EDITORIAL NOTE
No claim to exhaustiveness is made for the lists of abbots and
priors of the religious houses. It is probable that as the contents
of private muniments and the public records become more accessible,
new names will be added. Since the article on the religious houses
was completed, the name of John, abbot of Holmcultram, in 1406,
was brought to light by the publication of the Calendar of Papal
Letters (vi. 77): John, prior of St. Bees, was witness to a deed, dated
1330, at Cockermouth Castle, and Nicholas de Warthill was prior
of the same place in 1387, as stated in a charter at the British
Museum.
During the time of the preparation of this volume death has
removed two esteemed colleagues—the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, a
zoologist of distinction, and Mr. William Steel, a keen sportsman as
well as an experienced writer.
The Editors wish to express their obligation to Mrs. Henry Ware
for the loan of her valuable collection of casts of episcopal seals;
to the Cumberland and Westmorland Archaeological Society for the
use of blocks; to the Mayor and Corporation of Carlisle for liberty
to photograph the initial letter of one of their royal charters; to
the Director of the Public Library, Carlisle, for the loan of engravings
for reproduction; to the Bishop and Chapter of Carlisle, the Earl of
Lonsdale, and Lord Leconfield, for access to their muniments; to the
Rev. Dr. Greenwell, Mr. W. Farrer, Sir E. T. Bewley, Dr. George
Neilson, Mr. William Brown, and Dr. Haswell, for advice and
assistance readily given.