Excerpt from Chapter Acts of the Cathedral Church of St. Mary of Lincoln A. D. 1547-1559

While he was correcting the last pages of the text of the present volume, and before he had been able to revise the index, Canon Cole found that advancing years and increasing weakness made it necessary for him to give up the literary work in which he delighted, and to leave to other hands the completion Of this book. To the many people who have read with deep interest Canon Cole's interesting and scholarly contributions to the history Of Lincolnshire this decision comes as a matter Of great regret, while to his literary friends the thought is present that they can no longer reckon him as an inspiring fellow-worker, nor turn to him for the help upon which they could always count.

When the Lincoln Record Society was founded in 1910 it was felt that no one was so well-fitted to edit its first volume as Canon Cole, and that he was singularly happy in finding so interesting a subject as Gervase Holles' Lincolnshire Church Notes. It is a matter of congratula tion to the Society, and to scholars generally, that he has been able in the present book to finish the work Of editing the great volume of the Chapter Acts Of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln, which, on account Of its great bulk, came to be known as Liber Crassus. That manuscript relates to the history of the Cathedral Church during the critical days of the sixteenth century, and also touches at many points on the larger history of the kingdom. Many notable events are alluded to in the footnotes, and the long historical introductions to Canon Cole's three volumes will be to many readers not the least interesting section Of the work.

The members of the Society are deeply indebted to the Dean and Chapter for placing the manuscript Of the Liber Crassus and other portions Of the Chapter Acts at their disposal; and Canon Cole has asked the writer to express his acknowledgements to two Of his friends who have given him valuable help and advice: to Mr. A. Hamilton Thompson, m.a., who has always been ready to place his wide and accurate knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical and secular history at his disposal; and to the Reverend R. C. Dudding, rector Of Saleby, who has devoted much time to the laborious work of finishing and checking the index.

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