extent of his learning; and, by keeping several scribes and copyists constantly employed, he added a great number of very fair and reputable books to the library which his predecessor had founded in the Abbey. He died in 1183, and was succeeded by Gaurine, or Warren, a native of Cambridge, who, though of humble birth, had obtained much renown for his piety, learning, and accomplishments. In his time, an attempt was made, by the then Bishop of Lincoln, to re-assume that jurisdiction over the Abbey which his predecessor had consented to relinquish; but this was repelled with much warmth by the King himself, who was then on a visit to the Abbot, accompanied by numerous attendants.*

Warren died in 1195; and was very little lamented by his brethren, to whom he had behaved with much intolerance. He bequeathed to his successor, John of the Cell, one hundred marks, for the purpose of rebuilding the west front of the Abbey Church. This John, having studied at Paris, had returned to England with the reputation of being " a very Priscian in grammar; a perfect Ovid in poetry; and in physic, a Galen." Soon after his election, he began to apply Warren's bequest to its destined use, and commenced his operations, by causing the ancient front to be torn down to the ground;'t even the hard and solid part of it, where the materials were of tile, and the mortar impenetrable.' He did not, however, confine himself solely to the re-construction of the west end, but began to enlarge the fabric in that direction; and, as the whole tenor of Matthew Paris's relation proves, in

volved

The speech of the King is remarkable; its energy for ever silenced the pretensions of the See of Lincoln. "By the eyes of God," exclaimed the incensed Monarch, "I was present at the agreement. What is it, my Lord of Lincoln, that you would attempt? Do you think these things were done in secret? I, myself, and the most chosen men of the realm, were present; and what was then done, is ratified by writings the most incontestible, and confirmed by the testimony of the nobles. The determination stands good; and whoever sets himself to combat this Abbot and Monastery, combats me. What seek you? to touch the pupil of mine eye." Newcome from Matt. Paris.

+ Murum frontis ecclesiæ nostræ in terram diruit. Matt. Paris, 1047,

volved himself, and his Monastery, in much embarrassment, from the magnitude of the plan on which the work had been commenced. It is probable, also, that, during the progress of the building, some considerable alterations were made in the designs first determined on, in order that the new parts might assimilate with the more ornamental style of ecclesiastical architecture, which, about that era, was obtaining predominance. The hundred marks bequeathed by Warren, were expended in a very short time, together with many more, and that even before the new foundations were raised to the level of the ground. This somewhat disheartened the Abbot: and his perplexity was further increased, when he saw that Hugo de Goldcliff, who was at the head of a band of masons, (Camentarii,) whom he had hired to carry on the work, was adding many minute, yet very expensive, carvings and ornaments: this appears to have occasioned some dispute; and the undertaking was for a short time abandoned.

"The Abbot then assigned the work to the care of one of the brethren, named Gilbert de Eversholt, and imposed an annual tax of one sheaf of corn for every acre sown on the Abbey estates. This tax was first levied in the third year of John's government, and was continued during his whole life, which was seventeen more, and for ten years of his successor's; yet the work did not advance in any manner to administer joy to the old Abbot, but was a constant source of grief and sorrow. He offered many presents of gold and silver to any person who would forward the work, and caused this offer to be proclaimed throughout all the lands of the Abbey, and some of the diocese; and having sent one Amphibalus to travel about with relics, and pretend, that he had been raised from the dead by the merits of Alban and Amphibalus, and was able to give good proof of their miracles,' he collected, by this illusion, great sums of money: but this unfortunate work absorbed all the supplies, just as the sea drinks up all rivers; and as the sea thereby receives no signs of increase, so this work received no advancement."

See the description of Winchester Cathedral, and of the Hospital of St. Cross. Beauties, Vol. VI.

advancement."* After the death of Eversholt, the building was once more suspended; but it was again recommenced under the superintendance of William Sisseverne, who is recorded to have received great supplies for carrying on the work; though its progress was still so slow, that it "did not advance two feet in height in any one year."

The embarrassments occasioned by this partial re-construction and enlargement of the Church, were much increased by the extortions of King John; whose minions, even in one year, exacted, on different pretences, no less a sum than eleven hundred marks. Some considerable expense had also been incurred by the rebuilding of the Refectory, and the Dormitory; the more ancient ones having become decayed, and ruinous. Abbot John died in the year 1214, having obtained great reputation for his devotion and sanctity; so much so, indeed, that it was recorded of him, that when he sang alone, the responses were made by angels!

