abb. de Evesham, 301.
[3] James (M. R.), li.; Cox, Canterbury, 199.
[4] Windle, Chester, 171-172; Library, ii. 285
The Carthusian Rule records that few monks of the
order could not write.[1] But this was by no means invariably
the case. In early monastic times writing was usually
the occupation of the weaker brethren: for example,
Ferreolus, in his rules (c. 550), deems reading and copying
fit occupations for monks too weak for severer work.[2]
Later, in some monasteries, less labour in the field and
more writing was done. At Tours, Alcuin took the monks
away from field labour, telling them study and writing
were far nobler pursuits.[3] But it was not commonly the
case to find in monasteries "ech man a scriveyn able."
[1] Geraud, Essai sur les livres, 181.
[2] Sandys, i. 266.
[3] Cp. Du Cange, Gloss. art. Scriptores; citation from Const. of
Carthusians.
When books were not otherwise obtainable, or not
obtainable quickly enough, it was the practice to hire
scribes from outside the house. Abbot Gerbert, in a letter
to the abbot of Tours, mentions that he had been paying
scribes in Rome and various parts of Italy, in Belgium,
and Germany, to make copies of books for his library
"at great expense.
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