some that cast stones* to a considerable distance; and they occasionally ventured on desperate and destructive sallies.

The royal forces were equally active; but the strength of the fortifications mocked their most resolute assaults. The King now had recourse to a commendable stroke of policy. An act had been passed, in a Parliament lately held at Winchester, disinheriting all those in open rebellion; and Henry at this juncture, caused a convention of the chief persons favourable to his interest to assemble at Kenilworth; by which twelve Nobles and Prelates were elected, with power to make such a farther determination concerning the confiscated property, as immediate circumstances might render expedient. By these Lords it was settled that all the disinherited persons (except the wife and children of the Earl of Leicestor, and a few others) should have the privilege of redeeming their estates by a pecuniary fine, apportioned to the degree of offence; which fine should not exceed 'five years' value nor be less than two. This is the well-known decree, termed the Dictum de Kenilworth.

The persons elected

met at Coventry, but the resolution was published by proclamation in the King's camp. The besieged, however, treated this overture with scorn; and Henry, quite convinced that no blandishments could afterwards avail, prepared to storm the castle. But famine and sickness, the inglorious, but most profitable, auxiliaries of a besieging army, so badly provided with means of assault as were the military of these ages, spread their horrible influence over the garrison, and arrested the progress of the sword. Although assured that the besieged were reduced to extremity, the King granted lenient terms, and took possession of the castle, after having lain before it for six months. He shortly bestowed the fortress so tediously acquired, on Edmund his younger son, whom he created Earl of Leicester and Lancaster.

In the seventh year of King Edward I. à costly and gallant tournament was held at Kenilworth. The knights were one hundred

Several large stones, supposed to be a part of those hurled during this siege, are yet shewn in the vicinity of the ruins.

dred in number, and many were foreigners of distinction who entered England for the purpose of displaying their chivalry on this occasion. Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, was the promoter of the festival, and was the principal challenger of the Tilt-Yard. The Ladies were, likewise, one hundred in number; and, as an instance of the splendour with which they were attired, it is recorded that they wore silken mantles. The exercises began on the eve of Saint Matthew, and continued till the day after the feast of St. Michael. The Dances were not less gallantly attended than the lists; and to avoid all painful distinctions that might arise from an attention to precedence, the whole party banquetted at a Round Table.

On the attainder of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, son of Earl Edmund, the castle returned to the crown; and was by Edward Il. intended as a place of retirement, when he saw danger augmenting on every side. But this ill-fated King was doomed to be brought hither as a prisoner. Henry, Earl of Lancaster, conveyed him to this place; and here he received intelligence of his formal deposition by the Parliament held at Westminster. Shortly after his mournful reply to this information, he was hurried to Berkley castle, the theatre of his last wretched hours.

In the reign of Edward III. John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, obtained possession of Kenilworth, by his marriage with Blanch, daughter of Henry Earl of Lincoln, and Duke of Lancaster. The great aim of those who had hitherto conduced to the buildings of this strong castle, was security: to elegance of domestic accommodation they were strangers. The reign of the third Edward produced a striking improvement in manners; and convenience and splendour of architectural arrangement were now first cultivated in England. By John of Gaunt large additions were made; and a great portion of the present ruins consist of the buildings raised by his munificence. In the person of King Henry IV. son to this Duke, the castle again became the property of the crown; and so.continued till Queen Elizabeth conferred it on Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. This Earl ex

pended great sums in adorning and enlarging the structure; and here he had the honour of entertaining Queen Elizabeth, in a manner so magnificent, that a notice of the festivities has been justly said to forin an almost necessary page of the national annals. Her Majesty arrived on the 9th of July, 1575, and the splendid revelry of the season has met with a curious and amusing chronicle in Laneham, an attendant on the court.* From this writer we learn that the Queen, after dining at Long Itchington, and hunting by the way," was met in the park, about a slight shoot from the Brayz and first gate of the castl," by a person representing "one of the ten sibills, cumly clad in a pall of white sylk, who pronounced a proper poezie in English rime and meeter." This her "Majestie benignly accepted, and passed foorth untoo the next gate of the Brayz, which, for the length, largenes, and use, they call now the Tylt-Yard; whear a porter, tall of person, and wrapt also in sylke, with a club and keiz of quantitee according, had a rough speech full of passions, in meeter aptly made to the purpose." When the porter bad concluded his harangue, six trumpeters, "clad in long garments of sylk, who stood uppon the wall of the gate, sounded a tune of welcum." This strain continued while "her Highness, all along this Tylt-Yard, rode unto the inner gate, where a person representing the Lady of the Lake (famous in King Arthurz Book) with too Nymphes waiting uppon her, arrayed all in sylks, attended her highness comming." From the midst of the pool, where was a moveable island, "bright blazing with torches," the Lady of the Lake floated to land, and greeted her Majesty with a well-penned meeter," expressive of "the auncientee of the castl," and the hereditary dignity of the Earls of Leicester.

