67 
belonged by right, and of the mode in which it was carried 
away, for he quotes Simon’s statement, where it is described 
as being in the Bibliotheque du Roi, and subsequently remarks 
that, “‘ The person who conveyed it out of France was under 
the same illusion with Father Simon, that it was the work of 
an Anglo-Saxon, till I undeceiv’d him, together with some 
others of great distinction.” 
It soon after passed into other hands, for in 1718 Toland 
_ writes : ‘The book is come into England, being purchased by 
the Earl of Oxford, in whose large collection of manuscripts 
it is not the least valuable piece.” The particulars of the pur- 
chase are thus given by Wanley in his MS. catalogue: “ Co- 
dex membranaceus in 4'° minori, quem a Joanne Aymone in 
Hollandia redemit illustrissimus Dominus meus.” 
«¢ When Mr. Toland first spake of it to me (for I had the 
first notice of this and the other manuscripts bought of Mr. 
Aymon from him), he said it was 900 years old; and upon the 
large account he gave of its rarity, joyned to 900 years Anti- 
quity, I presently offered 20 Guineas for it.” 
Wanley, however, had more discernment than his infor- 
mant, and soon came to the conclusion “that this book was 
written in or about 1139.” 
—_—_—_@—_.. 
January 27, 1851. 
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presiveyt, 
in the Chair. 
Tae President reminded the Meeting of a Resolution of the 
~ Academy,* which had been adopted just previous to his elec- 
_ tion, limiting the tenure of the office of President to five years, 
2 and declaring it to be inexpedient to re-elect the same person 
PPresident at the expiration of that time. 
“See Proceedings, vol. iii. p. 192. 
F 2 
