The Ruins of the Abbey of Fitz-Martin

The Abbey of Fitz-Martin had been once famous for its riches and

grandeur, and, as a monastery, was dedicated to St Catherine; but the

subsequent irregularity of its order, together with the despotic

tyranny of one of its ancient lords, had stripped it by slow but sure

degrees of all its former wealth and consequence; insomuch, that the

haughty Baron had, under unjust pretences, demanded heavy

contributions, to assist in carrying on the war between the first

Edward and the nearly subdued Scots. His only excuse for such an open

violation of ecclesiastic rights was grounded on a discovery he

pretended he had made, of one of the nuns having broken the sacred

rules of her profession, by a disregard to her vows of vestal

celibacy.