/ KKfLARSBD EDITION. HENRY T. COOKE AND SON, PUBLISHERS, WARWICK. PI^ICE OnE SHILLII^G. These Photographs are now offered at a great Reduction from the Published Price. For particulars enquire of H, T, COOKE AjYD SOA^, WARWICK. CA.TA.LOGMJE OF AN ENTIRELY NEW SERIES OF PHOTOG-EAPHS BY FEANCIS BEDFOED. f HOTOSRAf Hie fieTUF^ES. Price Five Shillings Each. 182. Warwick Castle, from the Bridge. 183. Warwick Castle, from the Park, 184. Warwick Castle, the Eiver Front. 185. Warwick Castle, Caesar's Tower, from the Park. 186. Warwick, the Castle Mill on the Avon. 187. Guy's Cliff, from the Mill. 188. Kenilworth Castle, from the Tiltyard BricV^-e. ©ABIJMET flCTUF^ES. Price Two Shillings and Sixpe^^ce Each, G27. Warwick Castle, from the Bridge. 291. Warwick Castle, from the Park. 629. Warwick Castle, the River Front. 630. Warwick Castle, Tiew in the Outer Court. 631. Warwick Castle, the Inner Court, from the Mount. 632. Warwick Castle, the Gatehouse and Guy's Tower. 633. Warwick Castle, the Principal Front, from the Mount. 634. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking West. 635. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking Ea&t. ( 3 ) 636. Warwick Castle, the State Dining Room. 637. Warwick Castle, the Cedar Drawing Room. 638. Warwick, the Beauchamp Chapel, Interior, looking East. 639. Warwick, the Castle Mill on the Avon. 286. Guy's Cliff, from the Mill. 641. Guy's Mill, from the Road. 642. Keniiworth Castle, from the South. 293. Keniiworth Castle, from the Tiltyard Bridge. 644. Keniiworth Castle, from the Echo Field. 645. Keniiworth Castle, view in the Inner Court. 646. Keniiworth Castle, Leicester's Buildings and Caesar's Tower. 647. Keniiworth Castle, the Banquet Hall. 648. Coventry, view from the Green. 649. Coventry, St. Michael's Church. 650. Coventry, St. Michael's Church, Interior, looking East. 651. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, from the South East. 652. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking East. 654. Stratford-on-Avon, the Church, the South Front. 657. Stratford-on-Avon, the Church, Interior of the Chancel. 659. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the East. 660. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the West. 661. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Room in which the Poet was born. 662. Stratford-on-Avon, Ann Hathaway's Cottage at Shottery. 663. Stratford-on-Avon, view on the River, showixig the Church. 664. Stratford-on- Ivon, Painting of Shakespeare in the Birthplace. eABijvj ET f leru [^Es. Price One Shilling Each. 1968. Guy's Cliff, from the River Bank. 1969. Guy's Cliff, the Avenue. 1970. Guy's Cliff, view in the Courtyard. 1971. Guy's Cliff, Interior of the Chapel. 635, Guy's Cliff, Guy's Well. 636. Guy's Cliff, Guy's Cave. 1972. Guy's Mill, from the Road. 1974. Warwick Castle, from the Bridge. 1976. Warwick Castle, from the Park. 1977. Warwick Castle, the River Front. 1978. Warwick Castle, Caesar's Tower, from the Park, 1979. Warwick Castle, view in the Outer Court. 1980. Warwick Castle, the Inner Court, from the Mount. ( 4 ) 1081. Warwick Castle, the Princii^al Front, from the Moniit, 1982. Warwick Castle, Gatehouse and Csesar's Tower. 1983, Warwick Castle, Gatehouse and Guy's Tower. 1981. Warwick Castle, Entrance Parch and CsE'sar's Tower. 1985. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking West. 1986. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking- East. 1987. Warwick Castle, the State Dining Eoom, 1988. Warwick Castle, the Breakfast Room. 1989. Warwick Castle, the Red Drawing Room. 1990. Warwick Castle, the Cedar Drawing Room, looking West, 1991. Warwick Castle, the Cedar Drawing Room, looking East, 629. Warwick Castle, the Gilt Drawing Room, 1992. Warwick Castle, Queen Ann's Bedroom. 631. Warwick Castle, the Boudoir. 1993. Warwick Castle, the Warwick Yase. 1994. Warwick, St. Mary's Church and Town. 1996. Warwick, St. Mary's Chnrch, from Church Street. 1997. Warwick, St, Mary's Church, Interior of the Chancel. 1998. Warwick, the Beauchamp Chapel, Interior, looking East. 1999. Warwick, the Beauchamp Chapel, Leicester's Monument and Tombs, 2001. Warwick, the West Gate and Leicester's Hospital. 2003. Warwick, Leicester's Hospital, the Courtyard. 602. Warwick, Leicester's Hospital, Interior of the Chapel, 2004. Warwick, the Castle Mill on the Avon. 2005. Emscote Church, from the South East.. 2006. Emscote Church, Interior of the Chancel. 2007. Leamington, the Parade and Regent Hotel. 2008. Leamington, the Parade, looking up the Street, 2009. Leamington, view in the Jephson Gardens. 2010. Leamington, Fountain in the Jephson Gardens and the Punip Room. •2018. Leamington, the Parish Church, the South Front. 2014. Leamington, the Parish Church, Interior, looking East- 2015. Leamington, Avenue in the Spa Gardens, 2018. Leamington, St. Paul's Church, from the Noi'th East. 2019. Leamington, St. Paul's Church, Interior, looking East. 2020. Old Milverton Church (Guy's Cliff). 2021. Kenil worth, view from Abbey Hill. 2023. Kenilworth Castle, from the South. 2024. Kenilworth Castle, from the West. 2025. Kenilworth Castle, from the Tiltyard Bridge. 2027. Kenilworth Castle, from the Echo Field. 2028. Kenilworth Castle, from the Road. 2029. Kenilworth Castle, view in the Inner Court. ( 5 ) 2030. Kenilworth C3ast.le, Lancaster's Buildings and Banquet Hall. 2031. Kenilworth Castle, Leicester's Buildings and Cfesar's Tower. 2034. Kenilworth Castle, Interior of the Banquet Hall. 2038. Stoneleigh Abbey, from the Eiver Bank. 2039. Stoneleigh Abbey, the Principal Front, from the Garden. 2040. Coventry, view from the Grreen. 2041. Coventry, St. Michael's Church. 2042. Coventry, St. Michael's Church, Interior, looking East. 2043. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, from the South East. 2044. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, from the Tower of St. Michael's 2C45. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking East. 2046. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking West. 2047. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, the Eeredos. 2048. Coventry, St. John's Church, from the South East. 2049. Coventry, St. John's Church, Interior, looking East. 693. Coventry, the Grey Friars Hospital. 2050. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, from the ITortli East. 2052. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, the South Side. 2054. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church and Lock, from the Meadow. 2055. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking East. 2056. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Interior of the Chancel. 2057. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Shakesjjeare's Monument. 2058. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Inscriptions on tlie Tombs. 2059. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinil-y Church, Avenue and North Porch. 2061. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the East. 2362. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the VV^est. 2063. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Room in which the Poet was born. 2064. Stratford-on-Avon, the Grammar School and Street. 2065. Stratford-on-Avon, the Guild Chapel and Remains of New Place 2066. Stratford-on-Avon, View in the Gardens of New Place. 2067. Stratford-on-Avon, Ann Hathaway's Cottage, at Shotter}'. 2070. Stratford-on-Avon, Painting of Shakespeare. 270. Charlecote Hall. 664. Sherbourne Church, Exterior. 665. Sherbourne Church, Interior. 666. Hampton Lucy Church, Exterior. 667. Hampton Lucy Church, Interior. ( 6 ) eyVBINET fieTUF^ES. Prick Sixpence Each. 19:1 Guy's Cliff, from the Riveu Side. 19S. Guy's Cliff, the Avenue, from fcha RoaiL 19.). Guy's Mill, from the Road. '201. Warwick Castle, from the Bridge. 202. AVarwick Castle, from the Park 203. Warwick Castle, River Front. 2)4. Warwick Castle, view in the Outer Court. 205. Warwick Castle, the Inner Court, from the Mount, 20G. Warwick Castle, the Gatehouse and Guy's Tower. 237. Warwick Castle, Entrance Porch and Csesar's Tower. 208 Warwick Castle, the Principal Front, from the Mount, 209. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking West. 210. Warwick Castle, the Great Hall, looking East. 211. Warwick Castle, the State Dining Room. 212. Warwick Castle, the Red Drawung Room. 218. Warwick Castle, Cedar Drawing Room, looking W^est. 21-i. Warwick Castle, Cedar Drawing Room, looking East. 2L5. Warwick Castle, the Green Drawing Room. 216. Warwick Castle, the Warwick Vase. 217. Warwick, St. Mary's Church and Town, from Guy's Tower. 218. Warwick, St. Mary's Church and Church Street. 219. Warwick, Interior of the Beauchamp Chapel. 220. Warwick, the West Gate and Leicester's Hospital. 222. Warwick, Leicester's Hospital, the Courtyard. 223. Warwick, the Castle Mill on the Avon. 221. Emscote Church, from the South East 225. Emscote Church, Interior, looking East. 226. Leamington, the Parade and Regent Hotel. 227. Leamington, the Parade, looking up the Street. 228. Leamington, view in the Jephson Gardens. 229. Leamington, the Fountain in Jephson Gardens. 230. Leamington, the Parish Church, from Jephson Gardens. 231. Leamington, the Parish Church, the South Front. 232. Leamington, the Parish Church, Interior, looking East. 233. Leamington, the Holly Walk and Avenue. 234. Leamington, view on the River Walk. 235. Leamington, St. Paul's Church, Interior, looking East. 236. Old Milverton Church (Guy's Cliff). 237. Kenilworth, View from Abbey Hill. 238. Kenilworth Castle, from the South. 240. Kenilworth Castle, from the Tiltyard Bridge. 241. Kenilworth Castle, from the Echa Field. ( 7 ) 242. Kenilwortli Castle, from the Road. 243. Kenilworth Castle, yiew in the Inner Court. 244. Kenilworth Castle, Leicester's Buildings & Caesar's Tower. 245. Kenilworth Castle, Leicester's Buildings & Lancaster's Buildings 246. Kenilworth Castle, Lancaster's Buildings and Banquet Hall. 247. Kenilworth Castle, the Banquet HalL 248. Kenilworth Castle, Interior of the Banquet Hall. 249. Kenilworth Castle, Csesar's Tower. 252. Stoneleigh Abbey, from the River. 253. Stoneleigh Abbey, the Principal Front, from the Garden. 254. Coventry, view from the Grreen. 255. Coventry, St. Michael's Church. 256. Coventry, St. Michael's Church, Interior, looking East. 257. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, from the South East. 253. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, from the Tower of St. Michael's. 259. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking East. 260. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, Interior, looking West. 261. Coventry, Holy Trinity Church, the Reredos. 262. Coventry, St. John's Church, from the South East. 263. Coventry, St, John's Church, Interior, looking East. 26i. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, from the North East. 266. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinitj' Church, the South Side. 267. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, from the North West. 269. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, the Avenue and North Porch. 270. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity ( liurch, Interior, looking East. 271. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Interior of the Chancel 272. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare'^ Monument. 273. Stratford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church, Inscriptions on the Tombs. 274. Stratford-onAvon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the East. 275. Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace, from the West. 276. Stratford-on-Avon, the Room in which Shakespeare was born. 277. Stratford-on-Avon, the Grammar School and Street. 278. Stratford-on-Avon, the Guild Chapel & Remains of New Place. 279. Stratford-on-Avon, view in the Gardens of New Place. 281. Stratford-on-Avon, Ann Hathaway 's Cottage at Shottery. 