Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-02
1.onn BYRON AVID THE MONK.

A writer in a late number of Eliza Cooks
Journal, in giving description OF New
stead Abbey, Lord Byron's former residence,
relates the following:
At the end of gallery, a huge stone cot
fin met our gaze, with several other rehcs
of the dead such as bones, skulls, &C., which
were dug up, during Lord Byron's residence
at the Abbey, from under the tagging in
the cloisters. 1t appears that one time his
lordship had strange fancy for this species
of resurrectionizing and digging up dead
mems bones. Whether it was that he fan
cled the thirty friars had filled their cotflns
with gold before taking their departure from
this neither world, in order to pay their pas
sage money, and secure rapid transition
into the next; or whether he expected to
find some brazen angels, or, what would be
still better, the great iron chest, filled with
gold and Jewels, that was reported to be
buried or sunk somewhere either IN the
ground or lake; or whether it was a mere
curiosity for seeking up antiquarian relics,
cannot pretend to tell, though report hints
at the two former motives. However a.
mongst other things, this coffin was brought
to light, and with it the skeleton OF monk.
Another of the lords strange fancles was to
have the skull of this said skeleton cleaned,
mounted with silver, and made into drink
ing cup. He then wrote the halt dozen
stanzas, which are probably well known to
the public, beginning:
"Slart not, nor deem my spirit fled"
and which were afterwards engraved on the
silver. The cup was shown to us by the
housekeeper, and with it the following some
what strange and new story. Mind, | don't
saw we believed it, neither do ask you,
GENTLE reader to believe it, merely tell
You the tale, as it was told us by the worthy
woman's own lips. She assured US 1t was
universally credited by the whole house
hold. The story is this: When Byron first
drank out of this cup, it was at a,party IN
the large drawing-room. Some LADIES were
seated beside him, laughing, talking and en-
loving with him the festivity of the even
inc. Scarce, however, had he raised the
fatal goblet to his lips, when 10! at the door
wav appeared-"black, terrific, and in
dusky garb" arrrayed-the headless trunk OF
human being, apparently monk. Inc
ladies shrieked,, tainted, and as many as
could hurried nr1t of the room. Byrp1 how
over boldly faced the spectre, ana oeinaI-
ded of him his errand. The monk aPProan-
ed. and accused him with bitter words OF ms
Gin and guilt in thus removing from their
resting.pIace the bones of the pious dead, !,
and appropriating to such vile uses the skull
e falIon,-r mortal who once thought, spoke,
and ouafFed the wine like himself. lie con-
cluded by fore telling him the place, day'
hour. and all the particulars of his death,
which-as the good lady assured us-all
came to pass exactly as predicted
Thus ends this short, but strange story
Rut this is but one in hundred OF the hob
Goblin tales which are told of this ancient
place. Byron himself believed or Preten-
ded to believe in, a great many OF them
and to one fable visitant especially ne has
olyen the most perfect sanction by his Gre
dence. and caused him to be recognized as
familiar inmate of the Abbey. This is the
famous goblin friar, who is said to walk
nightly through the halls and cloisters' ana
to have been seen..by Byron himself on s. ses-
eral important occasions, always Pof'ehuins
evil. One of these occasions was snor'
time previous to his unfortunate marriage
with Miss Milbank. Howfar this report Is
true, | am not prepared to say. His lord,
ship has, however, imbodied the tradition il
ballad, in which he thus speaks OF him:,
"ybeu an heir is born he's heard to mourn;
And when aught is to befall
That ancient line, in the pale moonshins =
He walks from hall to hall.
'.His form you may trace, but not his 'ac'- q,
'Tis shadowned by his cowl;
And his eyes may be seen from the folds between
| And they seem of' parted soul"