The Victoria County Histories, now in progress, propose to deal thoroughly with all the religious houses; up to the present, those of Hampshire (2nd vol.) have been treated by Rev. Dr. Cox, and those of Bedfordshire (1st vol.) by Sister Elspeth. The Times, in reviewing the first of these volumes, said that if the scheme was followed up in other counties after a like fashion with Hampshire, the result would be the issue of a new ‘Monasticon.’

Possibly it is presumptuous to quote St. Augustine in connection with a booklet of this description, but the words with which the great Doctor concludes his treatise De Civitate Dei seem applicable:

“If in these pages there is either too much or too little, the fault is mine, and may I be forgiven; but if there is just sufficient join with me in giving thanks to God.”

F. S. A.

October, 1904.

Contents

CHAPTER I
PAGE
Vocation[ 1]
CHAPTER II
The Monastic Tenants[ 18]
CHAPTER III
Education in Monasteries[ 32]
CHAPTER IV
Monastic Charities[ 40]
CHAPTER V
Monastic Diet[ 49]
CHAPTER VI
Monastic Morality and Forest Courts [ 69]
CHAPTER VII
Visitations[ 80]
CHAPTER VIII
The Two Commissions of Henry VIII[ 93]
CHAPTER IX
Concluding Words[ 108]

List of Illustrations

I Newstead Priory[ Frontispiece]
PAGE
II Rievaulx Abbey facing [16]
III Fountains Abbey ” [ 32]
IV Byland Abbey ” [48]
V Buildwas Abbey ” [ 64]
VI Llanthony Priory ” [ 80]

ENGLISH MONASTERIES