New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-12
SAFE fror, the Curse of ssttl. Abbey

Battle Abbey. built By William the Con
oueror and richly endowed in order that
the monks should perpetuallv pray for the
souls OF those Norman knights who fell At
The battle Of Hastings, is about to be the
scene Of another Of those Anglo-American
marriages that have become so frequent
since the day when the Abbey was &C
ouired on long lease by Michael P. Grace,
of New York. from its owner, Captain
Forester Nj Graces Youngest daughter,
GLADYS. IS about 10 wed Captain Hamilton
Grace. Of the 18th Husssrs, only son Of
Colonel Hamilton Grace, Of Knole Frant,
Sussex thus following the example OF sew
,eral Of her sisters. notably Helena, who
became the wife Of the Earl Of Donough
more.
Battle Abbey remained in possession Of
The monks from the eleventh century until
the reign Of Henry VIII who expelled the
reverend fathers and presented the edifos
and its lands TO bis favorite, Sir Anthony
Browne Master of the Horse and Knight
Of the Garter The story goes that Sir An
thony vas celebrating his housewarning
in the abbOts hall when a monk suddenly
appeared. no one knew whence. and pro-
nounced A solemn malediction upon the
spoiiator OF the Church He warned Sir
Anthony that the curse would cling 10 his
most remote posterity and foretold the
special doom that was. 10 be their temporal
punishment BY fire and water. he cried,
Your line shall come 10 an end and perish
out OF the land
SO continuous were the misfortunes that
pursued the Browne family that IN order
% escape the curse they sold Battle Abbey
tn l15 10 Sir Thomas Webster, an alder
man and cloth merchant OF the city Of
London The Brownies removed 70 Cowdray
Park, 4 few miles away, but became ex
tlnct through the death Of the eighth and
last Of the Browne Lords Montague BY
drowning in the Rhine about q hundred
Years ago on the same day his two
nephews. the sons OF his sister, the Hon.
Mrs. Stephen Poyntz. were drowned in the
Sea al Bognor before her eyes. Still on the
same DAY Cowdray Castle was almost
totally DESTROYED by fire. SO that the monks
curse Seemed 10 have borne fruit
The castle was again burned during its
subsequent possession by the late Earl OF
Egmont. on which occasion the huge sword
Of William the Conqueror brought thither
from Battle Abbey by the Brownies. disap-
The home Of the great contractor. Weetman
Pearson, who has so many interests in the
United States and Mexico. and who, when
raised 70 the peerase, two years ago. chose
d MS title that Of Lord Cowdray.
one OF the most famous of the Webster
ohatelaines OF Battle Abbey was Miss
Anzaoeth Nassall a native OF Massachu-
sets. born in the house which afterward
became the home Of Longfellow, and who
inherited q very large fortune from an
uncle I'm Jamaica. She married first Sir
oodfrey Webster, a man twenty-three years
Her senior, but deserted him for LORD Hol-
iSad, her elOpemcnt with the latter re-
sultlnS IN a divorce by act OF Parliament
lew years later, the children Of the Web
htsr marriage, a boy and girl, being award
co 10 Sir Godfrey.
but Lady Holland, az she had then De
come, while she restored the boy 10 ms
isther' declined to part with the girl Har-
net. In spite Of the law. She wrote 70 Slf
oodfiey from tn Continent that the chiid
hsd sickened of measles at Modena. In
weeks time another letter announced the
mule Girls death There was mock tu-
neral and kid was buried in the comm IN
pace Of little Harriet. Three years iatei'
ether Lady Hollands conscience smote
Her or Sir Godfrey became suspicious, lot
ms daughter was restored to him ana hVeu
10 become the wife Of Admiral Sir f1eet-
wood Peilew, their only child marrying Tue
3 fourth Earl Of oxford.
~ LADY Holland, II may be recalled became
one OF the greatest social powers u Lon
aYh ara Holland House the centre OF Po-
Hihal diplomatic and literary lie W tue
Psl nslf OF The nineteenth century ie' IN
hilli of hel unrivallcd position an" III.
Hihhehee exercised in her beh9f " al