DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0197
MELROSE ABBEY. 185
other property in Ayrfhire, Dumfries-fhire, Selkirkshire, and
Berwickshire.
But the abbey church which David built was not that of
which we have now the remains. The whole place was
repeatedly burnt down by the English invaders. In 1215 the
rebellious barons of King John of England fwore fealty to
Alexander II. of Scotland, at the altar of Melrofe. Edward I.,
in 1295-6, when at Berwick, granted the monks of Melrofe
reftitution of the lands of which they had been deprived ; but
in 1322 Edward II. burnt down the abbey and killed the abbot
William de Peeblis, and feveral of his monks. Robert I., of
Scotland, in 1326, or four years afterwards, gave ^2,000,
Sterling to rebuild it; and Edward III., of England, came from
Newcaftle at Chriftmas, 1341, and held his yule in the abbey,
and made reftitution of the lands and other property which his
father had feized during the late war. In 1378 Richard II.
granted a protection to the abbot and his lands, but in 1385
he burnt down Melrofe and other religious houfes on his
expedition into Scotland. Robert Bruce, in the beginning of
the fourteenth century, granted a revenue to reStore the abbey,
and betwixt this period and the Reformation arofe the fplendid
Structure, the ruins of which yet charm every eye. It is in
the higheft Style of the Decorated order, every portion is full of
work of the moSt exquifite character, occafionally mingled
with the Perpendicular. They are only the ruins of the
church which remain, and they prefent the fineSt fpecimen of
Gothic architecture and fculpture that Scotland poSTeSTes. One
of Scotland’s molt difcriminating writers fays, “To fay that
Melrofe is beautiful, is to fay nothing. It is exquifitely-
fplendidly lovely. It is an objeCt poffeSTed of infinite grace and
unmeafurable charm ; it is fine in its general afpeCt, and in its
minuteft details. It is a Study—a glory.” The church is two
2 B
other property in Ayrfhire, Dumfries-fhire, Selkirkshire, and
Berwickshire.
But the abbey church which David built was not that of
which we have now the remains. The whole place was
repeatedly burnt down by the English invaders. In 1215 the
rebellious barons of King John of England fwore fealty to
Alexander II. of Scotland, at the altar of Melrofe. Edward I.,
in 1295-6, when at Berwick, granted the monks of Melrofe
reftitution of the lands of which they had been deprived ; but
in 1322 Edward II. burnt down the abbey and killed the abbot
William de Peeblis, and feveral of his monks. Robert I., of
Scotland, in 1326, or four years afterwards, gave ^2,000,
Sterling to rebuild it; and Edward III., of England, came from
Newcaftle at Chriftmas, 1341, and held his yule in the abbey,
and made reftitution of the lands and other property which his
father had feized during the late war. In 1378 Richard II.
granted a protection to the abbot and his lands, but in 1385
he burnt down Melrofe and other religious houfes on his
expedition into Scotland. Robert Bruce, in the beginning of
the fourteenth century, granted a revenue to reStore the abbey,
and betwixt this period and the Reformation arofe the fplendid
Structure, the ruins of which yet charm every eye. It is in
the higheft Style of the Decorated order, every portion is full of
work of the moSt exquifite character, occafionally mingled
with the Perpendicular. They are only the ruins of the
church which remain, and they prefent the fineSt fpecimen of
Gothic architecture and fculpture that Scotland poSTeSTes. One
of Scotland’s molt difcriminating writers fays, “To fay that
Melrofe is beautiful, is to fay nothing. It is exquifitely-
fplendidly lovely. It is an objeCt poffeSTed of infinite grace and
unmeafurable charm ; it is fine in its general afpeCt, and in its
minuteft details. It is a Study—a glory.” The church is two
2 B