Before these houses were repaired, two years since, some of the panelling inside them was beautifully carved, and there still remains ornamental tracery on the outside of some of the windows, but much has been removed. What was more remarkable was the discovery of numerous coins about the panelling, as if some of them had accidently slipped behind it. Among them were a Roman coin and a Spanish, some leaden coins and medals, and a token of the Corporation of Southampton made of brass, with three roses on the obverse.

On our way back we met an aged man with a light blue coat and an oblong silver badge, with something like a shamrock upon it. The wearer of this gay apparel belonged to “Christ’s Hospital” (1607), near the Cathedral. The brethren’s house looked as bright as their coats, with scarlet virginian and blue clematis.

As the next day was Sunday, which is no day for excursions, and we had pretty well explored the principal part of Winchester, my friends now took their departure. They said that they had enjoyed their visit. With me the time had passed rapidly. I tried to make a favourable impression, and am vain enough to think I succeeded, especially on one occasion while Mr. Hertford was deeply studying the guide-book.

On Sunday morning I felt lonely. I sauntered down the High Street. There were many young fellows standing about who had evidently come in from the country. Some looked very gay, wearing sunflowers in their buttonholes, and talking to their sweethearts. This sight made me feel still more forlorn.

I went to the invisible Church—I mean St. Lawrence’s—which cannot be seen from the outside. The sermon pleased me. I remember that the preacher said: “Some men put on their religion on Sundays with their best coat, and when the day is done take off their religion and their coat, and hang them up until next Sunday.”

FOOTNOTES:

[88]The boundaries of Wansborough are given here with much quaintness and particularity. “From the Stone to the Eden, from the Eden to the Lent, from the Lent to the great Thorn.... From the hollow thorn to the hoar stone, from the hoar stone to the hollow pan.... From the crooked link to the cat-holes, from the old treestead to the crooked apple-tree.”
[89]In the possession of the Duke of Devonshire.
[90]The Carmelites would not have been pleased with this representation, as they think the first of their white gowns was thrown down by Elijah, and the black stripes they wear are to show where it was singed by the wheels of fire.
[91]Tradition said, as late as 1650, that the Domesday Book was kept in a vault or in a chapel called Domus Dei, in the Cathedral. If so it was only there just after its compilation. The earlier Domesday book, or Dombroc, of Alfred, was kept here or at Wolvesey.
[92]The refectory, which was forty feet long, stood on the south-west of the cloisters. The “vocal” crucifix was at the east end of it. In 1798 there were, according to Milner, four round-headed windows in the north wall.
[93]There could have been no lack of money on this occasion, for the King found £900,000 in gold and silver besides jewels in the treasury at Winchester.
[94]It passed through the dormitory, cloisters, buttery, malthouse, kitchen, and quadrangle.
[95]In the street just by the back of this house two shells were found, probably some of Waller’s “granadoes.”
[96]Winchester was celebrated for its imported and native wine.
[97]In which the celebrated Admiral Lord Hawke died.