Sir Walter Scott, in the "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," gives an interesting account of the Nun of Dryburgh, an unfortunate female wanderer, who took up her abode about eighty years ago, in a vault, amongst the ruins of the Abbey, which during the day she never quitted. It was supposed from an account she gave, of a spirit who used to arrange her habitation, at night, during her absence in search of some food or charity at the residences of gentlemen in the neigh in height. At the east end there are five early Eng-resides close to the Abbey, preserves the ruins, we lish pointed windows; the western extremity contains are told, with great care. a circular-headed centre window, with a smaller one on either side. The hall is adorned with a row of intersected arches. Mr. Smith concludes his valuable description with the following remarks: "From a minute inspection of the ruins we are led to believe that there are portions of the work of a much earlier date. The arch was the distinctive feature of all structures of the middle ages, as the column was of those of classic antiquity; and among these ruins we observed no fewer than four distinct styles of arches,bourhood, that the vault was haunted; and it is namely, the massive Roman arch with its square sides; the imposing deep-splayed Saxon; the pillared and intersected Norman; and last, the early English pointed arch. These differ not only in design, but in the quality of the materials and in the execution. The chapter-house and abbot's parlour, with the contiguous domestic dwellings of the monks we consider of much greater antiquity than the church.*” These structures were built of "hard pinkishcoloured" sandstone (which is in fine preservation,) and they exhibited a remarkable diversity in their levels. Near the ruins still flourishes a fine tree which there is good reason to suppose was planted seven hundred years ago. The late Earl of Buchan was devotedly attached to this place. At a short distance from the Abbey, he constructed an elegant wire suspension-bridge over the Tweed, two hundred and sixty feet in length. His lordship also erected a colossal statue of Sir William Wallace, on the summit of an adjoining hill; which was placed on its pedestal 22nd of September, 1814, the anniversary of the victory at Stirling Bridge, in 1297. "It occupies so eminent a situation," says Mr. Chambers, "that Wallace frowning towards England, is visible even from Berwick, a distance of more than thirty miles." The statue is twenty feet high and is formed of red sandstone, painted white. Upon a tablet there is an appropriate inscription. Lord Buchan fitted up one of the ruined apartments of the Abbey in a style corresponding to the original, to which he loved to resort. Sir David Erskine, who *« Mon. Ann. of Teviotdale," p. 323. + Pennant, in his ، Tour in Scotland" in 1769, thus describes the ruins: "There are scarce any relics of the church, but much of the convent; the refectory supported by two pillars; several vaults and other offices; part of the cloister walls, and a fine radiated window of stone work," [similar to that at Jed- | burgh]. "These remains are not inelegant but are unadorned." The refectory fell after Pennant's visit, leaving little else but the gable-ends remaining. | still regarded with terror by many among the lower orders. She never could be prevailed upon to relate to her friends, the reason why she adopted so singular a course of life; " but it was believed," says Sir Walter, "that it was occasioned by a vow that during the absence of a man to whom she was attached, she would never look upon the sun. Her lover never returned. He fell during the Civil war of 1745-6, and she never more beheld the light of day." Allan Cunningham tells us, that the late Earl of Buchan waited upon Lady Scott in 1819, when the illustrious author of Waverley was brought nigh to the grave by a grievous illness, and "begged her to intercede with her husband to do him the honour of being buried in Dryburgh. The place,' said the Earl, is very beautiful,-just such a place as the poet loves, and as he has a fine taste that way, he is sure of being gratified with my offer. Scott, it is reported, goodhumouredly promised to give Lord Buchan the refusal, since he seemed so solicitous ;"—but the peer, dying the first, was himself laid the first in Dryburgh church-yard.