trials of the world. Moreover, it offered special attractions to
those of quiet and studious tastes, since the monasteries provided
the architects and the painters, the teachers and the writers, and
it was here alone that learning was maintained and fostered.
Consequently, at Bramber there was none of that monastic asceticism
that prevailed abroad, and later became the rule in England also.

During the day the monks had their pursuits according to their
tastes. There were those who worked in the copying and painting
room. There were some who drew plans for churches or the dwellings
of the wealthy, and who sometimes went out and superintended the
carrying out of their designs. Some were in charge of the garden,
where the work was chiefly done by the lay servitors, and where the
herbs and simples were grown that were used in the concoction of
the medicines distributed among the sick, and highly prized throughout
the country round. Two or three were skilled in music, and these
taught and conducted the choir, while two acted as teachers to
youths, the sons of thanes and others, who, moved by the ardour
with which their earl advocated learning, intrusted their sons to
the monks for education. Then when the day's work was done, and
vespers sung in the chapel, the monks gathered in the refectory.
The conversation was of a bright and varied description, and as
Wulf moved about from group to group he listened to the talk with
far greater pleasure than he had ever derived from that at court,
and largely increased his knowledge in many respects.

National matters were discussed with keen interest, for the monks
were all English, and viewed with bitter hostility the elevation
of foreigners to the chief dignities of the church, not only because
they were foreigners, but because they introduced innovations of