150 ANNUAL MEETING. 



incurred in obtaining photographs of the entire record, which 

 had been taken under his (Mr. lago's) direction, by permission 

 of the Authorities of the British Museum, who had the precious 

 volume in their charge. It is probably the oldest manuscript in 

 existence relating to Bodmin and Liskeard, both of which places 

 are named in it. The writing itself is from eight hundred to a 

 thousand years old, and is of considerable value from every point 

 of view. The oldest part of the book is a vulgate copy of the 

 Gospels, with Harmonies of them and other introductory matter, 

 &c., written of course by hand, and containing curious orna- 

 ments drawn by the writer, who probably was Irish. It has 

 vellum leaves, and wooden covers overlaid with crimson-stained 

 leather. The covers were once encrusted with jewels, surround- 

 ing probably a silver-gilt representation of the crucifixion. The 

 jewels, &c., have long ago disappeared, for the book was, 

 doubtless, " appropriated " at the dissolution of the great Priory 

 of St. Mary and St. Petroc, Bodmin. But its " despoiled nut- 

 shell" still contains the " kernel," which is beyond the price of 

 rubies and fine gold, viz. : the Holy Gospels, and the record of 

 religious acts performed by Kings and Bishops, Dukes, Duchess, 

 Portreeves, Hundredsmen, &c., and the Clergy of St. Petroc's 

 " Monasterium." They bought male and female Serfs, and 

 manumitted them for the good of their own, and of one another's 

 souls, in the sight of God and before all the Saints " of the 

 Welkin," that they should remain "for ever sackless ;" and 

 they recorded the names of themselves and of the Oornish 

 slaves so treated, and many particulars, with prospective bless- 

 ings and curses, in this remarkable book ; using its margins and 

 blank pages for a Register, but not writing a word of all these 

 on any page of the actual Gospels themselves. 



St. Petroc's Altar and his treasured hand-bell, and certain 

 relics, are mentioned, and many an Anglo-Saxon King of England, 

 and Duke and Bishop, connected with the western provinces. 



The record is of such importance, Mr. lago stated, that 

 although versions of it have been given, by Davies Gilbert, 

 Wallis, Prior Oliver, Pedler, Whitley Stokes, and others, it is 

 well worth further elucidation and study. The Bishop of Oxford, 

 Dr. Stubbs, has published a very valuable notice of it, and Mr. 



