Page:Historical essay on the art of bookbinding (IA 0130ARTO).pdf/29



HAT monks were anciently the binders as well as the makers of books is proven by documentary evidence. Hearne has published a grant from Rich. de Paston to the Bromholm abbey “of twelve pence a year rent charge on his estates to keep their books in repair;” Charlemagne conferred a diploma unto the abbot of Saint Bertin, a privilege to procure by means of hunting the skins necessary for the binding of the books of his abbey, and Dibdin quotes from a manuscript of the British Museum: “Sacrista curet quod libri bene ligentur et haspentur,” etc. The “bibliophile Jacob” also says that two monks, Goderan and Ernesten, of the monastery of Stavelot, in Flanders, completed in 1097 two volumes of the Bible, with the following inscription: “In