, lib. v.; Camb. Lit., i. 159-60.
During this prosperous age some of the great houses
did their best work in writing and study. Thus to pick
out one or two facts from a string of them. In 1104
Abbot Peter of Gloucester gave many books to the abbey
library. In 1180 the refounded abbey of Whitby owned
a fair library of theological, historical, and classical
books.[1]
About the same time Abbot Benedict ordered the transcription
of sixty volumes, containing one hundred titles,
for his library at Peterborough.[2] By 1244, in spite of
losses in the fire of 1184, Glastonbury had a library of
some four hundred volumes, historical books consorting
with romances, Bibles and patristical works almost crowding
out some forlorn classics.[3] Nearly half a century later
Abbot John of Taunton added to Glastonbury forty volumes,
a notable gift in those days of costly books, while Adam
of Domerham tells us he also made a fine, handsome, and
spacious library.[4] In 1277 a general chapter of the
Benedictines ordered the monks, according to their capabilities,
to study, write, correct, illuminate, and bind books,
rather than to labour in the field.
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