gratitude and love;
+and so it was that Aldwine, the last bishop of Chester-on-the-Street,
+was the first of Durham.
+
+When William Carelepho, a Norman monk, was consecrated bishop, the church
+had so increased in wealth and usefulness, that fresh wants arose, more
+space was requisite, and a grander structure would be preferable; the
+bishop thereupon pulled the old church of Aldwine down and commenced the
+erection of a more magnificent one in its place, as the beauty of Durham
+cathedral sufficiently testifies even now; and will not the lover of
+artistic beauty award his praise to the Norman bishop--those massive
+columns and stupendous arches excite the admiring wonder of all; built on
+a rocky eminence and surrounded by all the charms of a romantic scenery,
+it is one of the finest specimens of architecture which the enthusiasm of
+monkish days dedicated to piety and to God. Its liberal founder however
+did not live to see it finished, for he died in the year 1095, two years
+after laying its foundation stone. His bookloving propensities have been
+honorably recorded, and not only was he fond of reading, but kept the
+pens of the scribes in constant motion, and used himself to superintend
+the transcription of manuscripts, as the colophon of a folio volume in
+Durham library fully proves.[163] The monkish bibliophiles of his church
+received from him a precious gift of about 40 volumes, containing among
+other valuable books Prosper, Pompeii, Tertullian, and a great Bible in
+two volumes.[164]
+
+It would have been difficult perhaps to have found in those days a body
+of monks so "bookish" as those of Durham; not only did they transcribe
+with astonishing rapidity, proving that there was no want of vellum
+there, but they must have bought or otherwise collected a great number of
+books; for the see of Durham, in the early part of the 12th century,
+could show a library embracing nearly 300 volumes.[165]
+
+Nor let the reader imagine that the collection possessed no merit in a
+literary point of view, or that the monks cared for little else save
+legends of saints or the literature of the church; the catalogue proves
+them to have enjoyed a more liberal and a more refined taste, and again
+display the cloistered students of the middle ages as the preservers of
+classic learning. This is a point worth observing on looking over the old
+parchment catalogues of the monks; for as by their Epistles we obtain a
+knowledge of their intimacy with the old writers, and the use they made
+of them, so by their catalogues we catch a glimpse of the means they
+possessed of becoming personally acquainted with their beauties; by the
+process much light may be thrown on the gloom of those long past times,
+and perhaps we shall gain too a better view of the state of learning
+existing then. But that the reader may judge for himself, I extract the
+names of some of the writers whom the monks of Durham preserved and
+read:
+
+    Alcuin.
+    Ambrose.
+    Aratores.
+    Anselm.
+    Augustine.
+    Aviany.
+    Bede.
+    Boethius.
+    Bernard.
+    Cassian.
+    Cassiodorus.
+    Claudius.
+    Cyprian.
+    Donatus.
+    Esop.
+    Eutropius.
+    Galen.
+    Gregory.
+    Haimo.
+    Horace.
+    Homer.
+    Hugo.
+    Juvenal.
+    Isidore.
+    Josephus.
+    Lucan.
+    Marcianus.
+    Maximian.
+    Orosius.
+    Ovid.
+    Prudentius.
+    Prosper.
+    Persius.
+    Priscian.
+    Peter Lombard.
+    Plato.
+    Pompeius Trogus.
+    Quintilian.
+    Rabanus.
+    Solinus.
+    Servius.
+    Statius.
+    Terence.
+    Tully.
+    Theodulus.
+    Virgil.
+    Gesta Anglorum.
+    Gesta Normanorum.
+
+Hugh de Pussar,[166] consecrated bishop in 1153, is the next who attracts
+our attention by his bibliomanical renown. He possessed perhaps the
+finest copy of the Holy Scriptures of any private collector; and he
+doubtless regarded his "_unam Bibliam in_ iv. _magnis voluminibus_," with
+the veneration of a divine and the fondness of a student. He collected
+what in those times was deemed a respectable library, and bequeathed no
+less than sixty or seventy volumes to the Durham monks, including his
+great Bible, which has ever since been preserved with religious care;
+from a catalogue of them we learn his partiality for classical
+literature; a Tully, Sedulus, Priscian, and Claudius, are mentioned among
+them.[167]
+
+Anthony Bek, who was appointed to the see in the year 1283, was a most
+ambitious and haughty prelate, and caused great dissensions in his
+church. History proves how little he was adapted for the responsible
+duties of a bishop, and points to the field of battle or civil pomp as
+most congenial to his disposition. He ostentatiously displayed the
+splendor of a Palatine Prince, when he contributed his powerful aid to
+the cause of his sovereign, in the Scottish war, by a retinue of 500
+horse, 1000 foot, 140 knights, and 26 standard bearers,[168] rendered
+doubly imposing in those days of saintly worship and credulity, by the
+patronage of St. Cuthbert, under whole holy banner they marched against a
+brave and noble foe. His arbitrary temper caused sad quarrels in the
+cloister, which ultimately gave rise to a tedious law proceeding between
+him and the prior about the year 1300;[169] from a record of this affair
+we learn that the bishop had borrowed some books from the library which
+afterwards he refused to return; there was among them a Decretal, a
+history of England, a Missal, and a volume called "The book of St.
+Cuthbert, in which the secrets of the monastery are written," which was
+alone valued at £200,[170] probably in consideration of the important and
+delicate matters contained therein.
+
+These proceedings were instituted by prior Hoton, who was fond of books,
+and had a great esteem for learning; he founded a college at Oxford for
+the monkish students of his church.[171] On more than one occasion he
+sent parcels of books to Oxford; in a list of an early date it appears
+that the monks of Durham sent at one time twenty volumes, and shortly
+after fifteen more, consisting principally of church books and lives of
+saints.[172] The numbers thus taken from their library the monks, with
+that love of learning for which they were so remarkable, anxiously
+replaced, by purchasing about twenty volumes, many of which contained a
+great number of small but choice pieces.[173]
+
+Robert de Graystane, a monk of Durham, was elected bishop by the prior
+and chapter, and confirmed on the 10th of November, 1333, but the king,
+Edward III., wishing to advance his treasurer to that see, refused his
+sanction to the proceeding; monk Robert was accordingly deposed, and
+Richard Angraville received the mitre in his stead. He was consecrated on
+the 19th of December in the same year, by John Stratford, archbishop of
+Canterbury, and installed by proxy on the 10th of January, 1334.
+
+Angraville, Aungerville, or as he is more commonly called Richard de
+Bury, is a name which every bibliophile will honor and esteem; he was
+indeed a bibliomaniac of the first order, and a sketch of his life is not
+only indispensable here, but cannot fail to interest the book-loving
+reader. But before entering more at large into his bookish propensities
+and talents, it will be necessary to say something of his early days and
+the illustrious career which attended his political and ecclesiastical
+life. Richard de Bury, the son of Sir Richard Angraville, was born, as
+his name implies, at Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, in the year 1287.[174]
+
+Great attention was paid to the instruction of his youthful mind by his
+maternal uncle, John de Willowby, a priest, previous to his removal to
+Oxford. At the university he obtained honorable distinction, as much for
+his erudition and love of books as for the moral rectitude of his
+behavior. These pleasing traits were the stepping stones to his future
+greatness, and on the strength of them he was selected as one fully
+competent to undertake the education of Edward Prince of Wales,
+afterwards the third king of that name; and to Richard de Bury "may be
+traced the love for literature and the arts displayed by his pupil when
+on the throne. He was rewarded with the lucrative appointment of
+treasurer of Gascony."[175]
+
+When Edward, the prince of Wales, was sent to Paris to assume the
+dominion of Guienne, which the king had resigned in his favor, he was
+accompanied by queen Isabella, his mother, whose criminal frailty, and
+afterwards conspiracy, with Mortimer, aroused the just indignation of her
+royal husband; and commenced those civil dissensions which rendered the
+reign of Edward II. so disastrous and turbulent. It was during these
+commotions that Richard de Bury became a zealous partizan of the queen,
+to whom he fled, and ventured to supply her pecuniary necessities from
+the royal revenues; for this, however, he was surrounded with imminent
+danger; for the king, instituting an inquiry into these proceedings,
+attempted his capture, which he narrowly escaped by secreting himself in
+the belfry of the convent of Brothers Minor at Paris.[176]
+
+When the "most invincible and most magnificent king" Edward III. was
+firmly seated upon the throne, dignity and power was lavishly bestowed on
+this early bibliomaniac. In an almost incredible space of time he was
+appointed cofferer to the king, treasurer of the wardrobe, archdeacon of
+Northampton, prebendary of Lincoln, Sarum, Litchfield, and shortly
+afterwards keeper of the privy seal, which office he held for five years.
+During this time he twice undertook a visit to Italy, on a mission to the
+supreme pontiff, John XXII., who not only entertained him with honor and
+distinction, but appointed him chaplain to his principal chapel, and gave
+him a bull, nominating him to the first vacant see in England.
+
+He acquired whilst there an honor which reflected more credit than even
+the smiles of his holiness--the brightest of the Italian poets, Petrarch
+of never dying fame--bestowed upon him his acquaintance and lasting
+friendship. De Bury entered Avignon for the first time in the same year
+that Petrarch took up his residence there, in the house of Colonna,
+bishop of Lombes: two such enlightened scholars and indefatigable book
+collectors, sojourning in the same city, soon formed an intimacy.[177]
+How interesting must their friendly meetings have been, and how
+delightful the hours spent in Petrarch's library, which was one of great
+extent and rarity; and it is probable too that De Bury obtained from the
+poet a few treasures to enrich his own stores; for the generosity of
+Petrarch was so excessive, that he could scarcely withhold what he knew
+was so dearly coveted. His benevolence on one occasion deprived him and
+posterity of an inestimable volume; he lent some manuscripts of the
+classics to his old master, who, needing pecuniary aid, pawned them, and
+Cicero's books, _De Gloria_, were in this manner irrecoverably lost.[178]
+Petrarch acted like a true lover of learning; for when the shadows of old
+age approached, he presented his library, full of rare and ancient
+manuscripts, many of them enriched by his own notes, to the Venetian
+Senate, and thus laid the foundation of the library of Saint-Marc; he
+always employed a number of transcribers, who invariably accompanied him
+on his journeys, and he kept horses to carry his books.[179] His love of
+reading was intense. "Whether," he writes in one of his epistles, "I am
+being shaved, or having my hair cut, whether I am riding on horseback or
+taking my meals, I either read myself or get some one to read to me; on
+the table where I dine, and by the side of my bed, I have all the
+materials for writing."[180] With the friendship of such a student, how
+charming must have been the visit of the English ambassador, and how much
+valuable and interesting information must he have gleaned by his
+intercourse with Petrarch and his books. At Rome Richard de Bury obtained
+many choice volumes and rare old manuscripts of the classics; for at Rome
+indeed, at that time, books had become an important article of commerce,
+and many foreign collectors besides the English bibliomaniac resorted
+there for these treasures: to such an extend was this carried on, that
+the jealousy of Petrarch was aroused, who, in addressing the Romans,
+exclaims: "Are you not ashamed that the wrecks of your ancient grandeur,
+spared by the inundation of the barbarians, are daily sold by your
+miscalculating avarice to foreigners? And that Rome is no where less
+known and less loved than at Rome?"[181]
+
+The immense ecclesiastical and civil revenues which Aungraville enjoyed,
+enabled him whilst in Italy to maintain a most costly and sumptuous
+establishment: in his last visit alone he is said to have expended 5,000
+marks, and he never appeared in public without a numerous retinue of
+twenty clerks and thirty-six esquires; an appearance which better became
+the dignity of his civil office, than the Christian humility of his
+ecclesiastical functions. On his return from this distinguished sojourn,
+he was appointed, as we have said before, through the instrumentality of
+Edward III., to the bishopric of Durham. But not content with these high
+preferments, his royal master advanced him to still greater honor, and on
+the 28th of September, 1334, he was made Lord Chancellor of England,
+which office he filled till the 5th of June, 1335, when he exchanged it
+for that of high treasurer. He was twice appointed ambassador to the king
+of France, respecting the claims of Edward of England to the crown of
+that country. De Bury, whilst negociating this affair, visited Antwerp
+and Brabant for the furtherance of the object of his mission, and he
+fully embraced this rare opportunity of adding to his literary stores,
+and returned to his fatherland well laden with many choice and costly
+manuscripts; for in all his perilous missions he carried about with him,
+as he tells us, that love of books which many waters could not
+extinguish, but which greatly sweetened the bitterness of peregrination.
+Whilst at Paris he was especially assiduous in collecting, and he relates
+with intense rapture, how many choice libraries he found there full of
+all kinds of books, which tempted him to spend his money freely; and with
+a gladsome heart he gave his dirty lucre for treasures so inestimable to
+the bibliomaniac.
+
+Before the commencement of the war which arose from the disputed claims
+of Edward, Richard de Bury returned to enjoy in sweet seclusion his
+bibliomanical propensities. The modern bibliophiles who know what it is
+to revel in the enjoyment of a goodly library, luxuriant in costly
+bindings and rich in bibliographical rarities, who are fully susceptible
+to the delights and exquisite sensibilities of that sweet madness called
+bibliomania, will readily comprehend the multiplied pleasures of that
+early and illustrious bibliophile in the seclusion of Auckland Palace; he
+there ardently applied his energies and wealth to the accumulation of
+books; and whilst engaged in this pleasing avocation, let us endeavor to
+catch a glimpse of him. Chambre, to whom we are indebted for many of the
+above particulars, tells us that Richard de Bury was learned in the
+governing of his house, hospitable to strangers, of great charity, and
+fond of disputation with the learned, but he principally delighted in a
+multitude of books, _Iste summe delectabatur multitudine librorum_,[182]
+and possessed more books than all the bishops put together, an assertion
+which requires some modification, and must not be too strictly regarded,
+for book collecting at that time was becoming a favorite pursuit; still
+the language of Chambre is expressive, and clearly proves how extensive
+must have been his libraries, one of which he formed in each of his
+various palaces, _diversis maneriis_. So engrossed was that worthy bishop
+with the passion of book collecting, that his dormitory was strewed
+_jucebant_ with them, in every nook and corner choice volumes were
+scattered, so that it was almost impossible for any person to enter
+without placing his feet upon some book.[183] He kept in regular
+employment no small assemblage of antiquaries, scribes, bookbinders,
+correctors, illuminators, and all such persons who were capable of being
+useful in the service of books, _librorum servitiis utiliter_.[184]
+
+During his retirement he wrote a book, from the perusal of which the
+bibliomaniac will obtain a full measure of delight and instruction. It is
+a faithful record of the life and experience of this bibliophile of the
+olden time. He tells us how he collected his vellum treasures--his
+"crackling tomes" so rich in illuminations and calligraphic art!--how he
+preserved them, and how he would have others read them. Costly indeed
+must have been the book gems he amassed together; for foreign countries,
+as well as the scribes at home, yielded ample means to augment his
+stores, and were incessantly employed in searching for rarities which his
+heart yearned to possess. He completed his Philobiblon at his palace at
+Auckland on the 24th of January, 1344.[185]
+
+We learn from the prologue to this rare and charming little volume how
+true and genuine a bibliomaniac was Richard de Bury, for he tells us
+there, that a vehement love _amor excitet_ of books had so powerfully
+seized all the faculties of his mind, that dismissing all other
+avocations, he had applied the ardor of his thoughts to the acquisition
+of books. Expense to him was quite an afterthought, and he begrudged no
+amount to possess a volume of rarity or antiquity. Wisdom, he says, is an
+infinite treasure _infinitus thesaurus_, the value of which, in his
+opinion, was beyond all things; for how, he asks, can the sum be too
+great which purchases such vast delight. We cannot admire the purity of
+his Latin so much as the enthusiasm which pervades it; but in the eyes of
+the bibliophile this will amply compensate for his minor imperfections.
+When expatiating on the value of his books he appears to unbosom, as it
+were, all the inward rapture of love. A very _helluo librorum_--a very
+Maliabechi of a collector, yet he encouraged no selfish feeling to alloy
+his pleasure or to mingle bitterness with the sweets of his avocation.
+His knowledge he freely imparted to others, and his books he gladly lent.
+This is apparent in the Philobiblon; and his generous spirit warms his
+diction--not always chaste--into a fluent eloquence. His composition
+overflows with figurative expressions, yet the rude, ungainly form on
+which they are moulded deprive them of all claim to elegance or
+chastity; but while the homeliness of his diction fails to impress us
+with an idea of his versatility as a writer, his chatty anecdotal style
+rivets and keeps the mind amused, so that we rise from the little book
+with the consciousness of having obtained much profit and satisfaction
+from its perusal. Nor is it only the bibliomaniac who may hope to taste
+this pleasure in devouring the sweet contents of the Philobiblon; for
+there are many hints, many wise sayings, and many singular ideas
+scattered over its pages, which will amuse or instruct the general reader
+and the lover of olden literature. We observe too that Richard de Bury,
+as a writer, was far in advance of his age, and his work manifests an
+unusual freedom and independence of mind in its author; for although
+living in monkish days, when the ecclesiastics were almost supreme in
+power and wealth, he was fully sensible of the vile corruptions and
+abominations which were spreading about that time so fearfully among some
+of the cloistered devotees--the spotless purity of the primitive times
+was scarce known then--and the dark periods of the middle ages were
+bright and holy, when compared with the looseness and carnality of those
+turbulent days. Richard de Bury dipped his pen in gall when he spoke of
+these sad things, and doubtless many a revelling monk winced under the
+lashing words he applied to them; not only does he upbraid them for their
+carelessness in religion, but severely reprimands their inattention to
+literature and learning. "The monks," he says, "in the present day seem
+to be occupied in emptying cups, not in correcting codices, _Calicibus
+epotandis, non codicibus emendandis_, which they mingle with the
+lascivious music of Timotheus, and emulate his immodest manners, so that
+the sportive song _cantus ludentis_, and not the plaintive hymn, proceeds
+from the cells of the monks. Flocks and fleeces, grain and granaries,
+gardens and olives, potions and goblets, are in this day lessons and
+studies of the monks, except some chosen few."[186] He speaks in equally
+harsh terms of the religious mendicants. He accuses them of forgetting
+the words and admonitions of their holy founder, who was a great lover of
+books. He wishes them to imitate the ancient members of that fraternity,
+who were poor in spirit, but most rich in faith. But it must be
+remembered, that about this time the mendicant friars were treated with
+undeserved contempt, and much ill feeling rose against them among the
+clergy, but the clergy were somewhat prejudiced in their judgment. The
+order of St. Dominic, which a century before gloried in the approbation
+of the pope, and in the enjoyment of his potential bulls, now winced
+under gloomy and foreboding frowns. The sovereign Pontiff Honorius III.
+gratefully embraced the service of these friars, and confirmed their
+order with important privileges. His successor, Gregory IX., ratified
+these favors to gain their useful aid in propping up the papal power, and
+commanded the ecclesiastics by a bull to receive these "well-beloved
+children and preaching friars" of his, with hospitality and respect.
+Thus established, they were able to bear the tossings to and fro which
+succeeding years produced; but in Richard de Bury's time darker clouds
+were gathering--great men had severely chastized them with their pens and
+denounced them in their preachings. Soon after a host of others sprang
+up--among the most remarkable of whom were Johannes Poliaco, and
+Fitzralph, Archbishop of Armagh, who was a dear friend and chaplain of
+Richard de Bury's and many learned disputations were carried on between
+them.[187] The celebrated oration of Fitzralph's, cited in the presence
+of the pope, was a powerful blow to the mendicant friars--an examination
+of the matter has rather perplexed than cleared the subject, and I find
+it difficult which side to favor, the clergy seem to denounce the begging
+friars more from envy and interested motives, for they looked with
+extreme jealousy at the encroachments they had made upon their
+ecclesiastical functions of confession, absolution, etc., so profitable
+to the church in those days. In these matters the church had hitherto
+reserved a sole monopoly, and the clergy now determined to protect it
+with all the powers of oratorial denunciation; but, looking beyond this
+veil of prejudice, I am prone to regard them favorably, for their intense
+love of books, which they sought for and bought up with passionate
+eagerness. Fitzralph, quite unintentionally, bestows a bright compliment
+upon them, and as it bears upon our subject and illustrates the learning
+of the time, I am tempted to give a few extracts; he sorely laments the
+decrease of the number of students in the university of Oxford; "So,"
+says he, "that yet in my tyme, in the universitie of Oxenford, were
+thirty thousand Scolers at ones; and now beth unnethe[188] sixe
+thousand."[189] All the blame of this he lays to the friars, and accuses
+them of doing "more grete damage to learning." "For these orders of
+beggers, for endeless wynnynges that thei geteth by beggyng of the
+forseide pryvyleges of schriftes and sepultures and othere, thei beth now
+so multiplyed in conventes and in persons. That many men tellith that in
+general studies unnethe, is it founde to sillynge a profitable book of ye
+faculte of art, of dyvynyte, of lawe canon, of phisik, other of lawe
+civil, but alle bookes beth y-bougt of Freres, so that en ech convent of
+Freres is a noble librarye and a grete,[190] and so that ene rech Frere
+that hath state in scole, siche as thei beth nowe, hath an hughe
+librarye. And also y-sent of my Sugettes[191] to scole thre other foure
+persons, and hit is said me that some of them beth come home azen for
+thei myst nougt[192] finde to selle ovn goode Bible; nother othere
+couenable[193] books." This strange accusation proves how industriously
+the friars collected books, and we cannot help regarding them with much
+esteem for doing so. Richard de Bury fully admits his obligations to the
+mendicants, from whom he obtained many choice transcripts. "When indeed,"
+says he, "we happened to turn aside to the towns and places where the
+aforesaid paupers had convents, we were not slack in visiting their
+chests and other repositories of books, for there, amidst the deepest
+poverty, we found the most exalted riches treasured up; there, in their
+satchells and baskets, we discovered not only the crumbs that fell from
+the master's table for the little dogs, but indeed the shew bread without
+leaven, the bread of angels, containing in itself all that is
+delectable;" and moreover, he says, that he found these friars "not
+selfish hoarders, but meet professors of enlightened knowledge."[194]
+
+In the seventh chapter of his work, he deplores the sad destruction of
+books by war and fire, and laments the loss of the 700,000 volumes, which
+happened in the Alexandrian expedition; but the eighth chapter is the one
+which the bibliomaniac will regard with the greatest interest, for
+Richard de Bury tells us there how he collected together his rich and
+ample library. "For although," he writes, "from our youth we have ever
+been delighted to hold special and social communion with literary men and
+lovers of books, yet prosperity attending us, having obtained the notice
+of his majesty the king, and being received into his own family, we
+acquired a most ample facility of visiting at pleasure and of hunting, as
+it were, some of the most delightful covers, the public and private
+libraries _privatas tum communes_, both of the regulars and seculars.
+Indeed, while we performed the duties of Chancellor and Treasurer of the
+most invincible and ever magnificently triumphant king of England,
+Edward III., of that name after the conquest, whose days may the Most
+High long and tranquilly deign to preserve. After first inquiring into
+the things that concerned his court, and then the public affairs of his
+kingdom, an easy opening was afforded us, under the countenance of royal
+favor, for freely searching the hiding places of books. For the flying
+fame of our love had already spread in all directions, and it was
+reported not only that we had a longing desire for books, and _especially
+for old ones_, but that any one could more easily obtain our favors by
+quartos than by money.[195] Wherefore, when supported by the bounty of
+the aforesaid prince of worthy memory, we were enabled to oppose or
+advance, to appoint or discharge; crazy quartos and tottering folios,
+precious however in our sight as well as in our affections, flowed in
+most rapidly from the great and the small, instead of new year's gift and
+remunerations, and instead of presents and jewels. Then the cabinets of
+the most noble monasteries _tunc nobilissimos monasterios_ were opened,
+cases were unlocked, caskets were unclasped and sleeping volumes
+_soporata volumina_ which had slumbered for long ages in their sepulchres
+were roused up, and those that lay hid in dark places _in locis
+tenebrosis_ were overwhelmed with the rays of a new light. Books
+heretofore most delicate now become corrupted and abominable, lay
+lifeless, covered indeed with the excrements of mice and pierced through
+with the gnawing of worms; and those that were formerly clothed with
+purple and fine linen were now seen reposing in dust and ashes, given
+over to oblivion and the abode of moths. Amongst these, nevertheless, as
+time served, we sat down more voluptuously than the delicate physician
+could do amidst his stores of aromatics, and where we found an object of
+love, we found also an assuagement. Thus the sacred vessel of science
+came into the power of our disposal, some being given, some sold, and not
+a few lent for a time. Without doubt many who perceived us to be
+contented with gifts of this kind, studied to contribute these things
+freely to our use, which they could most conveniently do without
+themselves. We took care, however, to conduct the business of such so
+favorably, that the profit might accrue to them; justice suffered
+therefore no detriment." Of this, however, a doubt will intrude itself
+upon our minds, in defiance of the affirmation of my Lord Chancellor;
+indeed, the paragraph altogether is unfavorable to the character of so
+great a man, and fully proves the laxity of opinion, in those days of
+monkish supremacy, on judicial matters; but we must be generous, and
+allow something for the corrupt usages of the age, but I cannot omit a
+circumstance clearly illustrative of this point, which occurred between
+the bibliomanical Chancellor and the abbot of St. Alban's, the affair is
+recorded in the chronicle of the abbey, and transpired during the time
+Richard de Bury held the privy seal; in that office he appears to have
+favored the monks of the abbey in their disputes with the townspeople of
+St. Alban's respecting some possessions to which the monks tenaciously
+adhered and defended as their rightful property. Richard de Wallingford,
+who was then abbot, convoked the elder monks _convocatis senioribus_, and
+discussed with them, as to the most effectual way to obtain the goodwill
+and favor of de Bury; after due consideration it was decided that no gift
+was likely to prove so acceptable to that father of English bibliomania
+as a present of some of their choice books, and it was at last agreed to
+send four volumes, "that is to say Terence, a Virgil, a Quintilian, and
+Jerome against Ruffinus," and to sell him many others from their library;
+this they sent him intimation of, and a purchase was ultimately agreed
+upon between them. The monks sold to that rare collector, thirty-two
+choice tomes _triginta duos libros_, for the sum of fifty pounds of
+silver _quinginta libris argenti_.[196] But there were other bibliophiles
+and bookworms than Richard de Bury in old England then; for many of the
+brothers of St. Alban's who had nothing to do with this transaction,
+cried out loudly against it, and denounced rather openly the policy of
+sacrificing their mental treasures for the acquisition of pecuniary gain,
+but fortunately the loss was only a temporary one, for on the death of
+Richard de Bury many of these volumes were restored to the monks, who in
+return became the purchasers from his executors of many a rare old
+volume from the bishop's library.[197] To resume our extracts from the
+Philobiblon, De Bury proceeds to further particulars relative to his
+book-collecting career, and becomes quite eloquent in detailing these
+circumstances; but from the eighth chapter we shall content ourselves
+with one more paragraph. "Moreover," says he, "if we could have amassed
+cups of gold and silver, excellent horses, or no mean sums of money, we
+could in those days have laid up abundance of wealth for ourselves. But
+we regarded books not pounds, and valued codices more than florens, and
+preferred paltry pamphlets to pampered palfreys.[198] In addition to this
+we were charged with frequent embassies of the said prince of everlasting
+memory, and owing to the multiplicity of state affairs, we were sent
+first to the Roman chair, then to the court of France, then to the
+various other kingdoms of the world, on tedious embassies and in perilous
+times, carrying about with us that fondness for books, which many waters
+could not extinguish."[199] The booksellers found Richard de Bury a
+generous and profitable customer, and those residing abroad received
+commissions constantly from him. "Besides the opportunities," he writes,
+"already touched upon, we easily acquired the notice of the stationers
+and librarians, not only within the provinces of our native soil, but of
+those dispersed over the kingdoms of France, Germany, and Italy."[200]
+
+Such was bibliomania five hundred years ago! and does not the reader
+behold in it the very type and personification of its existence now? does
+he not see in Richard de Bury the prototype of a much honored and
+agreeable bibliophile of our own time? Nor has the renowned "Maister
+Dibdin" described his book-hunting tours with more enthusiasm or delight;
+with what a thrill of rapture would that worthy doctor have explored
+those monastic treasures which De Bury found hid in _locis tenebrosis_,
+antique Bibles, rare Fathers, rich Classics or gems of monkish lore,
+enough to fire the brain of the most lymphatic bibliophile, were within
+the grasp of the industrious and eager Richard de Bury--that old "Amator
+Librorum," like his imitators of the present day, cared not whither he
+went to collect his books--dust and dirt were no barriers to him; at
+every nook and corner where a stationer's stall[201] appeared, he would
+doubtless tarry in defiance of the cold winds or scorching sun, exploring
+the ancient tomes reposing there. Nor did he neglect the houses of the
+country rectors; and even the humble habitations of the rustics were
+diligently ransacked to increase his collections, and from these sources
+he gleaned many rude but pleasing volumes, perhaps full of old popular
+poetry! or the wild Romances of Chivalry which enlivened the halls and
+cots of our forefathers in Gothic days.
+
+We must not overlook the fact that this Treatise on the Love of Books was
+written as an accompaniment to a noble and generous gift. Many of the
+parchment volumes which De Bury had collected in his "_perilous
+embassies_," he gave, with the spirit of a true lover of learning, to the
+Durham College at Oxford, for the use of the Students of his Church. I
+cannot but regret that the names of these books, _of which he had made a
+catalogue_,[202] have not been preserved; perhaps the document may yet be
+discovered among the vast collections of manuscripts in the Oxonian
+libraries; but the book, being written for this purpose, the author
+thought it consistent that full directions should be given for the
+preservation and regulation of the library, and we find the last chapter
+devoted to this matter; but we must not close the Philobiblon without
+noticing his admonitions to the students, some of whom he upbraids for
+the carelessness and disrespect which they manifest in perusing books.
+"Let there," says he, with all the veneration of a passionate booklover,
+"be a modest decorum in opening and closing of volumes, that they may
+neither be unclasped with precipitous haste, nor thrown aside after
+inspection without being duly closed."[203] Loving and venerating a book
+as De Bury did, it was agony to see a volume suffering under the
+indignities of the ignorant or thoughtless student whom he thus keenly
+satirizes: "You will perhaps see a stiffnecked youth lounging sluggishly
+in his study, while the frost pinches him in winter time; oppressed with
+cold his watery nose drops, nor does he take the trouble to wipe it with
+his handkerchief till it has moistened the book beneath it with its vile
+dew;" nor is he "ashamed to eat fruit and cheese over an open book, or to
+transfer his empty cup from side to side; he reclines his elbow on the
+volume, turns down the leaves, and puts bits of straw to denote the place
+he is reading; he stuffs the book with leaves and flowers, and so
+pollutes it with filth and dust." With this our extracts from the
+Philobiblon must close; enough has been said and transcribed to place the
+Lord Chancellor of the puissant King Edward III. among the foremost of
+the bibliomaniacs of the past, and to show how valuable were his efforts
+to literature and learning; indeed, like Petrarch in Italy was Richard De
+Bury in England: both enthusiastic collectors and preservers of ancient
+manuscripts, and both pioneers of that revival of European literature
+which soon afterwards followed. In the fourteenth century we cannot
+imagine a more useful or more essential person than the bibliomaniac, for
+that surely was the harvest day for the gathering in of that food on
+which the mind of future generations were to subsist. And who reaped so
+laboriously or gleaned so carefully as those two illustrious scholars?
+
+Richard de Bury was no unsocial bookworm; for whilst he loved to seek the
+intercourse of the learned dead, he was far from being regardless of the
+living. Next to his clasped vellum tomes, nothing afforded him so much
+delight as an erudite disputation with his chaplains, who were mostly men
+of acknowledged learning and talent; among them were "Thomas Bradwardyn,
+afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury; and Richard Fitz-Raufe, afterwards
+Archbishop of Armagh; Walter Burley, John Maudyt, Robert Holcote, Richard
+of Kilwington, all Doctors in Theology, _omnes Doctores in Theologia_;
+Richard Benworth, afterwards Bishop of London, and Walter Segraffe,
+afterwards Bishop of Chester;"[204] with these congenial spirits Richard
+de Bury held long and pleasing conversations, doubtless full of old
+bookwisdom and quaint Gothic lore, derived from still quainter volumes;
+and after meals I dare say they discussed the choice volume which had
+been read during their repast, as was the pious custom of those old days,
+and which was not neglected by De Bury, for "his manner was at dinner
+and supper time to have some good booke read unto him."[205]
+
+And now in bidding farewell to the illustrious Aungraville--for little
+more is known of his biography--let me not forget to pay a passing
+tribute of respect to his private character, which is right worthy of a
+cherished remembrance, and derives its principal lustre from the eminent
+degree in which he was endowed with the greatest of Christian virtues,
+and which, when practised with sincerity, covereth a multitude of sins;
+his charity, indeed, forms a delightful trait in the character of that
+great man; every week he distributed food to the poor; eight quarters of
+wheat _octo quarteria frumenti_, and the fragments from his own table
+comforted the indigent of his church; and always when he journeyed from
+Newcastle to Durham, he distributed twelve marks in relieving the
+distresses of the poor; from Durham to Stockton eight marks; and from the
+same place to his palace at Aukeland five marks; and and when he rode
+from Durham to Middleham he gave away one hundred shillings.[206] Living
+in troublous times, we do not find his name coupled with any great
+achievement in the political sphere; his talents were not the most
+propitious for a statesman among the fierce barons of the fourteenth
+century; his spirit loved converse with the departed great, and shone
+more to advantage in the quite closet of the bibliomaniac, or in
+fulfilling the benevolent duties of a bishop. Yet he was successful in
+all that the ambition of a statesman could desire, the friend and
+confidant of his king; holding the highest offices in the state
+compatible with his ecclesiastical position, with wealth in abundance,
+and blessed with the friendship of the learned and the good, we find
+little in his earthly career to darken the current of his existence, or
+to disturb the last hours of a life of near three score years. He died
+lamented, honored, and esteemed, at Aukeland palace, on the fourteenth of
+April, in the year 1345, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and was
+buried with all due solemnity before the altar of the blessed Mary
+Magdalene, at the south angle of the church of Durham. His bones are now
+mingled with the dust and gone, but his memory is engraven on tablets of
+life; the hearts of all bibliomaniacs love and esteem his name for the
+many virtues with which it was adorned, and delight to chat with his
+choice old spirit in the Philobiblon, so congenial to their bookish
+souls. No doubt the illustrious example of Richard de Bury tended
+materially to spread far and wide the spirit of bibliomania. It certainly
+operated powerfully on the monks of Durham, who not only by transcribing,
+but at the cost of considerable sums of money, greatly increased their
+library. A catalogue of the collection, taken some forty years after the
+death of De Bury, is preserved to this day at Durham, and shows how
+considerably they augmented it during a space of two hundred years, or
+from the time when the former list was written. If the bibliomaniac can
+obtain a sight of this ancient catalogue, he will dwell over it with
+astonishment and delight--immaculate volumes of Scripture--fathers and
+classics bespeak its richness and extent, and Robert of Langchester, the
+librarian who wrote it, with pious preference places first on the list
+the magnificent Bible which bishop Hugo gave them many years before. This
+rare biblical treasure, then the pride and glory of the collection, is
+now in the Durham Library; but to look upon that fair manuscript will
+make the blood run cold--barbarous desecration has been committed by some
+bibliopegistical hand; the splendid illuminations so rich and spirited,
+which adorned the beauteous tomes, dazzled an ignorant mind, who cut them
+out and robbed it of half its interest and value.
+
+From near 600 volumes which the list enumerates, I cannot refrain from
+naming two or three. I have searched over its biblical department in vain
+to discover mention of the celebrated "Saint Cuthbert's Gospels." It is
+surprising they should have forgotten so rich a gem, for although four
+copies of the Gospels appear, not one of them answers to its description;
+two are specified as "_non glos_;" it could not have been either of
+those, another, the most interesting of the whole, is recorded as the
+venerable Bede's own copy! What bibliophile can look unmoved upon those
+time-honored pages, without indeed all the warmth of his booklove
+kindling forth into a very frenzy of rapture and veneration! So fairly
+written, and so accurately transcribed, it is one of the most precious of
+the many gems which now crowd the shelves of the Durham Library, and is
+well worth a pilgrimage to view it.[207] But this cannot be St.
+Cuthbert's Gospels, and the remaining copy is mentioned as "_Quarteur
+Evangelum_," fol. ii. "_se levantem_;" now I have looked at the splendid
+volume in the British Museum, to see if the catchword answered to this
+description, but it does not; so it cannot be this, which I might have
+imagined without the trouble of a research, for if it was, they surely
+would not have forgotten to mention its celebrated coopertoria.
+
+Passing a splendid array of Scriptures whole and in parts, for there was
+no paucity of sacred volumes in that old monkish library, and fathers,
+doctors of the Church, schoolmen, lives of saints, chronicles, profane
+writers, philosophical and logical treatises, medical works, grammars,
+and books of devotion, we are particularly struck with the appearance of
+so many fine classical authors. Works of Virgil (including the Æneid),
+Pompeius Trogus, Claudius, Juvenal, Terence, Ovid, Prudentius,
+Quintilian, Cicero, Boethius, and a host of others are in abundance,
+and form a catalogue rendered doubly exciting to the bibliophile by the
+insertion of an occasional note, which tells of its antiquity,[208]
+rarity, or value. In some of the volumes a curious inscription was
+inserted, thundering a curse upon any who would dare to pilfer it from
+the library, and for so sacrilegious a crime, calling down upon them the
+maledictions of Saints Maria, Oswald, Cuthbert, and Benedict.[209] A
+volume containing the lives of St. Cuthbert, St. Oswald, and St. Aydani,
+is described as "_Liber speciales et preciosus cum signaculo deaurato_."
+
+Thomas Langley, who was chancellor of England and bishop of Durham in the
+year 1406, collected many choice books, and left some of them to the
+library of Durham church; among them a copy of Lyra's Commentaries stands
+conspicuous; he also bequeathed a number of volumes to many of his
+private friends.
+
+There are few monastic libraries whose progress we can trace with so much
+satisfaction as the one now under consideration, for we have another
+catalogue compiled during the librarianship of John Tyshbourne, in the
+year 1416,[210] in which many errors appearing in the former ones are
+carefully corrected; books which subsequent to that time had been lost or
+stolen are here accounted for; many had been sent to the students at
+Oxford, and others have notes appended, implying to whom the volume had
+been lent; thus to a "_Flores Bernardi_," occurs "_Prior debit, I Kempe
+Episcopi Londoni_." It is, next to Monk Henry's of Canterbury, one of the
+best of all the monkish catalogues I have seen; not so much for its
+extent, as that here and there it fully partakes of the character of a
+catalogue _raisonné_; for terse sentences are affixed to some of the more
+remarkable volumes, briefly descriptive of their value; a circumstance
+seldom observable in these early attempts at bibliography.
+
+In taking leave of Durham library, need I say that the bibliomaniacs who
+flourished there in the olden time, not only collected their books with
+so much industry, but knew well how to use them too. The reader is
+doubtless aware how many learned men dwelled in monkish time within those
+ancient walls; and if he is inquisitive about such things has often
+enjoyed a few hours of pleasant chat over the historic pages of Symeon of
+Durham,[211] Turgot and Wessington,[212] and has often heard of brothers
+Lawrence,[213] Reginald,[214] and Bolton; but although unheeded now, many
+a monkish bookworm, glorying in the strict observance of Christian
+humility, and so unknown to fame, lies buried beneath that splendid
+edifice, as many monuments and funeral tablets testify and speak in high
+favor of the great men of Durham. If the reader should perchance to
+wander near that place, his eye will be attracted by many of these
+memorials of the dead; and a few hours spent in exploring them will serve
+to gain many additional facts to his antiquarian lore, and perhaps even
+something better too. For I know not a more suitable place, as far as
+outward circumstances are concerned, than an old sanctuary of God to
+prepare the mind and lead it to think of death and immortality. We read
+the names of great men long gone; of wealthy worldlings, whose fortunes
+have long been spent; of ambitious statesmen and doughty warriors, whose
+glory is fast fading as their costly mausoleums crumble in the hands of
+time, and whose stone tablets, green with the lichens' hue, manifest how
+futile it is to hope to gain immortality from stone, or purchase fame by
+the cold marble trophies of pompous grief; not that on their glassy
+surface the truth is always faithfully mirrored forth, even when the
+thoughts of holy men composed the eulogy; the tombs of old knew as well
+how to lie as now, and even ascetic monks could become too warm in their
+praises of departed worth; for whilst they blamed the great man living,
+with Christian charity they thought only of his virtues when they had
+nothing but his body left, and murmured long prayers, said tedious
+masses, and kept midnight vigils for his soul. For had he not shown his
+love to God by his munificence to His Church on earth? _Benedicite_,
+saith the monks.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[153] Bede's Eccles. Hist., B. iii. c. xvi.
+
+[154] Bede, B. iv. c. xxvii.
+
+[155] Marked Nero, D. iv. in the Cottonian collection.
+
+[156] The illuminations are engraved in Strutt's _Horda_.
+
+[157] There is prologue to the Canons and Prefaces of St. Jerome and
+      Eusebius, and also a beautiful calendar written in compartments,
+      elaborately finished in an architectural style.
+
+[158] He also transcribed the Durham Ritual, recently printed by the
+      Surtee Society; when Alfred wrote this volume he was with bishop
+      Alfsige, p. 185, 8vo. _Lond._ 1840.
+
+[159] For an account of this rare gem of Saxon art, see _Selden
+      Præf. ad. Hist. Angl._ p. 25. _Marshall Observat. in Vers. Sax.
+      Evang._, 491. _Dibdin's Decameron, p._ lii. _Smith's Bibl. Cotton.
+      Hist. et Synop._, p. 33.
+
+[160] Simeon of Durham translated by Stevens, p. 87.
+
+[161] Simeon of Durham, by Stevens.
+
+[162] Ep. viii.
+
+[163] Tertia Quinquagina Augustini, marked B. ii. 14.
+
+[164] Surtee publications, vol. i. p. 117.
+
+[165] This catalogue is preserved at Durham, in the library of the
+      Dean and Chapter, marked B. iv. 24. It is printed in the Surtee
+      publications, vol. i. p. 1.
+
+[166] "King Stephen was vncle vnto him."--_Godwin's Cat. of
+      Bishops_, 511.
+
+[167] He died in 1195.--Godwin, p. 735. He gave them also another
+      Bible in two volumes; a list of the whole is printed in the Surtee
+      publications, vol. i. p. 118.
+
+[168] Surtee's Hist, of Durham, vol. i. p. xxxii. "He was wonderfull
+      rich, not onely in ready money but in lands also, and temporall
+      revenues. For he might dispend yeerely 5000 marks."--_Godwin's Cat.
+      Eng. Bish._ 4to. 1601, p. 520.
+
+[169] Robert de Graystane's ap. Wharton's Angl. Sacr. p. 748, tom.
+      i.--_Hutchinson's Durham_, vol. i. p. 244.
+
+[170] Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 121.
+
+[171] Raine's North Durham, p. 85.
+
+[172] Surtee public. vol. 1. p. 39-40.
+
+[173] _Ibid._, vol. i. p. 41.
+
+[174] Chambre Contin. Hist. Dunelm. apud Wharton Angliæ Sacra, tom.
+      i. p. 765.
+
+[175] Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors, vol. i. p. 219.
+
+[176] Absconditus est in Campanili fratrum minorum.--_Chambre ap.
+      Wharton_, tom. i. p. 765.
+
+[177] In one of his letters Petrarch speaks of De Bury as _Virum
+      ardentis ingenii_, Pet. ep. 1-3.
+
+[178] Epist. Seniles, lib. xvi. ep. 1.
+
+[179] Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 151.
+
+[180] Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 156. Famil. ep. lxxii.
+
+[181] Hortatio ad Nicol. Laurent Petrar., Op. vol. i. p. 596.
+
+[182] _Apud Wharton Ang. Sac._ tom. i. p. 765.
+
+[183] _Ibid._
+
+[184] MS. Harleian, No. 3224, fo. 89, b.
+
+[185] There are two MSS. of the Philobiblon in the British Museum,
+      which I quote in giving my Latin Extracts. The first is in the
+      Cotton collection, marked Appendix iv. fol. 103. At the end are
+      these lines, _Ric. de Aungervile cognominato de Bury, Dunelm. Episc.
+      Philobiblon completum in Manerio de Auckland, d. 24 Jan. 1344_, fol.
+      119, b. The other is in the Harleian Collection, No. 3224, both are
+      in fine preservation. The first printed edition appeared at Cologne,
+      1473, in 4to., without pagination, signatures, or catchwords, with
+      48 leaves, 26 lines on a full page; for some time, on account of its
+      excessive rarity, which kept it from the eyes of book-lovers,
+      bibliographers confused it with the second edition printed by John
+      and Conrad Hüst, at Spires, in 1483, 4to. which, like the first, is
+      without pagination, signatures, or catchwords, but it has only 39
+      pages, with 31 lines on a full page. Two editions were printed in
+      1500, 4to. at Paris, but I have only seen one of them. A fifth
+      edition was printed at Oxford by T. J(ames), 4to. 1599. In 1614 it
+      was published by Goldastus in 8vo. at Frankfort, with a
+      _Philologicarium Epistolarum Centuria una_. Another edition of this
+      same book was printed in 1674, 8vo. at Leipsic, and a still better
+      edition appeared in 1703 by Schmidt, in 4to. The Philobiblon has
+      recently been translated by Inglis, 8vo. _Lond._ 1834, with much
+      accuracy and spirit, and I have in many cases availed myself of this
+      edition, though I do not always exactly follow it.
+
+[186] "Greges et Vellera, Fruges et honea, Porri et Olera, Potus et
+      Patera rectiones sunt hodie et studio monachorum."--MS. Harl. 2324,
+      fol. 79, a; MS. Cot. ap. iv. fo. 108, a.
+
+[187] Wharton Ang. Sac., tom. i. p. 766, he is called _Ricardus
+      Fitz-Rause postomodum Archiepiscopus Armachanus_.
+
+[188] Scarcely.
+
+[189] Translated by Trevisa, MS. Harleian, No. 1900, fol. 11, b.
+
+[190] The original is _grandis et nobilis libraria_.
+
+[191] Chaplain.
+
+[192] Could not.
+
+[193] Profitable.
+
+[194] Philobiblon, transl. by Inglis, p. 56.
+
+[195] "Curiam deinde vero Rem. publicam Regni sui Cacellarii, viz.:
+      est ac Thesaurii fugeremur officiis, patescebat nobis aditus faciles
+      regal favoris intuitu, ad libros latebras libere perscruta tandas
+      amoris quippe nostri fama volatitis jam ubiqs. percreluit tam qs.
+      libros _et maxime veterum_ ferabatur cupidite las vestere posse vero
+      quemlibet nostrum per quaternos facilius quam per pecuniam adipisa
+      favorem."--MS. Harl. fo. 85, a. MS. Cott. 110, b.
+
+[196] MS. Cottonian Claudius, E. iv. fol. 203, b. _Warton's Hist. of
+      Poetry, Dissert. ii._; and _Hallam's_ Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 611.
+      Both notice this circumstance as a proof of the scarcity of books in
+      De Bury's time.
+
+[197] _Ibid._ Among the MSS. in the Royal Library, there is a copy
+      of John of Salisbury's _Ententicus_ which contains the following
+      note, "Hunc librum fecit dominus Symon abbas S. Albani, quem postea
+      venditum domino _Ricardo_ de Bury. Episcope Dunelmensi emit Michael
+      abbas S. Albani ab executoribus prædicti episcopi, A. D. 1345."
+      Marked 13 D. iv. 3. The same abbot expended a large sum in buying
+      books for the library, but we shall speak more of Michael de
+      Wentmore by and bye.
+
+[198] "Sed revera libros non libras maluimus, Codicesque plus quam
+      florenos, ac pampletos exiguos incrussatis proetulimus
+      palafridis."--MS. Harl. fo. 86, a. MS. Cott. fo. 111, a.
+
+[199] Inglis's Translation, p. 53.
+
+[200] Inglis's Translation, p. 58.
+
+[201] The Stationers or Booksellers carried on their business on
+      open Stalls.--_Hallam, Lit. Europe_, vol. i. p. 339. It is pleasing
+      to think that the same temptations which allure the bookworm now, in
+      his perambulations, can claim such great antiquity, and that through
+      so many centuries, bibliophiles and bibliopoles remain unaltered in
+      their habits and singularities; but alas! this worthy relic of the
+      middle ages I fear is passing into oblivion. Plate-glass fronts and
+      bulky expensive catalogues form the bookseller's pride in these days
+      of speed and progress, and offer more splendid temptations to the
+      collector, but sad obstacles to the hungry student and black-letter
+      bargain hunters.
+
+[202] _Philob._ xix.
+
+[203] Inglis, p. 96. "In primis quidam circa claudenda et apienda
+      volumina, sit matura modestia; ut nec præcipiti festinatione
+      solvantur, nec inspectione finita, sina clausura debita
+      dimittantur." _MS. Harl._ fol. 103.
+
+[204] _Chambre ap. Wharton_, tom. i. p. 766.
+
+[205] Godwin Cat. of Bish. 525.
+
+[206] _Chambre ap. Wharton_, tom. i. p. 766.
+
+[207] It is marked A, ii. 16, and described in the old MS. catalogue
+      as _De manus Bedæ_, ii. fol. _Baptizatus_.
+
+[208] The attractive words "_Est vetus Liber_" often occur.
+
+[209] From a volume of Thomas Aquinas, the following is transcribed:
+      "Lib. Sti. Cuthberti de Dunelm, ex procuratione fratis Roberti de
+      Graystane quem qui aliena verit maledictionem Sanctorum Mariæ,
+      Oswaldi, Cuthberti et Benedicti incurrat." See _Surtee
+      publications_, vol. i. p. 35, where other instances are given.
+
+[210] Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 85.
+
+[211] He wrote The Chronicle of Durham Monastery in 1130.
+
+[212] His book on the Rights and Privileges of Durham Church is in
+      the Cottonian Library, marked _Vitellius_, A, 9.
+
+[213] Lawrence was elected prior in 1149, "a man of singular
+      prudence and learning, as the many books he writ manifest."
+      _Dugdale's Monast._ vol. 1. p. 230.
+
+[214] Wrote the Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert, the original book
+      is in the Durham Library.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+     _Croyland Monastery.--Its Library increased by
+     Egebric.--Destroyed by Fire.--Peterborough.--Destroyed by the
+     Danes.--Benedict and his books.--Anecdotes of
+     Collectors.--Catalogue of the Library of the Abbey of
+     Peterborough.--Leicester Library, etc._
+
+
+The low marshy fens of Lincolnshire are particularly rich in monastic
+remains; but none prove so attractive to the antiquary as the ruins of
+the splendid abbey of Croyland. The pen of Ingulphus has made the affairs
+of that old monastery familiar to us; he has told us of its prospering
+and its misfortunes, and we may learn moreover from the pages of the monk
+how many wise and virtuous men, of Saxon and Norman days, were connected
+with this ancient fabric, receiving education there, or devoting their
+lives to piety within its walls. It was here that Guthlac, a Saxon
+warrior, disgusted with the world, sought solitude and repose; and for
+ten long years he led a hermit's life in that damp and marshy fen; in
+prayer and fasting, working miracles, and leading hearts to God, he spent
+his lonely days, all which was rewarded by a happy and peaceful death,
+and a sanctifying of his corporeal remains--for many wondrous miracles
+were wrought by those holy relics.
+
+Croyland abbey was founded on the site of Guthlac's hermitage, by
+Ethelred, king of Mercia. Many years before, when he was striving for the
+crown of that kingdom, his cousin, Crobrid, who then enjoyed it, pursued
+him with unremitting enmity; and worn out, spiritless and exhausted, the
+royal wanderer sought refuge in the hermit's cell. The holy man comforted
+him with every assurance of success; and prophesied that he would soon
+obtain his rights without battle or without bloodshed;[215] in return for
+these brighter prospects, and these kind wishes, Ethelred promised to
+found a monastery on that very spot in honor of God and St. Guthlac,
+which promise he faithfully fulfilled in the year 716, and "thus the
+wooden oratory was followed by a church of stone." Succeeding benefactors
+endowed, and succeeding abbots enriched it with their learning; and as
+years rolled by so it grew and flourished till it became great in wealth
+and powerful in its influence. But a gloomy day approached--the Danes
+destroyed that noble structure, devastating it by fire, and besmearing
+its holy altars with the blood of its hapless inmates. But zealous piety
+and monkish perseverance again restored it, with new and additional
+lustre; and besides adding to the splendor of the edifice, augmented its
+internal comforts by forming a library of considerable importance and
+value. We may judge how dearly they valued a _Bibliotheca_ in those old
+days by the contribution of one benevolent book-lover--Egebric, the
+second abbot of that name, a man whom Ingulphus says was "far more
+devoted to sacred learning and to the perusal of books than skilled in
+secular matters,"[216] gladdened the hearts of the monks with a handsome
+library, consisting of forty original volumes in various branches of
+learning, and more than one hundred volumes of different tracts and
+histories,[217] besides eighteen books for the use of the divine offices
+of the church. Honor to the monk who, in the land of dearth, could amass
+so bountiful a provision for the intellect to feed upon; and who
+encouraged our early literature--when feeble and trembling by the renewed
+attacks of rapacious invaders--by such fostering care.
+
+In the eleventh century Croyland monastery was doomed to fresh
+misfortunes; a calamitous fire, accidental in its origin, laid the fine
+monastery in a heap of ruins, and scattered its library in blackened
+ashes to the winds.[218] A sad and irreparable loss was that to the
+Norman monks and to the students of Saxon history in modern times; for
+besides four hundred Saxon charters, deeds, etc., many of the highest
+historical interest and value beautifully illuminated in gold (_aureis
+pictures_) and written in Saxon characters,[219] the whole of the choice
+and ample library was burnt, containing seven hundred volumes, besides
+the books of divine offices--the Antiphons and Grailes. I will not
+agonize the bibliophile by expatiating further on the sad work of
+destruction; but is he not somewhat surprised that in those bookless days
+seven hundred volumes should have been amassed together, besides a lot of
+church books and Saxon times?
+
+Ingulphus, who has so graphically described the destruction of Croyland
+monastery by the Danes in 870, has also given the particulars of their
+proceedings at the monastery of Peterborough, anciently called
+Medeshamstede, to which they immediately afterwards bent their steps. The
+monks, on hearing of their approach, took the precaution to guard the
+monastery by all the means in their power; but the quiet habits of
+monastic life were ill suited to inspire them with a warlike spirit, and
+after a feeble resistance, their cruel enemies (whom the monks speak of
+in no gentle terms, as the reader may imagine), soon effected an
+entrance; in the contest however Tulla, the brother of Hulda, the Danish
+leader, was slain by a stone thrown by one of the monks from the walls;
+this tended to kindle the fury of the besiegers, and so exasperated
+Hulda that it is said he killed with his own hand the whole of the poor
+defenceless monks, including their venerable abbot. The sacred edifice,
+completely in their hands, was soon laid waste; they broke down the
+altars, destroyed the monuments, and--much will the bibliophile deplore
+it--set fire to their immense library "_ingens bibliotheca_," maliciously
+tearing into pieces all their valuable and numerous charters, evidences,
+and writings. The monastery, says the historian, continued burning for
+fifteen days.[220] This seat of Saxon learning was left buried in its
+ruins for near one hundred years, when Athelwold, bishop of Winchester,
+in the year 966, restored it; but in the course of time, after a century
+of peaceful repose, fresh troubles sprang up. When Turoldus, a Norman,
+who had been appointed by William the Conqueror, was abbot, the Danes
+again paid them a visit of destruction. Hareward de Wake having joined a
+Danish force, proceeded to the town of Peterborough; fortunately the
+monks obtained some intelligence of their coming, which gave Turoldus
+time to repair to Stamford with his retinue. Taurus, the Sacrist, also
+managed to get away, carrying with him some of their treasures, and among
+them a text of the Gospels, which he conveyed to his superior at
+Stamford, and by that means preserved them. On the arrival of the Danes,
+the remaining monks were prepared to offer a somewhat stern resistance,
+but without effect; for setting fire to the buildings, the Danes entered
+through the flames and smoke, and pillaged the monastery of all its
+valuable contents; and that which they could not carry away, they
+destroyed: not even sparing the shrines of holy saints, or the
+miracle-working dust contained therein. The monks possessed a great cross
+of a most costly nature, which the invaders endeavored to take away, but
+could not on account of its weight and size; however, they broke off the
+gold crown from the head of the crucifix, and the footstool under its
+feet, which was made of pure gold and gems; they also carried away two
+golden biers, on which the monks carried the relics of their saints; with
+nine silver ones. There was certainly no monachal poverty here, for their
+wealth must have been profuse; besides the above treasures, they took
+twelve crosses, made of gold and silver; they also went up to the tower
+and took away a table of large size and value, which the monks had hid
+there, trusting it might escape their search; it was a splendid affair,
+made of gold and silver and precious stones, and was usually placed
+before the altar. But besides all this, they robbed them of that which
+those poor monkish bibliophiles loved more than all. Their library, which
+they had collected with much care, and which contained many volumes, was
+carried away, "with many other precious things, the like of which were
+not to be found in all England."[221] The abbot and those monks who
+fortunately escaped, afterwards returned, sad and sorrowful no doubt; but
+trusting in their Divine Master and patron Saint, they ultimately
+succeeded in making their old house habitable again, and well fortified
+it with a strong wall, so that formerly it used to be remarked that this
+building looked more like a military establishment than a house of God.
+
+Eminently productive was the monastery of Peterborough in Saxon
+bibliomaniacs. Its ancient annals prove how enthusiastically they
+collected and transcribed books. There were few indeed of its abbots who
+did not help in some way or other to increase their library. Kenulfus,
+who was abbot in the year 992, was a learned and eloquent student in
+divine and secular learning. He much improved his monastery, and greatly
+added to its literary treasures.[222] But the benefactors of this place
+are too numerous to be minutely specified here. Hugo Candidus tells us,
+that Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, in 1056, gave them many valuable
+ornaments; and among them a fine copy of the Gospels, beautifully adorned
+with gold. This puts us in mind of Leofricus, a monk of the abbey, who
+was made abbot in the year 1057. He is said to have been related to the
+royal family, a circumstance which may account for his great riches. He
+was a sad pluralist, and held at one time no less than five monasteries,
+viz. Burton, Coventy, Croyland, Thorney, and Peterborough.[223] He gave
+to the church of Peterborough many and valuable utensils of gold, silver,
+and precious stones, and a copy of the Gospels bound in gold.[224]
+
+But in all lights, whether regarded as an author or a bibliophile, great
+indeed was Benedict, formerly prior of Canterbury, and secretary to
+Thomas à Becket,[225] of whom it is supposed he wrote a life. He was made
+abbot of Peterborough in the year 1177; he compiled a history of Henry
+II. and king Richard I.;[226] he is spoken of in the highest terms of
+praise by Robert Swapham for his profound wisdom and great erudition in
+secular matters.[227] There can be no doubt of his book-loving passion;
+for during the time he was abbot he transcribed himself, and ordered
+others to transcribe, a great number of books. Swapham has preserved a
+catalogue of them, which is so interesting that I have transcribed it
+entire. The list is entitled:
+
+DE LIBRIS EJUS.
+
+Plurimos quoque libros 3 scribere fecit, quorum nomina subnotantur.
+
+Vetus et Novum Testamentum in uno volumine.
+
+Vetus et Novum Testamentum in 4 volumina.
+
+Quinque libri Moysi glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Sexdecim Prophetæ glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Duodecim minores glosati Prophetæ in uno volumine.
+
+Liber Regum glosatus, paralipomenon glosatus. Job, Parabolæ
+Solomonis et Ecclesiastes, Cantica Canticorum glosati in
+uno volumine.
+
+Liber Ecclesiasticus et Liber Sapientiæ glosatus in uno volumine.
+
+Tobyas, Judith, Ester et Esdras, glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Liber Judicum glosatus.
+
+Scholastica hystoria.
+
+Psalterium glosatum.
+
+Item non glosatum.
+
+Item Psalterium.
+
+Quatuor Evangelia glosata in uno volumine.
+
+Item Mathæus et Marcus in uno volumine.
+
+Johannes et Lucas in uno volumine.
+
+Epistolæ Pauli glosatæ Apocalypsis et Epistolæ Canonicæ
+glosata in uno volumine.
+
+Sententiæ Petri Lombardi.
+
+Item Sententiæ ejusdem.
+
+Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis.
+
+Decreta Gratiani.
+
+Item Decreta Gratiani.
+
+Summa Ruffini de Decretis.
+
+Summa Johannes Fuguntini de Decretis.
+
+Decretales Epistolæ.
+
+Item Decretales Epistolæ.
+
+Item Decretales Epistolæ cum summa sic incipiente; Olim.
+Institutiones Justiniani cum autenticis et Infortiatio Digestum
+vetus.
+
+Tres partes cum digesto novo.
+
+Summa Placentini.
+
+Totum Corpus Juris in duobus voluminibus.
+
+Arismetica.
+
+Epistolæ Senecæ cum aliis Senecis in uno volumine.
+
+Martialis totus et Terentius in uno volumine.
+
+Morale dogma philosophorum.
+
+Gesta Alexandri et Liber Claudii et Claudiani.
+
+Summa Petri Heylæ de Grammatica, cum multis allis rebus
+in uno volumine.
+
+Gesta Regis Henrica secunda et Genealogiæ ejus.
+
+Interpretatione Hebraicorum nominum.
+
+Libellus de incarnatione verbi. Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad
+Eugenium papam.
+
+Missale.
+
+Vitæ Sancti Thomæ Martyris.[228]
+
+Miracula ejusdem in quinque voluminibus.
+
+Liber Richardi Plutonis, qui dicitur, unde Malum Meditationes
+Anselmi.
+
+Practica Bartholomæi cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.
+
+Ars Physicæ Pantegni, et practica ipsius in uno volumine.
+
+Almazor et Diascoridis de virtutibus herbarum.
+
+Liber Dinamidiorum et aliorum multorum in uno volumine.
+
+Libellus de Compoto.
+
+Sixty volumes! perhaps containing near 100 separate works, and all added
+to the library in the time of one abbot; surely this is enough to
+controvert the opinion that the monks cared nothing for books or
+learning, and let not the Justin, Seneca, Martial, Terence, and Claudian
+escape the eye of the reader, those monkish bookworms did care a little,
+it would appear, for classical literature. But what will he say to the
+fine Bibles that crown and adorn the list? The two complete copies of the
+_Vetus et Novum Testamentum_, and the many glossed portions of the sacred
+writ, reflect honor upon the Christian monk, and placed him conspicuously
+among the bible students of the middle ages; proving too, that while he
+could esteem the wisdom of Seneca, and the vivacity of Terence, and feel
+a deep interest in the secular history of his own times, he did not lose
+sight of the fountain of all knowledge, but gave to the Bible his first
+care, and the most prominent place on his library shelf. Besides the
+books which the abbots collected for the monastery, they often possessed
+a private selection for their own use; there are instances in which these
+collections were of great extent; some of which we shall notice, but
+generally speaking they seldom numbered many volumes. Thus Robert of
+Lyndeshye, who was abbot of Peterborough in 1214, only possessed six
+volumes, which were such as he constantly required for reference or
+devotion; they consisted of a Numerale Majestri W. de Montibus cum alliis
+rebus; Tropi Majestri Petri cum diversis summis; Sententiæ Petri
+Pretanensis; Psalterium Glossatum; Aurora; Psalterium;[229] Historiale.
+These were books continually in requisition, and which he possessed to
+save the trouble of constantly referring to the library. His successor,
+abbot Holdernesse, possessed also twelve volumes,[230] and Walter of St.
+Edmundsbury Abbot, in 1233, had eighteen books, and among them a fine
+copy of the Bible for his private study. Robert of Sutton in 1262, also
+abbot of Peterborough, possessed a similar number, containing a copy of
+the Liber Naturalium Anstotelis; and his successor, Richard of London,
+among ten books which formed his private library, had the Consolation of
+Philosophy, a great favorite in the monasteries. In the year 1295 William
+of Wodeforde, collected twenty volumes, but less than that number
+constituted the library of Adam de Botheby, who was abbot of Peterborough
+many years afterwards, but among them I notice a Seneca, with thirty-six
+others contained in the same volume.[231]
+
+Abbot Godfrey, elected in the year 1299, was a great benefactor to the
+church, as we learn from Walter de Whytlesse, who gives a long list of
+donations made by him; among a vast quantity of valuables, "he gave to
+the church _two Bibles_, one of which was written in France," with about
+twenty other volumes. In the war which occurred during his abbacy,
+between John Baliol of Scotland and Edward I. of England, the Scots
+applied to the pope for his aid and council; his holiness deemed it his
+province to interfere, and directed letters to the king of England,
+asserting that the kingdom of Scotland appertained to the Church of Rome;
+in these letters he attempt to prove that it was opposed to justice, and,
+what he deemed of still greater importance, to the interests of the holy
+see, that the king of England should not have dominion over the kingdom
+of Scotland. The pope's messengers on this occasion were received by
+abbot Godfrey; Walter says that "He honorably received two cardinals at
+Peterborough with their retinues, who were sent by the pope to make peace
+between the English and the Scotch, and besides cheerfully entertaining
+them with food and drink, gave them divers presents; to one of the
+cardinals, named Gaucelin, he gave a certain psalter, beautifully written
+in letters of gold and purple, and marvellously illuminated, _literis
+aureis et assuris scriptum et mirabiliter luminatum_.[232] I give this
+anecdote to show how splendidly the monks inscribed those volumes
+designed for the service of the holy church. I ought to have mentioned
+before that Wulstan, archbishop of York, gave many rare and precious
+ornaments to Peterborough, nor should I omit a curious little book
+anecdote related of him. He was born at Jceritune in Warwickshire, and
+was sent by his parents to Evesham, and afterwards to Peterborough, where
+he gave great indications of learning. His schoolmaster, who was an
+Anglo-Saxon named Erventus, was a clever calligraphist, and is said to
+have been highly proficient in the art of illuminating; he instructed
+Wulstan in these accomplishments, who wrote under his direction a
+sacramentary and a psalter, and illuminated the capitals with many
+pictures painted in gold and colors; they were executed with so much
+taste that his master presented the sacramentary to Canute, and the
+psalter to his queen."[233]
+
+From these few facts relative to Peterborough Monastery, the reader will
+readily perceive how earnestly books were collected by the monks there,
+and will be somewhat prepared to learn that a catalogue of 1,680 volumes
+is preserved, which formerly constituted the library of that fraternity
+of bibliophiles. This fine old catalogue, printed by Gunton in his
+history of the abbey, covers fifty folio pages; it presents a faithful
+mirror of the literature of its day, and speaks well for the
+bibliomanical spirit of the monks of Peterborough. Volumes of patristic
+eloquence and pious erudition crowd the list; chronicles, poetry, and
+philosophical treatises are mingled with the titles of an abundant
+collection of classic works, full of the lore of the ancient world.
+Although the names may be similar to those which I have extracted from
+other catalogues, I must not omit to give a few of them; I find works
+of--
+
+Augustine.
+Ambrose.
+Albinus.
+Cassiodorus.
+Gregory.
+Cyprian.
+Seneca.
+Prosper.
+Tully.
+Bede.
+Basil.
+Lanfranc.
+Chrysostom.
+Jerome.
+Eusebius.
+Boethius.
+Isidore.
+Origin.
+Dionysius.
+Cassian.
+Bernard.
+Anselm.
+Alcuinus.
+Honorius.
+Donatus.
+Macer.
+Persius.
+Virgil.
+Isagoge of Porphry.
+Aristotle.
+Entyci Grammatica.
+Socrates.
+Ovid.
+Priscian.
+Hippocrates.
+Horace.
+Sedulus.
+Theodulus.
+Sallust.
+Macrobius.
+Cato.
+Prudentius.
+
+But although they possessed these fine authors and many others equally
+choice, I am not able to say much for the biblical department of their
+library, I should have anticipated a goodly store of the Holy Scriptures,
+but in these necessary volumes they were unusually poor. But I suspect
+the catalogue to have been compiled during the fifteenth century, and I
+fear too, that in that age the monks were growing careless of Scripture
+reading, or at least relaxing somewhat in the diligence of their studies;
+perhaps they devoured the attractive pages of Ovid, and loved to read his
+amorous tales more than became the holiness of their priestly
+calling.[234] At any rate we may observe a marked change as regards the
+prevalence of the Bible in monastic libraries between the twelfth and the
+fifteenth century. It is true we often find them in those of the later
+age; but sometimes they are entirely without, and frequently only in
+detached portions.[235] I may illustrate this by a reference to the
+library of the Abbey of St. Mary de la Pré at Leicester, which gloried in
+a collection of 600 volumes, of the choicest and almost venerable
+writers. It was written in the year 1477, by William Chartye,[236] prior
+of the abbey, and an old defective and worn out Bible, _Biblie defect et
+usit_, with some detached portions, was all that fine library contained
+of the Sacred Writ. The bible _defect et usit_ speaks volumes to the
+praise of the ancient monks of that house, for it was by their constant
+reading and study, that it had become so thumbed and worn; but it stamps
+with disgrace the affluent monks of the fifteenth century, who, while
+they could afford to buy, in the year 1470,[237] some thirty volumes with
+a Seneca, Ovid, Claudian, Macrobius, Æsop, etc., among them, and who
+found time to transcribe twice as many more, thought not of restoring
+their bible tomes, or adding one book of the Holy Scripture to their
+crowded shelves. But alas! monachal piety was waxing cool and indifferent
+then, and it is rare to find the honorable title of an _Amator
+Scripturarum_ affixed to a monkish name in the latter part of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[215] Gough's Hist. Croyland in Bibl. Top. Brit. xi. p. 3.
+
+[216] Inguph. in Gale's Script. tom. i. p. 53.
+
+[217] "Debit iste Abbas Egebricus communi bibliothecæ clanstralium
+      monachorum magna volumina diversorum doctorum originalia numero
+      quadraginta; minora vero volumina de diversæ tractatibus et
+      historiis, quæ numerum centenarium excedibant." Ingul. p. 53.
+
+[218] The fire occurred in 1091. Ingulphus relates with painful
+      minuteness the progress of the work of destruction, and enumerates
+      all the rich treasures which those angry flames consumed. I should
+      have given a longer account of this event had not the Rev. Mr.
+      Maitland already done so in his interesting work on the "_Dark
+      Ages_."
+
+[219] Gale's Remin. Ang. Scrip. i. p. 98.
+
+[220] Ingulph. ap. Gale i. p. 25.
+
+[221] See Gunter's Peterborough, suppl. 263.
+
+[222] Hugo Candid, p. 31; Tamer Bib. Brit. et Hib. p. 175. Candidus
+      says, "Flos literaris disciplina, torrens eloquentiæ, decus et norma
+      rerum divinarum et secularium."
+
+[223] Hugo Candid. ap. Sparke, Hist. Ang. Scrip. p. 41. Gunter's
+      Peterboro, p. 15, ed. 1686.
+
+[224] Hugo Candid. p. 42.
+
+[225] Leland de Scrip. Brit. p. 217.
+
+[226] Published by Hearne, 2 vol. 8vo. _Oxon._ 1735.
+
+[227] Rt. Swap. ap. Sparke, p. 97. "Erat. enin literarum scientiæ
+      satis imbutus; regulari disciplina optime instructus; sapientia
+      seculari plenissime eruditus."
+
+[228] Swapham calls this "Egregium volumen," p. 98.
+
+[229] Now preserved in the library of the Society of Antiquaries.
+
+[230] Gunter, Peterborough, p. 29.
+
+[231] Ibid, p. 37.
+
+[232] Walter de Whytlesse apud Sparke, p. 173.
+
+[233] Gunter's Hist. of Peterborough, p. 259.
+
+[234] At any rate, we find about thirty volumes of Ovid's works
+      enumerated, and several copies of "de Arte Amandi," and "de Remedis
+      Amoris."
+
+[235] Let the reader examine Leland's Collect., and the Catalogues
+      printed in Hunter's Tract on Monastic Libraries. See also Catalogue
+      of Canterbury Library, MS. Cottonian Julius, c. iv. 4., in the
+      British Museum.
+
+[236] Printed by Nichols, in Appendix to Hist. of Leicester, from a
+      MS. Register. It contains almost as fine a collection of the
+      classics and fathers as that at Peterborough, just noticed,
+      Aristotle, Virgil, Plato, Ovid, Cicero, Euclid, Socrates, Horace,
+      Lucan, Seneca, etc., etc. are among them, pp. 101 to 108. It is
+      curious that Leland mentions only six MSS. as forming the library at
+      the time he visited the Abbey of Leicester, all its fine old volumes
+      were gone. He only arrived in time to pick up the crumbs.
+
+[237] At least during the time of William Charteys priorship. See
+      Nichols, p. 108.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+     _King Alfred an "amator librorum" and an author._
+
+
+The latter part of the tenth century was a most memorable period in the
+annals of monkish bibliomania, and gave birth to one of the brightest
+scholars that ever shone in the dark days of our Saxon forefathers. King
+Alfred, in honor of whose talents posterity have gratefully designated
+the Great, spread a fostering care over the feeble remnant of native
+literature which the Danes in their cruel depredations had left
+unmolested. The noble aspirations of this royal student and patron of
+learning had been instilled into his mind by the tender care of a fond
+parent. It was from the pages of a richly illuminated little volume of
+Saxon poetry, given to him by the queen as a reward for the facility with
+which he had mastered its contents, that he first derived that intense
+love of books which never forsook him, though the sterner duties of his
+after position frequently required his thoughts and energies in another
+channel. Having made himself acquainted with this little volume, Alfred
+found a thirst for knowledge grow upon him, and applied his youthful mind
+to study with the most zealous ardor; but his progress was considerably
+retarded, because he could not, at that time, find a Grammaticus capable
+of instructing him,[238] although he searched the kingdom of the West
+Saxons. Yet he soon acquired the full knowledge of his own language, and
+the Latin it is said he knew as well, and was able to use with a fluency
+equal to his native tongue; he could comprehend the meaning of the Greek,
+although perhaps he was incapable of using it to advantage. He was so
+passionately fond of books, and so devoted to reading, that he constantly
+carried about him some favorite volume which, as a spare moment occurred,
+he perused with the avidity of an _helluo librorum_. This pleasing
+anecdote related by Asser[239] is characteristic of his natural
+perseverance.
+
+When he ascended the throne, he lavished abundant favors upon all who
+were eminent for their literary acquirements; and displayed in their
+distribution the utmost liberality and discrimination. Asser, who
+afterwards became his biographer, was during his life the companion and
+associate of his studies, and it is from his pen we learn that, when an
+interval occurred inoccupied by his princely duties, Alfred stole into
+the quietude of his study to seek comfort and instruction from the pages
+of those choice volumes, which comprised his library. But Alfred was not
+a mere bookworm, a devourer of knowledge without purpose or without
+meditation of his own, he thought with a student's soul well and deeply
+upon what he read, and drew from his books those principles of
+philanthropy, and those high resolves, which did such honor to the Saxon
+monarch. He viewed with sorrow the degradation of his country, and the
+intellectual barrenness of his time; the warmest aspiration of his soul
+was to diffuse among his people a love for literature and science, to
+raise them above their Saxon sloth, and lead them to think of loftier
+matters than war and carnage. To effect this noble aim, the highest to
+which the talents of a monarch can be applied, he for a length of time
+devoted his mind to the translation of Latin authors into the vernacular
+tongue. In his preface to the Pastoral of Gregory which he translated, he
+laments the destruction of the old monastic libraries by the Danes. "I
+saw," he writes, "before alle were spoiled and burnt, how the churches
+throughout Britain were filled with treasures and books,"[240] which must
+have presented a striking contrast to the illiterate darkness which he
+tells us afterwards spread over his dominions, for there were then very
+few _paucissimi_ who could translate a Latin epistle into the Saxon
+language.
+
+When Alfred had completed the translation of Gregory's Pastoral, he sent
+a copy to each of his bishops accompanied with a golden stylus or
+pen,[241] thus conveying to them the hint that it was their duty to use
+it in the service of piety and learning. Encouraged by the favorable
+impression which this work immediately caused, he spared no pains to
+follow up the good design, but patiently applied himself to the
+translation of other valuable books which he rendered into as pleasing
+and expressive a version as the language of those rude times permitted.
+Besides these literary labors he also wrote many original volumes, and
+became a powerful orator, a learned grammarian, an acute philosopher, a
+profound mathematician, and the prince of Saxon poesy; with these exalted
+talents he united those of an historian, an architect, and an
+accomplished musician. A copious list of his productions, the length of
+which proves the fertility of his pen, will be found in the Biographica
+Britannica,[242] but names of others not there enumerated may be found
+in monkish chronicles; of his Manual, which was in existence in the time
+of William of Malmsbury, not a fragment has been found. The last of his
+labors was probably an attempt to render the psalms into the common
+language, and so unfold that portion of the Holy Scriptures to our Saxon
+ancestors.
+
+Alfred, with the assistance of the many learned men whom he had called to
+his court, restored the monasteries and schools of learning which the
+Danes had desecrated, and it is said founded the university of Oxford,
+where he built three halls, in the name of the Holy Trinity; for the
+doctors of divinity, philosophy, and grammar. The controversy which this
+subject has given rise to among the learned is too long to enter into
+here, although the matter is one of great interest to the scholar and to
+the antiquary.
+
+In the year 901, this royal bibliophile, "the victorious prince, the
+studious provider for widows, orphanes, and poore people, most perfect in
+Saxon poetrie, most liberall endowed with wisdome, fortitude, justice,
+and temperance, departed this life;"[243] and right well did he deserve
+this eulogy, for as an old chronicle says, he was "a goode clerke and
+rote many bokes, and a boke he made in Englysshe, of adventures of kynges
+and bataylles that had bene wne in the lande; and other bokes of gestes
+he them wryte, that were of greate wisdome, and of good learnynge, thrugh
+whych bokes many a man may him amende, that well them rede, and upon
+them loke. And thys kynge Allured lyeth at Wynchestre."[244]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[238] Flor. Vigorn. sub. anno. 871. Brompton's Chron. in Alferi, p.
+      814.
+
+[239] Asser de Alfredi Gestis., Edit. Camden i. p. 5. William
+      Malmsbury, b. ii. c. iv.
+
+[240] Preface to Pastoral.
+
+[241] Much controversy has arisen as to the precise meaning of this
+      word. _Hearne_ renders this passage "with certain macussus or marks
+      of gold the purest of his coin," which has led some to suppose gold
+      coinage was known among the Saxons. _William of Malmsbury_ calls it
+      a golden style in which was a maucus of gold. "In Alfred's Preface
+      it is called an Æstel of fifty macuses."--_V. Asser a Wise_, 86 to
+      175; but the meaning of that word is uncertain. The stylus properly
+      speaking was a small instrument formerly used for writing on waxen
+      tablets, and made of iron or bone, see _Archæologia_, vol. ii. p.
+      75. But waxen tablets were out of use in Alfred's time. The Æstel or
+      style was most probably an instrument used by the scribes of the
+      monasteries, if it was not actually a pen. I am more strongly
+      disposed to consider it so by the evidence of an ancient MS.
+      illumination of Eadwine, a monk of Canterbury, in Trinity Coll.
+      Camb.; at the end of this MS. the scribe is represented with a
+      _metal pen in his hand_.
+
+[242] Vol. i. pp. 54, 55.
+
+[243] Stowe's Annals, 4to. 1615, p. 105.
+
+[244] Cronycle of Englonde with the Fruyte of Tymes, 4to. 1515.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+     _Benedict Biscop and his book
+     tours.--Bede.--Ceolfrid.--Wilfrid.--Boniface the Saxon
+     Missionary--His love of books.--Egbert of York.--Alcuin.--Whitby
+     Abbey.--Cædmon.--Classics in the Library of Withby.--Rievall
+     Library.--Coventry.--Worcester.--Evesham.--Thomas of Marleberg,
+     etc._
+
+
+The venerable Bede enables us to show that in the early Saxon days the
+monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow possessed considerable collections of
+books. Benedict Biscop, the most enthusiastic bibliomaniac of the age,
+founded the monastery of Wearmouth in the year 674, in honor of the "Most
+Holy Prince of the Apostles." His whole soul was in the work, he spared
+neither pains or expense to obtain artists of well known and reputed
+talent to decorate the holy edifice; not finding them at home, he
+journeyed to Gaul in search of them, and returned accompanied by numerous
+expert and ingenious workmen. Within a year the building was
+sufficiently advanced to enable the monks to celebrate divine service
+there. He introduced glass windows and other ornaments into his church,
+and furnished it with numerous books of all descriptions, _innumerabilem
+librorum omnis generis_. Benedict was so passionately fond of books that
+he took five journeys to Rome for the purpose of collecting them. In his
+third voyage he gathered together a large quantity on divine erudition;
+some of these he bought, or received them as presents from his friends,
+_vel amicorum dono largitos retulit_. When he arrived at Vienne on his
+way home, he collected others which he had commissioned his friends to
+purchase for him.[245] After the completion of his monastery he undertook
+his fourth journey to Rome; he obtained from the Pope many privileges for
+the abbey, and returned in the year 680, bringing with him many more
+valuable books; he was accompanied by John the Chantor, who introduced
+into the English churches the Roman method of singing. He was also a
+great _amator librorum_, and left many choice manuscripts to the monks,
+which Bede writes "were still preserved in their library." It was about
+this time that Ecgfrid[246] gave Benedict a portion of land on the other
+side of the river Wire, at a place called Jarrow; and that enterprising
+and industrious abbot, in the year 684, built a monastery thereon. No
+sooner was it completed, than he went a fifth time to Rome to search for
+volumes to gratify his darling passion. This was the last, but perhaps
+the most successful of his foreign tours, for he brought back with him a
+vast quantity of sacred volumes and curious pictures.[247] How deeply is
+it to be regretted that the relation of the travels which Ceolfrid his
+successor undertook, and which it is said his own pen inscribed, has been
+lost to us forever. He probably spoke much of Benedict in the volume and
+recorded his book pilgrimages. How dearly would the bibliomaniac revel
+over those early annals of his science, could his eye meet those
+venerable pages--perhaps describing the choice tomes Benedict met with in
+his Italian tours, and telling us how, and what, and where he gleaned
+those fine collections; sweet indeed would have been the perusal of that
+delectable little volume, full of the book experience of a bibliophile in
+Saxon days, near twelve hundred years ago! But the ravages of time or the
+fury of the Danes deprived us of this rare gem, and we are alone
+dependent on Bede for the incidents connected with the life of this great
+man; we learn from that venerable author that Benedict was seized with
+the palsy on his return, and that languishing a few short years, he died
+in the year 690; but through pain and suffering he often dwelt on the
+sweet treasures of his library, and his solemn thoughts of death and
+immortality were intermixed with many a fond bookish recollection. _His
+most noble and abundant library which he brought from Rome_ he constantly
+referred to, and gave strict injunctions that the monks should apply the
+utmost care to the preservation of that rich and costly treasure, in the
+collection of which so many perils and anxious years were spent.[248]
+
+We all know the force of example, and are not surprised that the sweet
+mania which ruled so potently over the mind of Benedict, spread itself
+around the crowned head of royalty. Perhaps book collecting was beginning
+to make "a stir," and the rich and powerful among the Saxons were
+regarding strange volumes with a curious eye. Certain it is that Egfride,
+or Ælfride, the proud king of Northumbria,[249] fondly coveted a
+beautiful copy of the geographer's (_codice mirandi operis_), which
+Benedict numbered among his treasures; and so eagerly too did he desire
+its possession, that he gave in exchange a portion of eight hides of
+land, near the river Fresca, for the volume; and Ceolfrid, Benedict's
+successor, received it.
+
+How useful must Benedict's library have been in ripening the mind that
+was to cast a halo of immortality around that old monastery, and to
+generate a renown which was long to survive the grey walls of that costly
+fane; for whilst we now fruitlessly search for any vestiges of its former
+being, we often peruse the living pages of Bede the venerable with
+pleasure and instruction, and we feel refreshed by the breath of piety
+and devotion which they unfold; yet it must be owned the superstition of
+Rome will sometimes mar a devout prayer and the simplicity of a Christian
+thought. But all honor to his manes and to his memory! for how much that
+is admirable in the human character--how much sweet and virtuous humility
+was hid in him, in the strict retirement of the cloister. The writings of
+that humble monk outlive the fame of many a proud ecclesiastic or haughty
+baron of his day; and well they might, for how homely does his pen record
+the simple annals of that far distant age. Much have the old monks been
+blamed for their bad Latin and their humble style; but far from
+upbraiding, I would admire them for it; for is not the inelegance of
+diction which their unpretending chronicles display, sufficiently
+compensated by their charming simplicity. As for myself, I have sometimes
+read them by the blaze of my cheerful hearth, or among the ruins of some
+old monastic abbey,[250] till in imagination I beheld the events which
+they attempt to record, and could almost hear the voice of the "_goode
+olde monke_" as he relates the deeds of some holy man--in language so
+natural and idiomatic are they written.
+
+But as we were saying, Bede made ample use of Benedict's library; and the
+many Latin and Greek books, which he refers to in the course of his
+writings, were doubtless derived from that source.[251] Ceolfrid, the
+successor of Benedict, "a man of great zeal, of acute wisdom, and bold in
+action," was a great lover of books, and under his care the libraries of
+Wearmouth and Jarrow became nearly doubled in extent; of the nature of
+these additions we are unable to judge, but probably they were not
+contemptible.[252]
+
+Wilfrid, bishop of Northumbria, was a dear and intimate friend of
+Biscop's, and was the companion of one of his pilgrimages to Rome. In his
+early youth he gave visible signs of a heart full of religion and piety,
+and he sought by a steady perusal of the Holy Scriptures, in the little
+monastery of Lindesfarne, to garnish his mind with that divine lore with
+which he shone so brightly in the Saxon church. It was at the court of
+Ercenbyrht, king of Kent, that he met with Benedict Biscop; and the
+sympathy which their mutual learning engendered gave rise to a warm and
+devoted friendship between them. Both inspired with an ardent desire to
+visit the apostolic see, they set out together for Rome;[253] and it was
+probably by the illustrious example of his fellow student and companion,
+that Wilfrid imbibed that book-loving passion which he afterwards
+displayed on more than one occasion. On his return from Rome, Alfred of
+Northumbria bestowed upon him the monastery of Rhypum[254] in the year
+661, and endowed it with certain lands. Peter of Blois records, in his
+life of Wilfrid, that this "man of God" gave the monastery a copy of the
+gospels, a library, and many books of the Old and New Testament, with
+certain tablets made with marvellous ingenuity, and ornamented with gold
+and precious stones.[255] Wilfrid did not long remain in the monastery of
+Ripon, but advanced to higher honors, and took a more active part in the
+ecclesiastical affairs of the time.[256] But I am not about to pursue his
+history, or to attempt to show how his hot and imperious temper, or the
+pride and avarice of his disposition, wrought many grievous animosities
+in the Saxon church; or how by his prelatical ambition he deservedly lost
+the friendship of his King and his ecclesiastical honors.[257]
+
+About this time, and contemporary with Bede, we must not omit one who
+appears as a bright star in the early Christian church. Boniface,[258]
+the Saxon missionary, was remarked by his parents to manifest at an early
+age signs of that talent which in after years achieved so much, and
+advanced so materially the interests of piety and the cause of
+civilization. When scarcely four years old his infant mind seemed prone
+to study, which growing upon him as he increased in years, his parent
+placed him in the monastery of Exeter. His stay there was not of long
+duration, for he shortly after removed to a monastery in Hampshire under
+the care of Wybert. In seclusion and quietude he there studied with
+indefatigable ardor, and fortified his mind with that pious enthusiasm
+and profound erudition, which enabled him in a far distant country to
+render such service to the church. He was made a teacher, and when
+arrived at the necessary age he was ordained priest. In the year 710, a
+dispute having occurred among the western church of the Saxons, he was
+appointed to undertake a mission to the archbishop of Canterbury on the
+subject. Pleased perhaps with the variety and bustle of travel, and
+inspired with a holy ambition, he determined to attempt the conversion of
+the German people, who, although somewhat acquainted with the gospel
+truths, had nevertheless deviated materially from the true faith, and
+returned again to their idolatry and paganism. Heedless of the danger of
+the expedition, but looking forward only to the consummation of his fond
+design, he started on his missionary enterprise, accompanied by one or
+two of his monkish brethren.
+
+He arrived at Friesland in the year 716, and proceeded onwards to
+Utrecht; but disappointments and failures awaited him. The revolt of the
+Frieslanders and the persecution then raging there against the
+Christians, dissipated his hopes of usefulness; and with a heavy heart,
+no doubt, Boniface retraced his steps, and re-embarked for his English
+home. Yet hope had not deserted him--his philanthropic resolutions were
+only delayed for a time; for no sooner had the dark clouds of persecution
+passed away than his adventurous spirit burst forth afresh, and shone
+with additional lustre and higher aspirations. After an interval of two
+years we find him again starting on another Christian mission. On
+reaching France he proceeded immediately to Rome, and procured admission
+to the Pope, who, ever anxious for the promulgation of the faith and for
+the spiritual dominion of the Roman church, highly approved of the
+designs of Boniface, and gave him letters authorizing his mission among
+the Thuringians; invested with these powers and with the pontifical
+blessing, he took his departure from the holy city, well stored with the
+necessary ornaments and utensils for the performance of the
+ecclesiastical rites, besides a number of books to instruct the heathens
+and to solace his mind amidst the cares and anxieties of his travels.
+After some few years the fruits of his labor became manifest, and in 723
+he had baptized vast multitudes in the true faith. His success was
+perhaps unparalleled in the early annals of the church, and remind us of
+the more recent wonders wrought by the Jesuit missionaries in India.[259]
+Elated with these happy results, far greater than even his sanguine mind
+had anticipated, he sent a messenger to the Pope to acquaint his holiness
+of these vast acquisitions to his flock, and soon after he went himself
+to Rome to receive the congratulations and thanks of the Pontiff; he was
+then made bishop, and entrusted with the ecclesiastical direction of the
+new church. After his return, he spent many years in making fresh
+converts and maintaining the discipline of the faithful. But all these
+labors and these anxieties were terminated by a cruel and unnatural
+death; on one of his expeditions he was attacked by a body of pagans, who
+slew him and nearly the whole of his companions, but it is not here that
+a Christian must look for his reward--he must rest his hopes on the
+benevolence and mercy of his God in a distant and far better world. He
+who would wish to trace more fully these events, and so catch a glimpse
+of the various incidents which touch upon the current of his life, must
+not keep the monk constantly before his mind, he must sometimes forget
+him in that capacity and regard him as a _student_, and that too in the
+highest acceptation of the term. His youthful studies, which I have said
+before were pursued with unconquerable energy, embraced grammar, poetry,
+rhetoric, history, and the exposition of the Holy Scriptures; the Bible,
+indeed, he read unceasingly, and drew from it much of the vital truth
+with which it is inspired; but he perhaps too much tainted it with
+traditional interpretation and patristical logic. A student's life is
+always interesting; like a rippling stream, its unobtrusive gentle course
+is ever pleasing to watch, and the book-worms seems to find in it the
+counterpart of his own existence. Who can read the life and letters of
+the eloquent Cicero, or the benevolent Pliny, without the deepest
+interest; or mark their anxious solicitude after books, without sincere
+delight. Those elegant epistles reflect the image of their private
+studies, and so to behold Boniface in a student's garb, to behold his
+love of books and passion for learning, we must alike have recourse to
+his letters.
+
+The epistolary correspondence of the middle ages is a mirror of those
+times, far more faithful as regards their social condition than the old
+chronicles and histories designed for posterity; written in the
+reciprocity of friendly civilities, they contain the outpourings of the
+heart, and enable us to peep into the secret thoughts and motives of the
+writer; "for out of the fulness of the hearth the mouth speaketh."
+Turning over the letters of Boniface, we cannot but be forcibly struck
+with his great knowledge of Scripture; his mind seems to have been quite
+a concordance in itself, and we meet with epistles almost solely framed
+of quotations from the sacred books, in substantiation of some principle,
+or as grounds for some argument advanced. These are pleasurable
+instances, and convey a gentle hint that the greater plenitude of the
+Bible has not, in all cases, emulated us to study it with equal energy;
+there are few who would now surpass the Saxon bishop in biblical reading.
+
+Most students have felt, at some period or other, a thirst after
+knowledge without the means of assuaging it--have felt a craving after
+books when their pecuniary circumstances would not admit of their
+acquisition, such will sympathize with Boniface, the student in the wilds
+of Germany, who, far from monastic libraries, sorely laments in some of
+his letters this great deprivation, and entreats his friends, sometimes
+in most piteous terms, to send him books. In writing to Daniel, Bishop of
+Winchester, he asks for copies, and begs him to send the book of the six
+prophets, clearly and distinctly transcribed, and in large letters
+because his sight he says was growing weak; and because the book of the
+prophets was much wanted in Germany, and could not be obtained except
+written so obscurely, and the letters so confusedly joined together, as
+to be scarcely readable _ac connexas litteras discere non possum_.[260]
+To "Majestro Lul" he writes for the productions of bishop Aldhelm, and
+other works of prose, poetry, and rhyme, to console him in his
+peregrinations _ad consolationem peregrinationis meæ_.[261] With Abbess
+Eadburge he frequently corresponded, and received from her many choice
+and valuable volumes, transcribed by her nuns and sometimes by her own
+hands; at one period he writes in glowing terms and with a grateful pen
+for the books thus sent him, and at another time he sends for a copy of
+the Gospels. "Execute," says he, "a glittering lamp for our hands, and so
+illuminate the hearts of the Gentiles to a study of the Gospels and to
+the glory of Christ; and intercede, I pray thee, with your pious prayers
+for these pagans who are committed by the apostles to our care, that by
+the mercy of the Saviour of the world they may be delivered from their
+idolatrous practices, and united to the congregation of mother church, to
+the honor of the Catholic faith, and to the praise and glory of His name,
+who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
+truth."[262]
+
+All this no doubt the good abbess faithfully fulfilled; and stimulated by
+his friendship and these encouraging epistles, she set all the pens in
+her monastery industriously to work, and so gratified the Saxon
+missionary with those book treasures, which his soul so ardently loved;
+certain it is, that we frequently find him thanking her for books, and
+with famishing eagerness craving for more; one of his letters,[263] full
+of gratitude, he accompanies with a present of a silver graphium, or
+writing instrument, and soon after we find him thus addressing her:
+
+     "To the most beloved sister, Abbess Eadburge, and all now joined
+     to her house and under her spiritual care. Boniface, the meanest
+     servant of God, wisheth eternal health in Christ."
+
+"My dearest sister, may your assistance be abundantly rewarded hereafter
+in the mansions of the angels and saints above, for the kind presents of
+books which you have transmitted to me. Germany rejoices in their
+spiritual light and consolation, because they have spread lustre into,
+the dark hearts of the German people; for except we have a lamp to guide
+our feet, we may, in the words of the Lord, fall into the snares of
+death. Moreover, through thy gifts I earnestly hope to be more diligent,
+so that my country may be honored, my sins forgiven, and myself protected
+from the perils of the sea and the violence of the tempest; and that He
+who dwells on high may lightly regard my transgression, and give
+utterance to the words of my mouth, that the Gospel may have free course,
+and be glorified among men to the honor of Christ."[264]
+
+Writing to Egbert, Archbishop of York, of whose bibliomaniacal character
+and fine library we have yet to speak, Boniface thanks that illustrious
+collector for the choice volumes he had kindly sent him, and further
+entreats Egbert to procure for him transcripts of the smaller works
+_opusculi_ and other tracts of Bede, "who, I hear," he writes, "has, by
+the divine grace of the Holy Spirit, been permitted to spread such
+lustre over your country."[265] These, that kind and benevolent prelate
+sent to him with other books, and received a letter full of gratitude in
+return, but with all the boldness of a hungry student still asking for
+more! especially for Bede's Commentary on the Parables of Solomon.[266]
+He sents to Archbishop Nothelm for a copy of the Questions of St.
+Augustine to Pope Gregory, with the answers of the pope, which he says he
+could not obtain from Rome; and in writing to Cuthbert, also Archbishop
+of Canterbury, imploring the aid of his earnest prayers, he does not
+forget to ask for books, but hopes that he may be speedily comforted with
+the works of Bede, of whose writings he was especially fond, and was
+constantly sending to his friends for transcripts of them. In a letter to
+Huetberth he writes for the "most sagacious dissertations of the monk
+Bede,"[267] and to the Abbot Dudde he sends a begging message for the
+Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans and to the
+Corinthians[268] by the same. In a letter to Lulla, Bishop of Coena, he
+deplores the want of books on the phenomena and works of nature, which,
+he says, were _omnio incognitum_ there, and asks for a book on
+Cosmography;[269] and on another occasion Lulla supplied Boniface with
+many portions of the Holy Scriptures, and Commentaries upon them.[270]
+Many more of his epistles might be quoted to illustrate the Saxon
+missionary as an "_amator librorum_," and to display his profound
+erudition. In one of his letters we find him referring to nearly all the
+celebrated authors of the church, and so aptly, that we conclude he must
+have had their works on his desk, and was deeply read in patristical
+theology. Boniface has been fiercely denounced for his strong Roman
+principles, and for his firm adherence to the interests of the pope.[271]
+Of his theological errors, or his faults as a church disciplinarian, I
+have nothing here to do, but leave that delicate question to the
+ecclesiastical historian, having vindicated his character from the charge
+of ignorance, and displayed some pleasing traits which he evinced as a
+student and book-collector. It only remains to be mentioned, that many of
+the membranous treasures, which Boniface had so eagerly searched for and
+collected from all parts, were nearly lost forever. The pagans, who
+murdered Boniface and his fellow-monks, on entering their tents,
+discovered little to gratify their avarice, save a few relics and a
+number of books, which, with a barbarism corresponding with their
+ignorance, they threw into the river as useless; but fortunately, some of
+the monks, who had escaped from their hands, observing the transaction,
+recovered them and carried them away in safety with the remains of the
+martyred missionary, who was afterwards canonized Saint Boniface.
+
+The must remarkable book collector contemporary with Boniface, was Egbert
+of York, between whom, as we have seen, a bookish correspondence was
+maintained. This illustrious prelate was brother to King Egbert, of
+Northumbria, and received his education under Bishop Eata, at Hexham,
+about the year 686. He afterwards went on a visit to the Apostolic See,
+and on his return was made Archbishop of York.[272] He probably collected
+at Rome many of the fine volumes which comprised his library, and which
+was so celebrated in those old Saxon days; and which will be ever
+renowned in the annals of ancient bibliomania. The immortal Alcuin sang
+the praises of this library in a tedious lay; and what glorious tomes of
+antiquity he there enumerates! But stay, my pen should tarry whilst I
+introduce that worthy bibliomaniac to my reader, and relate some
+necessary anecdotes and facts connected with his early life and times.
+
+Alcuin was born in England, and probably in the immediate vicinity of
+York; he was descended from affluent and noble parents; but history is
+especially barren on this subject, and we have no information to instruct
+us respecting the antiquity of his Saxon ancestry. But if obscurity hangs
+around his birth, so soon as he steps into the paths of learning and
+ranks with the students of his day, we are no longer in doubt or
+perplexity; but are able from that period to his death to trace the
+occurrences of his life with all the ease that a searcher of monkish
+history can expect. He had the good fortune to receive his education from
+Egbert, and under his care he soon became initiated into the mysteries of
+grammar, rhetoric, and jurisprudence; which were relieved by the more
+fascinating study of poetry, physics, and astronomy.[273] So much was he
+esteemed by his master the archbishop, that he entrusted him with a
+mission to Rome, to receive from the hands of the Pope his pall; on his
+return he called at Parma, where he had an interview with Charles the
+Great; who was so captivated with his eloquence and erudition that he
+eagerly entreated him to remain, and to aid in diffusing throughout his
+kingdom the spirit of that knowledge which he had so successfully
+acquired in the Saxon monasteries. But Alcuin was equally anxious for the
+advancement of literature in his own country; and being then on a mission
+connected with his church, he could do no more than hold out a promise of
+consulting his superiors, to whose decisions he considered himself bound
+to submit.
+
+During the dominion of Charles, the ecclesiastical as well as the
+political institutions of France, were severely agitated by heresy and
+war: the two great questions of the age--the Worship of Images and the
+Nature of Christ--divided and perplexed the members of a church which had
+hitherto been permitted to slumber in peace and quietude. The most
+prominent of the heretics was Felix, Bishop of Urgel, who maintained in
+a letter to Elipand, Bishop of Toledo, that Christ was only the Son of
+God by adoption. It was about the time of the convocation of the Council
+of Frankfort, assembled to consider this point, that Alcuin returned to
+France at the earnest solicitation of Charlemagne. When the business of
+the council was terminated, and peace was somewhat restored, Alcuin began
+to think of returning to his native country; but England at that time was
+a land of bloodshed and tribulation, in the midst of which it would be
+vain to hope for retirement or the blessings of study; after some
+deliberation, therefore, Alcuin resolved to remain in France, where there
+was at least a wide field for exertion and usefulness. He communicates
+his intention in a letter to Offa, King of Mercia. "I was prepared," says
+he, "to come to you with the presents of King Charles, and to return to
+my country; but it seemed more advisable to me for the peace of my nation
+to remain abroad; not knowing what I could have done among those persons
+with whom no man can be secure or able to proceed in any laudable
+pursuit. See every holy place laid desolate by pagans, the altars
+polluted by perjury, the monasteries dishonored by adultery, the earth
+itself stained with the blood of rulers and of princes."[274]
+
+After the elapse of many years spent in the brilliant court of Charles,
+during which time it surpassed in literary greatness any epoch that
+preceded it, he was permitted to seek retirement within the walls of the
+abbey of St. Martin's at Tours. But in escaping from the bustle and
+intrigue of public life he did not allow his days to pass away in an
+inglorious obscurity; but sought to complete his earthly career by
+inspiring the rising generation with an honorable and christian ambition.
+His cloistered solitude, far from weakening, seems to have augmented the
+fertility of his genius, for it was in the quiet seclusion of this
+monastery that Alcuin composed the principal portion of his works; nor
+are these writings an accumulation of monastic trash, but the fruits of
+many a solitary hour spent in studious meditation. His method is perhaps
+fantastic and unnatural; but his style is lively, and often elegant. His
+numerous quotations and references give weight and interest to his
+writings, and clearly proves what a fine old library was at his command,
+and how well he knew the use of it. But for the elucidation of his
+character as a student, or a bibliomaniac, we naturally turn to the huge
+mass of his epistles which have been preserved; and in them we find a
+constant reference to books which shew his intimacy with the classics as
+well as the patristical lore of the church. In biblical literature he
+doubtless possessed many a choice and venerable tome; for an
+indefatigable scripture reader was that great man. In a curious little
+work of his called "_Interrogationes et Responsiones sui Liber
+Questionorum in Genesim_," we find an illustration of his usefulness in
+spreading the knowledge he had gained in this department of learning. It
+was written expressly for his pupil and dearest brother (_carissime
+frater_), Sigulf, as we learn from a letter which accompanies it. He
+tells him that he had composed it "that he might always have near him the
+means of refreshing his memory when the more ponderous volumes of the
+sacred Scriptures were not at his immediate call."[275] Perhaps of all
+his works this is the least deserving of our praise; the good old monk
+was apt to be prolix, if not tedious, when he found the _stylus_ in his
+hand and a clean skin of parchment spread invitingly before him. But as
+this work was intended as a manual to be consulted at any time, he was
+compelled to curb this propensity, and to reduce his explications to a
+few concise sentences. Writing under this restraint, we find little
+bearing the stamp of originality, not because he had nothing original to
+say, but because he had not space to write it in; I think it necessary to
+give this explanation, as some critics upon the learning of that remote
+age select these small and ill-digested writings as fair specimens of the
+literary capacity of the time, without considering why they were written
+or compiled at all. But as a scribe how shall we sufficiently praise that
+great man when we take into consideration the fine Bible which he
+executed for Charlemagne, and which is now fortunately preserved in the
+British Museum. It is a superb copy of St. Jerome's Latin version, freed
+from the inaccuracies of the scribes; he commenced it about the year 778,
+and did not complete it till the year 800, a circumstance which indicates
+the great care he bestowed upon it. When finished he sent it to Rome by
+his friend and disciple, Nathaniel, who presented it to Charlemagne on
+the day of his coronation: it was preserved by that illustrious monarch
+to the last day of his life. Alcuin makes frequent mention of this work
+being in progress, and speaks of the labor he was bestowing upon it.[276]
+We, who blame the monks for the scarcity of the Bible among them, fail to
+take into consideration the immense labor attending the transcriptions of
+so great a volume; plodding and patience were necessary to complete it.
+The history of this biblical gem is fraught with interest, and well worth
+relating. It is supposed to have been given to the monastery of Prum in
+Lorraine by Lothaire, the grandson of Charlemagne, who became a monk of
+that monastery. In the year 1576 this religious house was dissolved, but
+the monks preserved the manuscript, and carried it into Switzerland to
+the abbey of Grandis Vallis, near Basle, where it reposed till the year
+1793, when, on the occupation of the episcopal territory of Basle by the
+French, all the property of the abbey was confiscated and sold, and the
+MS. under consideration came into the possession of M. Bennot, from whom,
+in 1822, it was purchased by M. Speyr Passavant, who brought it into
+general notice, and offered it for sale to the French Government at the
+price of 60,000 francs; this they declined, and its proprietor struck of
+nearly 20,000 francs from the amount; still the sum was deemed
+exorbitant, and with all their bibliomanical enthusiasm, the conservers
+of the Royal Library allowed the treasure to escape. M. Passavant
+subsequently brought it to England, where it was submitted to the Duke of
+Sussex, still without success. He also applied to the trustees of the
+British Museum, and Sir F. Madden informs us that "much correspondence
+took place; at first he asked 12,000_l._ for it; then 8,000_l._, and at
+last 6,500_l._, which he declared an _immense sacrifice!!_ At length,
+finding he could not part with his MS. on terms so absurd, he resolved to
+sell it if possible by auction; and accordingly, on the 27th of April,
+1836, the Bible was knocked down by Mr. Evans for the sum of 1,500_l._,
+but for the proprietor himself, as there was not one real bidding for it.
+This result having brought M. Speyr Passavant in some measure to his
+senses, overtures were made to him on the part of the trustees to the
+British Museum, and the manuscript finally became the property of the
+nation, for the comparatively small sum of 750_l._" There can be no doubt
+as to the authenticity of this precious volume, the verses of Alcuin's,
+found in the manuscript, sufficiently prove it, for he alone could
+write--
+
+    "Is Carolus qui jam Scribe jussit eum."
+         .     .     .     .     .     .     .
+    "Hæc Dator Æternus cunctorum Christe bonorum,
+     Munera de donis accipe sancta tuis,
+     Quæ Pater Albinus devoto pectore supplex
+     Nominus ad laudem obtulit ecce tui."
+
+Other proofs are not wanting of Alcuin's industry as a scribe, or his
+enthusiasm as an _amator librorum_. Mark the rapture with which he
+describes the library of York Cathedral, collected by Egbert:
+
+    "Illic invenies veterum vestigia Patrum,
+     Quidquid habet pro se Latio Romanus in orbe,
+     Græcia vel quidquid transmisit Clara Latinis.
+     Hebraicus vel quod populus bibet imbre superno
+     Africa lucifluo vel quidquid lumine sparsit.
+     Quod Pater Hieronymus quod sensit Hilarius, atque
+     Ambrosius Præsul simul Augustinus, et ipse
+     Sanctus Athanasius, quod Orosius, edit avitus:
+     Quidquid Gregorius summus docet, et Leo Papa;
+     Basilius quidquid, Fulgentius atque coruscant
+     Cassiodorus item, Chrysostomus atque Johannes:
+     Quidquid et Athelmus docuit, quid Beda Magister,
+     Quæ Victorinus scripsêre, Boetius; atque
+     Historici veteres, Pompeius, Plinius, ipse
+     Acer Aristoteles, Rhetor quoque Tullius ingens;
+     Quidquoque Sedulius, vel quid canit ipse Invencus,
+     Alcuinus, et Clemens, Prosper, Paulinus, Arator.
+     Quid Fortunatus, vel quid Lactantius edunt;
+     Quæ Maro Virgilius, Statius, Lucanus, et auctor
+     Artis Grammaticæ, vel quid scripsêre magistri;
+     Quid Probus atque Focas, Donatus, Priscian usve,
+     Sevius, Euticius, Pompeius, Commenianus,
+     Invenies alios perplures, lector, ibidem
+     Egregios studiis, arte et sermone magistros
+     Plurima qui claro scripsêre volumina sensu:
+     Nomina sed quorum præsenti in carmine scribi
+     Longius est visum, quam plectri postulet usus."[277]
+
+Often did Alcuin think of these goodly times with a longing heart, and
+wish that he could revel among them whilst in France. How deeply would he
+have regretted, how many tears would he have shed over the sad
+destruction of that fine library, had he have known it; but his bones had
+mingled with the dust when the Danes dispersed those rare gems of ancient
+lore. If the reader should doubt the ardor of Alcuin as a book-lover, let
+him read the following letter, addressed to Charlemagne, which none but
+a bibliomaniac could pen.
+
+"I, your Flaccus, according to your admonitions and good-will, administer
+to some in the house of St. Martin, the sweets of the Holy Scriptures,
+_Sanctarum mella Scripturarum_: others I inebriate with the study of
+ancient wisdom; and others I fill with the fruits of grammatical lore.
+Many I seek to instruct in the order of the stars which illuminate the
+glorious vault of heaven; so that they may be made ornaments to the holy
+church of God and the court of your imperial majesty; that the goodness
+of God and your kindness may not be altogether unproductive of good. But
+in doing this I discover the want of much, especially those exquisite
+books of scholastic learning, which I possessed in my own country,
+through the industry of my good and most devout master (Egbert). I
+therefore intreat your Excellence to permit me to send into Britain some
+of our youths to procure those books which we so much desire, and thus
+transplant into France the flowers of Britain, that they may fructify and
+perfume, not only the garden at York, but also the Paradise of Tours; and
+that we may say, in the words of the song, '_Let my beloved come into his
+garden and eat his pleasant fruit_;' and to the young, '_Eat, O friends;
+drink, yea, drink, abundantly, O beloved_;' or exhort, in the words of
+the prophet Isaiah, '_every one that thirsteth to come to the waters, and
+ye that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk
+without money and without price_.'
+
+"Your Majesty is not ignorant how earnestly we are exhorted throughout
+the Holy Scriptures to search after wisdom; nothing so tends to the
+attainment of a happy life; nothing more delightful or more powerful in
+resisting vice; nothing more honorable to an exalted dignity; and,
+according to philosophy, nothing more needful to a just government of a
+people. Thus Solomon exclaims, '_Wisdom is better than rubies, and all
+the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it_.' It
+exalteth the humble with sublime honors. '_By wisdom kings reign and
+princes decree justice: by me princes rule; and nobles, even all the
+judges of the earth. Blessed are they that keep my ways, and blessed is
+the man that heareth me._' Continue, then, my Lord King, to exhort the
+young in the palaces of your highness to earnest pursuit in acquiring
+wisdom; that they may be honored in their old age, and ultimately enter
+into a blessed immortality. I shall truly, according to my ability,
+continue to sow in those parts the seeds of wisdom among your servants;
+remembering the command, '_In the morning sow thy seed, and in the
+evening withhold not thine hand._' In my youth I sowed the seeds of
+learning in the prosperous seminaries of Britain; and now, in my old age,
+I am doing so in France without ceasing, praying that the grace of God
+may bless them in both countries."[278]
+
+Such was the enthusiasm, such the spirit of bibliomania, which actuated
+the monks of those _bookless_ days; and which was fostered with such
+zealous care by Alcuin, in the cloisters of St. Martin of Tours. He
+appropriated one of the apartments of the monastery for the transcription
+of books, and called it the _museum_, in which constantly were employed a
+numerous body of industrious scribes: he presided over them himself, and
+continually exhorted them to diligence and care; to guard against the
+inadvertencies of unskilful copyists, he wrote a small work on
+orthography. We cannot estimate the merits of this essay, for only a
+portion of it has been preserved; but in the fragment printed among his
+works, we can see much that might have been useful to the scribes, and
+can believe that it must have tended materially to preserve the purity of
+ancient texts. It consists of a catalogue of words closely resembling
+each other, and consequently requiring the utmost care in
+transcribing.[279]
+
+In these pleasing labors Alcuin was assisted by many of the most learned
+men of the time, and especially by Arno, Archbishop of Salzburgh, in
+writing to whom Alcuin exclaims, "O that I could suddenly translate my
+_Abacus_, and with my own hands quickly embrace your fraternity with that
+warmth which cannot be compressed in books. Nevertheless, because I
+cannot conveniently come, I send more frequently my unpolished letters
+(_rusticitatis meæ litteras_) to thee, that they may speak for me instead
+of the words of my mouth." This Arno, to whom he thus affectionately
+writes, was no despicable scholar; he was a true lover of literature, and
+proved himself something of an _amator librorum_, by causing to be
+transcribed or bought for his use, 150 volumes,[280] but about this
+period the bookloving mania spread far and wide--the Emperor himself was
+touched with the enthusiasm; for, besides his choice private
+collections,[281] he collected together the ponderous writings of the
+holy fathers, amounting to upwards of 200 volumes, bound in a most
+sumptuous manner, and commanded them to be deposited in a public temple
+and arranged in proper order, so that those who could not purchase such
+treasures might be enabled to feast on the lore of the ancients. Thus did
+bibliomania flourish in the days of old.
+
+But I must not be tempted to remain longer in France, though the names of
+many choice old book collectors would entice me to do so. When I left
+England, to follow the steps of Alcuin, I was speaking of York, which
+puts me in mind of the monastery of Whitby,[282] in the same shire, on
+the banks of the river Eske. It was founded by Hilda, the virgin daughter
+of Hereric, nephew to King Edwin, about the year 680, who was its first
+abbess. Having put her monastery in regular order, Hilda set an
+illustrious example of piety and virtue, and particularly directed all
+under her care to a constant reading of the holy Scriptures. After a long
+life of usefulness and zeal she died deeply lamented by the Saxon
+Church,[283] an event which many powerful miracles commemorated.
+
+In the old times of the Saxons the monastery of Whitby was renowned for
+its learning; and many of the celebrated ecclesiastics of the day
+received their instruction within its walls. The most interesting
+literary anecdote connected with the good lady Hilda's abbacy, is the
+kind reception she gave to the Saxon poet Cædmon, whose paraphrase of the
+Book of Genesis has rendered his name immortal. He was wont to make
+"pious and religious verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out
+of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expression of much
+sweetness and humility in English, which was his native language. By his
+verses the minds of many were often excited to despise the world and to
+aspire to heaven. Others after him attempted in the English nation to
+compose religious poems, but none could ever compare with him, _for he
+did not learn the art of poetry from man but from God_."[284] He was
+indeed, as the venerable Bede says, a poet of nature's own teaching:
+originally a rustic herdsman, the sublime gift was bestowed upon him by
+inspiration, or as it is recorded, in a dream. As he slept an unknown
+being appeared, and commanded him to sing. Cædmon hesitated to make the
+attempt, but the apparition retorted, "Nevertheless, thou shalt
+sing--sing the origin of things." Astonished and perplexed, our poet
+found himself instantaneously in possession of the pleasing art; and,
+when he awoke, his vision and the words of his song were so impressed
+upon his memory, that he easily repeated them to his wondering
+companions.[285] He hastened at day-break to relate these marvels and to
+display his new found talents to the monks of Whitby, by whom he was
+joyfully received, and as they unfolded the divine mysteries, "The good
+man," says Bede, "listened like a clean animal ruminating; and his song
+and his verse were so winsome to hear, that his teachers wrote them down,
+and learned from his mouth."[286]
+
+Some contend that an ancient manuscript in the British Museum is the
+original of this celebrated paraphrase.[287] It is just one of those
+choice relics which a bibliomaniac loves to handle, but scarcely perhaps
+bears evidence of antiquity so remote. It is described in the catalogue
+as, "The substance of the Book of Genesis, with the Acts of Moses and
+Joshua, with brief notes and annotations, part in Latin and part in Saxon
+by Bede and others." The notes, if by Bede, would tend to favor the
+opinion that it is the original manuscript, or, at any rate, coeval with
+the Saxon bard. The volume, as a specimen of calligraphic art, reflects
+honor upon the age, and is right worthy of Lady Hilda's monastery. There
+are 312[288] fine velum pages in this venerable and precious volume,
+nearly every one of which dazzles with the talent of the skilful
+illuminator. The initial letters are formed, with singular taste and
+ingenuity, of birds, beasts, and flowers. To give an idea of the nature
+of these pictorial embellishments--which display more splendor of
+coloring than accuracy of design--I may describe the singular
+illumination adorning the sixth page, which represents the birth of Eve.
+Adam is asleep, reclining on the grass, which is depicted as so many
+inverted cones; and, if we may judge from the appearance of our venerable
+forefather, he could not have enjoyed a very comfortable repose on that
+memorable occasion, and the grass which grew in the Garden of Paradise
+must have been of a very stubborn nature when compared with the earth's
+verdure of the present day; for the weight of Adam alters not the
+position of the tender herb, which supports his huge body on their
+extreme summits. As he is lying on the left side Eve is ascending from a
+circular aperture in his right; nor would the original, if she bore any
+resemblance to her monkish portraiture, excite the envy or the admiration
+of the present age, or bear comparison with her fair posterity. Her
+physiognomy is anything but fascinating, and her figure is a repulsive
+monstrosity, _adorned_ with a profusion of luxurious hair of a brilliant
+blue!
+
+It is foreign to our subject to enter into any analysis of the literary
+beauties of this poem; let it suffice that Cædmon, the old Saxon
+herdsman, has been compared to our immortal Milton; and their names have
+been coupled together when speaking of a poet's genius.[289] But on other
+grounds Cædmon claims a full measure of our praise. Not only was he the
+"Father of Saxon poetry," but to him also belongs the inestimable honor
+of being the first who attempted to render into the vulgar tongue the
+beauties and mysteries of the Holy Scriptures; he unsealed what had
+hitherto been a sealed book; his paraphrase is the first translation of
+the holy writ on record. So let it not be forgotten that to this Milton
+of old our Saxon ancestors were indebted for this invaluable treasure. We
+are unable to trace distinctly the formation of the monastic library of
+Whitby. But of the time of Richard, elected abbot in the year 1148, a
+good monk, and formerly prior of Peterborough, we have a catalogue of
+their books preserved. I would refer the reader to that curious
+list,[290] and ask him if it does not manifest by its contents the
+existence of a more refined taste in the cloisters than he gave the old
+monks credit for. It is true, the legends of saints abound in it; but
+then look at the choice tomes of a classic age, whose names grace that
+humble catalogue, and remember that the studies of the Whitby monks were
+divided between the miraculous lives of holy men, and the more pleasing
+pages of the "Pagan Homer," the eloquence of Tully, and the wit of
+Juvenal, of whose subject they seemed to have been fond; for they read
+also the satires of Persius. I extract the names of some of the authors
+contained in this monkish library:
+
+Ambrose.
+Hugo.
+Theodolus.
+Aratores.
+Bernard.
+Avianus.
+Gratian.
+Odo.
+Gilda.
+Maximianus.
+Eusebius.
+Plato.
+Homer.
+Cicero.
+Juvenal.
+Persius.
+Statius.
+Sedulus.
+Prosper.
+Prudentius.
+Boethius.
+Donatus.
+Rabanus Maurus.
+Origen.
+Priscian.
+Gregory Nazianzen.
+Josephus.
+Bede.
+Gildas.
+Isidore.
+Ruffinus.
+Guido on Music.
+Diadema Monachorum.
+
+Come, the monks evidently read something besides their _Credo_, and
+transcribed something better than "monastic trash." A little taste for
+literature and learning we must allow they enjoyed, when they formed
+their library of such volumes as the above. I candidly admit, that when I
+commenced these researches I had no expectations of finding a collection
+of a hundred volumes, embracing so many choice works of old Greece and
+Rome. It is pleasant, however, to trace these workings of bibliomania in
+the monasteries; and it is a surprise quite agreeable and delicious in
+itself to meet with instances like the present.
+
+At a latter period the monastery of Rievall, in Yorkshire, possessed an
+excellent library of 200 volumes. This we know by a catalogue of them,
+compiled by one of the monks about the middle of the fourteenth century,
+and now preserved in the library of Jesus College, Cambridge.[291] A
+transcript of this manuscript was made by Mr. Halliwell, and published in
+his "Reliqua Antiqua,"[292] from which it may be seen that the Rievall
+monastery contained at that time many choice and valuable works. The
+numerous writings of Sts. Augustine, Bernard, Anselm, Cyprian, Origin,
+Haimo, Gregory, Ambrose, Isidore, Chrysostom, Bede, Aldhelm, Gregory
+Nazienzen, Ailred, Josephus, Rabanus Maurus, Peter Lombard, Orosius,
+Boethius, Justin, Seneca, with histories of the church of Britain, of
+Jerusalem, of King Henry, and many others equally interesting and costly,
+prove how industriously they used their pens, and how much they
+appreciated literature and learning. But in the fourteenth century the
+inhabitants of the monasteries were very industrious in transcribing
+books at a period coeval with the compilation of the Rievall catalogue, a
+monk of Coventry church was plying his pen with unceasing energy; John de
+Bruges wrote with his own hand thirty-two volumes for the library of the
+benedictine priory of St. Mary.
+
+The reader will see that there is little among them worthy of much
+observation. The MS. begins, "These are the books which John of Bruges,
+monk of Coventry, wrote for the Coventry church. Any who shall take them
+away from the church without the consent of the convent, let him be
+anathema."[293]
+
+In primis, ymnarium in grossa littera.
+Halmo upon Isaiah.
+A Missal for the Infirmary.
+A Missal.
+Duo missalia domini Prioris Rogeris, scilicet collectas cum secretis
+        et postcommunione.
+A Benedictional for the use of the same prior.
+Another Benedictional for the use of the convent.
+Librum cartarum.
+Martyrologium, Rule of St. Benedict and Pastoral, in one volume.
+Liber cartarum.
+A Graduale, with a Tropario, and a Processional.
+Psaltar for Prior Roger.
+Palladium de Agricultura.
+Librum experimentorum, in quo ligatur compotus Helprici.
+A book containing Compotus manualis et Merlin, etc.
+An Ordinal for the Choir.
+Tables for the Martyrology.
+Kalendarium mortuorum.
+Ditto.
+Table of Responses.
+Capitular.
+Capitular for Prior Roger.
+A Reading Book.
+A book of Decretals.
+Psalter for the monks in the infirmary.
+Generationes Veteris et Novi Testamenti; ante scholasticam hystoriam
+        et ante Psalterium domini Anselmi.
+Pater noster.
+An Ordinal.
+Tables for Peter Lombard's Sentences.
+Tables for the Psalter.
+Book of the Statutes of the Church.
+Verses on the praise of the blessed Mary.
+
+The priory of St. Mary's was founded by Leofricke, the celebrated Earl of
+Mercia and his good Lady Godiva, in the year 1042. "Hollingshead says
+that this Earl Leofricke was a man of great honor, wise, and discreet in
+all his doings. His high wisdome and policie stood the realme in great
+steed whilst he lived.... He had a noble ladie to his wife named Gudwina,
+at whose earnest sute he made the citie of Couentrie free of all manner
+of toll except horsses, and to haue that toll laid downe also, his
+foresaid wife rode naked through the middest of the towne without other
+couerture, saue onlie her haire. Moreouer partlie moued by his owne
+deuotion and partlie by the persuasion of his wife, he builded or
+beneficiallie augmented and repared manie abbeies and churches as the
+saide abbie or priorie at Couentrie--the abbeies of Wenlocke, Worcester,
+Stone, Evesham, and Leot, besides Hereford."
+
+The church of Worcester, which the good Earl had thus "beneficiallie
+augmented," the Saxon King Offa had endowed with princely munificence
+before him. In the year 780, during the time of Abbot Tilhere, or
+Gilhere, Offa gave to the church Croppethorne, Netherton, Elmlege
+Cuddeshe, Cherton, and other lands, besides a "large Bible with two
+clasps, made of the purest gold."[294] In the tenth century the library
+of Exeter Church was sufficiently extensive to require the preserving
+care of an amanuensis; for according to Dr. Thomas, Bishop Oswald granted
+in the year 985 three hides of land at Bredicot, one yardland at
+Ginenofra, and seven acres of meadow at Tiberton, to Godinge a monk, on
+condition of his fulfilling the duties of a librarian to the see, and
+transcribing the registers and writings of the church. It is said that
+the scribe Godinge wrote many choice books for the library.[295] I do not
+find any remarkable book donation, save now and then a volume or two, in
+the annals of Worcester Church; nor have I been able to discover any old
+parchment catalogue to tell of the number or rarity of their books; for
+although probably most monasteries had one compiled, being enjoined to do
+so by the regulations of their order, they have long ago been destroyed;
+for when we know that fine old manuscripts were used by the bookbinders
+after the Reformation, we can easily imagine how little value would be
+placed on a mere catalogue of names.
+
+But to return again to Godiva, that illustrious lady gave the monks,
+after the death of her lord, many landed possessions, and bestowed upon
+them the blessings of a library.[296]
+
+Thomas Cobham, who was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in the year 1317,
+was a great "_amator librorum_," and spent much time and money in
+collecting books. He was the first who projected the establishment of a
+public library at Oxford, which he designed to form over the old
+Congregation House in the churchyard of St. Mary's, but dying soon after
+in the year 1327, the project was forgotten till about forty years after,
+when I suppose the example of the great bibliomaniac Richard de Bury drew
+attention to the matter; for his book treasures were then "deposited
+there, and the scholars permitted to consult them on certain
+conditions."[297]
+
+Bishop Carpenter built a library for the use of the monastery of Exeter
+Church, in the year 1461, over the charnal house; and endowed it with £10
+per annum as a salary for an amanuensis.[298] But the books deposited
+there were grievously destroyed during the civil wars; for on the
+twenty-fourth of September, 1642, when the army under the Earl of Essex
+came to Worcester, they set about "destroying the organ, breaking in
+pieces divers beautiful windows, wherein the foundation of the church was
+lively historified with painted glass;" they also "rifled the library,
+with the records and evidences of the church, tore in pieces the Bibles
+and service books pertaining to the quire."[299] Sad desecration of
+ancient literature! But the reader of history will sigh over many such
+examples.
+
+The registers of Evesham Monastery, near Worcester, speak of several
+monkish bibliophiles, and the bookish anecdotes relating to them are
+sufficiently interesting to demand some attention here. Ailward, who was
+abbot in the year 1014, gave the convent many relics and ornaments, and
+what was still better a quantity of books.[300] He was afterwards
+promoted to the see of London, over which he presided many years; but age
+and infirmity growing upon him, he was anxious again to retire to
+Evesham, but the monks from some cause or other were unwilling to receive
+him back; at this he took offence, and seeking in the monastery of Ramsey
+the quietude denied him there, he demanded back all the books he had
+given them.[301] His successor Mannius was celebrated for his skill in
+the fine arts, and was an exquisite worker in metals, besides an
+ingenious scribe and illuminator. He wrote and illuminated with his own
+hand, for the use of his monastery, a missal and a large Psalter.[302]
+
+Walter, who was abbot in the year 1077, gave also many books to the
+library,[303] and among the catalogue of sumptuous treasures with which
+Reginald, a succeeding abbot, enriched the convent, a great textus or
+gospels, with a multitude of other books, _multa alia libros_, are
+particularly specified.[304] Almost equally liberal were the choice gifts
+bestowed upon the monks by Adam (elected A. D. 1161); but we find but
+little in our way among them, except a fine copy of the "Old and New
+Testament with a gloss." No mean gift I ween in those old days; but one
+which amply compensated for the deficiency of the donation in point of
+numbers. But all these were greatly surpassed by a monk whom it will be
+my duty now to introduce; and to an account of whose life and
+bibliomanical propensities, I shall devote a page or two. Like many who
+spread a lustre around the little sphere of their own, and did honor,
+humbly and quietly to the sanctuary of the church in those Gothic days,
+he is unknown to many; and might, perhaps, have been entirely forgotten,
+had not time kindly spared a document which testifies to his piety and
+book-collecting industry. The reader will probably recollect many who, by
+their shining piety and spotless life, maintained the purity of the
+Christian faith in a church surrounded by danger and ignorance, and many
+a bright name, renowned for their virtue or their glory of arms, who
+flourished during the early part of the thirteenth century; but few have
+heard of a good and humble monk named Thomas of Marleberg. Had
+circumstances designed him for a higher sphere, had affairs of state, or
+weighty duties of an ecclesiastical import, been guided by his hand, his
+name would have been recorded with all the flourish of monkish adulation;
+but the learning and the prudence of that lowly monk was confined to the
+little world of Evesham; and when his earthly manes were buried beneath
+the cloisters within the old convent walls, his name and good deeds were
+forgotten by the world, save in the hearts of his fraternity.
+
+    "But past is all his fame. The very spot
+     Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot."
+
+In a manuscript in the Cotton Library there is a document called "The
+good deeds of Prior Thomas," from which the following facts have been
+extracted.[305]
+
+From this interesting memorial of his labors, we learn that Thomas had
+acquired some repute among the monks for his great knowledge of civil and
+canon law; so that when any difficulty arose respecting the claims or
+privileges of the monastery, or when any important matter was to be
+transacted, his advice was sought and received with deference and
+respect. Thus three years after his admission the bishop of Worcester
+intimated his intention of paying the monastery a visitation; a practice
+which the bishops of that see had not enforced since the days of abbot
+Alurie. The abbot and convent however considered themselves free from the
+jurisdiction of the bishop; and acting on the advice of Thomas of
+Marleberg, they successfully repulsed him. The affair was quite an event,
+and seems to have caused much sensation among them at the time; and is
+mentioned to show with what esteem Thomas was regarded by his monkish
+brethren. After a long enumeration of "good works" and important
+benefactions, such as rebuilding the tower and repairing the convent, we
+are told that "In the second year of Randulp's abbacy, Thomas, then dean,
+went with him to Rome to a general council, where, by his prudence and
+advice, a new arrangement in the business of the convent rents was
+confirmed, and many other useful matters settled." Here I am tempted to
+refer to the _arrangements_, for they offer pleasing illustrations of the
+monk as an "_amator librorum_." Mark how his thoughts dwelt--even when
+surrounded by those high dignitaries of the church, and in the midst of
+that important council--on the library and the scriptorium of his
+monastery.
+
+     "_To the Prior belongs the tythes of Beningar the both great and
+     small, to defray the expenses of procuring parchment, and to
+     procure manuscripts for transcription._"
+
+And in another clause it is settled that
+
+     "_To the Office of the Precentor belongs the Manner of Hampton,
+     from which he will receive five shillings annually, besides ten
+     and eightpence from the tythes of Stokes and Alcester, with which
+     he is to find all the ink and parchment for the Scribes of the
+     Monastery, colours for illuminating, and all that is necessary
+     for binding the books_."[306]
+
+Pleasing traits are these of his bookloving passion; and doubtless under
+his guidance the convent library grew and flourished amazingly. But let
+us return to the account of his "good works."
+
+"Returning from Rome after two years he was elected sacrist. He then made
+a reading-desk behind the choir,[307] which was much wanted in the
+church, and appointed stated readings to be held near the tomb of Saint
+Wilsius.... Leaving his office thus rich in good works, he was then
+elected prior. In this office he buried his predecessor, Prior John, in a
+new mausoleum; and also John, surnamed Dionysius; of the latter of whom
+Prior Thomas was accustomed to say, 'that he had never known any man who
+so perfectly performed every kind of penance as he did for more than
+thirty years, in fasting and in prayer; in tears and in watchings; in
+cold and in corporeal inflictions; in coarseness and roughness of
+clothing, and in denying himself bodily comforts, far more than any other
+of the brethren; all of which he rather dedicated in good purposes and
+to the support of the poor."
+
+Thus did many an old monk live, practising all this with punctilious care
+as the essence of a holy life, and resting upon the fallacy that these
+cruel mortifyings of the flesh would greatly facilitate the acquisition
+of everlasting ease and joy in a better world; as if God knew not, better
+than themselves, what chastisements and afflictions were needful for
+them. We may sigh with pain over such instances of mistaken piety and
+fanatical zeal in all ages of the church; yet with all their privations,
+and with all their macerations of the flesh, there was a vast amount of
+human pride mingled with their humiliation. But He who sees into the
+hearts of all--looking in his benevolence more at the intention than the
+outward form, may perhaps sometimes find in it the workings of a true
+christian piety, and so reward it with his love. Let us trust so in the
+charity of our faith, and proceed to notice that portion of the old
+record which is more intimately connected with our subject. We read that
+
+"Thomas had brought with him to the convent, on his entering, many books,
+of both canon and civil law; as well as the books by which he had
+regulated the schools of Oxford and Exeter before he became a monk. He
+likewise had one book of Democritus; and the book of Antiparalenion, a
+gradual book, according to Constantine; Isidore's Divine Offices, and the
+Quadrimum of Isidore; Tully's de Amicitia; Tully de Senectute et de
+Paradoxis; Lucan, Juvenal, and many other authors, _et multos alios
+auctores_, with a great number of sermons, with many writings on
+theological questions; on the art and rules of grammar and the book of
+accents. After he was prior he made a great breviary, better than any at
+that time in the monastery, with Haimo, on the Apocalypse, and a book
+containing the lives of the patrons of the church of Evesham; with an
+account of the deeds of all the good and bad monks belonging to the
+church, in one volume. He also wrote and bound up the same lives and acts
+in another volume separately. He made also a great Psalter, _magnum
+psalterium_, superior to any contained in the monastery, except the
+glossed ones. He collected and wrote all the necessary materials for four
+antiphoners, with their musical notes, himself; except what the brothers
+of the monastery transcribed for him. He also finished many books that
+William of Lith, of pious memory, commenced--the Marterologium, the
+Exceptio Missæ, and some excellent commentaries on the Psalter and
+Communion of the Saints in the old antiphoners. He also bought the four
+Gospels, with glosses, and Isaiah and Ezekiel, also glossed;[308] the
+Pistillæ upon Matthew; some Allegories on the Old Testament; the
+Lamentations of Jeremiah, with a gloss; the Exposition of the Mass,
+according to Pope Innocent; and the great book of Alexander Necham, which
+is called _Corrogationes Promethea de partibus veteris testamenti et
+novæ_.... He also caused to be transcribed in large letters the book
+concerning the offices of the abbey, from the Purification of St. Mary
+to the Feast of Easter; the prelections respecting Easter; Pentecost, and
+the blessings at the baptismal fonts. He also caused a volume, containing
+the same works, to be transcribed, but in a smaller hand; all of which
+the convent had not before. He made also the tablet for the locutory in
+the chapel of St. Anne, towards the west. After the altar of St. Mary in
+the crypts had been despoiled by thieves of its books and ornaments, to
+the value of ten pounds, he contributed to their restoration."
+
+Thomas was equally liberal in other matters. His whole time and wealth
+were spent in rebuilding and repairing the monastery and adding to its
+comforts and splendor. He had a great veneration for antiquity, and was
+especially anxious to restore those parts which were dilapidated by time;
+the old inscriptions on the monuments and altars he carefully
+re-inscribed. It is recorded that he renewed the inscription on the great
+altar himself, without the aid of a book, _sine libro_; which was deemed
+a mark of profound learning in my lord abbot by his monkish
+surbordinates.
+
+With this I conclude my remarks on Thomas of Marleberg, leaving these
+extracts to speak for him. It is pleasing to find that virtue so great,
+and industry so useful met with its just reward; and that the monks of
+Evesham proved how much they appreciated such talents, by electing him
+their abbot, in 1229, which, for seven years he held with becoming piety
+and wisdom.
+
+The annals of the monastery[309] testify that "In the year of our Lord
+one thousand three hundred and ninety-two, and the fifteenth of the reign
+of King Richard the Second, on the tenth calends of May, died the
+venerable Prior Nicholas Hereford, of pious memory, who, as prior of the
+church of Evesham, lived a devout and religious life for forty years." He
+held that office under three succeeding abbots, and filled it with great
+honor and industry. He was a dear lover of books, and spent vast sums in
+collecting together his private library, amounting to more than 100
+volumes; some of these he wrote with his own hand, but most of them he
+bought _emit_. A list of these books is given in the Harleian Register,
+and many of the volumes are described as containing a number of tracts,
+bound up in one, _cum aliis tractatibus in eodem volumine_. Some of these
+display the industry of his pen, and silently tell us of his Christian
+piety. Among those remarkable for their bulk, it is pleasurable to
+observe a copy of the Holy Scriptures, which was doubtless a comfort to
+the venerable prior in the last days of his green old age; and which
+probably guided him in the even tenor of that _devout and religious
+life_, for which he was so esteemed by the monks of Evesham. He possessed
+also some works of Bernard Augustin, and Boethius, whose Consolation of
+Philosophy few book-collectors of the middle ages were without. To many
+of the books the prices he gave for them, or at which they were then
+valued, are affixed: a "_Summa Prædicantium_" is valued at eight marks,
+and a "_Burley super Politices_" at seven marks. We may suspect monk
+Nicholas of being rather a curious collector in his way, for we find in
+his library some interesting volumes of popular literature. He probably
+found much pleasure in perusing his copy of the marvelous tale of "Beufys
+of Hampton," and the romantic "Mort d'Arthur," both sufficiently
+interesting to relieve the monotonous vigils of the monastery. But I must
+not dwell longer on the monastic bibliophiles of Evesham, other libraries
+and bookworms call for some notice from my pen.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[245] "Rediens autem, ubi Viennam pervenit, eruptitios sibi quos
+      apud amicos commendaverat, recepit." p. 26. _Vit. Abbat. Wear. 12mo.
+      edit. Ware._
+
+[246] The youngest son of Oswy, or Oswis, king of Northumbria, who
+      succeeded his father in the year 670, Alfred his elder brother being
+      for a time set aside on the grounds of his illegitimacy; yet Alfred
+      was a far more enlightened and talented prince than Ecgfrid, and
+      much praised in Saxon annals for his love of learning.
+
+[247] "Magnâ quidem copiâ voluminum sacrorum; sed non minori sicut
+      et prius sanctorum imaginum numere detatus." _Vit. Abb._ p. 38.
+
+[248] "Bibliothecam, quam de Roma nobillissimam copiosessimanque
+      advenaret ad instructionem ecclesiæ necessariam sollicite servari
+      integram, nec per incuriam foedari aut passim dissipari præcepit."
+
+[249] Bede says that he was "learned in Holy Scriptures." Dr. Henry
+      mentions this anecdote in his _Hist. of England_, vol. ii. p. 287,
+      8vo. ed. which has led many secondary compilers into a curious
+      blunder, by mistaking the king here alluded to for Alfred the Great:
+      even Didbin, in his Bibliomania, falls into the same error although
+      he suspected some mistake; he calls him _our immortal Alfrid_, p.
+      219, and seems puzzled to account for the anachronism, but does not
+      take the trouble to enquire into the matter; Heylin's little Help to
+      History would have set him right, and shown that while Alfrede king
+      of Northumberland reigned in 680, Alfred king of England lived more
+      than two centuries afterwards, pp. 25 and 29.
+
+[250] The reader may perhaps smile at this, but it has long been my
+      custom to carry some 8vo. edition of a monkish writer about me, when
+      time or opportunity allowed me to spend a few hours among the ruins
+      of the olden time. I recall with pleasure the recollection of many
+      such rambles, and especially my last--a visit to Netley Abbey. What
+      a sweet spot for contemplation; surrounded by all that is lovely in
+      nature, it drives our old prejudices away, and touches the heart
+      with piety and awe. Often have I explored its ruins and ascended its
+      crumbling parapets, admiring the taste of those Cistercian monks in
+      choosing so quiet, romantic, and choice a spot, and one so well
+      suited to lead man's thoughts to sacred things above.
+
+[251] Bede, _Vit. Abb. Wear._ p. 46.
+
+[252] The fine libraries thus assiduously collected were destroyed
+      by the Danes; that of Jarrow in the year 793, and that of Wearmouth
+      in 867.
+
+[253] Emer, Vita. ap. Mab. Act. SS. tom. iii. 199.
+
+[254] Bede's Eccles. Hist. b. iii. c. xxv.
+
+[255] "Idemque vir Dei quatuor Evangelica et Bibliothecam pluresque
+      libros Novi et Veteris Testamenti cum tabulis tectis auro purissimo
+      et pretiosis gemmis mirabili artificio fabricatis ad honorem Dei."
+      Dugdale's Monast. vol. ii. p. 133.
+
+[256] In 665 he was raised to the episcopacy of all Northumbria.
+
+[257] He was deprived of his bishopric in the year 678, and the see
+      was divided into those of York and Hexham. But for the particulars
+      of his conduct see _Soame's Anglo. Sax. Church_, p. 63, with _Dr.
+      Lingard's Ang. Sax. Church_, vol. i. p. 245; though without accusing
+      either of misrepresentation, I would advise the reader to search (if
+      he has the opportunity), the original authorities for himself, it is
+      a delicate matter for a Roman or an English churchman to handle with
+      impartiality.
+
+[258] His Saxon name was Winfrid, or Wynfrith, but he is generally
+      called Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz.
+
+[259] The mere act of baptizing constitutes "_conversion_" in
+      Jesuitical phraseology; and thousands were so converted in a few
+      days by the followers of Ignatius. A similar process was used in
+      working out the miracles of the Saxon missionary. He was rather too
+      conciliating and too anxious for a "converting miracle," to be over
+      particular; but it was all for the good of the church papal, to whom
+      he was a devoted servant; the church papal therefore could not see
+      the fault.
+
+[260] Ep. iii. p. 7, Ed. 4to.--_Moguntiæ_, 1629.
+
+[261] Ep. iv. p. 8.
+
+[262] Ep. xiii.
+
+[263] Ep. vii. p. 11.
+
+[264] Ep. xiv. See also Ep. xxviii. p. 40.
+
+[265] Ep. viii. p. 12.
+
+[266] Ep. lxxxv. p. 119.
+
+[267] Ep. ix. p. 13.
+
+[268] Ep. xxii. p. 36.
+
+[269] Ep. xcix. p. 135.
+
+[270] Ep. cxi. p. 153.
+
+[271] The accusation is not a groundless one. Foxe, in his _Acts and
+      Monuments_, warmly upbraids him; and Aikins in his _Biog. Dict._,
+      has acted in a similar manner. But the best guides are his
+      letters--they display his faults and his virtues too.
+
+[272] This was in the year 731. _Goodwin_ says he "sate 36 years,
+      and died an. 767." He says, "This man by his owne wisedome, and the
+      authority of his brother, amended greatly the state of his church
+      and see. He procured the archiepiscopall pall to be restored to his
+      churche againe, and erected a famous library at York, which he
+      stored plentifully with an infinite number of excellent bookes." p.
+      441.
+
+[273] De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis.
+
+[274] Alcuini Oper., tom. i. vol. 1, p. 57, translated in Sharpe's
+      William of Malmsbury, p. 73.
+
+[275] Opera, tom. i. p. 305.
+
+[276] In a letter to Gisla, sister to the emperor, he writes "Totius
+      forsitan evangelii Johannis expositionem direxissem vobis, si me non
+      occupasset Domini Regis præceptum in emendatione Veteri Novique
+      Testamenti."--_Opera_, tom. i. vol. 7, p. 591.
+
+[277] Alcuini, ap. Gale, tom. iii. p. 730.
+
+[278] Alcuini, Oper. tom. i. p. 52. Ep. xxxviii. It was written
+      about 796.
+
+[279] He was also very careful in instructing the scribes to
+      punctuate with accuracy, which he deemed of great importance. See
+      Ep. lxxxv. p. 126.
+
+[280] Necrolog. MS. Capituli, Metropolitani Salisburgensis, _apud_
+      Froben, tom. i. p. lxxxi.
+
+[281] Charlemagne founded several libraries;--see _Koeler, Dissert.
+      de Biblio. Caroli Mog._ published in 1727. Eginhart mentions his
+      private collection, and it is thus spoken of in the emperor's will;
+      "Similiter et de libris, quorum magna in bibliotheca sua copiam
+      congregavit: statuit ut ab iis qui eos habere uellet, justo pretio
+      redimeretur, pretin in pauperes erogaretur." Echin. Vita Caroli, p.
+      366, edit. 24mo. 1562. Yet we cannot but regret the dispersion of
+      this imperial library.
+
+[282] Formerly called _Streaneshalch_.
+
+[283] At the age of 66, _Bede_, b. iv. cxxiii.
+
+[284] Bede, b. iv. c. xxiv.
+
+[285] John de Trevisa says, "Cædmon of Whitaby was inspired of the
+      Holy Gost, and made wonder poisyes an Englisch, meiz of al the
+      Storyes of Holy Writ." _MS. Harleian_, 1900, fol. 43, a.
+
+[286] Ibid.
+
+[287] Cottonian Collection marked _Claudius_, B. iv. There is
+      another MS. in the Bodleian (_Junius_ XI.) It was printed by Junius
+      in 1655, in 4to. Sturt has engraved some of the illuminations in his
+      _Saxon Antiquities_, and they were also copied and published by J.
+      Greene, F. A. S., in 1754, in fifteen plates.
+
+[288] It is unfortunately imperfect at the end, and wants folio 32.
+
+[289] Take the following as an instance of the similarity of thought
+      between the two poets. Sharon Turner thus renders a portion of
+      Satan's speech from the Saxon of Cædmon:
+
+         "Yet why should I sue for his grace?
+          Or bend to him with any obedience?
+          I may be a God as he is.
+          Stand by me strong companions."
+                     _Hist. Anglo Sax._ vol. ii. p. 314.
+
+      The idea is with Milton:
+
+         . . . . . . . . To bow to one for grace
+         With suppliant knee, and deify his power,
+         Who from the terror of this arm so late
+         Doubted his empire; that were low indeed!
+         That were an ignominy, and shame beneath
+         This downfall!
+                       _Paradise Lost_, b. i.
+
+[290] He will find it in Charlton's History of Whitby, 4to. 1779, p.
+      113.
+
+[291] Marked MS. N. B. 17.
+
+[292] Wright and Halliwell's Rel. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 180.
+
+[293] It is printed in Hearne's History of Glastonbury, from a MS.
+      in the Bodleian Library, Ed. _Oxon_, 1722, _Appendix_ x. p. 291.
+
+[294] Bibliothecam optimam cum duobus armillis ex auro purissimo
+      fabricatis.--_Heming. Chart_, p. 95.
+
+[295] Thomas's Survey, of Worcester Church, 4to. 1736, p. 46. The
+      Scriptorium of the monastery was situated in the cloisters, and a
+      Bible in Bennet College, Cambridge, was written therein by a scribe
+      named Senatus, as we learn from a note printed in Nasmith's
+      Catalogue, which proves it to have been written during the reign of
+      Henry II. It is a folio MS. on vellum, and a fine specimen of the
+      talent of the expert scribe.--See _Nasmith's Catalogus Libr. MSS._,
+      4to. _Camb._ 1777, p. 31.
+
+[296] Since writing the above, which I gave on the authority of
+      Green (_Hist. of Worc._ vol. i. p. 79), backed with the older one of
+      Thomas (_Survey Ch. Worc._ p. 70), I have had the opportunity of
+      consulting the reference given by them (_Heming, Chart._ p. 262),
+      and was somewhat surprised to find the words "_Et bibliothecam, in
+      duobus partibus divisam_," the foundation of this pleasing anecdote.
+      "_Bibliothecam_," however, was the Latin for a Bible in the middle
+      ages: so that in fact the Lady Godiva gave them a Bible divided into
+      two parts, or volumes.
+
+[297] Chalmer's Hist. of the Colleges of Oxford, p. 458. Wood's
+      Hist. Antiq. of Oxon, lib. ii. p. 48.
+
+[298] Green's Hist. Worc. p. 79.
+
+[299] Sir W. Dugdale's View of the Troubles in England, _Folio_, p.
+      557. We can easily credit the destruction of the organ and painted
+      windows, so obnoxious to Puritan piety; but with regard to the
+      _Bibles_, we may suspect the accuracy of the Royalist writer, col.
+      182.
+
+[300] Symeon Dunelm. Tweyed. Script. x.
+
+[301] Habingdon, MSS. Godwin de Præf, p. 231.
+
+[302] Tindal's Hist. of Evesham, p. 248.
+
+[303] _Ibid._ p. 250.
+
+[304] MS. Harl., No. 3763, p. 180.
+
+[305] MS. Cot. Vesp. b. xxiv. It is printed in Latin in _Nash's
+      Worcestershire_, vol. i. p. 419, and translated in _Tindal's Hist.
+      of Worcs._ p. 24, all of which I have used with _Dugdale's Monast._
+      vol. ii. p. 5.
+
+[306] _MS. Cottonian Augustus II._ No. 11. "Ex his debet invenire
+      præcentor incaustum omnibus scriptoribus monasterii; et Pergamenum
+      ad brevia, et colores ad illuminandum, et necessaria ad legandum
+      libros." See _Dugdale's Monast._ vol. ii. p. 24.
+
+[307] After the elapse of so many years, the research of the
+      antiquarian has brought this desk to light; an account of it will be
+      found in the Archeologia, vol. xvii. p. 278.
+
+[308] "Emit etiam quator evangelia glosata, et Yaiam et Ezechielem
+      glossatos."
+
+[309] Harleian MSS., No. 3763.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+     _Old Glastonbury Abbey.--Its Library.--John of Taunton.--Richard
+     Whiting.--Malmsbury.--Bookish Monks of Gloucester Abbey.--Leofric
+     of Exeter and his private library.--Peter of Blois. Extracts from
+     his letters.--Proved to have been a great classical student,
+     etc., etc._
+
+
+The fame of Glastonbury Abbey will attract the steps of the western
+traveller; and if he possess the spirit of an antiquary, his eye will
+long dwell on those mutilated fragments of monkish architecture. The
+bibliophile will regard it with still greater love; for, in its day, it
+was one of the most eminent repositories of those treasures which it is
+his province to collect. For more than ten hundred years that old fabric
+has stood there, exciting in days of remote antiquity the veneration of
+our pious forefathers, and in modern times the admiration of the curious.
+Pilgrim! tread lightly on that hallowed ground! sacred to the memory of
+the most learned and illustrious of our Saxon ancestry. The bones of
+princes and studious monks closely mingle with the ruins which time has
+caused, and bigotry helped to desecrate. Monkish tradition claims, as the
+founder of Glastonbury Abbey, St. Joseph of Arimathea, who, sixty-three
+years after the incarnation of our Lord, came to spread the truths of the
+Gospel over the island of Britain. Let this be how it may, we leave it
+for more certain data.
+
+After, says a learned antiquary, its having been built by St. Davis,
+Archbishop of Menevia, and then again restored by "twelve well affected
+men in the north;" it was entirely pulled down by Ina, king of the West
+Saxons, who "new builded the abbey of Glastonburie[310] in a fenny place
+out of the way, to the end the monks mought so much the more give their
+mindes to heavenly thinges, and chiefely use the contemplation meete for
+men of such profession. This was the fourth building of that
+monasterie."[311] The king completed his good work by erecting a
+beautiful chapel, garnished with numerous ornaments and utensils of gold
+and silver; and among other costly treasures, William of Malmsbury tells
+us that twenty pounds and sixty marks of gold was used in making a
+coopertoria for a book of the Gospels.[312]
+
+Would that I had it in my power to write the literary history of
+Glastonbury Abbey; to know what the monks of old there transcribed would
+be to acquire the history of learning in those times; for there was
+little worth reading in the literature of the day that was not copied by
+those industrious scribes. But if our materials will not enable us to do
+this, we may catch a glimpse of their well stored shelves through the
+kindness and care of William Britone the Librarian, who compiled a work
+of the highest interest to the biographer. It is no less than a catalogue
+of the books contained in the common library of the abbey in the year one
+thousand two hundred and forty-eight. Four hundred choice volumes
+comprise this fine collection;[313] and will not the reader be surprised
+to find among them a selection of the classics, with the chronicles,
+poetry, and romantic productions of the middle ages, besides an abundant
+store of the theological writings of the primitive Church. But I have not
+transcribed a large proportion of this list, as the extracts given from
+other monastic catalogues may serve to convey an idea of their nature;
+but I cannot allow one circumstance connected with this old document to
+pass without remark. I would draw the reader's attention to the fine
+bibles which commence the list, and which prove that the monks of
+Glastonbury Abbey were fond and devoted students of the Bible. It begins
+with--
+
+    Bibliotheca una in duobus voluminibus.
+    Alia Bibliotheca integra vetusta, set legibilis.
+    Bibliotheca integræ minoris litteræ.
+    Dimidia pars Bibliothecæ incipiens à Psalterio, vetusta.
+    Bibliotheca magna versificata.
+    Alia versificata in duobus voluminibus.
+    Bibliotheca tres versificata.[314]
+
+But besides these, the library contained numerous detached books and many
+copies of the Gospels, an ample collection of the fathers, and the
+controversal writings of the middle ages; and among many others, the
+following classics--
+
+    Aristotle.
+    Livy.
+    Orosius.
+    Sallust.
+    Donatus.
+    Sedulus.
+    Virgil's Æneid.
+    Virgil's Georgics.
+    Virgil's Bucolics.
+    Æsop.
+    Tully.
+    Boethius.
+    Plato.
+    Isagoge of Porphyry.
+    Prudentius.
+    Fortuanus.
+    Persius.
+    Pompeius.
+    Isidore.
+    Smaragdius.
+    Marcianus.
+    Horace.
+    Priscian.
+    Prosper.
+    Aratores.
+    Claudian.
+    Juvenal.
+    Cornutus.
+
+I must not omit to mention that John de Taunton, a monk and an
+enthusiastic _amator librorum_, and who was elected abbot in the year
+1271, collected forty choice volumes, and gave them to the library,
+_dedit librario_, of the abbey; no mean gift, I ween, in the thirteenth
+century. They included--
+
+    Questions on the Old and New Law.
+    St. Augustine upon Genesis.
+    Ecclesiastical Dogmas.
+    St. Bernard's Enchiridion.
+    St. Bernard's Flowers.
+    Books of Wisdom, with a Gloss.
+    Postil's upon Jeremiah and the lesser Prophets.
+    Concordances to the Bible.
+
+    Postil's of Albertus upon Matthew, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah
+            and others, in one volume.
+    Postil's upon Mark.
+    Postil's upon John, with a Discourse on the Epistles
+            throughout the year.
+    Brother Thomas Old and New Gloss.
+    Morabilius on the Gospels and Epistles.
+    St. Augustine on the Trinity.
+    Epistles of Paul glossed.
+    St. Augustine's City of God.
+    Kylwardesby upon the Letter of the Sentences.
+    Questions concerning Crimes.
+    Perfection of the Spiritual Life.
+    Brother Thomas' Sum of Divinity, in four volumes.
+    Decrees and Decretals.
+    A Book of Perspective.
+    Distinctions of Maurice.
+    Books of Natural History, in two volumes.
+    Book on the Properties of Things.[315]
+
+Subsequent to this, in the time of one book-loving abbot, an addition of
+forty-nine volumes was made to the collection by his munificence and the
+diligence of his scribes; and time has allowed the modern bibliophile to
+gaze on a catalogue of these treasures. I wish the monkish annalist had
+recorded the life of this early bibliomaniac, but unfortunately we know
+little of him. But they were no mean nor paltry volumes that he
+transcribed. It is with pleasure I see the catalogue commenced by a copy
+of the Holy Scriptures; and the many commentaries upon them by the
+fathers of the church enumerated after it, prove my Lord Abbot to have
+been a diligent student of the Bible. Nor did he seek God alone in his
+written word; but wisely understood that his Creator spoke to him also
+by visible works; and probably loved to observe the great wisdom and
+design of his God in the animated world; for a Pliny's Natural History
+stands conspicuous on the list, as the reader will perceive.
+
+    THE BIBLE.
+    Pliny's Natural History.
+    Cassiodorus upon the Psalms.
+    Three great Missals.
+    Two Reading Books.
+    A Breviary for the Infirmary.
+    Jerome upon Jeremiah and Isaiah.
+    Origen upon the Old Testament.
+    Origen's Homilies.
+    Origen upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans.
+    Jerome upon the Epistles to the Galatians, to Ephesians, to
+            Titus, and to Philemon.
+    Lives of the Fathers.
+    Collations of the Fathers.
+    Breviary for the Hospital.
+    An Antiphon.
+    Pars una Moralium.
+    Cyprian's Works.
+    Register.
+    Liber dictus Paradisus.
+    Jerome against Jovinian.
+    Ambrose against Novatian.
+    Seven Volumes of the Passions of the Saints for the circle
+            of the whole year.
+    Lives of the Cæsars.
+    Acts of the Britons.
+    Acts of the English.
+    Acts of the Franks.
+    Pascasius.
+    Radbert on the Body and Blood of the Lord.
+    Book of the Abbot of Clarevalle _de Amando Deo_.
+    Hugo de S. Victore de duodecim gradibus Humilitatis et de Oratione.
+    Physiomania Lapedarum et Liber Petri Alsinii in uno volumine.
+    Rhetoric, two volumes.
+    Quintilian _de Causes_, in one volume.
+    Augustine upon the Lord's Prayer and upon the Psalm
+            _Miserero mei Deus_.
+    A Benedictional.
+    Decreta Cainotensis Episcopi.
+    Jerome upon the Twelve Prophets, and upon the Lamentations of Jeremiah.
+    Augustine upon the Trinity.
+    Augustine upon Genesis.
+    Isidore's Etymology.
+    Paterius.
+    Augustine on the Words of our Lord.
+    Hugo on the Sacraments.
+    Cassinus on the Incarnation of our Lord.
+    Anselm's _Cui Deus Homo_.[316]
+
+The reader, I think, will allow that the catalogue enumerates but little
+unsuitable for a christian's study; he may not admire the principles
+contained in some of them, or the superstition with which many of them
+are loaded; but after all there were but few volumes among them from
+which a Bible reading monk might not have gleaned something good and
+profitable. These books were transcribed about the end of the thirteenth
+century, after the catalogue of the monastic library mentioned above was
+compiled.
+
+Walter Taunton, elected in the year 1322, gave to the library several
+volumes; and his successor, Adam Sodbury,[317] elected in the same year,
+increased it with a copy of the whole Bible,[318] a Scholastic history,
+Lives of Saints, a work on the Properties of Things, two costly Psalters,
+and a most beautifully bound Benedictional.
+
+But doubtless many a bookworm nameless in the page of history, dwelled
+within those walls apart from worldly solicitude and strife; relieving
+what would otherwise have been an insupportable monotony, with sweet
+converse, with books, or the avocations of a scribe.
+
+Well, years rolled on, and this fair sanctuary remained in all its
+beauty, encouraging the trembling christian, and fostering with a
+mother's care the literature and learning of the time. Thus it stood till
+that period, so dark and unpropitious for monkish ascendency, when
+Protestant fury ran wild, and destruction thundered upon the heads of
+those poor old monks! A sad and cruel revenge for enlightened minds to
+wreck on mistaken piety and superstitious zeal. How widely was the fine
+library scattered then. Even a few years after its dissolution, when
+Leland spent some days exploring the book treasures reposing there, it
+had been broken up, and many of them lost; yet still it must have been a
+noble library, for he tells us that it was "scarcely equalled in all
+Britain;" and adds, in the spirit of a true bibliomaniac, that he no
+sooner passed the threshold than the very sight of so many sacred remains
+of antiquity struck him with awe and astonishment. The reader will
+naturally wish that he had given us a list of what he found there; but he
+merely enumerates a selection of thirty-nine, among which we find a
+Grammatica Eriticis, formerly belonging to Saint Dunstan; a life of Saint
+Wilfrid; a Saxon version of Orosius, and the writings of William of
+Malmsbury.[319] The antiquary will now search in vain for any vestige of
+the abbey library; even the spot on which it stood is unknown to the
+curious.
+
+No christian, let his creed be what it may, who has learnt from his
+master the principles of charity and love, will refuse a tear to the
+memory of Richard Whiting, the last of Glastonbury's abbots. Poor old
+man! Surely those white locks and tottering limbs ought to have melted a
+Christian heart; but what charity or love dwelt within the soul of that
+rapacious monarch? Too old to relinquish his long cherished
+superstitions; too firm to renounce his religious principles, Whiting
+offered a firm opposition to the reformation. The fury of the tyrant
+Henry was aroused, and that grey headed monk was condemned to a barbarous
+death. As a protestant I blush to write it, yet so it was; after a hasty
+trial, if trial it can be called, he was dragged on a hurdle to a common
+gallows erected on Torr Hill, and there, in the face of a brutal mob,
+with two of his companion monks, was he hung! Protestant zeal stopped not
+here, for when life had fled they cut his body down, and dividing it into
+quarters, sent one to each of the four principal towns; and as a last
+indignity to that mutilated clay, stuck his head on the gate of the old
+abbey, over which he had presided with judicious care in the last days
+of his troubled life. It was Whiting's wish to bid adieu in person to his
+monastery, in which in more prosperous times he had spent many a quiet
+hour; it is said that even this, the dying prayer of that poor old man,
+they refused to grant.[320]
+
+On viewing the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, so mournful to look upon, yet
+so splendid in its decay, we cannot help exclaiming with Michael
+Dayton,--
+
+     "On whom for this sad waste, should justice lay the crime."
+
+Whilst in the west we cannot pass unnoticed the monastery of Malmsbury,
+one of the largest in England, and which possessed at one time an
+extensive and valuable library; but it was sadly ransacked at the
+Reformation, and its vellum treasures sold to the bakers to heat their
+stoves, or applied to the vilest use; not even a catalogue was preserved
+to tell the curious of a more enlightened age, what books the old monks
+read there; but perhaps, and the blood runs cold as the thought arises in
+the mind, a perfect Livy was among them, for a rare _amator librorum_
+belonging to this monastery, quotes one of the lost Decades.[321] I
+allude to William of Malmsbury, one of the most enthusiastic
+bibliomaniacs of his age. From his youth he dwelt within the abbey walls,
+and received his education there. His constant study and indefatigable
+industry in collecting and perusing books, was only equalled by his
+prudence and by his talents; he soon rose in the estimation of his fellow
+monks, who appointed him their librarian, and ultimately offered him the
+abbacy, which he refused with Christian humility, fearing too, lest its
+contingent duties would debar him from a full enjoyment of his favorite
+avocation; but of his book passion let William of Malmsbury speak for
+himself: "A long period has elapsed since, as well through the care of my
+parents as my own industry, I became familiar with books. This pleasure
+possessed me from my childhood; this source of delight has grown with my
+years; indeed, I was so instructed by my father, that had I turned aside
+to other pursuits, I should have considered it as jeopardy to my soul,
+and discredit to my character. Wherefore, mindful of the adage, 'covet
+what is necessary,' I constrained my early age to desire eagerly that
+which it was disgraceful not to possess. I gave indeed my attention to
+various branches of literature, but in different degrees. Logic, for
+instance, which gives arms to eloquence, I contented myself with barely
+learning: medicine, which ministers to the health of the body, I studied
+with somewhat more attention. But now, having scrupulously examined the
+various branches of ethics, I bow down to its majesty, because it
+spontaneously inverts itself to those who study it, and directs their
+minds to moral practice, history more especially; which by a certain
+agreeable recapitulation of past events, excites its readers by example,
+to frame their lives to the pursuit of good or to aversion from evil.
+When, therefore, at my own expense I had procured some historians of
+foreign nations, I proceeded during my domestic leisure, to inquire if
+anything concerning our own country could be found worthy of handing down
+to posterity. Hence it arose, that not content with the writings of
+ancient times, I began myself to compose, not indeed to display my
+learning, which is comparatively nothing, but to bring to light events
+lying concealed in the confused mass of antiquity. In consequence,
+rejecting vague opinions, I have studiously sought for chronicles far and
+near, though I confess I have scarcely profited anything by this
+industry; for perusing them all I still remained poor in information,
+though I ceased not my researches as long as I could find anything to
+read."[322]
+
+Having read this passage, I think my readers will admit that William of
+Malmsbury well deserves a place among the bibliomaniacs of the middle
+ages. As an historian his merit is too generally known and acknowledged
+to require an elucidation here. He combines in most cases a strict
+attention to fact, with the rare attributes of philosophic reflection,
+and sometimes the bloom of eloquence. But simplicity of narrative
+constitute the greatest and sometimes the only charm in the composition
+of the monkish chroniclers. William of Malmsbury aimed at a more
+ambitious style, and attempted to adorn, as he admits himself, his
+English history with Roman art; this he does sometimes with tolerable
+elegance, but too often at the cost of necessary detail. Yet still we
+must place him at the head of the middle age historians, for he was
+diligent and critical, though perhaps not always impartial; and in
+matters connected with Romish doctrine, his testimony is not always to be
+relied upon without additional authority; his account of those who held
+opinions somewhat adverse to the orthodoxy of Rome is often equivocal; we
+may even suspect him of interpolating their writings, at least of Alfric,
+whose homilies had excited the fears of the Norman ecclesiastics. His
+works were compiled from many sources now unknown; and from the works of
+Bede, the Saxon chronicles, and Florilegus, he occasionally transcribes
+with little alteration.
+
+But is it not distressing to find that this talented author, so superior
+in other respects to the crude compilers of monkish history, cannot rise
+above the superstition of the age? Is it not deplorable that a mind so
+gifted could rely with fanatical zeal upon the verity of all those foul
+lies of Rome called "Holy" miracles; or that he could conceive how God
+would vouchsafe to make his saints ridiculous in the eyes of man, by such
+gross absurdities as tradition records, but which Rome deemed worthy of
+canonization; but it was then, as now, so difficult to conquer the
+prejudices of early teaching. With all our philosophy and our science,
+great men cannot do it now; even so in the days of old; they were brought
+up in the midst of superstition; sucked it as it were from their mother's
+breast, and fondly cradled in its belief; and as soon as the infant mind
+could think, parental piety dedicated it to God; not, however, as a light
+to shine before men, but as a candle under a bushel; for to serve God and
+to serve monachism were synonymous expressions in those days.
+
+The west of England was honored by many a monkish bibliophile in the
+middle ages. The annals of Gloucester abbey record the names of several.
+Prior Peter, who became abbot in the year 1104, is said to have enclosed
+the monastery with a stone wall, and greatly enriched it with many books
+"_copia librorum_."[323] A few years after (A. D. 1113), Godeman the
+Prior was made abbot, and the Saxon Chronicle records that during his
+time the tower was set on fire by lightning and the whole monastery was
+burnt; so that all the valuable things therein were destroyed except a
+"few books and three priest's mass-hackles."[324] Abbot Gamage gave many
+books to the library in the year 1306;[325] and Richard de Stowe, during
+the same century, gave the monks a small collection in nine or ten
+volumes; a list of them is preserved in an old manuscript.[326]
+
+But earlier than this in the eleventh century, a bishop of Exeter stands
+remarkable as an _amator librorum_. Leofric, the last bishop of Crediton,
+and "sometime lord chancellor of England,"[327] received permission from
+Edward the Confessor to translate the seat of his diocese to the city of
+Exeter in the year 1050. "He was brought up and studied in
+_Lotharingos_," says William of Malmsbury,[328] and he manifested his
+learning and fondness for study by collecting books. Of the nature of his
+collections we are enabled to judge by the volumes he gave to the church
+of Exeter. The glimpse thus obtained lead us to consider him a curious
+book-collector; and it is so interesting to look upon a catalogue of a
+bishop's private library in that early time, and to behold his tastes and
+his pursuits reflected and mirrored forth therein, that I am sure the
+reader will be gratified by its perusal.[329] After enumerating some
+broad lands and a glittering array of sumptuous ornaments, he is recorded
+to have given to the church "Two complete mass books; 1 Collectarium; 2
+Books of Epistles (_Pistel Bec_[330]); 2 complete _Sang Bec_; 1 Book of
+_night sang_; 1 Book _unus liber_, a Breviary or Tropery; 2 Psalters; 3
+Psalters according to the Roman copies; 2 Antiphoners; A precious book of
+blessings; 3 others; 1 Book of Christ _in English_; 2 Summer Reading bec;
+1 Winter ditto; Rules and Canons; 1 Martyrology; 1 Canons in Latin; 1
+Confessional _in English_; 1 Book of Homilies and Hymns for Winter and
+Summer; 1 Boethius on the Consolation of Philosophy, _in English_ (King
+Alfred's translation); 1 Great Book of Poetry in English; 1 Capitular; 1
+Book of very ancient nocturnal _sangs_; 1 Pistel bec; 2 Ancient ræding
+bec; 1 for the use of the priest; also the following books in Latin,
+viz., 1 Pastoral of Gregory; 1 Dialogues of Gregory; 1 Book of the Four
+Prophets; 1 Boethius Consolation of Philosophy; 1 Book of the offices of
+Amalar; 1 Isagoge of Porphyry; 1 Passional; 1 book of Prosper; 1 book of
+Prudentius the Martyr; 1 Prudentius; 1 Prudentius (_de Mrib._); 1 other
+book; 1 Ezechael the Prophet; 1 Isaiah the Prophet; 1 Song of Songs; 1
+Isidore Etymology; 1 Isidore on the New and Old Testament; 1 Lives of the
+Apostles; 1 Works of Bede; 1 Bede on the Apocalypse; 1 Bede's Exposition
+on the Seven Canonical Epistles; 1 book of Isidore on the Miracles of
+Christ; 1 book of Orosius; 1 book of Machabees; 1 book of Persius; 1
+Sedulus; 1 Avator; 1 book of Statius with a gloss."
