dent desire to travel into that province, in order to revive the monastic life. For this purpose, he resigned his office, and proceeding to Evesham abbey, which was also in Mercia, he prevailed on Elfwine, a deacon, and Reinfrid, a monk of good reputation but of no learning, to enter into his views. The three pilgrims set out on foot, with a little ass to carry their books and priestly garments. On their arrival at York, they obtained from the sheriff, Hugh the son of Baldric, a guide to Munecaceastre, or Monktown, which was on the north bank of the Tyne. Here they began to take up their abode; but, as the place did not answer their expectations, and as Walcher, bishop of Durham, invited them to reside under his jurisdiction, they resolved to accept his invitation; and after being hospitably entertained by the bishop, they settled under his patronage at the ancient monastery of Jarrow. Having built themselves huts among the ruins, and erected a temporary place of worship, they led a life of poverty, supported only by the alms of the pious. Their high reputation for sanctity soon brought an accession to their numbers; and Walcher, overjoyed at their increase, gave them some lands for their support. But Aldwin's views were not confined to the restoration of one monastery, and perceiving the flourishing state of Jarrow, he left it to the charge of Elfwine, and set out in quest of another station; while Reinfrid, on the same principle, travelled southward to revive the ancient monastery of St. Hilda.

"According to a memorial in the records of Whitby abbey, Reinfrid had formerly been a soldier in the Conqueror's army, and being with him in his northern expedition, had turned aside to visit the ancient Streoneshalc, when his heart was greatly affected at beholding its ruins; and under this impression he had entered the monastery of Evesham, that he might be qualified to take a part in its restoration. This statement does not seem to correspond with the account of Hoveden and Simeon of Durham, whose authority I have followed. Yet we may believe, that, according to the memorial, Reinfrid was favourably received by William de Percy, an eminent Norman baron, who then held the manor of Whitby and Sneaton under Hugh, earl of Chester; and who was himself the proprietor of large estates in other parts of Yorkshire. This illustrious baron, from whom the noble family of Percy is descended, gave to Reinfrid and his companions the site of the ancient monastery, with two carucates of land in Presteby for their support. The ruins of the abbey still bore the marks of its former greatness; for, says the memorial, there were then in that town, as some old inhabitants have told us, about forty cells or oratories, of which nothing was left but bare walls and empty altars.' Among these ruins, Reinfrid and his companions took up their abode; and while they formed habitations for themselves, they probably, as at Jarrow, repaired some part of the church, or some one of its oratories, for public worship. Here this prior lived with his brethren, in humility, patience, and charity; affording an example of virtue and piety to all around: so that in a short time he collected a number of respectable men, who assumed the monastic habit as a part of his fraternity.'"

The lives of several of the abbots, together with a list of the whole of them, to the dissolution of the reign of Henry VIII., concludes the chapter. The remaining part of this volume contains the account of the possessions, revenues, and services of the Abbey, together with a description of the buildings belonging to this once extensive religious establishment: an account also of the neighbouring monasteries, and their offices, &c. is added, concluding with the State of the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the district since the Dissolution. The following is taken from the close of the chapter, containing an account of the revenues of the Abbey →→

"In closing this review of the extensive possessions of our abbey, it may be proper to glance at the causes of those vast accumulations of monastic property, which took place between the conquest and the middle of the 13th century. Respect for the monastic character may be named as one of the primary causes. The life of the early monks was, agreeably to their profession, a life of poverty, retirement, and devotion; and to contribute to the support of persons so heavenly was therefore regarded as a meritorious service. Long after they had begun to degenerate, this favourable view of their character continued to prevail; every person who had property, and wished to be thought pious, was ready to bestow his benefaction for the encouragement of a religious life; not considering, that this profusion of wealth would eventually smother that devotion which it was intended to cherish. The notions entertained of the efficacy of their prayers, especially their prayers for the dead, operated powerfully in their behalf. No doctrine of the Romish church has been more lucrative than that of purgatory. Most of the property granted to the monks was designed to secure their prayers for the souls of the donors, or of their kindred; and, in those ages of rapine and bloodshed, it was no wonder that sinners, laden with guilt, should adopt this method of appeasing their conscience, and escaping from future woe, while their spiritual guides were at pains to encourage the gainful delusion. And when the guilty father died in his iniquities, the son who inherited the fruits of his crimes, would deem it a most laudahle act to contribute to the eternal salvation of his parent. Hence the multiplication of monasteries, cells, and churches; hence that abundance of wealth which was poured into the funds of the religious.

"The spirit of crusading was peculiarly favourable to monastic establishments. When the romantic idea of wresting the holy land from the grasp of pagans, caught the fancy of a chivalrous age, when the fiat of the sovereign pontiff made the path of blood the read to heaven, when thousands flocked to the East to display their piety by gratifying their ruling passions, and to gain a passport to eternal bliss by rapine and slaughter, — it was natural to expect, that such as were seized with this mania would devote to religious uses a portion of those lands which they left behind them. To this origin may be traced the grant of the first William de Percy; for it was not till he was setting out for the holy land, that his liberality became conspicuous. The cause was aided, in that instance, by the ties of consanguinity, which, as well as the bonds of friendship, contributed at other periods to the advancement of our abbey. Serlo was William's brother; the abbot William was Alan's cousin ; and in performing an act of piety provision was made for a branch of the family. The example of the chiefs was followed by their relations and dependants: even Fulco the sewer of Alan de Percy cast in his mite into the sacred fund; and indeed this species of bounty became so fashionable that a stigma was fixed on such as neglected it.

"Various other causes concurred to swell the spiritual estates. Some of the lands of our abbey were purchased with money; and as the monks, when they husbanded their resources, were seldom at a loss for money, they were able to take advantage of the distresses of those who were in want of it. Hence a number of grants of lands were made to them, in consideration of money given to the donor in his great necessity.' Some gave their property to the monastery in the view of entering it themselves; thus securing a comfortable retreat in their old age: some bequeathed their lands to the monks for want of heirs, reserving the possession of it during their life-time: and others bargaining for an annuity to be paid them.

"Through the operation of these and similar causes the spiritual estate rapidly accumulated; and there is no knowing what extent they would have reached, had not their progress been checked by the statute of mortmain."

The subjects in a work of this nature are in general so closely blended together, that it is only with difficulty, if indeed at all, such extracts can be selected, as may give a fair specimen of the execution of the work; we can assure our readers, that there are many passages of increased interest which come under the latter description, not to mention the very limited view of the work, which the small space of our multifarious publication compels us to observe.

[To be concluded in our next.]

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

LITERARY ANNUNCIATIONS. ༢༦༦༢༠༠�༠་༢༦་༧་༠» ༢༠་ར༠་

PROPOSALS have been issued for publishing by subscription, in one 4to. volume, with a mineralogical map of the district, and numerous engravings, a Geological Survey of the Yorkshire Coast; by the Rev. George Young, and John Bird, artist. A work intended to give a general view of the stratification of this most interesting, though neglected, district; to describe the nature, position, and contents of each stratum; to explain, or in some measure elucidate, the phenomena presented; and coutribute some useful observations relating to the structure of our globe.

Miss Smith, of Adwick-Hall, near Doncaster, is now publishing in numbers, a work on Flower Drawing.

GENERAL MONTHLY CATALOGUE.