BOOND BY G. 6ARNHAM, Prince's Street, NORWfCn. Br ■E»iJ>^BU Jpxj 3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/historyantiquitiOObent_0 THE HISTORY AND anttptttes OF THE CONVENTUAL Sf CATHEDRAL CHURCH From the Foundation of the Monastery, A. D. 673, To the Year 1771. ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPER-PLATES. BY JAMES BENTHAM, M. A. FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, LONDON, RECTOR OF FELTWELL ST. NICHOLAS, NORFOLK, AND LATE MINOR CANON OF ELY. Res ardua, vetustis novitatem dare, novis auctoritatem, obsoletis nitorem, obscuris lucent, fastiditis gratiam, dubiis Jidem, omnibus vero naturam, et natures suce Omnia. Plin. Nat. Hist. Lib. 1. CAMBRIDGE., PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, BY J. BENTHAM. SOLD BY MR. BATHURST IN FLEET-STREET, LONDON : MESSRS. MERRILL, AND MR. WOODYER, AT CAMBRIDGE: AND BY MR. FLETCHER, AND MR. PRINCE, AT OXFORD. — 1771. THE SECOND EDITION, By the Rev. JAMES BENTHAM, VICAR OF WEST BRADENHAM, NORFOLK. PRINTED BY AND FOR STEFENSON, MATCHETT, AND STEVENSON, MARKET-PLACE, NORWICH; AND SOLD BY THEM ; ALSO BY MR. DEIGHTON, AT CAMBRIDGE; MR. PARKER, AT OXFORD 5 AND MESSRS. SCATCHERD AND LETTERMAN, LONDON. 1812. J TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS DAMPIER, D. D. LORD BISHOP OF ELY. My Lord, I Feel great satisfaction in having made known to your Lord- ship my intention to re-publish the History and Antiquities of your Cathedral, as soon as the Plan of the Publication was settled and arranged by my Friend, Mr. Stevenson, F. S. A. ; and I return your Lordship my sincere thanks for your Patronage of the present Edition, which will be found to contain the whole of the former, together with Additions, some of which my Father indirectly pro- mised the Public in his Dedication to Dr. Keene, the Successor of a ^ Dr. DEDICATION. Dr. Mawson, who was the great Patronizer of this Work, and every improvement in your Lordship's Diocese, which my Father was zealous to promote, for the profit of the Community, the conve- nience of the Traveller, and the health of the Inhabitants of the City and Isle of Ely. That the present Edition may equal your Lordship's wishes, and prove satisfactory to the Public, is the ardent desire of My Lord, Your Lordship's dutiful and obedient humble Servant, JAMES BENTHAM. West Bradcnliam, Oct. 17, 1811. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE PRESENT EDITION. 1 HE frequent inquiries which are made after this Work, the difficulty of obtaining it, and the very high prices given for it, are circumstances which speak loudly in its favour. But the universal esteem in which it is held, will best appear from the constant appeals made to it, by all Writers upon ancient Architecture and Topography, since the Author's time. The Printers and Proprietors of this Work hope, therefore, that a faithful Copy of the former Edition, with the original Prints, in excellent condition — an Account and Portrait of Mr. Bentham — a few additions from his " Notitia," which he intended to give in a future publication— -and some other interesting particulars, will meet with a welcome reception from the literary world in general. » Stevenson, Matchett, and Stevenson, January } 1812. » I (Prtjjmal JleUtcatum. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND EDMUND KEENE, D. D. LORD BISHOP OF ELY. My Lord., Having been placed by Bishop Mawson under the immediate Patronage of the See of Ely, I naturally apply myself to your Lordship, for Protection to the following History; in which I have traced out and represented many Antiquities respecting your Cathedral : Many more, I am sensible, still remain well deserving a distinct Illustration : And I readily profess myself to bear such a Partiality to this Subject, as will tempt me to make it the future object of my Literary Amusement. In the mean time, as by general Character for Candour and Publick-spirit, I cannot help carrying your Lordship into a resemblance of my former Patron, be pleased to accept my good Wishes, that You may attain the same length of Days, with equal Honour. I beg leave to subscribe myself, Your Lordship's dutiful and obedient humble Servant, JAMES BENTHAM. Ely, Jan. 25, 1771. Note. — To this Dedication was prefixed the Aims of Dr. Keene. Fide pi. xiv. No. 51. PREFACE. THOUGH the History of any particular Church may, at first view, be deemed a subject too confined to be the object of publick atten- tion ; yet I should willingly hope, that the Church of ELY will be allowed to be one of the most curious Monuments of Ecclesiastical Antiquities in this Kingdom : and therefore meriting some kind of distinction. The History of it, I have divided into Five Periods ; the First begins with the foundation of a Church and Monastery at Ely by Etheldreda a Queen of the Northumbrians, A. D. 673, and shews the state of it under several Abbesses, 'till the destruction thereof by the Danes in 870 : — the Second contains the state of this Church, whilst in possession of the Secular Clergy, to 970: — the Third takes in the refounding of the Monastery for Monks, by King Edgar, in 970, with the government of it under Ten succeeding Abbots : — the Fourth begins with the conversion of the Abby into a Bishoprick, by King Henri/ /, in 1109, and includes the succession of Bishops, to the dis- solution of the Monastery under King Henri/ VIII. — and the Fifth commences at the establishment of a Dean and Prebendaries by that King, in 1541, extending to the present year 1771. To the Publick I think it not improper to apologize, for letting some parts of my Historical Account of the Monastery appear with a Legendary cast. This may seem strange and liable to censure in any Age of improved Knowledge : But having resolved to draw my Ma- terials from Original Writers, I could not well avoid that inconveni- ence without a reprehensible affectation. Indeed the strain of Writing, and turn of Sentiment prevailing in different Ages, carry with them no inconsiderable (perhaps it is one of the surest) tokens of their dif- ferent tempers and true characters. — In this view therefore I hope to stand clear of all reasonable censure ; for with equal propriety it b might PREFACE. might be expected of me to criticise upon the style of writing, and shew how inferior that of Beda, Thomas Eliensis, Sfc. is to Livy, Sfc, ; as that I should all along* have broken the thread of History, (Monkish as it sometimes is,) in order to refute those erroneous prin- ciples in which some of the Reflections are founded. To obviate in some measure any objections that might be made to a mere local History; I have endeavoured to enlarge and diversify the prospect ; I hope, without being thought to deviate too much from the main object : and by way of Introduction, have prefixed a general and very succinct account of the Advancement and Progress of Christianity in this Kingdom, previous to its settlement among our Saxon Ancestors; at which iEra our History properly begins. The Temporal Jurisdiction, which the Bishops of Ely have always enjoyed, is such a striking circumstance in our History, as could not well be passed over without some particular notice : I have therefore extended my inquiries on that head, and endeavoured to trace its origin ; and doubt not but I have sufficiently proved it to have been coeval with the Church, and at first settled on her Monastery by the Royal Foundress herself; and there to have continued, only with some small interruption, 'till it became at length vested in the Bishop, where it now resides. Some further account of this matter, and the exercise of that Jurisdiction, having been drawn up, at my request, by a worthy Friend, the Reverend Mr. Warren, Prebendary of this Church, in a learned and judicious Historical Account of the Royal Franchise of Ely, the reader will find printed in the Appendix, As my subject naturally led me to consider the particular modes of Building used in this Church and Monastery, I have ventured to enlarge my reflections on that head, by some general observations and inquiries into the state of Architecture at different periods. To some persons perhaps, these reflections may appear of no great import- ance, PREFACE. ance, or rather foreign to the main purpose ; whilst others may view them in a very different light. — I cannot help thinking, that the His- tory of what is called Gothic Architecture in this Kingdom ; its ori- gin, progress, and state in different periods and ages, must afford an agreeable and useful