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They are relics of an age when Gloucestershire stood pre-eminent amongst 

 other counties for its godliness j when its abbeys, churches, priories, 

 oratories, preceptories, cells, and other religious foundations, betokened a 

 Christian zeal, so deep and wide-spread, that men were accustomed to 

 give strength to an affirmation by saying, " As sure as God is in Glou- 

 cestershire." They are still preserved to us, mutilated it is true, but 

 may there not be yet latent some portion of this traditional piety, in the 

 respect observed towards these ecclesiastical monuments, and which, 

 perhaps, may have contributed in a degree, however small, to preserve 

 them from utter destruction.* 



* An amusing instance of this veneration for an ancient cross recently occiured 

 in the pretty village of Crosscombe, near "Wells. In the village stands an old grey- 

 stone market cross, which the local way-wardens, deeming an incumbrance, 

 endeavoured to remove. It seems the removal of so ancient a landmark, in the 

 historical associations of the village, proved a graver and more serious matter than 

 these enhghtened wardens of the way were aware of. The inhabitants gathered 

 around the old cross, and came to its defence, with bold and determined hearts, 

 bent upon its preservation, but not before the shaft had been hurled to the ground, 

 and its finial broken in twain. The demolishing party having been driven off, a 

 flag was hoisted by the brave villagers, bearing upon it the legend "Be Faithful ;" 

 this was struck down during the meiee, but as quickly regained, and the Standard 

 of the Cross again waved proudly over the heads of the loyal defenders. To such a 

 pitch of earnestness was the defence carried on, that upwards of thirty stout fellows 

 volunteered to bivouac roimd the sacred symbol, and guard it during the night ; 

 while women were actively engaged in preparing beds of straw and kindling a huge 

 fire, to make the hours pass away as agreeably as possible. 



