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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 y 
 
 NETLEY ABBEY. 
 
 [ Price One Shilling. ]
 
 NETLEY ABBEY. 
 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 B Y 
 
 GEORGE K E A r Ey Efq; 
 The Second Edition, corre(^ed and enlarged. 
 
 Horrendum Sjhis et Relligione parentum. 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 .^tftmrvt ,/f. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mali, MDCCLXIX.
 
 r r\ 
 
 3S3? 
 
 T O 
 
 JOHN H O A D L Y, LL. D. &c. 
 THIS P O E M 
 
 (The Subjedt of which adorns the Neighbourhood of his 
 Redory of Saint Mary's, Southampton) 
 
 Is with lingular Propriety, 
 
 As well as particular Efteem, 
 
 Infcribed 
 By his afFedionate Friend, 
 
 The Author. 
 G2S91';
 
 A SHORT ACCOUNT 
 
 O F 
 
 NETLEY ABBEY. 
 
 J] S Hampihire is one. of the eighteen Englilli Counties., 
 of which., as yet, no general Hiflory has been iicritten 
 (though the City, College, and Cathedral of Winchester, 
 <w 'Well as a few other confpicuous Situatiojis, have found 
 Employment for feveral able Pens), a port Accou7tt of 
 the venerable Piece of Antiquity, which gave Rife to the 
 following Poe?n, may 7iot prove unacceptable to the Reader. 
 
 Few, indeed, are the Materials by the AJfifance of which 
 it is compiled ; and the little Merit it may be allowed to 
 claim, is that of having colleSled fome fcattered Particulars 
 together, feparating as much as pofible the fabulous and 
 hiflorical 'Traditions concering its Fate, fnce the general 
 Dijfolution of Religious Houfes in this Kijigdoni. The Taflz, 
 inconftderable as it may be, is at leaf, I hope^ performed 
 
 •with
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 Ki'ith Fidelity \ aml^ every 07ic acquainted iinth the Place^ 
 ni'ill ii'iJJjy like the Author^ that 7nore ample Records had been 
 extafit. Buck has etigraved a View of its Ruins^ though^ 
 J thi?:k^ not fo accurately as he has executed others. The 
 Frontifpiece to this Publicatiofi is faithfully taken on the 
 Spot from the Ea/l End of the Abbey, a Point of View, in 
 '^ji'hich it jnakes the mofl piElurefque Appearance. 
 
 The Rcjnains of Netley, or rather Letteley Abbey 
 (though it paffes at prefent by the former of thefe Names) are 
 fnuated in the Parip of Hound •'^, on the Raflern Side of 
 the Southampton River ^ between that Town and Calshot 
 Caflle, In the Tear 1239 ^' ^/«^ Henry III. founded it 
 as a Monafery for (Z\%'T'^'^Q.\\\i ^ Monks from Beaulieu *^', 
 cvid commanded it (fays Tanner) to the Patronage ^ Saint 
 jNIary and Sain I Edward. That it was frfi dedicated to 
 
 " Vide Et^ow'j Liber Valorura. 
 
 " AiHial. lV(ii'e?-hy and Annal. Parcolude MS. • 
 
 ^ Not Ju'^ti/iin Triiirs, as Speed. 
 
 •* Annal. Farcohuie'MS. Beaulieu (fue de Bello Loco) was founded by King 
 Jihn, in the Fifth Year of his Reign, for Cijlerctans. He had treated the Or- 
 der before ia that Neighbourhood with the utmcft Cruchy, commanding his 
 Cavulry to trample their Perfons under Foot-; but being terrified by Vifions, and 
 prevailed on by thofc about him, he made them this fljort-liv'd Atonement ; 
 for foon after repenting of his Generofity, he renewed, his former Severities, 
 ^nd perfecuied them to Extermination. Vid. Moihijlic. Tom. I. 
 
