Today, when I went to study at the Bodleian Library, I was handed a small piece of paper on which was printed the following, and asked to read it out loud in Latin.
Do fidem me nullum librum vel instrumentum aliamve quam rem ad bibliothecam pertinentem, vel ibi custodiae causa depositam, aut e bibliotheca sublaturum esse, aut foedaturum deformaturum aliove quo modo laesurum; item neque ignem nec flammam in bibliothecam inlaturum vel in ea accensurum, neque fumo nicotantio aliove quovis ibi usururm; item promitto me omnes leges ad bibliothecam Bodleianam attinentes semper observaturum esse.
I hereby pledge by faith not to remove from the Library, nor to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library, or kindle therein, any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to observe all the rules of the Bodleian Library.
Earlier in the day, I visted Frogmore and Windsor, but more about that after I've had a nap.
The Bodleian was founded in 1602, here's the web site for more info.
www.bodley.ox.ac.uk
1 comment:
Jim!
Just was looking on the Chapel's website to find your contact information and found your blog! I had to take that same oath at the Bod when I studied abroad at St. Anne's (except they only made me read it in English). :-)
I'm in London now and go up to Oxford many Saturday's for larp - including this upcoming one. (If you're bored and/or feeling adventurous and want to run around in shotover country park with latex swords, you're welcome to join) Either way we should meet up for a coffee or something.
send me an email! a.j.dipaolo@lse.ac.uk
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