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of ground; and for every foote of it paid him downe a marke after the publick weight.

This monasterie as also that other the older, was built for married priests, who afterwards, upon I know not what miracle of a Crosse that spoke, an disliked their mariage, were thrust out by Dunstane Achbishop of Canterbury, and Monkes put in their place. The walls of these two monasteries stood so neere and cose together, that the voices of those that sung in the one troubled the chanting of the other: whereupon there arose grudge and heart-burnings betweene these Monks, which afterwards brake out into open enmities: By occasion whereof, and because at this new monasterie there gathered and stood much water which from the Westerne gate came downe thither along the currant of the streets, and cast forth from it an [un]wholesome aire, the Minster Church two hundered yeares after[,] by the crafty practise of Henrie de Blois Bishoppe of Winchester (as the private historie of this place witnesseth) was pitiously burnt. In which fire, that Crosse also was consumed, which Canutus the Dane gave, and upon which, as old writings beare record, he bestowed as much as his owne yeares revenewes of all England came unto. The monasterie neverthelesse was raised up againe and grew by little and little to a wonderfull greatnesse, as the very ruines thereof even at this day doe shew, untill that generall subversion and finall period of [over][our] monasteries. For then, was this monasterie demolished: and into that other of the holy Trinity, which is the Cathedrall church, when the monkes were thrust out, were brought in their stead, a Deane, twelve Prenbendaries, and there placed.

At the East side of this Cathedrall church, standeth the Bishops palace, called Wolvesley: a right goodly thing and sumptuous; which being towred and compassed almosts round with the streame of a prety river, reacheth even to the cittie walls: and in the South-suburbes, just over against it be holdeth a faire Colledge: which William Wickham Bishop of this See, the greatest father and Patron (of all Englishmen) of good literature, and whose praise for ever to the worlds end will continue, built for a schoole, and thereto dedicated it: out of which, both for Church and common welth there riseth a most plentifull encrease of right learned men. For, in this Colledge, one warden, ten fellowes, two schoolemaisters and threescore and ten schoolers, with divers others are plentifully maintained. There have beene also in this cittie, other faire and goodly buildings, (for very many were heere consecrated to religion) which I list not now to recount, since time and avarice hath made an end of them. Onely, that Nunnery, or monasterie of vailed Virgins, which Aelfwid, the wife of King Aelfred founded, I will not overpasse: seeing it was a most famous thing as the remainder of it now doth shew: and for that, out of it King Henrie the first tooke to wife Mawde the daughter of Malcolne King of Scots, by whom the royall bloud of the auncient Kings of England became united to the Normans, and hee thereby wonne much love of the English nation. For, nephew [neice] she was in the second degree of descent, unto King Edmond Ironside, by his sonne Edward the Banished. A woman, as adorned with all other vertues meet for a Queene, so especially inflamed with an incredible love of true piety and godlinesse. Whereupon was this Tetrastitch made in her commendation,

Prospera non laetam fecere, nec aspera tristem:

Aspera risus ei, prospera terror erant.

Non decor effecit fragilem, non sceptra superbam,

Sola potens humilis, sola pudica decens.

No prosp'rous state did make her glad,

Nor adverse chances made her sad:

If fortune frown'd, she then did smile;

If fortune frown'd, she feard the while.

If beauty tempted, she yet said nay,

No pride she tooke in scepters sway: