The _stationarii_ were occasionally known in the Italian universities by the name of _bedelli_, or _bidelli_. The _bedelli_ were originally university officials, whose functions probably covered some such disciplinary work as that which is to-day in the hands of the Oxford proctors. The name suggests also the English term _beadle_, applied to the English parish official who was charged with the duty of keeping the peace, and I find that the lexicographers derive the word _beadle_ directly from the earlier term _bedel_, the name given to the English university functionary who had to do with matters of discipline and particularly with the direction of public functions, processions, etc. The name is derived from _pedum_, a stick, the allusion being probably to the baton or staff of office. The use in Italy of the term _bidellus_ for the scribes hiring out manuscripts, was evidently due to the fact that the privileges of this business were in certain cases given to the university officials, in addition, probably, to their other duties. The name of _peciarii_ was sometimes applied to the officials whose duty it was to supervise the work of the _stationarii_. In 1300, there is reference to six _peciarii_ in Bologna. The earliest Italian reference to university scribes dates from 1228, and concerns not the University of Bologna, but the smaller institution of Vercelli in Piedmont. The Vercelli regulations order the employment of two _exemplatores_, who were to be charged with the duty of providing the texts required for the use of the instructors and students in the Faculties of jurisprudence and theology. The prices to be paid for these manuscripts were to be fixed by the rector of the university. As this is the earliest regulation of which there is record concerning bookselling in the universities, I think it worth while to cite the text itself: _Item habebit Commune Vercellarum duos exemplatores, quibus taliter providebit, quod eos scholares habere possint, qui habeant exemplantia in utroque jure et in Theologia competentia et correcta tam in textu quam in glossa; ita quod solutio fiat a scholaribus pro exemplis secundum quod convenit, ad taxationem Rectoris._[263] [The University of Vercelli shall also employ two _exemplatores_, for whom suitable provision shall be made, so that they may be at the service of the scholars who require manuscripts authoritative and correct both as to the text and in the commentaries, either in the department of law or in that of theology, and in return for the copies (or for the use of the copies) received from the _exemplatores_, the students shall pay a fitting price (or rental) to be fixed by the Rector of the university.]