If tears are shed, they do not fall Yet, sometimes, sometimes doth she weep, Bless, tender hearts, their mutual lot, [joy! But most to Bolton's sacred pile, And, when she from the abyss returned Was happy that she lived to greet Her mute companion as it lay In love and pity at her feet; nor How happy in its turn to meet A mortal song we frame, by dower Encouraged of celestial power; Power which the viewless spirit shed By whom we were first visited; Dead-but to live again on earth, Of undisturbed mortality. Her own thoughts loved she; and could Most glorious sunset !-and a ray Raised far above the law of kind ; Haunting the spots with lonely cheer Which her dear mistress once held dear: Loves most what Emily loved most- Whose voice we heard, whose hand and Of fret-work imagery laid low; wings Swept like a breeze the conscious strings, When, left in solitude, erewhile We stood before this ruined pile, And, quitting unsubstantial dreams, Through human heart, and pleasure dead, Paces softly, or makes halt, [way By fractured cell, or tomb, or vault, Where doth the gentle creature lie NOTES. Note 1 page 232. THE poem of "The White Doe of Rylstone" is founded on a local tradition, and on the ballad in Percy's Collection, entitled, The Rising of the North." The tradition is as follows:"About this time," not long after the dissolution, a white doe, say the aged people of the neighbourhood, long continued to make a weekly pilgrimage from Rylstone over the fells of Bolton, and was constantly found in the abbey church-yard during divine service, after the close of which she returned home as regularly as the rest of the congregation."-Dr. Whitaker's "History of the Deanery of Craven." Rylstone was the property and residence of the Nortons, distinguished in that ill-advised and unfortunate insurrection, which led me to connect with this tradition the principal circumstances of their fate, as recorded in the ballad. "Bolton Priory," says Dr. Whitaker in his excellent book, "The History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven," "stands upon a beautiful curvature of the Wharf, on a level sufficiently elevated to protect it from inundations, and low enough for every purpose of picturesque effect. Opposite to the east window of the priory church, the river washes the foot of a rock nearly perpendicular, and of the richest purple, where several of the mineral beds, which break out, instead of maintaining their usual inclination to the horizon, are twisted by some inconceivable process into undulating and spiral lines. To the south all is soft and delicious; the eye reposes upon a few rich pastures, a moderate reach of the river, sufficiently tranquil to form a mirror to the sun, and the bounding hills beyond, neither too near nor too lofty to exclude, even in winter, any portion of his rays. But, after all, the glories of Bolton are on the North. Whatever the most fastidious taste could require to constitute a perfect landscape is not only found here, but in its proper place. In front, and immediately under the eye, is a smooth expanse of park-like inclosure, spotted with native elm, ash, etc.; of the finest growth: on the right a skirting oak wood, with jutting points of gray rock; on the left a rising copse. Still forward, are seen the aged groves of Bolton Park, the growth of centuries; and farther yet, the barren and rocky distances of Simonseat and Barden Fell contrasted with the warmth, fertility, and luxuriant foliage of the valley below. "About half a mile above Bolton the valley closes, and either side of the Wharf is overhung by solemn woods, from which huge perpendicu lar masses of gray rock jut out at intervals "This sequestered scene was almost inacces. sible till of late, that ridings have been cut on both sides of the river, and the most interesting points laid open by judicious thinnings in the woods. Here a tributary stream rushes from a waterfall, and bursts through a woody gier to mingle its waters with the Wharf. there the Wharf itself is nearly lost in a deep cleft in the rock, and next becomes a horned flood inclosing a woody island-sometimes it reposes for a moment, and then resumes its native character lively, irregular, and impetuous "The cleft mentioned above is the tremen dous Strid. This chasm being incapable of receiving the winter floods has formed on either side, a broad strand of naked gritstone full of rock-basins, or pots of the Linn, which bear witness to the restless impetuosity of so many northern torrents. But, if here Wharf is lost to the eye, it amply repays another sense by its deep and solemn roar, like the voice of the angry spirit of the waters,' heard far above and beneath, amidst the silence of the surrounding woods. "Therminating object of the landscape is the remains of