"

A burst of music closed this part of the ceremony. Over a

dry

• His work is intituled "A Letter, whearin Part of the Entertainment untoo the Queenz Majesty, at Killingwoorth Castl, in Warwick Sheer, in this Soomerz Progrest, 1575, iz signified. From a Freend Officer, attendant in the Coourt, unto his Freend, a Citizen and Merchant of London," &c.

dry valley leading to the castle gates "waz thear framed a fayr bridge; and upon the first payr of posts were set too cumly, square, wyre, cages," containing "live bitters, curluz, shooverlarz, hearsheawz, Godwitz, and such like deinty byrds. On the second payr were two great sylver'd bollz, featly apted to the purpoze, filde with Applz, Pearz, Oranges, Poungarnets, Lemmans," &c. The third pair of posts, " in too such sylver'd Bollz, had (all in earz green and gold) Wheat, Barly, Gotz," &c. The fourth post, "on the leaft hand, had Grapes in clusters, whyte and red; and the match post against it had a payre of great, whyte, sylver lyvery Pots, for Wyne." The fifth pair had each a fair large trey, streawd with fresh Grass," containing various specimens of sea-fish ;-a costly presentation, at that period, for a host in an inland situation. The sixth pair of posts sustained a more elevated burthen, and ascended from tokens of good cheer to the dignity of armorial bearings. On them " wear set two ragged stavez of sylver, as my Lord givez them in arız, beautifully glittering of Armour thereupon depending." On the seventh posts, the last and nearest to the castle, were placed various instruments, symbolical" of the Gifts of Phoebus;" tropes of the arts which should be raised on the pomp of chivalric bearings, and which were thus justly hinted to form the last result of dignified effort.

Over the castle gate, on a "Table beautifully garnisht absove with her Highness Arms," was inscribed a Latin poem, descriptive of the various tributes paid to her arrival by the Gods and Goddesses. This was read to her by a poet, " in a long ceruleoous Garment, with a Bay Garland on his head, and a skro in his hand. So passing intoo the inner coourt, her Majesty (that never rides but alone), thear set doun from her palfrey, was conveied up to chamber, when after did follo a great peal of Gunz, and lightning by Fyrwork."

The festivities lasted seventeen days, and comprised nearly every pastime which the resources of the age could produce. The hart was hunted in the park; the dance was proclaimed in

the gallery; and the tables were loaded from moru to midnight with sumptuous cheer.* The park was peopled with mimic gods and goddesses, to surprise the regal visitant with complimentary dialogues, and poetical representations. More simple amusements were also studiously introduced; the men of Coventry performed their Hocktide play; the rural neighbours were assembled to run at the Quintin; and a marriage, in strict consistency of country ceremonials, was celebrated, under the observance of the Queen. Every hour had its peculiar sport. A famous Italian tumbler displayed feats of agility; Morris-dancers went through their rude evolutions, by way of interlude; and thirteen bears were baited for the gratification of the courtiers. During the Queen's stay five gentlemen were honoured with knighthood, and "nyne persons were cured of the peynfull and daungerous deseaz called the King's Evill."

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, died without acknowledged legitimate issue, and bequeathed Kenilworth to his brother, Ambrose Earl of Warwick, for life; but he willed that the inheri tance should descend to Sir Robert Dudley, his son, a person whose singular fortunes will meet with notice in our mention of the adjoining lordship of Stoneleigh. Sir Robert Dudley came into possession shortly after the decease of his father; but he quitted the kingdom, under the King's licence to travel for three years, and not returning, his estates were seized for the use of the crown. At this period a survey of Kenilworth was taken by the King's officers, from which we extract a few particulars calculated

As a proof of the hospitable spirit of the Earl, Laneham observes, that "the Clok Bell sang not a Note all the while her Highness waz thear: the Clok stood also still withall; the handz of both the tablz stood firm and fast, allways pointing at two a Clek," the Hour of Banquet!

Founded on the Massacre of the Danes, in 1002. The actors were led to the spot of performance by Captain Cox, a person of so much humorous notoriety in his day that Ben Jonson names one of his masques, printed in "A Masque of Owls at Kenelworth, presented by the Ghost of Cap. tain Cox, mounted on his Hobby Horse."

1640.