XX.—The Episcopal Ornaments of William of Wykeham and William of Waynfleet, sometime Bishops of Winchester, and of certain Bishops of St. Davids

Abstract

In July of last year, on the kind invitation of Mr. J. B. Carrington, I was able, through the courtesy of the authorities of New College, Oxford, to examine at leisure the splendid crosier of their Founder, Bishop William of Wykeham, which Mr. Carrington had offered to cleanse from an accumulation of dust and dirt. One of the things at once apparent on examining the staff was its somewhat rickety condition, and in view of the fact that any mishap might be productive of deplorable injury, at the request of the College I drew up a report on the crosier and the steps that should be taken to make its several parts secure. As a consequence of this report the staff has been entrusted, on my recommendation, to Mr. C. Krall, who has carried out with his usual skill only such repairs as were absolutely necessary; it being the special instruction of the College that nothing further should be attempted. The wisdom of this course can not be too highly commended.