entertainment to every curious and inquisitive mind : and I am apt to flatter myself, That the Notices I have given, and the quotations I have made from our best and most ancient His- torians, and other occasional Writers, relative to it, may be of use to such as may hereafter have occasion to make further inquiries into a Subject, that is at present somewhat obscure, as having never yet been professedly treated of. In the prosecution of this Work, I have sometimes been led into critical Disquisitions : they are but few ; and when they happened to be over-long, rather than embarras the Narrative, I have thought proper to assign them a place in the Appendix, with one or two others, of the same kind, communicated to me by my Friends, whose Names are prefixed ; together with a variety of ancient Charters, and other authentick Writings, which may serve to illustrate, confirm, or ex- plain the subject matter treated of in the course of the History. It would be needless here to recount the various sources, whence I have drawn my Materials, as I have generally cited my authorities ; only in respect to such MSS as are not generally known, it may not be improper to observe, that by Vet. Lib. Elien. MS, which I had frequent occasion to cite, is meant, the Old History of Ely written by Thomas a Monk of this Church ; a very ancient Copy of which is preserved in the Church Library at Ely: It consists of three parts; the First, concerning the Site of the Isle of Ely, with some account of S. Etheldreda and three succeeding Abbesses ; the Second, of the times of the Abbots ; and the Third, of the times of the two first Bishops, ending with the death of Nigellus, who died in 1 169. MSS Epi Elien. A, B, M, P, R, are ancient MS Volumes in Folio belong- b 2 ing iv PREFACE. ing to the Bishop, marked severally with those Letters, and kept at Ely-House Holbourn; consisting 1 of ancient Records and Evidences of various kinds, relating to the Church of Ely; as Registers of Papal Bulls, Royal Grants and Confirmations of Liberties, Charters and other authentick Evidences, from the earliest times, down to the Reformation : besides these, there are extant many Registers of par- ticular Bishops, as Montacute, U Isle, Arundel, Fordham, Bourgchier, Gray, Alcock, West, Goodrich, Thirlby, Cox, Heton, and most of the succeeding Bishops : the oldest of them are deposited in the Bishop's Registry at Cambridge; and the rest at Ely-House Holbourn, or the Bishop's Palace at Ely : The Institutions and other Acts relative to this See, during its long vacancy after the death of Bishop Cox, are to be found in the Registers of Archbishops Grindall and Whitgijt, in Lambeth Library. To these may be added, many other Records in possession of the Dean and Chapter, and preserved in their Muniment-room ; Registers of Grants and Confirmations, original Rolls, and yearly Accounts of several Officers of the Monastery, be- fore the Dissolution thereof. — There are many other ancient, curious and valuable MSS, that I have had recourse to, and cited occasional- ly ; but these being for the most part such as are reposited in the British Museum, the Bodleian, and other publick Libraries, are better known, and therefore need not here be particularly mentioned. My grateful Acknowledgements are due to the Rev. Mr. Cole of Milton near Cambridge, to the Rev. Mr. Warren Prebendary of Ely, and to Thomas Gray, Esq. of Pembroke-Hall; for their kind assistance in several points of curious Antiquities : — to the Rev. Mr. Hughes, Vice-President of Queen's College, for his friendly attention to the Work in passing through the Press : to Mr. Essex Architect of Cam- bridge, for his judicious communications in Matters of Architec- ture : — and to my Brother Mr. Bentham of Cambridge, for his pro- jecting and superintending this Work, (the last he concerned him- self with) in respect of Typography, upon a Plan truly adequate to the PREFACE. v the dignity of the Fabrick, which it describes. — The same tribute of Thanks will, I hope, be accepted by those Noble Persons and Gentle- men, who have so generously contributed to the Engraving of the Plates ; without which kind assistance, the Book could not have been afforded to the Subscribers, under a very advanced price. This Work, except part of the Appendix and Index, having been printed in the life time of Bishop Mawson ; I shall here add the fol- lowing Inscription, &c. by way of conclusion to my account of him, p. 214. SACRED BE THE MEMORY OF DR. MATTHIAS MAWSON* WHO FOR SIXTEEN YEARS PRESIDED IN THE EPISCOPAL SEE OF ELY, WITH TRUE CHRISTIAN DIGNITY; A DIGNITY RESULTING FROM PIETY AND BENEFICENCE, MILDNESS AND CONDESCENSION, VIGILANCE AND ACTIVITY : EVERY SCHEME, IN WHICH THE HONOUR AND WELFARE OF HIS CATHEDRAL CHURCH AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY WERE CONCERNED, FOUND IN HIM AN ABLE COUNSELLOR, A ZEALOUS AND MUNIFICENT PATRON. BY HIS REPEATED KINDNESSES, THIS WORK OF ELY-ANTIQUITIES WAS ENCOURAGED: AN UNDERTAKING LABORIOUS IN ITS PROGRESS, BUT PLEASING TO THAT AFFECTION, WITH WHICH THE AUTHOR MUST EVER REGARD HIS NATIVE PLACE. Ely, Jan. 28, 1771. * This venerable Prelate, having enjoyed uncommon vigour, botli of Mind and Body, died at Kensing- ton Nov. 23, 1770; Aged 88 years ; and is interred in the North Isle of the New Cboir ; the Decoration of which latter had been greatly promoted by his judicious Advice and Liberality; (see p. 214, 285.) Among his Donations by Will, he has left to Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, of which he had formerly been Master, 9000/. ; 6000/. of which, are to be applied to the purchase of Lands, for founding Scholarships ; and the remaining 3000/. to be laid out in rebuilding the College : The Bishop of Ely for the time being, is appointed Visitor of this Foundation ; and the Money left for rebuilding the College is not to be laid out, without his Lordship's approbation. Bishop vi PREFACE. Bishop MAWSON, the Fiftieth Bishop of this See, was succeeded by EDMUND KEENE, D. D. Bishop of Chester, Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durho n, Son of Mr. Charles Keene Merchant, of Lynn Regis in Norfolk, (where he was born,) and Brother of Sir Benjamin Keene, Knight of the Bath, many years Ambassador at the Court of Madrid: He was educated at the Charter- House, and thence admitted of Cuius College, Cambridge, in 1730; where having taken his Degree of B. A. in 1733, and that of M. A. in 1737 ; he was elected Fellow of that Society ; but afterwards removed to St. Peter s College, on being appointed Fellow thereof in August, 1739; and was made Master of that College, Dec. 31, 1748: He proceeded to his Degree of D. D. the Commencement following ; and was elected Vice-Chan- cellor of the University two succeeding years, viz. 1749, and 1750. On the Death of Dr. Peploe, in 1752, he was promoted to the See of Ches- ter, where he rebuilt the Episcopal Palace, at a very considerable ex- pense : having likewise before made great improvements in the House and Gardens belonging to the Rectory of Stanhope. In the year 1754, he resigned the Mastership of St. Peter* s College, in favour of Dr. Ed- mund, Lazv, then Archdeacon, and now Bishop of Carlisle : And on the decease of Bishop Maivson, was translated to the See of Eli/, and con- firmed Bishop thereof, Jan. 22, 1771; agreeably to the united wishes of his whole Clergy and Diocese. Feb. 17, 1771. