Copy 1

Bibliomania in the Middle Ages or, sketches of bookworms, collectors, Bible students, scribes, and illuminators, from the Anglo Saxon and Norman periods, to the introduction of printing into England ; with anecdotes, illustrating the history of the monastic libraries of Great Britain in the olden time / by F. Somner Merryweather.

  • Merryweather, F. Somner (Frederick Somner), 1827-1900.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bibliomania in the Middle Ages or, sketches of bookworms, collectors, Bible students, scribes, and illuminators, from the Anglo Saxon and Norman periods, to the introduction of printing into England ; with anecdotes, illustrating the history of the monastic libraries of Great Britain in the olden time / by F. Somner Merryweather. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with a sign of the cross; for the gospels the sign of the cross on the forehead; for an antiphon or book of responses he was to strike the thumb and little finger of the other hand together; for a book of offices or gradale to make the sign of a cross and kiss the fingers; for a tract lay the hand on the abdomen and apply the other hand to the mouth; for a capitulary make the general sign and extend the clasped hands to heaven; for a psalter place the hands upon the head in the form of a crown, such as the king is wont to wear.* Religious intolerance was rampant when this rule was framed—hot and rancorous denunciation was lavished with amazing prodigality against works of loose morality or heathen origin, nor did the monks feel much compassion— although they loved to read them—for the old authors of antiquity. Pagans they were, and therefore fit only to be named as infidels and dogs, so the monk was directed fora secular book, ‘‘ which some pagan wrote after making the general sign to scratch his ear with his hand, just as a dog itching would do with his feet, because infidels are not un- justly compared to such creatures—quia nec immerito inft- deles tali animantt comparantur.+ Wretched bigotry and puny malice! Yet whata sad reflection it is, that with all the foul and heartburning examples which those dark ages of the monks afford, posterity have failed to profit by them—religi- ous intolerance, with all its vain-glory and malice, flourishes still, the cankering worm of many a Christian blossom ! Besides the duties which we have enumerated, there were others which it was the province of the armarian to fulfil. He was particularly to inspect and collate those books which, according to the decrees of the church, it was un- lawful to possess different from the authorised copies these were the bible, the gospels, missals, epistles, col- lects graduales, antiphons, hymns, psalters, lessions, and the monastic rules—these were alway to be alike even in the most minute point.{ He was moreover directed to prepare for the use of the brothers short tables respecting the times mentioned in the capitulary for the various offices of the church, to make notes upon the matins, the mass, and upon * Stat. pro Reform. ordin. Grandimont. ap. Martene cap. x. + Ibid, tom. iv. pp. 289, 339. t Const. Canon. Reg. ap. Martene, tom. ill. p. 263. pvc SALE rin errr sear SH