An indenture was drawn up of all the books, charters, and
muniments of Peterhouse in the presence of the greater
number of the scholars: all the books were named and
classified according to faculty. One part of the indenture
was retained by the Master, the other part by the Deans.
All these books and records were preserved in chests, each
of which had two keys, one in the care of the Master, the
other in the hands of the Senior Dean (statutes, 1344).
Books being regarded as an inestimable treasure, which
ought to be most religiously guarded, they could not be
taken from Peterhouse, if chained up, except with the
consent of the Master and all the Fellows in residence, who
must be a majority of the whole Society; and books given
on condition of being chained were not to be removed
under any pretext, excepting only for repair. Even libri
distribuendi were not to be without the college at night,
except by permission of the Master or a Dean, and then
they could not be retained for six months in succession
(statute, 1480).
To detect missing books stock was taken, usually once
a year: again, as in the monasteries.
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