"Records of Romsey Abbey. By Henry G. D. Liveing, M.A.
(Warren and Son, Winchester. 10s. 6d. net.)—The Abbey of Romsey was a Benedictine foundation dating from the early part of the tenth century. It never became a place of great import- ance, and towards the end of its existence fell into an unsatisfac- tory condition. The visitations made from time to time reveal no very serious delinquencies, though we hear of occasional offenders against good manners. Something of a general impression of pettiness and uselessness is left. It must be remembered, how- ever, that it was only the defects and weaknesses that came into notice; the quiet goodness of the inmates naturally passed with- out notice. The House was dissolved with the rest of the monastic foundations, and contained twenty-five nuns. In the fourteenth century it had numbered more than a hundred. The decrease was not due to deficiency of means, as we find that at the time of the surrender the rents amounted to 4481 Is. 8d., certainly equivalent to 45,000 in our money. Mr. Liveing adds some interesting information about the Abbey Church and the town of Romsey.
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