CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction. Assyrian Record-Rooms. Libraries in Greece, Alexandria, Pergamon, Rome. Their size, use, contents, and fittings. Armaria or presses. The Vatican Library of Sixtus V. a type of an ancient Roman library1

CHAPTER II.

Christian libraries connected with churches. Use of the apse. Monastic communities. S. Pachomius. S. Benedict and his successors. Each House had a library. Annual audit of books. Loan on security. Modes of protection. Curses. Prayers for donors. Endowment of libraries. Use of the cloister. Development of Cistercian book-room. Common press. Carrells61

CHAPTER III.

Increase of monastic collections. S. Riquier, Bobbio, Durham, Canterbury. Books kept in other places than the cloister. Expedients for housing them at Durham, Citeaux, and elsewhere. Separate libraries built in fifteenth century at Durham, S. Albans, Citeaux, Clairvaux, etc. Gradual extension of library at S. Germain des Près. Libraries attached to Cathedrals. Lincoln, Salisbury, Wells, Noyon, Rouen, etc.101

CHAPTER IV.

The fittings of monastic libraries and of collegiate libraries probably identical. Analysis of some library-statutes. Monastic influence at the Universities. Number of books owned by Colleges. The collegiate library. Bishop Cobham's library at Oxford. Library at Queens' College, Cambridge. At Zutphen. The lectern-system. Chaining of books. Further examples and illustrations131

CHAPTER V.

Recapitulation. Invention of the stall-system. Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, taken as a type. System of chaining in Hereford Cathedral. Libraries of Merton College, Oxford, and Clare College, Cambridge. The stall-system copied at Westminster Abbey, Wells, and Durham Cathedrals. This system possibly monastic. Libraries at Canterbury, Dover Priory, Clairvaux171

CHAPTER VI.

The lectern-system in Italy. Libraries at Cesena, at the Convent of S. Mark, Florence, and at Monte Oliveto. Vatican Library of Sixtus IV. Ducal Library at Urbino. Medicean Library, Florence. System of chaining there used. Characteristics of medieval libraries199

CHAPTER VII.

Contrast between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Suppression of the Monasteries. Commissioners of Edward VI. Subsequent changes in library fittings. S. John's College, and University Library, Cambridge. Queen's College, Oxford. Libraries attached to churches and schools. Chaining in recent times. Chains taken off245

CHAPTER VIII.

The wall-system. This began on the Continent. Library of the Escõrial. Ambrosian Library at Milan. Library of Cardinal Mazarin. Bodleian Library at Oxford. Works and influence of Wren. French conventual libraries of the seventeenth century267

CHAPTER IX.

Private libraries. Abbat Simon and his book-chest. Library of Charles V. of France. Illustrations of this library from illuminated manuscripts. Book-lectern used in private houses. Book-desks revolving round a central screw. Desks attached to chairs. Wall-cupboards. A scholar's room in the fifteenth century. Study of the Duke of Urbino. Library of Margaret of Austria. Library of Montaigne. Conclusion291

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG.PAGE

1.Plan of the Record-Rooms in the Palace of Assur-bani-pal, King of Nineveh2

2.Plan of the temple and precinct of Athena, Pergamon; with that of the Library and adjacent buildings9

3.Plan of the Porticus Octaviæ, Rome. From Formæ Urbis Romæ Antiguæ, Berlin, 189613

4.Plan of the Forum of Trajan; after Nibby. From Middleton's Remains of Ancient Rome15

5.Plan of the Stoa of Hadrian, at Athens. From Miss Harrison's Mythology and Monuments of Ancient Athens17

6.Elevation of a single compartment of the wall of the Library discovered in Rome, 1883. From notes and measurements made by Signor Lanciani and Prof. Middleton23

7.Plan of the Record-House of Vespasian, with the adjoining structures. From Middleton's Remains of Ancient Rome26

8.Part of the internal wall of the Record-House of Vespasian. Reduced from a sketch taken in the 16th century by Pirro Ligorio. From Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma26

9.A reader with a roll: from a fresco at Pompeii28

10.Book-box or capsa30

11.A Roman taking down a roll from its place in a Library35

12.Desk to support a roll while it is being read36

13.A Roman reading a roll in front of a press (armarium). From a photograph of a sarcophagus in the garden of the Villa Balestra, RomeTo face 38