+
+Such were the books forming a part of the private library of a bishop of
+Exeter in the year of grace 1073. Few indeed when compared with the vast
+multitudes assembled and amassed together in the ages of printed
+literature. But these sixty or seventy volumes, collected in those times
+of dearth, and each produced by the tedious process of the pen, were of
+an excessive value, and mark their owner as distinctly an _amator
+librorum_, as the enormous piles heaped together in modern times would do
+a Magliabechi. Nor was Leofric an ordinary collector; he loved to
+preserve the idiomatic poetry of those old Saxon days; his ancient _sang
+bec_, or song books, would now be deemed a curious and precious relic of
+Saxon literature. One of these has fortunately escaped the ravages of
+time and the fate of war. "The great boc of English Poetry" is still
+preserved at Exeter--one of the finest relics of Anglo Saxon poetry
+extant. Mark too those early translations which we cannot but regard with
+infinite pleasure, and which satisfactorily prove that the Gospels and
+Church Service was at least partly read and sung in the Saxon church in
+the common language of the people; let the Roman Catholics say what they
+will.[331] But without saying much of his church books, we cannot but be
+pleased to find the Christian Boethius in his library with Bede, Gregory,
+Isidore, Prosper, Orosius, Prudentius, Sedulus, Persius and Statius;
+these are authors which retrieve the studies of Leofric from the charge
+of mere monastic lore.
+
+But good books about this time were beginning to be sought after with
+avidity. The Cluniac monks, who were introduced into England about the
+year 1077, more than one hundred and sixty years after their foundation,
+gave a powerful impetus to monastic learning; which received additional
+force by the enlightened efforts of the Cistercians, instituted in 1098,
+and spread into Britain about the year 1128. These two great branches of
+the Benedictine order, by their great love of learning, and by their zeal
+in collecting books, effected a great change in the monkish literature of
+England. "They were not only curious and attentive in forming numerous
+libraries, but with indefatigable assiduity transcribed the volumes of
+the ancients, _l'assiduité infatigable à transcrire les livres des
+anciens_, say the Benedictines of St. Maur,"[332] who perhaps however may
+be suspected of regarding their ancient brethren in rather too favorable
+a light. But certain it is, that the state of literature became much
+improved, and the many celebrated scholars who flourished in the twelfth
+century spread a taste for reading far and wide, and by their example
+caused the monks to look more eagerly after books. Peter of Blois,
+Archdeacon of London, is one of the most pleasing instances of this
+period, and his writings have even now a freshness and vivacity about
+them which surprise as they interest the reader. This illustrious
+student, and truly worthy man, was born at Blois in the early part of the
+twelfth century. His parents, who were wealthy and noble, were desirous
+of bestowing upon their son an education befitting their own rank; for
+this purpose he was sent to Paris to receive instruction in the general
+branches of scholastic knowledge. He paid particular attention to poetry,
+and studied rhetoric with still greater ardor.[333] But being designed
+for the bar, he left Paris for Bologna, there to study civil law; and
+succeeded in mastering all the dry technicalities of legal science. He
+then returned to Paris to study scholastic divinity,[334] in which he
+became eminently proficient, and was ever excessively fond. He remained
+at Paris studying deeply himself, and instructing others for many years.
+About the year 1167 he went with Stephen, Count de Perche, into Sicily,
+and was appointed tutor to the young King William II., made keeper of his
+private seal, and for two years conducted his education.[335] Soon after
+leaving Sicily, he was invited by Henry II. into England,[336] and made
+Archdeacon of Bath. It was during the time he held that office that he
+wrote most of these letters, from which we obtain a knowledge of the
+above facts, and which he collected together at the particular desire of
+King Henry; who ever regarded him with the utmost kindness, and bestowed
+upon him his lasting friendship. I know not a more interesting or a more
+historically valuable volume than these epistolary collections of
+Archdeacon Peter. They seem to bring those old times before us, to seat
+us by the fire-sides of our Norman forefathers, and in a pleasant, quiet
+manner enter into a gossip on the passing events of the day; and being
+written by a student and an _amator librorum_, they moreover unfold to us
+the state of learning among the ecclesiastics at least of the twelfth
+century; and if we were to take our worthy archdeacon as a specimen, they
+possessed a far better taste for these matters than we usually give them
+credit for. Peter of Blois was no ordinary man; a churchman, he was free
+from the prejudices of churchmen--a visitant of courts and the associate
+of royalty, he was yet free from the sycophancy of a courtier--and when
+he saw pride and ungodliness in the church, or in high places, he feared
+not to use his pen in stern reproof at these abominations. It is both
+curious and extraordinary, when we bear in mind the prejudices of the
+age, to find him writing to a bishop upon the looseness of his conduct,
+and reproving him for his inattention to the affairs of his diocese, and
+upbraiding another for displaying an unseemly fondness for hunting,[337]
+and other sports of the field; which he says is so disreputable to one of
+his holy calling, and quotes an instance of Pope Nicholas suspending and
+excluding from the church Bishop Lanfred for a similar offence; which he
+considers even more disgraceful in Walter, Lord Bishop of Winchester, to
+whom he is writing, on account of his advanced age; he being at that time
+eighty years old. We are constantly reminded in reading his letters that
+we have those of an indefatigable student before us; almost every page
+bears some allusion to his books or to his studies, and prove how well
+and deeply read he was in Latin literature; not merely the theological
+writings of the church, but the classics also. In one of his letters he
+speaks of his own studies, and tells us that when he learnt the art of
+versification and correct style, he did not spend his time on legends and
+fables, but took his models from Livy, Quintus Curtius, Trogus Pompeius,
+Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, and other classics; in the same letter he
+gives some directions to the Archdeacon of Nantes, who had undertaken the
+education of his nephews, as to the manner of their study. He had
+received from the archdeacon a flattering account of the progress made by
+one of them named William, to which he thus replies--"You speak," says
+he, "of William--his great penetration and ingenious disposition, who,
+without grammar or the authors of science, which are both so desirable,
+has mastered the subtilties of logic, so as to be esteemed a famous
+logician, as I learn by your letter. But this is not the foundation of a
+correct knowledge--these subtilties which you so highly extol, are
+manifoldly pernicious, as Seneca truly affirms,--_Odibilius nihil est
+subtilitate ubi est soloe subtilitas_. What indeed is the use of these
+things in which you say he spends his days--either at home, in the army,
+at the bar, in the cloister, in the church, in the court, or indeed in
+any position whatever, except, I suppose, the schools?" Seneca says, in
+writing to Lucalius, "_Quid est, inquit acutius arista et in quo est
+utiles!_"[338] In many letters we find him quoting the classics with the
+greatest ease, and the most appropriate application to his subject; in
+one he refers to Ovid, Persius, and Seneca,[339] and in others, when
+writing in a most interesting and amusing manner of poetic fame and
+literary study, he extracts from Terence, Ovid, Juvenal, Horace, Plato,
+Cicero, Valerius Maximus, Seneca, etc.[340] In another, besides a
+constant use of Scripture, which proves how deeply read too he was in
+Holy Writ, he quotes with amazing prodigality from Juvenal, Frontius,
+Vigetius, Dio, Virgil, Ovid, Justin, Horace, and Plutarch.[341] Indeed,
+Horace was a great favorite with the archdeacon, who often applied some
+of his finest sentences to illustrate his familiar chat and epistolary
+disquisitions.[342] It is worth noticing that in one he quotes the Roman
+history of Sallust, in six books, which is now lost, save a few
+fragments; the passage relates to Pompey the Great.[343] We can scarcely
+refrain from a smile at the eagerness of Archdeacon Peter in persuading
+his friends to relinquish the too enticing study of frivolous plays,
+which he says can be of no service to the interest of the soul;[344] and
+then, forgetting this admonition, sending for tragedies and comedies
+himself, that he might get them transcribed.[345] This puts one in mind
+of a certain modern divine, whose conduct not agreeing with his doctrine,
+told his hearers not to do as he did, but as he told them. It appears
+also equally ludicrous to find him upbraiding a monk, named Peter of
+Blois, for studying the pagan authors: "the foolish old fables of
+Hercules and Jove," their lies and philosophy;[346] when, as we have
+seen, he read them so ravenously, and so greatly borrowed from them
+himself. But then we must bear in mind that the archdeacon had also well
+stored his mind with Scripture, and certainly always deemed _that_ the
+first and most important of all his studies, which was perhaps not the
+case with the monk to whom he writes. In some of his letters we have
+pleasing pictures of the old times presented to us, and it is astonishing
+how homely and natural they read, after the elapse of 700 years. In more
+than one he launches out in strong invectives against the lawyers, who in
+all ages seems to have borne the indignation of mankind; Peter accuses
+them of selling their knowledge for hire, to the direct perversion of all
+justice; of favoring the rich and oppressing the poor.[347] He reproves
+Reginald, Archdeacon of Salisbury, for occupying his time with falconry,
+instead of attending to his clerical duties; and in another, a most
+interesting letter, he gives a description of King Henry II., whose
+character he extols in panegyric terms, and proves how much superior he
+was in learning to William II. of Sicily. He says that "Henry, as often
+as he could breathe from his care and solicitudes, he was occupied in
+secret reading; or at other times joined by a body of clergy, would try
+to solve some elaborate question _quæstiones laborat evolvere_."[348]
+Frequently we find him writing about books, begging transcripts, eagerly
+purchasing them; and in one of his letters to Alexander, Abbot of
+Jenniege, _Gemiticensem_, he writes, apologizing, and begging his
+forgiveness for not having fulfilled his promise in returning a book
+which he had borrowed from his library, and begs that his friend will yet
+allow him to retain it some days longer.[349] The last days of a
+scholar's life are not always remarkable, and we know nothing of those of
+Archdeacon Peter; for after the death of Henry II., his intellectual
+worth found no royal mind to appreciate it. The lion-hearted Richard
+thought more of the battle axe and crusading than the encouragement of
+literature or science; and Peter, like many other students, grown old in
+their studies, was left in his age to wander among his books, unmolested
+and uncared for. With the friendship of a few clerical associates, and
+the archdeaconry of London, which by the bye was totally
+unproductive,[350] he died, and for many ages was forgotten. But a
+student's worth can never perish; a time is certain to arrive when his
+erudition will receive its due reward of human praise. We now, after a
+slumber of many hundred years, begin to appreciate his value, and to
+entertain a hearty friendship and esteem for the venerable Archdeacon
+Peter.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[310] See Speed's Chron. p. 228. Samme's Antiq. p. 578.
+
+[311] Stowe's Annales, 4to. 1605, p. 97. See also Hearne's Hist.
+      Glastonbury.
+
+[312] _Will. Malm. ap. Gale Script._ 311.--Coopertoria Librorum
+      Evangelii. For many other instances of binding books in gold, and
+      sometimes with costly gems, I refer the reader to _Du Cange_
+      verb-Capsæ, and to _Mr. Maitland's Dark Ages_.
+
+[313] Warton says, that this library was at the time the "_richest
+      in England_." In this, however, he was mistaken.
+
+[314] John of Glast. p. 423.
+
+[315] John of Glastonbury Edt., Hearne, Oxon, 1726, p. 451. Steven's
+      Additions to Dugdale, vol. i. p. 447.
+
+[316] Printed in _Tanner's Notitia Monastica_, 8vo. Edit. 1695, p.
+      75, and in _Hearne's History of Glastonbury_, p. 141; but both these
+      works are scarce, and I have thought it worth reprinting; the reader
+      will perceive that I have given some of the items in English--the
+      original of course is in Latin.
+
+[317] John of Glas. p. 262.
+
+[318] Librario dedit. bibliam preciosam.--_John of Glast._ p. 262.
+
+[319] Among them was a "Dictionarum Latine et Saxonicum."--_Leland
+      Collect._ iii. p. 153.
+
+[320] Leland, in his MSS. preserved in the Bodleian Library, calls
+      Whiting "_Homo sane candidissimus et amicus meus singularis_," but
+      he afterwards scored the line with his pen. See _Arch Bodl._ A.
+      Dugdale Monast. vol. i. p. 6.
+
+[321] See Hume's Hist. Engl.; Moffat's Hist. of Malmsbury, p. 223,
+      and Will. Malms. Novellæ Hist. lib. ii.; Sharpe's translation, p.
+      576.
+
+[322] William of Malmsbury, translated by the Rev. J. Sharpe, 4to.
+      _Lond._ 1815, p. 107.
+
+[323] MS. _Cottonian Domit._ A. viii. fol. 128 b.
+
+[324] Saxon Chron. by Ingram, p. 343.
+
+[325] Dugdale's _Monastica_, vol. i. p. 534. Leland gives a list of
+      the books he found there, but they only number about 20 volumes. See
+      _Collect._ vol. iv. p. 159.
+
+[326] MS. Harleian, No. 627, fol. 8 a. "Liber Geneseos versificatus"
+      probably Cædmon's Paraphrase was among them, and Boethius's
+      Consolation of Philosophy.
+
+[327] Godwin Cat. of Bishops, p. 317.
+
+[328] Will. of Malms. de Gestis Pont. Savile Script. fol. 1601, p.
+      256, _apud Lotharingos altus et doctus_.
+
+[329] I use a transcript of the Exeter MS. collated by Sir F.
+      Madden. _Additional MSS._ No. 9067. It is printed in Latin and Saxon
+      from a old MS. In the Bodl. Auct. D. 2. 16. fol. 1 a; in Dugdale's
+      Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 257, which varies a little from the Exeter
+      transcript.
+
+[330] Bec is the plural of boc, a book.
+
+[331] See _Dr. Lingard's Hist. Anglo Sax. Church_, vol. i. p. 307,
+      who cannot deny this entirely; see also _Lappenberg Hist. Eng._ vol.
+      i. p. 202, who says that the mass was read partially in the Saxon
+      tongue. _Hallam_ in his _Supplemental Notes_, p. 408, has a good
+      note on the subject.
+
+[332] Hist. Litt. de la France, ix. p. 142.
+
+[333] Pet. Blesensis Opera, 4to. Mogunt. 1600. Ep. lxxxix.
+
+[334] Ep. xxvi.
+
+[335] Ep. lxvi.
+
+[336] Ep. cxxvii.
+
+[337] Ep. lvi. Yet we find that Charlemagne, in the year 795,
+      granted the monks of the monastery of St. Bertin, in the time of
+      Abbot Odlando, the privilege of hunting in his forests for the
+      purpose of procuring leather to bind their books. "Odlando Abbate
+      hujus loci abbas nonus, in omni bonitate suo prædecessori Hardrado
+      coæqualis anno primo sui regiminis impetravit à rege Carolo
+      privilegium venandi in silvis nostris et aliis ubicumque
+      constitutis, ad volumina librorum tegænda, et manicas et zonas
+      habendas. Salvis forestis regiis, quod sic incipit. Carolus Dei
+      gratia Rex Francorum et Longobardorum ac patricius Romanorum, etc.,
+      data Septimo Kal. Aprilis, anno xxvi. regni nostri." Martene
+      Thasaurus Nov. Anecdotorum iii. 498. _Warton_ mentions a similar
+      instance of a grant to the monks of St. Sithin, _Dissert._ ii.
+      _prefixed to Hist. of Eng. Poetry_, but he quotes it with some sad
+      misrepresentations, and refers to _Mabillon De re Diplomatica_, 611.
+      Mr. Maitland, in his _Dark Ages_, has shown the absurdity of
+      Warton's inferences from the fact, and proved that it was to the
+      servants, or _eorum homines_, that Charlemagne granted this
+      uncanonical privilege, p. 216. But I find no such restriction in the
+      case I have quoted above. Probably, however, it was thought needless
+      to express what might be inferred, or to caution against a practice
+      so uncongenial with the christian duties of a monk.
+
+[338] Ep. ci. p. 184. He afterwards quotes Livy, Tacitus, and many
+      others.
+
+[339] Ep. xiv. He was fond of Quintus Curtius, and often read his
+      history with much pleasure. Ep. ci. p. 184.
+
+[340] Ep. lxxvii. p. 81.
+
+[341] Ep. xciv.
+
+[342] Ep. xcii. and also lxxii. which is redundant with quotations
+      from the poets.
+
+[343] Ep. xciv. p. 170.
+
+[344] Ep. lvii.
+
+[345] Ep. xii.
+
+[346] Ep. lxxvi. p. 132.
+
+[347] Ep. cxl. p. 253.
+
+[348] Ep. lxvi. p. 115.
+
+[349] Ep. xxxvii. p. 68.
+
+[350] Ep. cli.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     _Winchester famous for its Scribes.--Ethelwold and
+     Godemann.--Anecdotes.--Library of the Monastery of Reading.--The
+     Bible.--Library of Depying Priory.--Effects of Gospel
+     Reading.--Catalogue of Ramsey Library.--Hebrew MSS.--Fine
+     Classics, etc.--St. Edmund's Bury.--Church of Ely.--Canute, etc._
+
+
+In the olden time the monks of Winchester[351] were renowned for their
+calligraphic and pictorial art. The choice book collectors of the day
+sought anxiously for volumes produced by these ingenious scribes, and
+paid extravagant prices for them. A superb specimen of their skill was
+executed for Bishop Ethelwold; that enlightened and benevolent prelate
+was a great patron of art and literature, and himself a grammaticus and
+poet of no mean pretensions. He did more than any other of his time to
+restore the architectural beauties which were damaged or destroyed by the
+fire and sword of the Danish invaders. His love of these undertakings,
+his industry in carrying them out, and the great talent he displayed in
+their restoration, is truly wonderful to observe. He is called by
+Wolstan, his biographer, "a great builder of churches, and divers other
+works."[352] He was fond of learning, and very liberal in diffusing the
+knowledge which he acquired; and used to instruct the young by reading to
+them the Latin authors, translated into the Saxon tongue. "He wrote a
+Saxion version of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which was so much admired,
+and so pleased King Edgar, that he granted to him the manor of
+Sudborn,[353] as a token of his approbation."
+
+Among a number of donations which he bequeathed to this monastery, twenty
+volumes are enumerated, embracing some writings of Bede and Isidore.[354]
+As a proof of his bibliomanical propensities, I refer the reader to the
+celebrated Benedictional of the Duke of Devonshire; that rich gem, with
+its resplendent illuminations, place it beyond the shadow of a doubt, and
+prove Ethelwold to have been an _amator librorum_ of consummate taste.
+This fine specimen of Saxon ingenuity is the production of a cloistered
+monk of Winchester, named Godemann, who transcribed it at the bishop's
+special desire, as we learn, from the following lines:--
+
+    "_Presentem Biblum iusset prescribere Presul.
+    Wintoniæ Dus que fecerat esse Patronum
+    Magnus Æthelwoldus._"[355]
+
+Godemann, the scribe, entreats the prayers of his readers, and wishes
+"all who gaze on this book to ever pray that after the end of the flesh I
+may inherit health in heaven: this is the fervent prayer of the scribe,
+the humble Godemann." This talented illuminator was chaplain to
+Ethelwold, and afterwards abbot of Thorney.[356] The choice Benedictional
+in the public library of Rouen is also ascribed to his elegant pen, and
+adds additional lustre of his artistic fame.[357]
+
+Most readers have heard of Walter, (who was prior of St. Swithin in
+1174,) giving twelve measures of barley and a pall, on which was
+embroidered in silver the history of St. Berinus converting a Saxon king,
+for a fine copy of Bede's Homilies and St. Austin's Psalter;[358] and of
+Henry, a monk of the Benedictine Abbey of Hyde, near there, who
+transcribed, in the year 1178, Terence, Boethius, Seutonius and Claudian;
+and richly illuminated and bound them, which he exchanged with a
+neighboring bibliophile for a life of St. Christopher, St. Gregory's
+Pastoral Care, and four Missals.[359] Nicholas, Bishop of Winchester,
+left one hundred marks and a Bible, with a fine gloss, in two large
+volumes, to the convent of St. Swithin. John de Pontissara, who succeeded
+that bishop in the year 1282, borrowed this valuable manuscript to
+benefit and improve his biblical knowledge by a perusal of its numerous
+notes. So great was their regard for this precious gift, that the monks
+demanded a bond for its return; a circumstance which has caused some
+doubt as to the plenitude of the Holy Scriptures in the English Church
+during that period; at least among those who have only casually glanced
+at the subject. I may as well notice that the ancient Psalter in the
+Cottonian Library[360] was written about the year 1035, by the "most
+humble brother and monk Ælsinus," of Hyde Abbey. The table prefixed to
+the volume records the deaths of other eminent scribes and illuminators,
+whose names are mingled with the great men of the day;[361] showing how
+esteemed they were, and how honorable was their avocation. Thus under the
+15th of May we find "_Obitus Ætherici mº picto_;" and again, under the
+5th of July, "_Obit Wulfrici mº pictoris_." Many were the choice
+transcripts made and adorned by the Winchester monks.
+
+The monastery of Reading, in Berkshire, possessed during the reign of
+Henry the Third a choice library of a hundred and fifty volumes. It is
+printed in the Supplement to the History of Reading, from the original
+prefixed to the Woollascot manuscripts. But it is copied very
+inaccurately, and with many grievous omissions; nevertheless it will
+suffice to enable us to gain a knowledge of the class of books most
+admired by the monks of Reading; and the Christian reader will be glad to
+learn that the catalogue opens, as usual, with the Holy Scriptures.
+Indeed no less than four fine large and complete copies of the Bible are
+enumerated. The first in two volumes; the second in three volumes; the
+third in two, and the fourth in the same number which was transcribed by
+the _Cantor_, and kept in the cloisters for the use of the monks. But in
+addition to these, which are in themselves quite sufficient to exculpate
+the monks from any charge of negligence of Bible reading, we find a long
+list of separate portions of the Old and New Testament; besides many of
+the most important works of the Fathers, and productions of mediæval
+learning, as the following names will testify:--
+
+    Ambrose.
+    Augustine.
+    Basil.
+    Bede.
+    Cassidorus.
+    Eusebius.
+    Gregory.
+    Hilarius.
+    Jerome.
+    Josephus.
+    Lombard.
+    Macrobius.
+    Origen.
+    Plato.
+    Prosper.
+    Rabanus Maurus.
+
+They possessed also the works of Geoffry of Monmouth; the _Vita Karoli et
+Alexandri et gesta Normannorum_; a "Ystoria Rading," and many others
+equally interesting; and among the books given by Radbert of Witchir, we
+find a Juvenal, the Bucolics and Georgics of Virgil, and the "Ode et
+Poetria et Sermone et Epistole Oratii." But certainly the most striking
+characteristic is the fine biblical collection contained in their
+library, which is well worthy our attention, if not our admiration: not
+but that we find them in other libraries much less extensive. In those
+monasteries whose poverty would not allow the purchase of books in any
+quantity, and whose libraries could boast but of some twenty or thirty
+volumes, it is scarcely to be expected that they should be found rich in
+profane literature; but it is deeply gratifying to find, as we generally
+do, the Bible first on their little list; conveying a proof by this
+prominence, in a quiet but expressive way, how highly they esteemed that
+holy volume, and how essential they deemed its possession. Would that
+they had profited more by its holy precepts!
+
+We find an instance of this, and a proof of their fondness for the Bible,
+in the catalogue of the books in Depying Priory,[362] in Lincolnshire;
+which, containing a collection of twenty-three volumes, enumerates a copy
+of the Bible first on the humble list. The catalogue is as follows:--
+
+    These are the books in the library of the monks of Depying.[363]
+
+    The Bible.
+    The first part of the Morals of Pope St. Gregory.
+    The second part of the Morals by the same.
+    Book of Divine Offices.
+    Gesta Britonorum.
+    Tracts of Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, on Confession,
+            with other compilations.
+    Martyrologium, with the Rules of St. Benedict; Passion of
+            St. James, with other books.
+    Constitutions of Pope Benedict.
+    History of the Island of Ely.
+    Hugucio de dono fratris Johannis Tiryngham.
+    Homilies of the blessed Gregory.
+    Constitutions of Pope Clement XII.
+    Book of the Virtues and Vices.
+    Majester Historiarum.
+    Sacramentary given by Master John Swarby, Rector of the
+            Church of St. Guthlac.
+    One great Portoforium for the use of the Brothers.
+    Two ditto.
+    Two Psalters for the use of the Brothers.
+    Three Missals for the use of the Brothers.
+
+There is not much in this scanty collection, the loss of which we need
+lament; nor does it inspire us with a very high notion of the learning of
+the monks of Depying Priory. Yet how cheering it is to find that the
+Bible was studied in this little cell; and I trust the monk often drew
+from it many words of comfort and consolation. Where is the reader who
+will not regard these instances of Bible reading with pleasure? Where is
+the Christian who will not rejoice that the Gospel of Christ was read and
+loved in the turbulent days of the Norman monarchs? Where is the
+philosopher who will affirm that we owe nothing to this silent but
+effectual and fervent study? Where is he who will maintain that the
+influence of the blessed and abundant charity--the cheering promises, and
+the sweet admonitions of love and mercy with which the Gospels
+overflow--aided nothing in the progress of civilization? Where is the
+Bible student who will believe that all this reading of the Scriptures
+was unprofitable because, forsooth, a monk preached and taught it to the
+multitude?
+
+Let the historian open his volumes with a new interest, and ponder over
+their pages with a fresh spirit of inquiry; let him read of days of
+darkness and barbarity; and as he peruses on, trace the origin of the
+light whose brightness drove the darkness and barbarity away. How much
+will he trace to the Bible's influence; how often will he be compelled to
+enter a convent wall to find in the gospel student the one who shone as a
+redeeming light in those old days of iniquity and sin; and will he deny
+to the Christian priest his gratitude and love, because he wore the cowl
+and mantle of a monk, or because he loved to read of saints whose lives
+were mingled with lying legends, or because he chose a life which to us
+looks dreary, cold, and heartless. Will he deny him a grateful
+recollection when he reads of how much good he was permitted to achieve
+in the Church of Christ; of how many a doubting heart he reassured; of
+how many a soul he fired with a true spark of Christian love; when he
+reads of how the monk preached the faith of Christ, and how often he led
+some wandering pilgrim into the path of vital truth by the sweet words of
+the dear religion which he taught; when he reads that the hearts of many
+a Norman chief was softened by the sweetness of the gospel's voice, and
+his evil passions were lulled by the hymn of praise which the monk
+devoutly sang to his Master in heaven above. But speaking of the
+existence of the Bible among the monks puts me in mind of the Abbey of
+Ramsey and its fine old library of books, which was particularly rich in
+biblical treasures. Even superior to Reading, as regards its biblical
+collection, was the library of Ramsey. A portion of an old catalogue of
+the library of this monastery has been preserved, apparently transcribed
+about the beginning of the fourteenth century, during the warlike reign
+of Richard the Second. It is one of the richest and most interesting
+relics of its kind extant, at least of those to be found in our own
+public libraries; and a perusal of it will not fail to leave an
+impression on the mind that the monks were far wealthier in their
+literary stores than we previously imagined. Originally on two or three
+skins, it is now torn into five separate pieces,[364] and in other
+respects much dilapidated. The writing also in some parts is nearly
+obliterated, so as to render the document scarcely readable. It is much
+to be regretted that this interesting catalogue is but a portion of the
+original; in its complete form it would probably have described twice as
+many volumes; but a fragment as it is, it nevertheless contains the
+titles of more than _eleven hundred books_, with the names of many of
+their donors attached. A creditable and right worthy testimonial this, of
+the learning and love of books prevalent among the monks of Ramsey
+Monastery. More than seven hundred of this goodly number were of a
+miscellaneous nature, and the rest were principally books used in the
+performance of divine service. Among these there were no less than
+seventy Breviaries; thirty-two Grails; twenty-nine Processionals; and one
+hundred Psalters! The reader will regard most of these as superstitious
+and useless; nor should I remark upon them did they not show that books
+were not so scarce in those times as we suppose; as this prodigality
+satisfactorily proves, and moreover testifies to the unceasing industry
+of the monkish scribes. We who are used to the speed of the printing
+press and its fertile abundance can form an opinion of the labor
+necessary to transcribe this formidable array of papistical literature.
+Four hundred volumes transcribed with the plodding pen! each word
+collated and each page diligently revised, lest a blunder or a misspelt
+syllable should blemish those books so deeply venerated. What long years
+of dry tedious labor and monotonous industry was here!
+
+But the other portion of the catalogue fully compensates for this vast
+proportion of ecclesiastical volumes. Besides several _Biblia optima in
+duobus voluminibus_, or complete copies of the Bible, many separate books
+of the inspired writers are noted down; indeed the catalogue lays before
+us a superb array of fine biblical treasures, rendered doubly valuable by
+copious and useful glossaries; and embracing many a rare Hebrew MS.
+Bible, _bibliotheca hebraice_, and precious commentary. I count no less
+than twenty volumes in this ancient language. But we often find Hebrew
+manuscripts in the monastic catalogues after the eleventh century. The
+Jews, who came over in great numbers about that time, were possessed of
+many valuable books, and spread a knowledge of their language and
+literature among the students of the monasteries. And when the cruel
+persecution commenced against them in the thirteenth century, they
+disposed of their books, which were generally bought up by the monks, who
+were ever hungry after such acquisitions. Gregory, prior of Ramsey,
+collected a great quantity of Hebrew MSS. in this way, and highly
+esteemed the language, in which he became deeply learned. At his death,
+in the year 1250, he left them to the library of his monastery.[365] Nor
+was my lord prior a solitary instance; many others of the same abbey,
+inspired by his example and aided by his books, studied the Hebrew with
+equal success. Brother Dodford, the Armarian, and Holbeach, a monk,
+displayed their erudition in writing a Hebrew lexicon.[366]
+
+The library of Ramsey was also remarkably rich in patristic lore. They
+gloried in the possession of the works of Ambrose, Augustine, Anselm,
+Basil, Boniface, Bernard, Gregory, and many others equally voluminous.
+But it was not exclusively to the study of such matters that these monks
+applied their minds, they possessed a taste for other branches of
+literature besides. They read histories of the church, histories of
+England, of Normandy, of the Jews; and histories of scholastic
+philosophy, and many old chronicles which reposed on their shelves. In
+science they appear to have been equally studious, for the catalogue
+enumerates works on medicine, natural history, philosophy, mathematics,
+logic, dialects, arithmetic and music! Who will say after this that the
+monks were ignorant of the sciences and careless of the arts? The
+classical student has perhaps ere this condemned them for their want of
+taste, and felt indignant at the absence of those authors of antiquity
+whose names and works he venerates. But the monks, far from neglecting
+those precious volumes, were ever careful of their preservation; they
+loved Virgil, Horace, and even Ovid, "heathen dogs" as they were, and
+enjoyed a keen relish for their beauties. I find in this catalogue the
+following choice names of antiquity occur repeatedly:--
+
+    Aristotle.
+    Arian.
+    Boethius.
+    Claudius.
+    Dionysius.
+    Donatus.
+    Horace.
+    Josephus.
+    Justin.
+    Lucan.
+    Martial.
+    Macrobius.
+    Orosius.
+    Ovid.
+    Plato.
+    Priscian.
+    Prudentius.
+    Seneca.
+    Sallust.
+    Solinus.
+    Terence.
+    Virgil.
+
+Here were rich mines of ancient eloquence, and fragrant flowers of poesy
+to enliven and perfume the dull cloister studies of the monks. It is not
+every library or reading society even of our own time that possess so
+many gems of old. But other treasures might yet be named which still
+further testify to the varied tastes and literary pursuits of these
+monastic bibliophiles; but I shall content myself with naming Peter of
+Blois, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, of which they had several copies,
+some enriched with choice commentaries and notes, the works of Thomas
+Aquinas and others of his class, a "Liber Ricardi," Dictionaries,
+Grammars, and the writings of "Majestri Robi Grostete," the celebrated
+Bishop of Lincoln, renowned as a great _amator librorum_ and collector of
+Grecian literature. I might easily swell this notice out to a
+considerable extent by enumerating many other book treasures in this
+curious collection: but enough has been said to enable the reader to
+judge of the sort of literature the monks of Ramsey collected and the
+books they read; and if he should feel inclined to pursue the inquiry
+further, I must refer him to the original manuscript, promising him much
+gratification for his trouble.[367] It only remains for me to say that
+the Vandalism of the Reformation swept all traces of this fine library
+away, save the broken, tattered catalogue we have just examined. But this
+is more than has been spared from some. The abbey of St. Edmunds
+Bury[368] at one time must have enjoyed a copious library, but we have no
+catalogue that I am aware of to tell of its nature, not even a passing
+notice of its well-stored shelves, except a few lines in which Leland
+mentions some of the old manuscripts he found therein.[369] But a
+catalogue of their library in the flourishing days of their monastery
+would have disclosed, I imagine, many curious works, and probably some
+singular writings on the "_crafft off medycyne_," which Abbot Baldwin,
+"_phesean_" to Edward the Confessor,[370] had given the monks, and of
+whom Lydgate thus speaks--
+
+    "Baldewynus, a monk off Seynt Denys,
+     Gretly expert in crafft of medycyne;
+     Full provydent off counsayl and right wys,
+     Sad off his port, functuons off doctryne;
+     After by grace and influence devyne,
+     Choose off Bury Abbot, as I reede
+     The thyrdde in order that did ther succeade."[371]
+
+We may equally deplore the loss of the catalogue of the monastery of Ely,
+which, during the middle ages, we have every reason to suppose possessed
+a library of much value and extent. This old monastery can trace its
+foundation back to a remote period, and claim as its foundress,
+Etheldredæ,[372] the daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, she was
+the wife of King Ecgfrid,[373] with whom she lived for twelve long years,
+though during that time she preserved the glory of perfect virginity,
+much to the annoyance of her royal spouse, who offered money and lands
+to induce that illustrious virgin to waver in her resolution, but without
+success. Her inflexible determination at length induced her husband to
+grant her oft-repeated prayer; and in the year 673 she retired into the
+seclusion of monastic life,[374] and building the monastery of Ely,
+devoted her days to the praise and glory of her heavenly King. Her pure
+and pious life caused others speedily to follow her example, and she soon
+became the virgin-mother of a numerous progeny dedicated to God. A series
+of astounding miracles attended her monastic life; and sixteen years
+after her death, when her sister, the succeeding abbess, opened her
+wooden coffin to transfer her body to a more costly one of marble, that
+"holy virgin and spouse of Christ" was found entirely free from
+corruption or decay.[375]
+
+A nunnery, glorying in so pure a foundress, grew and flourished, and for
+"two hundred years existed in the full observance of monastic
+discipline;" but on the coming of the Danes in the year 870, those sad
+destroyers of religious establishments laid it in a heap of ruins, in
+which desolate condition it remained till it attracted the attention of
+the celebrated Ethelwold, who under the patronage of King Edgar restored
+it; and endowing it with considerable privileges appointed Brithnoth,
+Prior of Winchester, its first abbot.[376]
+
+Many years after, when Leoffin was abbot there, and Canute was king, that
+monarch honored the monastery of Ely with his presence on several
+occasions. Monkish traditions say, that on one of these visits as the
+king approached, he heard the pious inmates of the monastery chanting
+their hymn of praise; and so melodious were the voices of the devotees,
+that his royal heart was touched, and he poured forth his feelings in a
+Saxon ballad, commencing thus:
+
+    "Merry sang the monks of Ely,
+     When Canute the king was sailing by;
+     Row ye knights near the land,
+     And let us hear these monks song."[377]
+
+It reads smoother in Strutt's version; he renders it
+
+    "Cheerful sang the monk of Ely,
+     When Canute the king was passing by;
+     Row to the shore knights, said the king,
+     And let us hear these churchmen sing."[378]
+
+In addition to the title of a poet, Canute has also received the
+appellation of a bibliomaniac. Dibdin, in his bibliomania, mentions in a
+cursory manner a few monkish book collectors, and introduces Canute
+among them.[379] The illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels in the
+Danish tongue, now in the British Museum, he writes, "and once that
+monarch's own book leaves not the shadow of a doubt of his bibliomanical
+character!" I cannot however allow him that title upon such equivocal
+grounds; for upon examination, the MS. turns out to be in the Theotisc
+dialect, possessing no illuminations of its own, and never perhaps once
+in the hands of the royal poet.[380]
+
+From the account books of Ely church we may infer that the monks there
+enjoyed a tolerable library; for we find frequent entries of money having
+been expended for books and materials connected with the library; thus in
+the year 1300 we find that they bought at one time five dozen parchment,
+four pounds of ink, eight calf and four sheep-skins for binding books;
+and afterwards there is another entry of five dozen vellum and six pair
+of book clasps, a book of decretals for the library, 3s., a Speculum
+Gregor, 2s., and "_Pro tabula Paschalis fac denova et illuminand_,"
+4s.[381] They frequently perhaps sent one of the monks to distants parts
+to purchase or borrow books for their library; a curious instance of this
+occurs under the year 1329, when they paid "the precentor for going to
+Balsham to enquire for books, 6s. 7d." The bookbinder two weeks' wages,
+4s.; twelve iron chains to fasten books, 4s.; five dozen vellum, 25s. 8d.
+In the year 1396, they paid their librarian 53s. 4d., and a tunic for his
+services during one year.[382]
+
+Nigel, Bishop of Ely, by endowing the Scriptorium, enabled the monks to
+produce some excellent transcripts; they added several books of
+Cassiodorus, Bede, Aldelem, Radbert, Andres, etc., to the library;[383]
+and they possessed at one time no less than thirteen fine copies of the
+Gospels, which were beautifully bound in gold and silver.[384]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[351] Those learned in such matters refer the foundation of
+      Winchester cathedral and monastery to a remote period. An old writer
+      says that it was "built by King Lucius, who, abolishing Paganisme,
+      embraced Christ the first yere of his reigne, being the yeere of our
+      Lord 180."--_Godwin's Cat._ p. 157. See also _Usher de Primordiis_.
+      fo. 126.
+
+[352] "Ecclesiarum ac diversorum operum magnus ædificator, et dum
+      esset abbas et dum esset episcopus."--_Wolstan. Vita Æthelw. ap.
+      Mabillon Actæ S. S. Benedict, Sæc._ v. p. 614.
+
+[353] Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. i. p. 614.
+
+[354] MS. belonging to the Society of Antiquaries, No. 60, fo. 34.
+      See Dugdale Monast. vol. i. p. 382. He gave to the monks of Abingdon
+      a copy of the Gospels cased in silver, ornamented with gold and
+      precious stones.
+
+[355] _Archæologia_, vol. xxiv. p. 22; and _Dibdin's_ delightful
+      "_Decameron_," vol. i. p. lix.
+
+[356] Wuls. Act. S. S. Benedict. p. 616.
+
+[357] Archæolog. vol. xxiv.
+
+[358] Regist. Priorat. S. Swithin Winton.--_Warton_ II, _Dissert._
+
+[359] _Ibid._
+
+[360] _Marked Titus_, D. 27.
+
+[361] It is called "_Calendarium, in quo notantur dies obitus
+      plurimorum monachorum, abbatum, etc.; temp. regum Anglo-Saxonum_."
+
+[362] It was a little cell dependant on the Abbey of Thorney.
+
+[363] MS. _Harleian_, No. 3658, fo. 74, b. It will be found printed
+      in _Dugdale's Monasticon_, vol. iv. p. 167. The catalogue was
+      evidently written about the year 1350.
+
+[364] Cottonian Charta, 11-16. I am sorry to observe so little
+      attention paid to this curious fragment, which, insignificant as it
+      may appear to some, is nevertheless quite a curiosity of literature
+      in its way. Its tattered condition calls for the care of Sir
+      Frederick Madden.
+
+[365] Leland Script. Brit. p. 321, and MSS. Bibl. Lambeth, Wharton,
+      L. p. 661. Libris Prioris Gregorii de Ramsey, _Prima pars
+      Bibliothecæ Hebraice_, etc. Warton Dissert ii. Eng. Poetry.
+
+[366] Bale, iv. 41, et ix. 9. Leland. Scrip. Brit. p. 452.
+
+[367] Ailward, Bishop of London, gave many books to the library of
+      Ramsey monastery, _Hoveden Scrip. post. Bedam._ 1596, fol. 252.
+      Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii.
+
+[368] In the year 1327, the inhabitants of Bury besieged the abbey,
+      wounded the monks, and "bare out of the abbey all the gold, silver
+      ornaments, _bookes, charters, and other writings_." Stowe Annals, p.
+      353.
+
+[369] He particularly notices a Sallust, a very ancient copy,
+      _vetustis simus_.
+
+[370] And also to Lanfranc, he was elected in the year 1065.
+
+[371] Harleian MS. No. 2278.
+
+[372] Or Atheldryth.
+
+[373] The youngest son of Osway, King of Northumbria; he succeeded
+      to the throne on the death of his father in the year 670.
+
+[374] She seems to have been principally encouraged in this
+      fanatical determination by Wilfrid; probably this was one of the
+      causes of Ecgfrid's displeasure towards him. So highly was the
+      purity of the body regarded in the early Saxon church, that Aldhelm
+      wrote a piece in its praise, in imitation of the style of Sedulius,
+      but in most extravagant terms. Bede wrote a poem, solely to
+      commemorate the chastety of Etheldreda.
+
+         "Let Maro wars in loftier numbers sing
+          I sound the praises of our heavenly King;
+          Chaste is my verse, nor Helen's rape I write,
+          Light tales like these, but prove the mind as light."
+                       _Bede's Eccl. Hist. by Giles_, b. iv. c. xx.
+
+[375] Bede's Eccl. Hist. b. iv. c. xx.
+
+[376] Saxon Chronicle translated by Ingram, p. 118. Dugdale's
+      Monasticon, vol. i. p. 458.
+
+[377] Sharon Turner's Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. p. 288.
+
+[378] Strutt's Saxon Antiquities, vol. i. p. 83.
+
+[379] _Dibdin's Bibliomania_, p. 228.
+
+[380] Dibdin alludes to the "Harmony of the Four Gospels," preserved
+      among the Cotton MSS. _Caligula_, A. vii. and described as
+      "_Harmonia Evangeliorum, lingua Francica capitulis, 71, Liber
+      quondam (dicit Jamesius) Canuti regis_." See also Hicke's Gram.
+      Franco-Theotisca, p. 6. But there is no ground for the supposition
+      that it belonged to Canute; and the several fine historical
+      illuminations bound up with it are evidently of a much later age.
+
+[381] An entry occurs of 6s. 8d. for writing two processionals.
+
+[382] Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham's church of Ely, p. 52. "It is
+      worth notice," says Stevenson, "that in the course of a few years,
+      about the middle of the 14th century, the precentor purchased
+      upwards of seventy dozen parchment and thirty dozen vellum."
+
+[383] Spelman Antiquarii Collectanea, vol. iii. p. 273. Nigel, who
+      was made bishop in 1133, was plundered by some of King Stephen's
+      soldiers, and robbed of his own copy of the Gospels which he had
+      adorned with many sacred relics; see _Anglia Sacra_, i. p. 622.
+
+[384] _Warton's Anglia Sacra_, it is related that William Longchamp,
+      bishop in 1199, sold them to raise money towards the redemption of
+      King Richard, _pro Regis Ricardi redemptione_, tom. i. 633. Dugd.
+      Monast. i. p. 463.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+     _St. Alban's.--Willigod.--Bones of St. Alban.--Eadmer.--Norman
+     Conquest.--Paul and the Scriptorium.--Geoffry de
+     Gorham.--Brekspere the "Poor Clerk".--Abbot Simon and his "multis
+     voluminibus".--Raymond the
+     Prior.--Wentmore.--Whethamstede.--Humphrey, Duke of
+     Gloucester.--Lydgate.--Guy, Earl of Warwick._
+
+
+The efficacy of "Good Works" was a principle ever inculcated by the monks
+of old. It is sad to reflect, that vile deeds and black intentions were
+too readily forgiven and absolved by the Church on the performance of
+some _good deed_; or that the monks should dare to shelter or to gloss
+over those sins which their priestly duty bound them to condemn, because
+forsooth some wealthy baron could spare a portion of his broad lands or
+coffered gold to extenuate them. But this forms one of the dark stains of
+the monastic system; and the monks, I am sorry to say, were more readily
+inclined to overlook the blemish, because it proved so profitable to
+their order. And thus it was, that the proud and noble monastery of St.
+Alban's was endowed by a murderer's hand, and built to allay the fierce
+tortures of an assassin's conscience. Ethelbert, king of the East Angles,
+fell by the regal hand of Offa, king of Mercia; and from the era of that
+black and guilty deed many a fine monastery dates its origin and owes its
+birth.
+
+St. Alban's was founded, as its name implies, in honor of the English
+protomartyr, whose bones were said to have been discovered on that
+interesting site, and afterwards preserved with veneration in the abbey.
+In the ancient times, the building appears to have covered a considerable
+space, and to have been of great magnitude and power; for ruins of its
+former structure mark how far and wide the foundation spreads.
+
+"The glorious king Offa," as the monks in their adulation style him,
+richly endowed the monastery on its completion, as we learn from the old
+chronicles of the abbey; and a succession of potent sovereigns are
+emblazoned on the glittering parchment, whose liberalty augmented or
+confirmed these privileges.[385]
+
+Willigod, the first abbot, greatly enriched the monastery, and bestowed
+especial care upon the relics of St. Alban. It is curious to mark how
+many perils those shrivelled bones escaped, and with what anxious care
+the monks preserved them. In the year 930, during the time of Abbot
+Eadfrid, the Danes attacked the abbey, and after many destroying acts
+broke open the repository, and carried away some of the bones of St.
+Alban into their own country.[386] The monks took greater care than ever
+of the remaining relics; and their anxiety for their safety, and the
+veneration with which they regarded them, is curiously illustrated by an
+anecdote of Abbot Leofric, elected in the year 1006. His abbacy was,
+therefore, held in troubled times; and in the midst of fresh invasions
+and Danish cruelties. Fearing lest they should a second time reach the
+abbey, he determined to protect by stratagem what he could not effect by
+force. After hiding the genuine bones of St. Alban in a place quite
+secure from discovery, he sent an open message to the Abbot of Ely,
+entreating permission to deposit the holy relics in his keeping; and
+offering, as a plausible reason, that the monastery of Ely, being
+surrounded by marshy and impenetrable bogs, was secure from the
+approaches of the barbarians. He accompanied this message with some false
+relics--the remains of an old monk belonging to the abbey enclosed in a
+coffin--and sent with them a worn antiquated looking mantle, pretending
+that it formerly belonged to Amphibalus, the master of St. Alban.[387]
+The monks of Ely joyfully received these precious bones, and displayed
+perhaps too much eagerness in doing so. Certain it is, that when the
+danger was past and the quietude of the country was restored, Leofric,
+on applying for the restitution of these "holy relics," found some
+difficulty in obtaining them; for the Abbot of Ely attempted by
+equivocation and duplicity to retain them. After several ineffectual
+applications, Leofric was compelled, for the honor of his monastery, to
+declare the "pious fraud" he had practised; which he proved by the
+testimony of several monks of his fraternity, who were witnesses of the
+transaction. It is said, that Edward the Confessor was highly incensed at
+the conduct of the Abbot of Ely.
+
+I have stated elsewhere, that the learned and pious Ælfric gave the
+monastery many choice volumes. His successor, Ealdred, abbot, about the
+year 955, was quite an antiquary in his way; and no spot in England
+afforded so many opportunities to gratify his taste as the site of the
+ancient city of Verulam. He commenced an extensive search among the
+ruins, and rescued from the earth a vast quantity of interesting and
+valuable remains. He stowed all the stone-work and other materials which
+were serviceable in building away, intending to erect a new edifice for
+the monks: but death prevented the consummation of these designs. Eadmer,
+his successor, a man of great piety and learning, followed up the
+pursuit, and made some important accessions to these stores. He found
+also a great number of gold and silver ornaments, specimens of ancient
+art, some of them of a most costly nature, but being idols or figures
+connected with heathen mythology, he cared not to preserve them. Matthew
+Paris is prolix in his account of the operations and discoveries of this
+abbot; and one portion of it is so interesting, and seems so connected
+with our subject, that I cannot refrain from giving it to the reader.
+"The abbot," he writes, "whilst digging out the walls and searching for
+the ruins which were buried in the earth in the midst of the ancient
+city, discovered many vestiges of the foundation of a great palace. In a
+recess in one of the walls he found the remains of a library, consisting
+of a number of books and rolls; and among them a volume in an unknown
+tongue, and which, although very ancient, had especially escaped
+destruction. This nobody in the monastery could read, nor could they at
+that time find any one who understood the writing or the idiom; it was
+exceedingly ancient, and the letters evidently were most beautifully
+formed; the inscriptions or titles were written in gold, and encircled
+with ornaments; bound in oak with silken bands, which still retained
+their strength and beauty; so perfectly was the volume preserved. But
+they could not conceive what the book was about; at last, after much
+search and diligent inquiry, they found a very feeble and aged priest,
+named Unwon, who was very learned in writings _literis bene eruditum_,
+and imbued with the knowledge of divers languages. He knew directly what
+the volume was about, and clearly and fluently read the contents; he also
+explained the other _Codices_ found in the same library _in eodem
+Almariolo_ of the palace with the greatest ease, and showed them to be
+written in the characters formerly in use among the inhabitants of
+Verulam, and in the language of the ancient Britons. Some, however, were
+in Latin; but the book before-mentioned was found to be the history of
+Saint Alban, the English proto-martyr, according to that mentioned by
+Bede, as having been daily used in the church. Among the other books were
+discovered many contrivances for the invocation and idolatrous rites of
+the people of Verulam, in which it was evident that Phoebus the god Sol
+was especially invoked and worshipped; and after him Mercury, called in
+English Woden, who was the god of the merchants. The books which
+contained these diabolical inventions they cast away and burnt; but that
+precious treasure, the history of Saint Alban, they preserved, and the
+priest before-mentioned was appointed to translate the ancient English or
+British into the vulgar tongue.[388] By the prudence of the Abbot Eadmer,
+the brothers of the convent made a faithful copy, and diligently
+explained it in their public teaching; they also translated it into
+Latin, in which it is now known and read; the historian adds that the
+ancient and original copy, which was so curiously written,
+instantaneously crumbled into dust and was destroyed for ever."[389]
+
+Although the attention of the Saxon abbots was especially directed to
+literary matters, and to the affairs connected with the making of books,
+we find no definite mention of a Scriptorium, or of manuscripts having
+been transcribed as a regular and systematic duty, till after the Norman
+conquest. That event happened during the abbacy of Frederic, and was one
+which greatly influenced the learning of the monks. Indeed, I regard the
+Norman conquest as a most propitious event for English literature, and
+one which wrought a vast change in the aspect of monastic learning; the
+student of those times cannot fail to perceive the revolution which then
+took place in the cloisters; visibly accomplished by the installation of
+Norman bishops and the importation of Norman monks, who in the well
+regulated monasteries of France and Normandy had been initiated into a
+more general course of study, and brought up in a better system of mental
+training than was known here at that time.
+
+But poor Frederic, a conscientious and worthy monk, suffered severely by
+that event, and was ultimately obliged to seek refuge in the monastery of
+Ely to evade the displeasure of the new sovereign; but his earthly course
+was well nigh run, for three days after, death released him from his
+worldly troubles, and deprived the conqueror of a victim. Paul, the first
+of the Norman abbots, was appointed by the king in the year 1077. He was
+zealous and industrious in the interest of the abbey, and obtained the
+restitution of many lands and possessions of which it had been deprived;
+he rebuilt the old and almost ruined church, and employed for that
+purpose many of the materials which his predecessors had collected from
+the ruins of Verulam; and even now, I believe, some remnants of these
+Roman tiles, etc., may be discerned. He moreover obtained many important
+grants and valuable donations; among others a layman named Robert, one
+of the Norman leaders, gave him two parts of the tythes of his domain at
+Hatfield, which he had received from the king at the distribution.
+
+"This he assigned," says Matthew Paris, "to the disposal of Abbot Paul,
+who was a lover of the Scriptures, for the transcription of the necessary
+volumes for the monastery. He himself indeed was a learned soldier, and a
+diligent hearer and lover of Scripture; to this he also added the tythes
+of Redburn, appointing certain provisions to be given to the scribes;
+this he did out of "charity to the brothers that they may not thereby
+suffer, and that no impediment might be offered to the writers." The
+abbot thereupon sought and obtained from afar many renowned scribes, to
+write the necessary books for the monastery. And in return for these
+abundant favors, he presented, as a suitable gift to the warlike Robert,
+for the chapel in his palace at Hatfield, two pair of vestments, a silver
+cup, a missal, and the other needful books (_missale cum aliis libris
+necessariis_). Having thus presented to him the first volumes produced by
+his liberality, he proceeded to construct a scriptorium, which was set
+apart (_præelectos_) for the transcription of books; Lanfranc supplied
+the copies. They thus procured for the monastery twenty-eight notable
+volumes (_volumina notabilia_), also eight psalters, a book of collects,
+a book of epistles, a volume containing the gospels for the year, two
+copies of the gospels complete, bound in gold and silver, and ornamented
+with gems; besides ordinals, constitutions, missals, troapries,
+collects, and other books for the use of the library."[390]
+
+Thus blessed, we find the monks of St. Albans for ages after constantly
+acquiring fresh treasures, and multiplying their book stores by fruitful
+transcripts. There is scarce an abbot, whose portrait garnishes the fair
+manuscript before me, that is not represented with some goodly tomes
+spread around him, or who is not mentioned as a choice "_amator
+librorum_," in these monkish pages. It is a singular circumstance, when
+we consider how bookless those ages are supposed to have been, that the
+illuminated portraits of the monks are most frequently depicted with some
+ponderous volume before them, as if the idea of a monk and the study of a
+book were quite inseparable. During my search among the old manuscripts
+quoted in this work, this fact has been so repeatedly forced upon my
+attention that I am tempted to regard it as an important hint, and one
+which speaks favorably for the love of books and learning among the
+cowled devotees of the monasteries.
+
+Passing Richard de Albani, who gave them a copy of the gospels, a missal
+written in letters of gold, an other precious volumes whose titles are
+unrecorded,[391] we come to Geoffry, a native of Gorham, who was elected
+abbot in the year 1119. He had been invited over to England (before he
+became a priest) by his predecessor, to superintend the school of St.
+Albans; but he delayed the voyage so long, that on his arrival he found
+the appointment already filled; on this he went to Dunstable, where he
+read lectures, and obtained some pupils. It was during his stay there
+that he wrote the piece which has obtained for him so much reputation.
+_Ubi quendam ludum de Sancta Katarinæ quem miracula vulgariter appellamus
+fecit_, says the Cotton manuscripts, on the vellum page of which he is
+portrayed in the act of writing it.[392] Geoffry, from this passage, is
+supposed to be the first author of dramatic literature in England;
+although the title seems somewhat equivocal, from the casual manner in
+which his famous play of St. Catherine is thus mentioned by Matthew
+Paris. Of its merits we are still less able to form an opinion; for
+nothing more than the name of that much talked of miracle play has been
+preserved. We may conclude, however, that it was performed with all the
+paraphernalia of scenery and characteristic costume; for he borrowed of
+the sacrist of St. Albans some copes for this purpose. On the night
+following the representation the house in which he resided was burnt;
+and, says the historian, all his books, and the copes he had borrowed
+were destroyed. Rendered poor indeed by this calamity, and somewhat
+reflecting upon himself for the event, he assumed in sorrow and despair
+the religious habit, and entered the monastery of St. Albans; where by
+his deep study, his learning and his piety, he so gained the hearts of
+his fraternity, that he ultimately became their abbot. He is said to have
+been very industrious in the transcription of books; and he "made a
+missal bound in gold, _auro ridimitum_, and another in two volumes; both
+incomparably illuminated in gold, and written in a clear and legible
+hand; also a precious Psalter similarly illuminated; a book containing
+the Benedictions and the Sacraments; a book of Exorcisms, and a
+Collectaria."[393]
+
+Geoffry was succeeded by Ralph de Gobium in the year 1143: he was a monk
+remarkable for his learning and his bibliomanical pursuits. He formerly
+remained some time in the services of Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, and
+gained the esteem of that prelate. His book-loving passion arose from
+hearing one "Master Wodon, of Italy, expound the doctrines of the Holy
+Scriptures." He from that time became a most enthusiastic _amator
+librorum_; and collected, with great diligence, an abundant multitude of
+books.[394]
+
+The matters in which he was concerned, his donations to the monastery,
+and the anecdotes of his life, are all unconnected with my subject; so
+that I am obliged to pass from this interesting monk, an undoubted
+bibliophile, from sheer want of information. I cannot but regret that the
+historian does not inform us more fully of his book collecting pursuits;
+but he is especially barren on that subject, although he highly esteems
+him for prosecuting that pleasing avocation. He died in the year 1151, in
+the fourteenth of King Stephen, and was followed by Robert de Gorham, who
+is also commemorated as a bibliophile in the pages of the Cotton
+manuscripts; and to judge from his portrait, and the intensity with which
+he pores over his volume, he was a hard and devoted student. He ordered
+the scribes to make a great many books; indeed, adds Paris the historian,
+who was himself somewhat of an _amator librorum_, "more by far than can
+be mentioned."[395] From another source we learn that these books were
+most sumptuously bound.[396]
+
+During the days of this learned abbot a devout and humble clerk asked
+admission at the abbey gate. Aspiring to a holy life, he ardently hoped,
+by thus spending his days in monastic seclusion, to render his heart more
+acceptable to God. Hearing his prayer, the monks conducted him into the
+presence of my Lord Abbot, who received him with compassionate
+tenderness, and kindly questioned him as to his qualifications for the
+duties and sacred responsibilities of the monkish priesthood; for even in
+those dark ages they looked a little into the learning of the applicant
+before he was admitted into their fraternity. But alas! the poor clerk
+was found wofully deficient in this respect, and was incapable of
+replying to the questions of my Lord Abbot, who thereupon gently
+answered, "My son, tarry awhile, and still exercise thyself in study, and
+so become more perfect for the holy office."
+
+Abashed and disappointed, he retired with a kindling blush of shame; and
+deeming this temporary repulse a positive refusal he left his fatherland,
+and started on a pilgrimage to France.[397] And who was this poor,
+humble, unlettered clerk? Who this simple layman, whose ignorance
+rendered him an unfit _socius_ for the plodding monks of old St. Albans
+Abbey? No less than the English born Nicholas Brekespere, afterwards his
+Holiness Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Vicar-apostolic and successor of St.
+Peter!
+
+Yes; still bearing in mind the kind yet keen reproof of the English
+abbot, on his arrival in a foreign land he studied with all the depth and
+intensity of despair, and soon surpassed his companions in the pursuit of
+knowledge; and became so renowned for learning, and for his prudence,
+that he was made Canon of St. Rufus. His sagacity, moreover, caused him
+to be chosen, on three separate occasions, to undertake some important
+embassies to the apostolic see; and at length he was elected a cardinal.
+So step by step he finally became elevated to the high dignity of the
+popedom. The first and last of England's sons who held the keys of Peter.
+
+These shadows of the past--these shreds of a forgotten age--these echoes
+of five hundred years, are full of interest and instruction. For where
+shall we find a finer example--a more cheering instance of what
+perseverance will accomplish--or a more satisfactory result of the
+pursuit of knowledge under difficulties? Not only may these curious facts
+cheer the dull student now, and inspire him with that energy so
+essential to success, but these whisperings of old may serve as lessons
+for ages yet to come. For if _we_ look back upon those dark days with
+such feelings of superiority, may not the wiser generations of the future
+regard _us_ with a still more contemptuous, yet curious eye? And when
+they look back at our Franklins, and our Johnsons, in astonishment at
+such fine instances of what perseverance could do, and what energy and
+plodding industry could accomplish, even when surrounded with the
+difficulties of _our_ ignorance; how much more will they praise this
+bright example, in the dark background of the historical tableaux, who,
+without even our means of obtaining knowledge--our libraries or our
+talent--rose by patient, hard and devoted study, from Brekespere the
+humble clerk--the rejected of St. Albans--to the proud title of
+Vicar-apostolic of Christ and Pope of Rome!
+
+Simon, an Englishman, a clerk and a "man of letters and good morals," was
+elected abbot in the year 1167. All my authorities concur in bestowing
+upon him the honor and praise appertaining to a bibliomaniac. He was,
+says one, an especial lover of books, _librorum amator speciales_: and
+another in panegyric terms still further dubs him an _amator
+scripturarum_. All this he proved, and well earned the distinction, by
+the great encouragement he gave to the collecting and transcribing of
+books. The monkish pens he found moving too slow, and yielding less fruit
+than formerly. He soon, however, set them hard at work again; and to
+facilitate their labors, he added materially to the comforts of the
+Scriptorium by repairing and enlarging it; "and always," says the monk
+from whom I learn this, "kept two or three most choice scribes in the
+Camera (Scriptorium,) who sustained its reputation, and from whence an
+abundant supply of the most excellent books were continually
+produced.[398] He framed some efficient laws for its management, and
+ordered that, in subsequent times, every abbot should keep and support
+one able scribe at least. Among the 'many choice books and authentic
+volumes,' _volumina authentica_, which he by this care and industry added
+to the abbey library, was included a splendid copy of the Old and New
+Testament, transcribed with great accuracy and beautifully
+written--indeed, says the manuscript history of that monastery, so noble
+a copy was nowhere else to be seen.[399] But besides this, Abbot Simon
+gave them all those precious books which he had been for a 'long time'
+collecting himself at great cost and patient labor, and having bound them
+in a sumptuous and marvellous manner,[400] he made a library for their
+reception near the tomb of Roger the Hermit.[401] He also bestowed many
+rich ornaments and much costly plate on the monastery; and by a long
+catalogue of good deeds, too ample to be inserted here, he gained the
+affections and gratitude of his fraternity, who loudly praised his
+virtues and lamented his loss when they laid him in his costly tomb.
+There is a curious illumination of this monkish bibliophile in the Cotton
+manuscript. He is represented deeply engaged with his studies amidst a
+number of massy volumes, and a huge trunk is there before him crammed
+with rough old fashioned large clasped tomes, quite enticing to look
+upon."[402]
+
+After Simon came Garinus, who was soon succeeded by one John. Our
+attention is arrested by the learned renown of this abbot, who had
+studied in his youth at Paris, and obtained the unanimous praise of his
+masters for his assiduous attention and studious industry. He returned
+with these high honors, and was esteemed in grammar a Priscian, in poetry
+an Ovid, and in physic equal to Galen.[403] With such literary
+qualifications, it was to be expected the Scriptorium would flourish
+under his government, and the library increase under his fostering care.
+Our expectations are not disappointed; for many valuable additions were
+made during his abbacy, and the monks over whom he presided gave many
+manifestations of refinement and artistic talent, which incline us to
+regard the ingenuity of the cloisters in a more favorable light. Raymond,
+his prior, was a great help in all these undertakings. His industry seems
+to have been unceasing in beautifying the church, and looking after the
+transcription of books. With the assistance of Roger de Parco, the
+cellarer, he made a large table very handsome, and partly fabricated of
+metal. He wrote two copies of the Gospels, and bound them in silver and
+gold adorned with various figures. Brother Walter of Colchester, with
+Randulph, Gubium and others, produced some very handsome paintings
+comprising the evangelists and many holy saints, and hung them up in the
+church. "As we have before mentioned, by the care and industry of the
+lord Raymond, many noble and useful books were transcribed and given to
+the monastery. The most remarkable of these was a Historia Scholastica,
+with allegorics, a most elegant book--_liber elegantissimus_ exclaims my
+monkish authority."[404] This leads me to say something more of my lord
+prior, for the troubles which the conscientious conduct of old Raymond
+brought upon himself--
+
+    "Implores the passing tribute of a sigh."
+
+Be it known then that William de Trompington succeeded to the abbacy on
+the death of John; but he was a very different man, without much esteem
+for learning; and thinking I am afraid far more of the world and heaven
+or the _Domus Dei_. Alas! memoirs of bad monks and worldly abbots are
+sometimes found blotting the holy pages of the monkish annals. _Domus Dei
+est porta coeli_, said the monks; and when they closed the convent
+gates they did not look back on the world again, but entered on that dull
+and gloomy path with a full conviction that they were leaving all and
+following Christ, and so acting in accordance with his admonitions; but
+those who sought the convent to forget in its solitude their worldly
+cares and worldly disappointments, too often found how futile and how
+ineffectual was that dismal life to eradicate the grief of an
+overburdened heart, or to subdue the violence of misguided temper. The
+austerity of the monastic rules might tend to conquer passion or moderate
+despair, but there was little within those walls to drive painful
+recollections of the outward world away; for at every interval between
+their holy meditations and their monkish duties, images of the earth
+would crowd back upon their minds, and wring from their ascetic hearts
+tributes of anguish and despair; and so we find the writings and letters
+of the old monks full of vain regrets and misanthropic thoughts, but
+sometimes overflowing with the most touching pathos of human misery. Yet
+the monk knew full well what his duty was, and knew how sinful it was to
+repine or rebel against the will of God. If he vowed obedience to his
+abbot, he did not forget that obedience was doubly due to Him; and strove
+with all the strength that weak humanity could muster, to forget the
+darkness of the past by looking forward with a pious hope and a lively
+faith to the brightness and glory of the future. By constant prayer the
+monk thought more of his God, and gained help to strengthen the faith
+within him; and by assiduous and devoted study he disciplined his heart
+of flesh--tore from it what lingering affection for the world remained,
+and deserting all love of earth and all love of kin, purged and purified
+it for his holy calling, and closed its portals to render it inaccessible
+to all sympathy of blood. If a thought of those shut out from him by the
+monastic walls stole across his soul and mingled with his prayer, he
+started and trembled as if he had offered up an unholy desire in the
+supplication. To him it was a proof that his nature was not yet subdued;
+and a day of study and meditation, with a fast unbroken till the rays of
+the morrow's sun cast their light around his little cell, absolved the
+sin, and broke the tie that bound him to the world without.
+
+If this violence was experienced in subduing the tenderest of human
+sympathy; how much more severe was the conflict of dark passions only
+half subdued, or malignant depravity only partially reformed. These dark
+lines of human nature were sometimes prominent, even when the monk was
+clothed in sackcloth and ashes; and are markedly visible in the life of
+William de Trompington. But let not the reader think that he was
+appointed with the hearty suffrages of the fraternity, he was elected at
+the recommendation of the "king," a very significant term in those days
+of despotic rule, at which choice became a mere farce. "Out of the
+fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and the monks soon began to
+perceive with regret and trembling the worldly ways of the new abbot,
+which he could not hide even under his abbatical robes. In a place
+dedicated to holy deeds and heavenly thoughts, worldly conduct or
+unbridled passion strikes the mind as doubly criminal, and loads the
+heart with dismay and suffering; at least so my lord Prior regarded it,
+whose righteous indignation could no longer endure these manifestations
+of a worldly mind. So he gently remonstrated with his superior, and
+hinted at the impropriety of such conduct. This was received not in
+Christian fellowship, but with haughty and passionate displeasure; and
+from that day the fate of poor Raymond was irrevocably sealed. The abbot
+thinking to suppress the dissatisfaction which was now becoming general
+and particularly inconvenient, sent him a long distance off to the cell
+of Tynmouth in Northumberland, where all were strangers to him. Nor could
+the tears of the old man turn the heart of his cruel lord, nor the
+rebellious murmurings of the brothers avail. Thank God such cases are not
+very frequent; and the reader of monkish annals will not find many
+instances of such cold and unfeeling cruelty to distress his studies or
+to arouse his indignation. But obedience was a matter of course in the
+monastery; it was one of the most imperative duties of the monk, and if
+not cheerfully he was compelled to manifest alacrity in fulfilling even
+the most unpleasant mandate. But I would have forgiven this transaction
+on the score of _expediency_ perhaps, had not the abbot heaped additional
+insults and cruelties upon the aged offender; but his books which he had
+transcribed with great diligence and care, he forcibly deprived him of,
+_violenter spoliatum_, and so robbed him, as his historian says, of all
+those things which would have been a comfort and solace to his old
+age.[405]
+
+The books which the abbot thus became dishonestly possessed of--for I
+cannot regard it in any other light--we are told he gave to the library
+of the monastery; and he also presented some books to more than one
+neighboring church.[406] But he was not bookworm himself, and dwelt I
+suspect with greater fondness over his wealthy rent roll than on the
+pages of the fine volumes in the monastic library. The monks, however,
+amidst all these troubles retained their love of books; indeed it was
+about this time that John de Basingstoke, who had studied at Athens,
+brought a valuable collection of Greek books into England, and greatly
+aided in diffusing a knowledge of that language into this country. He was
+deacon of Saint Albans, and taught many of the monks Greek; Nicholas, a
+chaplain there, became so proficient in it, that he was capable of
+greatly assisting bishop Grostete in translating his Testament of the
+twelve patriarchs into Latin.[407]
+
+Roger de Northone, the twenty-fourth abbot of Saint Albans, gave "many
+valuable and choice books to the monastery," and among them the
+commentaries of Raymond, Godfrey, and Bernard, and a book containing the
+works and discourses of Seneca. His bibliomaniacal propensities, and his
+industry in transcribing books, is indicated by an illumination
+representing this worthy abbot deeply engrossed with his ponderous
+volumes.[408]
+
+I have elsewhere related an anecdote of Wallingford, abbot of St. Albans,
+and the sale of books effected between him and Richard de Bury. It
+appears that rare and munificent collector gave many and various noble
+books, _multos et varios libros nobiles_, to the monastery of St. Albans
+whilst he was bishop of Durham.[409] Michael de Wentmore succeeded
+Wallingford, and proved a very valuable benefactor to the monastery; and
+by wise regulations and economy greatly increased the comforts and good
+order of the abbey. He gave many books, _plures libros_, to the library,
+besides two excellent Bibles,[410] one for the convent and one for the
+abbot's study, and to be kept especially for his private reading; an
+ordinal, very beautiful to look upon, being sumptuously bound.[411]
+Indeed, so _multis voluminibus_ did he bestow, that he expended more than
+100_l._ in this way, an immense sum in those old days, when a halfpenny a
+day was deemed fair wages for a scribe.[412]
+
+Wentmore was succeeded by Thomas de la Mare, a man of singular learning,
+and remarkable as a patron of it in others; it was probably by his
+direction that John of Tynmouth wrote his Sanctilogium Britannæ, for that
+work was dedicated to him. A copy, presented by Thomas de la Mare to the
+church of Redburn, is in the British Museum, much injured by fire, but
+retaining at the end the following lines:
+
+     "Hunc librum dedet Dominus Thomas de la Mare, Albas monasterii S.
+     Albani Anglorum Proto martyris Deo et Ecclesiæ B. Amphibali de
+     Redburn, ut fratris indem in cursu existentus per ejus lecturam
+     poterint coelestibus instrui, et per Sanctorum exempla
+     virtutibus insignixi."[413]
+
+But there are few who have obtained so much reputation as John de
+Whethamstede, perhaps the most learned abbot of this monastery. He was
+formerly monk of the cell at Tynmouth, and afterwards prior of Gloucester
+College at Oxford, from whence he was appointed to the government of St.
+Albans. Whethamstede was a passionate bibliomaniac, and when surrounded
+with his books he cared little, or perhaps from the absence of mind so
+often engendered by the delights of study, he too frequently forgot, the
+important affairs of his monastery, and the responsible duties of an
+abbot; but absorbed as he was with his studies, Whethamstede was not a
+mere
+
+    ..... "Bookful blockhead ignorantly read
+    With loads of learned lumber in his head."
+
+It is true he was an inveterate reader, amorously inclined towards vellum
+tomes and illuminated parchments; but he did not covet them like some
+collectors for the mere pride of possessing them, but gloried in feasting
+on their intellectual charms and delectable wisdom, and sought in their
+attractive pages the means of becoming a better Christian and a wiser
+man. But he was so excessively fond of books, and became so deeply
+engrossed with his book-collecting pursuits, that it is said some of the
+monks showed a little dissatisfaction at his consequent neglect of the
+affairs of the monastery; but these are faults I cannot find the heart to
+blame him for, but am inclined to consider his conduct fully redeemed by
+the valuable encouragement he gave to literature and learning. Generous
+to a fault, abundant in good deeds and costly expenditure, he became
+involved in pecuniary difficulties, and found that the splendor and
+wealth which he had scattered so lavishly around his monastery, and the
+treasures with which he had adorned the library shelves, had not only
+drained his ample coffers, but left a large balance unsatisfied.
+Influenced by this circumstance, and the murmurings of the monks, and
+perhaps too, hoping to obtain more time for study and book-collecting, he
+determined to resign his abbacy, and again become a simple brother. The
+proceedings relative to this affair are curiously related by a
+contemporary, John of Amersham.[414] In Whethamstede's address to the
+monks on this occasion, he thus explains his reasons for the step he was
+about to take. After a touching address, wherein he intimates his
+determination, he says,[415] "Ye have known moreover how, from the first
+day of my appointment even until this day, assiduously and continually
+without any intermission I have shown singular solicitude in four things,
+to wit, in the erection of conventual buildings, _in the writing of
+books_, in the renewal of vestments, and in the acquisition of property.
+And perhaps, by reason of this solicitude of mine, ye conceive that I
+have fallen into debt; yet that you may know, learn and understand what
+is in this matter the certain and plain truth, and when ye know it ye may
+report it unto others, know ye for certain, yea, for most certain, that
+for all these things about which, and in which I have expended money, I
+am not indebted to any one living more than 10,000 marks; but that I wish
+freely to acknowledge this debt, and so to make satisfaction to every
+creditor, that no survivor of any one in the world shall have to demand
+anything from my successor."
+
+The monks on hearing this declaration were sorely affected, and used
+every persuasion to induce my lord abbot to alter his determination, but
+without success; so that they were compelled to seek another in whom to
+confide the government of their abbey. Their choice fell upon John
+Stokes, who presided over them for many years; but at his death the love
+and respect which the brothers entertained for Whethamstede, was
+manifested by unanimously electing him again, an honor which he in return
+could not find the heart to decline. But during all this time, and after
+his restoration, he was constantly attending to the acquisition of books,
+and numerous were the transcripts made under his direction by the scribes
+and enriched by his munificence, for some of the most costly copies
+produced in that century were the fruits of their labor; during his time
+there were more volumes transcribed than in that of any other abbot since
+the foundation of the abbey, says the manuscript from whence I am
+gleaning these details, and adds that the number of them exceeded
+eighty-seven. He commenced the transcription of the great commentary of
+Nicholas de Lyra upon the whole Bible, which had then been published some
+few years. "Det Deus, ut in nostris felicem habere valeat
+consummacionem,"[416] exclaims the monk, nor will the reader be surprised
+at the expression, if he for one moment contemplates the magnitude of the
+undertaking.
+
+But not only was Whethamstede remarkable as a bibliomaniac--he claims
+considerable respect as an author. Some of his productions were more
+esteemed in his own time than now; being compilations and commentaries
+more adapted as a substitute for other books, than valuable as original
+works. Under this class I am inclined to place his Granarium, a large
+work in five volumes; full of miscellaneous extracts, etc., and somewhat
+partaking of the encyclopediac form; his Propinarium, in two volumes,
+also treating of general matters; his Pabularium and Palearium Poetarium,
+and his Proverbiarium, or book of Proverbs; to which may be added the
+many pieces relating to the affairs of the monastery. But far different
+must we regard many of his other productions, which are more important in
+a literary point of view, as calling for the exercise of a refined and
+cultivated mind, and no small share of critical acumen. Among these I
+must not forget to include his Chronicle,[417] which spreading over a
+space of twenty years, forms a valuable historical document. The rest are
+poetical narratives, embracing an account of Jack Cade's
+insurrection--the battles of Ferrybridge, Wakefield, and St. Albans.[418]
+
+A Cottonian manuscript contained a catalogue of the books which this
+worthy abbot compiled, or which were transcribed under his direction:
+unfortunately it was burnt, with many others forming part of that
+inestimable collection.[419] From another source we learn the names of
+some of them, and the cost incurred in their transcription.[420] Twenty
+marks were paid for copying his Granarium, in four volumes; forty
+shillings for his Palearium; the same for a Polycraticon of John of
+Salisbury; five pounds for a Boethius, with a gloss; upwards of six
+pounds for "a book of Cato," enriched with a gloss and table; and four
+pounds for Gorham upon Luke. Whethamstede ordered a Grael to be written
+so beautifully illuminated, and so superbly bound, as to be valued at the
+enormous sum of twenty pounds: but let it be remembered that my Lord
+Abbot was a very epicure in books, and thought a great deal of choice
+bindings, tall copies, immaculate parchment, and brilliant illuminations,
+and the high prices which he freely gave for these book treasures evince
+how sensible he was to the joys of bibliomania; nor am I inclined to
+regard the works thus attained as "mere monastic trash."[421]
+
+The finest illumination in the Cotton manuscript is a portrait of Abbot
+Whethamstede, which for artistic talent is far superior to any in the
+volume. Eight folios are occupied with an enumeration of the "good
+works" of this liberal monk: among the items we find the sum of forty
+pounds having been expended on a reading desk, and four pounds for
+writing four Antiphoners.[422] He displayed also great liberality of
+spirit in his benefactions to Gloucester College, at Oxford, besides
+great pecuniary aid. He built a library there, and gave many valuable
+books for the use of the students, in which he wrote these verses:
+
+    Fratribus Oxonioe datur in minus liber iste,
+    Per patrem pecorem prothomartyris Angligenorum:
+    Quem si quis rapiat ad partem sive reponat,
+    Vel Judæ loqueum, vel furcas sentiat; Amen.
+
+In others he wrote--
+
+    Discior ut docti fieret nova regia plebi
+    Culta magisque deæ datur hic liber ara Minerva,
+    Hic qui diis dictis libant holocausta ministrias.
+    Et cirre bibulam sitiunt præ nectare lympham,
+    Estque librique loci, idem datur, actor et unus.[423]
+
+If we estimate worth by comparison, we must award a large proportion to
+this learned abbot. Living in the most corrupt age of the monastic
+system, when the evils attendant on luxurious ease began to be too
+obvious in the cloister, and when complaints were heard at first in a
+whispering murmur, but anon in a stern loud voice of wroth and indignant
+remonstrance--when in fact the progressive, inquiring spirit of the
+reformation was taking root in what had hitherto been regarded as a hard,
+dry, stony soil. This coming tempest, only heard as yet like the lulling
+of a whisper, was nevertheless sufficiently loud to spread terror and
+dismay among the cowled habitants of the monasteries. That quietude and
+mental ease so indispensable to study--so requisite for the growth of
+thought and intellectuality, was disturbed by these distant sounds, or
+dissipated by their own indolence. And yet in the midst of all this,
+rendered still more anxious and perplexing by domestic troubles and signs
+of discontent and insubordination among the monks. Whethamstede found
+time, and what was better the spirit, for literary and bibliomanical
+pursuits. Honor to the man, monk though he be, who oppressed with these
+vicissitudes and cares could effect so much, and could appreciate both
+literature and art.
+
+Contemporary with him we are not surprised that he gained the patronage
+and friendship of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, to whom he dedicated many
+of his own performances, and greatly aided in collecting those treasures
+which the duke regarded with such esteem. It is said that noble collector
+frequently paid a friendly visit to the abbey to inspect the work of the
+monkish scribes, and perhaps to negociate for some of those choice vellum
+tomes for which the monks of that monastery were so renowned.
+
+But we must not pass the "good duke" without some slight notice of his
+"ryghte valiant deedes," his domestic troubles and his dark mysterious
+end. Old Foxe thus speaks of him in his Actes and Monuments: "Of manners
+he seemed meeke and gentle, louing the commonwealth, a supporter of the
+poore commons, of wit and wisdom, discrete and studious, well affected to
+religion and a friend to verity, and no lesse enemy to pride and
+ambition, especially in haughtie prelates, which was his undoing in this
+present evil world. And, which is seldom and rare in such princes of that
+calling, he was both learned himselfe and no lesse given to studie, and
+also a singular favourer and patron to those who were studious and
+learned."[424] To which I cannot refrain from adding the testimony of
+Hollingshed, who tells us that "The ornaments of his mind were both rare
+and admirable; the feats of chiualrie by him commensed and atchiued
+valiant and fortunate; his grauitie in counsell and soundnesse of policie
+profound and singular; all which with a traine of other excellent
+properties linked together, require a man of manifold gifts to aduance
+them according to their dignitie. I refer the readers unto Maister Foxe's
+booke of Actes and Monuments. Onelie this I ad, that in respect of his
+noble indowments and his demeanor full of decencie, which he dailie used,
+it seemeth he might wel haue giuen this prettie poesie:"
+
+    "Virtute duce non sanguine nitor."[425]
+
+But with all these high qualities, our notions of propriety are somewhat
+shocked at the open manner in which he kept his mistress Eleanor Cobham;
+but we can scarcely agree in the condemnation of the generality of
+historians for his marrying her afterwards, but regard it rather as the
+action of an honorable man, desirous of making every reparation in his
+power.[426] But the "pride of birth" was sorely wounded by the espousals;
+and the enmity of the aristocracy already roused, now became deeply
+rooted. Eleanor's disposition is represented as passionate and
+unreasonable, and her mind sordid and oppressive. Be this how it may, we
+must remember that it is from her enemies we learn it; and if so,
+unrelenting persecution and inveterate malice were proceedings ill
+calculated to soothe a temper prone to violence, or to elevate a mind
+undoubtedly weak. But the vindictive and haughty cardinal Beaufort was
+the open and secret enemy of the good duke Humphrey; for not only did he
+thwart every public measure proposed by his rival, but employed spies to
+insinuate themselves into his domestic circle, and to note and inform him
+of every little circumstance which malice could distort into crime, or
+party rage into treason. This detestable espionage met with a too speedy
+success. The duke, who was especially fond of the society of learned men,
+retained in his family many priests and clerks, and among them one Roger
+Bolingbroke, "a famous necromancer and astronomer." This was a sufficient
+ground for the enmity of the cardinal to feed upon, and he determined to
+annihilate at one blow the domestic happiness of his rival. He arrested
+the Duchess, Bolingbroke, and a witch called Margery Gourdimain, or
+Jourdayn, on the charge of witchcraft and treason. He accused the priest
+and Margery of making, and the duchess for having in her possession, a
+waxen figure, which, as she melted it before a slow fire, so would the
+body of the king waste and decay, and his marrow wither in his bones. Her
+enemies tried her, and of course found her and her companions guilty,
+though without a shred of evidence to the purpose. The duchess was
+sentenced to do penance in St. Paul's and two other churches on three
+separate days, and to be afterwards imprisoned in the Isle of Man for
+life. Bolingbroke, who protested his innocence to the last, was hung and
+quartered at Tyburn; and Margery, the witch of Eye, as she was called,
+was burnt at Smithfield. But the black enmity of the cardinal was sorely
+disappointed at the effect produced by this persecution. He reasonably
+judged that no accusation was so likely to arouse a popular prejudice
+against duke Humphrey as appealing to the superstition of the people who
+in that age were ever prone to receive the most incredulous fabrications;
+but far different was the impression made in the present case. The people
+with more than their usual sagacity saw through the flimsy designs of the
+cardinal and his faction; and while they pitied the victims of party
+malice, loved and esteemed the good duke Humphrey more than ever.
+
+But the intriguing heart of Beaufort soon resolved upon the most
+desperate measures, and shrunk not from staining his priestly hands with
+innocent and honorable blood. A parliament was summoned to meet at St.
+Edmunds Bury, in Suffolk, on the 10th of February, 1447, at which all the
+nobility were ordered to assemble. On the arrival of Duke Humphrey, the
+cardinal arrested him on a groundless charge of high treason, and a few
+days after he was found dead in his bed, his enemies gave out that he had
+died of the palsy; but although his body was eagerly shown to the
+sorrowing multitude, the people believed that their friend and favorite
+had been foully murdered, and feared not to raise their voice in loud
+accusations at the Suffolk party; "sum sayed that he was smouldered
+betwixt two fetherbeddes,"[427] and others declared that he had suffered
+a still more barbarous death. Deep was the murmuring and the grief of the
+people, for the good duke had won the love and esteem of their hearts;
+and we can fully believe a contemporary who writes--
+
+    "Compleyne al Yngland thys goode Lorde's deth."[428]
+
+Perhaps none suffered more by his death than the author and the scholar;
+for Duke Humphrey was a munificent patron of letters, and loved to
+correspond with learned men, many of whom dedicated their works to him,
+and received ample encouragement in return.[429] Lydgate, who knew him
+well, composed some of his pieces at the duke's instigation. In his
+Tragedies of Ihon Bochas he thus speaks of him:
+
+    "Duke of Glocester men this prynce call,
+     And not withstandyng his estate and dignitie,
+     His courage neuer dothe appall
+     To study in bokes of antiquitie;
+     Therein he hath so great felicitie,
+     Virtuously him selfe to occupye,
+     Of vycious slouthe, he hath the maistry.
+
+     And for these causes as in his entent
+     To shewe the untrust of all worldly thinge,
+     He gave to me in commandment
+     As him seemed it was ryghte well fittynge
+     That I shoulde, after my small cunning,
+     This boke translate, him to do pleasaunce,
+     To shew the chaung of worldly variaunce.
+
+     And with support of his magnificence
+     Under the wynges of his correction,
+     Though that I lacke of eloquence
+     I shall proceede in this translation.
+     Fro me auoydyng all presumption,
+     Louyly submittying every houre and space,
+     My rude language to my lorde's grace.
+
+     Anone after I of eutencion,
+     With penne in hande fast gan me spede,
+     As I coulde in my translation,
+     In this labour further to procede,
+     My Lorde came forth by and gan to take hede;
+     This mighty prince right manly and right wise
+     Gaue me charge in his prudent auyle.
+
+     That I should in euery tragedy,
+     After the processe made mencion,
+     At the ende set a remedy,
+     With a Lenuoy, conveyed by reason;
+     And after that, with humble affection,
+     To noble princes lowly it dyrect,
+     By others fallying them selues to correct.
+
+     And I obeyed his biddyng and pleasaunce
+     Under support of his magnificence,
+     As I coulde, I gan my penne aduaunce,
+     All be I was barrayne of eloquence,
+     Folowing mine auctor in substance and sétence,
+     For it sufficeth playnly unto me,
+     So that my lorde my makyng take in gre."[430]
+
+Lydgate often received money whilst translating this work, from the good
+duke Humphrey, and there is a manuscript letter in the British Museum in
+which he writes--
+
+    "Righte myghty prynce, and it be youre wille,
+     Condescende leyser for to take,
+     To se the contents of thys litel bille,
+     Whiche whan I wrote my hand felt qquake."[431]
+
+Duke Humphrey gave a noble instance of his great love of learning in the
+year 1439, when he presented to the University of Oxford one hundred and
+twenty-nine treatises, and shortly after, one hundred and twenty-six
+_admirandi apparatus_; and in the same year, nine more. In 1443, he made
+another important donation of one hundred and thirty volumes, to which he
+added one hundred and thirty-five more,[432] making in all, a collection
+of five hundred and thirty-eight volumes. These treasures, too, had been
+collected with all the nice acumen of a bibliomaniac, and the utmost
+attention was paid to their outward condition and internal purity. Never,
+perhaps, were so many costly copies seen before, dazzling with the
+splendor of their illuminations, and rendered inestimable by the many
+faithful miniatures with which they were enriched. A superb copy of
+Valerius Maximus is the only relic of that costly and noble gift, a
+solitary but illustrious example of the membraneous treasures of that
+ducal library.[433] But alas! those very indications of art, those
+exquisite illuminations, were the fatal cause of their unfortunate end;
+the portraits of kings and eminent men, with which the historical works
+were adorned; the diagrams which pervaded the scientific treatises, were
+viewed by the zealous reformers of Henry's reign, as damning evidence of
+their Popish origin and use; and released from the chains with which they
+were secured, they were hastily committed to the greedy flames. Thus
+perished the library of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester! and posterity have
+to mourn the loss of many an early gem of English literature.[434]
+
+But in the fourteenth century many other honorable examples occur of lay
+collectors. The magnificent volumes, nine hundred in number, collected
+by Charles V. of France, a passionate bibliomaniac, were afterwards
+brought by the duke of Bedford into England. The library then contained
+eight hundred and fifty-three volumes, so sumptuously bound and
+gorgeously illuminated as to be valued at 2,223 livres![435] This choice
+importation diffused an eager spirit of inquiry among the more wealthy
+laymen. Humphrey, the "good duke," received some of these volumes as
+presents, and among others, a rich copy of Livy, in French.[436] Guy
+Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, also collected some choice tomes, and
+possessed an unusually interesting library of early romances. He left the
+whole of them to the monks of Bordesley Abbey in Worcestershire, about
+the year 1359.[437] As a specimen of a private library in the fourteenth
+century, I am tempted to extract it.
+
+"A tus iceux, qe ceste lettre verront, ou orrount, Gwy de Beauchamp,
+Comte de Warr. Saluz en Deu. Saluz nous aveir baylé e en la garde le Abbé
+e le Covent de Bordesleye, lessé à demorer a touz jours touz les
+Romaunces de sonz nomes; ceo est assaveyr, un volum, qe est appelé
+Tresor. Un volum, en le quel est le premer livere de Lancelot, e un volum
+del Romaunce de Aygnes. Un Sauter de Romaunce. Un volum des Evangelies, e
+de Vie des Seins. Un volum, qe p'le des quatre principals Gestes de
+Charles, e de dooun, e de Meyace e de Girard de Vienne e de Emery de
+Nerbonne. Un volum del Romaunce Emmond de Ageland, e deu Roy Charles
+dooun de Nauntoyle. E le Romaunce de Gwyoun de Nauntoyl. E un volum del
+Romaunce Titus et Vespasien. E un volum del Romaunce Josep ab Arimathie,
+e deu Seint Grael. E un volum, qe p'le coment Adam fust eniesté hors de
+paradys, e le Genesie. E un volum en le quel sount contenuz touns des
+Romaunces, ceo este assaveir, Vitas patrum au comencement; e pus un Comte
+de Auteypt; e la Vision Seint Pol; et pus les Vies des xii. Seins. E le
+Romaunce de Willame de Loungespe. E Autorites des Seins humes. E le
+Mirour de Alme. Un volum, en le quel sount contenuz la Vie Seint Pére e
+Seint Pol, e des autres liv. E un volum qe est appelé l'Apocalips. E un
+livere de Phisik, e de Surgie. Un volum del Romaunce de Gwy, e de la
+Reygne tut enterement. Un volum del Romaunce de Troies. Un volum del
+Romaunce de Willame de Orenges e de Teband de Arabie. Un volum del
+Romaunce de Amase e de Idoine. Un volum del Romaunce de Girard de Viene.
+Un volum del Romaunce deu Brut, e del Roy Costentine. Un volum de le
+enseignemt Aristotle enveiez au Roy Alisaundre. Un volum de la mort ly
+Roy Arthur, e de Mordret. Un volum en le quel sount contenuz les
+Enfaunces de Nostre Seygneur, coment il fust mené en Egipt. E la Vie
+Seint Edwd. E la Visioun Seint Pol. La Vengeaunce n're Seygneur par
+Vespasien a Titus, e la Vie Seint Nicolas, qe fust nez en Patras. E la
+Vie Seint Eustace. E la Vie Seint Cudlac. E la Passioun n're Seygneur. E
+la Meditacioun Seint Bernard de n're Dame Seint Marie, e del Passioun
+sour deuz fiz Jesu Creist n're Seignr. E la Vie Seint Eufrasie. E la Vie
+Seint Radegounde. E la Vie Seint Juliane. Un volum, en le quel est aprise
+de Enfants et lumière à Lays. Un volum del Romaunce d'a Alisaundre, ove
+peintures. Un petit rouge livere, en le quel sount contenuz mons diverses
+choses. Un volum del Romaunce des Mareschans, e de Ferebras e de
+Alisaundre. Les queus livres nous grauntons par nos heyrs e par nos
+assignes qil demorront en la dit Abbeye, etc."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[385] See a fine manuscript in the Cotton collection marked Nero D.
+      vii., and another marked Claudius E. iv., both of which I have
+      consulted.
+
+[386] Matthew Paris' Edit. Wats, tom. i. p. 39.
+
+[387] "Asserens ad cantelam, ipsum fuisse beati Amphibali, beate
+      Albini magistri, caracellam."--Mat. Paris, p. 44.
+
+[388] Abjectis igitur et combustis libris, in quibus commenta
+      diaboli continabantur.
+
+[389] MS. Cottonian, E. iv. fo. 101; Mat. Paris, Edit. Wat. i. p.
+      41.
+
+[390] MS. Cottanian Claudius, E. iv. fo. 105 b., and MS. Cott. Nero,
+      D. vii. fo. 13, b.
+
+[391] He was elected in 1093.--See MS. Cott. Claud. E. iv. fo. 107.
+
+[392] Got. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 108.
+
+[393] MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fo. 15, a; and MS. Cot. Claud. e. iv.
+
+[394] Cot. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 113. "Ex tunc igitur amator
+      librorum et adquisiter sedulus multio voluminibus habundavit."
+
+[395] Fecit etiam scribi libros plurimos; quos longum esset
+      enarrare.--_Mat. Paris Edit. Wat._ p. 89.
+
+[396] Cot. MS. Nero D. vii. fo. 16, a.
+
+[397] MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 114, a.
+
+[398] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 125 b.
+
+[399] _Ibid._
+
+[400] MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 16 a.
+
+[401] MS. Cot. Claud. iv. fo. 124.
+
+[402] Claud. E. iv. fo. 124.
+
+[403] "In grammatica Priscianus, in metrico Ovidius, in physica
+      censori potuit Galenus." _MS. Cot. Claud._ E. iv. f. 129, b. _Matt.
+      Paris' Edit. Wat._ p. 103.
+
+[404] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 131. b.
+
+[405] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fol. 135 b.
+
+[406] Ibid. fol. 141.
+
+[407] MS. Reg. Brit. Mus. 4 D. viii. 4. Wood's Hist. Oxon. 1-82, and
+      Matt. Paris. Turner's Hist. of Eng. vol. iv. p. 180.
+
+[408] MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fol. 19 a.
+
+[409] Ibid. fol. 86.
+
+[410] Duos bonas biblias.
+
+[411] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 229 b.
+
+[412] MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 20 b.
+
+[413] MS. Cot. Tiberius, E. i.
+
+[414] MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 165, "Acta Johannis Abbatis per
+      Johannem Agmundishamensem monachum S. Albani."
+
+[415] Gibson's Hist. Monast. Tynmouth, vol. ii. p. 62, whose
+      translation I use in giving the following extract. If the reader
+      refers to Mr. Gibson's handsome volumes, he will find much
+      interesting and curious matter from John of Amersham relative to
+      this matter.
+
+[416] Otterb. cxvi.; see also MS. Cot. Nero. vii. fo. 32 a.
+
+[417] Otterbourne Hist. a Hearne, _edit._ Oxon, 1732, tom. i. 2.
+
+[418] Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. ii. pt. 11, p. 205. For a
+      list of his works see Bale; also Pits. p. 630, who enumerates more
+      than thirty.
+
+[419] Marked Otho, b. iv.
+
+[420] MS. Arundel. Brit. Mus. clxiii. c. A curious Register, "per
+      magistrum Johannem Whethamstede et dominum Thoman Ramryge," fo. 74,
+      75. Upwards of fifty volumes are specified, with the cost of each.
+
+[421] Julius Cæsar was among them.--Cot. MS. Claud. d. i. fo. 156.
+
+[422] MS. Cod. Nero, D. vii. fo. 28 a. He "enlarged the abbot's
+      study," fo. 29, which most monasteries possessed. Whethamstede had a
+      study also at his manor at Tittinhanger, and had inscribed on it
+      these lines:
+
+         "Ipse Johannis amor Whethamstede ubique proclamor
+          Ejus et alter honor hic lucis in auge reponer."
+
+      See also MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 157, for an account of his many
+      donations.
+
+[423] Weever's Funerall Monuments, p. 562 to 567. I have forgotten
+      to mention before that Whethamstede built a new library for the
+      abbey books, and expended considerably more than £120 upon the
+      building.
+
+[424] Foxe's Actes and Monuments, folio, Lond. 1576, p. 679.
+
+[425] Holingshed Chronicle, fol. 1587, vol. ii. p. 627.
+
+[426] See Stowe, p. 367.
+
+[427] Leland Collect. vol. i. p. 494.
+
+[428] MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 7 b.
+
+[429] Capgrave's Commentary on Genesis, in Oriel College, Cod. MSS.
+      32, is dedicated to him. Aretine's Trans. Aristotle's Politics, MS.
+      Bodl. D. i. 8-10. Pet. de Monte de Virt. de Vit. MS. Norvic. More,
+      257. Bibl. publi Cantab. Many others are given in Warton's Hist. of
+      Poetry, 4to. vol. ii. pp. 48-50.
+
+[430] Tragedies of Ihon Bochas. Imp. at London, by John Wayland,
+      fol. 38 b.
+
+[431] MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 6. Lydgate received one hundred
+      shillings for translating the Life of St. Alban into English verse
+      for Whethamstede.
+
+[432] See Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, vol. ii. p. 914.
+
+[433] MSS. Bodl. N. E. vii. ii. Warton, vol. ii. p. 45. I find in
+      the Arundel Register in the British Museum (MSS. Arund. clxiii. c.)
+      that a fine copy of Valerius, in two volumes, with a gloss, was
+      transcribed in the time of Whethamstede at St. Albans, at the cost
+      of £6 13 4, probably the identical copy.
+
+[434] There are many volumes formerly belonging to duke Humphrey, in
+      the public libraries, a fine volume intitled "Tabulas Humfridi ducis
+      Glowcester in Judicus artis Geomantie," is in the Brit. Mus., MSS.
+      Arund. 66, fo. 277, beautifully written and illuminated with
+      excessive margins of the purest vellum. See also MSS. Harl. 1705.
+      Leland says, "Humfredus multaties scripsit in frontispiecis librorum
+      suorum, _Moun bien Mondain_," Script. vol. iii. 58.
+
+[435] Bouvin, Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscrip., ii. 693.
+
+[436] _Ibid._
+
+[437] Printed in Todd's Illustrations to Gower and Chaucer, 8vo. p.
+      161, from a copy by Arch Sancroft, from Ashmole's Register of the
+      Earl of Ailesbury's Evidences, fol. 110. Lambeth, MSS., No. 577.
+      fol. 18 b.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+     _The Dominicans.--The Franciscans and the Carmelites.--Scholastic
+     Studies.--Robert Grostest.--Libraries in London.--Miracle
+     Plays.--Introduction of Printing into England.--Barkley's
+     Description of a Bibliomaniac_.
+
+
+The old monastic orders of St. Augustine and St. Benedict, of whose love
+of books we have principally spoken hitherto, were kept from falling into
+sloth and ignorance in the thirteenth century by the appearance of
+several new orders of devotees. The Dominicans,[438] the
+Franciscans,[439] and the Carmelites were each renowned for their
+profound learning, and their unquenchable passion for knowledge; assuming
+a garb of the most abject poverty, renouncing all love of the world, all
+participation in its temporal honors, and refraining to seek the
+aggrandizement of their order by fixed oblations or state endowments, but
+adhering to a voluntary system for support, they caused a visible
+sensation among all classes, and wrought a powerful change in the
+ecclesiastical and collegiate learning of the fourteenth and fifteenth
+centuries; and by their devotion, their charity, their strict austerity,
+and by their brilliant and unconquerable powers of disputation, soon
+gained the respect and affections of the people.[440]
+
+Much as the friars have been condemned, or darkly as they have been
+represented, I have no hesitation in saying that they did more for the
+revival of learning, and the progress of English literature, than any
+other of the monastic orders. We cannot trace their course without
+admiration and astonishment at their splendid triumphs and success; they
+appear to act as intellectual crusaders against the prevailing ignorance
+and sloth. The finest names that adorn the literary annals of the
+fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the most prolific authors who
+flourished during that long period were begging friars; and the very
+spirit that was raised against them by the churchmen, and the severe
+controversal battles which they had between them, were the means of doing
+a vast amount of good, of exposing ignorance in high places, and
+compelling those who enjoyed the honors of learning to strive to merit
+them, by a studious application to literature and science; need I do more
+than mention the shining names of Duns Scotus, of Thomas Aquinas, of
+Roger Bacon, the founder of experimental philosophy, and the justly
+celebrated Robert Grostest, the most enlightened ecclesiastic of his
+age.[441]
+
+We may not admire the scholastic philosophy which the followers of
+Francis and Dominic held and expounded; we may deplore the intricate
+mazes and difficulties which a false philosophy led them to maintain, and
+we may equally deplore the waste of time and learning which they lavished
+in the vain hope of solving the mysteries of God, or in comprehending a
+loose and futile science. Yet the philosophy of the schoolmen is but
+little understood, and is too often condemned without reason or without
+proof; for those who trouble themselves to denounce, seldom care to read
+them; their ponderous volumes are too formidable to analyze; it is so
+much easier to declaim than to examine such sturdy antagonists; but we
+owe to the schoolmen far more than we are apt to suppose, and if it were
+possible to scratch their names from the page of history, and to
+obliterate all traces of their bulky writings from our libraries and
+from our literature, we should find our knowledge dark and gloomy in
+comparison with what it is.
+
+But the mendicant orders did not study and uphold the scholastic
+philosophy without improving it; the works of Aristotle, of which it is
+said the early schoolmen possessed only a vitiated translation from the
+Arabic,[442] was, at the period these friars sprung up, but imperfectly
+understood and taught. Michael Scot, with the assistance of a learned
+Jew,[443] translated and published the writings of the great philosopher
+in Latin, which greatly superseded the old versions derived from the
+Saracen copies.
+
+The mendicant friars having qualified themselves with a respectable share
+of Greek learning, then taught and expounded the Aristotelian philosophy
+according to this new translation, and opened a new and proscribed
+field[444] for disputation and enquiry; their indomitable perseverance,
+their acute powers of reasoning, and the splendid popularity which many
+of the disciples of St. Dominic and St. Francis were fast acquiring,
+caused students to flock in crowds to their seats of learning, and all
+who were inspired to an acquaintance with scholastic philosophy placed
+themselves under their training and tuition.[445]
+
+No religious order before them ever carried the spirit of inquiry to such
+an extent as they, or allowed it to wander over such an unbounded field.
+The most difficult and mysterious questions of theology were discussed
+and fearlessly analyzed; far from exercising that blind and easy
+credulity which mark the religious conduct of the old monastic orders,
+they were disposed to probe and examine every article of their faith. To
+such an extent were their disputations carried, that sometimes it shook
+their faith in the orthodoxy of Rome, and often aroused the pious fears
+of the more timid of their own order. Angell de Pisa, who founded the
+school of the Franciscans or Grey Friars at Oxford, is said to have gone
+one day into his school, with a view to discover what progress the
+students were making in their studies; as he entered he found them warm
+in disputation, and was shocked to find that the question at issue was
+"_whether there was a God_;" the good man, greatly alarmed, cried out,
+"Alas, for me! alas, for me! simple brothers pierce the heavens and the
+learned dispute whether there be a God!" and with great indignation ran
+out of the house blaming himself for having established a school for such
+fearful disputes; but he afterwards returned and remained among his
+pupils, and purchased for ten marks a corrected copy of the decretals,
+to which he made his students apply their minds.[446] This school was the
+most flourishing of those belonging to the Franciscans; and it was here
+that the celebrated Robert Grostest[447], bishop of Lincoln, read
+lectures about the year 1230. He was a profound scholar, thoroughly
+conversant with the most abstruse matters of philosophy, and a great
+Bible reader.[448] He possessed an extensive knowledge of the Greek, and
+translated, into Latin, Dionysius the Areopagite, Damascenus, Suida's
+Greek Lexicon, a Greek Grammar, and, with the assistance of Nicholas, a
+monk of St. Alban's, the History of the Twelve Patriarchs. He collected a
+fine library of Greek books, many of which he obtained from Athens. Roger
+Bacon speaks of his knowledge of the Greek, and says, that he caused a
+vast number of books to be gathered together in that tongue.[449] His
+extraordinary talent and varied knowledge caused him to be deemed a
+conjuror and astrologer by the ignorant and superstitious; and his
+enemies, who were numerous and powerful, did not refuse to encourage the
+slanderous report. We find him so represented by the poet Gower:--
+
+    "For of the grete clerk Grostest,
+     I rede how redy that he was
+     Upon clergye, and bede of bras,
+     To make and forge it, for to telle
+     Of suche thynges as befelle,
+     And seven yeres besinesse.
+     Ye ladye, but for the lackhesse
+     Of 'a halfe a mynute of an houre,
+     Fro fyrst that he began laboure,
+     Ye lost al that he had do."[450]
+
+The Franciscan convent at Oxford contained two libraries, one for the use
+of the graduates and one for the secular students, who did not belong to
+their order, but who were receiving instruction from them. Grostest gave
+many volumes to these libraries, and at his death he bequeathed to the
+convent all his books, which formed no doubt a fine collection. "To these
+were added," says Wood, "the works of Roger Bacon, who, Bale tells us,
+writ an hundred Treatises. There were also volumes of other writers of
+the same order, which, I believe, amounted to no small number. In short,
+I guess that these libraries were filled with all sorts of erudition,
+because the friars of all orders, and chiefly the Franciscans, used so
+diligently to procure all monuments of literature from all parts, that
+wise men looked upon it as an injury to laymen, who, therefore, found a
+difficulty to get any books. Several books of Grostest and Bacon treated
+of astronomy and mathematics, besides some relating to the Greek tongue.
+But these friars, as I have found by certain ancient manuscripts, bought
+many Hebrew books of the Jews who were disturbed in England. In a word,
+they, to their utmost power, purchased whatsoever was anywhere to be had
+of singular learning."[451]
+
+Many of the smaller convents of the Franciscan order possessed
+considerable libraries, which they purchased or received as gifts from
+their patrons.[452] There was a house of Grey Friars at Exeter,[453] and
+Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter, gave or lent them a library of
+books in the year 1266, soon after their establishment, reserving to
+himself the privilege of using them, and forbade the friars from selling
+or parting with them. The collection, however, contained less than twenty
+volumes, and was formed principally of the scriptures and writings of
+their own order. "Whosoever," concludes the document, "shall presume
+hereafter to separate or destroy this donation of mine, may he incur the
+malediction of the omnipotent God! dated on the day of the purification,
+in the year of our Lord MCCLXVI."[454]
+
+The library of the Grey Friars in London was of more than usual
+magnificence and extent. It was founded by the celebrated Richard
+Whittington. Its origin is thus set forth in an old manuscript in the
+Cottonian library:[455]
+
+"In the year of our Lord, 1421, the worshipful Richard Whyttyngton,
+knight and mayor of London, began the new library and laid the first
+foundation-stone on the 21st day of October; that is, on the feast of St.
+Hilarion the abbot. And the following year before the feast of the
+nativity of Christ, the house was raised and covered; and in three years
+after, it was floored, whitewashed, glazed,[456] adorned with shelves,
+statues, and carving, and furnished with books: and the expenses about
+what is aforesaid amount to £556:16:9; of which sum, the aforesaid
+Richard Whyttyngton paid £400, and the residue was paid by the reverend
+father B. Thomas Winchelsey and his friends, to whose soul God be
+propitious.--Amen."
+
+Among some items of money expended, we find, "for the works of Doctor de
+Lyra contained in two volumes, now in the chains,[457] 100 marks, of
+which B. John Frensile remitted 20s.; and for the Lectures of Hostiensis,
+now lying in the chains, 5 marks."[458] Leland speaks in the most
+enthusiastic terms of this library, and says, that it far surpassed all
+others for the number and antiquity of its volumes. John Wallden
+bequeathed as many manuscripts of celebrated authors as were worth two
+thousand pounds.[459]
+
+The library of the Dominicans in London was also at one time well stored
+with valuable books. Leland mentions some of those he found there, and
+among them some writings of Wicliff;[460] indeed those of this order were
+renowned far and wide for their love of study; look at the old portraits
+of a Dominican friar, and you will generally see him with the pen in one
+hand and a book in the other; but they were more ambitious in literature
+than the monks, and aimed at the honors of an author rather than at those
+of a scribe; but we are surprised more at their fertility than at their
+style or originality in the mysteries of bookcraft. Henry Esseburn
+diligently read at Oxford, and devoted his whole soul to study, and wrote
+a number of works, principally on the Bible; he was appointed to govern
+the Dominican monastery at Chester; "being remote from all schools, he
+made use of his spare hours to revise and polish what he had writ at
+Oxford; having performed the same to his own satisfaction, he caused his
+works to be fairly transcribed, and copies of them to be preserved in
+several libraries of his order."[461] But they did not usually pay so
+much attention to the duties of transcribing. The Dominicans were fond of
+the physical sciences, and have been accused of too much partiality for
+occult philosophy. Leland tells us that Robert Perserutatur, a
+Dominican, was over solicitous in prying into the secrets of
+philosophy,[462] and lays the same charge to many others.
+
+The Carmelites were more careful in transcribing books than the
+Dominicans, and anxiously preserved them from dust and worms; but I can
+find but little notice of their libraries; the one at Oxford was a large
+room, where they arranged their books in cases made for that purpose;
+before the foundation of this library, the Carmelites kept their books in
+chests, and doubtless gloried in an ample store of manuscript
+treasures.[463]
+
+But in the fifteenth century we find the Mendicant Friars, like the order
+religious sects, disregarding those strict principles of piety which had
+for two hundred years so distinguished their order. The holy rules of St.
+Francis and St. Dominic were seldom read with much attention, and never
+practised with severity; they became careless in the propagation of
+religious principles, relaxed in their austerity, and looked with too
+much fondness on the riches and honors of the world.[464] This diminution
+in religious zeal was naturally accompanied by a proportionate decrease
+in learning and love of study. The sparkling orator, the acute
+controversialist, or the profound scholar, might have been searched for
+in vain among the Franciscans or the Dominicans of the fifteenth century.
+Careless in literary matters, they thought little of collecting books, or
+preserving even those which their libraries already contained; the
+Franciscans at Oxford "sold many of their books to Dr. Thomas Gascoigne,
+about the year 1433,[465] which he gave to the libraries of Lincoln,
+Durham, Baliol, and Oriel. They also declining in strictness of life and
+learning, sold many more to other persons, so that their libraries
+declined to little or nothing."[466]
+
+We are not therefore surprised at the disappointment of Leland, on
+examining this famous repository; his expectations were raised by the
+care with which he found the library guarded, and the difficulty he had
+to obtain access to it: but when he entered, he did not find one-third
+the number of books which it originally contained; but dust and cobwebs,
+moths and beetles he found in abundance, which swarmed over the empty
+shelves.[467]
+
+The mendicant friars have rendered themselves famous by introducing
+theatrical representations[468] for the amusement and instruction of the
+people. These shows were usually denominated miracles, moralities, or
+mysteries, and were performed by the friars in their convents or on
+portable stages, which were wheeled into the market places and streets
+for the convenience of the spectators.
+
+The friars of the monastery of the Franciscans at Coventry are
+particularly celebrated for their ingenuity in performing these pageants
+on Corpus Christi day; a copy of this play or miracle is preserved in the
+Cottonian Collection, written in old English rhyme. It embraces the
+transactions of the Old and New Testament, and is entitled _Ludus Corpus
+Christi_. It commences--
+
+A PLAIE CALLED CORPUS CHRISTI.[469]
+
+    Now gracyous God groundyd of all goodnesse,
+      As thy grete glorie neuyr begynnyng had;
+    So you succour and save all those that sytt and sese,
+      And lystenyth to our talkyng with sylens stylle and sad,
+    For we purpose no pertly stylle in his prese
+      The pepyl to plese with pleys ful glad,
+    Now lystenyth us lowly both mar and lesse
+      Gentyllys and 3emaury off goodly lyff lad,
+                      þis tyde,
+    We call you shewe us that we kan,
+      How that þis werd fyrst began,
+    And howe God made bothe worlde and man
+      If yt ye wyll abyde.
+
+These miracles were intended to instruct the more ignorant, or those
+whose circumstances placed the usual means of acquiring knowledge beyond
+their reach; but as books became accessible, they were no longer needed;
+the printing press made the Bible, from which the plots of the miracle
+plays were usually derived, common among the people, and these gaudy
+representations were swept away by the Reformation; but they were
+temporarily revived in Queen Mary's time, with the other abominations of
+the church papal, for we find that "in the year 1556 a goodly stage play
+of the Passion of Christ was presented at the Grey Friers in London on
+Corpus Christi day," before the Lord Mayor and citizens;[470] but we have
+nothing here to do with anecdotes illustrating a period so late as this.
+
+We have now arrived at the dawn of a new era in learning, and the slow,
+plodding, laborious scribes of the monasteries were startled by the
+appearance of an invention with which their poor pens had no power to
+compete. The year 1472 was the last of the parchment literature of the
+monks, and the first in the English annals of printed learning; but we
+must not forget that the monks with all their sloth and ignorance, were
+the foremost among the encouragers of the early printing press in
+England; the monotony of the dull cloisters of Westminster Abbey was
+broken by the clanking of Caxton's press; and the prayers of the monks of
+old St. Albans mingled with the echoes of the pressman's labor. Little
+did those barefooted priests know what an opponent to their Romish rites
+they were fostering into life; their love of learning and passion for
+books, drove all fear away; and the splendor of the new power so dazzled
+their eyes that they could not clearly see the nature of the refulgent
+light just bursting through the gloom of ages.
+
+After the invention of the printing art, bibliomania took some mighty
+strides; and many choice collectors, full of ardor in the pursuit, became
+renowned for the vast book stores they amassed together. But some of
+their names have been preserved and good deeds chronicled by Dibdin, of
+bibliographical renown; so that a chapter is not necessary here to extol
+them. We may judge how fashionable the avocation became by the keen
+satire of Alexander Barkley, in his translation of Brandt's _Navis
+Stultifera_ or Shyp of Folys,[471] who gives a curious illustration of a
+bibliomaniac; and thus speaks of those collectors who amassed their book
+treasures without possessing much esteem for their contents.
+
+    "That in this ship the chiefe place I gouerne,
+     By this wide sea with fooles wandring,
+     The cause is plain & easy to discerne
+     Still am I busy, bookes assembling,
+     For to have plentie it is a pleasaunt thing
+     In my conceyt, to have them ay in hand,
+     But what they meane do I not understande.
+
+    "But yet I have them in great reverence
+     And honoure, sauing them from filth & ordure
+     By often brushing & much diligence
+     Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture
+     Of Damas, Sattin, or els of velvet pure
+     I keepe them sure, fearing least they should be lost,
+     For in them is the cunning wherein I me boast.
+
+    "But if it fortune that any learned man
+     Within my house fall to disputation,
+     I drawe the curtaynes to shewe my bokes them,
+     That they of my cunning should make probation
+     I love not to fall in alterication,
+     And while the commen, my bokes I turne and winde
+     For all is in them, and nothing in my minde.
+
+    "Ptolomeus the riche caused, longe agone,
+     Over all the worlde good bookes to be sought,
+     Done was his commandement--anone
+     These bokes he had, and in his studie brought,
+     Which passed all earthly treasure as he thought,
+     But neverthelesse he did him not apply
+     Unto their doctrine, but lived unhappily.
+
+    "Lo, in likewise of bookes I have store,
+     But fewe I reade and fewer understande,
+     I folowe not their doctrine nor their lore,
+     It is ynough to beare a booke in hande.
+     It were too muche to be in such a bande,
+     For to be bounde to loke within the booke
+     I am content on the fayre coveryng to looke.
+
+    "Why should I studie to hurt my wit therby,
+     Or trouble my minde with studie excessiue.
+     Sithe many are which studie right busely,
+     And yet therby thall they never thrive
+     The fruite of wisdome can they not contriue,
+     And many to studie so muche are inclinde,
+     That utterly they fall out of their minde.
+
+    "Eche is not lettred that nowe is made a lorde,
+     Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefice;
+     They are not all lawyers that pleas do recorde,
+     All that are promoted are not fully wise;
+     On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwes her dice
+     That though we knowe but the yrishe game,
+     Yet would he have a gentleman's name.
+
+    "So in like wise I am in suche case,
+     Though I nought can, I would be called wise,
+     Also I may set another in my place,
+     Whiche may for me my bokes exercise,
+     Or els I shall ensue the common guise,
+     And say concedo to euery argument,
+     Least by much speache my latin should be spent.
+
+    "I am like other Clerkes, which so frowardly them gyde,
+     That after they are once come unto promotion,
+     They give them to pleasure, their study set aside,
+     Their auarice couering with fained deuotion;
+     Yet dayly they preache and have great derision
+     Against the rude laymen, and all for couetise,
+     Through their owne conscience be blended with that vice.
+
+    "But if I durst truth plainely utter and expresse,
+     This is the speciall cause of this inconvenience,
+     That greatest of fooles & fullest of lewdness,
+     Having least wit and simplest science,
+     Are first promoted, & have greatest reverence;
+     For if one can flatter & bear a hauke on his fist,
+     He shall be made Parson of Honington or of Elist.
+
+    "But he that is in study ay firme and diligent,
+     And without all favour preacheth Christe's love,
+     Of all the Cominalite nowe adayes is sore shent,
+     And by estates threatned oft therfore.
+     Thus what anayle is it to us to study more,
+     To knowe ether Scripture, truth, wisdome, or virtue,
+     Since fewe or none without fauour dare them shewe.
+
+    "But O noble Doctours, that worthy are of name,
+     Consider oure olde fathers, note well their diligence,
+     Ensue ye to their steppes, obtayne ye suche fame
+     As they did living; and that, by true prudence
+     Within their heartes, thy planted their science,
+     And not in pleasaunt bookes, but noue to fewe suche be,
+     Therefore to this ship come you & rowe with me.
+
+      "The Lennoy of Alexander Barclay,
+       Translatour, exhorting the fooles accloyed
+       with this vice, to amende their foly.
+
+    "Say worthie Doctours & Clerkes curious,
+     What moneth you of bookes to have such number,
+     Since diuers doctrines through way contrarious,
+     Doth man's minde distract and sore encomber.
+     Alas blinde men awake, out of your slumber;
+     And if ye will needes your bookes multiplye,
+     With diligence endeuor you some to occupye."[472]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[438] Thirteen Dominicans were sent into England in the year 1221;
+      they held their first provincial council in England in 1230 at
+      Oxford, three years before St. Dominic was canonized by pope
+      Gregory.
+
+[439] Four clercs and five laymen of the Franciscan order were sent
+      into England in 1224; ten years afterwards we find their disciples
+      spreading over the whole of England.
+
+[440] Edward the Second regarded them with great favor, and wrote
+      several letters to the pope in their praise; he says in one,
+      "Desiderantes itaque, pater sancte ordinis fratrum prædicatorum
+      Oxonii, ubi religionis devotio, et honestatis laudabilis decer
+      viget, per quem etiam honor universitatis Oxoniensis, et utilitas
+      ibidem studentium, etc." Dugdale's Monast. vol. vi. p. 1492.
+
+[441] A list of celebrated authors who flourished in England, and
+      who were members of the Dominican Order, will be found in _Steven's
+      Monasticon_, vol. ii. p. 193, more than 80 names are mentioned. A
+      similar list of authors of the Franciscan order will be found at p.
+      97 of vol. i. containing 122 names; and of the Carmelite authors,
+      vol. ii. p. 160, specifying 137 writers; a great proportion of their
+      works are upon the Scriptures.
+
+[442] Dr. Cave says, "In scholis Christianis pene unice regnavit
+      scholastica theologia, advocata in subsidium Aristotelis
+      philosophia, eaque non ex Græcis fontibus _sed ex turbidis Arabum
+      lacunis, ex versionibus male factis, male intellectis, hansta_."
+      _Hist. Liter._, p. 615. But I am not satisfied that this has been
+      proved, though often affirmed.
+
+[443] It was probably the work of Andrew the Jew. _Meiners_, ii. p.
+      664.
+
+[444] At a council held at Paris in the year 1209, the works of
+      Aristotle were proscribed and ordered to be burnt. _Launvius de
+      Varia Aristotelis fortuna_. But in spite of the papal mandate the
+      friars revived its use. Richard Fizacre, an intimate friend of Roger
+      Bacon, was so passionately fond of reading Aristotle, that he always
+      carried one of his works in his bosom. _Stevens Monast._, vol. ii.
+      p. 194.
+
+[445] See what has been said of the Mendicants at p. 79.
+
+[446] Steven's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from the MSS. of
+      Anthony a Wood in the library at Oxford, vol. i. p. 129. Agnell
+      himself was "_a man of scarce any erudition_."--_Ibid._
+
+[447] He is spoken of under a multitude of names, sometimes
+      Grosthead, Grouthead, etc. A list of them will be found in Wood's
+      Oxford by Gutch, vol. i. p. 198.
+
+[448] He gives strict injunctions as to the study of the Scriptures
+      in his _Constitutiones_.--See Pegge's Life of Grostest, p. 315.
+
+[449] Utilitate Scientiarum, cap. xxxix.
+
+[450] De Confess. Amantis, lib. iv. fo. 70, _Imprint_. Caxton _at
+      Westminster_, 1483. The bishop is said to have taken a journey from
+      England to Rome one night on an infernal horse.--Pegge's Life of
+      Grostest, p. 306.
+
+[451] Stephen's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from Anthony a
+      Wood's MSS. vol. i. p. 133.
+
+[452] The Mendicant orders, unlike the monks, were not remarkable
+      for their industry in transcribing books: their roving life was
+      unsuitable to the tedious profession of a scribe.
+
+[453] Leland's Itin. vol. iii. p. 59.
+
+[454] Oliver's Collections relating to the Monasteries in Devon,
+      8vo. 1820, appendix lxii.
+
+[455] Cottonian MSS. Vittel, F. xii. 13. fol. 325, headed "_De
+      Fundacione Librarie_."
+
+[456] The library was 129 feet long and 31 feet broad, and most
+      beautifully fitted up.--_Lelandi Antiquarii Collectanea_, vol. i. p.
+      109.
+
+[457] This refers to the custom then prevalent of chaining their
+      books, especially their choice ones, to the library shelf, or to a
+      reading desk.
+
+[458] MS. _ibid._ fo. o. 325 b.
+
+[459] Script. Brit. p. 241, and Collectanea, iii. 52.
+
+[460] Leland's Collect. vol. iii. p. 51. He found in the priory of
+      the Dominicans at Cambridge, among other books, a _Biblia in lingua
+      vernacula_.
+
+[461] Steven's Monast. vol. ii. p. 194.
+
+[462] His works were of the impressions of the Air--of the Wonder of
+      the Elements--of Ceremonial Magic--of the Mysteries of Secrets--and
+      the Correction of Chemistry.
+
+[463] Sieben's Monast. vol. i. p. 183, from the MSS. of Anthony a
+      Wood, who says, "What became of them (their books) at the
+      dissolution unless they were carried into the library of some
+      college, I know not."
+
+[464] They obtained much wealth by the sale of pardons and
+      indulgences. Margaret Est, of the convent of Franciscans, ordered
+      her letters of pardon and absolution, to partake of the indulgences
+      of the convent, to be returned as soon she was buried. _Bloomfield's
+      Hist. of Norfolk_, vol. ii. p. 565.
+
+[465] And among others of St. Augustine's books, _De Civitate Dei_,
+      with many notes in the margins, by Grostest. _Wood's Hist. Oxon_, p.
+      78.
+
+[466] Anthony a Wood in Steven's Monast. vol. i. p. 133.
+
+[467] Script. Brit. p. 286.
+
+[468] Le Boeuf gives an instance of one being represented as early
+      as the eleventh century, in which Virgil was introduced. _Hallam's
+      Lit. of Europe_, vol. i. p. 295. The case of Geoffry of St. Albans
+      is well known, and I have already mentioned it.
+
+[469] MS. Cottonian Vespasian, D. viii. fo. 1. Codex Chart. 225
+      folios, written in the fifteenth century. Sir W. Dugdale, in his
+      Hist. of Warwick, p. 116, mentions this volume; and Stevens, in his
+      Monast. has printed a portion of it. Mr. Halliwell has printed them
+      with much care and accuracy.
+
+[470] MS. Cottonian Vitel. E. 5. _Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry_, vol.
+      iii. p. 326.
+
+[471] The original was written in 1494.
+
+[472] Ship of Fooles, folio 1570, Imprynted by Cawood, fol. 1.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+     _Conclusion._
+
+
+We have traversed through the darkness of many long and dreary centuries,
+and with the aid of a few old manuscripts written by the monks in the
+_scriptoria_ of their monasteries, caught an occasional glimpse of their
+literary labors and love of books; these parchment volumes being mere
+monastic registers, or terse historic compilations, do not record with
+particular care the anecdotes applicable to my subject, but appear to be
+mentioned almost accidentally, and certainly without any ostentatious
+design; but such as they are we learn from them at least one thing, which
+some of us might not have known before--that the monks of old, besides
+telling their beads, singing psalms, and muttering their breviary, had
+yet one other duty to perform--the transcription of books. And I think
+there is sufficient evidence that they fulfilled this obligation with as
+much zeal as those of a more strictly monastic or religious nature. It
+is true, in casting our eye over the history of their labors, many
+regrets will arise that they did not manifest a little more taste and
+refinement in their choice of books for transcribing. The classical
+scholar will wish the holy monks had thought more about his darling
+authors of Greece and Rome; but the pious puritan historian blames them
+for patronizing the romantic allurements of Ovid, or the loose satires of
+Juvenal, and throws out some slanderous hint that they must have found a
+sympathy in those pages of licentiousness, or why so anxious to preserve
+them? The protestant is still more scandalized, and denounces the monks,
+their books, scriptorium and all together as part and parcel of popish
+craft and Romish superstition. But surely the crimes of popedom and the
+evils of monachism, that thing of dry bones and fabricated relics, are
+bad enough; and the protestant cause is sufficiently holy, that we may
+afford to be honest if we cannot to be generous. What good purpose then
+will it serve to cavil at the monks forever? All readers of history know
+how corrupt they became in the fifteenth century; how many evils were
+wrought by the craft of some of them, and how pernicious the system
+ultimately waxed. We can all, I say, reflect upon these things, and guard
+against them in future; but it is not just to apply the same
+indiscriminate censure to all ages. Many of the purest Christians of the
+church, the brightest ornaments of Christ's simple flock, were barefooted
+cowled monks of the cloister; devout perhaps to a fault, with simplicity
+verging on superstition; yet nevertheless faithful, pious men, and holy.
+Look at all this with an eye of charity; avoid their errors and manifold
+faults: but to forget the loathsome thing our minds have conjured up as
+the type of an ancient monk. Remember they had a few books to read, and
+venerated something more than the dry bones of long withered saints.
+Their God was our God, and their Saviour, let us trust, will be our
+Saviour.
+
+I am well aware that many other names might have been added to those
+mentioned in the foregoing pages, equally deserving remembrance, and
+offering pleasing anecdotes of a student's life, or illustrating the
+early history of English learning; many facts and much miscellaneous
+matter I have collected in reference to them; but I am fearful whether my
+readers will regard this subject with sufficient relish to enjoy more
+illustrations of the same kind. Students are apt to get too fond of their
+particular pursuit, which magnifies in importance with the difficulties
+of their research, or the duration of their studies. I am uncertain
+whether this may not be my own position, and wait the decision of my
+readers before proceeding further in the annals of early bibliomania.
+
+Moreover as to the simple question--Were the monks booklovers? enough I
+think as been said to prove it, but the enquiry is far from exhausted;
+and if the reader should deem the matter still equivocal and undecided,
+he must refer the blame to the feebleness of my pen, rather than to the
+barrenness of my subject. But let him not fail to mark well the instances
+I have given; let him look at Benedict Biscop and his foreign travels
+after books; at Theodore and the early Saxons of the seventh century; at
+Boniface, Alcuin, Ælfric, and the numerous votaries of bibliomania who
+flourished then. Look at the well stored libraries of St. Albans,
+Canterbury, Ramsey, Durham, Croyland, Peterborough, Glastonbury, and
+their thousand tomes of parchment literature. Look at Richard de Bury and
+his sweet little work on biographical experience; at Whethamstede and his
+industrious pen; read the rules of monastic orders; the book of Cassian;
+the regulations of St. Augustine; Benedict Fulgentius; and the ancient
+admonitions of many other holy and ascetic men. Search over the remnants
+and shreds of information which have escaped the ravages of time, and the
+havoc of cruel invasions relative to these things. Attend to the import
+of these small still whisperings of a forgotten age; and then, letting
+the eye traverse down the stream of time, mark the great advent of the
+Reformation; that wide gulf of monkish erudition in which was swallowed
+"whole shyppes full" of olden literature; think well and deeply over the
+huge bonfires of Henry's reign, the flames of which were kindled by the
+libraries which monkish industry had transcribed. A merry sound no doubt,
+was the crackling of those "popish books" for protestant ears to feed
+upon!
+
+Now all these facts thought of collectively--brought to bear one upon
+another--seem to favor the opinion my own study has deduced from them;
+that with all their superstition, with all their ignorance, their
+blindness to philosophic light--the monks of old were hearty lovers of
+books; that they encouraged learning, fostered and transcribed
+repeatedly the books which they had rescued from the destruction of war
+and time; and so kindly cherished and husbanded them as intellectual food
+for posterity. Such being the case, let our hearts look charitably upon
+them; and whilst we pity them for their superstition, or blame them for
+their "pious frauds," love them as brother men and workers in the mines
+of literature; such a course is far more honorable to the tenor of a
+christian's heart, than bespattering their memory with foul
+denunciations.
+
+Some may accuse me of having shown too much fondness--of having dwelt
+with a too loving tenderness in my retrospection of the middle ages. But
+in the course of my studies I have found much to admire. In parchment
+annals coeval with the times of which they speak, my eyes have traversed
+over many consecutive pages with increasing interest and with enraptured
+pleasure. I have read of old deeds worthy of an honored remembrance,
+where I least expected to find them. I have met with instances of faith
+as strong as death bringing forth fruit in abundance in those sterile
+times, and glorying God with its lasting incense. I have met with
+instances of piety exalted to the heavens--glowing like burning lava, and
+warming the cold dull cloisters of the monks. I have read of many a
+student who spent the long night in exploring mysteries of the Bible
+truths; and have seen him sketched by a monkish pencil with his ponderous
+volumes spread around him, and the oil burning brightly by his side. I
+have watched him in his little cell thus depicted on the ancient
+parchment, and have sympathized with his painful difficulties in
+acquiring true knowledge, or enlightened wisdom, within the convent
+walls; and then I have read the pages of his fellow monk--perhaps, his
+book-companion; and heard what _he_ had to say of that poor lonely Bible
+student, and have learnt with sadness how often truth had been
+extinguished from his mind by superstition, or learning cramped by his
+monkish prejudices; but it has not always been so, and I have enjoyed a
+more gladdening view on finding in the monk a Bible teacher; and in
+another, a profound historian, or pleasing annalist.
+
+As a Christian, the recollection of these cheering facts, with which my
+researches have been blessed, are pleasurable, and lead me to look back
+upon those old times with a student's fondness. But besides piety and
+virtue, I have met with wisdom and philanthropy; the former, too
+profound, and the latter, too generous for the age; but these things are
+precious, and worth remembering; and how can I speak of them but in words
+of kindness? It is these traits of worth and goodness that have gained my
+sympathies, and twined round my heart, and not the dark stains on the
+monkish page of history; these I have always striven to forget, or to
+remember them only when I thought experience might profit by them; for
+they offer a terrible lesson of blood, tyranny and anguish. But this dark
+and gloomy side is the one which from our infancy has ever been before
+us; we learnt it when a child from our tutor; or at college, or at
+school; we learnt it in the pages of our best and purest writers; learnt
+that in those old days nought existed, but bloodshed, tyranny, and
+anguish; but we never thought once to gaze at the scene behind, and
+behold the workings of human charity and love; if we had, we should have
+found that the same passions, the same affections, and the same hopes and
+fears existed then as now, and our sympathies would have been won by
+learning that we were reading of brother men, fellow Christians, and
+fellow-companions in the Church of Christ. We have hitherto looked, when
+casting a backward glance at those long gone ages of inanimation, with
+the severity of a judge upon a criminal; but to understand him properly
+we must regard them with the tender compassion of a parent; for if our
+art, our science, and our philosophy exalts us far above them, is that a
+proof that there was nothing admirable, nothing that can call forth our
+love on that infant state, or in the annals of our civilization at its
+early growth?
+
+But let it not be thought that if I have striven to retrieve from the
+dust and gloom of antiquity, the remembrance of old things that are
+worthy; that I feel any love for the superstition with which we find them
+blended. There is much that is good connected with those times; talent
+even that is worth imitating, and art that we may be proud to learn,
+which is beginning after the elapse of centuries to arrest the attention
+of the ingenious, and the love of these, naturally revive with the
+discovery; but we need not fear in this resurrection of old things of
+other days, that the superstition and weakness of the middle ages; that
+the veneration for dry bones and saintly dust, can live again. I do not
+wish to make the past assume a superiority over the present; but I think
+a contemplation of mediæval art would often open a new avenue of thought
+and lead to many a pleasing and profitable discovery; I would too add the
+efforts of my feeble pen to elevate and ennoble the fond pursuit of my
+leisure hours. I would say one word to vindicate the lover of old musty
+writings, and the explorer of rude antiquities, from the charge of
+unprofitableness, and to protect him from the sneer of ridicule. For
+whilst some see in the dry studies of the antiquary a mere
+inquisitiveness after forgotten facts and worthless relics; I can see,
+nay, have felt, something morally elevating in the exercise of these
+inquiries. It is not the mere fact which may sometimes be gained by
+rubbing off the parochial whitewash from ancient tablets, or the
+encrusted oxide from monumental brasses, that render the study of ancient
+relics so attractive; but it is the deductions which may sometimes be
+drawn from them. The light which they sometimes cast on obscure parts of
+history, and the fine touches of human sensibility, which their eulogies
+and monodies bespeak, that instruct or elevate the mind, and make the
+student's heart beat with holier and loftier feelings. But it is not my
+duty here to enter into the motives, the benefits, or the most profitable
+manner of studying antiquity; if it were, I would strive to show how much
+superior it is to become an original investigator, a practical antiquary,
+than a mere borrower from others. For the most delightful moments of the
+student's course is when he rambles personally among the ruins and
+remnants of long gone ages; sometimes painful are such sights, even
+deeply so; but never to a righteous mind are they unprofitable, much less
+exerting a narrowing tendency on the mind, or cramping the gushing of
+human feeling; for cold, indeed, must be the heart that can behold strong
+walls tottering to decay, and fretted vaults, mutilated and dismantled of
+their pristine beauty; that can behold the proud strongholds of baronial
+power and feudal tyranny, the victims of the lichen or creeping parasites
+of the ivy tribe; cold, I say, must be the heart that can see such
+things, and draw no lesson from them.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX.
+
+
+Adam de Botheby, Abbot of Peterborough, 145.
+Adam, Abbot of Evesham, 196.
+Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Anecdote of, 259, 260.
+Ælfric, Archbishop of Canterbury, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
+Ælfride, King of Northumbria, 160, 163.
+Ælsinus, the Scribe, 232.
+Ailward's Gift of Books to Evesham Monastery, 195.
+Albans, Abbey of St.--_See_ St. Albans.
+Alcuin,
+    Verses by, 33, 179, 180.
+    Letters of, 98, 175, 181.
+    His Bible, 177.
+    Love of Books, 173, 176, 182.
+Aldred, the Glossator, 95.
+Aldwine, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 99.
+Alfred the Great, 151.
+Angell de Pisa, a Franciscan Friar, 291.
+Angraville.--_See_ Richard de Bury.
+Anselm, 77, 78.
+Antiquarii, 42, 43.
+Arno, Archbishop of Salzburgh, Library of, 183, 184.
+Armarian, Duties of the Monkish, 13.
+Aristotle; Translation used by the Schoolmen, 290.
+Ascelin, Prior of Dover, 90.
+Augustine, St., his copy of the Bible and other books, 79.
+
+Baldwin, Abbot of, St. Edmund's Bury, 242.
+Bale on the destruction of books at the Reformation, 8.
+Barkley's description of a Bibliomaniac, 301, 302, 303, 304.
+Basingstoke and his Greek books, 267.
+Bede the Venerable, 129, 162, 163, 170, 243.
+Bek, Anthony, Bishop of Durham, 104.
+Benedict, Abbot of Peterborough, and his books, 142, 143.
+Benedict, Biscop of Wearmouth, and his book tours, 157, 158.
+Bible among the Monks in the middle ages, 79, 89, 101, 104, 129,
+        144, 163, 177, 193, 194, 196, 207, 208, 211, 212, 233,
+        234, 237, 260, 261.
+Bible, Monkish care in copying the, 36, 177.
+Bible, errors in printed copies, 36.
+Bible, Translations of, 71, 72, 156, 185, 296, _note_.
+Bible, Illustrations of the scarcity of the, in the middle ages,
+        40, 41, 89, 148, 231.
+Bible, Students in the middle ages, 36, 71, 75, 88, 104,
+        144, 163, 168, 177, 184.
+Bilfrid the Illuminator, 95.
+Binding, costly, 54, 85, 93, 246, 247, 258, 261, 262, 263, 273.
+Blessing--Monkish blessing on Books, 25.
+Boniface the Saxon Missionary, 45, 164, 165, 166, 167.
+Books allowed the Monks for private reading, 20.
+Books-Destroyers, 6, 7, 8, 9, 195, 282.
+Books sent to Oxford by the Monks of Durham, 105.
+Book-Stalls, Antiquity of, 123.
+Booksellers in the middle ages, 46, 47.
+Britone the Librarian--his catalogue of books in Glastonbury Abbey, 208.
+Bruges, John de, a Monk of Coventry, and his books, 191.
+
+Cædmon, the Saxon Poet, 185.
+Canterbury Monastery, etc., 61.
+Canute, the Song of, 244.
+Care in transcribing, 33, 68.
+Carelepho, Bishop of Durham, 101.
+Carmelite, 287, 297.
+Carpenter, Bishop, built and endowed a library in Exeter Church, 194.
+Catalogues of Monastic libraries, 10, 14, 82, 83, 102, 129, 130, 142,
+            147, 179, 180, 190, 191, 208, 209, 210, 211, 219, 220, 237.
+Catalogue of the books of Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, 283, 284, 285.
+Charles V. of France--his fine Library.
+Charlemagne's Bible, 177, his Library, 184.
+Chartey's, William,
+            Catalogue of the Library of St. Mary's at Leicester, 148.
+Chiclely, Henry, Archbishop of Canterbury, 86.
+Cistercian Monks in England, 221.
+Classics among the Monks in the middle ages, 60, 84, 87, 101, 102,
+            116, 122, 129, 148, 190, 200, 208, 225, 226, 232, 233, 240.
+Classics, Monkish opinion of the, 23, 227.
+Classics found in Monasteries at the revival of learning, 58, 59, 60.
+Cluniac Monks in England, 221.
+Cobham, Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester, 277, 278.
+Cobham, Bishop, founded the Library at Oxford, 194.
+Collier on the destruction of books, 8.
+Converting Miracles, 166.
+Coventry Church, 191.
+Coventry Miracles, 299.
+Croyland Monastery, Library of, 135.
+Cuthbert's Gospels, 93, 129.
+
+Danes in England, 95, 138, 139, 140.
+Daniel, Bishop of Winchester, 168.
+De Bury.--_See_ Richard de Bury.
+De Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, 81.
+Depying Priory, Catalogue of the Library of, 234.
+Dover Library, 90.
+Dunstan, Saint, 64, 65.
+
+Eadburge--Abbess, transcribes books for Boniface, 169, 170.
+Eadfrid, Abbot of St. Albans, 249.
+Eadmer, Abbot of St. Albans, 251, 252.
+Ealdred, Abbot of St. Albans, 250.
+Eardulphus, or Eurdulphus, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 96.
+Ecgfrid and his Queen, 242.
+Edmunds Bury, St., 241.
+Edwine the Scribe, 79.
+Effects of Gospel Reading, 236.
+Effects of the Reformation on Monkish learning, 8.
+Egbert, Archbishop of York, 170, 173, his Library, 179, 180.
+Egebric, Abbot of Croyland, his gift of books to the Library, 137.
+Egfrith, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 93.
+Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, 277, 278.
+Ethelbert, 87.
+Etheldredæ founds the Monastery of Ely, 243.
+Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester
+    his love of Architecture, 229, 244,
+    his fine Benedictional, 230.
+Ely Monastery, 243, 244.
+    Extracts from the Account Books of, 245.
+Erventus the Illuminator, 147.
+Esseburn, Henry, 296.
+Evesham Monastery, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204.
+
+Fathers, Veneration for the, 38, 39.
+Frederic, Abbot of St. Albans, 253.
+Franciscan Library at Oxford, 294.
+Friars, Mendicant, 115, 116, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294.
+
+Geoffry de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, 255, 256.
+Gerbert, extract from a letter of, 45.
+Gift of books to Richard de Bury by the Monks of St. Albans, 121.
+Glanvill, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Glastonbury Abbey, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214.
+Gloucester Abbey, 218.
+Godeman, Abbot of Gloucester, 218.
+Godemann the Scribe, 231, 232.
+Godfrey, Abbot of Peterborough, 145, 146.
+Godinge the Librarian to Exeter Church, 193, 194.
+Godiva, Lady and her good deeds, 193, 194.
+Gospels, notices of among the Monks in the middle ages, 86, 89,
+             90, 91, 92, 129, 139, 140, 141, 142, 169, 196, 217,
+             221, 244, 245, 246, _note_, 255, 262.
+Graystane, Robert de, 105.
+Grostest, Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, 292, 293.
+Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, 87.
+Guthlac, St., of Croyland, 135.
+Guy, Earl of Warwick, his gift of books to Bordesley Abbey, 283, 284, 285.
+
+Hebrew Manuscripts among the Monks, 238, 293, 294.
+Henry the Second of England, 223, 227.
+Henry de Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, 81.
+Henry, a Monk of Hyde Abbey, 231, 232.
+Hilda, 184.
+Holdernesse, Abbot of Peterborough, 145.
+Hoton, Prior of Durham, 105.
+Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, 79.
+Hunting practised by the Monks and Churchmen, 224.
+Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 275.
+    His domestic troubles, 277, 278, 279.
+    His death, 279.
+    Lydgate's Verses upon, 280, 281.
+    His Gift of Books to Oxford, 281, 282, 283.
+
+Illuminated MSS., 54.
+Ina, King of the West Saxons, 206.
+
+Jarrow, 157.
+John de Bruges of Coventry Church, 191.
+John, Prior of Evesham, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204.
+John of Taunton, a Monk of Glastonbury, his Catalogue of Books, 208.
+
+Kenulfus, Abbot of Peterborough, 141.
+Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, gift of the Gospels to
+             Peterborough Monastery, 141.
+Kildwardly, Archbishop of Canterbury, 79.
+
+Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 75.
+Langley, Thomas, 131.
+Laws of the Universities over booksellers, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
+Lending books,
+    system of among the Monks, 17, 20;
+    by the booksellers, 52.
+Leoffin, Abbot of Ely, 244.
+Leofric, Abbot of St. Albans, 249.
+Leofric, Bishop of Exeter, 218;
+    his Private Library, 219.
+Leofricke, Earl of Mercia, 192.
+Leofricus, Abbot of Peterborough, 141.
+Leicester, Abbey of St. Mary de la Pré, at, 148, 149.
+Libraries in the middle ages.--_See_ Catalogues.
+Libraries, how supported, 24, 25, 79, 198, 199.
+Librarii, or booksellers, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49.
+Lindesfarne, 93.
+Livy, the lost decades of, 214.
+Lul, Majestro, 168, 169.
+Lulla, Bishop of Coena, 171.
+Lydgate's Verses on Baldwin,
+    Abbot of St. Edmunds Bury, 242;
+    on Duke Humphrey, 280, 281.
+
+Malmsbury Monastery, 214.
+Malmsbury, William of, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219.
+Mannius, Abbot of Evesham, his skill in illuminating, 195.
+Manuscripts, Ancient, described, 78, 79, 186, 187.
+Manuscripts, Collections of, 5.
+Marleberg, Thomas of, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202.
+Medeshamstede, 139.
+Mendicant Friars, 115, 116, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294.
+Michael de Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, and
+            his _multis voluminibus_, 268.
+Milton and Cædmon compared, 188.
+Monachism, 29, 36, 307, 308, 309.
+Monastic training, 263, 264, 265.
+Monks, the preservers of books, 29.
+
+Nicholas, of St. Albans, 267, 292.
+Nicholas Brekspere, 259, 260.
+Nicholas Hereford, of Evesham, 203, 204.
+Nigel, Bishop of Ely, 244, 245, 246.
+Norman Conquest. Effect of the, 74.
+Northone, Abbot of St. Albans, 267.
+Nothelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, 64, 171.
+
+Offa, King, 4, 192, 247.
+    Alcuin's Letter to, 175.
+Osbern, of Shepey, 91.
+Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, 24, 193.
+
+Paul or Paulinus, of St. Albans, 77, 253.
+Peter of Blois, Archdeacon of London, 47, 222, 223, 224,
+            225, 226, 227, 228.
+Peter, Abbot of Gloucester, 218.
+Peterborough Monastery, 138.
+    Library, 147, 148.
+Petrarch, 107, 108, 109.
+Philobiblon, by Richard de Bury, 112.
+Prior John, of Evesham, 199.
+Puritans destroy the Library in Worcester Church, 194.
+Purple Manuscripts, 54.
+Pusar, Hugh de, Bishop of Durham, 103.
+
+Radolphus, Bishop of Rochester, 90.
+Ralph de Gobium, Abbot of St. Albans, 257, 258.
+Ramsey Abbey, 237.
+    Hebrew MSS. at Ramsey, 239.
+    Classics, 240.
+Raymond, Prior of St. Albans, 262, 263.
+Reading Abbey. Library of, 233.
+Reginald, Archdeacon of Salisbury, reproved for his love of falconry, 227.
+Reginald, of Evesham, 196.
+Richard de Albini, 255.
+Richard de Bury, 17, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
+            113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123,
+            124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 268.
+Richard de Stowe, 218.
+Richard of London, 145.
+Richard Wallingford, Abbot of St. Albans, 121.
+Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, 213, 214.
+Ridiculous signs for books.--_See_ signs.
+Rievall Monastery, library of, 190, 191, 192.
+Robert de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, 257, 258.
+Robert, of Lyndeshye, 144.
+Robert, of Sutton, 145.
+Roger de Northone, 267.
+Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter. Gift of books to the Friars
+            at Exeter, 294, 295.
+Rhypum Monastery; gift of books to, 163.
+
+Scarcity of Parchment, 56, 57, 245, 246.
+Scholastic Philosophy, 289.
+Scribes, Monkish, 44.
+Scriptoria, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 198, 199, 253, 254.
+Sellinge, William, Prior of Canterbury, 86.
+Signs for books used by the Monks, 22, 23.
+Simon, Abbot of St. Albans, 260.
+St. Alban's Abbey, 120, 121, 247, _et seq._
+St. Joseph, of Arimathea, 206.
+St. Mary's, at Coventry, 191, 192.
+St. Mary's de la Pré, at Leicester. Library of, 149.
+Stylus or pen, 154.
+
+Tatwine, Archbishop of Canterbury, 63.
+Taunton, John of, 208.
+Taunton, William of, 211.
+Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 62.
+Thomas de la Mare, Abbot of St. Albans, 268.
+Thomas of Marleberg, Prior of Evesham, 197.
+Trompington, William de, Abbot of St. Albans, 265, 266.
+Tully's de Republica, 86.
+
+Valerius Maximus, Duke Humphrey's copy of, 282.
+Value of books in the middle ages, 54, 203, 204, 245, 273, 282, 283, 295.
+Verses written in books by Whethamstede, 274.
+Verulam, ruins of, excavated by Eadmer, of St. Albans, 250.
+
+Waleran, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Walter, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Walter, Bishop of Winchester, fond of hunting, 224, 225.
+Walter, of Evesham, 196.
+Walter, of St. Edmunds Bury, 145.
+Walter, Prior of St. Swithin, 231.
+Wearmouth, Monastery of, 157.
+Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, 268.
+Whethamstede, Abbot of St. Albans, 268, 269;
+    his works, 272;
+    gift of books to Gloucester college, 274.
+Whitby Abbey, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189.
+Wilfrid, 162, 163, 243.
+Willigod, Abbot of St. Albans, 248.
+William, of Wodeforde, 145.
+Winchester, famous for his Scribes, 168, 229, 230, 231, 232.
+Worcester, Church of, 192.
+Wulstan, Archbishop of York, 147.
+
+York Cathedral Library, 179, 180.
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+1. Footnotes 293, 386 are not anchored in the page image. A best guess
+has been made as to their anchor point.
+
+2. Refer to the image for the black letter poems as the yogh/ezh & thorn/h
+characters are difficult to distinguish. Other internet sources show vastly
+different interpretations for the text of 'A Plaie called Corpus Christi'.
+
+3. Hyphenation has been left as printed - inconsistencies are:
+bookloving, book-loving
+booklover, book-lover
+bookworms, book-worms
+goodwill, good-will
+halfpenny, half-penny
+protomartyr, proto-martyr
+reread, re-read
+
+4. Punctuation, particularly in footnotes has been standardised.
+
+5. Spelling inconsistencies between proper names in the text and index
+entries have been standardised. The original spelling has been noted.
+Inconsistencies in the spelling of proper names within the text have
+been left as printed.
+
+6. Numerous quotation marks have been added to the text. Please see the
+HTML version for details of where they have been added.
+
+7. Other corrections which have been made are:
+    Footnote 21, "gubernnatione" changed to "gubernatione"
+    Page 86, "Chicleley" changed to "Chiclely"
+    Page 91, "Shebey" changed to "Shepey"
+    Footnote 134, "Catherbury" changed to "Canterbury"
+    Page 113, "biblomaniac" changed to "bibliomaniac"
+    Page 138, "Madeshamsted" changed to "Medeshamstede"
+    Page 152, "descrimination" changed to "discrimination"
+    Page 218, "Godemon" changed to "Godeman"
+    Footnote 367, "Alward" changed to "Ailward"
+    Page 257, "Gebium" changed to "Gobium"
+    Page 312, "mediævel" changed to "mediæval"
+    Page 315, "Salzburg" changed to "Salzburgh"
+    Page 317, "Ecfrid" changed to "Ecgfrid"
+    Page 319, "Kernulfus" changed to "Kenulfus"
+    Page 319, "Leofin" changed to "Leoffin"
+    Page 319, 322, "Pre" changed to "Pré"
+    Page 320, "Marlebergh" changed to "Marleberg"
+    Page 321, "Ryphum" changed to "Rhypum"
+    Page 321, "Sellynge" changed to "Sellinge"
+    Page 322, "Tatwyne" changed to "Tatwine"
+    Page 322, "Tharsus" changed to "Tarsus"
+    Page 322, "Wodeford" changed to "Wodeforde"
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by 
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by 
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
+
+Author: Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21630]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIBLIOMANIA IN THE MIDDLE AGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"></a>[<a href="./images/iii.png">iii</a>]</span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h1>BIBLIOMANIA</h1>
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">in</span></h4>
+
+<h2>THE MIDDLE AGES</h2>
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">by</span></h4>
+
+<h3>F. SOMNER MERRYWEATHER</h3>
+
+<h4><i>With an Introduction by</i></h4>
+<h3>CHARLES ORR</h3>
+<h4>Librarian of Case Library</h4>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-1.jpg" alt="Publisher's Mark" title="Publisher's Mark" /></p>
+
+
+<h4>NEW YORK</h4>
+<h4>MEYER BROTHERS &amp; COMPANY</h4>
+<h5>1900</h5>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"></a>[<a href="./images/iv.png">iv</a>]</span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h4>Copyright, 1900</h4>
+<h3>By Meyer Bros. &amp; Co.</h3>
+
+<p>Louis Weiss &amp; Co.</p>
+<p>Printers....</p>
+<p>118 Fulton Street</p>
+<p>... New York</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a>[<a href="./images/v.png">v</a>]</span></p>
+
+<h2>Bibliomania in the Middle Ages</h2>
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">or</span></h4>
+
+<h3>SKETCHES OF BOOKWORMS, COLLECTORS,
+BIBLE STUDENTS, SCRIBES AND ILLUMINATORS</h3>
+
+<h4><i>From the Anglo-Saxon and Norman Periods to the Introduction of Printing</i></h4>
+<h4><i>into England, with Anecdotes Illustrating the History of the</i></h4>
+<h4><i>Monastic Libraries of Great Britain in the Olden Time</i></h4>
+<h4><i>by</i> <span class="smcap">F. Somner Merryweather</span>, <i>with</i></h4>
+<h4><i>an Introduction by</i> <span class="smcap">Charles Orr</span>,</h4>
+<h4><i>Librarian of Case Library.</i></h4>
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi"></a>[<a href="./images/vi.png">vi</a>]</span></p>
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+<div class="centered"><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr><th align="right">&nbsp;</th><th align="right"><span class="smcap">page</span></th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#INTRODUCTION"><span class="smcap">INTRODUCTION</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_vii">vii</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER I</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER II</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER III</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER IV</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER V</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER VI</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER VII</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER VIII</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER IX</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER X</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER XI</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER XII</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">CHAPTER XIII</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_305">305</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#INDEX"><span class="smcap">INDEX</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_315">315</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii"></a>[<a href="./images/vii.png">vii</a>]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-2.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-3.jpg" alt="I" title="I" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">n</span> every century for more than two
+thousand years, many men have
+owed their chief enjoyment of life
+to books. The bibliomaniac of
+today had his prototype in ancient
+Rome, where book collecting was
+fashionable as early as the first century of the
+Christian era. Four centuries earlier there was an
+active trade in books at Athens, then the center of
+the book production of the world. This center
+of literary activity shifted to Alexandria during
+the third century <span class="smcap">b. c.</span> through the patronage of
+Ptolemy Soter, the founder of the Alexandrian
+Museum, and of his son, Ptolemy Philadelphus;
+and later to Rome, where it remained for many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii"></a>[<a href="./images/viii.png">viii</a>]</span>
+centuries, and where bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs
+were gradually evolved, and from whence in time
+other countries were invaded.</p>
+
+<p>For the purposes of the present work the middle
+ages cover the period beginning with the seventh
+century and ending with the time of the invention
+of printing, or about seven hundred years, though
+they are more accurately bounded by the years 500
+and 1500 <span class="smcap">a. d.</span> It matters little, however, since
+there is no attempt at chronological arrangement.</p>
+
+<p>About the middle of the present century there
+began to be a disposition to grant to medi&aelig;val
+times their proper place in the history of the preservation
+and dissemination of books, and Merryweather's
+<i>Bibliomania in the Middle Ages</i> was one
+of the earliest works in English devoted to the
+subject. Previous to that time, those ten centuries
+lying between the fall of the Roman Empire and
+the revival of learning were generally referred to
+as the Dark Ages, and historians and other writers
+were wont to treat them as having been without
+learning or scholarship of any kind.</p>
+
+<p>Even Mr. Hallam,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> with all that judicial temperament
+and patient research to which we owe so
+much, could find no good to say of the Church or
+its institutions, characterizing the early university<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix"></a>[<a href="./images/ix.png">ix</a>]</span>
+as the abode of "indigent vagabonds withdrawn
+from usual labor," and all monks as positive enemies
+of learning.</p>
+
+<p>The gloomy survey of Mr. Hallam, clouded no
+doubt by his antipathy to all things ecclesiastical,
+served, however, to arouse the interest of the period,
+which led to other studies with different results,
+and later writers were able to discern below the
+surface of religious fanaticism and superstition so
+characteristic of those centuries, much of interest
+in the history of literature; to show that every age
+produced learned and inquisitive men by whom
+books were highly prized and industriously collected
+for their own sakes; in short, to rescue the
+period from the stigma of absolute illiteracy.</p>
+
+<p>If the reader cares to pursue the subject further,
+after going through the fervid defense of the love
+of books in the middle ages, of which this is the
+introduction, he will find outside of its chapters
+abundant evidence that the production and care of
+books was a matter of great concern. In the
+pages of <i>Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith</i>, by
+Mr. Kenelm Digby,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> or of <i>The Dark Ages</i>, by Dr.
+S. R. Maitland,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> or of that great work of recent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x"></a>[<a href="./images/x.png">x</a>]</span>
+years, <i>Books and their Makers during the Middle
+Ages</i>, by Mr. George Haven Putnam,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> he will see
+vivid and interesting portraits of a great multitude
+of medi&aelig;val worthies who were almost lifelong
+lovers of learning and books, and zealous laborers
+in preserving, increasing and transmitting them.
+And though little of the mass that has come down
+to us was worthy of preservation on its own account
+as literature, it is exceedingly interesting as a
+record of centuries of industry in the face of such
+difficulties that to workers of a later period might
+have seemed insurmountable.</p>
+
+<p>A further fact worthy of mention is that book
+production was from the art point of view fully
+abreast of the other arts during the period, as must
+be apparent to any one who examines the collections
+in some of the libraries of Europe. Much of
+this beauty was wrought for the love of the art
+itself. In the earlier centuries religious institutions
+absorbed nearly all the social intellectual movements
+as well as the possession of material riches
+and land. Kings and princes were occupied with
+distant wars which impoverished them and deprived
+literature and art of that patronage accorded to it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi"></a>[<a href="./images/xi.png">xi</a>]</span>
+in later times. There is occasional mention, however,
+of wealthy laymen, whose religious zeal induced
+them to give large sums of money for the
+copying and ornamentation of books; and there
+were in the abbeys and convents lay brothers whose
+fervent spirits, burning with poetical imagination,
+sought in these monastic retreats and the labor of
+writing, redemption from their past sins. These
+men of faith were happy to consecrate their whole
+existence to the ornamentation of a single sacred
+book, dedicated to the community, which gave
+them in exchange the necessaries of life.</p></div>
+
+<p>The labor of transcribing was held, in the
+monasteries, to be a full equivalent of manual
+labor in the field. The rule of St. Ferreol, written
+in the sixth century, says that, "He who does not
+turn up the earth with the plough ought to write
+the parchment with his fingers."</p>
+
+<p>Mention has been made of the difficulties under
+which books were produced; and this is a matter
+which we who enjoy the conveniences of modern
+writing and printing can little understand. The
+hardships of the <i>scriptorium</i> were greatest, of
+course, in winter. There were no fires in the often
+damp and ill-lighted cells, and the cold in some of
+the parts of Europe where books were produced
+must have been very severe. Parchment, the material
+generally used for writing upon after the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii"></a>[<a href="./images/xii.png">xii</a>]</span>
+seventh century, was at some periods so scarce that
+copyists were compelled to resort to the expedient
+of effacing the writing on old and less esteemed
+manuscripts.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> The form of writing was stiff and
+regular and therefore exceedingly slow and irksome.</p>
+
+<p>In some of the monasteries the <i>scriptorium</i> was
+at least at a later period, conducted more as a matter
+of commerce, and making of books became in time
+very profitable. The Church continued to hold
+the keys of knowledge and to control the means of
+productions; but the cloistered cell, where the monk
+or the layman, who had a penance to work off for a
+grave sin, had worked in solitude, gave way to the
+apartment specially set aside, where many persons
+could work together, usually under the direction of
+a <i>librarius</i> or chief scribe. In the more carefully
+constructed monasteries this apartment was so
+placed as to adjoin the calefactory, which allowed
+the introduction of hot air, when needed.</p>
+
+<p>The seriousness with which the business of
+copying was considered is well illustrated by the
+consecration of the <i>scriptorium</i> which was often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii"></a>[<a href="./images/xiii.png">xiii</a>]</span>
+done in words which may be thus translated:
+"Vouchsafe, O Lord, to bless this work-room of
+thy servants, that all which they write therein may
+be comprehended by their intelligence and realized
+in their work."</p>
+
+<p>While the work of the scribes was largely that
+of copying the scriptures, gospels, and books of
+devotion required for the service of the church,
+there was a considerable trade in books of a more
+secular kind. Particularly was this so in England.
+The large measure of attention given to the production
+of books of legends and romances was
+a distinguishing feature of the literature of England
+at least three centuries previous to the invention
+of printing. At about the twelfth century
+and after, there was a very large production and
+sale of books under such headings as chronicles,
+satires, sermons, works of science and medicine,
+treatises on style, prose romances and epics in
+verse. Of course a large proportion of these
+were written in or translated from the Latin, the
+former indicating a pretty general knowledge of
+that language among those who could buy or
+read books at all. That this familiarity with
+the Latin tongue was not confined to any particular
+country is abundantly shown by various
+authorities.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Merryweather, whose book, as has been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv"></a>[<a href="./images/xiv.png">xiv</a>]</span>
+intimated, is only a defense of bibliomania itself as it
+actually existed in the middle ages, gives the reader
+but scant information as to processes of book-making
+at that time. But thanks to the painstaking
+research of others, these details are now
+a part of the general knowledge of the development
+of the book. The following, taken from Mr.
+Theodore De Vinne's <i>Invention of Printing</i>, will,
+we think, be found interesting:</p>
+
+<p>"The size most in fashion was that now known
+as the demy folio, of which the leaf is about ten
+inches wide and fifteen inches long, but smaller
+sizes were often made. The space to be occupied
+by the written text was mapped out with faint
+lines, so that the writer could keep his letters on a
+line, at even distance from each other and within
+the prescribed margin. Each letter was carefully
+drawn, and filled in or painted with repeated
+touches of the pen. With good taste, black ink
+was most frequently selected for the text; red ink
+was used only for the more prominent words, and
+the catch-letters, then known as the rubricated letters.
+Sometimes texts were written in blue, green,
+purple, gold or silver inks, but it was soon discovered
+that texts in bright color were not so
+readable as texts in black.</p>
+
+<p>"When the copyist had finished his sheet he
+passed it to the designer, who sketched the border,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv"></a>[<a href="./images/xv.png">xv</a>]</span>
+pictures and initials. The sheet was then given to
+the illuminator, who painted it. The ornamentation
+of a medi&aelig;val book of the first class is beyond
+description by words or by wood cuts. Every inch
+of space was used. Its broad margins were filled
+with quaint ornaments, sometimes of high merit,
+admirably painted in vivid colors. Grotesque initials,
+which, with their flourishes, often spanned
+the full height of the page, or broad bands of
+floriated tracery that occupied its entire width,
+were the only indications of changes of chapter or
+subject. In printer's phrase the composition was
+"close-up and solid" to the extreme degree of compactness.
+The uncommonly free use of red ink for
+the smaller initials was not altogether a matter of
+taste; if the page had been written entirely in black
+ink it would have been unreadable through its
+blackness. This nicety in writing consumed much
+time, but the medi&aelig;val copyist was seldom governed
+by considerations of time or expense. It was of
+little consequence whether the book he transcribed
+would be finished in one or in ten years. It was
+required only that he should keep at his work
+steadily and do his best. His skill is more to be
+commended than his taste. Many of his initials
+and borders were outrageously inappropriate for
+the text for which they were designed. The gravest
+truths were hedged in the most childish conceits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi"></a>[<a href="./images/xvi.png">xvi</a>]</span>
+Angels, butterflies, goblins, clowns, birds, snails and
+monkeys, sometimes in artistic, but much oftener
+in grotesque and sometimes in highly offensive
+positions are to be found in the illuminated borders
+of copies of the gospels and writings of the fathers.</p>
+
+<p>"The book was bound by the forwarder, who
+sewed the leaves and put them in a cover of leather
+or velvet; by the finisher, who ornamented the
+cover with gilding and enamel. The illustration
+of book binding, published by Amman in his Book
+of Trades, puts before us many of the implements
+still in use. The forwarder, with his customary
+apron of leather, is in the foreground, making use
+of a plow-knife for trimming the edges of a book.
+The lying press, which rests obliquely against the
+block before him, contains a book that has received
+the operation of backing-up from a queer shaped
+hammer lying upon the floor. The workman at
+the end of the room is sewing together the sections
+of a book, for sewing was properly regarded as a
+man's work, and a scientific operation altogether
+beyond the capacity of the raw seamstress. The
+work of the finisher is not represented, but the
+brushes, the burnishers, the sprinklers and the wheel-shaped
+gilding tools hanging against the wall
+leave us no doubt as to their use. There is an air
+of antiquity about everything connected with this
+bookbindery which suggests the thought that its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii"></a>[<a href="./images/xvii.png">xvii</a>]</span>
+tools and usages are much older than those of
+printing. Chevillier says that seventeen professional
+bookbinders found regular employment in
+making up books for the University of Paris, as
+early as 1292. Wherever books were produced in
+quantities, bookbinding was set apart as a business
+distinct from that of copying.</p>
+
+<p>"The poor students who copied books for their
+own use were also obliged to bind them, which
+they did in a simple but efficient manner by sewing
+together the folded sheets, attaching them to narrow
+parchment bands, the ends of which were made
+to pass through a cover of stout parchment at the
+joint near the back. The ends of the bands were
+then pasted down under the stiffening sheet of the
+cover, and the book was pressed. Sometimes the
+cover was made flexible by the omission of the stiffening
+sheet; sometimes the edges of the leaves
+were protected by flexible and overhanging flaps
+which were made to project over the covers; or by
+the insertion in the covers of stout leather strings
+with which the two covers were tied together.
+Ornamentation was entirely neglected, for a book
+of this character was made for use and not for
+show. These methods of binding were mostly
+applied to small books intended for the pocket;
+the workmanship was rough, but the binding was
+strong and serviceable."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii"></a>[<a href="./images/xviii.png">xviii</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p>The book of Mr. Merryweather, here reprinted,
+is thought worthy of preservation in a series designed
+for the library of the booklover. Its publication
+followed shortly after that of the works of
+Digby and Maitland, but shows much original
+research and familiarity with early authorities; and
+it is much more than either of these, or of any book
+with which we are acquainted, a plea in defense of
+bibliomania in the middle ages. Indeed the charm
+of the book may be said to rest largely upon the
+earnestness with which he takes up his self-imposed
+task. One may fancy that after all he found it
+not an easy one; in fact his "Conclusion" is a kind
+of apology for not having made out a better case.
+But this he believes he has proven, "that with all
+their superstition, with all their ignorance, their
+blindness to philosophic light&mdash;the monks of old
+were hearty lovers of books; that they encouraged
+learning, fostered it, and transcribed repeatedly the
+books which they had rescued from the destruction
+of war and time; and so kindly cherished and husbanded
+them as intellectual food for posterity.
+Such being the case, let our hearts look charitably
+upon them; and whilst we pity them for their
+superstition, or blame them for their pious frauds,
+love them as brother men and workers in the mines
+of literature."</p>
+
+<p>Of the author himself little can be learned. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix"></a>[<a href="./images/xix.png">xix</a>]</span>
+diligent search revealed little more than the entry
+in the London directory which, in various years from
+1840 to 1850, gives his occupation as that of
+bookseller, at 14 King Street, Holborn. Indeed
+this is shown by the imprint of the title-page of
+<i>Bibliomania</i>, which was published in 1849. He
+published during the same year <i>Dies Dominic&aelig;</i>,
+and in 1850 <i>Glimmerings in the Dark</i>, and <i>Lives
+and Anecdotes of Misers</i>. The latter has been
+immortalized by Charles Dickens as one of the
+books bought at the bookseller's shop by Boffin,
+the Golden Dustman, and which was read to him
+by the redoubtable Silas Wegg during Sunday
+evenings at "Boffin's Bower."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-4.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Hallam, Henry. "Introduction to the Literature of Europe."
+4 vols. London.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Digby, Kenelm. "Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith."
+3 vols. London, 1848.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Maitland, S. R. "The Dark Ages; a Series of Essays Intended
+to Illustrate the State of Religion and Literature in the Ninth, Tenth,
+Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries." London, 1845.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Putnam, George Haven. "Books and their Makers during
+the Middle Ages; a Study of the Conditions of the Production
+and Distribution of Literature from the Fall of the Roman Empire
+to the Close of the Seventeenth Century."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Lacroix, Paul. "Arts of the Middle Ages." Our author,
+however (<i>vide</i> page 58, <i>note</i>), quotes the accounts of the Church of
+Norwich to show that parchments sold late in the thirteenth century
+at about 1 d. per sheet; but Putnam and other writers state that up
+to that time it was a very costly commodity.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Dickens's Mutual Friend.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx"></a>[<a href="./images/xx.png">xx</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a>[<a href="./images/1.png">1</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-5.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Introductory Remarks&mdash;Monachism&mdash;Book Destroyers&mdash;Effects
+of the Reformation on
+Monkish Learning, etc.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-3.jpg" alt="I" title="I" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">n</span> recent times, in spite of all those
+outcries which have been so repeatedly
+raised against the illiterate
+state of the dark ages, many and
+valuable efforts have been made
+towards a just elucidation of those
+monkish days. These labors have produced evidence
+of what few anticipated, and some even now
+deny, viz., that here and there great glimmerings
+of learning are perceivable; and although debased,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a>[<a href="./images/2.png">2</a>]</span>
+and often barbarous too, they were not quite so
+bad as historians have usually proclaimed them. It
+may surprise some, however, that an attempt should
+be made to prove that, in the olden time in "merrie
+Englande," a passion which Dibdin has christened
+Bibliomania, existed then, and that there were many
+cloistered bibliophiles as warm and enthusiastic in
+book collecting as the Doctor himself. But I must
+here crave the patience of the reader, and ask him
+to refrain from denouncing what he may deem a
+rash and futile attempt, till he has perused the
+volume and thought well upon the many facts
+contained therein. I am aware that many of these
+facts are known to all, but some, I believe, are
+familiar only to the antiquary&mdash;the lover of musty
+parchments and the cobwebbed chronicles of a
+monastic age. I have endeavored to bring these
+facts together&mdash;to connect and string them into a
+continuous narrative, and to extract from them
+some light to guide us in forming an opinion on the
+state of literature in those ages of darkness and
+obscurity; and here let it be understood that I
+merely wish to give a fact as history records it. I
+will not commence by saying the Middle Ages were
+dark and miserably ignorant, and search for some
+poor isolated circumstance to prove it; I will not
+affirm that this was pre-eminently the age in which
+real piety flourished and literature was fondly cherished,
+and strive to find all those facts which show
+its learning, purposely neglecting those which display
+its unlettered ignorance: nor let it be deemed
+ostentation when I say that the literary anecdotes
+and bookish memoranda now submitted to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>[<a href="./images/3.png">3</a>]</span>
+reader have been taken, where such a course was
+practicable, from the original sources, and the references
+to the authorities from whence they are derived
+have been personally consulted and compared.</p></div>
+
+<p>That the learning of the Middle Ages has been
+carelessly represented there can be little doubt:
+our finest writers in the paths of history have employed
+their pens in denouncing it; some have
+allowed difference of opinion as regards ecclesiastical
+policy to influence their conclusions; and
+because the poor scribes were monks, the most
+licentious principles, the most dismal ignorance and
+the most repulsive crimes have been attributed to
+them. If the monks deserved such reproaches from
+posterity, they have received no quarter; if they
+possessed virtues as christians, and honorable sentiments
+as men, they have met with no reward in
+the praise or respect of this liberal age: they were
+monks! superstitious priests and followers of Rome!