282. Stratford-on-Avon, Painting of Shakespeare. GUIDES AND BOOKS FOR VISITORS, &c. These Guidos are correoted by the Noblemen and Gentlemen whose houses are named. Codivk's G-enei-al Guide to Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratfoid- Tipon-^^von, Guy's Cliff, Stoneleii^h Abbey, Coventry, &c., t'Crc, with ii full description of all the Paiutino^s. Ten large Steel EDgravinp^s, and upwards of one hundred Wood Engravings. Bound in cloth, with a Map of the Neighbourhood, 3/0. Cooke's Warwick and its Neighboiuhood, lilustratxl, eight large Engravings, 1 -. CooKK.'s Warwick and its Neighbouihood, Illustrated, condensed edition, eight large Engravings, 6d. Cooke's Gruide to Kenil worth and its Castle, with En- gravings, 6d. Cooke's Gnide to St. Mary's Church and the Beauchamp Chapel, with Engravings, Gd. The Home of Shakespeare, by Samuel Neil, Esq., Illustrated, with thirty Engravings, 1/-. The Military Architecture of W^arwick and Kenilworth Castles, containing a most interesting account of the Siege of Kenilworth, by G. T. Robinson, Esq.; octavo, 6d. The History of Gruy, Earl of Warwick, translated from the curious old French black-letter volume in Warwick Castle, with Engravings, 1/'-. Kenilworth, by Sir Walter Scott ; octavo edition ; 6d. The Last of the Barons, by Sir Bulwer Lytton (description of the life and times of Neville, the King Maker), 6d. and 2/-. Kenilworth Illustrated; a complete account of Kenilworth Castle, Church, and Abbey, with Eighteen full-page Engravings. Also a rep)rint of Laneham's Letter (describing Queen Elizabeth's visit to Kenilworth), and Gascoyne's Princely Pleasures. Quarto; published at MS 3/-, offered at 10/6. A History and Description, Archaeological and Architectural, of St. Mary's Church, in Warwick, and the Beauchamp Chapel, by the late Eev. W. Staunton, and M. H. Bloxam, Esq. Published at 14/-, offered at 1/- Translation of the Domesday Book of Warwickshire : the original and translation in parallel columns ; with preface by the late Evelyn Phihp Shirley, Esq. Large 4to., cloth, 8/-. WARWICK: H. T. COOKE AND SON, PUBLISHEES, HIGH STREET. A GMJ I D E TO WARWICK, KENILWOETH, STEATFOED-ON-AVON, G O V E N T E Y , AND THE VAEIOUS PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBOUEHOOD. TWENTY-THIED EDITION. WARWICK; H. T. COOKE & SON, PRINTEES AND PUBLISHERS OF GUIDES AND PHOTOGRAPHS, 9, HIGH STREET. P K E F A C E . The present reduced form of the larger edition of the Guide has been issued to meet the requirements of those whose time will not allow them to wade through a more full and complete description'of the places of interest, and it is presented to the Tourist in the hope that it may meet with the success which has attended its predecessor. WARWICK. We would not detain our readers by adverting to the importance (at best conjectural) sought to be conferred on Warwick by antiquity. Some state that a fortress was erected by P. Ostorius Scapula, A.D. 50; others that it was the Pro her Daughter, by Cregan ; Cupid Blowing Bubbles, by Castiglione ; Emharlmtion of Charles 11. from Holland, by Yandervelde the younger ; Cujnds Dancing, by Solemini ; View of Dort, by John Van Groyen ; portrait ol The Duchess of Ancaster, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; View on the river Maes, luith Rotterdam in the distance, by Albert Cayp, and Nymph and Satyr, by Gruercino. It may be said, without fear of contradiction, that few rooms of the same extent possess a collection of paintings by the old masters equal to this. The Yestibulh: opens into an arcade that covers the centre of the front. The view from the door down the avenue and across the park-like grounds is very beautiful, and the view from the garden to the river below is one in which Salvator Eosa himself might have rejoiced. The paintings are Copy of a Portrait, from a picture in the Dresden Grallery, by Bertie Greatheed Esq. ; Moonlight, by Sir G. Beaumont ; Venus and Ado?iis, by C. JN'etscher ; Charles, Sixth duke of Somerset, by Sir Godfrey Kneller ; Forest Scene, by Salvator Rosa ; Landscape, by Euysdael ; Ditke of Ancaster, by Chamberlain. Enclosed by a panelling to the right of the fire-place in the Dining Eoom is the wonderful picture by the late Mr. Greatheed — The Cave of Despair. It is of very large dimensions, and embodies all the terrific conceptions of the old poet ; a monument of immortality both to painter and poet ; the design is magnificent, and the execution equal to the design. It is an embodiment of passage in L 82 guy's cliffe. the ''Eairie Queen " of Spencer, and we must refer our readers to a full quotation in the large edition of the Guide — as the poet alone is able to describe the picture, and the painter alone enabled to embody the horrifying conceptions of the poets. The following paintings also adorn this room ; Fruit and Flowers, by Mario dei Fiori ; Mrs, Ayscough, by Maria Yerelst ; Dead Game, by Coninck, a pupil of Jan Fyt ; Herons and Falcons, by 8nyders ; portrait of Hon. Charles Bertie, by Sir Peter Lely ; and Wife of the Hon, Charles Bertie, by the same master. The views from the windows are much more confined than from those on the river front ; yet the unfading verdure of the firs forming the avenue — the redundant foliage of majestic trees — the brilliant colours of the unusually large and flourishing rhododendrons which clothe the slopes, — the picturesque gateway, with wild creepers climbing to the summit, then dropping in fanci- ful festoons — give a. beauty, all its own, to this circum- scribed view. Small DmiNQ Eoom. — This room is adorned with the paintings of the late Mr. Greatheed, a sanctuary, as it werejof departed genius — a genius soaring far above his contemporaries, till " The spoiler came, and all his promise fair Has sought the grave, to sleep for ever there." Passionately attached to the pictorial art, he pursued it on the Continent, amidst a nation convulsed within itself and arrayed in hostility against Great Britain. Yet even there his genius and talent procured him, unsought, the pro- tection and admiration of that ruling spirit of the age, guy's cliffe. 83 Napoleon Bonaparte ; through whose favour he was enabled in safety to traverse those favoured regions of art on the Continent, from which, at that period, Englishmen gener- ally were excluded. He pursued his career in the study he loved, till death overtook him at Yincenza, in Italy, at the early age of 22, October 8, 1804. His pictures prove his conception to have been magnificent — his copy- ing almost unequalled — his pencilling bold and fine — his colours brilliant, deep and natural — his lights and shadows beautifully contrasted — his subjects happily chosen — and we cannot but regret that the early hopes of his friends, the high expectations of the lovers of the fine arts, and his own immortal fame, should have been blighted by the early stroke of death. The names of the pictures are as follows : — King Lear and hu Daiuiliter, ivith the Phtjsician and Kent; Bertie Bertie GreatJieed, Esq., author of " The Eegent," a tragedy, written for Mrs. Siddons ; The Duke of Anc aster ; portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte (this portrait is considered the most faithful likeness of him in existence, yet the only facility aft'orded for taking the portrait was at a public audience, when it was said to have been drawn on the thumb nail of the artist) ; Shylock ; copy of the 8t, Jerome of A Corregio : portrait of Master G. Grey ; Lady Mac- beth and her Husband; Atabalipa, the Peruvian Prince, discovering Pizarro's ignorance of the art of reading and tvriting ; Diogenes, from a picture in the Dresden Gallery ; and portrait of Mr, Richard Greatheed. On each side the fire-place stands a fine, large, old carved oak cabinet, and a third, supporting a clock, at one 84 guy's cliffe. end of the room. All are decorated with the arms and badges of the Percies, and are said to have been plundered from Wressel Castle, belonging to the Earls of Northum- berland, during the civil wars, temp. Charles 1. THE CHAPEL AND WALKS. Returning to the court-yard, the next object that claims attention is the chapel ; this was built, together with rooms for the resident priests, in the reign of Henry YI., and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. The chapel and tower were repaired by the late Samuel Grreatheed, Esq., about the middle of the last century, and has lately been thoroughly restored and opened for Divine Service. The habitations of the priests, beneath 1'the chapel, are now very conveniently fitted up as bath rooms ; the " giant like " statue of Earl Gruy — though much mutilated — still remains in the chapel. The left arm bears a shield, the right is gone, as is also the hand of the shield arm ; it stands upwards of eight feet, and was formerly painted and gilt, considerable traces of which still remain. We may perhaps be permitted to express our satisfaction that so neat a little chapel should be restored to the religious use for which it was designed, and our wish that every church in the united kingdom were in as good repair, and as well adapted to the simplicity and beauty of our liturgy. Retracing our steps to the entrance of the court, a foot- path by a small wicket on the right leads through the noble avenue of lofty and venerable firs, the view down which elicits spontaneous admiration from all who see it. guy's cltefe. 85 Crossing the avenue, a gentle descent conducts to the well from which the mighty Gruy slaked his thirst, and which was covered in by Richard Beauchamp, when he founded the Chantry. It is arched over, "cage like," and the chamber entered through an iron gate. The water rises into two circular basins or wells, and is so limpid that the bottom of the well, although of great depth, may readily be seen. A glass is placed on the edge of the well for the accommodation of those visitors who wish to follow the example of the noble Gruy. From hence a fine gravel walk, belted with velvet-like sward, and ornamented with flowering shrubs and forest trees, conducts under the rock on which the mansion is seated, and which here presents many striking beauties. Here the basement floor, to which you descended when in the court-yard, is seen " high above on the rugged rocks." Many caves are here seen, as indeed they are in every part, either natural or artificial. Pur- suing the path, the next object that presents itself is the chapel with its apartments beneath, formerly the abode of the resident priests ; immediately beyond, partially shroud- ed by trees, is Gruy's Cave, partly natural, partly excavated. In this cave reposed the bones of one whom former ages venerated almost as a saint, but who is often styled, in the language of modern philosophy, the Eabulous Gruy ;" thus, instead of stripping a warrior's character of the fabulous inventions cast around it during the dark ages, and unfolding the mantle of mystery in which our fore- fathers loved to envelope their most prized heroes, seeking to destroy one of the noblest of English legends. As well might we deny the existence of the Grrecian heroes, who caused the downfall of Troy, because the immortal Homer 86 gut's cliffe. introduced the mythological gods assisting them in the struggle. Others, again, have contended that the name of this spot is not derived from the Saxon hero, but from Guy de Beauchamp. The antiquary Dugdale believed these facts, though his intelligent mind rejected the grosser fables ; and of Dugdale, the pithy Fuller remarks : — " It were a wild wish, that all the shires in England were described to an equal degree of perfection, which will be accomplished when each star is as bright and big as the sun." " And then would our little (divided) world be better described, than the great world by all the geo- graphers who have written thereof." The minute and correct Eous, who had access to docu- ments that the dissolution of monastic establishments and the fanatics of the revolution dispersed and destroyed, gives a short and particular account, not only of G-uy, but of his immediate ancestors, and descendants, and had he been inclined to pervert the truth, which, from his general correctness, appears improbable, doubtless some of his contemporaries (for genius has ever its detractors), would have been ready enough to have destroyed his claim to veracity by exposing the falsehood ; but as Eous's account has been so often misquoted respecting Guy, and asser- tions attributed to him which he never made, the quota- tion is given at length, from 'No. 839 in the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford, in the larger edition of the Guide. The cave may be viewed from the exterior by ascending two stone steps beneath the opening, and may be entered from an excavation at its side, through a pair of massive oak folding doors. On its first floor stands a large oak guy's cliffe. 