Age Before Beauty?

Today, while on a tour of Exeter College given by one of the fellows, I got to handle a Bible from the 12th century. I couldn't believe he let us touch it, but his reasoning was that nothing makes it 700 years if it can't get a few fingerprints. The pages were Vellum (goat's skin) and had quite a distinct aroma. The calligraphy was all done by hand, and you can see the notes written in the margins from the 13th and 14th centuries.



We also visited the oldest pub in Oxford (13th century), The Bear. I really wish I'd realized how great the sign was without the flowers in the way while I had the camera with me. The bear on the sign is really quite ferocious. The pub is so named because they used to have a bear chained up in the back whom they would pit against dogs in fights for entertainment. I'm so glad I missed out. The ceilings in this place are also unreasonably low, I had to stoop just about anywhere inside.