Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-06-13

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This summer an historic pageant Of
peculiar interest is to be given at
Warwick castle, a famous medieval
castle in mid-England. There are to
be depicted 10 centuries of the his
tory Of the town of Warwick. Druids
will be summoned from out the dim
pagan past, before the eyes of the
wondering spectators will parade
queens and kings long since moldered
to dust, ecclesiastics and barons, fam
GUS law makers and famous law break
ers.
The town of Warwick is situated on
the Avon, not very far from Stratford;
and not very far from another town of
less fame but decided. commercial i'm
portance, Birmingham. First War
wick was British settlement, about
50:>:A. D., Roman fortress In 915
the town was rebuilt by Ethelheda,
daughter of King Alfred. The most
notable edifice in the town is War
wick castle, principal residence Of the
earls Of Warwick. The castle, beauti-
full, for. situation and having such close
connection with various periods of
English history, is a most fitting place
for an historic pageant.
:: Writing in blouse and Garden, P.
says: Few Of tho his
toric houses Of England can compare
with Warwick castle In regard to Ell
ther its natural beauty or it's wealth
Of historical associations. It possesses
nil the characteristics of a medieval
fortress Of great strength and grand
eur, and may be selected as one of the
best examples in England of the cas-
tie of ancient days which played no
inconsiderable part in the times Of CIV
IL strife and in the political revolu-
lions of our country's annals. Most of
our castles are in ruins. They were
held by royalists in the great civil
war, and were 'slighted' by. Cromwell
in order to prevent them from prov
ing themselves thorns in the side Of
the parliamentary party. Warwick.
having been held by Lord Brooke,
who fought on Cromwelps side, was
spared, and therefore retains to-day all
the features Of. its former greatness,
a delightful study for the student of
the military architecture of the mid
die ages"
When King Alfred's militant daugh-
ter built the strong fortification,
called the Doungeon, the defense was
made against the Danes. Warwick
was saved for a time, but in 1915
down swooped the Danish invaders and
almost destroyed the fortress. Then
we come to the day Of William the
Norman, and find the Conqueror, at
once realizing the value of position
of natural strength, ordered the town
and castle of Warwick fortified. In
the reigns of Henry H., Richard I. and
John, considerable sums were spent in
repair of the walls and maintenance
of a garrison. In the troublous days
when Simon de Montfort led a revolt
against the king, Warwick castle was
attacked, the castle held for the king
by William Maduit, earl of Warwick,
and de Montfort wrought great de-
struction- nothing of value was left
save the heritage in the castle
ditches.''
The castle and title now passed to
the very powerful Beauchamps, and to
certain members of this family War
wick castle owes much of it's strength.
Thomas Beauchamp, who f1ourished in
tho fourteenth century. erected
Caesars tower and st. Mary's church:
his son built Guys tower. Richard.
son of the last named Thomas. proved
himself q mighty soldier, added to the
might of the name of Beauchamp and
Of: Warwick, and Richards son at
tanned such favor with his sovereign,
Henry w. as to be crowned king OF
tie Isle Of Wight. But great families
pass away; the Beauchamps fail, the
Nevilles arise.
We now come to that Warwick
styled the king maker, Richard Ne
vile. His marriage to Anne Beau
champ brought him the lands of the
Warwick family, and was created earl
Of Warwick with succession to the
heirs Of his wife. We find the new
earl: of Warwick the most important
figure in the wars Of the Roses, impet-
uous in battle, great in ambition and
power. Warwick brings to his castle
and keeps prisoner there King Ed
ward w., that the cause Of the duke
of York may be advanced. The Yorks
come to the throne, and Warwick aimss
to add further to his own power. But
kingly favor is tickle, treachery be-
tray and the earl of Warwick is slain
on the battlefield; the house Of Ne.
vile falls. -
Tfoublous times follow for those
that Warwick castle, uncertain the ten
ure Of life OF one dwelling therein. It
DUKE or WE'LL
Among the portraits at the Royal