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a) 
91 
The Dean of Wells, with great kindness, subsequently conducted 
the members over the Cathedral, and thoroughly explained the 
various dates of this structure, one of the fairest of our land, 
pointed out the various monuments, chantry chapels, and ancient 
windows in the nave, chancel, and Lady Chapel, and as the 
curious old clock of Peter Lightfoot, the.:monk of Glastonbury, of 
1325, which is now in the north transept, struck three, the hour 
for evensong, bid farewell to the party, who returned him many 
thanks for his personal guidance and attention. A cursory 
examination of less than an hour of the many objects deserving of 
close inspection and study in this magnificent fane is naturally 
but superficial, but the charming book of the late Professor 
Freeman on this Cathedral will amply prove that visitors will find 
sufficient to interest them in a daily visit for a month. Another 
month might well be spent in the other sights of Wells outside 
the Cathedral. Through a small door in the south transept and 
up a corkscrew staircase the Field Club next visited the library 
over the eastern wall of the cloisters. This library was erected 
by Bishop Bubwith, in 1425, and contains 3,090 volumes of great 
interest, many having belonged to the saintly Bishop Ken, besides 
old deeds and charters some with Anglo-Saxon characters. Many 
chains, which formerly attached the books to the desks, are 
preserved here, and the beautiful pastoral staff, formerly kept at 
the Deanery, of exquisite medieval art, is now exhibited here. 
The head of Limoges enamel represents St. Michael vanquishing 
the dragon ; it is studded with small turquoises and other precious 
stones. One member of the Field Club, of long standing, here 
remembered a peculiar incident which occurred at the club’s last 
visit to Wells, on June 10th, 1873, when the Dean of that day 
was exhibiting this precious relic to the members, one (Col. 
Wyndham Baker, now deceased), requested to be allowed to 
handle the staff, to the consternation of the very rev. gentleman, 
who gazed long and fixedly at him, and then handed him the 
staff, saying that he would allow him to hold it, but nothing 
