CHAINED BOOKS IN DORSET AND ELSEWHERE. 13 



In the time of Richard II. (13771399), in the Royal 

 Collegiate Chapel of Windsor Castle, were 34 books on different 

 subjects, chained. Amongst them were a Bible and a 

 Concordance. 



In 1378 Thomas de Farnylaw, Chancellor of York, left, 

 amongst other books, a Bible and a Concordance to be chained 

 in the north porch of St. Nicholas Church, Newcastle, " for 

 common use." 



In 1394 a copy of the Gospels in English was left by a 

 chaplain to Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York. 



In 1407, amongst other books to be found in St. Mary's 

 Church, Warwick, at the Earl of Warwick's Altar, was a 

 Bible. 



In 1491 the parson of St. James', Colchester, wills " that 

 my portuse (breviary) and all my bookys that be bounde, 

 that they be chayned in saint peter 's chappell by the byble.'" 



In 1498, in the book inventory, to be found in the 

 wardens' accounts of Bassingbourn, Cambs., is Sir John 

 Hubbertes gift, " the bybull." 



In 1506 a Bible in 3 vols., a Lyra in 3 vols., and a Con- 

 cordance were chained behind the Treasurer's Stall in Exeter 

 Cathedral. 



Commentaries on various books of Holy Scripture are also 

 frequently mentioned as having been chained in Cathedrals 

 and other Churches. 



Towards the close of the fifteenth century, about the time 

 of the invention of printing, many of the College Libraries 

 suffered loss. Books, worn out, were not replaced. Pledges 

 were not always redeemed, and many volumes were 

 permanently alienated. Others were sold or given away by 

 those who had no right to do so. At Exeter College, in 1458, 

 the reason given for books being chained was that some of 

 them had been taken away. 



But worse times were to follow. The suppression of the 

 Monasteries involved the destruction of the Monastic 

 Libraries. In three years, 1536-1539, the whole system was. 



