gave an account of tlie principles of liis Eule, and its relation to 
others previously in existence. It was less severe and ascetic, gave 
a greater prominence to labour and study, and was altogether more 
adapted for practical and missionary work. Being favoured by 
Gregory the Great and other pontiffs, many of whom had been 
Benedictine Monks, it spread rapidly throughout Europe, several 
other orders being merged in it. The chief rivalry was on the part 
of Columbanus, an Irish Monk, who founded Luxeuil, in Erance, 
and Bobbio, in Italy; but the Benedictine rule ultimately prevailed. 
In England it was strenuously upheld by Dunstan and Wilfrid. 
Most of our old cities became the seat of Benedictine monasteries, 
and all the mitred abbots were of this order. Monte Cassino 
suffered by the Italian wars of the middle ages, especially those of 
the Guelphs and Ghibellines, but it always recovered itseff. Its 
discipline, however, and that of the Benedictine order generally, 
became relaxed, and various reforms were undertaken to re-establish 
its primitive character. Of these the most remarkable was that in 
which the Cistertian order originated. It was not acceptable to the 
Benedictine Monks generally, and the history of St. Mary’s Abbey 
shows with what violence they could contend against its intro¬ 
duction. After a vain struggle the monks who desired reform 
seceded and established the Cistertian Abbey of Fountains. During 
the 17th century, Monte Cassino maintained its character as a 
learned establishment; the course of events, and the progress of 
ideas in the 18th century, were unfavourable to it, as to all 
monastic institutions. It suffered no outward violence, however, 
till the war of the French Eevolution brought the French armies 
into Southern Italy. The Monks favoured the Pope and the Eung 
of Naples, and were threatened and plundered by the French. 
King Joachim Murat, though he abolished the order in his king¬ 
dom, allowed Monte Cassino to retain fifty Monks, who were 
charged with the care of the library and archives. The financial 
wants of the newly-established kingdom of Italy led to the secular¬ 
isation of all ecclesiastical establishments, and it was feared that 
even the venerable Abbey of Monte Cassino might be involved in 
the general fate. Eemonstrances were addressed to the Itahan 
Government by various archaeological bodies in England, and the 
result has been that it is to be preserved as a repository for the 
national monuments and archives. The Benedictine order has been 
conspicuous for the persevering labour which it has bestowed in 
past times on literary undertakings, prolonged through many years; 
