132 



MEMORIALS OF RAY : 



July the 27th, we rode on to Crowland, six miles; 

 there we viewed the famous abbey chm^ch, so much of it 

 as is yet standing. The roof within, covered wdth wood, 

 ' hath been curiously gilded ; and round about on the 

 sides, underneath the roof, are artificially carved many 

 species of animals, both beasts and birds. In the time 

 of the late wars this church was made a garrison, and 

 held for the king. When it was taken by the parha- 

 ment, one of the soldiers, affrighted, got up to the top 

 of the church above the woodwork wherewith it is 

 covered, and walked along till he came to a place where 

 wanted a board, there, whether casually slipping down, 

 or voluntarily (or being astonied by the soldiers calling 

 upon him to come down,) hung a long time by the arms 

 into the church, which is of great height; till at last, 

 being weary, he fell into the church, but yet was not so 

 dashed to pieces with the fall but that he lived a day or 

 two. This church seemeth to have been built cathedral- 

 wise, but now there remains only part of the body of the 

 church, the choir and cross building being all fallen 

 down. Crowland is noted for a bridge,^" standing on 

 the confluence of two waters upon three feet, without any 

 pillar in the middle to support it. From Crowland to 

 Spalding we rode upon a very firm bank for the space of 

 eight miles, lately thrown up by Colonel Walton. We 

 observed at Spalding Sir Anthony Oldfield's house. The 

 town is well built and handsome, such as no man would 

 hope to find in such fens and plashes as environ it on all 

 sides, especially not having the benefit of the sea. From 

 Spalding to Boston, twelve miles, very good way in the 

 summer, and exactly level, without the least hill or rising. 

 By the way we observed, that generally all along the 

 ridges of their houses and the corners (which houses are 

 covered with thatch of straw or reed, and the ridges and 

 corners made up with clay,) they plant house-leek in 

 great plenty, whether for ornament or use we did not 



* The form of this bridge may be seen among Messieurs Bucks ' Views 

 of Castles,' &c. in England. 



