CHAPTER VI. Warwick - Kenilworth-Stratford-Charlecotte. It was a bright and beautiful morning when we set out from the Regent's Hotel, Leamington, for Warwick Castle : one of those mornings that "Little John," in Robin Hood, thought "the most joyful in all the year;" a clear still morning in June. "From groves and meadows all impearl'd with dew, By their embowering foliage, sent on high Their pallid wreaths of smoke, unruffled to the sky." Nothing could exceed the delightful coolness and fragrance of the atmosphere, laden with the scent of the new mown hay; while those only who have looked out on a morning landscape in England, glittering in the rays of the newly risen sun, reflected from every dew drop, and luxuriant with that living green, which alone belongs to an English clime, can attain a full comprehension of its surpassing loveliness. It was not long before we found ourselves knocking at the door of the outer gateway of the Castle, then treading the narrow approach, cut through the solid rock, and leading up to the old home of many a feudal baron. Nothing can be finer than the graceful sweep of this curious pathway, which being covered with ivy, and its summit mantled with noble trees, hides the fine proportions of the Castle, until they burst upon you all at once, as the pathway terminates. The effect is certainly very grand. But it is not until the Great Gateway is passed, that you learn to comprehend the vast extent of the building. That part which serves as a residence, is then seen on the left hand. Its principal front, however, is turned from you toward the river Avon; along which it stretches for four hundred feet. Uninjured by time-unaltered in appearance by modern improvements, this home of the once mighty chiefs of Warwick, still retains that bold, irregular pleasing outline, so peculiar to the ancient Gothic castellated style. Connected as this Castle is, with the earliest periods of British history, its massive towers, and ivy clad battlements cannot be viewed by the lovers of antiquity, nor indeed by any contemplative mind, without feelings of the deepest interest: peopled as its walls have. been for centuries, by heroes, warriors, and statesmen, who once proudly figured on the theatre of life, and whose names are now honorably recorded in the annals of fame. This venerable pile, some portions of which have resisted the storms of war, and the fury of tempests, for nearly a thousand years, has been truly described by Scott, "as the fairest monument of ancient and chivalrous splendor, which yet remains uninjured by Time." A strong outer wall, with all needful defences, incloses the great base court, and was in ancient times, surrounded by a wide and deep moat, which is now drained and green with vegetation; and over which you pass by a small bridge, to stand beneath the noble arch of the gateway, still defended by its ancient portcullis. This Castle has been well called the most splendid relic of feudal times in England. Its history, is a history of a long line of the Earls of Warwick, reaching down to our times from the days of William the Conqueror. The most remarkable point of that history however, was, when the culmination of its glory was attained in the person of "the King Maker," whose name Shakspeare has made, as he prophesied it would be "Familiar in our mouths as household words." But we have no inclination to dwell upon the historic associations clustering round this noble old feudal strong hold. They are in the memory of every lover of English history, and therefore without farther pause, let us visit its interior. Entering the inner court, and passing up a grand stone stairway, under a fine old arch that had a look of Norman stateliness and strength about it; a large carved oaken door opened at our summons, and we found ourselves standing in the baronial Hall of the Castle. It has recently been restored, as near as possible, conforming to the ancient model. Parti-colored marbles of a diamond pattern form its floor, while the roof is of the ornamental Gothic, in the spandrils of the arches of which are carved, "the Bear and Ragged Staff," the armorial device of the House of Warwick. The walls are wainscotted with oak, deeply embrowned by age, and hung with ancient armor worn by many a bold Baron of the House, in those fierce struggles on English soil, and upon the scorching plains of Palestine where "the Cross outblazed the Crescent." Here and there may be seen the good old cross-bows, that had twanged in many a stern border struggle, with their arrows "Of a cloth yard long, or more." The antlers of several monarchs of the herd, who had fallen in the chase, graced the upper part of the magnificent windows, while the antiquated looking old fire place, with its huge logs piled before it, reminded one strongly of the olden time, when the mailed retainers of the ancient Barons, gathered in cheerful groups, round the wide hearth of the blazing fire place, in this old baronial hall. Three large Gothic windows, placed in deep recesses, shed a pleasing light throughout the room, while busy fancy led back to deeds and days of other years, conjured up the mail-clad knight-the bold but lordly baron, and the "ladie faire,”-peopling with ideal beings, a spot so truly appropriate for indulging in romantic ideas. Near the middle window is a doublet in which Lord Brooke was killed at Lichfield, in 1643. Opposite to the noble old fire-place, hangs a rich and complete suit of steel armor, over which is suspended the helmet, studded with brass, usually worn by Cromwell. The prospect from the windows of this Hall, is indeed charming. The soft and classic Avon, here "flows gently" one hundred feet beneath you, laves the foundation of the Castle, and continues its meandering way through the extensive and highly cultivated Park. That landscape is still indelibly impressed upon the memory. On the right, the undulating foliage of forest trees of every hue, intermingled with the stately cedar spreading its curiously feathered branchesand the verdant lawns where nature and art appear to have expended their treasures, combined to form a landscape of surpassing beauty. On the left are seen the picturesque and ornamental ruins of the old bridge, with shrubs and plants flinging their tendrils round its ruined arches. . I should have loved to linger in that old Hall, conjuring up the associations that in such a place crowd upon the most ordinary imagination. But with the large party that accompanied us, we had to play the game of "follow your I leader," and so were conducted through state room after state room filled with paintings, mosaic tables, richly carved buffets, gorgeous furniture, rare and splendid china, with articles of vertu innumerable. One room worthy of all praise, was that known as "The Cedar Drawing Room," lined with the most fragrant cedar from floor to ceiling, and crowded with the richest furniture. This furniture is antique; the mirrors, screens, and shields splendid, while the marble chimney piece is beautiful exceedingly. A table stands opposite to the fire place inlaid with lava of Vesuvius, upon which is a marble bust from the Giustiniani Minerva at Rome, flanked with noble Etruscan vases: upon a buhl table, near the west window was a Venus, beautifully modelled in wax, by John of Bologna. Etruscan vases of great value, are placed on fine old inlaid cabinets and pedestals in various parts of the room; while pictures from the strong pencil of Vandyke, in contrast with the rich and glowing hues of Guido Reni, arrest your attention at every step. Lady Warwick's boudoir is a lovely little room, hung with pea-green satin and velvet. The ceiling and walls were richly panelled, and had been recently painted and gilt, while the ceiling itself was enriched with the family crest and coronet. In this cabinet, I noticed two portraits painted from life, by the celebrated Holbein, of Anna Boleyn, and her sister Mary. They are both radiant with beauty; but all seemed to prefer the mild sweet face of the sister, who was fortunate enough not to attract the amorous glances of the royal Blue Beard. A modern picture by Eckhardt, also commands attention and admiration; it represents "St. Paul lighting a fire," after landing on the isle of Melita, and is remarkable for the management of light and shade, |