APPENDIX. 283 



as the richnefs of its endowments ; it was founded in 

 the year 550, by a St. Finian, fon of Ultach, king of 

 Ulfter, and at the diflblution of religious houfes, in the 

 reign of Henry VIII. it appears to have been poflefled 

 of feven townlands, and the fpiritualities of fixteen and 

 a half befides ; thefe were granted by King James I. to 

 Vifcount Claneboys, in fee-farm, for 3/. 3^. 4^. Irifli 

 money. This abbey lay about a mile from Newtown, 

 on the road to Donaghadee; part of the ruins ftill re- 

 main, and the veftiges of confiderable foundations. 



Gray abbey, on the lough of Strangford, in the ba- 

 rony of Ards, was founded by Africa, daughter of the 

 king of Man, in the year 1192; {he was the wife of 

 John De Courcey ; it was peopled by her with Cifter- 

 tian monks from Cumberland, and here (he took up her 

 laft refidence. In an inquifition taken in the reign of 

 James I. it was found that the laft abbot, in the 32d 

 of Henry VIII. was poflefTed of feven townlands in the 

 vicinity, and three in Lecale. Part of the lands be- 

 longing to this abbey were granted to the Earl of Kil- 

 dare; the ftatue of the foundrefs, much defaced, is ftill 

 to be feen on one fide of the altar; from what remains, 

 we may fuppofe this was a large and fumptuous build- 

 ing; the eaft window is a fine fpecimen of Gothic archi- 

 tecture; on each fide of the altar is a handfome window 

 pf freeftone, neatly carved ; they are now grown over 

 with ivy. All the offices of the monaftery are now in 

 ryinsj only fo much remains of them as ferve to point 

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