162 ' Bishops of Old Sarum. 
publication of so many valuable records bearing upon the history 
of these times in the Rolls Series, and by the throwing open to 
literary enquirers in most places free access to public documents, and 
to the labours of such men as Professor Stubbs, Mr. E. A. Freeman, 
the Dean of St. Paul’s, and others, materials that may be relied on 
are not wanting. 
Early in the eighth century—in the year A.D. 705— the whole 
of the south-western part of England was placed under the nominal 
charge of one bishop, who had his see, or dishop’s-stool, at Sher- 
borne. Such was the diocese committed to the care of St. Aldhelm. 
Two hundred years afterwards—in the year 909—a sub-division was 
made, and out of the original huge diocese of Sherborne were formed 
‘four distinct sees, viz., those of Sherborne (henceforth meluding 
only Dorset), Ramsbury, Wells, and Crediton. With ¢wo only of 
these—Ramsbury and Sherborne—have we any concern. 
Ramsbury is in the north-eastern part of Wiltshire, close by 
Hungerford. Its original name was Hrefnesbyrig, one that would 
be better Englished as “ Ravensbury” than in its corrupted and 
misleading form “ Ramsbury.” Its bishops used to describe them- 
selves “ Episeopi Corvinensis Ecclesiz,” showing that they at least 
were aware of the true etymology. Their diocese included, speaking 
generally, what is now understood by Wilts and Berks. In the year 
1045, Herman, who was then a chaplain to Edward the Confessor, 
was appointed to this bishopric. It was small in value, and he ruled 
it single-handed ; for though he had, as is implied, a small Cathedral, 
there was, as far as we know, no body of canons forming a chapter 
annexed to it.! He made great efforts to get the see transferred 
to Malmesbury and augmented by some of the revenues of that 
rich foundation, and in truth all but succeeded, his wishes being 
thwarted at the very last moment. Smarting under disappointment 
he retired to the monastery of St. Bertin, in France, the adminis- 
tration of his diocese being meanwhile committed to Ealdred, Bishop 
of Worcester. 
1 For the story of Herman, as Bishop of Ramsbury, see Freeman’s ‘‘ Norman 
Conquest,” ii., 401, See also Praman s History of the “‘ Cathedral Church of 
Wells,” p. 31. 
