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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
Some time ago the Society of Antiquaries did me the honour of listening to, and printing in its Transactions, a few remarks on the Antiquarian excavations made by the monks during the middle ages; on the destruction of many ancient monuments by this process; and on the purposes to which the articles thus brought to light were turned. Perhaps I may be permitted to recall the attention of the members of the Society to this subject, which will be hardly considered an uninteresting one, in order to shew how much may be learnt on the subject of local monuments of antiquity in this country from a careful perusal of the legendary literature of the church. So general was the custom of turning old popular legends into religious legends, and so universally were such popular legends attached to ancient sites and monuments, that we need not be surprised at the great importance which these monuments often assume in the histories of the lives and miracles of saints, and at the numerous and curious descriptions of these monuments which we find in the peculiar class of literature to which I allude.
page 264 note * A friend well acquainted with the ground suggests that, though their imaginary route may have passed at St. Michael's over the river into Verulamium, and then along the principal street northwards, or along a footpath by the side of the north-eastern wall, yet most probably, the course described, instead of crossing the river, continued on its north-eastern side along the road which, till the lake was drained, was the main road from St. Alban's through Redbourne.
page 267 note * Or the three spectators may be supposed to have stood behind part of the inner wall of the corridor, near the front entrance—towards which the land sloped from the adjoining hill. At such spot there was discovered, I am informed, on the recent excavations, the only remaining fragment of wall which rose above the bonding course of tiles laid on the original level of the theatre.