 ^ the
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 the forjner of thefe is fufficiently plain fro?n the Charter of 
 King Henry, hut that it was at any 'Time confecrated to the 
 latter flill remains to he proved. The Words of the Kings 
 Charter run thus, Confirmamus Deo et Ecclefia; Sanct^ 
 Mari^ de Loco Sancti Edwardi, which implies 720 more 
 than a Grant to Saint Marys Chapel at Edwardftow, or 
 Saint Edward's Place. It is not itnprobable (as Lettely 
 had been enriched by Donations previous to that of its lafi 
 Founder] that fome StruBure had been raifed there before by 
 Edward, or was co7ifccrated to him, and that Henry only 
 renewed the Foundation, as he afterwards rebuilt West- 
 minster Abbey, which (as this ?night have beeji) was the 
 Work of The Confessor, his favourite Saint. The Arms 
 of the fame Edward are flill vifble on fo?ne Parts of the 
 Roof and Walls of the Chapel. 
 
 As this Abbey is difli77guifhed by various Titles in the old 
 Records, &c. from which this fcanty I^iforntation concerning 
 it is obtained — rt^j Necteleye^, Lettely f, EdwardstowS, 
 
 ' Ne^eleye fuper Mare. Angl. facr. I. 505. 
 
 Locus Sanfii Ed-wnrdi quam Modenii Nalak vocant. Madox's Exchequer, 
 p. 469. Natalc. MS, Tax Lincoln. 
 
 ' Monai!:. Ang. and Leland De leto Loco. Speed. 
 
 s Godivin, in the Life of Peter de Rupibus, Eifhop of Winc}?ejler, whom he 
 makes the Founder, as does Leland, Colled. L 69, He might intend, or did 
 perhaps begin this Mohaftery, but died 5th July, 1238; znd hence Weaver 
 makes this Bilhop Peter Founder of the Priory of ItdiuardJtoWy in Suffolk. 
 
 B or
 
 [ '0 ] 
 
 or dc Loco San£ti Edwardi juxta Southampton, // /s nt-orth 
 ivhile to rewark, that of thefe^ the fecojid i?i Order fceins to 
 be the Name by ivhich it pajfed in the Fou?ider s Tiine, as 
 Lett ELF. YE or Lett e lege '^j urns one of the Manors which 
 were cojifrmcd and fettled on it, in the Grant already men^ 
 tioned. A daring Etymologifl^ however, may go yet farther 
 back in Search of a Juf if cation for its prefe?Jt Name of 
 Netlev, as Camden informs us, that in the Tear 508 
 Cerdic King of the Weft-Saxons engaged the Britons, and 
 conquered Natanleod their King, and frc?n his Name a 
 TraSl of Land reaching to the Site of this Place was fo 
 called. It is, however, more probable that the King's Na^ne 
 was Natan or Nata, which by the Addition of leod 
 (Saxon) i. e. Country, ftgnifes the TraEl or Country of 
 Natan. But this is only Co7ije&ure. 
 
 Sir William Dugdale, who has preferved the Charter 
 of Henry III. dated in the 2^th Tear of hi: Reign (A. D. 
 1251^, has given with it a fuhfequent Grant from John de 
 Warenna Earl <?/" Surry in 12^2, confrming a former 
 one of Roger de Clare, originally made in 1242, which 
 was nine years a?itecedent to that of the King, in whofe par- 
 
 ^ It is not mentioned, in either Charter, by the Name of Lclteley, though 
 it is fo called in the Title to thit of Henry III. 
 
 ticular
 
 [ " ] 
 
 tkular Grant 7na>:y former ones feem to have been included \ 
 'The jirjl Grant frofn Roger de Clare coJ} the Abbey 3C0 
 Marks Jlerling, and the Ratification of it from John de 
 Warenna 20 7?iore. About the Time of the general Diffo- 
 lution of religious HoufeSy there were in the Monaflery an 
 Abbot and twelve Monks ^j whofe Pajfejfwns were theft valued 
 at 100 1. 12 s. Sd. per Annum, DuGDALE, 160/. 2s.gd.i^ 
 Speed. The Site is faid to have been granted 28th of 
 Henry VIII. to Sir William Paulet. 
 
