A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Peterhouse / by Montague Rhodes James ; with an essay on the history of the library by J.W. Clark.

Peterhouse College (University of Cambridge). Library.

Date:: 1899

Credit: A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Peterhouse / by Montague Rhodes James ; with an essay on the history of the library by J.W. Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$The section referred to prescribes that the Deans are to distribute them [the books] to the scholars in such manner as shall appear to them expedient; and further, they shall, if they think proper, make each scholar take an oath that he will not alienate any book so borrowed, but will take all possible care of it, and restore it to the Master and Dean, at the expiration of the appointed time*. In this statute the value of the books is recognised in the direction to prepare a list of them in a specially formal way; and it is worth noting that a division into subjects is prescribed. The indenture is to express not merely what the book is, but to what Faculty it belongs. As the books are to be kept in chests, it may be taken for granted that no special Library had as yet been built. The principle of distribution among the Scholars, or as we should say the Fellows, is distinctly recognised. No annual audit seems to have been held ; but, on the other hand, the Master and the Dean lent the book for a definite time, and they had the power of compelling the borrower to bind himself solemnly to return it at the expiration of that time. It is evident that when these statutes were drawn up no collection for reference existed; and moreover that the books which the Society possessed were held to be so valuable that the Fellows could not be allowed free access to them, as the brethren had in Monasteries. Their number was probably not large. But in the .seventy-four years which intervene between the date of these statutes and that of the catalogue here printed, which was prepared in 1418, the Society had accumulated as many as 380 volumes. A collection so large as this could be divided into books for the use of the Fellows {libri distribuendi) and books chained in the Library {libri catJicnati in librarid); in other words, into a lending library and a library of reference. We are not told how this division had been made, or at what time; but it is evident that by 1418 it had become permanent, and no longer depended on the tastes or studies of the Fellows. There was one set of books for them to select from, and another for them to refer to; but the two were quite distinct. * Ibid. § 15, p. 17- ^ This, and not 377, p. 23, is the true number; for 314 is doubled, and 315 trebled, making 3 volumes in all to be added to the total.$