ST. aldhelm's chapel. 139 



case he is reminded to invoke a blessing on his voyage, and in 

 the other to offer up his praises and thanksgivings for his safe 

 deliverance from the perils of the sea. The glittering church of 

 Nossa Senhora do monte, at Madeira, the late Pena Convent at 

 Cintra, and the numerous churches that crown the spurs of the 

 Maritime Alps, are all of the character alluded to, and are well 

 known as objects of supreme interest and devotion to the sailors 

 who frequent those shores. 



" It has been suggested to me that there is no appearance of 

 the chapel of St. Aldhelm having ever contained an altar, and 

 if this be so, it may be a question whether it was, strictly speak- 

 ing, a chapel at all: I tliink however, some traces of an altar, 

 or rather of the platform on which it stood, are discernible near 

 the small window towards the east; at all events we have docu- 

 mentary evidence that such a chapel did exist in the thirteenth 

 century, and there can be no reason to doubt that this is the one 

 alluded to. If your conjecture respecting the use of the cylin- 

 drical base, which is said to have once existed on the summit is 

 correct, there must have been an opening through its vaulting 

 to admit the rope or chain of the bell, and traces of this opening 

 might still perhaps be discovered. 



**In conclusion, I will only remind you, that the very fact of 

 the building having obtained the designation of the "Devil's 

 chapel" amongst the rural population of the neighbourhood, is 

 an evidence of how little is known of its origin and use, for 

 whatever is strange and unintelligible, is commonly attributed 

 by the vulgar and superstitious, to an exercise of Satanic 

 power." 



In the latter part of the above letter, Mr. Bond has glanced 

 at the popular name and superstition connected with the subject 

 of this paper ; but it should be added on this point, that there is 

 a peculiar veneration which has continued to be attached to the 

 chapel to the present time, for still it is the custom with the 

 young women of the neighbourhood, to drop a pin into a hole in 

 the centre pillar, and wish for a husband^ or at least the happy 

 consummation of whatever they have most at heart. I conceive 

 that this may be the remnant of a probable custom of presenting 

 offerings to the priest for the purchase of his prayers, by those 

 who desired the success or safety of their relations or friends who 



