Old English Libraries | Page 3

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OLD ENGLISH LIBRARIES THE MAKING, COLLECTION, AND
USE OF BOOKS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES
by ERNEST A. SAVAGE

PREFACE
WITH the arrangement and equipment of libraries this essay has little
to do: the ground being already covered adequately by Dr. Clark in his
admirable monograph on The Care of Books. Herein is described the
making, use, and circulation of books considered as a means of literary
culture. It seemed possible to throw a useful sidelight on literary history,
and to introduce some human interest into the study of bibliography, if
the place held by books in the life of the Middle Ages could be
indicated. Such, at all events, was my aim, but I am far from sure of my
success in carrying it out; and I offer this book merely as a discursive

and popular treatment of a subject which seems to me of great interest.
The book has suffered from one unhappy circumstance. It was planned
in collaboration with my friend Mr. James Hutt, M.A., but
unfortunately, owing to a breakdown of health, Mr. Hutt was only able
to help me in the composition of the chapter on the Libraries of Oxford,
which is chiefly his work. Had it been possible for Mr. Hutt to share all
the labour with me, this book would have been put before the public
with more confidence.
More footnote references appear in this volume than in most of the
series of "Antiquary's Books." One consideration specially urged me to
take this course. The subject has been treated briefly, and it seemed
essential to cite as many authorities as possible, so that readers who
were in the mood might obtain further information by following them
up.
In a book covering a long period and touching national and local
history at many points, I cannot hope to have escaped errors; and I shall
be grateful if readers will bring them to my notice.
I need hardly say I am especially indebted to the splendid work
accomplished by Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost of King's
College, in editing The Ancient Libraries of Canterbury and Dover, and
in compiling the great series of descriptive catalogues of manuscripts in
Cambridge and other colleges. I have long marvelled at Dr. James'
patient research; at his steady perseverance in an aim which, even when
attained--as it now has been-- could only win him the admiration and
esteem of a few scholars and lovers of old books.
I have to thank Mr. Hutt for much general help, and for reading all the
proof slips. To Canon C. M. Church, M.A., of Wells, I am indebted for
his kindness in answering inquiries, for lending me the illustration of
the exterior of Wells Cathedral Library, and for permitting me to
reproduce a plan from his book entitled Chapters in the Early History
of the Church of Wells. The Historic Society of Lancashire and
Cheshire have kindly allowed me to reproduce a part of their plan of
Birkenhead Priory. Illustrations were also kindly lent by the Clarendon
Press, the Cambridge University Press, Mr. John Murray, Mr. Fisher
Unwin, the Editor of The Connoisseur, and Mr. G. Coffey, of the Royal
Irish Academy. A small portion of the first chapter has appeared in The
Library, and is reprinted by kind permission of the editors. Mr. C. W.

Sutton, M.A., City Librarian of Manchester, has been in every way
kind and patient in helping me. So too has Mr. Strickland Gibson, M.A.,
of the Bodleian Library, especially in connexion with the chapter on
Oxford Libraries. Thanks are due also to the Deans of Hereford,
Lincoln, and Durham, to Mr. Tapley-Soper, City Librarian of Exeter,
and