[346] Reparaciones facte circa libros qui continentur in libraria supra capellam domini prioris videlicet in le new byndyng and bordyng cum coopertoriis and le claspyng and chenyng eciam cum diuersis libris ex dono eiusdem prioris videlicet Anno domini M^o ccccc^o viij^o and Anno Regni Regis henrici vij^o xxiii. [347] This word seems to have been used at Canterbury to denote any piece of joinery. We have already seen it applied to a carrell (p. 99). [348] See above, p. 102. The catalogue has been printed by Edwards, _Memoirs of Libraries_, I. pp. 122-235. [349] Vix certe limen intraveram cum antiquissimorum librorum vel solus conspectus religionem, nescio an stuporem, animo incuteret meo; eaque de causa, pedem paullulum sistebam. Leland, _De Script. Brit._ ed. Hall, I. 41. [350] This catalogue is in the Bodleian Library (MSS. 920). I am indebted to my friend Dr James for the admirable translation which I here print. [351] The words thus translated are: "Incipiendo graduum computacionem a loco inferiori in altum procedendo videlicet ut gradus infimus qui primus est sic signetur I." [352] Dr James has pointed out (_Camb. Ant. Soc. Oct. Publ._, No. XXXII.) that there are six MSS. from Dover Priory among Archbishop Parker's MSS. at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The first of these--a Bible in two volumes--is entered in the catalogue of the Priory as A. 1. 2, 3--that is to say it was in _distinctio_ A, _gradus_ 1, and the volumes stood second and third in the _gradus_. [353] See above, p. 112. [354] The words are: "contient de longueur LXIII passees, et de largeur XVII passees." I have taken one pace=3 feet. [355] _Voyage Litteraire_, ed. 1717, Part I.. p. 102. CHAPTER VI. THE LECTERN-SYSTEM IN ITALY. LIBRARIES AT CESENA, AT THE CONVENT OF S. MARK, FLORENCE, AND AT MONTE OLIVETO. VATICAN LIBRARY OF SIXTUS IV. DUCAL LIBRARY AT URBINO. MEDICEAN LIBRARY, FLORENCE. SYSTEM OF CHAINING THERE USED. CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIEVAL LIBRARIES. NAMES OF MEDIEVAL BOOKCASES AND BOOKSHELVES. While the "stall-system" was being generally adopted in England and in France, a different plan was being developed in Italy. It consisted in a return to the "lectern-system," with the addition of a shelf below the lectern, on which the books lay on their sides when not wanted; and an ingenious combination of a seat for the reader with the desk and shelf. The earliest library fitted up in this manner that I have been able to discover is at Cesena, a city of north Italy between Forli and Ravenna. It is practically in its original condition.