87 chest, for what originally designed is not known. The ivy throws its tendrils over the opening o£ the cave, and renders its interiors sombre and solemn.* Leaving the cave, and pursuing the walk by the river side, the rocks on the right assume a bolder and more stupendous cha- racter ; the scenery becomes more picturesque, and claims a place amongst nature's scenes of grandeur. Ascending from the lower walks to the plantations above, a sweetly embowered path conducts by the side of the Bowling Grreen, in passing which the scene becomes enriched by views of the Church of St. Mary's and the Castle at "Warwick : the path terminates in what is called "Pair Fely's Walk." Here, according to tradition, the gentle countess used to take her walks, lamenting the ab- sense of her lord, and quite unconscious of his proximity. Looking over the wall that bounds the path, the eye is startled by the dangerous depth beneath, while it seeks relief in the verdant landscape that is spread beyond. The path then passes beneath a double row of " sombre yews " to the entrance gate ; before, however, the stranger leaves the ground he is again delighted by the happy disposition of the shrubs ; each as it is passed, displays a new and different scene, each having a character and beauty of its own, and each essentially different. Man) other walks, not generally showm to visitors, traverse this lovely spot, at one time shrouded by the deep foliage of the large forest * Mr. R. Carr Ellison has lately discovered on the wall of the cell an Anglo-Saxon inscription, which is attributed, by experts, to the hand of Gruy himself. This translated reads Cast out thou Christ from thy Servant this weight (or burthen)," and signed " Guthi." Another incision in the southern wall was also discovered. For full particulars of these curious inscriptions, and engravings of the same, see the larger edition of this work, price 3s. 6d. 88 gut's CLIFFE. trees and fragrant shrubs, then opening and disclosing glimpses of the sweetest scenery ; and surely, as Fuller says, a man travelling many miles, cannot meet so much astonishing variety as this one furlong doth afford." Blacklow Hill. — Proceeding from Guy's Cliff e to- wards Kenil worth through an opening in the trees on the left is seen the monument, erected on the crown of Black- low Hill by the late Bertie Greatheed, Esq., to point out the spot where was beheaded Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall. On the base of the monument" is the following inscription : — In the hollow of this rock was beheaded on the first day of July, by barons lawless as himself, Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, the minion of a hateful King, in life and death a memorable instance of misj-ule." The village of Leek Wootton is situate about one mile beyond Blacklow Hill, and is on the high road between Warwick and Kenil worth, and, together with the hamlet of Hill "Wootton, comprises about 400 souls. The natural rock upon which the village is built is apparent in many places, and has a very picturesque effect. The old parish Church — dedicated to All Saints — was pulled down at the close of the last century, and the present building was erected in the year 1792, principally at the expense of the Hon, Mary Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey. It has, however^ undergone much alteration within the last few years. KENILWORTH CASTLE. The ruins of Kenilworth Castle may fairly court compari- son with any of those time-worn relics of feudal days w^hich yet remain to us — whether we consider their picturesque situation — their magnitude and state of preservation — or the historic associations connected with them. But it is not alone the artist, the antiquarian, and the historian who visit them to do gratef id homage — each at his own peculiar shrine. It is not alone for the glorious tints which the rising or the setting sun casts upon the grey old towers ; nor for the effect of light or shade which the moon dis- plays when she pours her silver flood of light through the deep windows, and plays upon the rustling mantle of ivy which surrounds the lofty pile : — it is not alone that here may be traced the successive changes of domestic architec- ture, from the Norman keep of Geoffroi de Clinton, to the gateway of Eobert Dudley and the residence of Cromwell's commissioner : — it is not alone that these walls were be- leagured by the Plantagenet, and held by De Montfort's son — that they witnessed the captivity of our second Edward and the triumph of Mortimer — that John of Gaunt, time honoured Lancaster, had here a favourite abode — that Harry the Eighth had special liking for the spot — and that Charles the first completed the purchase of it, begun by Prince Henry his brother ; — it is not for these reasons alone that thousands of steps are yearly turned towards Kenil- w^orth ; and that the monster type of the 19th century disgorges its multitude daily to visit that tall keep which M 90 KENILWORTH CASTLE. is the type of the 12th, Wonderful contrast — suggestive of deep and anxious thought ! Yet, Kenilworth has other * sources of interest than these ; it is a spot around which the wand of an enchanter has cast the spell of its most potent attraction ; and the Warwickshire village owes its world-wide fame to the pen of the Scottish Novelist. Yes, dear reader, well we know that could we read thine heart, as thou drawest near to the portal of Leycester's Castle, we should find it filled with remembrances of that tear-compelling tale, which has its scenes of deepest interest within these mouldering walls. Eight pleasant memories are rising up in the mind, and fancy is busy picturing to herself the visit of the Virgin Queen to her haughty sub- ject, recalling the villanies of Varney and the sorrows of Amy Eobsart. This is Kenilworth's chief charm ; this makes it holy ground to the great bulk of its visitors ; for not only his own countrymen, but the whole race of civilized man, do homage to the genius of Scott, and every nation sends hither its representatives to render it. Here may be met with the Eussian, the French, the Italian Tourist, the student of Salamanca and of Heidelberg, and many a pil- grim from the "Far West," whose republican prejudices and associations are powerless to check the natural reverence with which he treads the land of his forefathers, and claims kindred with the Saxon race. A stone in the churchyard records the name of one daughter of Columbia who crossed the broad Atlantic to return no more, and who rests peace- fully in the consecrated ground of the Monks of Kenil- worth. KENILWORTH CASTLE. 91 We have no intention of entering upon the ground which has ah-eady been occupied in the novel of Kenilworth, in aught that we may have to say ; for we suspect few will be our readers to whom it is not familiar, and who have not refreshed their recollections by a glance at Sir Walter's notes previous to their visit ; but there are other points not without interest to the enquiring visitor, on which we presume to offer our guidance, and therefore ask permis- sion to bear him company. Trom our first authentic record we learn that Henry 1. granted the Manor to his Chamberlain and Treasurer, Geoffroi de Clinton — a man, it would appear, of low origin, but great talents — one of those lucky Normans wlio settled in this country subsequent to the conquest, earning and receiving his share of the great spoil. No part of the present ruins can be attributed to an earlier date than the reign of Henry I„ ; and the portion called Caesar's Tower is undoubtedly the work of a Norman architect. Its name, which might lead us to ascribe it to an earlier period, is possibly derived from some older building once occupying the same site. Greoffroi de Clinton did not churlishly keep to himself all that the bounty and favour of his sovereign had bestowed upon him. A portion he devoted to Grod, by founding the Priory and Church in the valley to the east of the Castle, and giving an example of piety and sacrifice, which men w^ho hold a purer faith need not be ashamed to imitate. It is a pleasing and instructive illustration of the times, that in making those gifts he had the consent of the King and also of his own wife and son Geoffroi, which son 92 KENILWORTH CASTLE. emulated his father in his piety towards God, and in the benefactions conferred upon his servants ; and bequeathed the same excellent spirit to his son, Henry de Clinton, who seems to have contemplated, if he did not actually take upon himself, religious vows ; his son Henry is the fourth and last of the Clintons whose name is recorded in con- nection with Kenilvorth. How that connection ceased cannot be traced ; but during the tenure of all these three descendants of the first Geoffroi de Clinton, the Castle seems, at intervals, to have been vested in the Crown. Thus in the 19th Henry II., it was possessed and gar- risoned by the King, against whom his eldest son was then in arms, aided by King Louis of France. The provisions laid in as store at this time afford a valuable example of prices in the 12th century : — 100 quarters of wheat, ^8 8s. 2d. ; 20 quarters of barley, £1 13s. 4d. ; 100 ho^s, £7 10s. ; 40 cows, salted, =£4 ; 120 cheeses, £2 ; 25 quarters of salt, £1 10s. The other records which show from time to time that the Castle continued in the King's hands, contain much curious matter illustrative of media)val times. At one time the Sheriff accounts to the King for money paid in lieu of feudal service in guarding the Castle, and also for rent received from those who, in those turbulent times, sought security by residing within the walls ; then we find charges per contra for repairs done, for fortifications strengthened (these especially in King John's time) ; for repairing the banks of the lake, for a boat to lie near the door of the King's Chamber, and for five tons of wine brought from Southampton — showing that the scheme of railway com- KENILWORTH CASTLE. 93 munication'^ from Birmingham to that port has not the merit of originality. From the same source we discover that Kenil worth Castle was used as a royal gaol and as a royal residence, for which latter purpose it was richly decorated ; and that in 22 Henry III. it was assigned as a residence for the Papal Legate, then in England, after- wards Pope Adrian V. In 28 Henry III. appears the first mention of a name much celebrated in English History in connection with Kenil worth Castle — Simon de Montfort was appointed Governor. Pour years later the custody of the Castle was granted to Alianore, the King's sister, wife of the said Simon, at which time the woods between Coventry and Kenil worth were cut down to the breadth of six acres for the security of passengers. Again, six years later, the Castle was granted to Simon and his wife for their lives, and became the stronghold of that party which some his- torians have identified with the oligarchial, some with the popular cause in this country. In the struggle which ensued between Henry and his powerful subject, Kenilworth became a place of great im- portance. In 48 Henry III., soon after the King had taken Northampton, and success seemed leaning to his side, an attack was made by John Grifford, then Grovernor, a knight of great valour and a fierce partizan of de Mont- fort, upon Warwick Castle, then in the possession of Wm. Mauduit, a friend of the King, whom, with his wife and family, he brought prisoner to Kenilworth, having de- molished a great part of the fortifications at Warwick. Soon after this Henry and his son Edward were taken 94 KENIL WORTH CASTLE. prisoners by the Barons party, in the disastrous battle of Lewes, but the prince ere long made his escape, and raising an army, proved by his vigour and martial talents more than a match for the veteran de Montfort. Eoused by the daily accessions to the