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION, Section I. Of the first Settlement of Christianity in Britain — — 1 SECT. II. Of the Ruin of the British Church by the Saxons ______ 4 SECT. III. Of the Conversion of the Saxons — — — ____ 7 SECT. IV. The East-Angles converted to Christianity — — — — — — 10 SECT. V. Historical Remarks on Saxon Churches — — — — — — 15 SECT. VI. Improvements in Architecture by the Normans — — — — — 32 The Life of S. Etheldreda, Foundress of the Church, and first Abbess of the Monastery of Ely, and of the other Abesses — — — — — — — — . — — 45 Of the Destruction of S. Etheldreda's Monastery at Ely by the Danes — — — 64: The State of the Church at Ely, till the Restoration, of the Monastery by King Edgar — ■ 70 The Restoration of the Monastery by King Edgar — — — — — — . — 71 Abbots of Ely — — — — — — — — — — — 73 The Administration of the Abby granted to Hervey Bishop of Bangor during the Vacancy on the death of Richard the last Abbot — — — — — — — — _ ng Bishops of Ely — — — — — — — — — — — 130 Priors — ■ — — — — — — — — — — — — 215 An Account of the new Foundation of the Church of Ely by King Henry VIII. — — 225 Deans of Ely — — — — — — > — — — — — 227 Prebendaries — ■ — — — — — — — — — — 241 A Dissertation concerning the Archdeaconry of Cambridge and of Ely — — 269 Archdeacons of Ely — — — — — — — — — 271 A List of the present Minor Canons, &c. — — — — — — 281 A general Description of the Cathedral and other Buildings — — — — _ _ _ 282 A Catalogue of the Prints — - — — — — — . — — 290 APPENDIX. I. CARTA Regis Eadgari, de Institutione Abbatiae Eliensis — — __. *1 II. Carta Regis Edwardi Confessoris, Libertatibus Ecclesiae Eliensis — *2 III. Privilegium Papae Victoris II. de Libertatibus Ecclesiae Eliensis — — *3 IV. Remarks on the Tabula Eliensis, (Plate XIII.) — — — Jb. Further Remarks on the same, by Mr. Cole of Milton — — *5 V. Variae Cartae Regis Willielmi Conquestoris Angliae, de Libertatibus et Consuetudinibus Ecclesiae Eliensis — . — — — — _ *g VI. Epistolae Variae, de mutatione Ccenobii in Episcopatum — — *H VII. Carta Regis Henrici, quomodo Abbatiam de Ely in Episcopatum transmutavit _ *13 VIII. A Dissertation on the foregoing Charter of King Henry I. and a Defence of it, against the Objections made to it by Mr. Seldon and Mr. Wharton — — — *14 CONTENTS. PAOE IX. Carta Regis Henrici I. de Libertatibus Ecclesiae Eliensis — — — — *17 X. Carta ejusdem Regis de adquietatione Villaede Hadham — — — — lb. XI. Carta ejusdem Regis, quod Monachi de Ely quieti sint de Theloneo — — *18 XII. Alia Carta ejusdem Regis, de eodem — — — — — — — lb. XI II. Carta ejusdem Regis, de concessione Feriae de Ely ad Festum Sanctae Etheldredae *18 XIV. Carta ejusdem Regis, quod homines Sanctae Etheldredae quieti sinta Scyra et Hundreda lb. XV". Carta ejusdem Regis, de Possessionibus Ecclesiae Eliensis colligendis — — lb. XVI. Carta ejusdem Regis, contra Invasores terrarum et bonorum Sanctae Etheldredae — lb. XVII. Carta ejusdem Regis, de Libertatibus Quinque Hundredorum — — — *19 XVIII. Carta ejusdem Regis, de acquietatione de Warda Militum in Castelo Regis de Norwic lb. XIX. Carta ejusdem Regis, de Servitio Militum — — — — — — lb. XX. Carta ejusdem Regis, de acquietatione 40 Sol de Wardpeni — — — lb. XXI. Carta ejusdem Regis, de relaxatione 40 Librarum Scutagii — — — — *20 XXII. Carta Regis Henrici h de Concessione Abbatiae de Chateris Ecclesiae Eliensi — lb. XXIII. Carta ejusdem Regis, de Libertate Hundredorum Sanctae Etheldredae — — lb. XXIV. Alia Carta ejusdem Regis, ne homines Episcopatus Eliensis placitent, nisi ubi solebant placitare — — — — — — — — — — — lb. XXV. Carta ejusdem Regis, quod Res Abbatiae aequo etjusto modo dividantur — — lb. XXVI. Carta Hervei Episcopi Eliensis, de rebus quas permisit et concessit Monachos habere *21 XXVII. An Historical Account of the Royal Franchise of Ely; by the Rev. Mr. Warren, Prebendary of Ely — — — — — — — — — lb. Laudum sive Arbitrium inter Johannem Episcopum Eliensem, et Willielmum Priorem Elien. fact. A. D. 1417, de juribus eorum et successorum utriusque Partis. *27 XXVIII. Pensio annua Waltero Lempster, M. D. a Dno~ Gul. Gray Epo~ concessa — — *34 XXIX. Installatio Johannis Morton Episcopi Eliensis. — — — — — — lb. XXX. The Servyces at the Stallation of the Bishop of Ely (Morton.) — — — *35 XXXI. Mandatum pro Declaratione pretensae jurisdictionis per Romanum Pontificem usurpatae, ac in hoc Regno Anglias extirpata?, et ut Nomen Papa? in omnibus Libris eccle- siasticis dcleatur. — — — — — — — — — *36 Injunctiones Thomae (Goodrich) Epi Elien de Imaginibus, Reliquiis, &c. amovendis. *37 XXXII. Petition of Matthew Parker ABp. elect of Canterbury, Edmund Grindall Elect of Lon- don. Richard Cox elect of Ely, William Barlow elect of Chichester, and John Scory elect of Hereford, to Queen Elizabeth ; praying that she would forbear mak- ing the exchange of their Manors and Lands for Tenths and Impropriate Rectories *37 XXXIII. Reasons for making a Bishop of Elie, (Temp. Eliz.) — — — — — *39 XXXIV. The Boke of the erection of the King's newe College at Elye, with the Names and Por- tion of livinge assigned io the Deane, and all other Officers appointed for the ac- complishment of the same. — — — — — — — — *40 XXXV. Observations on the Arms of the Bishop of Ely, in a Letter from Mr. Cole of Milton. *42 XXXVI. Monumental Inscriptions in Ely Cathedral ; exclusive of those of the Bishops and other Dignitaries, which are inserted under their Names in the following Work — *48 A general INDEX. — — — — — — — *53 ADDITIONS. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF The Reverend JAMES BENTHAM, M. A. FELLOW of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES, &c. Sec. As it may be reasonably supposed that every attentive peruser of this work will be desirous of knowing something more of the Author than his name, it is hoped that the following Me- moirs will be an acceptable accompaniment to this edition. Mr. Bentham was the fourth Son of the Rev. Samuel Bentham, Vicar of Witchford, near Ely, and descended from a very ancient family, in Yorkshire, which had produced an unin- terrupted succession of clergymen from the time of Queen Elizabeth. 1 After learning the ru- diments of the Latin and Greek languages in the Grammar School, at Ely, he was admitted of Trinity College, Cambridge, March 26th, 1727, where he proceeded B. A. 1730, and M. A. 1738. In the year 1733, he was presented to the Vicarage of Stapleford, in Cam- bridgeshire, which he resigned in 1736, when he was made a Minor Canon of the Church of Ely. Shortly 1 The following Monumental Inscriptions may serve as a concise Genealogy of the Family, for three genera- tions, which now centers in the Rev. James Bentham, Vicar of West Bradenham, in Norfolk. The Epitaph of the Grandfather of our Author, upon a neat Mural Monument in the North Isle of the Choir at Ely— M. S. Samuelis Bentham, A. M. Ex antiqua Stirpe de Bentham in Com. Ebor oriundi, Hujus Ecclesiae per annos 36. Minoris Canonici Et eodem tempore (per specialem indulgentiam,) Ob insignem vocis claritatem, Et decoram in Sacris Officiis peragendis Gravitatem Sacelli Regalis Westmonasteriensis Presbyteri, Et Regii Famulitii a Confessionibus Ecclesiarum Sti Petri Westmonast. Et Divi Pauli Londinensis Minoris Canonici. Recessit ab hac Ecclesia A. D. 1713. Et ad W estmonasterium se totum contulit. Ibi Mortuus A. D. 1728, jEtat. 77. Uxorem duxit Ruth Allestree Matrem familias Providam, Officiosam, Ex qua 7 Filios, 3 Filias suscepit. Ilia diem supremum obiit A. D. 1729, jEtat. 77. Sepeliuntur in Caemeterio Claustrali Westmonast. A The 2 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF Shortly after this period, we find him actively employed in reforming the defects which he perceived in the Choral Service of the Cathedral, as appears from the following Extract from a Letter, written by him, to a member of that Church ; which is strongly expressive of his good sense, his knowledge of the subject, and his zeal in the cause of Piety and Devotion. " Extract The Rev. Samuel Bentham, Son of the above, and Father of the Ely Historian, is buried in St. James's Church, Bath; and a Monument is erected to his and his Wife's memory, under the above, in Ely Cathedral,, with this Inscription, as humble as it is just. In Memory of Samuel Bentham, B. A. And Philippa (Willan) his Wife. Persons much beloved and respected In this Neighbourhood. Slender was their Wealth, But they were Rich in good Works, Pious, Charitable, Sober minded, Industrious; They trusted in God, Were contented and happy ; Their Virtues a cjood Inheritance to their Children. He was many years Register of this Church, And Vicar of Wich/ord, Died at Bath, February 4, 1732-3, Aged 52, And was there buried in St. James's Church; She died August 7, 1747, aged 66. They had eight Sons and two Daughters. Jeffeey died September 7, 1719, aged 8. Samuel, Scholar of Trinity Hall, Camb : died March 7, 1723-4, aged 19. Ursula died February 17, 1752, aged 27. These three, with their Mother, were buried here, in the South Transept. — Edward, D. D. the King's Pro- fessor of Divinity, and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, died August 1, 1776, aged 69, and was there buried.