intervals, came the sound of chanting along the great hall and up the stairs into the dormitory, as the monks sung the service of matins, lauds, and prime.” Yes, it was a busy, pious life that was led in a well-ordered monastery; the service of God and of man combined to leave few idle moments, and the true religions, we are told, combined “with monastic simplicity an angelic good humour.” As men vary outside, so do they within monastic walls: some saints, some sinners; some dour, some sweet; some patient, some hot-blooded. They were human, those old monks, though somehow to-day we are apt to look upon them as either too entirely other-worldly, or too entirely this-worldly. Before quitting them it will not be unamusing, or, indeed, without instruction, to quote a few passages from Fuller’s _The Church-history of Britain from the Birth of Jesus Christ until the Year M.DC.XLVIII._, in which that worthy writer tells us of “Some generall Conformities observed in all Convents,” dealing with “the rule of the antient Benedictines.” “_Let Monks_ (after the example of _David_) _praise God seven times a day_. “1. _At Cock-crowing_: Because the Psalmist saith, _At midnight will I praise the Lord_: and most conceive that Christ rose from the dead about that time. “2. _Matutines_: at the _first hour_, or _six of the clock_, when the Jewish morning sacrifice was offered. And at what time Christ’s resurrection was by the Angels first notified to the women. “3. At the _third hour_, or _nine of the clock before none_: when, according to _S. Marke_, Christ was condemned, and scourged by _Pilate_. “4. At the _sixt hour_, or _twelve of the clock at high noon_: when Christ was crucified and darknesse over all the earth. “5. At the _ninth hour_, or _three of the clock in the afternoon_: when Christ gave up the ghost, and, which was an hour of publick prayer in the Temple, and privately in his closet with _Cornelius_. “6. Vespers: at the _twelfth hour_, or _six a clock in the afternoon_: when the evening sacrifice was offered in the Temple, and when Christ is supposed taken down from the Crosse. “7. At _seven of the clock at night_ (or the first hour beginning the nocturnall twelve): when Christ’s agonie in the garden was conceived began. “The first of those was performed at two of the clock in the morning: when the Monks (who went to bed at eight at night) had slept six hours, which were judged sufficient for nature.” Further, we read:-- “Let every Monk have two Coats, and two Cowles, etc.” “Let every Monk have his Table-book, Knife, Needle, and Handkerchief.” “Let the Bed of every Monk have a Mat, Blanket, Rugge, and Pillow.”