SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as haus not been reserred fur reniew in other forms.]
Eirenny Priory. By Colonel J. B. Turbervill. (Elliot Stock. is. 6d.)—Ewenny is a parish in Glamorganshire, where about the middle of the twelfth century a priory was founded, and attached, ts a cell, to St. Peter's Abbey, Gloucester. It was meant to serve at the same time as "a monastery and fortress." Traces of both remain; the church, part of which was always parochial, remains in use; a building, mostly modern, is inhabited by the present possessor of the property, who traces his descent, if we under- stand the genealogies, to the original purchaser of the monastic property. The house had a net revenue at the Dissolution of about 260. and was purchased for .2727 63. 4d.,—a good bargain, would seem. The history of the house between its foundation and the Dissolution is wholly lost. But if we are to judge from what we know of the state of things in the Vale of Glamorgan up to the end of Glendower's insurrection, the monks must have had a stormy life. The establishment seems to have consisted of a Prior and two monks. Colonel Turberville has done his best by the selp of pen and pencil to tell the story of this picturesque and interesting place. It was a peculiarity of the grant of the priory lands that the Prior and monks were assigned a lodging in their building, their diet, and a yearly stipend, 10 marks to the Prior, and 51 marks to each of the monks. The same sums were to be allowed for diet if the grantee ceased to reside. They could hardly have been a very happy family. The grantee had also to provide a priest for the parish church.
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