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tage" for such a building, the modest refectory and lofty church tower were reflected in the quiet waters; and the cloister ran across them on a bridge of three fair arches. Many a religious man, sick of the vanity and tumults of the world, had here dedicated the evening of his days to GOD; many an one, happier than he, had here rested him all his life long; and many, whose labours of love had endeared them to the villagers around, but whose piety and humility were known only to their Maker, slept in the hallowed aisles, and left behind them only their names, and their humble prayer for mercy. The prior and monk were laid side by side; and some, who had borne arms for the cross, and signalized themselves by deeds of valour against the cruel Saracen, craved as a favour to "lay their bones beside the bones" of the ecclesiasticks. The last prior but one, filled as it were with a presentiment of coming evil, caused the words to be added to his brazen legend, "For ye tender mercie of Jhesu let them rest in peace."

With a hundred other richer foundations, Ayton Priory was bestowed by Henry VIII. on Lord Cromwell; and the agent whom he employed in turning the estate into money, gloated over the treasure which the abbey church presented to his sacrilegious eyes. "I think," so he wrote to his infamous employer, "that your lordship did never see more curiously wrought work, both of tapestry and hangings, embroidery and vestments, pixes and thuribles, chalicys and lamps, than bee in this place. I have thought fit

to make a note of such, to the intent that your honour may know both its riches and my diligence. There were eight great tombes of alabaster, diversely carvyd with cherubim and saints, also with the portraietures of them that were buried in them, all wrought to the life. These, with notable payns, we brake down o' Monday last; and the alabaster I did give to Gregory Digges, the bricklayer, for his trouble, to make lime of. Also ten or twelve brasses, which we tost up, and which bee for the melting pot. Item, five chalicys, silver gilt, set with rubys stones; a reliquary, chacyd very curiously, and inlaid with certain gemmes. Item, two crosses of golde, and three of silver. Now we are a pullyng down the lead from the roof, of which I shall in due tyme advertise your honour. And so," continued the impious wretch, “I commende you to the keepynge of Almighty God."

Verily, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD": and so both the spoilers of our abbey churches and their inferior agents found, when it was too late. In this world, they for the most part perished by miserable ends, leaving a name clogged with infamy, and a family oppressed by beggary; and in the world to come-but it is not for us to anticipate the judgments of Him to Whom vengeance belongeth.

For three hundred years, Ayton Priory passed in rapid succession from one family to another, and seemed, into the possession of whomsoever it might fall, to bring misfortune and ruin with it. It became

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the property of a county family of wealth and influence-in twenty years not a member of it survived a nobleman, charmed with the situation, brought to it his young bride-in a few months the mother and her infant were committed to the same grave: an admiral, high in the esteem of his country, purchased it next year he perished with Sir Cloudesley Shovel: it passed to a merchant, one of the princely traders of our country, and shortly after he was ruined in the South Sea bubble. It had lately become the property of a Colonel Abberley. With his character, as well as with that of some other personages of our tale, we shall make the reader acquainted, by introducing him to the dinner table of Sir John Morley, and to a party assembled principally for the purpose of affording the Colonel an introduction to some of his future neighbours.

The ladies had withdrawn: the setting sun, just visible above the chestnut avenue which led to the house, shot a rich yellow glare on the dark oak floor and roof of the old dining-room, on the old family portraits with their heavy gilt frames, which ornamented the walls, on the quaintly carved sideboard, an heirloom from the days when mahogany was brought over as ships' ballast, and on the stone chimney-piece, wrought in all the curious elaboration of Elizabethan art into angels and monsters and flower-wreaths, and bearing conspicuously the Morley legend, "Time tryeth Trothe," and the Morley arms, which, for the sake of our heraldick readers, we will

emblazon as accurately as Sir John himself, a great amateur in heraldry, could wish. They were, sable, a bend or, in chief a lion passant gardant of the second: the last being an honourable augmentation, won by a Morley, for some feat of prowess performed at Agincourt.

Besides Sir John Morley himself, who, with his tall muscular figure high forehead and bright eye, seemed yet in the full vigour of his strength, although more than a few grey hairs were to be seen on his head; and Col. Abberley, whose spare and well-built form, and dark complexion, showed clearly how many of his days had been spent in the field; there were Charles Abberley, the son of the latter; Mr. Wallis, the Vicar of Teynton, a clergyman who, had his youth been thrown in a time when the Church was putting forth her energies, might have proved a more efficient soldier in her ranks, but who was now almost past active service; Mr. Trenton, who, having amassed a considerable fortune at Birmingham, was now endeavouring to pass the remainder of his days in the pursuits and amusements of a country gentleman; Sir Thomas Underby, a baronet of very ancient family, and of the envied creation of 1611; and lastly George Morley, Sir John's second son, who, as curate to Mr. Wallis, took on himself all the responsibility of the parish management, and who was eventually, the living being in Sir John's gift, to succeed to its actual incumbency.

"And so, Sir John," observed Mr. Trenton, "you

expect your son from Cambridge next week, I am told. I am glad of it with all my heart; nothing like setting a man up for himself and giving him something to do. There are so many, now-a-days, that like to spend the best part of their lives in getting knowledge that can turn to no earthly use, that I am quite glad Mr. Morley is not to be one of them."

"Why," replied Sir John, "I believe my son's time has been as well spent at the university as it could be: he has laid in a good stock of sound learning, and better than that, the discipline of mind and formation of good moral habits he has gained there, will stand him in good stead all his life. But he and I agreed, that as he is to be a country gentleman, as his father before him, and as he does not, thank GOD, want a fellowship for his support, it was hardly worth while for him to sit for one. If he succeeded, as I am told he would, he must have deprived some one, perhaps equally worthy of the honour, and needing the emolument more; and if he failed, why, in his case there was so much time thrown away."

"He has remained there, however," asked Col. Abberley, some time since his degree-has he

not?"

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"He has," returned Sir John: "it was his wish; and I had no objection. George, on the other hand, was anxious to enter on his work as soon as might be; and I was very glad that he should."

"And most assuredly," added Mr. Wallis, “I am

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