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YORK.
It is a ruin which is little known, standing in almost
its pristine loneliness on a green plot of level ground
under the shadow of the Hambleton Hills, about
seven miles east of Northallerton. But it is of
singular interest, being a unique example in England
of the arrangements of the Order of St. Bruno.
There are the two courts, the outer one for the lay
brethren, the guest-hall and the domestic offices, the
other for the brethren who adopted the rule in all its
strictness. The range of their cells is well-nigh
perfect, and the small square opening into each for
the conveyance of food or other necessaries is so
contrived that neither the cloistered inmate, nor he
who handed in what was required, could see each
other. Absolute privacy was secured. This little
priory owed its foundation to Thomas Holand, Duke
of Surrey, about 1396, and was endowed with his
manor of Bordelby, and the lands of three alien
priories. He fell at Cirencester in his gallant attempt
to reinstate Richard on his throne, leaving the priory
only half finished. The grants of land made by
Surrey were subsequently confirmed, in 1440, by
Henry VI., when the buildings were completed, and
the brethren put in full possession. The body of the
ill-fated founder was first interred at Cirencester, but
was afterwards brought to Mount Grace, but no tomb
is visible to mark the spot. The Carthusian Order
never took much root in England. Only nine houses
belonged to it at the dissolution. Two of these were
in Yorkshire, of which Mount Grace was one ; Hull
possessed the other, founded by Michael de la Pole,
Earl of Suffolk and Lord Chancellor. Not a vestige
remains of the house at Hull.