514 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBOENE, 
rates. But_, as soon as tlie convent was suppressed, tlie 
town wMch it had occasioned began to decline, and the 
market was less frequented; the rough and sequestered 
situation gave a check to resort, and the neglected roads 
rendered it less and less accessible. 
That it had been a considerable place for size formerly 
appears from the largeness of the church, which much 
exceeds those of the neighbouring villages ; by the ancient 
extent of the burying ground, which, from human bones 
occasionally dug up, is found to have been much encroached 
upon ; by giving a name to the hundred; by the old founda- 
tions and ornamented stones, and tracery of windows that 
have been discovered on the north-east side of the village ; 
and by the many vestiges of disused fish-ponds still to be 
seen around it. For ponds and stews were multiplied in the 
times of popery, that the affluent might enjoy some variety 
at their tables on fast days; therefore the more they 
abounded the better probably was the condition of the inha- 
bitants. 
