Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods | Page 6

the days of its completeness; and information on this point is unfortunately
much more defective for our own country than it is for France. In illustration, therefore,
of what I have been saying about the position of monastic libraries, I will next shew you
two bird's-eye views of the Benedictine House of S. Germain des Prés, Paris. The first,
dated 1687, shews the library over the south walk of the cloister, where it was placed in
1513. It must not, however, be supposed that no library existed before this. On the
contrary, the House seems to have had one from the first foundation, and so early as the
thirteenth century it could be consulted by strangers, and books borrowed from it. The
second view, dated 1723, shews a still further extension of the library. It has now invaded
the west side of the cloister, which has received an upper storey, and even the external
appearance of the venerable refectory, which was respected when nearly all the rest of the
buildings were rebuilt in a classical style, has been sacrificed to a similar gallery. The
united lengths of these three rooms must have been little short of 324 feet. This library
was at the disposal of all scholars who desired to use it. When the Revolution came it
contained more than 49,000 printed books, and 7000 manuscripts. The fittings belonged
to the period of its latest extension: they appear to have been sumptuous, but for my
present object, uninteresting.
Views of S. Germain des Prés: (1) from Franklin, "Anciennes Bibliothèques de Paris," i.

126; (2) from Bouillart, "Histoire de l'Abbaye de S. Germain des Préz."
At Canterbury the library, built as I have said, over the Prior's Chapel, was 60 feet long,
by 22 feet broad; and we know, from some memoranda written in 1508, when a number
of books were sent to be bound or repaired, that it contained sixteen bookcases, each of
which had four shelves. I have calculated that this library could have contained about
2000 volumes.
I have shewn you a Benedictine House, and will next shew you a bird's-eye view of
Citeaux, the parent house of the Cistercian Order, founded at the close of the eleventh
century. The original was taken, so far as I can make out, about 1500, at any rate before
the primitive buildings had been seriously altered. The library here occupied two
positions--under the roof between the dormitory and the refectory (which must have been
extremely inconvenient); and subsequently it was rebuilt in an isolated situation on the
north side of the second cloister, over the writing-room (scriptorium). This was also the
position of the new library at Clairvaux--the other great Cistercian House in France--the
fame of which was equal to, if not greater than, that of Citeaux. Of this latter library we
have two descriptions; the first written in 1517, the second in 1723.
View of Citeaux: from Viollet-Le-Duc, "Dictionnaire de l'Architecture," i. 271.
The former account, by the secretary of the Queen of Sicily, who visited Clairvaux 13
July 1517, is as follows:
On the same side of the cloister are fourteen studies, where the monks write and study,
and over the said studies is the new library, to which one mounts by a broad and lofty
spiral staircase from the aforesaid cloister. This library is 189 feet long, by 17 feet wide.
In it are 48 seats (bancs), and in each seat 4 shelves (poulpitres) furnished with books on
all subjects, but chiefly theology; the greater number of the said books are of vellum, and
written by hand, richly storied and illuminated. The building that contains the said library
is magnificent, built of stone, and excellently lighted on both sides with fine large
windows, well glazed, looking out on the said cloister and the burial-ground of the
brethren.... The said library is paved throughout with small tiles adorned with various
designs.
The description written in 1723, by the learned Benedictines to whom we owe the
Voyage Littéraire, is equally interesting:
From the great cloister you proceed into the cloister of conversation, so called because
the brethren are allowed to converse there. In this cloister there are 12 or 15 little cells, all
of a row, where the brethren formerly used to write books; for this reason they are still
called at the present day the writing-rooms. Over these cells is the Library, the building
for which is large, vaulted, well lighted, and stocked with a large number of manuscripts,
fastened by chains to desks; but there are not many printed books.
In the great cloister, on the side next the Chapter House, the same observer noted "books
chained on wooden desks, which brethren can come and read when they please." The
library was for serious study, the cloister for daily