Reading Abbey. loi 



And now I remember Shakespeare has his say too 

 about the lark — what is it in England he has not his 

 say about ? or in all the world for that matter ; and how 

 much and how many things has he rendered it the high- 

 est wisdom for men to keep silent about after he has 

 said his say, holding their peace forever. 



A row upon the silver Thames after luncheon, and 

 we are off again for Reading, where we are to rest over 

 night at the Queen's. Reading has a pretty, new park 

 and interesting ruins within its boundaries which we 

 visited before dinner. There are but few traces left of 

 the once famous Abbey, founded early in the twelfth 

 century by Henry I. In the height of its prosperity 

 more than two hundred monks fattened at its hospitable 

 board, and its mitred abbot sat as a peer in Parlia- 

 ment. It was noted, too, as a centre of learning, but the 

 jolly brethren must have sadly degenerated in this 

 respect, if we can believe the report of the royal com- 

 missioners in temp. Henry VIII., for Hugh Cook, the 

 last abbot, who was hanged and quartered near his own 

 door in 1539, is described as a " stubborn monk, abso- 

 lutely without learning." But, of course, all who believe 

 that the much-married Henry was a monster of iniquity 

 will put no faith in the reports of his minions, and will 

 continue to believe that Abbot Hugh was a holy man 

 of God, whose shortcomings in the small matters of 

 orthography and syntax were more than made up 

 by his proficiency in vigils, fastings, and prayers. That 



