the Saxon language; but such an institution was suffered to remain after the conquest chiefly as a matter of interest and necessity. "The religious could not otherwise have understood their original charters." Risdon mentions that "lectures were ever read in the Saxon tongue, which so preserved the antiquities, laws, and customs formerly written in that language from oblivion." One of the earliest printing presses was erected in Tavistock, and from it issued a Saxon grammar; also Walton's translation of that "Boke of comfort," Boetius de Consolatione; "emprented in the exempt monastery of Tavystoke in Denshere by Dan Thomas Rychard, Monk of the said monastery. To the instant desyer of the right worshypful esquyer Mayster Robert Langdon, anno d. MDXXV. Deo gratias."

"The Confirmation of the Tynner's charter" was another work printed in Tavistock, in the 28th year of the reign of Henry VIII. An old house situated near the church, and demolished not long since, was called "the Prele," a word which indicates that the Prelum, or Saxon press, was probably fixed on that spot. Several of the Abbey walls still remain, monuments of its fallen grandeur. There exists a spacious arch at the principal gateway of the abbey, surmounted with a tower and spires it appears to bear traces of the times of Henry VI. A room in the gateway once served as a prison; it is now converted into a Public Library. The Refectory or Abbot's Hall is still perfect; but its handsomely carved oak roof has been concealed by a white-washed ceiling. Another building with turrets and pinnacles remains near the gateway.

:

"O ye who dwell

Around yon ruins, guard the precious charge
From hands profane !-O save the sacred pile
O'er which the wing of centuries has flown
Darkly and silently, deep shadowing all
Its pristine honours-from the ruthless grasp
Of future violation!"

"After the suppression of the Abbey, a chapel was erected within its enclosure, and licensed for the celebration of divine worship at the request of the noble Lady Dorothy Mountjoy, on the 10th of March, 1541-2."* "Three other chapels had existence in the time of the monks. That of the Maudlin chapel attached to an hospital for leprous men and women, stood on the site of the old parish workhouse. Bishop Brantyngham granted in 1370 an indulgence of thirty days to all persons who should contribute to the Lepers' House of St Mary Magdalene, at Tavistock.

St. John's chapel appears to have been a small oratory near an hermitage on the south bank of the Tavy; the holy well is still to be seen with the remains of a cross at its entrance. St. Margaret's was a small chapelry also dependent on the abbey. Mr. Bray thinks it stood near Tavytown, now Mount Tavy, the seat of John Carpenter, Esq. There was also at Fitzford, about a mile from the town, a small (private?) chapel, dedicated to St. George." +

Tavistock seems to have materially suffered at the time of the destruction of the Abbey: its character for learning was lost, and its grammar school, which at one time had been of high repute, fell almost into disuse. "In 1540 an act of Parliament was passed for rebuilding houses which had fallen down and decayed, and at that time remained unre-edified, lying as desolate and void." However, in the prosperous reign of Elizabeth it appears to have recovered from the shock,

* Oliver.

+ From Notices of Tavistock and its abbey, by A. Kempe, Esq., F.S.A.

Lyson's Magna Britannia.

consequent on the confused times of the Reformation.

"From the deserted domes new glories rise;

More useful institutes, adorning man,

Manners enlarged, and new civilities,

On fresh foundations build the social plan."

WARTON, on the Monasteries of England.

Individual merit shone forth; Judge Glanville and his son Sir John Glanville distinguished themselves in the law Sir Francis Drake enrolled his name as one of the greatest navigators of his country, and Willie Browne sang his sweetest pastorals by the Tavy's side.

;

The Grammar School was patronized by Sir John Glanville, who gave an estate at South Brentor producing £25 per annum for the better maintenance of a poor scholar at either of the universities. We must not omit to mention that John, Earl of Bedford, in 1552, had bestowed for two hundred years the amount of dues gathered for him within the borough, for the support of the Grammar school.

In the time of Elizabeth we hear of various noble houses belonging to different persons in Tavistock. Judge Glanville had a handsome residence in the town, while the elder branches of his family lived at Holwell, in the parish of Whitchurch. His son, Sir Francis Glanville built Kilworthy, on a barton of the same name. The family of Fitz also had a goodly mansion in the neighbourhood of the town, of which the gateway only remains. Tradition connects with this spot the misfortunes of the last heir of the Fitzes, whose tragical history has been made the subject of one of Mrs. Bray's interesting romances. The only daughter and heiress of Sir John Fitz married four husbands, the last of whom was Sir Richard Grenville, who distinguished himself on the Royalists' side, in the time of Charles I. It appears

that Sir Richard garrisoned his house at Fitzford, but it was taken by the parliamentary forces under the Earl of Essex, with two hundred prisoners, some cannon, a considerable quantity of muskets, and plate and money to the amount of £3000. After this, Essex encountered a fierce resistance on his march into Cornwall, from Sir Richard Grenville, at Newbridge, on the Tamar, (about four miles from Tavistock). King Charles was at this town with his army on his return from following Essex into Cornwall, on the 8th of September 1644, and thence he sent a message to Parliament on the 9th. After vainly summoning the town of Plymouth to surrender, the King again returned to Tavistock, and marched thence by way of Okehampton to Exeter.

The exertions of the Parliamentary men at this time must have been prodigious in the west; opposed as they were by some of the most active and staunch Royalists. Their motto, "God with us" is still remembered; the feeling of the period has been pourtrayed in the following lines :

"GOD WITH US."

THE MOTTO OF THE Devonians IN THE STRUGGLE DURING THE

CIVIL WARS.

God with us,

Our God with us:

Firm our strength shall be,
Who will dare

Oppose us where

Such a guard may be ?

Let on high

Our standards fly,

That the world may see;

Lo! his arm

Preserves from harm,

Those who dare be free.

In January, 1645, Sydenham House, a garrison of the King's, in the parish of Maristow, near Tavistock, was taken by Col. Holborn. In the month of June of the same year, the fatal battle of Naseby was fought, and a succession of misfortunes befel the Devonshire Royalists, owing partly to the cruelties and oppressions of Sir Richard Grenville.

In 1646, Prince Charles (afterwards Charles II.)

* The naval hero of our sister county Somersetshire.

+ Lyson's Magna Britannia.