[3]
[1] Panni, camisiae librorium.
[2] Stat. ant. ord Carthus., c. xvi. Section 9.
[3] MS. Lat. 12296, Bibl. Nat., Paris.
Section III
One of the preceptor's chief duties was to regulate
lending books. At Abingdon he could only lend to outsiders
upon a pledge of equal or greater value than the
book required, and even so could only lend to churches
near by and to persons of good standing. It was deemed
preferable to confiscate the pledge than to proceed against
a defaulting borrower. In some houses more than a pledge
was demanded if the book were lent for transcription, the
borrower being required to send a copy when he returned
the manuscript. "Make haste to copy these quickly,"
wrote St. Bernard's secretary, "and send them to me; and,
according to my bargain, cause a copy to be made for me.
And both these which I have sent you, and the copies, as
I have said, return them to me, and take care that I do
not lose a single tittle."[1] The extra copy was demanded,
not so much for purposes of gain as to put a check upon
borrowing, a practice which many abbots did not encourage,
on account of the danger of loss.
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