* * Vide, "Athenæum," No. 258. The last resting place of Sir Walter Scott, is a small spot of ground in an area formed by four pillars, in one of the ruined aisles, which belonged to his family. We derive the subjoined particulars from the valuable memoirs which has appeared in "Chambers' Edinburgh of Merton, an ancient and respectable baronial family, of which Journal." The ground originally belonged to the Halyburtons Sir Walter's paternal grandmother was a member. On a side wall is the following inscription. "Sub hoc tumulo jacet Joannes Haliburtonus, Barro de Mertoun, vir religione et virtute clarus, qui obiit 17 die Augusti, 1640;" below which there is a coat of arms. On the back wall, the latter history of the spot is expressed on a small tablet, as follows;-" Hunc locum sepulture D. Seneschallus, Buchani comes, Gualtero, Thomæ et Roberto Scott, nepotibus Haliburtoni, concessit, 1791."-that is to say, the Earl of Buchan (lately proprietor of the ruins and adjacent grounds,) granted this place of sepulture in 1791, to Walter, Thomas, and Robert Scott, descendants of the Laird of Halyburton. The persons indicated were the father and uncles of Sir Walter Scott; but, though all are dead, no other member of the family lies there, except his uncle We cannot attempt to describe, nor even to enumerate, all the beauties of this enchanting district. Melrose, whose stately abbey has risen again in fresh beauty under the poet's magic pencil; the venerable ruins at Jedburgh and Kelso; the vale of Glendearg with its towers and wonders; Abbotsford; and the Eildon Hills, (once one lofty eminence, but cleft into three by the wizard wand of Michael Scott,) from whose summits we are told by the immortal author himself that," you may see the scenes of forty-two songs, and ballads, and battles, all of old renown," have been elsewhere immortalized. "Even as the tenderness that hour instils When Summer's day declines along the hills, HOUGHTON CHAPEL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. VYVYAN. ABOUT four miles to the north-west of Tuxford, in Nottinghamshire, upon the River Idle, and on the verge of the ancient Forest of Sherwood, is Houghton Park; where was once a stately mansion, successively the residence of the Malluvels, the Stanhopes, and the Holleses, Earls of Clare. The park, now cut up into enclosures, still retains features of its former magnificence. Noble avenues of limes and other trees exist to denote the approaches to a patrician abode; and on the margin of the slowly-gliding Idle, embosed in a thicket which causes a twilight gloom even Robert, and his deceased lady. From the limited dimensions of the place, the body of the author of Waverley has been placed in a direction north and south, instead of the usual fashion; and thus, in death at least, he has resembled the Came ronians, of whose character he was supposed to have given such an unfavourable picture in one of his tales." May no unhallowed hand ever violate his sepulchre ! at mid-day, stand the remains of the CHAPEL where the lords of Houghton formerly worshipped the Deity, and where they found their "long home." Some idea of the desolation which reigns over this oncehallowed spot is conveyed by a reference to the accompanying delineation; and it is indeed, mournful to witness the havock, not merely of time, but that made by sacrilegious hands. The sanctity of the grave has not been respected; and the last encasements of mortality have been sought to be exposed to the gaze of every visitor. On viewing this place, in the month of August last, we found that many of the floor stones had been displaced, evident attempts made to discover the coffins of the dead,-and, in one instance, with success. A leaden coffin,-that of some high-born lord or dame, had been reached and opened, and pieces of the wooden shell were strewed around the uncovered grave! "Fire and sword and desolation A godly, thorough, reformation;" How this Chapel came to ruin in the first instance | ations, and been originally of larger extent, there we know not whether during the Civil Wars, which being arches walled up on the north side. It consists preceded the Commonwealth, when all our eccle- of a nave, chancel, and a small cemetery on the north siastical edifices suffered spoilation by those who side of the chancel. The doorway on the south side thoughtis very ancient, and presents a specimen of the AngloNorman style. Close beside it, on the outside of the Chapel, are two flat stones, having each a head rudely carved in relief,---one, apparently that of a male, and the other of a female. In the interior are, a plain circular font, a small piscena, and a niche on the right of where the altar once stood, intended perhaps for the image of the Patron Saint. The cemetery contains a large slab stone, marked with a cross having, in the old character, the words, " Jhe (Jesu) mercy," lady helpe," and at the foot (as well as we could decypher) "orate p aia