ut saw no
reason to reconsider his former verdict or to impugn the stability of
the tower. He gently rallied Westray on his nervousness, and, whilst he
agreed that in other places repair was certainly needed, he pointed out
that lack of funds must unfortunately limit for the present both the
scope of operations and the rate of progress.

Cullerne Abbey was dissolved with the larger religious houses in 1539,
when Nicholas Vinnicomb, the last abbot, being recalcitrant, and
refusing to surrender his house, was hanged as a traitor in front of the
great West Gate-house. The general revenues were impropriated by the
King's Court of Augmentations, and the abbey lands in the immediate
vicinity were given to Shearman, the King's Physician. Spellman, in his
book on sacrilege, cites Cullerne as an instance where church lands
brought ruin to their new owner's family; for Shearman had a spendthrift
son who squandered his patrimony, and then, caballing with Spanish
intriguants, came to the block in Queen Elizabeth's days.

"For evil hands have abbey lands,
Such evil fate in store;
Such is the heritage that waits
Church-robbers evermore."

Thus, in the next generation the name of Shearman was clean put away;
but Sir John Fynes, purchasing the property, founded the Grammar School
and almshouses as a sin-offering for the misdoings of his predecessors.
This measure of atonement succeeded admirably, for Horatio Fynes was
ennobled by James the First, and his family, with the title of
Blandamer, endures to this present.

On the day before the formal dissolution of their house the monks sung
the last service in the abbey church. It was held late in the evening,
partly because this time seemed to befit such a farewell, and partly
that less public attention might be attracted; for there was a doubt
whether the King's servants would permit any further ceremonies. Six
tall candles burnt upon the altar, and the usual sconces lit the
service-books that lay before the brothers in the choir-stalls. It was
a sad service, as every good and amiable thing is sad when done for the
last time. There were agonising hearts among the brothers, especially
among the older monks, who knew not whither to go on the morrow; and the
voice of the sub-prior was broken with grief, and failed him as he read
the lesson.

The nave was in darkness except for the warming-braziers, which here and
there cast a ruddy glow on the vast Norman pillars. In t