— 376 — 



into the possession of the Buccleuch family, every thing 

 has been done, and is being done, to keep the ruin 

 from further decay. The monastery buildings, were all 

 on the North side of the church ; it took a wall a mile 

 in circuit to enclose them. The rules of the Cistercian 

 order were very strict, and for a long period were rigidly 

 enforced. When a time of laxity came, there were 

 vigorous efforts made to return to the strictness of disci- 

 pline and holiness of life inculcated at the first. But 

 wealth flowed into the monastery. The nobles, stimu- 

 lated by the royal example, heaped benefits upon it ; 

 and the Monks, like Jeshurun of old, waxed fat, and 

 kicked off the restraints of godly discipline, and holiness 

 of life was forgotten " so said our guide. 



The shafts of satyre were aimed at them, as may be 

 gathered from an old popular ballad. 



u The monks of Melrose made glide kail 

 On Friday when they fasted ; 

 Nor wanted they gude beef and ale, 

 As lang's their neighbours' lasted." 



" Melrose Abbey, like all other churches of the older 

 times, stands due east and west. From the west 

 entrance to the Abbey until the organ screen is reached, 

 little of the original structure remains, excepting the 

 side chapels, which formed the outer portion of the 

 south side. The first three of these chapels have been 

 roofless for generations, the separating walls have also 

 entirely disappeared. The roof over the fourth and fifth 

 are still entire. What remains of the organ screen, 

 crosses the nave on a line with the division of the fifth 

 and sixth chapels, and from thence to the transept, the 

 church is quite roofed over from north to south. The 

 aisles, north and south, are covered by the original 

 ground-roof. The roof over the nave and a piece of 

 common masonry on the north side, reaching to and 

 supporting the roof, were both erected in 1618, when 



