120 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



circumstances, such as the troublous times or relaxing of the 

 severity of their rules, occasioned. 



There were general and particular rules which controlled their 

 architecture in the earlier centuries of the existence of this order ; 

 these rules are embodied in their character of charity (charta 

 caritatis), particularly as regards their conventual churches ; the 

 most important of these were, that they should be rigidly plain with- 

 out lofty bell towers. They were forbidden the use of elaborate 

 carvings or representations of the human form, also all merely orna- 

 mental or sensuous features, such as stained glass, pictures, gold 

 ornaments, coloured decorations, &c. These rules obliged their 

 architects to depend for their effect on " excellence of proportion 

 and chasteness of detail ;" to this, combined with the fact that the 

 movement was contemporary with the rise and development of the 

 earlier and most pure of the Gothic styles, may be attributed the 

 excellence of the architecture of all the Cistercian monasteries yet 

 remaining; but it is necessary to state that these rules were relaxed 

 late in the thirteenth century, that the Cistercians more or less fol- 

 lowed the Benedictines in employing a greater degree of splendour 

 in their later erections and insertions. That these relaxed rules 

 effected the abbeys of Down, we have some proof, such as in the 

 stained glass in Inch Abbey, found during the recent excava- 

 tions, and the encaustic tiles of Grey Abbey. We have some 

 strange-looking carvings of human heads in the corbel table in the 

 chancel of Grey Abbey. Having briefly noticed these general rules 

 embodied in their charta caritatis, we will proceed to trace out the 

 coincidence in plan of our local abbeys to the Cistercian ideal, and 

 we are enabled to treat them conjointly in consequence of this har- 

 mony. First of all then as to site. As enjoined by their code, 

 the sites in both cases were and are in secluded spots — in valleys 

 close to water and supplied by never-failing springs. To the prac- 

 tice of building in solitary places may be attributed the fact, that 

 while the abbey churches of other orders in Ireland are in fre- 

 quent instances used for divine worship, we have in no case that I 

 know of a Cistercian abbey church so restored to its original pur- 

 pose. 