14.Press containing the four Gospels. From a mosaic above the tomb of the Empress Galla Placidia at Ravenna39

15.Ezra writing the Law. Frontispiece to the Codex Amiatinus. In the background is a press with open doors. The picture was probably drawn in the middle of the sixth century a.d.Frontispiece

16.Great Hall of the Vatican Library, looking westTo face 47

17.A single press in the Vatican Library, open. From a photographTo face 48

18.Rough ground-plan of the Great Hall of the Vatican Library, to illustrate the account of the decorationTo face 60

19.Press in the cloister at the Cistercian Abbey of Fossa Nuova83

20.Ground-plan and elevation of the book-recesses in the cloister of Worcester Cathedral84

21.Ground-plan of part of the Abbey of Fossa Nuova. To shew the book-room and book-press, and their relations to adjoining structures: partly from Enlart's Origines Françaises de l'Architecture Gothique en Italie, partly from my own measurements85

22.Ground-plan of part of Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire86

23.Ground-plan of part of Furness Abbey. From Mr W. H. St J. Hope's plan88

24.Arches in south wall of Church at Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire, once possibly used as book-pressesTo face 89

25.The cloister, Westminster Abbey. From Mr Micklethwaite's plan of the buildings91

26.Part of the ancient press in Bayeux Cathedral, called Le Chartrier de Bayeux. From a photographTo face 94

27.Press in the church at Obazine, Central France. From a photographTo face 95

28.Ground-plan of one of the windows in the cloister of Durham Cathedral96

29.Range of carrells in the south cloister at Gloucester Cathedral. From Mr Murray's Handbook to the Western Cathedrals97

30.A single carrell, Gloucester CathedralTo face 98

31.Library at Durham, built by Prior Wessyngton about 1446107

32.Library of the Grey Friars House, London, commonly called Christ's Hospital. From Trollope's History of Christ's HospitalTo face 109

33.Bird's-eye view of part of the Monastery of Citeaux. From a drawing dated 1718110

34.Ground-plan of part of the Monastery of Citeaux. From a plan dated 1718111

35.Ground-plan of the Library at Citeaux111

36.Part of the Abbey of S. Germain des Près, Paris. From a print dated 1687; reproduced in Les Anciennes Bibliothèques de Paris, par Alf. Franklin, Vol. i. p. 126115

37.Part of the Abbey of S. Germain des Près, Paris. From a print in Histoire de l'Abbaye Royale de Saint Germain des Prez, par Dom Jacques Bouillart, fol. Paris, 1724, lettered "l'Abbaye ... telle qu'elle est présentement"116

38.Plan of the Old Library, Lincoln Cathedral119

39.Interior of the Old Library, Lincoln CathedralTo face 118

40.Plan of the Cloister, etc., Lincoln Cathedral120

41.Exterior of the Library at Salisbury Cathedral, looking north-eastTo face 122

42.Plan of the Library in Wells Cathedral122

43.Plan of the Library at Lichfield Cathedral. From History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, by Stebbing Shaw, fol. Lond. 1798, Vol. II. P. 244123

44.Chapter-Library at Noyon, FranceTo face 124

45.A single pillar of the cloister beneath the Chapter-Library at Noyon.125

46.Plan of the Library at the south-east angle of the south transept of the Cathedral at Troyes126

47.Interior of the Cour des Libraires, Rouen, shewing the gate of entrance from the street, and the LibraryTo face 130

48.Pembroke College, Cambridge, reduced from Loggan's print, taken about 1688149

49.Long Section of Old Congregation House and Library, Oxford, looking south. From The Church of S. Mary the Virgin, Oxford, by T. G. Jackson, Architect150

50.Ground-plan of the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge152

51.Elevation of book-desk in Library of Queens' College, Cambridge152

52.Ground-plan of the Library at Zutphen154

53.General view of the north side of the Library attached to the church of S. Walburga at ZutphenTo face 155

54.Desk and reader on the south side of the Library at Zutphen. From a photograph155

55.Elevations of (A) one of the bookcases in the Library at Zutphen; (B) one of those in the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge156

56.End of iron bar: Zutphen156

57.End of one of the desks on the north side of the Library: Zutphen.157

58.Piece of chain, shewing the ring attached to the bar, the swivel, and one of the links, actual size: Guildford158

