Drayton may have obtained his authority from Giraldus de Barri (Giraldus Cambrensis).

A short notice of Llanthony by Mr. Thomas Blashill is to be found in Transactions, 1876, page 204. An elaborate and carefully compiled report of Llanthony Priory appears in Archæologia Cambrensis, Part III., by the Rev. G. Roberts, afterwards published separately with an appendix, and illustrated with engravings (W. Pickering, 177, Piccadilly: and Monmouth; E. Heath, J. Farror, 1847)-but the Rev. John Davies, of Pandy, pointed out some errors in it discovered by Freeman which are given further on in the Archæologia. Mr. Davies has kindly favoured us with a short notice of these errors. The Rev. W. BagnallOakeley pointed out, made a sketch of, and furnished the following notes.

A CRESSET STONE AT LLANTHONY.

There is still to be seen at Llanthony Priory an interesting relic of monastic life in the shape of a cresset stone. It now rests on the base of a ruined pier near the entrance of the present residence. It is circular headed, measures 12 inches in diameter, 6 inches in depth, and has on its surface three cup-shaped cavities, 2 inches deep, and 4 inches across, the bottoms of the cavities show marks of the oily matter that had been burnt in them.

There exists at Durham a description of all the rites, customs, and furniture of the Church of Durham written in 1593; and the following passage explains the use of these stones. "In either end of the dorter (the old name for dormitory) was a four square stone, wherein was a dozen cressets wrought in either stone, being ever filled, and supplied by the cook, as they needed, to give light to the monks, and novices, when they rose to the mattins at midnight, and for other necessary uses.” And as we look at the old Llanthony stone it seems to recal the time, when the bearded monks passed along the silent corridors, clothed in their long black habits, and white rochets, as they went into the Church to sing their mid-night office.

The very threatening aspect of the weather shortened the examination of the buildings and rendered it most prudent to hurry on the preparations for luncheon. This cold luncheon, al fresco, on the Abbey green, was hurriedly despatched. Of provisions there was plenty, and the serving was better than is often obtained, but the unpleasant chilly blasts of wind suddenly rising caused it to be partaken of under difficulties, and necessitated an early removal of the cloth. After luncheon a warmer temperature prevailed with re-appearance of sunshine, which enticed the company to disperse in different directions.

Some visited the site of the late Walter Savage Landor's projected palace at the bottom of Wirral Wood a few hundred yards north of the Abbey. A large proportion of the numerous company ascended Hatteral Hill by the saddle road, the oblique direction of which forms so conspicuous an object as one looks eastwards from the Abbey grounds, and thence found their way to meet the return railway train at Pandy station. It must not be forgotten to record that a few of

this party lost their way, though how they could do so seems almost unaccountable if they had faithfully adhered to their instructions, which were, to "follow the ridge until they came in sight of Trewyn House." Nevertheless, the whole were amply rewarded, owing to the remarkably clear atmosphere, by obtaining from this elevation of more than 1,600 feet the most distinct view of the extensive panorama of country that, within the knowledge of those who had often previously traversed this range, had ever been known. A few members of the party proceeding northward from the Abbey, despising beaten paths, actually assailed the heights of Loxy Tump, mastering the treacherous slippery condition of the grassy slopes by the expedient of taking off their boots and stockings, and from this their more northerly elevation on the Black Mountain of 1,800 to 1,900 feet, descended to join the previous party at Pandy Station.

Some members preferring to linger over the asssociations of the sacred building found some cause of lamentation in the fact of the Gate house, a fine specimen of pointed architecture, being converted into a barn, and the humble hostelry being licensed within the precincts of the enclosure. In the Beauties of England and Wales Walter Savage Landor is unjustly accused of erecting the building against the ruins. That it was the act of his predecessor, Colonel Wood, is evident from the following extract from a letter to Southey :

:

"I am about to remove an immense mass of building which Colonel Wood erected against the Abbey, and with which he has shamefully disfigured the ruins. I would live on bread and water three years to undo what he has done, and three more to repair what he has wasted."-Forster's " Biography of Walter Savage Landor.'

