The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-10-21 00:00:00

DORCHEBTER LECTURE SOCIETY.

'THE STORY OF OORFE (*ME."

The session of this society versed well on Thunday
evening last with a texture by Mr. Albert Stakes, if
Wolfetan fin.., on the Story of Corte Castle—a
story full of inhered to Dorset people, and which no
one could be more entitled to relate than one of the
a...odors of WIS. who were most intimately eon.
nected with the Castle during the stirring times of
the 17th century.
Toe chair wee occupied by the Rev. T. Ruyan-
Witiofft, who, beforei introducing the lecturer, on
behalf of the committee of the society explained the
reason of their having such a large batman in hand
MI shown by the treasurer's statement. In "apologia.
lag " to the society for this, its hoped it would not
be supposed they had fallen short of their duty in
providing entertainment for the members. He
mentioned there had been mem lecturers,
and, as they doubtless knew, when the society
was started they promised to provide six
lecturers daring each session. Still they had a balsam'
of 1:33 3s. 41. They could have leasened this balsam
towards the rut of last session, but they had been
unable to moors either the Town Hall or the 0 ire
Exchange. A. they hat such a baloace in bend, they
hoped during the ensuing season ta provide one or two
more lecturers than In previone yews. The moiety
aimed not merely at inatructioa, but also at providing
something like amusement. L tot year they ha I two
scientific 1-otorers, who were apparently well &ppm.
aided ; Mr. Herman, with his musical lemur., aid
who would shortly wt.,: m again; also a semi-
scienti6a entertainment, a sort of Ro leriok Random
lecturer, Mr. °soar Wilde ; and their old irked, Mr.
McCall, who had been enraged to visit them some-
where about Christmas. With regard to the present
session, he might may they bad engaged several very
eminent lecturers, and he mentioned If c, Etrasdrem
(now In America) for March, and Mr. Proctor. He
assured them they would do all they possibly weld to
engage the best lecturer, that °Ovid be found, and
hoped they would feel they were trying to
do everything they possibly could for their b.neflt
and their entertainment. That night they hat a
gentleman to leder* on a subject with which hi.
family had for nearly 300 years been intimately
committed, and he was sure no one is AIM speak with
better authority on it. In conclusion the rev, gee-
thereon nail they would be very glad to receive any
suggestions from the inembeee, as to the working of
the society. He expressed hopes the moiety would
develops into roinething very diff-rent to what it wee
at present, and in relation to this he mentioned
especially the establishment et • reference library fir
the toms. 11th. society only became eorne day the
nucleus for anything so ries( ol to the members, the
oommittime would feel their labours had not been thrown
away. (Applaud.)
Mr. Bening said there was reason for concluding •
castle mord at C la the reign of Kies Alfred, and
be traced the history of the Castle down to the time when
It cowed to he • Royal resides.ce in the day. of Queen
Zlisebeth. In 1.567 Queen Elisabeth granted, or rather
said, Code Castle for £4,761 lilt 711. In am full and emote
• manner as the toroth of the la • could devise, to bet
courtly favourite Sir Coristiptmer Hatton. who repaired
sad decorated the castle at rath extremes so table to the
high station whir* he afterwards attained of Lord High
Chancellor. uarina the " laytheible Armada scare
en(' once more became • fortress, Sr Christopher
Hatton dying A bachelor. the Conk passed to his nephew, ,
Sir William Hakes, who, on dying without children. be-
queathed it to his widow, the Lady Elisabeth Hatton, '
who married Lord Chief Juke* 0 he. When the latter
did his widow and daughter found themthlves at liberty
to distress of • manioc whose titany grantee, an
petition, remote from the busier scenes of life, could not
well armed with that, tot's and bob is. And on hie (the
lecturerl) moestor, Sir John Stakes, making an offer
for the purchase of the Castle, the ladles were doubtless
only too glad to c include the bargain. Daring the
troubled times of Charles I, Lady Beaker, who me
described as beim a modest lady, resolved with her
Milken and family to return to Cork C Mk, there to
shaker themselves from too storm which see saw camas.
