his peculiar
manner, has enriched them with a new turn, and given them an appearance
of originality.

The third work of Mary consists of a history, or rather a tale, in
French verse, of St. Patrick's Purgatory. This performance was
originally commenced in Latin, at the Abbey of Saltrey, and dedicated to
the abbot of that monastery, and is to be found in MS. in many public
libraries. There are two translations of it into French verse. The first
of these is in the Cotton Library, Domit. A. IV. and the second in the
Harleian, No. 273, but they are not from the same pen: the former
consists of near 1000 lines, and the latter of about 700. M. Le Grand
has given an analysis of one of these translations in his _fabliaux_,
vol. V.; and it is upon the authority of this writer that I have
ascribed it to Mary, as he maintains that she was the author of it, but
without adducing the necessary proofs for this assertion. The Cotton MS.
however, contains nothing that gives the least support to M. Le Grand's
opinion, or even screens it with probability. Neither is Mary's name
mentioned in the Harleian MS.; but as the translator, in his preface,
entitles the work "a lay," and professes he had rather engage in it than
_relate fables_, it may afford a conjecture that Mary has sufficiently
developed herself in speaking of her labours. This, however, is merely a
conjecture. It is not impossible that the MS. which M. Le Grand
consulted contained more particular details on this subject; but he is
certainly mistaken in one respect, and that is, in supposing Mary to
have been the original author of this piece, whilst all the MSS. that
exist attest that she could have been only the translator: and if the
translation in the Harleian MS. actually be her performance, she there
positively declares that she had been desired to translate the work from
Latin into Romance.

This poem was, at a very early period, translated into English verse. It
is to be found in the Cotton library, Calig. A. II. under the title of
_Owayne Miles_, on account, of Sir Owen being the hero of the piece, and
whose descent into St. Patrick's purgatory is related. Walter de Metz,
author of the poem entitled _Image du Monde_, mentions also the wonders
of St. Patrick's purgatory, the various adventures of those who
descended into it, and the condition of those who had the good fortune
to return from it; but I am uncertain whether he speaks from the
original Latin of the monk o