They
were in common use from classic times: some Greek and
many Latin tablets are still preserved;[1] they were much
used in ancient Ireland, as we have seen; and they continued
to be of service until the late Middle Ages. Anselm
habitually wrote his first drafts upon them. At St.
Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, the monks were supplied
with tablets, for a novice's outfit included, after profession,
a stylus, tablets, and a knife.[2] The writing was scratched
on the wax with a stylus, a sharp instrument of bone or
metal. The other end of it was usually flattened for
pressing out an incorrect letter; among the Romans the
term "vetere stylum" became common in the sense of
correcting a work.
[1] Thompson, pp. 19 ff., 322.
[2] Customary of St. A. (H. Brads. Soc.), i. 401. These tablets
were called ceratae tabellae, tabellae cerae, or simpty cerae.
The name of a book, caudex, codex, was first given to these
tabellae when they were strung together to form a square
"book."--V. Antiquary, xii. 277.
For all permanent purposes "boc-fel," or book-skin,
was used; either vellum or "parchemyn smothe, whyte
and scribable.
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