Vercelli

Vercelli, an ancient but thriving town in North Italy, 40 miles SW. of Milan by rail, with several old churches, a modern cathedral, and manufactures of machinery, candles, matches, soap, and musical instruments. Pop. 20,165. Among the important MSS. in its libraries are an ancient Latin version of the four gospels, and the 'Vercelli Book,' a mutilated but invaluable collection of the remains of Anglo-Saxon literature, made probably about the time of Edward the Confessor, but discovered by Dr Blume at Vercelli in 1823. It contains six homilies and six poems; and a transcript was published for the Record Commission in 1836. The more important poems, St Andrew and The Finding of the Cross, have been separately edited.