mur officiis, patescebat nobis aditus faciles
regal favoris intuitu, ad libros latebras libere perscruta tandas
amoris quippe nostri fama volatitis jam ubiqs. percreluit tam qs.
libros _et maxime veterum_ ferabatur cupidite las vestere posse vero
quemlibet nostrum per quaternos facilius quam per pecuniam adipisa
favorem."--MS. Harl. fo. 85, a. MS. Cott. 110, b.

[196] MS. Cottonian Claudius, E. iv. fol. 203, b. _Warton's Hist. of
Poetry, Dissert. ii._; and _Hallam's_ Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 611.
Both notice this circumstance as a proof of the scarcity of books in
De Bury's time.

[197] _Ibid._ Among the MSS. in the Royal Library, there is a copy
of John of Salisbury's _Ententicus_ which contains the following
note, "Hunc librum fecit dominus Symon abbas S. Albani, quem postea
venditum domino _Ricardo_ de Bury. Episcope Dunelmensi emit Michael
abbas S. Albani ab executoribus praedicti episcopi, A. D. 1345."
Marked 13 D. iv. 3. The same abbot expended a large sum in buying
books for the library, but we shall speak more of Michael de
Wentmore by and bye.

[198] "Sed revera libros non libras maluimus, Codicesque plus quam
florenos, ac pampletos exiguos incrussatis proetulimus
palafridis."--MS. Harl. fo. 86, a. MS. Cott. fo. 111, a.

[199] Inglis's Translation, p. 53.

[200] Inglis's Translation, p. 58.

[201] The Stationers or Booksellers carried on their business on
open Stalls.--_Hallam, Lit. Europe_, vol. i. p. 339. It is pleasing
to think that the same temptations which allure the bookworm now, in
his perambulations, can claim such great antiquity, and that through
so many centuries, bibliophiles and bibliopoles remain unaltered in
their habits and singularities; but alas! this worthy relic of the
middle ages I fear is passing into oblivion. Plate-glass fronts and
bulky expensive catalogues form the bookseller's pride in these days
of speed and progress, and offer more splendid temptations to the
collector, but sad obstacles to the hungry student and black-letter
bargain hunters.

[202] _Philob._ xix.

[203] Inglis, p. 96. "In primis quidam circa claudenda et apienda
volumina, sit matura modestia; ut nec praecipiti festinatione
solvantur, nec inspectione finita, sina clausura debita
dimittantur." _MS. Harl._ fol. 103.

[204] _Chamb