BASINGWERK ABBEY, or Maes Glâs, called also Greenfield Monastery, is situated in a meadow, about a mile east of Holywell, surrounded with rich pastures, besides a happy disposition of ancient groves of trees on every side, and a profusion of sycamores. The shattered time-worn remains, with these appendages, are, from points of view, highly picturesque : "The ivy now in rich luxuriance bends Its tangled foliage through the cloister'd place; Its site commands an extensive prospect over a country through which the river Dee winds its mazy course, and including among other objects, views of Chester, Park-gate, and even the Lancashire hills. Historians are not agreed as to the founder of this religious house. Bishop Tanner supposes it to have been founded by Randal, the second Earl of Chester, about the year 1131, and that it was subsequently made an Abbey of Cistercian Monks by Henry II. in 1159. According to Bishop Fleetwood, it VOL. IX. Second Series. Z was established by Henry II. Mr. Pennant, the celebrated Welsh topographer, believes it to have been of greater antiquity, but does not attempt to ascertain its origin. No light is thrown upon the subject from the charters preserved by Sir William Dugdale. There are three of them which either confer ancient donations, or grant new ones, and in each mention is made of the Earl as a benefactor, but there is not the slightest hint of his having been the founder. Mr. Pennant thinks it probable that the honour of establishing this religious house belongs to one of the Princes of Wales; for both Llewelyn ap Jorwerth, and his son David, in their respective charters, recite that they give and confirm the several donations to God, St. Mary, the Monastery of Basingwerk, and the Monks, which had been bestowed on them by their predecessors for the salvation of their souls. Randal was a great benefactor. Previous to his days, the Monks had only a chapel here; but from that period the Abbey became considerable: many of the buildings which now form the ruin were then erected for the convenience of the inhabitants, who were of the Cistercian order. The architecture is mixed. Here appear what is called Saxon, having the round arches and short columns in some parts, and the Gothic narrow slips of high pointed windows in others. The first species had not fallen out of use, and the last was coming into fashion, in the days of their great benefactor. During the preparations for the conquest of Wales by Edward I., the Abbey was under the protection of the English. There are extant two orders for the purpose, providing that they had no commerce with what are styled the Welch rebels! In the 26th of Henry VIII., its lands and possessions produced a yearly revenue of £157. 15s. 24., and was granted by that Monarch to Henry ap Harry. Part of the Church, the refectory and some other offices, still may be traced. The whole was built with a reddish stone found in the neighbourhood, and appears to have been an extensive fabric several of the doors were circular, though the windows have generally the pointed arch. Near the ruins stands an ancient brick barn, probably the granary belonging to the Monastery: this barn was some years since occupied by a tanner and maltster. At a short distance from the spot is shown an oak of great age, and much decayed, called the Abbot's Oak: it measures fifteen feet two inches in circumference. Near the southern boundary of the ruin, part of the great dyke of Offa is perceptible. This dyke has thus been described by Churchyard : "There is a famous thing, Call'd Offa's dyke, that reacheth farre in length, DOROTHEA. WESLEYAN CHRONOLOGICAL NOTICES. No. XXXV. 1777. TUESDAY, August 5th. The thirty-fourth Wesleyan Conference commences its sittings in Bristol. In refutation of reports then in circulation, that the Methodists were a fallen people, minute inquiries are instituted as to the general state of the Connexion, the result of which is highly satisfactory. An obituary of deceased Ministers is for the first time published in the "Minutes of Conference." August. Dr. Coke, being dismissed, amid the rejoicings of a drunken rabble, from his curacy at South Petherton, in Somersetshire, casts in his lot with the Wesleys and their people; amongst whom he soon attains a highly influential and important position; Mr. Wesley being accustomed to say, "he was to him as a right hand." Mr. Wesley, under the title, “A plain Account of Christian Perfection, as believed and taught by the Rev. John Wesley, from the year 1725 to the year 1777," publishes his matured sentiments on that important branch of Christian doctrine: this he represents as consisting, in one view of it, in purity of intention, in the dedication of the whole life to |