The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14
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RELVUIH th5
The Seat of the Duke Of Rutland-lts
History from It's Foundation to
The Present Day.

Thia ancient castle, the seat Of the Rut-
land family, is built on high insulated
mount i'll the northeastern extremity oil Le-
cestsrghire. on the very confines OF Lincoln
ahire. Although the present building - no.
~ d more ancient date than tho time o.
Charles III, the commanding nature OF It's SIT
nation. surrounded us 1t is by q comparative
" rat extent Of country, renders 1t p remark
ohlv picturesque object; while the long sue
oeaaion Of ages through which the Rutland
family can trace their ancestry as inhabiting
ths spot and comforting upon It It's Interest
awakeus feelings at once solemn and delight
full In the mind of O. spectator. La viewing
the remains of an old ancestral mansion, VIC
nee before us o record Of the many interest
Ing events which have taken place within lts
walls. and coniures up scenes Of the Old feu-
DIAL times that must have occurred ia Its I'm
mediate vicinity, and although we may not
he able at the moment to call up memories OF
IT'D particular history, our fancy will wake up
imaginary scenes to the truthfulness and
reality of which we willingly render up our
belief. .-
The hill upon which the castle OF Belvoir
stands was thrown up by the Romans when
they were Ia possession OF the island, though
II IS probable that there was mount there
before that time and that they, for warlike
PURPOSES, only assisted nature In rendering 1t
sleeper, loTtier and of n more formidable
character. II Is very difficult of ascent and
steepin parts, and from the summit affords
view 81 considerable extent and beauty. Peck,
TIE ANTIQUARIAN, amused himself by making
out list uf the different towns, villages and
mansions which may be seen from the castle,
and he enuInerates no less than one hundred
and seventy-four places within the circle
bounded by the horizon. "But," says Nichols,
Ii bis graphic History Of Leicestarshire, In
which work the list We allude to Is to
be found, "the grand prospect OF all 1s that
which the Duke of Rutland sees from thence,
namely: twenty-five manors Of his own pater-
nalinheritance." The old castle, which existed
Oh the site of the present one until the middle
OF the seventeenth century, Was 81 consider
able antiquity. It WAS founded in the eleventh
century by Robert de Todent, a noble Norman
who accompanied William the CODguerOr to
England, aud held the Office Of standard
bearer TO the King. The Romans had erect
ed fortified building on the mount which
they mad raised with considerable labor, aud
Robert do Todeni, in excavating and remoy-
ing the Roman ruins, discovered there and
In the vicinity many Roman remains and
curious relics, which are preserved In the
castle as heir-loOms up To this day. Robert
Dc Todeni died III l0SS and the estate has
continued in his family ever since-tne pres
ent Duke OF Rutland being lineally descended
from him.
Belvuir Castle afforded secure hometo its
inta IN Hn IN nf
1t suffered greatly from the forces OF Edward
w. aS Leland notices Id his Itinerary. The
Lord kos took Henry ye Sixth's pnrte agnynBt
King Edward; whereupon W LORD hos h
laLdeS stood as cGniiScate, King LdWafd pre-
vailtngc, and Bellevoire Castelle WAS given III
keeping to ye Lord Hastng; We which COM
Ing thlther upon d TYNE 10 pefuSe ye GROUNDS
and to I've i'll ye caotelle was sodainely re-
PEELED by Harrington, Il man oil poure there
aboute; whereup0n w Lord Hastings chme
thther another tyne with strong pOure, and
with raging W5lje spoiled We castelle, de-
facing ye rootes and taking ye leades or them
whereWitA they were all covered. Then felle
all no eastelie 10 1uin, and We timber Of yc
rooieS rotted away, and We soil between ye
walls grew fun OF elders, and no habitatlon
was there TIL that Ut late days. le Eyrte OF
Rutlande hath made Fairer then ever 1t vas. 4
The rebuilding and improvement OF the
castle was completed Ill 1865 by the son OIL the
Earl Of Rutland. Leland about thai time thus
notices 1t: 1t Is strange to 30 by how many
steppes Of stone goeth UP from We village 10
ye castelie. In ye Castelle be two falre gates,
and We dungeon IL aire rounde tower, now
turned to pleasure as5 q place to walk In, and
to Sc all ye country about, and raylid about
The round (wall and d garden In We middle.
Here Is also n Weiie or CRETE depth III the
scastelle, and the spring thereof is very good
Ieland's quaint style IS not very descriptive
Of the grandeur and merits Of this redUubt-
able family seat, although it was noted as
being stronghold vi great strength, and
gave its lords command and absolute control
over the whole surrounding country.
In 1903, III the time OF Roger, the fifth
Earl OF Rutland, Belvoir became the scene OF
much teStivlty Oh the occasion OF the visit OF
James the First, In Ills progress from Edln-
burgh to London. The King departed on the
twenty second Of April from Newark toward
Belvor Castle, hunting all the way he rode,
AMI ia a merry mood entered the castle His
Majesty was received by the Earl royalty and
sumptuously, aud every homage paid 70 the
King By the Earl anu his lady. II is We'll
known that James the First IN the earlier
part OF his reign was very prodlgal OF thoat
honors which he could confer without expense
TO his royal Golfers, and on this day fifty gen.
tlemen had good occasion To rejoice IN the
good humor and honor comforting discern
ment OF their sovereign. The ktng sought
not TO be outdone by the hospitality 81 hls
host, and testified his satisfaction before ht
lett the castle by comforting the honor o.
knlghthood ON several members OF the hut
land family and their friends. .-
~ lb4o. during Inc unhappy C0niflct petWeeL
the klDg anu Parliament the castle was u:ot.G
as depot Tor the royal forces, ard In August
q that year Charles remained there severa
days. The utility OF the castle as affurdlnH
Shelter to parties OF the royal forces, who, by
sudden SallleS rendered themselves extreme
~ obnoxious to the opposing troops posted IL
the neighborhood, determined the parliament
tartan generals to possess 1t, and after Sc
vere siege OF four months, 1t was forced tc
surrender, and Gen. Poyntz took possession
vol G E.at,yr
IN l649, when the country was restored to
comparatively quiet state, the Earl OF Rut
land received compensation for the injuries
uone 70 his castle, and then It was that Gh.
Present building, as it now stands, was erect