Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-08
5 Whole No. ISL.
AN OLD ENGLISH CASTLE.

Elihu Burru in one of his latest letters from
England, dated at Chepstow on the banks OF
the river Wye, August 81, gives the following
interesting description of one Of the strong holds
of The English BaIons in olden times
"Thc mouth of the Wye, like that Of the
Avon Is not distinguished by any commanding
characteristics. IL is not unul the traveller has
threaded II up among IFS majestic highlands
that he finds himself surrounded with scenery
which, alternating between picturesque beauty
and Wild grandeur, think can hardly be sur
passed, If even equalled, by anything OF Natures
handiwork in England. ChepSiOw, AT the head
,of steam navigation on the river, is The scene
OF he first monument OF antiquity which miro
'duces the tourist to the lions" oi the valley
You ascend 10 from the channel Of the Iiyerf
out of deep chasm between a perpendicular
wall of rock on one side and an acchyltous one
on the other; on the edge Of which the Town
commences, extending back nearly TO the sum
init OF a fertile hih.
The first sight of ChepSlow Castle more than
realized all my conceptions of these ancient
STRUCTURES II was the first one had seen since
INV arrival in England and walked around II,
and counted It's towers baslons and bulwarks,
with the besl relish ol admiration. The eastern
end fronting the river, presents The most I'M
posing aspect As you approach ii on this side,
| up gentle Gcclivity carpeied with the greenest
II 9laSS, lllt UlaSSlNe loNtlS vi
strength, which defended the portal, stand
lrownIng upon you like knighted rocks with
their viZorS up keeping armed vlSllS over the
IdismanIed fortress Of ancient time. The ever
lasting ivy had hung It's thick green curtain
over the old rough walls, climbing The talleSl
tower and fastening It's network OF iolIage
around the cankercd top.SOnes. And yrwS
nearly as old as the castle braided their wlhey
4 l>lnewS around the towers, and climbed up to
II look IN at the portfolios Old English oaks,
! walnulS and other ancenlS of the wood, Stood
| around like pallbearerS of antiquity, full oi
| mute and mOurniul gloom.
II could hardly clear my mind of Giant De
! ,pair'> Doubling Castle. az | applied an iron
| knocker TO the head Of bolt in the lauiced
/ gate II was soon opened by bright intell|
| gent lad who conducted me over the RUNS
II The first scene that met my eye, was large
| square or court, well shaded and Carpeted with
/ fine lawny grass, where once perhaps khights
| IIof the CTuSadeS had marshaled and harangued
| their armed seris, for a bloody pilgrimage to
1.-The Holy Land A silent sabbath Of ages had
lrcSed upon 1t. There it was, gloomy, music.
lIleSS island of green walled IN from the light
IIthal shone upon busy life. The very SnnbeamS
IIlhat came through the ivy tapestry hooked sad
land penSve upon the ground, covering u Whh
a kind of tomb-ight. The lad took me INST INTO
the kitchen of the castle, IN the northern wall,
whose chmneys and hre-paceS coniormed IN
size TO the magnitude of their service, and sug'
geSted the size of the pots and kettles that were
llenployed m cooking ior the host thai fed daily
at the baronlal table. Adjoining this apartment
was the cellar, with lis heavy archway opening
over the preciplce upon the wye, iIom which
IproviSionS were drawn up from vessels moored
Immediately beneath, and whose maSlS probably
did not reach the top OF the rock upon which
the castle wall on this side was built Here,
doubtless was the depository of all the good
cheer which made The castle halls resound with
boiserouS mirlh. Here probably the Spoll> oi
castles on The continent were treasured up Tor
! bacchanalian banQuctS, at which mailed knights
got most deeclably mellow and The baron y
voice gIew thick with the dawning mOInln2.-
Passing beneath an old archway We entered
cl another court, now domeSlcaled INTO garden
, by the family residing m "A part OF The castle.
- From this we proceeded into the thlid couli III
which stood the baronial hall, the scene of the
festivities, pomp and Splendor oi the days oi
ch,alry. " hlle looking around the walls oi
this apartment still Roaming some specimens
of architecture indicating lis ancient naShlii-
ccnce j. would be difficult to restrain The lnag
inarion from indulgIng IN revcrIeS re'ailng to
! the past. What manner of Scebc> had trans
J. pircd IN that hall what manner of men had
4 met around that baronial table; what music
and dancing what glitter Of NOR, and head oi
armed men, had been ~ n and heard lhoJe
hat beauty had Shone upon them what li2h|
of diamonds, and of eyes ouiShinibS The dia
mondN sheen, had glanced across The leN'lve
board; what songs had been Sung, and deeds
rchearSch and hearts wed, and hands pledged
! IN love uy rev Nenge, were mqulNlllte thoughts
= which came in the train of reflections suggested
, by the time and place.
J. From the Hall, we proceeded to the western
= gate Ascending the tower which guarded 8
s. by circular stairway, | found myself ~ lh'
u warderS "lOOkout," where he received sum
II mons 10 omen the gate. Thence walked aluns
T. .,It th., u.ollS
Is through a thcHel of >hrubhery which toun,
y root IN the rubbish, sometimes descending hy {
~ broken stairway in an old ragged tower, an,
then ascending By another to the top Of the wal
u again, until reached the great lo~eis INA
III gaaIdcd The eastern or front puItai, from I'M
T. top OF which magnificent view oi lhe sur
S rounding country opens To the eye 1he keel
OF dungeon is situated here "a deep cellar u
- the form Dfthe letter ID, which is sunk entirely
below The foundations ot the castle, 81 that ho
a PARTICLE oi light could have found i,N way L
Ine prisoner, except when his SepuGhIe va
opcned from above. The stories above lhi
'black hole" musl have been very pleosan
places OF confinement, If used for that purpose
well lighted and hooking out through rich mu
loned windows upon the most char ming scene
10 ~. In one OF these apartments, Henry MarteI
~ ~ one of the Judges who declared against the d
"a, vine right of kings " tyrannize over the people
-, IN the person of Charles | o., was confined {,
~ been erected by the NormanS, upon the site oi
he Roman camp it, proprletory has passed thloug
nJ the hands of many of the noble houses diSlli
nJ gulshed IN English history. During the CIV
-. wars, 1t was the scene OF many bloody con
- bat between the Royal aud Parliamentary Ia
., ces he footprints OF Comwel the gan
~ killer, may be seen upon the ruins OF castle
~ abbcys and calhcdralS IN almost every part
=, lIthe kingdoms. There was n streak of vandaliS
- y in the temperament ollha croSS.grained purila
-" which one scarcely knows whether to dcpfeca
.nn or admire. When ! have declphered a lc
~ more ol his wrath written hicroglyphlcs, | VI
~" NY to give my 81 first impressions" with Icga
40, To his character. But one thing ! may safe
va premise oi the man, without consulting iurih
co The history OF his character, which he has elch
~ upon the diSmaned walls of many struclu
." of feudal barharism he would as soon ha
pOined his cannon nj a castle or cathedral
air n ow.huuse II II came IN his way. There "
no divinity to him m earldomS, dukedolnN,
Kingdoms tie deemed II no sacrllegc To We
his hat on his head, and keep the hinges oi J
III,.... IN hp oI The pmI