I885-I886.] 429 



Another stone commemorates "Esabella Kilpatrick otherwise 

 Webbs who departed this life the 15th March 1788. There is 

 a stone over John M'Dowell, who died 1782, and whose age is 

 recorded as 116, probably another of those exaggerations which 

 sprung up in the days of imperfect or careless registration. A 

 large slab bears the simple inscription of " Rev. James Porter, 

 Dissenting minister of Greyabbey, who departed this life July 

 2, 1798, aged 45 years." This was the Rev. James Porter who 

 was executed at Belfast for complicity with the rebellion. 

 Had his case occurred in these days he would doubtless have 

 obtained a lighter punishment, or even, possibly, an acquittal. 

 The Abbey ruins, which are probably the most extensive, 

 certainly the most picturesque, ecclesiastical remains in the 

 Northern counties, have been very fully described in Mr. 

 Phillips' " Monograph of Greyabbey " and Father O'Laverty's 

 "Ecclesiastical Remains of Down and Connor ;" and with the 

 help of these descriptions, the party was able to trace upon the 

 spot all the leading features of this beautiful Cistercian group 

 of buildings. The only specifically Irish feature is the long 

 narrow nave without aisles. The deep transept, also aisleless, 

 has the four chapels, two on each east side, usual in Cistercian 

 churches, with a pointed waggon vault and narrow lancet 

 window to each. The most striking features still remaining are 

 the double tier of three lofty lancet windows at the east end, 

 with a lancet window in each north and south wall beside the 

 altar, filled with tracery at a later date, and the fine arches at 

 the intersection which supported the low central tower, now 

 roofless. Adjoining the south transept appear the foundations 

 of the sacristy, and next beyond it of the chapter house, lying, 

 of course, east and west, and divided, as usual, into three aisles 

 by two rows of columns, whose bases still remain, and also one 

 very handsome early English capital to attest what must have 

 been the beauty of the apartment before its demolition. Next 

 came the monks' day room, with a row of probably plainer 

 columns down its centre, the bases still remaining. The upper 

 story of this range of buildings formed the Scriptorium, where 

 the MSS. were written, and also the dormitory, from which at 



