[321] MSS. Harl. 4335. The picture hanging on the wall represents Philosophy offering her consolation to a sick man. [322] For this information I have to thank my friend, Bernard W. Henderson, M.A., Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. [323] Delisle, _Cabinet des manuscrits_, II. 186, _note_. [324] This account is, in the main, a translation of that given by M. Delisle, _ut supra_. [325] Bibl. Nat. Par. MSS. Lat. 5493. For the history of this library see Delisle, _ut supra_, pp. 142-208; Franklin, _Anciennes Bibliotheques de Paris_, I. pp. 221-317. [326] Franklin, _ut supra_, vol. I. p. 399. [327] Franklin, _Bibliotheques de Paris_, II. 70. [328] Delisle, _ut supra_, II. 228-231; Franklin, _ut supra_, I. 135-185. The catalogue of Claude de Grandrue is in the Bibliotheque Nationale, fonds latin, No. 14767; the alphabetical index in the Bibliotheque Mazarine, No. 1358. [329] Delisle, p. 228, _note_. [330] The MS. (No. 164) is by Frere Jehan de Castel. [331] This reproduction is from a copy of the print now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. It also occurs on a reduced scale in _Les Arts au Moyen Age et a l'Epoque de la Renaissance_ par Paul Lacroix, 4^o. Paris, 1869, p. 492; and in _Illustrium Hollandiae et Westfrisiae Ordinum_ etc. 4^o. Lugd. Bat., 1614. CHAPTER V. RECAPITULATION. INVENTION OF THE STALL-SYSTEM. LIBRARY OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD, TAKEN AS A TYPE. SYSTEM OF CHAINING IN HEREFORD CATHEDRAL. LIBRARIES OF MERTON COLLEGE, OXFORD, AND CLARE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. THE STALL-SYSTEM COPIED AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY, WELLS, AND DURHAM CATHEDRALS. THIS SYSTEM POSSIBLY MONASTIC. LIBRARIES AT CANTERBURY, DOVER PRIORY, CLAIRVAUX. If the evidence brought forward in the last chapter be accepted, the Library which a Monastery or College built in the fifteenth century was a long narrow room lighted by rows of equidistant windows. Occasionally, if neighbouring buildings allowed, there was a window at the end of the room also. The fittings were lecterns of wood. On these the books were laid, each volume being fastened by a chain to a bar usually placed over the desk, but occasionally, in all probability, in front of it or beneath it. The readers sat on benches immoveably fixed opposite to each window. It is obvious that reading was convenient enough so long as the students were few, but if they were numerous and the books chained too closely together much annoyance must have been caused. When the University of Oxford petitioned Humphrey Duke of Gloucester in 1444 to help them to build a new library, they specially dwelt upon the obstacles to study arising from the overcrowded condition of the old room. "Should any student," they said, "be poring over a single volume, as often happens, he keeps three or four others away on account of the books being chained so closely together[332]."