royal cause, the Earl of Leycester sent his son, Simon, into the north to collect succours, who brought hither to Kenilworth almost 20 banners, with a great multitude of soldiers. Here they established their head-quarters, and hence went to Winchester, where they spoiled the city, but soon after returned to Kenilworth. Meantime treachery was busy among them. E^alph de Arden, a Warwickshire man in the rebel army, was in communication with Edward, and sent information of the return of this party of the younger de Montfort to Kenil- worth. Edward was then at Worcester, and started from that city as if for the purpose of marching to Salisbury : but he soon turned aside towards Kenilworth, and, arriving late at nigiit near the Castle, concealed his men in a hollow^ and there placed them in order. While this was going on they suddenly heard a great noise, which made them fear they were discovered, and their purpose of surprise defeat- ed ; but it proved to be nothing but a convoj going to fetch provisions. This they seized, and making use of the fresh horses, fell upon the town and monastery, and made many prisoners, with little loss to themselves. Among these were fifteen that bore banners r young Simon de Montfort escaped, having slept that night in the Castle, and so secured himself, but his banner was taken. Edward returned im- mediately to Worcester with his prisoners. In the meantime de Montfort, ignorant of his adversary's movements, marched from Hereford with the intention of KENILWORTH CA.STLB. 95 joining his forces to those of his son at Kenilworth ; but when he had come to Evesham, he was met by Edward who had divided his forces into three divisions, one of which he caused to display the banners taken at Kenil- worth, and to approach the rebels from the north, that they might suppose it to be the army of young de Montfort coming to his aid. This device partially succeeded^ and it was not till the forces were drawing near each other that de Montfort discovered the danger of his position. No- thing daunted, he encouraged his men, reminding them that they were fighting for the laws of the land, and in the cause of Grod and justice. But his Welsh allies fled even before the battle began, and he, with his eldest son, and most of his chief friends, was slain, while others were wounded and made prisoners. The battle was fought on the 4th of August, 1265, 49 Henry III. Kenilworth aiforded a place of refuge to the scattered remains of the rebel army. Here young Simon de Montfort still maintain- ed the war, and to him gathered the friends and followers of them that had been slain at Evesham — much embittered by their loss. Kenilworth became the centre from which he exercised an almost regal authority, sending out his officers and bailiffs to drive cattle and raise contributions. This continued for the space of about nine months, from the autumn of 1265, to the midsummer in the following year, when Henry having been restored to the throne at Winchester, and being determined to crush the last effort of the rebellion, came down with a strong force and be- leagured the Castle. In the meantime, young de Montfort fearing to be shut up in Kenilworth by the King's superior forces, had made his escape to France to solicit succours 96 KENILWORTH CASTLE. there ; but his place was well supplied by the Governor whom he left behind, and the efforts of the besiegers were vigorously repulsed. The King then offered terms to those in the Castle, and also to de Montfort, who had returned and gathered forces in the Isle of Ely. The celebrated Dictum de Kenilworth was published, but rejected by the rebels, as containing too hard conditions for them to accede to. The siege lingered on, but at last disease made its appearance in the Castle, and after a second unsuccessful attempt to come to terms, it was at length agreed that the Castle should be rendered, if, upon message sent to the Isle of Ely, it should appear that de Montfort could hold out no hope of relieving the garrison. The strength and importance of the place are sufficiently indicated by these favourable terms. But after the message had been dis- patched, the disease, which was dysentery, kept increasing, and the survivors, without waiting de Montfort's reply surrendered the Castle on St. Thomas' Day, after the siege had lasted six months. Henry forthwith retired to Oseney, in Oxfordshire, where he kept the feast of the Nativity. Thus Kenilv\^orth fell once more into the hands of the King, who bestowed it on his son Edmund, Earl of Ley- cester. The Prince was in possession in 7 Edward L, at which time we find it recorded that the pool on the south side of the Castle was half a mile long and a quarter broad. In the same year there was held here a famous passage of arms, called that of the Eound Table, beginning on St. Matthew's Eve, and continued till after Christmas Day. This was the best age of chivalry ; and such exercises as these were of frequent occurence, lioger Mortimer, Earl KENILWORTH CASTLE. 97 of March, was the chief mover of these diversions, which consisted of tilting and tournament, and also of dancing among the ladies. Edmund of Lancaster was succeeded in possession of Kenil worth by his son Thomas ; but this nobleman having engaged in a rebellion against his cousin, Edward II., was beheaded at Pontefract, in the fifteenth year of that King's reign, and his estates reverted to the crown. This ill-fated monarch proposed to make Kenilworth a royal residence, but within a very few years, Henry, Earl of Lancaster, revenged his brother's death, having seized Edward in Wales, and conveyed him a prisoner to Kenil- worth. While he was here confined, a Parliament was held at Westminster, which required his abdication in favour of his son, upon the granting of which he was conveyed to Berkeley, and thence to Corfe Castle, and finally, being brought back to Berkeley, was there foully and most barbarously murdered. In the first year oi Edward III., Henry of Lancaster, above-named, was rewarded for the part he had taken in the late successful rebellion by restoration to all the estates of his brother Thomas, whereof this Castle formed a part. He enjoyed it eighteen years, having died and been buried at Leicester, in 19 Edward III. He was succeeded by his son Henry, then Earl of Derby, and subsequently in succession Earl of Leycester and Duke of Lancaster, who also died in peaceful possession of Kenilworth, on the Tuesday next after the feast of the Annunciation of our Lady, 35 Edward III., leaving two daughters, Maud and Blanche, as his joint heiresses, aged respectfully 22 and 19 ; the former of these married William, Duke of 98 KENILWORTH CASTLE. Bavaria; while the marriage of the latter brought Kenil- worth, as her portion of the inheritance, into the hands of one of its most illustrious possessors — John of Graunt, son of Edward ITI. and soon after created Duke of Lancaster. Kenil worth became to him a favourite place of abode, and he added largely to it ; a considerable portion of the ruins still bear his name, and prove the magnificence of his taste. At his death his son, Henry Bolingbroke, was absent from England, having been banished by his cousin, Eichard II., who treacherously seized all the property of his uncle, and thus led the*way to his overthrow and death. By the accession of Henry IV., Kenil worth, his private property, w^as once more in the hands of the Crown. Henry V. must have visited this place, for it seems that he erected a building in the low^ marshy ground, near the tail of the pool called Le pleasans en marys. And so it continued during the Wars of the Roses to be a royal residence, and is mentioned in the act of the 1st Henry VII., as part of the possessions of the Duchy of Lancaster, then united to the Dukedom of Cornwall. Henry VIII. bestowed much cost in re- pairing the Castle, and removed the building set up by Henry V., and placed part of it in the base court of the Castle, near the Swan Tower. Kenil worth continued the property of the crown till it was granted by Queen Elizabeth in the fifth year of her reign, to Robert Dudley (son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland), whom in the following year she created Earl of Leycester. This nobleman commenced and carried through great alterations in the place, building the en- trance gateway and tower on the north side, the noble KEISILWORTH CASTLE. 99 and lofty range called Leycester's Buildings : rebuilding the floodgate or gallery tower at the further end of the tilt yard, and Mortimer's Tower at the end next the Castle. He also enlarged the chase, and is said to have expended .£60,000 on this place, — an enormous sum of money in those days. The celebrated visit of Queen Elizabeth took place in July, 1575, full particulars of which will be found in the notes to the novel of Kenil- worth. On the death of the Earl of Leycester, Kenilworth, by his will, went first to his brother Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, for his life, who survived him but one year ; and secondly to Sir Eobert Dudley, Knight, his son, by Lady Douglas Sheffield, daughter of Lord Howard, of Effingham, whom Leycester had secretly married, but never owned as his wife, and in whose lifetime he married the Lady Lettice, Countess of Essex. This Eobert Dudley endeavoured to establish his legitimacy by proof of his mother's marriage, before a commission at Lichfield, but was stopped by a command of the Lords of the Council, ordering the Avhole matter to be brought into the Star Chamber. Here the strong evidence which was brought forward of Leycester's marriage proved of no avail : the whole proceedings were ordered to be sealed up, and no copies taken without the King's special license ; and Sir Eobert, finding his hopes of obtaining justice very remote, obtained leave to go abroad for three years. While absent he was summoned to return, but failed to obey, and being pronounced in contempt, his castle and lands of Kenil- worth were seized for the King's use, and upon survey made, were estimated as follows : — In lands, £16,431 9s.: in woods, £11,722 2s.; the Castle, £10,401 4s.: total 100 KENILWORTH CASTLE. £38,554 15s. Sir Eobert, however, still retained an interest in the estates, for which he received a proposal from Prince Henry, eldest son of James I., who desired to become possessor of the whole demesne. The pur- chase money was fixed at .£14,500, saddled with the condition that Eobert Dudley should, during his life, hold the Constableship of the Castle by patent from the Prince. Not above .