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Byland Abbey: History
Byland Abbey: Buildings
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The library
From all your readings strive to make progress
in virtue. Books that were used in the church, refectory, infirmary and cloister were kept either in a cupboard known as the armarium, which was effectively a recess in the wall of the north claustral alley, or in the library, which adjoined the south transept of the church. The monastic officials (obedientiaries) responsible for these books were the precentor and succentor. At the start of Lent, each monk was given a book for the year which he was to read thoroughly during the daily period allocated to reading, as stipulated in chapter 48 of the Rule of St Benedict. He was not to keep his book overnight but had to return it to the book cupboard for safekeeping. The monks sat on stone benches in the north walkway of the cloister and read aloud, but quietly. Nobody was to leave the cloister during reading time and the monks were to make sure that their hoods did not cover their faces, just in case anybody was tempted to nap. The monks spent more time reading in winter and during Lent, when less time was allocated to work; on Sundays they also read during the work period. |
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