DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49252#0018
ii
INTRODUCTION
Of the Monastic Cathedrals, those technically known as of the
New Foundation, it is only necessary to mention such as are dis-
tinguished either by the quantity or the quality of their MSS.
Durham ranks easily first; it is unnecessary to dwell on its
riches. The medieval catalogues are very copious also.
Worcester I should place next. These two Churches have
retained a larger proportion of their Monastic libraries than any
other places in England. Yet both Durham and Worcester books
are very frequently met with in other collections.
Canterbury has an appreciable number of books from Christ
Church and St. Augustine’s, with interesting accessions of later
date. The ancient collection is widely scattered.
All these are equipped with good printed catalogues, though
that of Durham (the excellent production of an early eighteenth
century scholar, Thomas Rud) is hard to get, and should be re-
edited and brought up to date.
Winchester is the last that need be mentioned. The MSS.
are few, but some of them are of first rate interest.
Thus Lincoln, Salisbury, Hereford, of the Old Foundation,
Durham and Worcester of the New, are the five important ancient
collections which emerge. A survey of their contents, except,
perhaps, in the case of Worcester, shews a common course of
development. Leaving aside the few and precious pre-Conquest
MEipirjAia, we trace in each a great activity in procuring or transcrib-
ing books in the twelfth century. That seems to be the period of
formation. At the monastic cathedrals it is reasonable to suppose
that the twelfth century books were written on the spot. About
the scriptoria of the secular Cathedrals I must own myself ignorant.
Some conjectures may be offered later.
The thirteenth century, as a rule, adds a more modest quota.
The stock accumulated before 1200 was sufficient for ordinary
purposes. The works of Aquinas and other Schoolmen, and perhaps
a number of small Bibles, would be among the important accessions.
Then, with the early fourteenth century, comes in the flood of Canon
Law and Civil Law books, largely from Italy, largely also the gifts
of bishops, abbots, and other officials, who had been forced to
travel to Rome or Avignon on the incessant errands necessitated
by the demands of the papal organization. To the late thirteenth
and early fourteenth centuries also belong the texts of Aristotle
and the lecture notes on philosophy and scholastic divinity. These
were often procured by members of the body studying at the
Universities ; the entries of pledging—the cautiones—which appear
so often on the fly-leaves, are commonly connected with Oxford
INTRODUCTION
Of the Monastic Cathedrals, those technically known as of the
New Foundation, it is only necessary to mention such as are dis-
tinguished either by the quantity or the quality of their MSS.
Durham ranks easily first; it is unnecessary to dwell on its
riches. The medieval catalogues are very copious also.
Worcester I should place next. These two Churches have
retained a larger proportion of their Monastic libraries than any
other places in England. Yet both Durham and Worcester books
are very frequently met with in other collections.
Canterbury has an appreciable number of books from Christ
Church and St. Augustine’s, with interesting accessions of later
date. The ancient collection is widely scattered.
All these are equipped with good printed catalogues, though
that of Durham (the excellent production of an early eighteenth
century scholar, Thomas Rud) is hard to get, and should be re-
edited and brought up to date.
Winchester is the last that need be mentioned. The MSS.
are few, but some of them are of first rate interest.
Thus Lincoln, Salisbury, Hereford, of the Old Foundation,
Durham and Worcester of the New, are the five important ancient
collections which emerge. A survey of their contents, except,
perhaps, in the case of Worcester, shews a common course of
development. Leaving aside the few and precious pre-Conquest
MEipirjAia, we trace in each a great activity in procuring or transcrib-
ing books in the twelfth century. That seems to be the period of
formation. At the monastic cathedrals it is reasonable to suppose
that the twelfth century books were written on the spot. About
the scriptoria of the secular Cathedrals I must own myself ignorant.
Some conjectures may be offered later.
The thirteenth century, as a rule, adds a more modest quota.
The stock accumulated before 1200 was sufficient for ordinary
purposes. The works of Aquinas and other Schoolmen, and perhaps
a number of small Bibles, would be among the important accessions.
Then, with the early fourteenth century, comes in the flood of Canon
Law and Civil Law books, largely from Italy, largely also the gifts
of bishops, abbots, and other officials, who had been forced to
travel to Rome or Avignon on the incessant errands necessitated
by the demands of the papal organization. To the late thirteenth
and early fourteenth centuries also belong the texts of Aristotle
and the lecture notes on philosophy and scholastic divinity. These
were often procured by members of the body studying at the
Universities ; the entries of pledging—the cautiones—which appear
so often on the fly-leaves, are commonly connected with Oxford