in, and after their devotions at seven, they were not permitted to speak together, but were obliged to go immediately to bed. Their dormitory consisted not of separate cells, but of one long room, in which every one had his own bed furnished with a blanket, coverlet, mat, and pillow, which was not to exceed eighteen inches in length. When they walked out it was in pairs, that they might act as spies upon each other's conduct, and prompt to serious thoughts and conversation.

In time of lent they had to fast till six in the evening, and their food was always to be of the plainest description, no flesh being allowed but to those who were sick, while even fish, eggs, butter, milk, and cheese, were not allowed in common, but given on particular occasions as a pittance or dainty. They were enjoined to build their monasteries in solitary places, and to live by the labour of their own hands. This last injunction, however, was soon avoided, lay brethern and hired servants being employed on pretext of allowing the monks to live in more complete abstraction from the world.

Their dress consisted of a white cassock

with a narrow scapulary, over which they wore a black gown when out of doors, and a white one when they went to church. The same appearance of humility characterised the vestments of their priests and the decorations of their churches. No palls, capes, dalmatics, or tunics; the crosses were to be of painted wood, and neither of carved work, nor silver, nor gold; pictures and painted glass were also prohibited, and all the churches of this order were didicated to God under invocation of the Virgin Mary.

As the Cistertians took great pains to promote learning, transcribing of books formed the principal occupation in each of their monasteries, and for this purpose, a certain number of the brethern were always employed in the scriptorium or writing room, making copies of books for the use of the common library. In the chief monasteries, too, a chronicle was kept of such events, either of a local or general interest, as came under their observation. A considerable part of that of Melrose, was fortunately preserved from the destruction which overtook those of so many other convents, and is considered a very valuable portion of Scottish history. "The Chronicle of Mel

rose" is mentioned in Nicolson's "English Historical Library," as having been written by an abbot of Dundrennan, who would, in all likelihood, at the time be a monk of Melrose. The Chronicle commences in

735, and breaks abruptly off in 1270.

The Cistertians established themselves in England, as early as 1128, at Waverly in the county of Surry; but those who came to Melrose were from Rievalle in Yorkshire, and the first of that order introduced into Scotland. King David granted them by charter, the lands of Melrose, Eildon, Darnwick, and Gattonside; the right of pasturage upon the lands on the north side of the Tweed which lies between the Gala and the Leader, the right of pasturage and timber upon the forests of Selkirk and Traquair, and also the right of fishing in the Tweed. These munificient grants were confirmed to the monks of Melrose by Prince Henry, the son of David, while, in imitation of the liberal example of their royal master, the nobles of the court vied with each other in the number and value of their gifts to this monastery, which in a short time became possessed of the most extensive revenues.

As the limits to which this small volume