Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/127

 THE Slrcijarolosical ^ouvnaL JUNE, 18 tS. DESCRIPTION OF THE ANCIENT PLAN OF THE MO- NASTERY OF ST. GALL, IN THE NINTH CENTURY. The materials for the following concise history I have principally derived from Goldast, who published in 1606 a collection of the chroniclers and biographers of the monastery of St. Gall, under the title " Alamannicarum rerum Scriptores aliquot vetusti. Francf. fol. 1606." I regret that the limits of this essay have prevented me from entering more at large into the contents of this most curious volume. I refer throughout to its pages under the letter G. The Latin sentences printed in Italics and distingiiished by inverted commas are the inscriptions upon the ancient plan. I. Introductory remarks. St. Gall was born in Ireland in the middle of the sixth centnry. He accompanied St. Cohimban into France A.D. 585, and afterwards to a place called Arbon, near the lake of Constance. St. Columban, after three years, went into Italy and died there. St. Gall finally removed to a desert place called Himilinberg, near the same lake, the neighbourhood of which appears to have been always his residence. In this spot (in 614) he fixed his habitation, and it was formally granted to him by King Sigebert, together Avith the neces- sary funds for building a cell. He afterwards erected an oratory here, with small dwellings round about it for twelve brethren, who had associated themselves with him ; and this was the origin of the monastery which in after ages became one of the most celebrated in Europe, as well for the number of learned men which it })roduced, and for its complete library, as for its extensive and poAverful dominions. It was sup- pressed in 1808, but the library and the buildings appear to be still in existence. But to return to the history. St. Gall died at Arbon on the IGth of October, about the year G40. His body was removed to his oratory, and buried in a grave dug between the altar and the wall. Forty years after, his sepulchre was violated by plunderers, Avho mistook the coffin for a treasure chest, but Boso, bishop of Constance, replaced the coffin, fix- VOI.. V. N