+What good could come of them? It cannot be
+denied that there were crimes perpetrated by men
+aspiring to a state of holy sanctity; there are
+instances to be met with of priests violating the
+rules of decorum and morality; of monks revelling
+in the dissipating pleasures of sensual enjoyments,
+and of nuns whose frail humanity could not maintain
+the purity of their virgin vows. But these
+instances are too rare to warrant the slanders and
+scurrility that historians have heaped upon them.
+And when we talk of the sensuality of the monks,
+of their gross indulgences and corporeal ease, we
+surely do so without discrimination; for when we
+speak of the middle ages thus, our thoughts are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>[<a href="./images/4.png">4</a>]</span>
+dwelling on the sixteenth century, its mocking piety
+and superstitious absurdity; but in the olden time of
+monastic rule, before monachism had burst its ancient
+boundaries, there was surely nothing physically attractive
+in the austere and dull monotony of a
+cloistered life. Look at the monk; mark his hard,
+dry studies, and his midnight prayers, his painful
+fasting and mortifying of the flesh; what can we
+find in this to tempt the epicure or the lover of
+indolence and sloth? They were fanatics, blind and
+credulous&mdash;I grant it. They read gross legends,
+and put faith in traditionary lies&mdash;I grant it; but do
+not say, for history will not prove it, that in the
+middle ages the monks were wine bibbers and
+slothful gluttons. But let not the Protestant reader
+be too hastily shocked. I am not defending the
+monastic system, or the corruption of the cloister&mdash;far
+from it. I would see the usefulness of man
+made manifest to the world; but the measure of my
+faith teaches charity and forgiveness, and I can find
+in the functions of the monk much that must have
+been useful in those dark days of feudal tyranny
+and lordly despotism. We much mistake the influence
+of the monks by mistaking their position; we
+regard them as a class, but forget from whence they
+sprang; there was nothing aristocratic about them,
+as their constituent parts sufficiently testify; they
+were, perhaps, the best representatives of the people
+that could be named, being derived from all classes
+of society. Thus Offa, the Saxon king, and C&aelig;dman,
+the rustic herdsman, were both monks. These are
+examples by no means rare, and could easily be
+multiplied. Such being the case, could not the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>[<a href="./images/5.png">5</a>]</span>
+monks more readily feel and sympathize with all,
+and more clearly discern the frailties of their brother
+man, and by kind admonition or stern reproof,
+mellow down the ferocity of a Saxon nature, or the
+proud heart of a Norman tyrant? But our object is
+not to analyze the social influence of Monachism in
+the middle ages: much might be said against it, and
+many evils traced to the sad workings of its evil
+spirit, but still withal something may be said in
+favor of it, and those who regard its influence in
+<i>those days alone</i> may find more to admire and defend
+than they expected, or their Protestant prejudices
+like to own.</p>
+
+<p>But, leaving these things, I have only to deal
+with such remains as relate to the love of books in
+those times. I would show the means then in
+existence of acquiring knowledge, the scarcity or
+plentitude of books, the extent of their libraries,
+and the rules regulating them; and bring forward
+those facts which tend to display the general
+routine of a literary monk, or the prevalence of
+Bibliomania in those days.</p>
+
+<p>It is well known that the great national and
+private libraries of Europe possess immense collections
+of manuscripts, which were produced and
+transcribed in the monasteries, during the middle
+ages, thousands there are in the rich alcoves of the
+Vatican at Rome, unknown save to a choice and
+favored few; thousands there are in the royal
+library of France, and thousands too reposing on
+the dusty shelves of the Bodleian and Cottonian
+libraries in England; and yet, these numbers are
+but a small portion&mdash;a mere relic&mdash;of the intel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>[<a href="./images/6.png">6</a>]</span>lectual
+productions of a past and obscure age.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>
+The barbarians, who so frequently convulsed the
+more civilized portions of Europe, found a morbid
+pleasure in destroying those works which bore
+evidence to the mental superiority of their enemies.
+In England, the Saxons, the Danes, and the
+Normans were each successively the destroyers of
+literary productions. The Saxon Chronicle, that
+invaluable repository of the events of so many years,
+bears ample testimony to numerous instances of the
+loss of libraries and works of art, from fire, or by
+the malice of designing foes. At some periods, so
+general was this destruction, so unquenchable the
+rapacity of those who caused it, that instead of
+feeling surprised at the manuscripts of those ages
+being so few and scanty, we have cause rather to
+wonder that so many have been preserved. For
+even the numbers which escaped the hands of the
+early and unlettered barbarians met with an equally
+ignominious fate from those for whom it would be
+impossible to hold up the darkness of their age
+as a plausible excuse for the commission of this
+egregious folly. These men over whose sad deeds
+the bibliophile sighs with mournful regret, were
+those who carried out the Reformation, so glorious
+in its results; but the righteousness of the means
+by which those results were effected are very
+equivocal indeed. When men form themselves into
+a faction and strive for the accomplishment of one
+purpose, criminal deeds are perpetrated with im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>[<a href="./images/7.png">7</a>]</span>punity,
+which, individually they would blush and
+scorn to do; they feel no direct responsibility, no
+personal restraint; and, such as possess fierce
+passions, under the cloak of an organized body,
+give them vent and gratification; and those whose
+better feelings lead them to contemplate upon these
+things content themselves with the conclusion, that
+out of evil cometh good.</p>
+
+<p>The noble art of printing was unable, with all
+its rapid movements, to rescue from destruction the
+treasures of the monkish age; the advocates of the
+Reformation eagerly sought for and as eagerly
+destroyed those old popish volumes, doubtless
+there was much folly, much exaggerated superstition
+pervading them; but there was also some truth,
+a few facts worth knowing, and perhaps a little
+true piety also, and it would have been no difficult
+matter to have discriminated between the good and
+the bad. But the careless grants of a licentious
+monarch conferred a monastery on a court favorite
+or political partizan without one thought for the
+preservation of its contents. It is true a few years
+after the dissolution of these houses, the industrious
+Leland was appointed to search and rummage over
+their libraries and to preserve any relic worthy of
+such an honor; but it was too late, less learned
+hands had rifled those parchment collections long
+ago, mutilated their finest volumes by cutting out
+with childish pleasure the illuminations with which
+they were adorned; tearing off the bindings for the
+gold claps which protected the treasures within,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>[<a href="./images/8.png">8</a>]</span>
+and chopping up huge folios as fuel for their blazing
+hearths, and immense collections were sold as waste
+paper. Bale, a strenuous opponent of the monks,
+thus deplores the loss of their books: "Never had
+we bene offended for the losse of our lybraryes
+beynge so many in nombre and in so desolate
+places for the moste parte, yf the chief monuments
+and moste notable workes of our excellent wryters
+had bene reserved, yf there had bene in every shyre
+of Englande but one solemyne library to the preservacyon
+of those noble workers, and preferrement
+of good learnynges in oure posteryte it had bene
+yet somewhat. But to destroye all without consyderacion,
+is and wyll be unto Englande for ever a
+most horryble infamy amonge the grave senyours
+of other nations. A grete nombre of them whych
+purchased those superstycyose mansyons reserved
+of those lybrarye bokes, some to serve theyr jakes,
+some to scoure theyr candelstyckes, and some to
+rubbe theyr bootes; some they solde to the grossers
+and sope sellers, and some they sent over see to the
+bokebynders,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> not in small nombre, but at tymes
+<i>whole shippes ful</i>. I know a merchant man, whyche<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>[<a href="./images/9.png">9</a>]</span>
+shall at thys tyme be nameless, that boughte the
+contents of two noble lybraryes for xl shyllyngs
+pryce, a shame is it to be spoken. Thys stuffe hathe
+he occupyed in the stide of graye paper for the
+space of more than these ten years, and yet hath
+store ynough for as many years to come. A prodyguose
+example is this, and to be abhorred of all
+men who love theyr natyon as they shoulde do."<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p>
+
+<p>However pernicious the Roman religion might
+have been in its practice, it argues little to the
+honor of the reformers to have used such means as
+this to effect its cure; had they merely destroyed
+those productions connected with the controversies
+of the day, we might perhaps have excused it, on
+the score of party feeling; but those who were commissioned
+to visit the public libraries of the kingdom
+were often men of prejudiced intellects and shortsighted
+wisdom, and it frequently happened that an
+ignorant and excited mob became the executioners
+of whole collections.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> It would be impossible now
+to estimate the loss. Manuscripts of ancient and
+classic date would in their hands receive no more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>[<a href="./images/10.png">10</a>]</span>
+respect than some dry husky folio on ecclesiastical
+policy; indeed, they often destroyed the works of
+their own party through sheer ignorance. In a
+letter sent by Dr. Cox to William Paget, Secretary,
+he writes that the proclamation for burning books
+had been the occasion of much hurt. "For New
+Testaments and Bibles (not condemned by proclamation)
+have been burned, and that, out of parish
+churches and good men's houses. They have burned
+innumerable of the king's majesties books concerning
+our religion lately set forth."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> The ignorant
+thus delighted to destroy that which they did not
+understand, and the factional spirit of the more
+enlightened would not allow them to make one
+effort for the preservation of those valuable relics
+of early English literature, which crowded the
+shelves of the monastic libraries; the sign of the
+cross, the use of red letters on the title page, the
+illuminations representing saints, or the diagrams
+and circles of a mathematical nature, were at all
+times deemed sufficient evidence of their popish
+origin and fitness for the flames.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p>
+
+<p>When we consider the immense number of MSS.
+thus destroyed, we cannot help suspecting that, if
+they had been carefully preserved and examined,
+many valuable and original records would have been
+discovered. The catalogues of old monastic establishments,
+although containing a great proportion
+of works on divine and ecclesiastical learning, testify<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>[<a href="./images/11.png">11</a>]</span>
+that the monks did not confine their studies exclusively
+to legendary tales or superstitious missals,
+but that they also cultivated a taste for classical and
+general learning. Doubtless, in the ruin of the
+sixteenth century, many original works of monkish
+authors perished, and the splendor of the transcript
+rendered it still more liable to destruction; but I
+confess, as old Fuller quaintly says, that "there
+were many volumes full fraught with superstition
+which, notwithstanding, might be useful to learned
+men, except any will deny apothecaries the privilege
+of keeping poison in their shops, when they can
+make antidotes of them. But besides this, what
+beautiful bibles! Rare fathers! Subtle schoolmen!
+Useful historians! Ancient! Middle! Modern!
+What painful comments were here amongst them!
+What monuments of mathematics all massacred
+together!"<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p>
+
+<p>More than a cart load of manuscripts were taken
+away from Merton College and destroyed, and a
+vast number from the Baliol and New Colleges,
+Oxford;<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> but these instances might be infinitely
+multiplied, so terrible were those intemperate outrages.
+All this tends to enforce upon us the
+necessity of using considerable caution in forming
+an opinion of the nature and extent of learning
+prevalent during those ages which preceded the
+discovery of the art of printing.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The sad page in the Annals of Literary History recording the
+destruction of books and MSS. fully prove this assertion. In France,
+in the year 1790, 4,194,000 volumes were burnt belonging to the
+suppressed monasteries, about 25,000 of these were manuscripts.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> "About this time (Feb. 25, 1550) the Council book mentions
+the king's sending a letter for the purging his library at Westminster.
+The persons are not named, but the business was to cull out all
+superstitious books, as missals, legends, and such like, and to deliver
+the garniture of the books, being either gold or silver, to Sir Anthony
+Aucher. These books were many of them plated with gold and
+silver and curiously embossed. This, as far as we can collect, was
+the superstition that destroyed them. Here avarice had a very thin
+disguise, and the courtiers discovered of what spirit they were to a
+remarkable degree."&mdash;Collier's Eccle. History, vol. ii. p. 307.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Any one who can inspect a library of ancient books will find
+proof of this. A collection of vellum scraps which I have derived
+from these sources are very exciting to a bibliomaniac, a choice line
+so abruptly broken, a monkish or classical verse so cruelly mutilated!
+render an inspection of this odd collection, a tantalizing amusement.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Bale's Leland's Laboryouse Journey, Preface.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> The works of the Schoolmen, viz.: of P. Lombard, T. Aquinas,
+Scotus and his followers and critics also, and such that had popish
+scholars in them they cast out of all college libraries and private
+studies.&mdash;<i>Wood's Hist. Oxon.</i>, vol. i. b. 1. p. 108. And "least
+their impiety and foolishness in this act should be further wanting,
+they brought it to pass that certain rude young men should carry
+this great spoil of books about the city on biers, which being so done,
+to set them down in the common market place, and then burn them,
+to the sorrow of many, as well as of the Protestants as of the other
+party. This was by them styled 'the funeral of Scotus the Scotists.'
+So that at this time and all this king's reign was seldom seen anything
+in the universities but books of poetry, grammar, idle songs,
+and frivolous stuff."&mdash;<i>Ibid., Wood is referring to the reign of
+Edward VI.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Wood's Hist. Oxon, b. i. p. 81.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> "Gutch has printed in his 'Collectiana' an order from the
+Queen's commissioners to destroy all capes, vestments, albes, missals,
+books, crosses, and such other idolatrous and superstitious monuments
+whatsoever.'&mdash;vol. ii. p. 280."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Fuller's Church History, b. vi. p. 335.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Wood's Oxon, vol. i. b. i. p. 107</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>[<a href="./images/12.png">12</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>[<a href="./images/13.png">13</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-6.jpg" alt="Header 3" title="Header 3" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Duties of the monkish librarian.&mdash;Rules of the
+library.&mdash;Lending books.&mdash;Books allowed the
+monks for private reading.&mdash;Ridiculous signs for
+books.&mdash;How the libraries were supported.&mdash;A
+monkish blessing on books, etc.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-3.jpg" alt="I" title="I" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">n</span> this chapter I shall proceed to inquire
+into the duties of the monkish
+amanuensis, and show by what laws
+and regulations the monastic libraries
+were governed. The monotonous
+habits of a cloistered bibliophile
+will, perhaps, appear dry and fastidious, but
+still it is curious and interesting to observe how
+carefully the monks regarded their vellum tomes,
+how indefatigably they worked to increase their
+stores, and how eagerly they sought for books.
+But besides being regarded as a literary curiosity,
+the subject derives importance by the light it throws
+on the state of learning in those dark and "bookless"
+days, and the illustrations gleaned in this way
+fully compensate for the tediousness of the research.</p>
+
+<p>As a bibliophile it is somewhat pleasing to trace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>[<a href="./images/14.png">14</a>]</span>
+a deep book passion growing up in the barrenness
+of the cloister, and to find in some cowled monk a
+bibliomaniac as warm and enthusiastic in his way
+as the renowned "Atticus," or the noble Roxburghe,
+of more recent times. It is true we can draw no
+comparison between the result of their respective
+labors. The hundreds, which in the old time were
+deemed a respectable if not an extensive collection,
+would look insignificant beside the ostentatious
+array of modern libraries.</p></div>
+
+<p>But the very tenor of a monastic life compelled
+the monk to seek the sweet yet silent companionship
+of books; the rules of his order and the regulations
+of his fraternity enforced the strictest silence
+in the execution of his daily and never-ceasing
+duties. Attending mass, singing psalms, and midnight
+prayers, were succeeded by mass, psalms and
+prayers in one long undeviating round of yearly
+obligations; the hours intervening between these
+holy exercises were dull and tediously insupportable
+if unoccupied. Conversation forbidden, secular
+amusements denounced, yet idleness reproached,
+what could the poor monk seek as a relief in this
+distress but the friendly book; the willing and
+obedient companion of every one doomed to lonely
+hours and dismal solitude?</p>
+
+<p>The pride and glory of a monastery was a well
+stored library, which was committed to the care of
+the armarian, and with him rested all the responsibility
+of its preservation. According to the Consuetudines
+Canonicorum Regularium, it was his duty
+to have all the books of the monastery in his keeping
+catalogued and separately marked with their proper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>[<a href="./images/15.png">15</a>]</span>
+names.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Some of these old catalogues have been
+preserved, and, viewed as bibliographical remains
+of the middle ages, are of considerable importance;
+indeed, we cannot form a correct idea of the literature
+of those remote times without them. Many
+productions of authors are recorded in these brief
+catalogues whose former existence is only known
+to us by these means. There is one circumstance
+in connexion with them that must not be forgotten:
+instead of enumerating all the works which each
+volume contained, they merely specified the first,
+so that a catalogue of fifty or a hundred volumes
+might probably have contained nearly double that
+number of distinct works. I have seen MSS. formerly
+belonging to monasteries, which have been
+catalogued in this way, containing four or five
+others, besides the one mentioned. Designed rather
+to identify the book than to describe the contents
+of each volume, they wrote down the first word or
+two of the second leaf&mdash;this was the most prevalent
+usage; but they often adopted other means, sometimes
+giving a slight notice of the works which a
+volume contained; others took the precaution of
+noting down the last word of the last leaf but one,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>
+a great advantage, as the monkish student could
+more easily detect at a glance whether the volume
+was perfect. The armarian was, moreover, particularly
+enjoined to inspect with scrupulous care
+the more ancient volumes, lest the moth-worms
+should have got at them, or they had become cor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>[<a href="./images/16.png">16</a>]</span>rupt
+or mutilated, and, if such were the case, he
+was with great care to restore them. Probably the
+armarian was also the bookbinder to the monastery
+in ordinary cases, for he is here directed to cover
+the volumes with tablets of wood, that the inside
+may be preserved from moisture, and the parchment
+from the injurious effects of dampness. The
+different orders of books were to be kept separate
+from one another, and conveniently arranged; not
+squeezed too tight, lest it should injure or confuse
+them, but so placed that they might be easily distinguished,
+and those who sought them might find
+them without delay or impediment.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> Bibliomaniacs
+have not been remarkable for their memory or
+punctuality, and in the early times the borrower
+was often forgetful to return the volume within the
+specified time. To guard against this, many rules
+were framed, nor was the armarian allowed to lend
+the books, even to neighboring monasteries, unless
+he received a bond or promise to restore them
+within a certain time, and if the person was entirely
+unknown, a book of equal value was required as a
+security for its safe return. In all cases the armarian
+was instructed to make a short memorandum of the
+name of the book which he had lent or received.
+The "great and precious books" were subject to
+still more stringent rules, and although under the
+conservation of the librarian, he had not the privilege
+of lending them to any one without the distinct
+permission of the abbot.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> This was, doubtless,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>[<a href="./images/17.png">17</a>]</span>
+practised by all the monastic libraries, for all generously
+lent one another their books. In a collection
+of chapter orders of the prior and convent of
+Durham, bearing date 1235, it is evident that a
+similar rule was observed there, which they were
+not to depart from except at the desire of the
+bishop.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> According to the constitutions for the
+government of the Abingdon monastery, the library
+was under the care of the Cantor, and all the writings
+of the church were consigned to his keeping.
+He was not allowed to part with the books or lend
+them without a sufficient deposit as a pledge for
+their safe return, except to persons of consequence
+and repute.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> This was the practice at a much later
+period. When that renowned bibliomaniac, Richard
+de Bury, wrote his delightful little book called
+<i>Philobiblon</i>, the same rules were strictly in force.
+With respect to the lending of books, his own
+directions are that, if any one apply for a particular
+volume, the librarian was to carefully consider
+whether the library contained another copy of it;
+if so, he was at liberty to lend the book, taking
+care, however, that he obtained a security which
+was to exceed the value of the loan; they were at
+the same time to make a memorandum in writing
+of the name of the book, and the nature of the
+security deposited for it, with the name of the
+party to whom it was lent, with that of the officer
+or librarian who delivered it.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p>
+
+<p>We learn by the canons before referred to, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>[<a href="./images/18.png">18</a>]</span>
+the superintendence of all the writing and transcribing,
+whether in or out of the monastery, belonged
+to the office of the armarian, and that it was
+his duty to provide the scribes with parchment and
+all things necessary for their work, and to agree
+upon the price with those whom he employed. The
+monks who were appointed to write in the cloisters
+he supplied with copies for transcription; and that
+no time might be wasted, he was to see that a
+good supply was kept up. No one was to give to
+another what he himself had been ordered to
+write, or presume to do anything by his own will
+or inclination. Nor was it seemly that the armarian
+even should give any orders for transcripts
+to be made without first receiving the permission
+of his superior.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p>
+
+<p>We here catch a glimpse of the quiet life of a
+monkish student, who labored with this monotonous
+regularity to amass his little library. If we
+dwell on these scraps of information, we shall discover
+some marks of a love of learning among
+them, and the liberality they displayed in lending
+their books to each other is a pleasing trait to
+dwell upon. They unhesitatingly imparted to
+others the knowledge they acquired by their own
+study with a brotherly frankness and generosity
+well becoming the spirit of a student. This they
+did by extensive correspondence and the temporary
+exchange of their books. The system of loan,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>[<a href="./images/19.png">19</a>]</span>
+which they in this manner carried on to a considerable
+extent, is an important feature in connection
+with our subject; innumerable and interesting
+instances of this may be found in the
+monastic registers, and the private letters of the
+times. The cheapness of literary productions of
+the present age render it an absolute waste of
+time to transcribe a whole volume, and except with
+books of great scarcity we seldom think of borrowing
+or lending one; having finished its perusal
+we place it on the shelf and in future regard it as
+a book of reference; but in those days one volume
+did the work of twenty. It was lent to a neighboring
+monastery, and this constituted its publication;
+for each monastery thus favored, by the aid
+perhaps of some half dozen scribes, added a copy
+to their own library, and it was often stipulated
+that on the return of the original a correct duplicate
+should accompany it, as a remuneration to its
+author. Nor was the volume allowed to remain
+unread; it was recited aloud at meals, or when
+otherwise met together, to the whole community.
+We shall do well to bear this in mind, and not
+hastily judge of the number of students by a comparison
+with the number of their books. But it
+was not always a mere single volume that the
+monks lent from their library. Hunter has printed<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a>
+a list of books lent by the Convent of Henton,
+<span class="smcap">a. d.</span> 1343, to a neighboring monastery, containing
+twenty volumes. The engagement to restore these
+books was formally drawn up and sealed.</p>
+
+<p>In the monasteries the first consideration was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>[<a href="./images/20.png">20</a>]</span>
+to see that the library was well stored with those
+books necessary for the performance of the various
+offices of the church, but besides these the library
+ought, according to established rules, to contain for
+the "edification of the brothers" such as were fit and
+needful to be consulted in common study. The
+Bible and great expositors; <i>Bibliothec&aelig; et majores
+expositores</i>, books of martyrs, lives of saints, homilies,
+etc.;<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> these and other large books the monks
+were allowed to take and study in private, but the
+smaller ones they could only study in the library,
+lest they should be lost or mislaid. This was also
+the case with respect to the rare and choice
+volumes. When the armarian gave out books to
+the monks he made a note of their nature, and
+took an exact account of their number, so that he
+might know in a moment which of the brothers
+had it for perusal.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> Those who studied together
+were to receive what books they choose; but when
+they had satisfied themselves, they were particularly
+directed to restore them to their assigned
+places; and when they at any time received from
+the armarian a book for their private reading, they
+were not allowed to lend it to any one else, or to
+use it in common, but to reserve it especially for
+his own private reading. The same rule extended
+to the singers, who if they required books for their
+studies, were to apply to the abbot.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> The sick
+brothers were also entitled to the privilege of
+receiving from the armarian books for their solace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>[<a href="./images/21.png">21</a>]</span>
+and comfort; but as soon as the lamps were lighted
+in the infirmary the books were put away till the
+morning, and if not finished, were again given out
+from the library.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> In the more ancient monasteries
+a similar case was observed with respect to
+their books. The rule of St. Pacome directed
+that the utmost attention should be paid to their
+preservation, and that when the monks went to the
+refectory they were not to leave their books open,
+but to carefully close and put them in their assigned
+places. The monastery of St. Pacome contained
+a vast number of monks; every house, says
+Mabillon, was composed of not less than forty
+monks, and the monastery embraced thirty or forty
+houses. Each monk, he adds, possessed his book,
+and few rested without forming a library; by which
+we may infer that the number of books was considerable.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a>
+Indeed, it was quite a common practice
+in those days, scarce as books were, to allow
+each of the monks one or more for his private
+study, besides granting them access to the library.
+The constitutions of Lanfranc, in the year 1072,
+directed the librarian, at the commencement of
+Lent, to deliver a book to each of the monks for
+their private reading, allowing them a whole year
+for its perusal.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> There is one circumstance connected
+with the affairs of the library quite characteristic
+of monkish superstition, and bearing painful
+testimony to their mistaken ideas of what consti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>[<a href="./images/22.png">22</a>]</span>tuted
+"good works." In Martene's book there is a
+chapter, <i>De Scientia et Signis</i>&mdash;degrading and sad;
+there is something withal curious to be found in it.
+After enjoining the most scrupulous silence in the
+church, in the refectory, in the cloister, and in the
+dormitory, at all times, and in all seasons; transforming
+those men into perpetual mutes, and even
+when "actually necessary," permitting only a whisper
+to be articulated "in a low voice in the ear,"
+<i>submissa voce in aure</i>, it then proceeds to describe
+a series of fantastic grimaces which the monks
+were to perform on applying to the armarian for
+books. The general sign for a book, <i>generali signi
+libri</i>, was to "extend the hand and make a movement
+as if turning over the leaves of a book." For
+a missal the monk was to make a similar movement
+with a sign of the cross; for the gospels the sign
+of the cross on the forehead; for an antiphon or
+book of responses he was to strike the thumb and
+little finger of the other hand together; for a book
+of offices or gradale to make the sign of a cross
+and kiss the fingers; for a tract lay the hand on
+the abdomen and apply the other hand to the
+mouth; for a capitulary make the general sign
+and extend the clasped hands to heaven; for a
+psalter place the hands upon the head in the form
+of a crown, such as the king is wont to wear.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a>
+Religious intolerance was rampant when this rule
+was framed; hot and rancorous denunciation was
+lavished with amazing prodigality against works of
+loose morality or heathen origin; nor did the
+monks feel much compassion&mdash;although they loved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>[<a href="./images/23.png">23</a>]</span>
+to read them&mdash;for the old authors of antiquity.
+Pagans they were, and therefore fit only to be
+named as infidels and dogs, so the monk was
+directed for a secular book, "which some pagan
+wrote after making the general sign to scratch his
+ear with his hand, just as a dog itching would do
+with his feet, because infidels are not unjustly
+compared to such creatures&mdash;<i>quia nec immerito
+infideles tali animanti contparantur</i>.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> Wretched
+bigotry and puny malice! Yet what a sad reflection
+it is, that with all the foul and heartburning
+examples which those dark ages of the monks
+afford, posterity have failed to profit by them&mdash;religious
+intolerance, with all its vain-glory and
+malice, flourishes still, the cankering worm of
+many a Christian blossom! Besides the duties
+which we have enumerated, there were others
+which it was the province of the armarian to fulfil.
+He was particularly to inspect and collate those
+books which, according to the decrees of the church,
+it was unlawful to possess different from the authorized
+copies; these were the bible, the gospels, missals,
+epistles, collects graduales, antiphons, hymns, psalters,
+lessions, and the monastic rules; these were
+always to be alike even in the most minute point.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>
+He was moreover directed to prepare for the use of
+the brothers short tables respecting the times mentioned
+in the capitulary for the various offices of
+the church, to make notes upon the matins, the
+mass, and upon the different orders.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> In fact, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>[<a href="./images/24.png">24</a>]</span>
+monkish amanuensis was expected to undertake all
+those matters which required care and learning
+combined. He wrote the letters of the monastery,
+and often filled the office of secretary to my Lord
+Abbot. In the monasteries of course the services
+of the librarian were unrequited by any pecuniary
+remuneration, but in the cathedral libraries a certain
+salary was sometimes allowed them. Thus we learn
+that the amanuensis of the conventual church of
+Ely received in the year 1372 forty-three shillings
+and fourpence for his annual duties;<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> and Oswald,
+Bishop of Worcester, in the tenth century, gave
+considerable landed possessions to a monk of that
+church as a recompense for his services as librarian.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a>
+In some monasteries, in the twelfth century, if not
+earlier, they levied a tax on all the members of the
+community, who paid a yearly sum to the librarian
+for binding, preserving, and purchasing copies for
+the library. One of these rules, bearing date 1145,
+was made by Udon, Abbot of St. P&egrave;re en Vall&eacute;e &agrave;
+Chantres, and that it might be more plausibly
+received, he taxed himself as well as all the members
+of his own house.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> The librarian sometimes,
+in addition to his regular duties, combined the
+office of precentor to the monastery.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> Some of
+their account-books have been preserved, and by
+an inspection of them, we may occasionally gather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>[<a href="./images/25.png">25</a>]</span>
+some interesting and curious hints, as to the cost
+of books and writing materials in those times.
+As may be supposed, the monkish librarians often
+became great bibliophiles, for being in constant
+communication with choice manuscripts, they soon
+acquired a great mania for them. Posterity are
+also particularly indebted to the pens of these book
+conservators of the middle ages; for some of the
+best chroniclers and writers of those times were
+humble librarians to some religious house.</p>
+
+<p>Not only did the bibliophiles of old exercise
+the utmost care in the preservation of their darling
+books, but the religious basis of their education
+and learning prompted them to supplicate the
+blessing of God upon their goodly tomes. Although
+I might easily produce other instances, one
+will suffice to give an idea of their nature: "O
+Lord, send the virtue of thy Holy Spirit upon
+these our books; that cleansing them from all
+earthly things, by thy holy blessing, they may
+mercifully enlighten our hearts and give us true
+understanding; and grant that by thy teaching,
+they may brightly preserve and make full an abundance
+of good works according to thy will."<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p>
+
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Cap. xxi. Martene de Antiquis Ecclesi&aelig; Ritibus, tom. iii.
+p. 262.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> See Catalogue of Hulne Abbey, Library MS. Harleian. No.
+3897.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Martene de Antiq. Eccle. Rit., tom. iii. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> Ingulphus tells us that the same rule was observed in
+Croyland Abbey.&mdash;<i>Apud Gale</i>, p. 104.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Marked b. iv. 26. Surtee Publications, vol. i. p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Const. admiss. Abbat, et <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'gubernnatione'">gubernatione</ins> Monast. Abendum
+Cottonian M.S. Claudius, b. vi. p. 194.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Philobiblon, 4to. <i>Oxon</i>, 1599, chap. xix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ribibus, tom. iii. p. 263. For an inattention
+to this the Council of Soissons, in 1121, ordered some
+transcripts of Abelard's works to be burnt, and severely reproved the
+author for his unpardonable neglect.&mdash;<i>Histoire Litt&eacute;raire de la
+France</i>, tom. ix. p. 28.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Catalogues of Monastic Libraries, pp. 16, 17.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, tom. iii. cap. xxxvi. pp. 269, 270.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Martene, tom. iii. p. 331. For a list of some books applied to
+their use, see MS. Cot. Galba, c. iv. fo. 128.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Mabillon, Trait&eacute; des Etudes Monastiques, 4to. <i>Paris</i> 1691, cap.
+vi. p. 34.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Wilkin's Concil. tom. i. p. 332.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Stat. pro Reform. ordin. Grandimont. ap. Martene cap. x.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, tom. iv. pp. 289, 339.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, cap. xxi. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the Church of
+Ely, p. 51.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Thomas' Survey of the Church of Worcester, p. 45.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Mabillon. Annal. tom. vi. pp. 651 and 652. Hist. Litt. de la
+France, ix. p. 140.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> They managed the pecuniary matters of the fraternity.
+William of Malmsbury was precentor as well as librarian to his
+monastery.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Martene de Antiq. Eccl. Ritibus ii. p. 302.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>[<a href="./images/26.png">26</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>[<a href="./images/27.png">27</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-7.jpg" alt="Header 4" title="Header 4" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Scriptoria and the Scribes.&mdash;Care in copying.&mdash;Bible
+reading among the monks.&mdash;Booksellers in the
+middle ages.&mdash;Circulating libraries.&mdash;Calligraphic
+art, etc.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-8.jpg" alt="A" title="A" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">s</span> the monasteries were the schools
+of learning, so their occupants were
+the preservers of literature, and, as
+Herault observes, had they not
+taken the trouble to transcribe
+books, the ancients had been lost
+to us for ever; to them, therefore, we owe much.
+But there are many, however, who suppose that
+the monastic establishments were hotbeds of superstition
+and fanaticism, from whence nothing of a
+useful or elevated nature could possibly emanate.
+They are too apt to suppose that the human intellect
+must be altogether weak and impotent when
+confined within such narrow limits; but truth and
+knowledge can exist even in the dark cells of a
+gloomy cloister, and inspire the soul with a fire
+that can shed a light far beyond its narrow pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>[<a href="./images/28.png">28</a>]</span>cincts.
+Indeed, I scarce know whether to regret,
+as some appear to do, that the literature and
+learning of those rude times was preserved and
+fostered by the Christian church; it is said, that
+their strict devotion and religious zeal prompted
+them to disregard all things but a knowledge of
+those divine, but such is not the case; at least, I
+have not found it so; it is true, as churchmen, they
+were principally devoted to the study of divine and
+ecclesiastical lore; but it is also certain that in that
+capacity they gradually infused the mild spirit of
+their Master among the darkened society over
+which they presided, and among whom they shone
+as beacons of light in a dreary desert. But the
+church did more than this. She preserved to posterity
+the profane learnings of Old Greece and
+Rome; copied it, multiplied it, and spread it. She
+recorded to after generations in plain, simple
+language, the ecclesiastical and civil events of the
+past, for it is from the terse chronicles of the
+monkish churchmen that we learn now the history
+of what happened then. Much as we may
+dislike the monastic system, the cold, heartless,
+gloomy ascetic atmosphere of the cloister, and
+much as we may deplore the mental dissipation of
+man's best attributes, which the system of those
+old monks engendered, we must exercise a cool
+and impartial judgment, and remember that what
+now would be intolerable and monstrously inconsistent
+with our present state of intellectuality,
+might at some remote period, in the ages of darkness
+and comparative barbarism, have had its virtues
+and beneficial influences. As for myself, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>[<a href="./images/29.png">29</a>]</span>
+would be difficult to convince me, with all those
+fine relics of their deeds before me, those beauteous
+fanes dedicated to piety and God, those libraries
+so crowded with their vellum tomes, so gorgeously
+adorned, and the abundant evidence which history
+bears to their known charity and hospitable love,
+that these monks and their system was a scheme
+of dismal barbarism; it may be so, but my reading
+has taught me different; but, on the other hand,
+although the monks possessed many excellent
+qualities, being the encouragers of literature, the
+preservers of books, and promulgators of civilization,
+we must not hide their numerous and palpable
+faults, or overlook the poison which their
+system of monachism <i>ultimately</i> infused into the
+very vitals of society. In the early centuries,
+before the absurdities of Romanism were introduced,
+the influence of the monastic orders was
+highly beneficial to our Saxon ancestors, but in
+after ages the Church of England was degraded
+by the influence of the fast growing abominations
+of Popedom. She drank copiously of the deadly
+potion, and became the blighted and ghostly
+shadow of her former self. Forgetting the humility
+of her divine Lord, she sought rather to
+imitate the worldly splendor and arrogance of her
+Sovereign Pontiff. The evils too obviously existed
+to be overlooked; but it is not my place to further
+expose them; a more pleasing duty guides my pen;
+others have done all this, lashing them painfully
+for their oft-told sins. Frail humanity glories in
+chastizing the frailty of brother man. But we will
+not denounce them here, for did not the day of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>[<a href="./images/30.png">30</a>]</span>
+retribution come? And was not justice satisfied?
+Having made these few preliminary remarks, let
+us, in a brief manner, inquire into the system observed
+in the cloisters by the monks for the preservation
+and transcription of manuscripts. Let
+us peep into the quiet cells of those old monks,
+and see whether history warrants the unqualified
+contempt which their efforts in this department
+have met with.</p></div>
+
+<p>In most monasteries there were two kinds of
+Scriptoria, or writing offices; for in addition to the
+large and general apartment used for the transcription
+of church books and manuscripts for the
+library, there were also several smaller ones occupied
+by the superiors and the more learned members
+of the community, as closets for private
+devotion and study. Thus we read, that in the
+Cistercian orders there were places set apart for
+the transcription of books called Scriptoria, or
+cells assigned to the scribes, "separate from each
+other," where the books might be transcribed in
+the strictest silence, according to the holy rules of
+their founders.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> These little cells were usually
+situated in the most retired part of the monastery,
+and were probably incapable of accommodating
+more than one or two persons;<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> dull and comfortless
+places, no doubt, yet they were deemed great
+luxuries, and the use of them only granted to such
+as became distinguished for their piety, or erudition.
+We read that when David went to the Isle of
+Wight, to Paulinus, to receive his education, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>[<a href="./images/31.png">31</a>]</span>
+used to sup in the Refectory, but had a Scriptorium,
+or study, in his cell, being a famous scribe.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a>
+The aged monks, who often lived in these little
+offices, separate from the rest of the scribes, were
+not expected to work so arduously as the rest.
+Their employment was comparatively easy; nor
+were they compelled to work so long as those in
+the cloister.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> There is a curious passage in Tangmar's
+Life of St. Bernward, which would lead us
+to suspect that private individuals possessed Scriptoria;
+for, says he, there are Scriptoria, not only
+in the monasteries, but in other places, in which
+are conceived books equal to the divine works of
+the philosophers.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> The Scriptorium of the monastery
+in which the general business of a literary
+nature was transacted, was an apartment far more
+extensive and commodious, fitted up with forms and
+desks methodically arranged, so as to contain conveniently
+a great number of copyists. In some of
+the monasteries and cathedrals, they had long
+ranges of seats one after another, at which were
+seated the scribes, one well versed in the subject
+on which the book treated, recited from the copy
+whilst they wrote; so that, on a word being given
+out by him, it was copied by all.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> The multiplication
+of manuscripts, under such a system as this,
+must have been immense; but they did not always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>[<a href="./images/32.png">32</a>]</span>
+make books, <i>fecit libros</i>, as they called it, in this
+wholesale manner, but each monk diligently labored
+at the transcription of a separate work.</p>
+
+<p>The amount of labor carried on in the Scriptorium,
+of course, in many cases depended upon
+the revenues of the abbey, and the disposition of
+the abbot; but this was not always the case, as in
+some monasteries they undertook the transcription
+of books as a matter of commerce, and added broad
+lands to their house by the industry of their pens.
+But the Scriptorium was frequently supported by
+resources solely applicable to its use. Laymen,
+who had a taste for literature, or who entertained
+an esteem for it in others, often at their death
+bequeathed estates for the support of the monastic
+Scriptoria. Robert, one of the Norman leaders,
+gave two parts of the tythes of Hatfield, and the
+tythes of Redburn, for the support of the Scriptorium
+of St. Alban's.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> The one belonging to the
+monastery of St. Edmundsbury was endowed with
+two mills,<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> and in the church of Ely there is a
+charter of Bishof Nigellus, granting to the Scriptorium
+of the monastery the tythes of Wythessey
+and Impitor, two parts of the tythes of the Lordship
+of Pampesward, with 2s. 2d., and a messuage
+in Ely <i>ad faciendos et emandandos libros</i>.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p>
+
+<p>The abbot superintended the management of
+the Scriptorium, and decided upon the hours for
+their labor, during which time they were ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>[<a href="./images/33.png">33</a>]</span>
+to work with unremitting diligence, "not leaving
+to go and wander in idleness," but to attend solely
+to the business of transcribing. To prevent detraction
+or interruption, no one was allowed to
+enter except the abbot, the prior, the sub-prior,
+and the armarian,<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> as the latter took charge of all
+the materials and implements used by the transcribers,
+it was his duty to prepare and give them
+out when required; he made the ink and cut the
+parchment ready for use. He was strictly enjoined,
+however, to exercise the greatest economy in supplying
+these precious materials, and not to give
+more copies "nec artavos, nec cultellos, nec scarpell&aelig;,
+nec membranes," than was actually necessary,
+or than he had computed as sufficient for the work;
+and what the armarian gave them the monks were
+to receive without contradiction or contention.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></p>
+
+<p>The utmost silence prevailed in the Scriptorium;
+rules were framed, and written admonitions hung
+on the walls, to enforce the greatest care and
+diligence in copying exactly from the originals. In
+Alcuin's works we find one of these preserved; it is
+a piece inscribed "<i>Ad Mus&aelig;um libros scribentium</i>;"
+the lines are as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Hic sideant sacr&aelig; scribentes famina legis,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Nec non sanctorum dicta sacrata Patrum,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">H&aelig;c interserere caveant sua frivola verbis,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Frivola nec propter erret et ipsa manus:<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Correctosque sibi qu&aelig;rant studiose libellos,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Tramite quo recto penna volantis eat.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Per cola distinquant proprios, et commata sensus,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Et punctos ponant ordine quosque suo.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>[<a href="./images/34.png">34</a>]</span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Ne vel falsa legat, taceat vel forte repente,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Ante pios fratres, lector in Ecclesia.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Est opus egregium sacros jam scribete libros,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Nec mercede sua scriptor et ipse caret.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Fodere quam vites, melius est scribere libros,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Ille suo ventri serviet, iste anim&aelig;.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Vel nova, vel vetera poterit proferre magister<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Plurima, quisque legit dicta sacrata Patrum."<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Other means were resorted to besides these to
+preserve the text of their books immaculate, it was
+a common practice for the scribe at the end of his
+copy, to adjure all who transcribed from it to use
+the greatest care, and to refrain from the least
+alteration of word or sense. Authors more especially
+followed this course, thus at the end of some
+we find such injunctions as this.</p>
+
+<p>"I adjure you who shall transcribe this book,
+by our Lord Jesus Christ and by his glorious
+coming, who will come to judge the quick and the
+dead, that you compare what you transcribe and
+diligently correct it by the copy from which you
+transcribe it&mdash;this adjuration also&mdash;and insert it in
+your copy."<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a></p>
+
+<p>The Consuetudines Canonicorum, before referred
+to, also particularly impressed this upon the
+monks, and directed that all the brothers who were
+engaged as scribes, were not to alter any writing,
+although in their own mind they might think it
+proper, without first receiving the sanction of the
+abbot, "<i>on no account were they to commit so great
+a presumption</i>."<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> But notwithstanding that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>[<a href="./images/35.png">35</a>]</span>
+scribes were thus enjoined to use the utmost care
+in copying books, doubtless an occasional error
+crept in, which many causes might have produced,
+such as bad light, haste, a little drowsiness, imperfect
+sight, or even a flickering lamp was sufficient
+to produce some trivial error; but in works of
+importance the smallest error is of consequence, as
+some future scribe puzzled by the blunder, might,
+in an attempt to correct, still more augment the
+imperfection; to guard against this, with respect to
+the Scriptures, the most critical care was enforced.
+Monks advanced in age were alone allowed to
+transcribe them, and after their completion they
+were read&mdash;revised&mdash;and reread again, and it is by
+that means that so uniform a reading has been
+preserved, and although slight differences may here
+and there occur, there are no books which have
+traversed through the shadows of the dark ages,
+that preserve their original text so pure and uncorrupt
+as the copies of the Scriptures, the fathers
+of the church, and the ancient writings of the classic
+authors; sometimes, it is true, a manuscript of the
+last order is discovered possessing a very different
+reading in some particular passage; but these appear
+rather as futile emendations or interpolations of the
+scribe than as the result of a downright blunder,
+and are easily perceivable, for when the monkish
+churchmen tampered with ancient copies, it generally
+originated in a desire to smooth over the
+indecencies of the heathen authors, and so render
+them less liable to corrupt the holy contemplations
+of the devotee; and while we blame the pious fraud,
+we cannot but respect the motive that dictated it.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>[<a href="./images/36.png">36</a>]</span></p>
+<p>But as regards the Scriptures, we talk of the
+carelessness of the monks and the interpolations
+of the scribes as if these were faults peculiar to the
+monastic ages alone; alas! the history of Biblical
+transmission tells us differently, the gross perversions,
+omissions, and errors wrought in the
+holy text, proclaim how prevalent these same
+faults have been in the ages of <i>printed literature</i>,
+and which appear more palpable by being produced
+amidst deep scholars, and surrounded with all the
+critical acumen of a learned age. Five or six
+thousand of these gross blunders, or these wilful
+mutilations, protest the unpleasant fact, and show
+how much of human grossness it has acquired,
+and how besmeared with corruption those sacred
+pages have become in passing through the hands
+of man, and the "revisings" of sectarian minds. I
+am tempted to illustrate this by an anecdote related
+by Sir Nicholas L'Estrange of Hunstanton,
+and preserved in a MS. in the Harlein collection.&mdash;"Dr.
+Usher, Bish. of Armath, being to preach
+at Paules Crosse and passing hastily by one of the
+stationers, called for a Bible, and had a little one
+of the London edition given him out, but when he
+came to looke for his text, that very verse was
+omitted in the print: which gave the first occasion
+of complaint to the king of the insufferable negligence,
+and insufficience of the London printers
+and presse, and bredde that great contest that
+followed, betwixt the univers. of Cambridge and
+London stationers, about printing of the Bibles."<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>[<a href="./images/37.png">37</a>]</span>
+Gross and numerous indeed were the errors of the
+corrupt bible text of that age, and far exceeding
+even the blunders of monkish pens, and certainly
+much less excusable, for in those times they seldom
+had a large collection of codices to compare, so
+that by studying their various readings, they could
+arrive at a more certain and authentic version.
+The paucity of the sacred volume, if it rendered
+their pens more liable to err, served to enforce
+upon them the necessity of still greater scrutiny.
+On looking over a monastic catalogue, the first
+volume that I search for is the Bible; and, I feel
+far more disappointment if I find it not there, than
+I do at the absence of Horace or Ovid&mdash;there is
+something so desolate in the idea of a Christian
+priest without the Book of Life&mdash;of a minister of
+God without the fountain of truth&mdash;that however
+favorably we may be prone to regard them, a
+thought will arise that the absence of this sacred
+book may perhaps be referred to the indolence of
+the monkish pen, or to the laxity of priestly piety.
+But such I am glad to say was not often the case;
+the Bible it is true was an expensive book, but can
+scarcely be regarded as a rare one; the monastery
+was indeed poor that had it not, and when once
+obtained the monks took care to speedily transcribe
+it. Sometimes they only possessed detached
+portions, but when this was the case they generally
+borrowed of some neighboring and more fortunate
+monastery, the missing parts to transcribe, and so
+complete their own copies. But all this did not
+make the Bible less loved among them, or less
+anxiously and ardently studied, they devoted their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>[<a href="./images/38.png">38</a>]</span>
+days, and the long hours of the night, to the
+perusal of those pages of inspired truth,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> and it is
+a calumny without a shadow of foundation to declare
+that the monks were careless of scripture
+reading; it is true they did not apply that vigor
+of thought, and unrestrained reflection upon it
+which mark the labors of the more modern student,
+nor did they often venture to interpret the
+hidden meaning of the holy mysteries by the
+powers of their own mind, but were guided in this
+important matter by the works of the fathers. But
+hence arose a circumstance which gave full exercise
+to their mental powers and compelled the
+monk in spite of his timidity to think a little for
+himself. Unfortunately the fathers, venerable and
+venerated as they were, after all were but men,
+with many of the frailties and all the fallabilities
+of poor human nature; the pope might canonize
+them, and the priesthood bow submissively to
+their spiritual guidance, still they remained for all
+that but mortals of dust and clay, and their bulky
+tomes yet retain the swarthiness of the tomb about
+them, the withering impress of humanity. Such
+being the case we, who do not regard them quite
+so infallible, feel no surprise at a circumstance
+which sorely perplexed the monks of old, they unchained
+and unclasped their cumbrous "Works of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>[<a href="./images/39.png">39</a>]</span>
+the Fathers," and pored over those massy expositions
+with increasing wonder; surrounded by
+these holy guides, these fathers of infallibility,
+they were like strangers in a foreign land, did they
+follow this holy saint they seemed about to forsake
+the spiritual direction of one having equal
+claims to their obedience and respect; alas! for
+poor old weak tradition, those fabrications of man's
+faulty reason were found, with all their orthodoxy,
+to clash woefully in scriptural interpretation. Here
+was a dilemma for the monkish student! whose
+vow of obedience to patristical guidance was thus
+sorely perplexed; he read and re-read, analyzed
+passage after passage, interpreted word after word;
+and yet, poor man, his laborious study was fruitless
+and unprofitable! What bible student can refrain
+from sympathizing with him amidst these torturing
+doubts and this crowd of contradiction, but after
+all we cannot regret this, for we owe to it more
+than my feeble pen can write, so immeasurable
+have been the fruits of this little unheeded circumstance.
+It gave birth to many a bright independent
+declaration, involving pure lines of scripture
+interpretation, which appear in the darkness of
+those times like fixed stars before us; to this, in
+Saxon days, we are indebted for the labors of
+&AElig;lfric and his anti-Roman doctrines, whose soul
+also sympathized with a later age by translating
+portions of the Bible into the vulgar tongue, thus
+making it accessible to all classes of the people.
+To this we are indebted for all the good that resulted
+from those various heterodoxies and heresies,
+which sometimes disturbed the church during the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>[<a href="./images/40.png">40</a>]</span>
+dark ages; but which wrought much ultimate
+good by compelling the thoughts of men to dwell
+on these important matters. Indeed, to the instability
+of the fathers, as a sure guide, we may
+trace the origin of all those efforts of the human
+mind, which cleared the way for the Reformation,
+and relieved man from the shackles of these spiritual
+guides of the monks.</p>
+
+<p>But there were many cloistered Christians who
+studied the bible undisturbed by these shadows
+and doubts, and who, heedless of patristical lore
+and saintly wisdom, devoured the spiritual food
+in its pure and uncontaminating simplicity&mdash;such
+students, humble, patient, devoted, will be
+found crowding the monastic annals, and yielding
+good evidence of the same by the holy tenor
+of their sinless lives, their Christian charity and
+love.</p>
+
+<p>But while so many obtained the good title of
+an "<i>Amator Scripturarum</i>," as the bible student
+was called in those monkish days, I do not pretend
+to say that the Bible was a common book among
+them, or that every monk possessed one&mdash;far different
+indeed was the case&mdash;a copy of the Old
+and New Testament often supplied the wants of
+an entire monastery, and in others, as I have said
+before, only some detached portions were to be
+found in their libraries. Sometimes they were
+more plentiful, and the monastery could boast of
+two or three copies, besides a few separate portions,
+and occasionally I have met with instances
+where besides several <i>Biblia Optima</i>, they enjoyed
+Hebrew codices and translations, with numerous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>[<a href="./images/41.png">41</a>]</span>
+copies of the gospels. We must not forget, however,
+that the transcription of a Bible was a work
+of time, and required the outlay of much industry
+and wealth. "Brother Tedynton," a monk of Ely,
+commenced a Bible in 1396, and was several years
+before he completed it. The magnitude of the
+undertaking can scarcely be imagined by those
+unpractised in the art of copying, but when the
+monk saw the long labor of his pen before him,
+and looked upon the well bound strong clasped
+volumes, with their clean vellum folios and fine
+illuminations, he seemed well repaid for his years
+of toil and tedious labor, and felt a glow of pious
+pleasure as he contemplated his happy acquisition,
+and the comfort and solace which he should hereafter
+derive from its holy pages! We are not
+surprised then, that a Bible in those days should
+be esteemed so valuable, and capable of realizing a
+considerable sum. The monk, independent of its
+spiritual value, regarded it as a great possession,
+worthy of being bestowed at his death, with all the
+solemnity of a testamentary process, and of being
+gratefully acknowledged by the fervent prayers of
+the monkish brethren. Kings and nobles offered
+it as an appropriate and generous gift, and bishops
+were deemed benefactors to their church by adding
+it to the library. On its covers were written
+earnest exhortations to the Bible student, admonishing
+the greatest care in its use, and leveling
+anathemas and excommunications upon any one
+who should dare to purloin it. For its greater
+security it was frequently chained to a reading
+desk, and if a duplicate copy was lent to a neigh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>[<a href="./images/42.png">42</a>]</span>boring
+monastery they required a large deposit, or
+a formal bond for its safe return.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> These facts,
+while they show its value, also prove how highly
+it was esteemed among them, and how much the
+monks loved the Book of Life.</p>
+
+<p>But how different is the picture now&mdash;how opposite
+all this appears to the aspect of bible propagation
+in our own time. Thanks to the printing-press,
+to bible societies, and to the benevolence of God,
+we cannot enter the humblest cottage of the poorest
+peasant without observing the Scriptures on his
+little shelf&mdash;not always read, it is true&mdash;nor always
+held in veneration as in the old days before us&mdash;its
+very plentitude and cheapness takes off its attraction
+to irreligious and indifferent readers, but to poor
+and needy Christians what words can express the
+fulness of the blessing. Yet while we thank God
+for this great boon, let us refrain from casting uncharitable
+reflections upon the monks for its comparative
+paucity among them. If its possession was
+not so easily acquired, they were nevertheless true
+lovers of the Bible, and preserved and multiplied it
+in dark and troublous times.</p>
+
+<p>Our remarks have hitherto applied to the monastic
+scribes alone; but it is necessary here to speak
+of the secular copyists, who were an important class
+during the middle ages, and supplied the functions
+of the bibliopole of the ancients. But the transcribing
+trade numbered three or four distinct bran<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>[<a href="./images/43.png">43</a>]</span>ches.
+There were the Librarii Antiquarii, Notarii,
+and the Illuminators&mdash;occasionally these professions
+were all united in one&mdash;where perseverance or talent
+had acquired a knowledge of these various arts.
+There appears to have been considerable competition
+between these contending bodies. The notarii were
+jealous of the librarii, and the librarii in their turn
+were envious of the antiquarii, who devoted their
+ingenuity to the transcription and repairing of old
+books especially, rewriting such parts as were
+defective or erased, and restoring the dilapidations
+of the binding. Being learned in old writings they
+corrected and revised the copies of ancient codices;
+of this class we find mention as far back as the time
+of Cassiodorus and Isidore.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> "They deprived,"
+says Astle, "the poor librarii, or common scriptores,
+of great part of their business, so that they found it
+difficult to gain a subsistence for themselves and
+their families. This put them about finding out
+more expeditious methods of transcribing books.
+They formed the letters smaller, and made use of
+more conjugations and abbreviations than had been
+usual. They proceeded in this manner till the
+letters became exceedingly small and extremely
+difficult to be read."<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> The fact of there existing a
+class of men, whose fixed employment or profession
+was solely confined to the transcription of ancient
+writings and to the repairing of tattered copies, in
+contradistinction to the common scribes, and depending
+entirely upon the exercise of their art as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>[<a href="./images/44.png">44</a>]</span>
+means of obtaining a subsistence, leads us to the
+conclusion that ancient manuscripts were by no
+means so very scarce in those days; for how absurd
+and useless it would have been for men to qualify
+themselves for transcribing these antiquated and
+venerable codices, if there had been no probability
+of obtaining them to transcribe. The fact too of its
+becoming the subject of so much competition proves
+how great was the demand for their labor.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p>
+
+<p>We are unable, with any positive result, to discover
+the exact origin of the secular scribes, though
+their existence may probably be referred to a very
+remote period. The monks seem to have monopolized
+for some ages the "<i>Commercium Librorum</i>,"<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>
+and sold and bartered copies to a considerable
+extent among each other. We may with some
+reasonable grounds, however, conjecture that the
+profession was flourishing in Saxon times; for we
+find several eminent names in the seventh and
+eighth centuries who, in their epistolary correspondence,
+beg their friends to procure transcripts
+for them. Benedict, Bishop of Wearmouth, purchased
+most of his book treasures at Rome, which
+was even at that early period probably a famous
+mart for such luxuries, as he appears to have
+journeyed there for that express purpose. Some of
+the books which he collected were presents from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>[<a href="./images/45.png">45</a>]</span>
+his foreign friends; but most of them, as Bede tells
+us, were <i>bought</i> by himself, or in accordance with
+his instructions, by his friends.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> Boniface, the
+Saxon missionary, continually writes for books to
+his associates in all parts of Europe. At a subsequent
+period the extent and importance of the
+profession grew amazingly; and in Italy its followers
+were particularly numerous in the tenth century, as
+we learn from the letters of Gerbert, afterwards
+Silvester II., who constantly writes, with the cravings
+of a bibliomaniac, to his friends for books, and begs
+them to get the scribes, who, he adds, in one of his
+letters, may be found in all parts of Italy,<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> both in
+town and in the country, to make transcripts of
+certain books for him, and he promises to reimburse
+his correspondent all that he expends for the same.</p>
+
+<p>These public scribes derived their principal employment
+from the monks and the lawyers; from
+the former in transcribing their manuscripts, and
+by the latter in drawing up their legal instruments.
+They carried on their avocation at their own homes
+like other artisans; but sometimes when employed
+by the monks executed their transcripts within the
+cloister, where they were boarded, lodged, and
+received their wages till their work was done. This
+was especially the case when some great book was
+to be copied, of rarity and price; thus we read of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>[<a href="./images/46.png">46</a>]</span>
+Paulinus, of St. Albans, sending into distant parts
+to obtain proficient workmen, who were paid so
+much per diem for their labor; their wages were
+generously supplied by the Lord of Redburn.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p>
+
+<p>The increase of knowledge and the foundation
+of the universities gave birth to the booksellers.
+Their occupation as a distinct trade originated at a
+period coeval with the foundation of these public
+seminaries, although the first mention that I am
+aware of is made by Peter of Blois, about the year
+1170. I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter
+of this celebrated scholar, but I may be excused for
+giving the anecdote here, as it is so applicable to
+my subject. It appears, then, that whilst remaining
+in Paris to transact some important matter for the
+King of England, he entered the shop of "a public
+dealer in books"&mdash;for be it known that the archdeacon
+was always on the search, and seldom missed
+an opportunity of adding to his library&mdash;the bookseller,
+Peter tells us, offered him a tempting collection
+on Jurisprudence; but although his knowledge
+of such matters was so great that he did not require
+them for his own use, he thought they might be
+serviceable to his nephew, and after bargaining a
+little about the price he counted down the money
+agreed upon and left the stall; but no sooner was
+his back turned than the Provost of Sexeburgh
+came in to look over the literary stores of the
+stationer, and his eye meeting the recently sold
+volume, he became inspired with a wish to possess
+it; nor could he, on hearing it was bought and
+paid for by another, suppress his anxiety to obtain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>[<a href="./images/47.png">47</a>]</span>
+the treasure; but, offering more money, actually
+took the volume away by force. As may be supposed,
+Archdeacon Peter was sorely annoyed at
+this behavior; and "To his dearest companion
+and friend Master Arnold of Blois, Peter of Blois
+Archdeacon of Bath sent greeting," a long and
+learned letter, displaying his great knowledge of
+civil law, and maintaining the illegality of the provost's
+conduct.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> The casual way in which this is
+mentioned make it evident that the "<i>publico mangone
+Librorum</i>" was no unusual personage in those
+days, but belonged to a common and recognized
+profession.</p>
+
+<p>The vast number of students who, by the foundation
+of universities, were congregated together,
+generated of course a proportionate demand for
+books, which necessity or luxury prompted them
+eagerly to purchase: but there were poor as well
+as rich students educated in these great seminaries
+of learning, whose pecuniary means debarred them
+from the acquisition of such costly luxuries; and
+for this and other cogent reasons the universities
+deemed it advantageous, and perhaps expedient, to
+frame a code of laws and regulations to provide
+alike for the literary wants of all classes and degrees.
+To effect this they obtained royal sanction
+to take the trade entirely under their protection,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>[<a href="./images/48.png">48</a>]</span>
+and eventually monopolized a sole legislative power
+over the <i>Librarii</i>.</p>
+
+<p>In the college of Navarre a great quantity of
+ancient documents are preserved, many of which
+relate to this curious subject. They were deposited
+there by M. Jean Aubert in 1623, accompanied by
+an inventory of them, divided into four parts by
+the first four letters of the alphabet. In the
+fourth, under D. 18, there is a chapter entitled
+"Des Libraires Appretiateurs, Jurez et Enlumineurs,"
+which contains much interesting matter relating
+to the early history of bookselling.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> These
+ancient statutes, collected and printed by the University
+in the year 1652,<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> made at various times,
+and ranging between the years 1275 and 1403,
+give us a clear insight into the matter.</p>
+
+<p>The nature of a bookseller's business in those
+days required no ordinary capacity, and no shallow
+store of critical acumen; the purchasing of manuscripts,
+the work of transcription, the careful revisal,
+the preparation of materials, the tasteful illuminations,
+and the process of binding, were each employments
+requiring some talent and discrimination,
+and we are not surprised, therefore, that the avocation
+of a dealer and fabricator of these treasures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>[<a href="./images/49.png">49</a>]</span>
+should be highly regarded, and dignified into a
+profession, whose followers were invested with all
+the privileges, freedoms and exemptions, which the
+masters and students of the university enjoyed.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a>
+But it required these conciliations to render the
+restrictive and somewhat severe measures, which
+she imposed on the bookselling trade, to be received
+with any degree of favor or submission. For whilst
+the University of Paris, by whom these statutes
+were framed, encouraged and elevated the profession
+of the librarii, she required, on the other hand,
+a guarantee of their wealth and mental capacity,
+to maintain and to appreciate these important concessions;
+the bookseller was expected indeed to be
+well versed in all branches of science, and to be
+thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of those subjects
+and works of which he undertook to produce
+transcripts.<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> She moreover required of him testimonials
+to his good character, and efficient security,
+ratified by a solemn oath of allegiance,<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> and a promise
+to observe and submit to all the present and
+future laws and regulations of the university. In
+some cases, it appears that she restricted the number
+of librarii, though this fell into disuse as the
+wants of the students increased. Twenty-four seems
+to have been the original number,<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> which is sufficiently
+great to lead to the conclusion that bookselling
+was a flourishing trade in those old days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>[<a href="./images/50.png">50</a>]</span>
+By the statutes of the university, the bookseller
+was not allowed to expose his transcripts for sale,
+without first submitting them to the inspection
+of certain officers appointed by the university, and
+if an error was discovered, the copies were ordered
+to be burnt or a fine levied on them, proportionate
+to their inaccuracy. Harsh and stringent
+as this may appear at first sight, we shall modify
+our opinion, on recollecting that the student was
+in a great degree dependent upon the care of the
+transcribers for the fidelity of his copies, which
+rendered a rule of this nature almost indispensable;
+nor should we forget the great service it bestowed
+in maintaining the primitive accuracy of ancient
+writers, and in transmitting them to us through
+those ages in their original purity.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p>
+
+<p>In these times of free trade and unrestrained
+commercial policy, we shall regard less favorably a
+regulation which they enforced at Paris, depriving
+the bookseller of the power of fixing a price upon
+his own goods. Four booksellers were appointed
+and sworn in to superintend this department, and
+when a new transcript was finished, it was brought
+by the bookseller, and they discussed its merits and
+fixed its value, which formed the amount the bookseller
+was compelled to ask for it; if he demanded
+of his customer a larger sum, it was deemed a
+fraudulent imposition, and punishable as such.
+Moreover, as an advantage to the students, the
+bookseller was expected to make a considerable
+reduction in his profits in supplying them with
+books; by one of the laws of the university, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>[<a href="./images/51.png">51</a>]</span>
+profit on each volume was confined to four deniers
+to student, and six deniers to a common purchaser.
+The librarii were still further restricted in the economy
+of their trade, by a rule which forbade any
+one of them to dispose of his entire stock of books
+without the consent of the university; but this, I
+suspect, implied the disposal of the stock and trade
+together, and was intended to intimate that the introduction
+of the purchaser would not be allowed,
+without the cognizance and sanction of the university.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a>
+Nor was the bookseller able to purchase
+books without her consent, lest they should be of
+an immoral or heretical tendency; and they were
+absolutely forbidden to buy any of the students,
+without the permission of the rector.</p>
+
+<p>But restricted as they thus were, the book merchants
+nevertheless grew opulent, and transacted
+an important and extensive trade; sometimes they
+purchased parts and sometimes they had whole
+libraries to sell.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> Their dealings were conducted
+with unusual care, and when a volume of peculiar
+rarity or interest was to be sold, a deed of conveyance
+was drawn up with legal precision, in the presence
+of authorized witnesses.</p>
+
+<p>In those days of high prices and book scarcity,
+the poor student was sorely impeded in his progress;
+to provide against these disadvantages, they
+framed a law in 1342, at Paris, compelling all
+public booksellers to keep books to lend out on
+hire. The reader will be surprised at the idea of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>[<a href="./images/52.png">52</a>]</span>
+a circulating library in the middle ages! but there
+can be no doubt of the fact, they were established
+at Paris, Toulouse, Vienna, and Bologne. These
+public librarians, too, were obliged to write out regular
+catalogues of their books and hang them up
+in their shops, with the prices affixed, so that the
+student might know beforehand what he had to
+pay for reading them. I am tempted to give a few
+extracts from these lists:</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>St. Gregory's Commentaries upon Job, for reading 100 pages, 8 sous.</li>
+<li>St. Gregory's Book of Homilies, 28 pages for 12 deniers.</li>
+<li>Isidore's De Summa bona, 24 pages, 12 deniers.</li>
+<li>Anselm's De Veritate de Libertate Arbitrii, 40 pages, 2 sous.</li>
+<li>Peter Lombard's Book of Sentences, 3 sous.</li>
+<li>Scholastic History, 3 sous.</li>
+<li>Augustine's Confessions, 21 pages, 4 deniers.</li>
+<li>Gloss on Matthew, by brother Thomas Aquinas, 57 pages, 3 sous.</li>
+<li>Bible Concordance, 9 sous.</li>
+<li>Bible, 10 sous.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>This rate of charge was also fixed by the
+university, and the students borrowing these books
+were privileged to transcribe them if they chose;
+if any of them proved imperfect or faulty, they
+were denounced by the university, and a fine imposed
+upon the bookseller who had lent out the
+volume.</p>
+
+<p>This potent influence exercised by the universities
+over booksellers became, in time, much
+abused, and in addition to these commercial
+restraints, they assumed a still less warrantable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>[<a href="./images/53.png">53</a>]</span>
+power over the original productions of authors;
+and became virtually the public censors of books,
+and had the power of burning or prohibiting any
+work of questionable orthodoxy. In the time of
+Henry the Second, a book was published by being
+read over for two or three successive days, before
+one of the universities, and if they approved of its
+doctrines and bestowed upon it their approbation,
+it was allowed to be copied extensively for sale.</p>
+
+<p>Stringent as the university rules were, as
+regards the bookselling trade, they were, nevertheless,
+sometimes disregarded or infringed; some
+ventured to take more for a book than the sum
+allowed, and, by prevarication and secret contracts,
+eluded the vigilance of the laws.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> Some were
+still bolder, and openly practised the art of a scribe
+and the profession of a bookseller, without knowledge
+or sanction of the university. This gave
+rise to much jealousy, and in the University of
+Oxford, in the year 1373, they made a decree
+forbidding any person exposing books for sale
+without her licence.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p>
+
+<p>Now, considering all these usages of early bookselling,
+their numbers, their opulence, and above
+all, the circulating libraries which the librarii
+established, can we still retain the opinion that
+books were so inaccessible in those ante-printing
+days, when we know that for a few sous the booklover
+could obtain good and authenticated copies
+to peruse, or transcribe? It may be advanced that
+these facts solely relate to universities, and were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>[<a href="./images/54.png">54</a>]</span>
+intended merely to insure a supply of the necessary
+books in constant requisition by the students,
+but such was not the case; the librarii were
+essentially public <i>Librorum Venditores</i>, and were
+glad to dispose of their goods to any who could
+pay for them. Indeed, the early bibliomaniacs
+usually flocked to these book marts to rummage
+over the stalls, and to collect their choice volumes.
+Richard de Bury obtained many in this way, both
+at Paris and at Rome.</p>
+
+<p>Of the exact pecuniary value of books during
+the middle ages, we have no means of judging.
+The few instances that have accidentally been
+recorded are totally inadequate to enable us to
+form an opinion. The extravagant estimate given
+by some as to the value of books in those days is
+merely conjectural, as it necessarily must be, when
+we remember that the price was guided by the
+accuracy of the transcription, the splendor of the
+binding, which was often gorgeous to excess, and
+by the beauty and richness of the illuminations.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a>
+Many of the manuscripts of the middle ages are
+magnificent in the extreme. Sometimes they
+inscribed the gospels and the venerated writings of
+the fathers with liquid gold, on parchment of the
+richest purple,<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> and adorned its brilliant pages
+with illuminations of exquisite workmanship.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>[<a href="./images/55.png">55</a>]</span></p><p>The first specimens we have of an attempt to
+embellish manuscripts are Egyptian. It was a
+common practice among them at first to color the
+initial letter of each chapter or division of their
+work, and afterwards to introduce objects of various
+kinds into the body of the manuscript.</p>
+
+<p>The splendor of the ancient calligraphical productions
+of Greece,<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> and the still later ones of
+Rome, bear repeated testimony that the practice of
+this art had spread during the sixth century, if not
+earlier, to these powerful empires. England was
+not tardy in embracing this elegant art. We have
+many relics of remote antiquity and exquisite workmanship
+existing now, which prove the talent and
+assiduity of our early Saxon forefathers.</p>
+
+<p>In Ireland the illuminating art was profusely
+practised at a period as early as the commencement
+of the seventh century, and in the eighth we find it
+holding forth eminent claims to our respect by the
+beauty of their workmanship, and the chastity of
+their designs. Those well versed in the study of
+these ancient manuscripts have been enabled, by
+extensive but minute observation, to point out their
+different characteristics in various ages, and even
+to decide upon the school in which a particular
+manuscript was produced.</p>
+
+<p>These illuminations, which render the early
+manuscripts of the monkish ages so attractive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>[<a href="./images/56.png">56</a>]</span>
+generally exemplify the rude ideas and tastes of
+the time. In perspective they are wofully deficient,
+and manifest but little idea of the picturesque or
+sublime; but here and there we find quite a gem of
+art, and, it must be owned, we are seldom tired by
+monotony of coloring, or paucity of invention. A
+study of these parchment illustrations afford considerable
+instruction. Not only do they indicate
+the state of the pictorial art in the middle ages,
+but also give us a comprehensive insight into the
+scriptural ideas entertained in those times; and the
+bible student may learn much from pondering on
+these glittering pages; to the historical student,
+and to the lover of antiquities, they offer a verdant
+field of research, and he may obtain in this way
+many a glimpse of the manners and customs of
+those old times which the pages of the monkish
+chroniclers have failed to record.</p>
+
+<p>But all this prodigal decoration greatly enhanced
+the price of books, and enabled them to
+produce a sum, which now to us sounds enormously
+extravagant. Moreover, it is supposed that the
+scarcity of parchment limited the number of books
+materially, and prevented their increase to any
+extent; but I am prone to doubt this assertion, for
+my own observations do not help to prove it. Mr.
+Hallam says, that in consequence of this, "an unfortunate
+practice gained ground of erasing a manuscript
+in order to substitute another on the same
+skin. This occasioned, probably, the loss of many
+ancient authors who have made way for the legends
+of saints, or other ecclesiastical rubbish."<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> But we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>[<a href="./images/57.png">57</a>]</span>
+may reasonably question this opinion, when we
+consider the value of books in the middle ages, and
+with what esteem the monks regarded, in spite of
+all their paganism, those "heathen dogs" of the
+ancient world. A doubt has often forced itself upon
+my mind when turning over the "crackling leaves"
+of many ancient MSS., whether the peculiarity
+mentioned by Montfaucon, and described as parchment
+from which former writing had been erased,
+may not be owing, in many cases, to its mode of
+preparation. It is true, a great proportion of the
+membrane on which the writings of the middle ages
+are inscribed, appear rough and uneven, but I could
+not detect, through many manuscripts of a hundred
+folios&mdash;all of which evinced this roughness&mdash;the unobliterated
+remains of a single letter. And when I
+have met with instances, they appear to have been
+short writings&mdash;perhaps epistles; for the monks
+were great correspondents, and, I suspect, kept
+economy in view, and often carried on an epistolary
+intercourse, for a considerable time, with a very
+limited amount of parchment, by erasing the letter
+to make room for the answer. This, probably, was
+usual where the matter of their correspondence
+was of no especial importance; so that, what our
+modern critics, being emboldened by these faint
+traces of former writing, have declared to possess
+the classic appearance of hoary antiquity, may be
+nothing more than a complimentary note, or the
+worthless accounts of some monastic expenditure.
+But, careful as they were, what would these monks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>[<a href="./images/58.png">58</a>]</span>
+have thought of "paper-sparing Pope," who wrote
+his Iliad on small pieces of refuse paper? One of
+the finest passages in that translation, which describes
+the parting of Hector and Andromache, is
+written on part of a letter which Addison had
+franked, and is now preserved in the British
+Museum. Surely he could afford, these old monks
+would have said, to expend some few shillings for
+paper, on which to inscribe that for which he was
+to receive his thousand pounds.</p>
+
+<p>But far from the monastic manuscripts displaying
+a scantiness of parchment, we almost invariably find
+an abundant margin, and a space between each line
+almost amounting to prodigality; and to say that
+the "vellum was considered more precious than the
+genius of the author,"<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> is absurd, when we know
+that, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, a
+dozen skins of parchment could be bought for sixpence;
+whilst that quantity written upon, if the
+subject possessed any interest at all, would fetch
+considerably more, there always being a demand
+and ready sale for books.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> The supposition, therefore,
+that the monastic scribes erased <i>classical</i>
+manuscripts for the sake of the material, seems
+altogether improbable, and certainly destitute of
+proof. It is true, many of the classics, as we have
+them now, are but mere fragments of the original<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>[<a href="./images/59.png">59</a>]</span>
+work. For this, however, we have not to blame
+the monks, but barbarous invaders, ravaging flames,
+and the petty animosities of civil and religious
+warfare for the loss of many valuable works of the
+classics. By these means, one hundred and five
+books of Livy have been lost to us, probably forever.
+For the thirty which have been preserved, our
+thanks are certainly due to the monks. It was from
+their unpretending and long-forgotten libraries that
+many such treasures were brought forth at the
+revival of learning, in the fifteenth century, to
+receive the admiration of the curious, and the study
+of the erudite scholar. In this way Poggio Bracciolini
+discovered many inestimable manuscripts.
+Leonardo Aretino writes in rapturous terms on
+Poggio's discovery of a perfect copy of Quintillian.
+"What a precious acquisition!" he exclaims, "what
+unthought of pleasure to behold Quintillian perfect
+and entire!"<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> In the same letter we learn that
+Poggio had discovered Asconius and Flaccus in the
+monastery of St. Gall, whose inhabitants regarded
+them without much esteem. In the monastery of
+Langres, his researches were rewarded by a copy of
+Cicero's Oration for C&aelig;cina. With the assistance
+of Bartolomeo di Montepulciano, he discovered
+Silius Italicus, Lactantius, Vegetius, Nonius Marcellus,
+Ammianus Marcellus, Lucretius, and Columella,
+and he found in a monastery at Rome a
+complete copy of Turtullian.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> In the fine old
+monastery of Casino, so renowned for its classical
+library in former days, he met with Julius Frontinus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>[<a href="./images/60.png">60</a>]</span>
+and Firmicus, and transcribed them with his own
+hand. At Cologne he obtained a copy of Petronius
+Arbiter. But to these we may add Calpurnius's
+Bucolic,<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> Manilius, Lucius Septimus, Coper, Eutychius,
+and Probus. He had anxious hopes of
+adding a perfect Livy to the list, which he had been
+told then existed in a Cistercian Monastery in
+Hungary, but, unfortunately, he did not prosecute
+his researches in this instance with his usual energy.
+The scholar has equally to regret the loss of a
+perfect Tacitus, which Poggio had expectations of
+from the hands of a German monk. We may still
+more deplore this, as there is every probability that
+the monks actually possessed the precious volume.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a>
+Nicolas of Treves, a contemporary and friend of
+Poggio's, and who was infected, though in a slight
+degree, with the same passionate ardor for collecting
+ancient manuscripts, discovered, whilst exploring
+the German monasteries, twelve comedies
+of Plautus, and a fragment of Aulus Gellius.<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> Had
+it not been for the timely aid of these great men,
+many would have been irretrievably lost in the many
+revolutions and contentions that followed; and, had
+such been the case, the monks, of course, would
+have received the odium, and on their heads the
+spleen of the disappointed student would have been
+prodigally showered.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Martene Thesaurus novus Anecdot. tom. iv. col. 1462.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> See Du Cange in Voc., vol. vi. p. 264.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Anglia Sacra, ii. 635. Fosbrooke Brit. Monach., p. 15.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Martene Thes. Nov. Anec. tom. iv. col. 1462. Stat. Ord.
+Cistere, anni 1278, they were allowed for "<i>Studendum vel recreandum</i>."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Hildesh. episc apud Leibuit., tom. i. Script. Brunsvic, p. 444.
+I am indebted to Du Cange for this reference.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> King's Munimenta Antiqua. Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham,
+p. 64.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Matt Paris, p. 51.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, p. cxiv. Regest. Nig. St. Edmund.
+Abbat.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Stevenson's Sup. to Bentham's Church of Norwich, 4to. 1817,
+p. 51.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ritib., cap. xxi. tom. iii. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Alcuini Opera, tom. ii. vol. i. p. 211. Carmin xvii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Preface to &AElig;lfric's Homilies MS. Lansdowne, No. 373, vol. iv.
+in the British Museum.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Const. Can. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> MS. Harl. 6395, anecdote 348.&mdash;I am indebted to D'Israeli for
+the reference, but not for the extract.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> The monks were strictly enjoined by the monastic rules to
+study the Bible unceasingly. The Statutes of the Dominican order
+are particularly impressive on this point, and enforce a constant
+reading and critical study of the sacred volume, so as to fortify themselves
+for disputation; they were to peruse it continually, and apply
+to it before all other reading <i>semper ante aliam lectionem</i>. <i>Martene
+Thesan. Nov. Anecdot.</i>, tom. iv. col. 1932. See also cols. 1789,
+1836, 1912, 1917, 1934.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> About the year 1225 Roger de Insula, Dean of York, gave
+several copies of the bible to the University of Oxford, and ordered
+that those who borrowed them for perusal should deposit property
+of equal value as a security for their safe return.&mdash;<i>Wood's Hist.
+Antiq. Oxon.</i> ii. 48.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Muratori Dissert. Quadragesima tertia, vol. iii. column 849.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Astle's Origin of Writing, p. 193.&mdash;See also Montfaucon
+Pal&aelig;ographia Gr&aelig;ca, lib. iv. p. 263 et 319.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> In the year 1300 the pay of a common scribe was about one
+half-penny a day, see Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the
+Church of Ely. p. 51.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> In some orders the monks were not allowed to sell their books
+without the express permission of their superiors. According to a
+statute of the year 1264 the Dominicans were strictly prohibited from
+selling their books or the rules of their order.&mdash;<i>Martene Thesaur.
+Nov. Anecdot.</i> tom. iv. col. 1741, et col. 1918.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Vita Abbat. Wear. Ed. Ware, p. 26. His fine copy of the Cosmographers
+he bought at Rome.&mdash;<i>Roma Benedictus emerat.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Nosti quot Scriptores in Urbibus aut in Agris Itali&aelig; passim
+habeantur.&mdash;Ep. cxxx. See also Ep. xliv. where he speaks of having
+purchased books in Italy, Germany and Belgium, at considerable
+cost. It is the most interesting Bibliomanical letter in the whole
+collection.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Cottonian MS. in the Brit. Mus.&mdash;<i>Claudius</i>, E. iv. fo. 105, b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Epist. lxxi. p. 124, Edit. 4to. His words are&mdash;"Cum Dominus
+Rex Anglorum me nuper ad Dominum Regum Francorum nuntium
+distinasset, libri Legum venales Parisius oblati sunt mihi ab illo
+B. publico mangone librorum: qui cum ad opus cujusdam mei nepotis
+idoner viderentur conveni cum eo de pretio et eos apud venditorem
+dismittens, ei pretium numeravi; superveniente vero C. Sexburgensi
+Pr&aelig;posito sicut audini, plus oblulit et licitatione vincens libros de
+domo venditories per violentiam absportauit."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Chevillier, Origines de l'Imprimerie de Paris, 4to. 1694, p. 301.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> "Actes concernant le pouvoir et la direction de l'Universit&eacute;
+de Paris sur les Ecrivains de Livres et les Imprimeurs qui leur ont
+succ&eacute;d&eacute; comme aussi sur les Libraires Relieurs et Enlumineurs," 4to.
+1652, p. 44. It is very rare, a copy was in Biblioth. Teller, No.
+132, p. 428. A statute of 1275 is given by Lambecii Comment. de
+Augus. Biblioth. C&aelig;sarea Vendobon, vol. ii. pp. 252-267. The
+booksellers are called "Stationarii or Librarii;" <i>de Stationariis, sive
+Librariis ut Stationarus, qui vulgo appellantur</i>, etc. See also <i>Du
+Cange</i>, vol. vi. col. 716.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Chevillier, p. 301, to whom I am deeply indebted in this branch
+of my inquiry.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84. Chevillier, p. 302.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> The form of oath is given in full in the statute of 1323, and in
+that of 1342, Chevillier.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Du Breuil, Le Th&eacute;&acirc;tre des Antiq. de Paris, 4to. 1612, p. 608.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Chevillier, p. 303.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Martene Anecd. tom. i. p. 502. Hist. Lit. de la France, ix. p.
+142.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Chevillier, 319, who gives a long list, printed from an old
+register of the University.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Chevillier, 303.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Vet. Stat. Universit. Oxoni&aelig;, D. fol. 75. Archiv. Bodl.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> The Church of Norwich paid &pound;22, 9s. for illuminating a
+Graduale and Consuetudinary in 1374.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Isidore Orig., cap. ii.&mdash;Jerome, in his Preface to Job, writes,
+"<i>Habeant qui volunt veteres libros, vel in membranes purpurus auro
+argentique colore purpuros aurum liquiscit in literis.</i>" Eddius
+Stephanus in his Life of St. Wilfrid, cap xvi., speaks of "Quatuor
+Evangeli&aelig; de auro purissimo in membranis de purpuratis coloratis
+pro anim&aelig; su&aelig; remidis scribere jusset." Du Cange, vol. iv. p. 654.
+See also Mabillon Act. Sanct., tom. v. p. 110, who is of opinion that
+these purple MSS. were only designed for princes; see Nouveau
+Trait&eacute; de Diplomatique, and Montfaucon Pal&aelig;og. Gr&aelig;c., pp. 45,
+218, 226, for more on this subject.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> See a Fragment in the Brit. Mus. engraved in Shaw's Illuminated
+Ornaments, plate 1.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 437. Mr. Maitland, in his "Dark
+Ages," enters into a consideration of this matter with much critical
+learning and ingenuity.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> D'Israeli Amenities of Lit., vol. i. p. 358.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> The Precentor's accounts of the Church of Norwich contain
+the following items:&mdash;1300, 5 <i>dozen parchment</i>, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, 40 lbs. of
+ink, 4<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>, 1 gallon of vini decrili, 3<i>s.</i>, 4 lbs. of corporase, 4 lbs. of
+galls, 2 lbs. of gum arab, 3<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>, to make ink. I dismiss these facts
+with the simple question they naturally excite: that if parchment
+was so <i>very scarce</i>, what on earth did the monk want with all this ink?</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Leonardi Aretini Epist. 1. iv. ep. v.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Mehi Pr&aelig;fatio ad vit Ambrosii Traversarii, p. xxxix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Mehi Pr&aelig;f., pp. xlviii.&mdash;xlix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> A MS. containing five books of Tacitus which had been
+deemed lost was found in Germany during the pontificate of Leo X.,
+and deposited in the Laurentian library at Florence.&mdash;<i>Mehi Pr&aelig;f.</i> p.
+xlvii. See Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 104, to whom I am much
+indebted for these curious facts.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 101.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>[<a href="./images/61.png">61</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-9.jpg" alt="Header 5" title="Header 5" /></p>
+
+
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Canterbury Monastery.&mdash;Theodore of Tarsus.&mdash;Tatwine.&mdash;Nothelm.&mdash;St.
+Dunstan.&mdash;&AElig;lfric.&mdash;Lanfranc.&mdash;Anselm.&mdash;St.
+Augustine's books.&mdash;Henry
+de Estria and his Catalogue.&mdash;Chiclely.&mdash;Sellinge.&mdash;Rochester.&mdash;Gundulph,
+a Bible Student.&mdash;Radulphus.&mdash;Ascelin
+of Dover.&mdash;Glanvill, etc.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-3.jpg" alt="I" title="I" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">n</span> the foregoing chapters I have endeavored
+to give the reader an insight into the means by
+which the monks multiplied their books, the opportunities
+they had of obtaining them, the rules of
+their libraries and scriptoria, and the duties of a
+monkish librarian. I now proceed to notice some
+of the English monastic libraries of the middle
+ages, and by early records and old manuscripts
+inquire into their extent, and revel for a time
+among the bibliomaniacs of the cloisters. On the
+spot where Christianity&mdash;more than twelve hundred
+years ago&mdash;first obtained a permanent footing in
+Britain, stands the proud metropolitan cathedral of
+Canterbury&mdash;a venerable and lasting monument of
+ancient piety and monkish zeal. St. Augustine,
+who brought over the glad tidings of the Christian
+faith in the year 596, founded that noble structure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>[<a href="./images/62.png">62</a>]</span>
+on the remains of a church which Roman Christians
+in remote times had built there. To write the
+literary history of its old monastery would spread
+over more pages than this volume contains, so
+many learned and bookish abbots are mentioned in
+its monkish annals. Such, however, is beyond the
+scope of my present design, and I have only to turn
+over those ancient chronicles to find how the love
+of books flourished in monkish days; so that, whilst
+I may here and there pass unnoticed some ingenious
+author, or only casually remark upon his talents,
+all that relate to libraries or book-collecting, to
+bibliophiles or scribes, I shall carefully record; and,
+I think, from the notes now lying before me, and
+which I am about to arrange in something like
+order, the reader will form a very different idea of
+monkish libraries than he previously entertained.</p></div>
+
+<p>The name that first attracts our attention in the
+early history of Canterbury Church is that of
+Theodore of Tarsus, the father of Anglo-Saxon
+literature, and certainly the first who introduced
+bibliomania into this island; for when he came on
+his mission from Rome in the year 668 he brought
+with him an extensive library, containing many
+Greek and Latin authors, in a knowledge of which
+he was thoroughly initiated. Bede tells us that
+he was well skilled in metrical art, astronomy, arithmetic,
+church music, and the Greek and Latin
+languages.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> At his death<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> the library of Christ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>[<a href="./images/63.png">63</a>]</span>
+Church Monastery was enriched by his valuable
+books, and in the time of old Lambarde some of
+them still remained. He says, in his quaint way,
+"The Reverend Father Mathew, nowe Archbishop
+of Canterburie, whose care for the conservation of
+learned monuments can never be sufficiently commended,
+shewed me, not long since, the Psalter of
+David, and sundrie homilies in Greek; Homer also
+and some other Greeke authors beautifully wrytten
+on thicke paper, with the name of this Theodore
+prefixed in the fronte, to whose librarie he reasonably
+thought, being thereto led by shew of great
+antiquitie that they sometimes belonged."<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p>
+
+<p>Tatwine was a great book lover, if not a bibliomaniac.
+"He was renowned for religious wisdom,
+and notably learned in Sacred Writ."<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> If he wrote
+the many pieces attributed to him, his pen must
+have been prolific and his reading curious and
+diversified. He is said to have composed on profane
+and sacred subjects, but his works were unfortunately
+destroyed by the Danish invaders, and a book
+of poems and one of enigmas are all that have
+escaped their ravages. The latter work, preserved
+in our National Library, contains many curious
+hints, illustrative of the manners of those remote
+days.<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p>
+
+<p>Nothelm, or the Bold Helm, succeeded this
+interesting author; he was a learned and pious
+priest of London. The bibliomaniac will somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>[<a href="./images/64.png">64</a>]</span>
+envy the avocation of this worthy monk whilst
+searching over the rich treasures of the Roman
+archives, from whence he gleaned much valuable
+information to aid Bede in compiling his history of
+the English Church.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> Not only was he an industrious
+scribe but also a talented author, if we are to
+believe Pits, who ascribes to him several works,
+with a Life of St. Augustine.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p>
+
+<p>It is well known that St. Dunstan was an ingenious
+scribe, and so passionately fond of books, that
+we may unhesitatingly proclaim him a bibliomaniac.
+He was a native of Wessex, and resided with his
+father near Glastonbury Abbey, which holy spot
+many a legendary tale rendered dear to his youthful
+heart. He entered the Abbey, and devoted his
+whole time to reading the wondrous lives and
+miracles of ascetic men till his mind became excited
+to a state of insanity by the many marvels and
+prodigies which they unfolded; so that he acquired
+among the simple monks the reputation of one
+holding constant and familiar intercourse with the
+beings of another world. On his presentation to
+the king, which was effected by the influence of
+his uncle Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, he
+soon became a great favorite, but excited so much
+jealousy there, that evil reports were industriously
+spread respecting him. He was accused of
+practising magical arts and intriguing with the
+devil. This induced him to retire again into the
+seclusion of a monastic cell, which he constructed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>[<a href="./images/65.png">65</a>]</span>
+so low that he could scarcely stand upright in
+it. It was large enough, however, to hold his
+forge and other apparatus, for he was a proficient
+worker in metals, and made ornaments, and bells
+for his church. He was very fond of music,
+and played with exquisite skill upon the harp.<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a>
+But what is more to our purpose, his biographer
+tells us that he was remarkably skilful in writing
+and illuminating, and transcribed many books,
+adorning them with beautiful paintings, whilst in
+this little cell.<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> One of them is preserved in the
+Bodleian Library at Oxford. On the front is a
+painting of St. Dunstan kneeling before our Saviour,
+and at the top is written "<i>Pictura et Scriptura
+hujus pagine subtas visi est de propria manu sei
+Dunstani</i>."<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> But in the midst of these ingenious
+pursuits he did not forget to devote many hours to
+the study of the Holy Scriptures, as also to the
+diligent transcription and correction of copies of
+them,<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> and thus arming himself with the sacred
+word, he was enabled to withstand the numerous
+temptations which surrounded him. Sometimes
+the devil appeared as a man, and at other times he
+was still more severely tempted by the visitations
+of a beautiful woman, who strove by the most
+alluring blandishments to draw that holy man from
+the paths of Christian rectitude. In the tenth
+century such eminent virtues could not pass un<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>[<a href="./images/66.png">66</a>]</span>rewarded,
+and he was advanced to the Archbishopric
+of Canterbury in the year 961, but his after life
+is that of a saintly politician, and displays nothing
+that need be mentioned here.</p>
+
+<p>In the year 969,<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> &AElig;lfric, abbot of St. Alban's,
+was elected archbishop of Canterbury. His identity
+is involved in considerable doubt by the many
+contemporaries who bore that name, some of
+whom, like him, were celebrated for their talent
+and erudition; but, leaving the solution of this
+difficulty to the antiquarian, we are justified in
+saying that he was of noble family, and received
+his education under Ethelwold, at Abingdon, about
+the year 960. He accompanied his master to Winchester,
+and Elphegus, bishop of that see, entertained
+so high an opinion of &AElig;lfric's learning
+and capacity, that he sent him to superintend the
+recently founded monastery of Cerne, in Devonshire.
+He there spent all his hours, unoccupied
+by the duties of his abbatical office, in the transcription
+of books and the nobler avocations of an
+author. He composed a Latin Grammar, a work
+which has won for him the title of "<i>The Grammarian</i>,"
+and he greatly helped to maintain the
+purity of the Christian church by composing a
+large collection of homilies, which became exceedingly
+popular during the succeeding century, and
+are yet in existence. The preface to these homilies
+contain several very curious passages illustrative of
+the mode of publication resorted to by the monkish
+authors, and on that account I am tempted to make
+the following extracts:</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>[<a href="./images/67.png">67</a>]</span></p>
+<p>"I, &AElig;lfric, the scholar of Ethelwold, to the courteous
+and venerable Bishop Sigeric, in the Lord.</p>
+
+<p>"Although it may appear to be an attempt of
+some rashness and presumption, yet have I ventured
+to translate this book out of the Latin writers, especially
+those of the 'Holy Scriptures,' into our common
+language; for the edification of the ignorant,
+who only understand this language when it is either
+read or heard. Wherefore I have not used obscure
+or unintelligible words, but given the plain English.
+By which means the hearts, both of the readers and
+of the hearers, may be reached more easily; because
+they are incapable of being otherwise instructed,
+than in their native tongue. Indeed, in our translation,
+we have not ever been so studious to render
+word for word, as to give the true sense and
+meaning of our authors. Nevertheless, we have
+used all diligent caution against deceitful errors,
+that we may not be found seduced by any heresy,
+nor blinded by any deceit. For we have followed
+these authors in this translation, namely, St. Austin
+of Hippo, St. Jerome, Bede, Gregory, Smaragdus,
+and sometimes Haymo, whose authority is admitted
+to be of great weight with all the faithful. Nor
+have we only expounded the treatise of the gospels;...
+but have also described the passions and
+lives of the saints, for the use of the unlearned of
+this nation. We have placed forty discourses in
+this volume, believing this will be sufficient for one
+year, if they be recited entirely to the faithful, by
+the ministers of the Lord. But the other book
+which we have now taken in hand to compose
+will contain those passions or treatises which are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>[<a href="./images/68.png">68</a>]</span>
+omitted in this volume." ... "Now, if any one find
+fault with our translation, that we have not always
+given word for word, or that this translation is not
+so full as the treatise of the authors themselves, or
+that in handling of the gospels we have run them
+over in a method not exactly conformable to the
+order appointed in the church, let him compose a
+book of his own; by an interpretation of deeper
+learning, as shall best agree with his understanding,
+this only I beseech him, that he may not pervert
+this version of mine, which I hope, by the grace of
+God, without any boasting, I have, according to
+the best of my skill, performed with all diligence.
+Now, I most earnestly entreat your goodness, my
+most gentle father Sigeric, that you will vouchsafe
+to correct, by your care, whatever blemishes of
+malignant heresy, or of dark deceit, you shall meet
+with in my translation, and then permit this little
+book to be ascribed to your authority, and not
+to the meanness of a person of my unworthy
+character. Farewell in the Almighty God continually.
+Amen."<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></p>
+
+<p>I have before alluded to the care observed by
+the scribes in copying their manuscripts, and the
+moderns may deem themselves fortunate that they
+did so; for although many interpolations, or emendations,
+as they called them, occur in monkish transcripts,
+on the whole, their integrity, in this respect,
+forms a redeeming quality in connexion with their
+learning. In another preface, affixed to the second
+collection of his homilies, &AElig;lfric thus explains his
+design in translating them:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>[<a href="./images/69.png">69</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p>"&AElig;lfric, a monk and priest, although a man of
+less abilities than are requisite for one in such
+orders, was sent, in the days of King &AElig;thelred,
+from Alphege, the bishop and successor of &AElig;thelwold,
+to a monastery which is called Cernel, at the
+desire of &AElig;thelmer, the Thane, whose noble birth
+and goodness is everywhere known. Then ran it
+in my mind, I trust, through the grace of God,
+that I ought to translate this book out of the
+Latin tongue into the English language not upon
+presumption of great learning, but because I saw
+and heard much error in many English books,
+which ignorant men, through their simplicity, esteemed
+great wisdom, and because it grieved me
+that they neither knew, nor had the gospel learning
+in their writing, except from those men that understood
+Latin, and those books which are to be had
+of King Alfred's, which he skilfully translated from
+Latin into English."<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p>
+
+<p>From these extracts we may gain some idea of
+the state of learning in those days, and they would
+seem, in some measure, to justify the opinion, that
+the laity paid but little attention to such matters,
+and I more anxiously present the reader with these
+scraps, because they depict the state of literature
+in those times far better than a volume of conjecture
+could do. It is not consistent with my design
+to enter into an analysis of these homilies. Let
+the reader, however, draw some idea of their nature
+from the one written for Easter Sunday, which has
+been deemed sufficient proof that the Saxon Church
+ever denied the Romish doctrine of transubstanti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>[<a href="./images/70.png">70</a>]</span>ation;
+for he there expressly states, in terms so
+plain that all the sophistry of the Roman Catholic
+writers cannot pervert its obvious meaning, that
+the bread and wine is only typical of the body and
+blood of our Saviour.</p>
+
+<p>To one who has spent much time in reading
+the lives and writings of the monkish theologians,
+how refreshing is such a character as that of &AElig;lfric's.
+Often, indeed, will the student close the volumes
+of those old monastic writers with a sad, depressed,
+and almost broken heart; so often will he find men
+who seem capable of better things, who here and
+there breathe forth all the warm aspirations of a
+devout and Christian heart, bowed down and
+grovelling in the dust, as it were, to prove their
+blind submission to the Pope, thinking, poor fellows!&mdash;for
+from my very heart I pity them&mdash;that
+by so doing they were preaching that humility so
+acceptable to the Lord.</p>
+
+<p>Cheering then, to the heart it is to find this
+monotony broken by such an instance, and although
+we find &AElig;lfric occasionally diverging into the paths
+of papistical error, he spreads a ray of light over
+the gloom of those Saxon days, and offers pleasing
+evidence that Christ never forsook his church;
+that even amidst the peril and darkness of those
+monkish ages there were some who mourned,
+though it might have been in a monastery, submissive
+to a Roman Pontiff, the depravity and corruption
+with which the heart of man had marred it.</p>
+
+<p>To still better maintain the discipline of the
+church, he wrote a set of canons, which he addressed
+to Wulfin, or Wulfsine, bishop of Sher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>[<a href="./images/71.png">71</a>]</span>bourne.
+With many of the doctrines advocated
+therein, the protestant will not agree; but the
+bibliophile will admit that he gave an indication of
+his love of books by the 21st Canon, which directs
+that, "Before a priest can be ordained, he must be
+armed with the sacred books, for the spiritual
+battle, namely, a Psalter, Book of Epistles, Book of
+Gospels, the Missal Book, Books of Hymns, the
+Manual, or Euchiridion, the Gerim, the Passional,
+the P&aelig;nitential, and the Lectionary, or Reading
+Book; these the diligent priest requires, and let
+him be careful that they are all accurately written,
+and free from faults."<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></p>
+
+<p>About the same time, &AElig;lfric wrote a treatise
+on the Old and New Testaments, and in it we find
+an account of his labors in Biblical Literature. He
+did more in laying open the holy mysteries of the
+gospel to the perusal of the laity, by translating
+them into the Saxon tongue, than any other before
+him. He gave them, in a vernacular version, the
+Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Esther, Job, Judith,
+two Books of Maccabees, and a portion of the
+Book of Kings, and it is for these labors, above
+all others, that the bible student will venerate his
+name, but he will look, perhaps, anxiously, hopefully,
+to these early attempts at Bible propagation,
+and expect to observe the ecclesiastical orders, at
+least, shake off a little of their absurd dependence
+on secondary sources for biblical instruction. But,
+no; they still sadly clung to traditional interpretation;
+they read the Word of God mystified by
+the fathers, good men, many of them, devout<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>[<a href="./images/72.png">72</a>]</span>
+and holy saints, but why approach God through
+man, when we have His own prescription, in sweet
+encouraging words, to come, however humble or
+lowly we may be, to His throne, and ask with our
+own lips for those blessings so needful for the soul.
+&AElig;lfric, in a letter addressed to Sigwerd, prefixed
+to his Treatise on the Old and New Testament,
+thus speaks of his biblical labors:</p>
+
+<p>"Abbot Elfricke greeteth friendly, Sigwerd at
+last Heolon. True it is I tell thee that very wise is
+he who speaketh by his doings; and well proceedeth
+he doth with God and the world who furnisheth
+himselfe with good works. And very plaine it is
+in holy scripture, that holy men employed in well
+doing were in this world held in good reputation,
+and as saints now enjoy the kingdom of heaven,
+and the remembrance of them continueth for ever,
+because of their consent with God and relying on
+him, carelesse men who lead their life in all idleness
+and so end it, the memory of them is forgotten in
+holy writ, saving that the Old Testament records
+their ill deeds and how they were therefore comdemned.
+Thou hast oft entreated me for English
+Scripture .... and when I was with thee great mone
+thou madest that thou couldst get none of my
+writings. Now will I that thou have at least this
+little, since knowledge is so acceptable to thee, and
+thou wilt have it rather than be altogether without
+my books...... God bestoweth sevenfold grace on
+mankind, (whereof I have already written in another
+English Treatise,) as the prophet Isaiah hath
+recorded in the book of his prophesie." In speaking
+of the remaining books of the Pentateuch, he does<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>[<a href="./images/73.png">73</a>]</span>
+so in a cursory manner, and excuses himself because
+he had "written thereof more at large."
+"The book which Moses wrote, called the book of
+Joshua, sheweth how he went with the people of
+Israel unto Abraham's country, and how he won it,
+and how the sun stood still while he got the victory,
+and how he divided the land; this book also I
+turned into English for prince Ethelverd, wherein
+a man may behold the great wonders of God really
+fulfilled." ...... "After him known it is that there were
+in the land certaine judges over Israel, who guided
+the people as it is written in the book of Judges .....
+of this whoso hath desire to hear further, may read
+it in that English book which I translated concerning
+the same." ..... "Of the book of Kings, I
+have translated also some part into English," "the
+book of Esther, I briefly after my manner translated
+into English," and "The Widow Judith who
+overcame Holophernes, the Syrian General, hath
+her book also, among these, concerning her own
+victory and <i>Englished according to my skill for
+your example</i>, that ye men may also defend your
+country by force of arms, against the invasion of a
+foreign host." "Two books of Machabeus, to the
+glory of God, I have turned also into English, and
+so read them, you may if you please, for your instruction."
+And at the end we find him again admonishing
+the scribes to use the pen with faithfulness.
+"Whosoever," says he, "shall write out this
+book, let him write it according to the copy, and
+for God's love correct it, that it be not faulty, less
+he thereby be discredited, and I shent."<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a></p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>[<a href="./images/74.png">74</a>]</span></p>
+<p>This learned prelate died on the 16th of November,
+1006, after a life spent thus in the service of
+Christ and the cause of learning; by his will he
+bequeathed to the Abbey of St. Alban's, besides
+some landed possessions, his little library of books;<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a>
+he was honorably buried at Abingdon, but during
+the reign of Canute, his bones were removed to
+Canterbury.</p>
+
+<p>Passing on a few years, we come to that period
+when a new light shone upon the lethargy of the
+Saxons; the learning and erudition which had been
+fostering in the snug monasteries of Normandy,
+hitherto silent&mdash;buried as it were&mdash;but yet fast
+growing to maturity, accompanied the sword of the
+Norman duke, and added to the glory of the conquering
+hero, by their splendid intellectual endowments.
+All this emulated and roused the Saxons
+from their slumber; and, rubbing their laziness
+away, they again grasped the pen with the full nerve
+and energy of their nature; a reaction ensued,
+literature was respected, learning prospered, and
+copious work flowed in upon the scribes; the crackling
+of parchment, and the din of controversy
+bespoke the presence of this revival in the cloisters
+of the English monasteries; books, the weapons
+spiritual of the monks, libraries, the magazines of
+the church militant were preserved, amassed, and at
+last deemed indispensable.<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> Such was the effect on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>[<a href="./images/75.png">75</a>]</span>
+our national literature of that gushing in of the
+Norman conquerors, so deeply imbued with learning,
+so polished, and withal so armed with classical
+and patristic lore were they.</p>
+
+<p>Foremost in the rank we find the learned Lanfranc,
+that patron of literature, that indefatigable
+scribe and anxious book collector, who was endowed
+with an erudition far more deep and comprehensive
+than any other of his day. He was born at Pavia,
+in 1005, and received there the first elements of his
+education;<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> he afterwards went to Bologna, and from
+thence to Avranches, where he undertook the education
+of many celebrated scholars of that century,
+and instructed them in sacred and secular learning,
+<i>in sacris et secularibus erudivi literis</i>.<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> Whilst proceeding
+on a journey to Rome he was attacked by
+some robbers, who maltreated and left him almost
+dead; in this condition he was found by some
+peasants who conveyed him to the monastery of
+Bec; the monks with their usual hospitable charity
+tended and so assiduously nourished him in his
+sickness, that on his recovery he became one of
+their fraternity. A few years after, he was appointed
+prior and founded a school there, which did
+immense service to literature and science; he also
+collected a great library which was renowned
+and esteemed in his day,<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> and he increased their
+value by a critical revisal of their text. He was
+well aware that in works so voluminous as those of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>[<a href="./images/76.png">76</a>]</span>
+the fathers, the scribes through so many generations
+could not be expected to observe an unanimous
+infallibility; but knowing too that even the most
+essential doctrines of the holy and catholic church
+were founded on patristical authority, he was deeply
+impressed with the necessity of keeping their writings
+in all their primitive integrity; an end so
+desirable, well repaid the tediousness of the undertaking,
+and he cheerfully spent much time in collecting
+and comparing codices, in studying their
+various readings or erasing the spurious interpolations,
+engendered by the carelessness or the
+pious frauds of monkish scribes.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> He lavished his
+care in a similar manner on the Bible: considering
+the far distant period from which that holy volume
+has descended to us, it is astounding that the vicissitudes,
+the perils, the darkness of near eighteen
+hundred years, have failed to mar the divinity of
+that sacred book; not all the blunders of nodding
+scribes could do it, not all the monkish interpolations,
+or the cunning of sectarian pens could do it,
+for in all times the faithful church of Christ watched
+over it with a jealous care, supplied each erasure
+and expelled each false addition. Lanfranc was
+one of the most vigilant of these Scripture guards,
+and his own industry blest his church with the bible
+text, purified from the gross handmarks of human
+meddling. I learn, from the Benedictines of St.
+Maur, that there is still preserved in the Abbey of
+St. Martin de S&eacute;cz, the first ten conferences of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>[<a href="./images/77.png">77</a>]</span>
+Cassian corrected by the efficient hand of this great
+critical student, at the end of the manuscript these
+words are written, "<i>Hucusque ago Lanfrancus correxi</i>."<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a>
+The works of St. Ambrose, on which he
+bestowed similar care, are preserved in the library
+of St. Vincent du Mans.<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a></p>
+
+<p>When he was promoted to the See of Canterbury,
+he brought with him a copious supply of
+books, and spread the influence of his learning over
+the English monasteries; but with all the cares
+inseparably connected with the dignity of Primate
+of England, he still found time to gratify his bookloving
+propensities, and to continue his critical
+labors; indeed he worked day and night in the
+service of the church, <i>servitio Ecclesi&aelig;</i>, and in correcting
+the books which the scribes had written.<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a>
+From the profusion of his library he was enabled
+to lend many volumes to the monks, so that by
+making transcripts, they might add to their own
+stores&mdash;thus we know that he lent to Paulen, Abbot
+of St. Albans, a great number, who kept his scribes
+hard at work transcribing them, and built a scriptorium
+for the transaction of these pleasing labors;
+but more of this hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>Anselm, too, was a renowned and book-loving
+prelate, and if his pride and haughtiness wrought
+warm dissensions and ruptures in the church, he
+often stole away to forget them in the pages of his
+book. At an early age he acquired this fondness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>[<a href="./images/78.png">78</a>]</span>
+for reading, and whilst engaged as a monkish
+student, he applied his mind to the perusal of
+books with wonderful perseverance, and when some
+favorite volume absorbed his attention, he could
+scarce leave it night or day.<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> Industry so indefatigable
+ensured a certain success, and he became
+eminent for his deep and comprehensive learning;
+his epistles bear ample testimony to his extensive
+reading and intimate acquaintance with the authors
+of antiquity;<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> in one of his letters he praises a
+monk named Maurice, for his success in study,
+who was learning <i>Virgil</i> and some other old writers,
+under Arnulph the grammarian.</p>
+
+<p>All day long Anselm was occupied in giving
+wise counsel to those that needed it; and a great
+part of the night <i>pars maxima noctis</i> he spent in
+correcting his darling volumes, and freeing them
+from the inaccuracies of the scribes.<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> The oil in
+the lamp burnt low, still that bibliomaniac studiously
+pursued his favorite avocation. So great
+was the love of book-collecting engrafted into his
+mind, that he omitted no opportunity of obtaining
+them&mdash;numerous instances occur in his epistles of
+his begging the loan of some volume for transcription;<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a>
+in more than one, I think, he asks for portions
+of the Holy Scriptures which he was always
+anxious to obtain to compare their various readings,
+and to enable him with greater confidence to correct
+his own copies.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>[<a href="./images/79.png">79</a>]</span></p><p>In the early part of the twelfth century, the
+monks of Canterbury transcribed a vast number of
+valuable manuscripts, in which they were greatly
+assisted by monk Edwine, who had arrived at considerable
+proficiency in the calligraphical art, as a
+volume of his transcribing, in Trinity college, Cambridge,
+informs us;<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> it is a Latin Psalter, with a
+Saxon gloss, beautifully illuminated in gold and
+colors; at the end appears the figure of the monkish
+scribe, holding the pen in his hand to indicate his
+avocation, and an inscription extols his ingenuity
+in the art.<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a></p>
+
+<p>Succeeding archbishops greatly enriched the
+library at Canterbury. Hubert Walter, who was
+appointed primate in 1191, gave the proceeds of
+the church of Halgast to furnish books for the
+library;<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> and Robert Kildwardly, archbishop in
+1272, a man of great learning and wisdom, a
+remarkable orator and grammarian, wrote a great
+number of books, and was passionately fond of
+collecting them.<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></p>
+
+<p>I learn from Wanley, that there is a large folio
+manuscript in the library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge,
+written about the time of Henry V. by a monk of
+St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, containing the
+history of Christ Church; this volume proves its
+author to have been something of a bibliophile,
+and that is why I mention it, for he gives an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>[<a href="./images/80.png">80</a>]</span>
+account of some books then preserved, which were
+sent over by Pope Gregory to St. Augustine; these
+precious volumes consisted of a Bible in two
+volumes, called "Biblia Gregorian," beautifully
+written, with some of the leaves tinted with purple
+and rose-color, and the capital letters rubricated.
+This interesting and venerable MS. so immediately
+connected with the first ages of the Christian
+church of Britain, was in existence in the time of
+James I., as we learn by a passage in a scarce tract
+entitled "A Petition Apologetical," addressed by
+the Catholics to his majesty, where, as a proof that
+we derive our knowledge of Scripture originally
+from the church of Rome; they say, "The very
+original Bible, the self-same <i>Numero</i> which St.
+Gregory sent in with our apostle, St. Augustine,
+being as yet reserved by God's special providence,
+as testimony that what Scriptures we have, we had
+them from Rome.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></p>
+
+<p>He next mentions two Psalters, one of which I
+have seen; it is among the manuscripts in the Cotton
+collection,<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> and bears full evidence of its great
+antiquity. This early gem of biblical literature
+numbers 160 folios; it contains the Roman Psalter,
+with a Saxon interlinear translation, written on
+stout vellum, in a clear, bold hand. On opening
+the volume, we find the first page enriched with a
+dazzling specimen of monkish skill&mdash;it is a painting
+of our Saviour pointing with his right hand to
+heaven, and in his left holding the sacred book;
+the corners are occupied with figures of animals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>[<a href="./images/81.png">81</a>]</span>
+and the whole wrought on a glittering ground
+work, is rendered still more gorgeous by the contrast
+which the purple robes of Jesus display; on
+the reverse of this fine illumination there is a beautiful
+tesselated ornament, interwoven with animals,
+flowers, and grotesque figures, around which are
+miniatures of our Saviour, David, and some of the
+apostles. In a line at the bottom the word <span class="smcap">Catvsvir</span>
+is inscribed. Very much inferior to this in point of
+art is the illumination, at folio 31, representing
+David playing his harp, surrounded by a musical
+coterie; it is probably the workmanship of a more
+modern, but less skilful scribe of the Saxon school.
+The smaller ornaments and initial letters throughout
+the manuscript display great intricacy of
+design.</p>
+
+<p>The writer next describes two copies of the
+Gospels, both now in the Bodleian Collection at
+Oxford. A Passionarium Sanctorum, a book for
+the altar, on one side of which was the image of
+our Saviour wrought in gold, and lastly, an exposition
+of the Epistles and Gospels; the monkish
+bookworm tells us that these membraneous treasures
+were the most ancient books in all the
+churches of England.<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a></p>
+
+<p>A good and liberal monk, named Henry De
+Estria, who was elected prior in the year 1285, devoted
+both his time and wealth to the interests of
+his monastery, and is said to have expended &pound;900
+in repairing the choir and chapter-house.<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>[<a href="./images/82.png">82</a>]</span>
+wrote a book beginning, "<i>Memoriale Henerici
+Prioris Monasteri Xpi Cantuari&aelig;</i>,"<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> now preserved
+in the Cotton collection; it contains the most
+extensive monastic catalogue I had ever seen, and
+sufficiently proves how Bibliomania flourished in
+that noble monastery. It occupies no less than
+thirty-eight treble-columned folio pages, and contains
+the titles of more than three thousand works.
+To attempt to convey to the reader an idea of this
+curious and sumptuous library, without transcribing
+a large proportion of its catalogue, I am afraid
+will be a futile labor; but as that would occupy
+too much space, and to many of my readers be,
+after all, dry and uninteresting, I shall merely give
+the names of some of the most conspicuous. Years
+indeed it must have required to have amassed a
+collection so brilliant and superb in those days of
+book scarcity. Surprise and wonder almost surpass
+the admiration we feel at beholding this proud
+testimonial of monkish industry and early bibliomania.
+Many a choice scribe, and many an <i>Amator
+Librorum</i> must have devoted his pen and purse to
+effect so noble an acquisition. Like most of the
+monastic libraries, it possessed a great proportion
+of biblical literature&mdash;copies of the Bible whole
+and in parts, commentaries on the same, and numerous
+glossaries and concordances show how
+much care the monks bestowed on the sacred
+writings, and how deeply they were studied in
+those old days. In patristic learning the library
+was unusually rich, embracing the most eminent
+and valuable writings of the Fathers, as may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>[<a href="./images/83.png">83</a>]</span>
+seen by the following names, of whose works the
+catalogue enumerates many volumes:</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Augustine.</li>
+<li>Ambroise.</li>
+<li>Anselm.</li>
+<li>Alcuin.</li>
+<li>Aldelm.</li>
+<li>Benedict.</li>
+<li>Bernard.</li>
+<li>Bede.</li>
+<li>Beranger.</li>
+<li>Chrysostom.</li>
+<li>Eusebius.</li>
+<li>Fulgentius.</li>
+<li>Gregory.</li>
+<li>Hillarius.</li>
+<li>Isidore.</li>
+<li>Jerome.</li>
+<li>Lanfranc.</li>
+<li>Origen.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Much as we may respect them for all this, our
+gratitude will materially increase when we learn
+how serviceable the monks of Canterbury were in
+preserving the old dead authors of Greece and
+Rome. We do not, from the very nature of their
+lives being so devoted to religion and piety, expect
+this; and knowing, too, what "heathen dogs" the
+monks thought these authors of idolatry, combined
+with our notion, that they, far from being
+the conservers, were the destroyers, of classic
+MSS., for the sake, as some tell us, of the parchment
+on which they were inscribed, we are somewhat
+staggered in our opinion to find in their
+library the following brilliant array of the wise
+men of the ancient world:</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Aristotle,</li>
+<li>Boethius,</li>
+<li>Cicero,</li>
+<li>Cassiodorus,</li>
+<li>Donatus,</li>
+<li>Euclid,</li>
+<li>Galen,</li>
+<li>Justin,</li>
+<li>Josephus,</li>
+<li>Lucan,</li>
+<li>Martial,</li>
+<li>Marcianus,</li>
+<li>Macrobius,</li>
+<li>Orosius,</li>
+<li>Plato,</li>
+<li>Priscian,</li>
+<li>Prosper,</li>
+<li>Prudentius,</li>
+<li>Suetonius,</li>
+<li>Sedulus,</li>
+<li>Seneca,</li>
+<li>Terence,</li>
+<li>Virgil,</li>
+<li>Etc., etc.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Nor were they mere fragments of these authors,
+but, in many cases, considerable collections; of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>[<a href="./images/84.png">84</a>]</span>
+Aristotle, for instance, they possessed numerous
+works, with many commentaries upon him. Of
+Seneca a still more extensive and valuable one;
+and in the works of the eloquent Tully, they were
+also equally rich. Of his <i>Paradoxa, de Senectute,
+de Amiticia</i>, etc., and <i>his Offices</i>, they had more
+copies than one, a proof of the respect and esteem
+with which he was regarded. In miscellaneous
+literature, and in the productions of the middle
+age writers, the catalogue teems with an abundant
+supply, and includes:</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Rabanus Maurus,</li>
+<li>Thomas Aquinas,</li>
+<li>Peter Lombard,</li>
+<li>Athelard,</li>
+<li>William of Malmsbury,</li>
+<li>John of Salisbury,</li>
+<li>Girald Barry,</li>
+<li>Thomas Baldwin,</li>
+<li>Brutus,</li>
+<li>Robert Grosetete,</li>
+<li>Gerlandus,</li>
+<li>Gregory Nazianzen,</li>
+<li>History of England,</li>
+<li>Gesti Alexandri Magni,</li>
+<li>Hystoria Longobardos,</li>
+<li>Hystori&aelig; Scholastic&aelig;,</li>
+<li>Chronicles <i>Latine et Anglice</i>,</li>
+<li>Chronographia Necephori.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>But I trust the reader will not rest satisfied with
+these few samples of the goodly store, but inspect
+the catalogue for himself. It would occupy, as I
+said before, too much space to enumerate even a
+small proportion of its many treasures, which treat
+of all branches of literature and science, natural
+history, medicine, ethics, philosophy, rhetoric, grammar,
+poetry, and music; each shared the studious
+attention of the monks, and a curious "<i>Liber de
+Astronomia</i>" taught them the rudiments of that
+sublime science, but which they were too apt to
+confound with its offspring, astrology, as we may
+infer, was the case with the monks of Canterbury,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>[<a href="./images/85.png">85</a>]</span>
+for their library contained a "<i>Liber de Astrol&#339;bus</i>,"
+and the "Prophesies of Merlin."</p>
+
+<p>Many hints connected with the literary portion
+of a monastic life may sometimes be found in these
+catalogues. It was evidently usual at Christ Church
+Monastery to keep apart a number of books for
+the private study of the monks in the cloister,
+which I imagine they were at liberty to use at any
+time.<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a></p>
+
+<p>A portion of the catalogue of monk Henry is
+headed "<i>Lib. de Armariole Claustre</i>,"<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> under which it
+is pleasing to observe a Bible, in two volumes, specified
+as for the use of the infirmary, with devotional
+books, lives of the fathers, a history of England,
+the works of Bede, Isidore, Boethius, Rabanus
+Maurus, Cassiodorus, and many others of equal
+celebrity. In another portion of the manuscript,
+we find a list of their church books, written at the
+same time;<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> it affords a brilliant proof of the plentitude
+of the gospels among them; for no less than
+twenty-five copies are described. We may judge
+to what height the art of bookbinding had arrived
+by the account here given of these precious volumes.
+Some were in a splendid coopertoria of gold and
+silver, and others exquisitely ornamented with
+figures of our Saviour and the four Evangelists.<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a>
+But this extravagant costliness rendered them attractive
+objects to pilfering hands, and somewhat
+accounts for the lament of the industrious Somner,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>[<a href="./images/86.png">86</a>]</span>
+who says that the library was "shamefully robbed
+and spoiled of them all."<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a></p>
+
+<p>Our remarks on the monastic library at Canterbury
+are drawing to a close. Henry <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Chicleley'">Chiclely</ins>,
+archbishop in 1413, an excellent man, and a great
+promoter of learning, rebuilt the library of the
+church, and furnished it with many a choice tome.<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a>
+His esteem for literature was so great, that he built
+two colleges at Oxford.<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> William Sellinge, who
+was a man of erudition, and deeply imbued with
+the book-loving mania, was elected prior in 1472.
+He is said to have studied at Bonania, in Italy;
+and, during his travels, he gathered together "all
+the ancient authors, both Greek and Latine, he
+could get," and returned laden with them to his own
+country. Many of them were of great rarity, and
+it is said that a Tully <i>de Republica</i> was among
+them. Unfortunately, they were all burnt by a
+fire in the monastery.<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a></p>
+
+<p>I have said enough, I think, to show that books
+were eagerly sought after, and deeply appreciated,
+in Canterbury cloisters during the middle ages, and
+when the reader considers that these facts have
+been preserved from sheer accident, and, therefore,
+only enable us to obtain a partial glimpse of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>[<a href="./images/87.png">87</a>]</span>
+actual state of their library, he will be ready to
+admit that bibliomania existed then, and will feel
+thankful, too, that it did, for to its influence, surely,
+we are indebted for the preservation of much that
+is valuable and instructive in history and general
+literature.<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a></p>
+
+<p>We can scarcely leave Kent without a word or
+two respecting the church of the Rochester monks.
+It was founded by King Ethelbert, who conferred
+upon it the dignities of an episcopal see, in the
+year 600; and, dedicating it to St. Andrew, completed
+the good work by many donations and
+emoluments. The revenues of the see were always
+limited, and it is said that its poverty caused it to
+be treated with kind forbearance by the ecclesiastical
+commissioners at the period of the Reformation.</p>
+
+<p>I have not been able to meet with any catalogue
+of its monastic library, and the only hints I
+can obtain relative to their books are such as may
+be gathered from the recorded donations of its
+learned prelates and monks. In the year 1077,
+Gundulph, a Norman bishop, who is justly celebrated
+for his architectural talents, rebuilt the
+cathedral, and considerable remains of this structure
+are still to be seen in the nave and west front,
+and display that profuse decoration united with
+ponderous stability, for which the Norman buildings
+are so remarkable. This munificent prelate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>[<a href="./images/88.png">88</a>]</span>
+also enriched the church with numerous and costly
+ornaments; the encouragement he gave to learning
+calls for some notice here. Trained in one of the
+most flourishing of the Norman schools, we are not
+surprised that in his early youth he was so studious
+and inquisitive after knowledge as to merit the
+especial commendation of his biographer.<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> William
+of Malmsbury, too, highly extols him "for his
+abundant piety," and tells us that he was not inexperienced
+in literary avocations; he was polished
+and courageous in the management of judicial
+affairs, and a close, devoted student of the divine
+writings;<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> as a scribe he was industrious and critical,
+and the great purpose to which he applied his
+patience and erudition was a careful revisal of the
+Holy Scriptures. He purged the sacred volume of
+the inadvertencies of the scribes, and restored the
+purity of the text; for transcribing after transcribing
+had caused some errors and diversity of readings
+to occur, between the English and foreign
+codices, in spite of all the pious care of the monastic
+copyists; this was perplexing, an uniformity was
+essential and he undertook the task;<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> labors so
+valuable deserve the highest praise, and we bestow
+it more liberally upon him for this good work than
+we should have done had he been the compiler of
+crude homilies or the marvellous legends of saints.
+The high veneration in which Gundulph held the
+patristic writings induced him to bestow his attention
+in a similar manner upon them, he compared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>[<a href="./images/89.png">89</a>]</span>
+copies, studied their various readings and set to
+work to correct them. The books necessary for
+these critical researches he obtained from the
+libraries of his former master, Bishop Lanfranc,
+St. Anselm, his schoolfellow, and many others who
+were studying at Bec, but besides this, he corrected
+many other authors, and by comparing them with
+ancient manuscripts, restored them to their primitive
+beauty. Fabricius<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> notices a fine volume, which
+bore ample testimony to his critical erudition and
+dexterity as a scribe. It is described as a large
+Bible on parchment, written in most beautiful
+characters, it was proved to be his work by this
+inscription on its title page, "<i>Prima pars Bibli&aelig;
+per bona memori&aelig; Gundulphum Rossensem Episcopum</i>."
+This interesting manuscript, formerly in
+the library of the monks of Rochester, was regarded
+as one of their most precious volumes. An
+idea of the great value of a Bible in those times
+may be derived from the curious fact that the bishop
+made a decree directing "excommunication to be
+pronounced against whosoever should take away or
+conceal this volume, or who should even dare to
+conceal the inscription on the front, which indicated
+the volume to be the property of the church of
+Rochester." But we must bear in mind that this was
+no ordinary copy, it was transcribed by Gundulph's
+own pen, and rendered pure in its text by his
+critical labors. But the time came when anathemas
+availed nought, and excommunication was divested
+of all terror. "Henry the Eighth," the "Defender
+of the Faith," frowned destruction upon the monks,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>[<a href="./images/90.png">90</a>]</span>
+and in the tumult that ensued, this treasure was
+carried away, anathema and all. Somehow or
+other it got to Amsterdam, perhaps sent over in
+one of those "shippes full," to the bookbinders,
+and having passed through many hands, at last
+found its way into the possession of Herman Van
+de Wal, Burgomaster of Amsterdam; since then it
+was sold by public auction, but has now I believe
+been lost sight of.<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> Among the numerous
+treasures which Gundulph gave to his church, he
+included a copy of the Gospels, two missals and a
+book of Epistles.<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> Similar books were given by
+succeeding prelates; Radolphus, a Norman bishop
+in 1108, gave the monks several copies of the gospels
+beautifully adorned.<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> Earnulphus, in the year
+1115, was likewise a benefactor in this way; he
+bestowed upon them, besides many gold and silver
+utensils for the church, a copy of the gospels,
+lessons for the principal days, a benedictional, or
+book of blessings, a missal, handsomely bound, and
+a capitular.<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> Ascelin, formerly prior of Dover,
+and made bishop of Rochester, in the year 1142,
+gave them a Psalter and the Epistles of St. Paul,
+with a gloss.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> He was a learned man, and excessively
+fond of books; a passion which he had
+acquired no doubt in his monastery of Dover which
+possessed a library of no mean extent.<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>[<a href="./images/91.png">91</a>]</span>
+wrote a commentary on Isaiah, and gave it to the
+monastery; Walter, archdeacon of Canterbury,
+who succeeded Ascelin, gave a copy of the gospels
+bound in gold, to the church;<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> and Waleran,
+elected bishop in the year 1182, presented them
+with a glossed Psalter, the Epistles of Paul, and
+the Sermons of Peter.<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a></p>
+
+<p>Glanvill, bishop in the year 1184, endeavored
+to deprive the monks of the land which Gundulph
+had bestowed upon them; this gave to rise to many
+quarrels<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> which the monks never forgave; it is
+said that he died without regret, and was buried
+without ceremony; yet the curious may still inspect
+his tomb on the north side of the altar, with
+his effigies and mitre lying at length upon it.<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a>
+Glanvill probably repented of his conduct, and he
+strove to banish all animosity by many donations;
+and among other treasures, he gave the monks the
+five books of Moses and other volumes.<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></p>
+
+<p>Osbern of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Shebey'">Shepey</ins>, who was prior in the year
+1189, was a great scribe and wrote many volumes
+for the library; he finished the Commentary of
+Ascelin, transcribed a history of Peter, a Breviary
+for the chapel, a book called <i>De Claustra anim&aelig;</i>,
+and wrote the great Psalter which is chained to
+the choir and window of St. Peter's altar<ins title="Transcriber's Note: removed superfluous quotation mark">.</ins><a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a>
+Ralph de Ross, and Heymer de Tunebregge,<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>[<a href="./images/92.png">92</a>]</span>
+also bestowed gifts of a similar nature upon the
+monks; but the book anecdotes connected with
+this monastic fraternity are remarkably few, barren
+of interest, and present no very exalted idea of
+their learning.<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Bede, iv. cap. ii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> He died in 690, and was succeeded by Bertwold, Abbot of
+Reculver, <i>Saxon Chronicle, Ingram</i>, p. 57. Bede speaks of Bertwold
+as "well learned in Scripture and Ecclesiastical Literature."&mdash;<i>Eccl.
+Hist.</i> b. v. c. viii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> Preambulation of Kent, 4to. 1576, p. 233. Parker's Ant. Brit.
+p. 80.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> He was consecrated on the 10th of June, 731, Bede, v. c. xxiii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> M.S. Reg. 12, c. xxiii. I know of no other copy. Leland says
+that he saw a copy at Glastonbury.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Bede's Eccl. Hist. Prologue.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> Pitseus Angli&aelig; Scrip. 1619, p. 141. Dart's Hist. Canterbury,
+p. 102.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Cottonian MS. Cleopatra, B. xiii. fo. 70.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> W. Malm, de Vita, Dunst. ap. Leland, Script. tom. 1. p. 162.
+Cotton. MS. Fanstin, B. 13.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Strutt's Saxon. Antiq. vol. 1, p. 105, plate xviii. See also
+Hicke's Saxon Grammar, p. 104.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> MS. Cotton., Cleop. b. xiii. fo. 69. Mabd. Acta Sancto. vii. 663.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Saxon Chron. by Ingram, 171.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Can. 21, p. 577, vol. i.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> Lisle's Divers Ancient Monuments in the Saxon Tongue, 4to.
+Lond. 1638, p. 43.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> MS. Cottonian Claudius, b. vi. p. 103; Dart's Hist. of Cant.
+p. 112.; Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 517.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> There was an old saying, and a true one, prevalent in those
+days, that a monastery without a library was like a castle without an
+armory, <i>Clastrum sine armario, quasi castrum sine armamentario</i>.
+See letter of Gaufredi of St. Barbary to Peter Mangot, <i>Martene
+Thes. Nov. Anecd.</i>, tom. i. col. 511.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> Mabillon, Act. S., tom. ix. p. 659.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> Ep. i. ad Pap&aelig; Alex.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> Vita Lanfr., c. vi. "<i>Effulsit eo majistro, obedientia coactu,
+philosophicarum ac divinarum litterarum bibliotheca, etc.</i>" Opera
+p. 8. Edit. folio, 1648.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> "Et quia scriptur&aelig; scriptorum vitio erant ninium corrupt&aelig;,
+omnes tam Veteris, quam Novi Testamenti libros; necnon etiam
+script&aelig; sanctorum patrum secundum orthodoxam fidem studuit corrigere."
+Vita Lanfr. cap. 15, ap. Opera, p. 15.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> Hist. Litt. de la France, vol. vii. p. 117.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> "Il rendit de m&ecirc;me service &agrave; trois &eacute;crits de S. Ambrose
+l'Hexameron, l'apologie de David et le trait&eacute; des Sacrements,
+tels qu'on les voit &agrave; la biblioth&egrave;que de St. Vincent du Mans."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> Malmsb. de Gest. Pontif. b. i. p. 216.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> See Epist. 16. Lib. i.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> Edmer. Vit. Anselm, apud Anselm Opera.&mdash;<i>Edit. Benedict</i>,
+1721, b. i. p. 4.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> Epp. 10-20, lib. i. and 24 b. ii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Codic. fol. first class, a dextr. Sc. Med. 5.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry. Dissert, ii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> Dart's Canterb. p. 132. Dugdale's Monast. vol. i. p. 85.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> There is, or was, in St. Peter's college, Cambridge, a MS.
+volume of 21 books, which formerly belonged to this worthy Bibliophile.&mdash;<i>Dart</i>,
+p. 137.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> Petition Apol. 4to. 1604, p. 17.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> Brit. Mus. Vesp. A. i.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> Wanley Librorum Vett Septentrionalium fol. Oxon, 1705,
+p. 172.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> Dugdale's Monast. Angl. vol. i. p. 112.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> MS. Cot. Galba. E. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> See what has been said on this subject in the previous chapter.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> MS. Galla, E. iv. fol. 133.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> MS. fol. 122.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> <i>Textus Magnus auro coopertus et gemmis ornatus, cum majistate
+in media, et 4 Evangelistis in 4 Angulis. Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> Somner Antiq. Cant. 4to. 1640, p. 174, he is speaking of
+books in general.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> Duck Vita Chich. p. 104.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> Dugdale, vol. i. p. 86. Dart, p. 158, and Somner Ant.
+Cant. 174.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Somner, 294 and 295; see also Leland Scriptor. He was well
+versed in the Greek language, and his monument bears the following
+line:
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Doctor theologus Selling Gr&aelig;ca atque Latina,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Linqua perdoctus."&mdash;See Warton's Hist. Poet., ii. p. 425.<br /></span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> There is a catalogue written in the sixteenth century, preserved
+among the Cotton MS., containing the titles of seventy books belonging
+to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Catherbury'">Canterbury</ins> Library. It is printed in Leland Collect. vol. iv.
+p. 120, and in Dart's Hist. Cant. Cath.; but they differ slightly from
+the Cott. MS. Julius, c. vi. 4, fol. 99.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> Monachus Roffensis de Vita Gundulphi, 274.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> Will. Malms. de Gest. Pont. Ang. ap Rerum. Ang. Script, 133.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> Histoire Litt&eacute;raire de Fr., tom. vii. p. 118.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> Biblioth. Latine, b. vii. p. 519.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> Hist. Litt. de Fr., tom. ix. p. 373.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> Thorpe Regist. Roffens, fol. 1769, p. 118.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> Wharton Angl. Sacr., tom. 1, p. 342.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> Thorpe Regist. Rof., p. 120. Dugdale's Monast., vol. 1, p. 157.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> A catalogue of this library is preserved among the Bodleian
+MSS. No. 920, containing many fine old volumes. I am not aware
+that it has been ever printed.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> "Textum Evangeliorum aureum." Reg. Rof., p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. 1, p. 156.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Wharton's Ang. Sac, tom. 1, p. 346.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> Thorpe Reg. Rof., 121. Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 158.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> Reg. Rof., pp. 122, 123.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> In a long list of gifts by Robert de Hecham, I find "librum
+Ysidore ethimologiarum possuit in armarium claustri et alia plura
+fecit."&mdash;<i>Thorpe Reg. Rof.</i>, p. 123.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>[<a href="./images/93.png">93</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-10.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Lindesfarne.&mdash;St. Cuthbert's Gospels.&mdash;Destruction
+of the Monastery.&mdash;Alcuin's Letter on the
+occasion.&mdash;Removal to Durham.&mdash;Carelepho.&mdash;Catalogue
+of Durham Library.&mdash;Hugh de
+Pusar.&mdash;Anthony Bek.&mdash;Richard de Bury
+and his Philobiblon, etc.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> Benedictine monastery of Lindesfarne,
+or the Holy Island, as
+it was called, was founded through
+the instrumentality of Oswald, the
+son of Ethelfrith, king of Northumberland,
+who was anxious for
+the promulgation of the Christian faith within
+his dominions. Aidan, the first bishop of whom
+we have any distinct account, was appointed about
+the year 635. Bede tells us that he used frequently
+to retire to the Isle of Farne, that he
+might pray in private and be undisturbed.<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> This
+small island, distant about nine miles from the
+church of Lindesfarne, obtained great celebrity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>[<a href="./images/94.png">94</a>]</span>
+from St. Cuthbert, who sought that quiet spot and
+led there a lonely existence in great continence
+of mind and body.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> In 685 he was appointed to the
+see of Lindesfarne, where, by his pious example
+and regular life, he instructed many in their religious
+duties. The name of this illustrious saint is
+intimately connected with a most magnificent specimen
+of calligraphical art of the eighth century,
+preserved in the British Museum,<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> and well known
+by the name of the Durham Book, or Saint
+Cuthbert's Gospels; it was written some years after
+the death of that Saint, in honor of his memory,
+by Egfrith, a monk of Lindesfarne, who was made
+bishop of that see in the year 698. At Egfrith's
+death in 721, his successor, &AElig;thilwald, most beautifully
+bound it in gold and precious stones, and
+Bilfrid, a hermit, richly illuminated it by prefixing
+to each gospel a beautiful painting representing
+one of the Evangelists, and a tesselated cross,
+executed in a most elaborate manner. He also
+displayed great skill by illuminating the large capital
+letters at the commencement of each gospel.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a>
+Doubtless, the hermit Bilfrid was an eminent
+artist in his day. Aldred, the Glossator, a priest
+of Durham, about the year 950, still more enriched
+this precious volume by interlining it with a Saxon
+Gloss, or version of the Latin text of St. Jerome,
+of which the original manuscript is a copy.<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>[<a href="./images/95.png">95</a>]</span>
+therefore, one of the most venerable of those early
+attempts to render the holy scriptures into the
+vernacular tongue, and is on that account an interesting
+relic to the Christian reader, and, no doubt,
+formed the choicest volume in the library of
+Lindesfarne.<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a></p></div>
+
+<p>But imperfectly, indeed, have I described the
+splendid manuscript which is now lying, in all its
+charms, before me. And as I mark its fine old
+illuminations, so bright in color, and so chaste in
+execution, the accuracy of its transcription, and
+the uniform beauty of its calligraphy, my imagination
+carries me back to the quiet cloister of
+the old Saxon scribe who wrote it, and I can
+see in Egfrith, a bibliomaniac, of no mean pretensions,
+and in Bilfrid, a monkish illuminator,
+well initiated in the mysteries of his art. The
+manuscript contains 258 double columned folio
+pages, and the paintings of the Evangelists each
+occupy an entire page. We learn the history
+of its production from a very long note at the
+end of the manuscript, written by the hand of the
+glossator.<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a></p>
+
+<p>But sad misfortunes were in store for the holy
+monks, for about 793, or a little earlier, when
+Highbald was abbot, the Danes burnt down the
+monastery and murdered the ecclesiastics; "most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>[<a href="./images/96.png">96</a>]</span>
+dreadful lightnings and other prodigies," says
+Simeon of Durham, "are said to have portended
+the impending ruin of this place; on the 7th of
+June they came to the church of Lindesfarne,
+miserably plundered all places, overthrew the
+altars, and carried away all the treasures of the
+church, some of the monks they slew, some they carried
+away captives, some they drowned in the sea,
+and others much afflicted and abused they turned
+away naked."<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> Fortunately some of the poor
+monks escaped, and after a short time returned
+to their old spot, and with religious zeal set about
+repairing the damage which the sacred edifice had
+sustained; after its restoration they continued comparatively
+quiet till the time of Eardulfus, when
+the Danes in the year 875, again invaded England
+and burned down the monastery of Lindesfarne.
+The monks obtained some knowledge of their
+coming and managed to effect their escape, taking
+with them the body of St. Cuthbert, which they
+highly venerated, with many other honored relics;
+they then set out with the bishop Eardulfus and
+the abbot Eadrid at their head on a sort of pilgrimage
+to discover some suitable resting place
+for the remains of their saint; but finding no safe
+locality, and becoming fatigued by the irksomeness
+of the journey, they as a last resource resolved
+to pass over to Ireland. For this purpose they
+proceeded to the sea, but no sooner were they on
+board the ship than a terrific storm arose, and had
+it not been for the fond care of their patron saint,
+a watery grave would have been forever their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>[<a href="./images/97.png">97</a>]</span>
+resting place; but, as it was, their lives were spared,
+and the holy bones preserved to bless mankind,
+and work wondrous miracles in the old church
+of the Saxon monks. Nevertheless, considerable
+damage was sustained, and the fury of the angry
+waves forced them back again to the shore. The
+monks deeming this an indication of God's will
+that they should remain, decided upon doing so,
+and leaving the ship, they agreed to proceed on
+their way rejoicing, and place still greater trust
+in the mercy of God and the miraculous influence
+of St. Cuthbert's holy bones; but some whose
+reliance on Divine providence appears not so conspicuous,
+became dissatisfied, and separated from
+the rest till at last only seven monks were left
+besides their bishop and abbot. Their relics were
+too numerous and too cumbersome to be conveyed
+by so small a number, and they knew not how to
+proceed; but one of the seven whose name was
+Hanred had a vision, wherein he was told that
+they should repair to the sea, where they would
+find a book of Gospels adorned with gold and
+precious stones, which had been lost out of the
+ship when they were in the storm; and that after
+that he should see a bridle hanging on a tree,
+which he should take down and put upon a horse
+that would come to him, which horse he should
+put to a cart he would also find, to carry the holy
+body, which would be an ease to them. All these
+things happening accordingly, they travelled with
+more comfort, following the horse, which way
+soever he should lead. The book above mentioned
+was no ways damaged by the water, and is still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>[<a href="./images/98.png">98</a>]</span>
+preserved in the library at Durham,<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> where it
+remained till the Reformation, when it was stript
+of its jewelled covering, and after passing through
+many hands, ultimately came into the possession
+of Sir Robert Cotton, in whose collection, as we
+have said before, it is now preserved in the British
+Museum.</p>
+
+<p>I cannot refrain, even at the risk of incurring
+some blame for my digression, presenting the
+reader with a part of a letter full of fraternal love,
+which Alcuin addressed to the monks of Lindesfarne
+on this sad occasion.</p>
+
+<p>"Your dearest fraternity," says he, "was wont
+to afford me much joy. But now how different!
+though absent, I deeply lament the more your
+tribulations and calamities; the manner in which
+the Pagans contaminate the sanctuaries of God,
+and shed the blood of saints around the altar,
+devastating the joy of our house, and trampling on
+the bodies of holy men in the temple of God, as
+though they were treading on a dunghill in the
+street. But of what effect is our wailing unless we
+come before the altars of Christ and cry, 'Spare
+me, O Lord! spare thy people, and take not thine
+inheritance from them;' nor let the Pagans say,
+'Where is the God of the Christians?' Besides
+who is to pacify the churches of Britain, if
+St. Cuthbert cannot defend them with so great a
+number of saints? Nevertheless do not trouble
+the mind about these things, for God chasteneth
+all the sons whom he receiveth, and therefore
+perhaps afflicts you the more, because he the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>[<a href="./images/99.png">99</a>]</span>
+loveth you. Jerusalem, the delightful city of God,
+was lost by the Chaldean scourge; and Rome, the
+city of the holy Apostles and innumerable martyrs,
+was surrounded by the Pagans and devastated.
+Well nigh the whole of Europe is evacuated by
+the scourging sword of the Goths or the Huns.
+But in the same manner in which God preserved
+the stars to illuminate the heavens, so will He
+preserve the churches to ornament, and in their
+office to strengthen and increase the Christian
+religion."<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></p>
+
+<p>Thus it came to pass that Eardulphus was the
+last bishop of Lindesfarne and the first of Cunecacestre,
+or Chester-upon-the-Street, to which place
+his see was removed previous to its final settlement
+at Durham.</p>
+
+<p>After a succession of many bishops, some recorded
+as learned and bookish by monkish annalists,
+and nearly all benefactors in some way to
+their church, we arrive at the period when Aldwine
+was consecrated bishop of that see in the year
+990. The commotions of his time made his presidency
+a troubled and harassing one. Sweyn, king
+of Denmark, and Olauis, king of Norway, invaded
+England, and spreading themselves in bodies over
+the kingdom, committed many and cruel depredations;
+a strong body of these infested the
+northern coast, and approached the vicinity of
+Chester-on-the-Street. This so alarmed Aldwine,
+that he resolved to quit his church&mdash;for the great
+riches and numerous relics of that holy place were
+attractive objects to the plundering propensities of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>[<a href="./images/100.png">100</a>]</span>
+the invaders. Carrying, therefore, the bones of
+St. Cuthbert with them&mdash;for that box of mortal
+dust was ever precious in the sight of those old
+monks&mdash;and the costly treasures of the church, not
+forgetting their books, the monks fled to Ripon,
+and the see, which after similar adversities their
+predecessors one hundred and thirteen years ago
+had settled at Chester, was forever removed. It
+is true three or four months after, as Symeon of
+Durham tells us, they attempted to return, but
+when they reached a place called Werdelan, "on
+the east and near unto Durham," they could not
+move the bier on which the body of St. Cuthbert
+was carried, although they applied their united
+strength to effect it. The superstition, or perhaps
+simplicity, of the monks instantly interpreted this
+into a manifestation of divine interference, and
+they resolved not to return again to their old spot.
+And we are further told that after three days'
+fasting and prayer, the Lord vouchsafed to reveal
+to them that they should bear the saintly burden
+to Durham, a command which they piously and
+cheerfully obeyed. Having arrived there, they
+fixed on a wild and uncultivated site, and making
+a simple oratory of wattles for the temporary reception
+of their relics, they set zealously to work&mdash;for
+these old monks well knew what labor was&mdash;to
+cut down wood, to clear the ground, and build an
+habitation for themselves. Shortly after, in the
+wilderness of that neglected spot, the worthy
+bishop Aldwine erected a goodly church of stone
+to the honor of God, and as a humble tribute of
+gratitude and love; and so it was that Aldwine,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>[<a href="./images/101.png">101</a>]</span>
+the last bishop of Chester-on-the-Street, was the
+first of Durham.</p>
+
+<p>When William Carelepho, a Norman monk,
+was consecrated bishop, the church had so increased
+in wealth and usefulness, that fresh wants
+arose, more space was requisite, and a grander
+structure would be preferable; the bishop thereupon
+pulled the old church of Aldwine down and
+commenced the erection of a more magnificent one
+in its place, as the beauty of Durham cathedral
+sufficiently testifies even now; and will not the
+lover of artistic beauty award his praise to the
+Norman bishop&mdash;those massive columns and stupendous
+arches excite the admiring wonder of all;
+built on a rocky eminence and surrounded by all
+the charms of a romantic scenery, it is one of the
+finest specimens of architecture which the enthusiasm
+of monkish days dedicated to piety and to
+God. Its liberal founder however did not live to
+see it finished, for he died in the year 1095, two
+years after laying its foundation stone. His bookloving
+propensities have been honorably recorded,
+and not only was he fond of reading, but kept the
+pens of the scribes in constant motion, and used
+himself to superintend the transcription of manuscripts,
+as the colophon of a folio volume in Durham
+library fully proves.<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> The monkish bibliophiles
+of his church received from him a precious
+gift of about 40 volumes, containing among other
+valuable books Prosper, Pompeii, Tertullian, and a
+great Bible in two volumes.<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>[<a href="./images/102.png">102</a>]</span></p><p>It would have been difficult perhaps to have
+found in those days a body of monks so "bookish"
+as those of Durham; not only did they transcribe
+with astonishing rapidity, proving that there was
+no want of vellum there, but they must have
+bought or otherwise collected a great number of
+books; for the see of Durham, in the early part of
+the 12th century, could show a library embracing
+nearly 300 volumes.<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a></p>
+
+<p>Nor let the reader imagine that the collection
+possessed no merit in a literary point of view, or
+that the monks cared for little else save legends of
+saints or the literature of the church; the catalogue
+proves them to have enjoyed a more liberal and a
+more refined taste, and again display the cloistered
+students of the middle ages as the preservers of
+classic learning. This is a point worth observing
+on looking over the old parchment catalogues of
+the monks; for as by their Epistles we obtain a
+knowledge of their intimacy with the old writers,
+and the use they made of them, so by their catalogues
+we catch a glimpse of the means they possessed
+of becoming personally acquainted with
+their beauties; by the process much light may be
+thrown on the gloom of those long past times, and
+perhaps we shall gain too a better view of the state
+of learning existing then. But that the reader
+may judge for himself, I extract the names of some
+of the writers whom the monks of Durham preserved
+and read:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>[<a href="./images/103.png">103</a>]</span></p>
+<ul><li>Alcuin.</li>
+<li>Ambrose.</li>
+<li>Aratores.</li>
+<li>Anselm.</li>
+<li>Augustine.</li>
+<li>Aviany.</li>
+<li>Bede.</li>
+<li>Boethius.</li>
+<li>Bernard.</li>
+<li>Cassian.</li>
+<li>Cassiodorus.</li>
+<li>Claudius.</li>
+<li>Cyprian.</li>
+<li>Donatus.</li>
+<li>Esop.</li>
+<li>Eutropius.</li>
+<li>Galen.</li>
+<li>Gregory.</li>
+<li>Haimo.</li>
+<li>Horace.</li>
+<li>Homer.</li>
+<li>Hugo.</li>
+<li>Juvenal.</li>
+<li>Isidore.</li>
+<li>Josephus.</li>
+<li>Lucan.</li>
+<li>Marcianus.</li>
+<li>Maximian.</li>
+<li>Orosius.</li>
+<li>Ovid.</li>
+<li>Prudentius.</li>
+<li>Prosper.</li>
+<li>Persius.</li>
+<li>Priscian.</li>
+<li>Peter Lombard.</li>
+<li>Plato.</li>
+<li>Pompeius Trogus.</li>
+<li>Quintilian.</li>
+<li>Rabanus.</li>
+<li>Solinus.</li>
+<li>Servius.</li>
+<li>Statius.</li>
+<li>Terence.</li>
+<li>Tully.</li>
+<li>Theodulus.</li>
+<li>Virgil.</li>
+<li>Gesta Anglorum.</li>
+<li>Gesta Normanorum.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Hugh de Pussar,<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> consecrated bishop in 1153,
+is the next who attracts our attention by his bibliomanical
+renown. He possessed perhaps the finest
+copy of the Holy Scriptures of any private collector;
+and he doubtless regarded his "<i>unam Bibliam in</i>
+iv. <i>magnis voluminibus</i>," with the veneration of a
+divine and the fondness of a student. He collected
+what in those times was deemed a respectable
+library, and bequeathed no less than sixty or
+seventy volumes to the Durham monks, including
+his great Bible, which has ever since been preserved
+with religious care; from a catalogue of them we
+learn his partiality for classical literature; a Tully,
+Sedulus, Priscian, and Claudius, are mentioned
+among them.<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>[<a href="./images/104.png">104</a>]</span></p><p>Anthony Bek, who was appointed to the see in
+the year 1283, was a most ambitious and haughty
+prelate, and caused great dissensions in his church.
+History proves how little he was adapted for the
+responsible duties of a bishop, and points to the
+field of battle or civil pomp as most congenial to
+his disposition. He ostentatiously displayed the
+splendor of a Palatine Prince, when he contributed
+his powerful aid to the cause of his sovereign, in
+the Scottish war, by a retinue of 500 horse, 1000
+foot, 140 knights, and 26 standard bearers,<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> rendered
+doubly imposing in those days of saintly
+worship and credulity, by the patronage of St.
+Cuthbert, under whole holy banner they marched
+against a brave and noble foe. His arbitrary
+temper caused sad quarrels in the cloister, which
+ultimately gave rise to a tedious law proceeding
+between him and the prior about the year 1300;<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a>
+from a record of this affair we learn that the bishop
+had borrowed some books from the library which
+afterwards he refused to return; there was among
+them a Decretal, a history of England, a Missal,
+and a volume called "The book of St. Cuthbert,
+in which the secrets of the monastery are written,"
+which was alone valued at &pound;200,<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> probably in consideration
+of the important and delicate matters
+contained therein.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>[<a href="./images/105.png">105</a>]</span></p><p>These proceedings were instituted by prior
+Hoton, who was fond of books, and had a great
+esteem for learning; he founded a college at Oxford
+for the monkish students of his church.<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> On
+more than one occasion he sent parcels of books
+to Oxford; in a list of an early date it appears that
+the monks of Durham sent at one time twenty
+volumes, and shortly after fifteen more, consisting
+principally of church books and lives of saints.<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a>
+The numbers thus taken from their library the
+monks, with that love of learning for which they
+were so remarkable, anxiously replaced, by purchasing
+about twenty volumes, many of which contained
+a great number of small but choice pieces.<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a></p>
+
+<p>Robert de Graystane, a monk of Durham, was
+elected bishop by the prior and chapter, and confirmed
+on the 10th of November, 1333, but the
+king, Edward III., wishing to advance his treasurer
+to that see, refused his sanction to the proceeding;
+monk Robert was accordingly deposed, and
+Richard Angraville received the mitre in his stead.
+He was consecrated on the 19th of December in
+the same year, by John Stratford, archbishop of
+Canterbury, and installed by proxy on the 10th of
+January, 1334.</p>
+
+<p>Angraville, Aungerville, or as he is more commonly
+called Richard de Bury, is a name which
+every bibliophile will honor and esteem; he was
+indeed a bibliomaniac of the first order, and a
+sketch of his life is not only indispensable here,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>[<a href="./images/106.png">106</a>]</span>
+but cannot fail to interest the book-loving reader.
+But before entering more at large into his bookish
+propensities and talents, it will be necessary to say
+something of his early days and the illustrious
+career which attended his political and ecclesiastical
+life. Richard de Bury, the son of Sir Richard
+Angraville, was born, as his name implies, at Bury
+St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, in the year 1287.<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a></p>
+
+<p>Great attention was paid to the instruction of
+his youthful mind by his maternal uncle, John de
+Willowby, a priest, previous to his removal to Oxford.
+At the university he obtained honorable
+distinction, as much for his erudition and love of
+books as for the moral rectitude of his behavior.
+These pleasing traits were the stepping stones to
+his future greatness, and on the strength of them
+he was selected as one fully competent to undertake
+the education of Edward Prince of Wales,
+afterwards the third king of that name; and to
+Richard de Bury "may be traced the love for literature
+and the arts displayed by his pupil when on
+the throne. He was rewarded with the lucrative
+appointment of treasurer of Gascony."<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a></p>
+
+<p>When Edward, the prince of Wales, was sent
+to Paris to assume the dominion of Guienne, which
+the king had resigned in his favor, he was accompanied
+by queen Isabella, his mother, whose criminal
+frailty, and afterwards conspiracy, with Mortimer,
+aroused the just indignation of her royal husband;
+and commenced those civil dissensions which ren<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>[<a href="./images/107.png">107</a>]</span>dered
+the reign of Edward II. so disastrous and
+turbulent. It was during these commotions that
+Richard de Bury became a zealous partizan of the
+queen, to whom he fled, and ventured to supply
+her pecuniary necessities from the royal revenues;
+for this, however, he was surrounded with imminent
+danger; for the king, instituting an inquiry into
+these proceedings, attempted his capture, which he
+narrowly escaped by secreting himself in the belfry
+of the convent of Brothers Minor at Paris.<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a></p>
+
+<p>When the "most invincible and most magnificent
+king" Edward III. was firmly seated upon the
+throne, dignity and power was lavishly bestowed
+on this early bibliomaniac. In an almost incredible
+space of time he was appointed cofferer to the
+king, treasurer of the wardrobe, archdeacon of
+Northampton, prebendary of Lincoln, Sarum, Litchfield,
+and shortly afterwards keeper of the privy
+seal, which office he held for five years. During
+this time he twice undertook a visit to Italy, on a
+mission to the supreme pontiff, John XXII., who
+not only entertained him with honor and distinction,
+but appointed him chaplain to his principal
+chapel, and gave him a bull, nominating him to the
+first vacant see in England.</p>
+
+<p>He acquired whilst there an honor which reflected
+more credit than even the smiles of his holiness&mdash;the
+brightest of the Italian poets, Petrarch
+of never dying fame&mdash;bestowed upon him his
+acquaintance and lasting friendship. De Bury
+entered Avignon for the first time in the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>[<a href="./images/108.png">108</a>]</span>
+year that Petrarch took up his residence there, in
+the house of Colonna, bishop of Lombes: two such
+enlightened scholars and indefatigable book collectors,
+sojourning in the same city, soon formed
+an intimacy.<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> How interesting must their friendly
+meetings have been, and how delightful the hours
+spent in Petrarch's library, which was one of great
+extent and rarity; and it is probable too that De
+Bury obtained from the poet a few treasures to
+enrich his own stores; for the generosity of Petrarch
+was so excessive, that he could scarcely withhold
+what he knew was so dearly coveted. His benevolence
+on one occasion deprived him and posterity
+of an inestimable volume; he lent some manuscripts
+of the classics to his old master, who, needing
+pecuniary aid, pawned them, and Cicero's books,
+<i>De Gloria</i>, were in this manner irrecoverably lost.<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a>
+Petrarch acted like a true lover of learning; for
+when the shadows of old age approached, he
+presented his library, full of rare and ancient
+manuscripts, many of them enriched by his own
+notes, to the Venetian Senate, and thus laid the
+foundation of the library of Saint-Marc; he always
+employed a number of transcribers, who invariably
+accompanied him on his journeys, and he kept
+horses to carry his books.<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> His love of reading
+was intense. "Whether," he writes in one of his
+epistles, "I am being shaved, or having my hair
+cut, whether I am riding on horseback or taking
+my meals, I either read myself or get some one to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>[<a href="./images/109.png">109</a>]</span>
+read to me; on the table where I dine, and by the
+side of my bed, I have all the materials for writing.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a>
+With the friendship of such a student, how charming
+must have been the visit of the English ambassador,
+and how much valuable and interesting
+information must he have gleaned by his intercourse
+with Petrarch and his books. At Rome
+Richard de Bury obtained many choice volumes
+and rare old manuscripts of the classics; for at
+Rome indeed, at that time, books had become an
+important article of commerce, and many foreign
+collectors besides the English bibliomaniac resorted
+there for these treasures: to such an extend was
+this carried on, that the jealousy of Petrarch was
+aroused, who, in addressing the Romans, exclaims:
+"Are you not ashamed that the wrecks of your
+ancient grandeur, spared by the inundation of the
+barbarians, are daily sold by your miscalculating
+avarice to foreigners? And that Rome is no where
+less known and less loved than at Rome?"<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a></p>
+
+<p>The immense ecclesiastical and civil revenues
+which Aungraville enjoyed, enabled him whilst in
+Italy to maintain a most costly and sumptuous
+establishment: in his last visit alone he is said to
+have expended 5,000 marks, and he never appeared
+in public without a numerous retinue of twenty
+clerks and thirty-six esquires; an appearance which
+better became the dignity of his civil office, than
+the Christian humility of his ecclesiastical functions.
+On his return from this distinguished sojourn,
+he was appointed, as we have said before,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>[<a href="./images/110.png">110</a>]</span>
+through the instrumentality of Edward III., to the
+bishopric of Durham. But not content with these
+high preferments, his royal master advanced him to
+still greater honor, and on the 28th of September,
+1334, he was made Lord Chancellor of England,
+which office he filled till the 5th of June, 1335, when
+he exchanged it for that of high treasurer. He
+was twice appointed ambassador to the king of
+France, respecting the claims of Edward of England
+to the crown of that country. De Bury,
+whilst negociating this affair, visited Antwerp and
+Brabant for the furtherance of the object of his
+mission, and he fully embraced this rare opportunity
+of adding to his literary stores, and returned
+to his fatherland well laden with many choice and
+costly manuscripts; for in all his perilous missions
+he carried about with him, as he tells us, that love
+of books which many waters could not extinguish,
+but which greatly sweetened the bitterness of
+peregrination. Whilst at Paris he was especially
+assiduous in collecting, and he relates with intense
+rapture, how many choice libraries he found there
+full of all kinds of books, which tempted him to
+spend his money freely; and with a gladsome heart
+he gave his dirty lucre for treasures so inestimable
+to the bibliomaniac.</p>
+
+<p>Before the commencement of the war which
+arose from the disputed claims of Edward, Richard
+de Bury returned to enjoy in sweet seclusion his
+bibliomanical propensities. The modern bibliophiles
+who know what it is to revel in the enjoyment
+of a goodly library, luxuriant in costly bindings
+and rich in bibliographical rarities, who are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>[<a href="./images/111.png">111</a>]</span>
+fully susceptible to the delights and exquisite sensibilities
+of that sweet madness called bibliomania,
+will readily comprehend the multiplied pleasures
+of that early and illustrious bibliophile in the seclusion
+of Auckland Palace; he there ardently applied
+his energies and wealth to the accumulation of
+books; and whilst engaged in this pleasing avocation,
+let us endeavor to catch a glimpse of him.
+Chambre, to whom we are indebted for many of
+the above particulars, tells us that Richard de Bury
+was learned in the governing of his house, hospitable
+to strangers, of great charity, and fond of
+disputation with the learned, but he principally
+delighted in a multitude of books, <i>Iste summe delectabatur
+multitudine librorum</i>,<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> and possessed more
+books than all the bishops put together, an assertion
+which requires some modification, and must
+not be too strictly regarded, for book collecting at
+that time was becoming a favorite pursuit; still the
+language of Chambre is expressive, and clearly
+proves how extensive must have been his libraries,
+one of which he formed in each of his various
+palaces, <i>diversis maneriis</i>. So engrossed was that
+worthy bishop with the passion of book collecting,
+that his dormitory was strewed <i>jucebant</i> with them,
+in every nook and corner choice volumes were
+scattered, so that it was almost impossible for any
+person to enter without placing his feet upon some
+book.<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> He kept in regular employment no small
+assemblage of antiquaries, scribes, bookbinders,
+correctors, illuminators, and all such persons who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>[<a href="./images/112.png">112</a>]</span>
+were capable of being useful in the service of
+books, <i>librorum servitiis utiliter</i>.<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a></p>
+
+<p>During his retirement he wrote a book, from
+the perusal of which the bibliomaniac will obtain a
+full measure of delight and instruction. It is a faithful
+record of the life and experience of this bibliophile
+of the olden time. He tells us how he collected
+his vellum treasures&mdash;his "crackling tomes"
+so rich in illuminations and calligraphic art!&mdash;how
+he preserved them, and how he would have others
+read them. Costly indeed must have been the
+book gems he amassed together; for foreign countries,
+as well as the scribes at home, yielded ample
+means to augment his stores, and were incessantly
+employed in searching for rarities which his heart
+yearned to possess. He completed his Philobiblon
+at his palace at Auckland on the 24th of January,
+1344.<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a></p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>[<a href="./images/113.png">113</a>]</span></p>
+<p>We learn from the prologue to this rare and
+charming little volume how true and genuine a
+<ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'biblomaniac'">bibliomaniac</ins> was Richard de Bury, for he tells us
+there, that a vehement love <i>amor excitet</i> of books
+had so powerfully seized all the faculties of his
+mind, that dismissing all other avocations, he had
+applied the ardor of his thoughts to the acquisition
+of books. Expense to him was quite an afterthought,
+and he begrudged no amount to possess
+a volume of rarity or antiquity. Wisdom, he says,
+is an infinite treasure <i>infinitus thesaurus</i>, the value
+of which, in his opinion, was beyond all things; for
+how, he asks, can the sum be too great which purchases
+such vast delight. We cannot admire the
+purity of his Latin so much as the enthusiasm
+which pervades it; but in the eyes of the bibliophile
+this will amply compensate for his minor imperfections.
+When expatiating on the value of his
+books he appears to unbosom, as it were, all the
+inward rapture of love. A very <i>helluo librorum</i>&mdash;a
+very Maliabechi of a collector, yet he encouraged
+no selfish feeling to alloy his pleasure or to mingle
+bitterness with the sweets of his avocation. His
+knowledge he freely imparted to others, and his
+books he gladly lent. This is apparent in the
+Philobiblon; and his generous spirit warms his diction&mdash;not
+always chaste&mdash;into a fluent eloquence.
+His composition overflows with figurative expressions,
+yet the rude, ungainly form on which they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>[<a href="./images/114.png">114</a>]</span>
+are moulded deprive them of all claim to elegance
+or chastity; but while the homeliness of his diction
+fails to impress us with an idea of his versatility as
+a writer, his chatty anecdotal style rivets and keeps
+the mind amused, so that we rise from the little
+book with the consciousness of having obtained
+much profit and satisfaction from its perusal. Nor
+is it only the bibliomaniac who may hope to taste
+this pleasure in devouring the sweet contents of
+the Philobiblon; for there are many hints, many
+wise sayings, and many singular ideas scattered
+over its pages, which will amuse or instruct the
+general reader and the lover of olden literature.
+We observe too that Richard de Bury, as a
+writer, was far in advance of his age, and his work
+manifests an unusual freedom and independence
+of mind in its author; for although living in
+monkish days, when the ecclesiastics were almost
+supreme in power and wealth, he was fully sensible
+of the vile corruptions and abominations
+which were spreading about that time so fearfully
+among some of the cloistered devotees&mdash;the spotless
+purity of the primitive times was scarce known
+then&mdash;and the dark periods of the middle ages were
+bright and holy, when compared with the looseness
+and carnality of those turbulent days. Richard de
+Bury dipped his pen in gall when he spoke of these
+sad things, and doubtless many a revelling monk
+winced under the lashing words he applied to them;
+not only does he upbraid them for their carelessness
+in religion, but severely reprimands their inattention
+to literature and learning. "The monks," he
+says, "in the present day seem to be occupied in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>[<a href="./images/115.png">115</a>]</span>
+emptying cups, not in correcting codices, <i>Calicibus
+epotandis, non codicibus emendandis</i>, which they
+mingle with the lascivious music of Timotheus, and
+emulate his immodest manners, so that the sportive
+song <i>cantus ludentis</i>, and not the plaintive hymn,
+proceeds from the cells of the monks. Flocks and
+fleeces, grain and granaries, gardens and olives,
+potions and goblets, are in this day lessons and
+studies of the monks, except some chosen few.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> He
+speaks in equally harsh terms of the religious mendicants.
+He accuses them of forgetting the words
+and admonitions of their holy founder, who was a
+great lover of books. He wishes them to imitate the
+ancient members of that fraternity, who were poor
+in spirit, but most rich in faith. But it must be remembered,
+that about this time the mendicant friars
+were treated with undeserved contempt, and much
+ill feeling rose against them among the clergy, but
+the clergy were somewhat prejudiced in their judgment.
+The order of St. Dominic, which a century
+before gloried in the approbation of the pope, and
+in the enjoyment of his potential bulls, now winced
+under gloomy and foreboding frowns. The sovereign
+Pontiff Honorius III. gratefully embraced the
+service of these friars, and confirmed their order
+with important privileges. His successor, Gregory
+IX., ratified these favors to gain their useful aid in
+propping up the papal power, and commanded the
+ecclesiastics by a bull to receive these "well-beloved
+children and preaching friars" of his, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>[<a href="./images/116.png">116</a>]</span>
+hospitality and respect. Thus established, they
+were able to bear the tossings to and fro which succeeding
+years produced; but in Richard de Bury's
+time darker clouds were gathering&mdash;great men had
+severely chastized them with their pens and denounced
+them in their preachings. Soon after a
+host of others sprang up&mdash;among the most remarkable
+of whom were Johannes Poliaco, and Fitzralph,
+Archbishop of Armagh, who was a dear
+friend and chaplain of Richard de Bury's and many
+learned disputations were carried on between them.<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a>
+The celebrated oration of Fitzralph's, cited in the
+presence of the pope, was a powerful blow to the
+mendicant friars&mdash;an examination of the matter has
+rather perplexed than cleared the subject, and I
+find it difficult which side to favor, the clergy
+seem to denounce the begging friars more from
+envy and interested motives, for they looked with
+extreme jealousy at the encroachments they had
+made upon their ecclesiastical functions of confession,
+absolution, etc., so profitable to the church in
+those days. In these matters the church had
+hitherto reserved a sole monopoly, and the clergy
+now determined to protect it with all the powers of
+oratorial denunciation; but, looking beyond this
+veil of prejudice, I am prone to regard them favorably,
+for their intense love of books, which
+they sought for and bought up with passionate
+eagerness. Fitzralph, quite unintentionally, bestows
+a bright compliment upon them, and as it bears
+upon our subject and illustrates the learning of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>[<a href="./images/117.png">117</a>]</span>
+the time, I am tempted to give a few extracts; he
+sorely laments the decrease of the number of students
+in the university of Oxford; "So," says he,
+"that yet in my tyme, in the universitie of Oxenford,
+were thirty thousand Scolers at ones; and
+now beth unnethe<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> sixe thousand."<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> All the
+blame of this he lays to the friars, and accuses them
+of doing "more grete damage to learning." "For
+these orders of beggers, for endeless wynnynges
+that thei geteth by beggyng of the forseide pryvyleges
+of schriftes and sepultures and othere, thei
+beth now so multiplyed in conventes and in persons.
+That many men tellith that in general studies unnethe,
+is it founde to sillynge a profitable book of
+ye faculte of art, of dyvynyte, of lawe canon, of
+phisik, other of lawe civil, but alle bookes beth
+y-bougt of Freres, so that en ech convent of Freres
+is a noble librarye and a grete,<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a> and so that ene
+rech Frere that hath state in scole, siche as thei beth
+nowe, hath an hughe librarye. And also y-sent of
+my Sugettes<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> to scole thre other foure persons,
+and hit is said me that some of them beth come
+home azen for thei myst nougt<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a> finde to selle ovn
+goode Bible; nother othere couenable<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> books."
+This strange accusation proves how industriously
+the friars collected books, and we cannot help
+regarding them with much esteem for doing so.
+Richard de Bury fully admits his obligations to the
+mendicants, from whom he obtained many choice
+transcripts. "When indeed," says he, "we hap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>[<a href="./images/118.png">118</a>]</span>pened
+to turn aside to the towns and places where
+the aforesaid paupers had convents, we were not
+slack in visiting their chests and other repositories
+of books, for there, amidst the deepest poverty, we
+found the most exalted riches treasured up; there,
+in their satchells and baskets, we discovered not
+only the crumbs that fell from the master's table
+for the little dogs, but indeed the shew bread without
+leaven, the bread of angels, containing in itself
+all that is delectable;<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins> and moreover, he says, that
+he found these friars "not selfish hoarders, but
+meet professors of enlightened knowledge."<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a></p>
+
+<p>In the seventh chapter of his work, he deplores
+the sad destruction of books by war and fire, and
+laments the loss of the 700,000 volumes, which
+happened in the Alexandrian expedition; but the
+eighth chapter is the one which the bibliomaniac
+will regard with the greatest interest, for Richard
+de Bury tells us there how he collected together
+his rich and ample library. "For although," he
+writes, "from our youth we have ever been delighted
+to hold special and social communion with literary
+men and lovers of books, yet prosperity attending
+us, having obtained the notice of his majesty the
+king, and being received into his own family, we
+acquired a most ample facility of visiting at pleasure
+and of hunting, as it were, some of the most delightful
+covers, the public and private libraries <i>privatas
+tum communes</i>, both of the regulars and seculars.
