13 JANUARY 1923, Page 29

Some of the most valuable of our historical materials come

from the monastic chronicles, and in this manual the Lambeth librarian gives a short account of the more important chronicles, from Bede to the School of St. Albans. In particular he describes the work of William of Malmesbury, Walter of St. Albans, and Roger of Wendover. He corrects many previous errors. Adam the cellarer, for instance, who is mentioned as a man circumspect and discreet in temporal matters, sed illiteratus, has hitherto been accepted as an historian of some eminence on account of a flagrantly mistranslated possessive pronoun. It is interesting to learn that Nicholas Breakspear, the only English Pope, applied to be admitted as a monk to St. Albans, and after examination was found to be insufficient and refused.