ibed as "the finest book in vellum that
exists."

One of the show-cases in the centre contains the service-book which King
Charles I. held in his hand at his coronation, and the book used by Laud
on the same occasion, with a note in Laud's handwriting: "The daye was
verye faire, and ye ceremony was performed wthout any Interruption,
and in verye good order." The same case contains the mortuary roll of
Amphelissa, Prioress of Lillechurch in Kent, who died in 1299. The nuns
of the priory announce her death, commemorate her virtues, and ask the
benefit of the prayers of the faithful for her soul. The roll consists
of nineteen sheets of parchment stitched together; its length is 39 ft.
3 in., and its average width is about 7 in. There are in all 372 entries
of the ecclesiastical houses visited by the roll-bearer for the purpose
of gaining prayers for the soul of Amphelissa. The roll-bearer visited
nearly all parts of England: there are entries by houses at Bodmin and
Launceston in Cornwall; at Dunfermline and St. Andrews in Scotland; each
house granting the benefit of its prayers, and concluding in each case
with the formula, "_Oravimus pro vestris: orate pro nostris._" As a
collection of contemporary handwritings, such a document has great
value; and it is interesting to note that in 600 years the roll has had
only two owners, the Priory of Lillechurch and the College, which
succeeded to its possession.

In this case there is also an IOU of King Charles II.: "I do acknowledge
to have received the summe of one hundred pounds, by the direction of
Mr. B., Brusselles the first of April 1660. CHARLES R." The "Mr. B." was
John Barwick, a Fellow of the College, afterwards Dean of St. Paul's.
The date seems to indicate that the money was advanced to enable Charles
to return to England for the Restoration.

In the other show-case there is a very curious Irish Psalter of the
eighth century, with crude drawings. Its value is much increased by the
fact that the Latin text is interlined throughout with glosses in the
Irish dialect.

Of printed books one of the choicest is a very fine Caxton, "The Boke of
Tulle of old age; Tullius his book of Friendship." The volume contains
the autograph of Thomas Fairfax, the Parliamentary General, who entered
the College in 1626. It was presented to the College by Dr. Newcome,
Master from 1735 to 1765. To Dr. Newcome the College owes a very fine
collection of early printed classics; among these i