repeated at King's College, Cambridge, and at several colleges in Oxford.
Let me now remind you of Archbishop Lanfranc's statute for English Benedictines, dated 1070, which was based, as he himself tells us, on the general monastic practice of his time:
Then the librarian shall read a statement as to the manner in which brethren have had books during the past year. As each brother hears his name pronounced; he is to give back the book which had been entrusted to him for reading; and he whose conscience accuses him of not having read the book through which he had received, is to fall on his face, confess his fault, and entreat forgiveness.
The librarian shall then make a fresh distribution of books, namely, a different volume to each brother for his reading.
You will agree with me, I feel sure, that this statute, or similar provisions extracted from