 The next Information I receive^ is froin an interleaved 
 Almanac ^ for the Tear 1665, formerly belonging to Lady 
 Frances Ducie, only Daughter to Francis Lord Seymour Baron 
 of Troubrldge, the third Grandfon to the old Earl of Flertford 
 who jnarried Catharine Grey, on whofe Account he was im- 
 prifoned nine Tears in the Tower. By one of fever al Me^ 
 morandums which that Lady had made^ it appears that 
 Netley was anciently a Seat of this Nobleman^ at whofe 
 particular Defire the faid Francis Lord Seymour s hrft Wife 
 
 ' ficut Cartn:^ Donatorum, quas in^ls habcnt, rationablliter te/laiuu:. 
 
 Cart. Hen. III. 
 
 ^ MS. Corp. Chrift. Coll. Cant. 
 
 ' This Almanac (with a Cabinet of McJals, and foinc other Tiifics) 
 •iefcended to the Author by Inheritance. Frai:c:s tiie Second Dauglucr of 
 Charles Lord Seymour, mentioned in the Memorandum, being married to Sir 
 George Himgerford his Great Grandfather. 
 
 B 2 I 
 
 ^r
 
 lav in tlicre of Charles Lord Seymour^ fecond Baron of 
 Troubridire^ Lady Duck's Broiher, who was chriftened in 
 the Chapel of that Houfe, isihich ivas Jlill preferved, and fet 
 apart for facrcd Purpofes. In thefjxth Year of Edv\'ard VI. 
 "jiheii the Earl of Hertford was about i j Tears of Agc^ there 
 paffed an Acl ivhich gave to the Crown mofl of his Dignities 
 and hands y efpecialty ail fuch as were pur chafed by the Duhe 
 his Father after 2,'^d Henry VII f. when by a private A6i the 
 Lands, hj him fo purchafed, were fettled on the Iffue of his 
 fecond Marriage. It is not, therefore, unlikely that Netley,, 
 and the Eflate about it, might have been one of the Appendages 
 to the Earldom of Hertford, or Barony of Beauchamp, both 
 of which (after he had been deprived cf his Honours, &c.) 
 were Coif erred on hi)n by ^ueen Elizabeth, in the frf Year 
 of her Reign, two Days before her Coronation. At fuch a 
 Diflancc of 'Time it is beccjne i}}ipoffjble, with any Degree 
 of Certainty, to account for the Means by which Eflates fo 
 often chafiged their PoJJeffors ; as many of the f mailer Channels, 
 through which Succeffion naturally devolved, or was by 
 Force diverted, are clofed by Time, Under fuch Difadvantages 
 could the Search be revived, wefjould remember the Tafk mufl 
 be more often undertaken in Obedience to the Caprice of 
 fruitlefs Curiofity, than executed to the SatisfaSlion of ra- 
 tional F?iquiry. 
 
 IVhat.
 
 [ '3 ] 
 
 TVhat is hitherto mentioned on various Authorities (which 
 the Reader will find particularized at the Bottom of thefe 
 Pages) as to the Antiquity, Foui^der, &c. of Letteley 
 Abbey ^ is all that can he depended on as T'ruth. Willis, 
 ifideed, (who, like his Brother Antiquarian Peck, ^uoas pof- 
 fejjed of a happy Credulity) has crowded a Page or two in his' 
 Hiftory of Mitred Abbies, with every Circumjlance of every 
 old Womati s Stoty he could meet with \ but, fince the Periods 
 already fpoken of we find no authentic Anecdote that f night 
 ferve the Purpofe of an Ejiquirer into the ancient Hifory of 
 the Place, except from a MS. Note to a Copy of the firft 
 Editio?t of Tauneks Alotitia Monafica, which fays, that the 
 Manor of North^WTgh, Oxon, was held of l^et l^y Abbiy 
 at its DiJJ'olution,- y ■■'■■ 
 