Johe' Stanhop ux Herici Stanhop armig," surmounted by a shield impaled; the male arms those of Stanhope, (adopted from those of Lungvillers,) viz. sable, a bend between six cross crosslets arg.; the female arms are too much defaced to be ascertained. This stone is supposed to be in memory of Joan, the wife of Henry Stanhope, who lived in the reign of Edward IV. On the outside of the Chapel, on the north side, is a mutilated effigy of a recumbent female, her head supported by angels, and her feet resting upon a dog. Possibly if the weeds and rubbish which cover the floor of this sanctuary were removed, other inscriptions might be discovered; and it is hoped, that the few vestiges remaining, which we have thus noticed, will be pro or whether it fell into gradual decay and neglect, after the Mansion itself had become deserted by its noble owner the fourth Earl of Clare,-who, having married the co-heiress of Henry, Duke of Newcastle, was upon the death of his father-in-law himself created Duke of Newcastle, and went to reside at Welbeck Abbey, which, with other estates, came into his possession by his wife. Thoroton merely observes" of the Chapel, that it "was accounted to belong to Tickhill;" that is, probably, to some religious house at that place in Yorkshire; but respecting the estate he is more diffuse, and traces its succession from the Lungvillers to the Earl of Clare. Among its owners he notices" good Sir William Holles," whose father (Lord Mayor of London in the reign of Henry VIII.,) purchased it of John Babington, and whose grandson, Sir John Holles, was first created Baron of Houghton, and afterwards Earl of Clare, by James I. Of "good Sir William," it is recorded, that he lived at Houghton in great splendour and hospitality. "He began his Christmas at Allhallowtide, and continued it until Candlemas; during which time any man was permitted to stay three days, without being asked whence he came, or what he was." His retinue was large, for he was at the Coronation of Edward VI. with fifty retainers with blue coats and badges." His great grandson, Deuzil Holles, (second son of the first Earl of Clare,) was one of the five members who, when Charles I. was about to dissolve parliament, forcibly held the speaker in the chair until certain resolutions were passed. He was afterwards accused by Charles, of high treason; but nevertheless he strongly opposed the execution of the monarch, and took an active part in the restoration of Charles II., who created him Lord Holles of Isfield, in Sussex. Another great grandson of "good Sir William," Gervas Holles, whom Thoroton styles "a great lover of antiquities," left several MSS. Collections for the county of Lincoln (now in the British Museum,) in which are memoirs of his own family, and probably notices of this place. But to digress no further, we proceed to give a brief description of the Chapel as it now appears. This edifice has evidently undergone various alter-uellers, accidentally (yet happily) discouer'd to be the Antiq. Notts. p. 357. VOL. I. NOV. 17, 1832. tected from further devastation. TOPOGRAPHICAL EXCURSION IN THE (Continued from p. 208.) In the Close, besides buildings belonging to the Dean, Prebends, &c. "there is a Pallace built castlelike, at the entrance whereof we mounted some dozen stayres into a spacious goodly Hall, as large as any we yet met with, all the roofe whereof is of Irish Timber, richly and curiously caru'd, and the couering of Lead, Church-like, the carving expressing sundry strange formes, and a great part thereof gilded." The City.-"Some few Knights and Gentlemen reside therein; but amongst all their Gentlewomen, one more glorious then the rest was, by one of these Tra rarest and most pfect modell and mistresse-peece of peeces they met wth in all their Journey. She was U Nature's utmost Perfection, and a composition of Grace, Beauty, and excellent Features, inferior to none, because transcending all, and meriting not onely observation, but wth it admiration: such as might have the ambition to know her, may in a fayre and gentile way of addresse, finde this modest, proper, hansome vestall, not in a Nunnery, but at the ffryers, in this Sweet Cittie. Heere we would willingly have fallen out with precious Time, in depriuing vs, (as we desir'd) a full and satisfying sight of soe delicate a Creature, as it did, not a little, trouble us, that we could not affoord a visit to so fayre a Person, in respect we being credibly inform'd, by some who had the felicitie in the knowledge of her, that her inward endowments were every way adequate to her outward adornmts or excellent and unparrall'd Parts." Hastening next to Derby, & "passing through 'Burton Market thither, we lighted to view that great and vast promising Cathedrall-like Church, wherein lyes the Monument of him that built her, as naked, & bare, & plaine as she. The large Abbey, now 'call'd the Mannor House, adjoining to her : & a fayre Bridge there is of 20 arches, built ouer Trent." 