510 Letters from Cheltenham, [Jan. 1, 
eoicne. The building appears to have spreads wide its protecting arms, and 
heen begun in 1246, but was not com- increases the picturesque beauty of the 
pleted till 1251, when it was dedicated scene. 
by the bishop of Lincoln, assisted by liere we were shown a large blue 
twelve others, who officiated each at a stove, which had been excayatell in the 
separatealtar. Thissolenmitywasgraced course of a recent search for materials to 
with the presence of the king and queen, be convertedintolime. It had evidently 
and almost all the nobility and prelates covered the grave of no ordinary per- 
of the land; and on the following Sunday  sonage, for the rivets and indentations 
a sumptuous entertainment was prepared plainly proved that it had been curiously 
for this august assemblage of royalty and inlaid with brass figures and inscriptions, 
rank, These we learnt upon enquiry were pers 
This house, in common with many fect when it was discovered, but ha 
others, doubtless suffered very serious been subsequently torn off and sold by 
dilapidations at the general suppression the workmen: Thus are the valuable 
of monastic institutions. The principals and venerable relics of antiquity neglect- 
of such societies usually lived in great ed by their pussessors, and suffered to 
state, with large retinues of domestics, in becoine the prey of unrelenting ignorance 
houses contiguous to their convents;* and uncontrouled avarice. Miuahhaci 
aud the residence of the abbot of Hailes, © A subterraneous archway is pointed 
which was spacious and handsome, long out as the commencement of a commu- 
survived the reformation, for John Vis- nication which is supposed in days of 
count Tracey, who was the last of its yore to have existed between this and 
possessors by whom it was occupied, some distant place; but, as such conjec+ 
died herein 1686. It wasthen deserted, tures are often formed on very slight 
«and the whole fabric was from time to grounds, they deserve little attention. 
me destroyed, as the materials were The inn which once accommodated the 
juited, either torepairorto erect other numerous pilgrims that crowded this mi- 
Ob ildinys. Many magnificent decora- raculous shrine, has only been destroyed 
_ tions, such as thearms from the windows, within the remembrance of some of the 
and a richly-carved chimney-piece, were present inhabitants of the village, —_—- 
removed from hence to the family-seat Although the demon of demolition has 
of the Traceys at Toddington. The here triumphed in his spoils, yet some 
church of that village is likewise enriched _ interesting fragments of arched doorways 
with some ‘fine figures of apostles from and noble windows, still attract and gra- 
this place; and the mansion of the De. tity the eye of taste. Several of the for- 
laberes, and probably those of other an- mer appear to have Jed from the north- 
cient families in the neighbourhood, par- east side of the cloister to the abbey 
took also of the spoils. church, the size of which may with some 
A beautiful fragment of the entrance- difficulty be ascertained in an adjoining 
tower, of light and elegant architecture, field, by broken masses of foundation, 
was however suffered till very lately to. overgrown with brambles. Here lie ine 
remain; but even this has, with Vandal terred the bodies of the founder of the 
barbarity, been rudely demolished. The abbey, and his queen,* and their eldest 
only considerable vestiges now standing, son Edmund, together with the remains 
are the ruins of a noble quadrangular of many others of inferior note. Long 
cloister, inclosing an extensive area, may their obscure sepulchres elude the 
planted with frait-trees. Of this, one prying eye of unhallowed curiosity, and 
side is much more complete than the escape the destructive touch of undiscri- 
other; and, at irregular intervals, many minating barbarism! 
beautiful arches, of various forms, have Richard bequeathed his heart to Reuly 
escaped the general devastation. The Abbey, at Oxford, which was another of » 
walls, of massive thickness, seem tofrown his foundations, and it was there -depo- 
asin Time’s despite; and the mantling sited under a pyramid of “ admirable 
ivy, thriving in unmolested possessiun,, workmanship.” These stately piles have 
ie both been levelled with the dust, and the 
* Here also the sons. of the eet Se : es 
gentry were frequently educated; and many * Senchia, his second. wife, ho was the 
youths were supported at the universities by third daughter of the Earl of Provence, and 
the abbot’s bounty. Their hospitality was the sister of Queen Eleanor. She was one of 
almost unlimited, and their charitable dona~ the four daughters of an earl, that were ex- 
tigns nuniScent. alced to the thrones of as many kings.. : 
monumental 
