ver is occasionally seen, with here and there a cottage to give variety; the view is terminated by bold hills, most of which have their summits crowned with wood. This noble terrace, and its ornamental buildings, were the work of the late Slingsby Duncombe, Esq. and do equal honor to his taste and liberality; one of the buildings being principally intended for the accommodation of occasional visiters to the Abbey. With a view of adding to its elegance, an artist was sent for from Italy to decorate the interior: he has, however, shown but a slender portion of genius in the work; the centre of the ceiling is a copy of Guido's Aurora, and round the cove he has introduced several passages from Carracci's Farnesian Gallery; the whole is colored in a showy style, the ornamental parts being heightened with gold. By Wass it is about six miles of indifferent cross road to Byland Abbey: part of the way is over the moors, from the top of which the country is uncommonly open and extensive. Descending from these moors by a rocky road, the eye is agreeably surprised by the sudden appearance of the venerable fragments of BYLAND ABBEY. IT is scarcely necessary to remark, that this Abbey is situated in a rich valley, as the traveller will will generally find that to be the case with religious foundations; in the midst, perhaps, of scenery, which well repays him for the trouble of his journey, whether the building be considerable or not. These ruins are scattered over a considerable tract of ground: two of the outward gates are still preserved, situated at a distance very remote from each other. It is a curious circumstance in the history of human nature, that the same cause which produced these buildings, should, in the end, have worked their destruction; that is, fanaticism; religious zeal having caused their demolition. After all, it may be questioned whether there were much piety in those kinds of institutions: they rather appear to be the works of a set of men, who imagined there was a nearer road to Heaven than by that of virtue! As if the Almighty was to be bribed by rich gifts, which were often the fruits of robbery and injustice! or that the sacrifices would become more acceptable, because made on altars of gold! or the prayers reach Heaven the sooner, by issuing out of temples of marble and precious stones! "What *The religious houses are more perfect in this county than in any other, owing to the respect the people bore towards them; their preservation having furnished a plea for several rebellions. "What did they serve for, but to feed a sort It is recorded by Fitz-Stephen, that Thomas à Becket gave five pounds for one dish of eels, a sum of money equivalent to at least seventy-five pounds at present. "The monks of St. Swithin's, at Winchester, made a formal complaint to Henry the Second against their Abbot, for taking away three of the thirteen dishes they used to have every day at their dinner. The monks of Canterbury were still more luxurious, for they had at least seventeen dishes every day, besides a desert; and those dishes were dressed with "spiceries and sauces, which excited the appetite, as well as pleased the taste." The most picturesque part of this ruin is the Church, of which the west end, with its curiously ornamented door, remains; also part of the south transept, and a small fragment of the south aisle. The west end will be found to compose best from the west and south-west sides; from those points the building is backed by some wellwooded hills, that unite finely, forming a noble back-ground. The contrast of the building, and the woody grounds behind, produce a good effect, showing the lancet windows, and the fragment of a fine circular window above, to the greatest advantage. tage. A near view of the west end of the Church will prove worthy the attention of the admirer of architectural studies.* "Byland, olim De Bella-landa, &c. a Cistertian. Abbey. Roger de Mowbray, at the instance of his mother Gundreda, A. D. 1143, removed the Convent of Cistertian Monks from Hode to a part of her jointure near the river Rie, almost opposite to the Abbey of Rievale, since called Old Byland, which place being thought inconvenient for the habitation of the religious, four years after they removed to Stocking, near Coxwould; and at last fixed a little more easterly, near Whitaker, where this Abbey of Byland, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, continued in a flourishing state till the general Dissolution, when its yearly revenues were valued at 2381. 9s. 4d. by Dugdale; and 2951. 5s. 4d. by Speed. The site, and most of the demesne lands, were granted, 32d of Henry VIII. to Sir William Pickering." The Abbey is now the property of Sir Martin Stapleton, who is taking every means to preserve this interesting fragment of antiquity. * Those who visit this spot for the purpose of drawing, must bring their refreshments with them, as there is not any place nearer than Helmsley, that will afford any thing tolerable. Coxwold is within a mile, yet it offers but poor accommodations. + Tanner. One mile from Byland is Coxwold, where the traveller may see Newburgh, the seat of the late Earl of Fauconberg. Here was formerly a Priory, but not the least vestige of the ancient building remains. Five miles further, I entered the great north road, at a market-town called Easingwold: here the face of nature losing its picturesque character, I proceeded, through thirteen miles of flat, uninteresting country, to * YORK. ANTIQUARIES have not been able to settle the period of the origin of this famous city: it appears, from some accounts, to have been the metropolis of the Brigantes, and from all, to be very ancient. This city was of great importance under the Romans, who called it Eboracum; a name which Camden derives from its situation on a river: others, from Ebraucus, a British King, its supposed founder. Here the Emperor Severus had a Palace, at which he died, uttering the following words: "The * Notwithstanding the authority of Cæsar and Strabo to the contrary, it seems improbable that the ancient Britons should have been unacquainted with the art of building with stone: war-chariots imply a degree of cultivation that could never have preceded the use of stone in building, particularly as this county abounds with such materials. |