The Parish Church is situated south of the conventual buildings.* In its present condition it is sadly unworthy of the glorious traditions of its past history, but members rejoiced to find that the Vicar, the Rev. Lewis Lewis, of Cwmyoy, was appealing for funds for its restoration. Surely Llanthony Priory has claims upon the sympathy of all who have a reverence for the memorials of those who implanted the Christian Church within our realms; of all whose daily prayer is for the enlargement of the borders of the House of God-"Thy Kingdom come"; and especial claims has it upon the patriotic and religious sympathy of all Welshmen, seeing that it was founded by St. David, the patron saint of Wales; of Wales whose Church is older than the Church of England, centuries older than our Throne and State of England, and whose union with the Church of England has been "not nominal only but organic. . . . The organic union is complete and has been so for 800 years (Lord Selborne)." We wish the vicar, the Rev. Lewis Lewis may receive that sympathy and support in carrying out the restoration which the privilege of enjoyment of this inheritance demands.

*Whilst this volume is passing through the press, the subject of "Orientation of Churches" is being carried on in The Builder. In the issue of December 24th, 1892, page 504, the writer (J. Houghton Spencer, of Taunton), referring to Llanthony, says: "The Priory Church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It has a bearing of about 5 degrees to the south of east as taken from the 1-2,500 Ordnance Map of 1880. The conception of St. John Baptist, Sept. 24th, seems the day referred to by this orientation."

"The Parish Church, adjoining the ruins of the Priory and formerly connected with them, is dedicated to St. David. The bearing of its axis as taken by the compass and corrected is about 12 degrees south of east, and therefore the building is oriented for March 1st, St. David's Day."

There were found some few of the party who, proceeding up the valley northwards for a distance of four miles reached Capel-y-ffyn (the Church of the boundary). The boundary line between Monmouthshire and Breconshire is here crossed about 500 yards before reaching the Church. Capel-y-ffyn is a hamlet of Gilvach (synonymous with the Glyn-fâch of the Ordnance Map) in the parish of Llanigon. The Church is a small stone building, 27 feet by 18 feet, with a bellturret on the west end, two windows in the south wall separated by a porch, one in the east end, and one in the north wall. All the windows are filled up with square-headed wooden frames. Through the window in the north wall the ancient font may be seen. It has an octagonal bowl, somewhat mutilated, apparently about two feet in diameter externally, on an octagonal shaft from four to five feet high. Through the east window it was observed that the gallery is approached by steps at the west end, that it occupied the whole of the north side abutting almost over the north end of the altar table. In the south of the churchyard there is the lower portion, about 2 feet high, of what probably was a sun-dial, the dimensions of the shaft, 6 inches by 3 inches, being too small for a cross. Of seven lofty yew trees in the churchyard the largest was found to have a girth of 18 feet at the height of 5 feet from the ground.

Father Ignatius' Monastery, in the parish of Glasbury (Breconshire) is situated higher up the hill about half a mile further westward. A welcome is offered to the passer by, pilgrim in this world, and upon the entrance gates is offered an invitation to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." The Monastery buildings are substantially built of stone. The magnificent altar is crowded with tapers, flowers, marbles, precious stones, statuary in admirable confusion, the most gigantic candles one has ever seen, and other emblematic surroundings which, if the curtain be withdrawn, can be viewed through a wooden latticed screen underneath the organ, which latter occupies an elevated position a few feet distant from the western entrance. The Church door is, as it should be, always open, and the beautiful tracery of architecture entrances the visitor as, in the dim religious light, he views through the closely latticed screen the choir with the altar and reredos at its extremity. The portion west of the screen is called the "Secular Church" with "Our Lady's Altar" on its north or gospel side, and the "Shrine of our Lady of the apparition" on its south or right side.

The Altar is of white stone, supported on six columns of porphyry, with a fresco painting behind it, on which are represented saints with their characteristic symbols, choirs of angels with harps and palms and censers, the outer panels representing the Church militant. Above the altar is the tabernacle glittering with crystals and carbuncles, crimson lamps shedding a chastening light in front of it. Over this again, supported on pillars of green marble is a lofty throne, and on the throne a jewelled crucifix of immense size. Over this throne and crucifix a massive canopy of delicately carved Caen stone supported on the shafts of red Belgian marble. On either side of the canopy, some 40 feet high, are the candles in magnificent brass candlesticks. A perfect shrubbery is arrayed on each side, every available space being occupied by flowers and tapers. The incense-bearing