A great nombre of them whych purchased
these superstycyouse mansyons reserved of those lybrary
bokes, some to serve theyr jakes, some to scoure theyr
candlestycks, and some to rubbe theyr bootes. Some they
sold to the grossers and sopesellers, and some they sent
over see to the bokebynders, not in small nombre, but at
tymes whole shyppes full, to the wonderynge of the foren
nacyons. Yea, the unyversytees of this realme are not all
clere in this detestable fact.... I know a merchant man
which shall at thys tyme be namelesse, that boughte the
contentes of two noble lybraryes for xl shyllynges pryce, a
shame it is to be spoken. Thys stuffe hath he occupyed
in the stede of graye paper by the space of more than these
x years, and yet he hath store ynough for many yeares
to come."[3] To some extent Bale's account of the contemptuous
treatment of books is confirmed by records of
sales: as, for example, the following:--
Item, sold to Robert Doryngton, old boke, and a cofer in
the library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ijs.
Item, old bokes in the vestry, sold to the same Robert. . viiid.
Item, sold to Robert Whytgreve, a missale .
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121