346 



sumptus ad perficiendum ? Quis perfectum videbit, &c. ?* — While 

 the term " regionibus " may be as reasonably limited to the particular 

 district about Bangor, as extended to all Ireland, it must surely be 

 obvious that the wonder excited and avowed was not at the material 

 (stone) used in the architecture, but on account of the great size 

 which was meditated in the laying out of the foundation, "funda- 

 menta indigenae quidam mirati sunt ;" and Archdall, speaking of the 

 recent appearance of the edifice, exactly justifies their surprise, for he 

 says " the traces of the foundation shew that the building was of 

 great extent." Indeed the very same Bernard rather suggests that 

 the edifice at Bangor, before Malachy's time, was of much the same 

 mater ial.-j" 



It will be remembered, that in the account of the conflagration at 

 Armagh in 1020, mention is made of several stone churches, and one 

 particularly with a leaden roof. J The stone church of Kilcullen is 

 mentioned by the Four Masters at 1037, that of Clonfert at 1045, 

 that of Kildare at 1050, of Emly at 1058, of Duleek in 1070, those 

 of Armagh in 1101, 1105, 1125, and 1129, that of Clonmacnois in 

 1106 and 1125, of Ardbraccan in 1115, of Lusk in 1133, &c. In 

 fact the stone-roofed churches continued to be raised in several places, 

 while the gothic architecture was also introduced in this interval. 

 Grose§ attributes its introduction to those who came over from Eng- 

 land, on the marriage of Donough with the daughter of Earl Godwin, 

 or rather to the refugees who fled to Ireland from the persecution of 

 William the Conqueror. Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin was 



• Vita Malachiae, c. 9. 



f "Ipsum quoque locum Benchor tradidit et princeps, ut jedificaret ibi monasterium, vel 

 potius readificaret, nempe nobilissimum extiterat ante sub primo patre Congello, multa millia 

 monachorum genetans, multorum monasteriorum caput." — Vita MalachiiE, c. 5. 



X Ante, p. 301. § Introd. to Antiq. Ireland, vol. ii. 



