long
appear through it. This Wainscot had engraven on the Top of it,
_Thomas Castell_, Prior, Anno Domini, 1518 Mensis Julij. Whence it
is manifest that Prior _Castell_ wainscotted the Frater-house round
about.

"Within the Frater-house Door, on the Left Hand at entering, is a
strong Almery in the Wall, wherein a great Mazer, called the Grace
Cup, stood, which every day served the Monks after Grace, to drink
out of round the Table; which cup was finely edged about with
Silver, and double Gilt. In the same place were kept many large and
great Mazers of the same sort.... Every Monk had his Mazer severally
by himself to drink in, and had all other Things that served the
whole Convent, and the Frater-house in their daily Service, at their
Diet, and at their Table.... At these Times (at meals) the Master
observed these wholesom and godly Orders, for the continual
instruction of their Youth in Virtue and Learning; that is, one of
the Novices appointed by the Master, read some Part of the Old and
New Testament in Latin, during Dinner, having a convenient place at
the _South_ End of the High Table, within a beautiful Glass Window,
encompass'd with Iron, and certain Stone Steps, with Iron Rails to
go up to an Iron Desk, whereon lay the Holy Bible....

"This Fabrick retained the Name of the Petty Canons' Hall till _Dr
Sudbury_, Dean of the Cathedral, generously erected a beautiful
Library in its Place; but he not living to finish it compleatly, did
by (a clause) in his Last Will, bind his Heir, _Sir John Sudbury_,
to the due Execution thereof."

[Illustration: S. Cuthbert's Chest.]

The contents of the library are both numerous and interesting. There are
several thousands of volumes, many of them being rare and valuable.
Numerous ancient illuminated MSS., among which is a copy of the Gospels
of S. Mark, S. Luke, and S. John, written before the year 700; and
several books given by Bishops Carileph and Pudsey. Among the latter is
a Bible, in four volumes, in its original stamped leather binding. A
collection of ancient copes belonging to the cathedral, and the remains
of the robes of S. Cuthbert, and other relics taken from his coffin when
it was exhumed, in 1827, may also be seen here. Numerous specimens of
Roman altars, tablets, and sculptured stones, from various Roman
stations in Durham and Northumberland, notably from Hexha