REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1900 215 



monastic profession in that solitude. When Yescy and Gray 

 returned to England they strongly importuned the Superior 

 of the Carmelites to let their countryman accouipany them 

 home ; which was at length granted, upon condition that 

 they would found a Monastery for Carmelites in their own 

 country. Soon after their return, Fresborn, mindful of 

 their engagement, began to look out for a place for their 

 Convent. After examining all the circumjacent solitudes 

 he at length fixed on the present spot, induced, it is 

 said, by the great resemblance which the adjoining Hill 

 bore to Mount Carmel : And indeed whoever looks into 

 "Maundrel's Travels," will find that the Draught of that 

 Mountain given in his Book bears a strong likeness to this 

 before us. 



The above William de Vescy* gave a Grant of the 

 Ground, consisting of 12 or 13 acres in his Park of Holne, 

 but Fresborn is said to have erected the Buildings himself. 

 The Foundation was laid about A.D. 1240, and Fresborn 

 gathering a proper number of Monks, became the first Abbot 

 of the Order, and having presided here with great reputation 

 of fanctity, at length died, and was buried in this Monastery 

 about the year 1274. 



This Grant of William de Yescy was afterwards confirmed 

 and enlarged with new privileges by his Sons John and 

 William ; and when in the beginning of the next century 

 their Barony came into the possession of the Percy Family, 

 their Charters were confirmed by the succesive Lord Percies 

 of Alnwick, some of whom gave additional marks of their 

 favour to this Abbey, as appears by their Charters of 1310 

 and 1334. 



At length Henry Percy, fourth Earl of Northttmberland, 

 built in it a fine Tower as a place of refuge for the Monks 

 to retire to, in times of danger. For in the sudden irruptions 

 of the Borderers of both nations, these rude men spared no 

 places or persons however sacred, but laid all waste with 

 fire and sword. 



* Not his son John, as it is in Leland, Bale, &c. This appears from 

 the Original Charters, of which I have seen Extracts in MS. as alsQ 

 from Dugdale's Baronage, vol. i. p. 93. 763, 



