[1]
[1] MS. on surgery, Peterhouse, Camb.--James 3, 137.
To a poor Raoul of mechanical ability the rule of
silence must have been very irksome; the student would
be grateful for it. Alcuin forbade gossip to prevent mistakes
in copying. Among the Cluniacs the rule was strictly
enforced in the church, refectory, cloister, and dormitory.
A chapter of the Cistercian order (1134) enjoined silence
in all rooms where the brethren were in the habit of
writing.[1] The better to maintain silence nobody was permitted
to enter the scriptorium save the abbot, the prior
and sub-prior, and the preceptor. When necessary it was
permissible to speak in a low voice in the ear; But
among the Cluniacs whispering was avoided as far as
possible. Watch the monks communicating with the
librarian. One wants a Missal, and he pretends, as the
children say, to turn over leaves, thereby making the
general sign for a book; then he makes the sign of the
Cross to indicate that he wants a Missal book. Another
wants the Gospels, and he makes the sign of the Cross
on the forehead. This brother wants a pagan book,
and, after making the general sign, he scratches his ear
with his finger as an itching dog would with his feet;
infidel writers were not unfairly compared with such
creatures.
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