* Joseph, Printer to the University, and Alderman of Cambridge, died June 1, 1778, aged 68, and was buried in Trumpiugton Church. — Jacobus, A. M. hujus Ecclesise Canonicus. — Thomas, A. M. Sacelli Sti Petri apud Stockport Cestren : Provin : Minister.f — Philippa. — Edmundus, A. M. de Wotton-Courtney in Agio So- merset: Rector ;§ — Et Galfridus A. M. hujus Ecclesioe Canonicus Minori ;|| Superstites, eandem Mortis viam ituri, Parentibus bene merentibus Mense Martio, MDCCLXXXI. Posuere. * He was removed, in 1717, from the School, at Ely, and admitted at 16 years of age to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, under his relation, Dr. Burton. He made the Tour of France, &c. with Robert Hoblyn, Esq. M. P. for Bristol, and his friend, Dr. Ratcliff, afterwards Master of Pembroke College. In 1729 -30, he was Vice-Priucipal of Magdalen Hall, and in the April following he was elected Fellow of Oriel College. In 1732 he proceeded M. A. and was appoiuted Tutor in the College ; a duty which he most conscientiously discharged for more than twenty years. In 1743 he took the degree of B. D. and was collated to the Prebendal Stall of Hundieton, in the Church of Hereford. 1719 he proceeded D. D. and 1751, was promoted to the 5th Stall in that Cathedral. At the persuasion of Archbishop Seeker, and other learned friends, he reluctantly accepted the King's appointment of him to the Div inity Chair, on the death of Dr. Fanshaw ; and, in 1763, he was removed to the 8th Stall in the Cathedral. After a short illness, with the serenity of mind and meekness of disposition, which he was remarkable for, he died in the 69th year of his age. He married Elizabeth, second daughter of Thomas Bates, Esq. of Alton, in Hants, by whom he had three children — Edward, who died young. Thomas, M. A. Rector of Swanton Novers, cum Wood Norton, in the county of ISorfolh, and Student of Christ Church, Oxford, who died 1803, aged 45. He was a pious beneficent good man. Eliza- beth, who died at Cheltenham, July 9, 1803, in the 44th year of her age. She bequeathed ,£400. 3 per Cent. Consols, to the Infirmary at (Gloucester. For a full account of the Doctor and his works, see Dr. Kippis's Biographia Britannica. f He is buried at Stochport. + She died at Ely, Oct. 12, 1804, in her 90th year. § He is buried at Twickenham. || The Per. Jeffery Bentham died at the Hill-House, in Ely, on the 5th of June, 1792, aged 73. He was Precentor of the Church, and the Minister of Trinity Parish, in that City, and Minor Canon for near fifty years ; having, in 1714, exchanged the Vicarage of Mildretts, in Cambridge- ihire, for a Minor Canonry with Mr. Tookie. He was of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, and took his degree of B. A. 1777, and M. A. 1780. THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M A. $ " Extract from a Letter to Mr. Gunning. " Reverend Sir., "At the last meeting of the Musick-clubb, our discourse, you know, turned on Church-musick : upon recollecting what was then said, it was, I think, generally agreed, that there are many disorders in the present manner of performing our Choir-service : you then seemed, and have several times since expressed yourself as desirous to have them reformed. — If my thoughts upon that subject, can be of any service to you in bringing about that good end, it is all I aim at in giving you this trouble. After assigning other reasons why the King's Scholars should be ordered to forbear singing, he adds, that " Eight trebles would be sufficient to accompany the other parts ; for in all Choirs there is, or should be, a due proportion observed in the number of the parts ; which considera- tion, no doubt, is the reason, why the number of them is fixed to eight. Chanting, where it is performed with regularity and decency, is one of the finest and noblest parts of the service; and the words (if the Organist is not so injudicious as to drown the voices by loudness and noise), are heard more distinctly, than they could be when only read by the people. It is the proper business of the organ to lead and conduct the voices with regularity and order, and not to con- found them by noise : and it is certain the organ is then too loud, when the voices cannot be distinctly heard : the loudness of the organ ought always to be proportioned to the strength and number of the voices, and should be regulated by them. I think that a loud full organ is seldom proper, except in the Gloria Patri, &c. short choruss, and perhaps when some other particular occasions may require it. Flights and airs in chants are as disagreeable to me as a joke or a low pun in a sermon. Chanting can never be performed well, unless all the parts move together, so that even every syllable in the verse should be sung by all the parts, basses, tenors, contra-tenors, and trebles, at the same time, all moving regularly and distinctly to the close. "Chanting has a great conformity to that kind of musick which the Italians call Becita- tivo, which I take to be a distinct kind of speaking in time and tune : now let us observe how Chants are set to musick, let us take a view of them in score, for that is the only way of judg- ing of any piece of musick. The following things are observable in them : that they are gene- rally set in counterpoint ; that they have a middle close, and a full close ; and move by quavers, crotchets, and minums. The first syllable in the verse a crotchet, the next syllables (till you come to the antepenultima of the middle close, or the division of the verse) quavers, the antepenultima and penultima crotchets, and the ultima of that division a minum (to take breath in, if the verse is long), thus far for the half close : then (beginning at the division of the verse), a crotchet, then quavers, till the last syllable but four, when they move by crotchets again, and the antepenultima, a pricked crotchet ; (for a grace or little shake before the close) the penultima a quaver, and the ultima a minum. This is the general proportion as to time, in a well-composed Chant ; so that a Chant is as regular as to time, as the Services or Anthems are. A 2 I must 4 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF " I must lay it down as a certain rule (especially in Church musick) that the organ, which is to accompany the voices, cannot be too plain and distinct ; by which I do not mean to exclude any graces in playing, properly so called ; but let them be real graces and elegancies, attended with perspicuity and distinctness, that the sense and meaning of the musick be not confound- ed : thus, when I commend any man as a graceful speaker, I include in my idea, elegance, distinctness, and perspicuity in his words. Exact time then, I say, must be kept in the Chants, as well as in the Services and Anthems. By the bye, what are commonly called graces, whe- ther in singing or instrumental musick, are of use chiefly in solos ; there is less occasion for them in musick of two parts, still less in three, and least of all in four parts : so that in Chants, and full Services, and Anthems, there is but little occasion for them. r ' A masterly hand upon the organ is chiefly shewn in a distinct orderly manner of playing, so as best to assist and conduct the voices ; not by endeavouring to run all possible variations and divisions the ground will bear. Variations and divisions, flights and airy compositions, may be proper enough at a theatrical entertainment, whose end is only to amuse, and delight the fancy; but are very improper in the Church ; they dissipate all seriousness of thought and devotion. The style of Church musick is grave and solemn ; and its end is to calm and com- pose the passions, and to excite devotion. This should be observed in all parts of the service, even in the voluntarys. " It is certain, that in singing with the organ, the organ is designed to assist and conduct the voices, therefore neither should the organ be so loud, but that the voices may be heard dis- tinctly. Some of the stops are improper to joyn with the voices (generally speaking), such as the cornet, furniture, and other loud shrill pipes ; not but that they may properly enough be used upon some particular occasions ; but the most agreeable to the voice are such as have a mellowness (as it is called) in their sound, such as those pipes have which are made of wood of several sorts, and some of the metal ones, particularly the trumpet for a full chorus : but still the loudness of the organ should be in proportion to the strength of the voices, so that they may be heard distinct from it. There is a pitch both in instruments and voices, beyond which they are not tunable ; and it requires some judgment in the master to regulate the voices of the boys ; for if they are not exerted enough, the sound is flat ; if too much, sharp and disagreeable. " For the more distinctly playing a chant, I think it