The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-08-13
A old historical Place Still
Stained With Blood. q
Ene ssh Illustrated Magazine.

Eng itch Illustrated magazine. ab# JE
Pass,ug first under ruined arch
way whose keystone bears the s1'ijre
OF the Kildarres. blazoned with or
anpe and silver lichen, and throught
4 long and narrow doorway with Q
slab Of gray limestone for the porch,
we leave the warmth and sunshine
for shadow and chill air, and
find ourselves suddenly transported
from the nineteenth to the fifteenth
century. Above our heads o tall,
gary tower lifts itself into the sun.
chine which steepsis rugged brows
In gold aud brightens too, the glossy
plumage Of the jackdaws who sit
chattsring at each angle ; in front Of
us the blue sky is seen through the
stone mullions of q noble, shattered
wiDdow;au our feet the damp, dank
Grass, Starred by no daisies Qor
drops), is checkered BY old monu-
mens.i elabs worn level with tie
GROUND, and on each side of as rte
rugged walls. partly covered at the
base by rude plaster, but displaying
at the top nothing Lut scarred stones,
warmed and enliyened by every va
yiety of moss aad lichen. We are IN
the nave of the church; let The reader
pause to lock at the perfectly preserv
Cd ssdilia, at the recessed Itonbs
with their carved and scrocketed b
mails, and then pass into the transePt
under one Of the two pointed arches
which, spriugirg from an octagonsi
4 pillar, divides it from the nave. Fac
ing as IS one Of the recesses above
mentioned. aud we notice at once
d. that tie wall within il is stained and
spotted with dull red. The magma
ton immeiis.e,y conceiyes q scene
of violence and bloodshCd, and is In
this case not wrong.
When the Cromwellisu soldiers
care down upou tho abbey the priest
I was saying mass On each side Of the
alter stood the little aeolJ les swinging
their censors; in the body Of the
church knelt the failbfrl. Suddenly
the low murmur of the Latin prayers
and the aail CT the "MIEerers" were
broken by the chatter of boots, by
the elssh Of arms and by the shouts
Of scldiery. Many u meek face grew
pale within its coSl, many anattenu
.ated hand grasped neryously at the
crucifx, bat the priest continued HE
lmu-murings - IL be heard it not
In broke the soldiers. The titnid
monks were huddlsd together like
fock ofskeep. The censors lie snok'
ing on the pavement. together with
the rich plsse sDatched from the altar
- the sacoed building echoes 10 tht
tramping Of armed heels, 70 the elang
i! Of steel, 70 the oaths and shouts oI
the farce men, and the terrified cries
Of the friArs. A torch is thrust intC
the ROOT, red flames began 10 leap up,
y stillthe priest stands al the altar
Ia Exasperated by the calmness snt
courage Of the monk, Murrough, thu
Wild leader Of tho band, siridts up
aohis sword flashes in the red glare O
the kidding rsfsers. Another mo
ment and the priest il being bou lded
down the nave and into the transept
He Jet has tine 10 fing his arm
iaronad the feet Of the Virgin lwb'
smiles in her niche above the recess
and then falls, pierced BY nany
sword thrust. So ,Adare has 8 mar
tyr Of his own, and can proudly
point TO blood stains nore deeply rec
and more Numerous than tho whicl
visitors 10 Hollywood strikes maicht
and 90 down 90 their knees. 10 dis
soFer.