Mr. Whitaker has printed two volumes in quarto on the Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall. One great object of this work, replete like all the others with the most extensive miscellaneous learning, is to prove that no Bishop’s see ever existed at Bodmin, and the assertion is maintained with much vehemence of expression, and disregard of individuals the most respected. Even Doctor William Borlase, whose name is consecrated among his countrymen as their boast and their pride, does not escape from invective and contemptuous epithets, for having maintained the affirmative in regard to the existence of this see.
The Reverend Josiah Forshall, late Fellow of Exeter College, and now Keeper of the Manuscripts in the British Museum, has had the goodness to favour me with the following communication.
[The Volume from which the following entries are taken, is a copy of the [Four Gospels in the Vulgate Version], formerly belonging to the Church of St. Petroc, and probably at an early period one of its chief treasures. It appears to be of the Ninth Century, and would perhaps by some critics be assigned to a still more remote date. The ornaments of the Ammonian Harmony prefixed, of the initial capitals, and of a page which is found immediately before the Gospel of St. John, are rude and curious, and strongly resemble those which are to be met with in very ancient Mss. executed in Ireland. The volume is in quarto, of rather an oblong form, and
is very neatly written, though evidently by a scribe not well informed or of great learning even for those times. It was purchased by a London Bookseller at the sale of a private library in Oxfordshire, about three years ago, and soon afterwards sold to the British Museum, where it is now deposited and designated by the No. 9381. The entries seem to be contemporaneous with the manumissions which they record.]
1. Hæc sunt nomina illorum hominum, Húna et soror illius Dolo, quos liberavit Byrhtflœd pro redemptione animæ suæ super altare sancti Petroci coram istis testibus, Leofric prespiter, Budda prespiter, Morhaytho prespiter, Deni prespiter, Hresmen diaconus, Custentin laicus, Wurlowen laycus, ut libertatem habeant cum semine suo sine fine, et maledictus sit qui fregerit hanc libertatem.
2. Rumun liberavit Halmn super altar sancti Petroci coram his testibus, clerici sancti Petroci.
3. Budic, Glowmœeth, duos [quos?] liberavit Uulfsie episcopus super altare sancti Petroci.
4. Hec est nomen qui liberavit Duihon super altare [sancti Petroci] sancti Leofstan coram istis testibus, Byrhsie presbiter, Morhaetho diaconus, Britail, Iohann.
5. Hæc sunt nomina illarum feminarum quas liberavit Rum, Addalburg et Ogurcen coram istis testibus uidentibus Osian presbiter, Cartgethen diaconus, Leucum clerus.