X. THE BOOK TRADE

XI. THE CHARACTER OF THE MEDIEVAL LIBRARY, AND
THE EXTENT OF CIRCULATION OF BOOKS




OLD ENGLISH LIBRARIES

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY--THE USE OF BOOKS IN
EARLY IRISH MONASTERIES

"What tyme pat abbeies were first ordeyned
and monkis were first gadered to gydre."
--Inscribed in MS. of Life of Barlaam and Josaphat,
Peterhouse, Camb.

Section I

To people of modern times early monachism must seem
an unbeautiful and even offensive life. True piety
was exceptional, fanaticism the rule. Ideals which
were surely false impelled men to lead a life of idleness and
savage austerity,--to sink very near the level of beasts, as
did the Nitrian hermits when they murdered Hypatia in
Alexandria. But this view does not give the whole truth.
To shut out a wicked and sensual world, with its manifold