look eastward, towards fair Priest-town, the distant landscape appears composed of a thousand gentle undulations, thrown up by nature in her sweetest mood, as though the earth were swelling with an exuberant beauty, even to the rim of the encircling sky; with the form of which all is harmonious. The pastures seem to sparkle on the eye; and, amidst this "splendour in the grass, this glory in the flower," the lively groves, and villas,* some of the purest white, scattered here and there, give to the picture a fairy brightness. The face of nature seems wreathed in a perpetual smile, in this our country of Preston. The wild roses thinly interspersed among the thickets and hedge-rows, with their delicate colouring and faint perfume, afford images of rustic modesty, far sweeter and more congenial than the rich garlands of the oriental world.

Receding from this pleasant view, and coming towards Preston, as you cross the Marsh, what a panoramic view presents itself! here you see Penwortham and Tulket, almost environed by groves of the freshest verdure; whilst the wild daisy, and other flowers, enamel the suface of the earth you tread upon. Imagine the time of sun set, and clouds of the richest saffron resting on the bosom of the air, reflecting their soft tints upon the calm waters of Bellisamia (Ribble); not a whisper reaching the ear. "The holy time was quiet as a nun breathless with adoration." The whole looks like some scene of blissful enchantment.

"No river flows renown'd in song,

More worthy of the strain,

Than Ribble, as it flows along,

From PRESTON to the CHAIN;

For grove and streams, and valley meet,
And blend so sweetly there,

That far as I have roam'd, my feet

Ne'er trod a scene so fair.

When winds are hush'd, and bright the sun,

And tides are laid to sleep,

How softly do its waters run

Their journey to the deep!

* There are many elegant villas situate upon Ribble banks, within Ashton-uponRibble, facing the river, such as Mr. Gorst's, at the chain; Mr. Pedder's; Mr. E. Lodge's; and the Rev. R. Harris's. Near the margin of the river is J. Pilkington, Esq.'s neat mansion, called the Willows; close to this Mr. R. Westmore, has a pretty residence. At the Marsh end, Mr. Jos. Harrison possesses a neat house.

Through smooth and golden sands they glide
With gently whispering motion,

And scarcely heave the barks, that ride
Adown them to the ocean.

See, where the winding river bends,

Yon upland heights around;

How well the dark-green herbage blends

With forests scatter'd round;

There mead and hedge-row, shrub and flower,

The eye, delighted, sees,

And Penwortham's romantic tower

Just peeping from the trees.

And mark the opposing bank, o'erspread
With lawns and cottage groves;
Whose deep-retired shades to tread
The step of beauty loves;

And mark yon ancient, still retreat,
Whose turrets brave the air,—
No! far as I have roam'd, my feet
Ne'er trod a scene so fair."

ADVENA.

THE VICINITY.

TULKET HALL.

"The mansion rose in ancient English grandeur, turrets, spires,
And windows climbing high from base to roof, in wide and radiant rows,
Bespoke its birth coeval with those rich cathedral fanes (gothic ill named,)
Where harmony results, from disunited parts, and shapes minute,
At once distinct, and blended boldly, form one vast majestic whole."

TULKET-HALL is an extensive building north-west of Prestonmarsh, with two square embattled towers, of a whitish hue, sitting between the foliage of trees, upon an elevated dunum, commanding a beautiful view of the town and vicinage. Mr. West states, that on a rising ground at a small distance from Preston, to the south-west of that ancient mansion-house known by the name of Tulket-hall, the seat of Roger Hesketh, Esq. (now Miss Hesketh, or Hescoith, sister to the late B. Fleetwood Hesketh, Esq. of Rossal,) some ruins and part of the fosse which surrounded the principal buildings of that monastery are still visible. There are however, good reasons to believe that this fosse or moat is of very high antiquity. Tulket, originally, was inhabited by a branch of monks from the monastery of Savigny, in Normandy, under the immediate direction of Evanus, who seated themselves there, and chose him to be their first abbot. Lelandi Collectanea, tome 2nd, p. 357:-" Stephanus Comes Bononiensis, postea Rex Angliæ, dedit Abbati Gaufrido Savaniensi Villam Scilicit, Tulket, in provincia quæ vocatur Acmunderness, super ripam fluvii Ribble, ad abbatium construendum ordinis sui, et ibi fere per tres amnos permansurent." The monks' situation at Tulket is agreeably situated on the northern bank, and not far distant from the river Ribble, which it discovers at various distances, from its crenelled turrets, as it meanders through the fields of Amounderness, until it mixes its waters with those of St. George's channel. The great variety of picturesque

views and other objects, with such a diversity before us, exhibited to the mind's eye, leave nothing for the imagination to suggest; and fancy rests in silent admiration of nature's great profusion, and the present owner's elegant taste, joined with superior judgment, in assimilating art to nature's choicest charms.