would be right to observe this rule,that, when the chant begins in the key (as it generally does), the organ should end in the lower octave, where it can be done, as it may always when the key is in G, A, or B : this may per- haps, at first sight, seem an indifferent matter ; (it may indeed with respect to the voices) but it is proper to be observed by the organ ; because the chords being often the same in the be- ginning and end of the chant, the singers are apt without this distinction, to begin upon the last syllable of the foregoing verse; but let this distinction be made, and let the last syllable have its due length, and the choir will know exactly when to begin the following verse. " We have variety of chants composed and adapted to the several subjects of the Psalms; those designed for the Penitential Psalms, are grave and solemn ; others grand and majestick, for THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M. A. 5 for Praises and Thanksgivings ; others there are adapted to the narrative style, which is fre- quently met with among the Psalms. Upon some days, the several Psalms, that are to be sung at the same time, contain different subjects, one a thanksgiving, the next penitential ; in that case the tune is to be changed certainly. Is it not frequent in musick to change the key ? Are there not proper transitions from a sharp key to a flat, and from a flat to a sharp ? Is not there a great beauty in such transitions when properly made ? And when should they be made, but when the words require them ? " As to the Antiphonal way of singing in the services, certain it is, that the services are com- posed to be sung by each side of the Choir alternately ; and good reason there is for it ; be- cause it would be difficult for the singers to go through the whole (suppose the Te Deum, &c.) without stopping ■ (as there are no considerable rests or pauses in the full services) ; but by this method there is frequent relief for the voices by turns, and the whole is performed with ease, and without tiring the singers ; and besides we loose a great part of the beauty in the full services by not attending to this : it is remarkable, that in the old services (which are perhaps the best we have), such as Tallis's, Bird's, Gibbon's, and Patrick's, there are many passages which require this way of singing to be strictly observed, insomuch that they are in- sipid without attending to the Antiphona ; such are those passages which frequently occur following one another, and composed exactly in the same tune, note for note : now if both those passages are sung by the whole Choir, they seem only a dull repetition of the same thing, and are tedious to the ear : but on the contrary, if one of them is surig by one side of the Choir, and the opposite side returns or echoes back the other ; in this case it has a fine effect ; it raises a noble emulation, in singing the praises of God, and they mutually excite each others devotion.' " Before I end, I cannot but take notice, that the choristers' disregard of their books, and their not attending to the notes as they sing, makes them depend too much on the ear, and thus hinders all progress in their understanding what they are doing ; for singing must be learned by observing their notes ; and if they disregard them, and depend much upon the ear, they will never make any considerable progress in singing. " After all, Sir, I can hardly think we shall be able to make any great proficiency in Church- musick, unless you can revive the good old custom of meeting together once or twice in every quarter of the year, to sing Church-musick : how that custom came to be droped, you may perhaps tell better than I can ; but surely it could not be for the sake of saving the Church twenty or thirty shillings a year, which used to be spent at those meetings :* for I am fully per- suaded that such a sum of money annually applied this way, would go further in improving the Choir in Church-musick, than Dr. Turner's benefaction of a Thousand Pounds,* to aug- ment the singing-men's places, has yet done. " I am, Sir, your humble Servant, "April A, 1745. " JAMES BENTHAM." " 1 Instances are numberless : among a thousand others, observe the effect it has in the Hallelvjahs, at the end of Mr. Clarke's Anthem, Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. *" About 205. or less, seldom more, used to be spent on such occasions, and allowed by the Dean and Chapter, which no doubt would still be allowed, on prospect of being of real use and service to the Choir." 3 See Dean Mapletoft's bequest for the same good purpose,, p. 236. Mr. 6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF Mr. Bentham's patriotism, and the interest that he took in every thing which was likely to promote the welfare and prosperity of his native place, constitute a very striking feature in his character. Among many instances of this kind, soon after he was made a Minor Canon, his talents were employed in the formation of plans for improving the Fens, and in pointing out the practicability of encreasing the intercourse with the neighbouring counties by means of Turnpike Roads.' It will scarcely be credited, at this time, that such projects could be treated with ridicule and contempt : yet, in the midst of his laudable endeavours for the public good, he found full employment for his patience and forbearance. Having, however, in 1757, offered his " Queries to the Consideration of the Inhabitants of the City of Ely, and towns adjacent," he had at length the satisfaction of seeing the public attention directed to his favourite objects, and in 1763, by subscriptions and loans, an Act was obtained for establish- ing a Turnpike Road from Cambridge to Ely, and the benefits were extended to other parts of the Isle by subsequent Acts. In justice to the memory of those noble personages, now no more, it should be recorded that Lord Chancellor Hardwick, Lord Royston, and Bishop Maw son, were the steady encouragers and supporters of Mr. Bentham's plans, and that George Rist, Esq. an Alderman of Cambridge, bequeathed 200/. towards the Turnpike Road to Cambridge, "if begun within a limitted time." His ec Considerations and Reflections upon the present State of the Fens," were published in 177S, with the hope of inducing the public, by draining and inclosure, to improve and render more profitable to the public, that large tract of common, near Ely, called Grunty Fen, containing near 1300 acres. But his plan for dividing the same having failed, it continues in the same deplorable state. Several improvements, however, have taken place in the culture and drainage of the Fens in consequence of the hints suggested by him. Notwithstanding Mr. Bentham may be supposed to have been fully occupied with the duties of his profession, in the discharge of which he was scrupulously exact, and with his constant endeavours to excite the public attention towards the improvements we have just mentioned ; yet he found time to indulge in his favourite study of antiquity, which took early possession of his mind, and especially the History and Antiquities of the Cathedral at Ely, with which he was connected. But w hat may not be expected from a sound judgment, a considerable degree of penetration, a minuteness of inquiry, great accuracy, and patient assiduity? all which qualifications were happily united in our Author. Bishop Tanner's example, (a Prebendary of the same Stall which Mr. Bentham afterwards held) who had honoured the family with many marks of his kindness and friendship, is sup- posed to have directed our Author's attention to the study of Ecclesiastical Antiquities. Ac- cordingly, in 1756, he circulated among his literary friends, printed lists of the Abbots, Bishops, Priors, Deans, &c. for the purpose of obtaining the best information of the Members of the Church of Ely — and we find among his memoranda, the following interesting letters from him, * In pag. 212 will be found an account of the deplorable state of Ely aad the country about it, before this time. THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M. A. 7 him, to the Reverend Dr. Lx/ttelton, Dean of Exeter, afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, upon the subject of Church Architecture, written in 1758. " To the Reverend Dr. Lyttelton, Dejn of Exeter. " Mr. Dean, Reverend Sir, " What you observe of the lower Arches of the Great Tower, being seemingly built in a very late Gothick stile, is very just, and the occasion of it you rightly