Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods | Page 7

reading, probably in the main

devotional.
If my time were unlimited I could describe to you several other fifteenth century
monastic libraries, but I feel that I must content myself with only one more--that of the
Franciscan House in London, commonly called Christ's Hospital. The first stone of this
library was laid by Sir Richard Whittington, 21 October, 1421, and by Christmas Day in
the following year the roof was finished. Stow tells us that it was 129 feet long by 31 feet
broad; and the Letters Patent of Henry the Eighth add that it had 28 desks, and 28 double
settles of wainscot. The whole building--so well worth preservation--has been totally
destroyed, but I am able to shew you a view of it.
Library of Christ's Hospital: from Trollope's "History of Christ's Hospital," p. 105.
This view is an excellent illustration of the point on which I have insisted, namely, that in
the course of the fifteenth century the great religious Houses--no matter to what Order
they belonged--found that their books had become too numerous for the localities
primitively intended for them, and began to build special libraries--usually over some
existing structure; or--in other words--established a library of reference, which was not
unfrequently thrown open to scholars in general, who were allowed to borrow books from
it, on execution of an indenture, or deposit of a sufficient pledge. "It is safer to fall back
on a pledge, than to proceed against an individual," said the Customs of the Priory at
Abingdon.
In what way were these monastic libraries fitted up? No trace of any monastic fittings has
survived, so far as I am aware, either in England, or in France, or in Italy; and even M.
Viollet-Le-Duc dismisses "The Library" in a few brief sentences, of which the keynote is
despair. My own view is that a close analogy may be traced between the fittings of
monastic libraries and those of collegiate libraries; and that when we understand the one
we shall understand the other.
The collegiate system was in no sense of the word monastic, indeed it was to a certain
extent established to counteract monastic influence; but it is absurd to suppose that the
younger communities would borrow nothing from the elder--especially when we reflect
that the monastic system had completed at least seven centuries of successful existence
before Walter de Merton was moved to found a college; that many of the subsequent
founders of colleges were churchmen, if not actually monks; and that there were monastic
colleges at both Universities. Further, as we have seen that study was specially enjoined
upon the monks by S. Benedict, it is precisely in the direction of study that we should
expect to find common features in the two sets of communities. And this, in fact, is what
came to pass. An examination of the statutes affecting the library in the codes imposed
upon the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge shews that their provisions were borrowed
directly from the monastic Customs. The resemblances are too striking to be accidental.
Take, for instance, this clause, from the statutes of Oriel College, Oxford, dated 1329:
The common books (communes libri) of the House are to be brought out and inspected
once a year, on the feast of the Commemoration of Souls [2 November], in presence of
the Provost or his deputy, and of the Scholars [Fellows].

Every one of them in turn, in order of seniority, may select a single book which either
treats of the science to which he is devoting himself, or which he requires for his use.
This he may keep until the same festival in the succeeding year, when a similar selection
of books is to take place, and so on, from year to year. If there should happen to be more
books than persons, those that remain are to be selected in the same manner.
Bishop Bateman--who had been educated in the priory at Norwich, and whose brother
was an abbot--gave statutes to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1350, with similar provisions,
and the addition that certain books "are to remain continuously in the library-chamber,
fastened with iron chains, for the common use of the Fellows." These were copied by
Wykeham at New College, Oxford, but with extended provisions for lending books to
students, and a direction that all the books "which remain unassigned after the Fellows
have made their selection are to be fastened with iron chains, and remain for ever in the
common Library." This statute was repeated at King's College, Cambridge, and at several
colleges in Oxford.
Let me now remind you of Archbishop Lanfranc's statute for English Benedictines, dated
1070, which was based, as he himself tells us, on the general monastic practice of his
time:
On the Monday after the first Sunday in Lent, before