 Fcr all that can be fuper added, we are fcarcely indebted to a' 
 Record more faithful than that of ccnwion Tradition; and the 
 moft that can becolle&ed even frojn thence, is, that the Abbey 
 has defended through the Hands of various Owners of various 
 Ranks, Se&s, andProfeffons, and bears the Marks of the fever aV 
 Depredations of them all. A Fu kit an, in the Reign of James I. 
 (no lefs difiinguified by his Sordidnefs of Difpofitio/i, than Se- 
 verity of Manners) is faid to have defaced ma?iy of its O?'- 
 7iaments, and to have intended the Demolition of the whole', 
 
 hutf.,
 
 t >4 ] 
 
 hut^ li-hile he ivns giving Orders to his JP'orlinioi, was cruJJjed 
 to Death by the Fall of Part of the Building. The Heap 
 cf St Of. us under which he is fuppofed to lie buried ^ is fill pre- 
 tended to be f even. Superfition made its proper Ufe of this 
 •Fable., and ivas rery pj'obably the Means of protesting the 
 Fabric^ tiilfotne E.\ r l o f H u n r i n g don (at what exaSi Period is 
 uncertain^ though ive can account for theConneSlionbetwee?! that 
 and the Seymour Family) ftt edit up for a Place of Refdence, 
 <iud defecrated the 'whole ^ hy comber ting Part of the Chapel 
 into a Kitche?!, and other Offices. In this State (though in 
 \i-hat Hands lee knov) not) the Abbey 7mght continue till about 
 the Tear 1700, ivhen Sir Bartlet Lucy, the Owner^ dif- 
 ■pofed of fuch a Part of the Materials ^ by ContraSl^ to Ma~ 
 fonsy Plumbers^ Carpenters^ 8cc. as they could carry away in 
 a limited 'Time. Tbefe People are faidj by the Neighbours^ 
 'to have been vifted by yudg^tients^ proportioned to the different 
 ■Degrees of their imagined Sacrilege. After thisy the Right 
 cf Poffeffion devolved to Henry Clift, Efquire, froin whom 
 the late Mr. Dummer made the Pur chafe. 
 
 That fo little ffould be hnouen of thofe who wet e in Succeffcn, 
 hlaflers cf a Place like thisy will not appear unaccountable 
 to him., who confiders that the Owner of an Efate is the only 
 Per [on pffffcd of its Credentials ^ or i?n?ned.'ately concerned 
 
 in
 
 [ '5 ] 
 
 in the P refervation of its Records. Thofe to u-hcm hert-^ 
 ditary Te?iures clefcencl are not ofte?2 Jolicitous about 7mre 
 than their Valtie^ f^^i^^g dowft to enjoy them with neither the 
 Power to exte?id a Search into remoter Ages thcfnfehes^ cr a 
 Wifl) to promote Enquiries after the Nimiber or ihiality cf 
 their Predecejfors. So eafdy is that permitted to he forgot teny 
 which no lucrative Fiews engage us to redeem fro?n Ohfcurity^ 
 The Pride of Families is not always the heji Security for the 
 Faithfulnefs of genealogical Dedu&ions. Grcatnefs is lefs 
 ready to difclofe the Sources f'07n isohence its Riches flow., than 
 to f wallow their Streams ^ and Titles of Splendor^ in a Pedi(rree, 
 too often hluflj at their Approximation to provident Ingenuity ^ 
 or fuccefsfid Trade. Hence it ofte?t happens^ that in the 
 ojlentatious Accounts of Families, none but thofe whofe Names 
 can confer Honour in their Turn, are admitted to a Place ; as 
 in contrasted Maps the little Villages are pajfed over, and 
 the Road appears to conduSl the Traveller only through a 
 Scries of Market Towns ^ and Cities of Extent and Fame. 
 
