ANNOTATION. 77 



nicler in the old Register. His anniversary was 

 celebrated in the same manner as the anniversaries 

 of the Kings. Godfrey, the successor of John, gave 

 copes and mass-books. Bishop Reginald is cele- 

 brated for the number of volumes which he gave to 

 the library. I add what I believe is not elsewhere 

 noticed, that, according to the Chronicle of Bene- 

 factors, he gave a very remarkable relic, nothing 

 less than the entire body of Saint Euphemia, virgin 

 and martyr. We have next in this chronology of 

 benefactors what is a very interesting fact in relation 

 to the library. England was dreadfully exhausted to 

 raise the money for the ransom of King Richard the 

 First. In particular the treasury of this monastery 

 was emptied, and still the monks had not done all 

 that was required of them. They were about to sell 

 the things dearest to them, when their bishop Savaric 

 stepped in and bought of them " textus, cruces, et 

 calices nostros," which he immediately restored to 

 them. I can interpret " textus" in no other way 

 than as meaning not one particular book, in which 

 sense it is undoubtedly sometimes used, but the 

 whole of their manuscripts. This was a noble act, 

 worthy a Christian bishop. 



Bishop Robert Burnel was an eminent benefactor, 

 and so were other bishops to the time of John de 

 Drokensford, where the Chronicle ends ; but there is 



