of church furniture and vestments, as not only altar-cloths, curtains, hangings, copes, which were nuns’ work, and very likely made by them, but chalices are enumerated; and they also possessed, closed in silver, and set with counterfeit stones and pearls, a relique of the Holy Cross, and a cross with certain other reliques, ‘wt silver gilded. Item, a case to keepe in reliques, plated and gilt ... and a clocke.’ These were the nuns’ small treasures, and all were confiscated. In the ‘Romance of London,’ by the late industrious Mr. Timbs, there is a legend, quoted by Mr. Walford, of Kilburn Priory. He calls it traditionary, and says that Mr. Timbs could not trace it to any authentic source; yet it appears to have been well known to that enthusiastic collector of ancient ballads and legendary lore, Sir Walter Scott, who had written a lyrical version of the story long before Mr. Timbs produced his ‘Romance of London,’ though without publishing it. Here is the tale of its origin, according to Mr. H. G. Atkinson, who tells us the verses (which I give further on) remained unpublished till their appearance in the columns of the _Athenæum_, September 17, 1881: ‘My father, an architect, was a friend of Scott’s, and helped him, as a friend, in the decoration and finishings of Abbotsford. Scott would often dine with my father when in London, and was greatly interested in the garden. In one corner there was some rockwork, in which were inserted some fragments of stone ornaments of Kilburn Priory, and crowning all was an irregularly-shaped stone, having a deep red stain, no doubt of ferruginous origin. This stone was sent to my father by Lord Mulgrave in one of his cement vessels, my father having been struck with its appearance on the shore at Whitby, and from these simple, really unconnected facts Scott made out the following story in verse, which might be regarded as a kind of friendly offering in return for services rendered. Here are the lines; I had supposed them lost, but my sister, in turning over some old papers, found a copy.’ This I have taken the liberty to reproduce: THE MUCKLE STAIN, OR BLEEDING STONE OF KILBURN PRIORY. For the blessed rood of Sir Gervase the Good The nuns of Kilburn pray; But for the wretch who shed his blood No tongue a prayer shall say. The bells shall ring, and the nuns shall sing, Sir Gervase to the blest; But holiest rites shall never bring His murderer’s soul to rest. ‘Now tell me, I pray, thou palmer gray, Why thou kneelest at this shrine; And why dost thou cry so eagerly Upon the help Divine? ‘Oh, tell me who the man may be, And what his deadly sin, That the Church’s prayer, for his soul’s despair, The mercy of Christ may win.’ ‘I cry at this shrine on the help Divine To save the soul of one Who in death shall lie ere morning shine Upon this ancient stone.