 The Situation o/" Net ley Abbey is fuch as would natu- 
 rally have bee7i chofen by thofe who wifljed at once for Solitude 
 and Convejiience. The Abbey Lands were its Bcu7uiaries en 
 all Sides ; and the Southampton River fupplied it with many 
 Ncccffaries, at the fatne Time as it leffened the Frequency of 
 
 Cojnmunication
 
 [ >6 ] 
 
 Communication ii'ith the hufy Part of the World. The Spot 
 'ixhcrc it fands is almop. ftirrcimded with beautiful Woods, 
 ifhich Jlope gradually to the Edge of the Sea, and its ProfpcSls, 
 both by Land and Water ^ are equally extenfve and delight- 
 ful. There are fill vifble^ at fonie Difance fro7n the 
 Building, large Mounds^ ivhich ^-jjere thrown up as Heads 
 to Ponds, calculated for the Prefervation of Fifi^ and as Re- 
 fervoirs for f rep Water. The Form of Part of the Moat is 
 preferred, though that of the u'hole StruSlure cannot be fo 
 cxa&ly afcertained. The Chapel (like almofl all others of the 
 fame Age) was built in the Form of a Crofs, having a Nave, 
 and Side Ifes, with others interfeSling them between that and 
 the Choir. Its highef Pinnacles are faid to have been for- 
 merly Sea- Marks ; but at prefent no Remains of than are 
 lUfcoverable. The Form of the RefeEiory and Kitchen are yet 
 prefcrved. 
 
 Before I clofe this Introduciion, I cannot but remark 
 how natural it is for thofe who have fxed on any Subjc8l, 
 which is in itf elf local and imimportant^ to offer previoufy fomc 
 Account of it, fuch as may tettd to elevate it in Confequence, 
 or force it into Obfervation. Of this Neceffity every one in 
 fimilar Circumfanccs is too well convinced \ for the fa?ne Ob- 
 jeEl that feemed pregnant with many pleafng Ideas to the 
 
 Writer,
 
 [ 17 ] 
 
 Write}', jnay he fo treated as to prove barren of Entertahi- 
 ment to the Reader ; and the Moment of Enthufafm is jnore 
 often incident to the inadvertent Writer, than the fober 
 Critic. "The Author, who now abides the prefent Ce7ifu}e, 
 ?nay be thought too prefumptuous i7i offering an Apology for 
 that which may prove too inconfderable to iiititle itfelf even 
 to the Repreherifo7t of the Public. 
 
 If, however, this little Poem (which was frfl publiJJjed in 
 1764^ has received confiderable Alterations and Additions, 
 the Author begs it may be underfiood that 7uither the oney 
 nor the other, were 7nade in Confequence of a7iy fuppofed Merit 
 of its own, but i7ierely to preferve the Me77iory of a7i Ancient 
 Ruin, which has alter77ately fuffered frotn Weather, and the 
 ill 'Tafle of its Owners, tofuch a Degree, that they who feek 
 it, a few Tears hence, may fi7td it only i7i the following 
 Defcription of its Situation and Beauty. 
 
 N E T L E Y
 
 [ '9 ] 
 
 NETLEY ABBEY. 
 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 A halcyon Calm has luU'd the wat*ry Plain, 
 Th' unmoving Canvafs flags befide the Maft, 1 
 
 The gliding Bark fcarce cleaves th' unruffled Main, 
 Tho' fond Impatience bids each Zephyr hafte. 
 
 Such Stillnefs yields the gen'ral Hour of Reft ; , 
 
 Such peaceful Waftage to the Saint is givn, 
 When, from Life's Tumults haft'ning to be bleft, 
 He meets the Smile of unofFended Heav'n ! : 
 
 Now light upfprings the Breeze, the Sails unfold. 
 The ready Crew the fav'ring Gale improve. 
 The fun-bright Current flames with waving Gt)ld, 
 And each broad Shore and Foreft feems to move. 
 
 C 2 I hail
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 I hall at lafi; thcfc Shades, this well-known Wood, 
 That fkirts with verdant Slope the barren Strand, 
 "Where Netley's Ruins bord'ring on the Flood 
 Forlorn in melancholy Greatnefs ftand. 
 