59.Piece of the iron bar, with chain: Zutphen159

60.Chained book, from a Dominican House at Bamberg, South Germany159

61.Single desk in the Old Library: Lincoln Cathedral161

62.Elevations of (A) one of the bookcases in the Library at Zutphen; (B) one of those in the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge; (C) one of those in the Library of Lincoln Cathedral163

63.Interior of a Library. From a MS. of a French translation of the first book of the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, written in Flanders towards the end of the fifteenth century164

64.Library of the College de Navarre, Paris, now destroyedTo face 165

65.General view of the Library at Trinity Hall, CambridgeTo face 169

66.Elevation of a book-desk and seat in the Library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge168

67.Lock at end of book-desk: Trinity Hall169

68.A French Library of 1480. From MS. 164 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, CambridgeTo face 169

69.The interior of the Library of the University of Leyden. From a print by Jan Cornelis Woudanus, dated 1610To follow 170

70.Bookcases and seat in the Library at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. From a photograph taken in 1894To face 173

71.Elevation of one bookcase in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford173

72.Bookcase in the Chapter Library, Hereford Cathedral. From a sketch taken in 1876175

73.Part of a bookcase in the Chapter Library, HerefordTo face 175

74.Part of a single volume, shewing the clasp, the ring for the chain, and the mode of attaching it: Hereford175

75.A single volume, standing on the shelf, with the chain attached to the iron bar: Hereford176

76.Iron bar and socket, closed to prevent removal of the bar: Hereford176

77.Iron bar, with part of the iron plate or hasp which is secured by the lock and keeps the bar in place: Hereford177

78.Piece of chain, shewing the swivel: Hereford178

79.Hook to hold up the desk: Bodleian Library, Oxford179

80.Exterior of the Library at Merton College, Oxford, as seen from 'Mob Quadrangle.' From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 179

81.Ground-plan of the Library at Merton College, Oxford180

82.Interior of the West Library at Merton College, Oxford. From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 181

83.Bookcase in the West Library of Merton College, Oxford. From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 181

84.Elevation of a bookcase and seat in the West Library at Merton College, Oxford. Measured and drawn by T. D. Atkinson, Architect182

85.Stall-end in the Library of Clare College, Cambridge187

86.Ring for attachment of chain, Wells189

87.Bookcases in the Library of Durham Cathedral. From a photographTo face 189

88.Conjectural plan of the Library over the Prior's Chapel at Christ Church, Canterbury191

89.Sketch of the probable appearance of a bookcase, and a reader's seat, in the Library at Christ Church, Canterbury193

90, 91.Ground-plan and section of Library at Cesena200

92.General view of the Library at Cesena. From a photographTo face 201

93.Bookcases at west end of south side of Library, Cesena201

94.Part of a bookcase, at Cesena to shew the system of chaining202

95.Piece of a chain, Cesena203

96.Chained book at Ghent204

97.Ground-plan of part of the Vatican Palace, shewing the building of Nicholas V., as arranged for library purposes by Sixtus IV., and its relation to the surrounding structures. From Letarouilly, Le Vatican, fol. Paris, 1882, as reproduced by M. Fabre210

98.Ground-plan of the rooms in the Vatican Palace fitted up for library-purpose by Sixtus IVTo follow 208

99.Interior of the Library of Sixtus IV., as shewn in a fresco in the Ospedale di Santo Spirito, Rome. From a photograph taken by DanesiTo face 225

100.The library-settles (spalliere) once used in the Vatican Library of Sixtus IV., and now in the Appartamento Borgia. From a photographTo face 228

101.Bookcases in the Medicean Library, Florence235

102.Copy, slightly reduced, of a sketch by Michelangelo for one of the bookcases in the Medicean Library, Florence236

103.Elevation of desks at Cesena237

104.Elevation of desks in the Medicean Library: Florence237

105.A book in the Medicean Library, to shew attachment of chain238

106.Piece of chain in the Medicean Library, of the actual size238

107.Diagram to explain the ironwork at the Medicean Library239

108.Outline of bolt forming part of ironwork239

109.West oriel of the Library at S. John's College, Cambridge249

110.Bookcases in the Library of S. John's College, Cambridge250

111.Bookcases in the Library of Peterhouse, Cambridge252

112.Bookcases in the south room of the University Library, Cambridge.To face 253

113.Bookcase in the old Library of King's College, Cambridge, made with the bequest of Nicholas Hobart, 1659255