There the and her family remedasi thloceehly all the
winter ant • great part of the spring until mew. 1643,
about which time the rends, under the command of Sr
Walter Erie sad Sir Timms Treseharl, of Wolietin
Home, bad pommeled thereselyes of Demander, Lime
.illHakeethe, W tit, Wareham and Pods,
ia.. 13a5s1im only remainlng in obedience to the king
The let:nurse detailed the meat, of the siege, thirty
white the gallant Lady Defender of the Male eoeseeded
in laying in supplies of predates, and ammealtion, and
he that referred at length to the six weeks in which the
elms was strictly beesiged. commemitut June 23-d, 1613.
The drat time the rebels faced the Castle they broithht •
body of between WO and 300 bores and foot and two
esesoes, and from the bill, surrounding played on the
Castle. At the same time they fired four boom. in the
town of Owfs, and then somotha ul the Castle to sur-
render, but receiving • refusal for that time they left it,
But only fon • time, at Sir Wolter Erie, accompanied by
Oapteles Sydenbant, Rears Jervis, and Skate. of Pool*,
with • body of between 5133 and No. man and took
ememion of the town of Code ander the corer of • misty
mambas, and brought with them to the these • em ill
atarsott • culverts, and their anthem. With the common.
calveria. and small shot they Navel on the Castle. They
did their best to corrupt the defenders of the Castle to
betray it late their heads, and when id throe* arta proved
of no offset the rebel commanders feU to stratagems and
wreath one of theme lattrr being called a "sow " and
Ike other • " both." being made with boards lied with
wool to deaden the eltot. Toe base cowardice of the
assailants added mirage and ntholutiort to the deka.
den, who, not compelled by want but loth*/ to brave
the rebel*, milled our of the Cathie and brought In eight
nom and • bell withoot • Mode man being even wean led.
At last the Ltd of Warwick thot them 130 mike. with
several (wilco is of p-tar Is, greadoes, and other war-
like prorkiona with 'cello t ladder. to take the Castle hr
assault. Rewards of AO were offered to these who
shoed scale the wail first, and smeller suess to those who
should follow, bat theee were of no avail, and the rebel
commander res dyed to give their men strolls drink
hoodoo that drunkenness makes some men fiskt like
Hoag, who, when sober, area, cowardly as hum" The
only man who was not the worth for drink," mil the
elucidator, throastailly, 'we, the commander of the
party—Sir Walter Ide—wko kept Miami( sober
let be should become valleat against his wilL''
Bang now pot-valiant and nasalised with •
borrowed courage, the rebel. divided their force. into two
parties, whereof one amenited the middle ward, which
was defended by valiant Captain Lawrence and the
greeter part of the soldiers, while the other assaults 1 the
nether ward, width Lady Ranker. "to her eternal hooter
be it 'pokers," as sold the chrtnt!eler, with her deacht-r,
worsen servants, and See soldiera ,indrrioik ti defend.
What she adorn, ik abe bravely peel rote If., by !wade(
over stones and hot embers they rep lled the rebel, and
topt them from climbing the ladder. nos remits%
sad having lost 100 men, Sir Walter Sri*. hearing the
king's forces were sleuthing, ran away, leaving Sydentrars
as ommumadminoldraf. Syderahain, shod to appear
kept sanctuary in Code Church till nightfall, meaning to
sup aa4 run away by starlight hat supper beta; ready
arid set on the tab!, an alarm was given that the kiss •
levees we,. coming; this news took away Sydeakthe's
ametite, so, kering artillery. ammunition, and Mt, but
net teat, his good miser, kik all renew., to take boat
for Tnain leering on the shore about 100 horse.. which
Proved a valuable prise next day to to. soldiers of the
o.stle. Teas, Mter six weeks' mige. this Gaol., by the
I Telt, end brave ntholuti us of this bonothable lady, and
the valour of Ctrittla Lawrence end emu. 80 addl..,
was delivered from the bine tr intlnticas of the awokee
rebels on Algae, 40, 1643. The trot Ira n.x: watt on
t, the lest porti in of toe interesting at ter of Code
Cm; --earaely, iron th. racing of the Mg. until the
Seal betrayal and destruction of the plain in the spring
f 1616. In 1614 the tile of Rmyal tatt:4l.4 which
hat Sawed a.. steadily thrash the winters aleph.,
!Ii the =es year wit now ebbing fast in the
'may of On Jam 100, 1644, Wtfillital our.
rendered to the Berl of Nos; and those dare alter.