ing into great decay, a warrant was granted to Mr. Whitehead, one of the Earl of Northumberland's stewards, June 24, 1608," to take down the lead that lieth upon the ruinous towers and places of Warkworth, to way it and lay it up, and to certify his lordship of the quantity thereof, that the places where lead is taken off be covered again for the preservation of the timber." In 1610, accordingly, the old timber of the buildings in the outer court was sold for 281.

In 1672 the dungeon, or keep of the castle, was unroofed at the instance of John Clarke, one of the auditors of the family, who obtained a gift of the materials from the Countess of Northumberland. The following is a copy of a letter from him to one of his tenants:

"To my loving friend William Milbourne, at his house at Birlinge. Newcastle, 27th April 1672.

William Milbourne,-Being to take down the materials of Warkworth Castle, which are given to me by the Countess of Northumberland to build a house at Chenton, I doe desire you to speak to all her ladyship's tenantes in Warkeworth, Birling, Buston, Acklington, Shilbottle, Lesbury, Longhouton, and Bilton, that they will assist me with their draughts as soon as conveniently they can, to remove the lead and timber which shall be taken down, and such other materials as shall be fit to be removed, and bring it to Chenton; which will be an obligation to them and your friend,

J. CLARKE."

After the building was thus dismantled, it remained neglected and in ruins until a very recent time; when the present noble owner caused some necessary reparations to be effected on the keep. Under the judicious direction of Mr. Salvin, some of the decayed ashlars have been replaced, a portion of the building has been re-roofed, and such additional renovation carried out as will tend, without having impaired a single feature of its authenticity, to preserve Warkworth Castle for future generations.

one house hewen and wrought in a cragg or rock of stone, called the Harmitage, having in the same a hall, kytchen, chamber, and chappell, with a litle orchard and garden adjoyning the same; in which house hath been kept in times past an

hermity or priest to doe and celebrate divine service, as at that time was used, and had appoynted for his mayntenance certain land and closes, now in his Lp.'s use and possession; and the said house is now ruinated and greatly in decay."

CHAPTER X.

WARKWORTH HERMITAGE.

THE poetical literature of England lies under great obligations to Bishop Percy, who was the first to awaken public attention to its legendary lore and ancient national ballads. If he had done nothing beyond collecting together some of our earliest and most celebrated pieces of popular poetry, he would have been entitled to the thanks of posterity. But he has effected more than the work of a mere antiquarian collector, having added to his Reliques of Ancient Poetry a production of his own, that is almost unequalled in the English language for accuracy of description and tenderness of sentiment. His Hermit of Warkworth will continue to receive admiration as long as there exists a feeling for what is natural and pathetic; and whether the story be real or fictitious, it must ever invest the scene of its action with undiminished interest and perpetual attraction. Every lover of the mysterious and the romantic, as one generation of readers succeeds another, will peruse with breathless attention the touching history of fair Isabel and Sir Bertram ; whilst each recurring year will add to the number of those who, thus excited by the description of the poet, are impelled as willing pilgrims to visit the hermit's shrine."

Few ballads have been more extensively read and admired than the Hermit of Warkworth; and few are recommended by more intrinsic merit. In consequence, however, of being thus so universally popular, it has received a degree of credit almost equalling that belonging to a genuine narrative. When, therefore, the critic, or the reader of matured experience, sees the sacred cell which is so minutely described in the prelate's verses, he will coldly inquire how