Few people who are not archaeologists realize how many substantial
relics of the great monastic houses are still en- shrined in the public and endowed schools which now occupy their sites ; and how great a contribution these can make to our knowledge of mediaeval life. As Dr. Coulton reminds us in his introduction to Dover Priory, by C. R. Haines (Cam- bridge University Press, 30s.), the abbeys and priories, especially those lying on the great trade routes, were in close contact with secular life. Thus the story of the Priory, told in such careful detail by Mr. Haines, really involves the history of Dover itself ; of the ebb and flow of travel between England and France, and the hopeless struggles of a small but independent Benedictine house to resist the encroachments of Canterbury. In his minute exploration of this limited field Mr. Haines throws light on many interesting points. It is true that his notion of Benedictine life owes more to Dr. Coulton than to Abbot Butler ; and his account of the Opus Dei is hardly that of an expert liturgiologist. ' But his investigation of the priory finances, and his analysis of the library catalogue (which included numerous medical works, and such unexpected items as " Old Mother Trot ") are of real value to the student. Among the hors d'oeuvres which lighten the more solid sections of the work we note with particular pleasure that the outfit of a novice, as well as " matras and ii par hlankettys," included " i furrypane." For this agreeable addition to our domestic vocabulary, grades agatnus.
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