He provided the ordinary texts and commentaries for the students, and was
extremely anxious that they should be instructed in Greek and in the
languages of the East. A knowledge of Arabic, he thought, was as
necessary for the study of astronomy as a familiarity with Hebrew was
requisite for the understanding of the Scriptures. The Friars had bought
a good supply of Hebrew books when the Jews were expelled from England;
Richard not only increased the available store, but supplied the means of
using it. 'We have provided,' he said, 'a grammar in Greek and Hebrew for
the scholars, with all the proper aids to instruct them in reading and
writing those languages.' He formed the ambitious design of providing
assistance to the whole University out of the books presented to the
hall. The rules which he drew up were not unlike those already in use at
the Sorbonne. Five students were chosen as wardens, of whom any three
might be a quorum for lending the manuscripts. Any book, of which they
possessed a duplicate, might be lent out on proper security: but copying
was not allowed, and no volume was on any account to be carried beyond
the suburbs. A yearly account was to be taken of the books in store, and
of the current securities; and if any profit should come to the wardens'
hands it was to be applied to the maintenance of the library.
When the Bishop died some of his books went back to Durham; but the monks
were generous towards the hall, and on several occasions sent fresh
supplies to Oxford.
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