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ments in the earlier part of his life, while engaged in writing 
his first work—the most interesting and the most highly 
appreciated of his writings. 
This consisted of a series of letters on events of considerable 
importance, both public and private, entitled: ‘‘ Epistole ad 
Regem Angli.”’ 
This collection was made by the request of Henry II. The 
epistles relate not only to religious questions and to passing 
events of the day (presenting a pleasing picture of the habits 
of our Norman forefathers), but they contain references and 
criticisms of ancient classical literature, with lengthened 
quotations from Plato, Terence, Juvenal, Sallust, Cicero, 
Seneca, and Horace, showing the wide extent of the author’s 
reading and studies. 
They are also replete with interest to book collectors, 
affording historical and bibliographical information touching 
monastic libraries and librarians. 
Numerous are the anecdotes recorded of bibliomaniacs in 
modern times. Let me relate one, occurring in far distant 
days, before the printing-press or booksellers’ shops were 
heard of. The Archdeacon of Bath, during one of his visits 
to Paris met with a book dealer at his stall, who tempted him 
with a rare work on Jurisprudence, and thinking it desirable 
for his nephew, a bargain was struck, the coin counted, and 
the volume laid aside to be called for. The Provost of Sexel- 
burgh, a passer-by, was a silent witness of the transaction, but 
repressed his anxiety to purchase; Peter had no sooner left 
than the learned Provost re-appeared, offered a much larger 
sum for the volume, and took it away by sheer force. The 
Archdeacon was sorely vexed, wrote a long letter to lawyer 
Arnold, of Blois, maintaining the illegality of the Provost’s 
conduct, but in vain; the father of modern bibliophiles, like 
many of his successors, was duped by a rival competitor ! 
In another of his epistles he makes reference to the Norman 
Cathedral then being built in Bath—a magnificent church— 
erected within a stone's throw of the spot on which we are 
now assembled. Incidentally it may be mentioned that De 
Villula, Bisiop of Bath, was a fellow countryman of Arch- 
deacon Peter—a native and priest of Tours. 
Some of the letters were addressed to the Kings of England 
and France (no less than 183 were addressed to Henry II.), and 
to Parish Priests, also to Bishops, reproving them for pride 
and ungodliness, looseness of conduct, and unseemly fondness 
