ish work. These are a portion of the remains of the "infirmary" or
"farmery," which was "deemed superfluous" at the suppression, and for
the most part pulled down.

"The chapel was destroyed and the great hall unroofed and partly
demolished, but its west end and six arches of the arcade escaped,
the latter probably because, as at Canterbury, the south aisle had
been previously cut up into sets of chambers. All these remains are
of admirable early thirteenth-century work, and it is much to be
regretted that in clearing away the old houses in 1860 it should
have been found necessary to also remove a curious vaulted lobby
and other remains on the east side of the little cloister. The main
entrance was originally in the west end of the hall, where part of
the doorway still remains, and was probably covered by a pentise or
porch with a door (still remaining) from the infirmary cloister, so
that there was a continuous covered way from the farmery to the
church." (Hope.)

[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE INFIRMARY.]

"The #Library# is an interesting room of the fourteenth century,
retaining much of its original open roof. The north side has eleven
windows, each of two square-headed lights and perfectly plain, which
lighted the bays or studies. The large end windows are Late
Perpendicular, each of seven lights with a transom. There are other
alterations, such as the beautiful wooden corbels from which the roof
springs, which are probably contemporary with the work of the cloister,
when the western stair to the library was built and the room altered.
None of the old fittings now remain, but there can be no doubt that this
was the library." (Hope.)

[Illustration: MEDIAEVAL HOUSE. From a Drawing by E. J. Burrow.]

The library of the monastery, judging by the list given by Leland, must
have been of considerable value and of no little interest. A list of the
books it contained is given in "Records of Gloucester Cathedral," vol.
i. pp. 145-6.

The books were at the time of the dissolution of the monastery
confiscated to the Crown, and the cathedral was apparently without a
library till the time of Bishop Godfrey Godman, who was consecrated in
1624. Writing to his clergy in 1629, he says: "I am to lett yow
understand that I have lately erected a Librarie in Glouc'r. for the use
of all our brethren throughout my Dioces, as likewise for the use of
Gent. and Strangers,