£3,000 of the purchase money had been paid when Henry died ; nevertheless, Charles, as his brother's heir, took possession, and obtained a special Act of Parliament, in 19 James I., to enable the Lady Alice, wife of Eobert Dudley, to alien to him her right of jointure, which she did in consideration of <£4,000 paid to her from the Exchequer. With the possession of King Charles in 1460, Dugdale's History of Kenilworth Castle, whence the information given above is chiefly derived, comes to an end. Its subsequent history is told in a few words. Towards the close of the civil war it shared the fate which fell, as by a righteous retribution, so heavily on the mansions and castles, of that nobility which, a short century before, consigned so many ancient religious houses to ruin and desolation, and shared their spoils. Henry VIII. robbed the Canons of Kenilworth of their property, and pulled down the stately Priory and sold its materials. Cromwell and his soldiers acted towards his successor the part which Henry had taught them, and Kenilworth from being a stately and noble place, became a ruin. The last addition to its present building was made in those disastrous days, by the Parliamentary officer, who made Leycester's gateway his residence, and added to it the two-gabled building which abuts upon its KENILWORTH CASTLE, 101 eastern face. All the rest of the Castle was dismantled ; its floors and its roofs of lead pulled down and sold ; its moat drained, and its timber felled. After the Restoration the lands and ruins were granted to Lawrence H3'de, second son of Chancellor Hyde, and by marriage of a female descendant of Lawrence they passed to Thomas Villers, Baron Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, whose descendants are the present possessors. Since the formation of the railway, nearly all visitors approach the Castle by the same road, which leaves the village street on the left-hand side, and, descending a hill crosses a small stream, and at the point just beyond, where it turns sharp to the right, brings the visitor upon the first portion of the buildings scarcely visible, in a deep hollow, and overgrown by tree and underwood. The base and side walls are all that here remain of the Gallery Tower, the south-east termination of the Tilt-yard, and originally the chief entrance to the Castle. From hence the road again descends and crosses a second stream, by which the Castle Mills, now destroyed, were once worked, after it left the pool. Here for the first time we come in sight of the principal ruins. The building immediately in the foreground, with a window of two lights of ecclesi- astical character is called in Dugdale's plan the Water Tower ; it seems to have consisted of two floors, and the upper part was probably used as a chapel : its date i« early, apparently in the time of Edward L or 11. Beyond it is seen the long low roof of stables, and then at the north-east angle a round tower, known as Lunn's Tower, Entering a small wicket gate in the north wall, he first arrives at Leycester's gateway, a square building of four 102 KENILWORTH CASTLE. stories, flanked at each angle with an octagonal tower, and embattled. On the porch on its west side he will read the initials " R. D." carved on the stone ; and in the interior is a curiously carved chimney-piece, and other curi- osities discovered in the recent excavations made by order of the Earl of Clarendon. Access to this interesting build- ing is not to be obtained, it being now a private residence. The gabled building on the east side has been already mentioned as having been added to this tower in the 17th century. Passing on we come directly in front of the main buildings of the Castle, and, looking westward, have the inner court in full view. The eastern side of the square which consisted of buildings erected by King Henry YIII. and Sir Eobert Dudley, is wholly destroyed, only a vestage of foundations remaining here and there. On the right is Caesar's Tower, a noble keep of immense strength ; its walls are many feet thick, and in each angle has been a staircase. Though it has been subjected to some alterations, it retains undeniable evidence of its Norman origin in the form of its older windows, which are narrow and circular-headed, and in the character of its buttresses. Some portions of this massive building have fallen down, and the huge fragments which lie scat- tered round give a better idea of the vastness and solidity of the building that can be formed by a simple view of its exterior. Westward from Caesar's Tower were the kitchen and other offices now represented only by some two or three arches and remnants of foundation ; and again beyond them lies the building called Mervyn's Tower, which Sir Walter makes the scene of some of the incidents of his novel. It has been a building of con • KENILWORTH CASTLE. 103 siderable strength, and of date intermediate between Greoffroi de Clinton's keep and John of Graunt's buildings. Its chambers are all arched of stoi e, and it is the part of the ruin best adapted for the purpose of a gaol, and may therefore, have been b uilt for that purpose in the time of Henry II. By one of the staircases its present summit may be reached, and hence may be seen on the right the remains of the Swan Tower, which formed the north-west angle of the outer walls, the walls themselves built in 26 Henry III., and bordering the lake, and immediately be- low the space within the walls on which the pleasaance was re-edified. Adjoining Mervyn's Tower on the south side is the great Banqueting Hall, built by John of Graunt. It must have been a noble apartment. Its floors were sup- ported on a stone vaulting carried on two parallel rows of pillars— the under apartment being probably used for stores — the windows, filled with tracery and transomed, are of great height, the space of wall between them panel- led, and the fire-places on each side richly ornamented. One window at its southern end looking east into the great court, and one west towards the chase, are its oriel windows, while at the north-east end is the entrance doorway, through a very beautiful arch, not easily acces- sible, but which may be seen from the interior court. The line of building now turns to the east, tut it is not easy to trace it distinctly ; it is, however, of the same date with the Grreat Hall, and contained, according to Dugdale, rooms, called the White Hall, the Presence Chamber, and the Privy Chamber ; the second of these had an oriel tovvards the inner court. Beyond l-hese, and carried out to the south are the remains of Leycester's Buildings, a 104 KEKILWORTH CASTLE. magnificent erection of great height and striking beauty. Though the latest in date, their continuance appears more dubious, than that of the other portions of the Castle, the thickness of the walls being considerably less. From the accessible point on the outer circle of the walls, south- east from Leycester's Buildings, a view may be obtained of Mortimer's Tower, lying just below, and of the Tilt- yard, stretching away south-east to the site of the Gallery Tower, but broken now by the river — its bridge being replaced by a modern one, just to the west of its old position. The low meadows south-west of the Tilt-yard mark the position of the pool, and the rising ground beyond shows its limits in that direction. Turning north- wards, its interior side of the Water Tower, Stables, and Lunn's Tower are visible. Excavations lately made here have revealed the foundations of former structures. Here again are features which would seem to indicate that the Water Tower had an ecclesiastical purpose. The Stables are partly of hewn stone, partly framed in wood, and are probably of Leycester's building. If desirous of a nearer view, the visitor on leaving the Castle may pass through the yard, to the east of Leycester's gateway, and examine Mortimer's Tower, of which there are important remains : and, crossing the bridge, trace the walls of the Tilt-yard to a considerable distance. This will also lead him to the meadows on the south side, from which, perhaps, the best general view of the Castle may be obtained. Kekilworth church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, con- sists of western tower and spire, nave, north and south aisles, north transept, and chancel. The most interesting portion of the exterior is the preserved JSTorman doorway, at the west end of the Church. The date of this is much older than the Church, and it is probable that it formed part of the original Priory. The east window of the chancel is in second pointed style of three lights, filled KKNIL WORTH. 105 with stained glass in praise of which nothing can be said in regard to appropriateness, though the purpose of the donor, the late Bishop Butler, cannot be too highly esti- mated. It contains little but coats of arms ; and to make way for it the ancient window with flamboyant trace . y (examples of which are rare in this country) was dis- placed, and now forms the entrance to a summer-house in the Vicar's garden. In the angle of the south wall still exists a small " Lychnoscope," and in the old south wall of the chancel there is another of these openings, but with a square head. The galleries which formerly blocked up the Church, have now been removed, the plaster ceilings swept away, and the proportions of the old arcades are seen to advantage. The stone arch and the lower stage of tower open to the Chuich thus forming the principal entrance to the building. The remains of Greoffioi de Clinton's Monastery lie to the south and south-west of the Church ; consisting of a gateway in pretty good presei vation, a building now used as a batn or stable, and some portions of ^^all, which serve to indicate the extent of giound which it covered. In the church-yard a portion of what was probably the chapter-house has recently been excavated, and there may be seen some Ave or six coped coffin lids, of various designs and sizes. These buildings of the Monastery were originally in the Anglo-Norman style of aichitecture, as appears from the ancient seal of the Monastery, on which is lep resented a cross chuich in that style, with a low pointed spire : but the only remnant of this building is the door, now in the west front of the Church Tower already described. Kenil worth contains here and there a few old gabled buildings of considerable antiquity, but most of the houses are of late date and unworthy of notice. () COVENTRY Is distant five miles from Kenilworth, and has always occupied a prominent place in the page of History. Modern taste has widened some of the principal ap- proaches, but the greater part of the city retains its olden features — its narrow streets — its beautifully picturesque old gables and half-timbered houses — its magnificent churches and munificent charities. We shall, therefore, briefly point out the objects of most interest, leaving the tourist sufficient choice to sp'-;nd a day or an hour, as may suit his convenience, in this time-honoured " spot. Coventry is a town of great antiquity, and under its noble protectors, the Saxon Leofric and his far-famed Lady Grodiva, became a place of considerable importance and traffic. A fair, continued at stated intervals, in- creased its prosperity, and perpetuated the story of the Lady Grodiva, who, to obtain the freedom of Coventry from taxation, rode through the city on horseback, naked, — the inhabitants having, all except one, retired from ob- servation, and he, wicked wight, was punished for his prying curiosity by the loss of sight; an effigy, called " Peeping Tom," is still exhibited at the corner of Hertford Street. The event is thus described by Dugdale, p. 86 : " This Leofrik wedded Gocleva, a most beautiful and de- vout lady, Sister to one Thorold, Sheriff of Lincolnsh, in COYENTRT. 107 these clays, and founder of Spalding Abbey : as also of the stock and lineage of Thorold, Sheriff of that County in the time of Kenulph, K. of Mercia. "Which Countess Godeva, bearing an extraordinary affection to this place, often and earnestly besought her husband that for the love of Grod and the blessed Virgin, he would free it from that grievous servitude whereunto it v^as subject : but he rebuking her for importuning him in a manner so in- consistent with his profit, commanded that she should thenceforth forbear to move therein ; yet she, out of her womanish pertinacy, continued to solicit him, insomuch that he told her if she would ride on Horseback naked from the one end of the town to the other in the sight of all the people he would grant her request. Whereunto she returned, But ivill yoii (jive me leave to do so ? And he replying ifen, the noble lady, upon an appointed day, got on Horseback naked, with her hair loose so that it covered all her body but the legs, and thus performing the journey, return'd with joy to her husband, who there- upon granted to the inhabitants a Charter of freedom : which immunity I rather conceive to have been a kind of manumission fiom some such servile tenure, whereby they then held what they had under this great Earl, then onely a freedom from all manner of Toll, except Horses, as Kniijhton affirms \ In memory whereof the picture of him and his said Lady were set up in a South window of TiiiNiTY Church in this City, about K. E. 2. time, and his right hand holding a Chatter, with these words I'hereon : — 31 3LuifcJ)e far tije lobe of ti^ee, ©0 make flCobent.e ^TolUfite/* 108 COVENTRY. In the time of Richard II. the city was defended by a high wall with towers, and twelve gates, part of which still remain, but the greater poi'tion were destroyed immedi- ately alter the Restoration, by order of Charles 11. , as a punishment to the citizens for their opposition to his father. It was incorporated by Edward III., and erected into a City and County, with a Municipal Government, by Henry YI., a mark of royal favour its inhabitants have lately petitioned to dispense with, and it is again incor- porated with the County of Warwick. It sends two members to Parliament, has a population of 47,366, with large manufactories of ribbons, watches, &c. It has also a weekly market and four annual fairs. St. Michael's Church, one of the finest Gothic struc- tures in the kingdom, was founded about 1133 ; the beautiful spire, which was 22 years in building, was begun 1373, and finished 1395; the body of the Church, as it now stands, was rebuilt in 1434. The Church is 400 feet long, and the exquisitely beautiful spire 300 feet high. It had nine chantries, which were, of course, swept away at the dissolution. Trinity Church stands immediately adjacent to St. Michael's. The fiist mention Dugdale finds of this Church is its annexation to the Priory in 1260. It was a fine Church, built in the Gothic style, but the mutila- tions have defaced the beauty of its fabric. It had six chantries attached. Christ Church was founded by the mendicant Grey Friars. After the dissolution the Church was allowed to COVENTRY. 