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MEDMENHAM ABBEY.

head, and a few others: but their conventual institutes were more likely to have proceeded from Petronius Arbiter, than the self-denying saint whose name they adopted. Many idle tales have been propagated to the dishonour of this monkish society, which had no foundation but the illnature of those who invented, or the folly of those who propagated them. That it was convivial there can be no doubt, and that the conviviality was not subject to the strict rules of moral decorum, will be readily believed. But the horrid and disgusting account of their conduct, as given in a novel, entitled Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea, was known to be false by the author of it, who had not even taken the pains to inform himself of the circumstances and situation of the house, which he pretends to describe with so much minuteness, as the scene of such abominable enormities. The picture which graced the refectory of the monks, was, after their dissolution, transferred to West Wickham, the seat of Lord Le Despencer, and was to be seen by all who visited that charming place. The noble lord was painted in the habit of St. Francis, and in the act of tapping the globe, the cock protruding from the province of Champagne, in France. Fay ce que voudras, the appropriate motto of the last order, was inscribed, and still remains, over the door of the Abbey house.

The following description of the present state of this place, is given by Mr. Langley, in his history of the hundred of Desborough.-" The Abbey-house, with its ivymantled roof and walls, forms a very picturesque object. The late addition of a ruined tower, cloister, and other corresponding parts, is made with so much taste and propriety, that when time shall have worn off all traces of the rule, and blunted its sharp edges; when the ivy shall have continued its embraces, and the mosses of various hues overspread the surface, some future writer will be disposed to class it with the more ancient pile. Within the cloister a room is fitted up with the same good taste, and the glare of light is excluded by the pleasing gloom of ancient stained

glass; consisting of roses, coronets, and portcullises. The figure of the Virgin, (the Abbey seal,) seated on a throne, and holding the infant Saviour in her arms, carved in marble, still remains, and is placed in a niche in the

tower.”

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