NOTE ON THE FRONTISPIECE CHARLOTTE, COUNTESS OF DERBY Painter: SIR PETER LELY (1617-1680). Size: 49× 391 inches. In the possession of the Earl of Derby, K.G., Knowsley Park. Charlotte de la Trémoille, daughter of the Duc de Thouars and his wife, Charlotte Brabantine de Nassau, third daughter of William the Silent; born 1599; married, 1626, James, Lord Strange, afterwards seventh Earl of Derby; died 1664. Painted in 1657 (dated to left of her right elbow) she is represented in widow's dress. An inscription on the picture reads, Charlotte daughter of Henrie Duke of Trémouille, Duke and peer of France, wife of James, Earl of Derby 1658.' PEVERIL OF THE PEAK CHAPTER XV What seem'd its head, The likeness of a kingly crown had on. PARADISE LOST. SODOR, or Holm-Peel,* so is named the castle to which our Julian directed his course early on the following morning, is one of those extraordinary monuments of antiquity with which this singular and interesting island abounds. It occupies the whole of a high rocky peninsula, or rather an island, for it is surrounded by the sea at high water, and scarcely accessible even when the tide is out, although a stone causeway, of great solidity, erected for the express purpose, connects the island with the mainland. The whole space is surrounded by double walls of great strength and thickness; and the access to the interior, at the time which we treat of, was only by two flights of steep and narrow steps, divided from each other by a strong tower and guard-house; under the former of which there is an entrance-arch. The open space within the walls extends to two acres, and contains many * See Note G. Sodor, or Holm-Peel, in the Isle of Man. objects worthy of antiquarian curiosity. There were, besides the castle itself, two cathedral churches, dedicated, the earlier to Saint Patrick, the latter to Saint Germain; besides two smaller churches; all of which had become, even in that day, more or less ruinous. Their decayed walls, exhibiting the rude and massive architecture of the most remote period, were composed of a ragged grey stone, which formed a singular contrast with the bright red freestone of which the window-cases, corner-stones, arches, and other ornamental parts of the building, were composed. Besides these four ruinous churches, the space of ground enclosed by the massive exterior walls of Holm-Peel exhibited many other vestiges of the olden time. There was a square mound of earth, facing, with its angles to the points of the compass, one of those motes, as they were called, on which, in ancient times, the northern tribes elected or recognised their chiefs, and held their solemn popular assemblies, or comitia. There was also one of those singular towers, so common in Ireland as to have proved the favourite theme of her antiquaries, but of which the real use and meaning seem yet to be hidden in the mist of ages. This of HolmPeel had been converted to the purpose of a watchtower. There were, besides, Runic monuments, of which the legends could not be deciphered; and later inscriptions to the memory of champions, of whom the names only were preserved from oblivion. But tradition and superstitious eld, still most busy where real history is silent, |