198 THE BISHOPRIC OF CORNWALL. 



the See of Cornwall from the time of King Athelstan's foundation 

 in 936 to its final extinction in 1050. 



We place them before our readers at one view : — 



An enlarged Table is appended to this Paper, with a summary 

 of the authorities for the insertion of each name. 



2. Tlie next point to be considered is the place of the Saxon 

 See, a subject which has given rise to some controversy. 



Although the Cornish Bishopric is frequently referred to in 

 ancient documents, it is somewhat remarkable that nowhere do 

 we find it designated by the name of it's See. It appears to have 

 been usually called the Bishopric of Cornwall, "Episcopatus 

 Cornubiae," without regard to the canonical usage of describing it 

 by the name of the city or seat of the Cathedral Church. The 

 Bishops sign themselves either " Episcopus " simply, or " Episcopus 

 Cornubiensis Ecclesise." 



We must therefore turn to other sources of information ; and 

 first let us examine the evidence of the Bodmin Manumissions. 



The entries of Manumissions are forty-six in number. Dr. 

 Oliver in his Monasticon makes the following remarks upon 

 them : * — • 



"There is nothing in the entries repugnant to the opinion 

 that they were contemporaneovis with the events commemorated. 

 In general, each entry seems to have been made at a different 

 time, or, at least, in a different hand." 



" As there is nothing in the Gospels themselves, or in the 

 title-page of the work, (which has been partially effaced for the 

 purpose of recording the Manumissions), to indicate the owner- 

 ship of the Book, and nothing is known respecting the pedigree 

 of the volume, these enti-ies are the only authority for ascribing 



• Oliver's MoTuisticon, Supplement, pp. 435, 436. 