66 selves in a Towne nothing but Rocke, wch way soeeuer we walk'd. It is sweetly situated on a Hill, wth in a little mile of the brave Riuer Trent. All or most of their Celleradge, & many artificiall Dwellings are hewen and made out of the firme Rocke; but that more especially of note, at that famous ruinated Castle built by Wm. the Conqueror, is Mortimer's Hole, into wch wee descended from the Court of the old Castle, by 150. stayres, all within one mighty huge Rocke, on the wch the Castle is founded," "After we had tyr'd o'selves with elyming up so high as those comaunding Towers, & descending down so low as we did, into those deep, dismall, darke vaults, and caues, where the King of Scotts was famish'd miserably to death, and the hole wherein the L Mortimer Earle of March was surpriz'd, we came marching fayre and easily downe again to the Towne, and there we found a spacious Market place, 3. reasonable well built Churches, in one of wch wee saw 2. faire Monum of white Marble, one whereof was Salmon's, & the other Thurland's." The next place visited was Leicester, "that old Towne, built by the British King Leir, neere 1000. yeeres before Christ."-"We saw the two famous Hospitalls, the elder called the Holy Trinity, a stately, fayre, long Building, couered with Lead, for the perpetual maintenance of 112. poore Men & Women, founded by that noble Duke, Anno 1332. [Henry D. of Lancaster] whose Monument, wth another, a virtuous Ladie's, and a great Benefactresse to that Hospitall, is fayrely and deserningly erected, in their neat Chappell, for a religious memorial to future Ages. The other is a fayre Building, and was built, giuen & endow'd wth sufficient maintenance for 2. Juries of poore people, 12. of either sex, by a Mar Away then wee spurr'd for Darby, and as we pass'd on our way, we left Tidbury Castle on or left hand, where his Matie was pleased not long since to be, at the election of a new King. Wee gott by Noone to the Hart in Darby."—" This ancient Towne wee found seated on a little River, which peaketh up his head in those Mines & Quarryes, there dividing this Shire in the midst, on wch is a fayre archt stone Bridge." "There are 4 churches in the Towne, besides that high and beautifull Tower, called All Hallowes, which is 70 yards high, built in K. Henry the 8th dayes, at the cost & charges of some young men & maydens as by the Inscription thereon ap-chant of London. [Sir Wm Wixton.] peares, wch is engraven on the outside of the Steeple, wherein wee observ'd 3. Monumts. One of a Religious & pious Parson, that erected an Hospitall for 16. poore aged Persons, as Almesmen ; & a good Benefactor besides to the Church. [Parson Johnson.] Another of a Marchant in London, that gave a liberal Maintenance for a weekely Lecture there, euery ffriday, being Market day; & was very beneficiall besides. [Mr. Crashaw.] And the 3d is a fayre stately rich Monument of of an honble Lady, of bracke Marble, Alablaster, & Touch, [Touchstone?] such as her owne Grounds in that Country affoorded, wch was the more rare, and of remarke, in that respect. [The Lady Shrewsbury."] "Then were we conducted to see the ruines of Janus' Temple, where, as they say, lieth the Royall ffounder both of the Citty, and that. Part of the Reliques of which Temple is a peece of a wall, and is still standing, neere vnto S'. Nicholas Church. "Wee then marcht to the Castle, and view'd that goodly large Hall wch was John of Gaunt's domesticke and princely habitation; wherein the Judges in their Circuits sit. It is situated vpon the banke of the head Riuer, that cutts this Shire in the middle.” Coventry. tentedly, & in the morning address'd o' selves to a "Here wee rested very quietly & constately fayre Church, wch may compare with out Organs with many Cathedralls, though none itself, both for largenesse, lightsomenesse, fayrenesse, and neatNottingham. "The next morning we found o'-any in this kingdome, built, as they credibly renesse, wch hath as fayre and lofty a stately spire as porte, by 2. mayds, at a small charge." "In this Church there are some fayre and ancient Monuments, and amongst the rest these are of eminency: mentioning,*) inuited heere a longer stay, but wee were call'd away, to visite that famous Castle of Guy of Warwicke. St Thomas Berkeley's Tombe of black and white marble, onely sone of Henry L Berkley, & his Lady