Barden tower, interesting from their form and situation, and still more so from the recollections which they excite." Note 2. Page 233, col. 1 "From Bolton's old monastic tower." It is to be regretted that at the present day Bolton Abbey wants this ornament: but the poem, according to the imagination of the poet, is composed in Queen Elizabeth's time. "For merly," says Dr. Whitaker, "over the transept was a tower. This is proved not only from the mention of bells at the dissolution, when they could have had no other place, but from the pointed roof of the choir, which must have ter minated westward, in some building of superior height to the ridge." Note 3. Page 233, col. 2. "A rural chapel, neatly drest." served at the dissolution, for the use of the "The nave of the church having been reSaxon cure, is still a parochial chapel; and, at this day, is as well kept as the neatest English cathedral." Note 4. Page 233, col. 2. "Who sate in the shade of the prior's oak." Note 5. Page 235, col. 1. "When Lady Aaliza mourned." The detail of this tradition may be found in Dr. Whitaker's book, and in a poem of this collection, entitled, The Force of Prayer," &c. Note 6. Page 235, col. 2. "Pass, pass who will, you chantry door." "At the east end of the north aisle of Bolton Priory church is a chantry belonging to Bethmesly Hall, and a vault, where, according to tradition, the Claphams" (who inherited this estate, by the female line from the Mauleverers) "were interred upright." John de Clapham, of whom this ferocious act is recorded, was a name of great note in his time:" he was a vehement partisan of the House of Lancaster, in whom the spirit of his chieftains, the Cliffords, seemed to survive." Note 7. Page 235, col. 2. "Who loved the Shepherd Lord to meet." At page 109 of this volume will be found a poem entitled, "Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle, upon the Restoration of Lord Clifford the Shepherd to the Estates and Honours of his Ancestors.' To that poem is annexed an account of this personage, chiefly extracted from Burn's and Nicholson's History of Cumberland and Westmoreland. It gives me pleasure to add these further particulars concerning him from Dr. Whitaker, who says," He retired to the solitude of Barden, where he seems to have enlarged the tower out of a common keeper's lodge, and where he found a retreat equally favourable to taste, to instruction, and to devotion. The narrow limits of his residence show that he had learned to despise the pomp of greatness, and that a small train of servants could suffice him who had lived to the age of thirty a servant himself. I think this nobleman resided here almost entirely when in Yorkshire, for all his charters which I have seen are dated at Barden. "His early habits, and the want of those artificial measures of time which even shepherds now possess, had given him a turn for observing the motions of the heavenly bodies, and, having purchased such an apparatus as could then be procured, he amused and informed himself by those pursuits, with the aid of the canons of Bolton, some of whom are said to have been well versed in what was then known of the science. "I suspect this nobleman to have been sometimes occupied in a more visionary pursuit, and probably in the same company. For, from the family evidences, I have met with two MSS. on the subject of alchemy, which, from the character. spelling, etc., may almost certainly be referred to the reign of Henry the Seventh If these were originally deposited with the MSS of the Cliffords, it might have been for the use of this nobleman. If they were brought from Bolton at the dissolution, they must have been the work of those canons whom he almost exclusively conversed with. "In these peaceful employments Lord Clifford spent the whole reign of Henry the Seventh But in the year and the first years of his son. 1513, when almost sixty years old, he was appointed to a principal command over the army which fought at Flodden, and showed that the military genius of the family had neither been chilled in him by age, nor extinguished by habits of peace. "He survived the battle of Flodden ten years, and died April 23rd, 1523, aged about 70. shall endeavour to appropriate to him a tomb, vault, and chantry, in the choir of the church at Bolton, as I should be sorry to believe that he was deposited, when dead, at a distance from the place which in his lifetime he loved so well. By his last will he appointed his body to be interred at Shap, if he died in Westmoreland; or at Bolton, if he died in Yorkshire With respect to the canons of Bolton, Dr. Whitaker shows from MSS. that not only alchemy but astronomy was a favourite pursuit with them. Note 8. Page 238, col. 2. "Ye watchmen upon Brancepeth towers." Brancepeth Castle stands