54
LITERATURE
as to be wholly free from dispute. But without en- tering into these controversies, it mav be observed that, from small beginnings, Cambridge is be- come, in the course of time, exceedingly illustri- ous, and, in rank, the second university in the world. Inferior to Oxford in magnitude, or the number of its colleges, professors, and students, it is, notwithstanding, capable of boasting many noble edifices and foundations. But, though Cambridge must yield the palm, in these respects, to her sister, we suppose she will be unwilling to do it in the valuable attainments of science and literature. She as well as Oxford, hath produced a number of eminent men ; not, indeed, as mem- bers of a single seminary, but as the ornaments of their country, and the glorr of human nature. It has often been said, that Oxford has excelled in the knowledge of the classics, belles-lettres, and the languages ; while Cambridge hath made superior progress in philosophy, mathematics, and the severer studies. It is, however, to be sincerely hoped, that prosperity may reign over both ; and not only them, but also every other institution, that hath for its aim, the promotion of religion and literature, and that their only contention will be, who shall form the greatest number of characters, that will be an honour to their native land.
1110, April 19, Died, St. Robert, abbot of Molesme, founder of the Cistercians. Among the founders, was an Englishman of the name of Stephen Harding, of an honourable and wealthy family. He received his education in the mo- nastenr of Sherhom, in Dorchester, and he there laid a very solid foundation of literature, and sincere piety. He travelled into Scotland, and from thence to Paris, and Rome. In 1098, he, with twenty companions, retired to Citeaux, a marshy wilderness, five leagues from Dijon, where they founded the Cistercian order. In 1 109, he was chosen the thinl abbot of Citeaux, and vrith the assistance of his monks, wrote during the same year, a very correct copy of the Latin Bible, for the use of the monastery. The Cistercian monks allotted several hours in the day to manual labour, copying hooks or sacred studies. This most valuable manuscript copy of the Bible is preserved at Citeaux, in four volumes in folio,* written on vellum. He I^d March 28, 1134.
1110. The first Mystery, or Sacred Drama, that was ever attempted in England, at least with which we are acquainted, was exhibited under the direction of Geofirey, a learned Norman, who had been invited from the university of Paris, to superintend the direction of the school of thepriory of Dunstable, where he composed the play of St. Ca(Aann«, which was acted by his scholars, during this year. Matthew Paris, who first records this anecdote, says, that Geofi"rey borrowed copes from the sacrist of the neighbouring abbey of St. Al- ban's, to dress his characters. He was afterwards elected abbotofthatopulentmonastciT. — Warton. The composers of the Mysteries did not think, that the plain and probable events of the Holy Scriptures, sufficiently marvellous fur an audience
who wanted only to be surprised. They frequently selected their materials from books which hai more the air of romance, particularly the legends, and pseudo gospels. They also introduc^ into them the most ludicrous and licentious convetea- tions, and actions.
1112. About this year, the empress Irene, con- sort of Alexis Commenes, says, in her rule drawn up for the nuns in a convent she had founded at Constantinople, that she leaves them three copies of the rule, two on parchment, and one on cottoo. 1116. So rare and expensive were transcripts of the Sacred Writings, that when any person made a present of a copy to a church or monas- tery, it was deemed a donative of such viive, that he offered it on the altar pro remedio ontmiE sua, in order to obtain the forgiveness of his sins. In the collegiate church of Dreux, in France, a Latin bible, fairly written in two vols, folio, is preserve<l, at the close of which is a Latin deed of gift. The following is a translation :
" Let all the sons of the church, whetherpresent or future, know that Thomas, Seneschall of St. Gervase, hath of his own free will, g^ven tfcds Library* to God and the holy protomartjT Stephen, for the remission of his own sins, and those of his wife Ermilina, of his son Herbert, and of his daughters Margaret and Fredeburga; the canons of the said church of the protomartyr, have, therefore, conceded to them the benefits and prayers of the said church, for ever. Offered by the hand of Thomas himself, and by the hand of his wife, on the altar of the protomartyr Stephen, on the day of the Nativity of our Lord, in the year of the Incarnation, one thousand one hundred and sixteen, in the reign of the most pious and sincere worshipper of God, King Louis the sixth, son of King Philip the first." — Le Long.
1 120. Martin Hugh, a monk, being appointed by the convent of St. Edmund's Bury, to write and illuminate a grand copy of the bible for their library, could procure no parchment for that purpose in England.
Most of the ancient manuscripts now extant are written on parchment. From their appearance, the parchment has evidently been polished ; ac- cording to ancient authors, by the pumice stone. They used three kinds, — that of the natural colour ; the yellow, bicolor membryna of Persius, which seems to have been so called because one side of tlie leaf was white, the other yellow ; and the purple ; the parchment being tinged with thai colour, when silver or gold letters were to be used. Vellum, a finer kind of parchment, made from the skins of very young calves, was also prepared and used by the ancients, and in the murk and middle ages, for writing upon. The side of the parchment, which was written upon, was called Pagina, or page, from pango, to write, or com- pose ; and as only one side of the, parchment was, in general, written upon, the written side was termed the Recto, and the blank side Verso. The blank side of manuscripts, written on single paper, was sometimes used for rough drafts, or
- The tenn Bibtiothecaf or UbiBry, was frequenUyai^ed
to the Bible — Toumtty.
