CONTENTS

CHAP.PAGE
[I.] The Use of Books in Early Irish Monasteries [1]
[II.] The English Monks and their Books[23]
[III.] Libraries of the Great Abbeys—Book-Lovers among the Mendicants—Dispersal of Monkish Libraries[45]
[IV.] Book Making and Collecting in the Religious Houses[73]
[V.] Cathedral and Church Libraries[109]
[VI.] Academic Libraries: Oxford[133]
[VII.] Academic Libraries: Cambridge[155]
[VIII.] Academic Libraries: their Economy[165]
[IX.] The Use of Books towards the End of the Manuscript Period[173]
[X.] The Book Trade[199]
[XI.] The Character of the Medieval Library, and the Extent of Circulation of Books[209]
[Appendix A]. Prices of Books and Materials for Book-Making[243]
[Appendix B]. List of certain Classic Authors found in Medieval Catalogues[258]
[Appendix C]. List of Medieval Collections of Books[263]
[Appendix D]. List of the Principal Reference Works[286]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT

PAGE
Writing in the Book of Kells[14]
From Thompson’s Greek and Latin Palæography
Writing in Book of Armagh[15]
From Thompson’s Greek and Latin Palæography
Writing in Græco-Latin Acts, probably used by Bede[27]
From MS. Bodl. Laud. Gr. 35, f. 63
Writing in Benedictional of St. Ethelwold[43]
From Archæologia, xxiv.
Plan of Scriptorium, Birkenhead Priory[74]
Redrawn from Trans. of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society
Ancient Stall, or Carrell, in Bishop’s Cannings Church, Wilts[77]
From Cox and Harvey’s English Church Furniture
Tablet Case and Waxed Tablet[84]
From Coffey’s Celtic Antiquities in the Museum of the R.I.A.
Plan showing Disposition of Books in Cistercian Houses[93]
Redrawn from Gasquet’s English Monastic Life
Plan showing probable Situation of Library of Wells Cathedral in the Thirteenth Century[122]
Redrawn from Canon Church’s Chapters in the History of Wells Cathedral
Bereblock View of Duke Humfrey’s Library[140]
From MS. Bodl. 13
Autograph of Duke Humfrey of Gloucester[191]
From MS. Harl. 1705. f. 96a
Record of Sale of Book captured at Poitiers[234]
From MS. Reg. 19, D ii. opposite f. 1

LIST OF PLATES

Abbot Whethamstede[Frontispiece]
From MS. Cott. Nero, D vii. f. 27a
PLATE FACING PAGE
[I.] (a) Ancient Satchel of Irish Missal, Corpus Christi College, Oxford[12]
By permission of the Governing Body
(b) Cover of Stowe Missal[12]
Museum of Royal Irish Academy, Dublin (A.D. 1023-1052)
[II.] Illuminated Page of Book of Kells[14]
From Westwood’s Facsimiles
[III.] The Shrine of the Cathach Psalter, Eleventh Century[16]
From The Connoisseur, by permission of the Editor
[IV.] Cumdach of St. Molaise’s Gospels: Front and Bottom[20]
From Coffey’s Celtic Antiquities in Museum of Royal Irish Academy,
by permission of the Council
[V.] Benedictional of St. Ethelwold: Nativity of St. John the Baptist[42]
From Archæologia, xxiv.
[VI.] Benedictional of St. Ethelwold: The Ascension[44]
From Archæologia, xxiv.
[VII.] (a) Abbot Roger de Northone with his Books[48]
From MS. Cott. Nero, D vii. f. 18b
(b) Abbot Garin with his Books[48]
From MS. Cott. Claud., E iv. pt. i., f. 125a
[VIII.] Abbot Simon of St. Albans at his Book-Chest[50]
From MS. Cott. Claud., E iv. pt. i. f. 124
[IX.] Grey Friars, London (Christ’s Hospital): Old Hall and Whittington’s Library[54]
From Trollope’s History of Christ’s Hospital
[X.] Grey Friars Catalogue of Conventual Libraries[58]
From MS. Bodl. Tanner, 165, f. 119
[XI.] Twelfth Century Illumination from Bury St. Edmund’s Abbey[64]
From MS. 2, f. 281b, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge,
by permission of the Master and Fellows
[XII.] Westminster Illumination, Thirteenth Century[68]
From MS. Reg. 2 A xii. f. 14, Brit. Mus.
[XIII.] The Cloisters, Gloucester, showing Carrells[76]
From Murray’s Cathedrals
[XIV.] A Scribe and His Tools, From a Very Ancient MS.[82]
From MS. Harl. 2820, f. 120
[XV.] Furness Abbey: Cloisters and Chapter House[94]
[XVI.] Facsimile of Library Catalogue of Syon Monastery[104]
From Bateson’s Catalogue of Syon Monastery
[XVII.] Medieval Binding: Mr. Yates Thompson’s Hegesippus[108]
From Bateson’s Mediæval England
[XVIII.] Ancient Book-Box in Exeter Cathedral[110]
Photo by Heath & Bradnee, Exeter
[XIX.] Chained Books, Hereford Cathedral Library[116]
By permission of the Dean of Hereford
[XX.] Old Library, Lincoln Cathedral[118]
Photo by G. Hadleigh, Lincoln. By permission of the Dean of Lincoln
[XXI.] Wells Cathedral: Library Over Cloister[122]
Photo by T. W. Phillips, Wells
[XXII.] St. Mary’s Church, Oxford: First Home of University Library[132]
Photo by H. W. Taunt, Oxford
[XXIII.] (a) Illuminator of St. Albans[134]
From MS. Cott. Nero, D iii. f. 105
(b) Document bearing the Names of Membersof the Book-Trade, c. 1180[134]
From Barnard’s Companion to English History
[XXIV.] (a) Duke Humfrey and Eleanor of Gloucesterjoining the Confraternity of St. Albans[138]
From MS. Cott. Nero, D vii. f. 154a
(b) Ancient Roof of Duke Humfrey’s Library[138]
Photo by Jas. Hutt, M.A.
[XXV.] Duke Humfrey’s Library, Oxford[142]
Photo by H. W. Taunt
[XXVI.] Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford[144]
Photo by H. W. Taunt
[XXVII.] Merton College Library, Oxford[152]
Photo by H. W. Taunt
[XXVIII.] Public Schools and Library of the University, Cambridge[156]
From Loggan’s Cantab. Illus.
[XXIX.] Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford,from Master’s Garden[170]
Photo by H. W. Taunt
[XXX.] Carmelite in his Study[184]
From MS. Reg. 14 E i. f. 3, Brit. Mus.
[XXXI.] A Scribe (St. Mark writing his Gospel), fromthe Bedford Hours[196]
From Add. MS. 18850, f. 24, Brit. Mus.
[XXXII.] A Scribe at work, from Eadwine’s Psalter,c. 1150[202]
From Bateson’s Mediæval England
[XXXIII.] English Illuminated Work under French Influence,from Tenison Psalter[214]
From MS. Add. 24686, f. 12, Brit. Mus.
[XXXIV.] Fresco of the Seven Liberal Arts, by T. Gaddi, Church of S. M. Novella, Florence[222]
Photo by Alinari
[XXXV.] Ancient Vellum Book-Marker[230]
From MS. 49, Corpus Christi College, Camb.,
by permission of the Master and Fellows

OLD ENGLISH LIBRARIES

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY—THE USE OF BOOKS IN EARLY IRISH MONASTERIES

“What tyme þat abbeies were first ordeyned
and monkis were first gadered to gydre.”
—Inscribed in MS. of Life of Barlaam and Josaphat,
Peterhouse, Camb.