 How chang'd, alas ! from that rever'd Abode 
 Grac'd by proud Majefty in ancient Days, 
 When Monks reclufe thefe facred Pavements trod, 
 And tau2:ht th' unletter'd World its Maker's Praife ! 
 
 Now funk, deferted, and with Weeds o'ergrown, 
 Yon projftrate Walls their harder Fate bewail ; 
 Low on the Ground their topmoft Spires are thrown, 
 Once friendly Marks to guide the wand'ring Sail. 
 
 The Ivy now with rude Luxuriance bends 
 Its tangled Foliage through the cloifter'd Space, 
 O'er the green Window's mould'ring Height afcends, 
 
 And fondly clafps it with a laft Embrace. 
 
 Wher^
 
 [ " ] 
 
 Where burn the gorgeous Altars lafting Fires ? 
 Where frowns the dreadful Sanduary now ? 
 No more Religion's awful Flame afpires ! 
 No more th' Afylum guards the fated Brow ! 
 
 No more fhall Charity, with fparkling Eyes 
 And Smiles of Welcome, wide unfold the Door, 
 Where Pity lift'ning ftill to Nature's Cries 
 Befriends the Wretched, and relieves the Poor ! 
 
 No more thefe hoary Wilds, thefe dark'ning Groves, 
 To vocal Bands return the Note of Praife, 
 Whofe Chiefs (as flow their long Procefllon moves) 
 On the rear'd Crofs with Adoration gaze ! ■ 
 
 And while to ncigh'o'ring Waves, th' unwonted Show, 
 Each parting Bough, and op'ning Glade reveals, 
 The awe-ftruck Sailor checks the haft'ning Prow, 
 
 Sufpends his Oar, and wonders what he feels. 
 
 Thus
 
 [ " 1 
 
 Thus mufing, oft I pace the niofs -grown Ifle, 
 Each low-brow'd Vault, each dark Recefs explore. 
 While the bleak Wind howls through the fhatter'd Pile, 
 Or Wave hoarfe-murm'ring breaks along the Shore. 
 
 No other Sounds, amid thefe Arches heard, 
 The death-like Silence of their Gloom moleft, 
 Save, the fhrill Plaints of fome unfocial Bird, 
 That fecks the Houfe of Solitude to refl:. 
 
 Save, when their tinkling Leaders to the Shade 
 Of thcfe cool Grots invite the fleecy Folds, 
 Where oft the fated Ox fupinely laid 
 With lowing Herds a diftant Converfe holds! 
 
 Qr where the Gothic Pillars flender Form 
 (Unequal to th' incumbent Quarry's Weight) 
 Defcrts its Poft, and reeling to the Storm, 
 vWith fuUen Crafli refigns its Charge to Fate. 
 
 W'lillc
 
 [ n ] 
 
 While the felf-planted Oak within confin'd 
 (Auxiliar to the Tempeft's wild Uproar) 
 Its giant Branches fluduates to the Wind, 
 And rends the Wall whofe Aid it courts no more. 
 
 Here too (Belief could old Tradition claim) 
 Where fwells the rocky Mound in fliapelefs Heaps, 
 (His Name forgot, his Guilt divulg'd by Fame) 
 Some rude Difmantler of this Abbey fleeps. 
 
 Long, long in Thought the patient Earth he curs'd, 
 That bore the Fabric's then unbroken Spires ; 
 Long wifh'd the Pow'r to bid Volcano's burft. 
 Or call from Heav'n thought- executing Fires. 
 
 *' Wide wave (he cry'd) all bright with golden Grain 
 " The neighb'ring Vales, while this proud cumb'rous Ma(s 
 " For many a barren Furlong chills the Plain, 
 " And draws with idle Zeal the Crowds that pafs ; 
 
 4 <*No
 
 [ n ] 
 
 *• No more tlie Vot'ries of each time-niook Pile, 
 *' As Ruin's Heirs, fliall call thefe Shades their own, 
 " For blazon'd Arms explore the pageant Hie, 
 " Or fcarch dark Regifters of laithlufs Stone." 
 
