From Claudine, October 1218:
Alexios,
Archmage Mathieus of Constantinope in Paris has a wonderfully illustrated copy of Ἀργοναυτικά which I believe would meet your requirements; however he is unwilling to produce a copy; not that I have the skill to produce good copies of Greek texts.
He would however be willing to permit two seasons of study in his library in exchange for a promise to be provided a copy of The Lais of Marie de France at or before the 1220 Normandy Tribunal.
Whilst here in Paris I have heard rumours of books looted from Constantinople which I proceed onwards to investigate
Claudine.
From Alexios to Claudine, October 1218
To the Librarian of the Schola Pythagoranis, Claudine ex Mercere, greetings.
First, let me thank you for the work you have put into this. It is very much appreciated.
Secondly, I would like to thank the Archmage for his willingness to allow me to study in his library and I would like to accept his kind offer. I will write to him directly to advise him of this. I have asked Raffaelo to start work on a copy of the lays.
Sadly, there were many texts looted from my fair city. My parens and I collected a few but only scraps from the banquet that existed have surfaced, some of those texts were magnificent (I still regret that I had not had time to read those works by Heron of Alexandria that were there before I was forced to flee). Recovering them from those who so cruelly betrayed the light of civilisation would be an act of grace in my mind. If there is anything I can do to assist in this, please do tell me.
Yours in faith and amity, Alexios Kaloethes.
From Alexios to Archmage Mathieus, October 1218
To the Archmage Mathieus of Paris, Alexios Kaloethes of the Schola Pythagoranis sends respectful greetings.
Claudine ex Mercere, the librarian of our covenant has written to me advising that you possess a magnificent copy of the Ἀργοναυτικά and are willing to allow me to study in your library for half a year. I am deeply grateful for the honour you do me.
I am currently arranging for my secretary to arrange for a copy of the Lais of Marie de France to be copied and appropriately bound and illuminated. I would be grateful therefore if I could accept your kind offer and arrive at Paris in the Autumn of the year twelve hundred and nineteen of our Lord.
I look forward to meeting you and am, sir, at your service.
[Mathieus will send a letter confirming this]
From Claudine, December 1218:
Alexios,
I am now at Barcelona and will remain here until I hear from you again. The library here has a number of copies of Greek texts, however they are Arabic translations.
However I have encountered advertisments for two auctions of books.
The first is taking place in this city a week from now, and includes "more than twenty scrolls in prime condition". I have seen one scroll, containing the play Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας by Aeschylus and it is indeed in prime condition. They have a reserve price of one pound per scroll; and I expect that the bidding will cause the price to go somewhat higher.
I intend to see if I can find out what other works are included during the next few days, but I fear that they intend only to show that one scroll to potential buyers. The others may be in worse condition.
The second is taking place in Venice in late January and is merely stated as being for "a very large number of scrolls of Greek writing". They are setting a reserve price of two hundred pounds.
Either of these purchases would be over my allowances for library purchases; and I am unlikely to be able to determine if they are of any use; to you or anyone else. So if you wish me to attempt to purchase either or both lots then you will have to arrange a suitable letter of credit for me.
Claudine, Barcelona.
From Alexios to Claudine, December 1218
Salutations and greetings to Claudine of Mercere from Doctor Alexios Kaloethes.
My grateful thanks for your efforts on my behalf. I am deeply grateful.
I have consulted with the Master of the Schola and he is willing to authorise up to 30 pounds for the lot of books in Barcelona. If you can secure them for any sum under this, I would be most grateful. If this sum is insufficient, if you can obtain a viewing and the scrolls appear to be of sufficient quality that we could restore them in the Schola, I will personally advance up to 10 pounds in addition to this.
The Venetian trove, I am sorry to say is beyond our means and as such I do not advise attempting it. I do intend to advise my pater of it and hope that he will be interested and potentially will share any interesting texts with us. If you hear anything more of it or anything that might assist him in negotiations, I would be grateful if you would correspond with him, Doctor Georgios Commenes of the House Ex Miscellanea at the University of Bologna.
Suitable letters of credit are attached, and I remain at your service.
[Claudine will return to the covenant a few weeks later. She has purchased the Barcelona lot in consortium with Carles of Jerbiton at a cost to us of 15 pounds. He will be making copies and then sending the originals on to Cambridge during Summer 1219. A little later she will pass on to Alexios a letter she has recieved from Carles]
From Carles of Jerbiton, January 1218
Claudine of Stonehenge,
[various flowery greetings and small talk]
I have catalogued the contents of the chest, and within it there are:
- Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας by Aeschylus, the third play of a trilogy; one scroll
- Ὀρέστεια by the same author, a complete trilogy, three scrolls
- The first three scrolls of Ἱστορίαι by Herodotus, entitled Clio, Euterpe, Thalia
- Ἡ μετάφρασις τῶν Ἑβδομήκοντα (the Septuagint) in small writing on six large scrolls. Unilluminated
- Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη (the New Testament) likewise, in three large scrolls
- Αφορισμοί by Hippocrates, seven scrolls
- Σκέψεις από τα Πεδία (Reflections from the Fields) by Artoud of House Criamon, three scrolls
- One scroll apparently of household accounts
Yours, Carles
[The two part of the bible are in Koine Greek, which for simplicity I'm going to call Romalic]
[Artoud's book is a notorious (in Thebes) tractatus on Magic Theory disguised as a pastoral verse. Georgios/Alexios had a copy in Constantinople but Alexios hadn't read it]
[Alexios may or may not know, but those three volumes of Herodotus (which probably equate to one tractatus) mostly cover Persia and Egypt]
From Alexios to Georgios, December 1218
To his revered pater, Georgios of Bologna, Alexios sends his greetings and respects.
I have been informed of a large collection of looted books that may be from our once fair, despoiled city. These will be for purchase in Venice in January. All I currently know is that the sale is of "a very large number of scrolls of Greek writing" with a reserve price of two hundred pounds.
These are sadly beyond my purse at present but I thought you would wish to know and perhaps investigate yourself. While I do not know what precisely is there, Bologna is not so far from Venice that it seems a bad idea to at least send Matthias to take a look.
In other news, I am nearly ready to try the project I told you about in my last letter. The question of whether the wall should be fixed or a new wall constructed continues to perplex me but I suspect that until I can actually get down there to see, I will not make my mind up finally.
here follows several pages of news and philosophical musings.
As ever, pater, I remain your affectionate colleague and student.
From Alexios to Archmage Mathieus, January 1218
To the Archmage Mathieus of Paris, Alexios Kaloethes of the Schola Pythagoranis sends respectful greetings.
Thank you for your kind letter, confirming your invitation to stay and study in your covenant. I wondered if I might test the bounds of your courtesy and ask if rather than guest with you for six months, I might instead study twice in your library for the period of one season each time.
I hope and trust that this would not be of inconvenience to you and remain your humble servant.
[Mathieus will say that he would be delighted to offer Alexios hospitaility on two occasions]