70 
In the second Episode is the representation of a battle between 
the townspeople and monks, headed -by Bishop Ealhstan, and a 
wild band of Danes, in which the Sherbornians triumph. 
Then occurred a singularly beautiful and touching scene, in 
which the dying King, Ethelbald, is borne in, accompanied by a 
long procession. There is a reconciliation between him and his 
brother’ Ethelbert; and the child Alfred receives the dying 
king’s blessing. Subsequently Alfred is handed over by Queen 
Osburga to.Bishop Halhstan, that he may receive his education 
at Sherborne. After the laxity which had crept into Monastic 
life is presented, there appears the figure of William the Conqueror, 
who transfers the Bishopric to the hill of Sarum. ‘The sorrow 
which this action brings is succeeded by joy when, with Masonic 
ceremony, Roger of Caer, Bishop of Sarum and Abbot of Sher- 
borne, lays the foundation stone of the Castle. Something was 
said of the remarkable character of this statesman-bishop, 
and ‘of the vicissitudes of the Castle which he built. It was 
destroyed by order of Parliament in Oliver Cromwell’s days. 
- he Episode which set forth the great quarrel of the Fifteenth 
Century, between the monks and the townspeople of Sherborne, 
was full of lively situations. ‘The speech of the townsfolk was 
in the Dorset dialect, and created much amusement. 
The foundation of the Almshouses was the next representation. 
The picturesque buildings are close to the Abbey, and the 
characteristic: dress. worn .by, the occupants is scarcely varied 
from that worn when the Hospital was established in 1437. 
The Expulsion of the Monks was a pathetic scene. It 
admrably illustrated the merciless methods adopted by King 
Henry VILI. and his agents in the suppression of those ancient 
religious foundations—the monasteries—with their rich heritage 
ot historic memories. Mr. Grant next gave a brief description 
of the Abbey Church, and referred to the fan-vaulting of the 
choir, which is said to be unrivalled for beauty. 
The Church contains a list of the Bishops of Sherborne from 
705 ‘to 1058: then of the Abbots of Sherborne: then of the 
Vicars from 1228 to the present time. The Bishop of Bristol 
was quoted in a passage which showed the spiritual descent in 
clear and unbroken line from St. Aidhelm to the present Bishop 
of Salisbury, who is eighty-fifth in the line from him. 
* Tn the tenth Episode was depicted the granting of the Charter 
to the School by King Edward VI. The scholars of to-day took 
their part with all the vigour and vivacity of youth. Following 
‘this came the magnificent ‘scene of the entry into Sherborne of 
Sir Walter Raleigh and his wife; with their retinue of gallant 