William de Trumpington, the succeeding Abbot, who had obtained his election by the influence of a powerful relation, was installed in November, 1215. In the following month, King John assembled a council of his adherents in the Chapter-House, in order to concert measures for regaining the authority which he had lost by signing the Great Charter. Soon afterwards the Abbot was visited by Lewis, the Dauphin of France, who required him to do homage to him as to his lawful Sovereign; but the Abbot firmly refusing to comply, Lewis swore to destroy the Abbey with the town; but his anger being softened by the intercession of Sayer, Earl of Winchester, he consented to delay the execution of his vengeance, on the payment of eighty marks. The town and Abbey were again in great danger, early in the reign of Henry the Third, when Falcasius de Brent, with a band of desperate followers, committed many acts of atrocity here, and was only induced to leave the place, by a contribution of one hundred marks.‡ At

Newcome's Hist. of St. Alban's, Vol. I. p. 98; from Matt. Paris. + See Beauties, Vol. I. p. 5.

This was an age of extortion: a little previous to this, and but a short time before the death of King John, the Abbot had been summoned

to

At length, the government becoming more settled, Abbot William directed his attention to the Abbey Church; and, besides the completion of the west end, (" finishing the same, with its roof and arches,") he made a general repair of the whole fabric. He altered the forms of many of the windows in the side walls, and repaired the transept, making at each end a great window, "suitable in form, and fashion, and lighting, to the rest about the Church; so that, by the advantage of this new light, the Church seemed, as it were, rebuilt." He also heightened the tower, and most probably raised on it the small spire that is now standing; besides varying the flat surface, on the outside, by a kind of pilaster, extending from the leads, up the middle of each front. St. Cuthbert's Chapel, in the interior of the edifice, was likewise rebuilt by this Abbot, of hewn stone; and over it a small Dormitory was constructed. The finely-wrought Screen, which still bears the name of St. Cuthbert, and still exhibits the place of St. Cuthbert's Altar, must also be attributed to him, as the style of the workmanship demonstrates it to be of his age. The names of the artists recorded to have been concerned in these improvements, are Richard de Thydenhanger, Treasurer of the Abbey; Matthew de Cambridge, Keeper of the Abbey Seal; and Walter de Colchester, Sacrist: the latter was eminent in several branches of art, as appears from Matthew Paris, who testifies his excellence in painting, sculpture, and carving. Abbot William died on St. Matthew's Day, 1235; but was not buried till the calends of March following, in order that his funeral might be honored by a greater assemblage of persons. He was then interred in pontificalibus, in the centre of the Chapter-house, with a mitre on his head, gloves and a ring on his hands, his usual staff under his right arm, and sandals on his feet. This seems to have been the customary mode of interment for Abbots at that period.

John of Hertford, the next Abbot, made several considerable additions to the Abbey buildings, and, in particular, erected a magnificent Hall for the entertainment of strangers: several smaller chambers

to attend a general council at Rome, and was obliged by the Pope, to pay 100 marks for permission to return home!

chambers were attached to this apartment, and the whole was furnished with chimnies. He also erected a long stone building, as a store-house, and lodging-house for the upper servants of the Abbey: and this edifice is recorded, by Matthew Paris, as being likewise furnished with chimnies.* In the time of this Abbot, Henry the Third was frequently entertained here; and he seldom departed without bestowing some new presents for the service of the Church. In May, 1248, by charter dated at Woodstock, he granted liberty of free warren to the Abbot, and his successors, in all their demesne lands throughout England; and empowered them to inflict a penalty of ten pounds on all persons who should hawk or hunt thereon without their license. In 1250, as Hollinshed records, a great earthquake was felt in this town, and its vicinity. John of Hertford died in April, 1260, having ruled the Monastery with much honor, during a period of twenty-five years: in the *preceding year, 1259, the Abbey had lost one of its most valuable members, the celebrated historian, Matthew Paris.

The vacancy was supplied by the election of Roger de Norton, in whose time St. Alban's was put into a fortified state, and every avenue strongly barricadoed, in order to prevent the ravages accompanying the Barons' wars. Some tumults, however, arose in the town, respecting the Abbey-mills, which the towns-people wished to apply to the fulling of cloth, contrary to the will of the Abbot: these differences were adjusted by the interference of the Queen; but they had already proved fatal to Gregory de Stokes, Constable of Hertford Castle, who rashly entering the town with a few attendants, and behaving with much indiscretion, was seized

on,

*These, if not the very first, are among the earliest historical notices, that occur in our annals, respecting the construction of chimnies in this country. It evinces that chimnies were formed at St. Alban's, even prior to those so particularly described by Leland, as existing at Bolton Castle, in Yorkshire. This Castle was built by Richard le Scrope, between the years 1377 and 1399; but the chimnies in this Abbey have an earlier date, by at least twenty years.

+ Chauncey's Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire, p. 441.