near the river Were, a few miles from the city of Durham. It formerly belonged to the Nevilles, Earls of Westmoreland. See Dr. Percy's account. " Note 9. Page 240, col. 2. Of mitred Thurston, when a host See the historians for the account of this memorable battle, usually denominated the Battle of the Standard. Note 10. Page 241, col. 1. "In that other day of Neville's Cross." "In the night before the battle of Durham was strucken and begun, the 17th day of October, anno 1346, there did appear to Joha Fosser, then prior of the abbey of Durham, commanding him to take the holy corporaxcloth, wherewith St. Cuthbert did cover the chalice when he used to say mass, and to put the same holy relique like to a banner-cloth upon the point of a spear, and the next morning to go and repair to a place on the west side of the city of Durham, called the Red Hills, where the maid's bower wont to be, and there to remain and abide till the end of the battle. To which vision, the prior obeying, and taking the same for a revelation of God's grace and mercy by the mediation of holy St. Cuthbert, did accordingly the next morning, with the monks of the said Abbey, repair to the said Red Hills, ard there most devoutly humbling and prostrating themselves in prayer for the victory in the said battle: (a great multitude of the Scots running and pressing by them, with intention to have spoiled them, yet had no power to commit any worth to have been built by Richard Norton. The walls are of strong grout work, about four feet thick. It seems to have been three stories high. Breaches have been industriously made in all the sides, almost to the ground, to render it untenable. violence under such holy persons, so occupied in prayer, being protected and defended by the mighty providence of Almighty God, and by the mediation of holy St. Cuthbert, and by the presence of the holy relique. And, after many conflicts and warlike exploits there had and done between the English men and the King of Scots But Norton Tower was probably a sort of and his company, the said battle ended, and the pleasure-house in summer, as there are, adjoinvictory was obtained, to the great overthrowing to it, several large mounds (two of them and confusion of the Scots, their enemies. And are pretty entire, of which no other account then the said prior and monks, accompanied with can be given than that they were butts for large Ralph Lord Nevil, and John Nevil his son, and companies of archers. the Lord Percy, and many other nobles of England, returned home and went to the abbey church, there joining in hearty prayer and thanksgiving to God and holy St. Cuthbert for the victory atchieved that day." This battle was afterwards called the Battle of Nevilles Cross, from the following circum stance : "The place is savagely wild, and admirably adapted to the uses of a watch-tower." Note 12. Page 247, col. 2. "despoil and desolation O'er Rylstone's fair domain have blown." "After the attainder of Richard Norton, his "On the west side of the city of Durham, estates were forfeited to the crown, where they where two roads pass each other, a most notable, remained till the 2nd or 3rd of James; they famous, and goodly cross of stone-work was were then granted to Francis Earl of Cumbererected and set up to the honour of God for the land." From an accurate survey made at that victory there obtained in the field of battle, and time, several particulars have been extracted by known by the name of Nevil's Cross, and built Dr. W. It appears that the mansion-house was at the sole cost of the Lord Ralph Nevil, one of then in decay. Immediately adjoining is a the most excellent and chief persons in the said close, called the Vivery, so called undoubtedly battle." The relique of St Cuthbert afterwards from the French Vivier, or modern Latin Vivabecame of great importance in military events. rium; for there are near the house large remains For soon after this battle, says the same author, of a pleasure-ground, such as were introduced The prior caused a goodly and sumptuous in the earlier part of Elizabeth's time, with Lanner to be made, which is then described at topiary works, fish-ponds, an island, etc. The great length,) and in the midst of the same whole township was ranged by an hundred and banner-cloth was the said holy relique and cor- thirty red deer, the property of the lord, which, porax-cloth enclosed, etc., etc., and so sump- together with the wood, had, after une attainder tuously finished, and absolutely perfected, this of Mr. Norton, been committed to Sir Stephen banner was dedicated to holy St. Cuthbert, of Tempest. The wood, it seems, had been abanintent and purpose, that for the future it should doned to depredations, before which time it apbe carried to any battle, as occasion should pears, that the neighbourhood must have exserve; and was never carried and showed at hibited a forest-like and sylvan scene. In this any battle but by the especial grace of God Al-survey, among the old tenants, is mentioned one mighty, and the mediation of holy St. Cuthbert, it brought home victory which banner-cloth, after the dissolution of the abbey, fell into the possession of Dean Whittingham, whose wife was called Katharine, being a Frenchwoman, (as is most credibly reported by eyewitnesses,) did most injuriously burn the same in her fire, to the open contempt and disgrace of all ancient and goodly reliques."