Katherin Sister to Thomas D. of Nor-worth, [Kenilworth,] where we were vsher'd vp a folke; and his sones. "In o way thither, in the middle thereof, wee were detayn'd one houre at that famous Castle of Killing The Lo Swillington's Tombe, himselfe in Armour, "Nere adioyning to this Church, stands another fayre one wch hath a spir'd Steeple, & these two, wth another little one, seldom used, containe the whole city." "This City as it is sweetly situated on a Hill, so it is beautify'd with many fayre streets and buildings, & for defence thereof it is compassed with a strong wall nigh 3. miles about, wth a whole Jury of Gates, and many offensive & defensive Towers; grac'd & much beautify'd with a fayre, lofty, 6 square Crosse, though not altogeather soe richly guilded as that vnparralell'd one in Cheap-side, yet wth as curious and neat worke, & caruings cut in stone, as that of lead. A fayre large Hall there is, over against their fayre Church, wth a stately ascending entrance, the vpper end adorn'd wth rich Hangings & all about wth fayre Pictures, one more especially of a noble Lady, [the Lady Godiva,] whose memory they have cause not to forget, for that shee purchas'd, and redeem'd their lost infring'd Liberties, & ffreedomes, & obtain❜d remission of heauy Tributes impos'd upon them, by vndertaking a hard and vnseemely taske, wch was, To ride naked openly, at high Noone day, through the City, vpon a milke white Steed, wch She willingly perform'd, according to her Lord's strict iniunction: It may bee very well discuss'd heere, whether his hatred, or her Love exceeded, her fayre long hayre did much offend the wantons glancing Eye." "The ciuill Gouernm is discreetly order'd, & wisely administred by a generous prudent Mayor, with his 12 discreet Brethren, 2 Sheriffes, and 10 Aldermen, clad in Scarlet, wth a fayre Sword, & cap of maintenance, 5 Maces, & other Officers, and an Honble, graue, & Learned Recorder, [S Edward Cooke,] to grace & preserue her ancient Liberties. As this precious place is plac'd in the middle of this famous Island, soe doth she verefy, & make good the old Prouerb, IN MEDIO CONSISTIT VIRTUS, for she wants nothing, either of Pleasure or Profit, participating largelie of them both; ffor both the sweet situation of the City, & generous condition of the People (some whereof the Margent is grac'd wh the fayre ascent, into a large, and stately Hall, of 20. Paces, in length, the Roofe whereof is all of Irish wood, neatly, and hansomely fram'd: In it is [are] 5. spacious Chimneys, answerable to soe great a Roome: we next view'd the Great Chamber for the Guard, the Chamber of Presence, the Privy Chamber, fretted aboue richly with Coats of Armes, & all adorn'd wth fayre & rich Chimney Peeces of Alablaster, blacke Marble, & of Joyners worke in curious caru'd wood; & all those fayre & rich Roomes, & Lodgings in that spacious Touer not long since built, & repayr'd at a great Cost by that great ffauourite of late dayes, [Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester:] The priuate, plaine, retiring Chamber where in o' renowned Queene of euer famous memory, alwayes made choise to repose her Selfe. Also the famous strong, old Tower, called Julius Cæsars, on top whereof wee view'd the pleasant large Poole, continually sporting & playing on the Castle; The Parke, and the fforrest contigious thereunto. But one thing more remarkable then any we had yet seene, was, the sight of the massy, heauy Armour of that famous & redoubted warriour,+ whom we next hastened to. "In or way thither, and wth in a Mile of Warwicke, wee saw an old decay'd Chappelle, now prophan'd, in being made a Wood House, there we found his statue, full 3. yards in length, and answerable to his Armour there also we saw, close by the River side, in a Rocke, his Caue, where in (leauing the worlds cares) he retir'd and liu'd a Hermit, after all his braue and warlike Atcheium, and there ended his dayes. "Neerer to the Towne [of Warwick,] and in the high Road stands his leaning Crosse: And soe we entred that old Shire, Bayliffe Towne, which for a fayre and stately Castle may compare with most in England. It is most sweetly, and very pleasantly seated on a Rocke very high, vpon that pleasant River [the Avon] that diuides this Shire in twaine; whether ye sumptuousnesse of the Building, wth the richnesse of the ffurniture, the pleasantnesse of the Seat or the strength of the braue, ancient, high Towers, wth her owne defensiue situation, exceeds, it is hard to be determin'd: At or first ascending entrance, wee pass'd ouer a large Bridge & then through * Sir Thomas Porter, Sir George Bray, and the Lady Littleton. + Guy, Earl of Warwick. |