 He fpoke — refolv'd. — The menac'd Arches frown'd, 
 The confcious Walls in fudden Conflict join'd, 
 Crufh'd the pale Wretch in one promifcuous Wound, 
 And left this Monument of Wrath behind. 
 
 Scenes fuch as thefe, with falutary Change, 
 O'er flattering Life their Melancholy caft, 
 Teach the free Thoughts on Wings of Air to range, 
 Overlook the prefent, and recall the pad ! 
 
 Here pious Beadfmen, from the World retir'd, 
 In blifsful Vilions wing'd their Souls to Heav'n ; 
 While future Joys their fober Tranfports fir'd, 
 Xhey wept their erring Days, and were forgiv'n. 
 
 Thci 
 
 r
 
 [ 25 ] 
 
 Their blamelefs Race fucceeding, in thefe Cells 
 Ere Death impos'd the LelTon, learn'd to die j 
 Alike forgot, no rais'd Memorial tells 
 In which lone Spot their kindred Allies lie I 
 
 Mute is the Matin Bell, whofe early Call 
 Warn'd the grey Fathers from their humble Beds ; 
 No midnight Taper gleams along the Wall, 
 Or round the fculptur'd Saint its Radiance fheds 1 
 
 No Martyr's Shrine its high-wrought Gold difplays 
 To bid the wond'ring Zealot hither roam ; 
 No Relick here the Pilgrim's Toil o'erpays, 
 And cheers his Footfteps to a diftant Home ! 
 
 Still Twilight now its Shade advancing throws, 
 Faint in the Weft the Day's lafl: Bliifli is feen; 
 On Night's dim Front the Star of Ev'ning glows. 
 And gilds with diftant Beams the folemn Scene. 
 
 D Illufion
 
 [ 2b ] 
 
 'Ulurion now re peoples all the Void, 
 From Death recalls the venerable Train 
 (Whofe Thoughts no more Earth's trivial Cares emplov'dj 
 To tread their ancient Bounds, and weep again. 
 
 Swift as her Wifh th' embody'd Shades appear, 
 O'er Paths much chang'd with doubtful Step they walk, 
 Each Eye rolls faft the vifionary Tear, 
 -And lift'niog Fancy thinks ilie hears them talk. 
 
 *' Say, rev'rend Forms, in Contemplation's Hour, 
 ** While Life ferene its golden Current roll'd, 
 " Did no kind Warning, no prophetic Pow'r 
 -*' This ravag'd Manlion's future Woes unfold? 
 
 " Did ye ne'er think the Page of Joy would clofe ? 
 ^* Ne'er dread a royal Plunderer's mighty Hand ? 
 ■^' Your ex il'd Order's yet unnumber'd Woes, 
 -^* Their Name extinguifli'd^ and their Rites prophan'd ?" 
 
 Silent
 
 [ 27 ] 
 
 Silent, they pafs, then fading like a Dream, . 
 
 To feek their lone unhonor'd Graves return, 
 Yet fleeting they bequeath a Sigh, and feem 
 With me thefe violated Groves to mourn. 
 
 Yon parted Roofs that nod aloft in Air, . 
 The threat'ning Battlement, the rifted Tow'r, 
 The Choir's loofe Fragments fcatter'd round, declare, 
 Infulting Time, the Triumphs of thy Pow'rl 
 
 Shall Man, unv/arn'd, furvey with prefcient fmilc 
 
 Of long Futurity the plann'd Abode ? 
 
 Vain Augur, turn! — behold where finks the Pile, 
 A Monarch rais'd in Honour of his God I 
 
 Low lies that fceptrcd Founder's holy Head, 
 Whofe Virtues bade thefe friendly Walls afcend ; 
 Applauding Angels grac'd his dying Bed, 
 And Hope's bright Dawn rofe cloudlefs on his End ! 
 
