AN IMPERIAL HUNTRESS. 83 



flight. Inquiring my way, I was directed to a lodge 

 of which no other portion was visible save the door 

 and window, the remainder being covered with a dense 

 mass of tangled ivy. I trotted along through an 

 extensive plantation, where weird and knotted oaks 

 and moss-covered hawthorns were the principal features. 

 Emerging from this woodland, I soon came in sight of 

 the Abbey, a pile of ancient buildings having no archi- 

 tectural pretensions, placed in a sheltered hollow on 

 the bank of a large lake or mere, of some hundred and 

 fifty acres in extent. It did not appear a very inviting 

 place for a winter residence, but being in the centre of 

 an excellent hunting country, the object the Empress 

 had in view is sufficiently attained. Eeferring to Cam- 

 den, I find that " Cumbremere Abbey was founded and 

 endowed in 1133 by Hugh Malbanc, Lord of Nampt- 

 wich, for Cistercians/' In Camden's time it belonged 

 to " Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, Bart." Further, I 

 read that "A mile from Cumbermere Abbay in time 

 of mind sunk a piece of hill having trees on hit, and 

 after in that part sprang salt water, and the Abbat 

 there began to make salt, but the men of the Wyches 

 componed with the Abbay that there should be no salt 

 made." Many additions and alterations have been 

 made in the Abbey to render it suitable for its dis- 

 tinguished tenant ; one room has been specially set 

 aside as a gymnasium, where the necessary apparatus 

 has been erected, and it is here that her majesty takes 

 daily exercise for an hour. An extensive range of 

 stabling, placed at some distance from the mansion, 

 affords accommodation for the large stud which has 

 been brought over from Austria. On arriving at the 

 house I found that, as there was no meet within easy 



F 2 