judge, was their being new cased with stone since its first erection ; but give me leave to observe, that you are under a mistake in thinking the arches and windows above them to be semicircular, for they are all of them a little pointed ; and indeed they are the first instance of pointed-arches that I meet with ; and as this Tower was built in the reign of Henry II. I imagine pointed arches were first used in England about that time. 1 In respect to the old Saxon Church, you remark that Abbot Brithnot was not the original builder of it, but rather the restorer and repairer only of it, about 970, after it had been burnt by the Danes about a century before ; the pillars and arches now remaining, you conclude, with great probability were the original ones of the Church built by St. Etheldreda ; and if so, they may justly be looked upon as some of the most ancient and venerable remains of Saxon Architecture that we know of. " We have long wanted more distinct terms to express the several kinds and modes of ancient buildings that are found among us. Modern writers have used the term Gothick, to signify all kinds that deviate from the ancient proportions of the Grecian or Roman Architecture ; but Gotliick in that sense is a term too vague and general, for it will comprehend all our ancient Architecture, though as distinct from each other as from any of the regular orders of the Greeks or Romans. With more accuracy, therefore, you use the terms Saxon, Normanno- Saxon, and what you call strictly Gothick, to express the different modes of building, before the Conquest, immediately after it, and that which next succeeded, and continued in use till the Reformation ; and though the modes of building are almost infinite, yet perhaps those three terms may be sufficient to distinguish them severally. " That the Saxons built after what was then called the Roman manner, that they employed fo- reigners to build their monasteries and churches, and brought their Architects from Italy or France, I think we may safely conclude, on the authority of Bede and other Saxon writers. [Beda? Hist. Eccl. 1. 5. c. 21. lin. 17. — & Bedai vitae Abbatum Monast. Wyramuth. & Gyrw. pag. 295. Edit. Cant. 1722.] The Norman Architecture, which succeeded the Saxon, was undoubtedly different from it ; it is called by W. Malmesbury, who lived in the reign of Henry I. Novum genus adificavdi. [De Gestu Regum Angl. 1 3. p. 102. Edit. Francfort.j This mode of building was introduced here just before the Conquest; and the first church of the kind was Westminster Abby, built by Edward the Confessor, who having lived many years in the Norman Court, after he came to the Crown, greatly affected all the Norman customs, and was fond of introducing them among us. [Ingulph. Hist. p. 511. — Edit. pr. Gale.] Matlh. s MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF Matth. Paris too, speaking of the same Church, calls it Novum genus Compositionis : And Malmesbury again, among the works of Edward the Confessor, tells us, Ecclesiam cedifica- tionis novo genere fecit. All our cathedral and conventual churches built or founded in the times of William I William II. and Henri/ I. and for some time after, were of the same stile ; examples enow of which are still extant. Afterwards this mode of Architecture grew out of use, and under Henry III. seems to have been quite neglected. The buildings of that age were wholly in another stile, which you distinguish by the name of Gothick. When it was first in- troduced is uncertain ; but it prevailed so much in that reign, that the King pulled down the Abby Church of Westminster, built by the Confessor, in order to rebuild it in this (then) new mode ; and many of our cathedral churches had additions at the east end in the same stile, as St. Paul's, Ely, &c. <{ All our accounts of ancient Architecture in this kingdom are as yet very imperfect ; we have at present, I think, no treatise on what is called Gothick Architecture; it seems to me to be one of the desiderata of the curious ; and I can easily conceive how acceptable it would be to them ; for it might be made to comprehend the History of Architecture in England, its progress and perfection, and the various modes of building that have prevailed in this kingdom from the earliest times, taken from the remains of Architecture still in being, Roman, Saxon, Norman, and modern Gothick. The Romans, whilst they continued in Britain, had many good buildings among them ; and it might be worth while to enquire whether there be any of them still in being. Whilst the Picts and Scots prevailed, little is to be expected. The Saxons were great builders of Churches and Monasteries, parts of which are now existing, that we know of, and probably more, on diligent search, might be found. " The Normans excelled in their Architecture, their designs were vast and noble, and their buildings truly magnificent • their stile differed from the Saxon, as I have before observed, and therefore it would be proper to enquire in what respects. But when we come to the Modern Go- thick, an Historian would find scope enough to enlarge upon ; to enquire into its origin ; to ob- serve its progress, and to what degree of perfection it arrived at in this kingdom ; the characteris- tics of this stile of building ; its pointed Arches, and slender and delicate pillars ; its richness, and sometimes even profuseness in the ornamental parts ; and the vast variety of tracery that is found both in the roofs and windows of this mode of building. " Some such design is greatly wanted among the learned, and, I apprehend, might easily be effected by the Society of Antiquarians ; the undertaking of it would do honour to the Society, — is in every respect agreeable to their institution ; and if once set on foot, materials for com- posing such an History could not long be wanting. In order to this, it is necessary to have an account of the most considerable buildings whose ages are certainly known, and of others that are curious and uncommon, though uncertain as to their age. It might be recommended to the several Members of the Society, and to others who are curious, that during their recess in the country in the summer, they would make their observations and critical remarks on all the Churches and ancient buildings in their several neighbourhoods with this view ; and where there is any thing curious or worthy of notice, draughts might be taken of them. Instructions might be drawn up by some of thcMembcrs of the Society who are most capable, and cautions given in THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M A. 9 in judging of the antiquity of any building, on account of the alterations that may from time to time have been made, especially in the windows ; for the humour of modernizing the windows, and some other parts, has prevailed so much formerly, that we shall scarce meet with any con- siderable building of ancient struct ure but what has undergone some alterations ; though often- times ihey have been altered much for the worse.' By this means materials might in two or three years be collected for such an History; and when they are thus collected some of the Society might be chosen to draw up such an account, with the various observations and critical remarks of the several collectors, with their own observations upon them. " Give me leave, Mr. Dean, to ask whether such a design, as above, might not easily be set forward by your means, interest and recommendation to the Society ? You who are yourself a Lover of Antiquity, and so good a judge of ancient Architecture, will be the best judge of the propriety of such an application to the Society, and I persuade myself will easily pardon the trouble I now give you on this head." t( To the Reverend Dr. Lyttelton, Dean of Exeter. te Mr. Dean, — Reverend Sir, (C The subject of Gothic Architecture is curious, and if well executed must bo very entertaining, and therefore I hope Mr. Miller, of Warwickshire, may be prevailed upon to prosecute the work you say he has undertaken. et I have sometimes had thoughts of introducing a brief essay on Gothick Architecture, before the account of the fabrick of our Church, in order to give the reader some notion of build- ings that go under that denomination ; but, at most, I could propose to myself only a rude essay, which possibly might have some use in giving hints to others who are better qualified for pursuing the subject, and put them on further enquiries. " Whether such a design would be proper for an