Note 2 — PART THE FOURTH.
M. G. (Matthew Gregory) Lewis translation
About the middle of the 10th Century, Bishop Ulric of Constance bequeathed “a very large hogshead of good old wine” to the Convent of St. Gall, on condition that the Monks should themselves be at the trouble of bringing it home. Unluckily, the waggon broke not far from the Convent, and the hogshead fell into a deep pit: it was recovered with great difficulty, and conveyed home in triumph; where in remembrance of this event a great feast was held, at which the Monks, wearied with their exertions in its rescue, did not spare the Bishop’s bequest. About midnight (when all were buried in sleep, overcome by fatigue and the strength of liquor) a fire broke out in the Convent, and consumed it, the Monks however escaped with their lives; and the Abbot is said to have fallen on his knees and thanked Heaven for its mercies, on hearing that though the Convent was destroyed, he had saved his strong-box, and the remainder of the Bishop’s hogshead.—This probably furnished the subject of the satirical ballad, mentioned above.