No account can be found of the state in which the monks found Tulket at the time of their arrival; although it is probable it is of higher antiquity than either the arrival of Evanus, or his monks; or of the Norman conquest. Leland tells us, that they (the monks) actually erected a monastery at Tulket; but, with greater probability, it appears that during their stay, they contented themselves with making use of such buildings only as were erected before their coming thither; which was on the 4th of the nones of July, 1124, (which corresponds to our 13th of July,) to their removal to Beckangsgil, signifying (Solanum Lethale) according to Linnæus, Atropa Belladona, or deadly nightshade, a plant growing plentifully in that vicinage, meaning the abbey of St. Mary, at Furness, or Fourness, founded on the nones of July, 1127, 26th of Henry the First, and the 2nd of the pontificate of Honorius the Second; which was no more than three years and three days.-During which space, and until the time of their fifth abbot, Richard de Bajocis, they were of the order of Savigny, as spoken of, under the strict rule of St. Benedict. Cambden and Tanner say, "that the monastery of St. Mary, in Fourness, built in the vale of Beckangsgil, was translated from Tulket monastery, in Acmunderness, and founded by Stephen Earl of Morton and Bologne, in 1127." copy of a charter of King Richard the First, of protection granted to the abbey of Savigny, may still be seen in a book in Shepherd's Library, in this town, entitled the "Formulæ Anglicanum," folio, page 298. Their habit, or dress, was of grey cloth, from which they were called Grey monks.

A

We shall here subjoin the copy of a charter, or commission of King John's confirming letters patent, made whilst Earl of Morton, to the monks of Preston, of their possessions. It appears from this instrument, that a portion of the monks of Tulket* still remained

* Tulket being situate at a small distance from the ancient Roman military way which leads from the north of the river Ribble, over Fulwood-moor, to Ribchester; as also of great part of the Fyldes, (or Fields of Amounderness) they defended this place with a fosse and vallum; and after the departure of the Romans from this place, from its strength and pleasant aspect, had engaged the attention of some man of taste

in the villa of Preston, after the residue had retired to St. Mary's, in Furness, and possessed lands in this immediate neighbourhood, as may be proved on reading the following charter of King John, dated A. D. 1199:-" Johannis Dei gratia Rex Angliae Dominus Hibernæ, Dux Normaniæ Aquitaniæ, Comes Andergaviæ, Ballivo suo de Honore Prestonæ, Salutem, Præcipimus tibi quod facias Priori & Monachis de Ecclesia St. Benedicti de Prestonæ habere Ecclesias cum capellis, & omnes Res sucas quas habere debent in Balliva tua secundem testimonium Cartarum suarum, & præcipue Decimas suas plevare de omnibus Dominicas nostris, sive ea habeamus in manu nostra, sive ea dederimus, sive ad firmam posita sint; sicut eis concessimus, æ Literis nostrus Patentibus confirmamavimus, dum Comes Moretonæ eramus, Testes meipso apud ebor xxvi die Marcii, A. D. 1199."

These monks became at last Cistercians, and with the severe rules of St. Bernard adopted a white habit, which they retained until the dissolution of monastic orders in England. Their original rule partook, in several instances, with the austerities of La Trappe; they practised a strict rule of penance and mortification; and were subject, in all cases, to their parent monastery of Savigny. They passed their days in giving instruction, by example first, and afterwards by preaching; by illuminating manuscripts, and copying books, consisting of autographs. An unbroken silence was observed, except when after dinner they withdrew into the locutorium, where, for an hour perhaps, they were permitted the common privileges of social beings. This class was confined to the boundary wall, except that, on some particular days, the members were allowed to walk in parties beyond it, for exercise and amusement; but they were seldom permitted to receive or pay visits. Like the monks of La Trappe, however, they were distinguished by extensive charities, and liberal hospitality; for travellers were so sumptuously entertained at the abbey, that it was not till the dissolution that an inn* was thought necessary in the vicinity of Furness,

to settle here, and therefore induced him to confer his name upon it, agreeably to the prevailing custom of those times. This place was inhabited by the ancient family of Travers, of Nateby-hall, Mount Travers by Preston, and lastly of Tulket.

"Public inns were rare.-Travellers were entertained at religious houses for several days together, if occasion served. The meetings of the gentry were not at taverns, but in the fields of the forest, with their hawks and hounds, and their bugle horn, in silken bawdries."-Vide Aubrey's M. S. preserved in the Ashm, museum.