introduction to a particular fabrick, or whe- ther my notions of Gothick Architecture, as it is usually called, are such as would bear to be exposed to publick view, I much doubt. The mere out-lines of such a design, as they occur to my mind whilst I am writing, (for I have yet wrote nothing on the subject) are these. Concerning buildings in general erected after the fifth century, it is commonly said they were called Gothic, because invented by the Goths. The Goths, I apprehend, were not the inventors of any kind of Architecture ; and the most probable account of the matter is this. — It is well known that when the Goths, Vandals, and other nations from the north made an irruption into the Empire, they carried ruin and desolation into all parts wherever they came, destroy- ing most of those noble edifices for which the Roman Empire was so celebrated, and pro- ceeded even to Rome itself which they sacked and plundered. During those wars and deso- lations, religion and learning declined, the liberal arts and sciences gave wav, and at last, as those barbarous nations prevailed, seemed almost extinct. Architecture, among the rest, had its ' The justness of this observation is particularly exemplified by the Gothic windows introduced into Southwell Minster. B 10 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF its share in this fatal calamity ; the art itself under such discouraging circumstances, became quite neglected, and the great Masters of Architecture found no employment. How long things continued in that unsettled state, it is not here necessary precisely to determine ; but his- tory informs us that the Empire long groaned under those miserable confusions that were then introduced. Now it is easy to conceive that, if it continued but half a century, Architecture must quite sink to nothing ; for the old masters in the science would in course drop off; and as there was no encouragement to build, so there would be none trained up in the art to suc- ceed them. Peace began to lift up her head again, arts and scieuces too in some measure revived, and Architecture among the rest. But we find it was by very slow degrees. The state of affairs in the empire was again in a more settled condition ; Churches and other pub- lick edifices began to be repaired, and new ones to be erected. But the Art, having been long neglected, was almost lost ; the harmony and just proportions of the regular orders, formed by the study and skill of those great masters that had been in Greece and Rome could not easily be recovered. " If this be a just representation of things, then perhaps the right way, and to set this matter in its true and proper light, is to consider the art itself as almost lost through neglect; as again in its infancy ; and to be learned again as it were de novo. In this view of things it is natural to imagine they would begin with imitating those excellent patterns of Roman Architecture with which the Empire had formerly abounded, the ruins, at least, of which were then subsisting; and I think it may be made evident that what is called Gothick Architecture, in those first ages, when they began to build again, was in imitation of the Roman. The first essays in any art are and must necessarily be rude and unpolished ; perfection in art is not to be expected at first, but must be formed by labour and study, and will require much time. There were indeed none of what are now called the Regular Orders of Architecture, built in the times that immediately succeeded the Gothick age, as it may be termed ; but all Architecture seems to have taken its rise from imitation of the Roman and Grecian. Its pro- gress towards perfection, either for want of skill and attention to their original types, the Ro- man and Grecian, or perhaps for want of due encouragement, was very slow. It was not till within these two last centuries that Architecture has been made thoroughly conformable to the ancient Architecture. Gothick Architecture then Mas not so called because invented by that people ; though I own it had its original in the Gothick age, but was borrowed from the Roman and Grecian. Columns and arches were the principal necessaries towards building with stone, and were probably the first objects of imitation. Niceness and perfection in the first attempts to revive a lost art were not to be expected. The cornice, frieze, architrave, and some other ornamental parts were thought unnecessary, and therefore neglected ; or they wanted skill and proper materials and instruments to form them. But in the capitals of their columns, there was often a resemblance of the ancient capitals, though not put together in an} r regular order, and the sculpture indeed was rude and unpolished ; but such as might have been expected. In short, parts of every Roman and Grecian Order occur frequently in the best Ancient Gothick, in the capitals and other ornamental parts. The volute,or something like it, is often to be met with in the capitals of pillars in K. Edgar's time, and long before, even in the earliest Saxon Buildings. The Corinthian Capital is often found in the Saxon and Norman Architecture ; I mean a resemblance of it, but such a resemblance as renders it THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M A. it evident from whence it was taken. Our Saxon Architecture, Sir Christopher Wren ob- serves, was nearer the Roman manner than that which succeeded it ; I think he means nearer it than the Norman and modern Gothick ; something to that purpose is mentioned in the Parentalia, for I have not the book now by me. Perhaps this may in some measure account for Bede's saying that the Saxon Buildings were after the Roman manner. But I forget that I am writing only a letter ; and should, as you desire, refer you to those passages which seem to indicate that there was some considerable difference between the Saxon and Norman Archi- tecture. ' Videas ubique in villis Ecclesias, in vicis & urbibus Monasteria novo tedificandi ' genere consurgere.' W. Malmesb. de Gest. Reg. Angl. — Inter Scriptores rerum Anglica. post Bedam. Edit. Francof. 1G01. pag. 102. and Matt. Paris's Account of Edward the Con- fessor's Church, at Westminster. — ' Defunctus autem Rex beatissimus [Edward Confessor] ' in crastino sepultus est Londini in Ecclesia quam ipse novo compositions genere construx- * erat, aqua post multi Ecclesias construentes exemplum adepti opus illud expensis semulaban- ' tur sumptuosis.' — Matt Paris Hist. Major. Edit, per Wats, pag. 1. " Since you was at Ely, Mr. Essex and myself have been examining the remains of a build- ing adjoining to the Deanery, which I remember you took notice of yourself, and thought it to have been Saxon Architecture. It is really more curious than we at first apprehended, and we are of opinion that it was built before the Conquest ; probably the old Chapter-house, being a lofty room arched over, and supported within by four pillars. Mr. Essex has taken a draught of what is now remaining, and a plan of the whole.' " Ely, June, 24, 1758. " I am, Reverend Sir, &c. tc J. B." In the above Letters while we trace the origin of his valuable Essay upon Saxon, Mr- man, and Gothic Architecture, which precedes this work, we may perceive many ideas which have since been enlarged upon and illustrated by other writers. And although it cannot be ascertained, at this distance of time, that the concluding observations in the first Letter gave birth to the splendid works which have since been given to the world by the Society of Antiqua- ries, yet it is not improbable, that they might, in some degree, contribute to those publications.* In 1761, he sent out his proposals for publishing this elaborate woik at eighteen shillings. 1 But although the expences of the drawings, and the engraving of them, were generously de- frayed by the several personages to whom the plates are dedicated : and notwithstanding the affectionate liberality of his Brother, in his charges for printing the work, which closed his typographical labours, 4 he was obliged to advance the price to one guinea, soon after. In doing 1 Vide Plate L. fig. 2 and 3. 1 Plans, Elevations, and Sections of St. Stephen's Chapel, and of Exeter, Bath, Durham, and Gloucester Ca- thedrals, engraved by Mr. Basier, from the drawing of Mr. Carter, F. S. A. 3 This was perfectly agreeable with his humility, who never over-rated his own abilities, and was ever readv to do justice to the merits of others. 