came to the monastery, being graciously received by the Abbot, . . . they proceeded into the church, where in the presence of the elder Brethren, and certain Peers, the Bishop declared the cause of his misfortune, recited the injuries he had conceived against this holy place, confessing himself culpable; he then advanced with sighs and tears to the foot of the altar, placed on it his pastoral staff, prostrated himself before God and St. Edmund, performed his devotions, and received absolution from the Abbot and his brethren. Then, having made trial of the Abbot's medicine, and as I saw, by the application of cauteries colliriums assisted by the prayers of the brethren, in a short time he returned perfectly healed; only a small obscurity remained in the pupil of one eye as a memorial of his audacity." This reads very like a case of one cured by prayer after having tried all form of medical aid one one never knows how much the treatment had to do with the cure, when the credit is all given to the faith!

Dickens has laid certain scenes in Bury; the immortal Pickwick stopped a boarding-school elopement in this "handsome little town of thriving and cleanly appearance." Pickwick stayed at the Angel Hotel, without doubt, for

he speaks of the coach rattling over the well paved streets and stopping "before a large Inn situated in a wide open street nearly facing the old Abbey." On Angel Hill there has been an Inn of that same name ever since 1452, although the present house was not built until 1779. One should still stay at the Angel in Bury.

An ancient author tells us that "the sun shines not upon a town more agreeable in its situation," with which I firmly agree. Defoe adds: "Such as is the town for situation, is the neighbourhood and gentry about it for politeness, and no place glories in handsomer ladies or better families."

There are many modern improvements in Bury, and it is a thriving manufacturing centre; one of its products bears the formidably British appellation: "Robert Boby's Patent Self-cleaning Corn Screening and Dressing Machine." I presume this is also "Limited." as most things are in the British Isles.

The home of Lydgate, the poet, is still pointed out among the houses near the abbey ruins. A very interesting small museum is to be seen at Bury, in an ancient building known as Moyses Hall. This is of about the proportions of a good sized private house, and is also

known as the Jew's House. It dates from the eleventh century, and is of stone. No doubt some of the abbey creditors who were so ingeniously disposed of by Abbot Samson may have dealt in "moneys 99 over a counter in this very house with poor incompetent Abbot Hugh! Dr. Margoliouth, in an article on the "Vestiges of the Historic Anglo-Hebrews," speaks of it as follows: " Moyses Hall is a fair specimen of synagogues built in East Anglia about the time of Henry I. It was known among its original possessors as The Synagogue of Moses,' and was no doubt a Jewish place of worship. It corresponds in its architectural details with the oldest synagogue in Europe that of Prague." He, in fact, pronounces it and its precincts as a "sort of Hebrew Abbey of Bury." The precincts are now the market place of the town.

CHAPTER XVI

T

CANTERBURY

HERE is no city in England more satisfactory to stay in than Canterbury. Since the landing of Augustine, in

597, it has witnessed many strange scenes, especially in connection with its ecclesiastical life. The landing of Augustine took place on the shores of the little island of Thanet, where the band of monks hailed with joy the end of their journey. Augustine must have made a picturesque leader of the company, as described by Capgrave, "tall of stature, of a dark complexion, his face beautiful, but withal majestical." We can imagine him leading the little procession from the monastery in Rome, and tramping away to Ostia, where they were to set sail for Marseilles. Proceeding thence through France, they finally sailed for Britain from Boulogne, then known as Gessoriacum. At Ebbes' Fleet they landed, resting there while a messenger was sent to the

Kentish king, Ethelbert, to acquaint him of their arrival.

On the rock on which the foot of Augustine was supposed to have been first planted a marvellous impression is said to have remained. Pilgrimages were afterwards made to the spot, "in gratitude to the living God for having led thither the Apostle of England."

An answer came from Ethelbert appointing a time and place for their meeting shortly. Ethelbert's queen, Bertha, was already a Christian, and services were held in St. Martin's by a French priest at the time of Augustine's arrival. St. Martin of Tours was the saint selected as the patron of the tiny chapel, possibly on account of this French influence. He was one of the most famous martyrs, and his relics had always worked notable miracles. He was a great favourite among the early English there are many St. Martin's Churches in England, and always have been.

One of the stories connected with St. Martin's relics is as follows. When the body of St. Martin had been stolen, and was carried from place to place, it is recorded to have worked unexpected miracles at every station. While at Auxerre it seems to have been especially inspired with curative abilities. The