R. O., Anc. Deeds, c. 1782.
The rules drawn up to prevent loss were as stringent
for college as for monastic libraries. No Fellow of
University College could take away, sell, or pawn books
belonging to his house without the consent of all the
fellows (statutes, 1292). At Peterhouse scholars were
bound by oath to similar effect (statutes, 1344). A
statute of Magdalen is most insistent--a book could not be
alienated, under any excuse whatever, nor lent outside
the college, nor could it be lent in quires for copying to
a member of the College or a stranger, either in the Hall
or out of it, nor could it be taken out of the town, or
even out of the Hall, either whole or in sheets, by the
Master or any one else, but to the schools it could be
taken when necessary and on condition that it was brought
back to the college before nightfall (1459). A like
injunction was given at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and
Brasenose College.
Lending outside a college was unusual, but was sometimes
allowed, as in monasteries, under indenture, and upon
deposit of a pledge of greater value than the book lent,
and with the general consent of Fellows (University College
statutes, 1292; All Souls statutes, 1443).
Pages:
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267