-Extracted from a book en titled, "Durham Cathedral, as it stood before the Dissolution of the Monastery." It appears, from the old metrical history, that the above mentioned banner was carried by the Earl of Surrey to Flodden field. Note 11. Page 244, col. 1. An edifice of warlike frame Stands single (Norton Tower its name).” It is so called to this day, and is thus described by Dr. Whitaker:-"Rylstone Fell yet exhibits a nonument of the old warfare between the Nortons and the Cliffords. On a point of very high ground, commanding an immense prospect, and protected by two deep ravines, are the remains of a square tower, expressly said by Dods Richard Kitchen, butler to Mr. Norton, who rose in rebellion with his master, and was executed at Ripon." Note 13. Page 249, col. 1. "In the deep fork of Amerdale." "At the extremity of the parish of Burnsal, the valley of Wharf forks off into two great branches, one of which retains the name of Wharfdale to the source of the river; the other is usually called Littondale, but more anciently and properly Amerdale. Dern-brook, which runs along an obscure valley from the N.W. IS derived from a Teutonic word, signifying concealment."-Dr. WHITAKER. Note 14. Page 249, col. 2. "When the bells of Rylstone played Their Sabbath music-God us ayde.'' On one of the bells of Rylstone church, which seems coeval with the building of the tower, is this cipher, J. . for John Norton, and the motto, "God us ayde." Note 15. Page 250, col. 1. "The grassy rock-encircled pound " passable, a wall was constructed nearly level with the surface on the outside, yet so high within that without wings it was impossible to escape in the opposite direction. Care was pro better feed than the neighbouring parks or forests: and whoever is acquainted with the habits of these sequacious animals, will easily conceive, that if the leader was once tempted to descend into the snare, an herd would follow." Which is thus described by Dr. Whitaker:--bably taken that these inclosures should contain "On the plain summit of the hill are the foundations of a strong wall stretching from the S. W. to the N E. corner of the tower, and to the edge of a very deep glen. From this glen, a ditch, several hundred yards long, runs south to another deep and rugged ravine. On the N and W., where the banks are very steep, no wall or mound is discoverable, paling being the only fence that could stand on such ground. "From the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' it appears that such pounds for deer, sheep, etc., were far from being uncommon in the south of Scotland. The principle of them was something like that of a wire mouse-trap. On the declivity of a steep hill, the bottom and sides of which were fenced so as to be im I cannot conclude without recommending to the notice of all lovers of beautiful scenery — Bolton Abbey and its neighbourhood. This enchanting spot belongs to the Duke of Devonshire: and the superintendence of it has for some years been intrusted to the Rev. William Carr, who has most skilfully opened out its features and, in whatever he has added, has done justice to the place by working with an invisible hand of art in the very spirit of nature. The Prioress's Tale. (FROM CHAUCER.) "Call up him who left half told In the following poem I have allowed myself no further deviation from the original than was necessary for the fluent reading and instant understanding of the author: so much, however, is the language altered since Chaucer's time, especially in pronunciation, that much was to be removed, and its place supplied with as little incongruity as possible. The ancient accent has been retained in a few conjunctions as also and alway, from a conviction that such sprinklings of antiquity would be admitted, by persons of taste, to have a graceful accordance with the subject. The fierce bigotry of the prioress forms a fine background for her tender-hearted sympathies with the mother and child; and the mode in which the story is told amply atones for the extravagance of the miracle. "O LORD, our Lord! how wondrously," (quoth she) "Thy name in this large world is spread For not alone by men of dignity |