The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-11-23
EARLY bOOIlMA Err,
LIE FINE AIT or THE MONKS o.
THE MIDDLE AGES.

THE MIDDLE AGES.
written and Illuminated Works
mat Were Marv-els of Skill and
mated the Roman Letter
There Is scarcely any error so popu-
lar, yet so unfounded, as that which
invariably attributes unbounded indo-
lence to the monastic orders of former
days. To them we owe the preserva-
ton Of literature, both in the pains they
took to perpetuate history by their la
bors in transcribing and by their dill
gence in the education Of youth.
In the large monasteries a chambeJ
was always set apart for writing, al
lowing space in the same apartment
for other quiet employments also. The
transcribers We're superintendent by the
abbot, prior, subprior and precentor Of
the convent and were distinguished by
the name OF '*antiquarii.' These in
dustrious persons were continually oc-
cupied in making new copies of old
manuscript books for the use Of other
monasteries, and by this means many
were educated and our most valuable
historical records were preserved.
The Anglo-Saxon monks were most
celebrated as writer's and were the
or1glnators Of the small roman letter
used in modern times. The greatest
delicacy and nicely were deemed es-
sential in the transcribing Of books,
whether for the purpose Of general In
struction or for the use Of the converts
Careless ana illegib1e writing is
therefore but seldom to be met with
among the remains Of monastic indus
try, and when erasures were made
they appear to have been done with
purpose the monks used pumice stone,
and they were also provided with a
punctorium, or awl, to make the dots
and with metal pens for writing until
after the seventh century, when quilts
were brought into use, they being far
better than the metal pens then in use.
The inks were composed Of lamp
black SCOT mixed with water and gum
for use upon the vellum, paper not be-
ing introduced until the tenth century;
hence the beautiful distinctness, as
we'll as durability, of very ancient
manuscript books. So important was
the art Of writing in those days that
it Is conceded as many as 100 different
styles were in vogue among the learn
ed.
With SO many impediments to the
multiplication of books as were at
tendant upon their slow production in
this manner, it is not a matter Of sur
prise that the monks enjoyed almost a
monopoly Of this kind of labor, as in
truth they were the only body Of men
who could properly conduct it. The
expense Of preparing books was pro-
verbally great, and large estates were
frequently set apart for the purpose Of
purchasing them. In addition to the
cost of transcribing, the materials Of
which books were composed were
sources of great expense. The leaves
in many instances were composed of
purple vellum for the purpose Of show
ing off to more advantage letters Of
gold and silver. The binding was often
very gorgeous, although Of rude con-
struction. The prevailing covering for
books was a rough white sheepskin
pasted on a wooden board, with i'm
mense bosses Of brass, but the ex:
terror of those intended for church
service was inlaid with gold relics or
silver embossed on ivory plates. Some
books had leaden covers and some had
wooden leaves, but even as early as
this bindings in velvet with silver
clasps and studs were made as pres
ents for exalted personages.
Illuminating manuscripts was also
another occupation Of the monks Of the
middle ages, although not confined to
them, for the greatest painters of the
day disdained not to contribute to these
cumbrous and sometimes confused dec
orations. The art Of correct drawing
and knowledge Of perspective cannot,
however, be ascribed to the generality
Of the fantastic pictures by which illu-
minated books are adorned. COlOring
and gliding appear to have been the
chief points to which the attention Of
the Examinations was directed. The
neutral tint was first laid on somewhat
In the same mode as in the present day,
some portions being left untouched in
order to be afterward imbedded in gold
and silver. The pictures represented
different subjects, according to the ma
ture Of the book which they were in
tended to embellish. The title on the
pages was formed Of capital letters Of
gold and azure mixed. Illuminated pic
lures are Of dazzling brightness, the
white predominating, which, not being
an oil color, reflects the rays Of light
and does not absorb them. So much
custom had the monks in their labors
OF transcribing and Illuminating that
they were sometimes obliged to intro
duce hired limners, although contrary