114.Ground-plan of Library, Grantham, Lincolnshire257

115.Ring and link of chain: Wimborne Minster261

116.Bookpress in the school at Bolton, Lancashire. From Bibliographical Miscellanies by William BladesTo face 264

117.General view of the Library of the Escõrial, looking northTo face 269

118.Bookcases in the Library of the Escõrial on an enlarged scale268

119.Elevation of a bookcase, and section of a desk, in the Library of the Escõrial270

120.Ground-plan of the Ambrosian Library at Milan271

121.Interior of the Ambrosian Library at Milan. From a photograph taken in 1899To face 271

122.Bookcases, in the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris. From a photograph by Dujardin, 1898To face 273

123.Elevation of a bookcase and section of a desk in the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris274

124.A portion of the bookcases set up in the eastern wing of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, built 1610-1612. From Loggan's Oxonia Illustrata, 1675275

125.Entrance to Wren's Library at Lincoln Cathedral, with part of the bookcase which lines the north wallTo face 277

126.Part of Wren's elevation of the east side of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, with a section of the north range of Nevile's Court, shewing the door to the Library from the first floor278

127.Elevation of one bay on the east side of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, drawn to scale from the existing building279

128.Interior of the north-east corner of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, shewing the bookcases, table, desk and stools, as designed by Sir Christopher Wren281

129.Ground-plan of Library and adjacent parts of S. Paul's Cathedral, London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren283

130.Sir Christopher Wren's Library at S. Paul's Cathedral, London, looking north-eastTo face 282

131.Bookcase in the north room of the University Library, Cambridge, designed by James Essex, 1731-1734286

132.Interior of the Library of the Jesuits at Rheims, now the Lingerie de l'Hôpital GeneralTo face 287

133.Ground-plan of the Library of the Jesuits at Rheims288

134.Simon, Abbat of S. Albans (1167-1183), seated at his book-chest. From MSS. Cotton293

135.Two men in a library. From a MS. of Les cas des malheureux nobles hommes et femmes in the British Museum295

136.A Carmelite in his study. From a MS. of Le Miroir Historial in the British MuseumTo face 296

137.Three musicians in a Library. From a MS. of a French translation of Valerius Maximus, in the British Museum297

138.A bibliomaniac at his desk. From the Ship of Fools298

139.S. John writing his Gospel. From a MS. Hours in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge303

140.S. Jerome writing. From an oil painting by Benedetto Bonfigli, in the Church of S. Peter at PerugiaTo face 304

141.Circular book-desk. From a MS. of Fais et Gestes du Roi Alexandre, in the British Museum304

142.S. Luke writing his Gospel. From the Dunois Horæ, a MS. in the possession of H. Y. Thompson, Esq.305

143.A lady seated in her chair reading. From a MS. written in France, early in the fifteenth century306

144.Screw-desk. From a fifteenth century MS. in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris307

145.Hexagonal desk, with central spike, probably for a candle. From a French MS. of Le Miroir Historial307

146.A lecturer addressing an audience. From a MS. of Livre des cas des malheureux nobles hommes et femmes, written in France at end of fifteenth centuryTo face 308

147.S. Mark writing his Gospel. From a MS. Hours written in France in the fifteenth century309

148.The author of The Chronicles of Hainault in his study (1446)To face 309

149.S. Jerome in his study. From Les Miracles de Nostre Dame, written at the Hague in 1456To face 310

150.A writer with his desk and table. From a MS. of Le Livre des Propriétès des Choses in the British MuseumTo face 309

151.S. Luke writing his Gospel. MSS. Douce, Bodl. Lib. Oxf., No. 381311

152.S. Augustine at his desk. From a painting by Fra Filippo Lippi at Florence312

153.S. Jerome reading. From an oil painting by Catena, in the National Gallery, LondonTo face 313

154.A writer at work. From a French translation of Valerius Maximus, written and illuminated in Flanders in 1479, for King Edward IV.To face 313

155.A scholar's room in the fifteenth century. From a MS. in the Royal Library at BrusselsTo face 314

156.Dean Boys in his Library, 1622317