+Indeed, while we performed the duties of Chancellor
+and Treasurer of the most invincible and ever
+magnificently triumphant king of England, Ed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>[<a href="./images/119.png">119</a>]</span>ward
+III., of that name after the conquest, whose
+days may the Most High long and tranquilly deign
+to preserve. After first inquiring into the things
+that concerned his court, and then the public affairs
+of his kingdom, an easy opening was afforded us,
+under the countenance of royal favor, for freely
+searching the hiding places of books. For the
+flying fame of our love had already spread in all
+directions, and it was reported not only that we had
+a longing desire for books, and <i>especially for old
+ones</i>, but that any one could more easily obtain our
+favors by quartos than by money.<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> Wherefore,
+when supported by the bounty of the aforesaid
+prince of worthy memory, we were enabled to
+oppose or advance, to appoint or discharge; crazy
+quartos and tottering folios, precious however in
+our sight as well as in our affections, flowed in most
+rapidly from the great and the small, instead of new
+year's gift and remunerations, and instead of presents
+and jewels. Then the cabinets of the most
+noble monasteries <i>tunc nobilissimos monasterios</i>
+were opened, cases were unlocked, caskets were
+unclasped and sleeping volumes <i>soporata volumina</i>
+which had slumbered for long ages in their sepulchres
+were roused up, and those that lay hid in
+dark places <i>in locis tenebrosis</i> were overwhelmed
+with the rays of a new light. Books heretofore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>[<a href="./images/120.png">120</a>]</span>
+most delicate now become corrupted and abominable,
+lay lifeless, covered indeed with the excrements
+of mice and pierced through with the gnawing
+of worms; and those that were formerly clothed
+with purple and fine linen were now seen reposing
+in dust and ashes, given over to oblivion and the
+abode of moths. Amongst these, nevertheless, as
+time served, we sat down more voluptuously than
+the delicate physician could do amidst his stores of
+aromatics, and where we found an object of love,
+we found also an assuagement. Thus the sacred
+vessel of science came into the power of our disposal,
+some being given, some sold, and not a few
+lent for a time. Without doubt many who perceived
+us to be contented with gifts of this kind,
+studied to contribute these things freely to our use,
+which they could most conveniently do without themselves.
+We took care, however, to conduct the business
+of such so favorably, that the profit might accrue
+to them; justice suffered therefore no detriment."
+Of this, however, a doubt will intrude itself upon
+our minds, in defiance of the affirmation of my Lord
+Chancellor; indeed, the paragraph altogether is unfavorable
+to the character of so great a man, and
+fully proves the laxity of opinion, in those days of
+monkish supremacy, on judicial matters; but we
+must be generous, and allow something for the
+corrupt usages of the age, but I cannot omit a
+circumstance clearly illustrative of this point, which
+occurred between the bibliomanical Chancellor and
+the abbot of St. Alban's, the affair is recorded in
+the chronicle of the abbey, and transpired during
+the time Richard de Bury held the privy seal; in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>[<a href="./images/121.png">121</a>]</span>
+that office he appears to have favored the monks
+of the abbey in their disputes with the townspeople
+of St. Alban's respecting some possessions to which
+the monks tenaciously adhered and defended as
+their rightful property. Richard de Wallingford,
+who was then abbot, convoked the elder monks
+<i>convocatis senioribus</i>, and discussed with them, as to
+the most effectual way to obtain the goodwill and
+favor of de Bury; after due consideration it was
+decided that no gift was likely to prove so acceptable
+to that father of English bibliomania as a present
+of some of their choice books, and it was at last
+agreed to send four volumes, "that is to say Terence,
+a Virgil, a Quintilian, and Jerome against Ruffinus,"
+and to sell him many others from their library; this
+they sent him intimation of, and a purchase was
+ultimately agreed upon between them. The monks
+sold to that rare collector, thirty-two choice tomes
+<i>triginta duos libros</i>, for the sum of fifty pounds of
+silver <i>quinginta libris argenti</i>.<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> But there were other
+bibliophiles and bookworms than Richard de Bury
+in old England then; for many of the brothers of
+St. Alban's who had nothing to do with this transaction,
+cried out loudly against it, and denounced
+rather openly the policy of sacrificing their mental
+treasures for the acquisition of pecuniary gain, but
+fortunately the loss was only a temporary one, for
+on the death of Richard de Bury many of these
+volumes were restored to the monks, who in return<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>[<a href="./images/122.png">122</a>]</span>
+became the purchasers from his executors of many
+a rare old volume from the bishop's library.<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> To
+resume our extracts from the Philobiblon, De Bury
+proceeds to further particulars relative to his book-collecting
+career, and becomes quite eloquent in
+detailing these circumstances; but from the eighth
+chapter we shall content ourselves with one more
+paragraph. "Moreover," says he, "if we could
+have amassed cups of gold and silver, excellent
+horses, or no mean sums of money, we could in
+those days have laid up abundance of wealth for
+ourselves. But we regarded books not pounds,
+and valued codices more than florens, and preferred
+paltry pamphlets to pampered palfreys.<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> In addition
+to this we were charged with frequent embassies
+of the said prince of everlasting memory,
+and owing to the multiplicity of state affairs, we
+were sent first to the Roman chair, then to the
+court of France, then to the various other kingdoms
+of the world, on tedious embassies and in
+perilous times, carrying about with us that fondness
+for books, which many waters could not extinguish."<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a>
+The booksellers found Richard de Bury
+a generous and profitable customer, and those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>[<a href="./images/123.png">123</a>]</span>
+residing abroad received commissions constantly
+from him. "Besides the opportunities," he writes,
+"already touched upon, we easily acquired the
+notice of the stationers and librarians, not only
+within the provinces of our native soil, but of those
+dispersed over the kingdoms of France, Germany,
+and Italy."<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a></p>
+
+<p>Such was bibliomania five hundred years ago!
+and does not the reader behold in it the very type
+and personification of its existence now? does he
+not see in Richard de Bury the prototype of a
+much honored and agreeable bibliophile of our own
+time? Nor has the renowned "Maister Dibdin"
+described his book-hunting tours with more enthusiasm
+or delight; with what a thrill of rapture
+would that worthy doctor have explored those
+monastic treasures which De Bury found hid in
+<i>locis tenebrosis</i>, antique Bibles, rare Fathers, rich
+Classics or gems of monkish lore, enough to fire
+the brain of the most lymphatic bibliophile, were
+within the grasp of the industrious and eager
+Richard de Bury&mdash;that old "Amator Librorum,"
+like his imitators of the present day, cared not
+whither he went to collect his books&mdash;dust and
+dirt were no barriers to him; at every nook and
+corner where a stationer's stall<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> appeared, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>[<a href="./images/124.png">124</a>]</span>
+would doubtless tarry in defiance of the cold winds
+or scorching sun, exploring the ancient tomes
+reposing there. Nor did he neglect the houses
+of the country rectors; and even the humble
+habitations of the rustics were diligently ransacked
+to increase his collections, and from these sources
+he gleaned many rude but pleasing volumes, perhaps
+full of old popular poetry! or the wild
+Romances of Chivalry which enlivened the halls
+and cots of our forefathers in Gothic days.</p>
+
+<p>We must not overlook the fact that this
+Treatise on the Love of Books was written as an
+accompaniment to a noble and generous gift.
+Many of the parchment volumes which De Bury
+had collected in his "<i>perilous embassies</i>," he gave,
+with the spirit of a true lover of learning, to the
+Durham College at Oxford, for the use of the
+Students of his Church. I cannot but regret that
+the names of these books, <i>of which he had made a
+catalogue</i>,<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> have not been preserved; perhaps the
+document may yet be discovered among the vast
+collections of manuscripts in the Oxonian libraries;
+but the book, being written for this purpose, the
+author thought it consistent that full directions
+should be given for the preservation and regulation
+of the library, and we find the last chapter devoted
+to this matter; but we must not close the Philobiblon
+without noticing his admonitions to the
+students, some of whom he upbraids for the care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>[<a href="./images/125.png">125</a>]</span>lessness
+and disrespect which they manifest in perusing
+books. "Let there," says he, with all the
+veneration of a passionate booklover, "be a modest
+decorum in opening and closing of volumes, that
+they may neither be unclasped with precipitous
+haste, nor thrown aside after inspection without
+being duly closed."<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> Loving and venerating a
+book as De Bury did, it was agony to see a volume
+suffering under the indignities of the ignorant or
+thoughtless student whom he thus keenly satirizes:
+"You will perhaps see a stiffnecked youth lounging
+sluggishly in his study, while the frost pinches him
+in winter time; oppressed with cold his watery
+nose drops, nor does he take the trouble to wipe it
+with his handkerchief till it has moistened the book
+beneath it with its vile dew;" nor is he "ashamed
+to eat fruit and cheese over an open book, or to
+transfer his empty cup from side to side; he reclines
+his elbow on the volume, turns down the
+leaves, and puts bits of straw to denote the place
+he is reading; he stuffs the book with leaves and
+flowers, and so pollutes it with filth and dust."
+With this our extracts from the Philobiblon must
+close; enough has been said and transcribed to
+place the Lord Chancellor of the puissant King
+Edward III. among the foremost of the bibliomaniacs
+of the past, and to show how valuable
+were his efforts to literature and learning; indeed,
+like Petrarch in Italy was Richard De Bury in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>[<a href="./images/126.png">126</a>]</span>
+England: both enthusiastic collectors and preservers
+of ancient manuscripts, and both pioneers of
+that revival of European literature which soon
+afterwards followed. In the fourteenth century
+we cannot imagine a more useful or more essential
+person than the bibliomaniac, for that surely was
+the harvest day for the gathering in of that food
+on which the mind of future generations were to
+subsist. And who reaped so laboriously or gleaned
+so carefully as those two illustrious scholars?</p>
+
+<p>Richard de Bury was no unsocial bookworm;
+for whilst he loved to seek the intercourse of the
+learned dead, he was far from being regardless of
+the living. Next to his clasped vellum tomes,
+nothing afforded him so much delight as an erudite
+disputation with his chaplains, who were mostly
+men of acknowledged learning and talent; among
+them were "Thomas Bradwardyn, afterwards
+Archbishop of Canterbury; and Richard Fitz-Raufe,
+afterwards Archbishop of Armagh; Walter
+Burley, John Maudyt, Robert Holcote, Richard of
+Kilwington, all Doctors in Theology, <i>omnes Doctores
+in Theologia</i>; Richard Benworth, afterwards
+Bishop of London, and Walter Segraffe, afterwards
+Bishop of Chester;"<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> with these congenial spirits
+Richard de Bury held long and pleasing conversations,
+doubtless full of old bookwisdom and quaint
+Gothic lore, derived from still quainter volumes;
+and after meals I dare say they discussed the choice
+volume which had been read during their repast, as
+was the pious custom of those old days, and which
+was not neglected by De Bury, for "his manner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>[<a href="./images/127.png">127</a>]</span>
+was at dinner and supper time to have some good
+booke read unto him."<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a></p>
+
+<p>And now in bidding farewell to the illustrious
+Aungraville&mdash;for little more is known of his biography&mdash;let
+me not forget to pay a passing tribute
+of respect to his private character, which is right
+worthy of a cherished remembrance, and derives its
+principal lustre from the eminent degree in which
+he was endowed with the greatest of Christian virtues,
+and which, when practised with sincerity, covereth
+a multitude of sins; his charity, indeed, forms
+a delightful trait in the character of that great man;
+every week he distributed food to the poor; eight
+quarters of wheat <i>octo quarteria frumenti</i>, and the
+fragments from his own table comforted the indigent
+of his church; and always when he journeyed from
+Newcastle to Durham, he distributed twelve marks
+in relieving the distresses of the poor; from Durham
+to Stockton eight marks; and from the same
+place to his palace at Aukeland five marks; and
+and when he rode from Durham to Middleham he
+gave away one hundred shillings.<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a> Living in troublous
+times, we do not find his name coupled with
+any great achievement in the political sphere; his
+talents were not the most propitious for a statesman
+among the fierce barons of the fourteenth
+century; his spirit loved converse with the departed
+great, and shone more to advantage in the quite
+closet of the bibliomaniac, or in fulfilling the benevolent
+duties of a bishop. Yet he was successful
+in all that the ambition of a statesman could desire,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>[<a href="./images/128.png">128</a>]</span>
+the friend and confidant of his king; holding the
+highest offices in the state compatible with his
+ecclesiastical position, with wealth in abundance,
+and blessed with the friendship of the learned and
+the good, we find little in his earthly career to
+darken the current of his existence, or to disturb
+the last hours of a life of near three score years.
+He died lamented, honored, and esteemed, at
+Aukeland palace, on the fourteenth of April, in the
+year 1345, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and
+was buried with all due solemnity before the altar
+of the blessed Mary Magdalene, at the south angle
+of the church of Durham. His bones are now
+mingled with the dust and gone, but his memory is
+engraven on tablets of life; the hearts of all bibliomaniacs
+love and esteem his name for the many
+virtues with which it was adorned, and delight to
+chat with his choice old spirit in the Philobiblon,
+so congenial to their bookish souls. No doubt the
+illustrious example of Richard de Bury tended
+materially to spread far and wide the spirit of bibliomania.
+It certainly operated powerfully on the
+monks of Durham, who not only by transcribing, but
+at the cost of considerable sums of money, greatly
+increased their library. A catalogue of the collection,
+taken some forty years after the death of De
+Bury, is preserved to this day at Durham, and
+shows how considerably they augmented it during
+a space of two hundred years, or from the time
+when the former list was written. If the bibliomaniac
+can obtain a sight of this ancient catalogue,
+he will dwell over it with astonishment and delight&mdash;immaculate
+volumes of Scripture&mdash;fathers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>[<a href="./images/129.png">129</a>]</span>
+classics bespeak its richness and extent, and Robert
+of Langchester, the librarian who wrote it, with
+pious preference places first on the list the magnificent
+Bible which bishop Hugo gave them many
+years before. This rare biblical treasure, then
+the pride and glory of the collection, is now in the
+Durham Library; but to look upon that fair manuscript
+will make the blood run cold&mdash;barbarous
+desecration has been committed by some bibliopegistical
+hand; the splendid illuminations so rich
+and spirited, which adorned the beauteous tomes,
+dazzled an ignorant mind, who cut them out and
+robbed it of half its interest and value.</p>
+
+<p>From near 600 volumes which the list enumerates,
+I cannot refrain from naming two or three.
+I have searched over its biblical department in vain
+to discover mention of the celebrated "Saint Cuthbert's
+Gospels." It is surprising they should have
+forgotten so rich a gem, for although four copies of
+the Gospels appear, not one of them answers to its
+description; two are specified as "<i>non glos</i>;" it
+could not have been either of those, another, the
+most interesting of the whole, is recorded as the
+venerable Bede's own copy! What bibliophile can
+look unmoved upon those time-honored pages,
+without indeed all the warmth of his booklove
+kindling forth into a very frenzy of rapture and
+veneration! So fairly written, and so accurately
+transcribed, it is one of the most precious of the
+many gems which now crowd the shelves of the
+Durham Library, and is well worth a pilgrimage to
+view it.<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> But this cannot be St. Cuthbert's Gospels,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>[<a href="./images/130.png">130</a>]</span>
+and the remaining copy is mentioned as "<i>Quarteur
+Evangelum</i>," fol. ii. "<i>se levantem</i>;" now I have
+looked at the splendid volume in the British
+Museum, to see if the catchword answered to this
+description, but it does not; so it cannot be this,
+which I might have imagined without the trouble
+of a research, for if it was, they surely would not
+have forgotten to mention its celebrated coopertoria.</p>
+
+<p>Passing a splendid array of Scriptures whole
+and in parts, for there was no paucity of sacred
+volumes in that old monkish library, and fathers,
+doctors of the Church, schoolmen, lives of saints,
+chronicles, profane writers, philosophical and logical
+treatises, medical works, grammars, and books
+of devotion, we are particularly struck with the
+appearance of so many fine classical authors.
+Works of Virgil (including the &AElig;neid), Pompeius
+Trogus, Claudius, Juvenal, Terence, Ovid, Prudentius,
+Quintilian, Cicero, B&#339;thius, and a host of
+others are in abundance, and form a catalogue
+rendered doubly exciting to the bibliophile by the
+insertion of an occasional note, which tells of its
+antiquity,<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> rarity, or value. In some of the volumes
+a curious inscription was inserted, thundering
+a curse upon any who would dare to pilfer it
+from the library, and for so sacrilegious a crime,
+calling down upon them the maledictions of Saints
+Maria, Oswald, Cuthbert, and Benedict.<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a> A volume<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>[<a href="./images/131.png">131</a>]</span>
+containing the lives of St. Cuthbert, St. Oswald,
+and St. Aydani, is described as "<i>Liber speciales et
+preciosus cum signaculo deaurato</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Thomas Langley, who was chancellor of England
+and bishop of Durham in the year 1406, collected
+many choice books, and left some of them to
+the library of Durham church; among them a copy
+of Lyra's Commentaries stands conspicuous; he also
+bequeathed a number of volumes to many of his
+private friends.</p>
+
+<p>There are few monastic libraries whose progress
+we can trace with so much satisfaction as the one
+now under consideration, for we have another catalogue
+compiled during the librarianship of John
+Tyshbourne, in the year 1416,<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> in which many
+errors appearing in the former ones are carefully
+corrected; books which subsequent to that time
+had been lost or stolen are here accounted for;
+many had been sent to the students at Oxford, and
+others have notes appended, implying to whom the
+volume had been lent; thus to a "<i>Flores Bernardi</i>,"
+occurs "<i>Prior debit, I Kempe Episcopi
+Londoni</i>." It is, next to Monk Henry's of Canterbury,
+one of the best of all the monkish catalogues
+I have seen; not so much for its extent, as that
+here and there it fully partakes of the character of
+a catalogue <i>raisonn&eacute;</i>; for terse sentences are
+affixed to some of the more remarkable volumes,
+briefly descriptive of their value; a circumstance
+seldom observable in these early attempts at
+bibliography.</p>
+
+<p>In taking leave of Durham library, need I say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>[<a href="./images/132.png">132</a>]</span>
+that the bibliomaniacs who flourished there in the
+olden time, not only collected their books with so
+much industry, but knew well how to use them too.
+The reader is doubtless aware how many learned
+men dwelled in monkish time within those ancient
+walls; and if he is inquisitive about such things has
+often enjoyed a few hours of pleasant chat over
+the historic pages of Symeon of Durham,<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> Turgot
+and Wessington,<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a> and has often heard of brothers
+Lawrence,<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> Reginald,<a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a> and Bolton; but although
+unheeded now, many a monkish bookworm, glorying
+in the strict observance of Christian humility,
+and so unknown to fame, lies buried beneath that
+splendid edifice, as many monuments and funeral
+tablets testify and speak in high favor of the great
+men of Durham. If the reader should perchance
+to wander near that place, his eye will be attracted
+by many of these memorials of the dead; and a
+few hours spent in exploring them will serve to
+gain many additional facts to his antiquarian lore,
+and perhaps even something better too. For I
+know not a more suitable place, as far as outward
+circumstances are concerned, than an old sanctuary
+of God to prepare the mind and lead it to think
+of death and immortality. We read the names of
+great men long gone; of wealthy worldlings, whose
+fortunes have long been spent; of ambitious states<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>[<a href="./images/133.png">133</a>]</span>men
+and doughty warriors, whose glory is fast fading
+as their costly mausoleums crumble in the
+hands of time, and whose stone tablets, green with
+the lichens' hue, manifest how futile it is to hope to
+gain immortality from stone, or purchase fame by
+the cold marble trophies of pompous grief; not
+that on their glassy surface the truth is always
+faithfully mirrored forth, even when the thoughts
+of holy men composed the eulogy; the tombs of old
+knew as well how to lie as now, and even ascetic
+monks could become too warm in their praises of
+departed worth; for whilst they blamed the great
+man living, with Christian charity they thought
+only of his virtues when they had nothing but his
+body left, and murmured long prayers, said tedious
+masses, and kept midnight vigils for his soul. For
+had he not shown his love to God by his munificence
+to His Church on earth? <i>Benedicite</i>, saith
+the monks.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-12.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> Bede's Eccles. Hist., B. iii. c. xvi.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> Bede, B. iv. c. xxvii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> Marked Nero, D. iv. in the Cottonian collection.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> The illuminations are engraved in Strutt's <i>Horda</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> There is prologue to the Canons and Prefaces of St. Jerome
+and Eusebius, and also a beautiful calendar written in compartments,
+elaborately finished in an architectural style.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> He also transcribed the Durham Ritual, recently printed by
+the Surtee Society; when Alfred wrote this volume he was with bishop
+Alfsige, p. 185, 8vo. <i>Lond.</i> 1840.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> For an account of this rare gem of Saxon art, see <i>Selden
+Pr&aelig;f. ad. Hist. Angl.</i> p. 25. <i>Marshall Observat. in Vers. Sax.
+Evang.</i>, 491. <i>Dibdin's Decameron, p.</i> lii. <i>Smith's Bibl. Cotton.
+Hist. et Synop.</i>, p. 33.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> Simeon of Durham translated by Stevens, p. 87.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> Simeon of Durham, by Stevens.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> Ep. viii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> Tertia Quinquagina Augustini, marked B. ii. 14.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> Surtee publications, vol. i. p. 117.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> This catalogue is preserved at Durham, in the library of the
+Dean and Chapter, marked B. iv. 24. It is printed in the Surtee
+publications, vol. i. p. 1.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> "King Stephen was vncle vnto him."&mdash;<i>Godwin's Cat. of
+Bishops</i>, 511.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> He died in 1195.&mdash;Godwin, p. 735. He gave them also
+another Bible in two volumes; a list of the whole is printed in the
+Surtee publications, vol. i. p. 118.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Surtee's Hist, of Durham, vol. i. p. xxxii. "He was wonderfull
+rich, not onely in ready money but in lands also, and temporall
+revenues. For he might dispend yeerely 5000 marks."&mdash;<i>Godwin's
+Cat. Eng. Bish.</i> 4to. 1601, p. 520.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> Robert de Graystane's ap. Wharton's Angl. Sacr. p. 748, tom. i.&mdash;<i>Hutchinson's
+Durham</i>, vol. i. p. 244.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 121.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> Raine's North Durham, p. 85.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> Surtee public. vol. 1. p. 39-40.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i>, vol. i. p. 41.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> Chambre Contin. Hist. Dunelm. apud Wharton Angli&aelig;
+Sacra, tom. i. p. 765.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors, vol. i. p. 219.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> Absconditus est in Campanili fratrum minorum.&mdash;<i>Chambre
+ap. Wharton</i>, tom. i. p. 765.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> In one of his letters Petrarch speaks of De Bury as <i>Virum
+ardentis ingenii</i>, Pet. ep. 1-3.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> Epist. Seniles, lib. xvi. ep. 1.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 151.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 156. Famil. ep. lxxii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> Hortatio ad Nicol. Laurent Petrar., Op. vol. i. p. 596.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> <i>Apud Wharton Ang. Sac.</i> tom. i. p. 765.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> MS. Harleian, No. 3224, fo. 89, b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> There are two MSS. of the Philobiblon in the British Museum,
+which I quote in giving my Latin Extracts. The first is in the
+Cotton collection, marked Appendix iv. fol. 103. At the end are
+these lines, <i>Ric. de Aungervile cognominato de Bury, Dunelm.
+Episc. Philobiblon completum in Manerio de Auckland, d. 24 Jan.
+1344</i>, fol. 119, b. The other is in the Harleian Collection, No. 3224,
+both are in fine preservation. The first printed edition appeared at
+Cologne, 1473, in 4to., without pagination, signatures, or catchwords,
+with 48 leaves, 26 lines on a full page; for some time, on account of
+its excessive rarity, which kept it from the eyes of book-lovers,
+bibliographers confused it with the second edition printed by John
+and Conrad H&uuml;st, at Spires, in 1483, 4to. which, like the first, is
+without pagination, signatures, or catchwords, but it has only 39 pages,
+with 31 lines on a full page. Two editions were printed in 1500, 4to.
+at Paris, but I have only seen one of them. A fifth edition was
+printed at Oxford by T. J(ames), 4to. 1599. In 1614 it was published
+by Goldastus in 8vo. at Frankfort, with a <i>Philologicarium Epistolarum
+Centuria una</i>. Another edition of this same book was printed
+in 1674, 8vo. at Leipsic, and a still better edition appeared in 1703
+by Schmidt, in 4to. The Philobiblon has recently been translated
+by Inglis, 8vo. <i>Lond.</i> 1834, with much accuracy and spirit, and I
+have in many cases availed myself of this edition, though I do not
+always exactly follow it.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> "Greges et Vellera, Fruges et honea, Porri et Olera, Potus et
+Patera rectiones sunt hodie et studio monachorum."&mdash;MS. Harl. 2324,
+fol. 79, a; MS. Cot. ap. iv. fo. 108, a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> Wharton Ang. Sac., tom. i. p. 766, he is called <i>Ricardus Fitz-Rause
+postomodum Archiepiscopus Armachanus</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> Scarcely.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> Translated by Trevisa, MS. Harleian, No. 1900, fol. 11, b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> The original is <i>grandis et nobilis libraria</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> Chaplain.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> Could not.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> Profitable.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> Philobiblon, transl. by Inglis, p. 56.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> "Curiam deinde vero Rem. publicam Regni sui Cacellarii,
+viz.: est ac Thesaurii fugeremur officiis, patescebat nobis aditus
+faciles regal favoris intuitu, ad libros latebras libere perscruta tandas
+amoris quippe nostri fama volatitis jam ubiqs. percreluit tam qs. libros
+<i>et maxime veterum</i> ferabatur cupidite las vestere posse vero quemlibet
+nostrum per quaternos facilius quam per pecuniam adipisa favorem."&mdash;MS.
+Harl. fo. 85, a. MS. Cott. 110, b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> MS. Cottonian Claudius, E. iv. fol. 203, b. <i>Warton's Hist.
+of Poetry, Dissert. ii.</i>; and <i>Hallam's</i> Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 611.
+Both notice this circumstance as a proof of the scarcity of books in
+De Bury's time.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> Among the MSS. in the Royal Library, there is a copy
+of John of Salisbury's <i>Ententicus</i> which contains the following note,
+"Hunc librum fecit dominus Symon abbas S. Albani, quem postea
+venditum domino <i>Ricardo</i> de Bury. Episcope Dunelmensi emit
+Michael abbas S. Albani ab executoribus pr&aelig;dicti episcopi, <span class="smcap">a. d.</span>
+1345." Marked 13 D. iv. 3. The same abbot expended a large sum
+in buying books for the library, but we shall speak more of Michael
+de Wentmore by and bye.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> "Sed revera libros non libras maluimus, Codicesque plus
+quam florenos, ac pampletos exiguos incrussatis pr&#339;tulimus palafridis."&mdash;MS.
+Harl. fo. 86, a. MS. Cott. fo. 111, a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> Inglis's Translation, p. 53.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> Inglis's Translation, p. 58.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> The Stationers or Booksellers carried on their business on open
+Stalls.&mdash;<i>Hallam, Lit. Europe</i>, vol. i. p. 339. It is pleasing to think
+that the same temptations which allure the bookworm now, in his
+perambulations, can claim such great antiquity, and that through so
+many centuries, bibliophiles and bibliopoles remain unaltered in their
+habits and singularities; but alas! this worthy relic of the middle
+ages I fear is passing into oblivion. Plate-glass fronts and bulky
+expensive catalogues form the bookseller's pride in these days of
+speed and progress, and offer more splendid temptations to the
+collector, but sad obstacles to the hungry student and black-letter
+bargain hunters.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> <i>Philob.</i> xix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> Inglis, p. 96. "In primis quidam circa claudenda et apienda
+volumina, sit matura modestia; ut nec pr&aelig;cipiti festinatione solvantur,
+nec inspectione finita, sina clausura debita dimittantur."
+<i>MS. Harl.</i> fol. 103.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> <i>Chambre ap. Wharton</i>, tom. i. p. 766.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> Godwin Cat. of Bish. 525.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> <i>Chambre ap. Wharton</i>, tom. i. p. 766.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> It is marked A, ii. 16, and described in the old MS. catalogue
+as <i>De manus Bed&aelig;</i>, ii. fol. <i>Baptizatus</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> The attractive words "<i>Est vetus Liber</i>" often occur.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> From a volume of Thomas Aquinas, the following is transcribed:
+"Lib. Sti. Cuthberti de Dunelm, ex procuratione fratis Roberti
+de Graystane quem qui aliena verit maledictionem Sanctorum
+Mari&aelig;, Oswaldi, Cuthberti et Benedicti incurrat." See <i>Surtee publications</i>,
+vol. i. p. 35, where other instances are given.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 85.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> He wrote The Chronicle of Durham Monastery in 1130.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> His book on the Rights and Privileges of Durham Church is
+in the Cottonian Library, marked <i>Vitellius</i>, A, 9.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> Lawrence was elected prior in 1149, "a man of singular prudence
+and learning, as the many books he writ manifest." <i>Dugdale's
+Monast.</i> vol. 1. p. 230.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> Wrote the Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert, the original
+book is in the Durham Library.</p></div>
+</div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>[<a href="./images/134.png">134</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>[<a href="./images/135.png">135</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-13.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Croyland Monastery.&mdash;Its Library increased by
+Egebric.&mdash;Destroyed by Fire.&mdash;Peterborough.&mdash;Destroyed
+by the Danes.&mdash;Benedict and his books.&mdash;Anecdotes
+of Collectors.&mdash;Catalogue of the Library
+of the Abbey of Peterborough.&mdash;Leicester
+Library, etc.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> low marshy fens of Lincolnshire
+are particularly rich in
+monastic remains; but none prove
+so attractive to the antiquary as
+the ruins of the splendid abbey of
+Croyland. The pen of Ingulphus
+has made the affairs of that old
+monastery familiar to us; he has told us of its prospering
+and its misfortunes, and we may learn moreover
+from the pages of the monk how many wise
+and virtuous men, of Saxon and Norman days,
+were connected with this ancient fabric, receiving
+education there, or devoting their lives to piety
+within its walls. It was here that Guthlac, a Saxon
+warrior, disgusted with the world, sought solitude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>[<a href="./images/136.png">136</a>]</span>
+and repose; and for ten long years he led a hermit's
+life in that damp and marshy fen; in prayer and fasting,
+working miracles, and leading hearts to God,
+he spent his lonely days, all which was rewarded by
+a happy and peaceful death, and a sanctifying of
+his corporeal remains&mdash;for many wondrous miracles
+were wrought by those holy relics.</p>
+
+<p>Croyland abbey was founded on the site of
+Guthlac's hermitage, by Ethelred, king of Mercia.
+Many years before, when he was striving for the
+crown of that kingdom, his cousin, Crobrid, who
+then enjoyed it, pursued him with unremitting
+enmity; and worn out, spiritless and exhausted, the
+royal wanderer sought refuge in the hermit's cell.
+The holy man comforted him with every assurance
+of success; and prophesied that he would soon obtain
+his rights without battle or without bloodshed;<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a>
+in return for these brighter prospects, and these
+kind wishes, Ethelred promised to found a monastery
+on that very spot in honor of God and St.
+Guthlac, which promise he faithfully fulfilled in the
+year 716, and "thus the wooden oratory was followed
+by a church of stone." Succeeding benefactors
+endowed, and succeeding abbots enriched it
+with their learning; and as years rolled by so it
+grew and flourished till it became great in wealth
+and powerful in its influence. But a gloomy day
+approached&mdash;the Danes destroyed that noble structure,
+devastating it by fire, and besmearing its holy
+altars with the blood of its hapless inmates. But
+zealous piety and monkish perseverance again
+restored it, with new and additional lustre; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>[<a href="./images/137.png">137</a>]</span>
+besides adding to the splendor of the edifice, augmented
+its internal comforts by forming a library
+of considerable importance and value. We may
+judge how dearly they valued a <i>Bibliotheca</i> in those
+old days by the contribution of one benevolent
+book-lover&mdash;Egebric, the second abbot of that
+name, a man whom Ingulphus says was "far more
+devoted to sacred learning and to the perusal of
+books than skilled in secular matters,"<a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a> gladdened
+the hearts of the monks with a handsome library,
+consisting of forty original volumes in various
+branches of learning, and more than one hundred
+volumes of different tracts and histories,<a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a> besides
+eighteen books for the use of the divine offices
+of the church. Honor to the monk who, in the
+land of dearth, could amass so bountiful a provision
+for the intellect to feed upon; and who encouraged
+our early literature&mdash;when feeble and
+trembling by the renewed attacks of rapacious
+invaders&mdash;by such fostering care.</p></div>
+
+<p>In the eleventh century Croyland monastery
+was doomed to fresh misfortunes; a calamitous fire,
+accidental in its origin, laid the fine monastery
+in a heap of ruins, and scattered its library in
+blackened ashes to the winds.<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a> A sad and irre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>[<a href="./images/138.png">138</a>]</span>parable
+loss was that to the Norman monks and
+to the students of Saxon history in modern times;
+for besides four hundred Saxon charters, deeds, etc.,
+many of the highest historical interest and value
+beautifully illuminated in gold (<i>aureis pictures</i>)
+and written in Saxon characters,<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a> the whole of
+the choice and ample library was burnt, containing
+seven hundred volumes, besides the books of divine
+offices&mdash;the Antiphons and Grailes. I will not
+agonize the bibliophile by expatiating further on
+the sad work of destruction; but is he not somewhat
+surprised that in those bookless days seven
+hundred volumes should have been amassed together,
+besides a lot of church books and Saxon
+times?</p>
+
+<p>Ingulphus, who has so graphically described the
+destruction of Croyland monastery by the Danes
+in 870, has also given the particulars of their proceedings
+at the monastery of Peterborough, anciently
+called <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Madeshamsted'">Medeshamstede</ins>, to which they immediately
+afterwards bent their steps. The monks,
+on hearing of their approach, took the precaution
+to guard the monastery by all the means in their
+power; but the quiet habits of monastic life were
+ill suited to inspire them with a warlike spirit, and
+after a feeble resistance, their cruel enemies (whom
+the monks speak of in no gentle terms, as the
+reader may imagine), soon effected an entrance;
+in the contest however Tulla, the brother of
+Hulda, the Danish leader, was slain by a stone
+thrown by one of the monks from the walls; this
+tended to kindle the fury of the besiegers, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>[<a href="./images/139.png">139</a>]</span>
+so exasperated Hulda that it is said he killed with
+his own hand the whole of the poor defenceless
+monks, including their venerable abbot. The sacred
+edifice, completely in their hands, was soon laid
+waste; they broke down the altars, destroyed the
+monuments, and&mdash;much will the bibliophile deplore
+it&mdash;set fire to their immense library "<i>ingens bibliotheca</i>,"
+maliciously tearing into pieces all their
+valuable and numerous charters, evidences, and
+writings. The monastery, says the historian, continued
+burning for fifteen days.<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a> This seat of Saxon
+learning was left buried in its ruins for near one
+hundred years, when Athelwold, bishop of Winchester,
+in the year 966, restored it; but in the course
+of time, after a century of peaceful repose, fresh
+troubles sprang up. When Turoldus, a Norman,
+who had been appointed by William the Conqueror,
+was abbot, the Danes again paid them a visit of
+destruction. Hareward de Wake having joined a
+Danish force, proceeded to the town of Peterborough;
+fortunately the monks obtained some
+intelligence of their coming, which gave Turoldus
+time to repair to Stamford with his retinue. Taurus,
+the Sacrist, also managed to get away, carrying with
+him some of their treasures, and among them a
+text of the Gospels, which he conveyed to his superior
+at Stamford, and by that means preserved
+them. On the arrival of the Danes, the remaining
+monks were prepared to offer a somewhat stern
+resistance, but without effect; for setting fire to the
+buildings, the Danes entered through the flames
+and smoke, and pillaged the monastery of all its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>[<a href="./images/140.png">140</a>]</span>
+valuable contents; and that which they could not
+carry away, they destroyed: not even sparing the
+shrines of holy saints, or the miracle-working dust
+contained therein. The monks possessed a great
+cross of a most costly nature, which the invaders
+endeavored to take away, but could not on account
+of its weight and size; however, they broke
+off the gold crown from the head of the crucifix,
+and the footstool under its feet, which was made of
+pure gold and gems; they also carried away two
+golden biers, on which the monks carried the relics
+of their saints; with nine silver ones. There was
+certainly no monachal poverty here, for their
+wealth must have been profuse; besides the above
+treasures, they took twelve crosses, made of gold
+and silver; they also went up to the tower and
+took away a table of large size and value, which
+the monks had hid there, trusting it might escape
+their search; it was a splendid affair, made of gold
+and silver and precious stones, and was usually
+placed before the altar. But besides all this, they
+robbed them of that which those poor monkish bibliophiles
+loved more than all. Their library, which
+they had collected with much care, and which contained
+many volumes, was carried away, "with
+many other precious things, the like of which were
+not to be found in all England."<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a> The abbot and
+those monks who fortunately escaped, afterwards
+returned, sad and sorrowful no doubt; but trusting
+in their Divine Master and patron Saint, they ultimately
+succeeded in making their old house habitable
+again, and well fortified it with a strong wall,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>[<a href="./images/141.png">141</a>]</span>
+so that formerly it used to be remarked that this
+building looked more like a military establishment
+than a house of God.</p>
+
+<p>Eminently productive was the monastery of
+Peterborough in Saxon bibliomaniacs. Its ancient
+annals prove how enthusiastically they collected
+and transcribed books. There were few indeed of
+its abbots who did not help in some way or other
+to increase their library. Kenulfus, who was abbot
+in the year 992, was a learned and eloquent student
+in divine and secular learning. He much improved
+his monastery, and greatly added to its literary
+treasures.<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a> But the benefactors of this place are
+too numerous to be minutely specified here. Hugo
+Candidus tells us, that Kinfernus, Archbishop of
+York, in 1056, gave them many valuable ornaments;
+and among them a fine copy of the Gospels,
+beautifully adorned with gold. This puts us in
+mind of Leofricus, a monk of the abbey, who was
+made abbot in the year 1057. He is said to have
+been related to the royal family, a circumstance
+which may account for his great riches. He was a
+sad pluralist, and held at one time no less than five
+monasteries, viz. Burton, Coventy, Croyland,
+Thorney, and Peterborough.<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a> He gave to the
+church of Peterborough many and valuable utensils
+of gold, silver, and precious stones, and a copy
+of the Gospels bound in gold.<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>[<a href="./images/142.png">142</a>]</span></p><p>But in all lights, whether regarded as an author
+or a bibliophile, great indeed was Benedict, formerly
+prior of Canterbury, and secretary to Thomas &agrave;
+Becket,<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> of whom it is supposed he wrote a life.
+He was made abbot of Peterborough in the year
+1177; he compiled a history of Henry II. and king
+Richard I.;<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a> he is spoken of in the highest terms
+of praise by Robert Swapham for his profound
+wisdom and great erudition in secular matters.<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a>
+There can be no doubt of his book-loving passion;
+for during the time he was abbot he transcribed
+himself, and ordered others to transcribe, a great
+number of books. Swapham has preserved a catalogue
+of them, which is so interesting that I have
+transcribed it entire. The list is entitled:</p>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">de libris ejus.</span></h3>
+
+<ul><li>Plurimos quoque libros 3 scribere fecit, quorum nomina subnotantur.</li>
+<li>Vetus et Novum Testamentum in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Vetus et Novum Testamentum in 4 volumina.</li>
+<li>Quinque libri Moysi glosati in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Sexdecim Prophet&aelig; glosati in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Duodecim minores glosati Prophet&aelig; in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Liber Regum glosatus, paralipomenon glosatus. Job, Parabol&aelig; Solomonis et Ecclesiastes, Cantica Canticorum glosati in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Liber Ecclesiasticus et Liber Sapienti&aelig; glosatus in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Tobyas, Judith, Ester et Esdras, glosati in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Liber Judicum glosatus.</li>
+<li>Scholastica hystoria.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>[<a href="./images/143.png">143</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Psalterium glosatum.</li>
+<li>Item non glosatum.</li>
+<li>Item Psalterium.</li>
+<li>Quatuor Evangelia glosata in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Item Math&aelig;us et Marcus in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Johannes et Lucas in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Epistol&aelig; Pauli glosat&aelig; Apocalypsis et Epistol&aelig; Canonic&aelig; glosata in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Sententi&aelig; Petri Lombardi.</li>
+<li>Item Sententi&aelig; ejusdem.</li>
+<li>Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis.</li>
+<li>Decreta Gratiani.</li>
+<li>Item Decreta Gratiani.</li>
+<li>Summa Ruffini de Decretis.</li>
+<li>Summa Johannes Fuguntini de Decretis.</li>
+<li>Decretales Epistol&aelig;.</li>
+<li>Item Decretales Epistol&aelig;.</li>
+<li>Item Decretales Epistol&aelig; cum summa sic incipiente; Olim. Institutiones Justiniani cum autenticis et Infortiatio Digestum vetus.</li>
+<li>Tres partes cum digesto novo.</li>
+<li>Summa Placentini.</li>
+<li>Totum Corpus Juris in duobus voluminibus.</li>
+<li>Arismetica.</li>
+<li>Epistol&aelig; Senec&aelig; cum aliis Senecis in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Martialis totus et Terentius in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Morale dogma philosophorum.</li>
+<li>Gesta Alexandri et Liber Claudii et Claudiani.</li>
+<li>Summa Petri Heyl&aelig; de Grammatica, cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Gesta Regis Henrica secunda et Genealogi&aelig; ejus.</li>
+<li>Interpretatione Hebraicorum nominum.</li>
+<li>Libellus de incarnatione verbi. Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad Eugenium papam.</li>
+<li>Missale.</li>
+<li>Vit&aelig; Sancti Thom&aelig; Martyris.<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a></li>
+<li>Miracula ejusdem in quinque voluminibus.</li>
+<li>Liber Richardi Plutonis, qui dicitur, unde Malum Meditationes Anselmi.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>[<a href="./images/144.png">144</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Practica Bartholom&aelig;i cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Ars Physic&aelig; Pantegni, et practica ipsius in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Almazor et Diascoridis de virtutibus herbarum.</li>
+<li>Liber Dinamidiorum et aliorum multorum in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Libellus de Compoto.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Sixty volumes! perhaps containing near 100
+separate works, and all added to the library in the
+time of one abbot; surely this is enough to controvert
+the opinion that the monks cared nothing for
+books or learning, and let not the Justin, Seneca,
+Martial, Terence, and Claudian escape the eye of
+the reader, those monkish bookworms did care a
+little, it would appear, for classical literature. But
+what will he say to the fine Bibles that crown and
+adorn the list? The two complete copies of the
+<i>Vetus et Novum Testamentum</i>, and the many
+glossed portions of the sacred writ, reflect honor
+upon the Christian monk, and placed him conspicuously
+among the bible students of the middle
+ages; proving too, that while he could esteem the
+wisdom of Seneca, and the vivacity of Terence, and
+feel a deep interest in the secular history of his own
+times, he did not lose sight of the fountain of all
+knowledge, but gave to the Bible his first care, and
+the most prominent place on his library shelf. Besides
+the books which the abbots collected for the
+monastery, they often possessed a private selection
+for their own use; there are instances in which
+these collections were of great extent; some of
+which we shall notice, but generally speaking they
+seldom numbered many volumes. Thus Robert of
+Lyndeshye, who was abbot of Peterborough in
+1214, only possessed six volumes, which were such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>[<a href="./images/145.png">145</a>]</span>
+as he constantly required for reference or devotion;
+they consisted of a Numerale Majestri W. de Montibus
+cum alliis rebus; Tropi Majestri Petri cum
+diversis summis; Sententi&aelig; Petri Pretanensis;
+Psalterium Glossatum; Aurora; Psalterium;<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a> Historiale.
+These were books continually in requisition,
+and which he possessed to save the trouble of
+constantly referring to the library. His successor,
+abbot Holdernesse, possessed also twelve volumes,<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a>
+and Walter of St. Edmundsbury Abbot, in
+1233, had eighteen books, and among them a fine
+copy of the Bible for his private study. Robert of
+Sutton in 1262, also abbot of Peterborough, possessed
+a similar number, containing a copy of the
+Liber Naturalium Anstotelis; and his successor,
+Richard of London, among ten books which formed
+his private library, had the Consolation of Philosophy,
+a great favorite in the monasteries. In the
+year 1295 William of Wodeforde, collected twenty
+volumes, but less than that number constituted the
+library of Adam de Botheby, who was abbot of
+Peterborough many years afterwards, but among
+them I notice a Seneca, with thirty-six others contained
+in the same volume.<a name="FNanchor_231_231" id="FNanchor_231_231"></a><a href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a></p>
+
+<p>Abbot Godfrey, elected in the year 1299, was a
+great benefactor to the church, as we learn from
+Walter de Whytlesse, who gives a long list of donations
+made by him; among a vast quantity of
+valuables, "he gave to the church <i>two Bibles</i>, one
+of which was written in France," with about twenty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>[<a href="./images/146.png">146</a>]</span>
+other volumes. In the war which occurred during
+his abbacy, between John Baliol of Scotland and
+Edward I. of England, the Scots applied to the
+pope for his aid and council; his holiness deemed
+it his province to interfere, and directed letters to
+the king of England, asserting that the kingdom of
+Scotland appertained to the Church of Rome; in
+these letters he attempt to prove that it was
+opposed to justice, and, what he deemed of still
+greater importance, to the interests of the holy see,
+that the king of England should not have dominion
+over the kingdom of Scotland. The pope's messengers
+on this occasion were received by abbot
+Godfrey; Walter says that "He honorably received
+two cardinals at Peterborough with their retinues,
+who were sent by the pope to make peace
+between the English and the Scotch, and besides
+cheerfully entertaining them with food and drink,
+gave them divers presents; to one of the cardinals,
+named Gaucelin, he gave a certain psalter, beautifully
+written in letters of gold and purple, and
+marvellously illuminated, <i>literis aureis et assuris
+scriptum et mirabiliter luminatum</i>.<a name="FNanchor_232_232" id="FNanchor_232_232"></a><a href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a> I give this
+anecdote to show how splendidly the monks inscribed
+those volumes designed for the service of the holy
+church. I ought to have mentioned before that
+Wulstan, archbishop of York, gave many rare and
+precious ornaments to Peterborough, nor should I
+omit a curious little book anecdote related of him.
+He was born at Jceritune in Warwickshire, and was
+sent by his parents to Evesham, and afterwards to
+Peterborough, where he gave great indications of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>[<a href="./images/147.png">147</a>]</span>
+learning. His schoolmaster, who was an Anglo-Saxon
+named Erventus, was a clever calligraphist,
+and is said to have been highly proficient in the art
+of illuminating; he instructed Wulstan in these
+accomplishments, who wrote under his direction a
+sacramentary and a psalter, and illuminated the
+capitals with many pictures painted in gold and
+colors; they were executed with so much taste
+that his master presented the sacramentary to
+Canute, and the psalter to his queen.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_233_233" id="FNanchor_233_233"></a><a href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a></p>
+
+<p>From these few facts relative to Peterborough
+Monastery, the reader will readily perceive how
+earnestly books were collected by the monks there,
+and will be somewhat prepared to learn that a
+catalogue of 1,680 volumes is preserved, which
+formerly constituted the library of that fraternity
+of bibliophiles. This fine old catalogue, printed
+by Gunton in his history of the abbey, covers
+fifty folio pages; it presents a faithful mirror of
+the literature of its day, and speaks well for the
+bibliomanical spirit of the monks of Peterborough.
+Volumes of patristic eloquence and pious erudition
+crowd the list; chronicles, poetry, and philosophical
+treatises are mingled with the titles of an abundant
+collection of classic works, full of the lore of the
+ancient world. Although the names may be similar
+to those which I have extracted from other catalogues,
+I must not omit to give a few of them;
+I find works of&mdash;</p>
+
+<ul><li>Augustine.</li>
+<li>Ambrose.</li>
+<li>Albinus.</li>
+<li>Cassiodorus.</li>
+<li>Gregory.</li>
+<li>Cyprian.</li>
+<li>Seneca.</li>
+<li>Prosper.</li>
+<li>Tully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>[<a href="./images/148.png">148</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Bede.</li>
+<li>Basil.</li>
+<li>Lanfranc.</li>
+<li>Chrysostom.</li>
+<li>Jerome.</li>
+<li>Eusebius.</li>
+<li>B&#339;thius.</li>
+<li>Isidore.</li>
+<li>Origin.</li>
+<li>Dionysius.</li>
+<li>Cassian.</li>
+<li>Bernard.</li>
+<li>Anselm.</li>
+<li>Alcuinus.</li>
+<li>Honorius.</li>
+<li>Donatus.</li>
+<li>Macer.</li>
+<li>Persius.</li>
+<li>Virgil.</li>
+<li>Isagoge of Porphry.</li>
+<li>Aristotle.</li>
+<li>Entyci Grammatica.</li>
+<li>Socrates.</li>
+<li>Ovid.</li>
+<li>Priscian.</li>
+<li>Hippocrates.</li>
+<li>Horace.</li>
+<li>Sedulus.</li>
+<li>Theodulus.</li>
+<li>Sallust.</li>
+<li>Macrobius.</li>
+<li>Cato.</li>
+<li>Prudentius.</li></ul>
+
+
+<p>But although they possessed these fine authors
+and many others equally choice, I am not able
+to say much for the biblical department of their
+library, I should have anticipated a goodly store of
+the Holy Scriptures, but in these necessary volumes
+they were unusually poor. But I suspect the catalogue
+to have been compiled during the fifteenth
+century, and I fear too, that in that age the monks
+were growing careless of Scripture reading, or at
+least relaxing somewhat in the diligence of their
+studies; perhaps they devoured the attractive pages
+of Ovid, and loved to read his amorous tales more
+than became the holiness of their priestly calling.<a name="FNanchor_234_234" id="FNanchor_234_234"></a><a href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a>
+At any rate we may observe a marked change as
+regards the prevalence of the Bible in monastic
+libraries between the twelfth and the fifteenth
+century. It is true we often find them in those of
+the later age; but sometimes they are entirely
+without, and frequently only in detached portions.<a name="FNanchor_235_235" id="FNanchor_235_235"></a><a href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>[<a href="./images/149.png">149</a>]</span>
+I may illustrate this by a reference to the library of
+the Abbey of St. Mary de la Pr&eacute; at Leicester, which
+gloried in a collection of 600 volumes, of the choicest
+and almost venerable writers. It was written in the
+year 1477, by William Chartye,<a name="FNanchor_236_236" id="FNanchor_236_236"></a><a href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a> prior of the abbey,
+and an old defective and worn out Bible, <i>Biblie
+defect et usit</i>, with some detached portions, was all
+that fine library contained of the Sacred Writ.
+The bible <i>defect et usit</i> speaks volumes to the praise
+of the ancient monks of that house, for it was by
+their constant reading and study, that it had become
+so thumbed and worn; but it stamps with disgrace
+the affluent monks of the fifteenth century, who,
+while they could afford to buy, in the year 1470,<a name="FNanchor_237_237" id="FNanchor_237_237"></a><a href="#Footnote_237_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a>
+some thirty volumes with a Seneca, Ovid, Claudian,
+Macrobius, &AElig;sop, etc., among them, and who found
+time to transcribe twice as many more, thought not
+of restoring their bible tomes, or adding one book
+of the Holy Scripture to their crowded shelves.
+But alas! monachal piety was waxing cool and
+indifferent then, and it is rare to find the honorable
+title of an <i>Amator Scripturarum</i> affixed to a
+monkish name in the latter part of the fifteenth
+century.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> Gough's Hist. Croyland in Bibl. Top. Brit. xi. p. 3.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> Inguph. in Gale's Script. tom. i. p. 53.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins>Debit iste Abbas Egebricus communi bibliothec&aelig; clanstralium
+monachorum magna volumina diversorum doctorum originalia numero
+quadraginta; minora vero volumina de divers&aelig; tractatibus et
+historiis, qu&aelig; numerum centenarium excedibant." Ingul. p. 53.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> The fire occurred in 1091. Ingulphus relates with painful
+minuteness the progress of the work of destruction, and enumerates
+all the rich treasures which those angry flames consumed. I should
+have given a longer account of this event had not the Rev. Mr. Maitland
+already done so in his interesting work on the "<i>Dark Ages</i>."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> Gale's Remin. Ang. Scrip. i. p. 98.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> Ingulph. ap. Gale i. p. 25.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> See Gunter's Peterborough, suppl. 263.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> Hugo Candid, p. 31; Tamer Bib. Brit. et Hib. p. 175. Candidus
+says, "Flos literaris disciplina, torrens eloquenti&aelig;, decus et
+norma rerum divinarum et secularium."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> Hugo Candid. ap. Sparke, Hist. Ang. Scrip. p. 41. Gunter's
+Peterboro, p. 15, ed. 1686.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> Hugo Candid. p. 42.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> Leland de Scrip. Brit. p. 217.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> Published by Hearne, 2 vol. 8vo. <i>Oxon.</i> 1735.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> Rt. Swap. ap. Sparke, p. 97. "Erat. enin literarum scienti&aelig;
+satis imbutus; regulari disciplina optime instructus; sapientia seculari
+plenissime eruditus.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> Swapham calls this "Egregium volumen," p. 98.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> Now preserved in the library of the Society of Antiquaries.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> Gunter, Peterborough, p. 29.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_231_231" id="Footnote_231_231"></a><a href="#FNanchor_231_231"><span class="label">[231]</span></a> Ibid, p. 37.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_232_232" id="Footnote_232_232"></a><a href="#FNanchor_232_232"><span class="label">[232]</span></a> Walter de Whytlesse apud Sparke, p. 173.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_233_233" id="Footnote_233_233"></a><a href="#FNanchor_233_233"><span class="label">[233]</span></a> Gunter's Hist. of Peterborough, p. 259.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_234_234" id="Footnote_234_234"></a><a href="#FNanchor_234_234"><span class="label">[234]</span></a> At any rate, we find about thirty volumes of Ovid's works
+enumerated, and several copies of "de Arte Amandi," and "de
+Remedis Amoris."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_235_235" id="Footnote_235_235"></a><a href="#FNanchor_235_235"><span class="label">[235]</span></a> Let the reader examine Leland's Collect., and the Catalogues
+printed in Hunter's Tract on Monastic Libraries. See also Catalogue
+of Canterbury Library, MS. Cottonian Julius, c. iv. 4., in the British
+Museum.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_236_236" id="Footnote_236_236"></a><a href="#FNanchor_236_236"><span class="label">[236]</span></a> Printed by Nichols, in Appendix to Hist. of Leicester, from a
+MS. Register. It contains almost as fine a collection of the classics
+and fathers as that at Peterborough, just noticed, Aristotle, Virgil,
+Plato, Ovid, Cicero, Euclid, Socrates, Horace, Lucan, Seneca, etc., etc.
+are among them, pp. 101 to 108. It is curious that Leland mentions
+only six MSS. as forming the library at the time he visited the Abbey
+of Leicester, all its fine old volumes were gone. He only arrived in
+time to pick up the crumbs.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_237_237" id="Footnote_237_237"></a><a href="#FNanchor_237_237"><span class="label">[237]</span></a> At least during the time of William Charteys priorship. See
+Nichols, p. 108.</p></div>
+</div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>[<a href="./images/150.png">150</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>[<a href="./images/151.png">151</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-14.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>King Alfred an "amator librorum" and an author.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> latter part of the tenth century
+was a most memorable period in
+the annals of monkish bibliomania,
+and gave birth to one of
+the brightest scholars that ever
+shone in the dark days of our
+Saxon forefathers. King Alfred,
+in honor of whose talents posterity have gratefully
+designated the Great, spread a fostering care over
+the feeble remnant of native literature which the
+Danes in their cruel depredations had left unmolested.
+The noble aspirations of this royal student
+and patron of learning had been instilled into his
+mind by the tender care of a fond parent. It was
+from the pages of a richly illuminated little volume
+of Saxon poetry, given to him by the queen as a
+reward for the facility with which he had mastered
+its contents, that he first derived that intense love
+of books which never forsook him, though the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>[<a href="./images/152.png">152</a>]</span>
+sterner duties of his after position frequently
+required his thoughts and energies in another
+channel. Having made himself acquainted with
+this little volume, Alfred found a thirst for knowledge
+grow upon him, and applied his youthful
+mind to study with the most zealous ardor; but
+his progress was considerably retarded, because he
+could not, at that time, find a Grammaticus capable
+of instructing him,<a name="FNanchor_238_238" id="FNanchor_238_238"></a><a href="#Footnote_238_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a> although he searched the kingdom
+of the West Saxons. Yet he soon acquired
+the full knowledge of his own language, and the
+Latin it is said he knew as well, and was able to
+use with a fluency equal to his native tongue; he
+could comprehend the meaning of the Greek,
+although perhaps he was incapable of using it to
+advantage. He was so passionately fond of books,
+and so devoted to reading, that he constantly
+carried about him some favorite volume which, as
+a spare moment occurred, he perused with the
+avidity of an <i>helluo librorum</i>. This pleasing anecdote
+related by Asser<a name="FNanchor_239_239" id="FNanchor_239_239"></a><a href="#Footnote_239_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a> is characteristic of his
+natural perseverance.</p></div>
+
+<p>When he ascended the throne, he lavished
+abundant favors upon all who were eminent for
+their literary acquirements; and displayed in their
+distribution the utmost liberality and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'descrimination'">discrimination</ins>.
+Asser, who afterwards became his biographer,
+was during his life the companion and
+associate of his studies, and it is from his pen we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>[<a href="./images/153.png">153</a>]</span>
+learn that, when an interval occurred inoccupied by
+his princely duties, Alfred stole into the quietude of
+his study to seek comfort and instruction from the
+pages of those choice volumes, which comprised
+his library. But Alfred was not a mere bookworm,
+a devourer of knowledge without purpose or without
+meditation of his own, he thought with a student's
+soul well and deeply upon what he read, and drew
+from his books those principles of philanthropy, and
+those high resolves, which did such honor to the
+Saxon monarch. He viewed with sorrow the
+degradation of his country, and the intellectual
+barrenness of his time; the warmest aspiration of
+his soul was to diffuse among his people a love for
+literature and science, to raise them above their
+Saxon sloth, and lead them to think of loftier
+matters than war and carnage. To effect this
+noble aim, the highest to which the talents of a
+monarch can be applied, he for a length of time
+devoted his mind to the translation of Latin authors
+into the vernacular tongue. In his preface to the
+Pastoral of Gregory which he translated, he laments
+the destruction of the old monastic libraries by the
+Danes. "I saw," he writes, "before alle were
+spoiled and burnt, how the churches throughout
+Britain were filled with treasures and books,"<a name="FNanchor_240_240" id="FNanchor_240_240"></a><a href="#Footnote_240_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a>
+which must have presented a striking contrast to
+the illiterate darkness which he tells us afterwards
+spread over his dominions, for there were then
+very few <i>paucissimi</i> who could translate a Latin
+epistle into the Saxon language.</p>
+
+<p>When Alfred had completed the translation of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>[<a href="./images/154.png">154</a>]</span>
+Gregory's Pastoral, he sent a copy to each of his
+bishops accompanied with a golden stylus or pen,<a name="FNanchor_241_241" id="FNanchor_241_241"></a><a href="#Footnote_241_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a>
+thus conveying to them the hint that it was their
+duty to use it in the service of piety and learning.
+Encouraged by the favorable impression which
+this work immediately caused, he spared no pains
+to follow up the good design, but patiently applied
+himself to the translation of other valuable books
+which he rendered into as pleasing and expressive a
+version as the language of those rude times permitted.
+Besides these literary labors he also wrote
+many original volumes, and became a powerful
+orator, a learned grammarian, an acute philosopher,
+a profound mathematician, and the prince of
+Saxon poesy; with these exalted talents he united
+those of an historian, an architect, and an accomplished
+musician. A copious list of his productions,
+the length of which proves the fertility of his pen,
+will be found in the Biographica Britannica,<a name="FNanchor_242_242" id="FNanchor_242_242"></a><a href="#Footnote_242_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a> but
+names of others not there enumerated may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>[<a href="./images/155.png">155</a>]</span>
+found in monkish chronicles; of his Manual, which
+was in existence in the time of William of Malmsbury,
+not a fragment has been found. The last of
+his labors was probably an attempt to render the
+psalms into the common language, and so unfold
+that portion of the Holy Scriptures to our Saxon
+ancestors.</p>
+
+<p>Alfred, with the assistance of the many learned
+men whom he had called to his court, restored the
+monasteries and schools of learning which the
+Danes had desecrated, and it is said founded the
+university of Oxford, where he built three halls, in
+the name of the Holy Trinity; for the doctors of
+divinity, philosophy, and grammar. The controversy
+which this subject has given rise to among
+the learned is too long to enter into here, although
+the matter is one of great interest to the scholar
+and to the antiquary.</p>
+
+<p>In the year 901, this royal bibliophile, "the
+victorious prince, the studious provider for widows,
+orphanes, and poore people, most perfect in Saxon
+poetrie, most liberall endowed with wisdome, fortitude,
+justice, and temperance, departed this life;"<a name="FNanchor_243_243" id="FNanchor_243_243"></a><a href="#Footnote_243_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a>
+and right well did he deserve this eulogy, for as an
+old chronicle says, he was "a goode clerke and
+rote many bokes, and a boke he made in Englysshe,
+of adventures of kynges and bataylles that had
+bene wne in the lande; and other bokes of gestes
+he them wryte, that were of greate wisdome, and
+of good learnynge, thrugh whych bokes many a
+man may him amende, that well them rede, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>[<a href="./images/156.png">156</a>]</span>
+upon them loke. And thys kynge Allured lyeth
+at Wynchestre."<a name="FNanchor_244_244" id="FNanchor_244_244"></a><a href="#Footnote_244_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a></p>
+
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-15.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_238_238" id="Footnote_238_238"></a><a href="#FNanchor_238_238"><span class="label">[238]</span></a> Flor. Vigorn. sub. anno. 871. Brompton's Chron. in Alferi,
+p. 814.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_239_239" id="Footnote_239_239"></a><a href="#FNanchor_239_239"><span class="label">[239]</span></a> Asser de Alfredi Gestis., Edit. Camden i. p. 5. William
+Malmsbury, b. ii. c. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_240_240" id="Footnote_240_240"></a><a href="#FNanchor_240_240"><span class="label">[240]</span></a> Preface to Pastoral.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_241_241" id="Footnote_241_241"></a><a href="#FNanchor_241_241"><span class="label">[241]</span></a> Much controversy has arisen as to the precise meaning of this
+word. <i>Hearne</i> renders this passage "with certain macussus or
+marks of gold the purest of his coin," which has led some to suppose
+gold coinage was known among the Saxons. <i>William of Malmsbury</i>
+calls it a golden style in which was a maucus of gold. "In
+Alfred's Preface it is called an &AElig;stel of fifty macuses.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins>&mdash;<i>V. Asser a
+Wise</i>, 86 to 175; but the meaning of that word is uncertain. The
+stylus properly speaking was a small instrument formerly used for
+writing on waxen tablets, and made of iron or bone, see <i>Arch&aelig;ologia</i>,
+vol. ii. p. 75. But waxen tablets were out of use in Alfred's time.
+The &AElig;stel or style was most probably an instrument used by the
+scribes of the monasteries, if it was not actually a pen. I am more
+strongly disposed to consider it so by the evidence of an ancient MS.
+illumination of Eadwine, a monk of Canterbury, in Trinity Coll.
+Camb.; at the end of this MS. the scribe is represented with a <i>metal
+pen in his hand</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_242_242" id="Footnote_242_242"></a><a href="#FNanchor_242_242"><span class="label">[242]</span></a> Vol. i. pp. 54, 55.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_243_243" id="Footnote_243_243"></a><a href="#FNanchor_243_243"><span class="label">[243]</span></a> Stowe's Annals, 4to. 1615, p. 105.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_244_244" id="Footnote_244_244"></a><a href="#FNanchor_244_244"><span class="label">[244]</span></a> Cronycle of Englonde with the Fruyte of Tymes, 4to. 1515.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>[<a href="./images/157.png">157</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-16.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Benedict Biscop and his book tours.&mdash;Bede.&mdash;Ceolfrid.&mdash;Wilfrid.&mdash;Boniface
+the Saxon Missionary&mdash;His
+love of books.&mdash;Egbert of York.&mdash;Alcuin.&mdash;Whitby
+Abbey.&mdash;C&aelig;dmon.&mdash;Classics in the
+Library of Withby.&mdash;Rievall Library.&mdash;Coventry.&mdash;Worcester.&mdash;Evesham.&mdash;Thomas
+of Marleberg,
+etc.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> venerable Bede enables us to
+show that in the early Saxon days
+the monasteries of Wearmouth
+and Jarrow possessed considerable
+collections of books. Benedict
+Biscop, the most enthusiastic bibliomaniac
+of the age, founded the
+monastery of Wearmouth in the year 674, in honor
+of the "Most Holy Prince of the Apostles." His
+whole soul was in the work, he spared neither pains
+or expense to obtain artists of well known and
+reputed talent to decorate the holy edifice; not finding
+them at home, he journeyed to Gaul in search
+of them, and returned accompanied by numerous
+expert and ingenious workmen. Within a year the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>[<a href="./images/158.png">158</a>]</span>
+building was sufficiently advanced to enable the
+monks to celebrate divine service there. He
+introduced glass windows and other ornaments into
+his church, and furnished it with numerous books
+of all descriptions, <i>innumerabilem librorum omnis
+generis</i>. Benedict was so passionately fond of
+books that he took five journeys to Rome for the
+purpose of collecting them. In his third voyage
+he gathered together a large quantity on divine
+erudition; some of these he bought, or received
+them as presents from his friends, <i>vel amicorum
+dono largitos retulit</i>. When he arrived at Vienne
+on his way home, he collected others which he had
+commissioned his friends to purchase for him.<a name="FNanchor_245_245" id="FNanchor_245_245"></a><a href="#Footnote_245_245" class="fnanchor">[245]</a>
+After the completion of his monastery he undertook
+his fourth journey to Rome; he obtained from
+the Pope many privileges for the abbey, and
+returned in the year 680, bringing with him many
+more valuable books; he was accompanied by John
+the Chantor, who introduced into the English
+churches the Roman method of singing. He was
+also a great <i>amator librorum</i>, and left many choice
+manuscripts to the monks, which Bede writes "were
+still preserved in their library." It was about this
+time that Ecgfrid<a name="FNanchor_246_246" id="FNanchor_246_246"></a><a href="#Footnote_246_246" class="fnanchor">[246]</a> gave Benedict a portion of land
+on the other side of the river Wire, at a place
+called Jarrow; and that enterprising and indus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>[<a href="./images/159.png">159</a>]</span>trious
+abbot, in the year 684, built a monastery
+thereon. No sooner was it completed, than he
+went a fifth time to Rome to search for volumes to
+gratify his darling passion. This was the last, but
+perhaps the most successful of his foreign tours,
+for he brought back with him a vast quantity of
+sacred volumes and curious pictures.<a name="FNanchor_247_247" id="FNanchor_247_247"></a><a href="#Footnote_247_247" class="fnanchor">[247]</a> How deeply
+is it to be regretted that the relation of the travels
+which Ceolfrid his successor undertook, and which
+it is said his own pen inscribed, has been lost to us
+forever. He probably spoke much of Benedict in
+the volume and recorded his book pilgrimages.
+How dearly would the bibliomaniac revel over
+those early annals of his science, could his eye
+meet those venerable pages&mdash;perhaps describing
+the choice tomes Benedict met with in his Italian
+tours, and telling us how, and what, and where he
+gleaned those fine collections; sweet indeed would
+have been the perusal of that delectable little volume,
+full of the book experience of a bibliophile
+in Saxon days, near twelve hundred years ago!
+But the ravages of time or the fury of the Danes
+deprived us of this rare gem, and we are alone
+dependent on Bede for the incidents connected with
+the life of this great man; we learn from that
+venerable author that Benedict was seized with the
+palsy on his return, and that languishing a few
+short years, he died in the year 690; but through
+pain and suffering he often dwelt on the sweet
+treasures of his library, and his solemn thoughts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>[<a href="./images/160.png">160</a>]</span>
+death and immortality were intermixed with many
+a fond bookish recollection. <i>His most noble and
+abundant library which he brought from Rome</i> he
+constantly referred to, and gave strict injunctions
+that the monks should apply the utmost care to
+the preservation of that rich and costly treasure, in
+the collection of which so many perils and anxious
+years were spent.<a name="FNanchor_248_248" id="FNanchor_248_248"></a><a href="#Footnote_248_248" class="fnanchor">[248]</a></p></div>
+
+<p>We all know the force of example, and are not
+surprised that the sweet mania which ruled so
+potently over the mind of Benedict, spread itself
+around the crowned head of royalty. Perhaps
+book collecting was beginning to make "a stir,"
+and the rich and powerful among the Saxons were
+regarding strange volumes with a curious eye.
+Certain it is that Egfride, or &AElig;lfride, the proud
+king of Northumbria,<a name="FNanchor_249_249" id="FNanchor_249_249"></a><a href="#Footnote_249_249" class="fnanchor">[249]</a> fondly coveted a beautiful
+copy of the geographer's (<i>codice mirandi operis</i>),
+which Benedict numbered among his treasures;
+and so eagerly too did he desire its possession,
+that he gave in exchange a portion of eight hides
+of land, near the river Fresca, for the volume; and
+Ceolfrid, Benedict's successor, received it.</p>
+
+<p>How useful must Benedict's library have been in
+ripening the mind that was to cast a halo of im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>[<a href="./images/161.png">161</a>]</span>mortality
+around that old monastery, and to
+generate a renown which was long to survive the
+grey walls of that costly fane; for whilst we now
+fruitlessly search for any vestiges of its former
+being, we often peruse the living pages of Bede
+the venerable with pleasure and instruction, and
+we feel refreshed by the breath of piety and devotion
+which they unfold; yet it must be owned the
+superstition of Rome will sometimes mar a devout
+prayer and the simplicity of a Christian thought.
+But all honor to his manes and to his memory! for
+how much that is admirable in the human character&mdash;how
+much sweet and virtuous humility was hid
+in him, in the strict retirement of the cloister. The
+writings of that humble monk outlive the fame of
+many a proud ecclesiastic or haughty baron of his
+day; and well they might, for how homely does his
+pen record the simple annals of that far distant age.
+Much have the old monks been blamed for their
+bad Latin and their humble style; but far from
+upbraiding, I would admire them for it; for is not
+the inelegance of diction which their unpretending
+chronicles display, sufficiently compensated by their
+charming simplicity. As for myself, I have sometimes
+read them by the blaze of my cheerful hearth,
+or among the ruins of some old monastic abbey,<a name="FNanchor_250_250" id="FNanchor_250_250"></a><a href="#Footnote_250_250" class="fnanchor">[250]</a>
+till in imagination I beheld the events which they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>[<a href="./images/162.png">162</a>]</span>
+attempt to record, and could almost hear the voice
+of the "<i>goode olde monke</i>" as he relates the deeds
+of some holy man&mdash;in language so natural and
+idiomatic are they written.</p>
+
+<p>But as we were saying, Bede made ample use of
+Benedict's library; and the many Latin and Greek
+books, which he refers to in the course of his writings,
+were doubtless derived from that source.<a name="FNanchor_251_251" id="FNanchor_251_251"></a><a href="#Footnote_251_251" class="fnanchor">[251]</a>
+Ceolfrid, the successor of Benedict, "a man of great
+zeal, of acute wisdom, and bold in action," was a
+great lover of books, and under his care the libraries
+of Wearmouth and Jarrow became nearly doubled
+in extent; of the nature of these additions we are
+unable to judge, but probably they were not contemptible.<a name="FNanchor_252_252" id="FNanchor_252_252"></a><a href="#Footnote_252_252" class="fnanchor">[252]</a></p>
+
+<p>Wilfrid, bishop of Northumbria, was a dear and
+intimate friend of Biscop's, and was the companion
+of one of his pilgrimages to Rome. In his early
+youth he gave visible signs of a heart full of religion
+and piety, and he sought by a steady perusal of the
+Holy Scriptures, in the little monastery of Lindesfarne,
+to garnish his mind with that divine lore
+with which he shone so brightly in the Saxon
+church. It was at the court of Ercenbyrht, king<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>[<a href="./images/163.png">163</a>]</span>
+of Kent, that he met with Benedict Biscop; and
+the sympathy which their mutual learning engendered
+gave rise to a warm and devoted friendship
+between them. Both inspired with an ardent desire
+to visit the apostolic see, they set out together for
+Rome;<a name="FNanchor_253_253" id="FNanchor_253_253"></a><a href="#Footnote_253_253" class="fnanchor">[253]</a> and it was probably by the illustrious
+example of his fellow student and companion, that
+Wilfrid imbibed that book-loving passion which he
+afterwards displayed on more than one occasion.
+On his return from Rome, Alfred of Northumbria
+bestowed upon him the monastery of Rhypum<a name="FNanchor_254_254" id="FNanchor_254_254"></a><a href="#Footnote_254_254" class="fnanchor">[254]</a> in
+the year 661, and endowed it with certain lands.
+Peter of Blois records, in his life of Wilfrid, that
+this "man of God" gave the monastery a copy of
+the gospels, a library, and many books of the Old
+and New Testament, with certain tablets made with
+marvellous ingenuity, and ornamented with gold
+and precious stones.<a name="FNanchor_255_255" id="FNanchor_255_255"></a><a href="#Footnote_255_255" class="fnanchor">[255]</a> Wilfrid did not long remain
+in the monastery of Ripon, but advanced to higher
+honors, and took a more active part in the ecclesiastical
+affairs of the time.<a name="FNanchor_256_256" id="FNanchor_256_256"></a><a href="#Footnote_256_256" class="fnanchor">[256]</a> But I am not about to
+pursue his history, or to attempt to show how his
+hot and imperious temper, or the pride and avarice
+of his disposition, wrought many grievous animosities
+in the Saxon church; or how by his prelatical
+ambition he deservedly lost the friendship of his
+King and his ecclesiastical honors.<a name="FNanchor_257_257" id="FNanchor_257_257"></a><a href="#Footnote_257_257" class="fnanchor">[257]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>[<a href="./images/164.png">164</a>]</span></p><p>About this time, and contemporary with Bede,
+we must not omit one who appears as a bright star
+in the early Christian church. Boniface,<a name="FNanchor_258_258" id="FNanchor_258_258"></a><a href="#Footnote_258_258" class="fnanchor">[258]</a> the
+Saxon missionary, was remarked by his parents to
+manifest at an early age signs of that talent which
+in after years achieved so much, and advanced so
+materially the interests of piety and the cause of
+civilization. When scarcely four years old his
+infant mind seemed prone to study, which growing
+upon him as he increased in years, his parent
+placed him in the monastery of Exeter. His stay
+there was not of long duration, for he shortly after
+removed to a monastery in Hampshire under the
+care of Wybert. In seclusion and quietude he
+there studied with indefatigable ardor, and fortified
+his mind with that pious enthusiasm and profound
+erudition, which enabled him in a far distant country
+to render such service to the church. He was made
+a teacher, and when arrived at the necessary age he
+was ordained priest. In the year 710, a dispute
+having occurred among the western church of the
+Saxons, he was appointed to undertake a mission
+to the archbishop of Canterbury on the subject.
+Pleased perhaps with the variety and bustle of
+travel, and inspired with a holy ambition, he determined
+to attempt the conversion of the German<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>[<a href="./images/165.png">165</a>]</span>
+people, who, although somewhat acquainted with
+the gospel truths, had nevertheless deviated materially
+from the true faith, and returned again to
+their idolatry and paganism. Heedless of the
+danger of the expedition, but looking forward only
+to the consummation of his fond design, he started
+on his missionary enterprise, accompanied by one
+or two of his monkish brethren.</p>
+
+<p>He arrived at Friesland in the year 716, and
+proceeded onwards to Utrecht; but disappointments
+and failures awaited him. The revolt of the
+Frieslanders and the persecution then raging there
+against the Christians, dissipated his hopes of usefulness;
+and with a heavy heart, no doubt, Boniface
+retraced his steps, and re-embarked for his English
+home. Yet hope had not deserted him&mdash;his philanthropic
+resolutions were only delayed for a time;
+for no sooner had the dark clouds of persecution
+passed away than his adventurous spirit burst
+forth afresh, and shone with additional lustre and
+higher aspirations. After an interval of two years
+we find him again starting on another Christian
+mission. On reaching France he proceeded immediately
+to Rome, and procured admission to the
+Pope, who, ever anxious for the promulgation of
+the faith and for the spiritual dominion of the
+Roman church, highly approved of the designs of
+Boniface, and gave him letters authorizing his
+mission among the Thuringians; invested with
+these powers and with the pontifical blessing, he
+took his departure from the holy city, well stored
+with the necessary ornaments and utensils for the
+performance of the ecclesiastical rites, besides a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>[<a href="./images/166.png">166</a>]</span>
+number of books to instruct the heathens and to
+solace his mind amidst the cares and anxieties of his
+travels. After some few years the fruits of his
+labor became manifest, and in 723 he had baptized
+vast multitudes in the true faith. His success was
+perhaps unparalleled in the early annals of the
+church, and remind us of the more recent wonders
+wrought by the Jesuit missionaries in India.<a name="FNanchor_259_259" id="FNanchor_259_259"></a><a href="#Footnote_259_259" class="fnanchor">[259]</a>
+Elated with these happy results, far greater than
+even his sanguine mind had anticipated, he sent a
+messenger to the Pope to acquaint his holiness of
+these vast acquisitions to his flock, and soon after
+he went himself to Rome to receive the congratulations
+and thanks of the Pontiff; he was then made
+bishop, and entrusted with the ecclesiastical direction
+of the new church. After his return, he spent
+many years in making fresh converts and maintaining
+the discipline of the faithful. But all these
+labors and these anxieties were terminated by a
+cruel and unnatural death; on one of his expeditions
+he was attacked by a body of pagans, who slew him
+and nearly the whole of his companions, but it is not
+here that a Christian must look for his reward&mdash;he
+must rest his hopes on the benevolence and mercy
+of his God in a distant and far better world. He
+who would wish to trace more fully these events,
+and so catch a glimpse of the various incidents<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>[<a href="./images/167.png">167</a>]</span>
+which touch upon the current of his life, must not
+keep the monk constantly before his mind, he must
+sometimes forget him in that capacity and regard
+him as a <i>student</i>, and that too in the highest
+acceptation of the term. His youthful studies,
+which I have said before were pursued with unconquerable
+energy, embraced grammar, poetry, rhetoric,
+history, and the exposition of the Holy
+Scriptures; the Bible, indeed, he read unceasingly,
+and drew from it much of the vital truth with which
+it is inspired; but he perhaps too much tainted it
+with traditional interpretation and patristical logic.
+A student's life is always interesting; like a rippling
+stream, its unobtrusive gentle course is ever pleasing
+to watch, and the book-worms seems to find in
+it the counterpart of his own existence. Who can
+read the life and letters of the eloquent Cicero, or
+the benevolent Pliny, without the deepest interest;
+or mark their anxious solicitude after books, without
+sincere delight. Those elegant epistles reflect the
+image of their private studies, and so to behold
+Boniface in a student's garb, to behold his love of
+books and passion for learning, we must alike have
+recourse to his letters.</p>
+
+<p>The epistolary correspondence of the middle
+ages is a mirror of those times, far more faithful as
+regards their social condition than the old chronicles
+and histories designed for posterity; written
+in the reciprocity of friendly civilities, they contain
+the outpourings of the heart, and enable us to peep
+into the secret thoughts and motives of the writer;
+"for out of the fulness of the hearth the mouth
+speaketh." Turning over the letters of Boniface,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>[<a href="./images/168.png">168</a>]</span>
+we cannot but be forcibly struck with his great
+knowledge of Scripture; his mind seems to have
+been quite a concordance in itself, and we meet
+with epistles almost solely framed of quotations
+from the sacred books, in substantiation of some
+principle, or as grounds for some argument advanced.
+These are pleasurable instances, and
+convey a gentle hint that the greater plenitude of
+the Bible has not, in all cases, emulated us to
+study it with equal energy; there are few who
+would now surpass the Saxon bishop in biblical
+reading.</p>
+
+<p>Most students have felt, at some period or
+other, a thirst after knowledge without the means
+of assuaging it&mdash;have felt a craving after books
+when their pecuniary circumstances would not
+admit of their acquisition, such will sympathize
+with Boniface, the student in the wilds of Germany,
+who, far from monastic libraries, sorely
+laments in some of his letters this great deprivation,
+and entreats his friends, sometimes in most
+piteous terms, to send him books. In writing to
+Daniel, Bishop of Winchester, he asks for copies,
+and begs him to send the book of the six prophets,
+clearly and distinctly transcribed, and in large
+letters because his sight he says was growing
+weak; and because the book of the prophets was
+much wanted in Germany, and could not be obtained
+except written so obscurely, and the letters
+so confusedly joined together, as to be scarcely
+readable <i>ac connexas litteras discere non possum</i>.<a name="FNanchor_260_260" id="FNanchor_260_260"></a><a href="#Footnote_260_260" class="fnanchor">[260]</a>
+To "Majestro Lul" he writes for the productions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>[<a href="./images/169.png">169</a>]</span>
+of bishop Aldhelm, and other works of prose,
+poetry, and rhyme, to console him in his peregrinations
+<i>ad consolationem peregrinationis me&aelig;</i>.<a name="FNanchor_261_261" id="FNanchor_261_261"></a><a href="#Footnote_261_261" class="fnanchor">[261]</a> With
+Abbess Eadburge he frequently corresponded, and
+received from her many choice and valuable volumes,
+transcribed by her nuns and sometimes by
+her own hands; at one period he writes in glowing
+terms and with a grateful pen for the books thus
+sent him, and at another time he sends for a copy of
+the Gospels. "Execute," says he, "a glittering
+lamp for our hands, and so illuminate the hearts of
+the Gentiles to a study of the Gospels and to the
+glory of Christ; and intercede, I pray thee, with
+your pious prayers for these pagans who are committed
+by the apostles to our care, that by the
+mercy of the Saviour of the world they may be
+delivered from their idolatrous practices, and united
+to the congregation of mother church, to the honor
+of the Catholic faith, and to the praise and glory
+of His name, who will have all men to be saved,
+and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_262_262" id="FNanchor_262_262"></a><a href="#Footnote_262_262" class="fnanchor">[262]</a></p>
+
+<p>All this no doubt the good abbess faithfully
+fulfilled; and stimulated by his friendship and these
+encouraging epistles, she set all the pens in her
+monastery industriously to work, and so gratified
+the Saxon missionary with those book treasures,
+which his soul so ardently loved; certain it is, that
+we frequently find him thanking her for books, and
+with famishing eagerness craving for more; one of
+his letters,<a name="FNanchor_263_263" id="FNanchor_263_263"></a><a href="#Footnote_263_263" class="fnanchor">[263]</a> full of gratitude, he accompanies with
+a present of a silver graphium, or writing instru<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>[<a href="./images/170.png">170</a>]</span>ment,
+and soon after we find him thus addressing
+her:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"To the most beloved sister, Abbess Eadburge, and all now
+joined to her house and under her spiritual care. Boniface, the
+meanest servant of God, wisheth eternal health in Christ."</p></div>
+
+<p>"My dearest sister, may your assistance be
+abundantly rewarded hereafter in the mansions of
+the angels and saints above, for the kind presents
+of books which you have transmitted to me. Germany
+rejoices in their spiritual light and consolation,
+because they have spread lustre into, the dark
+hearts of the German people; for except we have
+a lamp to guide our feet, we may, in the words of
+the Lord, fall into the snares of death. Moreover,
+through thy gifts I earnestly hope to be more
+diligent, so that my country may be honored, my
+sins forgiven, and myself protected from the perils
+of the sea and the violence of the tempest; and
+that He who dwells on high may lightly regard my
+transgression, and give utterance to the words of
+my mouth, that the Gospel may have free course,
+and be glorified among men to the honor of
+Christ."<a name="FNanchor_264_264" id="FNanchor_264_264"></a><a href="#Footnote_264_264" class="fnanchor">[264]</a></p>
+
+<p>Writing to Egbert, Archbishop of York, of
+whose bibliomaniacal character and fine library we
+have yet to speak, Boniface thanks that illustrious
+collector for the choice volumes he had kindly sent
+him, and further entreats Egbert to procure for
+him transcripts of the smaller works <i>opusculi</i> and
+other tracts of Bede, "who, I hear," he writes,
+"has, by the divine grace of the Holy Spirit, been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>[<a href="./images/171.png">171</a>]</span>
+permitted to spread such lustre over your country."<a name="FNanchor_265_265" id="FNanchor_265_265"></a><a href="#Footnote_265_265" class="fnanchor">[265]</a>
+These, that kind and benevolent prelate sent to
+him with other books, and received a letter full of
+gratitude in return, but with all the boldness of a
+hungry student still asking for more! especially for
+Bede's Commentary on the Parables of Solomon.<a name="FNanchor_266_266" id="FNanchor_266_266"></a><a href="#Footnote_266_266" class="fnanchor">[266]</a>
+He sents to Archbishop Nothelm for a copy of the
+Questions of St. Augustine to Pope Gregory, with
+the answers of the pope, which he says he could
+not obtain from Rome; and in writing to Cuthbert,
+also Archbishop of Canterbury, imploring the aid
+of his earnest prayers, he does not forget to ask for
+books, but hopes that he may be speedily comforted
+with the works of Bede, of whose writings he was
+especially fond, and was constantly sending to his
+friends for transcripts of them. In a letter to
+Huetberth he writes for the "most sagacious dissertations
+of the monk Bede,"<a name="FNanchor_267_267" id="FNanchor_267_267"></a><a href="#Footnote_267_267" class="fnanchor">[267]</a> and to the Abbot
+Dudde he sends a begging message for the Commentaries
+on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans
+and to the Corinthians<a name="FNanchor_268_268" id="FNanchor_268_268"></a><a href="#Footnote_268_268" class="fnanchor">[268]</a> by the same. In a letter
+to Lulla, Bishop of Coena, he deplores the want of
+books on the phenomena and works of nature,
+which, he says, were <i>omnio incognitum</i> there, and
+asks for a book on Cosmography;<a name="FNanchor_269_269" id="FNanchor_269_269"></a><a href="#Footnote_269_269" class="fnanchor">[269]</a> and on another
+occasion Lulla supplied Boniface with many portions
+of the Holy Scriptures, and Commentaries
+upon them.<a name="FNanchor_270_270" id="FNanchor_270_270"></a><a href="#Footnote_270_270" class="fnanchor">[270]</a> Many more of his epistles might be
+quoted to illustrate the Saxon missionary as an
+"<i>amator librorum</i>," and to display his profound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>[<a href="./images/172.png">172</a>]</span>
+erudition. In one of his letters we find him referring
+to nearly all the celebrated authors of the
+church, and so aptly, that we conclude he must
+have had their works on his desk, and was deeply
+read in patristical theology. Boniface has been
+fiercely denounced for his strong Roman principles,
+and for his firm adherence to the interests of the
+pope.<a name="FNanchor_271_271" id="FNanchor_271_271"></a><a href="#Footnote_271_271" class="fnanchor">[271]</a> Of his theological errors, or his faults as a
+church disciplinarian, I have nothing here to do,
+but leave that delicate question to the ecclesiastical
+historian, having vindicated his character from the
+charge of ignorance, and displayed some pleasing
+traits which he evinced as a student and book-collector.
+It only remains to be mentioned, that
+many of the membranous treasures, which Boniface
+had so eagerly searched for and collected from all
+parts, were nearly lost forever. The pagans, who
+murdered Boniface and his fellow-monks, on entering
+their tents, discovered little to gratify their
+avarice, save a few relics and a number of books,
+which, with a barbarism corresponding with their
+ignorance, they threw into the river as useless; but
+fortunately, some of the monks, who had escaped
+from their hands, observing the transaction, recovered
+them and carried them away in safety with
+the remains of the martyred missionary, who was
+afterwards canonized Saint Boniface.</p>
+
+<p>The must remarkable book collector contemporary
+with Boniface, was Egbert of York, between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>[<a href="./images/173.png">173</a>]</span>
+whom, as we have seen, a bookish correspondence
+was maintained. This illustrious prelate was
+brother to King Egbert, of Northumbria, and
+received his education under Bishop Eata, at Hexham,
+about the year 686. He afterwards went on
+a visit to the Apostolic See, and on his return was
+made Archbishop of York.<a name="FNanchor_272_272" id="FNanchor_272_272"></a><a href="#Footnote_272_272" class="fnanchor">[272]</a> He probably collected
+at Rome many of the fine volumes which
+comprised his library, and which was so celebrated
+in those old Saxon days; and which will be ever
+renowned in the annals of ancient bibliomania. The
+immortal Alcuin sang the praises of this library in
+a tedious lay; and what glorious tomes of antiquity
+he there enumerates! But stay, my pen should
+tarry whilst I introduce that worthy bibliomaniac
+to my reader, and relate some necessary anecdotes
+and facts connected with his early life and times.</p>
+
+<p>Alcuin was born in England, and probably in
+the immediate vicinity of York; he was descended
+from affluent and noble parents; but history is
+especially barren on this subject, and we have no
+information to instruct us respecting the antiquity
+of his Saxon ancestry. But if obscurity hangs
+around his birth, so soon as he steps into the paths
+of learning and ranks with the students of his day,
+we are no longer in doubt or perplexity; but are
+able from that period to his death to trace the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>[<a href="./images/174.png">174</a>]</span>
+occurrences of his life with all the ease that a
+searcher of monkish history can expect. He had
+the good fortune to receive his education from
+Egbert, and under his care he soon became
+initiated into the mysteries of grammar, rhetoric,
+and jurisprudence; which were relieved by the
+more fascinating study of poetry, physics, and
+astronomy.<a name="FNanchor_273_273" id="FNanchor_273_273"></a><a href="#Footnote_273_273" class="fnanchor">[273]</a> So much was he esteemed by his
+master the archbishop, that he entrusted him with
+a mission to Rome, to receive from the hands of
+the Pope his pall; on his return he called at Parma,
+where he had an interview with Charles the Great;
+who was so captivated with his eloquence and erudition
+that he eagerly entreated him to remain, and to
+aid in diffusing throughout his kingdom the spirit
+of that knowledge which he had so successfully acquired
+in the Saxon monasteries. But Alcuin was
+equally anxious for the advancement of literature
+in his own country; and being then on a mission
+connected with his church, he could do no more
+than hold out a promise of consulting his superiors,
+to whose decisions he considered himself bound to
+submit.</p>
+
+<p>During the dominion of Charles, the ecclesiastical
+as well as the political institutions of
+France, were severely agitated by heresy and war:
+the two great questions of the age&mdash;the Worship
+of Images and the Nature of Christ&mdash;divided and
+perplexed the members of a church which had
+hitherto been permitted to slumber in peace and
+quietude. The most prominent of the heretics
+was Felix, Bishop of Urgel, who maintained in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>[<a href="./images/175.png">175</a>]</span>
+letter to Elipand, Bishop of Toledo, that Christ
+was only the Son of God by adoption. It was
+about the time of the convocation of the Council
+of Frankfort, assembled to consider this point, that
+Alcuin returned to France at the earnest solicitation
+of Charlemagne. When the business of the
+council was terminated, and peace was somewhat
+restored, Alcuin began to think of returning to his
+native country; but England at that time was a
+land of bloodshed and tribulation, in the midst of
+which it would be vain to hope for retirement or
+the blessings of study; after some deliberation,
+therefore, Alcuin resolved to remain in France,
+where there was at least a wide field for exertion
+and usefulness. He communicates his intention in
+a letter to Offa, King of Mercia. "I was prepared,"
+says he, "to come to you with the presents of King
+Charles, and to return to my country; but it seemed
+more advisable to me for the peace of my nation to
+remain abroad; not knowing what I could have
+done among those persons with whom no man can
+be secure or able to proceed in any laudable
+pursuit. See every holy place laid desolate by
+pagans, the altars polluted by perjury, the monasteries
+dishonored by adultery, the earth itself
+stained with the blood of rulers and of princes."<a name="FNanchor_274_274" id="FNanchor_274_274"></a><a href="#Footnote_274_274" class="fnanchor">[274]</a></p>
+
+<p>After the elapse of many years spent in the
+brilliant court of Charles, during which time it surpassed
+in literary greatness any epoch that preceded
+it, he was permitted to seek retirement within the
+walls of the abbey of St. Martin's at Tours. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>[<a href="./images/176.png">176</a>]</span>
+in escaping from the bustle and intrigue of public
+life he did not allow his days to pass away in an
+inglorious obscurity; but sought to complete his
+earthly career by inspiring the rising generation
+with an honorable and christian ambition. His
+cloistered solitude, far from weakening, seems to
+have augmented the fertility of his genius, for it
+was in the quiet seclusion of this monastery that
+Alcuin composed the principal portion of his
+works; nor are these writings an accumulation of
+monastic trash, but the fruits of many a solitary
+hour spent in studious meditation. His method is
+perhaps fantastic and unnatural; but his style is
+lively, and often elegant. His numerous quotations
+and references give weight and interest to
+his writings, and clearly proves what a fine old
+library was at his command, and how well he knew
+the use of it. But for the elucidation of his character
+as a student, or a bibliomaniac, we naturally
+turn to the huge mass of his epistles which have
+been preserved; and in them we find a constant
+reference to books which shew his intimacy with
+the classics as well as the patristical lore of the
+church. In biblical literature he doubtless possessed
+many a choice and venerable tome; for an
+indefatigable scripture reader was that great man.
+In a curious little work of his called "<i>Interrogationes
+et Responsiones sui Liber Questionorum in
+Genesim</i>," we find an illustration of his usefulness
+in spreading the knowledge he had gained in this
+department of learning. It was written expressly
+for his pupil and dearest brother (<i>carissime frater</i>),
+Sigulf, as we learn from a letter which accompanies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>[<a href="./images/177.png">177</a>]</span>
+it. He tells him that he had composed it "that he
+might always have near him the means of refreshing
+his memory when the more ponderous volumes of
+the sacred Scriptures were not at his immediate
+call."<a name="FNanchor_275_275" id="FNanchor_275_275"></a><a href="#Footnote_275_275" class="fnanchor">[275]</a> Perhaps of all his works this is the least
+deserving of our praise; the good old monk was
+apt to be prolix, if not tedious, when he found the
+<i>stylus</i> in his hand and a clean skin of parchment
+spread invitingly before him. But as this work was
+intended as a manual to be consulted at any time,
+he was compelled to curb this propensity, and to
+reduce his explications to a few concise sentences.
+Writing under this restraint, we find little bearing
+the stamp of originality, not because he had nothing
+original to say, but because he had not space to
+write it in; I think it necessary to give this explanation,
+as some critics upon the learning of that
+remote age select these small and ill-digested writings
+as fair specimens of the literary capacity of the
+time, without considering why they were written or
+compiled at all. But as a scribe how shall we
+sufficiently praise that great man when we take
+into consideration the fine Bible which he executed
+for Charlemagne, and which is now fortunately
+preserved in the British Museum. It is a superb
+copy of St. Jerome's Latin version, freed from the
+inaccuracies of the scribes; he commenced it about
+the year 778, and did not complete it till the year
+800, a circumstance which indicates the great care
+he bestowed upon it. When finished he sent it to
+Rome by his friend and disciple, Nathaniel, who
+presented it to Charlemagne on the day of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>[<a href="./images/178.png">178</a>]</span>
+coronation: it was preserved by that illustrious
+monarch to the last day of his life. Alcuin makes
+frequent mention of this work being in progress,
+and speaks of the labor he was bestowing upon it.<a name="FNanchor_276_276" id="FNanchor_276_276"></a><a href="#Footnote_276_276" class="fnanchor">[276]</a>
+We, who blame the monks for the scarcity of the
+Bible among them, fail to take into consideration
+the immense labor attending the transcriptions of
+so great a volume; plodding and patience were
+necessary to complete it. The history of this
+biblical gem is fraught with interest, and well
+worth relating. It is supposed to have been given
+to the monastery of Prum in Lorraine by Lothaire,
+the grandson of Charlemagne, who became a monk
+of that monastery. In the year 1576 this religious
+house was dissolved, but the monks preserved the
+manuscript, and carried it into Switzerland to the
+abbey of Grandis Vallis, near Basle, where it
+reposed till the year 1793, when, on the occupation
+of the episcopal territory of Basle by the French,
+all the property of the abbey was confiscated and
+sold, and the MS. under consideration came into
+the possession of M. Bennot, from whom, in 1822,
+it was purchased by M. Speyr Passavant, who
+brought it into general notice, and offered it for
+sale to the French Government at the price of
+60,000 francs; this they declined, and its proprietor
+struck of nearly 20,000 francs from the amount;
+still the sum was deemed exorbitant, and with all
+their bibliomanical enthusiasm, the conservers of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>[<a href="./images/179.png">179</a>]</span>
+the Royal Library allowed the treasure to escape.
+M. Passavant subsequently brought it to England,
+where it was submitted to the Duke of Sussex, still
+without success. He also applied to the trustees
+of the British Museum, and Sir F. Madden informs
+us that "much correspondence took place; at first
+he asked 12,000<i>l.</i> for it; then 8,000<i>l.</i>, and at last
+6,500<i>l.</i>, which he declared an <i>immense sacrifice!!</i>
+At length, finding he could not part with his MS.
+on terms so absurd, he resolved to sell it if possible
+by auction; and accordingly, on the 27th of April,
+1836, the Bible was knocked down by Mr. Evans
+for the sum of 1,500<i>l.</i>, but for the proprietor himself,
+as there was not one real bidding for it. This
+result having brought M. Speyr Passavant in some
+measure to his senses, overtures were made to him
+on the part of the trustees to the British Museum,
+and the manuscript finally became the property of
+the nation, for the comparatively small sum of 750<i>l.</i>"
+There can be no doubt as to the authenticity of
+this precious volume, the verses of Alcuin's, found
+in the manuscript, sufficiently prove it, for he alone
+could write&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Is Carolus qui jam Scribe jussit eum."<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">.     .     .     .     .     .     .<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">"H&aelig;c Dator &AElig;ternus cunctorum Christe bonorum,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Munera de donis accipe sancta tuis,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Qu&aelig; Pater Albinus devoto pectore supplex<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Nominus ad laudem obtulit ecce tui."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Other proofs are not wanting of Alcuin's industry
+as a scribe, or his enthusiasm as an <i>amator librorum</i>.
+Mark the rapture with which he describes the library
+of York Cathedral, collected by Egbert:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>[<a href="./images/180.png">180</a>]</span></p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Illic invenies veterum vestigia Patrum,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quidquid habet pro se Latio Romanus in orbe,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Gr&aelig;cia vel quidquid transmisit Clara Latinis.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Hebraicus vel quod populus bibet imbre superno<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Africa lucifluo vel quidquid lumine sparsit.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quod Pater Hieronymus quod sensit Hilarius, atque<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Ambrosius Pr&aelig;sul simul Augustinus, et ipse<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Sanctus Athanasius, quod Orosius, edit avitus:<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quidquid Gregorius summus docet, et Leo Papa;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Basilius quidquid, Fulgentius atque coruscant<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Cassiodorus item, Chrysostomus atque Johannes:<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quidquid et Athelmus docuit, quid Beda Magister,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Qu&aelig; Victorinus scrips&ecirc;re, Boetius; atque<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Historici veteres, Pompeius, Plinius, ipse<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Acer Aristoteles, Rhetor quoque Tullius ingens;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quidquoque Sedulius, vel quid canit ipse Invencus,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Alcuinus, et Clemens, Prosper, Paulinus, Arator.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quid Fortunatus, vel quid Lactantius edunt;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Qu&aelig; Maro Virgilius, Statius, Lucanus, et auctor<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Artis Grammatic&aelig;, vel quid scrips&ecirc;re magistri;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Quid Probus atque Focas, Donatus, Priscian usve,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Sevius, Euticius, Pompeius, Commenianus,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Invenies alios perplures, lector, ibidem<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Egregios studiis, arte et sermone magistros<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Plurima qui claro scrips&ecirc;re volumina sensu:<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Nomina sed quorum pr&aelig;senti in carmine scribi<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Longius est visum, quam plectri postulet usus."<a name="FNanchor_277_277" id="FNanchor_277_277"></a><a href="#Footnote_277_277" class="fnanchor">[277]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Often did Alcuin think of these goodly times with
+a longing heart, and wish that he could revel
+among them whilst in France. How deeply would
+he have regretted, how many tears would he have
+shed over the sad destruction of that fine library,
+had he have known it; but his bones had mingled
+with the dust when the Danes dispersed those rare
+gems of ancient lore. If the reader should doubt
+the ardor of Alcuin as a book-lover, let him read<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>[<a href="./images/181.png">181</a>]</span>
+the following letter, addressed to Charlemagne,
+which none but a bibliomaniac could pen.</p>
+
+<p>"I, your Flaccus, according to your admonitions
+and good-will, administer to some in the house of
+St. Martin, the sweets of the Holy Scriptures,
+<i>Sanctarum mella Scripturarum</i>: others I inebriate
+with the study of ancient wisdom; and others I fill
+with the fruits of grammatical lore. Many I seek
+to instruct in the order of the stars which illuminate
+the glorious vault of heaven; so that they may be
+made ornaments to the holy church of God and the
+court of your imperial majesty; that the goodness
+of God and your kindness may not be altogether
+unproductive of good. But in doing this I discover
+the want of much, especially those exquisite books
+of scholastic learning, which I possessed in my own
+country, through the industry of my good and most
+devout master (Egbert). I therefore intreat your
+Excellence to permit me to send into Britain some
+of our youths to procure those books which we so
+much desire, and thus transplant into France the
+flowers of Britain, that they may fructify and perfume,
+not only the garden at York, but also the
+Paradise of Tours; and that we may say, in the
+words of the song, '<i>Let my beloved come into his
+garden and eat his pleasant fruit</i>;' and to the
+young, '<i>Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink, abundantly,
+O beloved</i>;' or exhort, in the words of the
+prophet Isaiah, '<i>every one that thirsteth to come to
+the waters, and ye that hath no money, come ye, buy
+and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without
+money and without price</i>.'</p>
+
+<p>"Your Majesty is not ignorant how earnestly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>[<a href="./images/182.png">182</a>]</span>
+we are exhorted throughout the Holy Scriptures
+to search after wisdom; nothing so tends to the
+attainment of a happy life; nothing more delightful
+or more powerful in resisting vice; nothing
+more honorable to an exalted dignity; and, according
+to philosophy, nothing more needful to
+a just government of a people. Thus Solomon
+exclaims, '<i>Wisdom is better than rubies, and all
+the things that may be desired are not to be compared
+to it</i>.' It exalteth the humble with sublime honors.
+'<i>By wisdom kings reign and princes decree justice:
+by me princes rule; and nobles, even all the judges
+of the earth. Blessed are they that keep my ways,
+and blessed is the man that heareth me.</i>' Continue,
+then, my Lord King, to exhort the young in the
+palaces of your highness to earnest pursuit in
+acquiring wisdom; that they may be honored in
+their old age, and ultimately enter into a blessed
+immortality. I shall truly, according to my ability,
+continue to sow in those parts the seeds of wisdom
+among your servants; remembering the command,
+'<i>In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening
+withhold not thine hand.</i>' In my youth I sowed
+the seeds of learning in the prosperous seminaries
+of Britain; and now, in my old age, I am doing so
+in France without ceasing, praying that the grace
+of God may bless them in both countries."<a name="FNanchor_278_278" id="FNanchor_278_278"></a><a href="#Footnote_278_278" class="fnanchor">[278]</a></p>
+
+<p>Such was the enthusiasm, such the spirit of
+bibliomania, which actuated the monks of those
+<i>bookless</i> days; and which was fostered with such
+zealous care by Alcuin, in the cloisters of St. Martin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>[<a href="./images/183.png">183</a>]</span>
+of Tours. He appropriated one of the apartments
+of the monastery for the transcription of books, and
+called it the <i>museum</i>, in which constantly were employed
+a numerous body of industrious scribes: he
+presided over them himself, and continually exhorted
+them to diligence and care; to guard against the
+inadvertencies of unskilful copyists, he wrote a
+small work on orthography. We cannot estimate
+the merits of this essay, for only a portion of it has
+been preserved; but in the fragment printed among
+his works, we can see much that might have been
+useful to the scribes, and can believe that it must
+have tended materially to preserve the purity of
+ancient texts. It consists of a catalogue of words
+closely resembling each other, and consequently
+requiring the utmost care in transcribing.<a name="FNanchor_279_279" id="FNanchor_279_279"></a><a href="#Footnote_279_279" class="fnanchor">[279]</a></p>
+
+<p>In these pleasing labors Alcuin was assisted by
+many of the most learned men of the time, and
+especially by Arno, Archbishop of Salzburgh, in
+writing to whom Alcuin exclaims, "O that I could
+suddenly translate my <i>Abacus</i>, and with my own
+hands quickly embrace your fraternity with that
+warmth which cannot be compressed in books.
+Nevertheless, because I cannot conveniently come,
+I send more frequently my unpolished letters (<i>rusticitatis
+me&aelig; litteras</i>) to thee, that they may speak
+for me instead of the words of my mouth." This
+Arno, to whom he thus affectionately writes, was
+no despicable scholar; he was a true lover of literature,
+and proved himself something of an <i>amator</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>[<a href="./images/184.png">184</a>]</span>
+<i>librorum</i>, by causing to be transcribed or bought
+for his use, 150 volumes,<a name="FNanchor_280_280" id="FNanchor_280_280"></a><a href="#Footnote_280_280" class="fnanchor">[280]</a> but about this period
+the bookloving mania spread far and wide&mdash;the
+Emperor himself was touched with the enthusiasm;
+for, besides his choice private collections,<a name="FNanchor_281_281" id="FNanchor_281_281"></a><a href="#Footnote_281_281" class="fnanchor">[281]</a> he
+collected together the ponderous writings of the
+holy fathers, amounting to upwards of 200 volumes,
+bound in a most sumptuous manner, and commanded
+them to be deposited in a public temple
+and arranged in proper order, so that those who
+could not purchase such treasures might be enabled
+to feast on the lore of the ancients. Thus did
+bibliomania flourish in the days of old.</p>
+
+<p>But I must not be tempted to remain longer in
+France, though the names of many choice old book
+collectors would entice me to do so. When I left
+England, to follow the steps of Alcuin, I was
+speaking of York, which puts me in mind of the
+monastery of Whitby,<a name="FNanchor_282_282" id="FNanchor_282_282"></a><a href="#Footnote_282_282" class="fnanchor">[282]</a> in the same shire, on the
+banks of the river Eske. It was founded by Hilda,
+the virgin daughter of Hereric, nephew to King
+Edwin, about the year 680, who was its first abbess.
+Having put her monastery in regular order, Hilda
+set an illustrious example of piety and virtue, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>[<a href="./images/185.png">185</a>]</span>
+particularly directed all under her care to a constant
+reading of the holy Scriptures. After a long life
+of usefulness and zeal she died deeply lamented by
+the Saxon Church,<a name="FNanchor_283_283" id="FNanchor_283_283"></a><a href="#Footnote_283_283" class="fnanchor">[283]</a> an event which many powerful
+miracles commemorated.</p>
+
+<p>In the old times of the Saxons the monastery of
+Whitby was renowned for its learning; and many
+of the celebrated ecclesiastics of the day received
+their instruction within its walls. The most interesting
+literary anecdote connected with the good
+lady Hilda's abbacy, is the kind reception she gave
+to the Saxon poet C&aelig;dmon, whose paraphrase of
+the Book of Genesis has rendered his name immortal.
+He was wont to make "pious and religious
+verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out
+of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical
+expression of much sweetness and humility in English,
+which was his native language. By his verses
+the minds of many were often excited to despise
+the world and to aspire to heaven. Others after
+him attempted in the English nation to compose
+religious poems, but none could ever compare with
+him, <i>for he did not learn the art of poetry from
+man but from God</i>."<a name="FNanchor_284_284" id="FNanchor_284_284"></a><a href="#Footnote_284_284" class="fnanchor">[284]</a> He was indeed, as the
+venerable Bede says, a poet of nature's own teaching:
+originally a rustic herdsman, the sublime gift
+was bestowed upon him by inspiration, or as it is recorded,
+in a dream. As he slept an unknown being
+appeared, and commanded him to sing. C&aelig;dmon
+hesitated to make the attempt, but the apparition
+retorted, "Nevertheless, thou shalt sing&mdash;sing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>[<a href="./images/186.png">186</a>]</span>
+the origin of things." Astonished and perplexed,
+our poet found himself instantaneously in possession
+of the pleasing art; and, when he awoke, his
+vision and the words of his song were so impressed
+upon his memory, that he easily repeated them to
+his wondering companions.<a name="FNanchor_285_285" id="FNanchor_285_285"></a><a href="#Footnote_285_285" class="fnanchor">[285]</a> He hastened at day-break
+to relate these marvels and to display his
+new found talents to the monks of Whitby, by
+whom he was joyfully received, and as they unfolded
+the divine mysteries, "The good man," says
+Bede, "listened like a clean animal ruminating; and
+his song and his verse were so winsome to hear,
+that his teachers wrote them down, and learned
+from his mouth."<a name="FNanchor_286_286" id="FNanchor_286_286"></a><a href="#Footnote_286_286" class="fnanchor">[286]</a></p>
+
+<p>Some contend that an ancient manuscript in the
+British Museum is the original of this celebrated
+paraphrase.<a name="FNanchor_287_287" id="FNanchor_287_287"></a><a href="#Footnote_287_287" class="fnanchor">[287]</a> It is just one of those choice relics
+which a bibliomaniac loves to handle, but scarcely
+perhaps bears evidence of antiquity so remote. It
+is described in the catalogue as, "The substance of
+the Book of Genesis, with the Acts of Moses and
+Joshua, with brief notes and annotations, part in
+Latin and part in Saxon by Bede and others."
+The notes, if by Bede, would tend to favor the
+opinion that it is the original manuscript, or, at
+any rate, coeval with the Saxon bard. The volume,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>[<a href="./images/187.png">187</a>]</span>
+as a specimen of calligraphic art, reflects honor
+upon the age, and is right worthy of Lady Hilda's
+monastery. There are 312<a name="FNanchor_288_288" id="FNanchor_288_288"></a><a href="#Footnote_288_288" class="fnanchor">[288]</a> fine velum pages in
+this venerable and precious volume, nearly every
+one of which dazzles with the talent of the skilful
+illuminator. The initial letters are formed, with
+singular taste and ingenuity, of birds, beasts, and
+flowers. To give an idea of the nature of these pictorial
+embellishments&mdash;which display more splendor
+of coloring than accuracy of design&mdash;I may describe
+the singular illumination adorning the sixth page,
+which represents the birth of Eve. Adam is asleep,
+reclining on the grass, which is depicted as so many
+inverted cones; and, if we may judge from the
+appearance of our venerable forefather, he could
+not have enjoyed a very comfortable repose on that
+memorable occasion, and the grass which grew in
+the Garden of Paradise must have been of a very
+stubborn nature when compared with the earth's
+verdure of the present day; for the weight of
+Adam alters not the position of the tender herb,
+which supports his huge body on their extreme
+summits. As he is lying on the left side Eve is
+ascending from a circular aperture in his right; nor
+would the original, if she bore any resemblance to
+her monkish portraiture, excite the envy or the
+admiration of the present age, or bear comparison
+with her fair posterity. Her physiognomy is anything
+but fascinating, and her figure is a repulsive
+monstrosity, <i>adorned</i> with a profusion of luxurious
+hair of a brilliant blue!</p>
+
+<p>It is foreign to our subject to enter into any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>[<a href="./images/188.png">188</a>]</span>
+analysis of the literary beauties of this poem; let
+it suffice that C&aelig;dmon, the old Saxon herdsman,
+has been compared to our immortal Milton; and
+their names have been coupled together when
+speaking of a poet's genius.<a name="FNanchor_289_289" id="FNanchor_289_289"></a><a href="#Footnote_289_289" class="fnanchor">[289]</a> But on other grounds
+C&aelig;dmon claims a full measure of our praise. Not
+only was he the "Father of Saxon poetry," but to
+him also belongs the inestimable honor of being
+the first who attempted to render into the vulgar
+tongue the beauties and mysteries of the Holy
+Scriptures; he unsealed what had hitherto been a
+sealed book; his paraphrase is the first translation
+of the holy writ on record. So let it not be forgotten
+that to this Milton of old our Saxon ancestors
+were indebted for this invaluable treasure. We are
+unable to trace distinctly the formation of the
+monastic library of Whitby. But of the time of
+Richard, elected abbot in the year 1148, a good
+monk, and formerly prior of Peterborough, we
+have a catalogue of their books preserved. I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>[<a href="./images/189.png">189</a>]</span>
+refer the reader to that curious list,<a name="FNanchor_290_290" id="FNanchor_290_290"></a><a href="#Footnote_290_290" class="fnanchor">[290]</a> and ask him
+if it does not manifest by its contents the existence
+of a more refined taste in the cloisters than he gave
+the old monks credit for. It is true, the legends of
+saints abound in it; but then look at the choice
+tomes of a classic age, whose names grace that
+humble catalogue, and remember that the studies
+of the Whitby monks were divided between the
+miraculous lives of holy men, and the more pleasing
+pages of the "Pagan Homer," the eloquence of
+Tully, and the wit of Juvenal, of whose subject
+they seemed to have been fond; for they read also
+the satires of Persius. I extract the names of some
+of the authors contained in this monkish library:</p>
+
+<ul><li>Ambrose.</li>
+<li>Hugo.</li>
+<li>Theodolus.</li>
+<li>Aratores.</li>
+<li>Bernard.</li>
+<li>Avianus.</li>
+<li>Gratian.</li>
+<li>Odo.</li>
+<li>Gilda.</li>
+<li>Maximianus.</li>
+<li>Eusebius.</li>
+<li>Plato.</li>
+<li>Homer.</li>
+<li>Cicero.</li>
+<li>Juvenal.</li>
+<li>Persius.</li>
+<li>Statius.</li>
+<li>Sedulus.</li>
+<li>Prosper.</li>
+<li>Prudentius.</li>
+<li>Boethius.</li>
+<li>Donatus.</li>
+<li>Rabanus Maurus.</li>
+<li>Origen.</li>
+<li>Priscian.</li>
+<li>Gregory Nazianzen.</li>
+<li>Josephus.</li>
+<li>Bede.</li>
+<li>Gildas.</li>
+<li>Isidore.</li>
+<li>Ruffinus.</li>
+<li>Guido on Music.</li>
+<li>Diadema Monachorum.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Come, the monks evidently read something
+besides their <i>Credo</i>, and transcribed something better
+than "monastic trash." A little taste for literature
+and learning we must allow they enjoyed,
+when they formed their library of such volumes as
+the above. I candidly admit, that when I commenced
+these researches I had no expectations of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>[<a href="./images/190.png">190</a>]</span>
+finding a collection of a hundred volumes, embracing
+so many choice works of old Greece and
+Rome. It is pleasant, however, to trace these
+workings of bibliomania in the monasteries; and
+it is a surprise quite agreeable and delicious in
+itself to meet with instances like the present.</p>
+
+<p>At a latter period the monastery of Rievall, in
+Yorkshire, possessed an excellent library of 200
+volumes. This we know by a catalogue of them,
+compiled by one of the monks about the middle of
+the fourteenth century, and now preserved in the
+library of Jesus College, Cambridge.<a name="FNanchor_291_291" id="FNanchor_291_291"></a><a href="#Footnote_291_291" class="fnanchor">[291]</a> A transcript
+of this manuscript was made by Mr. Halliwell, and
+published in his "Reliqua Antiqua,"<a name="FNanchor_292_292" id="FNanchor_292_292"></a><a href="#Footnote_292_292" class="fnanchor">[292]</a> from which
+it may be seen that the Rievall monastery contained
+at that time many choice and valuable works. The
+numerous writings of Sts. Augustine, Bernard, Anselm,
+Cyprian, Origin, Haimo, Gregory, Ambrose,
+Isidore, Chrysostom, Bede, Aldhelm, Gregory Nazienzen,
+Ailred, Josephus, Rabanus Maurus, Peter
+Lombard, Orosius, Boethius, Justin, Seneca, with
+histories of the church of Britain, of Jerusalem, of
+King Henry, and many others equally interesting
+and costly, prove how industriously they used their
+pens, and how much they appreciated literature and
+learning. But in the fourteenth century the inhabitants
+of the monasteries were very industrious
+in transcribing books at a period coeval with the
+compilation of the Rievall catalogue, a monk of
+Coventry church was plying his pen with unceasing
+energy; John de Bruges wrote with his own hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>[<a href="./images/191.png">191</a>]</span>
+thirty-two volumes for the library of the benedictine
+priory of St. Mary.</p>
+
+<p>The reader will see that there is little among
+them worthy of much observation. The MS.
+begins, "These are the books which John of
+Bruges, monk of Coventry, wrote for the Coventry
+church. Any who shall take them away from the
+church without the consent of the convent, let him
+be anathema."<a name="FNanchor_293_293" id="FNanchor_293_293"></a><a href="#Footnote_293_293" class="fnanchor">[293]</a></p>
+
+<ul><li>In primis, ymnarium in grossa littera.</li>
+<li>Halmo upon Isaiah.</li>
+<li>A Missal for the Infirmary.</li>
+<li>A Missal.</li>
+<li>Duo missalia domini Prioris Rogeris, scilicet collectas cum secretis et postcommunione.</li>
+<li>A Benedictional for the use of the same prior.</li>
+<li>Another Benedictional for the use of the convent.</li>
+<li>Librum cartarum.</li>
+<li>Martyrologium, Rule of St. Benedict and Pastoral, in one volume.</li>
+<li>Liber cartarum.</li>
+<li>A Graduale, with a Tropario, and a Processional.</li>
+<li>Psaltar for Prior Roger.</li>
+<li>Palladium de Agricultura.</li>
+<li>Librum experimentorum, in quo ligatur compotus Helprici.</li>
+<li>A book containing Compotus manualis et Merlin, etc.</li>
+<li>An Ordinal for the Choir.</li>
+<li>Tables for the Martyrology.</li>
+<li>Kalendarium mortuorum.</li>
+<li>Ditto.</li>
+<li>Table of Responses.</li>
+<li>Capitular.</li>
+<li>Capitular for Prior Roger.</li>
+<li>A Reading Book.</li>
+<li>A book of Decretals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>[<a href="./images/192.png">192</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Psalter for the monks in the infirmary.</li>
+<li>Generationes Veteris et Novi Testamenti; ante scholasticam hystoriam et ante Psalterium domini Anselmi.</li>
+<li>Pater noster.</li>
+<li>An Ordinal.</li>
+<li>Tables for Peter Lombard's Sentences.</li>
+<li>Tables for the Psalter.</li>
+<li>Book of the Statutes of the Church.</li>
+<li>Verses on the praise of the blessed Mary.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>The priory of St. Mary's was founded by
+Leofricke, the celebrated Earl of Mercia and his
+good Lady Godiva, in the year 1042. "Hollingshead
+says that this Earl Leofricke was a man of
+great honor, wise, and discreet in all his doings.
+His high wisdome and policie stood the realme in
+great steed whilst he lived.... He had a noble ladie
+to his wife named Gudwina, at whose earnest sute
+he made the citie of Couentrie free of all manner
+of toll except horsses, and to haue that toll laid
+downe also, his foresaid wife rode naked through
+the middest of the towne without other couerture,
+saue onlie her haire. Moreouer partlie moued by
+his owne deuotion and partlie by the persuasion of
+his wife, he builded or beneficiallie augmented and
+repared manie abbeies and churches as the saide
+abbie or priorie at Couentrie&mdash;the abbeies of
+Wenlocke, Worcester, Stone, Evesham, and Leot,
+besides Hereford."</p>
+
+<p>The church of Worcester, which the good Earl
+had thus "beneficiallie augmented," the Saxon King
+Offa had endowed with princely munificence before
+him. In the year 780, during the time of Abbot
+Tilhere, or Gilhere, Offa gave to the church
+Croppethorne, Netherton, Elmlege Cuddeshe,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>[<a href="./images/193.png">193</a>]</span>
+Cherton, and other lands, besides a "large Bible
+with two clasps, made of the purest gold."<a name="FNanchor_294_294" id="FNanchor_294_294"></a><a href="#Footnote_294_294" class="fnanchor">[294]</a> In the
+tenth century the library of Exeter Church was
+sufficiently extensive to require the preserving care
+of an amanuensis; for according to Dr. Thomas,
+Bishop Oswald granted in the year 985 three hides
+of land at Bredicot, one yardland at Ginenofra, and
+seven acres of meadow at Tiberton, to Godinge a
+monk, on condition of his fulfilling the duties of a
+librarian to the see, and transcribing the registers
+and writings of the church. It is said that the
+scribe Godinge wrote many choice books for the
+library.<a name="FNanchor_295_295" id="FNanchor_295_295"></a><a href="#Footnote_295_295" class="fnanchor">[295]</a> I do not find any remarkable book
+donation, save now and then a volume or two, in
+the annals of Worcester Church; nor have I been
+able to discover any old parchment catalogue to
+tell of the number or rarity of their books; for
+although probably most monasteries had one
+compiled, being enjoined to do so by the regulations
+of their order, they have long ago been destroyed;
+for when we know that fine old manuscripts
+were used by the bookbinders after the
+Reformation, we can easily imagine how little value
+would be placed on a mere catalogue of names.</p>
+
+<p>But to return again to Godiva, that illustrious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>[<a href="./images/194.png">194</a>]</span>
+lady gave the monks, after the death of her lord,
+many landed possessions, and bestowed upon them
+the blessings of a library.<a name="FNanchor_296_296" id="FNanchor_296_296"></a><a href="#Footnote_296_296" class="fnanchor">[296]</a></p>
+
+<p>Thomas Cobham, who was consecrated Bishop
+of Worcester in the year 1317, was a great
+"<i>amator librorum</i>," and spent much time and
+money in collecting books. He was the first who
+projected the establishment of a public library at
+Oxford, which he designed to form over the old
+Congregation House in the churchyard of St.
+Mary's, but dying soon after in the year 1327, the
+project was forgotten till about forty years after,
+when I suppose the example of the great bibliomaniac
+Richard de Bury drew attention to the
+matter; for his book treasures were then "deposited
+there, and the scholars permitted to consult them
+on certain conditions."<a name="FNanchor_297_297" id="FNanchor_297_297"></a><a href="#Footnote_297_297" class="fnanchor">[297]</a></p>
+
+<p>Bishop Carpenter built a library for the use of
+the monastery of Exeter Church, in the year 1461,
+over the charnal house; and endowed it with &pound;10
+per annum as a salary for an amanuensis.<a name="FNanchor_298_298" id="FNanchor_298_298"></a><a href="#Footnote_298_298" class="fnanchor">[298]</a> But
+the books deposited there were grievously destroyed
+during the civil wars; for on the twenty-fourth of
+September, 1642, when the army under the Earl of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>[<a href="./images/195.png">195</a>]</span>
+Essex came to Worcester, they set about "destroying
+the organ, breaking in pieces divers beautiful
+windows, wherein the foundation of the church
+was lively historified with painted glass;" they also
+"rifled the library, with the records and evidences
+of the church, tore in pieces the Bibles and service
+books pertaining to the quire."<a name="FNanchor_299_299" id="FNanchor_299_299"></a><a href="#Footnote_299_299" class="fnanchor">[299]</a> Sad desecration of
+ancient literature! But the reader of history will
+sigh over many such examples.</p>
+
+<p>The registers of Evesham Monastery, near
+Worcester, speak of several monkish bibliophiles,
+and the bookish anecdotes relating to them are
+sufficiently interesting to demand some attention
+here. Ailward, who was abbot in the year 1014,
+gave the convent many relics and ornaments, and
+what was still better a quantity of books.<a name="FNanchor_300_300" id="FNanchor_300_300"></a><a href="#Footnote_300_300" class="fnanchor">[300]</a> He was
+afterwards promoted to the see of London, over
+which he presided many years; but age and infirmity
+growing upon him, he was anxious again to
+retire to Evesham, but the monks from some cause
+or other were unwilling to receive him back; at
+this he took offence, and seeking in the monastery
+of Ramsey the quietude denied him there, he demanded
+back all the books he had given them.<a name="FNanchor_301_301" id="FNanchor_301_301"></a><a href="#Footnote_301_301" class="fnanchor">[301]</a>
+His successor Mannius was celebrated for his skill
+in the fine arts, and was an exquisite worker in
+metals, besides an ingenious scribe and illuminator.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>[<a href="./images/196.png">196</a>]</span>
+He wrote and illuminated with his own hand, for
+the use of his monastery, a missal and a large
+Psalter.<a name="FNanchor_302_302" id="FNanchor_302_302"></a><a href="#Footnote_302_302" class="fnanchor">[302]</a></p>
+
+<p>Walter, who was abbot in the year 1077, gave
+also many books to the library,<a name="FNanchor_303_303" id="FNanchor_303_303"></a><a href="#Footnote_303_303" class="fnanchor">[303]</a> and among the
+catalogue of sumptuous treasures with which Reginald,
+a succeeding abbot, enriched the convent, a
+great textus or gospels, with a multitude of other
+books, <i>multa alia libros</i>, are particularly specified.<a name="FNanchor_304_304" id="FNanchor_304_304"></a><a href="#Footnote_304_304" class="fnanchor">[304]</a>
+Almost equally liberal were the choice gifts bestowed
+upon the monks by Adam (elected <span class="smcap">a. d.</span>
+1161); but we find but little in our way among
+them, except a fine copy of the "Old and New
+Testament with a gloss." No mean gift I ween in
+those old days; but one which amply compensated
+for the deficiency of the donation in point of numbers.
+But all these were greatly surpassed by a
+monk whom it will be my duty now to introduce;
+and to an account of whose life and bibliomanical
+propensities, I shall devote a page or two. Like
+many who spread a lustre around the little sphere
+of their own, and did honor, humbly and quietly to
+the sanctuary of the church in those Gothic days,
+he is unknown to many; and might, perhaps, have
+been entirely forgotten, had not time kindly spared
+a document which testifies to his piety and book-collecting
+industry. The reader will probably recollect
+many who, by their shining piety and spotless
+life, maintained the purity of the Christian faith in
+a church surrounded by danger and ignorance, and
+many a bright name, renowned for their virtue or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>[<a href="./images/197.png">197</a>]</span>
+their glory of arms, who flourished during the early
+part of the thirteenth century; but few have heard
+of a good and humble monk named Thomas of
+Marleberg. Had circumstances designed him for a
+higher sphere, had affairs of state, or weighty duties
+of an ecclesiastical import, been guided by his hand,
+his name would have been recorded with all the
+flourish of monkish adulation; but the learning and
+the prudence of that lowly monk was confined to
+the little world of Evesham; and when his earthly
+manes were buried beneath the cloisters within the
+old convent walls, his name and good deeds were
+forgotten by the world, save in the hearts of his
+fraternity.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But past is all his fame. The very spot<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>In a manuscript in the Cotton Library there is
+a document called "The good deeds of Prior
+Thomas," from which the following facts have
+been extracted.<a name="FNanchor_305_305" id="FNanchor_305_305"></a><a href="#Footnote_305_305" class="fnanchor">[305]</a></p>
+
+<p>From this interesting memorial of his labors,
+we learn that Thomas had acquired some repute
+among the monks for his great knowledge of civil
+and canon law; so that when any difficulty arose
+respecting the claims or privileges of the monastery,
+or when any important matter was to be transacted,
+his advice was sought and received with deference
+and respect. Thus three years after his admission
+the bishop of Worcester intimated his intention of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>[<a href="./images/198.png">198</a>]</span>
+paying the monastery a visitation; a practice which
+the bishops of that see had not enforced since the
+days of abbot Alurie. The abbot and convent
+however considered themselves free from the jurisdiction
+of the bishop; and acting on the advice of
+Thomas of Marleberg, they successfully repulsed
+him. The affair was quite an event, and seems to
+have caused much sensation among them at the
+time; and is mentioned to show with what esteem
+Thomas was regarded by his monkish brethren.
+After a long enumeration of "good works" and
+important benefactions, such as rebuilding the tower
+and repairing the convent, we are told that "In the
+second year of Randulp's abbacy, Thomas, then
+dean, went with him to Rome to a general council,
+where, by his prudence and advice, a new arrangement
+in the business of the convent rents was confirmed,
+and many other useful matters settled."
+Here I am tempted to refer to the <i>arrangements</i>,
+for they offer pleasing illustrations of the monk as
+an "<i>amator librorum</i>." Mark how his thoughts
+dwelt&mdash;even when surrounded by those high dignitaries
+of the church, and in the midst of that important
+council&mdash;on the library and the scriptorium
+of his monastery.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>To the Prior belongs the tythes of Beningar the
+both great and small, to defray the expenses of
+procuring parchment, and to procure manuscripts
+for transcription.</i>"</p></div>
+
+<p>And in another clause it is settled that</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>To the Office of the Precentor belongs the Manner
+of Hampton, from which he will receive five</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>[<a href="./images/199.png">199</a>]</span>
+<i>shillings annually, besides ten and eightpence
+from the tythes of Stokes and Alcester, with
+which he is to find all the ink and parchment
+for the Scribes of the Monastery, colours for
+illuminating, and all that is necessary for binding
+the books</i>."<a name="FNanchor_306_306" id="FNanchor_306_306"></a><a href="#Footnote_306_306" class="fnanchor">[306]</a></p></div>
+
+<p>Pleasing traits are these of his bookloving passion;
+and doubtless under his guidance the convent
+library grew and flourished amazingly. But let us
+return to the account of his "good works."</p>
+
+<p>"Returning from Rome after two years he was
+elected sacrist. He then made a reading-desk
+behind the choir,<a name="FNanchor_307_307" id="FNanchor_307_307"></a><a href="#Footnote_307_307" class="fnanchor">[307]</a> which was much wanted in the
+church, and appointed stated readings to be held
+near the tomb of Saint Wilsius.... Leaving his
+office thus rich in good works, he was then elected
+prior. In this office he buried his predecessor,
+Prior John, in a new mausoleum; and also John,
+surnamed Dionysius; of the latter of whom Prior
+Thomas was accustomed to say, 'that he had never
+known any man who so perfectly performed every
+kind of penance as he did for more than thirty
+years, in fasting and in prayer; in tears and in
+watchings; in cold and in corporeal inflictions; in
+coarseness and roughness of clothing, and in denying
+himself bodily comforts, far more than any other of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>[<a href="./images/200.png">200</a>]</span>
+the brethren; all of which he rather dedicated in
+good purposes and to the support of the poor."</p>
+
+<p>Thus did many an old monk live, practising all
+this with punctilious care as the essence of a holy
+life, and resting upon the fallacy that these cruel
+mortifyings of the flesh would greatly facilitate the
+acquisition of everlasting ease and joy in a better
+world; as if God knew not, better than themselves,
+what chastisements and afflictions were needful for
+them. We may sigh with pain over such instances
+of mistaken piety and fanatical zeal in all ages of
+the church; yet with all their privations, and with
+all their macerations of the flesh, there was a vast
+amount of human pride mingled with their humiliation.
+But He who sees into the hearts of all&mdash;looking
+in his benevolence more at the intention
+than the outward form, may perhaps sometimes
+find in it the workings of a true christian piety, and
+so reward it with his love. Let us trust so in the
+charity of our faith, and proceed to notice that portion
+of the old record which is more intimately
+connected with our subject. We read that</p>
+
+<p>"Thomas had brought with him to the convent,
+on his entering, many books, of both canon and
+civil law; as well as the books by which he had
+regulated the schools of Oxford and Exeter before
+he became a monk. He likewise had one book of
+Democritus; and the book of Antiparalenion, a
+gradual book, according to Constantine; Isidore's
+Divine Offices, and the Quadrimum of Isidore;
+Tully's de Amicitia; Tully de Senectute et de
+Paradoxis; Lucan, Juvenal, and many other authors,
+<i>et multos alios auctores</i>, with a great number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>[<a href="./images/201.png">201</a>]</span>
+sermons, with many writings on theological questions;
+on the art and rules of grammar and the
+book of accents. After he was prior he made a
+great breviary, better than any at that time in the
+monastery, with Haimo, on the Apocalypse, and a
+book containing the lives of the patrons of the
+church of Evesham; with an account of the deeds
+of all the good and bad monks belonging to the
+church, in one volume. He also wrote and bound
+up the same lives and acts in another volume
+separately. He made also a great Psalter, <i>magnum
+psalterium</i>, superior to any contained in the monastery,
+except the glossed ones. He collected and
+wrote all the necessary materials for four antiphoners,
+with their musical notes, himself; except
+what the brothers of the monastery transcribed for
+him. He also finished many books that William
+of Lith, of pious memory, commenced&mdash;the Marterologium,
+the Exceptio Miss&aelig;, and some excellent
+commentaries on the Psalter and Communion
+of the Saints in the old antiphoners. He also
+bought the four Gospels, with glosses, and Isaiah
+and Ezekiel, also glossed;<a name="FNanchor_308_308" id="FNanchor_308_308"></a><a href="#Footnote_308_308" class="fnanchor">[308]</a> the Pistill&aelig; upon Matthew;
+some Allegories on the Old Testament; the
+Lamentations of Jeremiah, with a gloss; the Exposition
+of the Mass, according to Pope Innocent;
+and the great book of Alexander Necham, which is
+called <i>Corrogationes Promethea de partibus veteris
+testamenti et nov&aelig;</i>.... He also caused to be transcribed
+in large letters the book concerning the
+offices of the abbey, from the Purification of St.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>[<a href="./images/202.png">202</a>]</span>
+Mary to the Feast of Easter; the prelections respecting
+Easter; Pentecost, and the blessings at the
+baptismal fonts. He also caused a volume, containing
+the same works, to be transcribed, but in a
+smaller hand; all of which the convent had not
+before. He made also the tablet for the locutory
+in the chapel of St. Anne, towards the west. After
+the altar of St. Mary in the crypts had been despoiled
+by thieves of its books and ornaments, to
+the value of ten pounds, he contributed to their
+restoration."</p>
+
+<p>Thomas was equally liberal in other matters.
+His whole time and wealth were spent in rebuilding
+and repairing the monastery and adding to its
+comforts and splendor. He had a great veneration
+for antiquity, and was especially anxious to restore
+those parts which were dilapidated by time;
+the old inscriptions on the monuments and altars
+he carefully re-inscribed. It is recorded that he renewed
+the inscription on the great altar himself,
+without the aid of a book, <i>sine libro</i>; which was
+deemed a mark of profound learning in my lord
+abbot by his monkish surbordinates.</p>
+
+<p>With this I conclude my remarks on Thomas
+of Marleberg, leaving these extracts to speak for
+him. It is pleasing to find that virtue so great,
+and industry so useful met with its just reward; and
+that the monks of Evesham proved how much they
+appreciated such talents, by electing him their abbot,
+in 1229, which, for seven years he held with
+becoming piety and wisdom.</p>
+
+<p>The annals of the monastery<a name="FNanchor_309_309" id="FNanchor_309_309"></a><a href="#Footnote_309_309" class="fnanchor">[309]</a> testify that "In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>[<a href="./images/203.png">203</a>]</span>
+the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred
+and ninety-two, and the fifteenth of the reign of
+King Richard the Second, on the tenth calends of
+May, died the venerable Prior Nicholas Hereford,
+of pious memory, who, as prior of the church of
+Evesham, lived a devout and religious life for
+forty years." He held that office under three succeeding
+abbots, and filled it with great honor and
+industry. He was a dear lover of books, and spent
+vast sums in collecting together his private library,
+amounting to more than 100 volumes; some of
+these he wrote with his own hand, but most of
+them he bought <i>emit</i>. A list of these books is
+given in the Harleian Register, and many of the
+volumes are described as containing a number of
+tracts, bound up in one, <i>cum aliis tractatibus in
+eodem volumine</i>. Some of these display the industry
+of his pen, and silently tell us of his Christian
+piety. Among those remarkable for their bulk, it
+is pleasurable to observe a copy of the Holy Scriptures,
+which was doubtless a comfort to the venerable
+prior in the last days of his green old age;
+and which probably guided him in the even tenor
+of that <i>devout and religious life</i>, for which he was
+so esteemed by the monks of Evesham. He possessed
+also some works of Bernard Augustin, and
+Boethius, whose Consolation of Philosophy few
+book-collectors of the middle ages were without.
+To many of the books the prices he gave for them,
+or at which they were then valued, are affixed: a
+"<i>Summa Pr&aelig;dicantium</i>" is valued at eight marks,
+and a "<i>Burley super Politices</i>" at seven marks. We
+may suspect monk Nicholas of being rather a curi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>[<a href="./images/204.png">204</a>]</span>ous
+collector in his way, for we find in his library
+some interesting volumes of popular literature.
+He probably found much pleasure in perusing his
+copy of the marvelous tale of "Beufys of Hampton,"
+and the romantic "Mort d'Arthur," both
+sufficiently interesting to relieve the monotonous
+vigils of the monastery. But I must not dwell
+longer on the monastic bibliophiles of Evesham,
+other libraries and bookworms call for some notice
+from my pen.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-17.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_245_245" id="Footnote_245_245"></a><a href="#FNanchor_245_245"><span class="label">[245]</span></a> "Rediens autem, ubi Viennam pervenit, eruptitios sibi quos
+apud amicos commendaverat, recepit." p. 26. <i>Vit. Abbat. Wear.
+12mo. edit. Ware.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_246_246" id="Footnote_246_246"></a><a href="#FNanchor_246_246"><span class="label">[246]</span></a> The youngest son of Oswy, or Oswis, king of Northumbria,
+who succeeded his father in the year 670, Alfred his elder brother
+being for a time set aside on the grounds of his illegitimacy; yet
+Alfred was a far more enlightened and talented prince than Ecgfrid,
+and much praised in Saxon annals for his love of learning.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_247_247" id="Footnote_247_247"></a><a href="#FNanchor_247_247"><span class="label">[247]</span></a> "Magn&acirc; quidem copi&acirc; voluminum sacrorum; sed non minori
+sicut et prius sanctorum imaginum numere detatus." <i>Vit. Abb.</i>
+p. 38.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_248_248" id="Footnote_248_248"></a><a href="#FNanchor_248_248"><span class="label">[248]</span></a> "Bibliothecam, quam de Roma nobillissimam copiosessimanque
+advenaret ad instructionem ecclesi&aelig; necessariam sollicite servari integram,
+nec per incuriam f&#339;dari aut passim dissipari pr&aelig;cepit."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_249_249" id="Footnote_249_249"></a><a href="#FNanchor_249_249"><span class="label">[249]</span></a> Bede says that he was "learned in Holy Scriptures." Dr. Henry
+mentions this anecdote in his <i>Hist. of England</i>, vol. ii. p. 287, 8vo.
+ed. which has led many secondary compilers into a curious blunder,
+by mistaking the king here alluded to for Alfred the Great: even
+Didbin, in his Bibliomania, falls into the same error although he
+suspected some mistake; he calls him <i>our immortal Alfrid</i>, p. 219,
+and seems puzzled to account for the anachronism, but does not take
+the trouble to enquire into the matter; Heylin's little Help to History
+would have set him right, and shown that while Alfrede king of
+Northumberland reigned in 680, Alfred king of England lived more
+than two centuries afterwards, pp. 25 and 29.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_250_250" id="Footnote_250_250"></a><a href="#FNanchor_250_250"><span class="label">[250]</span></a> The reader may perhaps smile at this, but it has long been my
+custom to carry some 8vo. edition of a monkish writer about me, when
+time or opportunity allowed me to spend a few hours among the ruins
+of the olden time. I recall with pleasure the recollection of many
+such rambles, and especially my last&mdash;a visit to Netley Abbey. What
+a sweet spot for contemplation; surrounded by all that is lovely in
+nature, it drives our old prejudices away, and touches the heart with
+piety and awe. Often have I explored its ruins and ascended its
+crumbling parapets, admiring the taste of those Cistercian monks in
+choosing so quiet, romantic, and choice a spot, and one so well suited
+to lead man's thoughts to sacred things above.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_251_251" id="Footnote_251_251"></a><a href="#FNanchor_251_251"><span class="label">[251]</span></a> Bede, <i>Vit. Abb. Wear.</i> p. 46.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_252_252" id="Footnote_252_252"></a><a href="#FNanchor_252_252"><span class="label">[252]</span></a> The fine libraries thus assiduously collected were destroyed by
+the Danes; that of Jarrow in the year 793, and that of Wearmouth
+in 867.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_253_253" id="Footnote_253_253"></a><a href="#FNanchor_253_253"><span class="label">[253]</span></a> Emer, Vita. ap. Mab. Act. SS. tom. iii. 199.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_254_254" id="Footnote_254_254"></a><a href="#FNanchor_254_254"><span class="label">[254]</span></a> Bede's Eccles. Hist. b. iii. c. xxv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_255_255" id="Footnote_255_255"></a><a href="#FNanchor_255_255"><span class="label">[255]</span></a> "Idemque vir Dei quatuor Evangelica et Bibliothecam pluresque
+libros Novi et Veteris Testamenti cum tabulis tectis auro purissimo
+et pretiosis gemmis mirabili artificio fabricatis ad honorem Dei."
+Dugdale's Monast. vol. ii. p. 133.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_256_256" id="Footnote_256_256"></a><a href="#FNanchor_256_256"><span class="label">[256]</span></a> In 665 he was raised to the episcopacy of all Northumbria.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_257_257" id="Footnote_257_257"></a><a href="#FNanchor_257_257"><span class="label">[257]</span></a> He was deprived of his bishopric in the year 678, and the see
+was divided into those of York and Hexham. But for the particulars
+of his conduct see <i>Soame's Anglo. Sax. Church</i>, p. 63, with <i>Dr. Lingard's
+Ang. Sax. Church</i>, vol. i. p. 245; though without accusing
+either of misrepresentation, I would advise the reader to search (if he
+has the opportunity), the original authorities for himself, it is a delicate
+matter for a Roman or an English churchman to handle with
+impartiality.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_258_258" id="Footnote_258_258"></a><a href="#FNanchor_258_258"><span class="label">[258]</span></a> His Saxon name was Winfrid, or Wynfrith, but he is generally
+called Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_259_259" id="Footnote_259_259"></a><a href="#FNanchor_259_259"><span class="label">[259]</span></a> The mere act of baptizing constitutes "<i>conversion</i>" in Jesuitical
+phraseology; and thousands were so converted in a few days by the
+followers of Ignatius. A similar process was used in working out the
+miracles of the Saxon missionary. He was rather too conciliating
+and too anxious for a "converting miracle," to be over particular;
+but it was all for the good of the church papal, to whom he was a
+devoted servant; the church papal therefore could not see the fault.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_260_260" id="Footnote_260_260"></a><a href="#FNanchor_260_260"><span class="label">[260]</span></a> Ep. iii. p. 7, Ed. 4to.&mdash;<i>Mogunti&aelig;</i>, 1629.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_261_261" id="Footnote_261_261"></a><a href="#FNanchor_261_261"><span class="label">[261]</span></a> Ep. iv. p. 8.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_262_262" id="Footnote_262_262"></a><a href="#FNanchor_262_262"><span class="label">[262]</span></a> Ep. xiii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_263_263" id="Footnote_263_263"></a><a href="#FNanchor_263_263"><span class="label">[263]</span></a> Ep. vii. p. 11.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_264_264" id="Footnote_264_264"></a><a href="#FNanchor_264_264"><span class="label">[264]</span></a> Ep. xiv. See also Ep. xxviii. p. 40.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_265_265" id="Footnote_265_265"></a><a href="#FNanchor_265_265"><span class="label">[265]</span></a> Ep. viii. p. 12.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_266_266" id="Footnote_266_266"></a><a href="#FNanchor_266_266"><span class="label">[266]</span></a> Ep. lxxxv. p. 119.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_267_267" id="Footnote_267_267"></a><a href="#FNanchor_267_267"><span class="label">[267]</span></a> Ep. ix. p. 13.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_268_268" id="Footnote_268_268"></a><a href="#FNanchor_268_268"><span class="label">[268]</span></a> Ep. xxii. p. 36.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_269_269" id="Footnote_269_269"></a><a href="#FNanchor_269_269"><span class="label">[269]</span></a> Ep. xcix. p. 135.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_270_270" id="Footnote_270_270"></a><a href="#FNanchor_270_270"><span class="label">[270]</span></a> Ep. cxi. p. 153.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_271_271" id="Footnote_271_271"></a><a href="#FNanchor_271_271"><span class="label">[271]</span></a> The accusation is not a groundless one. Foxe, in his <i>Acts
+and Monuments</i>, warmly upbraids him; and Aikins in his <i>Biog.
+Dict.</i>, has acted in a similar manner. But the best guides are his
+letters&mdash;they display his faults and his virtues too.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_272_272" id="Footnote_272_272"></a><a href="#FNanchor_272_272"><span class="label">[272]</span></a> This was in the year 731. <i>Goodwin</i> says he "sate 36 years,
+and died an. 767." He says, "This man by his owne wisedome, and
+the authority of his brother, amended greatly the state of his church
+and see. He procured the archiepiscopall pall to be restored to his
+churche againe, and erected a famous library at York, which he
+stored plentifully with an infinite number of excellent bookes."
+p. 441.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_273_273" id="Footnote_273_273"></a><a href="#FNanchor_273_273"><span class="label">[273]</span></a> De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesi&aelig; Eboracensis.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_274_274" id="Footnote_274_274"></a><a href="#FNanchor_274_274"><span class="label">[274]</span></a> Alcuini Oper., tom. i. vol. 1, p. 57, translated in Sharpe's
+William of Malmsbury, p. 73.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_275_275" id="Footnote_275_275"></a><a href="#FNanchor_275_275"><span class="label">[275]</span></a> Opera, tom. i. p. 305.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_276_276" id="Footnote_276_276"></a><a href="#FNanchor_276_276"><span class="label">[276]</span></a> In a letter to Gisla, sister to the emperor, he writes "Totius
+forsitan evangelii Johannis expositionem direxissem vobis, si me non
+occupasset Domini Regis pr&aelig;ceptum in emendatione Veteri Novique
+Testamenti."&mdash;<i>Opera</i>, tom. i. vol. 7, p. 591.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_277_277" id="Footnote_277_277"></a><a href="#FNanchor_277_277"><span class="label">[277]</span></a> Alcuini, ap. Gale, tom. iii. p. 730.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_278_278" id="Footnote_278_278"></a><a href="#FNanchor_278_278"><span class="label">[278]</span></a> Alcuini, Oper. tom. i. p. 52. Ep. xxxviii. It was written
+about 796.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_279_279" id="Footnote_279_279"></a><a href="#FNanchor_279_279"><span class="label">[279]</span></a> He was also very careful in instructing the scribes to punctuate
+with accuracy, which he deemed of great importance. See Ep. lxxxv.
+p. 126.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_280_280" id="Footnote_280_280"></a><a href="#FNanchor_280_280"><span class="label">[280]</span></a> Necrolog. MS. Capituli, Metropolitani Salisburgensis, <i>apud</i>
+Froben, tom. i. p. lxxxi.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_281_281" id="Footnote_281_281"></a><a href="#FNanchor_281_281"><span class="label">[281]</span></a> Charlemagne founded several libraries;&mdash;see <i>Koeler, Dissert.
+de Biblio. Caroli Mog.</i> published in 1727. Eginhart mentions his
+private collection, and it is thus spoken of in the emperor's will;
+"Similiter et de libris, quorum magna in bibliotheca sua copiam
+congregavit: statuit ut ab iis qui eos habere uellet, justo pretio redimeretur,
+pretin in pauperes erogaretur." Echin. Vita Caroli, p. 366,
+edit. 24mo. 1562. Yet we cannot but regret the dispersion of this
+imperial library.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_282_282" id="Footnote_282_282"></a><a href="#FNanchor_282_282"><span class="label">[282]</span></a> Formerly called <i>Streaneshalch</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_283_283" id="Footnote_283_283"></a><a href="#FNanchor_283_283"><span class="label">[283]</span></a> At the age of 66, <i>Bede</i>, b. iv. cxxiii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_284_284" id="Footnote_284_284"></a><a href="#FNanchor_284_284"><span class="label">[284]</span></a> Bede, b. iv. c. xxiv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_285_285" id="Footnote_285_285"></a><a href="#FNanchor_285_285"><span class="label">[285]</span></a> John de Trevisa says, "C&aelig;dmon of Whitaby was inspired of
+the Holy Gost, and made wonder poisyes an Englisch, meiz of al the
+Storyes of Holy Writ." <i>MS. Harleian</i>, 1900, fol. 43, a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_286_286" id="Footnote_286_286"></a><a href="#FNanchor_286_286"><span class="label">[286]</span></a> Ibid.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_287_287" id="Footnote_287_287"></a><a href="#FNanchor_287_287"><span class="label">[287]</span></a> Cottonian Collection marked <i>Claudius</i>, B. iv. There is another
+MS. in the Bodleian (<i>Junius</i> XI.) It was printed by Junius in 1655,
+in 4to. Sturt has engraved some of the illuminations in his <i>Saxon
+Antiquities</i>, and they were also copied and published by J. Greene,
+F. A. S., in 1754, in fifteen plates.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_288_288" id="Footnote_288_288"></a><a href="#FNanchor_288_288"><span class="label">[288]</span></a> It is unfortunately imperfect at the end, and wants folio 32.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_289_289" id="Footnote_289_289"></a><a href="#FNanchor_289_289"><span class="label">[289]</span></a> Take the following as an instance of the similarity of thought
+between the two poets. Sharon Turner thus renders a portion of
+Satan's speech from the Saxon of C&aelig;dmon:
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Yet why should I sue for his grace?<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Or bend to him with any obedience?<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I may be a God as he is.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Stand by me strong companions."<br /></span>
+<span class="i14"><i>Hist. Anglo Sax.</i> vol. ii. p. 314.</span></div></div>
+<p>The idea is with Milton:</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">. . . . . . . . To bow to one for grace<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With suppliant knee, and deify his power,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Who from the terror of this arm so late<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Doubted his empire; that were low indeed!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">That were an ignominy, and shame beneath<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">This downfall!<br /></span>
+<span class="i14"><i>Paradise Lost</i>, b. i.</span></div></div></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_290_290" id="Footnote_290_290"></a><a href="#FNanchor_290_290"><span class="label">[290]</span></a> He will find it in Charlton's History of Whitby, 4to. 1779,
+p. 113.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_291_291" id="Footnote_291_291"></a><a href="#FNanchor_291_291"><span class="label">[291]</span></a> Marked MS. N. B. 17.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_292_292" id="Footnote_292_292"></a><a href="#FNanchor_292_292"><span class="label">[292]</span></a> Wright and Halliwell's Rel. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 180.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_293_293" id="Footnote_293_293"></a><a href="#FNanchor_293_293"><span class="label">[293]</span></a> It is printed in Hearne's History of Glastonbury, from a MS.
+in the Bodleian Library, Ed. <i>Oxon</i>, 1722, <i>Appendix</i> x. p. 291.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_294_294" id="Footnote_294_294"></a><a href="#FNanchor_294_294"><span class="label">[294]</span></a> Bibliothecam optimam cum duobus armillis ex auro purissimo
+fabricatis.&mdash;<i>Heming. Chart</i>, p. 95.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_295_295" id="Footnote_295_295"></a><a href="#FNanchor_295_295"><span class="label">[295]</span></a> Thomas's Survey, of Worcester Church, 4to. 1736, p. 46.
+The Scriptorium of the monastery was situated in the cloisters, and
+a Bible in Bennet College, Cambridge, was written therein by a
+scribe named Senatus, as we learn from a note printed in Nasmith's
+Catalogue, which proves it to have been written during the reign of
+Henry II. It is a folio MS. on vellum, and a fine specimen of the
+talent of the expert scribe.&mdash;See <i>Nasmith's Catalogus Libr. MSS.</i>,
+4to. <i>Camb.</i> 1777, p. 31.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_296_296" id="Footnote_296_296"></a><a href="#FNanchor_296_296"><span class="label">[296]</span></a> Since writing the above, which I gave on the authority of
+Green (<i>Hist. of Worc.</i> vol. i. p. 79), backed with the older one of
+Thomas (<i>Survey Ch. Worc.</i> p. 70), I have had the opportunity of
+consulting the reference given by them (<i>Heming, Chart.</i> p. 262),
+and was somewhat surprised to find the words "<i>Et bibliothecam, in
+duobus partibus divisam</i>," the foundation of this pleasing anecdote.
+"<i>Bibliothecam</i>," however, was the Latin for a Bible in the middle
+ages: so that in fact the Lady Godiva gave them a Bible divided
+into two parts, or volumes.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_297_297" id="Footnote_297_297"></a><a href="#FNanchor_297_297"><span class="label">[297]</span></a> Chalmer's Hist. of the Colleges of Oxford, p. 458. Wood's
+Hist. Antiq. of Oxon, lib. ii. p. 48.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_298_298" id="Footnote_298_298"></a><a href="#FNanchor_298_298"><span class="label">[298]</span></a> Green's Hist. Worc. p. 79.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_299_299" id="Footnote_299_299"></a><a href="#FNanchor_299_299"><span class="label">[299]</span></a> Sir W. Dugdale's View of the Troubles in England, <i>Folio</i>,
+p. 557. We can easily credit the destruction of the organ and
+painted windows, so obnoxious to Puritan piety; but with regard to
+the <i>Bibles</i>, we may suspect the accuracy of the Royalist writer,
+col. 182.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_300_300" id="Footnote_300_300"></a><a href="#FNanchor_300_300"><span class="label">[300]</span></a> Symeon Dunelm. Tweyed. Script. x.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_301_301" id="Footnote_301_301"></a><a href="#FNanchor_301_301"><span class="label">[301]</span></a> Habingdon, MSS. Godwin de Pr&aelig;f, p. 231.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_302_302" id="Footnote_302_302"></a><a href="#FNanchor_302_302"><span class="label">[302]</span></a> Tindal's Hist. of Evesham, p. 248.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_303_303" id="Footnote_303_303"></a><a href="#FNanchor_303_303"><span class="label">[303]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> p. 250.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_304_304" id="Footnote_304_304"></a><a href="#FNanchor_304_304"><span class="label">[304]</span></a> MS. Harl., No. 3763, p. 180.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_305_305" id="Footnote_305_305"></a><a href="#FNanchor_305_305"><span class="label">[305]</span></a> MS. Cot. Vesp. b. xxiv. It is printed in Latin in <i>Nash's
+Worcestershire</i>, vol. i. p. 419, and translated in <i>Tindal's Hist. of
+Worcs.</i> p. 24, all of which I have used with <i>Dugdale's Monast.</i> vol.
+ii. p. 5.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_306_306" id="Footnote_306_306"></a><a href="#FNanchor_306_306"><span class="label">[306]</span></a> <i>MS. Cottonian Augustus II.</i> No. 11. "Ex his debet invenire
+pr&aelig;centor incaustum omnibus scriptoribus monasterii; et Pergamenum
+ad brevia, et colores ad illuminandum, et necessaria ad legandum
+libros." See <i>Dugdale's Monast.</i> vol. ii. p. 24.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_307_307" id="Footnote_307_307"></a><a href="#FNanchor_307_307"><span class="label">[307]</span></a> After the elapse of so many years, the research of the antiquarian
+has brought this desk to light; an account of it will be
+found in the Archeologia, vol. xvii. p. 278.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_308_308" id="Footnote_308_308"></a><a href="#FNanchor_308_308"><span class="label">[308]</span></a> "Emit etiam quator evangelia glosata, et Yaiam et Ezechielem
+glossatos."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_309_309" id="Footnote_309_309"></a><a href="#FNanchor_309_309"><span class="label">[309]</span></a> Harleian MSS., No. 3763.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>[<a href="./images/205.png">205</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-18.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Old Glastonbury Abbey.&mdash;Its Library.&mdash;John of
+Taunton.&mdash;Richard Whiting.&mdash;Malmsbury.&mdash;Bookish
+Monks of Gloucester Abbey.&mdash;Leofric of
+Exeter and his private library.&mdash;Peter of Blois.
+Extracts from his letters.&mdash;Proved to have been a
+great classical student, etc., etc.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> fame of Glastonbury Abbey
+will attract the steps of the
+western traveller; and if he possess
+the spirit of an antiquary, his
+eye will long dwell on those mutilated
+fragments of monkish architecture.
+The bibliophile will
+regard it with still greater love; for, in its day,
+it was one of the most eminent repositories
+of those treasures which it is his province to
+collect. For more than ten hundred years that
+old fabric has stood there, exciting in days of
+remote antiquity the veneration of our pious
+forefathers, and in modern times the admiration
+of the curious. Pilgrim! tread lightly on that
+hallowed ground! sacred to the memory of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>[<a href="./images/206.png">206</a>]</span>
+most learned and illustrious of our Saxon ancestry.
+The bones of princes and studious monks closely
+mingle with the ruins which time has caused, and
+bigotry helped to desecrate. Monkish tradition
+claims, as the founder of Glastonbury Abbey, St.
+Joseph of Arimathea, who, sixty-three years after
+the incarnation of our Lord, came to spread the
+truths of the Gospel over the island of Britain.
+Let this be how it may, we leave it for more certain
+data.</p></div>
+
+<p>After, says a learned antiquary, its having been
+built by St. Davis, Archbishop of Menevia, and
+then again restored by "twelve well affected men
+in the north;" it was entirely pulled down by Ina,
+king of the West Saxons, who "new builded the
+abbey of Glastonburie<a name="FNanchor_310_310" id="FNanchor_310_310"></a><a href="#Footnote_310_310" class="fnanchor">[310]</a> in a fenny place out of the
+way, to the end the monks mought so much the
+more give their mindes to heavenly thinges, and
+chiefely use the contemplation meete for men of
+such profession. This was the fourth building of
+that monasterie."<a name="FNanchor_311_311" id="FNanchor_311_311"></a><a href="#Footnote_311_311" class="fnanchor">[311]</a> The king completed his good
+work by erecting a beautiful chapel, garnished with
+numerous ornaments and utensils of gold and
+silver; and among other costly treasures, William
+of Malmsbury tells us that twenty pounds and
+sixty marks of gold was used in making a coopertoria
+for a book of the Gospels.<a name="FNanchor_312_312" id="FNanchor_312_312"></a><a href="#Footnote_312_312" class="fnanchor">[312]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>[<a href="./images/207.png">207</a>]</span></p><p>Would that I had it in my power to write the
+literary history of Glastonbury Abbey; to know
+what the monks of old there transcribed would be
+to acquire the history of learning in those times;
+for there was little worth reading in the literature
+of the day that was not copied by those industrious
+scribes. But if our materials will not enable
+us to do this, we may catch a glimpse of their well
+stored shelves through the kindness and care of
+William Britone the Librarian, who compiled a
+work of the highest interest to the biographer. It
+is no less than a catalogue of the books contained
+in the common library of the abbey in the year
+one thousand two hundred and forty-eight. Four
+hundred choice volumes comprise this fine collection;<a name="FNanchor_313_313" id="FNanchor_313_313"></a><a href="#Footnote_313_313" class="fnanchor">[313]</a>
+and will not the reader be surprised to find
+among them a selection of the classics, with the
+chronicles, poetry, and romantic productions of
+the middle ages, besides an abundant store of the
+theological writings of the primitive Church. But
+I have not transcribed a large proportion of this
+list, as the extracts given from other monastic catalogues
+may serve to convey an idea of their nature;
+but I cannot allow one circumstance connected
+with this old document to pass without remark. I
+would draw the reader's attention to the fine bibles
+which commence the list, and which prove that the
+monks of Glastonbury Abbey were fond and devoted
+students of the Bible. It begins with&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Bibliotheca una in duobus voluminibus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>[<a href="./images/208.png">208</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Alia Bibliotheca integra vetusta, set legibilis.</li>
+<li>Bibliotheca integr&aelig; minoris litter&aelig;.</li>
+<li>Dimidia pars Bibliothec&aelig; incipiens &agrave; Psalterio, vetusta.</li>
+<li>Bibliotheca magna versificata.</li>
+<li>Alia versificata in duobus voluminibus.</li>
+<li>Bibliotheca tres versificata.<a name="FNanchor_314_314" id="FNanchor_314_314"></a><a href="#Footnote_314_314" class="fnanchor">[314]</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>But besides these, the library contained numerous
+detached books and many copies of the Gospels,
+an ample collection of the fathers, and the controversal
+writings of the middle ages; and among
+many others, the following classics&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Aristotle.</li>
+<li>Livy.</li>
+<li>Orosius.</li>
+<li>Sallust.</li>
+<li>Donatus.</li>
+<li>Sedulus.</li>
+<li>Virgil's &AElig;neid.</li>
+<li>Virgil's Georgics.</li>
+<li>Virgil's Bucolics.</li>
+<li>&AElig;sop.</li>
+<li>Tully.</li>
+<li>Boethius.</li>
+<li>Plato.</li>
+<li>Isagoge of Porphyry.</li>
+<li>Prudentius.</li>
+<li>Fortuanus.</li>
+<li>Persius.</li>
+<li>Pompeius.</li>
+<li>Isidore.</li>
+<li>Smaragdius.</li>
+<li>Marcianus.</li>
+<li>Horace.</li>
+<li>Priscian.</li>
+<li>Prosper.</li>
+<li>Aratores.</li>
+<li>Claudian.</li>
+<li>Juvenal.</li>
+<li>Cornutus.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>I must not omit to mention that John de Taunton,
+a monk and an enthusiastic <i>amator librorum</i>,
+and who was elected abbot in the year 1271,
+collected forty choice volumes, and gave them to
+the library, <i>dedit librario</i>, of the abbey; no mean
+gift, I ween, in the thirteenth century. They
+included&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Questions on the Old and New Law.</li>
+<li>St. Augustine upon Genesis.</li>
+<li>Ecclesiastical Dogmas.</li>
+<li>St. Bernard's Enchiridion.</li>
+<li>St. Bernard's Flowers.</li>
+<li>Books of Wisdom, with a Gloss.</li>
+<li>Postil's upon Jeremiah and the lesser Prophets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>[<a href="./images/209.png">209</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Concordances to the Bible.</li>
+<li>Postil's of Albertus upon Matthew, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah and others, in one volume.</li>
+<li>Postil's upon Mark.</li>
+<li>Postil's upon John, with a Discourse on the Epistles throughout the year.</li>
+<li>Brother Thomas Old and New Gloss.</li>
+<li>Morabilius on the Gospels and Epistles.</li>
+<li>St. Augustine on the Trinity.</li>
+<li>Epistles of Paul glossed.</li>
+<li>St. Augustine's City of God.</li>
+<li>Kylwardesby upon the Letter of the Sentences.</li>
+<li>Questions concerning Crimes.</li>
+<li>Perfection of the Spiritual Life.</li>
+<li>Brother Thomas' Sum of Divinity, in four volumes.</li>
+<li>Decrees and Decretals.</li>
+<li>A Book of Perspective.</li>
+<li>Distinctions of Maurice.</li>
+<li>Books of Natural History, in two volumes.</li>
+<li>Book on the Properties of Things.<a name="FNanchor_315_315" id="FNanchor_315_315"></a><a href="#Footnote_315_315" class="fnanchor">[315]</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Subsequent to this, in the time of one book-loving
+abbot, an addition of forty-nine volumes was
+made to the collection by his munificence and the
+diligence of his scribes; and time has allowed the
+modern bibliophile to gaze on a catalogue of these
+treasures. I wish the monkish annalist had recorded
+the life of this early bibliomaniac, but
+unfortunately we know little of him. But they
+were no mean nor paltry volumes that he transcribed.
+It is with pleasure I see the catalogue
+commenced by a copy of the Holy Scriptures; and
+the many commentaries upon them by the fathers
+of the church enumerated after it, prove my Lord
+Abbot to have been a diligent student of the Bible.
+Nor did he seek God alone in his written word;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>[<a href="./images/210.png">210</a>]</span>
+but wisely understood that his Creator spoke to
+him also by visible works; and probably loved to
+observe the great wisdom and design of his God in
+the animated world; for a Pliny's Natural History
+stands conspicuous on the list, as the reader will
+perceive.</p>
+
+
+<ul><li><span class="smcap">The Bible</span>.</li>
+<li>Pliny's Natural History.</li>
+<li>Cassiodorus upon the Psalms.</li>
+<li>Three great Missals.</li>
+<li>Two Reading Books.</li>
+<li>A Breviary for the Infirmary.</li>
+<li>Jerome upon Jeremiah and Isaiah.</li>
+<li>Origen upon the Old Testament.</li>
+<li>Origen's Homilies.</li>
+<li>Origen upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans.</li>
+<li>Jerome upon the Epistles to the Galatians, to Ephesians, to Titus, and to Philemon.</li>
+<li>Lives of the Fathers.</li>
+<li>Collations of the Fathers.</li>
+<li>Breviary for the Hospital.</li>
+<li>An Antiphon.</li>
+<li>Pars una Moralium.</li>
+<li>Cyprian's Works.</li>
+<li>Register.</li>
+<li>Liber dictus Paradisus.</li>
+<li>Jerome against Jovinian.</li>
+<li>Ambrose against Novatian.</li>
+<li>Seven Volumes of the Passions of the Saints for the circle of the whole year.</li>
+<li>Lives of the C&aelig;sars.</li>
+<li>Acts of the Britons.</li>
+<li>Acts of the English.</li>
+<li>Acts of the Franks.</li>
+<li>Pascasius.</li>
+<li>Radbert on the Body and Blood of the Lord.</li>
+<li>Book of the Abbot of Clarevalle <i>de Amando Deo</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>[<a href="./images/211.png">211</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Hugo de S. Victore de duodecim gradibus Humilitatis et de Oratione.</li>
+<li>Physiomania Lapedarum et Liber Petri Alsinii in uno volumine.</li>
+<li>Rhetoric, two volumes.</li>
+<li>Quintilian <i>de Causes</i>, in one volume.</li>
+<li>Augustine upon the Lord's Prayer and upon the Psalm <i>Miserero mei Deus</i>.</li>
+<li>A Benedictional.</li>
+<li>Decreta Cainotensis Episcopi.</li>
+<li>Jerome upon the Twelve Prophets, and upon the Lamentations of Jeremiah.</li>
+<li>Augustine upon the Trinity.</li>
+<li>Augustine upon Genesis.</li>
+<li>Isidore's Etymology.</li>
+<li>Paterius.</li>
+<li>Augustine on the Words of our Lord.</li>
+<li>Hugo on the Sacraments.</li>
+<li>Cassinus on the Incarnation of our Lord.</li>
+<li>Anselm's <i>Cui Deus Homo</i>.<a name="FNanchor_316_316" id="FNanchor_316_316"></a><a href="#Footnote_316_316" class="fnanchor">[316]</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>The reader, I think, will allow that the catalogue
+enumerates but little unsuitable for a christian's
+study; he may not admire the principles contained
+in some of them, or the superstition with which
+many of them are loaded; but after all there were
+but few volumes among them from which a Bible
+reading monk might not have gleaned something
+good and profitable. These books were transcribed
+about the end of the thirteenth century, after the
+catalogue of the monastic library mentioned above
+was compiled.</p>
+
+<p>Walter Taunton, elected in the year 1322, gave
+to the library several volumes; and his successor,
+Adam Sodbury,<a name="FNanchor_317_317" id="FNanchor_317_317"></a><a href="#Footnote_317_317" class="fnanchor">[317]</a> elected in the same year, increased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>[<a href="./images/212.png">212</a>]</span>
+it with a copy of the whole Bible,<a name="FNanchor_318_318" id="FNanchor_318_318"></a><a href="#Footnote_318_318" class="fnanchor">[318]</a> a Scholastic
+history, Lives of Saints, a work on the Properties
+of Things, two costly Psalters, and a most beautifully
+bound Benedictional.</p>
+
+<p>But doubtless many a bookworm nameless in
+the page of history, dwelled within those walls
+apart from worldly solicitude and strife; relieving
+what would otherwise have been an insupportable
+monotony, with sweet converse, with books, or the
+avocations of a scribe.</p>
+
+<p>Well, years rolled on, and this fair sanctuary
+remained in all its beauty, encouraging the trembling
+christian, and fostering with a mother's care the
+literature and learning of the time. Thus it stood
+till that period, so dark and unpropitious for
+monkish ascendency, when Protestant fury ran wild,
+and destruction thundered upon the heads of those
+poor old monks! A sad and cruel revenge for
+enlightened minds to wreck on mistaken piety and
+superstitious zeal. How widely was the fine library
+scattered then. Even a few years after its dissolution,
+when Leland spent some days exploring the
+book treasures reposing there, it had been broken
+up, and many of them lost; yet still it must have
+been a noble library, for he tells us that it was
+"scarcely equalled in all Britain;" and adds, in the
+spirit of a true bibliomaniac, that he no sooner
+passed the threshold than the very sight of so
+many sacred remains of antiquity struck him with
+awe and astonishment. The reader will naturally
+wish that he had given us a list of what he found
+there; but he merely enumerates a selection of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>[<a href="./images/213.png">213</a>]</span>
+thirty-nine, among which we find a Grammatica
+Eriticis, formerly belonging to Saint Dunstan; a
+life of Saint Wilfrid; a Saxon version of Orosius,
+and the writings of William of Malmsbury.<a name="FNanchor_319_319" id="FNanchor_319_319"></a><a href="#Footnote_319_319" class="fnanchor">[319]</a> The
+antiquary will now search in vain for any vestige of
+the abbey library; even the spot on which it stood
+is unknown to the curious.</p>
+
+<p>No christian, let his creed be what it may, who
+has learnt from his master the principles of charity
+and love, will refuse a tear to the memory of
+Richard Whiting, the last of Glastonbury's abbots.