109 go to decay ; the spire remaining standing, and to this a Church has recently been added. 8t. John's Church, situate near the western extremity of the city, a fine old building with a massive tower, but no spire. A E/OMAN Catholic Chapkl has recently been erected, copied from some fine old examples ; and there are Chapels for the various sects of Dissenters ; but the cathedral, the abbeys, the monasteries, the guilds, and the hospitals, which previous to the dissolution rendered Coventry one of the most splendid cities of the empire, are now only found in poor fragments, which remain to tell the ruthless despotism of our eighth Henry. St. M art's Hall, a beautiful pile of building, is situate near St. Michael's Church ; it' originally belonged to St. Catherine's Guild, and was built at the commencement of the 16th century, for the feast and meetings of the Gruild. The hall is 63 feet long by 30 wide, and the whole arrangemeoits admirably suited to the purpose for which it was erected ; it has often been the scene of royal revelry, and since the Reformation has been used for the like purpose by the Mayor and Corporation. The Fkee School, GtREY Friars or Ford Hospital, the House of Industry, formed from the remains of the White Friars, and the remains of the gates, will afford a great treat to the lover of architecture or archaeology. COOMBE ABBEY Was founded by Eichard de Canville, in the reign of Stephen, for Monks of the Cistercian Order, and derives its name, according to Dugdale, from its low and hollow- situation ; the word S^fcamm, in the British, signifying vallis or convallis, as both also of Cumbe or Comhe in the Saxon ' consonant whereunto the vulgar in Yorkshire, and those northern parts, term a large hollow vessel of wood (such as they used to steep barley for malt in) a Cumber to this day." It was first planted with Monks from the Monastery of our Blessed Lady of Waverly in Surrey, flourished as a monastery for nearly 400 years, and fell in the general dissolution ; at the surrender it was certified to have an income of j£302 15s. 3d. Pen- sions were granted to the abbot and monks, and the possessions were conferred on John Dudley, Duke of jSTorthumberland, and Earl ot* Warwick : on his attainder, the possessions of the Abbey were granted to EobeU Kelway, Esq., whose daughter and heiress married John Harrington, Esq., afterwards Earl of Harrington, by vvhich marriage he became possessed of the estates. The unhappy Elizabeth, daughter of James the First, and afterwards Queen of Bohemia, was placed here during her childhood, under the care of the Lord Harrington, from whom she received her education. It was planned by the Gunpowder Plot conspirators to carry off the COOMBE ABBEY. Ill Princess by surprise, proclaim her Queen, govern the kingdom in her name, and bring her up in the Roman Catholic creed. The plot was, however, discovered and defeated ; the Princess was sent to Coventry, where she lodged with a Mr. Hopkins, in Palace Yard ; the con- spiritors were obliged to fly and shortly after most of them were either executed or accidentally killed. The Abbey was afterwards purchased from Lady Bed- ford, daughter of Lord Harrington, by Lord Craven. His Lordship was a firm and steady friend to the Queen of Bohemia and her family during their struggles for a king- dom ; and after their final expulsion she retired to the Abbey to close a life of sorrow and misfortune. By some it is said she was privately married to Lord Craven, to whom she left the splendid collection of paintings that adorn Coombe Abbey. The present building, which is of several periods, was erected on the site of the ancient abbey ; it forms three sides of a quadrangle, with cloisters of Norman construc- tion, but much altei ed at subsequent periods. The original style of the mansion was Tudor, of which some beautiful specimens remain. The collection of paintings is exten- sive, and many of them very fine, particularly Samuel and Eli, by Rembrandt ; the Children of Rembrandt, by the same. Many fine Portraits by Vandyck ; the Stuart Family, sl large collection by Gerard Honthorst ; some beautiful paintings by Titian, Paul Veronese, Caravaggio. Teniers, Albert Durer and other painters. The gardens and grounds are beautifully laid out, and the park is finely diversified by wood and water. STONELEIGH ABBEY. Stoneleigh is a place of great antiquity ; it was held before the Conquest by King Edward ; continued in the possession of the Conqueror, and was held by the Crown till Henry II. granted it to a body of Cistercian monks, who, originally seated at Cannock, in Staffordshire, and afterw^ards at Radinore, were so troubled and impover- ished by the foresters that they prayed removal to this spot. Like the sites of most monastic houses, it is happily chosen, the Avon watering two sides of the verdant slopes on which it is seated. Henry, however, did not resign the whole interest of the Crown in Stoneleigh, for in 15 Henry II. the Sheriff' of Warwickshire accounted 29s. 9(1. for pannage of the woods : and for various sums at sub- sequent periods. In the reign of John, the Monks were so annoyed by the insults offered to them by the King's servants, that the then Abbot, Wm. de Tyso, repaired to the King, and by a present of 200 marks and two white palfreys, got their former charter ratified, and a further grant of possessions. Yarious other benefactors enriched the Abbey by grants, but through losses by fine and mis- management, at the time of the survey its certified value was only £151 3s. Id. above reprizes, part of which was employed in alms to the poor ; being, therefore, under the value of .£200 per annum, it was suppressed by Act of Parliament, 27 Henry YIII. ; the monks were distributed STONELEIGH ABBEY. 113 to other religious houses, and the Abbot, Thomas Tutbury, received a pension of £23 per annum for life. After the dissolution, the Abbey and estates were granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and his heirs ; the Duke had two sons who died childless, and^the estates were divided (2 Elizabeth) among their cousins : the site of the Abbey and its lands were allotted to Wm. Cavendish, Esq., who, in the 3rd Elizabeth, sold it to Sir Eowland Hill and Sir Thomas Leigh, Knts., Aldermen of London ; on the division of the purchase, the site of the Abbey was awarded to Sir Thomas Leigh, who. purchasing the greater part of the lands in the neighbourhood, ob- tained, 4th Elizabeth, a patent of confirmation, of his rights and the manor of Stoneleigh. Sir Thomas Leigh was the son of Roger Leigh, of Wel- lington, Salop, and great-great- grandson of Sir Peter Leigh, who fell in Agincourt, in 1415 (a junior branch of the ancient family of Leigh, of High Jjeigh, in Cheshire), and married Alice, daughter of John Parker^ Esq., of Hanon, Shropshire, and niece to Sir Eowland Hill : which Alice lived to a great age, and founded a hospital in Stoneleigh, for five poor men and five poor women, v ith other liberal bequests ; she was buried on the south side of the chancel at Stoneleigh. Sir Thomas served the office of Lord Mayor of London, 1st Elizabeth, 1558, died 1572 in London, and was buried in Mercer's Chapel, leaving issue, Eowland, Thomas and William. The father of the present noble owner w^as called to the peerage in 1839, by the ancient family title of Baron Leigh, of Stoneleigh. At his death, in 1850, the title p 114 STONELEIGH ABBEF. desc3nded to William Henry, the present baron, who married, 1848, Caroline Amelia, fourth daughter of the Marquis of Westminster. The approach to the Abbey is from the road leiding from Warwick through Stoneleigh to Coventry, about six miles from the former and four from the latter. The park is entered between the Italian lodges, a fine sweep of road, crossing the Avon about midway by an elegant stone bridge, from a design by Rennie. conducts to the gateway, the most perfect remains of the old Abbey. This building was erected by the 16th Abbot, Robert de Hockele, a man of great talent and learning ; he much enriched the Abbey and its Church by his architectural knowledge, and built, says Dugdale, " the Q-ate House, a fair and strong building, — on the front whereof, outwards, there is remaining yet a large escutcheon of stone, whereon three Lions passant gardant are cut, with a Lion passant gardant upon a Helme, set on the corner of the shield, according to the fashion of that time when he lived. Which badge he fixed here in memory of King Henry the 2nd, their founder." This venerable building, clothed with ivy, and its ponderous oaken gates, renders it very picturesque ; passing through this gateway, the Abbey is entered on the north side by Thk Corridor, a fine room, 80 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 27 high : the walls are wainscotted with carved oak to the height of 12 feet, found in the old Abbey, and adapted to this room, with doors, &c., carved to corres- pond, by Wilcox, of Warwick. The noble chimney-piece is of carved oak, with inlaid panels, and harmonizes with the room ; the hearth is 8T0NELEIGH ABBEY. 115 ornamented with a pair of ancient massive brass dogs. The carved high-backed chairs are part covered with leather, painted and gilt, and part in embroidery. A carved oak screen divides the corrider from the porch ; the windows are enriched with coats of arms on painted glass, by Williment. The following paintings are sus- pended from the walls : — A whole-length portrait, name unknown ; portrait of Sir C, Huddesikm ; Mrs. Anne Lei(jh, by Sir Peter Lely ; Thomas, Lord Leufh, b} Sir Godfrey Kneller ; Eleanor, Lady Levjh. ; Mary, Lady Leigh ; Lord Rockingham,, by Kneller ; Lady Bocldngham^ by the same artist ; and two others, names not known. Thk Hall is a fiae large room. In the recess of the eastern window is a very large and fine old carved maple chest, removed from the old Abbey : it has six beautiful pastoral views carved upon it, and is a splendid piece of woikmanship. Statuary adorns the room ; a fine statue of Venus, copied by Bartolini, and a copy of the Vemts de Medici, by the same : a bust of Byron, by E. H. Bailey, K. A. ; collossal bust of Ariadne, ; bust oF Judge WiUes, by Bacon ; bust of Cicero^ from Canova's collections : also two casts, life-size. Tragic and Comic Muse, supporting Candel- abra. This room also contains many fine family portraits. The Chapel is a spacious building, richly ornamented with plaster work. It contains a finely-toned finger oigan, and affords accomodation for about 100 persons. The altar-piece is a fine painting, copied from the Pieta at Albergo de Poveii, by Michael Angelo — The Descent from the Cross — placed between two pillais of white marble. 