II

The Song of the Minster
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HEN John of Fulda became Prior
of Hethholme, says the old chron-
icle, he brought with him to the Abbey
many rare and costly books — beautiful illu-
minated missals and psalters and portions of
the Old and New Testament. And he pre-
sented rich vestments to the Minster; albs
of fine linen, and copes embroidered with
flowers of gold. In the west front he built
two great arched windows filled with mar-
vellous storied glass. The shrine of St.
Egwin he repaired at vast outlay, adorning
it with garlands in gold and silver, but the
colour of the flowers was in coloured gems,
and in like fashion the little birds in the
nooks of the foliage. Stalls and benches of
carved oak he placed in the choir; and
many other noble works he had wrought in
his zeal for the glory of God’s house.