WELLS CATHEDRAL. 67 
Whether he erected any buildings, I know not : pro- 
bably they were of wood ifhe did; but be that as 
it may, I cannot find the slightest indications of 
any Saxon buildings connected with the cathedral 
of Wells at present in existence. 
Passing on to the ‘ Conquest,’ the Prelate whom 
we then find presiding over the diocese, was Giiso. 
On coming to his bishoprie 1060,he found ten canons 
at Wells, who were reduced to beggary by the Danes, 
and it was not till after William was settled on his 
throne, that he was able to do anything effectual for 
their benefit. He then increased their number, built 
them a cloister, dormitory, and refectory, and made 
one of them, by name Isaac, their prepositus. The 
only thing like a remnant of any ofthese buildings, 
that I can trace any where in the neighbourhood 
of the cathedral, is a single capital standing in a 
wall about twenty or thirty yards west of the eastern 
cathedral archway. After Giso’s death, John de 
Villula, “ Natione Turonensis, ” * transferred the 
episcopal see to Bath, and for the next fifty years, 
it is not likely that much was done to the cathedral 
of Wells. In the year 1136, Robert, a monk of 
Lewes, succeeded to the episcopal see. He was taken 
prisoner at his house in Bath, by a party of Stephen’s 
soldiers, and carried in captivity to Bristol, (he 
taking the side of Matilda). After his release, 
* I almost question whether he was a foreigner ; his name occurs in 
William of Malmsbury in company with Herbert de Losing; they were Z 
believe screwed by William because they were Sawons. 
3A 