116 STONELEIGH ABBEY. On the right of the gallery is a Madonna and Dead Christ, an excellent medallion in pure white marble, inlaid in a panel of dark variegated marble. The whole suite of state apartments are fitted up with exquisite taste, furnished with suitable magnificence, and, at the same time, retain all the comfort desirable in domestic circles. The Dining Room contains the following paintings — Earl of Stratford- and his Secretary, by Vandyck ; Lewis, Lord Rockingham ; Lady Anne Wentworth. by Vandyck ; Queen of Bohemia, by Honthorst ; William Earl of Strafford and his Sisters, by Vandyck ; Kimj of Bohemia, by Honthorst ; Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Alice, Duchess Dudley ; portrait of the present Lady Leigh, by Grant ; Lady of the Court of Elizabeth, by Holbein ; and a few family portraits. In the Breakfast Eoom the following paintings are placed : — The Earvier's Beturn, by ZofEany (the farmer is is said to be a portrait of Grarrick) ; portrait of Macchiavelli ; Interior of a Church, by Peter Van Neefs ; tJie Virgin and Child, by Perugino ; Landscape ayid Ruins, by Rembrandt; Crucifixion, by A. Durer ; and several family portraits. This beautiful room contains a choice collection of books, a fine ebony table, delicately inlaid with ivory, terra-cottas, &c., &c. The views from the windows are exquisite ; on the south side extensive and beautiful alterations have been made, which give the noble mansion the appearance of a palace. The ground between the house STONELETGH ABBEY. 117 and the river is laid out with Italian gardens on terraces, sloping down to the river brink, which here runs with a broad expanse ; to the left is a handsome conservatory, filled with the choicest exotics — beyond, in the centre o£ the river, is a fertile island, the edges of which, fringed with foliage, afford covert for innumerable water fowl ; while the gardens on the one side of the river, and the path on the other, fill up the back ground, and render a scene of surpassing beauty. The west windows open on the Italian garden, beautiful in its regularity. Beyond, stretches the wide expanse of the home park, in the centre of which the fine arch of the bridge is seen spanning the Avon, and varying its lovely scenery. Saloon. — A magnificent room, supported by Corinthian pillars, the ceiling and panels richly sculpturing, in alto- relievo, the Labours of Hercules, the work of an Italian artist ; the screens are carvings by Wilcox ; two splendid Mosaic tables, of great value, on elaborately carved stands, flank the principal door ; the cornices are richly executed, and the furniture corresponds with the magnificence of the room. The following paintings adorn the walls: — Woodman's Return, by Grainsborough ; A Sea Piece, by Vandervelde ; Game Piece, by Baptiste ; Two Children, by Eembrandt ; A Fruit Piece, by Snyders. In this room are various fine specimens of Dresden Sevres, and old Chelsea china near the fire-place are two fine ebony cabinets, inlaid with Pietra Dura, and on either side of the door two beautiful sculptures from the Exhibition of 1851. The furniture in this room was newly covered in amber silk for the occasion of Her Majesty's visit. 118 STONKLEIGH ABBEY. Pkincipai> Drawiitg Eoom. — The furniture of this room is richly carved, gilt, and clothed in crimson velvet, which contrasts admirably with the oak panelling of the room, relieved at intervals by Corinthian columns, sup- porting a finely carved pediment. A large glass at each end of the room, in carved and gilt frames, seems to in- crease its ample dimensions ; in the centre is suspended a brilliant cut-glass chandelier, with sixteen burners. The paintings in this room are as follows : — Alexander's visit to the Tombs, by Panini ; Sir Thomas Leigh, by Holbein ; A Lady, by Sir P. Lely ; Dame Alice Leigh, by Holbein ; four Vieivs in Venice, by Canaletto ; Two Landscapes, by Paul Brill. A fine marqueterie cabinet contains some good specimens of china. In the Second Drawing Eoom — Charles L, by Tan- dy ck ; Farrier's Shed^ by Wouvermans ; Landscape, by Euysdael ; Father Beading to his Family, by Til burg ; xSheep and Cattle, by Teniers; Cattle Piece, ^hy Cuyp: Ba7i- ditti, by Wouvermans; Horses and Figures, in landscape, by Cuyp; Ruins and Cattle, by Berghem; Sheep and Cattle, by Teniers : Landscape and Cattle, by Berghem ; Waterfall and Figures, by Loudon ; Bleaching Yard, by Mulliner , and two family portraits. In the centre of the room is a table containing a repre- sentation of the Wellington Shield under plate glass. The furniture of this room is carved and gilt, clothed in crimson velvet. It forms the north-west angle of the building, as the Breakfast Eoom does the south-west. From the west windows the park offers its varied view^s ; while from the north windows the lawn and old gate- STONELEiaH AEBEY. 119 house, clotlied in ivy with its adjacent Elizabethan terrace gives a distinctive feature to the room. The LiBRATtY is a spacious room, elegantly fitted up, and contains about 2000 volumes of the most choice and valuable books in ancient and modern literature ; the whole richly bound. Casts, bronzes and vases, of great merit adorn the room. Over the mantle is a magnificent clock, with the figure of Shakespeare in contemplation : he has a pen in his right hand, which rests on an orna- mental pedestal. Two frames contain a collection of eighteen beautiful miniatures, and the following paintings are suspended from the walls : — The celebrated portrait of Lord Byron^ by Philips ; Milton ; a Family Group ; Chan- dos, Lord Leiyh, by Sir Gr. Hayter, and Lady Leiyh ; two Flower Pieces, with centre subjects, by Van Husum ; Head of John the Baptist presented to the daughter of Herodius, by Guido — very fine ; Miniature of Napoleon, by David ; St, Jerome ; hiterior of a Dutch Hut, by Teniers ; Frasmus^ by Holbein ; Lord Eockinyham, by Vandyck ; some family portraits, and a few excellent copies of celebrated paintings. The w^hole of the Abbey was re-painted and decorated ; the frames re-gilt, the furniture all re-lined, everything finished in the most gorgeous manner and most perfect taste, for the occasion of Her Majesty's visit to Warwick- shire, to open Aston Hall. Her Majesty graciously con- descended to visit Stoneleigh Abbey for three days, and during that time, every one, both high and low, rich and poor was entertained by the noble owner of the mansion, in the most hospitable manner, so as to call forth, even from Majesty itself, expressions of congratulation* 120 STONELEIGH ABBEY. The stables and coach-bouses from a large quadrangle, and will accommodate about fifty horses ; to these is at- tached a very large riding school ; a covered way leads from the Abbey to the school. In the parts of the build- ing appropriated to domestic purposes, and which are not usually showm to visitors, are some fine remains of Nor- man architecture ; the chapter-house of the old Abbey still remains, though much altered, and shows in the centre of it a massive Norman pillar ; three finely-orna- mented Norman doorways adorn this part of the building ; and the vast crypt, now used as a bakehouse and brew- house still remains. The gardens and pleasure grounds are exceedingly fine and very extensive ; forcing houses, peach houses, green houses, conservatories, pine pits, &c., are contained within the walls of the spacious gardens. The walks in the pleasure grounds are varied, now shut- ting out the light of day, now in the full glare of the noontide sun, now on the banks of the glassy steam, anon, amidst fragrant flowers. Seats are scattered through- out the grounds, inviting the visitor tu rest, while he feasts his eyes on the beautiful landscape, and listens to the melody of innumerable birds. The parks are as picturesque as they are extensive ; the venerable monarch s of the forest throw their mighty arms across the forest glade — and who shall say that those splendid trees we view with such admiration may not have been planted and watched by the former possessors of the Abbey. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. Stratford-upon-Avon is chiefly known and visited by the stranger, from its being the place " Where his first infant lays sweet Shakespeare sung, "Where the first accents faltered on his tongue." The house in v^^hich he was born is situate about the centre of Henley Street. It has lately been restored as nearly as possible to its original state, by Mr. E. Gibbs, a local architect. A committee was named to act with the Birthplace Committee in the conduct of this praiseworthy restoration. The school-room where he was educated is situate over the Gruildhall, and still retains much of its original character. The site of New Place is near the Chapel, and in the house which formerly occupied this spot Shakespeare spent in retirement the last years of his life, and during that retirement wrote some of his most admired plays. The house, after passing through various hands, at length became the property of a Rev. Mr. Grastrell, by whose orders the favourite mulberry tree planted by the hand of the immortal bard, and which was visited with so much reverence by strangers from all parts of the globe, was cut down for firewood, to prevent the trouble of answering the questions of the curious ; he afterwards consummated the measure of his guilt by ordering the mansion to be razed to the ground, and then left the town amidst the just and Note.— An excellent Book on Shakespeare's Life and Times has just been issued, entitled " Shakespeare as he Lived," price 2s., and may be had of all Booksellers and Bookstalls. Q , 122 STRATFORD-UPON-ATON. deserved execration of the inhabitants. Through the exertion of Mr. Halliwell this property has also been purchased for the nation, and excavations have revealed the basement story, all that now remains of New place. The Church contains many monuments, deservedly cele- brated for their beautiful workmanship and sepulchral ornaments. But the mind turns from these monuments of perishable grandeur to the plain and humble slab which covers the remains and records the imperishable name of Shakespeare. On the stone which covers his remains is inscribed the following verse, said to have been written by himself, in consequence of the horror he imbibed on seeing exhumed bones cast into the charnel house : — Grood Friend for Jesvs sake forbeare, To digg the dvst encloased Heare ; Blese be ye man yt spares these stones, And cvrst be he yt moves my bones." On the north wall of the chancel, elevated about six feet from the floor, and near to the grave, is the monument of the great poet. It is an ornamental arch between two Corinthian columns supporting an entablature, decorated with a death's head, &c. Within the arch is placed a bust of the bard, in a thoughtful attitude, the hands reclining on a cushion, the right holding a pen, and the left a scroll ; beneath are the following inscriptions : — " Jvdicio Pylivm, genio Socratem, arte Maronem, Terra tegit, popvlvs Maeret, Olympvs Habet." Stay, passenger; why goest thov by so fast ? Read, if thou canst, whom enviovs death hath plast Within this monvment : Shakespeare, with whome Qvicke natvre dide ; whose name doth deck ys tombe Far more than cost ; Sith all yt he hath writt Leaves living art bvt page to serve his witt." Obitt Anno Dio 1616, Mtatis 53, Die 23. Ap. STRATrORD-ON-ATOI^. 123 The Church has been recently repaired and richly embellished in a style that reflects praise alike on the architect, Mr. Harvey Eginton, and on the subscribers who furnished the means : but this grandeur adds not to the reverence felt for him whose works, without any throes or labours of the mind, have delineated every varying passion, true to nature, that agitates or soothes the human breast — every virtue that exalts, and every vice that debases our nature — in short, Each varying shade of many-coloured life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then created new." The Town Hall contains a good painting of Shakespeare, by Wilson, and one of Grarrick, by Gainsborough. As it is quite impossible in a work like the present to give anything like a full account of this interesting spot, we must refer our readers to an excellent book entitled The Home of Shakespeare," by Mr. Samuel Neil, whose researches in Shakesperian lore are fully set out in this new work, and which every lover of Shakespeare should possess. It is profusely illustrated, and in a compact form, at a cost of One Shilling. SHOTTERY Is a charming walk across fields for the distance of about a mile from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is usually visited by the pilgrim to the shrine of Shakespeare, from its being once the residence of Anne Hathaway, the wife of Shakespeare. It is a pretty cottage, embosomed in trees, and surrounded by pleasant pastures. Anne Hathaway was seven years older than Shakespeare, being twenty-six at the time of her marriage. She died at the age of 67. 