+Poor old man! Surely those white locks and tottering
+limbs ought to have melted a Christian
+heart; but what charity or love dwelt within the
+soul of that rapacious monarch? Too old to relinquish
+his long cherished superstitions; too firm
+to renounce his religious principles, Whiting offered
+a firm opposition to the reformation. The fury of
+the tyrant Henry was aroused, and that grey headed
+monk was condemned to a barbarous death. As a
+protestant I blush to write it, yet so it was; after a
+hasty trial, if trial it can be called, he was dragged
+on a hurdle to a common gallows erected on Torr
+Hill, and there, in the face of a brutal mob, with
+two of his companion monks, was he hung! Protestant
+zeal stopped not here, for when life had
+fled they cut his body down, and dividing it into
+quarters, sent one to each of the four principal
+towns; and as a last indignity to that mutilated
+clay, stuck his head on the gate of the old abbey,
+over which he had presided with judicious care in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>[<a href="./images/214.png">214</a>]</span>
+the last days of his troubled life. It was Whiting's
+wish to bid adieu in person to his monastery, in
+which in more prosperous times he had spent many
+a quiet hour; it is said that even this, the dying
+prayer of that poor old man, they refused to
+grant.<a name="FNanchor_320_320" id="FNanchor_320_320"></a><a href="#Footnote_320_320" class="fnanchor">[320]</a></p>
+
+<p>On viewing the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey,
+so mournful to look upon, yet so splendid in its
+decay, we cannot help exclaiming with Michael
+Dayton,&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"On whom for this sad waste, should justice lay the crime."</p></div>
+
+<p>Whilst in the west we cannot pass unnoticed the
+monastery of Malmsbury, one of the largest in
+England, and which possessed at one time an
+extensive and valuable library; but it was sadly
+ransacked at the Reformation, and its vellum
+treasures sold to the bakers to heat their stoves, or
+applied to the vilest use; not even a catalogue was
+preserved to tell the curious of a more enlightened
+age, what books the old monks read there; but
+perhaps, and the blood runs cold as the thought
+arises in the mind, a perfect Livy was among them,
+for a rare <i>amator librorum</i> belonging to this monastery,
+quotes one of the lost Decades.<a name="FNanchor_321_321" id="FNanchor_321_321"></a><a href="#Footnote_321_321" class="fnanchor">[321]</a> I allude to
+William of Malmsbury, one of the most enthusiastic
+bibliomaniacs of his age. From his youth he dwelt
+within the abbey walls, and received his education<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>[<a href="./images/215.png">215</a>]</span>
+there. His constant study and indefatigable industry
+in collecting and perusing books, was only
+equalled by his prudence and by his talents; he
+soon rose in the estimation of his fellow monks,
+who appointed him their librarian, and ultimately
+offered him the abbacy, which he refused with
+Christian humility, fearing too, lest its contingent
+duties would debar him from a full enjoyment of
+his favorite avocation; but of his book passion let
+William of Malmsbury speak for himself: "A long
+period has elapsed since, as well through the care
+of my parents as my own industry, I became familiar
+with books. This pleasure possessed me from my
+childhood; this source of delight has grown with
+my years; indeed, I was so instructed by my father,
+that had I turned aside to other pursuits, I should
+have considered it as jeopardy to my soul, and discredit
+to my character. Wherefore, mindful of the
+adage, 'covet what is necessary,' I constrained my
+early age to desire eagerly that which it was disgraceful
+not to possess. I gave indeed my attention
+to various branches of literature, but in different
+degrees. Logic, for instance, which gives
+arms to eloquence, I contented myself with barely
+learning: medicine, which ministers to the health
+of the body, I studied with somewhat more attention.
+But now, having scrupulously examined the
+various branches of ethics, I bow down to its
+majesty, because it spontaneously inverts itself to
+those who study it, and directs their minds to moral
+practice, history more especially; which by a certain
+agreeable recapitulation of past events, excites its
+readers by example, to frame their lives to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>[<a href="./images/216.png">216</a>]</span>
+pursuit of good or to aversion from evil. When,
+therefore, at my own expense I had procured some
+historians of foreign nations, I proceeded during
+my domestic leisure, to inquire if anything concerning
+our own country could be found worthy of
+handing down to posterity. Hence it arose, that
+not content with the writings of ancient times, I
+began myself to compose, not indeed to display my
+learning, which is comparatively nothing, but to
+bring to light events lying concealed in the confused
+mass of antiquity. In consequence, rejecting vague
+opinions, I have studiously sought for chronicles far
+and near, though I confess I have scarcely profited
+anything by this industry; for perusing them all I
+still remained poor in information, though I ceased
+not my researches as long as I could find anything
+to read."<a name="FNanchor_322_322" id="FNanchor_322_322"></a><a href="#Footnote_322_322" class="fnanchor">[322]</a></p>
+
+<p>Having read this passage, I think my readers
+will admit that William of Malmsbury well deserves
+a place among the bibliomaniacs of the middle
+ages. As an historian his merit is too generally
+known and acknowledged to require an elucidation
+here. He combines in most cases a strict attention
+to fact, with the rare attributes of philosophic
+reflection, and sometimes the bloom of eloquence.
+But simplicity of narrative constitute the greatest
+and sometimes the only charm in the composition
+of the monkish chroniclers. William of Malmsbury
+aimed at a more ambitious style, and attempted to
+adorn, as he admits himself, his English history
+with Roman art; this he does sometimes with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>[<a href="./images/217.png">217</a>]</span>
+tolerable elegance, but too often at the cost of
+necessary detail. Yet still we must place him at
+the head of the middle age historians, for he was
+diligent and critical, though perhaps not always
+impartial; and in matters connected with Romish
+doctrine, his testimony is not always to be relied
+upon without additional authority; his account of
+those who held opinions somewhat adverse to the
+orthodoxy of Rome is often equivocal; we may
+even suspect him of interpolating their writings, at
+least of Alfric, whose homilies had excited the
+fears of the Norman ecclesiastics. His works were
+compiled from many sources now unknown; and
+from the works of Bede, the Saxon chronicles, and
+Florilegus, he occasionally transcribes with little
+alteration.</p>
+
+<p>But is it not distressing to find that this talented
+author, so superior in other respects to the crude
+compilers of monkish history, cannot rise above the
+superstition of the age? Is it not deplorable that
+a mind so gifted could rely with fanatical zeal upon
+the verity of all those foul lies of Rome called
+"Holy" miracles; or that he could conceive how
+God would vouchsafe to make his saints ridiculous
+in the eyes of man, by such gross absurdities as
+tradition records, but which Rome deemed worthy
+of canonization; but it was then, as now, so difficult
+to conquer the prejudices of early teaching. With
+all our philosophy and our science, great men cannot
+do it now; even so in the days of old; they were
+brought up in the midst of superstition; sucked it
+as it were from their mother's breast, and fondly
+cradled in its belief; and as soon as the infant mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>[<a href="./images/218.png">218</a>]</span>
+could think, parental piety dedicated it to God;
+not, however, as a light to shine before men, but as
+a candle under a bushel; for to serve God and to
+serve monachism were synonymous expressions in
+those days.</p>
+
+<p>The west of England was honored by many a
+monkish bibliophile in the middle ages. The annals
+of Gloucester abbey record the names of
+several. Prior Peter, who became abbot in the
+year 1104, is said to have enclosed the monastery
+with a stone wall, and greatly enriched it with
+many books "<i>copia librorum</i>."<a name="FNanchor_323_323" id="FNanchor_323_323"></a><a href="#Footnote_323_323" class="fnanchor">[323]</a> A few years after
+(<span class="smcap">a. d.</span> 1113), <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Godemon'">Godeman</ins> the Prior was made abbot,
+and the Saxon Chronicle records that during his
+time the tower was set on fire by lightning and the
+whole monastery was burnt; so that all the valuable
+things therein were destroyed except a "few books
+and three priest's mass-hackles."<a name="FNanchor_324_324" id="FNanchor_324_324"></a><a href="#Footnote_324_324" class="fnanchor">[324]</a> Abbot Gamage
+gave many books to the library in the year 1306;<a name="FNanchor_325_325" id="FNanchor_325_325"></a><a href="#Footnote_325_325" class="fnanchor">[325]</a>
+and Richard de Stowe, during the same century,
+gave the monks a small collection in nine or ten
+volumes; a list of them is preserved in an old
+manuscript.<a name="FNanchor_326_326" id="FNanchor_326_326"></a><a href="#Footnote_326_326" class="fnanchor">[326]</a></p>
+
+<p>But earlier than this in the eleventh century, a
+bishop of Exeter stands remarkable as an <i>amator
+librorum</i>. Leofric, the last bishop of Crediton, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>[<a href="./images/219.png">219</a>]</span>
+"sometime lord chancellor of England,"<a name="FNanchor_327_327" id="FNanchor_327_327"></a><a href="#Footnote_327_327" class="fnanchor">[327]</a> received
+permission from Edward the Confessor to translate
+the seat of his diocese to the city of Exeter in the
+year 1050. "He was brought up and studied in
+<i>Lotharingos</i>," says William of Malmsbury,<a name="FNanchor_328_328" id="FNanchor_328_328"></a><a href="#Footnote_328_328" class="fnanchor">[328]</a> and he
+manifested his learning and fondness for study by
+collecting books. Of the nature of his collections
+we are enabled to judge by the volumes he gave to
+the church of Exeter. The glimpse thus obtained
+lead us to consider him a curious book-collector;
+and it is so interesting to look upon a catalogue of
+a bishop's private library in that early time, and to
+behold his tastes and his pursuits reflected and
+mirrored forth therein, that I am sure the reader
+will be gratified by its perusal.<a name="FNanchor_329_329" id="FNanchor_329_329"></a><a href="#Footnote_329_329" class="fnanchor">[329]</a> After enumerating
+some broad lands and a glittering array of sumptuous
+ornaments, he is recorded to have given to
+the church "Two complete mass books; 1 Collectarium;
+2 Books of Epistles (<i>Pistel Bec</i><a name="FNanchor_330_330" id="FNanchor_330_330"></a><a href="#Footnote_330_330" class="fnanchor">[330]</a>); 2 complete
+<i>Sang Bec</i>; 1 Book of <i>night sang</i>; 1 Book
+<i>unus liber</i>, a Breviary or Tropery; 2 Psalters;
+3 Psalters according to the Roman copies; 2 Antiphoners;
+A precious book of blessings; 3 others;
+1 Book of Christ <i>in English</i>; 2 Summer Reading
+bec; 1 Winter ditto; Rules and Canons; 1 Martyrology;
+1 Canons in Latin; 1 Confessional <i>in</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>[<a href="./images/220.png">220</a>]</span>
+<i>English</i>; 1 Book of Homilies and Hymns for
+Winter and Summer; 1 Boethius on the Consolation
+of Philosophy, <i>in English</i> (King Alfred's
+translation); 1 Great Book of Poetry in English;
+1 Capitular; 1 Book of very ancient nocturnal
+<i>sangs</i>; 1 Pistel bec; 2 Ancient r&aelig;ding bec; 1 for
+the use of the priest; also the following books in
+Latin, viz., 1 Pastoral of Gregory; 1 Dialogues of
+Gregory; 1 Book of the Four Prophets; 1 Boethius
+Consolation of Philosophy; 1 Book of the offices of
+Amalar; 1 Isagoge of Porphyry; 1 Passional; 1 book
+of Prosper; 1 book of Prudentius the Martyr; 1 Prudentius;
+1 Prudentius (<i>de Mrib.</i>); 1 other book;
+1 Ezechael the Prophet; 1 Isaiah the Prophet;
+1 Song of Songs; 1 Isidore Etymology; 1 Isidore
+on the New and Old Testament; 1 Lives of the
+Apostles; 1 Works of Bede; 1 Bede on the Apocalypse;
+1 Bede's Exposition on the Seven Canonical
+Epistles; 1 book of Isidore on the Miracles
+of Christ; 1 book of Orosius; 1 book of Machabees;
+1 book of Persius; 1 Sedulus; 1 Avator; 1 book of
+Statius with a gloss."</p>
+
+<p>Such were the books forming a part of the private
+library of a bishop of Exeter in the year of grace
+1073. Few indeed when compared with the vast
+multitudes assembled and amassed together in the
+ages of printed literature. But these sixty or
+seventy volumes, collected in those times of dearth,
+and each produced by the tedious process of the
+pen, were of an excessive value, and mark their
+owner as distinctly an <i>amator librorum</i>, as the
+enormous piles heaped together in modern times
+would do a Magliabechi. Nor was Leofric an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>[<a href="./images/221.png">221</a>]</span>
+ordinary collector; he loved to preserve the idiomatic
+poetry of those old Saxon days; his ancient
+<i>sang bec</i>, or song books, would now be deemed a
+curious and precious relic of Saxon literature.
+One of these has fortunately escaped the ravages
+of time and the fate of war. "The great boc of
+English Poetry" is still preserved at Exeter&mdash;one
+of the finest relics of Anglo Saxon poetry extant.
+Mark too those early translations which we cannot
+but regard with infinite pleasure, and which satisfactorily
+prove that the Gospels and Church Service
+was at least partly read and sung in the Saxon
+church in the common language of the people; let
+the Roman Catholics say what they will.<a name="FNanchor_331_331" id="FNanchor_331_331"></a><a href="#Footnote_331_331" class="fnanchor">[331]</a> But
+without saying much of his church books, we cannot
+but be pleased to find the Christian Boethius in his
+library with Bede, Gregory, Isidore, Prosper, Orosius,
+Prudentius, Sedulus, Persius and Statius; these
+are authors which retrieve the studies of Leofric
+from the charge of mere monastic lore.</p>
+
+<p>But good books about this time were beginning
+to be sought after with avidity. The Cluniac
+monks, who were introduced into England about
+the year 1077, more than one hundred and sixty
+years after their foundation, gave a powerful impetus
+to monastic learning; which received additional
+force by the enlightened efforts of the Cistercians,
+instituted in 1098, and spread into Britain
+about the year 1128. These two great branches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>[<a href="./images/222.png">222</a>]</span>
+of the Benedictine order, by their great love of
+learning, and by their zeal in collecting books,
+effected a great change in the monkish literature
+of England. "They were not only curious and
+attentive in forming numerous libraries, but with
+indefatigable assiduity transcribed the volumes of
+the ancients, <i>l'assiduit&eacute; infatigable &agrave; transcrire les
+livres des anciens</i>, say the Benedictines of St.
+Maur,<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_332_332" id="FNanchor_332_332"></a><a href="#Footnote_332_332" class="fnanchor">[332]</a> who perhaps however may be suspected of
+regarding their ancient brethren in rather too favorable
+a light. But certain it is, that the state of
+literature became much improved, and the many
+celebrated scholars who flourished in the twelfth
+century spread a taste for reading far and wide, and
+by their example caused the monks to look more
+eagerly after books. Peter of Blois, Archdeacon
+of London, is one of the most pleasing instances of
+this period, and his writings have even now a freshness
+and vivacity about them which surprise as they
+interest the reader. This illustrious student, and
+truly worthy man, was born at Blois in the early
+part of the twelfth century. His parents, who were
+wealthy and noble, were desirous of bestowing
+upon their son an education befitting their own
+rank; for this purpose he was sent to Paris to
+receive instruction in the general branches of scholastic
+knowledge. He paid particular attention to
+poetry, and studied rhetoric with still greater
+ardor.<a name="FNanchor_333_333" id="FNanchor_333_333"></a><a href="#Footnote_333_333" class="fnanchor">[333]</a> But being designed for the bar, he left
+Paris for Bologna, there to study civil law; and
+succeeded in mastering all the dry technicalities of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>[<a href="./images/223.png">223</a>]</span>
+legal science. He then returned to Paris to study
+scholastic divinity,<a name="FNanchor_334_334" id="FNanchor_334_334"></a><a href="#Footnote_334_334" class="fnanchor">[334]</a> in which he became eminently
+proficient, and was ever excessively fond. He
+remained at Paris studying deeply himself, and
+instructing others for many years. About the year
+1167 he went with Stephen, Count de Perche, into
+Sicily, and was appointed tutor to the young King
+William II., made keeper of his private seal, and
+for two years conducted his education.<a name="FNanchor_335_335" id="FNanchor_335_335"></a><a href="#Footnote_335_335" class="fnanchor">[335]</a> Soon after
+leaving Sicily, he was invited by Henry II. into
+England,<a name="FNanchor_336_336" id="FNanchor_336_336"></a><a href="#Footnote_336_336" class="fnanchor">[336]</a> and made Archdeacon of Bath. It was
+during the time he held that office that he wrote
+most of these letters, from which we obtain a knowledge
+of the above facts, and which he collected
+together at the particular desire of King Henry;
+who ever regarded him with the utmost kindness,
+and bestowed upon him his lasting friendship. I
+know not a more interesting or a more historically
+valuable volume than these epistolary collections of
+Archdeacon Peter. They seem to bring those old
+times before us, to seat us by the fire-sides of our
+Norman forefathers, and in a pleasant, quiet manner
+enter into a gossip on the passing events of the
+day; and being written by a student and an <i>amator
+librorum</i>, they moreover unfold to us the state of
+learning among the ecclesiastics at least of the
+twelfth century; and if we were to take our worthy
+archdeacon as a specimen, they possessed a far
+better taste for these matters than we usually give
+them credit for. Peter of Blois was no ordinary
+man; a churchman, he was free from the prejudices
+of churchmen&mdash;a visitant of courts and the associate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>[<a href="./images/224.png">224</a>]</span>
+of royalty, he was yet free from the sycophancy of
+a courtier&mdash;and when he saw pride and ungodliness
+in the church, or in high places, he feared not to
+use his pen in stern reproof at these abominations.
+It is both curious and extraordinary, when we bear
+in mind the prejudices of the age, to find him
+writing to a bishop upon the looseness of his
+conduct, and reproving him for his inattention to
+the affairs of his diocese, and upbraiding another
+for displaying an unseemly fondness for hunting,<a name="FNanchor_337_337" id="FNanchor_337_337"></a><a href="#Footnote_337_337" class="fnanchor">[337]</a>
+and other sports of the field; which he says is so
+disreputable to one of his holy calling, and quotes
+an instance of Pope Nicholas suspending and
+excluding from the church Bishop Lanfred for a
+similar offence; which he considers even more disgraceful
+in Walter, Lord Bishop of Winchester, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>[<a href="./images/225.png">225</a>]</span>
+whom he is writing, on account of his advanced
+age; he being at that time eighty years old. We
+are constantly reminded in reading his letters that
+we have those of an indefatigable student before
+us; almost every page bears some allusion to his
+books or to his studies, and prove how well and
+deeply read he was in Latin literature; not merely
+the theological writings of the church, but the
+classics also. In one of his letters he speaks of his
+own studies, and tells us that when he learnt the
+art of versification and correct style, he did not
+spend his time on legends and fables, but took his
+models from Livy, Quintus Curtius, Trogus Pompeius,
+Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, and other
+classics; in the same letter he gives some directions
+to the Archdeacon of Nantes, who had undertaken
+the education of his nephews, as to the
+manner of their study. He had received from the
+archdeacon a flattering account of the progress
+made by one of them named William, to which he
+thus replies&mdash;"You speak," says he, "of William&mdash;his
+great penetration and ingenious disposition,
+who, without grammar or the authors of science,
+which are both so desirable, has mastered the subtilties
+of logic, so as to be esteemed a famous
+logician, as I learn by your letter. But this is not
+the foundation of a correct knowledge&mdash;these subtilties
+which you so highly extol, are manifoldly
+pernicious, as Seneca truly affirms,&mdash;<i>Odibilius nihil
+est subtilitate ubi est sol&#339; subtilitas</i>. What indeed
+is the use of these things in which you say he
+spends his days&mdash;either at home, in the army, at
+the bar, in the cloister, in the church, in the court,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>[<a href="./images/226.png">226</a>]</span>
+or indeed in any position whatever, except, I suppose,
+the schools?<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins> Seneca says, in writing to Lucalius,
+"<i>Quid est, inquit acutius arista et in quo est
+utiles!</i>"<a name="FNanchor_338_338" id="FNanchor_338_338"></a><a href="#Footnote_338_338" class="fnanchor">[338]</a> In many letters we find him quoting
+the classics with the greatest ease, and the most
+appropriate application to his subject; in one he
+refers to Ovid, Persius, and Seneca,<a name="FNanchor_339_339" id="FNanchor_339_339"></a><a href="#Footnote_339_339" class="fnanchor">[339]</a> and in others,
+when writing in a most interesting and amusing
+manner of poetic fame and literary study, he
+extracts from Terence, Ovid, Juvenal, Horace,
+Plato, Cicero, Valerius Maximus, Seneca, etc.<a name="FNanchor_340_340" id="FNanchor_340_340"></a><a href="#Footnote_340_340" class="fnanchor">[340]</a>
+In another, besides a constant use of Scripture,
+which proves how deeply read too he was in Holy
+Writ, he quotes with amazing prodigality from
+Juvenal, Frontius, Vigetius, Dio, Virgil, Ovid,
+Justin, Horace, and Plutarch.<a name="FNanchor_341_341" id="FNanchor_341_341"></a><a href="#Footnote_341_341" class="fnanchor">[341]</a> Indeed, Horace
+was a great favorite with the archdeacon, who often
+applied some of his finest sentences to illustrate his
+familiar chat and epistolary disquisitions.<a name="FNanchor_342_342" id="FNanchor_342_342"></a><a href="#Footnote_342_342" class="fnanchor">[342]</a> It is
+worth noticing that in one he quotes the Roman
+history of Sallust, in six books, which is now lost,
+save a few fragments; the passage relates to Pompey
+the Great.<a name="FNanchor_343_343" id="FNanchor_343_343"></a><a href="#Footnote_343_343" class="fnanchor">[343]</a> We can scarcely refrain from a
+smile at the eagerness of Archdeacon Peter in persuading
+his friends to relinquish the too enticing
+study of frivolous plays, which he says can be of no
+service to the interest of the soul;<a name="FNanchor_344_344" id="FNanchor_344_344"></a><a href="#Footnote_344_344" class="fnanchor">[344]</a> and then, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>[<a href="./images/227.png">227</a>]</span>getting
+this admonition, sending for tragedies and
+comedies himself, that he might get them transcribed.<a name="FNanchor_345_345" id="FNanchor_345_345"></a><a href="#Footnote_345_345" class="fnanchor">[345]</a>
+This puts one in mind of a certain
+modern divine, whose conduct not agreeing with
+his doctrine, told his hearers not to do as he did,
+but as he told them. It appears also equally
+ludicrous to find him upbraiding a monk, named
+Peter of Blois, for studying the pagan authors: "the
+foolish old fables of Hercules and Jove," their lies
+and philosophy;<a name="FNanchor_346_346" id="FNanchor_346_346"></a><a href="#Footnote_346_346" class="fnanchor">[346]</a> when, as we have seen, he read
+them so ravenously, and so greatly borrowed from
+them himself. But then we must bear in mind that
+the archdeacon had also well stored his mind with
+Scripture, and certainly always deemed <i>that</i> the
+first and most important of all his studies, which
+was perhaps not the case with the monk to whom
+he writes. In some of his letters we have pleasing
+pictures of the old times presented to us, and it is
+astonishing how homely and natural they read,
+after the elapse of 700 years. In more than one
+he launches out in strong invectives against the
+lawyers, who in all ages seems to have borne the
+indignation of mankind; Peter accuses them of
+selling their knowledge for hire, to the direct perversion
+of all justice; of favoring the rich and
+oppressing the poor.<a name="FNanchor_347_347" id="FNanchor_347_347"></a><a href="#Footnote_347_347" class="fnanchor">[347]</a> He reproves Reginald,
+Archdeacon of Salisbury, for occupying his time
+with falconry, instead of attending to his clerical
+duties; and in another, a most interesting letter, he
+gives a description of King Henry II., whose
+character he extols in panegyric terms, and proves
+how much superior he was in learning to Wil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>[<a href="./images/228.png">228</a>]</span>liam
+II. of Sicily. He says that "Henry, as often
+as he could breathe from his care and solicitudes,
+he was occupied in secret reading; or at other
+times joined by a body of clergy, would try to solve
+some elaborate question <i>qu&aelig;stiones laborat evolvere</i>.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_348_348" id="FNanchor_348_348"></a><a href="#Footnote_348_348" class="fnanchor">[348]</a>
+Frequently we find him writing about books,
+begging transcripts, eagerly purchasing them;
+and in one of his letters to Alexander, Abbot of
+Jenniege, <i>Gemiticensem</i>, he writes, apologizing, and
+begging his forgiveness for not having fulfilled his
+promise in returning a book which he had borrowed
+from his library, and begs that his friend will yet
+allow him to retain it some days longer.<a name="FNanchor_349_349" id="FNanchor_349_349"></a><a href="#Footnote_349_349" class="fnanchor">[349]</a> The
+last days of a scholar's life are not always remarkable,
+and we know nothing of those of Archdeacon
+Peter; for after the death of Henry II., his intellectual
+worth found no royal mind to appreciate it.
+The lion-hearted Richard thought more of the
+battle axe and crusading than the encouragement
+of literature or science; and Peter, like many other
+students, grown old in their studies, was left in his
+age to wander among his books, unmolested and
+uncared for. With the friendship of a few clerical
+associates, and the archdeaconry of London, which
+by the bye was totally unproductive,<a name="FNanchor_350_350" id="FNanchor_350_350"></a><a href="#Footnote_350_350" class="fnanchor">[350]</a> he died, and
+for many ages was forgotten. But a student's
+worth can never perish; a time is certain to arrive
+when his erudition will receive its due reward of
+human praise. We now, after a slumber of many
+hundred years, begin to appreciate his value, and
+to entertain a hearty friendship and esteem for the
+venerable Archdeacon Peter.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_310_310" id="Footnote_310_310"></a><a href="#FNanchor_310_310"><span class="label">[310]</span></a> See Speed's Chron. p. 228. Samme's Antiq. p. 578.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_311_311" id="Footnote_311_311"></a><a href="#FNanchor_311_311"><span class="label">[311]</span></a> Stowe's Annales, 4to. 1605, p. 97. See also Hearne's Hist.
+Glastonbury.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_312_312" id="Footnote_312_312"></a><a href="#FNanchor_312_312"><span class="label">[312]</span></a> <i>Will. Malm. ap. Gale Script.</i> 311.&mdash;Coopertoria Librorum
+Evangelii. For many other instances of binding books in gold, and
+sometimes with costly gems, I refer the reader to <i>Du Cange</i> verb-Caps&aelig;,
+and to <i>Mr. Maitland's Dark Ages</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_313_313" id="Footnote_313_313"></a><a href="#FNanchor_313_313"><span class="label">[313]</span></a> Warton says, that this library was at the time the "<i>richest in
+England</i>." In this, however, he was mistaken.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_314_314" id="Footnote_314_314"></a><a href="#FNanchor_314_314"><span class="label">[314]</span></a> John of Glast. p. 423.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_315_315" id="Footnote_315_315"></a><a href="#FNanchor_315_315"><span class="label">[315]</span></a> John of Glastonbury Edt., Hearne, Oxon, 1726, p. 451.
+Steven's Additions to Dugdale, vol. i. p. 447.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_316_316" id="Footnote_316_316"></a><a href="#FNanchor_316_316"><span class="label">[316]</span></a> Printed in <i>Tanner's Notitia Monastica</i>, 8vo. Edit. 1695, p. 75,
+and in <i>Hearne's History of Glastonbury</i>, p. 141; but both these
+works are scarce, and I have thought it worth reprinting; the reader
+will perceive that I have given some of the items in English&mdash;the
+original of course is in Latin.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_317_317" id="Footnote_317_317"></a><a href="#FNanchor_317_317"><span class="label">[317]</span></a> John of Glas. p. 262.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_318_318" id="Footnote_318_318"></a><a href="#FNanchor_318_318"><span class="label">[318]</span></a> Librario dedit. bibliam preciosam.&mdash;<i>John of Glast.</i> p. 262.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_319_319" id="Footnote_319_319"></a><a href="#FNanchor_319_319"><span class="label">[319]</span></a> Among them was a "Dictionarum Latine et Saxonicum."&mdash;<i>Leland
+Collect.</i> iii. p. 153.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_320_320" id="Footnote_320_320"></a><a href="#FNanchor_320_320"><span class="label">[320]</span></a> Leland, in his MSS. preserved in the Bodleian Library, calls
+Whiting "<i>Homo sane candidissimus et amicus meus singularis</i>," but
+he afterwards scored the line with his pen. See <i>Arch Bodl.</i> A. Dugdale
+Monast. vol. i. p. 6.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_321_321" id="Footnote_321_321"></a><a href="#FNanchor_321_321"><span class="label">[321]</span></a> See Hume's Hist. Engl.; Moffat's Hist. of Malmsbury, p. 223,
+and Will. Malms. Novell&aelig; Hist. lib. ii.; Sharpe's translation, p. 576.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_322_322" id="Footnote_322_322"></a><a href="#FNanchor_322_322"><span class="label">[322]</span></a> William of Malmsbury, translated by the Rev. J. Sharpe, 4to.
+<i>Lond.</i> 1815, p. 107.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_323_323" id="Footnote_323_323"></a><a href="#FNanchor_323_323"><span class="label">[323]</span></a> MS. <i>Cottonian Domit.</i> A. viii. fol. 128 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_324_324" id="Footnote_324_324"></a><a href="#FNanchor_324_324"><span class="label">[324]</span></a> Saxon Chron. by Ingram, p. 343.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_325_325" id="Footnote_325_325"></a><a href="#FNanchor_325_325"><span class="label">[325]</span></a> Dugdale's <i>Monastica</i>, vol. i. p. 534. Leland gives a list of
+the books he found there, but they only number about 20 volumes.
+See <i>Collect.</i> vol. iv. p. 159.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_326_326" id="Footnote_326_326"></a><a href="#FNanchor_326_326"><span class="label">[326]</span></a> MS. Harleian, No. 627, fol. 8 a. "Liber Geneseos versificatus"
+probably C&aelig;dmon's Paraphrase was among them, and Boethius's
+Consolation of Philosophy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_327_327" id="Footnote_327_327"></a><a href="#FNanchor_327_327"><span class="label">[327]</span></a> Godwin Cat. of Bishops, p. 317.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_328_328" id="Footnote_328_328"></a><a href="#FNanchor_328_328"><span class="label">[328]</span></a> Will. of Malms. de Gestis Pont. Savile Script. fol. 1601,
+p. 256, <i>apud Lotharingos altus et doctus</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_329_329" id="Footnote_329_329"></a><a href="#FNanchor_329_329"><span class="label">[329]</span></a> I use a transcript of the Exeter MS. collated by Sir F. Madden.
+<i>Additional MSS.</i> No. 9067. It is printed in Latin and Saxon
+from a old MS. In the Bodl. Auct. D. 2. 16. fol. 1 a; in Dugdale's
+Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 257, which varies a little from the Exeter
+transcript.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_330_330" id="Footnote_330_330"></a><a href="#FNanchor_330_330"><span class="label">[330]</span></a> Bec is the plural of boc, a book.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_331_331" id="Footnote_331_331"></a><a href="#FNanchor_331_331"><span class="label">[331]</span></a> See <i>Dr. Lingard's Hist. Anglo Sax. Church</i>, vol. i. p. 307,
+who cannot deny this entirely; see also <i>Lappenberg Hist. Eng.</i> vol. i.
+p. 202, who says that the mass was read partially in the Saxon
+tongue. <i>Hallam</i> in his <i>Supplemental Notes</i>, p. 408, has a good note
+on the subject.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_332_332" id="Footnote_332_332"></a><a href="#FNanchor_332_332"><span class="label">[332]</span></a> Hist. Litt. de la France, ix. p. 142.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_333_333" id="Footnote_333_333"></a><a href="#FNanchor_333_333"><span class="label">[333]</span></a> Pet. Blesensis Opera, 4to. Mogunt. 1600. Ep. lxxxix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_334_334" id="Footnote_334_334"></a><a href="#FNanchor_334_334"><span class="label">[334]</span></a> Ep. xxvi.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_335_335" id="Footnote_335_335"></a><a href="#FNanchor_335_335"><span class="label">[335]</span></a> Ep. lxvi.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_336_336" id="Footnote_336_336"></a><a href="#FNanchor_336_336"><span class="label">[336]</span></a> Ep. cxxvii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_337_337" id="Footnote_337_337"></a><a href="#FNanchor_337_337"><span class="label">[337]</span></a> Ep. lvi. Yet we find that Charlemagne, in the year 795,
+granted the monks of the monastery of St. Bertin, in the time of
+Abbot Odlando, the privilege of hunting in his forests for the purpose
+of procuring leather to bind their books. "Odlando Abbate hujus
+loci abbas nonus, in omni bonitate suo pr&aelig;decessori Hardrado
+co&aelig;qualis anno primo sui regiminis impetravit &agrave; rege Carolo privilegium
+venandi in silvis nostris et aliis ubicumque constitutis, ad volumina
+librorum teg&aelig;nda, et manicas et zonas habendas. Salvis
+forestis regiis, quod sic incipit. Carolus Dei gratia Rex Francorum
+et Longobardorum ac patricius Romanorum, etc., data Septimo Kal.
+Aprilis, anno xxvi. regni nostri." Martene Thasaurus Nov. Anecdotorum
+iii. 498. <i>Warton</i> mentions a similar instance of a grant to
+the monks of St. Sithin, <i>Dissert.</i> ii. <i>prefixed to Hist. of Eng. Poetry</i>,
+but he quotes it with some sad misrepresentations, and refers to
+<i>Mabillon De re Diplomatica</i>, 611. Mr. Maitland, in his <i>Dark Ages</i>,
+has shown the absurdity of Warton's inferences from the fact, and
+proved that it was to the servants, or <i>eorum homines</i>, that Charlemagne
+granted this uncanonical privilege, p. 216. But I find no such
+restriction in the case I have quoted above. Probably, however, it
+was thought needless to express what might be inferred, or to caution
+against a practice so uncongenial with the christian duties of a
+monk.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_338_338" id="Footnote_338_338"></a><a href="#FNanchor_338_338"><span class="label">[338]</span></a> Ep. ci. p. 184. He afterwards quotes Livy, Tacitus, and many
+others.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_339_339" id="Footnote_339_339"></a><a href="#FNanchor_339_339"><span class="label">[339]</span></a> Ep. xiv. He was fond of Quintus Curtius, and often read his
+history with much pleasure. Ep. ci. p. 184.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_340_340" id="Footnote_340_340"></a><a href="#FNanchor_340_340"><span class="label">[340]</span></a> Ep. lxxvii. p. 81.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_341_341" id="Footnote_341_341"></a><a href="#FNanchor_341_341"><span class="label">[341]</span></a> Ep. xciv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_342_342" id="Footnote_342_342"></a><a href="#FNanchor_342_342"><span class="label">[342]</span></a> Ep. xcii. and also lxxii. which is redundant with quotations
+from the poets.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_343_343" id="Footnote_343_343"></a><a href="#FNanchor_343_343"><span class="label">[343]</span></a> Ep. xciv. p. 170.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_344_344" id="Footnote_344_344"></a><a href="#FNanchor_344_344"><span class="label">[344]</span></a> Ep. lvii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_345_345" id="Footnote_345_345"></a><a href="#FNanchor_345_345"><span class="label">[345]</span></a> Ep. xii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_346_346" id="Footnote_346_346"></a><a href="#FNanchor_346_346"><span class="label">[346]</span></a> Ep. lxxvi. p. 132.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_347_347" id="Footnote_347_347"></a><a href="#FNanchor_347_347"><span class="label">[347]</span></a> Ep. cxl. p. 253.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_348_348" id="Footnote_348_348"></a><a href="#FNanchor_348_348"><span class="label">[348]</span></a> Ep. lxvi. p. 115.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_349_349" id="Footnote_349_349"></a><a href="#FNanchor_349_349"><span class="label">[349]</span></a> Ep. xxxvii. p. 68.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_350_350" id="Footnote_350_350"></a><a href="#FNanchor_350_350"><span class="label">[350]</span></a> Ep. cli.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>[<a href="./images/229.png">229</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-19.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Winchester famous for its Scribes.&mdash;Ethelwold and
+Godemann.&mdash;Anecdotes.&mdash;Library of the Monastery
+of Reading.&mdash;The Bible.&mdash;Library of Depying
+Priory.&mdash;Effects of Gospel Reading.&mdash;Catalogue
+of Ramsey Library.&mdash;Hebrew MSS.&mdash;Fine Classics,
+etc.&mdash;St. Edmund's Bury.&mdash;Church of Ely.&mdash;Canute,
+etc.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-3.jpg" alt="I" title="I" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">n</span> the olden time the monks of Winchester<a name="FNanchor_351_351" id="FNanchor_351_351"></a><a href="#Footnote_351_351" class="fnanchor">[351]</a>
+were renowned for their
+calligraphic and pictorial art. The
+choice book collectors of the day
+sought anxiously for volumes produced
+by these ingenious scribes,
+and paid extravagant prices for
+them. A superb specimen of their skill was
+executed for Bishop Ethelwold; that enlightened
+and benevolent prelate was a great patron of art<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>[<a href="./images/230.png">230</a>]</span>
+and literature, and himself a grammaticus and poet
+of no mean pretensions. He did more than any
+other of his time to restore the architectural beauties
+which were damaged or destroyed by the fire
+and sword of the Danish invaders. His love of
+these undertakings, his industry in carrying them
+out, and the great talent he displayed in their
+restoration, is truly wonderful to observe. He is
+called by Wolstan, his biographer, "a great builder
+of churches, and divers other works."<a name="FNanchor_352_352" id="FNanchor_352_352"></a><a href="#Footnote_352_352" class="fnanchor">[352]</a> He was
+fond of learning, and very liberal in diffusing the
+knowledge which he acquired; and used to instruct
+the young by reading to them the Latin authors,
+translated into the Saxon tongue. "He wrote a
+Saxion version of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which
+was so much admired, and so pleased King Edgar,
+that he granted to him the manor of Sudborn,<a name="FNanchor_353_353" id="FNanchor_353_353"></a><a href="#Footnote_353_353" class="fnanchor">[353]</a> as
+a token of his approbation."</p>
+
+<p>Among a number of donations which he bequeathed
+to this monastery, twenty volumes are
+enumerated, embracing some writings of Bede and
+Isidore.<a name="FNanchor_354_354" id="FNanchor_354_354"></a><a href="#Footnote_354_354" class="fnanchor">[354]</a> As a proof of his bibliomanical propensities,
+I refer the reader to the celebrated Benedictional
+of the Duke of Devonshire; that rich gem,
+with its resplendent illuminations, place it beyond
+the shadow of a doubt, and prove Ethelwold to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>[<a href="./images/231.png">231</a>]</span>
+have been an <i>amator librorum</i> of consummate taste.
+This fine specimen of Saxon ingenuity is the production
+of a cloistered monk of Winchester, named
+Godemann, who transcribed it at the bishop's
+special desire, as we learn, from the following
+lines:&mdash;</p></div>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"<i>Presentem Biblum iusset prescribere Presul.</i><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><i>Wintoni&aelig; Dus que fecerat esse Patronum</i><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><i>Magnus &AElig;thelwoldus.</i>"<a name="FNanchor_355_355" id="FNanchor_355_355"></a><a href="#Footnote_355_355" class="fnanchor">[355]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Godemann, the scribe, entreats the prayers of
+his readers, and wishes "all who gaze on this book
+to ever pray that after the end of the flesh I may
+inherit health in heaven: this is the fervent prayer
+of the scribe, the humble Godemann." This
+talented illuminator was chaplain to Ethelwold,
+and afterwards abbot of Thorney.<a name="FNanchor_356_356" id="FNanchor_356_356"></a><a href="#Footnote_356_356" class="fnanchor">[356]</a> The choice
+Benedictional in the public library of Rouen is also
+ascribed to his elegant pen, and adds additional
+lustre of his artistic fame.<a name="FNanchor_357_357" id="FNanchor_357_357"></a><a href="#Footnote_357_357" class="fnanchor">[357]</a></p>
+
+<p>Most readers have heard of Walter, (who was
+prior of St. Swithin in 1174,) giving twelve measures
+of barley and a pall, on which was embroidered
+in silver the history of St. Berinus converting a
+Saxon king, for a fine copy of Bede's Homilies and
+St. Austin's Psalter;<a name="FNanchor_358_358" id="FNanchor_358_358"></a><a href="#Footnote_358_358" class="fnanchor">[358]</a> and of Henry, a monk of the
+Benedictine Abbey of Hyde, near there, who transcribed,
+in the year 1178, Terence, Boethius, Seutonius
+and Claudian; and richly illuminated and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>[<a href="./images/232.png">232</a>]</span>
+bound them, which he exchanged with a neighboring
+bibliophile for a life of St. Christopher,
+St. Gregory's Pastoral Care, and four Missals.<a name="FNanchor_359_359" id="FNanchor_359_359"></a><a href="#Footnote_359_359" class="fnanchor">[359]</a>
+Nicholas, Bishop of Winchester, left one hundred
+marks and a Bible, with a fine gloss, in two large
+volumes, to the convent of St. Swithin. John de
+Pontissara, who succeeded that bishop in the year
+1282, borrowed this valuable manuscript to benefit
+and improve his biblical knowledge by a perusal of
+its numerous notes. So great was their regard for
+this precious gift, that the monks demanded a bond
+for its return; a circumstance which has caused
+some doubt as to the plenitude of the Holy Scriptures
+in the English Church during that period; at
+least among those who have only casually glanced
+at the subject. I may as well notice that the
+ancient Psalter in the Cottonian Library<a name="FNanchor_360_360" id="FNanchor_360_360"></a><a href="#Footnote_360_360" class="fnanchor">[360]</a> was
+written about the year 1035, by the "most humble
+brother and monk &AElig;lsinus," of Hyde Abbey. The
+table prefixed to the volume records the deaths of
+other eminent scribes and illuminators, whose
+names are mingled with the great men of the
+day;<a name="FNanchor_361_361" id="FNanchor_361_361"></a><a href="#Footnote_361_361" class="fnanchor">[361]</a> showing how esteemed they were, and how
+honorable was their avocation. Thus under the
+15th of May we find "<i>Obitus &AElig;therici m&ordm; picto</i>;"
+and again, under the 5th of July, "<i>Obit Wulfrici
+m&ordm; pictoris</i>." Many were the choice transcripts
+made and adorned by the Winchester monks.</p>
+
+<p>The monastery of Reading, in Berkshire, possessed
+during the reign of Henry the Third a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>[<a href="./images/233.png">233</a>]</span>
+choice library of a hundred and fifty volumes. It
+is printed in the Supplement to the History of
+Reading, from the original prefixed to the Woollascot
+manuscripts. But it is copied very inaccurately,
+and with many grievous omissions;
+nevertheless it will suffice to enable us to gain a
+knowledge of the class of books most admired by
+the monks of Reading; and the Christian reader
+will be glad to learn that the catalogue opens, as
+usual, with the Holy Scriptures. Indeed no less
+than four fine large and complete copies of the
+Bible are enumerated. The first in two volumes;
+the second in three volumes; the third in two, and
+the fourth in the same number which was transcribed
+by the <i>Cantor</i>, and kept in the cloisters for
+the use of the monks. But in addition to these,
+which are in themselves quite sufficient to exculpate
+the monks from any charge of negligence of
+Bible reading, we find a long list of separate portions
+of the Old and New Testament; besides
+many of the most important works of the Fathers,
+and productions of medi&aelig;val learning, as the following
+names will testify:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Ambrose.</li>
+<li>Augustine.</li>
+<li>Basil.</li>
+<li>Bede.</li>
+<li>Cassidorus.</li>
+<li>Eusebius.</li>
+<li>Gregory.</li>
+<li>Hilarius.</li>
+<li>Jerome.</li>
+<li>Josephus.</li>
+<li>Lombard.</li>
+<li>Macrobius.</li>
+<li>Origen.</li>
+<li>Plato.</li>
+<li>Prosper.</li>
+<li>Rabanus Maurus.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>They possessed also the works of Geoffry of Monmouth;
+the <i>Vita Karoli et Alexandri et gesta
+Normannorum</i>; a "Ystoria Rading," and many
+others equally interesting; and among the books
+given by Radbert of Witchir, we find a Juvenal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>[<a href="./images/234.png">234</a>]</span>
+the Bucolics and Georgics of Virgil, and the "Ode
+et Poetria et Sermone et Epistole Oratii.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads .,'">"</ins> But
+certainly the most striking characteristic is the fine
+biblical collection contained in their library, which
+is well worthy our attention, if not our admiration:
+not but that we find them in other libraries much
+less extensive. In those monasteries whose poverty
+would not allow the purchase of books in any
+quantity, and whose libraries could boast but of
+some twenty or thirty volumes, it is scarcely to be
+expected that they should be found rich in profane
+literature; but it is deeply gratifying to find, as we
+generally do, the Bible first on their little list;
+conveying a proof by this prominence, in a quiet
+but expressive way, how highly they esteemed that
+holy volume, and how essential they deemed its
+possession. Would that they had profited more
+by its holy precepts!</p>
+
+<p>We find an instance of this, and a proof of
+their fondness for the Bible, in the catalogue of
+the books in Depying Priory,<a name="FNanchor_362_362" id="FNanchor_362_362"></a><a href="#Footnote_362_362" class="fnanchor">[362]</a> in Lincolnshire;
+which, containing a collection of twenty-three volumes,
+enumerates a copy of the Bible first on the
+humble list. The catalogue is as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>These are the books in the library of the monks of Depying.<a name="FNanchor_363_363" id="FNanchor_363_363"></a><a href="#Footnote_363_363" class="fnanchor">[363]</a></li>
+
+<li>The Bible.</li>
+<li>The first part of the Morals of Pope St. Gregory.</li>
+<li>The second part of the Morals by the same.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>[<a href="./images/235.png">235</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Book of Divine Offices.</li>
+<li>Gesta Britonorum.</li>
+<li>Tracts of Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, on Confession, with other compilations.</li>
+<li>Martyrologium, with the Rules of St. Benedict; Passion of St. James, with other books.</li>
+<li>Constitutions of Pope Benedict.</li>
+<li>History of the Island of Ely.</li>
+<li>Hugucio de dono fratris Johannis Tiryngham.</li>
+<li>Homilies of the blessed Gregory.</li>
+<li>Constitutions of Pope Clement XII.</li>
+<li>Book of the Virtues and Vices.</li>
+<li>Majester Historiarum.</li>
+<li>Sacramentary given by Master John Swarby, Rector of the Church of St. Guthlac.</li>
+<li>One great Portoforium for the use of the Brothers.</li>
+<li>Two ditto.</li>
+<li>Two Psalters for the use of the Brothers.</li>
+<li>Three Missals for the use of the Brothers.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>There is not much in this scanty collection, the
+loss of which we need lament; nor does it inspire
+us with a very high notion of the learning of the
+monks of Depying Priory. Yet how cheering it is
+to find that the Bible was studied in this little cell;
+and I trust the monk often drew from it many
+words of comfort and consolation. Where is the
+reader who will not regard these instances of Bible
+reading with pleasure? Where is the Christian
+who will not rejoice that the Gospel of Christ was
+read and loved in the turbulent days of the Norman
+monarchs? Where is the philosopher who will
+affirm that we owe nothing to this silent but effectual
+and fervent study? Where is he who will
+maintain that the influence of the blessed and
+abundant charity&mdash;the cheering promises, and the
+sweet admonitions of love and mercy with which
+the Gospels overflow&mdash;aided nothing in the progress<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a>[<a href="./images/236.png">236</a>]</span>
+of civilization? Where is the Bible student who
+will believe that all this reading of the Scriptures
+was unprofitable because, forsooth, a monk preached
+and taught it to the multitude?</p>
+
+<p>Let the historian open his volumes with a new
+interest, and ponder over their pages with a fresh
+spirit of inquiry; let him read of days of darkness
+and barbarity; and as he peruses on, trace the
+origin of the light whose brightness drove the darkness
+and barbarity away. How much will he trace
+to the Bible's influence; how often will he be compelled
+to enter a convent wall to find in the gospel
+student the one who shone as a redeeming light
+in those old days of iniquity and sin; and will he
+deny to the Christian priest his gratitude and love,
+because he wore the cowl and mantle of a monk,
+or because he loved to read of saints whose lives
+were mingled with lying legends, or because he
+chose a life which to us looks dreary, cold, and
+heartless. Will he deny him a grateful recollection
+when he reads of how much good he was permitted
+to achieve in the Church of Christ; of how
+many a doubting heart he reassured; of how many
+a soul he fired with a true spark of Christian love;
+when he reads of how the monk preached the faith
+of Christ, and how often he led some wandering
+pilgrim into the path of vital truth by the sweet
+words of the dear religion which he taught; when
+he reads that the hearts of many a Norman chief
+was softened by the sweetness of the gospel's voice,
+and his evil passions were lulled by the hymn of
+praise which the monk devoutly sang to his Master
+in heaven above. But speaking of the existence of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>[<a href="./images/237.png">237</a>]</span>
+the Bible among the monks puts me in mind of the
+Abbey of Ramsey and its fine old library of books,
+which was particularly rich in biblical treasures.
+Even superior to Reading, as regards its biblical
+collection, was the library of Ramsey. A portion
+of an old catalogue of the library of this monastery
+has been preserved, apparently transcribed about
+the beginning of the fourteenth century, during the
+warlike reign of Richard the Second. It is one of
+the richest and most interesting relics of its kind
+extant, at least of those to be found in our own
+public libraries; and a perusal of it will not fail to
+leave an impression on the mind that the monks
+were far wealthier in their literary stores than we
+previously imagined. Originally on two or three
+skins, it is now torn into five separate pieces,<a name="FNanchor_364_364" id="FNanchor_364_364"></a><a href="#Footnote_364_364" class="fnanchor">[364]</a> and
+in other respects much dilapidated. The writing
+also in some parts is nearly obliterated, so as to
+render the document scarcely readable. It is much
+to be regretted that this interesting catalogue is
+but a portion of the original; in its complete form
+it would probably have described twice as many
+volumes; but a fragment as it is, it nevertheless
+contains the titles of more than <i>eleven hundred
+books</i>, with the names of many of their donors
+attached. A creditable and right worthy testimonial
+this, of the learning and love of books prevalent
+among the monks of Ramsey Monastery.
+More than seven hundred of this goodly number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>[<a href="./images/238.png">238</a>]</span>
+were of a miscellaneous nature, and the rest were
+principally books used in the performance of divine
+service. Among these there were no less than
+seventy Breviaries; thirty-two Grails; twenty-nine
+Processionals; and one hundred Psalters! The
+reader will regard most of these as superstitious
+and useless; nor should I remark upon them did
+they not show that books were not so scarce in
+those times as we suppose; as this prodigality
+satisfactorily proves, and moreover testifies to the
+unceasing industry of the monkish scribes. We
+who are used to the speed of the printing press and
+its fertile abundance can form an opinion of the
+labor necessary to transcribe this formidable array
+of papistical literature. Four hundred volumes
+transcribed with the plodding pen! each word collated
+and each page diligently revised, lest a blunder
+or a misspelt syllable should blemish those books so
+deeply venerated. What long years of dry tedious
+labor and monotonous industry was here!</p>
+
+<p>But the other portion of the catalogue fully
+compensates for this vast proportion of ecclesiastical
+volumes. Besides several <i>Biblia optima in duobus
+voluminibus</i>, or complete copies of the Bible, many
+separate books of the inspired writers are noted
+down; indeed the catalogue lays before us a superb
+array of fine biblical treasures, rendered doubly
+valuable by copious and useful glossaries; and embracing
+many a rare Hebrew MS. Bible, <i>bibliotheca
+hebraice</i>, and precious commentary. I count no
+less than twenty volumes in this ancient language.
+But we often find Hebrew manuscripts in the
+monastic catalogues after the eleventh century.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a>[<a href="./images/239.png">239</a>]</span>
+The Jews, who came over in great numbers about
+that time, were possessed of many valuable books,
+and spread a knowledge of their language and
+literature among the students of the monasteries.
+And when the cruel persecution commenced against
+them in the thirteenth century, they disposed of
+their books, which were generally bought up by
+the monks, who were ever hungry after such
+acquisitions. Gregory, prior of Ramsey, collected
+a great quantity of Hebrew MSS. in this way, and
+highly esteemed the language, in which he became
+deeply learned. At his death, in the year 1250, he
+left them to the library of his monastery.<a name="FNanchor_365_365" id="FNanchor_365_365"></a><a href="#Footnote_365_365" class="fnanchor">[365]</a> Nor
+was my lord prior a solitary instance; many others
+of the same abbey, inspired by his example and
+aided by his books, studied the Hebrew with equal
+success. Brother Dodford, the Armarian, and
+Holbeach, a monk, displayed their erudition in
+writing a Hebrew lexicon.<a name="FNanchor_366_366" id="FNanchor_366_366"></a><a href="#Footnote_366_366" class="fnanchor">[366]</a></p>
+
+<p>The library of Ramsey was also remarkably
+rich in patristic lore. They gloried in the possession
+of the works of Ambrose, Augustine, Anselm,
+Basil, Boniface, Bernard, Gregory, and many
+others equally voluminous. But it was not exclusively
+to the study of such matters that these
+monks applied their minds, they possessed a taste
+for other branches of literature besides. They
+read histories of the church, histories of England,
+of Normandy, of the Jews; and histories of scholas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a>[<a href="./images/240.png">240</a>]</span>tic
+philosophy, and many old chronicles which reposed
+on their shelves. In science they appear to
+have been equally studious, for the catalogue
+enumerates works on medicine, natural history,
+philosophy, mathematics, logic, dialects, arithmetic
+and music! Who will say after this that the
+monks were ignorant of the sciences and careless
+of the arts? The classical student has perhaps ere
+this condemned them for their want of taste, and
+felt indignant at the absence of those authors of
+antiquity whose names and works he venerates.
+But the monks, far from neglecting those precious
+volumes, were ever careful of their preservation;
+they loved Virgil, Horace, and even Ovid, "heathen
+dogs" as they were, and enjoyed a keen relish for
+their beauties. I find in this catalogue the following
+choice names of antiquity occur repeatedly:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<ul><li>Aristotle.</li>
+<li>Arian.</li>
+<li>Boethius.</li>
+<li>Claudius.</li>
+<li>Dionysius.</li>
+<li>Donatus.</li>
+<li>Horace.</li>
+<li>Josephus.</li>
+<li>Justin.</li>
+<li>Lucan.</li>
+<li>Martial.</li>
+<li>Macrobius.</li>
+<li>Orosius.</li>
+<li>Ovid.</li>
+<li>Plato.</li>
+<li>Priscian.</li>
+<li>Prudentius.</li>
+<li>Seneca.</li>
+<li>Sallust.</li>
+<li>Solinus.</li>
+<li>Terence.</li>
+<li>Virgil.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>Here were rich mines of ancient eloquence, and
+fragrant flowers of poesy to enliven and perfume
+the dull cloister studies of the monks. It is not
+every library or reading society even of our own
+time that possess so many gems of old. But other
+treasures might yet be named which still further<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a>[<a href="./images/241.png">241</a>]</span>
+testify to the varied tastes and literary pursuits of
+these monastic bibliophiles; but I shall content
+myself with naming Peter of Blois, the Sentences
+of Peter Lombard, of which they had several
+copies, some enriched with choice commentaries
+and notes, the works of Thomas Aquinas and
+others of his class, a "Liber Ricardi," Dictionaries,
+Grammars, and the writings of "Majestri Robi
+Grostete," the celebrated Bishop of Lincoln, renowned
+as a great <i>amator librorum</i> and collector
+of Grecian literature. I might easily swell this
+notice out to a considerable extent by enumerating
+many other book treasures in this curious collection:
+but enough has been said to enable the
+reader to judge of the sort of literature the monks
+of Ramsey collected and the books they read; and
+if he should feel inclined to pursue the inquiry
+further, I must refer him to the original manuscript,
+promising him much gratification for his
+trouble.<a name="FNanchor_367_367" id="FNanchor_367_367"></a><a href="#Footnote_367_367" class="fnanchor">[367]</a> It only remains for me to say that the
+Vandalism of the Reformation swept all traces of
+this fine library away, save the broken, tattered
+catalogue we have just examined. But this is more
+than has been spared from some. The abbey of
+St. Edmunds Bury<a name="FNanchor_368_368" id="FNanchor_368_368"></a><a href="#Footnote_368_368" class="fnanchor">[368]</a> at one time must have enjoyed
+a copious library, but we have no catalogue that I
+am aware of to tell of its nature, not even a passing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a>[<a href="./images/242.png">242</a>]</span>
+notice of its well-stored shelves, except a few lines
+in which Leland mentions some of the old manuscripts
+he found therein.<a name="FNanchor_369_369" id="FNanchor_369_369"></a><a href="#Footnote_369_369" class="fnanchor">[369]</a> But a catalogue of their
+library in the flourishing days of their monastery
+would have disclosed, I imagine, many curious
+works, and probably some singular writings on the
+"<i>crafft off medycyne</i>," which Abbot Baldwin,
+"<i>phesean</i>" to Edward the Confessor,<a name="FNanchor_370_370" id="FNanchor_370_370"></a><a href="#Footnote_370_370" class="fnanchor">[370]</a> had given
+the monks, and of whom Lydgate thus speaks&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Baldewynus, a monk off Seynt Denys,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Gretly expert in crafft of medycyne;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Full provydent off counsayl and right wys,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Sad off his port, functuons off doctryne;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">After by grace and influence devyne,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Choose off Bury Abbot, as I reede<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">The thyrdde in order that did ther succeade."<a name="FNanchor_371_371" id="FNanchor_371_371"></a><a href="#Footnote_371_371" class="fnanchor">[371]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>We may equally deplore the loss of the catalogue
+of the monastery of Ely, which, during the
+middle ages, we have every reason to suppose possessed
+a library of much value and extent. This
+old monastery can trace its foundation back to a
+remote period, and claim as its foundress, Etheldred&aelig;,<a name="FNanchor_372_372" id="FNanchor_372_372"></a><a href="#Footnote_372_372" class="fnanchor">[372]</a>
+the daughter of Anna, King of the East
+Angles, she was the wife of King Ecgfrid,<a name="FNanchor_373_373" id="FNanchor_373_373"></a><a href="#Footnote_373_373" class="fnanchor">[373]</a> with
+whom she lived for twelve long years, though
+during that time she preserved the glory of perfect
+virginity, much to the annoyance of her royal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a>[<a href="./images/243.png">243</a>]</span>
+spouse, who offered money and lands to induce
+that illustrious virgin to waver in her resolution,
+but without success. Her inflexible determination
+at length induced her husband to grant her oft-repeated
+prayer; and in the year 673 she retired
+into the seclusion of monastic life,<a name="FNanchor_374_374" id="FNanchor_374_374"></a><a href="#Footnote_374_374" class="fnanchor">[374]</a> and building
+the monastery of Ely, devoted her days to the
+praise and glory of her heavenly King. Her pure
+and pious life caused others speedily to follow her
+example, and she soon became the virgin-mother of
+a numerous progeny dedicated to God. A series
+of astounding miracles attended her monastic life;
+and sixteen years after her death, when her sister,
+the succeeding abbess, opened her wooden coffin
+to transfer her body to a more costly one of marble,
+that "holy virgin and spouse of Christ" was found
+entirely free from corruption or decay.<a name="FNanchor_375_375" id="FNanchor_375_375"></a><a href="#Footnote_375_375" class="fnanchor">[375]</a></p>
+
+<p>A nunnery, glorying in so pure a foundress,
+grew and flourished, and for "two hundred years
+existed in the full observance of monastic discipline;"
+but on the coming of the Danes in the year
+870, those sad destroyers of religious establishments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>[<a href="./images/244.png">244</a>]</span>
+laid it in a heap of ruins, in which desolate condition
+it remained till it attracted the attention of the
+celebrated Ethelwold, who under the patronage of
+King Edgar restored it; and endowing it with considerable
+privileges appointed Brithnoth, Prior of
+Winchester, its first abbot.<a name="FNanchor_376_376" id="FNanchor_376_376"></a><a href="#Footnote_376_376" class="fnanchor">[376]</a></p>
+
+<p>Many years after, when Leoffin was abbot there,
+and Canute was king, that monarch honored the
+monastery of Ely with his presence on several
+occasions. Monkish traditions say, that on one of
+these visits as the king approached, he heard the
+pious inmates of the monastery chanting their hymn
+of praise; and so melodious were the voices of the
+devotees, that his royal heart was touched, and he
+poured forth his feelings in a Saxon ballad, commencing
+thus:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Merry sang the monks of Ely,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">When Canute the king was sailing by;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Row ye knights near the land,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And let us hear these monks song."<a name="FNanchor_377_377" id="FNanchor_377_377"></a><a href="#Footnote_377_377" class="fnanchor">[377]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>It reads smoother in Strutt's version; he renders it</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Cheerful sang the monk of Ely,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">When Canute the king was passing by;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Row to the shore knights, said the king,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And let us hear these churchmen sing."<a name="FNanchor_378_378" id="FNanchor_378_378"></a><a href="#Footnote_378_378" class="fnanchor">[378]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>In addition to the title of a poet, Canute has
+also received the appellation of a bibliomaniac.
+Dibdin, in his bibliomania, mentions in a cursory
+manner a few monkish book collectors, and intro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>[<a href="./images/245.png">245</a>]</span>duces
+Canute among them.<a name="FNanchor_379_379" id="FNanchor_379_379"></a><a href="#Footnote_379_379" class="fnanchor">[379]</a> The illuminated manuscript
+of the four Gospels in the Danish tongue,
+now in the British Museum, he writes, "and once
+that monarch's own book leaves not the shadow
+of a doubt of his bibliomanical character!" I cannot
+however allow him that title upon such equivocal
+grounds; for upon examination, the MS. turns out
+to be in the Theotisc dialect, possessing no illuminations
+of its own, and never perhaps once in
+the hands of the royal poet.<a name="FNanchor_380_380" id="FNanchor_380_380"></a><a href="#Footnote_380_380" class="fnanchor">[380]</a></p>
+
+<p>From the account books of Ely church we may
+infer that the monks there enjoyed a tolerable
+library; for we find frequent entries of money
+having been expended for books and materials connected
+with the library; thus in the year 1300 we
+find that they bought at one time five dozen parchment,
+four pounds of ink, eight calf and four
+sheep-skins for binding books; and afterwards
+there is another entry of five dozen vellum and six
+pair of book clasps, a book of decretals for the
+library, 3s., a Speculum Gregor, 2s., and "<i>Pro
+tabula Paschalis fac denova et illuminand</i>," 4s.<a name="FNanchor_381_381" id="FNanchor_381_381"></a><a href="#Footnote_381_381" class="fnanchor">[381]</a>
+They frequently perhaps sent one of the monks to
+distants parts to purchase or borrow books for
+their library; a curious instance of this occurs
+under the year 1329, when they paid "the pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>[<a href="./images/246.png">246</a>]</span>centor
+for going to Balsham to enquire for books,
+6s. 7d." The bookbinder two weeks' wages, 4s.;
+twelve iron chains to fasten books, 4s.; five dozen
+vellum, 25s. 8d. In the year 1396, they paid their
+librarian 53s. 4d., and a tunic for his services during
+one year.<a name="FNanchor_382_382" id="FNanchor_382_382"></a><a href="#Footnote_382_382" class="fnanchor">[382]</a></p>
+
+<p>Nigel, Bishop of Ely, by endowing the Scriptorium,
+enabled the monks to produce some excellent
+transcripts; they added several books of Cassiodorus,
+Bede, Aldelem, Radbert, Andres, etc., to
+the library;<a name="FNanchor_383_383" id="FNanchor_383_383"></a><a href="#Footnote_383_383" class="fnanchor">[383]</a> and they possessed at one time no
+less than thirteen fine copies of the Gospels, which
+were beautifully bound in gold and silver.<a name="FNanchor_384_384" id="FNanchor_384_384"></a><a href="#Footnote_384_384" class="fnanchor">[384]</a></p>
+
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_351_351" id="Footnote_351_351"></a><a href="#FNanchor_351_351"><span class="label">[351]</span></a> Those learned in such matters refer the foundation of Winchester
+cathedral and monastery to a remote period. An old writer
+says that it was "built by King Lucius, who, abolishing Paganisme,
+embraced Christ the first yere of his reigne, being the yeere of our
+Lord 180."&mdash;<i>Godwin's Cat.</i> p. 157. See also <i>Usher de Primordiis</i>.
+fo. 126.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_352_352" id="Footnote_352_352"></a><a href="#FNanchor_352_352"><span class="label">[352]</span></a> "Ecclesiarum ac diversorum operum magnus &aelig;dificator, et dum
+esset abbas et dum esset episcopus."&mdash;<i>Wolstan. Vita &AElig;thelw. ap.
+Mabillon Act&aelig; S. S. Benedict, S&aelig;c.</i> v. p. 614.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_353_353" id="Footnote_353_353"></a><a href="#FNanchor_353_353"><span class="label">[353]</span></a> Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. i. p. 614.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_354_354" id="Footnote_354_354"></a><a href="#FNanchor_354_354"><span class="label">[354]</span></a> MS. belonging to the Society of Antiquaries, No. 60, fo. 34.
+See Dugdale Monast. vol. i. p. 382. He gave to the monks of
+Abingdon a copy of the Gospels cased in silver, ornamented with
+gold and precious stones.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_355_355" id="Footnote_355_355"></a><a href="#FNanchor_355_355"><span class="label">[355]</span></a> <i>Arch&aelig;ologia</i>, vol. xxiv. p. 22; and <i>Dibdin's</i> delightful "<i>Decameron</i>,"
+vol. i. p. lix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_356_356" id="Footnote_356_356"></a><a href="#FNanchor_356_356"><span class="label">[356]</span></a> Wuls. Act. S. S. Benedict. p. 616.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_357_357" id="Footnote_357_357"></a><a href="#FNanchor_357_357"><span class="label">[357]</span></a> Arch&aelig;olog. vol. xxiv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_358_358" id="Footnote_358_358"></a><a href="#FNanchor_358_358"><span class="label">[358]</span></a> Regist. Priorat. S. Swithin Winton.&mdash;<i>Warton</i> <span class="smcap">ii</span>, <i>Dissert.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_359_359" id="Footnote_359_359"></a><a href="#FNanchor_359_359"><span class="label">[359]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_360_360" id="Footnote_360_360"></a><a href="#FNanchor_360_360"><span class="label">[360]</span></a> <i>Marked Titus</i>, D. 27.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_361_361" id="Footnote_361_361"></a><a href="#FNanchor_361_361"><span class="label">[361]</span></a> It is called "<i>Calendarium, in quo notantur dies obitus plurimorum
+monachorum, abbatum, etc.; temp. regum Anglo-Saxonum</i>."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_362_362" id="Footnote_362_362"></a><a href="#FNanchor_362_362"><span class="label">[362]</span></a> It was a little cell dependant on the Abbey of Thorney.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_363_363" id="Footnote_363_363"></a><a href="#FNanchor_363_363"><span class="label">[363]</span></a> MS. <i>Harleian</i>, No. 3658, fo. 74, b. It will be found printed
+in <i>Dugdale's Monasticon</i>, vol. iv. p. 167. The catalogue was
+evidently written about the year 1350.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_364_364" id="Footnote_364_364"></a><a href="#FNanchor_364_364"><span class="label">[364]</span></a> Cottonian Charta, 11-16. I am sorry to observe so little
+attention paid to this curious fragment, which, insignificant as it may
+appear to some, is nevertheless quite a curiosity of literature in its
+way. Its tattered condition calls for the care of Sir Frederick
+Madden.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_365_365" id="Footnote_365_365"></a><a href="#FNanchor_365_365"><span class="label">[365]</span></a> Leland Script. Brit. p. 321, and MSS. Bibl. Lambeth, Wharton,
+L. p. 661. Libris Prioris Gregorii de Ramsey, <i>Prima pars
+Bibliothec&aelig; Hebraice</i>, etc. Warton Dissert ii. Eng. Poetry.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_366_366" id="Footnote_366_366"></a><a href="#FNanchor_366_366"><span class="label">[366]</span></a> Bale, iv. 41, et ix. 9. Leland. Scrip. Brit. p. 452.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_367_367" id="Footnote_367_367"></a><a href="#FNanchor_367_367"><span class="label">[367]</span></a> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Alward'">Ailward</ins>, Bishop of London, gave many books to the library of
+Ramsey monastery, <i>Hoveden Scrip. post. Bedam.</i> 1596, fol. 252.
+Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_368_368" id="Footnote_368_368"></a><a href="#FNanchor_368_368"><span class="label">[368]</span></a> In the year 1327, the inhabitants of Bury besieged the abbey,
+wounded the monks, and "bare out of the abbey all the gold, silver
+ornaments, <i>bookes, charters, and other writings</i>." Stowe Annals,
+p. 353.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_369_369" id="Footnote_369_369"></a><a href="#FNanchor_369_369"><span class="label">[369]</span></a> He particularly notices a Sallust, a very ancient copy, <i>vetustis
+simus</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_370_370" id="Footnote_370_370"></a><a href="#FNanchor_370_370"><span class="label">[370]</span></a> And also to Lanfranc, he was elected in the year 1065.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_371_371" id="Footnote_371_371"></a><a href="#FNanchor_371_371"><span class="label">[371]</span></a> Harleian MS. No. 2278.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_372_372" id="Footnote_372_372"></a><a href="#FNanchor_372_372"><span class="label">[372]</span></a> Or Atheldryth.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_373_373" id="Footnote_373_373"></a><a href="#FNanchor_373_373"><span class="label">[373]</span></a> The youngest son of Osway, King of Northumbria; he succeeded
+to the throne on the death of his father in the year 670.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_374_374" id="Footnote_374_374"></a><a href="#FNanchor_374_374"><span class="label">[374]</span></a> She seems to have been principally encouraged in this fanatical
+determination by Wilfrid; probably this was one of the causes of
+Ecgfrid's displeasure towards him. So highly was the purity of the
+body regarded in the early Saxon church, that Aldhelm wrote a
+piece in its praise, in imitation of the style of Sedulius, but in most
+extravagant terms. Bede wrote a poem, solely to commemorate the
+chastety of Etheldreda.
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Let Maro wars in loftier numbers sing<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I sound the praises of our heavenly King;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Chaste is my verse, nor Helen's rape I write,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Light tales like these, but prove the mind as light."<br /></span>
+<span class="i14"><i>Bede's Eccl. Hist. by Giles</i>, b. iv. c. xx.</span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_375_375" id="Footnote_375_375"></a><a href="#FNanchor_375_375"><span class="label">[375]</span></a> Bede's Eccl. Hist. b. iv. c. xx.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_376_376" id="Footnote_376_376"></a><a href="#FNanchor_376_376"><span class="label">[376]</span></a> Saxon Chronicle translated by Ingram, p. 118. Dugdale's
+Monasticon, vol. i. p. 458.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_377_377" id="Footnote_377_377"></a><a href="#FNanchor_377_377"><span class="label">[377]</span></a> Sharon Turner's Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. p. 288.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_378_378" id="Footnote_378_378"></a><a href="#FNanchor_378_378"><span class="label">[378]</span></a> Strutt's Saxon Antiquities, vol. i. p. 83.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_379_379" id="Footnote_379_379"></a><a href="#FNanchor_379_379"><span class="label">[379]</span></a> <i>Dibdin's Bibliomania</i>, p. 228.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_380_380" id="Footnote_380_380"></a><a href="#FNanchor_380_380"><span class="label">[380]</span></a> Dibdin alludes to the "Harmony of the Four Gospels," preserved
+among the Cotton MSS. <i>Caligula</i>, A. vii. and described as
+"<i>Harmonia Evangeliorum, lingua Francica capitulis, 71, Liber
+quondam (dicit Jamesius) Canuti regis</i>." See also Hicke's Gram.
+Franco-Theotisca, p. 6. But there is no ground for the supposition
+that it belonged to Canute; and the several fine historical illuminations
+bound up with it are evidently of a much later age.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_381_381" id="Footnote_381_381"></a><a href="#FNanchor_381_381"><span class="label">[381]</span></a> An entry occurs of 6s. 8d. for writing two processionals.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_382_382" id="Footnote_382_382"></a><a href="#FNanchor_382_382"><span class="label">[382]</span></a> Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham's church of Ely, p. 52. "It
+is worth notice," says Stevenson, "that in the course of a few years,
+about the middle of the 14th century, the precentor purchased upwards
+of seventy dozen parchment and thirty dozen vellum."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_383_383" id="Footnote_383_383"></a><a href="#FNanchor_383_383"><span class="label">[383]</span></a> Spelman Antiquarii Collectanea, vol. iii. p. 273. Nigel, who
+was made bishop in 1133, was plundered by some of King Stephen's
+soldiers, and robbed of his own copy of the Gospels which he had
+adorned with many sacred relics; see <i>Anglia Sacra</i>, i. p. 622.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_384_384" id="Footnote_384_384"></a><a href="#FNanchor_384_384"><span class="label">[384]</span></a> <i>Warton's Anglia Sacra</i>, it is related that William Longchamp,
+bishop in 1199, sold them to raise money towards the redemption of
+King Richard, <i>pro Regis Ricardi redemptione</i>, tom. i. 633. Dugd.
+Monast. i. p. 463.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>[<a href="./images/247.png">247</a>]</span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-20.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>St. Alban's.&mdash;Willigod.&mdash;Bones of St. Alban.&mdash;Eadmer.&mdash;Norman
+Conquest.&mdash;Paul and the
+Scriptorium.&mdash;Geoffry de Gorham.&mdash;Brekspere
+the "Poor Clerk".&mdash;Abbot Simon and his "multis
+voluminibus".&mdash;Raymond the Prior.&mdash;Wentmore.&mdash;Whethamstede.&mdash;Humphrey,
+Duke of Gloucester.&mdash;Lydgate.&mdash;Guy,
+Earl of Warwick.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> efficacy of "Good Works" was
+a principle ever inculcated by the
+monks of old. It is sad to reflect,
+that vile deeds and black intentions
+were too readily forgiven
+and absolved by the Church on
+the performance of some <i>good
+deed</i>; or that the monks should dare to shelter or
+to gloss over those sins which their priestly duty
+bound them to condemn, because forsooth some
+wealthy baron could spare a portion of his broad
+lands or coffered gold to extenuate them. But
+this forms one of the dark stains of the monastic
+system; and the monks, I am sorry to say, were
+more readily inclined to overlook the blemish, be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>[<a href="./images/248.png">248</a>]</span>cause
+it proved so profitable to their order. And
+thus it was, that the proud and noble monastery of
+St. Alban's was endowed by a murderer's hand, and
+built to allay the fierce tortures of an assassin's
+conscience. Ethelbert, king of the East Angles,
+fell by the regal hand of Offa, king of Mercia;
+and from the era of that black and guilty deed
+many a fine monastery dates its origin and owes
+its birth.</p>
+
+<p>St. Alban's was founded, as its name implies, in
+honor of the English protomartyr, whose bones
+were said to have been discovered on that interesting
+site, and afterwards preserved with veneration
+in the abbey. In the ancient times, the building
+appears to have covered a considerable space, and
+to have been of great magnitude and power; for
+ruins of its former structure mark how far and wide
+the foundation spreads.</p></div>
+
+<p>"The glorious king Offa," as the monks in their
+adulation style him, richly endowed the monastery
+on its completion, as we learn from the old chronicles
+of the abbey; and a succession of potent
+sovereigns are emblazoned on the glittering parchment,
+whose liberalty augmented or confirmed
+these privileges.<a name="FNanchor_385_385" id="FNanchor_385_385"></a><a href="#Footnote_385_385" class="fnanchor">[385]</a></p>
+
+<p>Willigod, the first abbot, greatly enriched the
+monastery, and bestowed especial care upon the
+relics of St. Alban. It is curious to mark how
+many perils those shrivelled bones escaped, and
+with what anxious care the monks preserved them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>[<a href="./images/249.png">249</a>]</span>
+In the year 930, during the time of Abbot Eadfrid,
+the Danes attacked the abbey, and after many
+destroying acts broke open the repository, and
+carried away some of the bones of St. Alban into
+their own country.<a name="FNanchor_386_386" id="FNanchor_386_386"></a><a href="#Footnote_386_386" class="fnanchor">[386]</a> The monks took greater care
+than ever of the remaining relics; and their anxiety
+for their safety, and the veneration with which they
+regarded them, is curiously illustrated by an anecdote
+of Abbot Leofric, elected in the year 1006.
+His abbacy was, therefore, held in troubled times;
+and in the midst of fresh invasions and Danish
+cruelties. Fearing lest they should a second time
+reach the abbey, he determined to protect by
+stratagem what he could not effect by force. After
+hiding the genuine bones of St. Alban in a place
+quite secure from discovery, he sent an open message
+to the Abbot of Ely, entreating permission to
+deposit the holy relics in his keeping; and offering,
+as a plausible reason, that the monastery of Ely,
+being surrounded by marshy and impenetrable
+bogs, was secure from the approaches of the barbarians.
+He accompanied this message with some
+false relics&mdash;the remains of an old monk belonging
+to the abbey enclosed in a coffin&mdash;and sent with
+them a worn antiquated looking mantle, pretending
+that it formerly belonged to Amphibalus, the master
+of St. Alban.<a name="FNanchor_387_387" id="FNanchor_387_387"></a><a href="#Footnote_387_387" class="fnanchor">[387]</a> The monks of Ely joyfully received
+these precious bones, and displayed perhaps too
+much eagerness in doing so. Certain it is, that
+when the danger was past and the quietude of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a>[<a href="./images/250.png">250</a>]</span>
+country was restored, Leofric, on applying for the
+restitution of these "holy relics," found some difficulty
+in obtaining them; for the Abbot of Ely
+attempted by equivocation and duplicity to retain
+them. After several ineffectual applications, Leofric
+was compelled, for the honor of his monastery,
+to declare the "pious fraud" he had practised;
+which he proved by the testimony of several monks
+of his fraternity, who were witnesses of the transaction.
+It is said, that Edward the Confessor was
+highly incensed at the conduct of the Abbot of
+Ely.</p>
+
+<p>I have stated elsewhere, that the learned and
+pious &AElig;lfric gave the monastery many choice
+volumes. His successor, Ealdred, abbot, about the
+year 955, was quite an antiquary in his way; and no
+spot in England afforded so many opportunities to
+gratify his taste as the site of the ancient city of
+Verulam. He commenced an extensive search
+among the ruins, and rescued from the earth a vast
+quantity of interesting and valuable remains. He
+stowed all the stone-work and other materials
+which were serviceable in building away, intending
+to erect a new edifice for the monks: but death
+prevented the consummation of these designs.
+Eadmer, his successor, a man of great piety and
+learning, followed up the pursuit, and made some
+important accessions to these stores. He found
+also a great number of gold and silver ornaments,
+specimens of ancient art, some of them of a most
+costly nature, but being idols or figures connected
+with heathen mythology, he cared not to preserve
+them. Matthew Paris is prolix in his account of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>[<a href="./images/251.png">251</a>]</span>
+the operations and discoveries of this abbot; and
+one portion of it is so interesting, and seems so
+connected with our subject, that I cannot refrain
+from giving it to the reader. "The abbot," he
+writes, "whilst digging out the walls and searching
+for the ruins which were buried in the earth in the
+midst of the ancient city, discovered many vestiges
+of the foundation of a great palace. In a recess in
+one of the walls he found the remains of a library,
+consisting of a number of books and rolls; and
+among them a volume in an unknown tongue, and
+which, although very ancient, had especially escaped
+destruction. This nobody in the monastery could
+read, nor could they at that time find any one who
+understood the writing or the idiom; it was exceedingly
+ancient, and the letters evidently were
+most beautifully formed; the inscriptions or titles
+were written in gold, and encircled with ornaments;
+bound in oak with silken bands, which still
+retained their strength and beauty; so perfectly
+was the volume preserved. But they could not
+conceive what the book was about; at last, after
+much search and diligent inquiry, they found a very
+feeble and aged priest, named Unwon, who was
+very learned in writings <i>literis bene eruditum</i>, and
+imbued with the knowledge of divers languages.
+He knew directly what the volume was about, and
+clearly and fluently read the contents; he also explained
+the other <i>Codices</i> found in the same library
+<i>in eodem Almariolo</i> of the palace with the greatest
+ease, and showed them to be written in the characters
+formerly in use among the inhabitants of Verulam,
+and in the language of the ancient Britons.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>[<a href="./images/252.png">252</a>]</span>
+Some, however, were in Latin; but the book before-mentioned
+was found to be the history of Saint
+Alban, the English proto-martyr, according to that
+mentioned by Bede, as having been daily used in
+the church. Among the other books were discovered
+many contrivances for the invocation and
+idolatrous rites of the people of Verulam, in which
+it was evident that Ph&#339;bus the god Sol was especially
+invoked and worshipped; and after him
+Mercury, called in English Woden, who was the
+god of the merchants. The books which contained
+these diabolical inventions they cast away and
+burnt; but that precious treasure, the history of
+Saint Alban, they preserved, and the priest before-mentioned
+was appointed to translate the ancient
+English or British into the vulgar tongue.<a name="FNanchor_388_388" id="FNanchor_388_388"></a><a href="#Footnote_388_388" class="fnanchor">[388]</a> By
+the prudence of the Abbot Eadmer, the brothers
+of the convent made a faithful copy, and diligently
+explained it in their public teaching; they also
+translated it into Latin, in which it is now known
+and read; the historian adds that the ancient and
+original copy, which was so curiously written, instantaneously
+crumbled into dust and was destroyed
+for ever.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_389_389" id="FNanchor_389_389"></a><a href="#Footnote_389_389" class="fnanchor">[389]</a></p>
+
+<p>Although the attention of the Saxon abbots
+was especially directed to literary matters, and to
+the affairs connected with the making of books, we
+find no definite mention of a Scriptorium, or of
+manuscripts having been transcribed as a regular
+and systematic duty, till after the Norman con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>[<a href="./images/253.png">253</a>]</span>quest.
+That event happened during the abbacy of
+Frederic, and was one which greatly influenced
+the learning of the monks. Indeed, I regard the
+Norman conquest as a most propitious event for
+English literature, and one which wrought a vast
+change in the aspect of monastic learning; the
+student of those times cannot fail to perceive the
+revolution which then took place in the cloisters;
+visibly accomplished by the installation of Norman
+bishops and the importation of Norman monks,
+who in the well regulated monasteries of France and
+Normandy had been initiated into a more general
+course of study, and brought up in a better system
+of mental training than was known here at that
+time.</p>
+
+<p>But poor Frederic, a conscientious and worthy
+monk, suffered severely by that event, and was
+ultimately obliged to seek refuge in the monastery
+of Ely to evade the displeasure of the new sovereign;
+but his earthly course was well nigh run,
+for three days after, death released him from his
+worldly troubles, and deprived the conqueror of a
+victim. Paul, the first of the Norman abbots, was
+appointed by the king in the year 1077. He was
+zealous and industrious in the interest of the abbey,
+and obtained the restitution of many lands and
+possessions of which it had been deprived; he
+rebuilt the old and almost ruined church, and employed
+for that purpose many of the materials
+which his predecessors had collected from the ruins
+of Verulam; and even now, I believe, some remnants
+of these Roman tiles, etc., may be discerned.
+He moreover obtained many important grants and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>[<a href="./images/254.png">254</a>]</span>
+valuable donations; among others a layman named
+Robert, one of the Norman leaders, gave him two
+parts of the tythes of his domain at Hatfield,
+which he had received from the king at the distribution.</p>
+
+<p>"This he assigned," says Matthew Paris, "to
+the disposal of Abbot Paul, who was a lover of the
+Scriptures, for the transcription of the necessary
+volumes for the monastery. He himself indeed
+was a learned soldier, and a diligent hearer and
+lover of Scripture; to this he also added the tythes
+of Redburn, appointing certain provisions to be
+given to the scribes; this he did out of "charity to
+the brothers that they may not thereby suffer, and
+that no impediment might be offered to the writers.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins>
+The abbot thereupon sought and obtained from
+afar many renowned scribes, to write the necessary
+books for the monastery. And in return for these
+abundant favors, he presented, as a suitable gift to
+the warlike Robert, for the chapel in his palace at
+Hatfield, two pair of vestments, a silver cup, a
+missal, and the other needful books (<i>missale cum
+aliis libris necessariis</i>). Having thus presented to
+him the first volumes produced by his liberality, he
+proceeded to construct a scriptorium, which was
+set apart (<i>pr&aelig;electos</i>) for the transcription of books;
+Lanfranc supplied the copies. They thus procured
+for the monastery twenty-eight notable volumes
+(<i>volumina notabilia</i>), also eight psalters, a book of
+collects, a book of epistles, a volume containing
+the gospels for the year, two copies of the gospels
+complete, bound in gold and silver, and ornamented
+with gems; besides ordinals, constitutions, missals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>[<a href="./images/255.png">255</a>]</span>
+troapries, collects, and other books for the use of
+the library.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_390_390" id="FNanchor_390_390"></a><a href="#Footnote_390_390" class="fnanchor">[390]</a></p>
+
+<p>Thus blessed, we find the monks of St. Albans
+for ages after constantly acquiring fresh treasures,
+and multiplying their book stores by fruitful transcripts.
+There is scarce an abbot, whose portrait
+garnishes the fair manuscript before me, that is
+not represented with some goodly tomes spread
+around him, or who is not mentioned as a choice
+"<i>amator librorum</i>," in these monkish pages. It is
+a singular circumstance, when we consider how
+bookless those ages are supposed to have been,
+that the illuminated portraits of the monks are
+most frequently depicted with some ponderous
+volume before them, as if the idea of a monk and
+the study of a book were quite inseparable. During
+my search among the old manuscripts quoted in
+this work, this fact has been so repeatedly forced
+upon my attention that I am tempted to regard it
+as an important hint, and one which speaks favorably
+for the love of books and learning among the
+cowled devotees of the monasteries.</p>
+
+<p>Passing Richard de Albani, who gave them a
+copy of the gospels, a missal written in letters of
+gold, an other precious volumes whose titles are
+unrecorded,<a name="FNanchor_391_391" id="FNanchor_391_391"></a><a href="#Footnote_391_391" class="fnanchor">[391]</a> we come to Geoffry, a native of
+Gorham, who was elected abbot in the year 1119.
+He had been invited over to England (before he
+became a priest) by his predecessor, to superintend
+the school of St. Albans; but he delayed the voyage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a>[<a href="./images/256.png">256</a>]</span>
+so long, that on his arrival he found the appointment
+already filled; on this he went to Dunstable,
+where he read lectures, and obtained some pupils.
+It was during his stay there that he wrote the piece
+which has obtained for him so much reputation.
+<i>Ubi quendam ludum de Sancta Katarin&aelig; quem
+miracula vulgariter appellamus fecit</i>, says the Cotton
+manuscripts, on the vellum page of which he
+is portrayed in the act of writing it.<a name="FNanchor_392_392" id="FNanchor_392_392"></a><a href="#Footnote_392_392" class="fnanchor">[392]</a> Geoffry,
+from this passage, is supposed to be the first author
+of dramatic literature in England; although the
+title seems somewhat equivocal, from the casual
+manner in which his famous play of St. Catherine
+is thus mentioned by Matthew Paris. Of its merits
+we are still less able to form an opinion; for nothing
+more than the name of that much talked of miracle
+play has been preserved. We may conclude, however,
+that it was performed with all the paraphernalia
+of scenery and characteristic costume; for he
+borrowed of the sacrist of St. Albans some copes
+for this purpose. On the night following the
+representation the house in which he resided was
+burnt; and, says the historian, all his books, and
+the copes he had borrowed were destroyed. Rendered
+poor indeed by this calamity, and somewhat
+reflecting upon himself for the event, he assumed
+in sorrow and despair the religious habit, and
+entered the monastery of St. Albans; where by
+his deep study, his learning and his piety, he so
+gained the hearts of his fraternity, that he ultimately
+became their abbot. He is said to have been very
+industrious in the transcription of books; and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>[<a href="./images/257.png">257</a>]</span>
+"made a missal bound in gold, <i>auro ridimitum</i>,
+and another in two volumes; both incomparably
+illuminated in gold, and written in a clear and
+legible hand; also a precious Psalter similarly
+illuminated; a book containing the Benedictions
+and the Sacraments; a book of Exorcisms, and a
+Collectaria."<a name="FNanchor_393_393" id="FNanchor_393_393"></a><a href="#Footnote_393_393" class="fnanchor">[393]</a></p>
+
+<p>Geoffry was succeeded by Ralph de <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Gebium'">Gobium</ins> in
+the year 1143: he was a monk remarkable for his
+learning and his bibliomanical pursuits. He formerly
+remained some time in the services of
+Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, and gained the
+esteem of that prelate. His book-loving passion
+arose from hearing one "Master Wodon, of Italy,
+expound the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures."
+He from that time became a most enthusiastic
+<i>amator librorum</i>; and collected, with great diligence,
+an abundant multitude of books.<a name="FNanchor_394_394" id="FNanchor_394_394"></a><a href="#Footnote_394_394" class="fnanchor">[394]</a></p>
+
+<p>The matters in which he was concerned, his
+donations to the monastery, and the anecdotes of
+his life, are all unconnected with my subject; so that
+I am obliged to pass from this interesting monk,
+an undoubted bibliophile, from sheer want of information.
+I cannot but regret that the historian
+does not inform us more fully of his book collecting
+pursuits; but he is especially barren on
+that subject, although he highly esteems him for
+prosecuting that pleasing avocation. He died in
+the year 1151, in the fourteenth of King Stephen,
+and was followed by Robert de Gorham, who is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a>[<a href="./images/258.png">258</a>]</span>
+also commemorated as a bibliophile in the pages
+of the Cotton manuscripts; and to judge from his
+portrait, and the intensity with which he pores over
+his volume, he was a hard and devoted student.
+He ordered the scribes to make a great many
+books; indeed, adds Paris the historian, who was
+himself somewhat of an <i>amator librorum</i>, "more
+by far than can be mentioned."<a name="FNanchor_395_395" id="FNanchor_395_395"></a><a href="#Footnote_395_395" class="fnanchor">[395]</a> From another
+source we learn that these books were most sumptuously
+bound.<a name="FNanchor_396_396" id="FNanchor_396_396"></a><a href="#Footnote_396_396" class="fnanchor">[396]</a></p>
+
+<p>During the days of this learned abbot a devout
+and humble clerk asked admission at the abbey
+gate. Aspiring to a holy life, he ardently hoped,
+by thus spending his days in monastic seclusion, to
+render his heart more acceptable to God. Hearing
+his prayer, the monks conducted him into the
+presence of my Lord Abbot, who received him
+with compassionate tenderness, and kindly questioned
+him as to his qualifications for the duties
+and sacred responsibilities of the monkish priesthood;
+for even in those dark ages they looked a
+little into the learning of the applicant before he
+was admitted into their fraternity. But alas! the
+poor clerk was found wofully deficient in this respect,
+and was incapable of replying to the questions
+of my Lord Abbot, who thereupon gently answered,
+"My son, tarry awhile, and still exercise thyself in
+study, and so become more perfect for the holy
+office."</p>
+
+<p>Abashed and disappointed, he retired with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>[<a href="./images/259.png">259</a>]</span>
+kindling blush of shame; and deeming this temporary
+repulse a positive refusal he left his fatherland,
+and started on a pilgrimage to France.<a name="FNanchor_397_397" id="FNanchor_397_397"></a><a href="#Footnote_397_397" class="fnanchor">[397]</a>
+And who was this poor, humble, unlettered clerk?
+Who this simple layman, whose ignorance rendered
+him an unfit <i>socius</i> for the plodding monks of old
+St. Albans Abbey? No less than the English
+born Nicholas Brekespere, afterwards his Holiness
+Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Vicar-apostolic and
+successor of St. Peter!</p>
+
+<p>Yes; still bearing in mind the kind yet keen
+reproof of the English abbot, on his arrival in a
+foreign land he studied with all the depth and
+intensity of despair, and soon surpassed his companions
+in the pursuit of knowledge; and became
+so renowned for learning, and for his prudence,
+that he was made Canon of St. Rufus. His sagacity,
+moreover, caused him to be chosen, on three separate
+occasions, to undertake some important embassies
+to the apostolic see; and at length he was
+elected a cardinal. So step by step he finally became
+elevated to the high dignity of the popedom.
+The first and last of England's sons who held the
+keys of Peter.</p>
+
+<p>These shadows of the past&mdash;these shreds of a
+forgotten age&mdash;these echoes of five hundred years,
+are full of interest and instruction. For where
+shall we find a finer example&mdash;a more cheering
+instance of what perseverance will accomplish&mdash;or
+a more satisfactory result of the pursuit of knowledge
+under difficulties? Not only may these
+curious facts cheer the dull student now, and inspire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a>[<a href="./images/260.png">260</a>]</span>
+him with that energy so essential to success, but
+these whisperings of old may serve as lessons for
+ages yet to come. For if <i>we</i> look back upon those
+dark days with such feelings of superiority, may
+not the wiser generations of the future regard <i>us</i>
+with a still more contemptuous, yet curious eye?
+And when they look back at our Franklins, and
+our Johnsons, in astonishment at such fine instances
+of what perseverance could do, and what
+energy and plodding industry could accomplish,
+even when surrounded with the difficulties of <i>our</i>
+ignorance; how much more will they praise this
+bright example, in the dark background of the
+historical tableaux, who, without even our means of
+obtaining knowledge&mdash;our libraries or our talent&mdash;rose
+by patient, hard and devoted study, from
+Brekespere the humble clerk&mdash;the rejected of St.
+Albans&mdash;to the proud title of Vicar-apostolic of
+Christ and Pope of Rome!</p>
+
+<p>Simon, an Englishman, a clerk and a "man of
+letters and good morals," was elected abbot in the
+year 1167. All my authorities concur in bestowing
+upon him the honor and praise appertaining to a
+bibliomaniac. He was, says one, an especial lover
+of books, <i>librorum amator speciales</i>: and another
+in panegyric terms still further dubs him an <i>amator
+scripturarum</i>. All this he proved, and well earned
+the distinction, by the great encouragement he gave
+to the collecting and transcribing of books. The
+monkish pens he found moving too slow, and yielding
+less fruit than formerly. He soon, however, set
+them hard at work again; and to facilitate their
+labors, he added materially to the comforts of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a>[<a href="./images/261.png">261</a>]</span>
+Scriptorium by repairing and enlarging it; "and
+always," says the monk from whom I learn this,
+"kept two or three most choice scribes in the
+Camera (Scriptorium,) who sustained its reputation,
+and from whence an abundant supply of the most
+excellent books were continually produced.<a name="FNanchor_398_398" id="FNanchor_398_398"></a><a href="#Footnote_398_398" class="fnanchor">[398]</a> He
+framed some efficient laws for its management, and
+ordered that, in subsequent times, every abbot
+should keep and support one able scribe at least.
+Among the 'many choice books and authentic
+volumes,' <i>volumina authentica</i>, which he by this
+care and industry added to the abbey library, was
+included a splendid copy of the Old and New
+Testament, transcribed with great accuracy and
+beautifully written&mdash;indeed, says the manuscript
+history of that monastery, so noble a copy was
+nowhere else to be seen.<a name="FNanchor_399_399" id="FNanchor_399_399"></a><a href="#Footnote_399_399" class="fnanchor">[399]</a> But besides this, Abbot
+Simon gave them all those precious books which
+he had been for a 'long time' collecting himself at
+great cost and patient labor, and having bound
+them in a sumptuous and marvellous manner,<a name="FNanchor_400_400" id="FNanchor_400_400"></a><a href="#Footnote_400_400" class="fnanchor">[400]</a> he
+made a library for their reception near the tomb of
+Roger the Hermit.<a name="FNanchor_401_401" id="FNanchor_401_401"></a><a href="#Footnote_401_401" class="fnanchor">[401]</a> He also bestowed many rich
+ornaments and much costly plate on the monastery;
+and by a long catalogue of good deeds, too
+ample to be inserted here, he gained the affections
+and gratitude of his fraternity, who loudly praised
+his virtues and lamented his loss when they laid
+him in his costly tomb. There is a curious illumination
+of this monkish bibliophile in the Cotton
+manuscript. He is represented deeply engaged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a>[<a href="./images/262.png">262</a>]</span>
+with his studies amidst a number of massy volumes,
+and a huge trunk is there before him crammed with
+rough old fashioned large clasped tomes, quite enticing
+to look upon."<a name="FNanchor_402_402" id="FNanchor_402_402"></a><a href="#Footnote_402_402" class="fnanchor">[402]</a></p>
+
+<p>After Simon came Garinus, who was soon succeeded
+by one John. Our attention is arrested by
+the learned renown of this abbot, who had studied
+in his youth at Paris, and obtained the unanimous
+praise of his masters for his assiduous attention
+and studious industry. He returned with these
+high honors, and was esteemed in grammar a
+Priscian, in poetry an Ovid, and in physic equal to
+Galen.<a name="FNanchor_403_403" id="FNanchor_403_403"></a><a href="#Footnote_403_403" class="fnanchor">[403]</a> With such literary qualifications, it was
+to be expected the Scriptorium would flourish under
+his government, and the library increase under his
+fostering care. Our expectations are not disappointed;
+for many valuable additions were made
+during his abbacy, and the monks over whom he
+presided gave many manifestations of refinement
+and artistic talent, which incline us to regard the
+ingenuity of the cloisters in a more favorable light.
+Raymond, his prior, was a great help in all these
+undertakings. His industry seems to have been
+unceasing in beautifying the church, and looking
+after the transcription of books. With the assistance
+of Roger de Parco, the cellarer, he made a
+large table very handsome, and partly fabricated
+of metal. He wrote two copies of the Gospels,
+and bound them in silver and gold adorned with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>[<a href="./images/263.png">263</a>]</span>
+various figures. Brother Walter of Colchester,
+with Randulph, Gubium and others, produced some
+very handsome paintings comprising the evangelists
+and many holy saints, and hung them up in the
+church. "As we have before mentioned, by the
+care and industry of the lord Raymond, many noble
+and useful books were transcribed and given to
+the monastery. The most remarkable of these was
+a Historia Scholastica, with allegorics, a most
+elegant book&mdash;<i>liber elegantissimus</i> exclaims my
+monkish authority.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_404_404" id="FNanchor_404_404"></a><a href="#Footnote_404_404" class="fnanchor">[404]</a> This leads me to say something
+more of my lord prior, for the troubles which
+the conscientious conduct of old Raymond brought
+upon himself&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Implores the passing tribute of a sigh."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Be it known then that William de Trompington
+succeeded to the abbacy on the death of John; but
+he was a very different man, without much esteem
+for learning; and thinking I am afraid far more of
+the world and heaven or the <i>Domus Dei</i>. Alas!
+memoirs of bad monks and worldly abbots are
+sometimes found blotting the holy pages of the
+monkish annals. <i>Domus Dei est porta c&#339;li</i>, said
+the monks; and when they closed the convent
+gates they did not look back on the world again,
+but entered on that dull and gloomy path with a
+full conviction that they were leaving all and following
+Christ, and so acting in accordance with his
+admonitions; but those who sought the convent to
+forget in its solitude their worldly cares and worldly
+disappointments, too often found how futile and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>[<a href="./images/264.png">264</a>]</span>
+how ineffectual was that dismal life to eradicate the
+grief of an overburdened heart, or to subdue the
+violence of misguided temper. The austerity of
+the monastic rules might tend to conquer passion
+or moderate despair, but there was little within
+those walls to drive painful recollections of the outward
+world away; for at every interval between
+their holy meditations and their monkish duties,
+images of the earth would crowd back upon their
+minds, and wring from their ascetic hearts tributes
+of anguish and despair; and so we find the writings
+and letters of the old monks full of vain regrets
+and misanthropic thoughts, but sometimes overflowing
+with the most touching pathos of human
+misery. Yet the monk knew full well what his
+duty was, and knew how sinful it was to repine or
+rebel against the will of God. If he vowed obedience
+to his abbot, he did not forget that obedience
+was doubly due to Him; and strove with all the
+strength that weak humanity could muster, to forget
+the darkness of the past by looking forward with a
+pious hope and a lively faith to the brightness and
+glory of the future. By constant prayer the monk
+thought more of his God, and gained help to
+strengthen the faith within him; and by assiduous
+and devoted study he disciplined his heart of flesh&mdash;tore
+from it what lingering affection for the world
+remained, and deserting all love of earth and all
+love of kin, purged and purified it for his holy
+calling, and closed its portals to render it inaccessible
+to all sympathy of blood. If a thought of
+those shut out from him by the monastic walls stole
+across his soul and mingled with his prayer, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a>[<a href="./images/265.png">265</a>]</span>
+started and trembled as if he had offered up an
+unholy desire in the supplication. To him it was
+a proof that his nature was not yet subdued; and a
+day of study and meditation, with a fast unbroken
+till the rays of the morrow's sun cast their light
+around his little cell, absolved the sin, and broke
+the tie that bound him to the world without.</p>
+
+<p>If this violence was experienced in subduing
+the tenderest of human sympathy; how much more
+severe was the conflict of dark passions only half
+subdued, or malignant depravity only partially reformed.
+These dark lines of human nature were
+sometimes prominent, even when the monk was
+clothed in sackcloth and ashes; and are markedly
+visible in the life of William de Trompington. But
+let not the reader think that he was appointed with
+the hearty suffrages of the fraternity, he was elected
+at the recommendation of the "king," a very significant
+term in those days of despotic rule, at
+which choice became a mere farce. "Out of the
+fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and the
+monks soon began to perceive with regret and
+trembling the worldly ways of the new abbot, which
+he could not hide even under his abbatical robes.
+In a place dedicated to holy deeds and heavenly
+thoughts, worldly conduct or unbridled passion
+strikes the mind as doubly criminal, and loads the
+heart with dismay and suffering; at least so my
+lord Prior regarded it, whose righteous indignation
+could no longer endure these manifestations of a
+worldly mind. So he gently remonstrated with his
+superior, and hinted at the impropriety of such
+conduct. This was received not in Christian fellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>[<a href="./images/266.png">266</a>]</span>ship,
+but with haughty and passionate displeasure;
+and from that day the fate of poor Raymond was
+irrevocably sealed. The abbot thinking to suppress
+the dissatisfaction which was now becoming general
+and particularly inconvenient, sent him a long distance
+off to the cell of Tynmouth in Northumberland,
+where all were strangers to him. Nor could
+the tears of the old man turn the heart of his cruel
+lord, nor the rebellious murmurings of the brothers
+avail. Thank God such cases are not very frequent;
+and the reader of monkish annals will not
+find many instances of such cold and unfeeling
+cruelty to distress his studies or to arouse his
+indignation. But obedience was a matter of course
+in the monastery; it was one of the most imperative
+duties of the monk, and if not cheerfully he was
+compelled to manifest alacrity in fulfilling even the
+most unpleasant mandate. But I would have forgiven
+this transaction on the score of <i>expediency</i>
+perhaps, had not the abbot heaped additional insults
+and cruelties upon the aged offender; but his books
+which he had transcribed with great diligence and
+care, he forcibly deprived him of, <i>violenter spoliatum</i>,
+and so robbed him, as his historian says, of
+all those things which would have been a comfort
+and solace to his old age.<a name="FNanchor_405_405" id="FNanchor_405_405"></a><a href="#Footnote_405_405" class="fnanchor">[405]</a></p>
+
+<p>The books which the abbot thus became dishonestly
+possessed of&mdash;for I cannot regard it in
+any other light&mdash;we are told he gave to the library
+of the monastery; and he also presented some
+books to more than one neighboring church.<a name="FNanchor_406_406" id="FNanchor_406_406"></a><a href="#Footnote_406_406" class="fnanchor">[406]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a>[<a href="./images/267.png">267</a>]</span>
+But he was not bookworm himself, and dwelt I
+suspect with greater fondness over his wealthy rent
+roll than on the pages of the fine volumes in the
+monastic library. The monks, however, amidst all
+these troubles retained their love of books; indeed
+it was about this time that John de Basingstoke,
+who had studied at Athens, brought a valuable
+collection of Greek books into England, and greatly
+aided in diffusing a knowledge of that language
+into this country. He was deacon of Saint Albans,
+and taught many of the monks Greek; Nicholas,
+a chaplain there, became so proficient in it, that he
+was capable of greatly assisting bishop Grostete in
+translating his Testament of the twelve patriarchs
+into Latin.<a name="FNanchor_407_407" id="FNanchor_407_407"></a><a href="#Footnote_407_407" class="fnanchor">[407]</a></p>
+
+<p>Roger de Northone, the twenty-fourth abbot of
+Saint Albans, gave "many valuable and choice
+books to the monastery," and among them the
+commentaries of Raymond, Godfrey, and Bernard,
+and a book containing the works and discourses of
+Seneca. His bibliomaniacal propensities, and his
+industry in transcribing books, is indicated by an
+illumination representing this worthy abbot deeply
+engrossed with his ponderous volumes.<a name="FNanchor_408_408" id="FNanchor_408_408"></a><a href="#Footnote_408_408" class="fnanchor">[408]</a></p>
+
+<p>I have elsewhere related an anecdote of Wallingford,
+abbot of St. Albans, and the sale of books
+effected between him and Richard de Bury. It
+appears that rare and munificent collector gave
+many and various noble books, <i>multos et varios
+libros nobiles</i>, to the monastery of St. Albans whilst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>[<a href="./images/268.png">268</a>]</span>
+he was bishop of Durham.<a name="FNanchor_409_409" id="FNanchor_409_409"></a><a href="#Footnote_409_409" class="fnanchor">[409]</a> Michael de Wentmore
+succeeded Wallingford, and proved a very
+valuable benefactor to the monastery; and by wise
+regulations and economy greatly increased the
+comforts and good order of the abbey. He gave
+many books, <i>plures libros</i>, to the library, besides
+two excellent Bibles,<a name="FNanchor_410_410" id="FNanchor_410_410"></a><a href="#Footnote_410_410" class="fnanchor">[410]</a> one for the convent and one
+for the abbot's study, and to be kept especially for
+his private reading; an ordinal, very beautiful to
+look upon, being sumptuously bound.<a name="FNanchor_411_411" id="FNanchor_411_411"></a><a href="#Footnote_411_411" class="fnanchor">[411]</a> Indeed, so
+<i>multis voluminibus</i> did he bestow, that he expended
+more than 100<i>l.</i> in this way, an immense sum in
+those old days, when a halfpenny a day was deemed
+fair wages for a scribe.<a name="FNanchor_412_412" id="FNanchor_412_412"></a><a href="#Footnote_412_412" class="fnanchor">[412]</a></p>
+
+<p>Wentmore was succeeded by Thomas de la
+Mare, a man of singular learning, and remarkable
+as a patron of it in others; it was probably by his
+direction that John of Tynmouth wrote his Sanctilogium
+Britann&aelig;, for that work was dedicated to
+him. A copy, presented by Thomas de la Mare to
+the church of Redburn, is in the British Museum,
+much injured by fire, but retaining at the end the
+following lines:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Hunc librum dedet Dominus Thomas de la Mare, Albas
+monasterii S. Albani Anglorum Proto martyris Deo et
+Ecclesi&aelig; B. Amphibali de Redburn, ut fratris indem in
+cursu existentus per ejus lecturam poterint c&#339;lestibus
+instrui, et per Sanctorum exempla virtutibus insignixi."<a name="FNanchor_413_413" id="FNanchor_413_413"></a><a href="#Footnote_413_413" class="fnanchor">[413]</a></p></div>
+
+<p>But there are few who have obtained so much
+reputation as John de Whethamstede, perhaps the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a>[<a href="./images/269.png">269</a>]</span>
+most learned abbot of this monastery. He was
+formerly monk of the cell at Tynmouth, and afterwards
+prior of Gloucester College at Oxford, from
+whence he was appointed to the government of
+St. Albans. Whethamstede was a passionate bibliomaniac,
+and when surrounded with his books he
+cared little, or perhaps from the absence of mind
+so often engendered by the delights of study, he
+too frequently forgot, the important affairs of his
+monastery, and the responsible duties of an abbot;
+but absorbed as he was with his studies, Whethamstede
+was not a mere</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">..... "Bookful blockhead ignorantly read<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With loads of learned lumber in his head."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>It is true he was an inveterate reader, amorously
+inclined towards vellum tomes and illuminated
+parchments; but he did not covet them like
+some collectors for the mere pride of possessing
+them, but gloried in feasting on their intellectual
+charms and delectable wisdom, and sought in their
+attractive pages the means of becoming a better
+Christian and a wiser man. But he was so excessively
+fond of books, and became so deeply
+engrossed with his book-collecting pursuits, that it
+is said some of the monks showed a little dissatisfaction
+at his consequent neglect of the affairs of
+the monastery; but these are faults I cannot find
+the heart to blame him for, but am inclined to consider
+his conduct fully redeemed by the valuable
+encouragement he gave to literature and learning.
+Generous to a fault, abundant in good deeds and
+costly expenditure, he became involved in pecuniary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>[<a href="./images/270.png">270</a>]</span>
+difficulties, and found that the splendor and wealth
+which he had scattered so lavishly around his
+monastery, and the treasures with which he had
+adorned the library shelves, had not only drained
+his ample coffers, but left a large balance unsatisfied.
+Influenced by this circumstance, and the
+murmurings of the monks, and perhaps too, hoping
+to obtain more time for study and book-collecting,
+he determined to resign his abbacy, and again
+become a simple brother. The proceedings relative
+to this affair are curiously related by a contemporary,
+John of Amersham.<a name="FNanchor_414_414" id="FNanchor_414_414"></a><a href="#Footnote_414_414" class="fnanchor">[414]</a> In Whethamstede's
+address to the monks on this occasion, he thus
+explains his reasons for the step he was about to
+take. After a touching address, wherein he intimates
+his determination, he says,<a name="FNanchor_415_415" id="FNanchor_415_415"></a><a href="#Footnote_415_415" class="fnanchor">[415]</a> "Ye have
+known moreover how, from the first day of my
+appointment even until this day, assiduously and
+continually without any intermission I have shown
+singular solicitude in four things, to wit, in the
+erection of conventual buildings, <i>in the writing of
+books</i>, in the renewal of vestments, and in the
+acquisition of property. And perhaps, by reason
+of this solicitude of mine, ye conceive that I have
+fallen into debt; yet that you may know, learn
+and understand what is in this matter the certain
+and plain truth, and when ye know it ye may report
+it unto others, know ye for certain, yea, for most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a>[<a href="./images/271.png">271</a>]</span>
+certain, that for all these things about which, and
+in which I have expended money, I am not indebted
+to any one living more than 10,000 marks; but that
+I wish freely to acknowledge this debt, and so to
+make satisfaction to every creditor, that no survivor
+of any one in the world shall have to demand anything
+from my successor."</p>
+
+<p>The monks on hearing this declaration were
+sorely affected, and used every persuasion to induce
+my lord abbot to alter his determination, but without
+success; so that they were compelled to seek
+another in whom to confide the government of
+their abbey. Their choice fell upon John Stokes,
+who presided over them for many years; but at his
+death the love and respect which the brothers
+entertained for Whethamstede, was manifested
+by unanimously electing him again, an honor which
+he in return could not find the heart to decline.
+But during all this time, and after his restoration,
+he was constantly attending to the acquisition of
+books, and numerous were the transcripts made
+under his direction by the scribes and enriched by
+his munificence, for some of the most costly copies
+produced in that century were the fruits of their
+labor; during his time there were more volumes
+transcribed than in that of any other abbot since
+the foundation of the abbey, says the manuscript
+from whence I am gleaning these details, and adds
+that the number of them exceeded eighty-seven.
+He commenced the transcription of the great commentary
+of Nicholas de Lyra upon the whole Bible,
+which had then been published some few years.
+"Det Deus, ut in nostris felicem habere valeat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a>[<a href="./images/272.png">272</a>]</span>
+consummacionem,"<a name="FNanchor_416_416" id="FNanchor_416_416"></a><a href="#Footnote_416_416" class="fnanchor">[416]</a> exclaims the monk, nor will
+the reader be surprised at the expression, if he for
+one moment contemplates the magnitude of the
+undertaking.</p>
+
+<p>But not only was Whethamstede remarkable as
+a bibliomaniac&mdash;he claims considerable respect as
+an author. Some of his productions were more
+esteemed in his own time than now; being compilations
+and commentaries more adapted as a
+substitute for other books, than valuable as original
+works. Under this class I am inclined to place his
+Granarium, a large work in five volumes; full of
+miscellaneous extracts, etc., and somewhat partaking
+of the encyclopediac form; his Propinarium,
+in two volumes, also treating of general matters;
+his Pabularium and Palearium Poetarium, and his
+Proverbiarium, or book of Proverbs; to which may
+be added the many pieces relating to the affairs of
+the monastery. But far different must we regard
+many of his other productions, which are more important
+in a literary point of view, as calling for the
+exercise of a refined and cultivated mind, and no
+small share of critical acumen. Among these I
+must not forget to include his Chronicle,<a name="FNanchor_417_417" id="FNanchor_417_417"></a><a href="#Footnote_417_417" class="fnanchor">[417]</a> which
+spreading over a space of twenty years, forms a
+valuable historical document. The rest are poetical
+narratives, embracing an account of Jack Cade's
+insurrection&mdash;the battles of Ferrybridge, Wakefield,
+and St. Albans.<a name="FNanchor_418_418" id="FNanchor_418_418"></a><a href="#Footnote_418_418" class="fnanchor">[418]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>[<a href="./images/273.png">273</a>]</span></p><p>A Cottonian manuscript contained a catalogue
+of the books which this worthy abbot compiled, or
+which were transcribed under his direction: unfortunately
+it was burnt, with many others forming
+part of that inestimable collection.<a name="FNanchor_419_419" id="FNanchor_419_419"></a><a href="#Footnote_419_419" class="fnanchor">[419]</a> From another
+source we learn the names of some of them, and
+the cost incurred in their transcription.<a name="FNanchor_420_420" id="FNanchor_420_420"></a><a href="#Footnote_420_420" class="fnanchor">[420]</a> Twenty
+marks were paid for copying his Granarium, in four
+volumes; forty shillings for his Palearium; the
+same for a Polycraticon of John of Salisbury; five
+pounds for a Boethius, with a gloss; upwards of
+six pounds for "a book of Cato," enriched with a
+gloss and table; and four pounds for Gorham upon
+Luke. Whethamstede ordered a Grael to be
+written so beautifully illuminated, and so superbly
+bound, as to be valued at the enormous sum of
+twenty pounds: but let it be remembered that my
+Lord Abbot was a very epicure in books, and
+thought a great deal of choice bindings, tall copies,
+immaculate parchment, and brilliant illuminations,
+and the high prices which he freely gave for these
+book treasures evince how sensible he was to the
+joys of bibliomania; nor am I inclined to regard
+the works thus attained as "mere monastic trash."<a name="FNanchor_421_421" id="FNanchor_421_421"></a><a href="#Footnote_421_421" class="fnanchor">[421]</a></p>
+
+<p>The finest illumination in the Cotton manuscript
+is a portrait of Abbot Whethamstede, which for
+artistic talent is far superior to any in the volume.
+Eight folios are occupied with an enumeration of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a>[<a href="./images/274.png">274</a>]</span>
+the "good works" of this liberal monk: among the
+items we find the sum of forty pounds having been
+expended on a reading desk, and four pounds for
+writing four Antiphoners.<a name="FNanchor_422_422" id="FNanchor_422_422"></a><a href="#Footnote_422_422" class="fnanchor">[422]</a> He displayed also
+great liberality of spirit in his benefactions to
+Gloucester College, at Oxford, besides great pecuniary
+aid. He built a library there, and gave many
+valuable books for the use of the students, in which
+he wrote these verses:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Fratribus Oxoni&#339; datur in minus liber iste,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Per patrem pecorem prothomartyris Angligenorum:<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Quem si quis rapiat ad partem sive reponat,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Vel Jud&aelig; loqueum, vel furcas sentiat; Amen.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>In others he wrote&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Discior ut docti fieret nova regia plebi<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Culta magisque de&aelig; datur hic liber ara Minerva,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Hic qui diis dictis libant holocausta ministrias.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Et cirre bibulam sitiunt pr&aelig; nectare lympham,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Estque librique loci, idem datur, actor et unus.<a name="FNanchor_423_423" id="FNanchor_423_423"></a><a href="#Footnote_423_423" class="fnanchor">[423]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>If we estimate worth by comparison, we must
+award a large proportion to this learned abbot.
+Living in the most corrupt age of the monastic
+system, when the evils attendant on luxurious ease
+began to be too obvious in the cloister, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a>[<a href="./images/275.png">275</a>]</span>
+complaints were heard at first in a whispering
+murmur, but anon in a stern loud voice of wroth
+and indignant remonstrance&mdash;when in fact the
+progressive, inquiring spirit of the reformation was
+taking root in what had hitherto been regarded as
+a hard, dry, stony soil. This coming tempest, only
+heard as yet like the lulling of a whisper, was
+nevertheless sufficiently loud to spread terror and
+dismay among the cowled habitants of the monasteries.
+That quietude and mental ease so indispensable
+to study&mdash;so requisite for the growth of
+thought and intellectuality, was disturbed by these
+distant sounds, or dissipated by their own indolence.
+And yet in the midst of all this, rendered
+still more anxious and perplexing by domestic
+troubles and signs of discontent and insubordination
+among the monks. Whethamstede found time, and
+what was better the spirit, for literary and bibliomanical
+pursuits. Honor to the man, monk though
+he be, who oppressed with these vicissitudes and
+cares could effect so much, and could appreciate
+both literature and art.</p>
+
+<p>Contemporary with him we are not surprised
+that he gained the patronage and friendship of
+Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, to whom he dedicated
+many of his own performances, and greatly
+aided in collecting those treasures which the duke
+regarded with such esteem. It is said that noble
+collector frequently paid a friendly visit to the
+abbey to inspect the work of the monkish scribes,
+and perhaps to negociate for some of those choice
+vellum tomes for which the monks of that monastery
+were so renowned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a>[<a href="./images/276.png">276</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p>But we must not pass the "good duke" without
+some slight notice of his "ryghte valiant deedes,"
+his domestic troubles and his dark mysterious end.
+Old Foxe thus speaks of him in his Actes and
+Monuments: "Of manners he seemed meeke and
+gentle, louing the commonwealth, a supporter of
+the poore commons, of wit and wisdom, discrete
+and studious, well affected to religion and a friend
+to verity, and no lesse enemy to pride and ambition,
+especially in haughtie prelates, which was his
+undoing in this present evil world. And, which is
+seldom and rare in such princes of that calling, he
+was both learned himselfe and no lesse given to
+studie, and also a singular favourer and patron to
+those who were studious and learned."<a name="FNanchor_424_424" id="FNanchor_424_424"></a><a href="#Footnote_424_424" class="fnanchor">[424]</a> To which
+I cannot refrain from adding the testimony of
+Hollingshed, who tells us that "The ornaments
+of his mind were both rare and admirable; the
+feats of chiualrie by him commensed and atchiued
+valiant and fortunate; his grauitie in counsell and
+soundnesse of policie profound and singular; all
+which with a traine of other excellent properties
+linked together, require a man of manifold gifts to
+aduance them according to their dignitie. I refer
+the readers unto Maister Foxe's booke of Actes
+and Monuments. Onelie this I ad, that in respect
+of his noble indowments and his demeanor full of
+decencie, which he dailie used, it seemeth he might
+wel haue giuen this prettie poesie:"</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Virtute duce non sanguine nitor."<a name="FNanchor_425_425" id="FNanchor_425_425"></a><a href="#Footnote_425_425" class="fnanchor">[425]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a>[<a href="./images/277.png">277</a>]</span></p><p>But with all these high qualities, our notions of
+propriety are somewhat shocked at the open
+manner in which he kept his mistress Eleanor
+Cobham; but we can scarcely agree in the condemnation
+of the generality of historians for his
+marrying her afterwards, but regard it rather as
+the action of an honorable man, desirous of making
+every reparation in his power.<a name="FNanchor_426_426" id="FNanchor_426_426"></a><a href="#Footnote_426_426" class="fnanchor">[426]</a> But the "pride of
+birth" was sorely wounded by the espousals; and
+the enmity of the aristocracy already roused, now
+became deeply rooted. Eleanor's disposition is
+represented as passionate and unreasonable, and
+her mind sordid and oppressive. Be this how it
+may, we must remember that it is from her enemies
+we learn it; and if so, unrelenting persecution and
+inveterate malice were proceedings ill calculated to
+soothe a temper prone to violence, or to elevate a
+mind undoubtedly weak. But the vindictive and
+haughty cardinal Beaufort was the open and secret
+enemy of the good duke Humphrey; for not only
+did he thwart every public measure proposed by
+his rival, but employed spies to insinuate themselves
+into his domestic circle, and to note and
+inform him of every little circumstance which malice
+could distort into crime, or party rage into treason.
+This detestable espionage met with a too speedy
+success. The duke, who was especially fond of
+the society of learned men, retained in his family
+many priests and clerks, and among them one
+Roger Bolingbroke, "a famous necromancer and
+astronomer." This was a sufficient ground for the
+enmity of the cardinal to feed upon, and he deter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a>[<a href="./images/278.png">278</a>]</span>mined
+to annihilate at one blow the domestic
+happiness of his rival. He arrested the Duchess,
+Bolingbroke, and a witch called Margery Gourdimain,
+or Jourdayn, on the charge of witchcraft and
+treason. He accused the priest and Margery of
+making, and the duchess for having in her possession,
+a waxen figure, which, as she melted it before
+a slow fire, so would the body of the king waste and
+decay, and his marrow wither in his bones. Her
+enemies tried her, and of course found her and her
+companions guilty, though without a shred of
+evidence to the purpose. The duchess was sentenced
+to do penance in St. Paul's and two other
+churches on three separate days, and to be afterwards
+imprisoned in the Isle of Man for life.
+Bolingbroke, who protested his innocence to the
+last, was hung and quartered at Tyburn; and
+Margery, the witch of Eye, as she was called, was
+burnt at Smithfield. But the black enmity of the
+cardinal was sorely disappointed at the effect produced
+by this persecution. He reasonably judged
+that no accusation was so likely to arouse a popular
+prejudice against duke Humphrey as appealing to
+the superstition of the people who in that age were
+ever prone to receive the most incredulous fabrications;
+but far different was the impression made in
+the present case. The people with more than their
+usual sagacity saw through the flimsy designs of
+the cardinal and his faction; and while they pitied
+the victims of party malice, loved and esteemed the
+good duke Humphrey more than ever.</p>
+
+<p>But the intriguing heart of Beaufort soon resolved
+upon the most desperate measures, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a>[<a href="./images/279.png">279</a>]</span>
+shrunk not from staining his priestly hands with
+innocent and honorable blood. A parliament was
+summoned to meet at St. Edmunds Bury, in Suffolk,
+on the 10th of February, 1447, at which all
+the nobility were ordered to assemble. On the
+arrival of Duke Humphrey, the cardinal arrested
+him on a groundless charge of high treason, and a
+few days after he was found dead in his bed, his
+enemies gave out that he had died of the palsy;
+but although his body was eagerly shown to the
+sorrowing multitude, the people believed that their
+friend and favorite had been foully murdered, and
+feared not to raise their voice in loud accusations
+at the Suffolk party; "sum sayed that he was
+smouldered betwixt two fetherbeddes,"<a name="FNanchor_427_427" id="FNanchor_427_427"></a><a href="#Footnote_427_427" class="fnanchor">[427]</a> and others
+declared that he had suffered a still more barbarous
+death. Deep was the murmuring and the grief of
+the people, for the good duke had won the love
+and esteem of their hearts; and we can fully
+believe a contemporary who writes&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Compleyne al Yngland thys goode Lorde's deth."<a name="FNanchor_428_428" id="FNanchor_428_428"></a><a href="#Footnote_428_428" class="fnanchor">[428]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Perhaps none suffered more by his death than the
+author and the scholar; for Duke Humphrey was
+a munificent patron of letters, and loved to correspond
+with learned men, many of whom dedicated
+their works to him, and received ample encouragement
+in return.<a name="FNanchor_429_429" id="FNanchor_429_429"></a><a href="#Footnote_429_429" class="fnanchor">[429]</a> Lydgate, who knew him well,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>[<a href="./images/280.png">280</a>]</span>
+composed some of his pieces at the duke's instigation.
+In his Tragedies of Ihon Bochas he thus
+speaks of him:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Duke of Glocester men this prynce call,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And not withstandyng his estate and dignitie,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">His courage neuer dothe appall<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To study in bokes of antiquitie;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Therein he hath so great felicitie,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Virtuously him selfe to occupye,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Of vycious slouthe, he hath the maistry.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="ihalf">And for these causes as in his entent<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To shewe the untrust of all worldly thinge,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">He gave to me in commandment<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">As him seemed it was ryghte well fittynge<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That I shoulde, after my small cunning,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">This boke translate, him to do pleasaunce,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To shew the chaung of worldly variaunce.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="ihalf">And with support of his magnificence<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Under the wynges of his correction,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Though that I lacke of eloquence<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I shall proceede in this translation.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Fro me auoydyng all presumption,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Louyly submittying every houre and space,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">My rude language to my lorde's grace.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="ihalf">Anone after I of eutencion,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">With penne in hande fast gan me spede,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">As I coulde in my translation,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">In this labour further to procede,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">My Lorde came forth by and gan to take hede;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">This mighty prince right manly and right wise<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Gaue me charge in his prudent auyle.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="ihalf">That I should in euery tragedy,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">After the processe made mencion,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">At the ende set a remedy,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">With a Lenuoy, conveyed by reason;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And after that, with humble affection,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To noble princes lowly it dyrect,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">By others fallying them selues to correct.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>[<a href="./images/281.png">281</a>]</span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="ihalf">And I obeyed his biddyng and pleasaunce<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Under support of his magnificence,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">As I coulde, I gan my penne aduaunce,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">All be I was barrayne of eloquence,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Folowing mine auctor in substance and s&eacute;tence,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For it sufficeth playnly unto me,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">So that my lorde my makyng take in gre."<a name="FNanchor_430_430" id="FNanchor_430_430"></a><a href="#Footnote_430_430" class="fnanchor">[430]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Lydgate often received money whilst translating
+this work, from the good duke Humphrey, and
+there is a manuscript letter in the British Museum
+in which he writes&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Righte myghty prynce, and it be youre wille,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Condescende leyser for to take,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To se the contents of thys litel bille,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Whiche whan I wrote my hand felt qquake."<a name="FNanchor_431_431" id="FNanchor_431_431"></a><a href="#Footnote_431_431" class="fnanchor">[431]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Duke Humphrey gave a noble instance of his great
+love of learning in the year 1439, when he presented
+to the University of Oxford one hundred and
+twenty-nine treatises, and shortly after, one hundred
+and twenty-six <i>admirandi apparatus</i>; and in the
+same year, nine more. In 1443, he made another
+important donation of one hundred and thirty
+volumes, to which he added one hundred and
+thirty-five more,<a name="FNanchor_432_432" id="FNanchor_432_432"></a><a href="#Footnote_432_432" class="fnanchor">[432]</a> making in all, a collection of five
+hundred and thirty-eight volumes. These treasures,
+too, had been collected with all the nice
+acumen of a bibliomaniac, and the utmost attention
+was paid to their outward condition and internal
+purity. Never, perhaps, were so many costly copies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>[<a href="./images/282.png">282</a>]</span>
+seen before, dazzling with the splendor of their
+illuminations, and rendered inestimable by the
+many faithful miniatures with which they were
+enriched. A superb copy of Valerius Maximus is
+the only relic of that costly and noble gift, a solitary
+but illustrious example of the membraneous treasures
+of that ducal library.<a name="FNanchor_433_433" id="FNanchor_433_433"></a><a href="#Footnote_433_433" class="fnanchor">[433]</a> But alas! those very
+indications of art, those exquisite illuminations,
+were the fatal cause of their unfortunate end; the
+portraits of kings and eminent men, with which the
+historical works were adorned; the diagrams which
+pervaded the scientific treatises, were viewed by
+the zealous reformers of Henry's reign, as damning
+evidence of their Popish origin and use; and released
+from the chains with which they were
+secured, they were hastily committed to the greedy
+flames. Thus perished the library of Humphrey,
+duke of Gloucester! and posterity have to mourn
+the loss of many an early gem of English literature.<a name="FNanchor_434_434" id="FNanchor_434_434"></a><a href="#Footnote_434_434" class="fnanchor">[434]</a></p>
+
+<p>But in the fourteenth century many other
+honorable examples occur of lay collectors. The
+magnificent volumes, nine hundred in number, col<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a>[<a href="./images/283.png">283</a>]</span>lected
+by Charles V. of France, a passionate bibliomaniac,
+were afterwards brought by the duke of
+Bedford into England. The library then contained
+eight hundred and fifty-three volumes, so sumptuously
+bound and gorgeously illuminated as to be
+valued at 2,223 livres!<a name="FNanchor_435_435" id="FNanchor_435_435"></a><a href="#Footnote_435_435" class="fnanchor">[435]</a> This choice importation
+diffused an eager spirit of inquiry among the more
+wealthy laymen. Humphrey, the "good duke,"
+received some of these volumes as presents, and
+among others, a rich copy of Livy, in French.<a name="FNanchor_436_436" id="FNanchor_436_436"></a><a href="#Footnote_436_436" class="fnanchor">[436]</a>
+Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, also collected
+some choice tomes, and possessed an unusually
+interesting library of early romances. He left the
+whole of them to the monks of Bordesley Abbey
+in Worcestershire, about the year 1359.<a name="FNanchor_437_437" id="FNanchor_437_437"></a><a href="#Footnote_437_437" class="fnanchor">[437]</a> As a
+specimen of a private library in the fourteenth
+century, I am tempted to extract it.</p>
+
+<p>"A tus iceux, qe ceste lettre verront, ou orrount,
+Gwy de Beauchamp, Comte de Warr. Saluz en
+Deu. Saluz nous aveir bayl&eacute; e en la garde le Abb&eacute;
+e le Covent de Bordesleye, less&eacute; &agrave; demorer a touz
+jours touz les Romaunces de sonz nomes; ceo est
+assaveyr, un volum, qe est appel&eacute; Tresor. Un
+volum, en le quel est le premer livere de Lancelot,
+e un volum del Romaunce de Aygnes. Un Sauter
+de Romaunce. Un volum des Evangelies, e de Vie
+des Seins. Un volum, qe p'le des quatre principals
+Gestes de Charles, e de dooun, e de Meyace e de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a>[<a href="./images/284.png">284</a>]</span>
+Girard de Vienne e de Emery de Nerbonne. Un
+volum del Romaunce Emmond de Ageland, e deu
+Roy Charles dooun de Nauntoyle. E le Romaunce
+de Gwyoun de Nauntoyl. E un volum del Romaunce
+Titus et Vespasien. E un volum del
+Romaunce Josep ab Arimathie, e deu Seint Grael.
+E un volum, qe p'le coment Adam fust eniest&eacute; hors
+de paradys, e le Genesie. E un volum en le quel
+sount contenuz touns des Romaunces, ceo este
+assaveir, Vitas patrum au comencement; e pus un
+Comte de Auteypt; e la Vision Seint Pol; et pus
+les Vies des xii. Seins. E le Romaunce de Willame
+de Loungespe. E Autorites des Seins humes. E
+le Mirour de Alme. Un volum, en le quel sount
+contenuz la Vie Seint P&eacute;re e Seint Pol, e des autres
+liv. E un volum qe est appel&eacute; l'Apocalips. E
+un livere de Phisik, e de Surgie. Un volum del
+Romaunce de Gwy, e de la Reygne tut enterement.
+Un volum del Romaunce de Troies. Un volum
+del Romaunce de Willame de Orenges e de Teband
+de Arabie. Un volum del Romaunce de Amase
+e de Idoine. Un volum del Romaunce de Girard
+de Viene. Un volum del Romaunce deu Brut, e
+del Roy Costentine. Un volum de le enseignemt
+Aristotle enveiez au Roy Alisaundre. Un volum
+de la mort ly Roy Arthur, e de Mordret. Un
+volum en le quel sount contenuz les Enfaunces de
+Nostre Seygneur, coment il fust men&eacute; en Egipt.
+E la Vie Seint Edwd. E la Visioun Seint Pol.
+La Vengeaunce n're Seygneur par Vespasien a
+Titus, e la Vie Seint Nicolas, qe fust nez en Patras.
+E la Vie Seint Eustace. E la Vie Seint Cudlac.
+E la Passioun n're Seygneur. E la Meditacioun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a>[<a href="./images/285.png">285</a>]</span>
+Seint Bernard de n're Dame Seint Marie, e del
+Passioun sour deuz fiz Jesu Creist n're Seignr.
+E la Vie Seint Eufrasie. E la Vie Seint Radegounde.
+E la Vie Seint Juliane. Un volum, en
+le quel est aprise de Enfants et lumi&egrave;re &agrave; Lays.
+Un volum del Romaunce d'a Alisaundre, ove peintures.
+Un petit rouge livere, en le quel sount
+contenuz mons diverses choses. Un volum del
+Romaunce des Mareschans, e de Ferebras e de
+Alisaundre. Les queus livres nous grauntons par
+nos heyrs e par nos assignes qil demorront en la
+dit Abbeye, etc."</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-21.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_385_385" id="Footnote_385_385"></a><a href="#FNanchor_385_385"><span class="label">[385]</span></a> See a fine manuscript in the Cotton collection marked Nero
+D. vii., and another marked Claudius E. iv., both of which I have
+consulted.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_386_386" id="Footnote_386_386"></a><a href="#FNanchor_386_386"><span class="label">[386]</span></a> Matthew Paris' Edit. Wats, tom. i. p. 39.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_387_387" id="Footnote_387_387"></a><a href="#FNanchor_387_387"><span class="label">[387]</span></a> "Asserens ad cantelam, ipsum fuisse beati Amphibali, beate
+Albini magistri, caracellam."&mdash;Mat. Paris, p. 44.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_388_388" id="Footnote_388_388"></a><a href="#FNanchor_388_388"><span class="label">[388]</span></a> Abjectis igitur et combustis libris, in quibus commenta diaboli
+continabantur.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_389_389" id="Footnote_389_389"></a><a href="#FNanchor_389_389"><span class="label">[389]</span></a> MS. Cottonian, E. iv. fo. 101; Mat. Paris, Edit. Wat. i. p. 41.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_390_390" id="Footnote_390_390"></a><a href="#FNanchor_390_390"><span class="label">[390]</span></a> MS. Cottanian Claudius, E. iv. fo. 105 b., and MS. Cott.
+Nero, D. vii. fo. 13, b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_391_391" id="Footnote_391_391"></a><a href="#FNanchor_391_391"><span class="label">[391]</span></a> He was elected in 1093.&mdash;See MS. Cott. Claud. E. iv. fo. 107.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_392_392" id="Footnote_392_392"></a><a href="#FNanchor_392_392"><span class="label">[392]</span></a> Got. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 108.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_393_393" id="Footnote_393_393"></a><a href="#FNanchor_393_393"><span class="label">[393]</span></a> MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fo. 15, a; and MS. Cot. Claud. e. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_394_394" id="Footnote_394_394"></a><a href="#FNanchor_394_394"><span class="label">[394]</span></a> Cot. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 113. "Ex tunc igitur amator
+librorum et adquisiter sedulus multio voluminibus habundavit.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_395_395" id="Footnote_395_395"></a><a href="#FNanchor_395_395"><span class="label">[395]</span></a> Fecit etiam scribi libros plurimos; quos longum esset enarrare.&mdash;<i>Mat.
+Paris Edit. Wat.</i> p. 89.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_396_396" id="Footnote_396_396"></a><a href="#FNanchor_396_396"><span class="label">[396]</span></a> Cot. MS. Nero D. vii. fo. 16, a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_397_397" id="Footnote_397_397"></a><a href="#FNanchor_397_397"><span class="label">[397]</span></a> MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 114, a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_398_398" id="Footnote_398_398"></a><a href="#FNanchor_398_398"><span class="label">[398]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 125 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_399_399" id="Footnote_399_399"></a><a href="#FNanchor_399_399"><span class="label">[399]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_400_400" id="Footnote_400_400"></a><a href="#FNanchor_400_400"><span class="label">[400]</span></a> MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 16 a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_401_401" id="Footnote_401_401"></a><a href="#FNanchor_401_401"><span class="label">[401]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. iv. fo. 124.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_402_402" id="Footnote_402_402"></a><a href="#FNanchor_402_402"><span class="label">[402]</span></a> Claud. E. iv. fo. 124.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_403_403" id="Footnote_403_403"></a><a href="#FNanchor_403_403"><span class="label">[403]</span></a> "In grammatica Priscianus, in metrico Ovidius, in physica
+censori potuit Galenus." <i>MS. Cot. Claud.</i> E. iv. f. 129, b. <i>Matt.
+Paris' Edit. Wat.</i> p. 103.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_404_404" id="Footnote_404_404"></a><a href="#FNanchor_404_404"><span class="label">[404]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 131. b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_405_405" id="Footnote_405_405"></a><a href="#FNanchor_405_405"><span class="label">[405]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fol. 135 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_406_406" id="Footnote_406_406"></a><a href="#FNanchor_406_406"><span class="label">[406]</span></a> Ibid. fol. 141.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_407_407" id="Footnote_407_407"></a><a href="#FNanchor_407_407"><span class="label">[407]</span></a> MS. Reg. Brit. Mus. 4 D. viii. 4. Wood's Hist. Oxon. 1-82,
+and Matt. Paris. Turner's Hist. of Eng. vol. iv. p. 180.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_408_408" id="Footnote_408_408"></a><a href="#FNanchor_408_408"><span class="label">[408]</span></a> MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fol. 19 a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_409_409" id="Footnote_409_409"></a><a href="#FNanchor_409_409"><span class="label">[409]</span></a> Ibid. fol. 86.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_410_410" id="Footnote_410_410"></a><a href="#FNanchor_410_410"><span class="label">[410]</span></a> Duos bonas biblias.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_411_411" id="Footnote_411_411"></a><a href="#FNanchor_411_411"><span class="label">[411]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 229 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_412_412" id="Footnote_412_412"></a><a href="#FNanchor_412_412"><span class="label">[412]</span></a> MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 20 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_413_413" id="Footnote_413_413"></a><a href="#FNanchor_413_413"><span class="label">[413]</span></a> MS. Cot. Tiberius, E. i.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_414_414" id="Footnote_414_414"></a><a href="#FNanchor_414_414"><span class="label">[414]</span></a> MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 165, "Acta Johannis Abbatis per
+Johannem Agmundishamensem monachum S. Albani."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_415_415" id="Footnote_415_415"></a><a href="#FNanchor_415_415"><span class="label">[415]</span></a> Gibson's Hist. Monast. Tynmouth, vol. ii. p. 62, whose translation
+I use in giving the following extract. If the reader refers to
+Mr. Gibson's handsome volumes, he will find much interesting and
+curious matter from John of Amersham relative to this matter.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_416_416" id="Footnote_416_416"></a><a href="#FNanchor_416_416"><span class="label">[416]</span></a> Otterb. cxvi.; see also MS. Cot. Nero. vii. fo. 32 a.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_417_417" id="Footnote_417_417"></a><a href="#FNanchor_417_417"><span class="label">[417]</span></a> Otterbourne Hist. a Hearne, <i>edit.</i> Oxon, 1732, tom. i. 2.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_418_418" id="Footnote_418_418"></a><a href="#FNanchor_418_418"><span class="label">[418]</span></a> Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. ii. pt. 11, p. 205. For
+a list of his works see Bale; also Pits. p. 630, who enumerates more
+than thirty.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_419_419" id="Footnote_419_419"></a><a href="#FNanchor_419_419"><span class="label">[419]</span></a> Marked Otho, b. iv.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_420_420" id="Footnote_420_420"></a><a href="#FNanchor_420_420"><span class="label">[420]</span></a> MS. Arundel. Brit. Mus. clxiii. c. A curious Register, "per
+magistrum Johannem Whethamstede et dominum Thoman Ramryge,"
+fo. 74, 75. Upwards of fifty volumes are specified, with the
+cost of each.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_421_421" id="Footnote_421_421"></a><a href="#FNanchor_421_421"><span class="label">[421]</span></a> Julius C&aelig;sar was among them.&mdash;Cot. MS. Claud. d. i. fo. 156.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_422_422" id="Footnote_422_422"></a><a href="#FNanchor_422_422"><span class="label">[422]</span></a> MS. Cod. Nero, D. vii. fo. 28 a. He "enlarged the abbot's
+study," fo. 29, which most monasteries possessed. Whethamstede
+had a study also at his manor at Tittinhanger, and had inscribed on
+it these lines:
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Ipse Johannis amor Whethamstede ubique proclamor<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Ejus et alter honor hic lucis in auge reponer."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+<p>
+See also MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 157, for an account of his many
+donations.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_423_423" id="Footnote_423_423"></a><a href="#FNanchor_423_423"><span class="label">[423]</span></a> Weever's Funerall Monuments, p. 562 to 567. I have forgotten
+to mention before that Whethamstede built a new library for
+the abbey books, and expended considerably more than &pound;120 upon
+the building.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_424_424" id="Footnote_424_424"></a><a href="#FNanchor_424_424"><span class="label">[424]</span></a> Foxe's Actes and Monuments, folio, Lond. 1576, p. 679.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_425_425" id="Footnote_425_425"></a><a href="#FNanchor_425_425"><span class="label">[425]</span></a> Holingshed Chronicle, fol. 1587, vol. ii. p. 627.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_426_426" id="Footnote_426_426"></a><a href="#FNanchor_426_426"><span class="label">[426]</span></a> See Stowe, p. 367.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_427_427" id="Footnote_427_427"></a><a href="#FNanchor_427_427"><span class="label">[427]</span></a> Leland Collect. vol. i. p. 494.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_428_428" id="Footnote_428_428"></a><a href="#FNanchor_428_428"><span class="label">[428]</span></a> MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 7 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_429_429" id="Footnote_429_429"></a><a href="#FNanchor_429_429"><span class="label">[429]</span></a> Capgrave's Commentary on Genesis, in Oriel College, Cod.
+MSS. 32, is dedicated to him. Aretine's Trans. Aristotle's Politics,
+MS. Bodl. D. i. 8-10. Pet. de Monte de Virt. de Vit. MS. Norvic.
+More, 257. Bibl. publi Cantab. Many others are given in Warton's
+Hist. of Poetry, 4to. vol. ii. pp. 48-50.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_430_430" id="Footnote_430_430"></a><a href="#FNanchor_430_430"><span class="label">[430]</span></a> Tragedies of Ihon Bochas. Imp. at London, by John Wayland,
+fol. 38 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_431_431" id="Footnote_431_431"></a><a href="#FNanchor_431_431"><span class="label">[431]</span></a> MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 6. Lydgate received one hundred
+shillings for translating the Life of St. Alban into English verse
+for Whethamstede.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_432_432" id="Footnote_432_432"></a><a href="#FNanchor_432_432"><span class="label">[432]</span></a> See Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, vol. ii. p. 914.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_433_433" id="Footnote_433_433"></a><a href="#FNanchor_433_433"><span class="label">[433]</span></a> MSS. Bodl. N. E. vii. ii. Warton, vol. ii. p. 45. I find in
+the Arundel Register in the British Museum (MSS. Arund. clxiii. c.)
+that a fine copy of Valerius, in two volumes, with a gloss, was transcribed
+in the time of Whethamstede at St. Albans, at the cost of
+&pound;6 13 4, probably the identical copy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_434_434" id="Footnote_434_434"></a><a href="#FNanchor_434_434"><span class="label">[434]</span></a> There are many volumes formerly belonging to duke Humphrey,
+in the public libraries, a fine volume intitled "Tabulas
+Humfridi ducis Glowcester in Judicus artis Geomantie," is in the
+Brit. Mus., MSS. Arund. 66, fo. 277, beautifully written and illuminated
+with excessive margins of the purest vellum. See also
+MSS. Harl. 1705. Leland says, "Humfredus multaties scripsit in
+frontispiecis librorum suorum, <i>Moun bien Mondain</i>," Script. vol.
+iii. 58.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_435_435" id="Footnote_435_435"></a><a href="#FNanchor_435_435"><span class="label">[435]</span></a> Bouvin, Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscrip., ii. 693.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_436_436" id="Footnote_436_436"></a><a href="#FNanchor_436_436"><span class="label">[436]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_437_437" id="Footnote_437_437"></a><a href="#FNanchor_437_437"><span class="label">[437]</span></a> Printed in Todd's Illustrations to Gower and Chaucer, 8vo.
+p. 161, from a copy by Arch Sancroft, from Ashmole's Register of
+the Earl of Ailesbury's Evidences, fol. 110. Lambeth, MSS.,
+No. 577. fol. 18 b.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a>[<a href="./images/286.png">286</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a>[<a href="./images/287.png">287</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-22.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Dominicans.&mdash;The Franciscans and the Carmelites.&mdash;Scholastic
+Studies.&mdash;Robert Grostest.&mdash;Libraries
+in London.&mdash;Miracle Plays.&mdash;Introduction
+of Printing into England.&mdash;Barkley's
+Description of a Bibliomaniac</i>.</p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-11.jpg" alt="T" title="T" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">he</span> old monastic orders of St.
+Augustine and St. Benedict, of
+whose love of books we have
+principally spoken hitherto, were
+kept from falling into sloth and
+ignorance in the thirteenth century
+by the appearance of several
+new orders of devotees. The Dominicans,<a name="FNanchor_438_438" id="FNanchor_438_438"></a><a href="#Footnote_438_438" class="fnanchor">[438]</a> the
+Franciscans,<a name="FNanchor_439_439" id="FNanchor_439_439"></a><a href="#Footnote_439_439" class="fnanchor">[439]</a> and the Carmelites were each renowned
+for their profound learning, and their
+unquenchable passion for knowledge; assuming a
+garb of the most abject poverty, renouncing all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a>[<a href="./images/288.png">288</a>]</span>
+love of the world, all participation in its temporal
+honors, and refraining to seek the aggrandizement
+of their order by fixed oblations or state endowments,
+but adhering to a voluntary system for support,
+they caused a visible sensation among all
+classes, and wrought a powerful change in the
+ecclesiastical and collegiate learning of the fourteenth
+and fifteenth centuries; and by their devotion,
+their charity, their strict austerity, and by
+their brilliant and unconquerable powers of disputation,
+soon gained the respect and affections of
+the people.<a name="FNanchor_440_440" id="FNanchor_440_440"></a><a href="#Footnote_440_440" class="fnanchor">[440]</a></p>
+
+<p>Much as the friars have been condemned, or
+darkly as they have been represented, I have no
+hesitation in saying that they did more for the
+revival of learning, and the progress of English
+literature, than any other of the monastic orders.
+We cannot trace their course without admiration
+and astonishment at their splendid triumphs and
+success; they appear to act as intellectual crusaders
+against the prevailing ignorance and sloth. The
+finest names that adorn the literary annals of the
+fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the most prolific
+authors who flourished during that long period
+were begging friars; and the very spirit that was
+raised against them by the churchmen, and the
+severe controversal battles which they had between
+them, were the means of doing a vast amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a>[<a href="./images/289.png">289</a>]</span>
+good, of exposing ignorance in high places, and
+compelling those who enjoyed the honors of
+learning to strive to merit them, by a studious
+application to literature and science; need I do
+more than mention the shining names of Duns
+Scotus, of Thomas Aquinas, of Roger Bacon, the
+founder of experimental philosophy, and the justly
+celebrated Robert Grostest, the most enlightened
+ecclesiastic of his age.<a name="FNanchor_441_441" id="FNanchor_441_441"></a><a href="#Footnote_441_441" class="fnanchor">[441]</a></p>
+
+<p>We may not admire the scholastic philosophy
+which the followers of Francis and Dominic held
+and expounded; we may deplore the intricate mazes
+and difficulties which a false philosophy led them to
+maintain, and we may equally deplore the waste of
+time and learning which they lavished in the vain
+hope of solving the mysteries of God, or in comprehending
+a loose and futile science. Yet the
+philosophy of the schoolmen is but little understood,
+and is too often condemned without reason
+or without proof; for those who trouble themselves
+to denounce, seldom care to read them; their ponderous
+volumes are too formidable to analyze; it is
+so much easier to declaim than to examine such
+sturdy antagonists; but we owe to the schoolmen
+far more than we are apt to suppose, and if it were
+possible to scratch their names from the page of
+history, and to obliterate all traces of their bulky<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a>[<a href="./images/290.png">290</a>]</span>
+writings from our libraries and from our literature,
+we should find our knowledge dark and gloomy in
+comparison with what it is.</p></div>
+
+<p>But the mendicant orders did not study and
+uphold the scholastic philosophy without improving
+it; the works of Aristotle, of which it is said the
+early schoolmen possessed only a vitiated translation
+from the Arabic,<a name="FNanchor_442_442" id="FNanchor_442_442"></a><a href="#Footnote_442_442" class="fnanchor">[442]</a> was, at the period these
+friars sprung up, but imperfectly understood and
+taught. Michael Scot, with the assistance of a
+learned Jew,<a name="FNanchor_443_443" id="FNanchor_443_443"></a><a href="#Footnote_443_443" class="fnanchor">[443]</a> translated and published the writings
+of the great philosopher in Latin, which greatly
+superseded the old versions derived from the
+Saracen copies.</p>
+
+<p>The mendicant friars having qualified themselves
+with a respectable share of Greek learning,
+then taught and expounded the Aristotelian
+philosophy according to this new translation, and
+opened a new and proscribed field<a name="FNanchor_444_444" id="FNanchor_444_444"></a><a href="#Footnote_444_444" class="fnanchor">[444]</a> for disputation
+and enquiry; their indomitable perseverance, their
+acute powers of reasoning, and the splendid popularity
+which many of the disciples of St. Dominic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a>[<a href="./images/291.png">291</a>]</span>
+and St. Francis were fast acquiring, caused students
+to flock in crowds to their seats of learning, and all
+who were inspired to an acquaintance with scholastic
+philosophy placed themselves under their training
+and tuition.<a name="FNanchor_445_445" id="FNanchor_445_445"></a><a href="#Footnote_445_445" class="fnanchor">[445]</a></p>
+
+<p>No religious order before them ever carried the
+spirit of inquiry to such an extent as they, or
+allowed it to wander over such an unbounded
+field. The most difficult and mysterious questions
+of theology were discussed and fearlessly
+analyzed; far from exercising that blind and easy
+credulity which mark the religious conduct of the
+old monastic orders, they were disposed to probe
+and examine every article of their faith. To such
+an extent were their disputations carried, that
+sometimes it shook their faith in the orthodoxy of
+Rome, and often aroused the pious fears of the
+more timid of their own order. Angell de Pisa,
+who founded the school of the Franciscans or Grey
+Friars at Oxford, is said to have gone one day
+into his school, with a view to discover what
+progress the students were making in their studies;
+as he entered he found them warm in disputation,
+and was shocked to find that the question at issue
+was "<i>whether there was a God</i>;" the good man,
+greatly alarmed, cried out, "Alas, for me! alas, for
+me! simple brothers pierce the heavens and the
+learned dispute whether there be a God!" and with
+great indignation ran out of the house blaming
+himself for having established a school for such
+fearful disputes; but he afterwards returned and
+remained among his pupils, and purchased for ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a>[<a href="./images/292.png">292</a>]</span>
+marks a corrected copy of the decretals, to which
+he made his students apply their minds.<a name="FNanchor_446_446" id="FNanchor_446_446"></a><a href="#Footnote_446_446" class="fnanchor">[446]</a> This
+school was the most flourishing of those belonging
+to the Franciscans; and it was here that the
+celebrated Robert Grostest<a name="FNanchor_447_447" id="FNanchor_447_447"></a><a href="#Footnote_447_447" class="fnanchor">[447]</a>, bishop of Lincoln,
+read lectures about the year 1230. He was a
+profound scholar, thoroughly conversant with the
+most abstruse matters of philosophy, and a great
+Bible reader.<a name="FNanchor_448_448" id="FNanchor_448_448"></a><a href="#Footnote_448_448" class="fnanchor">[448]</a> He possessed an extensive knowledge
+of the Greek, and translated, into Latin,
+Dionysius the Areopagite, Damascenus, Suida's
+Greek Lexicon, a Greek Grammar, and, with the
+assistance of Nicholas, a monk of St. Alban's, the
+History of the Twelve Patriarchs. He collected
+a fine library of Greek books, many of which he
+obtained from Athens. Roger Bacon speaks of
+his knowledge of the Greek, and says, that he
+caused a vast number of books to be gathered
+together in that tongue.<a name="FNanchor_449_449" id="FNanchor_449_449"></a><a href="#Footnote_449_449" class="fnanchor">[449]</a> His extraordinary talent
+and varied knowledge caused him to be deemed
+a conjuror and astrologer by the ignorant and
+superstitious; and his enemies, who were numerous
+and powerful, did not refuse to encourage the slanderous
+report. We find him so represented by
+the poet Gower:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a>[<a href="./images/293.png">293</a>]</span></p><div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"For of the grete clerk Grostest,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I rede how redy that he was<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Upon clergye, and bede of bras,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To make and forge it, for to telle<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Of suche thynges as befelle,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And seven yeres besinesse.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Ye ladye, but for the lackhesse<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Of 'a halfe a mynute of an houre,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Fro fyrst that he began laboure,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Ye lost al that he had do."<a name="FNanchor_450_450" id="FNanchor_450_450"></a><a href="#Footnote_450_450" class="fnanchor">[450]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The Franciscan convent at Oxford contained
+two libraries, one for the use of the graduates and
+one for the secular students, who did not belong to
+their order, but who were receiving instruction
+from them. Grostest gave many volumes to these
+libraries, and at his death he bequeathed to the
+convent all his books, which formed no doubt a
+fine collection. "To these were added," says
+Wood, "the works of Roger Bacon, who, Bale tells
+us, writ an hundred Treatises. There were also
+volumes of other writers of the same order, which,
+I believe, amounted to no small number. In short,
+I guess that these libraries were filled with all sorts
+of erudition, because the friars of all orders, and
+chiefly the Franciscans, used so diligently to procure
+all monuments of literature from all parts, that
+wise men looked upon it as an injury to laymen,
+who, therefore, found a difficulty to get any books.
+Several books of Grostest and Bacon treated of
+astronomy and mathematics, besides some relating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a>[<a href="./images/294.png">294</a>]</span>
+to the Greek tongue. But these friars, as I have
+found by certain ancient manuscripts, bought many
+Hebrew books of the Jews who were disturbed in
+England. In a word, they, to their utmost power,
+purchased whatsoever was anywhere to be had of
+singular learning."<a name="FNanchor_451_451" id="FNanchor_451_451"></a><a href="#Footnote_451_451" class="fnanchor">[451]</a></p>
+
+<p>Many of the smaller convents of the Franciscan
+order possessed considerable libraries, which they
+purchased or received as gifts from their patrons.<a name="FNanchor_452_452" id="FNanchor_452_452"></a><a href="#Footnote_452_452" class="fnanchor">[452]</a>
+There was a house of Grey Friars at Exeter,<a name="FNanchor_453_453" id="FNanchor_453_453"></a><a href="#Footnote_453_453" class="fnanchor">[453]</a> and
+Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter, gave or
+lent them a library of books in the year 1266, soon
+after their establishment, reserving to himself the
+privilege of using them, and forbade the friars from
+selling or parting with them. The collection, however,
+contained less than twenty volumes, and was
+formed principally of the scriptures and writings of
+their own order. "Whosoever," concludes the
+document, "shall presume hereafter to separate or
+destroy this donation of mine, may he incur the
+malediction of the omnipotent God! dated on the
+day of the purification, in the year of our Lord
+<span class="smcap">mcclxvi</span>."<a name="FNanchor_454_454" id="FNanchor_454_454"></a><a href="#Footnote_454_454" class="fnanchor">[454]</a></p>
+
+<p>The library of the Grey Friars in London was
+of more than usual magnificence and extent. It was
+founded by the celebrated Richard Whittington.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a>[<a href="./images/295.png">295</a>]</span>
+Its origin is thus set forth in an old manuscript in
+the Cottonian library:<a name="FNanchor_455_455" id="FNanchor_455_455"></a><a href="#Footnote_455_455" class="fnanchor">[455]</a></p>
+
+<p>"In the year of our Lord, 1421, the worshipful
+Richard Whyttyngton, knight and mayor of London,
+began the new library and laid the first foundation-stone
+on the 21st day of October; that is,
+on the feast of St. Hilarion the abbot. And the
+following year before the feast of the nativity of
+Christ, the house was raised and covered; and
+in three years after, it was floored, whitewashed,
+glazed,<a name="FNanchor_456_456" id="FNanchor_456_456"></a><a href="#Footnote_456_456" class="fnanchor">[456]</a> adorned with shelves, statues, and carving,
+and furnished with books: and the expenses about
+what is aforesaid amount to &pound;556:16:9; of which
+sum, the aforesaid Richard Whyttyngton paid
+&pound;400, and the residue was paid by the reverend
+father B. Thomas Winchelsey and his friends, to
+whose soul God be propitious.&mdash;Amen."</p>
+
+<p>Among some items of money expended, we
+find, "for the works of Doctor de Lyra contained
+in two volumes, now in the chains,<a name="FNanchor_457_457" id="FNanchor_457_457"></a><a href="#Footnote_457_457" class="fnanchor">[457]</a> 100 marks, of
+which B. John Frensile remitted 20s.; and for the
+Lectures of Hostiensis, now lying in the chains,
+5 marks."<a name="FNanchor_458_458" id="FNanchor_458_458"></a><a href="#Footnote_458_458" class="fnanchor">[458]</a> Leland speaks in the most enthusiastic
+terms of this library, and says, that it far surpassed
+all others for the number and antiquity of its volumes.
+John Wallden bequeathed as many manu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a>[<a href="./images/296.png">296</a>]</span>scripts
+of celebrated authors as were worth two
+thousand pounds.<a name="FNanchor_459_459" id="FNanchor_459_459"></a><a href="#Footnote_459_459" class="fnanchor">[459]</a></p>
+
+<p>The library of the Dominicans in London was
+also at one time well stored with valuable books.
+Leland mentions some of those he found there, and
+among them some writings of Wicliff;<a name="FNanchor_460_460" id="FNanchor_460_460"></a><a href="#Footnote_460_460" class="fnanchor">[460]</a> indeed
+those of this order were renowned far and wide for
+their love of study; look at the old portraits of a
+Dominican friar, and you will generally see him
+with the pen in one hand and a book in the other;
+but they were more ambitious in literature than
+the monks, and aimed at the honors of an author
+rather than at those of a scribe; but we are surprised
+more at their fertility than at their style or
+originality in the mysteries of bookcraft. Henry
+Esseburn diligently read at Oxford, and devoted his
+whole soul to study, and wrote a number of works,
+principally on the Bible; he was appointed to
+govern the Dominican monastery at Chester;
+"being remote from all schools, he made use of
+his spare hours to revise and polish what he had
+writ at Oxford; having performed the same to his
+own satisfaction, he caused his works to be fairly
+transcribed, and copies of them to be preserved in
+several libraries of his order.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_461_461" id="FNanchor_461_461"></a><a href="#Footnote_461_461" class="fnanchor">[461]</a> But they did not
+usually pay so much attention to the duties of
+transcribing. The Dominicans were fond of the
+physical sciences, and have been accused of too
+much partiality for occult philosophy. Leland tells<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a>[<a href="./images/297.png">297</a>]</span>
+us that Robert Perserutatur, a Dominican, was over
+solicitous in prying into the secrets of philosophy,<a name="FNanchor_462_462" id="FNanchor_462_462"></a><a href="#Footnote_462_462" class="fnanchor">[462]</a>
+and lays the same charge to many others.</p>
+
+<p>The Carmelites were more careful in transcribing
+books than the Dominicans, and anxiously
+preserved them from dust and worms; but I can
+find but little notice of their libraries; the one at
+Oxford was a large room, where they arranged
+their books in cases made for that purpose; before
+the foundation of this library, the Carmelites kept
+their books in chests, and doubtless gloried in an
+ample store of manuscript treasures.<a name="FNanchor_463_463" id="FNanchor_463_463"></a><a href="#Footnote_463_463" class="fnanchor">[463]</a></p>
+
+<p>But in the fifteenth century we find the Mendicant
+Friars, like the order religious sects, disregarding
+those strict principles of piety which had
+for two hundred years so distinguished their order.
+The holy rules of St. Francis and St. Dominic
+were seldom read with much attention, and never
+practised with severity; they became careless in
+the propagation of religious principles, relaxed in
+their austerity, and looked with too much fondness
+on the riches and honors of the world.<a name="FNanchor_464_464" id="FNanchor_464_464"></a><a href="#Footnote_464_464" class="fnanchor">[464]</a> This
+diminution in religious zeal was naturally accompanied
+by a proportionate decrease in learning and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a>[<a href="./images/298.png">298</a>]</span>
+love of study. The sparkling orator, the acute
+controversialist, or the profound scholar, might
+have been searched for in vain among the Franciscans
+or the Dominicans of the fifteenth century.
+Careless in literary matters, they thought little of
+collecting books, or preserving even those which
+their libraries already contained; the Franciscans
+at Oxford "sold many of their books to Dr. Thomas
+Gascoigne, about the year 1433,<a name="FNanchor_465_465" id="FNanchor_465_465"></a><a href="#Footnote_465_465" class="fnanchor">[465]</a> which he gave to
+the libraries of Lincoln, Durham, Baliol, and Oriel.
+They also declining in strictness of life and learning,
+sold many more to other persons, so that their
+libraries declined to little or nothing."<a name="FNanchor_466_466" id="FNanchor_466_466"></a><a href="#Footnote_466_466" class="fnanchor">[466]</a></p>
+
+<p>We are not therefore surprised at the disappointment
+of Leland, on examining this famous
+repository; his expectations were raised by the
+care with which he found the library guarded, and
+the difficulty he had to obtain access to it: but when
+he entered, he did not find one-third the number of
+books which it originally contained; but dust and
+cobwebs, moths and beetles he found in abundance,
+which swarmed over the empty shelves.<a name="FNanchor_467_467" id="FNanchor_467_467"></a><a href="#Footnote_467_467" class="fnanchor">[467]</a></p>
+
+<p>The mendicant friars have rendered themselves
+famous by introducing theatrical representations<a name="FNanchor_468_468" id="FNanchor_468_468"></a><a href="#Footnote_468_468" class="fnanchor">[468]</a>
+for the amusement and instruction of the people.
+These shows were usually denominated miracles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a>[<a href="./images/299.png">299</a>]</span>
+moralities, or mysteries, and were performed by
+the friars in their convents or on portable stages,
+which were wheeled into the market places and
+streets for the convenience of the spectators.</p>
+
+<p>The friars of the monastery of the Franciscans
+at Coventry are particularly celebrated for their ingenuity
+in performing these pageants on Corpus
+Christi day; a copy of this play or miracle is preserved
+in the Cottonian Collection, written in old
+English rhyme. It embraces the transactions of
+the Old and New Testament, and is entitled <i>Ludus
+Corpus Christi</i>. It commences&mdash;</p>
+
+<h3>A PLAIE CALLED CORPUS CHRISTI.<a name="FNanchor_469_469" id="FNanchor_469_469"></a><a href="#Footnote_469_469" class="fnanchor">[469]</a></h3>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Now gracyous God groundyd of all goodnesse,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">As thy grete glorie neuyr begynnyng had;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">So you succour and save all those that sytt and sese,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">And lystenyth to our talkyng with sylens stylle and sad,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we purpose no pertly stylle in his prese<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">The pepyl to plese with pleys ful glad,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Now lystenyth us lowly both mar and lesse<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Gentyllys and &#541;emaury off goodly lyff lad,<br /></span>
+<span class="i14">&thorn;is tyde,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We call you shewe us that we kan,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">How that &thorn;is werd fyrst began,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And howe God made bothe worlde and man<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">If yt ye wyll abyde.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>These miracles were intended to instruct the
+more ignorant, or those whose circumstances placed
+the usual means of acquiring knowledge beyond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a>[<a href="./images/300.png">300</a>]</span>
+their reach; but as books became accessible, they
+were no longer needed; the printing press made
+the Bible, from which the plots of the miracle plays
+were usually derived, common among the people,
+and these gaudy representations were swept away
+by the Reformation; but they were temporarily
+revived in Queen Mary's time, with the other
+abominations of the church papal, for we find that
+"in the year 1556 a goodly stage play of the
+Passion of Christ was presented at the Grey Friers
+in London on Corpus Christi day," before the Lord
+Mayor and citizens;<a name="FNanchor_470_470" id="FNanchor_470_470"></a><a href="#Footnote_470_470" class="fnanchor">[470]</a> but we have nothing here to
+do with anecdotes illustrating a period so late as
+this.</p>
+
+<p>We have now arrived at the dawn of a new era
+in learning, and the slow, plodding, laborious
+scribes of the monasteries were startled by the appearance
+of an invention with which their poor
+pens had no power to compete. The year 1472
+was the last of the parchment literature of the
+monks, and the first in the English annals of
+printed learning; but we must not forget that the
+monks with all their sloth and ignorance, were the
+foremost among the encouragers of the early printing
+press in England; the monotony of the dull
+cloisters of Westminster Abbey was broken by the
+clanking of Caxton's press; and the prayers of the
+monks of old St. Albans mingled with the echoes
+of the pressman's labor. Little did those barefooted
+priests know what an opponent to their
+Romish rites they were fostering into life; their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a>[<a href="./images/301.png">301</a>]</span>
+love of learning and passion for books, drove all
+fear away; and the splendor of the new power so
+dazzled their eyes that they could not clearly see
+the nature of the refulgent light just bursting
+through the gloom of ages.</p>
+
+<p>After the invention of the printing art, bibliomania
+took some mighty strides; and many choice
+collectors, full of ardor in the pursuit, became renowned
+for the vast book stores they amassed together.
+But some of their names have been preserved
+and good deeds chronicled by Dibdin, of
+bibliographical renown; so that a chapter is not
+necessary here to extol them. We may judge how
+fashionable the avocation became by the keen satire
+of Alexander Barkley, in his translation of Brandt's
+<i>Navis Stultifera</i> or Shyp of Folys,<a name="FNanchor_471_471" id="FNanchor_471_471"></a><a href="#Footnote_471_471" class="fnanchor">[471]</a> who gives a
+curious illustration of a bibliomaniac; and thus
+speaks of those collectors who amassed their book
+treasures without possessing much esteem for their
+contents.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"That in this ship the chiefe place I gouerne,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">By this wide sea with fooles wandring,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">The cause is plain &amp; easy to discerne<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Still am I busy, bookes assembling,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For to have plentie it is a pleasaunt thing<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">In my conceyt, to have them ay in hand,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">But what they meane do I not understande.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But yet I have them in great reverence<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And honoure, sauing them from filth &amp; ordure<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">By often brushing &amp; much diligence<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Of Damas, Sattin, or els of velvet pure<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a>[<a href="./images/302.png">302</a>]</span>
+<span class="ihalf">I keepe them sure, fearing least they should be lost,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For in them is the cunning wherein I me boast.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But if it fortune that any learned man<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Within my house fall to disputation,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I drawe the curtaynes to shewe my bokes them,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That they of my cunning should make probation<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I love not to fall in alterication,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And while the commen, my bokes I turne and winde<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For all is in them, and nothing in my minde.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Ptolomeus the riche caused, longe agone,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Over all the worlde good bookes to be sought,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Done was his commandement&mdash;anone<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">These bokes he had, and in his studie brought,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Which passed all earthly treasure as he thought,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">But neverthelesse he did him not apply<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Unto their doctrine, but lived unhappily.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Lo, in likewise of bookes I have store,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">But fewe I reade and fewer understande,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I folowe not their doctrine nor their lore,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">It is ynough to beare a booke in hande.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">It were too muche to be in such a bande,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For to be bounde to loke within the booke<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">I am content on the fayre coveryng to looke.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Why should I studie to hurt my wit therby,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Or trouble my minde with studie excessiue.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Sithe many are which studie right busely,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And yet therby thall they never thrive<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">The fruite of wisdome can they not contriue,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And many to studie so muche are inclinde,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That utterly they fall out of their minde.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Eche is not lettred that nowe is made a lorde,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefice;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">They are not all lawyers that pleas do recorde,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">All that are promoted are not fully wise;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwes her dice<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That though we knowe but the yrishe game,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Yet would he have a gentleman's name.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a>[<a href="./images/303.png">303</a>]</span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"So in like wise I am in suche case,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Though I nought can, I would be called wise,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Also I may set another in my place,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Whiche may for me my bokes exercise,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Or els I shall ensue the common guise,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And say concedo to euery argument,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Least by much speache my latin should be spent.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"I am like other Clerkes, which so frowardly them gyde,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That after they are once come unto promotion,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">They give them to pleasure, their study set aside,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Their auarice couering with fained deuotion;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Yet dayly they preache and have great derision<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Against the rude laymen, and all for couetise,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Through their owne conscience be blended with that vice<ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads ','">.</ins><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But if I durst truth plainely utter and expresse,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">This is the speciall cause of this inconvenience,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">That greatest of fooles &amp; fullest of lewdness,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Having least wit and simplest science,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Are first promoted, &amp; have greatest reverence;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">For if one can flatter &amp; bear a hauke on his fist,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">He shall be made Parson of Honington or of Elist.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But he that is in study ay firme and diligent,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And without all favour preacheth Christe's love,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Of all the Cominalite nowe adayes is sore shent,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And by estates threatned oft therfore.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Thus what anayle is it to us to study more,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">To knowe ether Scripture, truth, wisdome, or virtue,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Since fewe or none without fauour dare them shewe.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But O noble Doctours, that worthy are of name,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Consider oure olde fathers, note well their diligence,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Ensue ye to their steppes, obtayne ye suche fame<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">As they did living; and that, by true prudence<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Within their heartes, thy planted their science,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And not in pleasaunt bookes, but noue to fewe suche be,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Therefore to this ship come you &amp; rowe with me.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a>[<a href="./images/304.png">304</a>]</span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i2">"The Lennoy of Alexander Barclay,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2half">Translatour, exhorting the fooles accloyed<br /></span>
+<span class="i2half">with this vice, to amende their foly.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Say worthie Doctours &amp; Clerkes curious,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">What moneth you of bookes to have such number,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Since diuers doctrines through way contrarious,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Doth man's minde distract and sore encomber.<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">Alas blinde men awake, out of your slumber;<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">And if ye will needes your bookes multiplye,<br /></span>
+<span class="ihalf">With diligence endeuor you some to occupye.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins><a name="FNanchor_472_472" id="FNanchor_472_472"></a><a href="#Footnote_472_472" class="fnanchor">[472]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-23.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_438_438" id="Footnote_438_438"></a><a href="#FNanchor_438_438"><span class="label">[438]</span></a> Thirteen Dominicans were sent into England in the year 1221;
+they held their first provincial council in England in 1230 at Oxford,
+three years before St. Dominic was canonized by pope Gregory.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_439_439" id="Footnote_439_439"></a><a href="#FNanchor_439_439"><span class="label">[439]</span></a> Four clercs and five laymen of the Franciscan order were sent
+into England in 1224; ten years afterwards we find their disciples
+spreading over the whole of England.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_440_440" id="Footnote_440_440"></a><a href="#FNanchor_440_440"><span class="label">[440]</span></a> Edward the Second regarded them with great favor, and wrote
+several letters to the pope in their praise; he says in one, "Desiderantes
+itaque, pater sancte ordinis fratrum pr&aelig;dicatorum Oxonii, ubi
+religionis devotio, et honestatis laudabilis decer viget, per quem etiam
+honor universitatis Oxoniensis, et utilitas ibidem studentium, etc."
