FANATICISM 137 



meutary forces by the treachery of one of the King's 

 officers. 



The ruins, which are not to be surpassed by any in the 

 kingdom for their romantic and picturesque appearance, 

 are remarkable also for the singular position in which 

 the means used for their creation have left different and 

 distinct portions of their massive walls ; one of which is 

 overgrown with the largest and most luxuriant piece 

 of ivy ever seen. They will amply repay the visitor 

 for any trouble or expense he may be at for his 

 easy access to them — a railroad having now for some 

 considerable time penetrated to within four miles 

 of this hitherto secluded portion of the Queen's 

 dominions. 



The glory of the demolition of this once magnificent 

 pile of Saxon architecture is due to the malignant spirit 

 that seems to have animated the Parliament as well as 

 their army. Had their deeds been confined to working- 

 out the civil and religious liberties of their country, and 

 destroying every semblance of oppression and tyranny, 

 posterity would not have had to lament the sweeping 

 destruction of many exquisite works of art that adorned 

 our cathedrals and churches ; effected by those redoubt- 

 able heroes, whose pious zeal converted tlieir venerable 

 aisles into stables, and otherwise desecrated the splendid 

 edifices, from which ruin they have never recovered. 

 While their pulpits, which had boasted of the pure 

 doctrine and simple eloquence of the followers and 

 admirers of a Parker or a Whitgift, were usurped by an 

 ignorant preacher, with lank hair and doleful visage, 

 bellowino- in a strono; nasal twano\ a iaro;on of confused 