 D 2 Lamented
 
 [ 28 ] 
 
 Lamented Prince! — for Mercy's Tafk he knew, 
 The Reins of lengthen'd Empire gently fway'd j 
 He rais'd the fuppliant Tribe his Sire o'erthrew, 
 And round his Bier each grateful Convent pray'd. 
 
 Not fo retir'd fell John's indignant Soul- 
 
 For him no Vows the Doom of Heav'n oppos'd ; 
 Infulted Priefthood mix'd th' envenom'd Bowl, 
 And Death his Eyes in howling Anguifli clos'd. 
 
 Unftcady Ruler of a Nation's Helm, 
 Long ftruggling Freedom own'd thy hard Command ; 
 Till fierce in Arms thy Barons fhook the Realm, 
 And tore THE CHARTER from thy wav'ring Hand! 
 
 Peace guard their Duft ! — their Merits Glory crown ! 
 
 Too far their Worth tranfports the roving Mufe, 
 Who kindles at the Tale of old Renown, 
 Kor dares the Strain to Liberty refufe. ■ 
 
 And
 
 [ 29 ] 
 
 And now — farewel, ye Walls, ye Roofe fublime, 
 
 Ye length'ning Choirs, a venerable Gloom ! 
 And when, like you, your Poet bows to Time, 
 In yon dim Cloifter yield his Allies Room ! 
 
 His Hopes ne'er rofe to emulate the Dead, 
 Whofe dear-bought Trophies crowd the venal Fane, 
 Where fculptur'd Mars may wreath the Coward's Head, 
 Or Truth's bright Form o'er perjur'd Dull complain. 
 
 Midft Life's gay Scenes your calm Retreats he lov'd, 
 
 Your wrefted Pomp his artlefs Numbers mourn • 
 
 Where led, by Choice, his penfive Footfteps rov'd, 
 May Friendihip place, and you protect his Urn ! 
 
 Could aught yet more endear your circling Wood, 
 It is, Ardelia ! unconftrain'd and free, 
 That here, reflecting on Life's Sum of Good, 
 My Breall firll heav'd an anxious Sigh for Thee I 
 
 You
 
 [ 30 ] 
 
 You too, Ye Fair, of neighb'ring Scenes the Grace 
 (Whofe envy'd Praife the Bard adventVous feeks}, 
 Oxace deign to vifit this fequefter'd Place, 
 Inllrudion's Voice amidft the Ruin fpeaks ! 
 
 Whence claim they Praife, the fe Piles which ftrewn on Earth 
 (A fteril Burthen) mock their former State ? 
 
 *Tis from Remembrance of their youthful Worth ; 
 
 They once were beautiful, they once were great ! 
 
 Thofe Charms alone furvive that deck the Heart, 
 Command Rcfpe£t which growing Years increafe, 
 Bloom when the Rofes from the Cheek depart. 
 And ebbing Life's tumultuous Raptures ceafe I 
 
 Forgive the Mufe, if with prefumptuous Love 
 She wooes your Ears t'attend her moral Lay ; 
 Left faithlcfs to themfelves your Pleafures prove, 
 And ufelefs Time Ileal unimprov'd away i 
 
 For
 
 [ 31 ] 
 
 For know, your Bofoms feed a Flame as bright 
 
 As cheers a dying Cato's lateft Hour ; 
 
 A youthful Ammon warms to lead the Fight, 
 
 Or lights a Julius to the Goal of Pow'r I 
 
 Oh ! truft not then the Force of radiant Eyes 
 Thofe fliort-liv'd Glories of your fportive Band,- 
 
 Pleas'd with its Stars, though laughing Morn arife, 
 A fleadier Beam meridian Skies demand ! 
 
 Refled, ere (Vidor of each lovely Frame) 
 Time bids th' external, fleeting Graces fade, 
 'Tis Reafon's Bafe fupports the nobleft Claim, 
 'Tis Senfe preferves the Conquefts Beauty made f 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 ERRORS. 
 
 P. I 5. Line 13. expunge the word often 
 P. 22, Line 13. for Pillan read Pillar's
 
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