Acknowledgements

When I first began to collect material for this volume, in 1977, I received a warm welcome at Wells from the late Linzee Colchester, who was the Honorary Archivist at the Cathedral and a learned and generous enthusiast in all matters connected with its history. More recently, on taking up the work again in preparation for publication, I found that the scholarly and hospitable tradition at Wells is being maintained by the present Honorary Archivist, Mrs Frances Neale, who has given me invaluable help and advice. I am indebted also to archivists at other repositories, and especially to Mr Tom Mayberry, of the Somerset County Record Office at Taunton, and Dr Claire Breay, of the Department of Manuscripts at the British Library.

The appearance in 1995 of the first volume for Bath and Wells in the British Academy's series of English Episcopal Acta, edited by Dr Frances Ramsey and covering the period between 1061 and 1205, greatly simplified the task of dating the twelfth-century material. Both before and since publication of that collection, Dr Ramsey has encouraged and assisted my work in numerous ways. At the control-centre of the Acta project at the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research in York, Professor David Smith and Dr Philippa Hoskin have been kindness itself in answering my many queries.

Other scholars who have sent material and responded to requests for help are Dr Martin Brett, Dr David Cox, Dr Joan Greatrex, Professor Simon Keynes, Dr Olivia Robinson, Professor Jane Sayers, and Dr Cyriel Vleeschouwers. At the Institute of Historical Research Dr Jane Winters has read the entire typescript and saved me from many errors and infelicities, and Miss Olwen Myhill has once again prepared the camera-ready copy with serene meticulousness.

My greatest debt is to Professor Christopher Brooke, who has taken a constant and active interest in the Fasti project from its first days, contributing draft lists and documentary references, and always responding speedily, helpfully and patiently to my pleas for information and advice. He has devoted much time to reading and commenting on this volume, to its great benefit.