Books of great value were
sold through their agency, and carried away from Oxford.
Owners were cheated. All unsworn booksellers living within
the jurisdiction of the University were forbidden, therefore,
to sell any book, either their own property, or belonging
to others, exceeding half a mark in value. If disobedient
they were liable to suffer pain of imprisonment for the first
offence, a fine of half a mark for the second--a curious
example of graduated punishment--and a prohibition to ply
their trade within the precincts of the University for the
third.[1]
[1] Ibid., 233-4.
At this time bookselling was a thriving trade. De
Bury tells us: "We secured the acquaintance of stationers
and scribes, not only within our own country, but of those
spread over the realms of France, Germany and Italy,
money flying forth in abundance to anticipate their demands:
nor were they hindered by any distance, or by the fury of
the seas, or by the lack of means for their expenses, from
sending or bringing to us the books that we required."[1]
[1] R. de B., 205.
Records of various transactions are extant, of which the
following may serve as examples.
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