which he wrote. His
plan is perfectly artless, and his style as completely simple. Nor
does his fidelity appear impeachable. Such ancient volumes of
topography are invaluable--as preserving the memory of things and of
objects, which, but for such record, had perished without the hope or
chance of recovery.
[115] [Ten years have elapsed since this sentence was written, and the
experience gained in those years only confirms the truth (according to
the conception of the author) of the above assertion. Such a tower and
spire, if found in England, must be looked for in Salisbury Cathedral;
but though this latter be much loftier, it is stiff, cold, and formal,
comparatively with that of which the text makes mention.]
[116] [For six months in the year--that is to say, from Lady Day till
Michaelmas Day--this great Bell tolls, at a quarter before ten, as a
curfew.]
[117] A plate of it may be found in the publication of Mr. Dawson Turner,
and of Mr. Cotman.
[118] Of this building Mr. Cotman has published the West front, east end,
exterior and interior; great arches under the tower; crypt; east side
of south transept; elevation of the North side of the choir: elevation
of the window; South side exterior; view down the nave, N.W.
direction.
[119] Bourgueville describes the havoc which took place within this abbey
at the memorable visit of the Calvinists in 1562. From plundering the
church of St. Stephen (as before described p. 172,) they proceeded to
commit similar ravages here:--"sans auoir respect ni reuerence a la
Dame Abbesse, ni a la religion et douceur feminine des Dames
Religieuses."--"plusieurs des officiers de la maison s'y trouucrent,
vsans de gracieuses persuasions, pour penser flechir le coeur de ces
plus que brutaux;" p. 174.
[120] Unless it be what he calls "the FORT OF THE HOLY TRINITY of Caen; in
which was constantly kept a garrison, commanded by a captain, whose
annual pay was 100 single crowns. This was demolished by Charles, king
of Navarre, in the year 1360, during the war which he carried on
against Charles the Dauphin, afterwards Charles V., &c."
_Anglo-Norman Antiquities_, p. 67. This castle, or the building once
flanked by the walls above described, was twice taken by the English;
once in 1346, when they made an immense booty, and loaded their ships
with the gold and si
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