Monks read scrolls by holding them up to a candle, so the light shone through the parchment. These were called ‘Illuminated Manuscripts’.

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The word ‘Illuminated’ refers to the illustration of books with decoration around capital letters, patterns in the borders and small drawings of animals, people and plants. This style of decoration was very expensive, and limited mainly to religious books being prepared for the monastery library for a rich patron. Many of these books survive, and the illustrations give important information about medieval clothes and living.