Victoria County History : Berk.•shire, Vol. II. (A. Constable and
Co. Al 11s. 6d. net per vol.)—The " Ecclesiastical History" is at least as interesting as usual. Dr. J. C. Cox, who writes it, points out that the poor suffered by the confiscation of the obits. A. share in these went to the poor. Still, the condition of a paternoster to be said for the departed for a dole received was objectionable. Would any clergyman now accept an endowment on such terms ? The religious houses of all kinds numbered thirty-six. Two of them were of great importance,—Abingdon and Reading. At the Dissolution there were at Abingdon twenty-six inmates, who received among them pensions to the amount of £375 per annum. Reading Abbey at the Dissolution had a revenue of nearly £2,000. The pensions granted were £200, but then an equivalent for the £200 granted to the Abingdon Abbot must be added. In the reign of Philip and Mary there were thirteen monks on the pension-list. The " Political History" is by Miss Alice Sergeant, the " Social History" by Miss E. C. Lodge, and there is an interesting account of schools. No old school comes into the first rank, but among modern foundations are Hadley, Bradfield, and Wellington. " Sport Ancient and Modern " is treated in considerable detail.
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