+Dugdale's Monast. vol. vi. p. 1492.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_441_441" id="Footnote_441_441"></a><a href="#FNanchor_441_441"><span class="label">[441]</span></a> A list of celebrated authors who flourished in England, and
+who were members of the Dominican Order, will be found in <i>Steven's
+Monasticon</i>, vol. ii. p. 193, more than 80 names are mentioned.
+A similar list of authors of the Franciscan order will be found at p. 97
+of vol. i. containing 122 names; and of the Carmelite authors, vol. ii.
+p. 160, specifying 137 writers; a great proportion of their works are
+upon the Scriptures.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_442_442" id="Footnote_442_442"></a><a href="#FNanchor_442_442"><span class="label">[442]</span></a> Dr. Cave says, "In scholis Christianis pene unice regnavit
+scholastica theologia, advocata in subsidium Aristotelis philosophia,
+eaque non ex Gr&aelig;cis fontibus <i>sed ex turbidis Arabum lacunis, ex
+versionibus male factis, male intellectis, hansta</i>.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: added missing quotation mark">"</ins> <i>Hist. Liter.</i>, p. 615.
+But I am not satisfied that this has been proved, though often
+affirmed.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_443_443" id="Footnote_443_443"></a><a href="#FNanchor_443_443"><span class="label">[443]</span></a> It was probably the work of Andrew the Jew. <i>Meiners</i>, ii.
+p. 664.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_444_444" id="Footnote_444_444"></a><a href="#FNanchor_444_444"><span class="label">[444]</span></a> At a council held at Paris in the year 1209, the works of Aristotle
+were proscribed and ordered to be burnt. <i>Launvius de Varia
+Aristotelis fortuna</i>. But in spite of the papal mandate the friars
+revived its use. Richard Fizacre, an intimate friend of Roger Bacon,
+was so passionately fond of reading Aristotle, that he always carried
+one of his works in his bosom. <i>Stevens Monast.</i>, vol. ii. p. 194.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_445_445" id="Footnote_445_445"></a><a href="#FNanchor_445_445"><span class="label">[445]</span></a> See what has been said of the Mendicants at p. 79.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_446_446" id="Footnote_446_446"></a><a href="#FNanchor_446_446"><span class="label">[446]</span></a> Steven's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from the MSS. of
+Anthony a Wood in the library at Oxford, vol. i. p. 129. Agnell
+himself was "<i>a man of scarce any erudition</i>."&mdash;<i>Ibid.</i></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_447_447" id="Footnote_447_447"></a><a href="#FNanchor_447_447"><span class="label">[447]</span></a> He is spoken of under a multitude of names, sometimes
+Grosthead, Grouthead, etc. A list of them will be found in Wood's
+Oxford by Gutch, vol. i. p. 198.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_448_448" id="Footnote_448_448"></a><a href="#FNanchor_448_448"><span class="label">[448]</span></a> He gives strict injunctions as to the study of the Scriptures in
+his <i>Constitutiones</i>.&mdash;See Pegge's Life of Grostest, p. 315.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_449_449" id="Footnote_449_449"></a><a href="#FNanchor_449_449"><span class="label">[449]</span></a> Utilitate Scientiarum, cap. xxxix.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_450_450" id="Footnote_450_450"></a><a href="#FNanchor_450_450"><span class="label">[450]</span></a> De Confess. Amantis, lib. iv. fo. 70, <i>Imprint</i>. Caxton <i>at Westminster</i>,
+1483. The bishop is said to have taken a journey from
+England to Rome one night on an infernal horse.&mdash;Pegge's Life of
+Grostest, p. 306.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_451_451" id="Footnote_451_451"></a><a href="#FNanchor_451_451"><span class="label">[451]</span></a> Stephen's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from Anthony a
+Wood's MSS. vol. i. p. 133.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_452_452" id="Footnote_452_452"></a><a href="#FNanchor_452_452"><span class="label">[452]</span></a> The Mendicant orders, unlike the monks, were not remarkable
+for their industry in transcribing books: their roving life was unsuitable
+to the tedious profession of a scribe.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_453_453" id="Footnote_453_453"></a><a href="#FNanchor_453_453"><span class="label">[453]</span></a> Leland's Itin. vol. iii. p. 59.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_454_454" id="Footnote_454_454"></a><a href="#FNanchor_454_454"><span class="label">[454]</span></a> Oliver's Collections relating to the Monasteries in Devon, 8vo.
+1820, appendix lxii.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_455_455" id="Footnote_455_455"></a><a href="#FNanchor_455_455"><span class="label">[455]</span></a> Cottonian MSS. Vittel, F. xii. 13. fol. 325, headed "<i>De Fundacione
+Librarie</i>."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_456_456" id="Footnote_456_456"></a><a href="#FNanchor_456_456"><span class="label">[456]</span></a> The library was 129 feet long and 31 feet broad, and most
+beautifully fitted up.&mdash;<i>Lelandi Antiquarii Collectanea</i>, vol. i. p. 109.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_457_457" id="Footnote_457_457"></a><a href="#FNanchor_457_457"><span class="label">[457]</span></a> This refers to the custom then prevalent of chaining their
+books, especially their choice ones, to the library shelf, or to a
+reading desk.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_458_458" id="Footnote_458_458"></a><a href="#FNanchor_458_458"><span class="label">[458]</span></a> MS. <i>ibid.</i> fo. o. 325 b.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_459_459" id="Footnote_459_459"></a><a href="#FNanchor_459_459"><span class="label">[459]</span></a> Script. Brit. p. 241, and Collectanea, iii. 52.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_460_460" id="Footnote_460_460"></a><a href="#FNanchor_460_460"><span class="label">[460]</span></a> Leland's Collect. vol. iii. p. 51. He found in the priory of
+the Dominicans at Cambridge, among other books, a <i>Biblia in
+lingua vernacula</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_461_461" id="Footnote_461_461"></a><a href="#FNanchor_461_461"><span class="label">[461]</span></a> Steven's Monast. vol. ii. p. 194.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_462_462" id="Footnote_462_462"></a><a href="#FNanchor_462_462"><span class="label">[462]</span></a> His works were of the impressions of the Air&mdash;of the Wonder
+of the Elements&mdash;of Ceremonial Magic&mdash;of the Mysteries of Secrets&mdash;and
+the Correction of Chemistry.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_463_463" id="Footnote_463_463"></a><a href="#FNanchor_463_463"><span class="label">[463]</span></a> Sieben's Monast. vol. i. p. 183, from the MSS. of Anthony a
+Wood, who says, "What became of them (their books) at the dissolution
+unless they were carried into the library of some college, I
+know not."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_464_464" id="Footnote_464_464"></a><a href="#FNanchor_464_464"><span class="label">[464]</span></a> They obtained much wealth by the sale of pardons and indulgences.
+Margaret Est, of the convent of Franciscans, ordered her
+letters of pardon and absolution, to partake of the indulgences of the
+convent, to be returned as soon she was buried. <i>Bloomfield's Hist.
+of Norfolk</i>, vol. ii. p. 565.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_465_465" id="Footnote_465_465"></a><a href="#FNanchor_465_465"><span class="label">[465]</span></a> And among others of St. Augustine's books, <i>De Civitate Dei</i>,
+with many notes in the margins, by Grostest. <i>Wood's Hist. Oxon</i>,
+p. 78.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_466_466" id="Footnote_466_466"></a><a href="#FNanchor_466_466"><span class="label">[466]</span></a> Anthony a Wood in Steven's Monast. vol. i. p. 133.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_467_467" id="Footnote_467_467"></a><a href="#FNanchor_467_467"><span class="label">[467]</span></a> Script. Brit. p. 286.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_468_468" id="Footnote_468_468"></a><a href="#FNanchor_468_468"><span class="label">[468]</span></a> Le B&#339;uf gives an instance of one being represented as early
+as the eleventh century, in which Virgil was introduced. <i>Hallam's
+Lit. of Europe</i>, vol. i. p. 295. The case of Geoffry of St. Albans is
+well known, and I have already mentioned it.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_469_469" id="Footnote_469_469"></a><a href="#FNanchor_469_469"><span class="label">[469]</span></a> MS. Cottonian Vespasian, D. viii. fo. 1. Codex Chart. 225
+folios, written in the fifteenth century. Sir W. Dugdale, in his Hist.
+of Warwick, p. 116, mentions this volume; and Stevens, in his Monast.
+has printed a portion of it. Mr. Halliwell has printed them
+with much care and accuracy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_470_470" id="Footnote_470_470"></a><a href="#FNanchor_470_470"><span class="label">[470]</span></a> MS. Cottonian Vitel. E. 5. <i>Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry</i>, vol.
+iii. p. 326.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_471_471" id="Footnote_471_471"></a><a href="#FNanchor_471_471"><span class="label">[471]</span></a> The original was written in 1494.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_472_472" id="Footnote_472_472"></a><a href="#FNanchor_472_472"><span class="label">[472]</span></a> Ship of Fooles, folio 1570, Imprynted by Cawood, fol. 1.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a>[<a href="./images/305.png">305</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-24.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Conclusion.</i></p></div>
+<hr />
+
+<div class="clearfix"><div class="figleft"><img src="./images/ill-25.jpg" alt="W" title="W" /></div>
+<p><span class="smcap">e</span> have traversed through the darkness
+of many long and dreary
+centuries, and with the aid of a
+few old manuscripts written by the
+monks in the <i>scriptoria</i> of their
+monasteries, caught an occasional
+glimpse of their literary labors and
+love of books; these parchment volumes being mere
+monastic registers, or terse historic compilations,
+do not record with particular care the anecdotes
+applicable to my subject, but appear to be mentioned
+almost accidentally, and certainly without
+any ostentatious design; but such as they are we
+learn from them at least one thing, which some of
+us might not have known before&mdash;that the monks
+of old, besides telling their beads, singing psalms,
+and muttering their breviary, had yet one other
+duty to perform&mdash;the transcription of books. And
+I think there is sufficient evidence that they fulfilled
+this obligation with as much zeal as those of a
+more strictly monastic or religious nature. It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>[<a href="./images/306.png">306</a>]</span>
+true, in casting our eye over the history of their
+labors, many regrets will arise that they did not
+manifest a little more taste and refinement in their
+choice of books for transcribing. The classical
+scholar will wish the holy monks had thought more
+about his darling authors of Greece and Rome;
+but the pious puritan historian blames them for
+patronizing the romantic allurements of Ovid, or
+the loose satires of Juvenal, and throws out some
+slanderous hint that they must have found a sympathy
+in those pages of licentiousness, or why so
+anxious to preserve them? The protestant is still
+more scandalized, and denounces the monks, their
+books, scriptorium and all together as part and parcel
+of popish craft and Romish superstition. But surely
+the crimes of popedom and the evils of monachism,
+that thing of dry bones and fabricated relics, are
+bad enough; and the protestant cause is sufficiently
+holy, that we may afford to be honest if we cannot
+to be generous. What good purpose then will it
+serve to cavil at the monks forever? All readers
+of history know how corrupt they became in the
+fifteenth century; how many evils were wrought
+by the craft of some of them, and how pernicious
+the system ultimately waxed. We can all, I say,
+reflect upon these things, and guard against them in
+future; but it is not just to apply the same indiscriminate
+censure to all ages. Many of the purest
+Christians of the church, the brightest ornaments
+of Christ's simple flock, were barefooted cowled
+monks of the cloister; devout perhaps to a fault,
+with simplicity verging on superstition; yet nevertheless
+faithful, pious men, and holy. Look at all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a>[<a href="./images/307.png">307</a>]</span>
+this with an eye of charity; avoid their errors and
+manifold faults: but to forget the loathsome thing
+our minds have conjured up as the type of an
+ancient monk. Remember they had a few books
+to read, and venerated something more than the
+dry bones of long withered saints. Their God
+was our God, and their Saviour, let us trust, will be
+our Saviour.</p></div>
+
+<p>I am well aware that many other names might
+have been added to those mentioned in the foregoing
+pages, equally deserving remembrance, and
+offering pleasing anecdotes of a student's life, or
+illustrating the early history of English learning;
+many facts and much miscellaneous matter I have
+collected in reference to them; but I am fearful
+whether my readers will regard this subject with
+sufficient relish to enjoy more illustrations of the
+same kind. Students are apt to get too fond of
+their particular pursuit, which magnifies in importance
+with the difficulties of their research, or the
+duration of their studies. I am uncertain whether
+this may not be my own position, and wait the
+decision of my readers before proceeding further
+in the annals of early bibliomania.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover as to the simple question&mdash;Were the
+monks booklovers? enough I think as been said to
+prove it, but the enquiry is far from exhausted;
+and if the reader should deem the matter still
+equivocal and undecided, he must refer the blame
+to the feebleness of my pen, rather than to the
+barrenness of my subject. But let him not fail to
+mark well the instances I have given; let him look
+at Benedict Biscop and his foreign travels after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a>[<a href="./images/308.png">308</a>]</span>
+books; at Theodore and the early Saxons of the
+seventh century; at Boniface, Alcuin, &AElig;lfric, and
+the numerous votaries of bibliomania who flourished
+then. Look at the well stored libraries of St. Albans,
+Canterbury, Ramsey, Durham, Croyland,
+Peterborough, Glastonbury, and their thousand
+tomes of parchment literature. Look at Richard
+de Bury and his sweet little work on biographical
+experience; at Whethamstede and his industrious
+pen; read the rules of monastic orders; the book
+of Cassian; the regulations of St. Augustine;
+Benedict Fulgentius; and the ancient admonitions
+of many other holy and ascetic men. Search over
+the remnants and shreds of information which have
+escaped the ravages of time, and the havoc of cruel
+invasions relative to these things. Attend to the
+import of these small still whisperings of a forgotten
+age; and then, letting the eye traverse down
+the stream of time, mark the great advent of the
+Reformation; that wide gulf of monkish erudition
+in which was swallowed "whole shyppes full" of
+olden literature; think well and deeply over the
+huge bonfires of Henry's reign, the flames of which
+were kindled by the libraries which monkish industry
+had transcribed. A merry sound no doubt,
+was the crackling of those "popish books" for
+protestant ears to feed upon!</p>
+
+<p>Now all these facts thought of collectively&mdash;brought
+to bear one upon another&mdash;seem to favor
+the opinion my own study has deduced from them;
+that with all their superstition, with all their ignorance,
+their blindness to philosophic light&mdash;the
+monks of old were hearty lovers of books; that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a>[<a href="./images/309.png">309</a>]</span>
+they encouraged learning, fostered and transcribed
+repeatedly the books which they had rescued from
+the destruction of war and time; and so kindly
+cherished and husbanded them as intellectual food
+for posterity. Such being the case, let our hearts
+look charitably upon them; and whilst we pity
+them for their superstition, or blame them for their
+"pious frauds," love them as brother men and
+workers in the mines of literature; such a course
+is far more honorable to the tenor of a christian's
+heart, than bespattering their memory with foul
+denunciations.</p>
+
+<p>Some may accuse me of having shown too much
+fondness&mdash;of having dwelt with a too loving tenderness
+in my retrospection of the middle ages. But
+in the course of my studies I have found much to
+admire. In parchment annals coeval with the times
+of which they speak, my eyes have traversed over
+many consecutive pages with increasing interest
+and with enraptured pleasure. I have read of old
+deeds worthy of an honored remembrance, where
+I least expected to find them. I have met with
+instances of faith as strong as death bringing forth
+fruit in abundance in those sterile times, and
+glorying God with its lasting incense. I have met
+with instances of piety exalted to the heavens&mdash;glowing
+like burning lava, and warming the cold
+dull cloisters of the monks. I have read of many
+a student who spent the long night in exploring
+mysteries of the Bible truths; and have seen him
+sketched by a monkish pencil with his ponderous
+volumes spread around him, and the oil burning
+brightly by his side. I have watched him in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a>[<a href="./images/310.png">310</a>]</span>
+little cell thus depicted on the ancient parchment,
+and have sympathized with his painful difficulties
+in acquiring true knowledge, or enlightened wisdom,
+within the convent walls; and then I have
+read the pages of his fellow monk&mdash;perhaps, his
+book-companion; and heard what <i>he</i> had to say of
+that poor lonely Bible student, and have learnt
+with sadness how often truth had been extinguished
+from his mind by superstition, or learning cramped
+by his monkish prejudices; but it has not always
+been so, and I have enjoyed a more gladdening
+view on finding in the monk a Bible teacher; and
+in another, a profound historian, or pleasing annalist.</p>
+
+<p>As a Christian, the recollection of these cheering
+facts, with which my researches have been blessed,
+are pleasurable, and lead me to look back upon
+those old times with a student's fondness. But
+besides piety and virtue, I have met with wisdom
+and philanthropy; the former, too profound, and
+the latter, too generous for the age; but these
+things are precious, and worth remembering; and
+how can I speak of them but in words of kindness?
+It is these traits of worth and goodness that have
+gained my sympathies, and twined round my heart,
+and not the dark stains on the monkish page of
+history; these I have always striven to forget, or to
+remember them only when I thought experience
+might profit by them; for they offer a terrible
+lesson of blood, tyranny and anguish. But this
+dark and gloomy side is the one which from our
+infancy has ever been before us; we learnt it when
+a child from our tutor; or at college, or at school;
+we learnt it in the pages of our best and purest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a>[<a href="./images/311.png">311</a>]</span>
+writers; learnt that in those old days nought
+existed, but bloodshed, tyranny, and anguish; but
+we never thought once to gaze at the scene behind,
+and behold the workings of human charity and
+love; if we had, we should have found that the
+same passions, the same affections, and the same
+hopes and fears existed then as now, and our sympathies
+would have been won by learning that we
+were reading of brother men, fellow Christians,
+and fellow-companions in the Church of Christ.
+We have hitherto looked, when casting a backward
+glance at those long gone ages of inanimation,
+with the severity of a judge upon a criminal; but
+to understand him properly we must regard them
+with the tender compassion of a parent; for if our
+art, our science, and our philosophy exalts us far
+above them, is that a proof that there was nothing
+admirable, nothing that can call forth our love on
+that infant state, or in the annals of our civilization
+at its early growth?</p>
+
+<p>But let it not be thought that if I have striven
+to retrieve from the dust and gloom of antiquity,
+the remembrance of old things that are worthy;
+that I feel any love for the superstition with which
+we find them blended. There is much that is good
+connected with those times; talent even that is
+worth imitating, and art that we may be proud to
+learn, which is beginning after the elapse of centuries
+to arrest the attention of the ingenious, and
+the love of these, naturally revive with the discovery;
+but we need not fear in this resurrection
+of old things of other days, that the superstition
+and weakness of the middle ages; that the venera<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a>[<a href="./images/312.png">312</a>]</span>tion
+for dry bones and saintly dust, can live again.
+I do not wish to make the past assume a superiority
+over the present; but I think a contemplation of
+<ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'medi&aelig;vel'">medi&aelig;val</ins> art would often open a new avenue of
+thought and lead to many a pleasing and profitable
+discovery; I would too add the efforts of my feeble
+pen to elevate and ennoble the fond pursuit of my
+leisure hours. I would say one word to vindicate
+the lover of old musty writings, and the explorer of
+rude antiquities, from the charge of unprofitableness,
+and to protect him from the sneer of ridicule.
+For whilst some see in the dry studies of the
+antiquary a mere inquisitiveness after forgotten
+facts and worthless relics; I can see, nay, have felt,
+something morally elevating in the exercise of these
+inquiries. It is not the mere fact which may sometimes
+be gained by rubbing off the parochial whitewash
+from ancient tablets, or the encrusted oxide
+from monumental brasses, that render the study of
+ancient relics so attractive; but it is the deductions
+which may sometimes be drawn from them. The
+light which they sometimes cast on obscure parts of
+history, and the fine touches of human sensibility,
+which their eulogies and monodies bespeak, that
+instruct or elevate the mind, and make the student's
+heart beat with holier and loftier feelings. But it
+is not my duty here to enter into the motives, the
+benefits, or the most profitable manner of studying
+antiquity; if it were, I would strive to show how
+much superior it is to become an original investigator,
+a practical antiquary, than a mere borrower
+from others. For the most delightful moments of
+the student's course is when he rambles person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a>[<a href="./images/313.png">313</a>]</span>ally
+among the ruins and remnants of long gone
+ages; sometimes painful are such sights, even
+deeply so; but never to a righteous mind are they
+unprofitable, much less exerting a narrowing tendency
+on the mind, or cramping the gushing of
+human feeling; for cold, indeed, must be the heart
+that can behold strong walls tottering to decay,
+and fretted vaults, mutilated and dismantled of
+their pristine beauty; that can behold the proud
+strongholds of baronial power and feudal tyranny,
+the victims of the lichen or creeping parasites of
+the ivy tribe; cold, I say, must be the heart that
+can see such things, and draw no lesson from
+them.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-26.jpg" alt="Footer" title="Footer" /></p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a>[<a href="./images/314.png">314</a>]</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class ="full" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a>[<a href="./images/315.png">315</a>]</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="./images/ill-27.jpg" alt="Header" title="Header" /></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX</h2>
+
+<hr />
+
+<ul><li>Adam de Botheby, Abbot of Peterborough, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Adam, Abbot of Evesham, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</li>
+<li>Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Anecdote of, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li>
+<li>&AElig;lfric, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li>
+<li>&AElig;lfride, King of Northumbria, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.</li>
+<li>&AElig;lsinus, the Scribe, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li>
+<li>Ailward's Gift of Books to Evesham Monastery, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li>
+<li>Albans, Abbey of St.&mdash;<i>See</i> St. Albans.</li>
+<li>Alcuin,<ul>
+<li>    Verses by, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li>
+<li>    Letters of, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>.</li>
+<li>    His Bible, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li>
+<li>    Love of Books, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Aldred, the Glossator, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</li>
+<li>Aldwine, Bishop of Lindesfarne, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+<li>Alfred the Great, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li>
+<li>Angell de Pisa, a Franciscan Friar, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</li>
+<li>Angraville.&mdash;<i>See</i> Richard de Bury.</li>
+<li>Anselm, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li>
+<li>Antiquarii, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li>
+<li>Arno, Archbishop of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Salzburg'">Salzburgh</ins>, Library of, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li>
+<li>Armarian, Duties of the Monkish, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+<li>Aristotle; Translation used by the Schoolmen, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li>
+<li>Ascelin, Prior of Dover, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li>
+<li>Augustine, St., his copy of the Bible and other books, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Baldwin, Abbot of, St. Edmund's Bury, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li>
+<li>Bale on the destruction of books at the Reformation, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a>[<a href="./images/316.png">316</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Barkley's description of a Bibliomaniac, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.</li>
+<li>Basingstoke and his Greek books, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li>
+<li>Bede the Venerable, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li>
+<li>Bek, Anthony, Bishop of Durham, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</li>
+<li>Benedict, Abbot of Peterborough, and his books, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li>
+<li>Benedict, Biscop of Wearmouth, and his book tours, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li>
+<li>Bible among the Monks in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li>
+<li>Bible, Monkish care in copying the, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li>
+<li>Bible, errors in printed copies, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li>
+<li>Bible, Translations of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <i>note</i>.</li>
+<li>Bible, Illustrations of the scarcity of the, in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li>
+<li>Bible, Students in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li>
+<li>Bilfrid the Illuminator, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</li>
+<li>Binding, costly, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</li>
+<li>Blessing&mdash;Monkish blessing on Books, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li>
+<li>Boniface the Saxon Missionary, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li>
+<li>Books allowed the Monks for private reading, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li>
+<li>Books-Destroyers, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>.</li>
+<li>Books sent to Oxford by the Monks of Durham, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li>
+<li>Book-Stalls, Antiquity of, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li>
+<li>Booksellers in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li>
+<li>Britone the Librarian&mdash;his catalogue of books in Glastonbury Abbey, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li>
+<li>Bruges, John de, a Monk of Coventry, and his books, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>C&aelig;dmon, the Saxon Poet, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.</li>
+<li>Canterbury Monastery, etc., <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li>
+<li>Canute, the Song of, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li>
+<li>Care in transcribing, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li>
+<li>Carelepho, Bishop of Durham, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li>
+<li>Carmelite, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li>
+<li>Carpenter, Bishop, built and endowed a library in Exeter Church, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li>
+<li>Catalogues of Monastic libraries, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li>
+<li>Catalogue of the books of Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a>[<a href="./images/317.png">317</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Charles V. of France&mdash;his fine Library.</li>
+<li>Charlemagne's Bible, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, his Library, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li>
+<li>Chartey's, William, Catalogue of the Library of St. Mary's at Leicester, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.</li>
+<li>Chiclely, Henry, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li>
+<li>Cistercian Monks in England, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</li>
+<li>Classics among the Monks in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li>
+<li>Classics, Monkish opinion of the, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li>
+<li>Classics found in Monasteries at the revival of learning, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li>
+<li>Cluniac Monks in England, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</li>
+<li>Cobham, Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li>
+<li>Cobham, Bishop, founded the Library at Oxford, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li>
+<li>Collier on the destruction of books, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li>
+<li>Converting Miracles, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li>
+<li>Coventry Church, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li>
+<li>Coventry Miracles, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li>
+<li>Croyland Monastery, Library of, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li>
+<li>Cuthbert's Gospels, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Danes in England, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li>
+<li>Daniel, Bishop of Winchester, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.</li>
+<li>De Bury.&mdash;<i>See</i> Richard de Bury.</li>
+<li>De Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+<li>Depying Priory, Catalogue of the Library of, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li>
+<li>Dover Library, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li>
+<li>Dunstan, Saint, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Eadburge&mdash;Abbess, transcribes books for Boniface, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.</li>
+<li>Eadfrid, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li>
+<li>Eadmer, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li>
+<li>Ealdred, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li>
+<li>Eardulphus, or Eurdulphus, Bishop of Lindesfarne, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li>
+<li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Ecfrid'">Ecgfrid</ins> and his Queen, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li>
+<li>Edmunds Bury, St., <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li>
+<li>Edwine the Scribe, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li>
+<li>Effects of Gospel Reading, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li>
+<li>Effects of the Reformation on Monkish learning, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li>
+<li>Egbert, Archbishop of York, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, his Library, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a>[<a href="./images/318.png">318</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Egebric, Abbot of Croyland, his gift of books to the Library, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>.</li>
+<li>Egfrith, Bishop of Lindesfarne, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+<li>Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li>
+<li>Ethelbert, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li>
+<li>Etheldred&aelig; founds the Monastery of Ely, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li>
+<li>Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester<ul>
+<li>    his love of Architecture, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>,</li>
+<li>    his fine Benedictional, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Ely Monastery, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.<ul>
+<li>    Extracts from the Account Books of, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Erventus the Illuminator, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li>
+<li>Esseburn, Henry, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li>
+<li>Evesham Monastery, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Fathers, Veneration for the, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li>
+<li>Frederic, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li>
+<li>Franciscan Library at Oxford, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li>
+<li>Friars, Mendicant, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Geoffry de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li>
+<li>Gerbert, extract from a letter of, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.</li>
+<li>Gift of books to Richard de Bury by the Monks of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li>
+<li>Glanvill, Bishop of Rochester, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+<li>Glastonbury Abbey, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li>
+<li>Gloucester Abbey, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li>
+<li>Godeman, Abbot of Gloucester, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li>
+<li>Godemann the Scribe, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li>
+<li>Godfrey, Abbot of Peterborough, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>.</li>
+<li>Godinge the Librarian to Exeter Church, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li>
+<li>Godiva, Lady and her good deeds, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li>
+<li>Gospels, notices of among the Monks in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <i>note</i>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li>
+<li>Graystane, Robert de, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li>
+<li>Grostest, Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.</li>
+<li>Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li>
+<li>Guthlac, St., of Croyland, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li>
+<li>Guy, Earl of Warwick, his gift of books to Bordesley Abbey, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li></ul>
+
+
+<ul><li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a>[<a href="./images/319.png">319</a>]</span>Hebrew Manuscripts among the Monks, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li>
+<li>Henry the Second of England, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li>
+<li>Henry de Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+<li>Henry, a Monk of Hyde Abbey, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li>
+<li>Hilda, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li>
+<li>Holdernesse, Abbot of Peterborough, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Hoton, Prior of Durham, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li>
+<li>Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li>
+<li>Hunting practised by the Monks and Churchmen, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li>
+<li>Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<ul>
+<li>    His domestic troubles, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li>
+<li>    His death, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li>
+<li>    Lydgate's Verses upon, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</li>
+<li>    His Gift of Books to Oxford, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li></ul></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Illuminated MSS., <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+<li>Ina, King of the West Saxons, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Jarrow, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li>
+<li>John de Bruges of Coventry Church, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li>
+<li>John, Prior of Evesham, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li>
+<li>John of Taunton, a Monk of Glastonbury, his Catalogue of Books, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Kernulfus'">Kenulfus</ins>, Abbot of Peterborough, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li>
+<li>Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, gift of the Gospels to Peterborough Monastery, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li>
+<li>Kildwardly, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+<li>Langley, Thomas, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li>
+<li>Laws of the Universities over booksellers, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li>
+<li>Lending books,<ul>
+<li>    system of among the Monks, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li>
+<li>    by the booksellers, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Leofin'">Leoffin</ins>, Abbot of Ely, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li>
+<li>Leofric, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li>
+<li>Leofric, Bishop of Exeter, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;<ul>
+<li>    his Private Library, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Leofricke, Earl of Mercia, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li>
+<li>Leofricus, Abbot of Peterborough, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li>
+<li>Leicester, Abbey of St. Mary de la <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Pre'">Pr&eacute;</ins>, at, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li>
+<li>Libraries in the middle ages.&mdash;<i>See</i> Catalogues.</li>
+<li>Libraries, how supported, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li>
+<li>Librarii, or booksellers, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a>[<a href="./images/320.png">320</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Lindesfarne, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+<li>Livy, the lost decades of, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li>
+<li>Lul, Majestro, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li>
+<li>Lulla, Bishop of Coena, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li>
+<li>Lydgate's Verses on Baldwin,<ul>
+<li>    Abbot of St. Edmunds Bury, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li>
+<li>    on Duke Humphrey, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</li></ul></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Malmsbury Monastery, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li>
+<li>Malmsbury, William of, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li>
+<li>Mannius, Abbot of Evesham, his skill in illuminating, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li>
+<li>Manuscripts, Ancient, described, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li>
+<li>Manuscripts, Collections of, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.</li>
+<li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Marlebergh'">Marleberg</ins>, Thomas of, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li>
+<li>Medeshamstede, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li>
+<li>Mendicant Friars, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li>
+<li>Michael de Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, and his <i>multis voluminibus</i>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li>
+<li>Milton and C&aelig;dmon compared, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li>
+<li>Monachism, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li>
+<li>Monastic training, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li>
+<li>Monks, the preservers of books, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Nicholas, of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li>
+<li>Nicholas Brekspere, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li>
+<li>Nicholas Hereford, of Evesham, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li>
+<li>Nigel, Bishop of Ely, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li>
+<li>Norman Conquest. Effect of the, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li>
+<li>Northone, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li>
+<li>Nothelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Offa, King, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.<ul>
+<li>    Alcuin's Letter to, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Osbern, of Shepey, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+<li>Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Paul or Paulinus, of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li>
+<li>Peter of Blois, Archdeacon of London, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</li>
+<li>Peter, Abbot of Gloucester, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li>
+<li>Peterborough Monastery, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.<ul>
+<li>    Library, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Petrarch, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li>
+<li>Philobiblon, by Richard de Bury, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a>[<a href="./images/321.png">321</a>]</span></li>
+<li>Prior John, of Evesham, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li>
+<li>Puritans destroy the Library in Worcester Church, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li>
+<li>Purple Manuscripts, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+<li>Pusar, Hugh de, Bishop of Durham, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Radolphus, Bishop of Rochester, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li>
+<li>Ralph de Gobium, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li>
+<li>Ramsey Abbey, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.<ul>
+<li>    Hebrew MSS. at Ramsey, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>.</li>
+<li>    Classics, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Raymond, Prior of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li>
+<li>Reading Abbey. Library of, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li>
+<li>Reginald, Archdeacon of Salisbury, reproved for his love of falconry, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li>
+<li>Reginald, of Evesham, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard de Albini, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard de Bury, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard de Stowe, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard of London, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard Wallingford, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li>
+<li>Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li>
+<li>Ridiculous signs for books.&mdash;<i>See</i> signs.</li>
+<li>Rievall Monastery, library of, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li>
+<li>Robert de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li>
+<li>Robert, of Lyndeshye, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li>
+<li>Robert, of Sutton, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Roger de Northone, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li>
+<li>Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter. Gift of books to the Friars at Exeter, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</li>
+<li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Ryphum'">Rhypum</ins> Monastery; gift of books to, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Scarcity of Parchment, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li>
+<li>Scholastic Philosophy, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</li>
+<li>Scribes, Monkish, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li>
+<li>Scriptoria, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li>
+<li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Sellynge'">Sellinge</ins>, William, Prior of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li>
+<li>Signs for books used by the Monks, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.</li>
+<li>Simon, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li>
+<li>St. Alban's Abbey, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <i>et seq.</i></li>
+<li>St. Joseph, of Arimathea, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a>[<a href="./images/322.png">322</a>]</span></li>
+<li>St. Mary's, at Coventry, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li>
+<li>St. Mary's de la <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Pre'">Pr&eacute;</ins>, at Leicester. Library of, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li>
+<li>Stylus or pen, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li><ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Tatwyne'">Tatwine</ins>, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li>
+<li>Taunton, John of, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li>
+<li>Taunton, William of, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.</li>
+<li>Theodore of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Tharsus'">Tarsus</ins>, Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li>
+<li>Thomas de la Mare, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li>
+<li>Thomas of Marleberg, Prior of Evesham, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li>
+<li>Trompington, William de, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li>
+<li>Tully's de Republica, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Valerius Maximus, Duke Humphrey's copy of, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>.</li>
+<li>Value of books in the middle ages, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</li>
+<li>Verses written in books by Whethamstede, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li>
+<li>Verulam, ruins of, excavated by Eadmer, of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>Waleran, Bishop of Rochester, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+<li>Walter, Bishop of Rochester, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+<li>Walter, Bishop of Winchester, fond of hunting, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>.</li>
+<li>Walter, of Evesham, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</li>
+<li>Walter, of St. Edmunds Bury, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Walter, Prior of St. Swithin, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li>
+<li>Wearmouth, Monastery of, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li>
+<li>Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li>
+<li>Whethamstede, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>;
+<ul><li>    his works, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>;</li>
+<li>    gift of books to Gloucester college, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li></ul></li>
+<li>Whitby Abbey, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.</li>
+<li>Wilfrid, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li>
+<li>Willigod, Abbot of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li>
+<li>William, of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'Wodeford'">Wodeforde</ins>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li>
+<li>Winchester, famous for his Scribes, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li>
+<li>Worcester, Church of, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li>
+<li>Wulstan, Archbishop of York, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<ul><li>York Cathedral Library, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3>
+
+<p>1. Footnotes 293, 386 are not anchored in the page image. A best guess
+has been made as to their anchor point.</p>
+
+<p>2. Refer to the image for the black letter poems as the yogh/ezh &amp; thorn/h
+characters are difficult to distinguish. Other internet sources show vastly different
+interpretations for the text of 'A Plaie called Corpus Christi'.</p>
+
+<p>3. Hyphenation has been left as printed, inconsistencies are:</p>
+<ul><li>bookloving, book-loving</li>
+<li>booklover, book-lover</li>
+<li>bookworms, book-worms</li>
+<li>goodwill, good-will</li>
+<li>halfpenny, half-penny</li>
+<li>protomartyr, proto-martyr</li>
+<li>reread, re-read</li></ul>
+
+
+<p>4. Punctuation, particularly in footnotes has been standardised.</p>
+
+<p>5. Spelling inconsistencies between proper names in the text and index
+entries have been standardised. The original spelling has been noted.
+Inconsistencies in the spelling of proper names within the text have
+been left as printed.</p>
+
+<p>6. The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under
+the corrections.
+Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins
+title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> </div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by 
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIBLIOMANIA IN THE MIDDLE AGES ***
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+</body>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
+
+Author: Frederick Somner Merryweather
+
+Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21630]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIBLIOMANIA IN THE MIDDLE AGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+BIBLIOMANIA
+
+IN
+
+THE MIDDLE AGES
+
+BY
+
+F. SOMNER MERRYWEATHER
+
+_With an Introduction by_
+CHARLES ORR
+Librarian of Case Library
+
+
+
+NEW YORK
+MEYER BROTHERS & COMPANY
+1900
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1900
+By Meyer Bros. & Co.
+
+
+
+
+Louis Weiss & Co.
+Printers....
+118 Fulton Street
+... New York
+
+
+
+
+Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
+
+OR
+
+SKETCHES OF BOOKWORMS, COLLECTORS, BIBLE STUDENTS, SCRIBES AND
+ILLUMINATORS
+
+_From the Anglo-Saxon and Norman Periods to the Introduction of Printing
+into England, with Anecdotes Illustrating the History of the Monastic
+Libraries of Great Britain in the Olden Time by_ F. Somner Merryweather,
+_with an Introduction by_ Charles Orr, _Librarian of Case Library._
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+In every century for more than two thousand years, many men have owed
+their chief enjoyment of life to books. The bibliomaniac of today had his
+prototype in ancient Rome, where book collecting was fashionable as early
+as the first century of the Christian era. Four centuries earlier there
+was an active trade in books at Athens, then the center of the book
+production of the world. This center of literary activity shifted to
+Alexandria during the third century B. C. through the patronage of
+Ptolemy Soter, the founder of the Alexandrian Museum, and of his son,
+Ptolemy Philadelphus; and later to Rome, where it remained for many
+centuries, and where bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs were gradually
+evolved, and from whence in time other countries were invaded.
+
+For the purposes of the present work the middle ages cover the period
+beginning with the seventh century and ending with the time of the
+invention of printing, or about seven hundred years, though they are more
+accurately bounded by the years 500 and 1500 A. D. It matters little,
+however, since there is no attempt at chronological arrangement.
+
+About the middle of the present century there began to be a disposition
+to grant to mediaeval times their proper place in the history of the
+preservation and dissemination of books, and Merryweather's _Bibliomania
+in the Middle Ages_ was one of the earliest works in English devoted to
+the subject. Previous to that time, those ten centuries lying between the
+fall of the Roman Empire and the revival of learning were generally
+referred to as the Dark Ages, and historians and other writers were wont
+to treat them as having been without learning or scholarship of any kind.
+
+Even Mr. Hallam,[1] with all that judicial temperament and patient
+research to which we owe so much, could find no good to say of the Church
+or its institutions, characterizing the early university as the abode of
+"indigent vagabonds withdrawn from usual labor," and all monks as
+positive enemies of learning.
+
+The gloomy survey of Mr. Hallam, clouded no doubt by his antipathy to all
+things ecclesiastical, served, however, to arouse the interest of the
+period, which led to other studies with different results, and later
+writers were able to discern below the surface of religious fanaticism
+and superstition so characteristic of those centuries, much of interest
+in the history of literature; to show that every age produced learned and
+inquisitive men by whom books were highly prized and industriously
+collected for their own sakes; in short, to rescue the period from the
+stigma of absolute illiteracy.
+
+If the reader cares to pursue the subject further, after going through
+the fervid defense of the love of books in the middle ages, of which this
+is the introduction, he will find outside of its chapters abundant
+evidence that the production and care of books was a matter of great
+concern. In the pages of _Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith_, by Mr.
+Kenelm Digby,[2] or of _The Dark Ages_, by Dr. S. R. Maitland,[3] or of
+that great work of recent years, _Books and their Makers during the
+Middle Ages_, by Mr. George Haven Putnam,[4] he will see vivid and
+interesting portraits of a great multitude of mediaeval worthies who were
+almost lifelong lovers of learning and books, and zealous laborers in
+preserving, increasing and transmitting them. And though little of the
+mass that has come down to us was worthy of preservation on its own
+account as literature, it is exceedingly interesting as a record of
+centuries of industry in the face of such difficulties that to workers of
+a later period might have seemed insurmountable.
+
+A further fact worthy of mention is that book production was from the art
+point of view fully abreast of the other arts during the period, as must
+be apparent to any one who examines the collections in some of the
+libraries of Europe. Much of this beauty was wrought for the love of the
+art itself. In the earlier centuries religious institutions absorbed
+nearly all the social intellectual movements as well as the possession of
+material riches and land. Kings and princes were occupied with distant
+wars which impoverished them and deprived literature and art of that
+patronage accorded to it in later times. There is occasional mention,
+however, of wealthy laymen, whose religious zeal induced them to give
+large sums of money for the copying and ornamentation of books; and there
+were in the abbeys and convents lay brothers whose fervent spirits,
+burning with poetical imagination, sought in these monastic retreats and
+the labor of writing, redemption from their past sins. These men of faith
+were happy to consecrate their whole existence to the ornamentation of a
+single sacred book, dedicated to the community, which gave them in
+exchange the necessaries of life.
+
+The labor of transcribing was held, in the monasteries, to be a full
+equivalent of manual labor in the field. The rule of St. Ferreol, written
+in the sixth century, says that, "He who does not turn up the earth with
+the plough ought to write the parchment with his fingers."
+
+Mention has been made of the difficulties under which books were
+produced; and this is a matter which we who enjoy the conveniences of
+modern writing and printing can little understand. The hardships of the
+_scriptorium_ were greatest, of course, in winter. There were no fires in
+the often damp and ill-lighted cells, and the cold in some of the parts
+of Europe where books were produced must have been very severe.
+Parchment, the material generally used for writing upon after the
+seventh century, was at some periods so scarce that copyists were
+compelled to resort to the expedient of effacing the writing on old and
+less esteemed manuscripts.[5] The form of writing was stiff and regular
+and therefore exceedingly slow and irksome.
+
+In some of the monasteries the _scriptorium_ was at least at a later
+period, conducted more as a matter of commerce, and making of books
+became in time very profitable. The Church continued to hold the keys of
+knowledge and to control the means of productions; but the cloistered
+cell, where the monk or the layman, who had a penance to work off for a
+grave sin, had worked in solitude, gave way to the apartment specially
+set aside, where many persons could work together, usually under the
+direction of a _librarius_ or chief scribe. In the more carefully
+constructed monasteries this apartment was so placed as to adjoin the
+calefactory, which allowed the introduction of hot air, when needed.
+
+The seriousness with which the business of copying was considered is well
+illustrated by the consecration of the _scriptorium_ which was often
+done in words which may be thus translated: "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to bless
+this work-room of thy servants, that all which they write therein may be
+comprehended by their intelligence and realized in their work."
+
+While the work of the scribes was largely that of copying the scriptures,
+gospels, and books of devotion required for the service of the church,
+there was a considerable trade in books of a more secular kind.
+Particularly was this so in England. The large measure of attention given
+to the production of books of legends and romances was a distinguishing
+feature of the literature of England at least three centuries previous to
+the invention of printing. At about the twelfth century and after, there
+was a very large production and sale of books under such headings as
+chronicles, satires, sermons, works of science and medicine, treatises on
+style, prose romances and epics in verse. Of course a large proportion of
+these were written in or translated from the Latin, the former indicating
+a pretty general knowledge of that language among those who could buy or
+read books at all. That this familiarity with the Latin tongue was not
+confined to any particular country is abundantly shown by various
+authorities.
+
+Mr. Merryweather, whose book, as has been intimated, is only a defense
+of bibliomania itself as it actually existed in the middle ages, gives
+the reader but scant information as to processes of book-making at that
+time. But thanks to the painstaking research of others, these details are
+now a part of the general knowledge of the development of the book. The
+following, taken from Mr. Theodore De Vinne's _Invention of Printing_,
+will, we think, be found interesting:
+
+"The size most in fashion was that now known as the demy folio, of which
+the leaf is about ten inches wide and fifteen inches long, but smaller
+sizes were often made. The space to be occupied by the written text was
+mapped out with faint lines, so that the writer could keep his letters on
+a line, at even distance from each other and within the prescribed
+margin. Each letter was carefully drawn, and filled in or painted with
+repeated touches of the pen. With good taste, black ink was most
+frequently selected for the text; red ink was used only for the more
+prominent words, and the catch-letters, then known as the rubricated
+letters. Sometimes texts were written in blue, green, purple, gold or
+silver inks, but it was soon discovered that texts in bright color were
+not so readable as texts in black.
+
+"When the copyist had finished his sheet he passed it to the designer,
+who sketched the border, pictures and initials. The sheet was then given
+to the illuminator, who painted it. The ornamentation of a mediaeval book
+of the first class is beyond description by words or by wood cuts. Every
+inch of space was used. Its broad margins were filled with quaint
+ornaments, sometimes of high merit, admirably painted in vivid colors.
+Grotesque initials, which, with their flourishes, often spanned the full
+height of the page, or broad bands of floriated tracery that occupied its
+entire width, were the only indications of changes of chapter or subject.
+In printer's phrase the composition was "close-up and solid" to the
+extreme degree of compactness. The uncommonly free use of red ink for the
+smaller initials was not altogether a matter of taste; if the page had
+been written entirely in black ink it would have been unreadable through
+its blackness. This nicety in writing consumed much time, but the
+mediaeval copyist was seldom governed by considerations of time or
+expense. It was of little consequence whether the book he transcribed
+would be finished in one or in ten years. It was required only that he
+should keep at his work steadily and do his best. His skill is more to be
+commended than his taste. Many of his initials and borders were
+outrageously inappropriate for the text for which they were designed. The
+gravest truths were hedged in the most childish conceits. Angels,
+butterflies, goblins, clowns, birds, snails and monkeys, sometimes in
+artistic, but much oftener in grotesque and sometimes in highly offensive
+positions are to be found in the illuminated borders of copies of the
+gospels and writings of the fathers.
+
+"The book was bound by the forwarder, who sewed the leaves and put them
+in a cover of leather or velvet; by the finisher, who ornamented the
+cover with gilding and enamel. The illustration of book binding,
+published by Amman in his Book of Trades, puts before us many of the
+implements still in use. The forwarder, with his customary apron of
+leather, is in the foreground, making use of a plow-knife for trimming
+the edges of a book. The lying press, which rests obliquely against the
+block before him, contains a book that has received the operation of
+backing-up from a queer shaped hammer lying upon the floor. The workman
+at the end of the room is sewing together the sections of a book, for
+sewing was properly regarded as a man's work, and a scientific operation
+altogether beyond the capacity of the raw seamstress. The work of the
+finisher is not represented, but the brushes, the burnishers, the
+sprinklers and the wheel-shaped gilding tools hanging against the wall
+leave us no doubt as to their use. There is an air of antiquity about
+everything connected with this bookbindery which suggests the thought
+that its tools and usages are much older than those of printing.
+Chevillier says that seventeen professional bookbinders found regular
+employment in making up books for the University of Paris, as early as
+1292. Wherever books were produced in quantities, bookbinding was set
+apart as a business distinct from that of copying.
+
+"The poor students who copied books for their own use were also obliged
+to bind them, which they did in a simple but efficient manner by sewing
+together the folded sheets, attaching them to narrow parchment bands, the
+ends of which were made to pass through a cover of stout parchment at the
+joint near the back. The ends of the bands were then pasted down under
+the stiffening sheet of the cover, and the book was pressed. Sometimes
+the cover was made flexible by the omission of the stiffening sheet;
+sometimes the edges of the leaves were protected by flexible and
+overhanging flaps which were made to project over the covers; or by the
+insertion in the covers of stout leather strings with which the two
+covers were tied together. Ornamentation was entirely neglected, for a
+book of this character was made for use and not for show. These methods
+of binding were mostly applied to small books intended for the pocket;
+the workmanship was rough, but the binding was strong and serviceable."
+
+The book of Mr. Merryweather, here reprinted, is thought worthy of
+preservation in a series designed for the library of the booklover. Its
+publication followed shortly after that of the works of Digby and
+Maitland, but shows much original research and familiarity with early
+authorities; and it is much more than either of these, or of any book
+with which we are acquainted, a plea in defense of bibliomania in the
+middle ages. Indeed the charm of the book may be said to rest largely
+upon the earnestness with which he takes up his self-imposed task. One
+may fancy that after all he found it not an easy one; in fact his
+"Conclusion" is a kind of apology for not having made out a better case.
+But this he believes he has proven, "that with all their superstition,
+with all their ignorance, their blindness to philosophic light--the monks
+of old were hearty lovers of books; that they encouraged learning,
+fostered it, and transcribed repeatedly the books which they had rescued
+from the destruction of war and time; and so kindly cherished and
+husbanded them as intellectual food for posterity. Such being the case,
+let our hearts look charitably upon them; and whilst we pity them for
+their superstition, or blame them for their pious frauds, love them as
+brother men and workers in the mines of literature."
+
+Of the author himself little can be learned. A diligent search revealed
+little more than the entry in the London directory which, in various
+years from 1840 to 1850, gives his occupation as that of bookseller, at
+14 King Street, Holborn. Indeed this is shown by the imprint of the
+title-page of _Bibliomania_, which was published in 1849. He published
+during the same year _Dies Dominicae_, and in 1850 _Glimmerings in the
+Dark_, and _Lives and Anecdotes of Misers_. The latter has been
+immortalized by Charles Dickens as one of the books bought at the
+bookseller's shop by Boffin, the Golden Dustman, and which was read to
+him by the redoubtable Silas Wegg during Sunday evenings at "Boffin's
+Bower."[6]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] Hallam, Henry. "Introduction to the Literature of Europe." 4
+    vols. London.
+
+[2] Digby, Kenelm. "Mores Catholici; or Ages of Faith." 3 vols.
+    London, 1848.
+
+[3] Maitland, S. R. "The Dark Ages; a Series of Essays Intended to
+    Illustrate the State of Religion and Literature in the Ninth, Tenth,
+    Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries." London, 1845.
+
+[4] Putnam, George Haven. "Books and their Makers during the Middle
+    Ages; a Study of the Conditions of the Production and Distribution
+    of Literature from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the Close of the
+    Seventeenth Century."
+
+[5] Lacroix, Paul. "Arts of the Middle Ages." Our author, however
+    (_vide_ page 58, _note_), quotes the accounts of the Church of
+    Norwich to show that parchments sold late in the thirteenth century
+    at about 1 d. per sheet; but Putnam and other writers state that up
+    to that time it was a very costly commodity.
+
+[6] Dickens's Mutual Friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+     _Introductory Remarks--Monachism--Book Destroyers--Effects of the
+     Reformation on Monkish Learning, etc._
+
+
+In recent times, in spite of all those outcries which have been so
+repeatedly raised against the illiterate state of the dark ages, many and
+valuable efforts have been made towards a just elucidation of those
+monkish days. These labors have produced evidence of what few
+anticipated, and some even now deny, viz., that here and there great
+glimmerings of learning are perceivable; and although debased, and often
+barbarous too, they were not quite so bad as historians have usually
+proclaimed them. It may surprise some, however, that an attempt should be
+made to prove that, in the olden time in "merrie Englande," a passion
+which Dibdin has christened Bibliomania, existed then, and that there
+were many cloistered bibliophiles as warm and enthusiastic in book
+collecting as the Doctor himself. But I must here crave the patience of
+the reader, and ask him to refrain from denouncing what he may deem a
+rash and futile attempt, till he has perused the volume and thought well
+upon the many facts contained therein. I am aware that many of these
+facts are known to all, but some, I believe, are familiar only to the
+antiquary--the lover of musty parchments and the cobwebbed chronicles of
+a monastic age. I have endeavored to bring these facts together--to
+connect and string them into a continuous narrative, and to extract from
+them some light to guide us in forming an opinion on the state of
+literature in those ages of darkness and obscurity; and here let it be
+understood that I merely wish to give a fact as history records it. I
+will not commence by saying the Middle Ages were dark and miserably
+ignorant, and search for some poor isolated circumstance to prove it; I
+will not affirm that this was pre-eminently the age in which real piety
+flourished and literature was fondly cherished, and strive to find all
+those facts which show its learning, purposely neglecting those which
+display its unlettered ignorance: nor let it be deemed ostentation when I
+say that the literary anecdotes and bookish memoranda now submitted to
+the reader have been taken, where such a course was practicable, from
+the original sources, and the references to the authorities from whence
+they are derived have been personally consulted and compared.
+
+That the learning of the Middle Ages has been carelessly represented
+there can be little doubt: our finest writers in the paths of history
+have employed their pens in denouncing it; some have allowed difference
+of opinion as regards ecclesiastical policy to influence their
+conclusions; and because the poor scribes were monks, the most licentious
+principles, the most dismal ignorance and the most repulsive crimes have
+been attributed to them. If the monks deserved such reproaches from
+posterity, they have received no quarter; if they possessed virtues as
+christians, and honorable sentiments as men, they have met with no reward
+in the praise or respect of this liberal age: they were monks!
+superstitious priests and followers of Rome! What good could come of
+them? It cannot be denied that there were crimes perpetrated by men
+aspiring to a state of holy sanctity; there are instances to be met with
+of priests violating the rules of decorum and morality; of monks
+revelling in the dissipating pleasures of sensual enjoyments, and of nuns
+whose frail humanity could not maintain the purity of their virgin vows.
+But these instances are too rare to warrant the slanders and scurrility
+that historians have heaped upon them. And when we talk of the sensuality
+of the monks, of their gross indulgences and corporeal ease, we surely do
+so without discrimination; for when we speak of the middle ages thus, our
+thoughts are dwelling on the sixteenth century, its mocking piety and
+superstitious absurdity; but in the olden time of monastic rule, before
+monachism had burst its ancient boundaries, there was surely nothing
+physically attractive in the austere and dull monotony of a cloistered
+life. Look at the monk; mark his hard, dry studies, and his midnight
+prayers, his painful fasting and mortifying of the flesh; what can we
+find in this to tempt the epicure or the lover of indolence and sloth?
+They were fanatics, blind and credulous--I grant it. They read gross
+legends, and put faith in traditionary lies--I grant it; but do not say,
+for history will not prove it, that in the middle ages the monks were
+wine bibbers and slothful gluttons. But let not the Protestant reader be
+too hastily shocked. I am not defending the monastic system, or the
+corruption of the cloister--far from it. I would see the usefulness of
+man made manifest to the world; but the measure of my faith teaches
+charity and forgiveness, and I can find in the functions of the monk much
+that must have been useful in those dark days of feudal tyranny and
+lordly despotism. We much mistake the influence of the monks by mistaking
+their position; we regard them as a class, but forget from whence they
+sprang; there was nothing aristocratic about them, as their constituent
+parts sufficiently testify; they were, perhaps, the best representatives
+of the people that could be named, being derived from all classes of
+society. Thus Offa, the Saxon king, and Caedman, the rustic herdsman, were
+both monks. These are examples by no means rare, and could easily be
+multiplied. Such being the case, could not the monks more readily feel
+and sympathize with all, and more clearly discern the frailties of their
+brother man, and by kind admonition or stern reproof, mellow down the
+ferocity of a Saxon nature, or the proud heart of a Norman tyrant? But
+our object is not to analyze the social influence of Monachism in the
+middle ages: much might be said against it, and many evils traced to the
+sad workings of its evil spirit, but still withal something may be said
+in favor of it, and those who regard its influence in _those days alone_
+may find more to admire and defend than they expected, or their
+Protestant prejudices like to own.
+
+But, leaving these things, I have only to deal with such remains as
+relate to the love of books in those times. I would show the means then
+in existence of acquiring knowledge, the scarcity or plentitude of books,
+the extent of their libraries, and the rules regulating them; and bring
+forward those facts which tend to display the general routine of a
+literary monk, or the prevalence of Bibliomania in those days.
+
+It is well known that the great national and private libraries of Europe
+possess immense collections of manuscripts, which were produced and
+transcribed in the monasteries, during the middle ages, thousands there
+are in the rich alcoves of the Vatican at Rome, unknown save to a choice
+and favored few; thousands there are in the royal library of France, and
+thousands too reposing on the dusty shelves of the Bodleian and Cottonian
+libraries in England; and yet, these numbers are but a small portion--a
+mere relic--of the intellectual productions of a past and obscure
+age.[7] The barbarians, who so frequently convulsed the more civilized
+portions of Europe, found a morbid pleasure in destroying those works
+which bore evidence to the mental superiority of their enemies. In
+England, the Saxons, the Danes, and the Normans were each successively
+the destroyers of literary productions. The Saxon Chronicle, that
+invaluable repository of the events of so many years, bears ample
+testimony to numerous instances of the loss of libraries and works of
+art, from fire, or by the malice of designing foes. At some periods, so
+general was this destruction, so unquenchable the rapacity of those who
+caused it, that instead of feeling surprised at the manuscripts of those
+ages being so few and scanty, we have cause rather to wonder that so many
+have been preserved. For even the numbers which escaped the hands of the
+early and unlettered barbarians met with an equally ignominious fate from
+those for whom it would be impossible to hold up the darkness of their
+age as a plausible excuse for the commission of this egregious folly.
+These men over whose sad deeds the bibliophile sighs with mournful
+regret, were those who carried out the Reformation, so glorious in its
+results; but the righteousness of the means by which those results were
+effected are very equivocal indeed. When men form themselves into a
+faction and strive for the accomplishment of one purpose, criminal deeds
+are perpetrated with impunity, which, individually they would blush and
+scorn to do; they feel no direct responsibility, no personal restraint;
+and, such as possess fierce passions, under the cloak of an organized
+body, give them vent and gratification; and those whose better feelings
+lead them to contemplate upon these things content themselves with the
+conclusion, that out of evil cometh good.
+
+The noble art of printing was unable, with all its rapid movements, to
+rescue from destruction the treasures of the monkish age; the advocates
+of the Reformation eagerly sought for and as eagerly destroyed those old
+popish volumes, doubtless there was much folly, much exaggerated
+superstition pervading them; but there was also some truth, a few facts
+worth knowing, and perhaps a little true piety also, and it would have
+been no difficult matter to have discriminated between the good and the
+bad. But the careless grants of a licentious monarch conferred a
+monastery on a court favorite or political partizan without one thought
+for the preservation of its contents. It is true a few years after the
+dissolution of these houses, the industrious Leland was appointed to
+search and rummage over their libraries and to preserve any relic worthy
+of such an honor; but it was too late, less learned hands had rifled
+those parchment collections long ago, mutilated their finest volumes by
+cutting out with childish pleasure the illuminations with which they were
+adorned; tearing off the bindings for the gold claps which protected the
+treasures within,[8] and chopping up huge folios as fuel for their
+blazing hearths, and immense collections were sold as waste paper. Bale,
+a strenuous opponent of the monks, thus deplores the loss of their books:
+"Never had we bene offended for the losse of our lybraryes beynge so many
+in nombre and in so desolate places for the moste parte, yf the chief
+monuments and moste notable workes of our excellent wryters had bene
+reserved, yf there had bene in every shyre of Englande but one solemyne
+library to the preservacyon of those noble workers, and preferrement of
+good learnynges in oure posteryte it had bene yet somewhat. But to
+destroye all without consyderacion, is and wyll be unto Englande for ever
+a most horryble infamy amonge the grave senyours of other nations. A
+grete nombre of them whych purchased those superstycyose mansyons
+reserved of those lybrarye bokes, some to serve theyr jakes, some to
+scoure theyr candelstyckes, and some to rubbe theyr bootes; some they
+solde to the grossers and sope sellers, and some they sent over see to
+the bokebynders,[9] not in small nombre, but at tymes _whole shippes
+ful_. I know a merchant man, whyche shall at thys tyme be nameless, that
+boughte the contents of two noble lybraryes for xl shyllyngs pryce, a
+shame is it to be spoken. Thys stuffe hathe he occupyed in the stide of
+graye paper for the space of more than these ten years, and yet hath
+store ynough for as many years to come. A prodyguose example is this, and
+to be abhorred of all men who love theyr natyon as they shoulde do."[10]
+
+However pernicious the Roman religion might have been in its practice, it
+argues little to the honor of the reformers to have used such means as
+this to effect its cure; had they merely destroyed those productions
+connected with the controversies of the day, we might perhaps have
+excused it, on the score of party feeling; but those who were
+commissioned to visit the public libraries of the kingdom were often men
+of prejudiced intellects and shortsighted wisdom, and it frequently
+happened that an ignorant and excited mob became the executioners of
+whole collections.[11] It would be impossible now to estimate the loss.
+Manuscripts of ancient and classic date would in their hands receive no
+more respect than some dry husky folio on ecclesiastical policy; indeed,
+they often destroyed the works of their own party through sheer
+ignorance. In a letter sent by Dr. Cox to William Paget, Secretary, he
+writes that the proclamation for burning books had been the occasion of
+much hurt. "For New Testaments and Bibles (not condemned by proclamation)
+have been burned, and that, out of parish churches and good men's houses.
+They have burned innumerable of the king's majesties books concerning our
+religion lately set forth."[12] The ignorant thus delighted to destroy
+that which they did not understand, and the factional spirit of the more
+enlightened would not allow them to make one effort for the preservation
+of those valuable relics of early English literature, which crowded the
+shelves of the monastic libraries; the sign of the cross, the use of red
+letters on the title page, the illuminations representing saints, or the
+diagrams and circles of a mathematical nature, were at all times deemed
+sufficient evidence of their popish origin and fitness for the
+flames.[13]
+
+When we consider the immense number of MSS. thus destroyed, we cannot
+help suspecting that, if they had been carefully preserved and examined,
+many valuable and original records would have been discovered. The
+catalogues of old monastic establishments, although containing a great
+proportion of works on divine and ecclesiastical learning, testify that
+the monks did not confine their studies exclusively to legendary tales or
+superstitious missals, but that they also cultivated a taste for
+classical and general learning. Doubtless, in the ruin of the sixteenth
+century, many original works of monkish authors perished, and the
+splendor of the transcript rendered it still more liable to destruction;
+but I confess, as old Fuller quaintly says, that "there were many volumes
+full fraught with superstition which, notwithstanding, might be useful to
+learned men, except any will deny apothecaries the privilege of keeping
+poison in their shops, when they can make antidotes of them. But besides
+this, what beautiful bibles! Rare fathers! Subtle schoolmen! Useful
+historians! Ancient! Middle! Modern! What painful comments were here
+amongst them! What monuments of mathematics all massacred together!"[14]
+
+More than a cart load of manuscripts were taken away from Merton College
+and destroyed, and a vast number from the Baliol and New Colleges,
+Oxford;[15] but these instances might be infinitely multiplied, so
+terrible were those intemperate outrages. All this tends to enforce upon
+us the necessity of using considerable caution in forming an opinion of
+the nature and extent of learning prevalent during those ages which
+preceded the discovery of the art of printing.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[7] The sad page in the Annals of Literary History recording the
+    destruction of books and MSS. fully prove this assertion. In France,
+    in the year 1790, 4,194,000 volumes were burnt belonging to the
+    suppressed monasteries, about 25,000 of these were manuscripts.
+
+[8] "About this time (Feb. 25, 1550) the Council book mentions the
+    king's sending a letter for the purging his library at Westminster.
+    The persons are not named, but the business was to cull out all
+    superstitious books, as missals, legends, and such like, and to
+    deliver the garniture of the books, being either gold or silver, to
+    Sir Anthony Aucher. These books were many of them plated with gold
+    and silver and curiously embossed. This, as far as we can collect,
+    was the superstition that destroyed them. Here avarice had a very
+    thin disguise, and the courtiers discovered of what spirit they were
+    to a remarkable degree."--Collier's Eccle. History, vol. ii. p. 307.
+
+[9] Any one who can inspect a library of ancient books will find
+    proof of this. A collection of vellum scraps which I have derived
+    from these sources are very exciting to a bibliomaniac, a choice
+    line so abruptly broken, a monkish or classical verse so cruelly
+    mutilated! render an inspection of this odd collection, a
+    tantalizing amusement.
+
+[10] Bale's Leland's Laboryouse Journey, Preface.
+
+[11] The works of the Schoolmen, viz.: of P. Lombard, T. Aquinas,
+     Scotus and his followers and critics also, and such that had popish
+     scholars in them they cast out of all college libraries and private
+     studies.--_Wood's Hist. Oxon._, vol. i. b. 1. p. 108. And "least
+     their impiety and foolishness in this act should be further wanting,
+     they brought it to pass that certain rude young men should carry
+     this great spoil of books about the city on biers, which being so
+     done, to set them down in the common market place, and then burn
+     them, to the sorrow of many, as well as of the Protestants as of the
+     other party. This was by them styled 'the funeral of Scotus the
+     Scotists.' So that at this time and all this king's reign was seldom
+     seen anything in the universities but books of poetry, grammar, idle
+     songs, and frivolous stuff."--_Ibid., Wood is referring to the reign
+     of Edward VI._
+
+[12] Wood's Hist. Oxon, b. i. p. 81.
+
+[13] "Gutch has printed in his 'Collectiana' an order from the
+     Queen's commissioners to destroy all capes, vestments, albes,
+     missals, books, crosses, and such other idolatrous and superstitious
+     monuments whatsoever.'--vol. ii. p. 280."
+
+[14] Fuller's Church History, b. vi. p. 335.
+
+[15] Wood's Oxon, vol. i. b. i. p. 107
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     _Duties of the monkish librarian.--Rules of the library.--Lending
+     books.--Books allowed the monks for private reading.--Ridiculous
+     signs for books.--How the libraries were supported.--A monkish
+     blessing on books, etc._
+
+
+In this chapter I shall proceed to inquire into the duties of the monkish
+amanuensis, and show by what laws and regulations the monastic libraries
+were governed. The monotonous habits of a cloistered bibliophile will,
+perhaps, appear dry and fastidious, but still it is curious and
+interesting to observe how carefully the monks regarded their vellum
+tomes, how indefatigably they worked to increase their stores, and how
+eagerly they sought for books. But besides being regarded as a literary
+curiosity, the subject derives importance by the light it throws on the
+state of learning in those dark and "bookless" days, and the
+illustrations gleaned in this way fully compensate for the tediousness of
+the research.
+
+As a bibliophile it is somewhat pleasing to trace a deep book passion
+growing up in the barrenness of the cloister, and to find in some cowled
+monk a bibliomaniac as warm and enthusiastic in his way as the renowned
+"Atticus," or the noble Roxburghe, of more recent times. It is true we
+can draw no comparison between the result of their respective labors. The
+hundreds, which in the old time were deemed a respectable if not an
+extensive collection, would look insignificant beside the ostentatious
+array of modern libraries.
+
+But the very tenor of a monastic life compelled the monk to seek the
+sweet yet silent companionship of books; the rules of his order and the
+regulations of his fraternity enforced the strictest silence in the
+execution of his daily and never-ceasing duties. Attending mass, singing
+psalms, and midnight prayers, were succeeded by mass, psalms and prayers
+in one long undeviating round of yearly obligations; the hours
+intervening between these holy exercises were dull and tediously
+insupportable if unoccupied. Conversation forbidden, secular amusements
+denounced, yet idleness reproached, what could the poor monk seek as a
+relief in this distress but the friendly book; the willing and obedient
+companion of every one doomed to lonely hours and dismal solitude?
+
+The pride and glory of a monastery was a well stored library, which was
+committed to the care of the armarian, and with him rested all the
+responsibility of its preservation. According to the Consuetudines
+Canonicorum Regularium, it was his duty to have all the books of the
+monastery in his keeping catalogued and separately marked with their
+proper names.[16] Some of these old catalogues have been preserved, and,
+viewed as bibliographical remains of the middle ages, are of considerable
+importance; indeed, we cannot form a correct idea of the literature of
+those remote times without them. Many productions of authors are recorded
+in these brief catalogues whose former existence is only known to us by
+these means. There is one circumstance in connexion with them that must
+not be forgotten: instead of enumerating all the works which each volume
+contained, they merely specified the first, so that a catalogue of fifty
+or a hundred volumes might probably have contained nearly double that
+number of distinct works. I have seen MSS. formerly belonging to
+monasteries, which have been catalogued in this way, containing four or
+five others, besides the one mentioned. Designed rather to identify the
+book than to describe the contents of each volume, they wrote down the
+first word or two of the second leaf--this was the most prevalent usage;
+but they often adopted other means, sometimes giving a slight notice of
+the works which a volume contained; others took the precaution of noting
+down the last word of the last leaf but one,[17] a great advantage, as
+the monkish student could more easily detect at a glance whether the
+volume was perfect. The armarian was, moreover, particularly enjoined to
+inspect with scrupulous care the more ancient volumes, lest the
+moth-worms should have got at them, or they had become corrupt or
+mutilated, and, if such were the case, he was with great care to restore
+them. Probably the armarian was also the bookbinder to the monastery in
+ordinary cases, for he is here directed to cover the volumes with tablets
+of wood, that the inside may be preserved from moisture, and the
+parchment from the injurious effects of dampness. The different orders of
+books were to be kept separate from one another, and conveniently
+arranged; not squeezed too tight, lest it should injure or confuse them,
+but so placed that they might be easily distinguished, and those who
+sought them might find them without delay or impediment.[18]
+Bibliomaniacs have not been remarkable for their memory or punctuality,
+and in the early times the borrower was often forgetful to return the
+volume within the specified time. To guard against this, many rules were
+framed, nor was the armarian allowed to lend the books, even to
+neighboring monasteries, unless he received a bond or promise to restore
+them within a certain time, and if the person was entirely unknown, a
+book of equal value was required as a security for its safe return. In
+all cases the armarian was instructed to make a short memorandum of the
+name of the book which he had lent or received. The "great and precious
+books" were subject to still more stringent rules, and although under the
+conservation of the librarian, he had not the privilege of lending them
+to any one without the distinct permission of the abbot.[19] This was,
+doubtless, practised by all the monastic libraries, for all generously
+lent one another their books. In a collection of chapter orders of the
+prior and convent of Durham, bearing date 1235, it is evident that a
+similar rule was observed there, which they were not to depart from
+except at the desire of the bishop.[20] According to the constitutions
+for the government of the Abingdon monastery, the library was under the
+care of the Cantor, and all the writings of the church were consigned to
+his keeping. He was not allowed to part with the books or lend them
+without a sufficient deposit as a pledge for their safe return, except to
+persons of consequence and repute.[21] This was the practice at a much
+later period. When that renowned bibliomaniac, Richard de Bury, wrote his
+delightful little book called _Philobiblon_, the same rules were strictly
+in force. With respect to the lending of books, his own directions are
+that, if any one apply for a particular volume, the librarian was to
+carefully consider whether the library contained another copy of it; if
+so, he was at liberty to lend the book, taking care, however, that he
+obtained a security which was to exceed the value of the loan; they were
+at the same time to make a memorandum in writing of the name of the book,
+and the nature of the security deposited for it, with the name of the
+party to whom it was lent, with that of the officer or librarian who
+delivered it.[22]
+
+We learn by the canons before referred to, that the superintendence of
+all the writing and transcribing, whether in or out of the monastery,
+belonged to the office of the armarian, and that it was his duty to
+provide the scribes with parchment and all things necessary for their
+work, and to agree upon the price with those whom he employed. The monks
+who were appointed to write in the cloisters he supplied with copies for
+transcription; and that no time might be wasted, he was to see that a
+good supply was kept up. No one was to give to another what he himself
+had been ordered to write, or presume to do anything by his own will or
+inclination. Nor was it seemly that the armarian even should give any
+orders for transcripts to be made without first receiving the permission
+of his superior.[23]
+
+We here catch a glimpse of the quiet life of a monkish student, who
+labored with this monotonous regularity to amass his little library. If
+we dwell on these scraps of information, we shall discover some marks of
+a love of learning among them, and the liberality they displayed in
+lending their books to each other is a pleasing trait to dwell upon. They
+unhesitatingly imparted to others the knowledge they acquired by their
+own study with a brotherly frankness and generosity well becoming the
+spirit of a student. This they did by extensive correspondence and the
+temporary exchange of their books. The system of loan, which they in
+this manner carried on to a considerable extent, is an important feature
+in connection with our subject; innumerable and interesting instances of
+this may be found in the monastic registers, and the private letters of
+the times. The cheapness of literary productions of the present age
+render it an absolute waste of time to transcribe a whole volume, and
+except with books of great scarcity we seldom think of borrowing or
+lending one; having finished its perusal we place it on the shelf and in
+future regard it as a book of reference; but in those days one volume did
+the work of twenty. It was lent to a neighboring monastery, and this
+constituted its publication; for each monastery thus favored, by the aid
+perhaps of some half dozen scribes, added a copy to their own library,
+and it was often stipulated that on the return of the original a correct
+duplicate should accompany it, as a remuneration to its author. Nor was
+the volume allowed to remain unread; it was recited aloud at meals, or
+when otherwise met together, to the whole community. We shall do well to
+bear this in mind, and not hastily judge of the number of students by a
+comparison with the number of their books. But it was not always a mere
+single volume that the monks lent from their library. Hunter has
+printed[24] a list of books lent by the Convent of Henton, A. D. 1343, to
+a neighboring monastery, containing twenty volumes. The engagement to
+restore these books was formally drawn up and sealed.
+
+In the monasteries the first consideration was to see that the library
+was well stored with those books necessary for the performance of the
+various offices of the church, but besides these the library ought,
+according to established rules, to contain for the "edification of the
+brothers" such as were fit and needful to be consulted in common study.
+The Bible and great expositors; _Bibliothecae et majores expositores_,
+books of martyrs, lives of saints, homilies, etc.;[25] these and other
+large books the monks were allowed to take and study in private, but the
+smaller ones they could only study in the library, lest they should be
+lost or mislaid. This was also the case with respect to the rare and
+choice volumes. When the armarian gave out books to the monks he made a
+note of their nature, and took an exact account of their number, so that
+he might know in a moment which of the brothers had it for perusal.[26]
+Those who studied together were to receive what books they choose; but
+when they had satisfied themselves, they were particularly directed to
+restore them to their assigned places; and when they at any time received
+from the armarian a book for their private reading, they were not allowed
+to lend it to any one else, or to use it in common, but to reserve it
+especially for his own private reading. The same rule extended to the
+singers, who if they required books for their studies, were to apply to
+the abbot.[27] The sick brothers were also entitled to the privilege of
+receiving from the armarian books for their solace and comfort; but as
+soon as the lamps were lighted in the infirmary the books were put away
+till the morning, and if not finished, were again given out from the
+library.[28] In the more ancient monasteries a similar case was observed
+with respect to their books. The rule of St. Pacome directed that the
+utmost attention should be paid to their preservation, and that when the
+monks went to the refectory they were not to leave their books open, but
+to carefully close and put them in their assigned places. The monastery
+of St. Pacome contained a vast number of monks; every house, says
+Mabillon, was composed of not less than forty monks, and the monastery
+embraced thirty or forty houses. Each monk, he adds, possessed his book,
+and few rested without forming a library; by which we may infer that the
+number of books was considerable.[29] Indeed, it was quite a common
+practice in those days, scarce as books were, to allow each of the monks
+one or more for his private study, besides granting them access to the
+library. The constitutions of Lanfranc, in the year 1072, directed the
+librarian, at the commencement of Lent, to deliver a book to each of the
+monks for their private reading, allowing them a whole year for its
+perusal.[30] There is one circumstance connected with the affairs of the
+library quite characteristic of monkish superstition, and bearing painful
+testimony to their mistaken ideas of what constituted "good works." In
+Martene's book there is a chapter, _De Scientia et Signis_--degrading and
+sad; there is something withal curious to be found in it. After enjoining
+the most scrupulous silence in the church, in the refectory, in the
+cloister, and in the dormitory, at all times, and in all seasons;
+transforming those men into perpetual mutes, and even when "actually
+necessary," permitting only a whisper to be articulated "in a low voice
+in the ear," _submissa voce in aure_, it then proceeds to describe a
+series of fantastic grimaces which the monks were to perform on applying
+to the armarian for books. The general sign for a book, _generali signi
+libri_, was to "extend the hand and make a movement as if turning over
+the leaves of a book." For a missal the monk was to make a similar
+movement with a sign of the cross; for the gospels the sign of the cross
+on the forehead; for an antiphon or book of responses he was to strike
+the thumb and little finger of the other hand together; for a book of
+offices or gradale to make the sign of a cross and kiss the fingers; for
+a tract lay the hand on the abdomen and apply the other hand to the
+mouth; for a capitulary make the general sign and extend the clasped
+hands to heaven; for a psalter place the hands upon the head in the form
+of a crown, such as the king is wont to wear.[31] Religious intolerance
+was rampant when this rule was framed; hot and rancorous denunciation was
+lavished with amazing prodigality against works of loose morality or
+heathen origin; nor did the monks feel much compassion--although they
+loved to read them--for the old authors of antiquity. Pagans they were,
+and therefore fit only to be named as infidels and dogs, so the monk was
+directed for a secular book, "which some pagan wrote after making the
+general sign to scratch his ear with his hand, just as a dog itching
+would do with his feet, because infidels are not unjustly compared to
+such creatures--_quia nec immerito infideles tali animanti
+contparantur_."[32] Wretched bigotry and puny malice! Yet what a sad
+reflection it is, that with all the foul and heartburning examples which
+those dark ages of the monks afford, posterity have failed to profit by
+them--religious intolerance, with all its vain-glory and malice,
+flourishes still, the cankering worm of many a Christian blossom! Besides
+the duties which we have enumerated, there were others which it was the
+province of the armarian to fulfil. He was particularly to inspect and
+collate those books which, according to the decrees of the church, it was
+unlawful to possess different from the authorized copies; these were the
+bible, the gospels, missals, epistles, collects graduales, antiphons,
+hymns, psalters, lessions, and the monastic rules; these were always to
+be alike even in the most minute point.[33] He was moreover directed to
+prepare for the use of the brothers short tables respecting the times
+mentioned in the capitulary for the various offices of the church, to
+make notes upon the matins, the mass, and upon the different orders.[34]
+In fact, the monkish amanuensis was expected to undertake all those
+matters which required care and learning combined. He wrote the letters
+of the monastery, and often filled the office of secretary to my Lord
+Abbot. In the monasteries of course the services of the librarian were
+unrequited by any pecuniary remuneration, but in the cathedral libraries
+a certain salary was sometimes allowed them. Thus we learn that the
+amanuensis of the conventual church of Ely received in the year 1372
+forty-three shillings and fourpence for his annual duties;[35] and
+Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, in the tenth century, gave considerable
+landed possessions to a monk of that church as a recompense for his
+services as librarian.[36] In some monasteries, in the twelfth century,
+if not earlier, they levied a tax on all the members of the community,
+who paid a yearly sum to the librarian for binding, preserving, and
+purchasing copies for the library. One of these rules, bearing date 1145,
+was made by Udon, Abbot of St. Pere en Vallee a Chantres, and that it
+might be more plausibly received, he taxed himself as well as all the
+members of his own house.[37] The librarian sometimes, in addition to his
+regular duties, combined the office of precentor to the monastery.[38]
+Some of their account-books have been preserved, and by an inspection of
+them, we may occasionally gather some interesting and curious hints, as
+to the cost of books and writing materials in those times. As may be
+supposed, the monkish librarians often became great bibliophiles, for
+being in constant communication with choice manuscripts, they soon
+acquired a great mania for them. Posterity are also particularly indebted
+to the pens of these book conservators of the middle ages; for some of
+the best chroniclers and writers of those times were humble librarians to
+some religious house.
+
+Not only did the bibliophiles of old exercise the utmost care in the
+preservation of their darling books, but the religious basis of their
+education and learning prompted them to supplicate the blessing of God
+upon their goodly tomes. Although I might easily produce other instances,
+one will suffice to give an idea of their nature: "O Lord, send the
+virtue of thy Holy Spirit upon these our books; that cleansing them from
+all earthly things, by thy holy blessing, they may mercifully enlighten
+our hearts and give us true understanding; and grant that by thy
+teaching, they may brightly preserve and make full an abundance of good
+works according to thy will."[39]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[16] Cap. xxi. Martene de Antiquis Ecclesiae Ritibus, tom. iii. p.
+     262.
+
+[17] See Catalogue of Hulne Abbey, Library MS. Harleian. No. 3897.
+
+[18] Martene de Antiq. Eccle. Rit., tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[19] _Ibid._ Ingulphus tells us that the same rule was observed in
+     Croyland Abbey.--_Apud Gale_, p. 104.
+
+[20] Marked b. iv. 26. Surtee Publications, vol. i. p. 121.
+
+[21] Const. admiss. Abbat, et gubernatione Monast. Abendum Cottonian
+     M.S. Claudius, b. vi. p. 194.
+
+[22] Philobiblon, 4to. _Oxon_, 1599, chap. xix.
+
+[23] Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ribibus, tom. iii. p. 263. For an
+     inattention to this the Council of Soissons, in 1121, ordered some
+     transcripts of Abelard's works to be burnt, and severely reproved
+     the author for his unpardonable neglect.--_Histoire Litteraire de la
+     France_, tom. ix. p. 28.
+
+[24] Catalogues of Monastic Libraries, pp. 16, 17.
+
+[25] Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[26] _Ibid._
+
+[27] _Ibid._, tom. iii. cap. xxxvi. pp. 269, 270.
+
+[28] Martene, tom. iii. p. 331. For a list of some books applied to
+     their use, see MS. Cot. Galba, c. iv. fo. 128.
+
+[29] Mabillon, Traite des Etudes Monastiques, 4to. _Paris_ 1691,
+     cap. vi. p. 34.
+
+[30] Wilkin's Concil. tom. i. p. 332.
+
+[31] Stat. pro Reform. ordin. Grandimont. ap. Martene cap. x.
+
+[32] _Ibid._, tom. iv. pp. 289, 339.
+
+[33] Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[34] _Ibid._, cap. xxi. p. 263.
+
+[35] Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the Church of Ely, p.
+     51.
+
+[36] Thomas' Survey of the Church of Worcester, p. 45.
+
+[37] Mabillon. Annal. tom. vi. pp. 651 and 652. Hist. Litt. de la
+     France, ix. p. 140.
+
+[38] They managed the pecuniary matters of the fraternity. William
+     of Malmsbury was precentor as well as librarian to his monastery.
+
+[39] Martene de Antiq. Eccl. Ritibus ii. p. 302.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     _Scriptoria and the Scribes.--Care in copying.--Bible reading
+     among the monks.--Booksellers in the middle ages.--Circulating
+     libraries.--Calligraphic art, etc._
+
+
+As the monasteries were the schools of learning, so their occupants were
+the preservers of literature, and, as Herault observes, had they not
+taken the trouble to transcribe books, the ancients had been lost to us
+for ever; to them, therefore, we owe much. But there are many, however,
+who suppose that the monastic establishments were hotbeds of superstition
+and fanaticism, from whence nothing of a useful or elevated nature could
+possibly emanate. They are too apt to suppose that the human intellect
+must be altogether weak and impotent when confined within such narrow
+limits; but truth and knowledge can exist even in the dark cells of a
+gloomy cloister, and inspire the soul with a fire that can shed a light
+far beyond its narrow precincts. Indeed, I scarce know whether to
+regret, as some appear to do, that the literature and learning of those
+rude times was preserved and fostered by the Christian church; it is
+said, that their strict devotion and religious zeal prompted them to
+disregard all things but a knowledge of those divine, but such is not the
+case; at least, I have not found it so; it is true, as churchmen, they
+were principally devoted to the study of divine and ecclesiastical lore;
+but it is also certain that in that capacity they gradually infused the
+mild spirit of their Master among the darkened society over which they
+presided, and among whom they shone as beacons of light in a dreary
+desert. But the church did more than this. She preserved to posterity the
+profane learnings of Old Greece and Rome; copied it, multiplied it, and
+spread it. She recorded to after generations in plain, simple language,
+the ecclesiastical and civil events of the past, for it is from the terse
+chronicles of the monkish churchmen that we learn now the history of what
+happened then. Much as we may dislike the monastic system, the cold,
+heartless, gloomy ascetic atmosphere of the cloister, and much as we may
+deplore the mental dissipation of man's best attributes, which the system
+of those old monks engendered, we must exercise a cool and impartial
+judgment, and remember that what now would be intolerable and monstrously
+inconsistent with our present state of intellectuality, might at some
+remote period, in the ages of darkness and comparative barbarism, have
+had its virtues and beneficial influences. As for myself, it would be
+difficult to convince me, with all those fine relics of their deeds
+before me, those beauteous fanes dedicated to piety and God, those
+libraries so crowded with their vellum tomes, so gorgeously adorned, and
+the abundant evidence which history bears to their known charity and
+hospitable love, that these monks and their system was a scheme of dismal
+barbarism; it may be so, but my reading has taught me different; but, on
+the other hand, although the monks possessed many excellent qualities,
+being the encouragers of literature, the preservers of books, and
+promulgators of civilization, we must not hide their numerous and
+palpable faults, or overlook the poison which their system of monachism
+_ultimately_ infused into the very vitals of society. In the early
+centuries, before the absurdities of Romanism were introduced, the
+influence of the monastic orders was highly beneficial to our Saxon
+ancestors, but in after ages the Church of England was degraded by the
+influence of the fast growing abominations of Popedom. She drank
+copiously of the deadly potion, and became the blighted and ghostly
+shadow of her former self. Forgetting the humility of her divine Lord,
+she sought rather to imitate the worldly splendor and arrogance of her
+Sovereign Pontiff. The evils too obviously existed to be overlooked; but
+it is not my place to further expose them; a more pleasing duty guides my
+pen; others have done all this, lashing them painfully for their oft-told
+sins. Frail humanity glories in chastizing the frailty of brother man.
+But we will not denounce them here, for did not the day of retribution
+come? And was not justice satisfied? Having made these few preliminary
+remarks, let us, in a brief manner, inquire into the system observed in
+the cloisters by the monks for the preservation and transcription of
+manuscripts. Let us peep into the quiet cells of those old monks, and see
+whether history warrants the unqualified contempt which their efforts in
+this department have met with.
+
+In most monasteries there were two kinds of Scriptoria, or writing
+offices; for in addition to the large and general apartment used for the
+transcription of church books and manuscripts for the library, there were
+also several smaller ones occupied by the superiors and the more learned
+members of the community, as closets for private devotion and study. Thus
+we read, that in the Cistercian orders there were places set apart for
+the transcription of books called Scriptoria, or cells assigned to the
+scribes, "separate from each other," where the books might be transcribed
+in the strictest silence, according to the holy rules of their
+founders.[40] These little cells were usually situated in the most
+retired part of the monastery, and were probably incapable of
+accommodating more than one or two persons;[41] dull and comfortless
+places, no doubt, yet they were deemed great luxuries, and the use of
+them only granted to such as became distinguished for their piety, or
+erudition. We read that when David went to the Isle of Wight, to
+Paulinus, to receive his education, he used to sup in the Refectory, but
+had a Scriptorium, or study, in his cell, being a famous scribe.[42] The
+aged monks, who often lived in these little offices, separate from the
+rest of the scribes, were not expected to work so arduously as the rest.
+Their employment was comparatively easy; nor were they compelled to work
+so long as those in the cloister.[43] There is a curious passage in
+Tangmar's Life of St. Bernward, which would lead us to suspect that
+private individuals possessed Scriptoria; for, says he, there are
+Scriptoria, not only in the monasteries, but in other places, in which
+are conceived books equal to the divine works of the philosophers.[44]
+The Scriptorium of the monastery in which the general business of a
+literary nature was transacted, was an apartment far more extensive and
+commodious, fitted up with forms and desks methodically arranged, so as
+to contain conveniently a great number of copyists. In some of the
+monasteries and cathedrals, they had long ranges of seats one after
+another, at which were seated the scribes, one well versed in the subject
+on which the book treated, recited from the copy whilst they wrote; so
+that, on a word being given out by him, it was copied by all.[45] The
+multiplication of manuscripts, under such a system as this, must have
+been immense; but they did not always make books, _fecit libros_, as
+they called it, in this wholesale manner, but each monk diligently
+labored at the transcription of a separate work.
+
+The amount of labor carried on in the Scriptorium, of course, in many
+cases depended upon the revenues of the abbey, and the disposition of the
+abbot; but this was not always the case, as in some monasteries they
+undertook the transcription of books as a matter of commerce, and added
+broad lands to their house by the industry of their pens. But the
+Scriptorium was frequently supported by resources solely applicable to
+its use. Laymen, who had a taste for literature, or who entertained an
+esteem for it in others, often at their death bequeathed estates for the
+support of the monastic Scriptoria. Robert, one of the Norman leaders,
+gave two parts of the tythes of Hatfield, and the tythes of Redburn, for
+the support of the Scriptorium of St. Alban's.[46] The one belonging to
+the monastery of St. Edmundsbury was endowed with two mills,[47] and in
+the church of Ely there is a charter of Bishof Nigellus, granting to the
+Scriptorium of the monastery the tythes of Wythessey and Impitor, two
+parts of the tythes of the Lordship of Pampesward, with 2s. 2d., and a
+messuage in Ely _ad faciendos et emandandos libros_.[48]
+
+The abbot superintended the management of the Scriptorium, and decided
+upon the hours for their labor, during which time they were ordered to
+work with unremitting diligence, "not leaving to go and wander in
+idleness," but to attend solely to the business of transcribing. To
+prevent detraction or interruption, no one was allowed to enter except
+the abbot, the prior, the sub-prior, and the armarian,[49] as the latter
+took charge of all the materials and implements used by the transcribers,
+it was his duty to prepare and give them out when required; he made the
+ink and cut the parchment ready for use. He was strictly enjoined,
+however, to exercise the greatest economy in supplying these precious
+materials, and not to give more copies "nec artavos, nec cultellos, nec
+scarpellae, nec membranes," than was actually necessary, or than he had
+computed as sufficient for the work; and what the armarian gave them the
+monks were to receive without contradiction or contention.[50]
+
+The utmost silence prevailed in the Scriptorium; rules were framed, and
+written admonitions hung on the walls, to enforce the greatest care and
+diligence in copying exactly from the originals. In Alcuin's works we
+find one of these preserved; it is a piece inscribed "_Ad Musaeum libros
+scribentium_;" the lines are as follows:
+
+    "Hic sideant sacrae scribentes famina legis,
+      Nec non sanctorum dicta sacrata Patrum,
+    Haec interserere caveant sua frivola verbis,
+      Frivola nec propter erret et ipsa manus:
+
+    Correctosque sibi quaerant studiose libellos,
+      Tramite quo recto penna volantis eat.
+    Per cola distinquant proprios, et commata sensus,
+      Et punctos ponant ordine quosque suo.
+
+    Ne vel falsa legat, taceat vel forte repente,
+      Ante pios fratres, lector in Ecclesia.
+    Est opus egregium sacros jam scribete libros,
+      Nec mercede sua scriptor et ipse caret.
+
+    Fodere quam vites, melius est scribere libros,
+      Ille suo ventri serviet, iste animae.
+    Vel nova, vel vetera poterit proferre magister
+      Plurima, quisque legit dicta sacrata Patrum."[51]
+
+Other means were resorted to besides these to preserve the text of their
+books immaculate, it was a common practice for the scribe at the end of
+his copy, to adjure all who transcribed from it to use the greatest care,
+and to refrain from the least alteration of word or sense. Authors more
+especially followed this course, thus at the end of some we find such
+injunctions as this.
+
+"I adjure you who shall transcribe this book, by our Lord Jesus Christ
+and by his glorious coming, who will come to judge the quick and the
+dead, that you compare what you transcribe and diligently correct it by
+the copy from which you transcribe it--this adjuration also--and insert
+it in your copy."[52]
+
+The Consuetudines Canonicorum, before referred to, also particularly
+impressed this upon the monks, and directed that all the brothers who
+were engaged as scribes, were not to alter any writing, although in their
+own mind they might think it proper, without first receiving the sanction
+of the abbot, "_on no account were they to commit so great a
+presumption_."[53] But notwithstanding that the scribes were thus
+enjoined to use the utmost care in copying books, doubtless an occasional
+error crept in, which many causes might have produced, such as bad light,
+haste, a little drowsiness, imperfect sight, or even a flickering lamp
+was sufficient to produce some trivial error; but in works of importance
+the smallest error is of consequence, as some future scribe puzzled by
+the blunder, might, in an attempt to correct, still more augment the
+imperfection; to guard against this, with respect to the Scriptures, the
+most critical care was enforced. Monks advanced in age were alone allowed
+to transcribe them, and after their completion they were
+read--revised--and reread again, and it is by that means that so uniform
+a reading has been preserved, and although slight differences may here
+and there occur, there are no books which have traversed through the
+shadows of the dark ages, that preserve their original text so pure and
+uncorrupt as the copies of the Scriptures, the fathers of the church, and
+the ancient writings of the classic authors; sometimes, it is true, a
+manuscript of the last order is discovered possessing a very different
+reading in some particular passage; but these appear rather as futile
+emendations or interpolations of the scribe than as the result of a
+downright blunder, and are easily perceivable, for when the monkish
+churchmen tampered with ancient copies, it generally originated in a
+desire to smooth over the indecencies of the heathen authors, and so
+render them less liable to corrupt the holy contemplations of the
+devotee; and while we blame the pious fraud, we cannot but respect the
+motive that dictated it.
+
+But as regards the Scriptures, we talk of the carelessness of the monks
+and the interpolations of the scribes as if these were faults peculiar to
+the monastic ages alone; alas! the history of Biblical transmission tells
+us differently, the gross perversions, omissions, and errors wrought in
+the holy text, proclaim how prevalent these same faults have been in the
+ages of _printed literature_, and which appear more palpable by being
+produced amidst deep scholars, and surrounded with all the critical
+acumen of a learned age. Five or six thousand of these gross blunders, or
+these wilful mutilations, protest the unpleasant fact, and show how much
+of human grossness it has acquired, and how besmeared with corruption
+those sacred pages have become in passing through the hands of man, and
+the "revisings" of sectarian minds. I am tempted to illustrate this by an
+anecdote related by Sir Nicholas L'Estrange of Hunstanton, and preserved
+in a MS. in the Harlein collection.--"Dr. Usher, Bish. of Armath, being
+to preach at Paules Crosse and passing hastily by one of the stationers,
+called for a Bible, and had a little one of the London edition given him
+out, but when he came to looke for his text, that very verse was omitted
+in the print: which gave the first occasion of complaint to the king of
+the insufferable negligence, and insufficience of the London printers and
+presse, and bredde that great contest that followed, betwixt the univers.
+of Cambridge and London stationers, about printing of the Bibles."[54]
+Gross and numerous indeed were the errors of the corrupt bible text of
+that age, and far exceeding even the blunders of monkish pens, and
+certainly much less excusable, for in those times they seldom had a large
+collection of codices to compare, so that by studying their various
+readings, they could arrive at a more certain and authentic version. The
+paucity of the sacred volume, if it rendered their pens more liable to
+err, served to enforce upon them the necessity of still greater scrutiny.
+On looking over a monastic catalogue, the first volume that I search for
+is the Bible; and, I feel far more disappointment if I find it not there,
+than I do at the absence of Horace or Ovid--there is something so
+desolate in the idea of a Christian priest without the Book of Life--of a
+minister of God without the fountain of truth--that however favorably we
+may be prone to regard them, a thought will arise that the absence of
+this sacred book may perhaps be referred to the indolence of the monkish
+pen, or to the laxity of priestly piety. But such I am glad to say was
+not often the case; the Bible it is true was an expensive book, but can
+scarcely be regarded as a rare one; the monastery was indeed poor that
+had it not, and when once obtained the monks took care to speedily
+transcribe it. Sometimes they only possessed detached portions, but when
+this was the case they generally borrowed of some neighboring and more
+fortunate monastery, the missing parts to transcribe, and so complete
+their own copies. But all this did not make the Bible less loved among
+them, or less anxiously and ardently studied, they devoted their days,
+and the long hours of the night, to the perusal of those pages of
+inspired truth,[55] and it is a calumny without a shadow of foundation to
+declare that the monks were careless of scripture reading; it is true
+they did not apply that vigor of thought, and unrestrained reflection
+upon it which mark the labors of the more modern student, nor did they
+often venture to interpret the hidden meaning of the holy mysteries by
+the powers of their own mind, but were guided in this important matter by
+the works of the fathers. But hence arose a circumstance which gave full
+exercise to their mental powers and compelled the monk in spite of his
+timidity to think a little for himself. Unfortunately the fathers,
+venerable and venerated as they were, after all were but men, with many
+of the frailties and all the fallabilities of poor human nature; the pope
+might canonize them, and the priesthood bow submissively to their
+spiritual guidance, still they remained for all that but mortals of dust
+and clay, and their bulky tomes yet retain the swarthiness of the tomb
+about them, the withering impress of humanity. Such being the case we,
+who do not regard them quite so infallible, feel no surprise at a
+circumstance which sorely perplexed the monks of old, they unchained and
+unclasped their cumbrous "Works of the Fathers," and pored over those
+massy expositions with increasing wonder; surrounded by these holy
+guides, these fathers of infallibility, they were like strangers in a
+foreign land, did they follow this holy saint they seemed about to
+forsake the spiritual direction of one having equal claims to their
+obedience and respect; alas! for poor old weak tradition, those
+fabrications of man's faulty reason were found, with all their orthodoxy,
+to clash woefully in scriptural interpretation. Here was a dilemma for
+the monkish student! whose vow of obedience to patristical guidance was
+thus sorely perplexed; he read and re-read, analyzed passage after
+passage, interpreted word after word; and yet, poor man, his laborious
+study was fruitless and unprofitable! What bible student can refrain from
+sympathizing with him amidst these torturing doubts and this crowd of
+contradiction, but after all we cannot regret this, for we owe to it more
+than my feeble pen can write, so immeasurable have been the fruits of
+this little unheeded circumstance. It gave birth to many a bright
+independent declaration, involving pure lines of scripture
+interpretation, which appear in the darkness of those times like fixed
+stars before us; to this, in Saxon days, we are indebted for the labors
+of AElfric and his anti-Roman doctrines, whose soul also sympathized with
+a later age by translating portions of the Bible into the vulgar tongue,
+thus making it accessible to all classes of the people. To this we are
+indebted for all the good that resulted from those various heterodoxies
+and heresies, which sometimes disturbed the church during the dark ages;
+but which wrought much ultimate good by compelling the thoughts of men to
+dwell on these important matters. Indeed, to the instability of the
+fathers, as a sure guide, we may trace the origin of all those efforts of
+the human mind, which cleared the way for the Reformation, and relieved
+man from the shackles of these spiritual guides of the monks.
+
+But there were many cloistered Christians who studied the bible
+undisturbed by these shadows and doubts, and who, heedless of patristical
+lore and saintly wisdom, devoured the spiritual food in its pure and
+uncontaminating simplicity--such students, humble, patient, devoted, will
+be found crowding the monastic annals, and yielding good evidence of the
+same by the holy tenor of their sinless lives, their Christian charity
+and love.
+
+But while so many obtained the good title of an "_Amator Scripturarum_,"
+as the bible student was called in those monkish days, I do not pretend
+to say that the Bible was a common book among them, or that every monk
+possessed one--far different indeed was the case--a copy of the Old and
+New Testament often supplied the wants of an entire monastery, and in
+others, as I have said before, only some detached portions were to be
+found in their libraries. Sometimes they were more plentiful, and the
+monastery could boast of two or three copies, besides a few separate
+portions, and occasionally I have met with instances where besides
+several _Biblia Optima_, they enjoyed Hebrew codices and translations,
+with numerous copies of the gospels. We must not forget, however, that
+the transcription of a Bible was a work of time, and required the outlay
+of much industry and wealth. "Brother Tedynton," a monk of Ely, commenced
+a Bible in 1396, and was several years before he completed it. The
+magnitude of the undertaking can scarcely be imagined by those
+unpractised in the art of copying, but when the monk saw the long labor
+of his pen before him, and looked upon the well bound strong clasped
+volumes, with their clean vellum folios and fine illuminations, he seemed
+well repaid for his years of toil and tedious labor, and felt a glow of
+pious pleasure as he contemplated his happy acquisition, and the comfort
+and solace which he should hereafter derive from its holy pages! We are
+not surprised then, that a Bible in those days should be esteemed so
+valuable, and capable of realizing a considerable sum. The monk,
+independent of its spiritual value, regarded it as a great possession,
+worthy of being bestowed at his death, with all the solemnity of a
+testamentary process, and of being gratefully acknowledged by the fervent
+prayers of the monkish brethren. Kings and nobles offered it as an
+appropriate and generous gift, and bishops were deemed benefactors to
+their church by adding it to the library. On its covers were written
+earnest exhortations to the Bible student, admonishing the greatest care
+in its use, and leveling anathemas and excommunications upon any one who
+should dare to purloin it. For its greater security it was frequently
+chained to a reading desk, and if a duplicate copy was lent to a
+neighboring monastery they required a large deposit, or a formal bond
+for its safe return.[56] These facts, while they show its value, also
+prove how highly it was esteemed among them, and how much the monks loved
+the Book of Life.
+
+But how different is the picture now--how opposite all this appears to
+the aspect of bible propagation in our own time. Thanks to the
+printing-press, to bible societies, and to the benevolence of God, we
+cannot enter the humblest cottage of the poorest peasant without
+observing the Scriptures on his little shelf--not always read, it is
+true--nor always held in veneration as in the old days before us--its
+very plentitude and cheapness takes off its attraction to irreligious and
+indifferent readers, but to poor and needy Christians what words can
+express the fulness of the blessing. Yet while we thank God for this
+great boon, let us refrain from casting uncharitable reflections upon the
+monks for its comparative paucity among them. If its possession was not
+so easily acquired, they were nevertheless true lovers of the Bible, and
+preserved and multiplied it in dark and troublous times.
+
+Our remarks have hitherto applied to the monastic scribes alone; but it
+is necessary here to speak of the secular copyists, who were an important
+class during the middle ages, and supplied the functions of the
+bibliopole of the ancients. But the transcribing trade numbered three or
+four distinct branches. There were the Librarii Antiquarii, Notarii, and
+the Illuminators--occasionally these professions were all united in
+one--where perseverance or talent had acquired a knowledge of these
+various arts. There appears to have been considerable competition between
+these contending bodies. The notarii were jealous of the librarii, and
+the librarii in their turn were envious of the antiquarii, who devoted
+their ingenuity to the transcription and repairing of old books
+especially, rewriting such parts as were defective or erased, and
+restoring the dilapidations of the binding. Being learned in old writings
+they corrected and revised the copies of ancient codices; of this class
+we find mention as far back as the time of Cassiodorus and Isidore.[57]
+"They deprived," says Astle, "the poor librarii, or common scriptores, of
+great part of their business, so that they found it difficult to gain a
+subsistence for themselves and their families. This put them about
+finding out more expeditious methods of transcribing books. They formed
+the letters smaller, and made use of more conjugations and abbreviations
+than had been usual. They proceeded in this manner till the letters
+became exceedingly small and extremely difficult to be read."[58] The
+fact of there existing a class of men, whose fixed employment or
+profession was solely confined to the transcription of ancient writings
+and to the repairing of tattered copies, in contradistinction to the
+common scribes, and depending entirely upon the exercise of their art as
+a means of obtaining a subsistence, leads us to the conclusion that
+ancient manuscripts were by no means so very scarce in those days; for
+how absurd and useless it would have been for men to qualify themselves
+for transcribing these antiquated and venerable codices, if there had
+been no probability of obtaining them to transcribe. The fact too of its
+becoming the subject of so much competition proves how great was the
+demand for their labor.[59]
+
+We are unable, with any positive result, to discover the exact origin of
+the secular scribes, though their existence may probably be referred to a
+very remote period. The monks seem to have monopolized for some ages the
+"_Commercium Librorum_,"[60] and sold and bartered copies to a
+considerable extent among each other. We may with some reasonable
+grounds, however, conjecture that the profession was flourishing in Saxon
+times; for we find several eminent names in the seventh and eighth
+centuries who, in their epistolary correspondence, beg their friends to
+procure transcripts for them. Benedict, Bishop of Wearmouth, purchased
+most of his book treasures at Rome, which was even at that early period
+probably a famous mart for such luxuries, as he appears to have journeyed
+there for that express purpose. Some of the books which he collected were
+presents from his foreign friends; but most of them, as Bede tells us,
+were _bought_ by himself, or in accordance with his instructions, by his
+friends.[61] Boniface, the Saxon missionary, continually writes for books
+to his associates in all parts of Europe. At a subsequent period the
+extent and importance of the profession grew amazingly; and in Italy its
+followers were particularly numerous in the tenth century, as we learn
+from the letters of Gerbert, afterwards Silvester II., who constantly
+writes, with the cravings of a bibliomaniac, to his friends for books,
+and begs them to get the scribes, who, he adds, in one of his letters,
+may be found in all parts of Italy,[62] both in town and in the country,
+to make transcripts of certain books for him, and he promises to
+reimburse his correspondent all that he expends for the same.
+
+These public scribes derived their principal employment from the monks
+and the lawyers; from the former in transcribing their manuscripts, and
+by the latter in drawing up their legal instruments. They carried on
+their avocation at their own homes like other artisans; but sometimes
+when employed by the monks executed their transcripts within the
+cloister, where they were boarded, lodged, and received their wages till
+their work was done. This was especially the case when some great book
+was to be copied, of rarity and price; thus we read of Paulinus, of St.
+Albans, sending into distant parts to obtain proficient workmen, who were
+paid so much per diem for their labor; their wages were generously
+supplied by the Lord of Redburn.[63]
+
+The increase of knowledge and the foundation of the universities gave
+birth to the booksellers. Their occupation as a distinct trade originated
+at a period coeval with the foundation of these public seminaries,
+although the first mention that I am aware of is made by Peter of Blois,
+about the year 1170. I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter of
+this celebrated scholar, but I may be excused for giving the anecdote
+here, as it is so applicable to my subject. It appears, then, that whilst
+remaining in Paris to transact some important matter for the King of
+England, he entered the shop of "a public dealer in books"--for be it
+known that the archdeacon was always on the search, and seldom missed an
+opportunity of adding to his library--the bookseller, Peter tells us,
+offered him a tempting collection on Jurisprudence; but although his
+knowledge of such matters was so great that he did not require them for
+his own use, he thought they might be serviceable to his nephew, and
+after bargaining a little about the price he counted down the money
+agreed upon and left the stall; but no sooner was his back turned than
+the Provost of Sexeburgh came in to look over the literary stores of the
+stationer, and his eye meeting the recently sold volume, he became
+inspired with a wish to possess it; nor could he, on hearing it was
+bought and paid for by another, suppress his anxiety to obtain the
+treasure; but, offering more money, actually took the volume away by
+force. As may be supposed, Archdeacon Peter was sorely annoyed at this
+behavior; and "To his dearest companion and friend Master Arnold of
+Blois, Peter of Blois Archdeacon of Bath sent greeting," a long and
+learned letter, displaying his great knowledge of civil law, and
+maintaining the illegality of the provost's conduct.[64] The casual way
+in which this is mentioned make it evident that the "_publico mangone
+Librorum_" was no unusual personage in those days, but belonged to a
+common and recognized profession.
+
+The vast number of students who, by the foundation of universities, were
+congregated together, generated of course a proportionate demand for
+books, which necessity or luxury prompted them eagerly to purchase: but
+there were poor as well as rich students educated in these great
+seminaries of learning, whose pecuniary means debarred them from the
+acquisition of such costly luxuries; and for this and other cogent
+reasons the universities deemed it advantageous, and perhaps expedient,
+to frame a code of laws and regulations to provide alike for the literary
+wants of all classes and degrees. To effect this they obtained royal
+sanction to take the trade entirely under their protection, and
+eventually monopolized a sole legislative power over the _Librarii_.
+
+In the college of Navarre a great quantity of ancient documents are
+preserved, many of which relate to this curious subject. They were
+deposited there by M. Jean Aubert in 1623, accompanied by an inventory of
+them, divided into four parts by the first four letters of the alphabet.
+In the fourth, under D. 18, there is a chapter entitled "Des Libraires
+Appretiateurs, Jurez et Enlumineurs," which contains much interesting
+matter relating to the early history of bookselling.[65] These ancient
+statutes, collected and printed by the University in the year 1652,[66]
+made at various times, and ranging between the years 1275 and 1403, give
+us a clear insight into the matter.
+
+The nature of a bookseller's business in those days required no ordinary
+capacity, and no shallow store of critical acumen; the purchasing of
+manuscripts, the work of transcription, the careful revisal, the
+preparation of materials, the tasteful illuminations, and the process of
+binding, were each employments requiring some talent and discrimination,
+and we are not surprised, therefore, that the avocation of a dealer and
+fabricator of these treasures should be highly regarded, and dignified
+into a profession, whose followers were invested with all the privileges,
+freedoms and exemptions, which the masters and students of the university
+enjoyed.[67] But it required these conciliations to render the
+restrictive and somewhat severe measures, which she imposed on the
+bookselling trade, to be received with any degree of favor or submission.
+For whilst the University of Paris, by whom these statutes were framed,
+encouraged and elevated the profession of the librarii, she required, on
+the other hand, a guarantee of their wealth and mental capacity, to
+maintain and to appreciate these important concessions; the bookseller
+was expected indeed to be well versed in all branches of science, and to
+be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of those subjects and works of
+which he undertook to produce transcripts.[68] She moreover required of
+him testimonials to his good character, and efficient security, ratified
+by a solemn oath of allegiance,[69] and a promise to observe and submit
+to all the present and future laws and regulations of the university. In
+some cases, it appears that she restricted the number of librarii, though
+this fell into disuse as the wants of the students increased. Twenty-four
+seems to have been the original number,[70] which is sufficiently great
+to lead to the conclusion that bookselling was a flourishing trade in
+those old days. By the statutes of the university, the bookseller was
+not allowed to expose his transcripts for sale, without first submitting
+them to the inspection of certain officers appointed by the university,
+and if an error was discovered, the copies were ordered to be burnt or a
+fine levied on them, proportionate to their inaccuracy. Harsh and
+stringent as this may appear at first sight, we shall modify our opinion,
+on recollecting that the student was in a great degree dependent upon the
+care of the transcribers for the fidelity of his copies, which rendered a
+rule of this nature almost indispensable; nor should we forget the great
+service it bestowed in maintaining the primitive accuracy of ancient
+writers, and in transmitting them to us through those ages in their
+original purity.[71]
+
+In these times of free trade and unrestrained commercial policy, we shall
+regard less favorably a regulation which they enforced at Paris,
+depriving the bookseller of the power of fixing a price upon his own
+goods. Four booksellers were appointed and sworn in to superintend this
+department, and when a new transcript was finished, it was brought by the
+bookseller, and they discussed its merits and fixed its value, which
+formed the amount the bookseller was compelled to ask for it; if he
+demanded of his customer a larger sum, it was deemed a fraudulent
+imposition, and punishable as such. Moreover, as an advantage to the
+students, the bookseller was expected to make a considerable reduction in
+his profits in supplying them with books; by one of the laws of the
+university, his profit on each volume was confined to four deniers to
+student, and six deniers to a common purchaser. The librarii were still
+further restricted in the economy of their trade, by a rule which forbade
+any one of them to dispose of his entire stock of books without the
+consent of the university; but this, I suspect, implied the disposal of
+the stock and trade together, and was intended to intimate that the
+introduction of the purchaser would not be allowed, without the
+cognizance and sanction of the university.[72] Nor was the bookseller
+able to purchase books without her consent, lest they should be of an
+immoral or heretical tendency; and they were absolutely forbidden to buy
+any of the students, without the permission of the rector.
+
+But restricted as they thus were, the book merchants nevertheless grew
+opulent, and transacted an important and extensive trade; sometimes they
+purchased parts and sometimes they had whole libraries to sell.[73] Their
+dealings were conducted with unusual care, and when a volume of peculiar
+rarity or interest was to be sold, a deed of conveyance was drawn up with
+legal precision, in the presence of authorized witnesses.
+
+In those days of high prices and book scarcity, the poor student was
+sorely impeded in his progress; to provide against these disadvantages,
+they framed a law in 1342, at Paris, compelling all public booksellers to
+keep books to lend out on hire. The reader will be surprised at the idea
+of a circulating library in the middle ages! but there can be no doubt
+of the fact, they were established at Paris, Toulouse, Vienna, and
+Bologne. These public librarians, too, were obliged to write out regular
+catalogues of their books and hang them up in their shops, with the
+prices affixed, so that the student might know beforehand what he had to
+pay for reading them. I am tempted to give a few extracts from these
+lists:
+
+    St. Gregory's Commentaries upon Job, for reading 100 pages, 8 sous.
+    St. Gregory's Book of Homilies, 28 pages for 12 deniers.
+    Isidore's De Summa bona, 24 pages, 12 deniers.
+    Anselm's De Veritate de Libertate Arbitrii, 40 pages, 2 sous.
+    Peter Lombard's Book of Sentences, 3 sous.
+    Scholastic History, 3 sous.
+    Augustine's Confessions, 21 pages, 4 deniers.
+    Gloss on Matthew, by brother Thomas Aquinas, 57 pages, 3 sous.
+    Bible Concordance, 9 sous.
+    Bible, 10 sous.[74]
+
+This rate of charge was also fixed by the university, and the students
+borrowing these books were privileged to transcribe them if they chose;
+if any of them proved imperfect or faulty, they were denounced by the
+university, and a fine imposed upon the bookseller who had lent out the
+volume.
+
+This potent influence exercised by the universities over booksellers
+became, in time, much abused, and in addition to these commercial
+restraints, they assumed a still less warrantable power over the
+original productions of authors; and became virtually the public censors
+of books, and had the power of burning or prohibiting any work of
+questionable orthodoxy. In the time of Henry the Second, a book was
+published by being read over for two or three successive days, before one
+of the universities, and if they approved of its doctrines and bestowed
+upon it their approbation, it was allowed to be copied extensively for
+sale.
+
+Stringent as the university rules were, as regards the bookselling trade,
+they were, nevertheless, sometimes disregarded or infringed; some
+ventured to take more for a book than the sum allowed, and, by
+prevarication and secret contracts, eluded the vigilance of the laws.[75]
+Some were still bolder, and openly practised the art of a scribe and the
+profession of a bookseller, without knowledge or sanction of the
+university. This gave rise to much jealousy, and in the University of
+Oxford, in the year 1373, they made a decree forbidding any person
+exposing books for sale without her licence.[76]
+
+Now, considering all these usages of early bookselling, their numbers,
+their opulence, and above all, the circulating libraries which the
+librarii established, can we still retain the opinion that books were so
+inaccessible in those ante-printing days, when we know that for a few
+sous the booklover could obtain good and authenticated copies to peruse,
+or transcribe? It may be advanced that these facts solely relate to
+universities, and were intended merely to insure a supply of the
+necessary books in constant requisition by the students, but such was not
+the case; the librarii were essentially public _Librorum Venditores_, and
+were glad to dispose of their goods to any who could pay for them.
+Indeed, the early bibliomaniacs usually flocked to these book marts to
+rummage over the stalls, and to collect their choice volumes. Richard de
+Bury obtained many in this way, both at Paris and at Rome.
+
+Of the exact pecuniary value of books during the middle ages, we have no
+means of judging. The few instances that have accidentally been recorded
+are totally inadequate to enable us to form an opinion. The extravagant
+estimate given by some as to the value of books in those days is merely
+conjectural, as it necessarily must be, when we remember that the price
+was guided by the accuracy of the transcription, the splendor of the
+binding, which was often gorgeous to excess, and by the beauty and
+richness of the illuminations.[77] Many of the manuscripts of the middle
+ages are magnificent in the extreme. Sometimes they inscribed the gospels
+and the venerated writings of the fathers with liquid gold, on parchment
+of the richest purple,[78] and adorned its brilliant pages with
+illuminations of exquisite workmanship.
+
+The first specimens we have of an attempt to embellish manuscripts are
+Egyptian. It was a common practice among them at first to color the
+initial letter of each chapter or division of their work, and afterwards
+to introduce objects of various kinds into the body of the manuscript.
+
+The splendor of the ancient calligraphical productions of Greece,[79] and
+the still later ones of Rome, bear repeated testimony that the practice
+of this art had spread during the sixth century, if not earlier, to these
+powerful empires. England was not tardy in embracing this elegant art. We
+have many relics of remote antiquity and exquisite workmanship existing
+now, which prove the talent and assiduity of our early Saxon forefathers.
+
+In Ireland the illuminating art was profusely practised at a period as
+early as the commencement of the seventh century, and in the eighth we
+find it holding forth eminent claims to our respect by the beauty of
+their workmanship, and the chastity of their designs. Those well versed
+in the study of these ancient manuscripts have been enabled, by extensive
+but minute observation, to point out their different characteristics in
+various ages, and even to decide upon the school in which a particular
+manuscript was produced.
+
+These illuminations, which render the early manuscripts of the monkish
+ages so attractive, generally exemplify the rude ideas and tastes of the
+time. In perspective they are wofully deficient, and manifest but little
+idea of the picturesque or sublime; but here and there we find quite a
+gem of art, and, it must be owned, we are seldom tired by monotony of
+coloring, or paucity of invention. A study of these parchment
+illustrations afford considerable instruction. Not only do they indicate
+the state of the pictorial art in the middle ages, but also give us a
+comprehensive insight into the scriptural ideas entertained in those
+times; and the bible student may learn much from pondering on these
+glittering pages; to the historical student, and to the lover of
+antiquities, they offer a verdant field of research, and he may obtain in
+this way many a glimpse of the manners and customs of those old times
+which the pages of the monkish chroniclers have failed to record.
+
+But all this prodigal decoration greatly enhanced the price of books, and
+enabled them to produce a sum, which now to us sounds enormously
+extravagant. Moreover, it is supposed that the scarcity of parchment
+limited the number of books materially, and prevented their increase to
+any extent; but I am prone to doubt this assertion, for my own
+observations do not help to prove it. Mr. Hallam says, that in
+consequence of this, "an unfortunate practice gained ground of erasing a
+manuscript in order to substitute another on the same skin. This
+occasioned, probably, the loss of many ancient authors who have made way
+for the legends of saints, or other ecclesiastical rubbish."[80] But we
+may reasonably question this opinion, when we consider the value of books
+in the middle ages, and with what esteem the monks regarded, in spite of
+all their paganism, those "heathen dogs" of the ancient world. A doubt
+has often forced itself upon my mind when turning over the "crackling
+leaves" of many ancient MSS., whether the peculiarity mentioned by
+Montfaucon, and described as parchment from which former writing had been
+erased, may not be owing, in many cases, to its mode of preparation. It
+is true, a great proportion of the membrane on which the writings of the
+middle ages are inscribed, appear rough and uneven, but I could not
+detect, through many manuscripts of a hundred folios--all of which
+evinced this roughness--the unobliterated remains of a single letter. And
+when I have met with instances, they appear to have been short
+writings--perhaps epistles; for the monks were great correspondents, and,
+I suspect, kept economy in view, and often carried on an epistolary
+intercourse, for a considerable time, with a very limited amount of
+parchment, by erasing the letter to make room for the answer. This,
+probably, was usual where the matter of their correspondence was of no
+especial importance; so that, what our modern critics, being emboldened
+by these faint traces of former writing, have declared to possess the
+classic appearance of hoary antiquity, may be nothing more than a
+complimentary note, or the worthless accounts of some monastic
+expenditure. But, careful as they were, what would these monks have
+thought of "paper-sparing Pope," who wrote his Iliad on small pieces of
+refuse paper? One of the finest passages in that translation, which
+describes the parting of Hector and Andromache, is written on part of a
+letter which Addison had franked, and is now preserved in the British
+Museum. Surely he could afford, these old monks would have said, to
+expend some few shillings for paper, on which to inscribe that for which
+he was to receive his thousand pounds.
+
+But far from the monastic manuscripts displaying a scantiness of
+parchment, we almost invariably find an abundant margin, and a space
+between each line almost amounting to prodigality; and to say that the
+"vellum was considered more precious than the genius of the author,"[81]
+is absurd, when we know that, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries,
+a dozen skins of parchment could be bought for sixpence; whilst that
+quantity written upon, if the subject possessed any interest at all,
+would fetch considerably more, there always being a demand and ready sale
+for books.[82] The supposition, therefore, that the monastic scribes
+erased _classical_ manuscripts for the sake of the material, seems
+altogether improbable, and certainly destitute of proof. It is true, many
+of the classics, as we have them now, are but mere fragments of the
+original work. For this, however, we have not to blame the monks, but
+barbarous invaders, ravaging flames, and the petty animosities of civil
+and religious warfare for the loss of many valuable works of the
+classics. By these means, one hundred and five books of Livy have been
+lost to us, probably forever. For the thirty which have been preserved,
+our thanks are certainly due to the monks. It was from their unpretending
+and long-forgotten libraries that many such treasures were brought forth
+at the revival of learning, in the fifteenth century, to receive the
+admiration of the curious, and the study of the erudite scholar. In this
+way Poggio Bracciolini discovered many inestimable manuscripts. Leonardo
+Aretino writes in rapturous terms on Poggio's discovery of a perfect copy
+of Quintillian. "What a precious acquisition!" he exclaims, "what
+unthought of pleasure to behold Quintillian perfect and entire!"[83] In
+the same letter we learn that Poggio had discovered Asconius and Flaccus
+in the monastery of St. Gall, whose inhabitants regarded them without
+much esteem. In the monastery of Langres, his researches were rewarded by
+a copy of Cicero's Oration for Caecina. With the assistance of Bartolomeo
+di Montepulciano, he discovered Silius Italicus, Lactantius, Vegetius,
+Nonius Marcellus, Ammianus Marcellus, Lucretius, and Columella, and he
+found in a monastery at Rome a complete copy of Turtullian.[84] In the
+fine old monastery of Casino, so renowned for its classical library in
+former days, he met with Julius Frontinus and Firmicus, and transcribed
+them with his own hand. At Cologne he obtained a copy of Petronius
+Arbiter. But to these we may add Calpurnius's Bucolic,[85] Manilius,
+Lucius Septimus, Coper, Eutychius, and Probus. He had anxious hopes of
+adding a perfect Livy to the list, which he had been told then existed in
+a Cistercian Monastery in Hungary, but, unfortunately, he did not
+prosecute his researches in this instance with his usual energy. The
+scholar has equally to regret the loss of a perfect Tacitus, which Poggio
+had expectations of from the hands of a German monk. We may still more
+deplore this, as there is every probability that the monks actually
+possessed the precious volume.[86] Nicolas of Treves, a contemporary and
+friend of Poggio's, and who was infected, though in a slight degree, with
+the same passionate ardor for collecting ancient manuscripts, discovered,
+whilst exploring the German monasteries, twelve comedies of Plautus, and
+a fragment of Aulus Gellius.[87] Had it not been for the timely aid of
+these great men, many would have been irretrievably lost in the many
+revolutions and contentions that followed; and, had such been the case,
+the monks, of course, would have received the odium, and on their heads
+the spleen of the disappointed student would have been prodigally
+showered.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[40] Martene Thesaurus novus Anecdot. tom. iv. col. 1462.
+
+[41] See Du Cange in Voc., vol. vi. p. 264.
+
+[42] Anglia Sacra, ii. 635. Fosbrooke Brit. Monach., p. 15.
+
+[43] Martene Thes. Nov. Anec. tom. iv. col. 1462. Stat. Ord.
+     Cistere, anni 1278, they were allowed for "_Studendum vel
+     recreandum_."
+
+[44] Hildesh. episc apud Leibuit., tom. i. Script. Brunsvic, p. 444.
+     I am indebted to Du Cange for this reference.
+
+[45] King's Munimenta Antiqua. Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham, p. 64.
+
+[46] Matt Paris, p. 51.
+
+[47] Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, p. cxiv. Regest. Nig. St. Edmund.
+     Abbat.
+
+[48] Stevenson's Sup. to Bentham's Church of Norwich, 4to. 1817, p.
+     51.
+
+[49] Martene de Ant. Eccl. Ritib., cap. xxi. tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[50] _Ibid._
+
+[51] Alcuini Opera, tom. ii. vol. i. p. 211. Carmin xvii.
+
+[52] Preface to AElfric's Homilies MS. Lansdowne, No. 373, vol. iv.
+     in the British Museum.
+
+[53] Const. Can. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. iii. p. 263.
+
+[54] MS. Harl. 6395, anecdote 348.--I am indebted to D'Israeli for
+     the reference, but not for the extract.
+
+[55] The monks were strictly enjoined by the monastic rules to study
+     the Bible unceasingly. The Statutes of the Dominican order are
+     particularly impressive on this point, and enforce a constant
+     reading and critical study of the sacred volume, so as to fortify
+     themselves for disputation; they were to peruse it continually, and
+     apply to it before all other reading _semper ante aliam lectionem_.
+     _Martene Thesan. Nov. Anecdot._, tom. iv. col. 1932. See also cols.
+     1789, 1836, 1912, 1917, 1934.
+
+[56] About the year 1225 Roger de Insula, Dean of York, gave several
+     copies of the bible to the University of Oxford, and ordered that
+     those who borrowed them for perusal should deposit property of equal
+     value as a security for their safe return.--_Wood's Hist. Antiq.
+     Oxon._ ii. 48.
+
+[57] Muratori Dissert. Quadragesima tertia, vol. iii. column 849.
+
+[58] Astle's Origin of Writing, p. 193.--See also Montfaucon
+     Palaeographia Graeca, lib. iv. p. 263 et 319.
+
+[59] In the year 1300 the pay of a common scribe was about one
+     half-penny a day, see Stevenson's Supple. to Bentham's Hist. of the
+     Church of Ely. p. 51.
+
+[60] In some orders the monks were not allowed to sell their books
+     without the express permission of their superiors. According to a
+     statute of the year 1264 the Dominicans were strictly prohibited
+     from selling their books or the rules of their order.--_Martene
+     Thesaur. Nov. Anecdot._ tom. iv. col. 1741, et col. 1918.
+
+[61] Vita Abbat. Wear. Ed. Ware, p. 26. His fine copy of the
+     Cosmographers he bought at Rome.--_Roma Benedictus emerat._
+
+[62] Nosti quot Scriptores in Urbibus aut in Agris Italiae passim
+     habeantur.--Ep. cxxx. See also Ep. xliv. where he speaks of having
+     purchased books in Italy, Germany and Belgium, at considerable cost.
+     It is the most interesting Bibliomanical letter in the whole
+     collection.
+
+[63] Cottonian MS. in the Brit. Mus.--_Claudius_, E. iv. fo. 105, b.
+
+[64] Epist. lxxi. p. 124, Edit. 4to. His words are--"Cum Dominus Rex
+     Anglorum me nuper ad Dominum Regum Francorum nuntium distinasset,
+     libri Legum venales Parisius oblati sunt mihi ab illo B. publico
+     mangone librorum: qui cum ad opus cujusdam mei nepotis idoner
+     viderentur conveni cum eo de pretio et eos apud venditorem
+     dismittens, ei pretium numeravi; superveniente vero C. Sexburgensi
+     Praeposito sicut audini, plus oblulit et licitatione vincens libros
+     de domo venditories per violentiam absportauit."
+
+[65] Chevillier, Origines de l'Imprimerie de Paris, 4to. 1694, p.
+     301.
+
+[66] "Actes concernant le pouvoir et la direction de l'Universite de
+     Paris sur les Ecrivains de Livres et les Imprimeurs qui leur ont
+     succede comme aussi sur les Libraires Relieurs et Enlumineurs," 4to.
+     1652, p. 44. It is very rare, a copy was in Biblioth. Teller, No.
+     132, p. 428. A statute of 1275 is given by Lambecii Comment. de
+     Augus. Biblioth. Caesarea Vendobon, vol. ii. pp. 252-267. The
+     booksellers are called "Stationarii or Librarii;" _de Stationariis,
+     sive Librariis ut Stationarus, qui vulgo appellantur_, etc. See also
+     _Du Cange_, vol. vi. col. 716.
+
+[67] Chevillier, p. 301, to whom I am deeply indebted in this branch
+     of my inquiry.
+
+[68] Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84. Chevillier, p. 302.
+
+[69] The form of oath is given in full in the statute of 1323, and
+     in that of 1342, Chevillier.
+
+[70] Du Breuil, Le Theatre des Antiq. de Paris, 4to. 1612, p. 608.
+
+[71] _Ibid._, Hist. Lit. de la France, tom. ix. p. 84.
+
+[72] Chevillier, p. 303.
+
+[73] Martene Anecd. tom. i. p. 502. Hist. Lit. de la France, ix. p.
+     142.
+
+[74] Chevillier, 319, who gives a long list, printed from an old
+     register of the University.
+
+[75] Chevillier, 303.
+
+[76] Vet. Stat. Universit. Oxoniae, D. fol. 75. Archiv. Bodl.
+
+[77] The Church of Norwich paid L22, 9s. for illuminating a Graduale
+     and Consuetudinary in 1374.
+
+[78] Isidore Orig., cap. ii.--Jerome, in his Preface to Job, writes,
+     "_Habeant qui volunt veteres libros, vel in membranes purpurus auro
+     argentique colore purpuros aurum liquiscit in literis._" Eddius
+     Stephanus in his Life of St. Wilfrid, cap xvi., speaks of "Quatuor
+     Evangeliae de auro purissimo in membranis de purpuratis coloratis pro
+     animae suae remidis scribere jusset." Du Cange, vol. iv. p. 654. See
+     also Mabillon Act. Sanct., tom. v. p. 110, who is of opinion that
+     these purple MSS. were only designed for princes; see Nouveau Traite
+     de Diplomatique, and Montfaucon Palaeog. Graec., pp. 45, 218, 226, for
+     more on this subject.
+
+[79] See a Fragment in the Brit. Mus. engraved in Shaw's Illuminated
+     Ornaments, plate 1.
+
+[80] Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 437. Mr. Maitland, in his "Dark Ages,"
+     enters into a consideration of this matter with much critical
+     learning and ingenuity.
+
+[81] D'Israeli Amenities of Lit., vol. i. p. 358.
+
+[82] The Precentor's accounts of the Church of Norwich contain the
+     following items:--1300, 5 _dozen parchment_, 2_s._ 6_d._, 40 lbs. of
+     ink, 4_s._ 4_d._, 1 gallon of vini decrili, 3_s._, 4 lbs. of
+     corporase, 4 lbs. of galls, 2 lbs. of gum arab, 3_s._ 4_d._, to make
+     ink. I dismiss these facts with the simple question they naturally
+     excite: that if parchment was so _very scarce_, what on earth did
+     the monk want with all this ink?
+
+[83] Leonardi Aretini Epist. 1. iv. ep. v.
+
+[84] Mehi Praefatio ad vit Ambrosii Traversarii, p. xxxix.
+
+[85] Mehi Praef., pp. xlviii.--xlix.
+
+[86] A MS. containing five books of Tacitus which had been deemed
+     lost was found in Germany during the pontificate of Leo X., and
+     deposited in the Laurentian library at Florence.--_Mehi Praef._ p.
+     xlvii. See Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 104, to whom I am much
+     indebted for these curious facts.
+
+[87] Shepard's Life of Poggio, p. 101.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+     _Canterbury Monastery.--Theodore of
+     Tarsus.--Tatwine.--Nothelm.--St.
+     Dunstan.--AElfric.--Lanfranc.--Anselm.--St. Augustine's
+     books.--Henry de Estria and his
+     Catalogue.--Chiclely.--Sellinge.--Rochester.--Gundulph, a Bible
+     Student.--Radulphus.--Ascelin of Dover.--Glanvill, etc._
+
+
+In the foregoing chapters I have endeavored to give the reader an insight
+into the means by which the monks multiplied their books, the
+opportunities they had of obtaining them, the rules of their libraries
+and scriptoria, and the duties of a monkish librarian. I now proceed to
+notice some of the English monastic libraries of the middle ages, and by
+early records and old manuscripts inquire into their extent, and revel
+for a time among the bibliomaniacs of the cloisters. On the spot where
+Christianity--more than twelve hundred years ago--first obtained a
+permanent footing in Britain, stands the proud metropolitan cathedral of
+Canterbury--a venerable and lasting monument of ancient piety and monkish
+zeal. St. Augustine, who brought over the glad tidings of the Christian
+faith in the year 596, founded that noble structure on the remains of a
+church which Roman Christians in remote times had built there. To write
+the literary history of its old monastery would spread over more pages
+than this volume contains, so many learned and bookish abbots are
+mentioned in its monkish annals. Such, however, is beyond the scope of my
+present design, and I have only to turn over those ancient chronicles to
+find how the love of books flourished in monkish days; so that, whilst I
+may here and there pass unnoticed some ingenious author, or only casually
+remark upon his talents, all that relate to libraries or book-collecting,
+to bibliophiles or scribes, I shall carefully record; and, I think, from
+the notes now lying before me, and which I am about to arrange in
+something like order, the reader will form a very different idea of
+monkish libraries than he previously entertained.
+
+The name that first attracts our attention in the early history of
+Canterbury Church is that of Theodore of Tarsus, the father of
+Anglo-Saxon literature, and certainly the first who introduced
+bibliomania into this island; for when he came on his mission from Rome
+in the year 668 he brought with him an extensive library, containing many
+Greek and Latin authors, in a knowledge of which he was thoroughly
+initiated. Bede tells us that he was well skilled in metrical art,
+astronomy, arithmetic, church music, and the Greek and Latin
+languages.[88] At his death[89] the library of Christ Church Monastery
+was enriched by his valuable books, and in the time of old Lambarde some
+of them still remained. He says, in his quaint way, "The Reverend Father
+Mathew, nowe Archbishop of Canterburie, whose care for the conservation
+of learned monuments can never be sufficiently commended, shewed me, not
+long since, the Psalter of David, and sundrie homilies in Greek; Homer
+also and some other Greeke authors beautifully wrytten on thicke paper,
+with the name of this Theodore prefixed in the fronte, to whose librarie
+he reasonably thought, being thereto led by shew of great antiquitie that
+they sometimes belonged."[90]
+
+Tatwine was a great book lover, if not a bibliomaniac. "He was renowned
+for religious wisdom, and notably learned in Sacred Writ."[91] If he
+wrote the many pieces attributed to him, his pen must have been prolific
+and his reading curious and diversified. He is said to have composed on
+profane and sacred subjects, but his works were unfortunately destroyed
+by the Danish invaders, and a book of poems and one of enigmas are all
+that have escaped their ravages. The latter work, preserved in our
+National Library, contains many curious hints, illustrative of the
+manners of those remote days.[92]
+
+Nothelm, or the Bold Helm, succeeded this interesting author; he was a
+learned and pious priest of London. The bibliomaniac will somewhat envy
+the avocation of this worthy monk whilst searching over the rich
+treasures of the Roman archives, from whence he gleaned much valuable
+information to aid Bede in compiling his history of the English
+Church.[93] Not only was he an industrious scribe but also a talented
+author, if we are to believe Pits, who ascribes to him several works,
+with a Life of St. Augustine.[94]
+
+It is well known that St. Dunstan was an ingenious scribe, and so
+passionately fond of books, that we may unhesitatingly proclaim him a
+bibliomaniac. He was a native of Wessex, and resided with his father near
+Glastonbury Abbey, which holy spot many a legendary tale rendered dear to
+his youthful heart. He entered the Abbey, and devoted his whole time to
+reading the wondrous lives and miracles of ascetic men till his mind
+became excited to a state of insanity by the many marvels and prodigies
+which they unfolded; so that he acquired among the simple monks the
+reputation of one holding constant and familiar intercourse with the
+beings of another world. On his presentation to the king, which was
+effected by the influence of his uncle Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury,
+he soon became a great favorite, but excited so much jealousy there, that
+evil reports were industriously spread respecting him. He was accused of
+practising magical arts and intriguing with the devil. This induced him
+to retire again into the seclusion of a monastic cell, which he
+constructed so low that he could scarcely stand upright in it. It was
+large enough, however, to hold his forge and other apparatus, for he was
+a proficient worker in metals, and made ornaments, and bells for his
+church. He was very fond of music, and played with exquisite skill upon
+the harp.[95] But what is more to our purpose, his biographer tells us
+that he was remarkably skilful in writing and illuminating, and
+transcribed many books, adorning them with beautiful paintings, whilst in
+this little cell.[96] One of them is preserved in the Bodleian Library at
+Oxford. On the front is a painting of St. Dunstan kneeling before our
+Saviour, and at the top is written "_Pictura et Scriptura hujus pagine
+subtas visi est de propria manu sei Dunstani_."[97] But in the midst of
+these ingenious pursuits he did not forget to devote many hours to the
+study of the Holy Scriptures, as also to the diligent transcription and
+correction of copies of them,[98] and thus arming himself with the sacred
+word, he was enabled to withstand the numerous temptations which
+surrounded him. Sometimes the devil appeared as a man, and at other times
+he was still more severely tempted by the visitations of a beautiful
+woman, who strove by the most alluring blandishments to draw that holy
+man from the paths of Christian rectitude. In the tenth century such
+eminent virtues could not pass unrewarded, and he was advanced to the
+Archbishopric of Canterbury in the year 961, but his after life is that
+of a saintly politician, and displays nothing that need be mentioned
+here.
+
+In the year 969,[99] AElfric, abbot of St. Alban's, was elected archbishop
+of Canterbury. His identity is involved in considerable doubt by the many
+contemporaries who bore that name, some of whom, like him, were
+celebrated for their talent and erudition; but, leaving the solution of
+this difficulty to the antiquarian, we are justified in saying that he
+was of noble family, and received his education under Ethelwold, at
+Abingdon, about the year 960. He accompanied his master to Winchester,
+and Elphegus, bishop of that see, entertained so high an opinion of
+AElfric's learning and capacity, that he sent him to superintend the
+recently founded monastery of Cerne, in Devonshire. He there spent all
+his hours, unoccupied by the duties of his abbatical office, in the
+transcription of books and the nobler avocations of an author. He
+composed a Latin Grammar, a work which has won for him the title of "_The
+Grammarian_," and he greatly helped to maintain the purity of the
+Christian church by composing a large collection of homilies, which
+became exceedingly popular during the succeeding century, and are yet in
+existence. The preface to these homilies contain several very curious
+passages illustrative of the mode of publication resorted to by the
+monkish authors, and on that account I am tempted to make the following
+extracts:
+
+"I, AElfric, the scholar of Ethelwold, to the courteous and venerable
+Bishop Sigeric, in the Lord.
+
+"Although it may appear to be an attempt of some rashness and
+presumption, yet have I ventured to translate this book out of the Latin
+writers, especially those of the 'Holy Scriptures,' into our common
+language; for the edification of the ignorant, who only understand this
+language when it is either read or heard. Wherefore I have not used
+obscure or unintelligible words, but given the plain English. By which
+means the hearts, both of the readers and of the hearers, may be reached
+more easily; because they are incapable of being otherwise instructed,
+than in their native tongue. Indeed, in our translation, we have not ever
+been so studious to render word for word, as to give the true sense and
+meaning of our authors. Nevertheless, we have used all diligent caution
+against deceitful errors, that we may not be found seduced by any heresy,
+nor blinded by any deceit. For we have followed these authors in this
+translation, namely, St. Austin of Hippo, St. Jerome, Bede, Gregory,
+Smaragdus, and sometimes Haymo, whose authority is admitted to be of
+great weight with all the faithful. Nor have we only expounded the
+treatise of the gospels;... but have also described the passions and
+lives of the saints, for the use of the unlearned of this nation. We have
+placed forty discourses in this volume, believing this will be sufficient
+for one year, if they be recited entirely to the faithful, by the
+ministers of the Lord. But the other book which we have now taken in hand
+to compose will contain those passions or treatises which are omitted in
+this volume." ... "Now, if any one find fault with our translation, that
+we have not always given word for word, or that this translation is not
+so full as the treatise of the authors themselves, or that in handling of
+the gospels we have run them over in a method not exactly conformable to
+the order appointed in the church, let him compose a book of his own; by
+an interpretation of deeper learning, as shall best agree with his
+understanding, this only I beseech him, that he may not pervert this
+version of mine, which I hope, by the grace of God, without any boasting,
+I have, according to the best of my skill, performed with all diligence.
+Now, I most earnestly entreat your goodness, my most gentle father
+Sigeric, that you will vouchsafe to correct, by your care, whatever
+blemishes of malignant heresy, or of dark deceit, you shall meet with in
+my translation, and then permit this little book to be ascribed to your
+authority, and not to the meanness of a person of my unworthy character.
+Farewell in the Almighty God continually. Amen."[100]
+
+I have before alluded to the care observed by the scribes in copying
+their manuscripts, and the moderns may deem themselves fortunate that
+they did so; for although many interpolations, or emendations, as they
+called them, occur in monkish transcripts, on the whole, their integrity,
+in this respect, forms a redeeming quality in connexion with their
+learning. In another preface, affixed to the second collection of his
+homilies, AElfric thus explains his design in translating them:
+
+"AElfric, a monk and priest, although a man of less abilities than are
+requisite for one in such orders, was sent, in the days of King AEthelred,
+from Alphege, the bishop and successor of AEthelwold, to a monastery which
+is called Cernel, at the desire of AEthelmer, the Thane, whose noble birth
+and goodness is everywhere known. Then ran it in my mind, I trust,
+through the grace of God, that I ought to translate this book out of the
+Latin tongue into the English language not upon presumption of great
+learning, but because I saw and heard much error in many English books,
+which ignorant men, through their simplicity, esteemed great wisdom, and
+because it grieved me that they neither knew, nor had the gospel learning
+in their writing, except from those men that understood Latin, and those
+books which are to be had of King Alfred's, which he skilfully translated
+from Latin into English."[101]
+
+From these extracts we may gain some idea of the state of learning in
+those days, and they would seem, in some measure, to justify the opinion,
+that the laity paid but little attention to such matters, and I more
+anxiously present the reader with these scraps, because they depict the
+state of literature in those times far better than a volume of conjecture
+could do. It is not consistent with my design to enter into an analysis
+of these homilies. Let the reader, however, draw some idea of their
+nature from the one written for Easter Sunday, which has been deemed
+sufficient proof that the Saxon Church ever denied the Romish doctrine of
+transubstantiation; for he there expressly states, in terms so plain
+that all the sophistry of the Roman Catholic writers cannot pervert its
+obvious meaning, that the bread and wine is only typical of the body and
+blood of our Saviour.
+
+To one who has spent much time in reading the lives and writings of the
+monkish theologians, how refreshing is such a character as that of
+AElfric's. Often, indeed, will the student close the volumes of those old
+monastic writers with a sad, depressed, and almost broken heart; so often
+will he find men who seem capable of better things, who here and there
+breathe forth all the warm aspirations of a devout and Christian heart,
+bowed down and grovelling in the dust, as it were, to prove their blind
+submission to the Pope, thinking, poor fellows!--for from my very heart I
+pity them--that by so doing they were preaching that humility so
+acceptable to the Lord.
+
+Cheering then, to the heart it is to find this monotony broken by such an
+instance, and although we find AElfric occasionally diverging into the
+paths of papistical error, he spreads a ray of light over the gloom of
+those Saxon days, and offers pleasing evidence that Christ never forsook
+his church; that even amidst the peril and darkness of those monkish ages
+there were some who mourned, though it might have been in a monastery,
+submissive to a Roman Pontiff, the depravity and corruption with which
+the heart of man had marred it.
+
+To still better maintain the discipline of the church, he wrote a set of
+canons, which he addressed to Wulfin, or Wulfsine, bishop of Sherbourne.
+With many of the doctrines advocated therein, the protestant will not
+agree; but the bibliophile will admit that he gave an indication of his
+love of books by the 21st Canon, which directs that, "Before a priest can
+be ordained, he must be armed with the sacred books, for the spiritual
+battle, namely, a Psalter, Book of Epistles, Book of Gospels, the Missal
+Book, Books of Hymns, the Manual, or Euchiridion, the Gerim, the
+Passional, the Paenitential, and the Lectionary, or Reading Book; these
+the diligent priest requires, and let him be careful that they are all
+accurately written, and free from faults."[102]
+
+About the same time, AElfric wrote a treatise on the Old and New
+Testaments, and in it we find an account of his labors in Biblical
+Literature. He did more in laying open the holy mysteries of the gospel
+to the perusal of the laity, by translating them into the Saxon tongue,
+than any other before him. He gave them, in a vernacular version, the
+Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Esther, Job, Judith, two Books of Maccabees,
+and a portion of the Book of Kings, and it is for these labors, above all
+others, that the bible student will venerate his name, but he will look,
+perhaps, anxiously, hopefully, to these early attempts at Bible
+propagation, and expect to observe the ecclesiastical orders, at least,
+shake off a little of their absurd dependence on secondary sources for
+biblical instruction. But, no; they still sadly clung to traditional
+interpretation; they read the Word of God mystified by the fathers, good
+men, many of them, devout and holy saints, but why approach God through
+man, when we have His own prescription, in sweet encouraging words, to
+come, however humble or lowly we may be, to His throne, and ask with our
+own lips for those blessings so needful for the soul. AElfric, in a letter
+addressed to Sigwerd, prefixed to his Treatise on the Old and New
+Testament, thus speaks of his biblical labors:
+
+"Abbot Elfricke greeteth friendly, Sigwerd at last Heolon. True it is I
+tell thee that very wise is he who speaketh by his doings; and well
+proceedeth he doth with God and the world who furnisheth himselfe with
+good works. And very plaine it is in holy scripture, that holy men
+employed in well doing were in this world held in good reputation, and as
+saints now enjoy the kingdom of heaven, and the remembrance of them
+continueth for ever, because of their consent with God and relying on
+him, carelesse men who lead their life in all idleness and so end it, the
+memory of them is forgotten in holy writ, saving that the Old Testament
+records their ill deeds and how they were therefore comdemned. Thou hast
+oft entreated me for English Scripture .... and when I was with thee
+great mone thou madest that thou couldst get none of my writings. Now
+will I that thou have at least this little, since knowledge is so
+acceptable to thee, and thou wilt have it rather than be altogether
+without my books...... God bestoweth sevenfold grace on mankind, (whereof
+I have already written in another English Treatise,) as the prophet
+Isaiah hath recorded in the book of his prophesie." In speaking of the
+remaining books of the Pentateuch, he does so in a cursory manner, and
+excuses himself because he had "written thereof more at large." "The book
+which Moses wrote, called the book of Joshua, sheweth how he went with
+the people of Israel unto Abraham's country, and how he won it, and how
+the sun stood still while he got the victory, and how he divided the
+land; this book also I turned into English for prince Ethelverd, wherein
+a man may behold the great wonders of God really fulfilled." ......
+"After him known it is that there were in the land certaine judges over
+Israel, who guided the people as it is written in the book of Judges
+..... of this whoso hath desire to hear further, may read it in that
+English book which I translated concerning the same." ..... "Of the book
+of Kings, I have translated also some part into English," "the book of
+Esther, I briefly after my manner translated into English," and "The
+Widow Judith who overcame Holophernes, the Syrian General, hath her book
+also, among these, concerning her own victory and _Englished according to
+my skill for your example_, that ye men may also defend your country by
+force of arms, against the invasion of a foreign host." "Two books of
+Machabeus, to the glory of God, I have turned also into English, and so
+read them, you may if you please, for your instruction." And at the end
+we find him again admonishing the scribes to use the pen with
+faithfulness. "Whosoever," says he, "shall write out this book, let him
+write it according to the copy, and for God's love correct it, that it be
+not faulty, less he thereby be discredited, and I shent."[103]
+
+This learned prelate died on the 16th of November, 1006, after a life
+spent thus in the service of Christ and the cause of learning; by his
+will he bequeathed to the Abbey of St. Alban's, besides some landed
+possessions, his little library of books;[104] he was honorably buried at
+Abingdon, but during the reign of Canute, his bones were removed to
+Canterbury.
+
+Passing on a few years, we come to that period when a new light shone
+upon the lethargy of the Saxons; the learning and erudition which had
+been fostering in the snug monasteries of Normandy, hitherto
+silent--buried as it were--but yet fast growing to maturity, accompanied
+the sword of the Norman duke, and added to the glory of the conquering
+hero, by their splendid intellectual endowments. All this emulated and
+roused the Saxons from their slumber; and, rubbing their laziness away,
+they again grasped the pen with the full nerve and energy of their
+nature; a reaction ensued, literature was respected, learning prospered,
+and copious work flowed in upon the scribes; the crackling of parchment,
+and the din of controversy bespoke the presence of this revival in the
+cloisters of the English monasteries; books, the weapons spiritual of the
+monks, libraries, the magazines of the church militant were preserved,
+amassed, and at last deemed indispensable.[105] Such was the effect on
+our national literature of that gushing in of the Norman conquerors, so
+deeply imbued with learning, so polished, and withal so armed with
+classical and patristic lore were they.
+
+Foremost in the rank we find the learned Lanfranc, that patron of
+literature, that indefatigable scribe and anxious book collector, who was
+endowed with an erudition far more deep and comprehensive than any other
+of his day. He was born at Pavia, in 1005, and received there the first
+elements of his education;[106] he afterwards went to Bologna, and from
+thence to Avranches, where he undertook the education of many celebrated
+scholars of that century, and instructed them in sacred and secular
+learning, _in sacris et secularibus erudivi literis_.[107] Whilst
+proceeding on a journey to Rome he was attacked by some robbers, who
+maltreated and left him almost dead; in this condition he was found by
+some peasants who conveyed him to the monastery of Bec; the monks with
+their usual hospitable charity tended and so assiduously nourished him in
+his sickness, that on his recovery he became one of their fraternity. A
+few years after, he was appointed prior and founded a school there, which
+did immense service to literature and science; he also collected a great
+library which was renowned and esteemed in his day,[108] and he increased
+their value by a critical revisal of their text. He was well aware that
+in works so voluminous as those of the fathers, the scribes through so
+many generations could not be expected to observe an unanimous
+infallibility; but knowing too that even the most essential doctrines of
+the holy and catholic church were founded on patristical authority, he
+was deeply impressed with the necessity of keeping their writings in all
+their primitive integrity; an end so desirable, well repaid the
+tediousness of the undertaking, and he cheerfully spent much time in
+collecting and comparing codices, in studying their various readings or
+erasing the spurious interpolations, engendered by the carelessness or
+the pious frauds of monkish scribes.[109] He lavished his care in a
+similar manner on the Bible: considering the far distant period from
+which that holy volume has descended to us, it is astounding that the
+vicissitudes, the perils, the darkness of near eighteen hundred years,
+have failed to mar the divinity of that sacred book; not all the blunders
+of nodding scribes could do it, not all the monkish interpolations, or
+the cunning of sectarian pens could do it, for in all times the faithful
+church of Christ watched over it with a jealous care, supplied each
+erasure and expelled each false addition. Lanfranc was one of the most
+vigilant of these Scripture guards, and his own industry blest his church
+with the bible text, purified from the gross handmarks of human meddling.
+I learn, from the Benedictines of St. Maur, that there is still preserved
+in the Abbey of St. Martin de Secz, the first ten conferences of Cassian
+corrected by the efficient hand of this great critical student, at the
+end of the manuscript these words are written, "_Hucusque ago Lanfrancus
+correxi_."[110] The works of St. Ambrose, on which he bestowed similar
+care, are preserved in the library of St. Vincent du Mans.[111]
+
+When he was promoted to the See of Canterbury, he brought with him a
+copious supply of books, and spread the influence of his learning over
+the English monasteries; but with all the cares inseparably connected
+with the dignity of Primate of England, he still found time to gratify
+his bookloving propensities, and to continue his critical labors; indeed
+he worked day and night in the service of the church, _servitio
+Ecclesiae_, and in correcting the books which the scribes had
+written.[112] From the profusion of his library he was enabled to lend
+many volumes to the monks, so that by making transcripts, they might add
+to their own stores--thus we know that he lent to Paulen, Abbot of St.
+Albans, a great number, who kept his scribes hard at work transcribing
+them, and built a scriptorium for the transaction of these pleasing
+labors; but more of this hereafter.
+
+Anselm, too, was a renowned and book-loving prelate, and if his pride and
+haughtiness wrought warm dissensions and ruptures in the church, he often
+stole away to forget them in the pages of his book. At an early age he
+acquired this fondness for reading, and whilst engaged as a monkish
+student, he applied his mind to the perusal of books with wonderful
+perseverance, and when some favorite volume absorbed his attention, he
+could scarce leave it night or day.[113] Industry so indefatigable
+ensured a certain success, and he became eminent for his deep and
+comprehensive learning; his epistles bear ample testimony to his
+extensive reading and intimate acquaintance with the authors of
+antiquity;[114] in one of his letters he praises a monk named Maurice,
+for his success in study, who was learning _Virgil_ and some other old
+writers, under Arnulph the grammarian.
+
+All day long Anselm was occupied in giving wise counsel to those that
+needed it; and a great part of the night _pars maxima noctis_ he spent in
+correcting his darling volumes, and freeing them from the inaccuracies of
+the scribes.[115] The oil in the lamp burnt low, still that bibliomaniac
+studiously pursued his favorite avocation. So great was the love of
+book-collecting engrafted into his mind, that he omitted no opportunity
+of obtaining them--numerous instances occur in his epistles of his
+begging the loan of some volume for transcription;[116] in more than one,
+I think, he asks for portions of the Holy Scriptures which he was always
+anxious to obtain to compare their various readings, and to enable him
+with greater confidence to correct his own copies.
+
+In the early part of the twelfth century, the monks of Canterbury
+transcribed a vast number of valuable manuscripts, in which they were
+greatly assisted by monk Edwine, who had arrived at considerable
+proficiency in the calligraphical art, as a volume of his transcribing,
+in Trinity college, Cambridge, informs us;[117] it is a Latin Psalter,
+with a Saxon gloss, beautifully illuminated in gold and colors; at the
+end appears the figure of the monkish scribe, holding the pen in his hand
+to indicate his avocation, and an inscription extols his ingenuity in the
+art.[118]
+
+Succeeding archbishops greatly enriched the library at Canterbury. Hubert
+Walter, who was appointed primate in 1191, gave the proceeds of the
+church of Halgast to furnish books for the library;[119] and Robert
+Kildwardly, archbishop in 1272, a man of great learning and wisdom, a
+remarkable orator and grammarian, wrote a great number of books, and was
+passionately fond of collecting them.[120]
+
+I learn from Wanley, that there is a large folio manuscript in the
+library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, written about the time of Henry V. by
+a monk of St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, containing the history of
+Christ Church; this volume proves its author to have been something of a
+bibliophile, and that is why I mention it, for he gives an account of
+some books then preserved, which were sent over by Pope Gregory to St.
+Augustine; these precious volumes consisted of a Bible in two volumes,
+called "Biblia Gregorian," beautifully written, with some of the leaves
+tinted with purple and rose-color, and the capital letters rubricated.
+This interesting and venerable MS. so immediately connected with the
+first ages of the Christian church of Britain, was in existence in the
+time of James I., as we learn by a passage in a scarce tract entitled "A
+Petition Apologetical," addressed by the Catholics to his majesty, where,
+as a proof that we derive our knowledge of Scripture originally from the
+church of Rome; they say, "The very original Bible, the self-same
+_Numero_ which St. Gregory sent in with our apostle, St. Augustine, being
+as yet reserved by God's special providence, as testimony that what
+Scriptures we have, we had them from Rome."[121]
+
+He next mentions two Psalters, one of which I have seen; it is among the
+manuscripts in the Cotton collection,[122] and bears full evidence of its
+great antiquity. This early gem of biblical literature numbers 160
+folios; it contains the Roman Psalter, with a Saxon interlinear
+translation, written on stout vellum, in a clear, bold hand. On opening
+the volume, we find the first page enriched with a dazzling specimen of
+monkish skill--it is a painting of our Saviour pointing with his right
+hand to heaven, and in his left holding the sacred book; the corners are
+occupied with figures of animals, and the whole wrought on a glittering
+ground work, is rendered still more gorgeous by the contrast which the
+purple robes of Jesus display; on the reverse of this fine illumination
+there is a beautiful tesselated ornament, interwoven with animals,
+flowers, and grotesque figures, around which are miniatures of our
+Saviour, David, and some of the apostles. In a line at the bottom the
+word CATVSVIR is inscribed. Very much inferior to this in point of art is
+the illumination, at folio 31, representing David playing his harp,
+surrounded by a musical coterie; it is probably the workmanship of a more
+modern, but less skilful scribe of the Saxon school. The smaller
+ornaments and initial letters throughout the manuscript display great
+intricacy of design.
+
+The writer next describes two copies of the Gospels, both now in the
+Bodleian Collection at Oxford. A Passionarium Sanctorum, a book for the
+altar, on one side of which was the image of our Saviour wrought in gold,
+and lastly, an exposition of the Epistles and Gospels; the monkish
+bookworm tells us that these membraneous treasures were the most ancient
+books in all the churches of England.[123]
+
+A good and liberal monk, named Henry De Estria, who was elected prior in
+the year 1285, devoted both his time and wealth to the interests of his
+monastery, and is said to have expended L900 in repairing the choir and
+chapter-house.[124] He wrote a book beginning, "_Memoriale Henerici
+Prioris Monasteri Xpi Cantuariae_,"[125] now preserved in the Cotton
+collection; it contains the most extensive monastic catalogue I had ever
+seen, and sufficiently proves how Bibliomania flourished in that noble
+monastery. It occupies no less than thirty-eight treble-columned folio
+pages, and contains the titles of more than three thousand works. To
+attempt to convey to the reader an idea of this curious and sumptuous
+library, without transcribing a large proportion of its catalogue, I am
+afraid will be a futile labor; but as that would occupy too much space,
+and to many of my readers be, after all, dry and uninteresting, I shall
+merely give the names of some of the most conspicuous. Years indeed it
+must have required to have amassed a collection so brilliant and superb
+in those days of book scarcity. Surprise and wonder almost surpass the
+admiration we feel at beholding this proud testimonial of monkish
+industry and early bibliomania. Many a choice scribe, and many an _Amator
+Librorum_ must have devoted his pen and purse to effect so noble an
+acquisition. Like most of the monastic libraries, it possessed a great
+proportion of biblical literature--copies of the Bible whole and in
+parts, commentaries on the same, and numerous glossaries and concordances
+show how much care the monks bestowed on the sacred writings, and how
+deeply they were studied in those old days. In patristic learning the
+library was unusually rich, embracing the most eminent and valuable
+writings of the Fathers, as may be seen by the following names, of whose
+works the catalogue enumerates many volumes:
+
+    Augustine.
+    Ambroise.
+    Anselm.
+    Alcuin.
+    Aldelm.
+    Benedict.
+    Bernard.
+    Bede.
+    Beranger.
+    Chrysostom.
+    Eusebius.
+    Fulgentius.
+    Gregory.
+    Hillarius.
+    Isidore.
+    Jerome.
+    Lanfranc.
+    Origen.
+
+Much as we may respect them for all this, our gratitude will materially
+increase when we learn how serviceable the monks of Canterbury were in
+preserving the old dead authors of Greece and Rome. We do not, from the
+very nature of their lives being so devoted to religion and piety, expect
+this; and knowing, too, what "heathen dogs" the monks thought these
+authors of idolatry, combined with our notion, that they, far from being
+the conservers, were the destroyers, of classic MSS., for the sake, as
+some tell us, of the parchment on which they were inscribed, we are
+somewhat staggered in our opinion to find in their library the following
+brilliant array of the wise men of the ancient world:
+
+    Aristotle,
+    Boethius,
+    Cicero,
+    Cassiodorus,
+    Donatus,
+    Euclid,
+    Galen,
+    Justin,
+    Josephus,
+    Lucan,
+    Martial,
+    Marcianus,
+    Macrobius,
+    Orosius,
+    Plato,
+    Priscian,
+    Prosper,
+    Prudentius,
+    Suetonius,
+    Sedulus,
+    Seneca,
+    Terence,
+    Virgil,
+    Etc., etc.
+
+Nor were they mere fragments of these authors, but, in many cases,
+considerable collections; of Aristotle, for instance, they possessed
+numerous works, with many commentaries upon him. Of Seneca a still more
+extensive and valuable one; and in the works of the eloquent Tully, they
+were also equally rich. Of his _Paradoxa, de Senectute, de Amiticia_,
+etc., and _his Offices_, they had more copies than one, a proof of the
+respect and esteem with which he was regarded. In miscellaneous
+literature, and in the productions of the middle age writers, the
+catalogue teems with an abundant supply, and includes:
+
+    Rabanus Maurus,
+    Thomas Aquinas,
+    Peter Lombard,
+    Athelard,
+    William of Malmsbury,
+    John of Salisbury,
+    Girald Barry,
+    Thomas Baldwin,
+    Brutus,
+    Robert Grosetete,
+    Gerlandus,
+    Gregory Nazianzen,
+    History of England,
+    Gesti Alexandri Magni,
+    Hystoria Longobardos,
+    Hystoriae Scholasticae,
+    Chronicles _Latine et Anglice_,
+    Chronographia Necephori.
+
+But I trust the reader will not rest satisfied with these few samples of
+the goodly store, but inspect the catalogue for himself. It would occupy,
+as I said before, too much space to enumerate even a small proportion of
+its many treasures, which treat of all branches of literature and
+science, natural history, medicine, ethics, philosophy, rhetoric,
+grammar, poetry, and music; each shared the studious attention of the
+monks, and a curious "_Liber de Astronomia_" taught them the rudiments of
+that sublime science, but which they were too apt to confound with its
+offspring, astrology, as we may infer, was the case with the monks of
+Canterbury, for their library contained a "_Liber de Astroloebus_,"
+and the "Prophesies of Merlin."
+
+Many hints connected with the literary portion of a monastic life may
+sometimes be found in these catalogues. It was evidently usual at Christ
+Church Monastery to keep apart a number of books for the private study of
+the monks in the cloister, which I imagine they were at liberty to use at
+any time.[126]
+
+A portion of the catalogue of monk Henry is headed "_Lib. de Armariole
+Claustre_,"[127] under which it is pleasing to observe a Bible, in two
+volumes, specified as for the use of the infirmary, with devotional
+books, lives of the fathers, a history of England, the works of Bede,
+Isidore, Boethius, Rabanus Maurus, Cassiodorus, and many others of equal
+celebrity. In another portion of the manuscript, we find a list of their
+church books, written at the same time;[128] it affords a brilliant proof
+of the plentitude of the gospels among them; for no less than twenty-five
+copies are described. We may judge to what height the art of bookbinding
+had arrived by the account here given of these precious volumes. Some
+were in a splendid coopertoria of gold and silver, and others exquisitely
+ornamented with figures of our Saviour and the four Evangelists.[129] But
+this extravagant costliness rendered them attractive objects to pilfering
+hands, and somewhat accounts for the lament of the industrious Somner,
+who says that the library was "shamefully robbed and spoiled of them
+all."[130]
+
+Our remarks on the monastic library at Canterbury are drawing to a close.
+Henry Chiclely, archbishop in 1413, an excellent man, and a great
+promoter of learning, rebuilt the library of the church, and furnished it
+with many a choice tome.[131] His esteem for literature was so great,
+that he built two colleges at Oxford.[132] William Sellinge, who was a
+man of erudition, and deeply imbued with the book-loving mania, was
+elected prior in 1472. He is said to have studied at Bonania, in Italy;
+and, during his travels, he gathered together "all the ancient authors,
+both Greek and Latine, he could get," and returned laden with them to his
+own country. Many of them were of great rarity, and it is said that a
+Tully _de Republica_ was among them. Unfortunately, they were all burnt
+by a fire in the monastery.[133]
+
+I have said enough, I think, to show that books were eagerly sought
+after, and deeply appreciated, in Canterbury cloisters during the middle
+ages, and when the reader considers that these facts have been preserved
+from sheer accident, and, therefore, only enable us to obtain a partial
+glimpse of the actual state of their library, he will be ready to admit
+that bibliomania existed then, and will feel thankful, too, that it did,
+for to its influence, surely, we are indebted for the preservation of
+much that is valuable and instructive in history and general
+literature.[134]
+
+We can scarcely leave Kent without a word or two respecting the church of
+the Rochester monks. It was founded by King Ethelbert, who conferred upon
+it the dignities of an episcopal see, in the year 600; and, dedicating it
+to St. Andrew, completed the good work by many donations and emoluments.
+The revenues of the see were always limited, and it is said that its
+poverty caused it to be treated with kind forbearance by the
+ecclesiastical commissioners at the period of the Reformation.
+
+I have not been able to meet with any catalogue of its monastic library,
+and the only hints I can obtain relative to their books are such as may
+be gathered from the recorded donations of its learned prelates and
+monks. In the year 1077, Gundulph, a Norman bishop, who is justly
+celebrated for his architectural talents, rebuilt the cathedral, and
+considerable remains of this structure are still to be seen in the nave
+and west front, and display that profuse decoration united with ponderous
+stability, for which the Norman buildings are so remarkable. This
+munificent prelate also enriched the church with numerous and costly
+ornaments; the encouragement he gave to learning calls for some notice
+here. Trained in one of the most flourishing of the Norman schools, we
+are not surprised that in his early youth he was so studious and
+inquisitive after knowledge as to merit the especial commendation of his
+biographer.[135] William of Malmsbury, too, highly extols him "for his
+abundant piety," and tells us that he was not inexperienced in literary
+avocations; he was polished and courageous in the management of judicial
+affairs, and a close, devoted student of the divine writings;[136] as a
+scribe he was industrious and critical, and the great purpose to which he
+applied his patience and erudition was a careful revisal of the Holy
+Scriptures. He purged the sacred volume of the inadvertencies of the
+scribes, and restored the purity of the text; for transcribing after
+transcribing had caused some errors and diversity of readings to occur,
+between the English and foreign codices, in spite of all the pious care
+of the monastic copyists; this was perplexing, an uniformity was
+essential and he undertook the task;[137] labors so valuable deserve the
+highest praise, and we bestow it more liberally upon him for this good
+work than we should have done had he been the compiler of crude homilies
+or the marvellous legends of saints. The high veneration in which
+Gundulph held the patristic writings induced him to bestow his attention
+in a similar manner upon them, he compared copies, studied their various
+readings and set to work to correct them. The books necessary for these
+critical researches he obtained from the libraries of his former master,
+Bishop Lanfranc, St. Anselm, his schoolfellow, and many others who were
+studying at Bec, but besides this, he corrected many other authors, and
+by comparing them with ancient manuscripts, restored them to their
+primitive beauty. Fabricius[138] notices a fine volume, which bore ample
+testimony to his critical erudition and dexterity as a scribe. It is
+described as a large Bible on parchment, written in most beautiful
+characters, it was proved to be his work by this inscription on its title
+page, "_Prima pars Bibliae per bona memoriae Gundulphum Rossensem
+Episcopum_." This interesting manuscript, formerly in the library of the
+monks of Rochester, was regarded as one of their most precious volumes.
+An idea of the great value of a Bible in those times may be derived from
+the curious fact that the bishop made a decree directing "excommunication
+to be pronounced against whosoever should take away or conceal this
+volume, or who should even dare to conceal the inscription on the front,
+which indicated the volume to be the property of the church of
+Rochester." But we must bear in mind that this was no ordinary copy, it
+was transcribed by Gundulph's own pen, and rendered pure in its text by
+his critical labors. But the time came when anathemas availed nought, and
+excommunication was divested of all terror. "Henry the Eighth," the
+"Defender of the Faith," frowned destruction upon the monks, and in the
+tumult that ensued, this treasure was carried away, anathema and all.
