410 LESTINGHAM. 



here ; and liis remains were afterwards taken up 

 and interred in tbe present church, on the right side 

 of the altar. 



At the period of the building of the monastery at 

 Lestingham, this country was mostly forest, the 

 haunt of wild beasts, and the retreat of robbers : 

 These were the kind of places generally chosen for 

 the situation of religious houses ; because they 

 thought such places adapted to a life of retirement 

 from the world : they generally built their houses 

 near brooks or rivers, embosomed amongst trees, 

 and secluded from human observation : but happy 

 is the man who can maintain his virtue, and support 

 his dignity in the crowd ; who can act jn life with- 

 out being contaminated by its illusive influence. 



The monastery founded at Lestingham was a 

 flourishing one. We read of 30 being added to it 

 at once, who were soon after cut off by a plague, 

 which proved fatal to many more, and to Cedcl also, 

 their father, and founder of the place. 



After the death of Cedd, Ceadda his brother, 

 and archbishop of York, or bishop of the North- 

 umbrians, became the head of it. It is necessary 

 also to remark that Stephen of Whitby, afterwards 

 abbot of York, having superseded Reinfred in the 

 government of the convent of Whitby, and differed 

 with William de Percy, removed the convent to 

 Lestingham, and from thence to York ; where he 

 founded the abbey of St. Mary. 



The church at Lestingham retains many relics of 

 antiquity. In the west end window are seen some 

 pieces of stained glass, presenting a few figurei 



