See of Rome.

Chapter V. is devoted to the praise of BAGGA, a monk and presbyter of
this abbey, who is said to have been "ex Britannia Oceani insula
Saxonico ex genere ortus." He died, and was buried in the abbey, between
the years 707 and 723; on which occasion the Abbot Benignus is said to
have exclaimed, "O signifer fortissime Christi militiae BAGGA, nunc
mercedem laborum laetus accipis tuorum. Deprecare ipsum benignum Dominum,
ut una tecum mereamur gaudere consortiis justorum per aevum." Here is a
prayer not for, but _to_ the dead.

During the presidency of AUSTRULPHUS (ch. 13.), which began in 747 and
ended in 753, a certain receptacle, in the form of a small _pharos_, was
driven ashore in the district of Coriovallum, which contained a very
fair copy of the four Gospels, beautifully written in Roman characters
on the purest vellum; and part of the precious jaw of St. George the
Martyr, as well as a portion of the "health-bearing" wood of the true
cross, duly labelled. The acquisition of this treasure was of course
ascribed to the immediate interposition of God. And as about the same
period the head of St. George was discovered at Rome, through the
intervention of Pope Zachary, it was conjectured that this pontiff had
given the wonder-working relic to some venerable men from _Britain_, a
country described as being "always on the most intimate footing (_maxime
familiares_) with the Apostolic See;" and that, these being wrecked on
their voyage home, or through some other adventure, the said treasure
was providentially driven ashore at Coriovallum.

Chapter XV. gives us an account of GERVOLDUS, who ruled this abbey
eighteen years, dying A.D. 806. He had been ambassador from Charlemagne
to Offa, King of Mercia. The son of Charlemagne demanded the daughter of
Offa in marriage, who refused his consent, unless his own son should
receive the hand of Bertha, the daughter of the French king. Charles, in
consequence, inhibited the subjects of Offa from trading on the French
coast. This inhibition was, however, withdrawn through the mediation of
the Abbot Gervoldus, who seems to have been in great favour with
Charles.

I need hardly say, that throughout the chronicle there is a tolerable
sprinkling of the marvellous. {487} I give you the following as a
warning to all dishonest bell-founders.

The pious builder of a church being desirous, according to custom, of
putting a bell in the turret, engaged a skillful craftsman to