+Somehow or other it got to Amsterdam, perhaps sent over in one of those
+"shippes full," to the bookbinders, and having passed through many hands,
+at last found its way into the possession of Herman Van de Wal,
+Burgomaster of Amsterdam; since then it was sold by public auction, but
+has now I believe been lost sight of.[139] Among the numerous treasures
+which Gundulph gave to his church, he included a copy of the Gospels, two
+missals and a book of Epistles.[140] Similar books were given by
+succeeding prelates; Radolphus, a Norman bishop in 1108, gave the monks
+several copies of the gospels beautifully adorned.[141] Earnulphus, in
+the year 1115, was likewise a benefactor in this way; he bestowed upon
+them, besides many gold and silver utensils for the church, a copy of the
+gospels, lessons for the principal days, a benedictional, or book of
+blessings, a missal, handsomely bound, and a capitular.[142] Ascelin,
+formerly prior of Dover, and made bishop of Rochester, in the year 1142,
+gave them a Psalter and the Epistles of St. Paul, with a gloss.[143] He
+was a learned man, and excessively fond of books; a passion which he had
+acquired no doubt in his monastery of Dover which possessed a library of
+no mean extent.[144] He wrote a commentary on Isaiah, and gave it to the
+monastery; Walter, archdeacon of Canterbury, who succeeded Ascelin, gave
+a copy of the gospels bound in gold, to the church;[145] and Waleran,
+elected bishop in the year 1182, presented them with a glossed Psalter,
+the Epistles of Paul, and the Sermons of Peter.[146]
+
+Glanvill, bishop in the year 1184, endeavored to deprive the monks of the
+land which Gundulph had bestowed upon them; this gave to rise to many
+quarrels[147] which the monks never forgave; it is said that he died
+without regret, and was buried without ceremony; yet the curious may
+still inspect his tomb on the north side of the altar, with his effigies
+and mitre lying at length upon it.[148] Glanvill probably repented of his
+conduct, and he strove to banish all animosity by many donations; and
+among other treasures, he gave the monks the five books of Moses and
+other volumes.[149]
+
+Osbern of Shepey, who was prior in the year 1189, was a great scribe and
+wrote many volumes for the library; he finished the Commentary of
+Ascelin, transcribed a history of Peter, a Breviary for the chapel, a
+book called _De Claustra animae_, and wrote the great Psalter which is
+chained to the choir and window of St. Peter's altar.[150] Ralph de Ross,
+and Heymer de Tunebregge,[151] also bestowed gifts of a similar nature
+upon the monks; but the book anecdotes connected with this monastic
+fraternity are remarkably few, barren of interest, and present no very
+exalted idea of their learning.[152]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[88] Bede, iv. cap. ii.
+
+[89] He died in 690, and was succeeded by Bertwold, Abbot of
+     Reculver, _Saxon Chronicle, Ingram_, p. 57. Bede speaks of Bertwold
+     as "well learned in Scripture and Ecclesiastical
+     Literature."--_Eccl. Hist._ b. v. c. viii.
+
+[90] Preambulation of Kent, 4to. 1576, p. 233. Parker's Ant. Brit.
+     p. 80.
+
+[91] He was consecrated on the 10th of June, 731, Bede, v. c. xxiii.
+
+[92] M.S. Reg. 12, c. xxiii. I know of no other copy. Leland says
+     that he saw a copy at Glastonbury.
+
+[93] Bede's Eccl. Hist. Prologue.
+
+[94] Pitseus Angliae Scrip. 1619, p. 141. Dart's Hist. Canterbury, p.
+     102.
+
+[95] Cottonian MS. Cleopatra, B. xiii. fo. 70.
+
+[96] W. Malm, de Vita, Dunst. ap. Leland, Script. tom. 1. p. 162.
+     Cotton. MS. Fanstin, B. 13.
+
+[97] Strutt's Saxon. Antiq. vol. 1, p. 105, plate xviii. See also
+     Hicke's Saxon Grammar, p. 104.
+
+[98] MS. Cotton., Cleop. b. xiii. fo. 69. Mabd. Acta Sancto. vii.
+     663.
+
+[99] Saxon Chron. by Ingram, 171.
+
+[100] Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.
+
+[101] Landsdowne MS. in Brit. Mus. 373, vol. iv.
+
+[102] Can. 21, p. 577, vol. i.
+
+[103] Lisle's Divers Ancient Monuments in the Saxon Tongue, 4to.
+      Lond. 1638, p. 43.
+
+[104] MS. Cottonian Claudius, b. vi. p. 103; Dart's Hist. of Cant.
+      p. 112.; Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 517.
+
+[105] There was an old saying, and a true one, prevalent in those
+      days, that a monastery without a library was like a castle without
+      an armory, _Clastrum sine armario, quasi castrum sine armamentario_.
+      See letter of Gaufredi of St. Barbary to Peter Mangot, _Martene
+      Thes. Nov. Anecd._, tom. i. col. 511.
+
+[106] Mabillon, Act. S., tom. ix. p. 659.
+
+[107] Ep. i. ad Papae Alex.
+
+[108] Vita Lanfr., c. vi. "_Effulsit eo majistro, obedientia coactu,
+      philosophicarum ac divinarum litterarum bibliotheca, etc._" Opera p.
+      8. Edit. folio, 1648.
+
+[109] "Et quia scripturae scriptorum vitio erant ninium corruptae,
+      omnes tam Veteris, quam Novi Testamenti libros; necnon etiam scriptae
+      sanctorum patrum secundum orthodoxam fidem studuit corrigere." Vita
+      Lanfr. cap. 15, ap. Opera, p. 15.
+
+[110] Hist. Litt. de la France, vol. vii. p. 117.
+
+[111] _Ibid._ "Il rendit de meme service a trois ecrits de S.
+      Ambrose l'Hexameron, l'apologie de David et le traite des
+      Sacrements, tels qu'on les voit a la bibliotheque de St. Vincent du
+      Mans."
+
+[112] _Ibid._
+
+[113] Malmsb. de Gest. Pontif. b. i. p. 216.
+
+[114] See Epist. 16. Lib. i.
+
+[115] Edmer. Vit. Anselm, apud Anselm Opera.--_Edit. Benedict_,
+      1721, b. i. p. 4.
+
+[116] Epp. 10-20, lib. i. and 24 b. ii.
+
+[117] Codic. fol. first class, a dextr. Sc. Med. 5.
+
+[118] Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry. Dissert, ii.
+
+[119] Dart's Canterb. p. 132. Dugdale's Monast. vol. i. p. 85.
+
+[120] There is, or was, in St. Peter's college, Cambridge, a MS.
+      volume of 21 books, which formerly belonged to this worthy
+      Bibliophile.--_Dart_, p. 137.
+
+[121] Petition Apol. 4to. 1604, p. 17.
+
+[122] Brit. Mus. Vesp. A. i.
+
+[123] Wanley Librorum Vett Septentrionalium fol. Oxon, 1705, p. 172.
+
+[124] Dugdale's Monast. Angl. vol. i. p. 112.
+
+[125] MS. Cot. Galba. E. iv.
+
+[126] See what has been said on this subject in the previous
+      chapter.
+
+[127] MS. Galla, E. iv. fol. 133.
+
+[128] MS. fol. 122.
+
+[129] _Textus Magnus auro coopertus et gemmis ornatus, cum majistate
+      in media, et 4 Evangelistis in 4 Angulis. Ibid._
+
+[130] Somner Antiq. Cant. 4to. 1640, p. 174, he is speaking of books
+      in general.
+
+[131] Duck Vita Chich. p. 104.
+
+[132] Dugdale, vol. i. p. 86. Dart, p. 158, and Somner Ant. Cant.
+      174.
+
+[133] Somner, 294 and 295; see also Leland Scriptor. He was well
+      versed in the Greek language, and his monument bears the following
+      line:
+
+         "Doctor theologus Selling Graeca atque Latina,
+          Linqua perdoctus."--See Warton's Hist. Poet., ii. p. 425.
+
+
+[134] There is a catalogue written in the sixteenth century,
+      preserved among the Cotton MS., containing the titles of seventy
+      books belonging to Canterbury Library. It is printed in Leland
+      Collect. vol. iv. p. 120, and in Dart's Hist. Cant. Cath.; but they
+      differ slightly from the Cott. MS. Julius, c. vi. 4, fol. 99.
+
+[135] Monachus Roffensis de Vita Gundulphi, 274.
+
+[136] Will. Malms. de Gest. Pont. Ang. ap Rerum. Ang. Script, 133.
+
+[137] Histoire Litteraire de Fr., tom. vii. p. 118.
+
+[138] Biblioth. Latine, b. vii. p. 519.
+
+[139] Hist. Litt. de Fr., tom. ix. p. 373.
+
+[140] Thorpe Regist. Roffens, fol. 1769, p. 118.
+
+[141] Wharton Angl. Sacr., tom. 1, p. 342.
+
+[142] Thorpe Regist. Rof., p. 120. Dugdale's Monast., vol. 1, p.
+      157.
+
+[143] Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[144] A catalogue of this library is preserved among the Bodleian
+      MSS. No. 920, containing many fine old volumes. I am not aware that
+      it has been ever printed.
+
+[145] "Textum Evangeliorum aureum." Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[146] _Ibid._, p. 121.
+
+[147] Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. 1, p. 156.
+
+[148] Wharton's Ang. Sac, tom. 1, p. 346.
+
+[149] Thorpe Reg. Rof., p. 121.
+
+[150] Thorpe Reg. Rof., 121. Dugdale's Monast., vol. i. p. 158.
+
+[151] Reg. Rof., pp. 122, 123.
+
+[152] In a long list of gifts by Robert de Hecham, I find "librum
+      Ysidore ethimologiarum possuit in armarium claustri et alia plura
+      fecit."--_Thorpe Reg. Rof._, p. 123.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+     _Lindesfarne.--St. Cuthbert's Gospels.--Destruction of the
+     Monastery.--Alcuin's Letter on the occasion.--Removal to
+     Durham.--Carelepho.--Catalogue of Durham Library.--Hugh de
+     Pusar.--Anthony Bek.--Richard de Bury and his Philobiblon, etc._
+
+
+The Benedictine monastery of Lindesfarne, or the Holy Island, as it was
+called, was founded through the instrumentality of Oswald, the son of
+Ethelfrith, king of Northumberland, who was anxious for the promulgation
+of the Christian faith within his dominions. Aidan, the first bishop of
+whom we have any distinct account, was appointed about the year 635. Bede
+tells us that he used frequently to retire to the Isle of Farne, that he
+might pray in private and be undisturbed.[153] This small island, distant
+about nine miles from the church of Lindesfarne, obtained great
+celebrity from St. Cuthbert, who sought that quiet spot and led there a
+lonely existence in great continence of mind and body.[154] In 685 he was
+appointed to the see of Lindesfarne, where, by his pious example and
+regular life, he instructed many in their religious duties. The name of
+this illustrious saint is intimately connected with a most magnificent
+specimen of calligraphical art of the eighth century, preserved in the
+British Museum,[155] and well known by the name of the Durham Book, or
+Saint Cuthbert's Gospels; it was written some years after the death of
+that Saint, in honor of his memory, by Egfrith, a monk of Lindesfarne,
+who was made bishop of that see in the year 698. At Egfrith's death in
+721, his successor, AEthilwald, most beautifully bound it in gold and
+precious stones, and Bilfrid, a hermit, richly illuminated it by
+prefixing to each gospel a beautiful painting representing one of the
+Evangelists, and a tesselated cross, executed in a most elaborate manner.
+He also displayed great skill by illuminating the large capital letters
+at the commencement of each gospel.[156] Doubtless, the hermit Bilfrid
+was an eminent artist in his day. Aldred, the Glossator, a priest of
+Durham, about the year 950, still more enriched this precious volume by
+interlining it with a Saxon Gloss, or version of the Latin text of St.
+Jerome, of which the original manuscript is a copy.[157] It is
+therefore, one of the most venerable of those early attempts to render
+the holy scriptures into the vernacular tongue, and is on that account an
+interesting relic to the Christian reader, and, no doubt, formed the
+choicest volume in the library of Lindesfarne.[158]
+
+But imperfectly, indeed, have I described the splendid manuscript which
+is now lying, in all its charms, before me. And as I mark its fine old
+illuminations, so bright in color, and so chaste in execution, the
+accuracy of its transcription, and the uniform beauty of its calligraphy,
+my imagination carries me back to the quiet cloister of the old Saxon
+scribe who wrote it, and I can see in Egfrith, a bibliomaniac, of no mean
+pretensions, and in Bilfrid, a monkish illuminator, well initiated in the
+mysteries of his art. The manuscript contains 258 double columned folio
+pages, and the paintings of the Evangelists each occupy an entire page.
+We learn the history of its production from a very long note at the end
+of the manuscript, written by the hand of the glossator.[159]
+
+But sad misfortunes were in store for the holy monks, for about 793, or a
+little earlier, when Highbald was abbot, the Danes burnt down the
+monastery and murdered the ecclesiastics; "most dreadful lightnings and
+other prodigies," says Simeon of Durham, "are said to have portended the
+impending ruin of this place; on the 7th of June they came to the church
+of Lindesfarne, miserably plundered all places, overthrew the altars, and
+carried away all the treasures of the church, some of the monks they
+slew, some they carried away captives, some they drowned in the sea, and
+others much afflicted and abused they turned away naked."[160]
+Fortunately some of the poor monks escaped, and after a short time
+returned to their old spot, and with religious zeal set about repairing
+the damage which the sacred edifice had sustained; after its restoration
+they continued comparatively quiet till the time of Eardulfus, when the
+Danes in the year 875, again invaded England and burned down the
+monastery of Lindesfarne. The monks obtained some knowledge of their
+coming and managed to effect their escape, taking with them the body of
+St. Cuthbert, which they highly venerated, with many other honored
+relics; they then set out with the bishop Eardulfus and the abbot Eadrid
+at their head on a sort of pilgrimage to discover some suitable resting
+place for the remains of their saint; but finding no safe locality, and
+becoming fatigued by the irksomeness of the journey, they as a last
+resource resolved to pass over to Ireland. For this purpose they
+proceeded to the sea, but no sooner were they on board the ship than a
+terrific storm arose, and had it not been for the fond care of their
+patron saint, a watery grave would have been forever their resting
+place; but, as it was, their lives were spared, and the holy bones
+preserved to bless mankind, and work wondrous miracles in the old church
+of the Saxon monks. Nevertheless, considerable damage was sustained, and
+the fury of the angry waves forced them back again to the shore. The
+monks deeming this an indication of God's will that they should remain,
+decided upon doing so, and leaving the ship, they agreed to proceed on
+their way rejoicing, and place still greater trust in the mercy of God
+and the miraculous influence of St. Cuthbert's holy bones; but some whose
+reliance on Divine providence appears not so conspicuous, became
+dissatisfied, and separated from the rest till at last only seven monks
+were left besides their bishop and abbot. Their relics were too numerous
+and too cumbersome to be conveyed by so small a number, and they knew not
+how to proceed; but one of the seven whose name was Hanred had a vision,
+wherein he was told that they should repair to the sea, where they would
+find a book of Gospels adorned with gold and precious stones, which had
+been lost out of the ship when they were in the storm; and that after
+that he should see a bridle hanging on a tree, which he should take down
+and put upon a horse that would come to him, which horse he should put to
+a cart he would also find, to carry the holy body, which would be an ease
+to them. All these things happening accordingly, they travelled with more
+comfort, following the horse, which way soever he should lead. The book
+above mentioned was no ways damaged by the water, and is still preserved
+in the library at Durham,[161] where it remained till the Reformation,
+when it was stript of its jewelled covering, and after passing through
+many hands, ultimately came into the possession of Sir Robert Cotton, in
+whose collection, as we have said before, it is now preserved in the
+British Museum.
+
+I cannot refrain, even at the risk of incurring some blame for my
+digression, presenting the reader with a part of a letter full of
+fraternal love, which Alcuin addressed to the monks of Lindesfarne on
+this sad occasion.
+
+"Your dearest fraternity," says he, "was wont to afford me much joy. But
+now how different! though absent, I deeply lament the more your
+tribulations and calamities; the manner in which the Pagans contaminate
+the sanctuaries of God, and shed the blood of saints around the altar,
+devastating the joy of our house, and trampling on the bodies of holy men
+in the temple of God, as though they were treading on a dunghill in the
+street. But of what effect is our wailing unless we come before the
+altars of Christ and cry, 'Spare me, O Lord! spare thy people, and take
+not thine inheritance from them;' nor let the Pagans say, 'Where is the
+God of the Christians?' Besides who is to pacify the churches of Britain,
+if St. Cuthbert cannot defend them with so great a number of saints?
+Nevertheless do not trouble the mind about these things, for God
+chasteneth all the sons whom he receiveth, and therefore perhaps afflicts
+you the more, because he the more loveth you. Jerusalem, the delightful
+city of God, was lost by the Chaldean scourge; and Rome, the city of the
+holy Apostles and innumerable martyrs, was surrounded by the Pagans and
+devastated. Well nigh the whole of Europe is evacuated by the scourging
+sword of the Goths or the Huns. But in the same manner in which God
+preserved the stars to illuminate the heavens, so will He preserve the
+churches to ornament, and in their office to strengthen and increase the
+Christian religion."[162]
+
+Thus it came to pass that Eardulphus was the last bishop of Lindesfarne
+and the first of Cunecacestre, or Chester-upon-the-Street, to which place
+his see was removed previous to its final settlement at Durham.
+
+After a succession of many bishops, some recorded as learned and bookish
+by monkish annalists, and nearly all benefactors in some way to their
+church, we arrive at the period when Aldwine was consecrated bishop of
+that see in the year 990. The commotions of his time made his presidency
+a troubled and harassing one. Sweyn, king of Denmark, and Olauis, king of
+Norway, invaded England, and spreading themselves in bodies over the
+kingdom, committed many and cruel depredations; a strong body of these
+infested the northern coast, and approached the vicinity of
+Chester-on-the-Street. This so alarmed Aldwine, that he resolved to quit
+his church--for the great riches and numerous relics of that holy place
+were attractive objects to the plundering propensities of the invaders.
+Carrying, therefore, the bones of St. Cuthbert with them--for that box of
+mortal dust was ever precious in the sight of those old monks--and the
+costly treasures of the church, not forgetting their books, the monks
+fled to Ripon, and the see, which after similar adversities their
+predecessors one hundred and thirteen years ago had settled at Chester,
+was forever removed. It is true three or four months after, as Symeon of
+Durham tells us, they attempted to return, but when they reached a place
+called Werdelan, "on the east and near unto Durham," they could not move
+the bier on which the body of St. Cuthbert was carried, although they
+applied their united strength to effect it. The superstition, or perhaps
+simplicity, of the monks instantly interpreted this into a manifestation
+of divine interference, and they resolved not to return again to their
+old spot. And we are further told that after three days' fasting and
+prayer, the Lord vouchsafed to reveal to them that they should bear the
+saintly burden to Durham, a command which they piously and cheerfully
+obeyed. Having arrived there, they fixed on a wild and uncultivated site,
+and making a simple oratory of wattles for the temporary reception of
+their relics, they set zealously to work--for these old monks well knew
+what labor was--to cut down wood, to clear the ground, and build an
+habitation for themselves. Shortly after, in the wilderness of that
+neglected spot, the worthy bishop Aldwine erected a goodly church of
+stone to the honor of God, and as a humble tribute of gratitude and love;
+and so it was that Aldwine, the last bishop of Chester-on-the-Street,
+was the first of Durham.
+
+When William Carelepho, a Norman monk, was consecrated bishop, the church
+had so increased in wealth and usefulness, that fresh wants arose, more
+space was requisite, and a grander structure would be preferable; the
+bishop thereupon pulled the old church of Aldwine down and commenced the
+erection of a more magnificent one in its place, as the beauty of Durham
+cathedral sufficiently testifies even now; and will not the lover of
+artistic beauty award his praise to the Norman bishop--those massive
+columns and stupendous arches excite the admiring wonder of all; built on
+a rocky eminence and surrounded by all the charms of a romantic scenery,
+it is one of the finest specimens of architecture which the enthusiasm of
+monkish days dedicated to piety and to God. Its liberal founder however
+did not live to see it finished, for he died in the year 1095, two years
+after laying its foundation stone. His bookloving propensities have been
+honorably recorded, and not only was he fond of reading, but kept the
+pens of the scribes in constant motion, and used himself to superintend
+the transcription of manuscripts, as the colophon of a folio volume in
+Durham library fully proves.[163] The monkish bibliophiles of his church
+received from him a precious gift of about 40 volumes, containing among
+other valuable books Prosper, Pompeii, Tertullian, and a great Bible in
+two volumes.[164]
+
+It would have been difficult perhaps to have found in those days a body
+of monks so "bookish" as those of Durham; not only did they transcribe
+with astonishing rapidity, proving that there was no want of vellum
+there, but they must have bought or otherwise collected a great number of
+books; for the see of Durham, in the early part of the 12th century,
+could show a library embracing nearly 300 volumes.[165]
+
+Nor let the reader imagine that the collection possessed no merit in a
+literary point of view, or that the monks cared for little else save
+legends of saints or the literature of the church; the catalogue proves
+them to have enjoyed a more liberal and a more refined taste, and again
+display the cloistered students of the middle ages as the preservers of
+classic learning. This is a point worth observing on looking over the old
+parchment catalogues of the monks; for as by their Epistles we obtain a
+knowledge of their intimacy with the old writers, and the use they made
+of them, so by their catalogues we catch a glimpse of the means they
+possessed of becoming personally acquainted with their beauties; by the
+process much light may be thrown on the gloom of those long past times,
+and perhaps we shall gain too a better view of the state of learning
+existing then. But that the reader may judge for himself, I extract the
+names of some of the writers whom the monks of Durham preserved and
+read:
+
+    Alcuin.
+    Ambrose.
+    Aratores.
+    Anselm.
+    Augustine.
+    Aviany.
+    Bede.
+    Boethius.
+    Bernard.
+    Cassian.
+    Cassiodorus.
+    Claudius.
+    Cyprian.
+    Donatus.
+    Esop.
+    Eutropius.
+    Galen.
+    Gregory.
+    Haimo.
+    Horace.
+    Homer.
+    Hugo.
+    Juvenal.
+    Isidore.
+    Josephus.
+    Lucan.
+    Marcianus.
+    Maximian.
+    Orosius.
+    Ovid.
+    Prudentius.
+    Prosper.
+    Persius.
+    Priscian.
+    Peter Lombard.
+    Plato.
+    Pompeius Trogus.
+    Quintilian.
+    Rabanus.
+    Solinus.
+    Servius.
+    Statius.
+    Terence.
+    Tully.
+    Theodulus.
+    Virgil.
+    Gesta Anglorum.
+    Gesta Normanorum.
+
+Hugh de Pussar,[166] consecrated bishop in 1153, is the next who attracts
+our attention by his bibliomanical renown. He possessed perhaps the
+finest copy of the Holy Scriptures of any private collector; and he
+doubtless regarded his "_unam Bibliam in_ iv. _magnis voluminibus_," with
+the veneration of a divine and the fondness of a student. He collected
+what in those times was deemed a respectable library, and bequeathed no
+less than sixty or seventy volumes to the Durham monks, including his
+great Bible, which has ever since been preserved with religious care;
+from a catalogue of them we learn his partiality for classical
+literature; a Tully, Sedulus, Priscian, and Claudius, are mentioned among
+them.[167]
+
+Anthony Bek, who was appointed to the see in the year 1283, was a most
+ambitious and haughty prelate, and caused great dissensions in his
+church. History proves how little he was adapted for the responsible
+duties of a bishop, and points to the field of battle or civil pomp as
+most congenial to his disposition. He ostentatiously displayed the
+splendor of a Palatine Prince, when he contributed his powerful aid to
+the cause of his sovereign, in the Scottish war, by a retinue of 500
+horse, 1000 foot, 140 knights, and 26 standard bearers,[168] rendered
+doubly imposing in those days of saintly worship and credulity, by the
+patronage of St. Cuthbert, under whole holy banner they marched against a
+brave and noble foe. His arbitrary temper caused sad quarrels in the
+cloister, which ultimately gave rise to a tedious law proceeding between
+him and the prior about the year 1300;[169] from a record of this affair
+we learn that the bishop had borrowed some books from the library which
+afterwards he refused to return; there was among them a Decretal, a
+history of England, a Missal, and a volume called "The book of St.
+Cuthbert, in which the secrets of the monastery are written," which was
+alone valued at L200,[170] probably in consideration of the important and
+delicate matters contained therein.
+
+These proceedings were instituted by prior Hoton, who was fond of books,
+and had a great esteem for learning; he founded a college at Oxford for
+the monkish students of his church.[171] On more than one occasion he
+sent parcels of books to Oxford; in a list of an early date it appears
+that the monks of Durham sent at one time twenty volumes, and shortly
+after fifteen more, consisting principally of church books and lives of
+saints.[172] The numbers thus taken from their library the monks, with
+that love of learning for which they were so remarkable, anxiously
+replaced, by purchasing about twenty volumes, many of which contained a
+great number of small but choice pieces.[173]
+
+Robert de Graystane, a monk of Durham, was elected bishop by the prior
+and chapter, and confirmed on the 10th of November, 1333, but the king,
+Edward III., wishing to advance his treasurer to that see, refused his
+sanction to the proceeding; monk Robert was accordingly deposed, and
+Richard Angraville received the mitre in his stead. He was consecrated on
+the 19th of December in the same year, by John Stratford, archbishop of
+Canterbury, and installed by proxy on the 10th of January, 1334.
+
+Angraville, Aungerville, or as he is more commonly called Richard de
+Bury, is a name which every bibliophile will honor and esteem; he was
+indeed a bibliomaniac of the first order, and a sketch of his life is not
+only indispensable here, but cannot fail to interest the book-loving
+reader. But before entering more at large into his bookish propensities
+and talents, it will be necessary to say something of his early days and
+the illustrious career which attended his political and ecclesiastical
+life. Richard de Bury, the son of Sir Richard Angraville, was born, as
+his name implies, at Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, in the year 1287.[174]
+
+Great attention was paid to the instruction of his youthful mind by his
+maternal uncle, John de Willowby, a priest, previous to his removal to
+Oxford. At the university he obtained honorable distinction, as much for
+his erudition and love of books as for the moral rectitude of his
+behavior. These pleasing traits were the stepping stones to his future
+greatness, and on the strength of them he was selected as one fully
+competent to undertake the education of Edward Prince of Wales,
+afterwards the third king of that name; and to Richard de Bury "may be
+traced the love for literature and the arts displayed by his pupil when
+on the throne. He was rewarded with the lucrative appointment of
+treasurer of Gascony."[175]
+
+When Edward, the prince of Wales, was sent to Paris to assume the
+dominion of Guienne, which the king had resigned in his favor, he was
+accompanied by queen Isabella, his mother, whose criminal frailty, and
+afterwards conspiracy, with Mortimer, aroused the just indignation of her
+royal husband; and commenced those civil dissensions which rendered the
+reign of Edward II. so disastrous and turbulent. It was during these
+commotions that Richard de Bury became a zealous partizan of the queen,
+to whom he fled, and ventured to supply her pecuniary necessities from
+the royal revenues; for this, however, he was surrounded with imminent
+danger; for the king, instituting an inquiry into these proceedings,
+attempted his capture, which he narrowly escaped by secreting himself in
+the belfry of the convent of Brothers Minor at Paris.[176]
+
+When the "most invincible and most magnificent king" Edward III. was
+firmly seated upon the throne, dignity and power was lavishly bestowed on
+this early bibliomaniac. In an almost incredible space of time he was
+appointed cofferer to the king, treasurer of the wardrobe, archdeacon of
+Northampton, prebendary of Lincoln, Sarum, Litchfield, and shortly
+afterwards keeper of the privy seal, which office he held for five years.
+During this time he twice undertook a visit to Italy, on a mission to the
+supreme pontiff, John XXII., who not only entertained him with honor and
+distinction, but appointed him chaplain to his principal chapel, and gave
+him a bull, nominating him to the first vacant see in England.
+
+He acquired whilst there an honor which reflected more credit than even
+the smiles of his holiness--the brightest of the Italian poets, Petrarch
+of never dying fame--bestowed upon him his acquaintance and lasting
+friendship. De Bury entered Avignon for the first time in the same year
+that Petrarch took up his residence there, in the house of Colonna,
+bishop of Lombes: two such enlightened scholars and indefatigable book
+collectors, sojourning in the same city, soon formed an intimacy.[177]
+How interesting must their friendly meetings have been, and how
+delightful the hours spent in Petrarch's library, which was one of great
+extent and rarity; and it is probable too that De Bury obtained from the
+poet a few treasures to enrich his own stores; for the generosity of
+Petrarch was so excessive, that he could scarcely withhold what he knew
+was so dearly coveted. His benevolence on one occasion deprived him and
+posterity of an inestimable volume; he lent some manuscripts of the
+classics to his old master, who, needing pecuniary aid, pawned them, and
+Cicero's books, _De Gloria_, were in this manner irrecoverably lost.[178]
+Petrarch acted like a true lover of learning; for when the shadows of old
+age approached, he presented his library, full of rare and ancient
+manuscripts, many of them enriched by his own notes, to the Venetian
+Senate, and thus laid the foundation of the library of Saint-Marc; he
+always employed a number of transcribers, who invariably accompanied him
+on his journeys, and he kept horses to carry his books.[179] His love of
+reading was intense. "Whether," he writes in one of his epistles, "I am
+being shaved, or having my hair cut, whether I am riding on horseback or
+taking my meals, I either read myself or get some one to read to me; on
+the table where I dine, and by the side of my bed, I have all the
+materials for writing."[180] With the friendship of such a student, how
+charming must have been the visit of the English ambassador, and how much
+valuable and interesting information must he have gleaned by his
+intercourse with Petrarch and his books. At Rome Richard de Bury obtained
+many choice volumes and rare old manuscripts of the classics; for at Rome
+indeed, at that time, books had become an important article of commerce,
+and many foreign collectors besides the English bibliomaniac resorted
+there for these treasures: to such an extend was this carried on, that
+the jealousy of Petrarch was aroused, who, in addressing the Romans,
+exclaims: "Are you not ashamed that the wrecks of your ancient grandeur,
+spared by the inundation of the barbarians, are daily sold by your
+miscalculating avarice to foreigners? And that Rome is no where less
+known and less loved than at Rome?"[181]
+
+The immense ecclesiastical and civil revenues which Aungraville enjoyed,
+enabled him whilst in Italy to maintain a most costly and sumptuous
+establishment: in his last visit alone he is said to have expended 5,000
+marks, and he never appeared in public without a numerous retinue of
+twenty clerks and thirty-six esquires; an appearance which better became
+the dignity of his civil office, than the Christian humility of his
+ecclesiastical functions. On his return from this distinguished sojourn,
+he was appointed, as we have said before, through the instrumentality of
+Edward III., to the bishopric of Durham. But not content with these high
+preferments, his royal master advanced him to still greater honor, and on
+the 28th of September, 1334, he was made Lord Chancellor of England,
+which office he filled till the 5th of June, 1335, when he exchanged it
+for that of high treasurer. He was twice appointed ambassador to the king
+of France, respecting the claims of Edward of England to the crown of
+that country. De Bury, whilst negociating this affair, visited Antwerp
+and Brabant for the furtherance of the object of his mission, and he
+fully embraced this rare opportunity of adding to his literary stores,
+and returned to his fatherland well laden with many choice and costly
+manuscripts; for in all his perilous missions he carried about with him,
+as he tells us, that love of books which many waters could not
+extinguish, but which greatly sweetened the bitterness of peregrination.
+Whilst at Paris he was especially assiduous in collecting, and he relates
+with intense rapture, how many choice libraries he found there full of
+all kinds of books, which tempted him to spend his money freely; and with
+a gladsome heart he gave his dirty lucre for treasures so inestimable to
+the bibliomaniac.
+
+Before the commencement of the war which arose from the disputed claims
+of Edward, Richard de Bury returned to enjoy in sweet seclusion his
+bibliomanical propensities. The modern bibliophiles who know what it is
+to revel in the enjoyment of a goodly library, luxuriant in costly
+bindings and rich in bibliographical rarities, who are fully susceptible
+to the delights and exquisite sensibilities of that sweet madness called
+bibliomania, will readily comprehend the multiplied pleasures of that
+early and illustrious bibliophile in the seclusion of Auckland Palace; he
+there ardently applied his energies and wealth to the accumulation of
+books; and whilst engaged in this pleasing avocation, let us endeavor to
+catch a glimpse of him. Chambre, to whom we are indebted for many of the
+above particulars, tells us that Richard de Bury was learned in the
+governing of his house, hospitable to strangers, of great charity, and
+fond of disputation with the learned, but he principally delighted in a
+multitude of books, _Iste summe delectabatur multitudine librorum_,[182]
+and possessed more books than all the bishops put together, an assertion
+which requires some modification, and must not be too strictly regarded,
+for book collecting at that time was becoming a favorite pursuit; still
+the language of Chambre is expressive, and clearly proves how extensive
+must have been his libraries, one of which he formed in each of his
+various palaces, _diversis maneriis_. So engrossed was that worthy bishop
+with the passion of book collecting, that his dormitory was strewed
+_jucebant_ with them, in every nook and corner choice volumes were
+scattered, so that it was almost impossible for any person to enter
+without placing his feet upon some book.[183] He kept in regular
+employment no small assemblage of antiquaries, scribes, bookbinders,
+correctors, illuminators, and all such persons who were capable of being
+useful in the service of books, _librorum servitiis utiliter_.[184]
+
+During his retirement he wrote a book, from the perusal of which the
+bibliomaniac will obtain a full measure of delight and instruction. It is
+a faithful record of the life and experience of this bibliophile of the
+olden time. He tells us how he collected his vellum treasures--his
+"crackling tomes" so rich in illuminations and calligraphic art!--how he
+preserved them, and how he would have others read them. Costly indeed
+must have been the book gems he amassed together; for foreign countries,
+as well as the scribes at home, yielded ample means to augment his
+stores, and were incessantly employed in searching for rarities which his
+heart yearned to possess. He completed his Philobiblon at his palace at
+Auckland on the 24th of January, 1344.[185]
+
+We learn from the prologue to this rare and charming little volume how
+true and genuine a bibliomaniac was Richard de Bury, for he tells us
+there, that a vehement love _amor excitet_ of books had so powerfully
+seized all the faculties of his mind, that dismissing all other
+avocations, he had applied the ardor of his thoughts to the acquisition
+of books. Expense to him was quite an afterthought, and he begrudged no
+amount to possess a volume of rarity or antiquity. Wisdom, he says, is an
+infinite treasure _infinitus thesaurus_, the value of which, in his
+opinion, was beyond all things; for how, he asks, can the sum be too
+great which purchases such vast delight. We cannot admire the purity of
+his Latin so much as the enthusiasm which pervades it; but in the eyes of
+the bibliophile this will amply compensate for his minor imperfections.
+When expatiating on the value of his books he appears to unbosom, as it
+were, all the inward rapture of love. A very _helluo librorum_--a very
+Maliabechi of a collector, yet he encouraged no selfish feeling to alloy
+his pleasure or to mingle bitterness with the sweets of his avocation.
+His knowledge he freely imparted to others, and his books he gladly lent.
+This is apparent in the Philobiblon; and his generous spirit warms his
+diction--not always chaste--into a fluent eloquence. His composition
+overflows with figurative expressions, yet the rude, ungainly form on
+which they are moulded deprive them of all claim to elegance or
+chastity; but while the homeliness of his diction fails to impress us
+with an idea of his versatility as a writer, his chatty anecdotal style
+rivets and keeps the mind amused, so that we rise from the little book
+with the consciousness of having obtained much profit and satisfaction
+from its perusal. Nor is it only the bibliomaniac who may hope to taste
+this pleasure in devouring the sweet contents of the Philobiblon; for
+there are many hints, many wise sayings, and many singular ideas
+scattered over its pages, which will amuse or instruct the general reader
+and the lover of olden literature. We observe too that Richard de Bury,
+as a writer, was far in advance of his age, and his work manifests an
+unusual freedom and independence of mind in its author; for although
+living in monkish days, when the ecclesiastics were almost supreme in
+power and wealth, he was fully sensible of the vile corruptions and
+abominations which were spreading about that time so fearfully among some
+of the cloistered devotees--the spotless purity of the primitive times
+was scarce known then--and the dark periods of the middle ages were
+bright and holy, when compared with the looseness and carnality of those
+turbulent days. Richard de Bury dipped his pen in gall when he spoke of
+these sad things, and doubtless many a revelling monk winced under the
+lashing words he applied to them; not only does he upbraid them for their
+carelessness in religion, but severely reprimands their inattention to
+literature and learning. "The monks," he says, "in the present day seem
+to be occupied in emptying cups, not in correcting codices, _Calicibus
+epotandis, non codicibus emendandis_, which they mingle with the
+lascivious music of Timotheus, and emulate his immodest manners, so that
+the sportive song _cantus ludentis_, and not the plaintive hymn, proceeds
+from the cells of the monks. Flocks and fleeces, grain and granaries,
+gardens and olives, potions and goblets, are in this day lessons and
+studies of the monks, except some chosen few."[186] He speaks in equally
+harsh terms of the religious mendicants. He accuses them of forgetting
+the words and admonitions of their holy founder, who was a great lover of
+books. He wishes them to imitate the ancient members of that fraternity,
+who were poor in spirit, but most rich in faith. But it must be
+remembered, that about this time the mendicant friars were treated with
+undeserved contempt, and much ill feeling rose against them among the
+clergy, but the clergy were somewhat prejudiced in their judgment. The
+order of St. Dominic, which a century before gloried in the approbation
+of the pope, and in the enjoyment of his potential bulls, now winced
+under gloomy and foreboding frowns. The sovereign Pontiff Honorius III.
+gratefully embraced the service of these friars, and confirmed their
+order with important privileges. His successor, Gregory IX., ratified
+these favors to gain their useful aid in propping up the papal power, and
+commanded the ecclesiastics by a bull to receive these "well-beloved
+children and preaching friars" of his, with hospitality and respect.
+Thus established, they were able to bear the tossings to and fro which
+succeeding years produced; but in Richard de Bury's time darker clouds
+were gathering--great men had severely chastized them with their pens and
+denounced them in their preachings. Soon after a host of others sprang
+up--among the most remarkable of whom were Johannes Poliaco, and
+Fitzralph, Archbishop of Armagh, who was a dear friend and chaplain of
+Richard de Bury's and many learned disputations were carried on between
+them.[187] The celebrated oration of Fitzralph's, cited in the presence
+of the pope, was a powerful blow to the mendicant friars--an examination
+of the matter has rather perplexed than cleared the subject, and I find
+it difficult which side to favor, the clergy seem to denounce the begging
+friars more from envy and interested motives, for they looked with
+extreme jealousy at the encroachments they had made upon their
+ecclesiastical functions of confession, absolution, etc., so profitable
+to the church in those days. In these matters the church had hitherto
+reserved a sole monopoly, and the clergy now determined to protect it
+with all the powers of oratorial denunciation; but, looking beyond this
+veil of prejudice, I am prone to regard them favorably, for their intense
+love of books, which they sought for and bought up with passionate
+eagerness. Fitzralph, quite unintentionally, bestows a bright compliment
+upon them, and as it bears upon our subject and illustrates the learning
+of the time, I am tempted to give a few extracts; he sorely laments the
+decrease of the number of students in the university of Oxford; "So,"
+says he, "that yet in my tyme, in the universitie of Oxenford, were
+thirty thousand Scolers at ones; and now beth unnethe[188] sixe
+thousand."[189] All the blame of this he lays to the friars, and accuses
+them of doing "more grete damage to learning." "For these orders of
+beggers, for endeless wynnynges that thei geteth by beggyng of the
+forseide pryvyleges of schriftes and sepultures and othere, thei beth now
+so multiplyed in conventes and in persons. That many men tellith that in
+general studies unnethe, is it founde to sillynge a profitable book of ye
+faculte of art, of dyvynyte, of lawe canon, of phisik, other of lawe
+civil, but alle bookes beth y-bougt of Freres, so that en ech convent of
+Freres is a noble librarye and a grete,[190] and so that ene rech Frere
+that hath state in scole, siche as thei beth nowe, hath an hughe
+librarye. And also y-sent of my Sugettes[191] to scole thre other foure
+persons, and hit is said me that some of them beth come home azen for
+thei myst nougt[192] finde to selle ovn goode Bible; nother othere
+couenable[193] books." This strange accusation proves how industriously
+the friars collected books, and we cannot help regarding them with much
+esteem for doing so. Richard de Bury fully admits his obligations to the
+mendicants, from whom he obtained many choice transcripts. "When indeed,"
+says he, "we happened to turn aside to the towns and places where the
+aforesaid paupers had convents, we were not slack in visiting their
+chests and other repositories of books, for there, amidst the deepest
+poverty, we found the most exalted riches treasured up; there, in their
+satchells and baskets, we discovered not only the crumbs that fell from
+the master's table for the little dogs, but indeed the shew bread without
+leaven, the bread of angels, containing in itself all that is
+delectable;" and moreover, he says, that he found these friars "not
+selfish hoarders, but meet professors of enlightened knowledge."[194]
+
+In the seventh chapter of his work, he deplores the sad destruction of
+books by war and fire, and laments the loss of the 700,000 volumes, which
+happened in the Alexandrian expedition; but the eighth chapter is the one
+which the bibliomaniac will regard with the greatest interest, for
+Richard de Bury tells us there how he collected together his rich and
+ample library. "For although," he writes, "from our youth we have ever
+been delighted to hold special and social communion with literary men and
+lovers of books, yet prosperity attending us, having obtained the notice
+of his majesty the king, and being received into his own family, we
+acquired a most ample facility of visiting at pleasure and of hunting, as
+it were, some of the most delightful covers, the public and private
+libraries _privatas tum communes_, both of the regulars and seculars.
+Indeed, while we performed the duties of Chancellor and Treasurer of the
+most invincible and ever magnificently triumphant king of England,
+Edward III., of that name after the conquest, whose days may the Most
+High long and tranquilly deign to preserve. After first inquiring into
+the things that concerned his court, and then the public affairs of his
+kingdom, an easy opening was afforded us, under the countenance of royal
+favor, for freely searching the hiding places of books. For the flying
+fame of our love had already spread in all directions, and it was
+reported not only that we had a longing desire for books, and _especially
+for old ones_, but that any one could more easily obtain our favors by
+quartos than by money.[195] Wherefore, when supported by the bounty of
+the aforesaid prince of worthy memory, we were enabled to oppose or
+advance, to appoint or discharge; crazy quartos and tottering folios,
+precious however in our sight as well as in our affections, flowed in
+most rapidly from the great and the small, instead of new year's gift and
+remunerations, and instead of presents and jewels. Then the cabinets of
+the most noble monasteries _tunc nobilissimos monasterios_ were opened,
+cases were unlocked, caskets were unclasped and sleeping volumes
+_soporata volumina_ which had slumbered for long ages in their sepulchres
+were roused up, and those that lay hid in dark places _in locis
+tenebrosis_ were overwhelmed with the rays of a new light. Books
+heretofore most delicate now become corrupted and abominable, lay
+lifeless, covered indeed with the excrements of mice and pierced through
+with the gnawing of worms; and those that were formerly clothed with
+purple and fine linen were now seen reposing in dust and ashes, given
+over to oblivion and the abode of moths. Amongst these, nevertheless, as
+time served, we sat down more voluptuously than the delicate physician
+could do amidst his stores of aromatics, and where we found an object of
+love, we found also an assuagement. Thus the sacred vessel of science
+came into the power of our disposal, some being given, some sold, and not
+a few lent for a time. Without doubt many who perceived us to be
+contented with gifts of this kind, studied to contribute these things
+freely to our use, which they could most conveniently do without
+themselves. We took care, however, to conduct the business of such so
+favorably, that the profit might accrue to them; justice suffered
+therefore no detriment." Of this, however, a doubt will intrude itself
+upon our minds, in defiance of the affirmation of my Lord Chancellor;
+indeed, the paragraph altogether is unfavorable to the character of so
+great a man, and fully proves the laxity of opinion, in those days of
+monkish supremacy, on judicial matters; but we must be generous, and
+allow something for the corrupt usages of the age, but I cannot omit a
+circumstance clearly illustrative of this point, which occurred between
+the bibliomanical Chancellor and the abbot of St. Alban's, the affair is
+recorded in the chronicle of the abbey, and transpired during the time
+Richard de Bury held the privy seal; in that office he appears to have
+favored the monks of the abbey in their disputes with the townspeople of
+St. Alban's respecting some possessions to which the monks tenaciously
+adhered and defended as their rightful property. Richard de Wallingford,
+who was then abbot, convoked the elder monks _convocatis senioribus_, and
+discussed with them, as to the most effectual way to obtain the goodwill
+and favor of de Bury; after due consideration it was decided that no gift
+was likely to prove so acceptable to that father of English bibliomania
+as a present of some of their choice books, and it was at last agreed to
+send four volumes, "that is to say Terence, a Virgil, a Quintilian, and
+Jerome against Ruffinus," and to sell him many others from their library;
+this they sent him intimation of, and a purchase was ultimately agreed
+upon between them. The monks sold to that rare collector, thirty-two
+choice tomes _triginta duos libros_, for the sum of fifty pounds of
+silver _quinginta libris argenti_.[196] But there were other bibliophiles
+and bookworms than Richard de Bury in old England then; for many of the
+brothers of St. Alban's who had nothing to do with this transaction,
+cried out loudly against it, and denounced rather openly the policy of
+sacrificing their mental treasures for the acquisition of pecuniary gain,
+but fortunately the loss was only a temporary one, for on the death of
+Richard de Bury many of these volumes were restored to the monks, who in
+return became the purchasers from his executors of many a rare old
+volume from the bishop's library.[197] To resume our extracts from the
+Philobiblon, De Bury proceeds to further particulars relative to his
+book-collecting career, and becomes quite eloquent in detailing these
+circumstances; but from the eighth chapter we shall content ourselves
+with one more paragraph. "Moreover," says he, "if we could have amassed
+cups of gold and silver, excellent horses, or no mean sums of money, we
+could in those days have laid up abundance of wealth for ourselves. But
+we regarded books not pounds, and valued codices more than florens, and
+preferred paltry pamphlets to pampered palfreys.[198] In addition to this
+we were charged with frequent embassies of the said prince of everlasting
+memory, and owing to the multiplicity of state affairs, we were sent
+first to the Roman chair, then to the court of France, then to the
+various other kingdoms of the world, on tedious embassies and in perilous
+times, carrying about with us that fondness for books, which many waters
+could not extinguish."[199] The booksellers found Richard de Bury a
+generous and profitable customer, and those residing abroad received
+commissions constantly from him. "Besides the opportunities," he writes,
+"already touched upon, we easily acquired the notice of the stationers
+and librarians, not only within the provinces of our native soil, but of
+those dispersed over the kingdoms of France, Germany, and Italy."[200]
+
+Such was bibliomania five hundred years ago! and does not the reader
+behold in it the very type and personification of its existence now? does
+he not see in Richard de Bury the prototype of a much honored and
+agreeable bibliophile of our own time? Nor has the renowned "Maister
+Dibdin" described his book-hunting tours with more enthusiasm or delight;
+with what a thrill of rapture would that worthy doctor have explored
+those monastic treasures which De Bury found hid in _locis tenebrosis_,
+antique Bibles, rare Fathers, rich Classics or gems of monkish lore,
+enough to fire the brain of the most lymphatic bibliophile, were within
+the grasp of the industrious and eager Richard de Bury--that old "Amator
+Librorum," like his imitators of the present day, cared not whither he
+went to collect his books--dust and dirt were no barriers to him; at
+every nook and corner where a stationer's stall[201] appeared, he would
+doubtless tarry in defiance of the cold winds or scorching sun, exploring
+the ancient tomes reposing there. Nor did he neglect the houses of the
+country rectors; and even the humble habitations of the rustics were
+diligently ransacked to increase his collections, and from these sources
+he gleaned many rude but pleasing volumes, perhaps full of old popular
+poetry! or the wild Romances of Chivalry which enlivened the halls and
+cots of our forefathers in Gothic days.
+
+We must not overlook the fact that this Treatise on the Love of Books was
+written as an accompaniment to a noble and generous gift. Many of the
+parchment volumes which De Bury had collected in his "_perilous
+embassies_," he gave, with the spirit of a true lover of learning, to the
+Durham College at Oxford, for the use of the Students of his Church. I
+cannot but regret that the names of these books, _of which he had made a
+catalogue_,[202] have not been preserved; perhaps the document may yet be
+discovered among the vast collections of manuscripts in the Oxonian
+libraries; but the book, being written for this purpose, the author
+thought it consistent that full directions should be given for the
+preservation and regulation of the library, and we find the last chapter
+devoted to this matter; but we must not close the Philobiblon without
+noticing his admonitions to the students, some of whom he upbraids for
+the carelessness and disrespect which they manifest in perusing books.
+"Let there," says he, with all the veneration of a passionate booklover,
+"be a modest decorum in opening and closing of volumes, that they may
+neither be unclasped with precipitous haste, nor thrown aside after
+inspection without being duly closed."[203] Loving and venerating a book
+as De Bury did, it was agony to see a volume suffering under the
+indignities of the ignorant or thoughtless student whom he thus keenly
+satirizes: "You will perhaps see a stiffnecked youth lounging sluggishly
+in his study, while the frost pinches him in winter time; oppressed with
+cold his watery nose drops, nor does he take the trouble to wipe it with
+his handkerchief till it has moistened the book beneath it with its vile
+dew;" nor is he "ashamed to eat fruit and cheese over an open book, or to
+transfer his empty cup from side to side; he reclines his elbow on the
+volume, turns down the leaves, and puts bits of straw to denote the place
+he is reading; he stuffs the book with leaves and flowers, and so
+pollutes it with filth and dust." With this our extracts from the
+Philobiblon must close; enough has been said and transcribed to place the
+Lord Chancellor of the puissant King Edward III. among the foremost of
+the bibliomaniacs of the past, and to show how valuable were his efforts
+to literature and learning; indeed, like Petrarch in Italy was Richard De
+Bury in England: both enthusiastic collectors and preservers of ancient
+manuscripts, and both pioneers of that revival of European literature
+which soon afterwards followed. In the fourteenth century we cannot
+imagine a more useful or more essential person than the bibliomaniac, for
+that surely was the harvest day for the gathering in of that food on
+which the mind of future generations were to subsist. And who reaped so
+laboriously or gleaned so carefully as those two illustrious scholars?
+
+Richard de Bury was no unsocial bookworm; for whilst he loved to seek the
+intercourse of the learned dead, he was far from being regardless of the
+living. Next to his clasped vellum tomes, nothing afforded him so much
+delight as an erudite disputation with his chaplains, who were mostly men
+of acknowledged learning and talent; among them were "Thomas Bradwardyn,
+afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury; and Richard Fitz-Raufe, afterwards
+Archbishop of Armagh; Walter Burley, John Maudyt, Robert Holcote, Richard
+of Kilwington, all Doctors in Theology, _omnes Doctores in Theologia_;
+Richard Benworth, afterwards Bishop of London, and Walter Segraffe,
+afterwards Bishop of Chester;"[204] with these congenial spirits Richard
+de Bury held long and pleasing conversations, doubtless full of old
+bookwisdom and quaint Gothic lore, derived from still quainter volumes;
+and after meals I dare say they discussed the choice volume which had
+been read during their repast, as was the pious custom of those old days,
+and which was not neglected by De Bury, for "his manner was at dinner
+and supper time to have some good booke read unto him."[205]
+
+And now in bidding farewell to the illustrious Aungraville--for little
+more is known of his biography--let me not forget to pay a passing
+tribute of respect to his private character, which is right worthy of a
+cherished remembrance, and derives its principal lustre from the eminent
+degree in which he was endowed with the greatest of Christian virtues,
+and which, when practised with sincerity, covereth a multitude of sins;
+his charity, indeed, forms a delightful trait in the character of that
+great man; every week he distributed food to the poor; eight quarters of
+wheat _octo quarteria frumenti_, and the fragments from his own table
+comforted the indigent of his church; and always when he journeyed from
+Newcastle to Durham, he distributed twelve marks in relieving the
+distresses of the poor; from Durham to Stockton eight marks; and from the
+same place to his palace at Aukeland five marks; and and when he rode
+from Durham to Middleham he gave away one hundred shillings.[206] Living
+in troublous times, we do not find his name coupled with any great
+achievement in the political sphere; his talents were not the most
+propitious for a statesman among the fierce barons of the fourteenth
+century; his spirit loved converse with the departed great, and shone
+more to advantage in the quite closet of the bibliomaniac, or in
+fulfilling the benevolent duties of a bishop. Yet he was successful in
+all that the ambition of a statesman could desire, the friend and
+confidant of his king; holding the highest offices in the state
+compatible with his ecclesiastical position, with wealth in abundance,
+and blessed with the friendship of the learned and the good, we find
+little in his earthly career to darken the current of his existence, or
+to disturb the last hours of a life of near three score years. He died
+lamented, honored, and esteemed, at Aukeland palace, on the fourteenth of
+April, in the year 1345, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and was
+buried with all due solemnity before the altar of the blessed Mary
+Magdalene, at the south angle of the church of Durham. His bones are now
+mingled with the dust and gone, but his memory is engraven on tablets of
+life; the hearts of all bibliomaniacs love and esteem his name for the
+many virtues with which it was adorned, and delight to chat with his
+choice old spirit in the Philobiblon, so congenial to their bookish
+souls. No doubt the illustrious example of Richard de Bury tended
+materially to spread far and wide the spirit of bibliomania. It certainly
+operated powerfully on the monks of Durham, who not only by transcribing,
+but at the cost of considerable sums of money, greatly increased their
+library. A catalogue of the collection, taken some forty years after the
+death of De Bury, is preserved to this day at Durham, and shows how
+considerably they augmented it during a space of two hundred years, or
+from the time when the former list was written. If the bibliomaniac can
+obtain a sight of this ancient catalogue, he will dwell over it with
+astonishment and delight--immaculate volumes of Scripture--fathers and
+classics bespeak its richness and extent, and Robert of Langchester, the
+librarian who wrote it, with pious preference places first on the list
+the magnificent Bible which bishop Hugo gave them many years before. This
+rare biblical treasure, then the pride and glory of the collection, is
+now in the Durham Library; but to look upon that fair manuscript will
+make the blood run cold--barbarous desecration has been committed by some
+bibliopegistical hand; the splendid illuminations so rich and spirited,
+which adorned the beauteous tomes, dazzled an ignorant mind, who cut them
+out and robbed it of half its interest and value.
+
+From near 600 volumes which the list enumerates, I cannot refrain from
+naming two or three. I have searched over its biblical department in vain
+to discover mention of the celebrated "Saint Cuthbert's Gospels." It is
+surprising they should have forgotten so rich a gem, for although four
+copies of the Gospels appear, not one of them answers to its description;
+two are specified as "_non glos_;" it could not have been either of
+those, another, the most interesting of the whole, is recorded as the
+venerable Bede's own copy! What bibliophile can look unmoved upon those
+time-honored pages, without indeed all the warmth of his booklove
+kindling forth into a very frenzy of rapture and veneration! So fairly
+written, and so accurately transcribed, it is one of the most precious of
+the many gems which now crowd the shelves of the Durham Library, and is
+well worth a pilgrimage to view it.[207] But this cannot be St.
+Cuthbert's Gospels, and the remaining copy is mentioned as "_Quarteur
+Evangelum_," fol. ii. "_se levantem_;" now I have looked at the splendid
+volume in the British Museum, to see if the catchword answered to this
+description, but it does not; so it cannot be this, which I might have
+imagined without the trouble of a research, for if it was, they surely
+would not have forgotten to mention its celebrated coopertoria.
+
+Passing a splendid array of Scriptures whole and in parts, for there was
+no paucity of sacred volumes in that old monkish library, and fathers,
+doctors of the Church, schoolmen, lives of saints, chronicles, profane
+writers, philosophical and logical treatises, medical works, grammars,
+and books of devotion, we are particularly struck with the appearance of
+so many fine classical authors. Works of Virgil (including the AEneid),
+Pompeius Trogus, Claudius, Juvenal, Terence, Ovid, Prudentius,
+Quintilian, Cicero, Boethius, and a host of others are in abundance,
+and form a catalogue rendered doubly exciting to the bibliophile by the
+insertion of an occasional note, which tells of its antiquity,[208]
+rarity, or value. In some of the volumes a curious inscription was
+inserted, thundering a curse upon any who would dare to pilfer it from
+the library, and for so sacrilegious a crime, calling down upon them the
+maledictions of Saints Maria, Oswald, Cuthbert, and Benedict.[209] A
+volume containing the lives of St. Cuthbert, St. Oswald, and St. Aydani,
+is described as "_Liber speciales et preciosus cum signaculo deaurato_."
+
+Thomas Langley, who was chancellor of England and bishop of Durham in the
+year 1406, collected many choice books, and left some of them to the
+library of Durham church; among them a copy of Lyra's Commentaries stands
+conspicuous; he also bequeathed a number of volumes to many of his
+private friends.
+
+There are few monastic libraries whose progress we can trace with so much
+satisfaction as the one now under consideration, for we have another
+catalogue compiled during the librarianship of John Tyshbourne, in the
+year 1416,[210] in which many errors appearing in the former ones are
+carefully corrected; books which subsequent to that time had been lost or
+stolen are here accounted for; many had been sent to the students at
+Oxford, and others have notes appended, implying to whom the volume had
+been lent; thus to a "_Flores Bernardi_," occurs "_Prior debit, I Kempe
+Episcopi Londoni_." It is, next to Monk Henry's of Canterbury, one of the
+best of all the monkish catalogues I have seen; not so much for its
+extent, as that here and there it fully partakes of the character of a
+catalogue _raisonne_; for terse sentences are affixed to some of the more
+remarkable volumes, briefly descriptive of their value; a circumstance
+seldom observable in these early attempts at bibliography.
+
+In taking leave of Durham library, need I say that the bibliomaniacs who
+flourished there in the olden time, not only collected their books with
+so much industry, but knew well how to use them too. The reader is
+doubtless aware how many learned men dwelled in monkish time within those
+ancient walls; and if he is inquisitive about such things has often
+enjoyed a few hours of pleasant chat over the historic pages of Symeon of
+Durham,[211] Turgot and Wessington,[212] and has often heard of brothers
+Lawrence,[213] Reginald,[214] and Bolton; but although unheeded now, many
+a monkish bookworm, glorying in the strict observance of Christian
+humility, and so unknown to fame, lies buried beneath that splendid
+edifice, as many monuments and funeral tablets testify and speak in high
+favor of the great men of Durham. If the reader should perchance to
+wander near that place, his eye will be attracted by many of these
+memorials of the dead; and a few hours spent in exploring them will serve
+to gain many additional facts to his antiquarian lore, and perhaps even
+something better too. For I know not a more suitable place, as far as
+outward circumstances are concerned, than an old sanctuary of God to
+prepare the mind and lead it to think of death and immortality. We read
+the names of great men long gone; of wealthy worldlings, whose fortunes
+have long been spent; of ambitious statesmen and doughty warriors, whose
+glory is fast fading as their costly mausoleums crumble in the hands of
+time, and whose stone tablets, green with the lichens' hue, manifest how
+futile it is to hope to gain immortality from stone, or purchase fame by
+the cold marble trophies of pompous grief; not that on their glassy
+surface the truth is always faithfully mirrored forth, even when the
+thoughts of holy men composed the eulogy; the tombs of old knew as well
+how to lie as now, and even ascetic monks could become too warm in their
+praises of departed worth; for whilst they blamed the great man living,
+with Christian charity they thought only of his virtues when they had
+nothing but his body left, and murmured long prayers, said tedious
+masses, and kept midnight vigils for his soul. For had he not shown his
+love to God by his munificence to His Church on earth? _Benedicite_,
+saith the monks.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[153] Bede's Eccles. Hist., B. iii. c. xvi.
+
+[154] Bede, B. iv. c. xxvii.
+
+[155] Marked Nero, D. iv. in the Cottonian collection.
+
+[156] The illuminations are engraved in Strutt's _Horda_.
+
+[157] There is prologue to the Canons and Prefaces of St. Jerome and
+      Eusebius, and also a beautiful calendar written in compartments,
+      elaborately finished in an architectural style.
+
+[158] He also transcribed the Durham Ritual, recently printed by the
+      Surtee Society; when Alfred wrote this volume he was with bishop
+      Alfsige, p. 185, 8vo. _Lond._ 1840.
+
+[159] For an account of this rare gem of Saxon art, see _Selden
+      Praef. ad. Hist. Angl._ p. 25. _Marshall Observat. in Vers. Sax.
+      Evang._, 491. _Dibdin's Decameron, p._ lii. _Smith's Bibl. Cotton.
+      Hist. et Synop._, p. 33.
+
+[160] Simeon of Durham translated by Stevens, p. 87.
+
+[161] Simeon of Durham, by Stevens.
+
+[162] Ep. viii.
+
+[163] Tertia Quinquagina Augustini, marked B. ii. 14.
+
+[164] Surtee publications, vol. i. p. 117.
+
+[165] This catalogue is preserved at Durham, in the library of the
+      Dean and Chapter, marked B. iv. 24. It is printed in the Surtee
+      publications, vol. i. p. 1.
+
+[166] "King Stephen was vncle vnto him."--_Godwin's Cat. of
+      Bishops_, 511.
+
+[167] He died in 1195.--Godwin, p. 735. He gave them also another
+      Bible in two volumes; a list of the whole is printed in the Surtee
+      publications, vol. i. p. 118.
+
+[168] Surtee's Hist, of Durham, vol. i. p. xxxii. "He was wonderfull
+      rich, not onely in ready money but in lands also, and temporall
+      revenues. For he might dispend yeerely 5000 marks."--_Godwin's Cat.
+      Eng. Bish._ 4to. 1601, p. 520.
+
+[169] Robert de Graystane's ap. Wharton's Angl. Sacr. p. 748, tom.
+      i.--_Hutchinson's Durham_, vol. i. p. 244.
+
+[170] Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 121.
+
+[171] Raine's North Durham, p. 85.
+
+[172] Surtee public. vol. 1. p. 39-40.
+
+[173] _Ibid._, vol. i. p. 41.
+
+[174] Chambre Contin. Hist. Dunelm. apud Wharton Angliae Sacra, tom.
+      i. p. 765.
+
+[175] Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors, vol. i. p. 219.
+
+[176] Absconditus est in Campanili fratrum minorum.--_Chambre ap.
+      Wharton_, tom. i. p. 765.
+
+[177] In one of his letters Petrarch speaks of De Bury as _Virum
+      ardentis ingenii_, Pet. ep. 1-3.
+
+[178] Epist. Seniles, lib. xvi. ep. 1.
+
+[179] Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 151.
+
+[180] Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch, p. 156. Famil. ep. lxxii.
+
+[181] Hortatio ad Nicol. Laurent Petrar., Op. vol. i. p. 596.
+
+[182] _Apud Wharton Ang. Sac._ tom. i. p. 765.
+
+[183] _Ibid._
+
+[184] MS. Harleian, No. 3224, fo. 89, b.
+
+[185] There are two MSS. of the Philobiblon in the British Museum,
+      which I quote in giving my Latin Extracts. The first is in the
+      Cotton collection, marked Appendix iv. fol. 103. At the end are
+      these lines, _Ric. de Aungervile cognominato de Bury, Dunelm. Episc.
+      Philobiblon completum in Manerio de Auckland, d. 24 Jan. 1344_, fol.
+      119, b. The other is in the Harleian Collection, No. 3224, both are
+      in fine preservation. The first printed edition appeared at Cologne,
+      1473, in 4to., without pagination, signatures, or catchwords, with
+      48 leaves, 26 lines on a full page; for some time, on account of its
+      excessive rarity, which kept it from the eyes of book-lovers,
+      bibliographers confused it with the second edition printed by John
+      and Conrad Huest, at Spires, in 1483, 4to. which, like the first, is
+      without pagination, signatures, or catchwords, but it has only 39
+      pages, with 31 lines on a full page. Two editions were printed in
+      1500, 4to. at Paris, but I have only seen one of them. A fifth
+      edition was printed at Oxford by T. J(ames), 4to. 1599. In 1614 it
+      was published by Goldastus in 8vo. at Frankfort, with a
+      _Philologicarium Epistolarum Centuria una_. Another edition of this
+      same book was printed in 1674, 8vo. at Leipsic, and a still better
+      edition appeared in 1703 by Schmidt, in 4to. The Philobiblon has
+      recently been translated by Inglis, 8vo. _Lond._ 1834, with much
+      accuracy and spirit, and I have in many cases availed myself of this
+      edition, though I do not always exactly follow it.
+
+[186] "Greges et Vellera, Fruges et honea, Porri et Olera, Potus et
+      Patera rectiones sunt hodie et studio monachorum."--MS. Harl. 2324,
+      fol. 79, a; MS. Cot. ap. iv. fo. 108, a.
+
+[187] Wharton Ang. Sac., tom. i. p. 766, he is called _Ricardus
+      Fitz-Rause postomodum Archiepiscopus Armachanus_.
+
+[188] Scarcely.
+
+[189] Translated by Trevisa, MS. Harleian, No. 1900, fol. 11, b.
+
+[190] The original is _grandis et nobilis libraria_.
+
+[191] Chaplain.
+
+[192] Could not.
+
+[193] Profitable.
+
+[194] Philobiblon, transl. by Inglis, p. 56.
+
+[195] "Curiam deinde vero Rem. publicam Regni sui Cacellarii, viz.:
+      est ac Thesaurii fugeremur officiis, patescebat nobis aditus faciles
+      regal favoris intuitu, ad libros latebras libere perscruta tandas
+      amoris quippe nostri fama volatitis jam ubiqs. percreluit tam qs.
+      libros _et maxime veterum_ ferabatur cupidite las vestere posse vero
+      quemlibet nostrum per quaternos facilius quam per pecuniam adipisa
+      favorem."--MS. Harl. fo. 85, a. MS. Cott. 110, b.
+
+[196] MS. Cottonian Claudius, E. iv. fol. 203, b. _Warton's Hist. of
+      Poetry, Dissert. ii._; and _Hallam's_ Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 611.
+      Both notice this circumstance as a proof of the scarcity of books in
+      De Bury's time.
+
+[197] _Ibid._ Among the MSS. in the Royal Library, there is a copy
+      of John of Salisbury's _Ententicus_ which contains the following
+      note, "Hunc librum fecit dominus Symon abbas S. Albani, quem postea
+      venditum domino _Ricardo_ de Bury. Episcope Dunelmensi emit Michael
+      abbas S. Albani ab executoribus praedicti episcopi, A. D. 1345."
+      Marked 13 D. iv. 3. The same abbot expended a large sum in buying
+      books for the library, but we shall speak more of Michael de
+      Wentmore by and bye.
+
+[198] "Sed revera libros non libras maluimus, Codicesque plus quam
+      florenos, ac pampletos exiguos incrussatis proetulimus
+      palafridis."--MS. Harl. fo. 86, a. MS. Cott. fo. 111, a.
+
+[199] Inglis's Translation, p. 53.
+
+[200] Inglis's Translation, p. 58.
+
+[201] The Stationers or Booksellers carried on their business on
+      open Stalls.--_Hallam, Lit. Europe_, vol. i. p. 339. It is pleasing
+      to think that the same temptations which allure the bookworm now, in
+      his perambulations, can claim such great antiquity, and that through
+      so many centuries, bibliophiles and bibliopoles remain unaltered in
+      their habits and singularities; but alas! this worthy relic of the
+      middle ages I fear is passing into oblivion. Plate-glass fronts and
+      bulky expensive catalogues form the bookseller's pride in these days
+      of speed and progress, and offer more splendid temptations to the
+      collector, but sad obstacles to the hungry student and black-letter
+      bargain hunters.
+
+[202] _Philob._ xix.
+
+[203] Inglis, p. 96. "In primis quidam circa claudenda et apienda
+      volumina, sit matura modestia; ut nec praecipiti festinatione
+      solvantur, nec inspectione finita, sina clausura debita
+      dimittantur." _MS. Harl._ fol. 103.
+
+[204] _Chambre ap. Wharton_, tom. i. p. 766.
+
+[205] Godwin Cat. of Bish. 525.
+
+[206] _Chambre ap. Wharton_, tom. i. p. 766.
+
+[207] It is marked A, ii. 16, and described in the old MS. catalogue
+      as _De manus Bedae_, ii. fol. _Baptizatus_.
+
+[208] The attractive words "_Est vetus Liber_" often occur.
+
+[209] From a volume of Thomas Aquinas, the following is transcribed:
+      "Lib. Sti. Cuthberti de Dunelm, ex procuratione fratis Roberti de
+      Graystane quem qui aliena verit maledictionem Sanctorum Mariae,
+      Oswaldi, Cuthberti et Benedicti incurrat." See _Surtee
+      publications_, vol. i. p. 35, where other instances are given.
+
+[210] Surtee publ. vol. i. p. 85.
+
+[211] He wrote The Chronicle of Durham Monastery in 1130.
+
+[212] His book on the Rights and Privileges of Durham Church is in
+      the Cottonian Library, marked _Vitellius_, A, 9.
+
+[213] Lawrence was elected prior in 1149, "a man of singular
+      prudence and learning, as the many books he writ manifest."
+      _Dugdale's Monast._ vol. 1. p. 230.
+
+[214] Wrote the Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert, the original book
+      is in the Durham Library.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+     _Croyland Monastery.--Its Library increased by
+     Egebric.--Destroyed by Fire.--Peterborough.--Destroyed by the
+     Danes.--Benedict and his books.--Anecdotes of
+     Collectors.--Catalogue of the Library of the Abbey of
+     Peterborough.--Leicester Library, etc._
+
+
+The low marshy fens of Lincolnshire are particularly rich in monastic
+remains; but none prove so attractive to the antiquary as the ruins of
+the splendid abbey of Croyland. The pen of Ingulphus has made the affairs
+of that old monastery familiar to us; he has told us of its prospering
+and its misfortunes, and we may learn moreover from the pages of the monk
+how many wise and virtuous men, of Saxon and Norman days, were connected
+with this ancient fabric, receiving education there, or devoting their
+lives to piety within its walls. It was here that Guthlac, a Saxon
+warrior, disgusted with the world, sought solitude and repose; and for
+ten long years he led a hermit's life in that damp and marshy fen; in
+prayer and fasting, working miracles, and leading hearts to God, he spent
+his lonely days, all which was rewarded by a happy and peaceful death,
+and a sanctifying of his corporeal remains--for many wondrous miracles
+were wrought by those holy relics.
+
+Croyland abbey was founded on the site of Guthlac's hermitage, by
+Ethelred, king of Mercia. Many years before, when he was striving for the
+crown of that kingdom, his cousin, Crobrid, who then enjoyed it, pursued
+him with unremitting enmity; and worn out, spiritless and exhausted, the
+royal wanderer sought refuge in the hermit's cell. The holy man comforted
+him with every assurance of success; and prophesied that he would soon
+obtain his rights without battle or without bloodshed;[215] in return for
+these brighter prospects, and these kind wishes, Ethelred promised to
+found a monastery on that very spot in honor of God and St. Guthlac,
+which promise he faithfully fulfilled in the year 716, and "thus the
+wooden oratory was followed by a church of stone." Succeeding benefactors
+endowed, and succeeding abbots enriched it with their learning; and as
+years rolled by so it grew and flourished till it became great in wealth
+and powerful in its influence. But a gloomy day approached--the Danes
+destroyed that noble structure, devastating it by fire, and besmearing
+its holy altars with the blood of its hapless inmates. But zealous piety
+and monkish perseverance again restored it, with new and additional
+lustre; and besides adding to the splendor of the edifice, augmented its
+internal comforts by forming a library of considerable importance and
+value. We may judge how dearly they valued a _Bibliotheca_ in those old
+days by the contribution of one benevolent book-lover--Egebric, the
+second abbot of that name, a man whom Ingulphus says was "far more
+devoted to sacred learning and to the perusal of books than skilled in
+secular matters,"[216] gladdened the hearts of the monks with a handsome
+library, consisting of forty original volumes in various branches of
+learning, and more than one hundred volumes of different tracts and
+histories,[217] besides eighteen books for the use of the divine offices
+of the church. Honor to the monk who, in the land of dearth, could amass
+so bountiful a provision for the intellect to feed upon; and who
+encouraged our early literature--when feeble and trembling by the renewed
+attacks of rapacious invaders--by such fostering care.
+
+In the eleventh century Croyland monastery was doomed to fresh
+misfortunes; a calamitous fire, accidental in its origin, laid the fine
+monastery in a heap of ruins, and scattered its library in blackened
+ashes to the winds.[218] A sad and irreparable loss was that to the
+Norman monks and to the students of Saxon history in modern times; for
+besides four hundred Saxon charters, deeds, etc., many of the highest
+historical interest and value beautifully illuminated in gold (_aureis
+pictures_) and written in Saxon characters,[219] the whole of the choice
+and ample library was burnt, containing seven hundred volumes, besides
+the books of divine offices--the Antiphons and Grailes. I will not
+agonize the bibliophile by expatiating further on the sad work of
+destruction; but is he not somewhat surprised that in those bookless days
+seven hundred volumes should have been amassed together, besides a lot of
+church books and Saxon times?
+
+Ingulphus, who has so graphically described the destruction of Croyland
+monastery by the Danes in 870, has also given the particulars of their
+proceedings at the monastery of Peterborough, anciently called
+Medeshamstede, to which they immediately afterwards bent their steps. The
+monks, on hearing of their approach, took the precaution to guard the
+monastery by all the means in their power; but the quiet habits of
+monastic life were ill suited to inspire them with a warlike spirit, and
+after a feeble resistance, their cruel enemies (whom the monks speak of
+in no gentle terms, as the reader may imagine), soon effected an
+entrance; in the contest however Tulla, the brother of Hulda, the Danish
+leader, was slain by a stone thrown by one of the monks from the walls;
+this tended to kindle the fury of the besiegers, and so exasperated
+Hulda that it is said he killed with his own hand the whole of the poor
+defenceless monks, including their venerable abbot. The sacred edifice,
+completely in their hands, was soon laid waste; they broke down the
+altars, destroyed the monuments, and--much will the bibliophile deplore
+it--set fire to their immense library "_ingens bibliotheca_," maliciously
+tearing into pieces all their valuable and numerous charters, evidences,
+and writings. The monastery, says the historian, continued burning for
+fifteen days.[220] This seat of Saxon learning was left buried in its
+ruins for near one hundred years, when Athelwold, bishop of Winchester,
+in the year 966, restored it; but in the course of time, after a century
+of peaceful repose, fresh troubles sprang up. When Turoldus, a Norman,
+who had been appointed by William the Conqueror, was abbot, the Danes
+again paid them a visit of destruction. Hareward de Wake having joined a
+Danish force, proceeded to the town of Peterborough; fortunately the
+monks obtained some intelligence of their coming, which gave Turoldus
+time to repair to Stamford with his retinue. Taurus, the Sacrist, also
+managed to get away, carrying with him some of their treasures, and among
+them a text of the Gospels, which he conveyed to his superior at
+Stamford, and by that means preserved them. On the arrival of the Danes,
+the remaining monks were prepared to offer a somewhat stern resistance,
+but without effect; for setting fire to the buildings, the Danes entered
+through the flames and smoke, and pillaged the monastery of all its
+valuable contents; and that which they could not carry away, they
+destroyed: not even sparing the shrines of holy saints, or the
+miracle-working dust contained therein. The monks possessed a great cross
+of a most costly nature, which the invaders endeavored to take away, but
+could not on account of its weight and size; however, they broke off the
+gold crown from the head of the crucifix, and the footstool under its
+feet, which was made of pure gold and gems; they also carried away two
+golden biers, on which the monks carried the relics of their saints; with
+nine silver ones. There was certainly no monachal poverty here, for their
+wealth must have been profuse; besides the above treasures, they took
+twelve crosses, made of gold and silver; they also went up to the tower
+and took away a table of large size and value, which the monks had hid
+there, trusting it might escape their search; it was a splendid affair,
+made of gold and silver and precious stones, and was usually placed
+before the altar. But besides all this, they robbed them of that which
+those poor monkish bibliophiles loved more than all. Their library, which
+they had collected with much care, and which contained many volumes, was
+carried away, "with many other precious things, the like of which were
+not to be found in all England."[221] The abbot and those monks who
+fortunately escaped, afterwards returned, sad and sorrowful no doubt; but
+trusting in their Divine Master and patron Saint, they ultimately
+succeeded in making their old house habitable again, and well fortified
+it with a strong wall, so that formerly it used to be remarked that this
+building looked more like a military establishment than a house of God.
+
+Eminently productive was the monastery of Peterborough in Saxon
+bibliomaniacs. Its ancient annals prove how enthusiastically they
+collected and transcribed books. There were few indeed of its abbots who
+did not help in some way or other to increase their library. Kenulfus,
+who was abbot in the year 992, was a learned and eloquent student in
+divine and secular learning. He much improved his monastery, and greatly
+added to its literary treasures.[222] But the benefactors of this place
+are too numerous to be minutely specified here. Hugo Candidus tells us,
+that Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, in 1056, gave them many valuable
+ornaments; and among them a fine copy of the Gospels, beautifully adorned
+with gold. This puts us in mind of Leofricus, a monk of the abbey, who
+was made abbot in the year 1057. He is said to have been related to the
+royal family, a circumstance which may account for his great riches. He
+was a sad pluralist, and held at one time no less than five monasteries,
+viz. Burton, Coventy, Croyland, Thorney, and Peterborough.[223] He gave
+to the church of Peterborough many and valuable utensils of gold, silver,
+and precious stones, and a copy of the Gospels bound in gold.[224]
+
+But in all lights, whether regarded as an author or a bibliophile, great
+indeed was Benedict, formerly prior of Canterbury, and secretary to
+Thomas a Becket,[225] of whom it is supposed he wrote a life. He was made
+abbot of Peterborough in the year 1177; he compiled a history of Henry
+II. and king Richard I.;[226] he is spoken of in the highest terms of
+praise by Robert Swapham for his profound wisdom and great erudition in
+secular matters.[227] There can be no doubt of his book-loving passion;
+for during the time he was abbot he transcribed himself, and ordered
+others to transcribe, a great number of books. Swapham has preserved a
+catalogue of them, which is so interesting that I have transcribed it
+entire. The list is entitled:
+
+DE LIBRIS EJUS.
+
+Plurimos quoque libros 3 scribere fecit, quorum nomina subnotantur.
+
+Vetus et Novum Testamentum in uno volumine.
+
+Vetus et Novum Testamentum in 4 volumina.
+
+Quinque libri Moysi glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Sexdecim Prophetae glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Duodecim minores glosati Prophetae in uno volumine.
+
+Liber Regum glosatus, paralipomenon glosatus. Job, Parabolae
+Solomonis et Ecclesiastes, Cantica Canticorum glosati in
+uno volumine.
+
+Liber Ecclesiasticus et Liber Sapientiae glosatus in uno volumine.
+
+Tobyas, Judith, Ester et Esdras, glosati in uno volumine.
+
+Liber Judicum glosatus.
+
+Scholastica hystoria.
+
+Psalterium glosatum.
+
+Item non glosatum.
+
+Item Psalterium.
+
+Quatuor Evangelia glosata in uno volumine.
+
+Item Mathaeus et Marcus in uno volumine.
+
+Johannes et Lucas in uno volumine.
+
+Epistolae Pauli glosatae Apocalypsis et Epistolae Canonicae
+glosata in uno volumine.
+
+Sententiae Petri Lombardi.
+
+Item Sententiae ejusdem.
+
+Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis.
+
+Decreta Gratiani.
+
+Item Decreta Gratiani.
+
+Summa Ruffini de Decretis.
+
+Summa Johannes Fuguntini de Decretis.
+
+Decretales Epistolae.
+
+Item Decretales Epistolae.
+
+Item Decretales Epistolae cum summa sic incipiente; Olim.
+Institutiones Justiniani cum autenticis et Infortiatio Digestum
+vetus.
+
+Tres partes cum digesto novo.
+
+Summa Placentini.
+
+Totum Corpus Juris in duobus voluminibus.
+
+Arismetica.
+
+Epistolae Senecae cum aliis Senecis in uno volumine.
+
+Martialis totus et Terentius in uno volumine.
+
+Morale dogma philosophorum.
+
+Gesta Alexandri et Liber Claudii et Claudiani.
+
+Summa Petri Heylae de Grammatica, cum multis allis rebus
+in uno volumine.
+
+Gesta Regis Henrica secunda et Genealogiae ejus.
+
+Interpretatione Hebraicorum nominum.
+
+Libellus de incarnatione verbi. Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad
+Eugenium papam.
+
+Missale.
+
+Vitae Sancti Thomae Martyris.[228]
+
+Miracula ejusdem in quinque voluminibus.
+
+Liber Richardi Plutonis, qui dicitur, unde Malum Meditationes
+Anselmi.
+
+Practica Bartholomaei cum multis allis rebus in uno volumine.
+
+Ars Physicae Pantegni, et practica ipsius in uno volumine.
+
+Almazor et Diascoridis de virtutibus herbarum.
+
+Liber Dinamidiorum et aliorum multorum in uno volumine.
+
+Libellus de Compoto.
+
+Sixty volumes! perhaps containing near 100 separate works, and all added
+to the library in the time of one abbot; surely this is enough to
+controvert the opinion that the monks cared nothing for books or
+learning, and let not the Justin, Seneca, Martial, Terence, and Claudian
+escape the eye of the reader, those monkish bookworms did care a little,
+it would appear, for classical literature. But what will he say to the
+fine Bibles that crown and adorn the list? The two complete copies of the
+_Vetus et Novum Testamentum_, and the many glossed portions of the sacred
+writ, reflect honor upon the Christian monk, and placed him conspicuously
+among the bible students of the middle ages; proving too, that while he
+could esteem the wisdom of Seneca, and the vivacity of Terence, and feel
+a deep interest in the secular history of his own times, he did not lose
+sight of the fountain of all knowledge, but gave to the Bible his first
+care, and the most prominent place on his library shelf. Besides the
+books which the abbots collected for the monastery, they often possessed
+a private selection for their own use; there are instances in which these
+collections were of great extent; some of which we shall notice, but
+generally speaking they seldom numbered many volumes. Thus Robert of
+Lyndeshye, who was abbot of Peterborough in 1214, only possessed six
+volumes, which were such as he constantly required for reference or
+devotion; they consisted of a Numerale Majestri W. de Montibus cum alliis
+rebus; Tropi Majestri Petri cum diversis summis; Sententiae Petri
+Pretanensis; Psalterium Glossatum; Aurora; Psalterium;[229] Historiale.
+These were books continually in requisition, and which he possessed to
+save the trouble of constantly referring to the library. His successor,
+abbot Holdernesse, possessed also twelve volumes,[230] and Walter of St.
+Edmundsbury Abbot, in 1233, had eighteen books, and among them a fine
+copy of the Bible for his private study. Robert of Sutton in 1262, also
+abbot of Peterborough, possessed a similar number, containing a copy of
+the Liber Naturalium Anstotelis; and his successor, Richard of London,
+among ten books which formed his private library, had the Consolation of
+Philosophy, a great favorite in the monasteries. In the year 1295 William
+of Wodeforde, collected twenty volumes, but less than that number
+constituted the library of Adam de Botheby, who was abbot of Peterborough
+many years afterwards, but among them I notice a Seneca, with thirty-six
+others contained in the same volume.[231]
+
+Abbot Godfrey, elected in the year 1299, was a great benefactor to the
+church, as we learn from Walter de Whytlesse, who gives a long list of
+donations made by him; among a vast quantity of valuables, "he gave to
+the church _two Bibles_, one of which was written in France," with about
+twenty other volumes. In the war which occurred during his abbacy,
+between John Baliol of Scotland and Edward I. of England, the Scots
+applied to the pope for his aid and council; his holiness deemed it his
+province to interfere, and directed letters to the king of England,
+asserting that the kingdom of Scotland appertained to the Church of Rome;
+in these letters he attempt to prove that it was opposed to justice, and,
+what he deemed of still greater importance, to the interests of the holy
+see, that the king of England should not have dominion over the kingdom
+of Scotland. The pope's messengers on this occasion were received by
+abbot Godfrey; Walter says that "He honorably received two cardinals at
+Peterborough with their retinues, who were sent by the pope to make peace
+between the English and the Scotch, and besides cheerfully entertaining
+them with food and drink, gave them divers presents; to one of the
+cardinals, named Gaucelin, he gave a certain psalter, beautifully written
+in letters of gold and purple, and marvellously illuminated, _literis
+aureis et assuris scriptum et mirabiliter luminatum_.[232] I give this
+anecdote to show how splendidly the monks inscribed those volumes
+designed for the service of the holy church. I ought to have mentioned
+before that Wulstan, archbishop of York, gave many rare and precious
+ornaments to Peterborough, nor should I omit a curious little book
+anecdote related of him. He was born at Jceritune in Warwickshire, and
+was sent by his parents to Evesham, and afterwards to Peterborough, where
+he gave great indications of learning. His schoolmaster, who was an
+Anglo-Saxon named Erventus, was a clever calligraphist, and is said to
+have been highly proficient in the art of illuminating; he instructed
+Wulstan in these accomplishments, who wrote under his direction a
+sacramentary and a psalter, and illuminated the capitals with many
+pictures painted in gold and colors; they were executed with so much
+taste that his master presented the sacramentary to Canute, and the
+psalter to his queen."[233]
+
+From these few facts relative to Peterborough Monastery, the reader will
+readily perceive how earnestly books were collected by the monks there,
+and will be somewhat prepared to learn that a catalogue of 1,680 volumes
+is preserved, which formerly constituted the library of that fraternity
+of bibliophiles. This fine old catalogue, printed by Gunton in his
+history of the abbey, covers fifty folio pages; it presents a faithful
+mirror of the literature of its day, and speaks well for the
+bibliomanical spirit of the monks of Peterborough. Volumes of patristic
+eloquence and pious erudition crowd the list; chronicles, poetry, and
+philosophical treatises are mingled with the titles of an abundant
+collection of classic works, full of the lore of the ancient world.
+Although the names may be similar to those which I have extracted from
+other catalogues, I must not omit to give a few of them; I find works
+of--
+
+Augustine.
+Ambrose.
+Albinus.
+Cassiodorus.
+Gregory.
+Cyprian.
+Seneca.
+Prosper.
+Tully.
+Bede.
+Basil.
+Lanfranc.
+Chrysostom.
+Jerome.
+Eusebius.
+Boethius.
+Isidore.
+Origin.
+Dionysius.
+Cassian.
+Bernard.
+Anselm.
+Alcuinus.
+Honorius.
+Donatus.
+Macer.
+Persius.
+Virgil.
+Isagoge of Porphry.
+Aristotle.
+Entyci Grammatica.
+Socrates.
+Ovid.
+Priscian.
+Hippocrates.
+Horace.
+Sedulus.
+Theodulus.
+Sallust.
+Macrobius.
+Cato.
+Prudentius.
+
+But although they possessed these fine authors and many others equally
+choice, I am not able to say much for the biblical department of their
+library, I should have anticipated a goodly store of the Holy Scriptures,
+but in these necessary volumes they were unusually poor. But I suspect
+the catalogue to have been compiled during the fifteenth century, and I
+fear too, that in that age the monks were growing careless of Scripture
+reading, or at least relaxing somewhat in the diligence of their studies;
+perhaps they devoured the attractive pages of Ovid, and loved to read his
+amorous tales more than became the holiness of their priestly
+calling.[234] At any rate we may observe a marked change as regards the
+prevalence of the Bible in monastic libraries between the twelfth and the
+fifteenth century. It is true we often find them in those of the later
+age; but sometimes they are entirely without, and frequently only in
+detached portions.[235] I may illustrate this by a reference to the
+library of the Abbey of St. Mary de la Pre at Leicester, which gloried in
+a collection of 600 volumes, of the choicest and almost venerable
+writers. It was written in the year 1477, by William Chartye,[236] prior
+of the abbey, and an old defective and worn out Bible, _Biblie defect et
+usit_, with some detached portions, was all that fine library contained
+of the Sacred Writ. The bible _defect et usit_ speaks volumes to the
+praise of the ancient monks of that house, for it was by their constant
+reading and study, that it had become so thumbed and worn; but it stamps
+with disgrace the affluent monks of the fifteenth century, who, while
+they could afford to buy, in the year 1470,[237] some thirty volumes with
+a Seneca, Ovid, Claudian, Macrobius, AEsop, etc., among them, and who
+found time to transcribe twice as many more, thought not of restoring
+their bible tomes, or adding one book of the Holy Scripture to their
+crowded shelves. But alas! monachal piety was waxing cool and indifferent
+then, and it is rare to find the honorable title of an _Amator
+Scripturarum_ affixed to a monkish name in the latter part of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[215] Gough's Hist. Croyland in Bibl. Top. Brit. xi. p. 3.
+
+[216] Inguph. in Gale's Script. tom. i. p. 53.
+
+[217] "Debit iste Abbas Egebricus communi bibliothecae clanstralium
+      monachorum magna volumina diversorum doctorum originalia numero
+      quadraginta; minora vero volumina de diversae tractatibus et
+      historiis, quae numerum centenarium excedibant." Ingul. p. 53.
+
+[218] The fire occurred in 1091. Ingulphus relates with painful
+      minuteness the progress of the work of destruction, and enumerates
+      all the rich treasures which those angry flames consumed. I should
+      have given a longer account of this event had not the Rev. Mr.
+      Maitland already done so in his interesting work on the "_Dark
+      Ages_."
+
+[219] Gale's Remin. Ang. Scrip. i. p. 98.
+
+[220] Ingulph. ap. Gale i. p. 25.
+
+[221] See Gunter's Peterborough, suppl. 263.
+
+[222] Hugo Candid, p. 31; Tamer Bib. Brit. et Hib. p. 175. Candidus
+      says, "Flos literaris disciplina, torrens eloquentiae, decus et norma
+      rerum divinarum et secularium."
+
+[223] Hugo Candid. ap. Sparke, Hist. Ang. Scrip. p. 41. Gunter's
+      Peterboro, p. 15, ed. 1686.
+
+[224] Hugo Candid. p. 42.
+
+[225] Leland de Scrip. Brit. p. 217.
+
+[226] Published by Hearne, 2 vol. 8vo. _Oxon._ 1735.
+
+[227] Rt. Swap. ap. Sparke, p. 97. "Erat. enin literarum scientiae
+      satis imbutus; regulari disciplina optime instructus; sapientia
+      seculari plenissime eruditus."
+
+[228] Swapham calls this "Egregium volumen," p. 98.
+
+[229] Now preserved in the library of the Society of Antiquaries.
+
+[230] Gunter, Peterborough, p. 29.
+
+[231] Ibid, p. 37.
+
+[232] Walter de Whytlesse apud Sparke, p. 173.
+
+[233] Gunter's Hist. of Peterborough, p. 259.
+
+[234] At any rate, we find about thirty volumes of Ovid's works
+      enumerated, and several copies of "de Arte Amandi," and "de Remedis
+      Amoris."
+
+[235] Let the reader examine Leland's Collect., and the Catalogues
+      printed in Hunter's Tract on Monastic Libraries. See also Catalogue
+      of Canterbury Library, MS. Cottonian Julius, c. iv. 4., in the
+      British Museum.
+
+[236] Printed by Nichols, in Appendix to Hist. of Leicester, from a
+      MS. Register. It contains almost as fine a collection of the
+      classics and fathers as that at Peterborough, just noticed,
+      Aristotle, Virgil, Plato, Ovid, Cicero, Euclid, Socrates, Horace,
+      Lucan, Seneca, etc., etc. are among them, pp. 101 to 108. It is
+      curious that Leland mentions only six MSS. as forming the library at
+      the time he visited the Abbey of Leicester, all its fine old volumes
+      were gone. He only arrived in time to pick up the crumbs.
+
+[237] At least during the time of William Charteys priorship. See
+      Nichols, p. 108.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+     _King Alfred an "amator librorum" and an author._
+
+
+The latter part of the tenth century was a most memorable period in the
+annals of monkish bibliomania, and gave birth to one of the brightest
+scholars that ever shone in the dark days of our Saxon forefathers. King
+Alfred, in honor of whose talents posterity have gratefully designated
+the Great, spread a fostering care over the feeble remnant of native
+literature which the Danes in their cruel depredations had left
+unmolested. The noble aspirations of this royal student and patron of
+learning had been instilled into his mind by the tender care of a fond
+parent. It was from the pages of a richly illuminated little volume of
+Saxon poetry, given to him by the queen as a reward for the facility with
+which he had mastered its contents, that he first derived that intense
+love of books which never forsook him, though the sterner duties of his
+after position frequently required his thoughts and energies in another
+channel. Having made himself acquainted with this little volume, Alfred
+found a thirst for knowledge grow upon him, and applied his youthful mind
+to study with the most zealous ardor; but his progress was considerably
+retarded, because he could not, at that time, find a Grammaticus capable
+of instructing him,[238] although he searched the kingdom of the West
+Saxons. Yet he soon acquired the full knowledge of his own language, and
+the Latin it is said he knew as well, and was able to use with a fluency
+equal to his native tongue; he could comprehend the meaning of the Greek,
+although perhaps he was incapable of using it to advantage. He was so
+passionately fond of books, and so devoted to reading, that he constantly
+carried about him some favorite volume which, as a spare moment occurred,
+he perused with the avidity of an _helluo librorum_. This pleasing
+anecdote related by Asser[239] is characteristic of his natural
+perseverance.
+
+When he ascended the throne, he lavished abundant favors upon all who
+were eminent for their literary acquirements; and displayed in their
+distribution the utmost liberality and discrimination. Asser, who
+afterwards became his biographer, was during his life the companion and
+associate of his studies, and it is from his pen we learn that, when an
+interval occurred inoccupied by his princely duties, Alfred stole into
+the quietude of his study to seek comfort and instruction from the pages
+of those choice volumes, which comprised his library. But Alfred was not
+a mere bookworm, a devourer of knowledge without purpose or without
+meditation of his own, he thought with a student's soul well and deeply
+upon what he read, and drew from his books those principles of
+philanthropy, and those high resolves, which did such honor to the Saxon
+monarch. He viewed with sorrow the degradation of his country, and the
+intellectual barrenness of his time; the warmest aspiration of his soul
+was to diffuse among his people a love for literature and science, to
+raise them above their Saxon sloth, and lead them to think of loftier
+matters than war and carnage. To effect this noble aim, the highest to
+which the talents of a monarch can be applied, he for a length of time
+devoted his mind to the translation of Latin authors into the vernacular
+tongue. In his preface to the Pastoral of Gregory which he translated, he
+laments the destruction of the old monastic libraries by the Danes. "I
+saw," he writes, "before alle were spoiled and burnt, how the churches
+throughout Britain were filled with treasures and books,"[240] which must
+have presented a striking contrast to the illiterate darkness which he
+tells us afterwards spread over his dominions, for there were then very
+few _paucissimi_ who could translate a Latin epistle into the Saxon
+language.
+
+When Alfred had completed the translation of Gregory's Pastoral, he sent
+a copy to each of his bishops accompanied with a golden stylus or
+pen,[241] thus conveying to them the hint that it was their duty to use
+it in the service of piety and learning. Encouraged by the favorable
+impression which this work immediately caused, he spared no pains to
+follow up the good design, but patiently applied himself to the
+translation of other valuable books which he rendered into as pleasing
+and expressive a version as the language of those rude times permitted.
+Besides these literary labors he also wrote many original volumes, and
+became a powerful orator, a learned grammarian, an acute philosopher, a
+profound mathematician, and the prince of Saxon poesy; with these exalted
+talents he united those of an historian, an architect, and an
+accomplished musician. A copious list of his productions, the length of
+which proves the fertility of his pen, will be found in the Biographica
+Britannica,[242] but names of others not there enumerated may be found
+in monkish chronicles; of his Manual, which was in existence in the time
+of William of Malmsbury, not a fragment has been found. The last of his
+labors was probably an attempt to render the psalms into the common
+language, and so unfold that portion of the Holy Scriptures to our Saxon
+ancestors.
+
+Alfred, with the assistance of the many learned men whom he had called to
+his court, restored the monasteries and schools of learning which the
+Danes had desecrated, and it is said founded the university of Oxford,
+where he built three halls, in the name of the Holy Trinity; for the
+doctors of divinity, philosophy, and grammar. The controversy which this
+subject has given rise to among the learned is too long to enter into
+here, although the matter is one of great interest to the scholar and to
+the antiquary.
+
+In the year 901, this royal bibliophile, "the victorious prince, the
+studious provider for widows, orphanes, and poore people, most perfect in
+Saxon poetrie, most liberall endowed with wisdome, fortitude, justice,
+and temperance, departed this life;"[243] and right well did he deserve
+this eulogy, for as an old chronicle says, he was "a goode clerke and
+rote many bokes, and a boke he made in Englysshe, of adventures of kynges
+and bataylles that had bene wne in the lande; and other bokes of gestes
+he them wryte, that were of greate wisdome, and of good learnynge, thrugh
+whych bokes many a man may him amende, that well them rede, and upon
+them loke. And thys kynge Allured lyeth at Wynchestre."[244]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[238] Flor. Vigorn. sub. anno. 871. Brompton's Chron. in Alferi, p.
+      814.
+
+[239] Asser de Alfredi Gestis., Edit. Camden i. p. 5. William
+      Malmsbury, b. ii. c. iv.
+
+[240] Preface to Pastoral.
+
+[241] Much controversy has arisen as to the precise meaning of this
+      word. _Hearne_ renders this passage "with certain macussus or marks
+      of gold the purest of his coin," which has led some to suppose gold
+      coinage was known among the Saxons. _William of Malmsbury_ calls it
+      a golden style in which was a maucus of gold. "In Alfred's Preface
+      it is called an AEstel of fifty macuses."--_V. Asser a Wise_, 86 to
+      175; but the meaning of that word is uncertain. The stylus properly
+      speaking was a small instrument formerly used for writing on waxen
+      tablets, and made of iron or bone, see _Archaeologia_, vol. ii. p.
+      75. But waxen tablets were out of use in Alfred's time. The AEstel or
+      style was most probably an instrument used by the scribes of the
+      monasteries, if it was not actually a pen. I am more strongly
+      disposed to consider it so by the evidence of an ancient MS.
+      illumination of Eadwine, a monk of Canterbury, in Trinity Coll.
+      Camb.; at the end of this MS. the scribe is represented with a
+      _metal pen in his hand_.
+
+[242] Vol. i. pp. 54, 55.
+
+[243] Stowe's Annals, 4to. 1615, p. 105.
+
+[244] Cronycle of Englonde with the Fruyte of Tymes, 4to. 1515.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+     _Benedict Biscop and his book
+     tours.--Bede.--Ceolfrid.--Wilfrid.--Boniface the Saxon
+     Missionary--His love of books.--Egbert of York.--Alcuin.--Whitby
+     Abbey.--Caedmon.--Classics in the Library of Withby.--Rievall
+     Library.--Coventry.--Worcester.--Evesham.--Thomas of Marleberg,
+     etc._
+
+
+The venerable Bede enables us to show that in the early Saxon days the
+monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow possessed considerable collections of
+books. Benedict Biscop, the most enthusiastic bibliomaniac of the age,
+founded the monastery of Wearmouth in the year 674, in honor of the "Most
+Holy Prince of the Apostles." His whole soul was in the work, he spared
+neither pains or expense to obtain artists of well known and reputed
+talent to decorate the holy edifice; not finding them at home, he
+journeyed to Gaul in search of them, and returned accompanied by numerous
+expert and ingenious workmen. Within a year the building was
+sufficiently advanced to enable the monks to celebrate divine service
+there. He introduced glass windows and other ornaments into his church,
+and furnished it with numerous books of all descriptions, _innumerabilem
+librorum omnis generis_. Benedict was so passionately fond of books that
+he took five journeys to Rome for the purpose of collecting them. In his
+third voyage he gathered together a large quantity on divine erudition;
+some of these he bought, or received them as presents from his friends,
+_vel amicorum dono largitos retulit_. When he arrived at Vienne on his
+way home, he collected others which he had commissioned his friends to
+purchase for him.[245] After the completion of his monastery he undertook
+his fourth journey to Rome; he obtained from the Pope many privileges for
+the abbey, and returned in the year 680, bringing with him many more
+valuable books; he was accompanied by John the Chantor, who introduced
+into the English churches the Roman method of singing. He was also a
+great _amator librorum_, and left many choice manuscripts to the monks,
+which Bede writes "were still preserved in their library." It was about
+this time that Ecgfrid[246] gave Benedict a portion of land on the other
+side of the river Wire, at a place called Jarrow; and that enterprising
+and industrious abbot, in the year 684, built a monastery thereon. No
+sooner was it completed, than he went a fifth time to Rome to search for
+volumes to gratify his darling passion. This was the last, but perhaps
+the most successful of his foreign tours, for he brought back with him a
+vast quantity of sacred volumes and curious pictures.[247] How deeply is
+it to be regretted that the relation of the travels which Ceolfrid his
+successor undertook, and which it is said his own pen inscribed, has been
+lost to us forever. He probably spoke much of Benedict in the volume and
+recorded his book pilgrimages. How dearly would the bibliomaniac revel
+over those early annals of his science, could his eye meet those
+venerable pages--perhaps describing the choice tomes Benedict met with in
+his Italian tours, and telling us how, and what, and where he gleaned
+those fine collections; sweet indeed would have been the perusal of that
+delectable little volume, full of the book experience of a bibliophile in
+Saxon days, near twelve hundred years ago! But the ravages of time or the
+fury of the Danes deprived us of this rare gem, and we are alone
+dependent on Bede for the incidents connected with the life of this great
+man; we learn from that venerable author that Benedict was seized with
+the palsy on his return, and that languishing a few short years, he died
+in the year 690; but through pain and suffering he often dwelt on the
+sweet treasures of his library, and his solemn thoughts of death and
+immortality were intermixed with many a fond bookish recollection. _His
+most noble and abundant library which he brought from Rome_ he constantly
+referred to, and gave strict injunctions that the monks should apply the
+utmost care to the preservation of that rich and costly treasure, in the
+collection of which so many perils and anxious years were spent.[248]
+
+We all know the force of example, and are not surprised that the sweet
+mania which ruled so potently over the mind of Benedict, spread itself
+around the crowned head of royalty. Perhaps book collecting was beginning
+to make "a stir," and the rich and powerful among the Saxons were
+regarding strange volumes with a curious eye. Certain it is that Egfride,
+or AElfride, the proud king of Northumbria,[249] fondly coveted a
+beautiful copy of the geographer's (_codice mirandi operis_), which
+Benedict numbered among his treasures; and so eagerly too did he desire
+its possession, that he gave in exchange a portion of eight hides of
+land, near the river Fresca, for the volume; and Ceolfrid, Benedict's
+successor, received it.
+
+How useful must Benedict's library have been in ripening the mind that
+was to cast a halo of immortality around that old monastery, and to
+generate a renown which was long to survive the grey walls of that costly
+fane; for whilst we now fruitlessly search for any vestiges of its former
+being, we often peruse the living pages of Bede the venerable with
+pleasure and instruction, and we feel refreshed by the breath of piety
+and devotion which they unfold; yet it must be owned the superstition of
+Rome will sometimes mar a devout prayer and the simplicity of a Christian
+thought. But all honor to his manes and to his memory! for how much that
+is admirable in the human character--how much sweet and virtuous humility
+was hid in him, in the strict retirement of the cloister. The writings of
+that humble monk outlive the fame of many a proud ecclesiastic or haughty
+baron of his day; and well they might, for how homely does his pen record
+the simple annals of that far distant age. Much have the old monks been
+blamed for their bad Latin and their humble style; but far from
+upbraiding, I would admire them for it; for is not the inelegance of
+diction which their unpretending chronicles display, sufficiently
+compensated by their charming simplicity. As for myself, I have sometimes
+read them by the blaze of my cheerful hearth, or among the ruins of some
+old monastic abbey,[250] till in imagination I beheld the events which
+they attempt to record, and could almost hear the voice of the "_goode
+olde monke_" as he relates the deeds of some holy man--in language so
+natural and idiomatic are they written.
+
+But as we were saying, Bede made ample use of Benedict's library; and the
+many Latin and Greek books, which he refers to in the course of his
+writings, were doubtless derived from that source.[251] Ceolfrid, the
+successor of Benedict, "a man of great zeal, of acute wisdom, and bold in
+action," was a great lover of books, and under his care the libraries of
+Wearmouth and Jarrow became nearly doubled in extent; of the nature of
+these additions we are unable to judge, but probably they were not
+contemptible.[252]
+
+Wilfrid, bishop of Northumbria, was a dear and intimate friend of
+Biscop's, and was the companion of one of his pilgrimages to Rome. In his
+early youth he gave visible signs of a heart full of religion and piety,
+and he sought by a steady perusal of the Holy Scriptures, in the little
+monastery of Lindesfarne, to garnish his mind with that divine lore with
+which he shone so brightly in the Saxon church. It was at the court of
+Ercenbyrht, king of Kent, that he met with Benedict Biscop; and the
+sympathy which their mutual learning engendered gave rise to a warm and
+devoted friendship between them. Both inspired with an ardent desire to
+visit the apostolic see, they set out together for Rome;[253] and it was
+probably by the illustrious example of his fellow student and companion,
+that Wilfrid imbibed that book-loving passion which he afterwards
+displayed on more than one occasion. On his return from Rome, Alfred of
+Northumbria bestowed upon him the monastery of Rhypum[254] in the year
+661, and endowed it with certain lands. Peter of Blois records, in his
+life of Wilfrid, that this "man of God" gave the monastery a copy of the
+gospels, a library, and many books of the Old and New Testament, with
+certain tablets made with marvellous ingenuity, and ornamented with gold
+and precious stones.[255] Wilfrid did not long remain in the monastery of
+Ripon, but advanced to higher honors, and took a more active part in the
+ecclesiastical affairs of the time.[256] But I am not about to pursue his
+history, or to attempt to show how his hot and imperious temper, or the
+pride and avarice of his disposition, wrought many grievous animosities
+in the Saxon church; or how by his prelatical ambition he deservedly lost
+the friendship of his King and his ecclesiastical honors.[257]
+
+About this time, and contemporary with Bede, we must not omit one who
+appears as a bright star in the early Christian church. Boniface,[258]
+the Saxon missionary, was remarked by his parents to manifest at an early
+age signs of that talent which in after years achieved so much, and
+advanced so materially the interests of piety and the cause of
+civilization. When scarcely four years old his infant mind seemed prone
+to study, which growing upon him as he increased in years, his parent
+placed him in the monastery of Exeter. His stay there was not of long
+duration, for he shortly after removed to a monastery in Hampshire under
+the care of Wybert. In seclusion and quietude he there studied with
+indefatigable ardor, and fortified his mind with that pious enthusiasm
+and profound erudition, which enabled him in a far distant country to
+render such service to the church. He was made a teacher, and when
+arrived at the necessary age he was ordained priest. In the year 710, a
+dispute having occurred among the western church of the Saxons, he was
+appointed to undertake a mission to the archbishop of Canterbury on the
+subject. Pleased perhaps with the variety and bustle of travel, and
+inspired with a holy ambition, he determined to attempt the conversion of
+the German people, who, although somewhat acquainted with the gospel
+truths, had nevertheless deviated materially from the true faith, and
+returned again to their idolatry and paganism. Heedless of the danger of
+the expedition, but looking forward only to the consummation of his fond
+design, he started on his missionary enterprise, accompanied by one or
+two of his monkish brethren.
+
+He arrived at Friesland in the year 716, and proceeded onwards to
+Utrecht; but disappointments and failures awaited him. The revolt of the
+Frieslanders and the persecution then raging there against the
+Christians, dissipated his hopes of usefulness; and with a heavy heart,
+no doubt, Boniface retraced his steps, and re-embarked for his English
+home. Yet hope had not deserted him--his philanthropic resolutions were
+only delayed for a time; for no sooner had the dark clouds of persecution
+passed away than his adventurous spirit burst forth afresh, and shone
+with additional lustre and higher aspirations. After an interval of two
+years we find him again starting on another Christian mission. On
+reaching France he proceeded immediately to Rome, and procured admission
+to the Pope, who, ever anxious for the promulgation of the faith and for
+the spiritual dominion of the Roman church, highly approved of the
+designs of Boniface, and gave him letters authorizing his mission among
+the Thuringians; invested with these powers and with the pontifical
+blessing, he took his departure from the holy city, well stored with the
+necessary ornaments and utensils for the performance of the
+ecclesiastical rites, besides a number of books to instruct the heathens
+and to solace his mind amidst the cares and anxieties of his travels.
+After some few years the fruits of his labor became manifest, and in 723
+he had baptized vast multitudes in the true faith. His success was
+perhaps unparalleled in the early annals of the church, and remind us of
+the more recent wonders wrought by the Jesuit missionaries in India.[259]
+Elated with these happy results, far greater than even his sanguine mind
+had anticipated, he sent a messenger to the Pope to acquaint his holiness
+of these vast acquisitions to his flock, and soon after he went himself
+to Rome to receive the congratulations and thanks of the Pontiff; he was
+then made bishop, and entrusted with the ecclesiastical direction of the
+new church. After his return, he spent many years in making fresh
+converts and maintaining the discipline of the faithful. But all these
+labors and these anxieties were terminated by a cruel and unnatural
+death; on one of his expeditions he was attacked by a body of pagans, who
+slew him and nearly the whole of his companions, but it is not here that
+a Christian must look for his reward--he must rest his hopes on the
+benevolence and mercy of his God in a distant and far better world. He
+who would wish to trace more fully these events, and so catch a glimpse
+of the various incidents which touch upon the current of his life, must
+not keep the monk constantly before his mind, he must sometimes forget
+him in that capacity and regard him as a _student_, and that too in the
+highest acceptation of the term. His youthful studies, which I have said
+before were pursued with unconquerable energy, embraced grammar, poetry,
+rhetoric, history, and the exposition of the Holy Scriptures; the Bible,
+indeed, he read unceasingly, and drew from it much of the vital truth
+with which it is inspired; but he perhaps too much tainted it with
+traditional interpretation and patristical logic. A student's life is
+always interesting; like a rippling stream, its unobtrusive gentle course
+is ever pleasing to watch, and the book-worms seems to find in it the
+counterpart of his own existence. Who can read the life and letters of
+the eloquent Cicero, or the benevolent Pliny, without the deepest
+interest; or mark their anxious solicitude after books, without sincere
+delight. Those elegant epistles reflect the image of their private
+studies, and so to behold Boniface in a student's garb, to behold his
+love of books and passion for learning, we must alike have recourse to
+his letters.
+
+The epistolary correspondence of the middle ages is a mirror of those
+times, far more faithful as regards their social condition than the old
+chronicles and histories designed for posterity; written in the
+reciprocity of friendly civilities, they contain the outpourings of the
+heart, and enable us to peep into the secret thoughts and motives of the
+writer; "for out of the fulness of the hearth the mouth speaketh."
+Turning over the letters of Boniface, we cannot but be forcibly struck
+with his great knowledge of Scripture; his mind seems to have been quite
+a concordance in itself, and we meet with epistles almost solely framed
+of quotations from the sacred books, in substantiation of some principle,
+or as grounds for some argument advanced. These are pleasurable
+instances, and convey a gentle hint that the greater plenitude of the
+Bible has not, in all cases, emulated us to study it with equal energy;
+there are few who would now surpass the Saxon bishop in biblical reading.
+
+Most students have felt, at some period or other, a thirst after
+knowledge without the means of assuaging it--have felt a craving after
+books when their pecuniary circumstances would not admit of their
+acquisition, such will sympathize with Boniface, the student in the wilds
+of Germany, who, far from monastic libraries, sorely laments in some of
+his letters this great deprivation, and entreats his friends, sometimes
+in most piteous terms, to send him books. In writing to Daniel, Bishop of
+Winchester, he asks for copies, and begs him to send the book of the six
+prophets, clearly and distinctly transcribed, and in large letters
+because his sight he says was growing weak; and because the book of the
+prophets was much wanted in Germany, and could not be obtained except
+written so obscurely, and the letters so confusedly joined together, as
+to be scarcely readable _ac connexas litteras discere non possum_.[260]
+To "Majestro Lul" he writes for the productions of bishop Aldhelm, and
+other works of prose, poetry, and rhyme, to console him in his
+peregrinations _ad consolationem peregrinationis meae_.[261] With Abbess
+Eadburge he frequently corresponded, and received from her many choice
+and valuable volumes, transcribed by her nuns and sometimes by her own
+hands; at one period he writes in glowing terms and with a grateful pen
+for the books thus sent him, and at another time he sends for a copy of
+the Gospels. "Execute," says he, "a glittering lamp for our hands, and so
+illuminate the hearts of the Gentiles to a study of the Gospels and to
+the glory of Christ; and intercede, I pray thee, with your pious prayers
+for these pagans who are committed by the apostles to our care, that by
+the mercy of the Saviour of the world they may be delivered from their
+idolatrous practices, and united to the congregation of mother church, to
+the honor of the Catholic faith, and to the praise and glory of His name,
+who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
+truth."[262]
+
+All this no doubt the good abbess faithfully fulfilled; and stimulated by
+his friendship and these encouraging epistles, she set all the pens in
+her monastery industriously to work, and so gratified the Saxon
+missionary with those book treasures, which his soul so ardently loved;
+certain it is, that we frequently find him thanking her for books, and
+with famishing eagerness craving for more; one of his letters,[263] full
+of gratitude, he accompanies with a present of a silver graphium, or
+writing instrument, and soon after we find him thus addressing her:
+
+     "To the most beloved sister, Abbess Eadburge, and all now joined
+     to her house and under her spiritual care. Boniface, the meanest
+     servant of God, wisheth eternal health in Christ."
+
+"My dearest sister, may your assistance be abundantly rewarded hereafter
+in the mansions of the angels and saints above, for the kind presents of
+books which you have transmitted to me. Germany rejoices in their
+spiritual light and consolation, because they have spread lustre into,
+the dark hearts of the German people; for except we have a lamp to guide
+our feet, we may, in the words of the Lord, fall into the snares of
+death. Moreover, through thy gifts I earnestly hope to be more diligent,
+so that my country may be honored, my sins forgiven, and myself protected
+from the perils of the sea and the violence of the tempest; and that He
+who dwells on high may lightly regard my transgression, and give
+utterance to the words of my mouth, that the Gospel may have free course,
+and be glorified among men to the honor of Christ."[264]
+
+Writing to Egbert, Archbishop of York, of whose bibliomaniacal character
+and fine library we have yet to speak, Boniface thanks that illustrious
+collector for the choice volumes he had kindly sent him, and further
+entreats Egbert to procure for him transcripts of the smaller works
+_opusculi_ and other tracts of Bede, "who, I hear," he writes, "has, by
+the divine grace of the Holy Spirit, been permitted to spread such
+lustre over your country."[265] These, that kind and benevolent prelate
+sent to him with other books, and received a letter full of gratitude in
+return, but with all the boldness of a hungry student still asking for
+more! especially for Bede's Commentary on the Parables of Solomon.[266]
+He sents to Archbishop Nothelm for a copy of the Questions of St.
+Augustine to Pope Gregory, with the answers of the pope, which he says he
+could not obtain from Rome; and in writing to Cuthbert, also Archbishop
+of Canterbury, imploring the aid of his earnest prayers, he does not
+forget to ask for books, but hopes that he may be speedily comforted with
+the works of Bede, of whose writings he was especially fond, and was
+constantly sending to his friends for transcripts of them. In a letter to
+Huetberth he writes for the "most sagacious dissertations of the monk
+Bede,"[267] and to the Abbot Dudde he sends a begging message for the
+Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans and to the
+Corinthians[268] by the same. In a letter to Lulla, Bishop of Coena, he
+deplores the want of books on the phenomena and works of nature, which,
+he says, were _omnio incognitum_ there, and asks for a book on
+Cosmography;[269] and on another occasion Lulla supplied Boniface with
+many portions of the Holy Scriptures, and Commentaries upon them.[270]
+Many more of his epistles might be quoted to illustrate the Saxon
+missionary as an "_amator librorum_," and to display his profound
+erudition. In one of his letters we find him referring to nearly all the
+celebrated authors of the church, and so aptly, that we conclude he must
+have had their works on his desk, and was deeply read in patristical
+theology. Boniface has been fiercely denounced for his strong Roman
+principles, and for his firm adherence to the interests of the pope.[271]
+Of his theological errors, or his faults as a church disciplinarian, I
+have nothing here to do, but leave that delicate question to the
+ecclesiastical historian, having vindicated his character from the charge
+of ignorance, and displayed some pleasing traits which he evinced as a
+student and book-collector. It only remains to be mentioned, that many of
+the membranous treasures, which Boniface had so eagerly searched for and
+collected from all parts, were nearly lost forever. The pagans, who
+murdered Boniface and his fellow-monks, on entering their tents,
+discovered little to gratify their avarice, save a few relics and a
+number of books, which, with a barbarism corresponding with their
+ignorance, they threw into the river as useless; but fortunately, some of
+the monks, who had escaped from their hands, observing the transaction,
+recovered them and carried them away in safety with the remains of the
+martyred missionary, who was afterwards canonized Saint Boniface.
+
+The must remarkable book collector contemporary with Boniface, was Egbert
+of York, between whom, as we have seen, a bookish correspondence was
+maintained. This illustrious prelate was brother to King Egbert, of
+Northumbria, and received his education under Bishop Eata, at Hexham,
+about the year 686. He afterwards went on a visit to the Apostolic See,
+and on his return was made Archbishop of York.[272] He probably collected
+at Rome many of the fine volumes which comprised his library, and which
+was so celebrated in those old Saxon days; and which will be ever
+renowned in the annals of ancient bibliomania. The immortal Alcuin sang
+the praises of this library in a tedious lay; and what glorious tomes of
+antiquity he there enumerates! But stay, my pen should tarry whilst I
+introduce that worthy bibliomaniac to my reader, and relate some
+necessary anecdotes and facts connected with his early life and times.
+
+Alcuin was born in England, and probably in the immediate vicinity of
+York; he was descended from affluent and noble parents; but history is
+especially barren on this subject, and we have no information to instruct
+us respecting the antiquity of his Saxon ancestry. But if obscurity hangs
+around his birth, so soon as he steps into the paths of learning and
+ranks with the students of his day, we are no longer in doubt or
+perplexity; but are able from that period to his death to trace the
+occurrences of his life with all the ease that a searcher of monkish
+history can expect. He had the good fortune to receive his education from
+Egbert, and under his care he soon became initiated into the mysteries of
+grammar, rhetoric, and jurisprudence; which were relieved by the more
+fascinating study of poetry, physics, and astronomy.[273] So much was he
+esteemed by his master the archbishop, that he entrusted him with a
+mission to Rome, to receive from the hands of the Pope his pall; on his
+return he called at Parma, where he had an interview with Charles the
+Great; who was so captivated with his eloquence and erudition that he
+eagerly entreated him to remain, and to aid in diffusing throughout his
+kingdom the spirit of that knowledge which he had so successfully
+acquired in the Saxon monasteries. But Alcuin was equally anxious for the
+advancement of literature in his own country; and being then on a mission
+connected with his church, he could do no more than hold out a promise of
+consulting his superiors, to whose decisions he considered himself bound
+to submit.
+
+During the dominion of Charles, the ecclesiastical as well as the
+political institutions of France, were severely agitated by heresy and
+war: the two great questions of the age--the Worship of Images and the
+Nature of Christ--divided and perplexed the members of a church which had
+hitherto been permitted to slumber in peace and quietude. The most
+prominent of the heretics was Felix, Bishop of Urgel, who maintained in
+a letter to Elipand, Bishop of Toledo, that Christ was only the Son of
+God by adoption. It was about the time of the convocation of the Council
+of Frankfort, assembled to consider this point, that Alcuin returned to
+France at the earnest solicitation of Charlemagne. When the business of
+the council was terminated, and peace was somewhat restored, Alcuin began
+to think of returning to his native country; but England at that time was
+a land of bloodshed and tribulation, in the midst of which it would be
+vain to hope for retirement or the blessings of study; after some
+deliberation, therefore, Alcuin resolved to remain in France, where there
+was at least a wide field for exertion and usefulness. He communicates
+his intention in a letter to Offa, King of Mercia. "I was prepared," says
+he, "to come to you with the presents of King Charles, and to return to
+my country; but it seemed more advisable to me for the peace of my nation
+to remain abroad; not knowing what I could have done among those persons
+with whom no man can be secure or able to proceed in any laudable
+pursuit. See every holy place laid desolate by pagans, the altars
+polluted by perjury, the monasteries dishonored by adultery, the earth
+itself stained with the blood of rulers and of princes."[274]
+
+After the elapse of many years spent in the brilliant court of Charles,
+during which time it surpassed in literary greatness any epoch that
+preceded it, he was permitted to seek retirement within the walls of the
+abbey of St. Martin's at Tours. But in escaping from the bustle and
+intrigue of public life he did not allow his days to pass away in an
+inglorious obscurity; but sought to complete his earthly career by
+inspiring the rising generation with an honorable and christian ambition.
+His cloistered solitude, far from weakening, seems to have augmented the
+fertility of his genius, for it was in the quiet seclusion of this
+monastery that Alcuin composed the principal portion of his works; nor
+are these writings an accumulation of monastic trash, but the fruits of
+many a solitary hour spent in studious meditation. His method is perhaps
+fantastic and unnatural; but his style is lively, and often elegant. His
+numerous quotations and references give weight and interest to his
+writings, and clearly proves what a fine old library was at his command,
+and how well he knew the use of it. But for the elucidation of his
+character as a student, or a bibliomaniac, we naturally turn to the huge
+mass of his epistles which have been preserved; and in them we find a
+constant reference to books which shew his intimacy with the classics as
+well as the patristical lore of the church. In biblical literature he
+doubtless possessed many a choice and venerable tome; for an
+indefatigable scripture reader was that great man. In a curious little
+work of his called "_Interrogationes et Responsiones sui Liber
+Questionorum in Genesim_," we find an illustration of his usefulness in
+spreading the knowledge he had gained in this department of learning. It
+was written expressly for his pupil and dearest brother (_carissime
+frater_), Sigulf, as we learn from a letter which accompanies it. He
+tells him that he had composed it "that he might always have near him the
+means of refreshing his memory when the more ponderous volumes of the
+sacred Scriptures were not at his immediate call."[275] Perhaps of all
+his works this is the least deserving of our praise; the good old monk
+was apt to be prolix, if not tedious, when he found the _stylus_ in his
+hand and a clean skin of parchment spread invitingly before him. But as
+this work was intended as a manual to be consulted at any time, he was
+compelled to curb this propensity, and to reduce his explications to a
+few concise sentences. Writing under this restraint, we find little
+bearing the stamp of originality, not because he had nothing original to
+say, but because he had not space to write it in; I think it necessary to
+give this explanation, as some critics upon the learning of that remote
+age select these small and ill-digested writings as fair specimens of the
+literary capacity of the time, without considering why they were written
+or compiled at all. But as a scribe how shall we sufficiently praise that
+great man when we take into consideration the fine Bible which he
+executed for Charlemagne, and which is now fortunately preserved in the
+British Museum. It is a superb copy of St. Jerome's Latin version, freed
+from the inaccuracies of the scribes; he commenced it about the year 778,
+and did not complete it till the year 800, a circumstance which indicates
+the great care he bestowed upon it. When finished he sent it to Rome by
+his friend and disciple, Nathaniel, who presented it to Charlemagne on
+the day of his coronation: it was preserved by that illustrious monarch
+to the last day of his life. Alcuin makes frequent mention of this work
+being in progress, and speaks of the labor he was bestowing upon it.[276]
+We, who blame the monks for the scarcity of the Bible among them, fail to
+take into consideration the immense labor attending the transcriptions of
+so great a volume; plodding and patience were necessary to complete it.
+The history of this biblical gem is fraught with interest, and well worth
+relating. It is supposed to have been given to the monastery of Prum in
+Lorraine by Lothaire, the grandson of Charlemagne, who became a monk of
+that monastery. In the year 1576 this religious house was dissolved, but
+the monks preserved the manuscript, and carried it into Switzerland to
+the abbey of Grandis Vallis, near Basle, where it reposed till the year
+1793, when, on the occupation of the episcopal territory of Basle by the
+French, all the property of the abbey was confiscated and sold, and the
+MS. under consideration came into the possession of M. Bennot, from whom,
+in 1822, it was purchased by M. Speyr Passavant, who brought it into
+general notice, and offered it for sale to the French Government at the
+price of 60,000 francs; this they declined, and its proprietor struck of
+nearly 20,000 francs from the amount; still the sum was deemed
+exorbitant, and with all their bibliomanical enthusiasm, the conservers
+of the Royal Library allowed the treasure to escape. M. Passavant
+subsequently brought it to England, where it was submitted to the Duke of
+Sussex, still without success. He also applied to the trustees of the
+British Museum, and Sir F. Madden informs us that "much correspondence
+took place; at first he asked 12,000_l._ for it; then 8,000_l._, and at
+last 6,500_l._, which he declared an _immense sacrifice!!_ At length,
+finding he could not part with his MS. on terms so absurd, he resolved to
+sell it if possible by auction; and accordingly, on the 27th of April,
+1836, the Bible was knocked down by Mr. Evans for the sum of 1,500_l._,
+but for the proprietor himself, as there was not one real bidding for it.
+This result having brought M. Speyr Passavant in some measure to his
+senses, overtures were made to him on the part of the trustees to the
+British Museum, and the manuscript finally became the property of the
+nation, for the comparatively small sum of 750_l._" There can be no doubt
+as to the authenticity of this precious volume, the verses of Alcuin's,
+found in the manuscript, sufficiently prove it, for he alone could
+write--
+
+    "Is Carolus qui jam Scribe jussit eum."
+         .     .     .     .     .     .     .
+    "Haec Dator AEternus cunctorum Christe bonorum,
+     Munera de donis accipe sancta tuis,
+     Quae Pater Albinus devoto pectore supplex
+     Nominus ad laudem obtulit ecce tui."
+
+Other proofs are not wanting of Alcuin's industry as a scribe, or his
+enthusiasm as an _amator librorum_. Mark the rapture with which he
+describes the library of York Cathedral, collected by Egbert:
+
+    "Illic invenies veterum vestigia Patrum,
+     Quidquid habet pro se Latio Romanus in orbe,
+     Graecia vel quidquid transmisit Clara Latinis.
+     Hebraicus vel quod populus bibet imbre superno
+     Africa lucifluo vel quidquid lumine sparsit.
+     Quod Pater Hieronymus quod sensit Hilarius, atque
+     Ambrosius Praesul simul Augustinus, et ipse
+     Sanctus Athanasius, quod Orosius, edit avitus:
+     Quidquid Gregorius summus docet, et Leo Papa;
+     Basilius quidquid, Fulgentius atque coruscant
+     Cassiodorus item, Chrysostomus atque Johannes:
+     Quidquid et Athelmus docuit, quid Beda Magister,
+     Quae Victorinus scripsere, Boetius; atque
+     Historici veteres, Pompeius, Plinius, ipse
+     Acer Aristoteles, Rhetor quoque Tullius ingens;
+     Quidquoque Sedulius, vel quid canit ipse Invencus,
+     Alcuinus, et Clemens, Prosper, Paulinus, Arator.
+     Quid Fortunatus, vel quid Lactantius edunt;
+     Quae Maro Virgilius, Statius, Lucanus, et auctor
+     Artis Grammaticae, vel quid scripsere magistri;
+     Quid Probus atque Focas, Donatus, Priscian usve,
+     Sevius, Euticius, Pompeius, Commenianus,
+     Invenies alios perplures, lector, ibidem
+     Egregios studiis, arte et sermone magistros
+     Plurima qui claro scripsere volumina sensu:
+     Nomina sed quorum praesenti in carmine scribi
+     Longius est visum, quam plectri postulet usus."[277]
+
+Often did Alcuin think of these goodly times with a longing heart, and
+wish that he could revel among them whilst in France. How deeply would he
+have regretted, how many tears would he have shed over the sad
+destruction of that fine library, had he have known it; but his bones had
+mingled with the dust when the Danes dispersed those rare gems of ancient
+lore. If the reader should doubt the ardor of Alcuin as a book-lover, let
+him read the following letter, addressed to Charlemagne, which none but
+a bibliomaniac could pen.
+
+"I, your Flaccus, according to your admonitions and good-will, administer
+to some in the house of St. Martin, the sweets of the Holy Scriptures,
+_Sanctarum mella Scripturarum_: others I inebriate with the study of
+ancient wisdom; and others I fill with the fruits of grammatical lore.
+Many I seek to instruct in the order of the stars which illuminate the
+glorious vault of heaven; so that they may be made ornaments to the holy
+church of God and the court of your imperial majesty; that the goodness
+of God and your kindness may not be altogether unproductive of good. But
+in doing this I discover the want of much, especially those exquisite
+books of scholastic learning, which I possessed in my own country,
+through the industry of my good and most devout master (Egbert). I
+therefore intreat your Excellence to permit me to send into Britain some
+of our youths to procure those books which we so much desire, and thus
+transplant into France the flowers of Britain, that they may fructify and
+perfume, not only the garden at York, but also the Paradise of Tours; and
+that we may say, in the words of the song, '_Let my beloved come into his
+garden and eat his pleasant fruit_;' and to the young, '_Eat, O friends;
+drink, yea, drink, abundantly, O beloved_;' or exhort, in the words of
+the prophet Isaiah, '_every one that thirsteth to come to the waters, and
+ye that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk
+without money and without price_.'
+
+"Your Majesty is not ignorant how earnestly we are exhorted throughout
+the Holy Scriptures to search after wisdom; nothing so tends to the
+attainment of a happy life; nothing more delightful or more powerful in
+resisting vice; nothing more honorable to an exalted dignity; and,
+according to philosophy, nothing more needful to a just government of a
+people. Thus Solomon exclaims, '_Wisdom is better than rubies, and all
+the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it_.' It
+exalteth the humble with sublime honors. '_By wisdom kings reign and
+princes decree justice: by me princes rule; and nobles, even all the
+judges of the earth. Blessed are they that keep my ways, and blessed is
+the man that heareth me._' Continue, then, my Lord King, to exhort the
+young in the palaces of your highness to earnest pursuit in acquiring
+wisdom; that they may be honored in their old age, and ultimately enter
+into a blessed immortality. I shall truly, according to my ability,
+continue to sow in those parts the seeds of wisdom among your servants;
+remembering the command, '_In the morning sow thy seed, and in the
+evening withhold not thine hand._' In my youth I sowed the seeds of
+learning in the prosperous seminaries of Britain; and now, in my old age,
+I am doing so in France without ceasing, praying that the grace of God
+may bless them in both countries."[278]
+
+Such was the enthusiasm, such the spirit of bibliomania, which actuated
+the monks of those _bookless_ days; and which was fostered with such
+zealous care by Alcuin, in the cloisters of St. Martin of Tours. He
+appropriated one of the apartments of the monastery for the transcription
+of books, and called it the _museum_, in which constantly were employed a
+numerous body of industrious scribes: he presided over them himself, and
+continually exhorted them to diligence and care; to guard against the
+inadvertencies of unskilful copyists, he wrote a small work on
+orthography. We cannot estimate the merits of this essay, for only a
+portion of it has been preserved; but in the fragment printed among his
+works, we can see much that might have been useful to the scribes, and
+can believe that it must have tended materially to preserve the purity of
+ancient texts. It consists of a catalogue of words closely resembling
+each other, and consequently requiring the utmost care in
+transcribing.[279]
+
+In these pleasing labors Alcuin was assisted by many of the most learned
+men of the time, and especially by Arno, Archbishop of Salzburgh, in
+writing to whom Alcuin exclaims, "O that I could suddenly translate my
+_Abacus_, and with my own hands quickly embrace your fraternity with that
+warmth which cannot be compressed in books. Nevertheless, because I
+cannot conveniently come, I send more frequently my unpolished letters
+(_rusticitatis meae litteras_) to thee, that they may speak for me instead
+of the words of my mouth." This Arno, to whom he thus affectionately
+writes, was no despicable scholar; he was a true lover of literature, and
+proved himself something of an _amator librorum_, by causing to be
+transcribed or bought for his use, 150 volumes,[280] but about this
+period the bookloving mania spread far and wide--the Emperor himself was
+touched with the enthusiasm; for, besides his choice private
+collections,[281] he collected together the ponderous writings of the
+holy fathers, amounting to upwards of 200 volumes, bound in a most
+sumptuous manner, and commanded them to be deposited in a public temple
+and arranged in proper order, so that those who could not purchase such
+treasures might be enabled to feast on the lore of the ancients. Thus did
+bibliomania flourish in the days of old.
+
+But I must not be tempted to remain longer in France, though the names of
+many choice old book collectors would entice me to do so. When I left
+England, to follow the steps of Alcuin, I was speaking of York, which
+puts me in mind of the monastery of Whitby,[282] in the same shire, on
+the banks of the river Eske. It was founded by Hilda, the virgin daughter
+of Hereric, nephew to King Edwin, about the year 680, who was its first
+abbess. Having put her monastery in regular order, Hilda set an
+illustrious example of piety and virtue, and particularly directed all
+under her care to a constant reading of the holy Scriptures. After a long
+life of usefulness and zeal she died deeply lamented by the Saxon
+Church,[283] an event which many powerful miracles commemorated.
+
+In the old times of the Saxons the monastery of Whitby was renowned for
+its learning; and many of the celebrated ecclesiastics of the day
+received their instruction within its walls. The most interesting
+literary anecdote connected with the good lady Hilda's abbacy, is the
+kind reception she gave to the Saxon poet Caedmon, whose paraphrase of the
+Book of Genesis has rendered his name immortal. He was wont to make
+"pious and religious verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out
+of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expression of much
+sweetness and humility in English, which was his native language. By his
+verses the minds of many were often excited to despise the world and to
+aspire to heaven. Others after him attempted in the English nation to
+compose religious poems, but none could ever compare with him, _for he
+did not learn the art of poetry from man but from God_."[284] He was
+indeed, as the venerable Bede says, a poet of nature's own teaching:
+originally a rustic herdsman, the sublime gift was bestowed upon him by
+inspiration, or as it is recorded, in a dream. As he slept an unknown
+being appeared, and commanded him to sing. Caedmon hesitated to make the
+attempt, but the apparition retorted, "Nevertheless, thou shalt
+sing--sing the origin of things." Astonished and perplexed, our poet
+found himself instantaneously in possession of the pleasing art; and,
+when he awoke, his vision and the words of his song were so impressed
+upon his memory, that he easily repeated them to his wondering
+companions.[285] He hastened at day-break to relate these marvels and to
+display his new found talents to the monks of Whitby, by whom he was
+joyfully received, and as they unfolded the divine mysteries, "The good
+man," says Bede, "listened like a clean animal ruminating; and his song
+and his verse were so winsome to hear, that his teachers wrote them down,
+and learned from his mouth."[286]
+
+Some contend that an ancient manuscript in the British Museum is the
+original of this celebrated paraphrase.[287] It is just one of those
+choice relics which a bibliomaniac loves to handle, but scarcely perhaps
+bears evidence of antiquity so remote. It is described in the catalogue
+as, "The substance of the Book of Genesis, with the Acts of Moses and
+Joshua, with brief notes and annotations, part in Latin and part in Saxon
+by Bede and others." The notes, if by Bede, would tend to favor the
+opinion that it is the original manuscript, or, at any rate, coeval with
+the Saxon bard. The volume, as a specimen of calligraphic art, reflects
+honor upon the age, and is right worthy of Lady Hilda's monastery. There
+are 312[288] fine velum pages in this venerable and precious volume,
+nearly every one of which dazzles with the talent of the skilful
+illuminator. The initial letters are formed, with singular taste and
+ingenuity, of birds, beasts, and flowers. To give an idea of the nature
+of these pictorial embellishments--which display more splendor of
+coloring than accuracy of design--I may describe the singular
+illumination adorning the sixth page, which represents the birth of Eve.
+Adam is asleep, reclining on the grass, which is depicted as so many
+inverted cones; and, if we may judge from the appearance of our venerable
+forefather, he could not have enjoyed a very comfortable repose on that
+memorable occasion, and the grass which grew in the Garden of Paradise
+must have been of a very stubborn nature when compared with the earth's
+verdure of the present day; for the weight of Adam alters not the
+position of the tender herb, which supports his huge body on their
+extreme summits. As he is lying on the left side Eve is ascending from a
+circular aperture in his right; nor would the original, if she bore any
+resemblance to her monkish portraiture, excite the envy or the admiration
+of the present age, or bear comparison with her fair posterity. Her
+physiognomy is anything but fascinating, and her figure is a repulsive
+monstrosity, _adorned_ with a profusion of luxurious hair of a brilliant
+blue!
+
+It is foreign to our subject to enter into any analysis of the literary
+beauties of this poem; let it suffice that Caedmon, the old Saxon
+herdsman, has been compared to our immortal Milton; and their names have
+been coupled together when speaking of a poet's genius.[289] But on other
+grounds Caedmon claims a full measure of our praise. Not only was he the
+"Father of Saxon poetry," but to him also belongs the inestimable honor
+of being the first who attempted to render into the vulgar tongue the
+beauties and mysteries of the Holy Scriptures; he unsealed what had
+hitherto been a sealed book; his paraphrase is the first translation of
+the holy writ on record. So let it not be forgotten that to this Milton
+of old our Saxon ancestors were indebted for this invaluable treasure. We
+are unable to trace distinctly the formation of the monastic library of
+Whitby. But of the time of Richard, elected abbot in the year 1148, a
+good monk, and formerly prior of Peterborough, we have a catalogue of
+their books preserved. I would refer the reader to that curious
+list,[290] and ask him if it does not manifest by its contents the
+existence of a more refined taste in the cloisters than he gave the old
+monks credit for. It is true, the legends of saints abound in it; but
+then look at the choice tomes of a classic age, whose names grace that
+humble catalogue, and remember that the studies of the Whitby monks were
+divided between the miraculous lives of holy men, and the more pleasing
+pages of the "Pagan Homer," the eloquence of Tully, and the wit of
+Juvenal, of whose subject they seemed to have been fond; for they read
+also the satires of Persius. I extract the names of some of the authors
+contained in this monkish library:
+
+Ambrose.
+Hugo.
+Theodolus.
+Aratores.
+Bernard.
+Avianus.
+Gratian.
+Odo.
+Gilda.
+Maximianus.
+Eusebius.
+Plato.
+Homer.
+Cicero.
+Juvenal.
+Persius.
+Statius.
+Sedulus.
+Prosper.
+Prudentius.
+Boethius.
+Donatus.
+Rabanus Maurus.
+Origen.
+Priscian.
+Gregory Nazianzen.
+Josephus.
+Bede.
+Gildas.
+Isidore.
+Ruffinus.
+Guido on Music.
+Diadema Monachorum.
+
+Come, the monks evidently read something besides their _Credo_, and
+transcribed something better than "monastic trash." A little taste for
+literature and learning we must allow they enjoyed, when they formed
+their library of such volumes as the above. I candidly admit, that when I
+commenced these researches I had no expectations of finding a collection
+of a hundred volumes, embracing so many choice works of old Greece and
+Rome. It is pleasant, however, to trace these workings of bibliomania in
+the monasteries; and it is a surprise quite agreeable and delicious in
+itself to meet with instances like the present.
+
+At a latter period the monastery of Rievall, in Yorkshire, possessed an
+excellent library of 200 volumes. This we know by a catalogue of them,
+compiled by one of the monks about the middle of the fourteenth century,
+and now preserved in the library of Jesus College, Cambridge.[291] A
+transcript of this manuscript was made by Mr. Halliwell, and published in
+his "Reliqua Antiqua,"[292] from which it may be seen that the Rievall
+monastery contained at that time many choice and valuable works. The
+numerous writings of Sts. Augustine, Bernard, Anselm, Cyprian, Origin,
+Haimo, Gregory, Ambrose, Isidore, Chrysostom, Bede, Aldhelm, Gregory
+Nazienzen, Ailred, Josephus, Rabanus Maurus, Peter Lombard, Orosius,
+Boethius, Justin, Seneca, with histories of the church of Britain, of
+Jerusalem, of King Henry, and many others equally interesting and costly,
+prove how industriously they used their pens, and how much they
+appreciated literature and learning. But in the fourteenth century the
+inhabitants of the monasteries were very industrious in transcribing
+books at a period coeval with the compilation of the Rievall catalogue, a
+monk of Coventry church was plying his pen with unceasing energy; John de
+Bruges wrote with his own hand thirty-two volumes for the library of the
+benedictine priory of St. Mary.
+
+The reader will see that there is little among them worthy of much
+observation. The MS. begins, "These are the books which John of Bruges,
+monk of Coventry, wrote for the Coventry church. Any who shall take them
+away from the church without the consent of the convent, let him be
+anathema."[293]
+
+In primis, ymnarium in grossa littera.
+Halmo upon Isaiah.
+A Missal for the Infirmary.
+A Missal.
+Duo missalia domini Prioris Rogeris, scilicet collectas cum secretis
+        et postcommunione.
+A Benedictional for the use of the same prior.
+Another Benedictional for the use of the convent.
+Librum cartarum.
+Martyrologium, Rule of St. Benedict and Pastoral, in one volume.
+Liber cartarum.
+A Graduale, with a Tropario, and a Processional.
+Psaltar for Prior Roger.
+Palladium de Agricultura.
+Librum experimentorum, in quo ligatur compotus Helprici.
+A book containing Compotus manualis et Merlin, etc.
+An Ordinal for the Choir.
+Tables for the Martyrology.
+Kalendarium mortuorum.
+Ditto.
+Table of Responses.
+Capitular.
+Capitular for Prior Roger.
+A Reading Book.
+A book of Decretals.
+Psalter for the monks in the infirmary.
+Generationes Veteris et Novi Testamenti; ante scholasticam hystoriam
+        et ante Psalterium domini Anselmi.
+Pater noster.
+An Ordinal.
+Tables for Peter Lombard's Sentences.
+Tables for the Psalter.
+Book of the Statutes of the Church.
+Verses on the praise of the blessed Mary.
+
+The priory of St. Mary's was founded by Leofricke, the celebrated Earl of
+Mercia and his good Lady Godiva, in the year 1042. "Hollingshead says
+that this Earl Leofricke was a man of great honor, wise, and discreet in
+all his doings. His high wisdome and policie stood the realme in great
+steed whilst he lived.... He had a noble ladie to his wife named Gudwina,
+at whose earnest sute he made the citie of Couentrie free of all manner
+of toll except horsses, and to haue that toll laid downe also, his
+foresaid wife rode naked through the middest of the towne without other
+couerture, saue onlie her haire. Moreouer partlie moued by his owne
+deuotion and partlie by the persuasion of his wife, he builded or
+beneficiallie augmented and repared manie abbeies and churches as the
+saide abbie or priorie at Couentrie--the abbeies of Wenlocke, Worcester,
+Stone, Evesham, and Leot, besides Hereford."
+
+The church of Worcester, which the good Earl had thus "beneficiallie
+augmented," the Saxon King Offa had endowed with princely munificence
+before him. In the year 780, during the time of Abbot Tilhere, or
+Gilhere, Offa gave to the church Croppethorne, Netherton, Elmlege
+Cuddeshe, Cherton, and other lands, besides a "large Bible with two
+clasps, made of the purest gold."[294] In the tenth century the library
+of Exeter Church was sufficiently extensive to require the preserving
+care of an amanuensis; for according to Dr. Thomas, Bishop Oswald granted
+in the year 985 three hides of land at Bredicot, one yardland at
+Ginenofra, and seven acres of meadow at Tiberton, to Godinge a monk, on
+condition of his fulfilling the duties of a librarian to the see, and
+transcribing the registers and writings of the church. It is said that
+the scribe Godinge wrote many choice books for the library.[295] I do not
+find any remarkable book donation, save now and then a volume or two, in
+the annals of Worcester Church; nor have I been able to discover any old
+parchment catalogue to tell of the number or rarity of their books; for
+although probably most monasteries had one compiled, being enjoined to do
+so by the regulations of their order, they have long ago been destroyed;
+for when we know that fine old manuscripts were used by the bookbinders
+after the Reformation, we can easily imagine how little value would be
+placed on a mere catalogue of names.
+
+But to return again to Godiva, that illustrious lady gave the monks,
+after the death of her lord, many landed possessions, and bestowed upon
+them the blessings of a library.[296]
+
+Thomas Cobham, who was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in the year 1317,
+was a great "_amator librorum_," and spent much time and money in
+collecting books. He was the first who projected the establishment of a
+public library at Oxford, which he designed to form over the old
+Congregation House in the churchyard of St. Mary's, but dying soon after
+in the year 1327, the project was forgotten till about forty years after,
+when I suppose the example of the great bibliomaniac Richard de Bury drew
+attention to the matter; for his book treasures were then "deposited
+there, and the scholars permitted to consult them on certain
+conditions."[297]
+
+Bishop Carpenter built a library for the use of the monastery of Exeter
+Church, in the year 1461, over the charnal house; and endowed it with L10
+per annum as a salary for an amanuensis.[298] But the books deposited
+there were grievously destroyed during the civil wars; for on the
+twenty-fourth of September, 1642, when the army under the Earl of Essex
+came to Worcester, they set about "destroying the organ, breaking in
+pieces divers beautiful windows, wherein the foundation of the church was
+lively historified with painted glass;" they also "rifled the library,
+with the records and evidences of the church, tore in pieces the Bibles
+and service books pertaining to the quire."[299] Sad desecration of
+ancient literature! But the reader of history will sigh over many such
+examples.
+
+The registers of Evesham Monastery, near Worcester, speak of several
+monkish bibliophiles, and the bookish anecdotes relating to them are
+sufficiently interesting to demand some attention here. Ailward, who was
+abbot in the year 1014, gave the convent many relics and ornaments, and
+what was still better a quantity of books.[300] He was afterwards
+promoted to the see of London, over which he presided many years; but age
+and infirmity growing upon him, he was anxious again to retire to
+Evesham, but the monks from some cause or other were unwilling to receive
+him back; at this he took offence, and seeking in the monastery of Ramsey
+the quietude denied him there, he demanded back all the books he had
+given them.[301] His successor Mannius was celebrated for his skill in
+the fine arts, and was an exquisite worker in metals, besides an
+ingenious scribe and illuminator. He wrote and illuminated with his own
+hand, for the use of his monastery, a missal and a large Psalter.[302]
+
+Walter, who was abbot in the year 1077, gave also many books to the
+library,[303] and among the catalogue of sumptuous treasures with which
+Reginald, a succeeding abbot, enriched the convent, a great textus or
+gospels, with a multitude of other books, _multa alia libros_, are
+particularly specified.[304] Almost equally liberal were the choice gifts
+bestowed upon the monks by Adam (elected A. D. 1161); but we find but
+little in our way among them, except a fine copy of the "Old and New
+Testament with a gloss." No mean gift I ween in those old days; but one
+which amply compensated for the deficiency of the donation in point of
+numbers. But all these were greatly surpassed by a monk whom it will be
+my duty now to introduce; and to an account of whose life and
+bibliomanical propensities, I shall devote a page or two. Like many who
+spread a lustre around the little sphere of their own, and did honor,
+humbly and quietly to the sanctuary of the church in those Gothic days,
+he is unknown to many; and might, perhaps, have been entirely forgotten,
+had not time kindly spared a document which testifies to his piety and
+book-collecting industry. The reader will probably recollect many who, by
+their shining piety and spotless life, maintained the purity of the
+Christian faith in a church surrounded by danger and ignorance, and many
+a bright name, renowned for their virtue or their glory of arms, who
+flourished during the early part of the thirteenth century; but few have
+heard of a good and humble monk named Thomas of Marleberg. Had
+circumstances designed him for a higher sphere, had affairs of state, or
+weighty duties of an ecclesiastical import, been guided by his hand, his
+name would have been recorded with all the flourish of monkish adulation;
+but the learning and the prudence of that lowly monk was confined to the
+little world of Evesham; and when his earthly manes were buried beneath
+the cloisters within the old convent walls, his name and good deeds were
+forgotten by the world, save in the hearts of his fraternity.
+
+    "But past is all his fame. The very spot
+     Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot."
+
+In a manuscript in the Cotton Library there is a document called "The
+good deeds of Prior Thomas," from which the following facts have been
+extracted.[305]
+
+From this interesting memorial of his labors, we learn that Thomas had
+acquired some repute among the monks for his great knowledge of civil and
+canon law; so that when any difficulty arose respecting the claims or
+privileges of the monastery, or when any important matter was to be
+transacted, his advice was sought and received with deference and
+respect. Thus three years after his admission the bishop of Worcester
+intimated his intention of paying the monastery a visitation; a practice
+which the bishops of that see had not enforced since the days of abbot
+Alurie. The abbot and convent however considered themselves free from the
+jurisdiction of the bishop; and acting on the advice of Thomas of
+Marleberg, they successfully repulsed him. The affair was quite an event,
+and seems to have caused much sensation among them at the time; and is
+mentioned to show with what esteem Thomas was regarded by his monkish
+brethren. After a long enumeration of "good works" and important
+benefactions, such as rebuilding the tower and repairing the convent, we
+are told that "In the second year of Randulp's abbacy, Thomas, then dean,
+went with him to Rome to a general council, where, by his prudence and
+advice, a new arrangement in the business of the convent rents was
+confirmed, and many other useful matters settled." Here I am tempted to
+refer to the _arrangements_, for they offer pleasing illustrations of the
+monk as an "_amator librorum_." Mark how his thoughts dwelt--even when
+surrounded by those high dignitaries of the church, and in the midst of
+that important council--on the library and the scriptorium of his
+monastery.
+
+     "_To the Prior belongs the tythes of Beningar the both great and
+     small, to defray the expenses of procuring parchment, and to
+     procure manuscripts for transcription._"
+
+And in another clause it is settled that
+
+     "_To the Office of the Precentor belongs the Manner of Hampton,
+     from which he will receive five shillings annually, besides ten
+     and eightpence from the tythes of Stokes and Alcester, with which
+     he is to find all the ink and parchment for the Scribes of the
+     Monastery, colours for illuminating, and all that is necessary
+     for binding the books_."[306]
+
+Pleasing traits are these of his bookloving passion; and doubtless under
+his guidance the convent library grew and flourished amazingly. But let
+us return to the account of his "good works."
+
+"Returning from Rome after two years he was elected sacrist. He then made
+a reading-desk behind the choir,[307] which was much wanted in the
+church, and appointed stated readings to be held near the tomb of Saint
+Wilsius.... Leaving his office thus rich in good works, he was then
+elected prior. In this office he buried his predecessor, Prior John, in a
+new mausoleum; and also John, surnamed Dionysius; of the latter of whom
+Prior Thomas was accustomed to say, 'that he had never known any man who
+so perfectly performed every kind of penance as he did for more than
+thirty years, in fasting and in prayer; in tears and in watchings; in
+cold and in corporeal inflictions; in coarseness and roughness of
+clothing, and in denying himself bodily comforts, far more than any other
+of the brethren; all of which he rather dedicated in good purposes and
+to the support of the poor."
+
+Thus did many an old monk live, practising all this with punctilious care
+as the essence of a holy life, and resting upon the fallacy that these
+cruel mortifyings of the flesh would greatly facilitate the acquisition
+of everlasting ease and joy in a better world; as if God knew not, better
+than themselves, what chastisements and afflictions were needful for
+them. We may sigh with pain over such instances of mistaken piety and
+fanatical zeal in all ages of the church; yet with all their privations,
+and with all their macerations of the flesh, there was a vast amount of
+human pride mingled with their humiliation. But He who sees into the
+hearts of all--looking in his benevolence more at the intention than the
+outward form, may perhaps sometimes find in it the workings of a true
+christian piety, and so reward it with his love. Let us trust so in the
+charity of our faith, and proceed to notice that portion of the old
+record which is more intimately connected with our subject. We read that
+
+"Thomas had brought with him to the convent, on his entering, many books,
+of both canon and civil law; as well as the books by which he had
+regulated the schools of Oxford and Exeter before he became a monk. He
+likewise had one book of Democritus; and the book of Antiparalenion, a
+gradual book, according to Constantine; Isidore's Divine Offices, and the
+Quadrimum of Isidore; Tully's de Amicitia; Tully de Senectute et de
+Paradoxis; Lucan, Juvenal, and many other authors, _et multos alios
+auctores_, with a great number of sermons, with many writings on
+theological questions; on the art and rules of grammar and the book of
+accents. After he was prior he made a great breviary, better than any at
+that time in the monastery, with Haimo, on the Apocalypse, and a book
+containing the lives of the patrons of the church of Evesham; with an
+account of the deeds of all the good and bad monks belonging to the
+church, in one volume. He also wrote and bound up the same lives and acts
+in another volume separately. He made also a great Psalter, _magnum
+psalterium_, superior to any contained in the monastery, except the
+glossed ones. He collected and wrote all the necessary materials for four
+antiphoners, with their musical notes, himself; except what the brothers
+of the monastery transcribed for him. He also finished many books that
+William of Lith, of pious memory, commenced--the Marterologium, the
+Exceptio Missae, and some excellent commentaries on the Psalter and
+Communion of the Saints in the old antiphoners. He also bought the four
+Gospels, with glosses, and Isaiah and Ezekiel, also glossed;[308] the
+Pistillae upon Matthew; some Allegories on the Old Testament; the
+Lamentations of Jeremiah, with a gloss; the Exposition of the Mass,
+according to Pope Innocent; and the great book of Alexander Necham, which
+is called _Corrogationes Promethea de partibus veteris testamenti et
+novae_.... He also caused to be transcribed in large letters the book
+concerning the offices of the abbey, from the Purification of St. Mary
+to the Feast of Easter; the prelections respecting Easter; Pentecost, and
+the blessings at the baptismal fonts. He also caused a volume, containing
+the same works, to be transcribed, but in a smaller hand; all of which
+the convent had not before. He made also the tablet for the locutory in
+the chapel of St. Anne, towards the west. After the altar of St. Mary in
+the crypts had been despoiled by thieves of its books and ornaments, to
+the value of ten pounds, he contributed to their restoration."
+
+Thomas was equally liberal in other matters. His whole time and wealth
+were spent in rebuilding and repairing the monastery and adding to its
+comforts and splendor. He had a great veneration for antiquity, and was
+especially anxious to restore those parts which were dilapidated by time;
+the old inscriptions on the monuments and altars he carefully
+re-inscribed. It is recorded that he renewed the inscription on the great
+altar himself, without the aid of a book, _sine libro_; which was deemed
+a mark of profound learning in my lord abbot by his monkish
+surbordinates.
+
+With this I conclude my remarks on Thomas of Marleberg, leaving these
+extracts to speak for him. It is pleasing to find that virtue so great,
+and industry so useful met with its just reward; and that the monks of
+Evesham proved how much they appreciated such talents, by electing him
+their abbot, in 1229, which, for seven years he held with becoming piety
+and wisdom.
+
+The annals of the monastery[309] testify that "In the year of our Lord
+one thousand three hundred and ninety-two, and the fifteenth of the reign
+of King Richard the Second, on the tenth calends of May, died the
+venerable Prior Nicholas Hereford, of pious memory, who, as prior of the
+church of Evesham, lived a devout and religious life for forty years." He
+held that office under three succeeding abbots, and filled it with great
+honor and industry. He was a dear lover of books, and spent vast sums in
+collecting together his private library, amounting to more than 100
+volumes; some of these he wrote with his own hand, but most of them he
+bought _emit_. A list of these books is given in the Harleian Register,
+and many of the volumes are described as containing a number of tracts,
+bound up in one, _cum aliis tractatibus in eodem volumine_. Some of these
+display the industry of his pen, and silently tell us of his Christian
+piety. Among those remarkable for their bulk, it is pleasurable to
+observe a copy of the Holy Scriptures, which was doubtless a comfort to
+the venerable prior in the last days of his green old age; and which
+probably guided him in the even tenor of that _devout and religious
+life_, for which he was so esteemed by the monks of Evesham. He possessed
+also some works of Bernard Augustin, and Boethius, whose Consolation of
+Philosophy few book-collectors of the middle ages were without. To many
+of the books the prices he gave for them, or at which they were then
+valued, are affixed: a "_Summa Praedicantium_" is valued at eight marks,
+and a "_Burley super Politices_" at seven marks. We may suspect monk
+Nicholas of being rather a curious collector in his way, for we find in
+his library some interesting volumes of popular literature. He probably
+found much pleasure in perusing his copy of the marvelous tale of "Beufys
+of Hampton," and the romantic "Mort d'Arthur," both sufficiently
+interesting to relieve the monotonous vigils of the monastery. But I must
+not dwell longer on the monastic bibliophiles of Evesham, other libraries
+and bookworms call for some notice from my pen.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[245] "Rediens autem, ubi Viennam pervenit, eruptitios sibi quos
+      apud amicos commendaverat, recepit." p. 26. _Vit. Abbat. Wear. 12mo.
+      edit. Ware._
+
+[246] The youngest son of Oswy, or Oswis, king of Northumbria, who
+      succeeded his father in the year 670, Alfred his elder brother being
+      for a time set aside on the grounds of his illegitimacy; yet Alfred
+      was a far more enlightened and talented prince than Ecgfrid, and
+      much praised in Saxon annals for his love of learning.
+
+[247] "Magna quidem copia voluminum sacrorum; sed non minori sicut
+      et prius sanctorum imaginum numere detatus." _Vit. Abb._ p. 38.
+
+[248] "Bibliothecam, quam de Roma nobillissimam copiosessimanque
+      advenaret ad instructionem ecclesiae necessariam sollicite servari
+      integram, nec per incuriam foedari aut passim dissipari praecepit."
+
+[249] Bede says that he was "learned in Holy Scriptures." Dr. Henry
+      mentions this anecdote in his _Hist. of England_, vol. ii. p. 287,
+      8vo. ed. which has led many secondary compilers into a curious
+      blunder, by mistaking the king here alluded to for Alfred the Great:
+      even Didbin, in his Bibliomania, falls into the same error although
+      he suspected some mistake; he calls him _our immortal Alfrid_, p.
+      219, and seems puzzled to account for the anachronism, but does not
+      take the trouble to enquire into the matter; Heylin's little Help to
+      History would have set him right, and shown that while Alfrede king
+      of Northumberland reigned in 680, Alfred king of England lived more
+      than two centuries afterwards, pp. 25 and 29.
+
+[250] The reader may perhaps smile at this, but it has long been my
+      custom to carry some 8vo. edition of a monkish writer about me, when
+      time or opportunity allowed me to spend a few hours among the ruins
+      of the olden time. I recall with pleasure the recollection of many
+      such rambles, and especially my last--a visit to Netley Abbey. What
+      a sweet spot for contemplation; surrounded by all that is lovely in
+      nature, it drives our old prejudices away, and touches the heart
+      with piety and awe. Often have I explored its ruins and ascended its
+      crumbling parapets, admiring the taste of those Cistercian monks in
+      choosing so quiet, romantic, and choice a spot, and one so well
+      suited to lead man's thoughts to sacred things above.
+
+[251] Bede, _Vit. Abb. Wear._ p. 46.
+
+[252] The fine libraries thus assiduously collected were destroyed
+      by the Danes; that of Jarrow in the year 793, and that of Wearmouth
+      in 867.
+
+[253] Emer, Vita. ap. Mab. Act. SS. tom. iii. 199.
+
+[254] Bede's Eccles. Hist. b. iii. c. xxv.
+
+[255] "Idemque vir Dei quatuor Evangelica et Bibliothecam pluresque
+      libros Novi et Veteris Testamenti cum tabulis tectis auro purissimo
+      et pretiosis gemmis mirabili artificio fabricatis ad honorem Dei."
+      Dugdale's Monast. vol. ii. p. 133.
+
+[256] In 665 he was raised to the episcopacy of all Northumbria.
+
+[257] He was deprived of his bishopric in the year 678, and the see
+      was divided into those of York and Hexham. But for the particulars
+      of his conduct see _Soame's Anglo. Sax. Church_, p. 63, with _Dr.
+      Lingard's Ang. Sax. Church_, vol. i. p. 245; though without accusing
+      either of misrepresentation, I would advise the reader to search (if
+      he has the opportunity), the original authorities for himself, it is
+      a delicate matter for a Roman or an English churchman to handle with
+      impartiality.
+
+[258] His Saxon name was Winfrid, or Wynfrith, but he is generally
+      called Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz.
+
+[259] The mere act of baptizing constitutes "_conversion_" in
+      Jesuitical phraseology; and thousands were so converted in a few
+      days by the followers of Ignatius. A similar process was used in
+      working out the miracles of the Saxon missionary. He was rather too
+      conciliating and too anxious for a "converting miracle," to be over
+      particular; but it was all for the good of the church papal, to whom
+      he was a devoted servant; the church papal therefore could not see
+      the fault.
+
+[260] Ep. iii. p. 7, Ed. 4to.--_Moguntiae_, 1629.
+
+[261] Ep. iv. p. 8.
+
+[262] Ep. xiii.
+
+[263] Ep. vii. p. 11.
+
+[264] Ep. xiv. See also Ep. xxviii. p. 40.
+
+[265] Ep. viii. p. 12.
+
+[266] Ep. lxxxv. p. 119.
+
+[267] Ep. ix. p. 13.
+
+[268] Ep. xxii. p. 36.
+
+[269] Ep. xcix. p. 135.
+
+[270] Ep. cxi. p. 153.
+
+[271] The accusation is not a groundless one. Foxe, in his _Acts and
+      Monuments_, warmly upbraids him; and Aikins in his _Biog. Dict._,
+      has acted in a similar manner. But the best guides are his
+      letters--they display his faults and his virtues too.
+
+[272] This was in the year 731. _Goodwin_ says he "sate 36 years,
+      and died an. 767." He says, "This man by his owne wisedome, and the
+      authority of his brother, amended greatly the state of his church
+      and see. He procured the archiepiscopall pall to be restored to his
+      churche againe, and erected a famous library at York, which he
+      stored plentifully with an infinite number of excellent bookes." p.
+      441.
+
+[273] De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis.
+
+[274] Alcuini Oper., tom. i. vol. 1, p. 57, translated in Sharpe's
+      William of Malmsbury, p. 73.
+
+[275] Opera, tom. i. p. 305.
+
+[276] In a letter to Gisla, sister to the emperor, he writes "Totius
+      forsitan evangelii Johannis expositionem direxissem vobis, si me non
+      occupasset Domini Regis praeceptum in emendatione Veteri Novique
+      Testamenti."--_Opera_, tom. i. vol. 7, p. 591.
+
+[277] Alcuini, ap. Gale, tom. iii. p. 730.
+
+[278] Alcuini, Oper. tom. i. p. 52. Ep. xxxviii. It was written
+      about 796.
+
+[279] He was also very careful in instructing the scribes to
+      punctuate with accuracy, which he deemed of great importance. See
+      Ep. lxxxv. p. 126.
+
+[280] Necrolog. MS. Capituli, Metropolitani Salisburgensis, _apud_
+      Froben, tom. i. p. lxxxi.
+
+[281] Charlemagne founded several libraries;--see _Koeler, Dissert.
+      de Biblio. Caroli Mog._ published in 1727. Eginhart mentions his
+      private collection, and it is thus spoken of in the emperor's will;
+      "Similiter et de libris, quorum magna in bibliotheca sua copiam
+      congregavit: statuit ut ab iis qui eos habere uellet, justo pretio
+      redimeretur, pretin in pauperes erogaretur." Echin. Vita Caroli, p.
+      366, edit. 24mo. 1562. Yet we cannot but regret the dispersion of
+      this imperial library.
+
+[282] Formerly called _Streaneshalch_.
+
+[283] At the age of 66, _Bede_, b. iv. cxxiii.
+
+[284] Bede, b. iv. c. xxiv.
+
+[285] John de Trevisa says, "Caedmon of Whitaby was inspired of the
+      Holy Gost, and made wonder poisyes an Englisch, meiz of al the
+      Storyes of Holy Writ." _MS. Harleian_, 1900, fol. 43, a.
+
+[286] Ibid.
+
+[287] Cottonian Collection marked _Claudius_, B. iv. There is
+      another MS. in the Bodleian (_Junius_ XI.) It was printed by Junius
+      in 1655, in 4to. Sturt has engraved some of the illuminations in his
+      _Saxon Antiquities_, and they were also copied and published by J.
+      Greene, F. A. S., in 1754, in fifteen plates.
+
+[288] It is unfortunately imperfect at the end, and wants folio 32.
+
+[289] Take the following as an instance of the similarity of thought
+      between the two poets. Sharon Turner thus renders a portion of
+      Satan's speech from the Saxon of Caedmon:
+
+         "Yet why should I sue for his grace?
+          Or bend to him with any obedience?
+          I may be a God as he is.
+          Stand by me strong companions."
+                     _Hist. Anglo Sax._ vol. ii. p. 314.
+
+      The idea is with Milton:
+
+         . . . . . . . . To bow to one for grace
+         With suppliant knee, and deify his power,
+         Who from the terror of this arm so late
+         Doubted his empire; that were low indeed!
+         That were an ignominy, and shame beneath
+         This downfall!
+                       _Paradise Lost_, b. i.
+
+[290] He will find it in Charlton's History of Whitby, 4to. 1779, p.
+      113.
+
+[291] Marked MS. N. B. 17.
+
+[292] Wright and Halliwell's Rel. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 180.
+
+[293] It is printed in Hearne's History of Glastonbury, from a MS.
+      in the Bodleian Library, Ed. _Oxon_, 1722, _Appendix_ x. p. 291.
+
+[294] Bibliothecam optimam cum duobus armillis ex auro purissimo
+      fabricatis.--_Heming. Chart_, p. 95.
+
+[295] Thomas's Survey, of Worcester Church, 4to. 1736, p. 46. The
+      Scriptorium of the monastery was situated in the cloisters, and a
+      Bible in Bennet College, Cambridge, was written therein by a scribe
+      named Senatus, as we learn from a note printed in Nasmith's
+      Catalogue, which proves it to have been written during the reign of
+      Henry II. It is a folio MS. on vellum, and a fine specimen of the
+      talent of the expert scribe.--See _Nasmith's Catalogus Libr. MSS._,
+      4to. _Camb._ 1777, p. 31.
+
+[296] Since writing the above, which I gave on the authority of
+      Green (_Hist. of Worc._ vol. i. p. 79), backed with the older one of
+      Thomas (_Survey Ch. Worc._ p. 70), I have had the opportunity of
+      consulting the reference given by them (_Heming, Chart._ p. 262),
+      and was somewhat surprised to find the words "_Et bibliothecam, in
+      duobus partibus divisam_," the foundation of this pleasing anecdote.
+      "_Bibliothecam_," however, was the Latin for a Bible in the middle
+      ages: so that in fact the Lady Godiva gave them a Bible divided into
+      two parts, or volumes.
+
+[297] Chalmer's Hist. of the Colleges of Oxford, p. 458. Wood's
+      Hist. Antiq. of Oxon, lib. ii. p. 48.
+
+[298] Green's Hist. Worc. p. 79.
+
+[299] Sir W. Dugdale's View of the Troubles in England, _Folio_, p.
+      557. We can easily credit the destruction of the organ and painted
+      windows, so obnoxious to Puritan piety; but with regard to the
+      _Bibles_, we may suspect the accuracy of the Royalist writer, col.
+      182.
+
+[300] Symeon Dunelm. Tweyed. Script. x.
+
+[301] Habingdon, MSS. Godwin de Praef, p. 231.
+
+[302] Tindal's Hist. of Evesham, p. 248.
+
+[303] _Ibid._ p. 250.
+
+[304] MS. Harl., No. 3763, p. 180.
+
+[305] MS. Cot. Vesp. b. xxiv. It is printed in Latin in _Nash's
+      Worcestershire_, vol. i. p. 419, and translated in _Tindal's Hist.
+      of Worcs._ p. 24, all of which I have used with _Dugdale's Monast._
+      vol. ii. p. 5.
+
+[306] _MS. Cottonian Augustus II._ No. 11. "Ex his debet invenire
+      praecentor incaustum omnibus scriptoribus monasterii; et Pergamenum
+      ad brevia, et colores ad illuminandum, et necessaria ad legandum
+      libros." See _Dugdale's Monast._ vol. ii. p. 24.
+
+[307] After the elapse of so many years, the research of the
+      antiquarian has brought this desk to light; an account of it will be
+      found in the Archeologia, vol. xvii. p. 278.
+
+[308] "Emit etiam quator evangelia glosata, et Yaiam et Ezechielem
+      glossatos."
+
+[309] Harleian MSS., No. 3763.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+     _Old Glastonbury Abbey.--Its Library.--John of Taunton.--Richard
+     Whiting.--Malmsbury.--Bookish Monks of Gloucester Abbey.--Leofric
+     of Exeter and his private library.--Peter of Blois. Extracts from
+     his letters.--Proved to have been a great classical student,
+     etc., etc._
+
+
+The fame of Glastonbury Abbey will attract the steps of the western
+traveller; and if he possess the spirit of an antiquary, his eye will
+long dwell on those mutilated fragments of monkish architecture. The
+bibliophile will regard it with still greater love; for, in its day, it
+was one of the most eminent repositories of those treasures which it is
+his province to collect. For more than ten hundred years that old fabric
+has stood there, exciting in days of remote antiquity the veneration of
+our pious forefathers, and in modern times the admiration of the curious.
+Pilgrim! tread lightly on that hallowed ground! sacred to the memory of
+the most learned and illustrious of our Saxon ancestry. The bones of
+princes and studious monks closely mingle with the ruins which time has
+caused, and bigotry helped to desecrate. Monkish tradition claims, as the
+founder of Glastonbury Abbey, St. Joseph of Arimathea, who, sixty-three
+years after the incarnation of our Lord, came to spread the truths of the
+Gospel over the island of Britain. Let this be how it may, we leave it
+for more certain data.
