of the inside ruin, seen through the great eastern arch of the tower; neither is a small chapel adjoining the south transept, with a wellformed engroined roof, to be neglected: the transept is remarkable for a large Norman archway that led into the south aile of the choir.

Many portions of building appear in de tached heaps near the abbey church, particularly a bold arch in a neighbouring barn, which seems to have formed the principal entrance to the abbey. Among these the natives point out a low subterraneous passage, faced with hewn stone, which they suppose to have had a connexion with Old Castle, about three miles distant.

St. David, the uncle of king Arthur (say ancient legends), was so struck with this se questered recess, then almost unconscious of a human footstep, that he built a chapel on the spot, and passed many years in it as a hermit. William, a retainer of the earl of Hereford's in the reign of William Rufus, being led into the valley in pursuit of a deer, espied the hermitage. The deep solitude of the place, and the mysterious appearance of the building, conspired to fill him with religious enthusiasm; and he instantly disclaimed

all

all worldly enjoyments for a life of prayer and mortification.

In a curious account of the abbey, written by one of its monks, which is preserved in Dugdale's Monasticon, and translated into English by Atkyns, in his History of Gloucestershire, it is recorded, that "He laid "aside his belt and girded himself with a 66 rope; instead of fine linen, he covered "himself with hair-cloth; and instead of his "soldier's robe, he loaded himself with

66

weighty irons. The suit of armour, which "before defended him from the darts of his "enemies, he still wore as a garment to "harden him against the soft temptations of "his old enemy Satan; that, as the outward "man was afflicted by austerity, the inner

66

man might be secured for the service of "God. That his zeal might not cool, he "thus crucified himself, and continued this "hard armour on his body until it was worn ❝out with rust and age."

His austerity of life, and sanctity, not only drew to him a colleague (Ernesi, chaplain to Maud wife of Henry the First), but excited the reverence of many high characters, and induced

induced Hugh de Laci, earl of Hereford, 'to found a priory of regular canons of the order of St. Austin on the site of the Hermitage. The institution adopted William's mortifying system, and its reputation occasioned numerous donations, to be offered; but they were constantly refused, and the acquisition of wealth deprecated as a dreadful misfortune. William was determined" to dwell poor in "the house of God." The monk of Lanthony comically relates, that "Queen Maud, "not sufficiently acquainted with the sanctity "and disinterestedness of William, once de“sired permission to put her hand into his “bosom; and when he with great modesty "submitted to her importunity, she con

veyed a large purse of gold between his "coarse shirt and iron boddice; and thus by

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a pleasant and innocent subtlety admi"nistered some comfortable relief to him. "But oh the wonderful contempt of the world! "He displayed a rare example, that the truest happiness consists in possessing little or nothing! He complied, indeed, but unwillingly, and only with a view that the

66

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queen

might employ her devout liberality in adorning the church." His scruples thus over

come,

come, a new church on a more magnificent plan was erected (that which now appears); it soon displayed the usual pomp of the craft, and in less than thirty years the monks came to one opinion, that "the outward man" deserved consideration; that the "place was "unfit for a reasonable creature, much less "for religious persons" nay some said, that

66

they wished every stone of the foundation "a stout hare;" others, still more wicked, "that every stone was at the bottom of the "sea." Hence, in the year 1136, we find a new Lanthony abbey built and consecrated near Gloucester, which, although at first only a cell to our abbey, soon assumed a priority over the parent foundation. The treasures, library, rich vestments, and even bells, were removed to the new house: the old Lanthony then came to be considered as a prison by the fat monks of the Severn, who sent thither only "their old and useless

members."

In doleful mood the monk complains, "We are made the scum and outcast of the """ brethren." 66 They permitted the monastery to be reduced to such poverty, "that the friars were without surplices, and

"compelled to perform the duties of the "church. against the customs and rules of the "order. Sometimes they had no breeches, "and could not attend divine service." Thus it appears, that eventually the condition. of the monks, though sore against their wills, reverted to the intention of their founder. The monastery continued in this unthriving state till the dissolution of those concerns; when, according to Dugdale, the abbey near Gloucester was valued at 6487. 19s. 11d. and this in Monmouthshire at 71l. 3s. 2d.

OLDCASTLE, a little village on the eastern slope of the Black mountains which skirt the vale of Ewias on the right, is supposed by Gale and Stukeley to have been the ancient Blestium, but upon grounds that are very inconclusive true it is, however, that several encampments near the spot wear a Roman character, and they were in the habit of raising such camps near their station. But the place is more noticed as having been the residence of Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, the companion of Henry the Fifth, and afterwards chief of the Lollards, and martyr to their religious views. His ancient mansion, called the court-house, was taken down

Y