124 CIIAKLECOTE. CHARLECOTE. Crossing the Avon bridge in Stratford, the visitor will return by a swebtly pleasing ride through Alveston, and passing by the park, arrive at the elegant Elizabethan mansion of H. Spencer Lucy, Esq., at Charlecote. The mansion has recently undergone important repairs and restorations, but in all the original character has been strictly preserved. (The carvings and furniture are from the manufactory of the late Mr. Wilcox, and well do they sustain his justly-earned reputation). The family is of great antiquity, and has for centuries been of great conse- quence, and exercised great influence in the country ; but to the stranger, an incident of the highest importance is the connexion that exists between the name of Shakespeare and Lucy. The park is richly stored with deer ; the adjacent one at Fulbrook, now disparked, was the scene of Shakespear's youthful exploits and nocturnal depredations, and the hall of the mansion, the scene of his humilation, when brought before Sir Thomas Lucy, afterwards so severely satirized by him under the name of " Justice Shallow;" a satire which might soothe the wounded feelings of the angry poet, but which is allowed on all hands to be inappropriate and undeserved, Sir Thomas being admitted to have been a man of considerable talent, warm affections, high integrity, and strictly honourable conduct. The house is fitted up in a truly appropriate style, but from the domestic habits of the family, it is not shewn without special permission. CHARLECOTE. 125 In the centre of the Gtrejlt Hall is a most beautiful marble table, finely inlaid, the centre piece of brown onyx stone, very large ; the table is mounted on carved oak bearers, and was brought from Fonthill Abbey. The room contains several family portraits, many finely painted. The Drawing Room contains two beautiful buhl cabinets, two of ebony, and one of ebony and Florentine work, and the following paintings : — Water MiU, by Paul Potter ; Hawkiyyj Partij, by Wouvermans ; Tenier's Wedding Fete, painted by himself on copper ; A Farmyard and Cattle^ by Reubens ; Return of Hawkimj Party, by Wouvermans ; A n Interior, by P. de Hooge ; Virgin and Child, by Vandyck ; G) and Canal, Venice, by Canalletti ; Landscapes and Figures, by Berghem ; Wood Scenes, by Hobbema ; Head of our Saviour, by Carleo Dolci ; Sampson Rending the Lion, by Titian, and a Companion to the same ; Eve Spinniiig, by Raphael. In the Library, the shelves are all of carved oak, executed by Wilcox, in the Elizabethan style and sur- mounted by Etruscan vases. The bay of the western window is occupiel by a splendid Florentine table, imported into England by the late Gr. Lucy, Esq. The views from the windows are sweetly variegated with wood and water, the Avon flowing before its windows and the park supplied with large herds of deer. A choice ebony sofa, two ebony cabinets, and nine chairs, all inlaid with ivory, were given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl o£ Leycester, in 1575 ; the whole of the seats are now covered with needlework by Mrs. Lucy. On the centre table is a beau- tiful casket, representing birds and flowers, in Florentine 126 CHAllLECOTE. work ; and the arms of the Lucy family, in stained glass, ornament the tops of the windows in the principal rooms. The Ceilings of this room and the Dining Eoom are pendants of the date of Elizabeth. The paintings in this and the other rooms consist of very fine specimens of the early masters, a list of which our limited space will not allow us to give. The views from the principal windows are fine and pic- turesque, highly embellished by art, judiciously guided by the hand of taste, yet strictly natural and appropriate. The grounds and deer park are very extensive, beautifully varied by majestic timber and sheets of water, evincing a presiding genius of no mean talent. The Church is only separated from the park by a rail- ing ; it has lately been rebuilt by Mrs. Lucy in the fine Middle Pointed or Decorated style, and siill covers those fine specimens of art, the old Church contained, the most remarkable of which are the tombs of the three Sir Thomas Lucys. The Sir Thomas Lucy, whose name is so imperish- ably connected with Shakespeare, rests in effigy upon his tomb, with his lady by his side ; his son and successor reposes on a stately tomb by himself (it is the likeness of this Sir Thomas which has so often been engraved, in con- nection with Shakespeare, for his father) ; the third Sir Thomas has a splendid tomb by Bernini, executed in Italy at the cost of ^1,500 ; it is an altar tomb, bearing the re- ' dining figure of Sir Thomas resting on his elbow, and the recumbent figure of his lady, clothed in flowing drapery, gracefully arranged, the softness and beauty of whose WASPERTON. 127 features contrast admirably with the noble and dignified ones of his. This tomb alone is worth a pilgrimage to visit in its holy shrine. The Church of the adjoining parish of Hampton^ Lucy is well woithy of a visit. It has been restored in a most elaborate manner, and in the best possible taste, by the late Rector — the Rev. John Lucy, from the designs of Sir a ailbert Scott. The return to Warwick is through the village of Charle- cote. After passing over Thelsford Brook, and near to the grounds of Thelsford Priory, few traces of which now exist, we see on the left, about half-a-mile distant, the Church and vicarage of Wasperton, happily grouped among some fine trees, and with the risins: ground on the banks of the Avon in the background. The Church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has been lately transformed and restored from a so-called Grraeco-Venetian building, with its rounded headed windows in brick and stone, to a Decorated or Middle Pointed Church of Kenilworth and Wingerworth stone by the late Vicar — the Eev. T, Levison Lane — with the able assistance of Sir Greorge Or. Scott. It will amply repay a closer inspection, being now one of the prettiest Churches in the country, as it was to those who recollect it, one of the most inappropriate design, and of the smallest ecclesiastical pretensions. In digging the foundations for the South Aisle, some window heads were found which had belonged to a Church of early Middle Pointed w^ork, which stood here when it was so unhappily re-built, A.D, 1736, with the materials and of the character before described. 128 BARFORD. The Avon, with its silvery willows, flows through the parish ; and the scenery on its banks is extremely pic- turesque. We soon enter on the parish of Bar ford, leaving which we arrive at the seats of H. Chancr, Esq., and Major Armstrong, at Sherbourne. The Church, also from Mr. Scott/s design, is a gem of Ecclesiastical Architecture. The font is of pure white marble, inlaid with precious stones. The pillars of the nave are of polished marble, the reredos of alabaster, inlaid with marbles, and the windows filled with choice stained glass. No one should omit a visit to this magnificent work of art. Passing Longbridge, the seat of J. Staunton, Esq., the towers of Warwick Castle, and the cathedral-like church of St. Mary^'s again appear to view, and the whole ride is through a country varied, romantic, and fertile. &ROYE PARK. 129 GROVE PARK. The beautiful seat of the Right Hon. Lord Dormer, situate about two miles from Warwick, amid gentle sloping hills and luxuriant valleys, surrounded by an extensive park, well stocked with deer. The mansion has been recently rebuilt, and is in the Tudor style of architecture. The views from the windows and different parts of the park are rich and varied ; magnificent trees, fine sheets of water, opening glades, showing sweet glimpses of the town of Warwick and the tower of its venerable castle, with browsing cattle, giving animation to a scene of superlative beauty. A Roman Catholic Chapel, neat but unpretending, stands embossed in trees, about half a mile from the mansion, in the hamlet of Hampton, and it was formerly attached to the mansion. This noble family has ever been conspicuous for their fervent and conscientious attachment to that faith. ST. MARY'S PRIORY, PRINCETHORPR St. Mary's, a convent of Benedictine Nuns, is distant nine miles from Warwick, and stands between, and almost equi-distant [from the Rugby and Coventry Roads, near their junction at Princethorpe, a hamlet to Stretton-on- Dunsmore. There are approaches from both roads, and neat and tasteful lodges to each. 130 ST. maey's priory. This Priory has attracted much attention from the fact of its being (since the demolition of monasteries in the 16th century) not only the first conventual establishment existing in Warwickshire, but the first religious house erected expressly as such in the kingdom. It is built on an aclivity, and may be seen from a considerable distance. The grounds are extensive, and are tastefully laid out in walks, surrounded by plantations which form the bound- ary, or more correctly speaking, the " inclosure " oi the Religious Ladies. This community of Benedictine Nuns, was at the time of the French Revolution, established at Montargis, in France, not far from Nemours ; their house fell a prey to the fury of the Grallican pretenders to liberty, and the peaceful inmates fled to escape being made victims to the carnage of those days of terror and devastation to the hospitable shores of England, where, as refugees, they experienced that generosity, ever a distinguished character- istic of our countrymen on such occasions, but on the occasion referred to pre-eminently displayed. Among the munificient acts of kindness afforded on this trying occasion the community received the patronage of the Prince of Wales, afterwards George lY., of glorious memory. The fact is mentioned by Dr. Milner, the Catholic Bishop, as follows : — " His present Majesty supplied the Nuns of Montargis with provisions during the whole of their residence in London." — Milne fs Memorial, dc, 1820. But coming nearer home, Warwickshire shared proudly in the splendid and niunificent acts of benevolence bestowed on all the unfoj?tunate emigrants. John Wilmot, Esq., ST. Mary's priory. 131 M.P. for Coventry, took the lead (says Batler, the Catholic barrister) in the work of beneficence : the public appeal of that member, in which he was joined by the illustrious Burke and others, produced in one year a subscription of .£33,755 ; in the following year the venerable Monarch, George III, (ever immortal in the memory of every true Englishman), headed another subscription amounting to £41,304. To continue this tribute to England's praise. Parliament followed by votes reaching Two Millions, which sum was applied by a committee, of which Mr. Wilmot was President, and that gentleman continued to the last his kind and minute attentions to the noble work of humanity — regulating and distributing also further private donations coeval with, and said even to exceed the Parlia- mentary grant. Quitting the Metropolis, the Community made a temporary sojourn in Norfolk, and afterwards at Heath, in Yorkshire. They removed thence to Orel Mount, in Lancashire, where they adapted and occupied a handsome mansion^ until 1835, when they entered upon the Priory. The " Priory was intended (at least so it was generally said) to be constructed in its exterior, as, in fact, it is in the interior, on the model of the,ancient house of Mo7itan/is, But the outward appearance presents no very striking features, unless the impression of magnitude can be called such. The building is of brick ; it is understood, how^ever, that at a future period there is an intention on the part of the 132 ST. mart's priory. possessors to cement and complete the whole according to the original design, which at the time of execution was found to be too costly to be carried into immediate effect. The entrance into the Convent has a spacious hall, with rooms on each side for receiving strangers, also the Chap- lain's rooms ; the entrance fronts the E