+
+After, says a learned antiquary, its having been built by St. Davis,
+Archbishop of Menevia, and then again restored by "twelve well affected
+men in the north;" it was entirely pulled down by Ina, king of the West
+Saxons, who "new builded the abbey of Glastonburie[310] in a fenny place
+out of the way, to the end the monks mought so much the more give their
+mindes to heavenly thinges, and chiefely use the contemplation meete for
+men of such profession. This was the fourth building of that
+monasterie."[311] The king completed his good work by erecting a
+beautiful chapel, garnished with numerous ornaments and utensils of gold
+and silver; and among other costly treasures, William of Malmsbury tells
+us that twenty pounds and sixty marks of gold was used in making a
+coopertoria for a book of the Gospels.[312]
+
+Would that I had it in my power to write the literary history of
+Glastonbury Abbey; to know what the monks of old there transcribed would
+be to acquire the history of learning in those times; for there was
+little worth reading in the literature of the day that was not copied by
+those industrious scribes. But if our materials will not enable us to do
+this, we may catch a glimpse of their well stored shelves through the
+kindness and care of William Britone the Librarian, who compiled a work
+of the highest interest to the biographer. It is no less than a catalogue
+of the books contained in the common library of the abbey in the year one
+thousand two hundred and forty-eight. Four hundred choice volumes
+comprise this fine collection;[313] and will not the reader be surprised
+to find among them a selection of the classics, with the chronicles,
+poetry, and romantic productions of the middle ages, besides an abundant
+store of the theological writings of the primitive Church. But I have not
+transcribed a large proportion of this list, as the extracts given from
+other monastic catalogues may serve to convey an idea of their nature;
+but I cannot allow one circumstance connected with this old document to
+pass without remark. I would draw the reader's attention to the fine
+bibles which commence the list, and which prove that the monks of
+Glastonbury Abbey were fond and devoted students of the Bible. It begins
+with--
+
+    Bibliotheca una in duobus voluminibus.
+    Alia Bibliotheca integra vetusta, set legibilis.
+    Bibliotheca integrae minoris litterae.
+    Dimidia pars Bibliothecae incipiens a Psalterio, vetusta.
+    Bibliotheca magna versificata.
+    Alia versificata in duobus voluminibus.
+    Bibliotheca tres versificata.[314]
+
+But besides these, the library contained numerous detached books and many
+copies of the Gospels, an ample collection of the fathers, and the
+controversal writings of the middle ages; and among many others, the
+following classics--
+
+    Aristotle.
+    Livy.
+    Orosius.
+    Sallust.
+    Donatus.
+    Sedulus.
+    Virgil's AEneid.
+    Virgil's Georgics.
+    Virgil's Bucolics.
+    AEsop.
+    Tully.
+    Boethius.
+    Plato.
+    Isagoge of Porphyry.
+    Prudentius.
+    Fortuanus.
+    Persius.
+    Pompeius.
+    Isidore.
+    Smaragdius.
+    Marcianus.
+    Horace.
+    Priscian.
+    Prosper.
+    Aratores.
+    Claudian.
+    Juvenal.
+    Cornutus.
+
+I must not omit to mention that John de Taunton, a monk and an
+enthusiastic _amator librorum_, and who was elected abbot in the year
+1271, collected forty choice volumes, and gave them to the library,
+_dedit librario_, of the abbey; no mean gift, I ween, in the thirteenth
+century. They included--
+
+    Questions on the Old and New Law.
+    St. Augustine upon Genesis.
+    Ecclesiastical Dogmas.
+    St. Bernard's Enchiridion.
+    St. Bernard's Flowers.
+    Books of Wisdom, with a Gloss.
+    Postil's upon Jeremiah and the lesser Prophets.
+    Concordances to the Bible.
+
+    Postil's of Albertus upon Matthew, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah
+            and others, in one volume.
+    Postil's upon Mark.
+    Postil's upon John, with a Discourse on the Epistles
+            throughout the year.
+    Brother Thomas Old and New Gloss.
+    Morabilius on the Gospels and Epistles.
+    St. Augustine on the Trinity.
+    Epistles of Paul glossed.
+    St. Augustine's City of God.
+    Kylwardesby upon the Letter of the Sentences.
+    Questions concerning Crimes.
+    Perfection of the Spiritual Life.
+    Brother Thomas' Sum of Divinity, in four volumes.
+    Decrees and Decretals.
+    A Book of Perspective.
+    Distinctions of Maurice.
+    Books of Natural History, in two volumes.
+    Book on the Properties of Things.[315]
+
+Subsequent to this, in the time of one book-loving abbot, an addition of
+forty-nine volumes was made to the collection by his munificence and the
+diligence of his scribes; and time has allowed the modern bibliophile to
+gaze on a catalogue of these treasures. I wish the monkish annalist had
+recorded the life of this early bibliomaniac, but unfortunately we know
+little of him. But they were no mean nor paltry volumes that he
+transcribed. It is with pleasure I see the catalogue commenced by a copy
+of the Holy Scriptures; and the many commentaries upon them by the
+fathers of the church enumerated after it, prove my Lord Abbot to have
+been a diligent student of the Bible. Nor did he seek God alone in his
+written word; but wisely understood that his Creator spoke to him also
+by visible works; and probably loved to observe the great wisdom and
+design of his God in the animated world; for a Pliny's Natural History
+stands conspicuous on the list, as the reader will perceive.
+
+    THE BIBLE.
+    Pliny's Natural History.
+    Cassiodorus upon the Psalms.
+    Three great Missals.
+    Two Reading Books.
+    A Breviary for the Infirmary.
+    Jerome upon Jeremiah and Isaiah.
+    Origen upon the Old Testament.
+    Origen's Homilies.
+    Origen upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans.
+    Jerome upon the Epistles to the Galatians, to Ephesians, to
+            Titus, and to Philemon.
+    Lives of the Fathers.
+    Collations of the Fathers.
+    Breviary for the Hospital.
+    An Antiphon.
+    Pars una Moralium.
+    Cyprian's Works.
+    Register.
+    Liber dictus Paradisus.
+    Jerome against Jovinian.
+    Ambrose against Novatian.
+    Seven Volumes of the Passions of the Saints for the circle
+            of the whole year.
+    Lives of the Caesars.
+    Acts of the Britons.
+    Acts of the English.
+    Acts of the Franks.
+    Pascasius.
+    Radbert on the Body and Blood of the Lord.
+    Book of the Abbot of Clarevalle _de Amando Deo_.
+    Hugo de S. Victore de duodecim gradibus Humilitatis et de Oratione.
+    Physiomania Lapedarum et Liber Petri Alsinii in uno volumine.
+    Rhetoric, two volumes.
+    Quintilian _de Causes_, in one volume.
+    Augustine upon the Lord's Prayer and upon the Psalm
+            _Miserero mei Deus_.
+    A Benedictional.
+    Decreta Cainotensis Episcopi.
+    Jerome upon the Twelve Prophets, and upon the Lamentations of Jeremiah.
+    Augustine upon the Trinity.
+    Augustine upon Genesis.
+    Isidore's Etymology.
+    Paterius.
+    Augustine on the Words of our Lord.
+    Hugo on the Sacraments.
+    Cassinus on the Incarnation of our Lord.
+    Anselm's _Cui Deus Homo_.[316]
+
+The reader, I think, will allow that the catalogue enumerates but little
+unsuitable for a christian's study; he may not admire the principles
+contained in some of them, or the superstition with which many of them
+are loaded; but after all there were but few volumes among them from
+which a Bible reading monk might not have gleaned something good and
+profitable. These books were transcribed about the end of the thirteenth
+century, after the catalogue of the monastic library mentioned above was
+compiled.
+
+Walter Taunton, elected in the year 1322, gave to the library several
+volumes; and his successor, Adam Sodbury,[317] elected in the same year,
+increased it with a copy of the whole Bible,[318] a Scholastic history,
+Lives of Saints, a work on the Properties of Things, two costly Psalters,
+and a most beautifully bound Benedictional.
+
+But doubtless many a bookworm nameless in the page of history, dwelled
+within those walls apart from worldly solicitude and strife; relieving
+what would otherwise have been an insupportable monotony, with sweet
+converse, with books, or the avocations of a scribe.
+
+Well, years rolled on, and this fair sanctuary remained in all its
+beauty, encouraging the trembling christian, and fostering with a
+mother's care the literature and learning of the time. Thus it stood till
+that period, so dark and unpropitious for monkish ascendency, when
+Protestant fury ran wild, and destruction thundered upon the heads of
+those poor old monks! A sad and cruel revenge for enlightened minds to
+wreck on mistaken piety and superstitious zeal. How widely was the fine
+library scattered then. Even a few years after its dissolution, when
+Leland spent some days exploring the book treasures reposing there, it
+had been broken up, and many of them lost; yet still it must have been a
+noble library, for he tells us that it was "scarcely equalled in all
+Britain;" and adds, in the spirit of a true bibliomaniac, that he no
+sooner passed the threshold than the very sight of so many sacred remains
+of antiquity struck him with awe and astonishment. The reader will
+naturally wish that he had given us a list of what he found there; but he
+merely enumerates a selection of thirty-nine, among which we find a
+Grammatica Eriticis, formerly belonging to Saint Dunstan; a life of Saint
+Wilfrid; a Saxon version of Orosius, and the writings of William of
+Malmsbury.[319] The antiquary will now search in vain for any vestige of
+the abbey library; even the spot on which it stood is unknown to the
+curious.
+
+No christian, let his creed be what it may, who has learnt from his
+master the principles of charity and love, will refuse a tear to the
+memory of Richard Whiting, the last of Glastonbury's abbots. Poor old
+man! Surely those white locks and tottering limbs ought to have melted a
+Christian heart; but what charity or love dwelt within the soul of that
+rapacious monarch? Too old to relinquish his long cherished
+superstitions; too firm to renounce his religious principles, Whiting
+offered a firm opposition to the reformation. The fury of the tyrant
+Henry was aroused, and that grey headed monk was condemned to a barbarous
+death. As a protestant I blush to write it, yet so it was; after a hasty
+trial, if trial it can be called, he was dragged on a hurdle to a common
+gallows erected on Torr Hill, and there, in the face of a brutal mob,
+with two of his companion monks, was he hung! Protestant zeal stopped not
+here, for when life had fled they cut his body down, and dividing it into
+quarters, sent one to each of the four principal towns; and as a last
+indignity to that mutilated clay, stuck his head on the gate of the old
+abbey, over which he had presided with judicious care in the last days
+of his troubled life. It was Whiting's wish to bid adieu in person to his
+monastery, in which in more prosperous times he had spent many a quiet
+hour; it is said that even this, the dying prayer of that poor old man,
+they refused to grant.[320]
+
+On viewing the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, so mournful to look upon, yet
+so splendid in its decay, we cannot help exclaiming with Michael
+Dayton,--
+
+     "On whom for this sad waste, should justice lay the crime."
+
+Whilst in the west we cannot pass unnoticed the monastery of Malmsbury,
+one of the largest in England, and which possessed at one time an
+extensive and valuable library; but it was sadly ransacked at the
+Reformation, and its vellum treasures sold to the bakers to heat their
+stoves, or applied to the vilest use; not even a catalogue was preserved
+to tell the curious of a more enlightened age, what books the old monks
+read there; but perhaps, and the blood runs cold as the thought arises in
+the mind, a perfect Livy was among them, for a rare _amator librorum_
+belonging to this monastery, quotes one of the lost Decades.[321] I
+allude to William of Malmsbury, one of the most enthusiastic
+bibliomaniacs of his age. From his youth he dwelt within the abbey walls,
+and received his education there. His constant study and indefatigable
+industry in collecting and perusing books, was only equalled by his
+prudence and by his talents; he soon rose in the estimation of his fellow
+monks, who appointed him their librarian, and ultimately offered him the
+abbacy, which he refused with Christian humility, fearing too, lest its
+contingent duties would debar him from a full enjoyment of his favorite
+avocation; but of his book passion let William of Malmsbury speak for
+himself: "A long period has elapsed since, as well through the care of my
+parents as my own industry, I became familiar with books. This pleasure
+possessed me from my childhood; this source of delight has grown with my
+years; indeed, I was so instructed by my father, that had I turned aside
+to other pursuits, I should have considered it as jeopardy to my soul,
+and discredit to my character. Wherefore, mindful of the adage, 'covet
+what is necessary,' I constrained my early age to desire eagerly that
+which it was disgraceful not to possess. I gave indeed my attention to
+various branches of literature, but in different degrees. Logic, for
+instance, which gives arms to eloquence, I contented myself with barely
+learning: medicine, which ministers to the health of the body, I studied
+with somewhat more attention. But now, having scrupulously examined the
+various branches of ethics, I bow down to its majesty, because it
+spontaneously inverts itself to those who study it, and directs their
+minds to moral practice, history more especially; which by a certain
+agreeable recapitulation of past events, excites its readers by example,
+to frame their lives to the pursuit of good or to aversion from evil.
+When, therefore, at my own expense I had procured some historians of
+foreign nations, I proceeded during my domestic leisure, to inquire if
+anything concerning our own country could be found worthy of handing down
+to posterity. Hence it arose, that not content with the writings of
+ancient times, I began myself to compose, not indeed to display my
+learning, which is comparatively nothing, but to bring to light events
+lying concealed in the confused mass of antiquity. In consequence,
+rejecting vague opinions, I have studiously sought for chronicles far and
+near, though I confess I have scarcely profited anything by this
+industry; for perusing them all I still remained poor in information,
+though I ceased not my researches as long as I could find anything to
+read."[322]
+
+Having read this passage, I think my readers will admit that William of
+Malmsbury well deserves a place among the bibliomaniacs of the middle
+ages. As an historian his merit is too generally known and acknowledged
+to require an elucidation here. He combines in most cases a strict
+attention to fact, with the rare attributes of philosophic reflection,
+and sometimes the bloom of eloquence. But simplicity of narrative
+constitute the greatest and sometimes the only charm in the composition
+of the monkish chroniclers. William of Malmsbury aimed at a more
+ambitious style, and attempted to adorn, as he admits himself, his
+English history with Roman art; this he does sometimes with tolerable
+elegance, but too often at the cost of necessary detail. Yet still we
+must place him at the head of the middle age historians, for he was
+diligent and critical, though perhaps not always impartial; and in
+matters connected with Romish doctrine, his testimony is not always to be
+relied upon without additional authority; his account of those who held
+opinions somewhat adverse to the orthodoxy of Rome is often equivocal; we
+may even suspect him of interpolating their writings, at least of Alfric,
+whose homilies had excited the fears of the Norman ecclesiastics. His
+works were compiled from many sources now unknown; and from the works of
+Bede, the Saxon chronicles, and Florilegus, he occasionally transcribes
+with little alteration.
+
+But is it not distressing to find that this talented author, so superior
+in other respects to the crude compilers of monkish history, cannot rise
+above the superstition of the age? Is it not deplorable that a mind so
+gifted could rely with fanatical zeal upon the verity of all those foul
+lies of Rome called "Holy" miracles; or that he could conceive how God
+would vouchsafe to make his saints ridiculous in the eyes of man, by such
+gross absurdities as tradition records, but which Rome deemed worthy of
+canonization; but it was then, as now, so difficult to conquer the
+prejudices of early teaching. With all our philosophy and our science,
+great men cannot do it now; even so in the days of old; they were brought
+up in the midst of superstition; sucked it as it were from their mother's
+breast, and fondly cradled in its belief; and as soon as the infant mind
+could think, parental piety dedicated it to God; not, however, as a light
+to shine before men, but as a candle under a bushel; for to serve God and
+to serve monachism were synonymous expressions in those days.
+
+The west of England was honored by many a monkish bibliophile in the
+middle ages. The annals of Gloucester abbey record the names of several.
+Prior Peter, who became abbot in the year 1104, is said to have enclosed
+the monastery with a stone wall, and greatly enriched it with many books
+"_copia librorum_."[323] A few years after (A. D. 1113), Godeman the
+Prior was made abbot, and the Saxon Chronicle records that during his
+time the tower was set on fire by lightning and the whole monastery was
+burnt; so that all the valuable things therein were destroyed except a
+"few books and three priest's mass-hackles."[324] Abbot Gamage gave many
+books to the library in the year 1306;[325] and Richard de Stowe, during
+the same century, gave the monks a small collection in nine or ten
+volumes; a list of them is preserved in an old manuscript.[326]
+
+But earlier than this in the eleventh century, a bishop of Exeter stands
+remarkable as an _amator librorum_. Leofric, the last bishop of Crediton,
+and "sometime lord chancellor of England,"[327] received permission from
+Edward the Confessor to translate the seat of his diocese to the city of
+Exeter in the year 1050. "He was brought up and studied in
+_Lotharingos_," says William of Malmsbury,[328] and he manifested his
+learning and fondness for study by collecting books. Of the nature of his
+collections we are enabled to judge by the volumes he gave to the church
+of Exeter. The glimpse thus obtained lead us to consider him a curious
+book-collector; and it is so interesting to look upon a catalogue of a
+bishop's private library in that early time, and to behold his tastes and
+his pursuits reflected and mirrored forth therein, that I am sure the
+reader will be gratified by its perusal.[329] After enumerating some
+broad lands and a glittering array of sumptuous ornaments, he is recorded
+to have given to the church "Two complete mass books; 1 Collectarium; 2
+Books of Epistles (_Pistel Bec_[330]); 2 complete _Sang Bec_; 1 Book of
+_night sang_; 1 Book _unus liber_, a Breviary or Tropery; 2 Psalters; 3
+Psalters according to the Roman copies; 2 Antiphoners; A precious book of
+blessings; 3 others; 1 Book of Christ _in English_; 2 Summer Reading bec;
+1 Winter ditto; Rules and Canons; 1 Martyrology; 1 Canons in Latin; 1
+Confessional _in English_; 1 Book of Homilies and Hymns for Winter and
+Summer; 1 Boethius on the Consolation of Philosophy, _in English_ (King
+Alfred's translation); 1 Great Book of Poetry in English; 1 Capitular; 1
+Book of very ancient nocturnal _sangs_; 1 Pistel bec; 2 Ancient raeding
+bec; 1 for the use of the priest; also the following books in Latin,
+viz., 1 Pastoral of Gregory; 1 Dialogues of Gregory; 1 Book of the Four
+Prophets; 1 Boethius Consolation of Philosophy; 1 Book of the offices of
+Amalar; 1 Isagoge of Porphyry; 1 Passional; 1 book of Prosper; 1 book of
+Prudentius the Martyr; 1 Prudentius; 1 Prudentius (_de Mrib._); 1 other
+book; 1 Ezechael the Prophet; 1 Isaiah the Prophet; 1 Song of Songs; 1
+Isidore Etymology; 1 Isidore on the New and Old Testament; 1 Lives of the
+Apostles; 1 Works of Bede; 1 Bede on the Apocalypse; 1 Bede's Exposition
+on the Seven Canonical Epistles; 1 book of Isidore on the Miracles of
+Christ; 1 book of Orosius; 1 book of Machabees; 1 book of Persius; 1
+Sedulus; 1 Avator; 1 book of Statius with a gloss."
+
+Such were the books forming a part of the private library of a bishop of
+Exeter in the year of grace 1073. Few indeed when compared with the vast
+multitudes assembled and amassed together in the ages of printed
+literature. But these sixty or seventy volumes, collected in those times
+of dearth, and each produced by the tedious process of the pen, were of
+an excessive value, and mark their owner as distinctly an _amator
+librorum_, as the enormous piles heaped together in modern times would do
+a Magliabechi. Nor was Leofric an ordinary collector; he loved to
+preserve the idiomatic poetry of those old Saxon days; his ancient _sang
+bec_, or song books, would now be deemed a curious and precious relic of
+Saxon literature. One of these has fortunately escaped the ravages of
+time and the fate of war. "The great boc of English Poetry" is still
+preserved at Exeter--one of the finest relics of Anglo Saxon poetry
+extant. Mark too those early translations which we cannot but regard with
+infinite pleasure, and which satisfactorily prove that the Gospels and
+Church Service was at least partly read and sung in the Saxon church in
+the common language of the people; let the Roman Catholics say what they
+will.[331] But without saying much of his church books, we cannot but be
+pleased to find the Christian Boethius in his library with Bede, Gregory,
+Isidore, Prosper, Orosius, Prudentius, Sedulus, Persius and Statius;
+these are authors which retrieve the studies of Leofric from the charge
+of mere monastic lore.
+
+But good books about this time were beginning to be sought after with
+avidity. The Cluniac monks, who were introduced into England about the
+year 1077, more than one hundred and sixty years after their foundation,
+gave a powerful impetus to monastic learning; which received additional
+force by the enlightened efforts of the Cistercians, instituted in 1098,
+and spread into Britain about the year 1128. These two great branches of
+the Benedictine order, by their great love of learning, and by their zeal
+in collecting books, effected a great change in the monkish literature of
+England. "They were not only curious and attentive in forming numerous
+libraries, but with indefatigable assiduity transcribed the volumes of
+the ancients, _l'assiduite infatigable a transcrire les livres des
+anciens_, say the Benedictines of St. Maur,"[332] who perhaps however may
+be suspected of regarding their ancient brethren in rather too favorable
+a light. But certain it is, that the state of literature became much
+improved, and the many celebrated scholars who flourished in the twelfth
+century spread a taste for reading far and wide, and by their example
+caused the monks to look more eagerly after books. Peter of Blois,
+Archdeacon of London, is one of the most pleasing instances of this
+period, and his writings have even now a freshness and vivacity about
+them which surprise as they interest the reader. This illustrious
+student, and truly worthy man, was born at Blois in the early part of the
+twelfth century. His parents, who were wealthy and noble, were desirous
+of bestowing upon their son an education befitting their own rank; for
+this purpose he was sent to Paris to receive instruction in the general
+branches of scholastic knowledge. He paid particular attention to poetry,
+and studied rhetoric with still greater ardor.[333] But being designed
+for the bar, he left Paris for Bologna, there to study civil law; and
+succeeded in mastering all the dry technicalities of legal science. He
+then returned to Paris to study scholastic divinity,[334] in which he
+became eminently proficient, and was ever excessively fond. He remained
+at Paris studying deeply himself, and instructing others for many years.
+About the year 1167 he went with Stephen, Count de Perche, into Sicily,
+and was appointed tutor to the young King William II., made keeper of his
+private seal, and for two years conducted his education.[335] Soon after
+leaving Sicily, he was invited by Henry II. into England,[336] and made
+Archdeacon of Bath. It was during the time he held that office that he
+wrote most of these letters, from which we obtain a knowledge of the
+above facts, and which he collected together at the particular desire of
+King Henry; who ever regarded him with the utmost kindness, and bestowed
+upon him his lasting friendship. I know not a more interesting or a more
+historically valuable volume than these epistolary collections of
+Archdeacon Peter. They seem to bring those old times before us, to seat
+us by the fire-sides of our Norman forefathers, and in a pleasant, quiet
+manner enter into a gossip on the passing events of the day; and being
+written by a student and an _amator librorum_, they moreover unfold to us
+the state of learning among the ecclesiastics at least of the twelfth
+century; and if we were to take our worthy archdeacon as a specimen, they
+possessed a far better taste for these matters than we usually give them
+credit for. Peter of Blois was no ordinary man; a churchman, he was free
+from the prejudices of churchmen--a visitant of courts and the associate
+of royalty, he was yet free from the sycophancy of a courtier--and when
+he saw pride and ungodliness in the church, or in high places, he feared
+not to use his pen in stern reproof at these abominations. It is both
+curious and extraordinary, when we bear in mind the prejudices of the
+age, to find him writing to a bishop upon the looseness of his conduct,
+and reproving him for his inattention to the affairs of his diocese, and
+upbraiding another for displaying an unseemly fondness for hunting,[337]
+and other sports of the field; which he says is so disreputable to one of
+his holy calling, and quotes an instance of Pope Nicholas suspending and
+excluding from the church Bishop Lanfred for a similar offence; which he
+considers even more disgraceful in Walter, Lord Bishop of Winchester, to
+whom he is writing, on account of his advanced age; he being at that time
+eighty years old. We are constantly reminded in reading his letters that
+we have those of an indefatigable student before us; almost every page
+bears some allusion to his books or to his studies, and prove how well
+and deeply read he was in Latin literature; not merely the theological
+writings of the church, but the classics also. In one of his letters he
+speaks of his own studies, and tells us that when he learnt the art of
+versification and correct style, he did not spend his time on legends and
+fables, but took his models from Livy, Quintus Curtius, Trogus Pompeius,
+Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, and other classics; in the same letter he
+gives some directions to the Archdeacon of Nantes, who had undertaken the
+education of his nephews, as to the manner of their study. He had
+received from the archdeacon a flattering account of the progress made by
+one of them named William, to which he thus replies--"You speak," says
+he, "of William--his great penetration and ingenious disposition, who,
+without grammar or the authors of science, which are both so desirable,
+has mastered the subtilties of logic, so as to be esteemed a famous
+logician, as I learn by your letter. But this is not the foundation of a
+correct knowledge--these subtilties which you so highly extol, are
+manifoldly pernicious, as Seneca truly affirms,--_Odibilius nihil est
+subtilitate ubi est soloe subtilitas_. What indeed is the use of these
+things in which you say he spends his days--either at home, in the army,
+at the bar, in the cloister, in the church, in the court, or indeed in
+any position whatever, except, I suppose, the schools?" Seneca says, in
+writing to Lucalius, "_Quid est, inquit acutius arista et in quo est
+utiles!_"[338] In many letters we find him quoting the classics with the
+greatest ease, and the most appropriate application to his subject; in
+one he refers to Ovid, Persius, and Seneca,[339] and in others, when
+writing in a most interesting and amusing manner of poetic fame and
+literary study, he extracts from Terence, Ovid, Juvenal, Horace, Plato,
+Cicero, Valerius Maximus, Seneca, etc.[340] In another, besides a
+constant use of Scripture, which proves how deeply read too he was in
+Holy Writ, he quotes with amazing prodigality from Juvenal, Frontius,
+Vigetius, Dio, Virgil, Ovid, Justin, Horace, and Plutarch.[341] Indeed,
+Horace was a great favorite with the archdeacon, who often applied some
+of his finest sentences to illustrate his familiar chat and epistolary
+disquisitions.[342] It is worth noticing that in one he quotes the Roman
+history of Sallust, in six books, which is now lost, save a few
+fragments; the passage relates to Pompey the Great.[343] We can scarcely
+refrain from a smile at the eagerness of Archdeacon Peter in persuading
+his friends to relinquish the too enticing study of frivolous plays,
+which he says can be of no service to the interest of the soul;[344] and
+then, forgetting this admonition, sending for tragedies and comedies
+himself, that he might get them transcribed.[345] This puts one in mind
+of a certain modern divine, whose conduct not agreeing with his doctrine,
+told his hearers not to do as he did, but as he told them. It appears
+also equally ludicrous to find him upbraiding a monk, named Peter of
+Blois, for studying the pagan authors: "the foolish old fables of
+Hercules and Jove," their lies and philosophy;[346] when, as we have
+seen, he read them so ravenously, and so greatly borrowed from them
+himself. But then we must bear in mind that the archdeacon had also well
+stored his mind with Scripture, and certainly always deemed _that_ the
+first and most important of all his studies, which was perhaps not the
+case with the monk to whom he writes. In some of his letters we have
+pleasing pictures of the old times presented to us, and it is astonishing
+how homely and natural they read, after the elapse of 700 years. In more
+than one he launches out in strong invectives against the lawyers, who in
+all ages seems to have borne the indignation of mankind; Peter accuses
+them of selling their knowledge for hire, to the direct perversion of all
+justice; of favoring the rich and oppressing the poor.[347] He reproves
+Reginald, Archdeacon of Salisbury, for occupying his time with falconry,
+instead of attending to his clerical duties; and in another, a most
+interesting letter, he gives a description of King Henry II., whose
+character he extols in panegyric terms, and proves how much superior he
+was in learning to William II. of Sicily. He says that "Henry, as often
+as he could breathe from his care and solicitudes, he was occupied in
+secret reading; or at other times joined by a body of clergy, would try
+to solve some elaborate question _quaestiones laborat evolvere_."[348]
+Frequently we find him writing about books, begging transcripts, eagerly
+purchasing them; and in one of his letters to Alexander, Abbot of
+Jenniege, _Gemiticensem_, he writes, apologizing, and begging his
+forgiveness for not having fulfilled his promise in returning a book
+which he had borrowed from his library, and begs that his friend will yet
+allow him to retain it some days longer.[349] The last days of a
+scholar's life are not always remarkable, and we know nothing of those of
+Archdeacon Peter; for after the death of Henry II., his intellectual
+worth found no royal mind to appreciate it. The lion-hearted Richard
+thought more of the battle axe and crusading than the encouragement of
+literature or science; and Peter, like many other students, grown old in
+their studies, was left in his age to wander among his books, unmolested
+and uncared for. With the friendship of a few clerical associates, and
+the archdeaconry of London, which by the bye was totally
+unproductive,[350] he died, and for many ages was forgotten. But a
+student's worth can never perish; a time is certain to arrive when his
+erudition will receive its due reward of human praise. We now, after a
+slumber of many hundred years, begin to appreciate his value, and to
+entertain a hearty friendship and esteem for the venerable Archdeacon
+Peter.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[310] See Speed's Chron. p. 228. Samme's Antiq. p. 578.
+
+[311] Stowe's Annales, 4to. 1605, p. 97. See also Hearne's Hist.
+      Glastonbury.
+
+[312] _Will. Malm. ap. Gale Script._ 311.--Coopertoria Librorum
+      Evangelii. For many other instances of binding books in gold, and
+      sometimes with costly gems, I refer the reader to _Du Cange_
+      verb-Capsae, and to _Mr. Maitland's Dark Ages_.
+
+[313] Warton says, that this library was at the time the "_richest
+      in England_." In this, however, he was mistaken.
+
+[314] John of Glast. p. 423.
+
+[315] John of Glastonbury Edt., Hearne, Oxon, 1726, p. 451. Steven's
+      Additions to Dugdale, vol. i. p. 447.
+
+[316] Printed in _Tanner's Notitia Monastica_, 8vo. Edit. 1695, p.
+      75, and in _Hearne's History of Glastonbury_, p. 141; but both these
+      works are scarce, and I have thought it worth reprinting; the reader
+      will perceive that I have given some of the items in English--the
+      original of course is in Latin.
+
+[317] John of Glas. p. 262.
+
+[318] Librario dedit. bibliam preciosam.--_John of Glast._ p. 262.
+
+[319] Among them was a "Dictionarum Latine et Saxonicum."--_Leland
+      Collect._ iii. p. 153.
+
+[320] Leland, in his MSS. preserved in the Bodleian Library, calls
+      Whiting "_Homo sane candidissimus et amicus meus singularis_," but
+      he afterwards scored the line with his pen. See _Arch Bodl._ A.
+      Dugdale Monast. vol. i. p. 6.
+
+[321] See Hume's Hist. Engl.; Moffat's Hist. of Malmsbury, p. 223,
+      and Will. Malms. Novellae Hist. lib. ii.; Sharpe's translation, p.
+      576.
+
+[322] William of Malmsbury, translated by the Rev. J. Sharpe, 4to.
+      _Lond._ 1815, p. 107.
+
+[323] MS. _Cottonian Domit._ A. viii. fol. 128 b.
+
+[324] Saxon Chron. by Ingram, p. 343.
+
+[325] Dugdale's _Monastica_, vol. i. p. 534. Leland gives a list of
+      the books he found there, but they only number about 20 volumes. See
+      _Collect._ vol. iv. p. 159.
+
+[326] MS. Harleian, No. 627, fol. 8 a. "Liber Geneseos versificatus"
+      probably Caedmon's Paraphrase was among them, and Boethius's
+      Consolation of Philosophy.
+
+[327] Godwin Cat. of Bishops, p. 317.
+
+[328] Will. of Malms. de Gestis Pont. Savile Script. fol. 1601, p.
+      256, _apud Lotharingos altus et doctus_.
+
+[329] I use a transcript of the Exeter MS. collated by Sir F.
+      Madden. _Additional MSS._ No. 9067. It is printed in Latin and Saxon
+      from a old MS. In the Bodl. Auct. D. 2. 16. fol. 1 a; in Dugdale's
+      Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 257, which varies a little from the Exeter
+      transcript.
+
+[330] Bec is the plural of boc, a book.
+
+[331] See _Dr. Lingard's Hist. Anglo Sax. Church_, vol. i. p. 307,
+      who cannot deny this entirely; see also _Lappenberg Hist. Eng._ vol.
+      i. p. 202, who says that the mass was read partially in the Saxon
+      tongue. _Hallam_ in his _Supplemental Notes_, p. 408, has a good
+      note on the subject.
+
+[332] Hist. Litt. de la France, ix. p. 142.
+
+[333] Pet. Blesensis Opera, 4to. Mogunt. 1600. Ep. lxxxix.
+
+[334] Ep. xxvi.
+
+[335] Ep. lxvi.
+
+[336] Ep. cxxvii.
+
+[337] Ep. lvi. Yet we find that Charlemagne, in the year 795,
+      granted the monks of the monastery of St. Bertin, in the time of
+      Abbot Odlando, the privilege of hunting in his forests for the
+      purpose of procuring leather to bind their books. "Odlando Abbate
+      hujus loci abbas nonus, in omni bonitate suo praedecessori Hardrado
+      coaequalis anno primo sui regiminis impetravit a rege Carolo
+      privilegium venandi in silvis nostris et aliis ubicumque
+      constitutis, ad volumina librorum tegaenda, et manicas et zonas
+      habendas. Salvis forestis regiis, quod sic incipit. Carolus Dei
+      gratia Rex Francorum et Longobardorum ac patricius Romanorum, etc.,
+      data Septimo Kal. Aprilis, anno xxvi. regni nostri." Martene
+      Thasaurus Nov. Anecdotorum iii. 498. _Warton_ mentions a similar
+      instance of a grant to the monks of St. Sithin, _Dissert._ ii.
+      _prefixed to Hist. of Eng. Poetry_, but he quotes it with some sad
+      misrepresentations, and refers to _Mabillon De re Diplomatica_, 611.
+      Mr. Maitland, in his _Dark Ages_, has shown the absurdity of
+      Warton's inferences from the fact, and proved that it was to the
+      servants, or _eorum homines_, that Charlemagne granted this
+      uncanonical privilege, p. 216. But I find no such restriction in the
+      case I have quoted above. Probably, however, it was thought needless
+      to express what might be inferred, or to caution against a practice
+      so uncongenial with the christian duties of a monk.
+
+[338] Ep. ci. p. 184. He afterwards quotes Livy, Tacitus, and many
+      others.
+
+[339] Ep. xiv. He was fond of Quintus Curtius, and often read his
+      history with much pleasure. Ep. ci. p. 184.
+
+[340] Ep. lxxvii. p. 81.
+
+[341] Ep. xciv.
+
+[342] Ep. xcii. and also lxxii. which is redundant with quotations
+      from the poets.
+
+[343] Ep. xciv. p. 170.
+
+[344] Ep. lvii.
+
+[345] Ep. xii.
+
+[346] Ep. lxxvi. p. 132.
+
+[347] Ep. cxl. p. 253.
+
+[348] Ep. lxvi. p. 115.
+
+[349] Ep. xxxvii. p. 68.
+
+[350] Ep. cli.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     _Winchester famous for its Scribes.--Ethelwold and
+     Godemann.--Anecdotes.--Library of the Monastery of Reading.--The
+     Bible.--Library of Depying Priory.--Effects of Gospel
+     Reading.--Catalogue of Ramsey Library.--Hebrew MSS.--Fine
+     Classics, etc.--St. Edmund's Bury.--Church of Ely.--Canute, etc._
+
+
+In the olden time the monks of Winchester[351] were renowned for their
+calligraphic and pictorial art. The choice book collectors of the day
+sought anxiously for volumes produced by these ingenious scribes, and
+paid extravagant prices for them. A superb specimen of their skill was
+executed for Bishop Ethelwold; that enlightened and benevolent prelate
+was a great patron of art and literature, and himself a grammaticus and
+poet of no mean pretensions. He did more than any other of his time to
+restore the architectural beauties which were damaged or destroyed by the
+fire and sword of the Danish invaders. His love of these undertakings,
+his industry in carrying them out, and the great talent he displayed in
+their restoration, is truly wonderful to observe. He is called by
+Wolstan, his biographer, "a great builder of churches, and divers other
+works."[352] He was fond of learning, and very liberal in diffusing the
+knowledge which he acquired; and used to instruct the young by reading to
+them the Latin authors, translated into the Saxon tongue. "He wrote a
+Saxion version of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which was so much admired,
+and so pleased King Edgar, that he granted to him the manor of
+Sudborn,[353] as a token of his approbation."
+
+Among a number of donations which he bequeathed to this monastery, twenty
+volumes are enumerated, embracing some writings of Bede and Isidore.[354]
+As a proof of his bibliomanical propensities, I refer the reader to the
+celebrated Benedictional of the Duke of Devonshire; that rich gem, with
+its resplendent illuminations, place it beyond the shadow of a doubt, and
+prove Ethelwold to have been an _amator librorum_ of consummate taste.
+This fine specimen of Saxon ingenuity is the production of a cloistered
+monk of Winchester, named Godemann, who transcribed it at the bishop's
+special desire, as we learn, from the following lines:--
+
+    "_Presentem Biblum iusset prescribere Presul.
+    Wintoniae Dus que fecerat esse Patronum
+    Magnus AEthelwoldus._"[355]
+
+Godemann, the scribe, entreats the prayers of his readers, and wishes
+"all who gaze on this book to ever pray that after the end of the flesh I
+may inherit health in heaven: this is the fervent prayer of the scribe,
+the humble Godemann." This talented illuminator was chaplain to
+Ethelwold, and afterwards abbot of Thorney.[356] The choice Benedictional
+in the public library of Rouen is also ascribed to his elegant pen, and
+adds additional lustre of his artistic fame.[357]
+
+Most readers have heard of Walter, (who was prior of St. Swithin in
+1174,) giving twelve measures of barley and a pall, on which was
+embroidered in silver the history of St. Berinus converting a Saxon king,
+for a fine copy of Bede's Homilies and St. Austin's Psalter;[358] and of
+Henry, a monk of the Benedictine Abbey of Hyde, near there, who
+transcribed, in the year 1178, Terence, Boethius, Seutonius and Claudian;
+and richly illuminated and bound them, which he exchanged with a
+neighboring bibliophile for a life of St. Christopher, St. Gregory's
+Pastoral Care, and four Missals.[359] Nicholas, Bishop of Winchester,
+left one hundred marks and a Bible, with a fine gloss, in two large
+volumes, to the convent of St. Swithin. John de Pontissara, who succeeded
+that bishop in the year 1282, borrowed this valuable manuscript to
+benefit and improve his biblical knowledge by a perusal of its numerous
+notes. So great was their regard for this precious gift, that the monks
+demanded a bond for its return; a circumstance which has caused some
+doubt as to the plenitude of the Holy Scriptures in the English Church
+during that period; at least among those who have only casually glanced
+at the subject. I may as well notice that the ancient Psalter in the
+Cottonian Library[360] was written about the year 1035, by the "most
+humble brother and monk AElsinus," of Hyde Abbey. The table prefixed to
+the volume records the deaths of other eminent scribes and illuminators,
+whose names are mingled with the great men of the day;[361] showing how
+esteemed they were, and how honorable was their avocation. Thus under the
+15th of May we find "_Obitus AEtherici mº picto_;" and again, under the
+5th of July, "_Obit Wulfrici mº pictoris_." Many were the choice
+transcripts made and adorned by the Winchester monks.
+
+The monastery of Reading, in Berkshire, possessed during the reign of
+Henry the Third a choice library of a hundred and fifty volumes. It is
+printed in the Supplement to the History of Reading, from the original
+prefixed to the Woollascot manuscripts. But it is copied very
+inaccurately, and with many grievous omissions; nevertheless it will
+suffice to enable us to gain a knowledge of the class of books most
+admired by the monks of Reading; and the Christian reader will be glad to
+learn that the catalogue opens, as usual, with the Holy Scriptures.
+Indeed no less than four fine large and complete copies of the Bible are
+enumerated. The first in two volumes; the second in three volumes; the
+third in two, and the fourth in the same number which was transcribed by
+the _Cantor_, and kept in the cloisters for the use of the monks. But in
+addition to these, which are in themselves quite sufficient to exculpate
+the monks from any charge of negligence of Bible reading, we find a long
+list of separate portions of the Old and New Testament; besides many of
+the most important works of the Fathers, and productions of mediaeval
+learning, as the following names will testify:--
+
+    Ambrose.
+    Augustine.
+    Basil.
+    Bede.
+    Cassidorus.
+    Eusebius.
+    Gregory.
+    Hilarius.
+    Jerome.
+    Josephus.
+    Lombard.
+    Macrobius.
+    Origen.
+    Plato.
+    Prosper.
+    Rabanus Maurus.
+
+They possessed also the works of Geoffry of Monmouth; the _Vita Karoli et
+Alexandri et gesta Normannorum_; a "Ystoria Rading," and many others
+equally interesting; and among the books given by Radbert of Witchir, we
+find a Juvenal, the Bucolics and Georgics of Virgil, and the "Ode et
+Poetria et Sermone et Epistole Oratii." But certainly the most striking
+characteristic is the fine biblical collection contained in their
+library, which is well worthy our attention, if not our admiration: not
+but that we find them in other libraries much less extensive. In those
+monasteries whose poverty would not allow the purchase of books in any
+quantity, and whose libraries could boast but of some twenty or thirty
+volumes, it is scarcely to be expected that they should be found rich in
+profane literature; but it is deeply gratifying to find, as we generally
+do, the Bible first on their little list; conveying a proof by this
+prominence, in a quiet but expressive way, how highly they esteemed that
+holy volume, and how essential they deemed its possession. Would that
+they had profited more by its holy precepts!
+
+We find an instance of this, and a proof of their fondness for the Bible,
+in the catalogue of the books in Depying Priory,[362] in Lincolnshire;
+which, containing a collection of twenty-three volumes, enumerates a copy
+of the Bible first on the humble list. The catalogue is as follows:--
+
+    These are the books in the library of the monks of Depying.[363]
+
+    The Bible.
+    The first part of the Morals of Pope St. Gregory.
+    The second part of the Morals by the same.
+    Book of Divine Offices.
+    Gesta Britonorum.
+    Tracts of Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, on Confession,
+            with other compilations.
+    Martyrologium, with the Rules of St. Benedict; Passion of
+            St. James, with other books.
+    Constitutions of Pope Benedict.
+    History of the Island of Ely.
+    Hugucio de dono fratris Johannis Tiryngham.
+    Homilies of the blessed Gregory.
+    Constitutions of Pope Clement XII.
+    Book of the Virtues and Vices.
+    Majester Historiarum.
+    Sacramentary given by Master John Swarby, Rector of the
+            Church of St. Guthlac.
+    One great Portoforium for the use of the Brothers.
+    Two ditto.
+    Two Psalters for the use of the Brothers.
+    Three Missals for the use of the Brothers.
+
+There is not much in this scanty collection, the loss of which we need
+lament; nor does it inspire us with a very high notion of the learning of
+the monks of Depying Priory. Yet how cheering it is to find that the
+Bible was studied in this little cell; and I trust the monk often drew
+from it many words of comfort and consolation. Where is the reader who
+will not regard these instances of Bible reading with pleasure? Where is
+the Christian who will not rejoice that the Gospel of Christ was read and
+loved in the turbulent days of the Norman monarchs? Where is the
+philosopher who will affirm that we owe nothing to this silent but
+effectual and fervent study? Where is he who will maintain that the
+influence of the blessed and abundant charity--the cheering promises, and
+the sweet admonitions of love and mercy with which the Gospels
+overflow--aided nothing in the progress of civilization? Where is the
+Bible student who will believe that all this reading of the Scriptures
+was unprofitable because, forsooth, a monk preached and taught it to the
+multitude?
+
+Let the historian open his volumes with a new interest, and ponder over
+their pages with a fresh spirit of inquiry; let him read of days of
+darkness and barbarity; and as he peruses on, trace the origin of the
+light whose brightness drove the darkness and barbarity away. How much
+will he trace to the Bible's influence; how often will he be compelled to
+enter a convent wall to find in the gospel student the one who shone as a
+redeeming light in those old days of iniquity and sin; and will he deny
+to the Christian priest his gratitude and love, because he wore the cowl
+and mantle of a monk, or because he loved to read of saints whose lives
+were mingled with lying legends, or because he chose a life which to us
+looks dreary, cold, and heartless. Will he deny him a grateful
+recollection when he reads of how much good he was permitted to achieve
+in the Church of Christ; of how many a doubting heart he reassured; of
+how many a soul he fired with a true spark of Christian love; when he
+reads of how the monk preached the faith of Christ, and how often he led
+some wandering pilgrim into the path of vital truth by the sweet words of
+the dear religion which he taught; when he reads that the hearts of many
+a Norman chief was softened by the sweetness of the gospel's voice, and
+his evil passions were lulled by the hymn of praise which the monk
+devoutly sang to his Master in heaven above. But speaking of the
+existence of the Bible among the monks puts me in mind of the Abbey of
+Ramsey and its fine old library of books, which was particularly rich in
+biblical treasures. Even superior to Reading, as regards its biblical
+collection, was the library of Ramsey. A portion of an old catalogue of
+the library of this monastery has been preserved, apparently transcribed
+about the beginning of the fourteenth century, during the warlike reign
+of Richard the Second. It is one of the richest and most interesting
+relics of its kind extant, at least of those to be found in our own
+public libraries; and a perusal of it will not fail to leave an
+impression on the mind that the monks were far wealthier in their
+literary stores than we previously imagined. Originally on two or three
+skins, it is now torn into five separate pieces,[364] and in other
+respects much dilapidated. The writing also in some parts is nearly
+obliterated, so as to render the document scarcely readable. It is much
+to be regretted that this interesting catalogue is but a portion of the
+original; in its complete form it would probably have described twice as
+many volumes; but a fragment as it is, it nevertheless contains the
+titles of more than _eleven hundred books_, with the names of many of
+their donors attached. A creditable and right worthy testimonial this, of
+the learning and love of books prevalent among the monks of Ramsey
+Monastery. More than seven hundred of this goodly number were of a
+miscellaneous nature, and the rest were principally books used in the
+performance of divine service. Among these there were no less than
+seventy Breviaries; thirty-two Grails; twenty-nine Processionals; and one
+hundred Psalters! The reader will regard most of these as superstitious
+and useless; nor should I remark upon them did they not show that books
+were not so scarce in those times as we suppose; as this prodigality
+satisfactorily proves, and moreover testifies to the unceasing industry
+of the monkish scribes. We who are used to the speed of the printing
+press and its fertile abundance can form an opinion of the labor
+necessary to transcribe this formidable array of papistical literature.
+Four hundred volumes transcribed with the plodding pen! each word
+collated and each page diligently revised, lest a blunder or a misspelt
+syllable should blemish those books so deeply venerated. What long years
+of dry tedious labor and monotonous industry was here!
+
+But the other portion of the catalogue fully compensates for this vast
+proportion of ecclesiastical volumes. Besides several _Biblia optima in
+duobus voluminibus_, or complete copies of the Bible, many separate books
+of the inspired writers are noted down; indeed the catalogue lays before
+us a superb array of fine biblical treasures, rendered doubly valuable by
+copious and useful glossaries; and embracing many a rare Hebrew MS.
+Bible, _bibliotheca hebraice_, and precious commentary. I count no less
+than twenty volumes in this ancient language. But we often find Hebrew
+manuscripts in the monastic catalogues after the eleventh century. The
+Jews, who came over in great numbers about that time, were possessed of
+many valuable books, and spread a knowledge of their language and
+literature among the students of the monasteries. And when the cruel
+persecution commenced against them in the thirteenth century, they
+disposed of their books, which were generally bought up by the monks, who
+were ever hungry after such acquisitions. Gregory, prior of Ramsey,
+collected a great quantity of Hebrew MSS. in this way, and highly
+esteemed the language, in which he became deeply learned. At his death,
+in the year 1250, he left them to the library of his monastery.[365] Nor
+was my lord prior a solitary instance; many others of the same abbey,
+inspired by his example and aided by his books, studied the Hebrew with
+equal success. Brother Dodford, the Armarian, and Holbeach, a monk,
+displayed their erudition in writing a Hebrew lexicon.[366]
+
+The library of Ramsey was also remarkably rich in patristic lore. They
+gloried in the possession of the works of Ambrose, Augustine, Anselm,
+Basil, Boniface, Bernard, Gregory, and many others equally voluminous.
+But it was not exclusively to the study of such matters that these monks
+applied their minds, they possessed a taste for other branches of
+literature besides. They read histories of the church, histories of
+England, of Normandy, of the Jews; and histories of scholastic
+philosophy, and many old chronicles which reposed on their shelves. In
+science they appear to have been equally studious, for the catalogue
+enumerates works on medicine, natural history, philosophy, mathematics,
+logic, dialects, arithmetic and music! Who will say after this that the
+monks were ignorant of the sciences and careless of the arts? The
+classical student has perhaps ere this condemned them for their want of
+taste, and felt indignant at the absence of those authors of antiquity
+whose names and works he venerates. But the monks, far from neglecting
+those precious volumes, were ever careful of their preservation; they
+loved Virgil, Horace, and even Ovid, "heathen dogs" as they were, and
+enjoyed a keen relish for their beauties. I find in this catalogue the
+following choice names of antiquity occur repeatedly:--
+
+    Aristotle.
+    Arian.
+    Boethius.
+    Claudius.
+    Dionysius.
+    Donatus.
+    Horace.
+    Josephus.
+    Justin.
+    Lucan.
+    Martial.
+    Macrobius.
+    Orosius.
+    Ovid.
+    Plato.
+    Priscian.
+    Prudentius.
+    Seneca.
+    Sallust.
+    Solinus.
+    Terence.
+    Virgil.
+
+Here were rich mines of ancient eloquence, and fragrant flowers of poesy
+to enliven and perfume the dull cloister studies of the monks. It is not
+every library or reading society even of our own time that possess so
+many gems of old. But other treasures might yet be named which still
+further testify to the varied tastes and literary pursuits of these
+monastic bibliophiles; but I shall content myself with naming Peter of
+Blois, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, of which they had several copies,
+some enriched with choice commentaries and notes, the works of Thomas
+Aquinas and others of his class, a "Liber Ricardi," Dictionaries,
+Grammars, and the writings of "Majestri Robi Grostete," the celebrated
+Bishop of Lincoln, renowned as a great _amator librorum_ and collector of
+Grecian literature. I might easily swell this notice out to a
+considerable extent by enumerating many other book treasures in this
+curious collection: but enough has been said to enable the reader to
+judge of the sort of literature the monks of Ramsey collected and the
+books they read; and if he should feel inclined to pursue the inquiry
+further, I must refer him to the original manuscript, promising him much
+gratification for his trouble.[367] It only remains for me to say that
+the Vandalism of the Reformation swept all traces of this fine library
+away, save the broken, tattered catalogue we have just examined. But this
+is more than has been spared from some. The abbey of St. Edmunds
+Bury[368] at one time must have enjoyed a copious library, but we have no
+catalogue that I am aware of to tell of its nature, not even a passing
+notice of its well-stored shelves, except a few lines in which Leland
+mentions some of the old manuscripts he found therein.[369] But a
+catalogue of their library in the flourishing days of their monastery
+would have disclosed, I imagine, many curious works, and probably some
+singular writings on the "_crafft off medycyne_," which Abbot Baldwin,
+"_phesean_" to Edward the Confessor,[370] had given the monks, and of
+whom Lydgate thus speaks--
+
+    "Baldewynus, a monk off Seynt Denys,
+     Gretly expert in crafft of medycyne;
+     Full provydent off counsayl and right wys,
+     Sad off his port, functuons off doctryne;
+     After by grace and influence devyne,
+     Choose off Bury Abbot, as I reede
+     The thyrdde in order that did ther succeade."[371]
+
+We may equally deplore the loss of the catalogue of the monastery of Ely,
+which, during the middle ages, we have every reason to suppose possessed
+a library of much value and extent. This old monastery can trace its
+foundation back to a remote period, and claim as its foundress,
+Etheldredae,[372] the daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, she was
+the wife of King Ecgfrid,[373] with whom she lived for twelve long years,
+though during that time she preserved the glory of perfect virginity,
+much to the annoyance of her royal spouse, who offered money and lands
+to induce that illustrious virgin to waver in her resolution, but without
+success. Her inflexible determination at length induced her husband to
+grant her oft-repeated prayer; and in the year 673 she retired into the
+seclusion of monastic life,[374] and building the monastery of Ely,
+devoted her days to the praise and glory of her heavenly King. Her pure
+and pious life caused others speedily to follow her example, and she soon
+became the virgin-mother of a numerous progeny dedicated to God. A series
+of astounding miracles attended her monastic life; and sixteen years
+after her death, when her sister, the succeeding abbess, opened her
+wooden coffin to transfer her body to a more costly one of marble, that
+"holy virgin and spouse of Christ" was found entirely free from
+corruption or decay.[375]
+
+A nunnery, glorying in so pure a foundress, grew and flourished, and for
+"two hundred years existed in the full observance of monastic
+discipline;" but on the coming of the Danes in the year 870, those sad
+destroyers of religious establishments laid it in a heap of ruins, in
+which desolate condition it remained till it attracted the attention of
+the celebrated Ethelwold, who under the patronage of King Edgar restored
+it; and endowing it with considerable privileges appointed Brithnoth,
+Prior of Winchester, its first abbot.[376]
+
+Many years after, when Leoffin was abbot there, and Canute was king, that
+monarch honored the monastery of Ely with his presence on several
+occasions. Monkish traditions say, that on one of these visits as the
+king approached, he heard the pious inmates of the monastery chanting
+their hymn of praise; and so melodious were the voices of the devotees,
+that his royal heart was touched, and he poured forth his feelings in a
+Saxon ballad, commencing thus:
+
+    "Merry sang the monks of Ely,
+     When Canute the king was sailing by;
+     Row ye knights near the land,
+     And let us hear these monks song."[377]
+
+It reads smoother in Strutt's version; he renders it
+
+    "Cheerful sang the monk of Ely,
+     When Canute the king was passing by;
+     Row to the shore knights, said the king,
+     And let us hear these churchmen sing."[378]
+
+In addition to the title of a poet, Canute has also received the
+appellation of a bibliomaniac. Dibdin, in his bibliomania, mentions in a
+cursory manner a few monkish book collectors, and introduces Canute
+among them.[379] The illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels in the
+Danish tongue, now in the British Museum, he writes, "and once that
+monarch's own book leaves not the shadow of a doubt of his bibliomanical
+character!" I cannot however allow him that title upon such equivocal
+grounds; for upon examination, the MS. turns out to be in the Theotisc
+dialect, possessing no illuminations of its own, and never perhaps once
+in the hands of the royal poet.[380]
+
+From the account books of Ely church we may infer that the monks there
+enjoyed a tolerable library; for we find frequent entries of money having
+been expended for books and materials connected with the library; thus in
+the year 1300 we find that they bought at one time five dozen parchment,
+four pounds of ink, eight calf and four sheep-skins for binding books;
+and afterwards there is another entry of five dozen vellum and six pair
+of book clasps, a book of decretals for the library, 3s., a Speculum
+Gregor, 2s., and "_Pro tabula Paschalis fac denova et illuminand_,"
+4s.[381] They frequently perhaps sent one of the monks to distants parts
+to purchase or borrow books for their library; a curious instance of this
+occurs under the year 1329, when they paid "the precentor for going to
+Balsham to enquire for books, 6s. 7d." The bookbinder two weeks' wages,
+4s.; twelve iron chains to fasten books, 4s.; five dozen vellum, 25s. 8d.
+In the year 1396, they paid their librarian 53s. 4d., and a tunic for his
+services during one year.[382]
+
+Nigel, Bishop of Ely, by endowing the Scriptorium, enabled the monks to
+produce some excellent transcripts; they added several books of
+Cassiodorus, Bede, Aldelem, Radbert, Andres, etc., to the library;[383]
+and they possessed at one time no less than thirteen fine copies of the
+Gospels, which were beautifully bound in gold and silver.[384]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[351] Those learned in such matters refer the foundation of
+      Winchester cathedral and monastery to a remote period. An old writer
+      says that it was "built by King Lucius, who, abolishing Paganisme,
+      embraced Christ the first yere of his reigne, being the yeere of our
+      Lord 180."--_Godwin's Cat._ p. 157. See also _Usher de Primordiis_.
+      fo. 126.
+
+[352] "Ecclesiarum ac diversorum operum magnus aedificator, et dum
+      esset abbas et dum esset episcopus."--_Wolstan. Vita AEthelw. ap.
+      Mabillon Actae S. S. Benedict, Saec._ v. p. 614.
+
+[353] Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. i. p. 614.
+
+[354] MS. belonging to the Society of Antiquaries, No. 60, fo. 34.
+      See Dugdale Monast. vol. i. p. 382. He gave to the monks of Abingdon
+      a copy of the Gospels cased in silver, ornamented with gold and
+      precious stones.
+
+[355] _Archaeologia_, vol. xxiv. p. 22; and _Dibdin's_ delightful
+      "_Decameron_," vol. i. p. lix.
+
+[356] Wuls. Act. S. S. Benedict. p. 616.
+
+[357] Archaeolog. vol. xxiv.
+
+[358] Regist. Priorat. S. Swithin Winton.--_Warton_ II, _Dissert._
+
+[359] _Ibid._
+
+[360] _Marked Titus_, D. 27.
+
+[361] It is called "_Calendarium, in quo notantur dies obitus
+      plurimorum monachorum, abbatum, etc.; temp. regum Anglo-Saxonum_."
+
+[362] It was a little cell dependant on the Abbey of Thorney.
+
+[363] MS. _Harleian_, No. 3658, fo. 74, b. It will be found printed
+      in _Dugdale's Monasticon_, vol. iv. p. 167. The catalogue was
+      evidently written about the year 1350.
+
+[364] Cottonian Charta, 11-16. I am sorry to observe so little
+      attention paid to this curious fragment, which, insignificant as it
+      may appear to some, is nevertheless quite a curiosity of literature
+      in its way. Its tattered condition calls for the care of Sir
+      Frederick Madden.
+
+[365] Leland Script. Brit. p. 321, and MSS. Bibl. Lambeth, Wharton,
+      L. p. 661. Libris Prioris Gregorii de Ramsey, _Prima pars
+      Bibliothecae Hebraice_, etc. Warton Dissert ii. Eng. Poetry.
+
+[366] Bale, iv. 41, et ix. 9. Leland. Scrip. Brit. p. 452.
+
+[367] Ailward, Bishop of London, gave many books to the library of
+      Ramsey monastery, _Hoveden Scrip. post. Bedam._ 1596, fol. 252.
+      Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii.
+
+[368] In the year 1327, the inhabitants of Bury besieged the abbey,
+      wounded the monks, and "bare out of the abbey all the gold, silver
+      ornaments, _bookes, charters, and other writings_." Stowe Annals, p.
+      353.
+
+[369] He particularly notices a Sallust, a very ancient copy,
+      _vetustis simus_.
+
+[370] And also to Lanfranc, he was elected in the year 1065.
+
+[371] Harleian MS. No. 2278.
+
+[372] Or Atheldryth.
+
+[373] The youngest son of Osway, King of Northumbria; he succeeded
+      to the throne on the death of his father in the year 670.
+
+[374] She seems to have been principally encouraged in this
+      fanatical determination by Wilfrid; probably this was one of the
+      causes of Ecgfrid's displeasure towards him. So highly was the
+      purity of the body regarded in the early Saxon church, that Aldhelm
+      wrote a piece in its praise, in imitation of the style of Sedulius,
+      but in most extravagant terms. Bede wrote a poem, solely to
+      commemorate the chastety of Etheldreda.
+
+         "Let Maro wars in loftier numbers sing
+          I sound the praises of our heavenly King;
+          Chaste is my verse, nor Helen's rape I write,
+          Light tales like these, but prove the mind as light."
+                       _Bede's Eccl. Hist. by Giles_, b. iv. c. xx.
+
+[375] Bede's Eccl. Hist. b. iv. c. xx.
+
+[376] Saxon Chronicle translated by Ingram, p. 118. Dugdale's
+      Monasticon, vol. i. p. 458.
+
+[377] Sharon Turner's Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. p. 288.
+
+[378] Strutt's Saxon Antiquities, vol. i. p. 83.
+
+[379] _Dibdin's Bibliomania_, p. 228.
+
+[380] Dibdin alludes to the "Harmony of the Four Gospels," preserved
+      among the Cotton MSS. _Caligula_, A. vii. and described as
+      "_Harmonia Evangeliorum, lingua Francica capitulis, 71, Liber
+      quondam (dicit Jamesius) Canuti regis_." See also Hicke's Gram.
+      Franco-Theotisca, p. 6. But there is no ground for the supposition
+      that it belonged to Canute; and the several fine historical
+      illuminations bound up with it are evidently of a much later age.
+
+[381] An entry occurs of 6s. 8d. for writing two processionals.
+
+[382] Stevenson's Suppl. to Bentham's church of Ely, p. 52. "It is
+      worth notice," says Stevenson, "that in the course of a few years,
+      about the middle of the 14th century, the precentor purchased
+      upwards of seventy dozen parchment and thirty dozen vellum."
+
+[383] Spelman Antiquarii Collectanea, vol. iii. p. 273. Nigel, who
+      was made bishop in 1133, was plundered by some of King Stephen's
+      soldiers, and robbed of his own copy of the Gospels which he had
+      adorned with many sacred relics; see _Anglia Sacra_, i. p. 622.
+
+[384] _Warton's Anglia Sacra_, it is related that William Longchamp,
+      bishop in 1199, sold them to raise money towards the redemption of
+      King Richard, _pro Regis Ricardi redemptione_, tom. i. 633. Dugd.
+      Monast. i. p. 463.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+     _St. Alban's.--Willigod.--Bones of St. Alban.--Eadmer.--Norman
+     Conquest.--Paul and the Scriptorium.--Geoffry de
+     Gorham.--Brekspere the "Poor Clerk".--Abbot Simon and his "multis
+     voluminibus".--Raymond the
+     Prior.--Wentmore.--Whethamstede.--Humphrey, Duke of
+     Gloucester.--Lydgate.--Guy, Earl of Warwick._
+
+
+The efficacy of "Good Works" was a principle ever inculcated by the monks
+of old. It is sad to reflect, that vile deeds and black intentions were
+too readily forgiven and absolved by the Church on the performance of
+some _good deed_; or that the monks should dare to shelter or to gloss
+over those sins which their priestly duty bound them to condemn, because
+forsooth some wealthy baron could spare a portion of his broad lands or
+coffered gold to extenuate them. But this forms one of the dark stains of
+the monastic system; and the monks, I am sorry to say, were more readily
+inclined to overlook the blemish, because it proved so profitable to
+their order. And thus it was, that the proud and noble monastery of St.
+Alban's was endowed by a murderer's hand, and built to allay the fierce
+tortures of an assassin's conscience. Ethelbert, king of the East Angles,
+fell by the regal hand of Offa, king of Mercia; and from the era of that
+black and guilty deed many a fine monastery dates its origin and owes its
+birth.
+
+St. Alban's was founded, as its name implies, in honor of the English
+protomartyr, whose bones were said to have been discovered on that
+interesting site, and afterwards preserved with veneration in the abbey.
+In the ancient times, the building appears to have covered a considerable
+space, and to have been of great magnitude and power; for ruins of its
+former structure mark how far and wide the foundation spreads.
+
+"The glorious king Offa," as the monks in their adulation style him,
+richly endowed the monastery on its completion, as we learn from the old
+chronicles of the abbey; and a succession of potent sovereigns are
+emblazoned on the glittering parchment, whose liberalty augmented or
+confirmed these privileges.[385]
+
+Willigod, the first abbot, greatly enriched the monastery, and bestowed
+especial care upon the relics of St. Alban. It is curious to mark how
+many perils those shrivelled bones escaped, and with what anxious care
+the monks preserved them. In the year 930, during the time of Abbot
+Eadfrid, the Danes attacked the abbey, and after many destroying acts
+broke open the repository, and carried away some of the bones of St.
+Alban into their own country.[386] The monks took greater care than ever
+of the remaining relics; and their anxiety for their safety, and the
+veneration with which they regarded them, is curiously illustrated by an
+anecdote of Abbot Leofric, elected in the year 1006. His abbacy was,
+therefore, held in troubled times; and in the midst of fresh invasions
+and Danish cruelties. Fearing lest they should a second time reach the
+abbey, he determined to protect by stratagem what he could not effect by
+force. After hiding the genuine bones of St. Alban in a place quite
+secure from discovery, he sent an open message to the Abbot of Ely,
+entreating permission to deposit the holy relics in his keeping; and
+offering, as a plausible reason, that the monastery of Ely, being
+surrounded by marshy and impenetrable bogs, was secure from the
+approaches of the barbarians. He accompanied this message with some false
+relics--the remains of an old monk belonging to the abbey enclosed in a
+coffin--and sent with them a worn antiquated looking mantle, pretending
+that it formerly belonged to Amphibalus, the master of St. Alban.[387]
+The monks of Ely joyfully received these precious bones, and displayed
+perhaps too much eagerness in doing so. Certain it is, that when the
+danger was past and the quietude of the country was restored, Leofric,
+on applying for the restitution of these "holy relics," found some
+difficulty in obtaining them; for the Abbot of Ely attempted by
+equivocation and duplicity to retain them. After several ineffectual
+applications, Leofric was compelled, for the honor of his monastery, to
+declare the "pious fraud" he had practised; which he proved by the
+testimony of several monks of his fraternity, who were witnesses of the
+transaction. It is said, that Edward the Confessor was highly incensed at
+the conduct of the Abbot of Ely.
+
+I have stated elsewhere, that the learned and pious AElfric gave the
+monastery many choice volumes. His successor, Ealdred, abbot, about the
+year 955, was quite an antiquary in his way; and no spot in England
+afforded so many opportunities to gratify his taste as the site of the
+ancient city of Verulam. He commenced an extensive search among the
+ruins, and rescued from the earth a vast quantity of interesting and
+valuable remains. He stowed all the stone-work and other materials which
+were serviceable in building away, intending to erect a new edifice for
+the monks: but death prevented the consummation of these designs. Eadmer,
+his successor, a man of great piety and learning, followed up the
+pursuit, and made some important accessions to these stores. He found
+also a great number of gold and silver ornaments, specimens of ancient
+art, some of them of a most costly nature, but being idols or figures
+connected with heathen mythology, he cared not to preserve them. Matthew
+Paris is prolix in his account of the operations and discoveries of this
+abbot; and one portion of it is so interesting, and seems so connected
+with our subject, that I cannot refrain from giving it to the reader.
+"The abbot," he writes, "whilst digging out the walls and searching for
+the ruins which were buried in the earth in the midst of the ancient
+city, discovered many vestiges of the foundation of a great palace. In a
+recess in one of the walls he found the remains of a library, consisting
+of a number of books and rolls; and among them a volume in an unknown
+tongue, and which, although very ancient, had especially escaped
+destruction. This nobody in the monastery could read, nor could they at
+that time find any one who understood the writing or the idiom; it was
+exceedingly ancient, and the letters evidently were most beautifully
+formed; the inscriptions or titles were written in gold, and encircled
+with ornaments; bound in oak with silken bands, which still retained
+their strength and beauty; so perfectly was the volume preserved. But
+they could not conceive what the book was about; at last, after much
+search and diligent inquiry, they found a very feeble and aged priest,
+named Unwon, who was very learned in writings _literis bene eruditum_,
+and imbued with the knowledge of divers languages. He knew directly what
+the volume was about, and clearly and fluently read the contents; he also
+explained the other _Codices_ found in the same library _in eodem
+Almariolo_ of the palace with the greatest ease, and showed them to be
+written in the characters formerly in use among the inhabitants of
+Verulam, and in the language of the ancient Britons. Some, however, were
+in Latin; but the book before-mentioned was found to be the history of
+Saint Alban, the English proto-martyr, according to that mentioned by
+Bede, as having been daily used in the church. Among the other books were
+discovered many contrivances for the invocation and idolatrous rites of
+the people of Verulam, in which it was evident that Phoebus the god Sol
+was especially invoked and worshipped; and after him Mercury, called in
+English Woden, who was the god of the merchants. The books which
+contained these diabolical inventions they cast away and burnt; but that
+precious treasure, the history of Saint Alban, they preserved, and the
+priest before-mentioned was appointed to translate the ancient English or
+British into the vulgar tongue.[388] By the prudence of the Abbot Eadmer,
+the brothers of the convent made a faithful copy, and diligently
+explained it in their public teaching; they also translated it into
+Latin, in which it is now known and read; the historian adds that the
+ancient and original copy, which was so curiously written,
+instantaneously crumbled into dust and was destroyed for ever."[389]
+
+Although the attention of the Saxon abbots was especially directed to
+literary matters, and to the affairs connected with the making of books,
+we find no definite mention of a Scriptorium, or of manuscripts having
+been transcribed as a regular and systematic duty, till after the Norman
+conquest. That event happened during the abbacy of Frederic, and was one
+which greatly influenced the learning of the monks. Indeed, I regard the
+Norman conquest as a most propitious event for English literature, and
+one which wrought a vast change in the aspect of monastic learning; the
+student of those times cannot fail to perceive the revolution which then
+took place in the cloisters; visibly accomplished by the installation of
+Norman bishops and the importation of Norman monks, who in the well
+regulated monasteries of France and Normandy had been initiated into a
+more general course of study, and brought up in a better system of mental
+training than was known here at that time.
+
+But poor Frederic, a conscientious and worthy monk, suffered severely by
+that event, and was ultimately obliged to seek refuge in the monastery of
+Ely to evade the displeasure of the new sovereign; but his earthly course
+was well nigh run, for three days after, death released him from his
+worldly troubles, and deprived the conqueror of a victim. Paul, the first
+of the Norman abbots, was appointed by the king in the year 1077. He was
+zealous and industrious in the interest of the abbey, and obtained the
+restitution of many lands and possessions of which it had been deprived;
+he rebuilt the old and almost ruined church, and employed for that
+purpose many of the materials which his predecessors had collected from
+the ruins of Verulam; and even now, I believe, some remnants of these
+Roman tiles, etc., may be discerned. He moreover obtained many important
+grants and valuable donations; among others a layman named Robert, one
+of the Norman leaders, gave him two parts of the tythes of his domain at
+Hatfield, which he had received from the king at the distribution.
+
+"This he assigned," says Matthew Paris, "to the disposal of Abbot Paul,
+who was a lover of the Scriptures, for the transcription of the necessary
+volumes for the monastery. He himself indeed was a learned soldier, and a
+diligent hearer and lover of Scripture; to this he also added the tythes
+of Redburn, appointing certain provisions to be given to the scribes;
+this he did out of "charity to the brothers that they may not thereby
+suffer, and that no impediment might be offered to the writers." The
+abbot thereupon sought and obtained from afar many renowned scribes, to
+write the necessary books for the monastery. And in return for these
+abundant favors, he presented, as a suitable gift to the warlike Robert,
+for the chapel in his palace at Hatfield, two pair of vestments, a silver
+cup, a missal, and the other needful books (_missale cum aliis libris
+necessariis_). Having thus presented to him the first volumes produced by
+his liberality, he proceeded to construct a scriptorium, which was set
+apart (_praeelectos_) for the transcription of books; Lanfranc supplied
+the copies. They thus procured for the monastery twenty-eight notable
+volumes (_volumina notabilia_), also eight psalters, a book of collects,
+a book of epistles, a volume containing the gospels for the year, two
+copies of the gospels complete, bound in gold and silver, and ornamented
+with gems; besides ordinals, constitutions, missals, troapries,
+collects, and other books for the use of the library."[390]
+
+Thus blessed, we find the monks of St. Albans for ages after constantly
+acquiring fresh treasures, and multiplying their book stores by fruitful
+transcripts. There is scarce an abbot, whose portrait garnishes the fair
+manuscript before me, that is not represented with some goodly tomes
+spread around him, or who is not mentioned as a choice "_amator
+librorum_," in these monkish pages. It is a singular circumstance, when
+we consider how bookless those ages are supposed to have been, that the
+illuminated portraits of the monks are most frequently depicted with some
+ponderous volume before them, as if the idea of a monk and the study of a
+book were quite inseparable. During my search among the old manuscripts
+quoted in this work, this fact has been so repeatedly forced upon my
+attention that I am tempted to regard it as an important hint, and one
+which speaks favorably for the love of books and learning among the
+cowled devotees of the monasteries.
+
+Passing Richard de Albani, who gave them a copy of the gospels, a missal
+written in letters of gold, an other precious volumes whose titles are
+unrecorded,[391] we come to Geoffry, a native of Gorham, who was elected
+abbot in the year 1119. He had been invited over to England (before he
+became a priest) by his predecessor, to superintend the school of St.
+Albans; but he delayed the voyage so long, that on his arrival he found
+the appointment already filled; on this he went to Dunstable, where he
+read lectures, and obtained some pupils. It was during his stay there
+that he wrote the piece which has obtained for him so much reputation.
+_Ubi quendam ludum de Sancta Katarinae quem miracula vulgariter appellamus
+fecit_, says the Cotton manuscripts, on the vellum page of which he is
+portrayed in the act of writing it.[392] Geoffry, from this passage, is
+supposed to be the first author of dramatic literature in England;
+although the title seems somewhat equivocal, from the casual manner in
+which his famous play of St. Catherine is thus mentioned by Matthew
+Paris. Of its merits we are still less able to form an opinion; for
+nothing more than the name of that much talked of miracle play has been
+preserved. We may conclude, however, that it was performed with all the
+paraphernalia of scenery and characteristic costume; for he borrowed of
+the sacrist of St. Albans some copes for this purpose. On the night
+following the representation the house in which he resided was burnt;
+and, says the historian, all his books, and the copes he had borrowed
+were destroyed. Rendered poor indeed by this calamity, and somewhat
+reflecting upon himself for the event, he assumed in sorrow and despair
+the religious habit, and entered the monastery of St. Albans; where by
+his deep study, his learning and his piety, he so gained the hearts of
+his fraternity, that he ultimately became their abbot. He is said to have
+been very industrious in the transcription of books; and he "made a
+missal bound in gold, _auro ridimitum_, and another in two volumes; both
+incomparably illuminated in gold, and written in a clear and legible
+hand; also a precious Psalter similarly illuminated; a book containing
+the Benedictions and the Sacraments; a book of Exorcisms, and a
+Collectaria."[393]
+
+Geoffry was succeeded by Ralph de Gobium in the year 1143: he was a monk
+remarkable for his learning and his bibliomanical pursuits. He formerly
+remained some time in the services of Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, and
+gained the esteem of that prelate. His book-loving passion arose from
+hearing one "Master Wodon, of Italy, expound the doctrines of the Holy
+Scriptures." He from that time became a most enthusiastic _amator
+librorum_; and collected, with great diligence, an abundant multitude of
+books.[394]
+
+The matters in which he was concerned, his donations to the monastery,
+and the anecdotes of his life, are all unconnected with my subject; so
+that I am obliged to pass from this interesting monk, an undoubted
+bibliophile, from sheer want of information. I cannot but regret that the
+historian does not inform us more fully of his book collecting pursuits;
+but he is especially barren on that subject, although he highly esteems
+him for prosecuting that pleasing avocation. He died in the year 1151, in
+the fourteenth of King Stephen, and was followed by Robert de Gorham, who
+is also commemorated as a bibliophile in the pages of the Cotton
+manuscripts; and to judge from his portrait, and the intensity with which
+he pores over his volume, he was a hard and devoted student. He ordered
+the scribes to make a great many books; indeed, adds Paris the historian,
+who was himself somewhat of an _amator librorum_, "more by far than can
+be mentioned."[395] From another source we learn that these books were
+most sumptuously bound.[396]
+
+During the days of this learned abbot a devout and humble clerk asked
+admission at the abbey gate. Aspiring to a holy life, he ardently hoped,
+by thus spending his days in monastic seclusion, to render his heart more
+acceptable to God. Hearing his prayer, the monks conducted him into the
+presence of my Lord Abbot, who received him with compassionate
+tenderness, and kindly questioned him as to his qualifications for the
+duties and sacred responsibilities of the monkish priesthood; for even in
+those dark ages they looked a little into the learning of the applicant
+before he was admitted into their fraternity. But alas! the poor clerk
+was found wofully deficient in this respect, and was incapable of
+replying to the questions of my Lord Abbot, who thereupon gently
+answered, "My son, tarry awhile, and still exercise thyself in study, and
+so become more perfect for the holy office."
+
+Abashed and disappointed, he retired with a kindling blush of shame; and
+deeming this temporary repulse a positive refusal he left his fatherland,
+and started on a pilgrimage to France.[397] And who was this poor,
+humble, unlettered clerk? Who this simple layman, whose ignorance
+rendered him an unfit _socius_ for the plodding monks of old St. Albans
+Abbey? No less than the English born Nicholas Brekespere, afterwards his
+Holiness Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Vicar-apostolic and successor of St.
+Peter!
+
+Yes; still bearing in mind the kind yet keen reproof of the English
+abbot, on his arrival in a foreign land he studied with all the depth and
+intensity of despair, and soon surpassed his companions in the pursuit of
+knowledge; and became so renowned for learning, and for his prudence,
+that he was made Canon of St. Rufus. His sagacity, moreover, caused him
+to be chosen, on three separate occasions, to undertake some important
+embassies to the apostolic see; and at length he was elected a cardinal.
+So step by step he finally became elevated to the high dignity of the
+popedom. The first and last of England's sons who held the keys of Peter.
+
+These shadows of the past--these shreds of a forgotten age--these echoes
+of five hundred years, are full of interest and instruction. For where
+shall we find a finer example--a more cheering instance of what
+perseverance will accomplish--or a more satisfactory result of the
+pursuit of knowledge under difficulties? Not only may these curious facts
+cheer the dull student now, and inspire him with that energy so
+essential to success, but these whisperings of old may serve as lessons
+for ages yet to come. For if _we_ look back upon those dark days with
+such feelings of superiority, may not the wiser generations of the future
+regard _us_ with a still more contemptuous, yet curious eye? And when
+they look back at our Franklins, and our Johnsons, in astonishment at
+such fine instances of what perseverance could do, and what energy and
+plodding industry could accomplish, even when surrounded with the
+difficulties of _our_ ignorance; how much more will they praise this
+bright example, in the dark background of the historical tableaux, who,
+without even our means of obtaining knowledge--our libraries or our
+talent--rose by patient, hard and devoted study, from Brekespere the
+humble clerk--the rejected of St. Albans--to the proud title of
+Vicar-apostolic of Christ and Pope of Rome!
+
+Simon, an Englishman, a clerk and a "man of letters and good morals," was
+elected abbot in the year 1167. All my authorities concur in bestowing
+upon him the honor and praise appertaining to a bibliomaniac. He was,
+says one, an especial lover of books, _librorum amator speciales_: and
+another in panegyric terms still further dubs him an _amator
+scripturarum_. All this he proved, and well earned the distinction, by
+the great encouragement he gave to the collecting and transcribing of
+books. The monkish pens he found moving too slow, and yielding less fruit
+than formerly. He soon, however, set them hard at work again; and to
+facilitate their labors, he added materially to the comforts of the
+Scriptorium by repairing and enlarging it; "and always," says the monk
+from whom I learn this, "kept two or three most choice scribes in the
+Camera (Scriptorium,) who sustained its reputation, and from whence an
+abundant supply of the most excellent books were continually
+produced.[398] He framed some efficient laws for its management, and
+ordered that, in subsequent times, every abbot should keep and support
+one able scribe at least. Among the 'many choice books and authentic
+volumes,' _volumina authentica_, which he by this care and industry added
+to the abbey library, was included a splendid copy of the Old and New
+Testament, transcribed with great accuracy and beautifully
+written--indeed, says the manuscript history of that monastery, so noble
+a copy was nowhere else to be seen.[399] But besides this, Abbot Simon
+gave them all those precious books which he had been for a 'long time'
+collecting himself at great cost and patient labor, and having bound them
+in a sumptuous and marvellous manner,[400] he made a library for their
+reception near the tomb of Roger the Hermit.[401] He also bestowed many
+rich ornaments and much costly plate on the monastery; and by a long
+catalogue of good deeds, too ample to be inserted here, he gained the
+affections and gratitude of his fraternity, who loudly praised his
+virtues and lamented his loss when they laid him in his costly tomb.
+There is a curious illumination of this monkish bibliophile in the Cotton
+manuscript. He is represented deeply engaged with his studies amidst a
+number of massy volumes, and a huge trunk is there before him crammed
+with rough old fashioned large clasped tomes, quite enticing to look
+upon."[402]
+
+After Simon came Garinus, who was soon succeeded by one John. Our
+attention is arrested by the learned renown of this abbot, who had
+studied in his youth at Paris, and obtained the unanimous praise of his
+masters for his assiduous attention and studious industry. He returned
+with these high honors, and was esteemed in grammar a Priscian, in poetry
+an Ovid, and in physic equal to Galen.[403] With such literary
+qualifications, it was to be expected the Scriptorium would flourish
+under his government, and the library increase under his fostering care.
+Our expectations are not disappointed; for many valuable additions were
+made during his abbacy, and the monks over whom he presided gave many
+manifestations of refinement and artistic talent, which incline us to
+regard the ingenuity of the cloisters in a more favorable light. Raymond,
+his prior, was a great help in all these undertakings. His industry seems
+to have been unceasing in beautifying the church, and looking after the
+transcription of books. With the assistance of Roger de Parco, the
+cellarer, he made a large table very handsome, and partly fabricated of
+metal. He wrote two copies of the Gospels, and bound them in silver and
+gold adorned with various figures. Brother Walter of Colchester, with
+Randulph, Gubium and others, produced some very handsome paintings
+comprising the evangelists and many holy saints, and hung them up in the
+church. "As we have before mentioned, by the care and industry of the
+lord Raymond, many noble and useful books were transcribed and given to
+the monastery. The most remarkable of these was a Historia Scholastica,
+with allegorics, a most elegant book--_liber elegantissimus_ exclaims my
+monkish authority."[404] This leads me to say something more of my lord
+prior, for the troubles which the conscientious conduct of old Raymond
+brought upon himself--
+
+    "Implores the passing tribute of a sigh."
+
+Be it known then that William de Trompington succeeded to the abbacy on
+the death of John; but he was a very different man, without much esteem
+for learning; and thinking I am afraid far more of the world and heaven
+or the _Domus Dei_. Alas! memoirs of bad monks and worldly abbots are
+sometimes found blotting the holy pages of the monkish annals. _Domus Dei
+est porta coeli_, said the monks; and when they closed the convent
+gates they did not look back on the world again, but entered on that dull
+and gloomy path with a full conviction that they were leaving all and
+following Christ, and so acting in accordance with his admonitions; but
+those who sought the convent to forget in its solitude their worldly
+cares and worldly disappointments, too often found how futile and how
+ineffectual was that dismal life to eradicate the grief of an
+overburdened heart, or to subdue the violence of misguided temper. The
+austerity of the monastic rules might tend to conquer passion or moderate
+despair, but there was little within those walls to drive painful
+recollections of the outward world away; for at every interval between
+their holy meditations and their monkish duties, images of the earth
+would crowd back upon their minds, and wring from their ascetic hearts
+tributes of anguish and despair; and so we find the writings and letters
+of the old monks full of vain regrets and misanthropic thoughts, but
+sometimes overflowing with the most touching pathos of human misery. Yet
+the monk knew full well what his duty was, and knew how sinful it was to
+repine or rebel against the will of God. If he vowed obedience to his
+abbot, he did not forget that obedience was doubly due to Him; and strove
+with all the strength that weak humanity could muster, to forget the
+darkness of the past by looking forward with a pious hope and a lively
+faith to the brightness and glory of the future. By constant prayer the
+monk thought more of his God, and gained help to strengthen the faith
+within him; and by assiduous and devoted study he disciplined his heart
+of flesh--tore from it what lingering affection for the world remained,
+and deserting all love of earth and all love of kin, purged and purified
+it for his holy calling, and closed its portals to render it inaccessible
+to all sympathy of blood. If a thought of those shut out from him by the
+monastic walls stole across his soul and mingled with his prayer, he
+started and trembled as if he had offered up an unholy desire in the
+supplication. To him it was a proof that his nature was not yet subdued;
+and a day of study and meditation, with a fast unbroken till the rays of
+the morrow's sun cast their light around his little cell, absolved the
+sin, and broke the tie that bound him to the world without.
+
+If this violence was experienced in subduing the tenderest of human
+sympathy; how much more severe was the conflict of dark passions only
+half subdued, or malignant depravity only partially reformed. These dark
+lines of human nature were sometimes prominent, even when the monk was
+clothed in sackcloth and ashes; and are markedly visible in the life of
+William de Trompington. But let not the reader think that he was
+appointed with the hearty suffrages of the fraternity, he was elected at
+the recommendation of the "king," a very significant term in those days
+of despotic rule, at which choice became a mere farce. "Out of the
+fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and the monks soon began to
+perceive with regret and trembling the worldly ways of the new abbot,
+which he could not hide even under his abbatical robes. In a place
+dedicated to holy deeds and heavenly thoughts, worldly conduct or
+unbridled passion strikes the mind as doubly criminal, and loads the
+heart with dismay and suffering; at least so my lord Prior regarded it,
+whose righteous indignation could no longer endure these manifestations
+of a worldly mind. So he gently remonstrated with his superior, and
+hinted at the impropriety of such conduct. This was received not in
+Christian fellowship, but with haughty and passionate displeasure; and
+from that day the fate of poor Raymond was irrevocably sealed. The abbot
+thinking to suppress the dissatisfaction which was now becoming general
+and particularly inconvenient, sent him a long distance off to the cell
+of Tynmouth in Northumberland, where all were strangers to him. Nor could
+the tears of the old man turn the heart of his cruel lord, nor the
+rebellious murmurings of the brothers avail. Thank God such cases are not
+very frequent; and the reader of monkish annals will not find many
+instances of such cold and unfeeling cruelty to distress his studies or
+to arouse his indignation. But obedience was a matter of course in the
+monastery; it was one of the most imperative duties of the monk, and if
+not cheerfully he was compelled to manifest alacrity in fulfilling even
+the most unpleasant mandate. But I would have forgiven this transaction
+on the score of _expediency_ perhaps, had not the abbot heaped additional
+insults and cruelties upon the aged offender; but his books which he had
+transcribed with great diligence and care, he forcibly deprived him of,
+_violenter spoliatum_, and so robbed him, as his historian says, of all
+those things which would have been a comfort and solace to his old
+age.[405]
+
+The books which the abbot thus became dishonestly possessed of--for I
+cannot regard it in any other light--we are told he gave to the library
+of the monastery; and he also presented some books to more than one
+neighboring church.[406] But he was not bookworm himself, and dwelt I
+suspect with greater fondness over his wealthy rent roll than on the
+pages of the fine volumes in the monastic library. The monks, however,
+amidst all these troubles retained their love of books; indeed it was
+about this time that John de Basingstoke, who had studied at Athens,
+brought a valuable collection of Greek books into England, and greatly
+aided in diffusing a knowledge of that language into this country. He was
+deacon of Saint Albans, and taught many of the monks Greek; Nicholas, a
+chaplain there, became so proficient in it, that he was capable of
+greatly assisting bishop Grostete in translating his Testament of the
+twelve patriarchs into Latin.[407]
+
+Roger de Northone, the twenty-fourth abbot of Saint Albans, gave "many
+valuable and choice books to the monastery," and among them the
+commentaries of Raymond, Godfrey, and Bernard, and a book containing the
+works and discourses of Seneca. His bibliomaniacal propensities, and his
+industry in transcribing books, is indicated by an illumination
+representing this worthy abbot deeply engrossed with his ponderous
+volumes.[408]
+
+I have elsewhere related an anecdote of Wallingford, abbot of St. Albans,
+and the sale of books effected between him and Richard de Bury. It
+appears that rare and munificent collector gave many and various noble
+books, _multos et varios libros nobiles_, to the monastery of St. Albans
+whilst he was bishop of Durham.[409] Michael de Wentmore succeeded
+Wallingford, and proved a very valuable benefactor to the monastery; and
+by wise regulations and economy greatly increased the comforts and good
+order of the abbey. He gave many books, _plures libros_, to the library,
+besides two excellent Bibles,[410] one for the convent and one for the
+abbot's study, and to be kept especially for his private reading; an
+ordinal, very beautiful to look upon, being sumptuously bound.[411]
+Indeed, so _multis voluminibus_ did he bestow, that he expended more than
+100_l._ in this way, an immense sum in those old days, when a halfpenny a
+day was deemed fair wages for a scribe.[412]
+
+Wentmore was succeeded by Thomas de la Mare, a man of singular learning,
+and remarkable as a patron of it in others; it was probably by his
+direction that John of Tynmouth wrote his Sanctilogium Britannae, for that
+work was dedicated to him. A copy, presented by Thomas de la Mare to the
+church of Redburn, is in the British Museum, much injured by fire, but
+retaining at the end the following lines:
+
+     "Hunc librum dedet Dominus Thomas de la Mare, Albas monasterii S.
+     Albani Anglorum Proto martyris Deo et Ecclesiae B. Amphibali de
+     Redburn, ut fratris indem in cursu existentus per ejus lecturam
+     poterint coelestibus instrui, et per Sanctorum exempla
+     virtutibus insignixi."[413]
+
+But there are few who have obtained so much reputation as John de
+Whethamstede, perhaps the most learned abbot of this monastery. He was
+formerly monk of the cell at Tynmouth, and afterwards prior of Gloucester
+College at Oxford, from whence he was appointed to the government of St.
+Albans. Whethamstede was a passionate bibliomaniac, and when surrounded
+with his books he cared little, or perhaps from the absence of mind so
+often engendered by the delights of study, he too frequently forgot, the
+important affairs of his monastery, and the responsible duties of an
+abbot; but absorbed as he was with his studies, Whethamstede was not a
+mere
+
+    ..... "Bookful blockhead ignorantly read
+    With loads of learned lumber in his head."
+
+It is true he was an inveterate reader, amorously inclined towards vellum
+tomes and illuminated parchments; but he did not covet them like some
+collectors for the mere pride of possessing them, but gloried in feasting
+on their intellectual charms and delectable wisdom, and sought in their
+attractive pages the means of becoming a better Christian and a wiser
+man. But he was so excessively fond of books, and became so deeply
+engrossed with his book-collecting pursuits, that it is said some of the
+monks showed a little dissatisfaction at his consequent neglect of the
+affairs of the monastery; but these are faults I cannot find the heart to
+blame him for, but am inclined to consider his conduct fully redeemed by
+the valuable encouragement he gave to literature and learning. Generous
+to a fault, abundant in good deeds and costly expenditure, he became
+involved in pecuniary difficulties, and found that the splendor and
+wealth which he had scattered so lavishly around his monastery, and the
+treasures with which he had adorned the library shelves, had not only
+drained his ample coffers, but left a large balance unsatisfied.
+Influenced by this circumstance, and the murmurings of the monks, and
+perhaps too, hoping to obtain more time for study and book-collecting, he
+determined to resign his abbacy, and again become a simple brother. The
+proceedings relative to this affair are curiously related by a
+contemporary, John of Amersham.[414] In Whethamstede's address to the
+monks on this occasion, he thus explains his reasons for the step he was
+about to take. After a touching address, wherein he intimates his
+determination, he says,[415] "Ye have known moreover how, from the first
+day of my appointment even until this day, assiduously and continually
+without any intermission I have shown singular solicitude in four things,
+to wit, in the erection of conventual buildings, _in the writing of
+books_, in the renewal of vestments, and in the acquisition of property.
+And perhaps, by reason of this solicitude of mine, ye conceive that I
+have fallen into debt; yet that you may know, learn and understand what
+is in this matter the certain and plain truth, and when ye know it ye may
+report it unto others, know ye for certain, yea, for most certain, that
+for all these things about which, and in which I have expended money, I
+am not indebted to any one living more than 10,000 marks; but that I wish
+freely to acknowledge this debt, and so to make satisfaction to every
+creditor, that no survivor of any one in the world shall have to demand
+anything from my successor."
+
+The monks on hearing this declaration were sorely affected, and used
+every persuasion to induce my lord abbot to alter his determination, but
+without success; so that they were compelled to seek another in whom to
+confide the government of their abbey. Their choice fell upon John
+Stokes, who presided over them for many years; but at his death the love
+and respect which the brothers entertained for Whethamstede, was
+manifested by unanimously electing him again, an honor which he in return
+could not find the heart to decline. But during all this time, and after
+his restoration, he was constantly attending to the acquisition of books,
+and numerous were the transcripts made under his direction by the scribes
+and enriched by his munificence, for some of the most costly copies
+produced in that century were the fruits of their labor; during his time
+there were more volumes transcribed than in that of any other abbot since
+the foundation of the abbey, says the manuscript from whence I am
+gleaning these details, and adds that the number of them exceeded
+eighty-seven. He commenced the transcription of the great commentary of
+Nicholas de Lyra upon the whole Bible, which had then been published some
+few years. "Det Deus, ut in nostris felicem habere valeat
+consummacionem,"[416] exclaims the monk, nor will the reader be surprised
+at the expression, if he for one moment contemplates the magnitude of the
+undertaking.
+
+But not only was Whethamstede remarkable as a bibliomaniac--he claims
+considerable respect as an author. Some of his productions were more
+esteemed in his own time than now; being compilations and commentaries
+more adapted as a substitute for other books, than valuable as original
+works. Under this class I am inclined to place his Granarium, a large
+work in five volumes; full of miscellaneous extracts, etc., and somewhat
+partaking of the encyclopediac form; his Propinarium, in two volumes,
+also treating of general matters; his Pabularium and Palearium Poetarium,
+and his Proverbiarium, or book of Proverbs; to which may be added the
+many pieces relating to the affairs of the monastery. But far different
+must we regard many of his other productions, which are more important in
+a literary point of view, as calling for the exercise of a refined and
+cultivated mind, and no small share of critical acumen. Among these I
+must not forget to include his Chronicle,[417] which spreading over a
+space of twenty years, forms a valuable historical document. The rest are
+poetical narratives, embracing an account of Jack Cade's
+insurrection--the battles of Ferrybridge, Wakefield, and St. Albans.[418]
+
+A Cottonian manuscript contained a catalogue of the books which this
+worthy abbot compiled, or which were transcribed under his direction:
+unfortunately it was burnt, with many others forming part of that
+inestimable collection.[419] From another source we learn the names of
+some of them, and the cost incurred in their transcription.[420] Twenty
+marks were paid for copying his Granarium, in four volumes; forty
+shillings for his Palearium; the same for a Polycraticon of John of
+Salisbury; five pounds for a Boethius, with a gloss; upwards of six
+pounds for "a book of Cato," enriched with a gloss and table; and four
+pounds for Gorham upon Luke. Whethamstede ordered a Grael to be written
+so beautifully illuminated, and so superbly bound, as to be valued at the
+enormous sum of twenty pounds: but let it be remembered that my Lord
+Abbot was a very epicure in books, and thought a great deal of choice
+bindings, tall copies, immaculate parchment, and brilliant illuminations,
+and the high prices which he freely gave for these book treasures evince
+how sensible he was to the joys of bibliomania; nor am I inclined to
+regard the works thus attained as "mere monastic trash."[421]
+
+The finest illumination in the Cotton manuscript is a portrait of Abbot
+Whethamstede, which for artistic talent is far superior to any in the
+volume. Eight folios are occupied with an enumeration of the "good
+works" of this liberal monk: among the items we find the sum of forty
+pounds having been expended on a reading desk, and four pounds for
+writing four Antiphoners.[422] He displayed also great liberality of
+spirit in his benefactions to Gloucester College, at Oxford, besides
+great pecuniary aid. He built a library there, and gave many valuable
+books for the use of the students, in which he wrote these verses:
+
+    Fratribus Oxonioe datur in minus liber iste,
+    Per patrem pecorem prothomartyris Angligenorum:
+    Quem si quis rapiat ad partem sive reponat,
+    Vel Judae loqueum, vel furcas sentiat; Amen.
+
+In others he wrote--
+
+    Discior ut docti fieret nova regia plebi
+    Culta magisque deae datur hic liber ara Minerva,
+    Hic qui diis dictis libant holocausta ministrias.
+    Et cirre bibulam sitiunt prae nectare lympham,
+    Estque librique loci, idem datur, actor et unus.[423]
+
+If we estimate worth by comparison, we must award a large proportion to
+this learned abbot. Living in the most corrupt age of the monastic
+system, when the evils attendant on luxurious ease began to be too
+obvious in the cloister, and when complaints were heard at first in a
+whispering murmur, but anon in a stern loud voice of wroth and indignant
+remonstrance--when in fact the progressive, inquiring spirit of the
+reformation was taking root in what had hitherto been regarded as a hard,
+dry, stony soil. This coming tempest, only heard as yet like the lulling
+of a whisper, was nevertheless sufficiently loud to spread terror and
+dismay among the cowled habitants of the monasteries. That quietude and
+mental ease so indispensable to study--so requisite for the growth of
+thought and intellectuality, was disturbed by these distant sounds, or
+dissipated by their own indolence. And yet in the midst of all this,
+rendered still more anxious and perplexing by domestic troubles and signs
+of discontent and insubordination among the monks. Whethamstede found
+time, and what was better the spirit, for literary and bibliomanical
+pursuits. Honor to the man, monk though he be, who oppressed with these
+vicissitudes and cares could effect so much, and could appreciate both
+literature and art.
+
+Contemporary with him we are not surprised that he gained the patronage
+and friendship of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, to whom he dedicated many
+of his own performances, and greatly aided in collecting those treasures
+which the duke regarded with such esteem. It is said that noble collector
+frequently paid a friendly visit to the abbey to inspect the work of the
+monkish scribes, and perhaps to negociate for some of those choice vellum
+tomes for which the monks of that monastery were so renowned.
+
+But we must not pass the "good duke" without some slight notice of his
+"ryghte valiant deedes," his domestic troubles and his dark mysterious
+end. Old Foxe thus speaks of him in his Actes and Monuments: "Of manners
+he seemed meeke and gentle, louing the commonwealth, a supporter of the
+poore commons, of wit and wisdom, discrete and studious, well affected to
+religion and a friend to verity, and no lesse enemy to pride and
+ambition, especially in haughtie prelates, which was his undoing in this
+present evil world. And, which is seldom and rare in such princes of that
+calling, he was both learned himselfe and no lesse given to studie, and
+also a singular favourer and patron to those who were studious and
+learned."[424] To which I cannot refrain from adding the testimony of
+Hollingshed, who tells us that "The ornaments of his mind were both rare
+and admirable; the feats of chiualrie by him commensed and atchiued
+valiant and fortunate; his grauitie in counsell and soundnesse of policie
+profound and singular; all which with a traine of other excellent
+properties linked together, require a man of manifold gifts to aduance
+them according to their dignitie. I refer the readers unto Maister Foxe's
+booke of Actes and Monuments. Onelie this I ad, that in respect of his
+noble indowments and his demeanor full of decencie, which he dailie used,
+it seemeth he might wel haue giuen this prettie poesie:"
+
+    "Virtute duce non sanguine nitor."[425]
+
+But with all these high qualities, our notions of propriety are somewhat
+shocked at the open manner in which he kept his mistress Eleanor Cobham;
+but we can scarcely agree in the condemnation of the generality of
+historians for his marrying her afterwards, but regard it rather as the
+action of an honorable man, desirous of making every reparation in his
+power.[426] But the "pride of birth" was sorely wounded by the espousals;
+and the enmity of the aristocracy already roused, now became deeply
+rooted. Eleanor's disposition is represented as passionate and
+unreasonable, and her mind sordid and oppressive. Be this how it may, we
+must remember that it is from her enemies we learn it; and if so,
+unrelenting persecution and inveterate malice were proceedings ill
+calculated to soothe a temper prone to violence, or to elevate a mind
+undoubtedly weak. But the vindictive and haughty cardinal Beaufort was
+the open and secret enemy of the good duke Humphrey; for not only did he
+thwart every public measure proposed by his rival, but employed spies to
+insinuate themselves into his domestic circle, and to note and inform him
+of every little circumstance which malice could distort into crime, or
+party rage into treason. This detestable espionage met with a too speedy
+success. The duke, who was especially fond of the society of learned men,
+retained in his family many priests and clerks, and among them one Roger
+Bolingbroke, "a famous necromancer and astronomer." This was a sufficient
+ground for the enmity of the cardinal to feed upon, and he determined to
+annihilate at one blow the domestic happiness of his rival. He arrested
+the Duchess, Bolingbroke, and a witch called Margery Gourdimain, or
+Jourdayn, on the charge of witchcraft and treason. He accused the priest
+and Margery of making, and the duchess for having in her possession, a
+waxen figure, which, as she melted it before a slow fire, so would the
+body of the king waste and decay, and his marrow wither in his bones. Her
+enemies tried her, and of course found her and her companions guilty,
+though without a shred of evidence to the purpose. The duchess was
+sentenced to do penance in St. Paul's and two other churches on three
+separate days, and to be afterwards imprisoned in the Isle of Man for
+life. Bolingbroke, who protested his innocence to the last, was hung and
+quartered at Tyburn; and Margery, the witch of Eye, as she was called,
+was burnt at Smithfield. But the black enmity of the cardinal was sorely
+disappointed at the effect produced by this persecution. He reasonably
+judged that no accusation was so likely to arouse a popular prejudice
+against duke Humphrey as appealing to the superstition of the people who
+in that age were ever prone to receive the most incredulous fabrications;
+but far different was the impression made in the present case. The people
+with more than their usual sagacity saw through the flimsy designs of the
+cardinal and his faction; and while they pitied the victims of party
+malice, loved and esteemed the good duke Humphrey more than ever.
+
+But the intriguing heart of Beaufort soon resolved upon the most
+desperate measures, and shrunk not from staining his priestly hands with
+innocent and honorable blood. A parliament was summoned to meet at St.
+Edmunds Bury, in Suffolk, on the 10th of February, 1447, at which all the
+nobility were ordered to assemble. On the arrival of Duke Humphrey, the
+cardinal arrested him on a groundless charge of high treason, and a few
+days after he was found dead in his bed, his enemies gave out that he had
+died of the palsy; but although his body was eagerly shown to the
+sorrowing multitude, the people believed that their friend and favorite
+had been foully murdered, and feared not to raise their voice in loud
+accusations at the Suffolk party; "sum sayed that he was smouldered
+betwixt two fetherbeddes,"[427] and others declared that he had suffered
+a still more barbarous death. Deep was the murmuring and the grief of the
+people, for the good duke had won the love and esteem of their hearts;
+and we can fully believe a contemporary who writes--
+
+    "Compleyne al Yngland thys goode Lorde's deth."[428]
+
+Perhaps none suffered more by his death than the author and the scholar;
+for Duke Humphrey was a munificent patron of letters, and loved to
+correspond with learned men, many of whom dedicated their works to him,
+and received ample encouragement in return.[429] Lydgate, who knew him
+well, composed some of his pieces at the duke's instigation. In his
+Tragedies of Ihon Bochas he thus speaks of him:
+
+    "Duke of Glocester men this prynce call,
+     And not withstandyng his estate and dignitie,
+     His courage neuer dothe appall
+     To study in bokes of antiquitie;
+     Therein he hath so great felicitie,
+     Virtuously him selfe to occupye,
+     Of vycious slouthe, he hath the maistry.
+
+     And for these causes as in his entent
+     To shewe the untrust of all worldly thinge,
+     He gave to me in commandment
+     As him seemed it was ryghte well fittynge
+     That I shoulde, after my small cunning,
+     This boke translate, him to do pleasaunce,
+     To shew the chaung of worldly variaunce.
+
+     And with support of his magnificence
+     Under the wynges of his correction,
+     Though that I lacke of eloquence
+     I shall proceede in this translation.
+     Fro me auoydyng all presumption,
+     Louyly submittying every houre and space,
+     My rude language to my lorde's grace.
+
+     Anone after I of eutencion,
+     With penne in hande fast gan me spede,
+     As I coulde in my translation,
+     In this labour further to procede,
+     My Lorde came forth by and gan to take hede;
+     This mighty prince right manly and right wise
+     Gaue me charge in his prudent auyle.
+
+     That I should in euery tragedy,
+     After the processe made mencion,
+     At the ende set a remedy,
+     With a Lenuoy, conveyed by reason;
+     And after that, with humble affection,
+     To noble princes lowly it dyrect,
+     By others fallying them selues to correct.
+
+     And I obeyed his biddyng and pleasaunce
+     Under support of his magnificence,
+     As I coulde, I gan my penne aduaunce,
+     All be I was barrayne of eloquence,
+     Folowing mine auctor in substance and setence,
+     For it sufficeth playnly unto me,
+     So that my lorde my makyng take in gre."[430]
+
+Lydgate often received money whilst translating this work, from the good
+duke Humphrey, and there is a manuscript letter in the British Museum in
+which he writes--
+
+    "Righte myghty prynce, and it be youre wille,
+     Condescende leyser for to take,
+     To se the contents of thys litel bille,
+     Whiche whan I wrote my hand felt qquake."[431]
+
+Duke Humphrey gave a noble instance of his great love of learning in the
+year 1439, when he presented to the University of Oxford one hundred and
+twenty-nine treatises, and shortly after, one hundred and twenty-six
+_admirandi apparatus_; and in the same year, nine more. In 1443, he made
+another important donation of one hundred and thirty volumes, to which he
+added one hundred and thirty-five more,[432] making in all, a collection
+of five hundred and thirty-eight volumes. These treasures, too, had been
+collected with all the nice acumen of a bibliomaniac, and the utmost
+attention was paid to their outward condition and internal purity. Never,
+perhaps, were so many costly copies seen before, dazzling with the
+splendor of their illuminations, and rendered inestimable by the many
+faithful miniatures with which they were enriched. A superb copy of
+Valerius Maximus is the only relic of that costly and noble gift, a
+solitary but illustrious example of the membraneous treasures of that
+ducal library.[433] But alas! those very indications of art, those
+exquisite illuminations, were the fatal cause of their unfortunate end;
+the portraits of kings and eminent men, with which the historical works
+were adorned; the diagrams which pervaded the scientific treatises, were
+viewed by the zealous reformers of Henry's reign, as damning evidence of
+their Popish origin and use; and released from the chains with which they
+were secured, they were hastily committed to the greedy flames. Thus
+perished the library of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester! and posterity have
+to mourn the loss of many an early gem of English literature.[434]
+
+But in the fourteenth century many other honorable examples occur of lay
+collectors. The magnificent volumes, nine hundred in number, collected
+by Charles V. of France, a passionate bibliomaniac, were afterwards
+brought by the duke of Bedford into England. The library then contained
+eight hundred and fifty-three volumes, so sumptuously bound and
+gorgeously illuminated as to be valued at 2,223 livres![435] This choice
+importation diffused an eager spirit of inquiry among the more wealthy
+laymen. Humphrey, the "good duke," received some of these volumes as
+presents, and among others, a rich copy of Livy, in French.[436] Guy
+Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, also collected some choice tomes, and
+possessed an unusually interesting library of early romances. He left the
+whole of them to the monks of Bordesley Abbey in Worcestershire, about
+the year 1359.[437] As a specimen of a private library in the fourteenth
+century, I am tempted to extract it.
+
+"A tus iceux, qe ceste lettre verront, ou orrount, Gwy de Beauchamp,
+Comte de Warr. Saluz en Deu. Saluz nous aveir bayle e en la garde le Abbe
+e le Covent de Bordesleye, lesse a demorer a touz jours touz les
+Romaunces de sonz nomes; ceo est assaveyr, un volum, qe est appele
+Tresor. Un volum, en le quel est le premer livere de Lancelot, e un volum
+del Romaunce de Aygnes. Un Sauter de Romaunce. Un volum des Evangelies, e
+de Vie des Seins. Un volum, qe p'le des quatre principals Gestes de
+Charles, e de dooun, e de Meyace e de Girard de Vienne e de Emery de
+Nerbonne. Un volum del Romaunce Emmond de Ageland, e deu Roy Charles
+dooun de Nauntoyle. E le Romaunce de Gwyoun de Nauntoyl. E un volum del
+Romaunce Titus et Vespasien. E un volum del Romaunce Josep ab Arimathie,
+e deu Seint Grael. E un volum, qe p'le coment Adam fust enieste hors de
+paradys, e le Genesie. E un volum en le quel sount contenuz touns des
+Romaunces, ceo este assaveir, Vitas patrum au comencement; e pus un Comte
+de Auteypt; e la Vision Seint Pol; et pus les Vies des xii. Seins. E le
+Romaunce de Willame de Loungespe. E Autorites des Seins humes. E le
+Mirour de Alme. Un volum, en le quel sount contenuz la Vie Seint Pere e
+Seint Pol, e des autres liv. E un volum qe est appele l'Apocalips. E un
+livere de Phisik, e de Surgie. Un volum del Romaunce de Gwy, e de la
+Reygne tut enterement. Un volum del Romaunce de Troies. Un volum del
+Romaunce de Willame de Orenges e de Teband de Arabie. Un volum del
+Romaunce de Amase e de Idoine. Un volum del Romaunce de Girard de Viene.
+Un volum del Romaunce deu Brut, e del Roy Costentine. Un volum de le
+enseignemt Aristotle enveiez au Roy Alisaundre. Un volum de la mort ly
+Roy Arthur, e de Mordret. Un volum en le quel sount contenuz les
+Enfaunces de Nostre Seygneur, coment il fust mene en Egipt. E la Vie
+Seint Edwd. E la Visioun Seint Pol. La Vengeaunce n're Seygneur par
+Vespasien a Titus, e la Vie Seint Nicolas, qe fust nez en Patras. E la
+Vie Seint Eustace. E la Vie Seint Cudlac. E la Passioun n're Seygneur. E
+la Meditacioun Seint Bernard de n're Dame Seint Marie, e del Passioun
+sour deuz fiz Jesu Creist n're Seignr. E la Vie Seint Eufrasie. E la Vie
+Seint Radegounde. E la Vie Seint Juliane. Un volum, en le quel est aprise
+de Enfants et lumiere a Lays. Un volum del Romaunce d'a Alisaundre, ove
+peintures. Un petit rouge livere, en le quel sount contenuz mons diverses
+choses. Un volum del Romaunce des Mareschans, e de Ferebras e de
+Alisaundre. Les queus livres nous grauntons par nos heyrs e par nos
+assignes qil demorront en la dit Abbeye, etc."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[385] See a fine manuscript in the Cotton collection marked Nero D.
+      vii., and another marked Claudius E. iv., both of which I have
+      consulted.
+
+[386] Matthew Paris' Edit. Wats, tom. i. p. 39.
+
+[387] "Asserens ad cantelam, ipsum fuisse beati Amphibali, beate
+      Albini magistri, caracellam."--Mat. Paris, p. 44.
+
+[388] Abjectis igitur et combustis libris, in quibus commenta
+      diaboli continabantur.
+
+[389] MS. Cottonian, E. iv. fo. 101; Mat. Paris, Edit. Wat. i. p.
+      41.
+
+[390] MS. Cottanian Claudius, E. iv. fo. 105 b., and MS. Cott. Nero,
+      D. vii. fo. 13, b.
+
+[391] He was elected in 1093.--See MS. Cott. Claud. E. iv. fo. 107.
+
+[392] Got. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 108.
+
+[393] MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fo. 15, a; and MS. Cot. Claud. e. iv.
+
+[394] Cot. MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 113. "Ex tunc igitur amator
+      librorum et adquisiter sedulus multio voluminibus habundavit."
+
+[395] Fecit etiam scribi libros plurimos; quos longum esset
+      enarrare.--_Mat. Paris Edit. Wat._ p. 89.
+
+[396] Cot. MS. Nero D. vii. fo. 16, a.
+
+[397] MS. Claud. E. iv. fo. 114, a.
+
+[398] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 125 b.
+
+[399] _Ibid._
+
+[400] MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 16 a.
+
+[401] MS. Cot. Claud. iv. fo. 124.
+
+[402] Claud. E. iv. fo. 124.
+
+[403] "In grammatica Priscianus, in metrico Ovidius, in physica
+      censori potuit Galenus." _MS. Cot. Claud._ E. iv. f. 129, b. _Matt.
+      Paris' Edit. Wat._ p. 103.
+
+[404] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 131. b.
+
+[405] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fol. 135 b.
+
+[406] Ibid. fol. 141.
+
+[407] MS. Reg. Brit. Mus. 4 D. viii. 4. Wood's Hist. Oxon. 1-82, and
+      Matt. Paris. Turner's Hist. of Eng. vol. iv. p. 180.
+
+[408] MS. Cot. Nero, D. vii. fol. 19 a.
+
+[409] Ibid. fol. 86.
+
+[410] Duos bonas biblias.
+
+[411] MS. Cot. Claud. E. iv. fo. 229 b.
+
+[412] MS. Cot. Nero D. vii. fo. 20 b.
+
+[413] MS. Cot. Tiberius, E. i.
+
+[414] MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 165, "Acta Johannis Abbatis per
+      Johannem Agmundishamensem monachum S. Albani."
+
+[415] Gibson's Hist. Monast. Tynmouth, vol. ii. p. 62, whose
+      translation I use in giving the following extract. If the reader
+      refers to Mr. Gibson's handsome volumes, he will find much
+      interesting and curious matter from John of Amersham relative to
+      this matter.
+
+[416] Otterb. cxvi.; see also MS. Cot. Nero. vii. fo. 32 a.
+
+[417] Otterbourne Hist. a Hearne, _edit._ Oxon, 1732, tom. i. 2.
+
+[418] Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. ii. pt. 11, p. 205. For a
+      list of his works see Bale; also Pits. p. 630, who enumerates more
+      than thirty.
+
+[419] Marked Otho, b. iv.
+
+[420] MS. Arundel. Brit. Mus. clxiii. c. A curious Register, "per
+      magistrum Johannem Whethamstede et dominum Thoman Ramryge," fo. 74,
+      75. Upwards of fifty volumes are specified, with the cost of each.
+
+[421] Julius Caesar was among them.--Cot. MS. Claud. d. i. fo. 156.
+
+[422] MS. Cod. Nero, D. vii. fo. 28 a. He "enlarged the abbot's
+      study," fo. 29, which most monasteries possessed. Whethamstede had a
+      study also at his manor at Tittinhanger, and had inscribed on it
+      these lines:
+
+         "Ipse Johannis amor Whethamstede ubique proclamor
+          Ejus et alter honor hic lucis in auge reponer."
+
+      See also MS. Cot. Claud. D. i. fo. 157, for an account of his many
+      donations.
+
+[423] Weever's Funerall Monuments, p. 562 to 567. I have forgotten
+      to mention before that Whethamstede built a new library for the
+      abbey books, and expended considerably more than L120 upon the
+      building.
+
+[424] Foxe's Actes and Monuments, folio, Lond. 1576, p. 679.
+
+[425] Holingshed Chronicle, fol. 1587, vol. ii. p. 627.
+
+[426] See Stowe, p. 367.
+
+[427] Leland Collect. vol. i. p. 494.
+
+[428] MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 7 b.
+
+[429] Capgrave's Commentary on Genesis, in Oriel College, Cod. MSS.
+      32, is dedicated to him. Aretine's Trans. Aristotle's Politics, MS.
+      Bodl. D. i. 8-10. Pet. de Monte de Virt. de Vit. MS. Norvic. More,
+      257. Bibl. publi Cantab. Many others are given in Warton's Hist. of
+      Poetry, 4to. vol. ii. pp. 48-50.
+
+[430] Tragedies of Ihon Bochas. Imp. at London, by John Wayland,
+      fol. 38 b.
+
+[431] MS. Harleian, No. 2251, fol. 6. Lydgate received one hundred
+      shillings for translating the Life of St. Alban into English verse
+      for Whethamstede.
+
+[432] See Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, vol. ii. p. 914.
+
+[433] MSS. Bodl. N. E. vii. ii. Warton, vol. ii. p. 45. I find in
+      the Arundel Register in the British Museum (MSS. Arund. clxiii. c.)
+      that a fine copy of Valerius, in two volumes, with a gloss, was
+      transcribed in the time of Whethamstede at St. Albans, at the cost
+      of L6 13 4, probably the identical copy.
+
+[434] There are many volumes formerly belonging to duke Humphrey, in
+      the public libraries, a fine volume intitled "Tabulas Humfridi ducis
+      Glowcester in Judicus artis Geomantie," is in the Brit. Mus., MSS.
+      Arund. 66, fo. 277, beautifully written and illuminated with
+      excessive margins of the purest vellum. See also MSS. Harl. 1705.
+      Leland says, "Humfredus multaties scripsit in frontispiecis librorum
+      suorum, _Moun bien Mondain_," Script. vol. iii. 58.
+
+[435] Bouvin, Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscrip., ii. 693.
+
+[436] _Ibid._
+
+[437] Printed in Todd's Illustrations to Gower and Chaucer, 8vo. p.
+      161, from a copy by Arch Sancroft, from Ashmole's Register of the
+      Earl of Ailesbury's Evidences, fol. 110. Lambeth, MSS., No. 577.
+      fol. 18 b.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+     _The Dominicans.--The Franciscans and the Carmelites.--Scholastic
+     Studies.--Robert Grostest.--Libraries in London.--Miracle
+     Plays.--Introduction of Printing into England.--Barkley's
+     Description of a Bibliomaniac_.
+
+
+The old monastic orders of St. Augustine and St. Benedict, of whose love
+of books we have principally spoken hitherto, were kept from falling into
+sloth and ignorance in the thirteenth century by the appearance of
+several new orders of devotees. The Dominicans,[438] the
+Franciscans,[439] and the Carmelites were each renowned for their
+profound learning, and their unquenchable passion for knowledge; assuming
+a garb of the most abject poverty, renouncing all love of the world, all
+participation in its temporal honors, and refraining to seek the
+aggrandizement of their order by fixed oblations or state endowments, but
+adhering to a voluntary system for support, they caused a visible
+sensation among all classes, and wrought a powerful change in the
+ecclesiastical and collegiate learning of the fourteenth and fifteenth
+centuries; and by their devotion, their charity, their strict austerity,
+and by their brilliant and unconquerable powers of disputation, soon
+gained the respect and affections of the people.[440]
+
+Much as the friars have been condemned, or darkly as they have been
+represented, I have no hesitation in saying that they did more for the
+revival of learning, and the progress of English literature, than any
+other of the monastic orders. We cannot trace their course without
+admiration and astonishment at their splendid triumphs and success; they
+appear to act as intellectual crusaders against the prevailing ignorance
+and sloth. The finest names that adorn the literary annals of the
+fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the most prolific authors who
+flourished during that long period were begging friars; and the very
+spirit that was raised against them by the churchmen, and the severe
+controversal battles which they had between them, were the means of doing
+a vast amount of good, of exposing ignorance in high places, and
+compelling those who enjoyed the honors of learning to strive to merit
+them, by a studious application to literature and science; need I do more
+than mention the shining names of Duns Scotus, of Thomas Aquinas, of
+Roger Bacon, the founder of experimental philosophy, and the justly
+celebrated Robert Grostest, the most enlightened ecclesiastic of his
+age.[441]
+
+We may not admire the scholastic philosophy which the followers of
+Francis and Dominic held and expounded; we may deplore the intricate
+mazes and difficulties which a false philosophy led them to maintain, and
+we may equally deplore the waste of time and learning which they lavished
+in the vain hope of solving the mysteries of God, or in comprehending a
+loose and futile science. Yet the philosophy of the schoolmen is but
+little understood, and is too often condemned without reason or without
+proof; for those who trouble themselves to denounce, seldom care to read
+them; their ponderous volumes are too formidable to analyze; it is so
+much easier to declaim than to examine such sturdy antagonists; but we
+owe to the schoolmen far more than we are apt to suppose, and if it were
+possible to scratch their names from the page of history, and to
+obliterate all traces of their bulky writings from our libraries and
+from our literature, we should find our knowledge dark and gloomy in
+comparison with what it is.
+
+But the mendicant orders did not study and uphold the scholastic
+philosophy without improving it; the works of Aristotle, of which it is
+said the early schoolmen possessed only a vitiated translation from the
+Arabic,[442] was, at the period these friars sprung up, but imperfectly
+understood and taught. Michael Scot, with the assistance of a learned
+Jew,[443] translated and published the writings of the great philosopher
+in Latin, which greatly superseded the old versions derived from the
+Saracen copies.
+
+The mendicant friars having qualified themselves with a respectable share
+of Greek learning, then taught and expounded the Aristotelian philosophy
+according to this new translation, and opened a new and proscribed
+field[444] for disputation and enquiry; their indomitable perseverance,
+their acute powers of reasoning, and the splendid popularity which many
+of the disciples of St. Dominic and St. Francis were fast acquiring,
+caused students to flock in crowds to their seats of learning, and all
+who were inspired to an acquaintance with scholastic philosophy placed
+themselves under their training and tuition.[445]
+
+No religious order before them ever carried the spirit of inquiry to such
+an extent as they, or allowed it to wander over such an unbounded field.
+The most difficult and mysterious questions of theology were discussed
+and fearlessly analyzed; far from exercising that blind and easy
+credulity which mark the religious conduct of the old monastic orders,
+they were disposed to probe and examine every article of their faith. To
+such an extent were their disputations carried, that sometimes it shook
+their faith in the orthodoxy of Rome, and often aroused the pious fears
+of the more timid of their own order. Angell de Pisa, who founded the
+school of the Franciscans or Grey Friars at Oxford, is said to have gone
+one day into his school, with a view to discover what progress the
+students were making in their studies; as he entered he found them warm
+in disputation, and was shocked to find that the question at issue was
+"_whether there was a God_;" the good man, greatly alarmed, cried out,
+"Alas, for me! alas, for me! simple brothers pierce the heavens and the
+learned dispute whether there be a God!" and with great indignation ran
+out of the house blaming himself for having established a school for such
+fearful disputes; but he afterwards returned and remained among his
+pupils, and purchased for ten marks a corrected copy of the decretals,
+to which he made his students apply their minds.[446] This school was the
+most flourishing of those belonging to the Franciscans; and it was here
+that the celebrated Robert Grostest[447], bishop of Lincoln, read
+lectures about the year 1230. He was a profound scholar, thoroughly
+conversant with the most abstruse matters of philosophy, and a great
+Bible reader.[448] He possessed an extensive knowledge of the Greek, and
+translated, into Latin, Dionysius the Areopagite, Damascenus, Suida's
+Greek Lexicon, a Greek Grammar, and, with the assistance of Nicholas, a
+monk of St. Alban's, the History of the Twelve Patriarchs. He collected a
+fine library of Greek books, many of which he obtained from Athens. Roger
+Bacon speaks of his knowledge of the Greek, and says, that he caused a
+vast number of books to be gathered together in that tongue.[449] His
+extraordinary talent and varied knowledge caused him to be deemed a
+conjuror and astrologer by the ignorant and superstitious; and his
+enemies, who were numerous and powerful, did not refuse to encourage the
+slanderous report. We find him so represented by the poet Gower:--
+
+    "For of the grete clerk Grostest,
+     I rede how redy that he was
+     Upon clergye, and bede of bras,
+     To make and forge it, for to telle
+     Of suche thynges as befelle,
+     And seven yeres besinesse.
+     Ye ladye, but for the lackhesse
+     Of 'a halfe a mynute of an houre,
+     Fro fyrst that he began laboure,
+     Ye lost al that he had do."[450]
+
+The Franciscan convent at Oxford contained two libraries, one for the use
+of the graduates and one for the secular students, who did not belong to
+their order, but who were receiving instruction from them. Grostest gave
+many volumes to these libraries, and at his death he bequeathed to the
+convent all his books, which formed no doubt a fine collection. "To these
+were added," says Wood, "the works of Roger Bacon, who, Bale tells us,
+writ an hundred Treatises. There were also volumes of other writers of
+the same order, which, I believe, amounted to no small number. In short,
+I guess that these libraries were filled with all sorts of erudition,
+because the friars of all orders, and chiefly the Franciscans, used so
+diligently to procure all monuments of literature from all parts, that
+wise men looked upon it as an injury to laymen, who, therefore, found a
+difficulty to get any books. Several books of Grostest and Bacon treated
+of astronomy and mathematics, besides some relating to the Greek tongue.
+But these friars, as I have found by certain ancient manuscripts, bought
+many Hebrew books of the Jews who were disturbed in England. In a word,
+they, to their utmost power, purchased whatsoever was anywhere to be had
+of singular learning."[451]
+
+Many of the smaller convents of the Franciscan order possessed
+considerable libraries, which they purchased or received as gifts from
+their patrons.[452] There was a house of Grey Friars at Exeter,[453] and
+Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter, gave or lent them a library of
+books in the year 1266, soon after their establishment, reserving to
+himself the privilege of using them, and forbade the friars from selling
+or parting with them. The collection, however, contained less than twenty
+volumes, and was formed principally of the scriptures and writings of
+their own order. "Whosoever," concludes the document, "shall presume
+hereafter to separate or destroy this donation of mine, may he incur the
+malediction of the omnipotent God! dated on the day of the purification,
+in the year of our Lord MCCLXVI."[454]
+
+The library of the Grey Friars in London was of more than usual
+magnificence and extent. It was founded by the celebrated Richard
+Whittington. Its origin is thus set forth in an old manuscript in the
+Cottonian library:[455]
+
+"In the year of our Lord, 1421, the worshipful Richard Whyttyngton,
+knight and mayor of London, began the new library and laid the first
+foundation-stone on the 21st day of October; that is, on the feast of St.
+Hilarion the abbot. And the following year before the feast of the
+nativity of Christ, the house was raised and covered; and in three years
+after, it was floored, whitewashed, glazed,[456] adorned with shelves,
+statues, and carving, and furnished with books: and the expenses about
+what is aforesaid amount to L556:16:9; of which sum, the aforesaid
+Richard Whyttyngton paid L400, and the residue was paid by the reverend
+father B. Thomas Winchelsey and his friends, to whose soul God be
+propitious.--Amen."
+
+Among some items of money expended, we find, "for the works of Doctor de
+Lyra contained in two volumes, now in the chains,[457] 100 marks, of
+which B. John Frensile remitted 20s.; and for the Lectures of Hostiensis,
+now lying in the chains, 5 marks."[458] Leland speaks in the most
+enthusiastic terms of this library, and says, that it far surpassed all
+others for the number and antiquity of its volumes. John Wallden
+bequeathed as many manuscripts of celebrated authors as were worth two
+thousand pounds.[459]
+
+The library of the Dominicans in London was also at one time well stored
+with valuable books. Leland mentions some of those he found there, and
+among them some writings of Wicliff;[460] indeed those of this order were
+renowned far and wide for their love of study; look at the old portraits
+of a Dominican friar, and you will generally see him with the pen in one
+hand and a book in the other; but they were more ambitious in literature
+than the monks, and aimed at the honors of an author rather than at those
+of a scribe; but we are surprised more at their fertility than at their
+style or originality in the mysteries of bookcraft. Henry Esseburn
+diligently read at Oxford, and devoted his whole soul to study, and wrote
+a number of works, principally on the Bible; he was appointed to govern
+the Dominican monastery at Chester; "being remote from all schools, he
+made use of his spare hours to revise and polish what he had writ at
+Oxford; having performed the same to his own satisfaction, he caused his
+works to be fairly transcribed, and copies of them to be preserved in
+several libraries of his order."[461] But they did not usually pay so
+much attention to the duties of transcribing. The Dominicans were fond of
+the physical sciences, and have been accused of too much partiality for
+occult philosophy. Leland tells us that Robert Perserutatur, a
+Dominican, was over solicitous in prying into the secrets of
+philosophy,[462] and lays the same charge to many others.
+
+The Carmelites were more careful in transcribing books than the
+Dominicans, and anxiously preserved them from dust and worms; but I can
+find but little notice of their libraries; the one at Oxford was a large
+room, where they arranged their books in cases made for that purpose;
+before the foundation of this library, the Carmelites kept their books in
+chests, and doubtless gloried in an ample store of manuscript
+treasures.[463]
+
+But in the fifteenth century we find the Mendicant Friars, like the order
+religious sects, disregarding those strict principles of piety which had
+for two hundred years so distinguished their order. The holy rules of St.
+Francis and St. Dominic were seldom read with much attention, and never
+practised with severity; they became careless in the propagation of
+religious principles, relaxed in their austerity, and looked with too
+much fondness on the riches and honors of the world.[464] This diminution
+in religious zeal was naturally accompanied by a proportionate decrease
+in learning and love of study. The sparkling orator, the acute
+controversialist, or the profound scholar, might have been searched for
+in vain among the Franciscans or the Dominicans of the fifteenth century.
+Careless in literary matters, they thought little of collecting books, or
+preserving even those which their libraries already contained; the
+Franciscans at Oxford "sold many of their books to Dr. Thomas Gascoigne,
+about the year 1433,[465] which he gave to the libraries of Lincoln,
+Durham, Baliol, and Oriel. They also declining in strictness of life and
+learning, sold many more to other persons, so that their libraries
+declined to little or nothing."[466]
+
+We are not therefore surprised at the disappointment of Leland, on
+examining this famous repository; his expectations were raised by the
+care with which he found the library guarded, and the difficulty he had
+to obtain access to it: but when he entered, he did not find one-third
+the number of books which it originally contained; but dust and cobwebs,
+moths and beetles he found in abundance, which swarmed over the empty
+shelves.[467]
+
+The mendicant friars have rendered themselves famous by introducing
+theatrical representations[468] for the amusement and instruction of the
+people. These shows were usually denominated miracles, moralities, or
+mysteries, and were performed by the friars in their convents or on
+portable stages, which were wheeled into the market places and streets
+for the convenience of the spectators.
+
+The friars of the monastery of the Franciscans at Coventry are
+particularly celebrated for their ingenuity in performing these pageants
+on Corpus Christi day; a copy of this play or miracle is preserved in the
+Cottonian Collection, written in old English rhyme. It embraces the
+transactions of the Old and New Testament, and is entitled _Ludus Corpus
+Christi_. It commences--
+
+A PLAIE CALLED CORPUS CHRISTI.[469]
+
+    Now gracyous God groundyd of all goodnesse,
+      As thy grete glorie neuyr begynnyng had;
+    So you succour and save all those that sytt and sese,
+      And lystenyth to our talkyng with sylens stylle and sad,
+    For we purpose no pertly stylle in his prese
+      The pepyl to plese with pleys ful glad,
+    Now lystenyth us lowly both mar and lesse
+      Gentyllys and 3emaury off goodly lyff lad,
+                      þis tyde,
+    We call you shewe us that we kan,
+      How that þis werd fyrst began,
+    And howe God made bothe worlde and man
+      If yt ye wyll abyde.
+
+These miracles were intended to instruct the more ignorant, or those
+whose circumstances placed the usual means of acquiring knowledge beyond
+their reach; but as books became accessible, they were no longer needed;
+the printing press made the Bible, from which the plots of the miracle
+plays were usually derived, common among the people, and these gaudy
+representations were swept away by the Reformation; but they were
+temporarily revived in Queen Mary's time, with the other abominations of
+the church papal, for we find that "in the year 1556 a goodly stage play
+of the Passion of Christ was presented at the Grey Friers in London on
+Corpus Christi day," before the Lord Mayor and citizens;[470] but we have
+nothing here to do with anecdotes illustrating a period so late as this.
+
+We have now arrived at the dawn of a new era in learning, and the slow,
+plodding, laborious scribes of the monasteries were startled by the
+appearance of an invention with which their poor pens had no power to
+compete. The year 1472 was the last of the parchment literature of the
+monks, and the first in the English annals of printed learning; but we
+must not forget that the monks with all their sloth and ignorance, were
+the foremost among the encouragers of the early printing press in
+England; the monotony of the dull cloisters of Westminster Abbey was
+broken by the clanking of Caxton's press; and the prayers of the monks of
+old St. Albans mingled with the echoes of the pressman's labor. Little
+did those barefooted priests know what an opponent to their Romish rites
+they were fostering into life; their love of learning and passion for
+books, drove all fear away; and the splendor of the new power so dazzled
+their eyes that they could not clearly see the nature of the refulgent
+light just bursting through the gloom of ages.
+
+After the invention of the printing art, bibliomania took some mighty
+strides; and many choice collectors, full of ardor in the pursuit, became
+renowned for the vast book stores they amassed together. But some of
+their names have been preserved and good deeds chronicled by Dibdin, of
+bibliographical renown; so that a chapter is not necessary here to extol
+them. We may judge how fashionable the avocation became by the keen
+satire of Alexander Barkley, in his translation of Brandt's _Navis
+Stultifera_ or Shyp of Folys,[471] who gives a curious illustration of a
+bibliomaniac; and thus speaks of those collectors who amassed their book
+treasures without possessing much esteem for their contents.
+
+    "That in this ship the chiefe place I gouerne,
+     By this wide sea with fooles wandring,
+     The cause is plain & easy to discerne
+     Still am I busy, bookes assembling,
+     For to have plentie it is a pleasaunt thing
+     In my conceyt, to have them ay in hand,
+     But what they meane do I not understande.
+
+    "But yet I have them in great reverence
+     And honoure, sauing them from filth & ordure
+     By often brushing & much diligence
+     Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture
+     Of Damas, Sattin, or els of velvet pure
+     I keepe them sure, fearing least they should be lost,
+     For in them is the cunning wherein I me boast.
+
+    "But if it fortune that any learned man
+     Within my house fall to disputation,
+     I drawe the curtaynes to shewe my bokes them,
+     That they of my cunning should make probation
+     I love not to fall in alterication,
+     And while the commen, my bokes I turne and winde
+     For all is in them, and nothing in my minde.
+
+    "Ptolomeus the riche caused, longe agone,
+     Over all the worlde good bookes to be sought,
+     Done was his commandement--anone
+     These bokes he had, and in his studie brought,
+     Which passed all earthly treasure as he thought,
+     But neverthelesse he did him not apply
+     Unto their doctrine, but lived unhappily.
+
+    "Lo, in likewise of bookes I have store,
+     But fewe I reade and fewer understande,
+     I folowe not their doctrine nor their lore,
+     It is ynough to beare a booke in hande.
+     It were too muche to be in such a bande,
+     For to be bounde to loke within the booke
+     I am content on the fayre coveryng to looke.
+
+    "Why should I studie to hurt my wit therby,
+     Or trouble my minde with studie excessiue.
+     Sithe many are which studie right busely,
+     And yet therby thall they never thrive
+     The fruite of wisdome can they not contriue,
+     And many to studie so muche are inclinde,
+     That utterly they fall out of their minde.
+
+    "Eche is not lettred that nowe is made a lorde,
+     Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefice;
+     They are not all lawyers that pleas do recorde,
+     All that are promoted are not fully wise;
+     On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwes her dice
+     That though we knowe but the yrishe game,
+     Yet would he have a gentleman's name.
+
+    "So in like wise I am in suche case,
+     Though I nought can, I would be called wise,
+     Also I may set another in my place,
+     Whiche may for me my bokes exercise,
+     Or els I shall ensue the common guise,
+     And say concedo to euery argument,
+     Least by much speache my latin should be spent.
+
+    "I am like other Clerkes, which so frowardly them gyde,
+     That after they are once come unto promotion,
+     They give them to pleasure, their study set aside,
+     Their auarice couering with fained deuotion;
+     Yet dayly they preache and have great derision
+     Against the rude laymen, and all for couetise,
+     Through their owne conscience be blended with that vice.
+
+    "But if I durst truth plainely utter and expresse,
+     This is the speciall cause of this inconvenience,
+     That greatest of fooles & fullest of lewdness,
+     Having least wit and simplest science,
+     Are first promoted, & have greatest reverence;
+     For if one can flatter & bear a hauke on his fist,
+     He shall be made Parson of Honington or of Elist.
+
+    "But he that is in study ay firme and diligent,
+     And without all favour preacheth Christe's love,
+     Of all the Cominalite nowe adayes is sore shent,
+     And by estates threatned oft therfore.
+     Thus what anayle is it to us to study more,
+     To knowe ether Scripture, truth, wisdome, or virtue,
+     Since fewe or none without fauour dare them shewe.
+
+    "But O noble Doctours, that worthy are of name,
+     Consider oure olde fathers, note well their diligence,
+     Ensue ye to their steppes, obtayne ye suche fame
+     As they did living; and that, by true prudence
+     Within their heartes, thy planted their science,
+     And not in pleasaunt bookes, but noue to fewe suche be,
+     Therefore to this ship come you & rowe with me.
+
+      "The Lennoy of Alexander Barclay,
+       Translatour, exhorting the fooles accloyed
+       with this vice, to amende their foly.
+
+    "Say worthie Doctours & Clerkes curious,
+     What moneth you of bookes to have such number,
+     Since diuers doctrines through way contrarious,
+     Doth man's minde distract and sore encomber.
+     Alas blinde men awake, out of your slumber;
+     And if ye will needes your bookes multiplye,
+     With diligence endeuor you some to occupye."[472]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[438] Thirteen Dominicans were sent into England in the year 1221;
+      they held their first provincial council in England in 1230 at
+      Oxford, three years before St. Dominic was canonized by pope
+      Gregory.
+
+[439] Four clercs and five laymen of the Franciscan order were sent
+      into England in 1224; ten years afterwards we find their disciples
+      spreading over the whole of England.
+
+[440] Edward the Second regarded them with great favor, and wrote
+      several letters to the pope in their praise; he says in one,
+      "Desiderantes itaque, pater sancte ordinis fratrum praedicatorum
+      Oxonii, ubi religionis devotio, et honestatis laudabilis decer
+      viget, per quem etiam honor universitatis Oxoniensis, et utilitas
+      ibidem studentium, etc." Dugdale's Monast. vol. vi. p. 1492.
+
+[441] A list of celebrated authors who flourished in England, and
+      who were members of the Dominican Order, will be found in _Steven's
+      Monasticon_, vol. ii. p. 193, more than 80 names are mentioned. A
+      similar list of authors of the Franciscan order will be found at p.
+      97 of vol. i. containing 122 names; and of the Carmelite authors,
+      vol. ii. p. 160, specifying 137 writers; a great proportion of their
+      works are upon the Scriptures.
+
+[442] Dr. Cave says, "In scholis Christianis pene unice regnavit
+      scholastica theologia, advocata in subsidium Aristotelis
+      philosophia, eaque non ex Graecis fontibus _sed ex turbidis Arabum
+      lacunis, ex versionibus male factis, male intellectis, hansta_."
+      _Hist. Liter._, p. 615. But I am not satisfied that this has been
+      proved, though often affirmed.
+
+[443] It was probably the work of Andrew the Jew. _Meiners_, ii. p.
+      664.
+
+[444] At a council held at Paris in the year 1209, the works of
+      Aristotle were proscribed and ordered to be burnt. _Launvius de
+      Varia Aristotelis fortuna_. But in spite of the papal mandate the
+      friars revived its use. Richard Fizacre, an intimate friend of Roger
+      Bacon, was so passionately fond of reading Aristotle, that he always
+      carried one of his works in his bosom. _Stevens Monast._, vol. ii.
+      p. 194.
+
+[445] See what has been said of the Mendicants at p. 79.
+
+[446] Steven's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from the MSS. of
+      Anthony a Wood in the library at Oxford, vol. i. p. 129. Agnell
+      himself was "_a man of scarce any erudition_."--_Ibid._
+
+[447] He is spoken of under a multitude of names, sometimes
+      Grosthead, Grouthead, etc. A list of them will be found in Wood's
+      Oxford by Gutch, vol. i. p. 198.
+
+[448] He gives strict injunctions as to the study of the Scriptures
+      in his _Constitutiones_.--See Pegge's Life of Grostest, p. 315.
+
+[449] Utilitate Scientiarum, cap. xxxix.
+
+[450] De Confess. Amantis, lib. iv. fo. 70, _Imprint_. Caxton _at
+      Westminster_, 1483. The bishop is said to have taken a journey from
+      England to Rome one night on an infernal horse.--Pegge's Life of
+      Grostest, p. 306.
+
+[451] Stephen's additions to Dugdale's Monasticon from Anthony a
+      Wood's MSS. vol. i. p. 133.
+
+[452] The Mendicant orders, unlike the monks, were not remarkable
+      for their industry in transcribing books: their roving life was
+      unsuitable to the tedious profession of a scribe.
+
+[453] Leland's Itin. vol. iii. p. 59.
+
+[454] Oliver's Collections relating to the Monasteries in Devon,
+      8vo. 1820, appendix lxii.
+
+[455] Cottonian MSS. Vittel, F. xii. 13. fol. 325, headed "_De
+      Fundacione Librarie_."
+
+[456] The library was 129 feet long and 31 feet broad, and most
+      beautifully fitted up.--_Lelandi Antiquarii Collectanea_, vol. i. p.
+      109.
+
+[457] This refers to the custom then prevalent of chaining their
+      books, especially their choice ones, to the library shelf, or to a
+      reading desk.
+
+[458] MS. _ibid._ fo. o. 325 b.
+
+[459] Script. Brit. p. 241, and Collectanea, iii. 52.
+
+[460] Leland's Collect. vol. iii. p. 51. He found in the priory of
+      the Dominicans at Cambridge, among other books, a _Biblia in lingua
+      vernacula_.
+
+[461] Steven's Monast. vol. ii. p. 194.
+
+[462] His works were of the impressions of the Air--of the Wonder of
+      the Elements--of Ceremonial Magic--of the Mysteries of Secrets--and
+      the Correction of Chemistry.
+
+[463] Sieben's Monast. vol. i. p. 183, from the MSS. of Anthony a
+      Wood, who says, "What became of them (their books) at the
+      dissolution unless they were carried into the library of some
+      college, I know not."
+
+[464] They obtained much wealth by the sale of pardons and
+      indulgences. Margaret Est, of the convent of Franciscans, ordered
+      her letters of pardon and absolution, to partake of the indulgences
+      of the convent, to be returned as soon she was buried. _Bloomfield's
+      Hist. of Norfolk_, vol. ii. p. 565.
+
+[465] And among others of St. Augustine's books, _De Civitate Dei_,
+      with many notes in the margins, by Grostest. _Wood's Hist. Oxon_, p.
+      78.
+
+[466] Anthony a Wood in Steven's Monast. vol. i. p. 133.
+
+[467] Script. Brit. p. 286.
+
+[468] Le Boeuf gives an instance of one being represented as early
+      as the eleventh century, in which Virgil was introduced. _Hallam's
+      Lit. of Europe_, vol. i. p. 295. The case of Geoffry of St. Albans
+      is well known, and I have already mentioned it.
+
+[469] MS. Cottonian Vespasian, D. viii. fo. 1. Codex Chart. 225
+      folios, written in the fifteenth century. Sir W. Dugdale, in his
+      Hist. of Warwick, p. 116, mentions this volume; and Stevens, in his
+      Monast. has printed a portion of it. Mr. Halliwell has printed them
+      with much care and accuracy.
+
+[470] MS. Cottonian Vitel. E. 5. _Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry_, vol.
+      iii. p. 326.
+
+[471] The original was written in 1494.
+
+[472] Ship of Fooles, folio 1570, Imprynted by Cawood, fol. 1.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+     _Conclusion._
+
+
+We have traversed through the darkness of many long and dreary centuries,
+and with the aid of a few old manuscripts written by the monks in the
+_scriptoria_ of their monasteries, caught an occasional glimpse of their
+literary labors and love of books; these parchment volumes being mere
+monastic registers, or terse historic compilations, do not record with
+particular care the anecdotes applicable to my subject, but appear to be
+mentioned almost accidentally, and certainly without any ostentatious
+design; but such as they are we learn from them at least one thing, which
+some of us might not have known before--that the monks of old, besides
+telling their beads, singing psalms, and muttering their breviary, had
+yet one other duty to perform--the transcription of books. And I think
+there is sufficient evidence that they fulfilled this obligation with as
+much zeal as those of a more strictly monastic or religious nature. It
+is true, in casting our eye over the history of their labors, many
+regrets will arise that they did not manifest a little more taste and
+refinement in their choice of books for transcribing. The classical
+scholar will wish the holy monks had thought more about his darling
+authors of Greece and Rome; but the pious puritan historian blames them
+for patronizing the romantic allurements of Ovid, or the loose satires of
+Juvenal, and throws out some slanderous hint that they must have found a
+sympathy in those pages of licentiousness, or why so anxious to preserve
+them? The protestant is still more scandalized, and denounces the monks,
+their books, scriptorium and all together as part and parcel of popish
+craft and Romish superstition. But surely the crimes of popedom and the
+evils of monachism, that thing of dry bones and fabricated relics, are
+bad enough; and the protestant cause is sufficiently holy, that we may
+afford to be honest if we cannot to be generous. What good purpose then
+will it serve to cavil at the monks forever? All readers of history know
+how corrupt they became in the fifteenth century; how many evils were
+wrought by the craft of some of them, and how pernicious the system
+ultimately waxed. We can all, I say, reflect upon these things, and guard
+against them in future; but it is not just to apply the same
+indiscriminate censure to all ages. Many of the purest Christians of the
+church, the brightest ornaments of Christ's simple flock, were barefooted
+cowled monks of the cloister; devout perhaps to a fault, with simplicity
+verging on superstition; yet nevertheless faithful, pious men, and holy.
+Look at all this with an eye of charity; avoid their errors and manifold
+faults: but to forget the loathsome thing our minds have conjured up as
+the type of an ancient monk. Remember they had a few books to read, and
+venerated something more than the dry bones of long withered saints.
+Their God was our God, and their Saviour, let us trust, will be our
+Saviour.
+
+I am well aware that many other names might have been added to those
+mentioned in the foregoing pages, equally deserving remembrance, and
+offering pleasing anecdotes of a student's life, or illustrating the
+early history of English learning; many facts and much miscellaneous
+matter I have collected in reference to them; but I am fearful whether my
+readers will regard this subject with sufficient relish to enjoy more
+illustrations of the same kind. Students are apt to get too fond of their
+particular pursuit, which magnifies in importance with the difficulties
+of their research, or the duration of their studies. I am uncertain
+whether this may not be my own position, and wait the decision of my
+readers before proceeding further in the annals of early bibliomania.
+
+Moreover as to the simple question--Were the monks booklovers? enough I
+think as been said to prove it, but the enquiry is far from exhausted;
+and if the reader should deem the matter still equivocal and undecided,
+he must refer the blame to the feebleness of my pen, rather than to the
+barrenness of my subject. But let him not fail to mark well the instances
+I have given; let him look at Benedict Biscop and his foreign travels
+after books; at Theodore and the early Saxons of the seventh century; at
+Boniface, Alcuin, AElfric, and the numerous votaries of bibliomania who
+flourished then. Look at the well stored libraries of St. Albans,
+Canterbury, Ramsey, Durham, Croyland, Peterborough, Glastonbury, and
+their thousand tomes of parchment literature. Look at Richard de Bury and
+his sweet little work on biographical experience; at Whethamstede and his
+industrious pen; read the rules of monastic orders; the book of Cassian;
+the regulations of St. Augustine; Benedict Fulgentius; and the ancient
+admonitions of many other holy and ascetic men. Search over the remnants
+and shreds of information which have escaped the ravages of time, and the
+havoc of cruel invasions relative to these things. Attend to the import
+of these small still whisperings of a forgotten age; and then, letting
+the eye traverse down the stream of time, mark the great advent of the
+Reformation; that wide gulf of monkish erudition in which was swallowed
+"whole shyppes full" of olden literature; think well and deeply over the
+huge bonfires of Henry's reign, the flames of which were kindled by the
+libraries which monkish industry had transcribed. A merry sound no doubt,
+was the crackling of those "popish books" for protestant ears to feed
+upon!
+
+Now all these facts thought of collectively--brought to bear one upon
+another--seem to favor the opinion my own study has deduced from them;
+that with all their superstition, with all their ignorance, their
+blindness to philosophic light--the monks of old were hearty lovers of
+books; that they encouraged learning, fostered and transcribed
+repeatedly the books which they had rescued from the destruction of war
+and time; and so kindly cherished and husbanded them as intellectual food
+for posterity. Such being the case, let our hearts look charitably upon
+them; and whilst we pity them for their superstition, or blame them for
+their "pious frauds," love them as brother men and workers in the mines
+of literature; such a course is far more honorable to the tenor of a
+christian's heart, than bespattering their memory with foul
+denunciations.
+
+Some may accuse me of having shown too much fondness--of having dwelt
+with a too loving tenderness in my retrospection of the middle ages. But
+in the course of my studies I have found much to admire. In parchment
+annals coeval with the times of which they speak, my eyes have traversed
+over many consecutive pages with increasing interest and with enraptured
+pleasure. I have read of old deeds worthy of an honored remembrance,
+where I least expected to find them. I have met with instances of faith
+as strong as death bringing forth fruit in abundance in those sterile
+times, and glorying God with its lasting incense. I have met with
+instances of piety exalted to the heavens--glowing like burning lava, and
+warming the cold dull cloisters of the monks. I have read of many a
+student who spent the long night in exploring mysteries of the Bible
+truths; and have seen him sketched by a monkish pencil with his ponderous
+volumes spread around him, and the oil burning brightly by his side. I
+have watched him in his little cell thus depicted on the ancient
+parchment, and have sympathized with his painful difficulties in
+acquiring true knowledge, or enlightened wisdom, within the convent
+walls; and then I have read the pages of his fellow monk--perhaps, his
+book-companion; and heard what _he_ had to say of that poor lonely Bible
+student, and have learnt with sadness how often truth had been
+extinguished from his mind by superstition, or learning cramped by his
+monkish prejudices; but it has not always been so, and I have enjoyed a
+more gladdening view on finding in the monk a Bible teacher; and in
+another, a profound historian, or pleasing annalist.
+
+As a Christian, the recollection of these cheering facts, with which my
+researches have been blessed, are pleasurable, and lead me to look back
+upon those old times with a student's fondness. But besides piety and
+virtue, I have met with wisdom and philanthropy; the former, too
+profound, and the latter, too generous for the age; but these things are
+precious, and worth remembering; and how can I speak of them but in words
+of kindness? It is these traits of worth and goodness that have gained my
+sympathies, and twined round my heart, and not the dark stains on the
+monkish page of history; these I have always striven to forget, or to
+remember them only when I thought experience might profit by them; for
+they offer a terrible lesson of blood, tyranny and anguish. But this dark
+and gloomy side is the one which from our infancy has ever been before
+us; we learnt it when a child from our tutor; or at college, or at
+school; we learnt it in the pages of our best and purest writers; learnt
+that in those old days nought existed, but bloodshed, tyranny, and
+anguish; but we never thought once to gaze at the scene behind, and
+behold the workings of human charity and love; if we had, we should have
+found that the same passions, the same affections, and the same hopes and
+fears existed then as now, and our sympathies would have been won by
+learning that we were reading of brother men, fellow Christians, and
+fellow-companions in the Church of Christ. We have hitherto looked, when
+casting a backward glance at those long gone ages of inanimation, with
+the severity of a judge upon a criminal; but to understand him properly
+we must regard them with the tender compassion of a parent; for if our
+art, our science, and our philosophy exalts us far above them, is that a
+proof that there was nothing admirable, nothing that can call forth our
+love on that infant state, or in the annals of our civilization at its
+early growth?
+
+But let it not be thought that if I have striven to retrieve from the
+dust and gloom of antiquity, the remembrance of old things that are
+worthy; that I feel any love for the superstition with which we find them
+blended. There is much that is good connected with those times; talent
+even that is worth imitating, and art that we may be proud to learn,
+which is beginning after the elapse of centuries to arrest the attention
+of the ingenious, and the love of these, naturally revive with the
+discovery; but we need not fear in this resurrection of old things of
+other days, that the superstition and weakness of the middle ages; that
+the veneration for dry bones and saintly dust, can live again. I do not
+wish to make the past assume a superiority over the present; but I think
+a contemplation of mediaeval art would often open a new avenue of thought
+and lead to many a pleasing and profitable discovery; I would too add the
+efforts of my feeble pen to elevate and ennoble the fond pursuit of my
+leisure hours. I would say one word to vindicate the lover of old musty
+writings, and the explorer of rude antiquities, from the charge of
+unprofitableness, and to protect him from the sneer of ridicule. For
+whilst some see in the dry studies of the antiquary a mere
+inquisitiveness after forgotten facts and worthless relics; I can see,
+nay, have felt, something morally elevating in the exercise of these
+inquiries. It is not the mere fact which may sometimes be gained by
+rubbing off the parochial whitewash from ancient tablets, or the
+encrusted oxide from monumental brasses, that render the study of ancient
+relics so attractive; but it is the deductions which may sometimes be
+drawn from them. The light which they sometimes cast on obscure parts of
+history, and the fine touches of human sensibility, which their eulogies
+and monodies bespeak, that instruct or elevate the mind, and make the
+student's heart beat with holier and loftier feelings. But it is not my
+duty here to enter into the motives, the benefits, or the most profitable
+manner of studying antiquity; if it were, I would strive to show how much
+superior it is to become an original investigator, a practical antiquary,
+than a mere borrower from others. For the most delightful moments of the
+student's course is when he rambles personally among the ruins and
+remnants of long gone ages; sometimes painful are such sights, even
+deeply so; but never to a righteous mind are they unprofitable, much less
+exerting a narrowing tendency on the mind, or cramping the gushing of
+human feeling; for cold, indeed, must be the heart that can behold strong
+walls tottering to decay, and fretted vaults, mutilated and dismantled of
+their pristine beauty; that can behold the proud strongholds of baronial
+power and feudal tyranny, the victims of the lichen or creeping parasites
+of the ivy tribe; cold, I say, must be the heart that can see such
+things, and draw no lesson from them.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX.
+
+
+Adam de Botheby, Abbot of Peterborough, 145.
+Adam, Abbot of Evesham, 196.
+Adrian IV., Pope of Rome, Anecdote of, 259, 260.
+AElfric, Archbishop of Canterbury, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
+AElfride, King of Northumbria, 160, 163.
+AElsinus, the Scribe, 232.
+Ailward's Gift of Books to Evesham Monastery, 195.
+Albans, Abbey of St.--_See_ St. Albans.
+Alcuin,
+    Verses by, 33, 179, 180.
+    Letters of, 98, 175, 181.
+    His Bible, 177.
+    Love of Books, 173, 176, 182.
+Aldred, the Glossator, 95.
+Aldwine, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 99.
+Alfred the Great, 151.
+Angell de Pisa, a Franciscan Friar, 291.
+Angraville.--_See_ Richard de Bury.
+Anselm, 77, 78.
+Antiquarii, 42, 43.
+Arno, Archbishop of Salzburgh, Library of, 183, 184.
+Armarian, Duties of the Monkish, 13.
+Aristotle; Translation used by the Schoolmen, 290.
+Ascelin, Prior of Dover, 90.
+Augustine, St., his copy of the Bible and other books, 79.
+
+Baldwin, Abbot of, St. Edmund's Bury, 242.
+Bale on the destruction of books at the Reformation, 8.
+Barkley's description of a Bibliomaniac, 301, 302, 303, 304.
+Basingstoke and his Greek books, 267.
+Bede the Venerable, 129, 162, 163, 170, 243.
+Bek, Anthony, Bishop of Durham, 104.
+Benedict, Abbot of Peterborough, and his books, 142, 143.
+Benedict, Biscop of Wearmouth, and his book tours, 157, 158.
+Bible among the Monks in the middle ages, 79, 89, 101, 104, 129,
+        144, 163, 177, 193, 194, 196, 207, 208, 211, 212, 233,
+        234, 237, 260, 261.
+Bible, Monkish care in copying the, 36, 177.
+Bible, errors in printed copies, 36.
+Bible, Translations of, 71, 72, 156, 185, 296, _note_.
+Bible, Illustrations of the scarcity of the, in the middle ages,
+        40, 41, 89, 148, 231.
+Bible, Students in the middle ages, 36, 71, 75, 88, 104,
+        144, 163, 168, 177, 184.
+Bilfrid the Illuminator, 95.
+Binding, costly, 54, 85, 93, 246, 247, 258, 261, 262, 263, 273.
+Blessing--Monkish blessing on Books, 25.
+Boniface the Saxon Missionary, 45, 164, 165, 166, 167.
+Books allowed the Monks for private reading, 20.
+Books-Destroyers, 6, 7, 8, 9, 195, 282.
+Books sent to Oxford by the Monks of Durham, 105.
+Book-Stalls, Antiquity of, 123.
+Booksellers in the middle ages, 46, 47.
+Britone the Librarian--his catalogue of books in Glastonbury Abbey, 208.
+Bruges, John de, a Monk of Coventry, and his books, 191.
+
+Caedmon, the Saxon Poet, 185.
+Canterbury Monastery, etc., 61.
+Canute, the Song of, 244.
+Care in transcribing, 33, 68.
+Carelepho, Bishop of Durham, 101.
+Carmelite, 287, 297.
+Carpenter, Bishop, built and endowed a library in Exeter Church, 194.
+Catalogues of Monastic libraries, 10, 14, 82, 83, 102, 129, 130, 142,
+            147, 179, 180, 190, 191, 208, 209, 210, 211, 219, 220, 237.
+Catalogue of the books of Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, 283, 284, 285.
+Charles V. of France--his fine Library.
+Charlemagne's Bible, 177, his Library, 184.
+Chartey's, William,
+            Catalogue of the Library of St. Mary's at Leicester, 148.
+Chiclely, Henry, Archbishop of Canterbury, 86.
+Cistercian Monks in England, 221.
+Classics among the Monks in the middle ages, 60, 84, 87, 101, 102,
+            116, 122, 129, 148, 190, 200, 208, 225, 226, 232, 233, 240.
+Classics, Monkish opinion of the, 23, 227.
+Classics found in Monasteries at the revival of learning, 58, 59, 60.
+Cluniac Monks in England, 221.
+Cobham, Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester, 277, 278.
+Cobham, Bishop, founded the Library at Oxford, 194.
+Collier on the destruction of books, 8.
+Converting Miracles, 166.
+Coventry Church, 191.
+Coventry Miracles, 299.
+Croyland Monastery, Library of, 135.
+Cuthbert's Gospels, 93, 129.
+
+Danes in England, 95, 138, 139, 140.
+Daniel, Bishop of Winchester, 168.
+De Bury.--_See_ Richard de Bury.
+De Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, 81.
+Depying Priory, Catalogue of the Library of, 234.
+Dover Library, 90.
+Dunstan, Saint, 64, 65.
+
+Eadburge--Abbess, transcribes books for Boniface, 169, 170.
+Eadfrid, Abbot of St. Albans, 249.
+Eadmer, Abbot of St. Albans, 251, 252.
+Ealdred, Abbot of St. Albans, 250.
+Eardulphus, or Eurdulphus, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 96.
+Ecgfrid and his Queen, 242.
+Edmunds Bury, St., 241.
+Edwine the Scribe, 79.
+Effects of Gospel Reading, 236.
+Effects of the Reformation on Monkish learning, 8.
+Egbert, Archbishop of York, 170, 173, his Library, 179, 180.
+Egebric, Abbot of Croyland, his gift of books to the Library, 137.
+Egfrith, Bishop of Lindesfarne, 93.
+Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, 277, 278.
+Ethelbert, 87.
+Etheldredae founds the Monastery of Ely, 243.
+Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester
+    his love of Architecture, 229, 244,
+    his fine Benedictional, 230.
+Ely Monastery, 243, 244.
+    Extracts from the Account Books of, 245.
+Erventus the Illuminator, 147.
+Esseburn, Henry, 296.
+Evesham Monastery, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204.
+
+Fathers, Veneration for the, 38, 39.
+Frederic, Abbot of St. Albans, 253.
+Franciscan Library at Oxford, 294.
+Friars, Mendicant, 115, 116, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294.
+
+Geoffry de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, 255, 256.
+Gerbert, extract from a letter of, 45.
+Gift of books to Richard de Bury by the Monks of St. Albans, 121.
+Glanvill, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Glastonbury Abbey, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214.
+Gloucester Abbey, 218.
+Godeman, Abbot of Gloucester, 218.
+Godemann the Scribe, 231, 232.
+Godfrey, Abbot of Peterborough, 145, 146.
+Godinge the Librarian to Exeter Church, 193, 194.
+Godiva, Lady and her good deeds, 193, 194.
+Gospels, notices of among the Monks in the middle ages, 86, 89,
+             90, 91, 92, 129, 139, 140, 141, 142, 169, 196, 217,
+             221, 244, 245, 246, _note_, 255, 262.
+Graystane, Robert de, 105.
+Grostest, Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, 292, 293.
+Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, 87.
+Guthlac, St., of Croyland, 135.
+Guy, Earl of Warwick, his gift of books to Bordesley Abbey, 283, 284, 285.
+
+Hebrew Manuscripts among the Monks, 238, 293, 294.
+Henry the Second of England, 223, 227.
+Henry de Estria and his Catalogue of Canterbury Library, 81.
+Henry, a Monk of Hyde Abbey, 231, 232.
+Hilda, 184.
+Holdernesse, Abbot of Peterborough, 145.
+Hoton, Prior of Durham, 105.
+Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, 79.
+Hunting practised by the Monks and Churchmen, 224.
+Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 275.
+    His domestic troubles, 277, 278, 279.
+    His death, 279.
+    Lydgate's Verses upon, 280, 281.
+    His Gift of Books to Oxford, 281, 282, 283.
+
+Illuminated MSS., 54.
+Ina, King of the West Saxons, 206.
+
+Jarrow, 157.
+John de Bruges of Coventry Church, 191.
+John, Prior of Evesham, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204.
+John of Taunton, a Monk of Glastonbury, his Catalogue of Books, 208.
+
+Kenulfus, Abbot of Peterborough, 141.
+Kinfernus, Archbishop of York, gift of the Gospels to
+             Peterborough Monastery, 141.
+Kildwardly, Archbishop of Canterbury, 79.
+
+Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 75.
+Langley, Thomas, 131.
+Laws of the Universities over booksellers, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
+Lending books,
+    system of among the Monks, 17, 20;
+    by the booksellers, 52.
+Leoffin, Abbot of Ely, 244.
+Leofric, Abbot of St. Albans, 249.
+Leofric, Bishop of Exeter, 218;
+    his Private Library, 219.
+Leofricke, Earl of Mercia, 192.
+Leofricus, Abbot of Peterborough, 141.
+Leicester, Abbey of St. Mary de la Pre, at, 148, 149.
+Libraries in the middle ages.--_See_ Catalogues.
+Libraries, how supported, 24, 25, 79, 198, 199.
+Librarii, or booksellers, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49.
+Lindesfarne, 93.
+Livy, the lost decades of, 214.
+Lul, Majestro, 168, 169.
+Lulla, Bishop of Coena, 171.
+Lydgate's Verses on Baldwin,
+    Abbot of St. Edmunds Bury, 242;
+    on Duke Humphrey, 280, 281.
+
+Malmsbury Monastery, 214.
+Malmsbury, William of, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219.
+Mannius, Abbot of Evesham, his skill in illuminating, 195.
+Manuscripts, Ancient, described, 78, 79, 186, 187.
+Manuscripts, Collections of, 5.
+Marleberg, Thomas of, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202.
+Medeshamstede, 139.
+Mendicant Friars, 115, 116, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294.
+Michael de Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, and
+            his _multis voluminibus_, 268.
+Milton and Caedmon compared, 188.
+Monachism, 29, 36, 307, 308, 309.
+Monastic training, 263, 264, 265.
+Monks, the preservers of books, 29.
+
+Nicholas, of St. Albans, 267, 292.
+Nicholas Brekspere, 259, 260.
+Nicholas Hereford, of Evesham, 203, 204.
+Nigel, Bishop of Ely, 244, 245, 246.
+Norman Conquest. Effect of the, 74.
+Northone, Abbot of St. Albans, 267.
+Nothelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, 64, 171.
+
+Offa, King, 4, 192, 247.
+    Alcuin's Letter to, 175.
+Osbern, of Shepey, 91.
+Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, 24, 193.
+
+Paul or Paulinus, of St. Albans, 77, 253.
+Peter of Blois, Archdeacon of London, 47, 222, 223, 224,
+            225, 226, 227, 228.
+Peter, Abbot of Gloucester, 218.
+Peterborough Monastery, 138.
+    Library, 147, 148.
+Petrarch, 107, 108, 109.
+Philobiblon, by Richard de Bury, 112.
+Prior John, of Evesham, 199.
+Puritans destroy the Library in Worcester Church, 194.
+Purple Manuscripts, 54.
+Pusar, Hugh de, Bishop of Durham, 103.
+
+Radolphus, Bishop of Rochester, 90.
+Ralph de Gobium, Abbot of St. Albans, 257, 258.
+Ramsey Abbey, 237.
+    Hebrew MSS. at Ramsey, 239.
+    Classics, 240.
+Raymond, Prior of St. Albans, 262, 263.
+Reading Abbey. Library of, 233.
+Reginald, Archdeacon of Salisbury, reproved for his love of falconry, 227.
+Reginald, of Evesham, 196.
+Richard de Albini, 255.
+Richard de Bury, 17, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
+            113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123,
+            124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 268.
+Richard de Stowe, 218.
+Richard of London, 145.
+Richard Wallingford, Abbot of St. Albans, 121.
+Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, 213, 214.
+Ridiculous signs for books.--_See_ signs.
+Rievall Monastery, library of, 190, 191, 192.
+Robert de Gorham, Abbot of St. Albans, 257, 258.
+Robert, of Lyndeshye, 144.
+Robert, of Sutton, 145.
+Roger de Northone, 267.
+Roger de Thoris, Archdeacon of Exeter. Gift of books to the Friars
+            at Exeter, 294, 295.
+Rhypum Monastery; gift of books to, 163.
+
+Scarcity of Parchment, 56, 57, 245, 246.
+Scholastic Philosophy, 289.
+Scribes, Monkish, 44.
+Scriptoria, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 198, 199, 253, 254.
+Sellinge, William, Prior of Canterbury, 86.
+Signs for books used by the Monks, 22, 23.
+Simon, Abbot of St. Albans, 260.
+St. Alban's Abbey, 120, 121, 247, _et seq._
+St. Joseph, of Arimathea, 206.
+St. Mary's, at Coventry, 191, 192.
+St. Mary's de la Pre, at Leicester. Library of, 149.
+Stylus or pen, 154.
+
+Tatwine, Archbishop of Canterbury, 63.
+Taunton, John of, 208.
+Taunton, William of, 211.
+Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 62.
+Thomas de la Mare, Abbot of St. Albans, 268.
+Thomas of Marleberg, Prior of Evesham, 197.
+Trompington, William de, Abbot of St. Albans, 265, 266.
+Tully's de Republica, 86.
+
+Valerius Maximus, Duke Humphrey's copy of, 282.
+Value of books in the middle ages, 54, 203, 204, 245, 273, 282, 283, 295.
+Verses written in books by Whethamstede, 274.
+Verulam, ruins of, excavated by Eadmer, of St. Albans, 250.
+
+Waleran, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Walter, Bishop of Rochester, 91.
+Walter, Bishop of Winchester, fond of hunting, 224, 225.
+Walter, of Evesham, 196.
+Walter, of St. Edmunds Bury, 145.
+Walter, Prior of St. Swithin, 231.
+Wearmouth, Monastery of, 157.
+Wentmore, Abbot of St. Albans, 268.
+Whethamstede, Abbot of St. Albans, 268, 269;
+    his works, 272;
+    gift of books to Gloucester college, 274.
+Whitby Abbey, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189.
+Wilfrid, 162, 163, 243.
+Willigod, Abbot of St. Albans, 248.
+William, of Wodeforde, 145.
+Winchester, famous for his Scribes, 168, 229, 230, 231, 232.
+Worcester, Church of, 192.
+Wulstan, Archbishop of York, 147.
+
+York Cathedral Library, 179, 180.
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+1. Footnotes 293, 386 are not anchored in the page image. A best guess
+has been made as to their anchor point.
+
+2. Refer to the image for the black letter poems as the yogh/ezh & thorn/h
+characters are difficult to distinguish. Other internet sources show vastly
+different interpretations for the text of 'A Plaie called Corpus Christi'.
+
+3. Hyphenation has been left as printed - inconsistencies are:
+bookloving, book-loving
+booklover, book-lover
+bookworms, book-worms
+goodwill, good-will
+halfpenny, half-penny
+protomartyr, proto-martyr
+reread, re-read
+
+4. Punctuation, particularly in footnotes has been standardised.
+
+5. Spelling inconsistencies between proper names in the text and index
+entries have been standardised. The original spelling has been noted.
+Inconsistencies in the spelling of proper names within the text have
+been left as printed.
+
+6. Numerous quotation marks have been added to the text. Please see the
+HTML version for details of where they have been added.
+
+7. Other corrections which have been made are:
+    Footnote 21, "gubernnatione" changed to "gubernatione"
+    Page 86, "Chicleley" changed to "Chiclely"
+    Page 91, "Shebey" changed to "Shepey"
+    Footnote 134, "Catherbury" changed to "Canterbury"
+    Page 113, "biblomaniac" changed to "bibliomaniac"
+    Page 138, "Madeshamsted" changed to "Medeshamstede"
+    Page 152, "descrimination" changed to "discrimination"
+    Page 218, "Godemon" changed to "Godeman"
+    Footnote 367, "Alward" changed to "Ailward"
+    Page 257, "Gebium" changed to "Gobium"
+    Page 312, "mediaevel" changed to "mediaeval"
+    Page 315, "Salzburg" changed to "Salzburgh"
+    Page 317, "Ecfrid" changed to "Ecgfrid"
+    Page 319, "Kernulfus" changed to "Kenulfus"
+    Page 319, "Leofin" changed to "Leoffin"
+    Page 319, 322, "Pre" changed to "Pre"
+    Page 320, "Marlebergh" changed to "Marleberg"
+    Page 321, "Ryphum" changed to "Rhypum"
+    Page 321, "Sellynge" changed to "Sellinge"
+    Page 322, "Tatwyne" changed to "Tatwine"
+    Page 322, "Tharsus" changed to "Tarsus"
+    Page 322, "Wodeford" changed to "Wodeforde"
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bibliomania in the Middle Ages, by
+Frederick Somner Merryweather
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