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in breadth would contain all the buildings within the liberty of Westminster。 That part of the town which is properly called the city of Westminster contains no more than St。 Margaret's and St。 John's parishes； which form a triangle； one side whereof extends from Whitehall to Peterborough House on Millbank； another side reaches from Peterborough House to Stafford House； or Tart Hall； at the west end of the park； and the third side extends from Stafford house to Whitehall； the circumference of the whole being about two miles。 This spot of ground； it is said； was anciently an island； a branch of the Thames running through the park from west to east； and falling into the main river again about Whitehall； which island was originally called Thorney Island； from the woods and bushes that covered it； the abbey or minster also was at first called Thorney Abbey or minster； from the island on which it stood。
St。 James's Park is something more than a mile in circumference； and the form pretty near oval； about the middle of it runs a canal 2；800 feet in length and 100 in breadth； and near it are several other waters； which form an island that has good cover for the breeding and harbouring wild ducks and other water…fowl； on the island also is a pretty house and garden； scarce visible to the company in the park。 On the north side are several fine walks of elms and limes half a mile in length； of which the Mall is one。 The palace of St。 James's； Marlborough House； and the fine buildings in the street called Pall Mall； adorn this side of the park。 At the east end is a view of the Admiralty； a magnificent edifice； lately built with brick and stone； the Horse Guards； the Banqueting House； the most elegant fabric in the kingdom； with the Treasury and the fine buildings about the Cockpit； and between these and the end of the grand canal is a spacious parade； where the horse and foot guards rendezvous every morning before they mount their respective guards。
On the south side of the park run shady walks of trees from east to west； parallel almost to the canal； and walks on the north； adjoining to which are the sumptuous houses in Queen Street； Queen Square； &c。； inhabited by people of quality： and the west end of the park is adorned with the Duke of Buckingham's beautiful seat。 But what renders St。 James's Park one of the most delightful scenes in Nature is the variety of living objects which is met with here； for besides the deer and wild fowl； common to other parks； besides the water； fine walks； and the elegant buildings that surround it； hither the politest part of the British nation of both sexes frequently resort in the spring to take the benefit of the evening air； and enjoy the most agreeable conversation imaginable； and those who have a taste for martial music； and the shining equipage of the soldiery； will find their eyes and ears agreeably entertained by the horse and foot guards every morning。
The Sanctuary； or the abbey…yard； is a large open square； between King Street and the Gate…house； north…west of the abbey； and was called the Sanctuary； because any person who came within these limits was entitled to the privilege of sanctuarythat is； he was not liable to be apprehended by any officers of justice。
This privilege； it is said； was first granted to the abbey by Sebert； king of the East Saxons； increased by King Edgar； and confirmed by Edward the Confessor； by the following charter：…
〃Edward； by the grace of God； king of Englishmen； I make it to be known to all generations of the world after me； that； by special commandment of our holy father Pope Leo； I have renewed and honoured the holy church of the blessed apostle St。 Peter of Westminster； and I order and establish for ever； that what person； of what condition or estate soever he be； from whencesoever he come； or for what offence or cause it be； either for his refuge in the said holy place； he is assured of his life； liberty； and limbs： and over this； I forbid； under pain of everlasting damnation； that no minister of mine； or any of my successors； intermeddle with any of the goods； lands； and possessions of the said persons taking the said sanctuary： for I have taken their goods and livelode into my special protection。 And therefore I grant to every； each of them； in as much as my terrestrial power may suffice； all manner of freedom of joyous liberty。 And whosoever presumes； or doth contrary to this my grant； I will he lose his name； worship； dignity； and power； and that with the great traitor Judas that betrayed our Saviour； he be in the everlasting fire of hell。 And I will and ordain； that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either love or dread of Christian name。〃
This privilege of sanctuary； as far as it related to traitors； murderers； and felons； was in a great measure abolished by a statute of the 32nd Henry VIII。： and in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth； every debtor who fled to sanctuary； to shelter himself from his creditors； was obliged to take an oath of the following tenor； viz。：… That he did not claim the privilege of sanctuary to defraud any one of his goods； debts； or money； but only for the security of his person until he should be able to pay his creditors。
That he would give in a true particular of his debts and credits。
That he would endeavour to pay his debts as soon as possible。
That he would be present at the abbey at morning and evening prayer。
That he would demean himself honestly and quietly； avoid suspected houses； unlawful games； banqueting； and riotous company。
That he would wear no weapon； or be out of his lodging before sunrise or after sunset； nor depart out of the precinct of the sanctuary without the leave of the dean； or archdeacon in his absence。
That he would be obedient to the dean and the officers of the house。
And lastly； that if he should break his oath in any particular； he should not claim the privilege of sanctuary。
And if any creditor could make it appear that he had any money； goods； or chattels that were not contained in the particular given in to the dean and the church； the sanctuary man was to be imprisoned till he came to an agreement with his creditors。
The Abbey…Church of St。 Peter at Westminster appears to be very ancient； though far from being so ancient as is vulgarly reported。
Some relate； without any authority to support the conjecture； that it was founded in the days of the Apostles by St。 Peter himself； others that it was erected by King Lucius about the year 170。 And by some it is said to have been built by King Sebert； the first Christian king of the East…Saxons （Essex and Middlesex）； anno 611。 But I take it for granted the church was not built before the convent or abbey it belonged to。 People did not use to build churches at a distance from town； unless for the service of convents or religious houses。 But neither in the times of the Apostles； nor in the supposed reign of King Lucius； in the second century； was there any such thing as a convent in England； or perhaps in any part of Christendom。 During the dominion of the Saxons in this island； monasteries indeed were erected here； and in many other kingdoms； in great abundance； and as the monks generally chose thick woods or other solitary places for their residence； where could they meet with a spot of ground fitter for their purpose than this woody island called Thorney； then destitute of inhabitants？ But I am inclined to think that neither this or any other monastery was erected in South Britain till the seventh century； after Austin the monk came into England。 As to the tradition of its having been built upon the ruins of the temple of Apollo； destroyed by an earthquake； I do not doubt but the monks were very ready to propagate a fable of this kind； who formed so many others to show the triumphs of Christianity over paganism； and to induce their proselytes to believe that heaven miraculously interposed in their favour by earthquakes； storms； and other prodigies。 But to proceed。 When the convent was erected； I make no doubt that there was a church or chapel built as usual for the service of the monks； but it is evident from history that the dimensions of the first or second church that stood here were not comparable to those of the present church。
We may rely upon it that about the year 850 there was a church and convent in the island of Thorney； because about that time； London being in the possession of the Danes； the convent was destroyed by them （not in the year 659； as some writers have affirmed； because the Danes did not invade England till nearly 200 years afterwards）。 The abbey lay in ruins about a hundred years； when King Edgar； at the instance of Dunstan； Abbot of Glastonbury （and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury）； rebuilt this and several other monasteries； about the year 960。 Edward the Confessor； a devout prince； enlarged this church and monastery； in which he placed the Benedictine monks； ordered the regalia to be kept by the fathers of the convent； and succeeding kings to be crowned here； as William the Conqueror and several other English monarchs afterwards were； most of them enriching this abbey with large revenues； but King Henry III。 ordered the church