4 Which is thus expressed at the end of the work : — " Finis Officii atque Laboeis." B 2 12 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF doing this, however, "he left it to the rest of those who had already subscribed, to act as they should think proper." In January, 1764, the book was put to press, and in 1771 it was delivered to the subscribers. The numerous documents which are referred to by Mr. Bentham, in the marginal notes, show the extent of his researches. The voluminous extracts from which he derived his in- formation, fairly transcribed and indexed by himself, are so many proofs of his unwearied attention to the subject; and the minuteness of his investigations may be judged of, when it is recollected that, since he wrote, no new light has been thrown upon the History of Ely Cathedral. 1 It is needless to attempt any panegyric upon a work which has the public voice already so much in its favour, but it is a duty which we owe to the memory of the venerable Author, to do away the unaccountable attempts that have been made to deprive him of the merits of his Essay on Ancient Architecture. In 1783, Mr. Bentham found a letter in the Gentleman's Magazine for May, p. 376, which, under the Signature of S. E. asserted that Mr. Gray was the Writer of the Treatise. In the same periodical work, therefore, for April, 1784, he inserted the following vindication of himself. " Mr. * It would be unjustifiable, in this place, to pass over in silence, the Account of Prior Crauden's Chapel, with the excellent plates accompanying it, given by Mr. Wilkins, Jun. in the 14th vol. of the Archaeologia— or Mr. Miller's ** Description of the Cathedral," 8vo. which has gone through several editions, in a few years, and though professedly built upon Mr. Bentham's " Great Work," contains many very ingenious and original remarks upon Ancient English Architecture — A Sketch of the Characteristics of Saxon, Nor- pian, Early English, Ornamental English, and Florid English Style: also an account of some buildings particularly connected with the Church, and the improvements in the Choirs (not finished when the first edition of this work was published) which Mr. B. did not take into his plan, but earnestly recommended to some future representation, (vide p. 289.) Therefore, to this valuable work, embellished with several excellent engravings, the Editor begs leave to refer the reader, for the information concerning these particulars. It may not be irrelative here to point out for the information of such as make the antiquities of this country their study, and Church Architecture in particular, a few valuable works for the illustration of them. To the splendid publications of the Society of Antiquaries noticed before, may be added, Mr. Carter's Specimens of Ancient Painting and Sculpture in this Kingdom, from the earliest period, to the Reign of Henry VIII. 2 vols, folio, containing upwards of 120 plates ; and among them several relating to Ely Cathedral. Also his ** Ancient Ar- chitecture in England," folio, the first part of which contains 81 plates of the Orders of Architecture during the British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman 2Eras — which the 2d part, now publishing, will continue through the reigns of Edward III. and IV. Richard II. and Henry VI. VII. VIII. a work, the very title of which Mr. Ben- tham pointed out in his letter to the Dean of Exeter, pag. 8, of these memoirs. The accurate perspective view9 of our Cathedrals, by Mr. Buckler, F. S. A. (among which are two of Ely from the N. W. and S. E.) also his Views of Colleges and Collegiate Churches, forming a most valuable and magnificent work. The late mo- dest, indefatigable, and ingenious Artist, Mr. John Halfpenny, of York, the Hollar, of this age, has left us an inestimable treasure in his " Ornaments of York Cathedral" on 105 plates, 4to, and his " Remains of Ancient Buildings in York," on 33 plates, the same size ; all drawn and engraved by himself, with the dry points ; and at the time of his greatly lamented death, in 181 1, he was finishing a set of Views of early Saxon round ended Churches in the same style. The highly finished Plates of Mr. Britton's " Architectural Antiquities," are too well known to require anv description of them. THE REV. JAMES BENTHAM, M. A. 13 " Mb. Urban, " El 2/> ^pril 17. " Having lately observed Mr. Gray's Treatise on Gothic Architecture, and Mr. Bentham's Account of Saxon, 'Norman, and Go hie Architecture, frequently cited, and their notions and sentiments generally to coincide, nay, oftentimes to be expressed in the very same WO rds ■ — Mr. B. quite at a loss to account for these extraordinary circumstances, and how to discover the occasion of so remarkable a concurrence of sentiment, diction, and opinions, made all the enquiry he could to obtain a sight of Mr. Gray's Treatise above-mentioned, but in vain. Supposing it therefore still to remain in MS. or, if printed, to have been communicated only to some of Mr. Gray's select friends, he was forced to give over the pursuit. At length, how- ever, by means of your very useful and entertaining magazine, he has been enabled to unravel the mystery. " Mr. Gray's Treatise, and Mr. Bentham's Account, it seems, are one and the same. " So says your correspondent S. E. in your Magazine for May, 1783, p. 375, in his remarks on Mr. Ruben D'Moundt. " The work in which Mr. Gray's very curious and judicious " observations upon Gothic Architecture occur, is Mr. Bentham's History of the Cathedral " of Ely, a book with which I am a good deal surprised Mr. R. D'Moundt should be unac- " quainted, who has exhibited so great a profusion of Antiquarian reading. It is proper also " that this gentleman should be informed, that Mr. Bentham had very little, if any, inter- " ference with the Treatise on Architecture inserted therein, and which alone has rendered it a " most curious and valuable book." " After so peremptory an assertion, " That Mr. Bentham had very little, if any, interference " with the Treatise on Architecture inserted in his Book," Mr. B. must think himself wanting in that regard he owes to truth, and to his own character, if he did not endeavour to clear up that matter, rectify the mistake, and vindicate himself from the charge of having been obliged to Mr. Gray for that Treatise, and publishing it as his own. " Had Mr. G. been the real author, Mr. B. certainly ought to have been a little more ex- plicit in his acknowledgment of the favour ; especially as it would have been no small recom- mendation of his book, to have informed the reader, that the Treatise on Architecture was composed by so celebrated and distinguished a writer as Mr. Gray. " It was sufficient to Mr. B. that Mr. G. approved of it, and that he furnished him with several hints, of which Mr. B availed himself, and for which Mr. B thought proper to make his grateful acknowledgment in his Preface ; there, indeed, in general terms ; but the parti- culars will appear from Mr. Gray's letter to him inserted below. ".The truth is, Mr. B. had written that Treatise long before he had the honour of any ac- quaintance with Mr. Gray ; and it was that which first introduced him to !Vlr. G. " It may not be improper to observe, that when the first sheet of the Introduction was com- posed 14 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF posed for the press in 1764, a proof of it was shown (by a friend of Mr. B.) to Mr. G. the contents of which related to the first introduction of Christianity into this kingdom, and its progress, to the conversion of the Saxons, &c. This was thought by Mr. G. to have too slight a connection with the principal subject, the History of the Church of Ely. However, Mr. B. was not informed of Mr. Gray's opinion till it was too late, and the sheet had been put to press. " Some time after (about the beginning of 1765) Mr. G. having expressed a desire to see the following sheets ; Mr. B. then at Cambridge, waited on him at Pembroke Hall with six of them, and begged the favour of his remarks and correction : and this was the first time that Mr. B. had the pleasure of an hour's conversation on the subject with Mr. G. It happened for- tunately that the two last sheets were composed, but not worked off, which gave Mr. B. an opportunity of inserting several additions hinted in Mr. Gray's letter, which he inclosed when he returned the sheets to Mr. B. " A transcript of Mr. Gray's letter to Mr. B. as it sets this matter in a clear light, and will, no doubt, be acceptable and entertaining to your readers, is here subjoined.