his chief desire being for the time to arrive when he could call the place his own and be out of tutelage, and his principal occupation being hunting of fox and of otter, riding, shooting, fishing, badger-drawing, stalking the wild bulls of Chillingham, cock-fighting, dog-fighting, with the other manly sports in which young men delight. He took great pleasure, in those days, in the wild-fowl shooting on the islands; many a time he has taken me with him when he had no other companion (Mr. Hilyard's stomach being unable to stand the motion of the boat). Then we would sail through the waves to those wild and desolate rocks covered with the nests of the sea-birds which rise screaming from under the feet of the rare visitor. The cries of the birds, the whirr of their wings, the whistling of the wind, the dashing of the waves are the only sounds upon these lonely islands where St. Cuthbert built his hermitage. They are, indeed, a truly fitting place for the gloomy recluse, who (though doubtless a holy man) dared to call the half of the Lord's creatures unclean, and forbade a woman even to set her foot upon the place where he resided. Many pious women have gone into voluntary retreat and hermitage, but one never yet, I believe, heard of a woman thus speaking of man as to call him unholy or unclean. The walls of St. Cuthbert's house yet stand in ruins on his deserted island, but there are now no human beings within their shelter.

I learned to know all the birds by their flight, their cry, and their feathers-the St. Cuthbert ducks, who make nests of the seaweed, the Tom Noddies, the skouts, the guillemots, the shags, the kittiwakes, the gulls, the brockits, the rock pigeons, the sealarks, and the jackdaws who build in the rabbit-holes. In those days, who so brave and handsome as young Tom Forster, leaping lightly from rock to rock, fowling piece in hand, his long hair tied in a ribbon, and blown behind him by the sea breezes, his gray eyes bright, and his cheeks ruddy? What but a great and splendid future could await a lad so gallant? As for the girl that ran behind him, as agile as her brother, dressed in short petticoats and thick shoes with woolen stockings, she was a slip of a thing then, with dark brown eyes (like those of her aunt), and long fair curls flying under her nat. Her brother, though he sometimes swore at his grooms and thrashed the stable boys, never had a harsh or unkind word for her, nor she any thought for him but of tender and true affection. Pity it was that one of natural abilities so good would never read and acquire wisdom.

BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.

The English Home of the Fosters for Many Years-A Description of this Gigantic Medieval Castle Of Its Interior and Exterior-Bamborough Church and the Buried Fosters-The Farne Islands.

Bamburgh is on the eastern coast of Northumberland, about fifteen miles from Alnwick. The castle stands upon a rising eminence of basaltic rock, which at this point is of great thickness.

By some writers it is thought not unlikely that Bamburg was one of the Roman Stations in the reign of the Emperor Agricoba. But be this as it may, there are no remains about the works of the present castle that will in any way bear out this supposition. It is not till the time of the Saxons that the page of history begins to dawn upon

"Ida's castle, huge and square."

This king began his reign in the year 550, and with his name the castle of Bamburgh has for centuries been associated.

If there are no remains about the castle associating it with the Romans there is equally little to justify us in connecting it with the Saxons. But this is not surprising, as most of the defenses of that period were composed of wood.

It was not till the time of the Normans that a different state of things crept in, and when wood was superseded by stone.

About the earliest mention we have of Bamburgh is by the venerable Bede, who says, "in the year 625 the nation of the Angels, living on the lands northwards of the Humber, with the king, Edwin, received the Christian faith through the mission of Paulinus, by whom the royal convert, with the nobility of his nation, and many

people were baptized at York on the 12th April, 627," and that after this event the Holy Bishop tarried with Edwin for more than a month at the northern stronghold. Bamburgh, "the royal burgh," is supposed to have derived its name from "Bebba," one of the early queens of Northumbria. But its greatness, antiquity and renown is derived from the fact of it having been the place where the good Bishop Aidan spent much of his time.

Oswald had not been long on the throne ere he commissioned Aidan, one of the brethren of the convent of Iona, to instruct the people of his kingdom in the way of religion. Previous to this there was no church or alter in Northumbria.

In 651 the Mercians, under Penda, inflicted great hardships and cruelties upon the inhabitants. The invaders, on arriving before the walls, endeavored to take the place by surprise, but being thwarted in the attempt they next proceeded to encompass the fortress on the land side with wood and thatch, and setting fire to this, the flames suddenly rose above the highest towers and ramparts. Aidan, at that particular time, was upon the island of Farne, where he was wont to resort at particular periods, and anticipating the deadly havoc that would befall those within the walls, at once invoked the divine aid to counteract the subtle machinations of the enemy; nor were the prayers of the bishop allowed to go unheeded, for all of a sudden the wind became changed, which caused the flames to rage violently amongst the besiegers. This was regarded as an intervention on the part of Providence, as it had the effect of causing the seige to be raised.

It was at Bamburgh where one of the first Christian churches in Northumbria was reared, and within this small wooden structure Aidan was peacefully reclining when his spirit was summoned to "the abode of the just."

There can be little doubt but that during the whole of the Saxon rule in this country, the castle of Bamburgh would play a very important part, often will it have shared in victory and adversity. There are instances in its history when its towers, walls and ramparts successfully resisted the attacks of the enemy. Its geographical position would be token much strength and resistance, and in more recent times this was amply exemplified on the occasion, when for nearly three months it withstood the formidable assaults of the soldiers of Edward IV.

Bamburgh, like other neighboring towns, experienced in the past all the evils attendant upon civil and warlike commotions. On more than one occasion its walls and places of habitation were burnt to the ground, and the inhabitants subjected to the greatest cruelties, but most heroically were those inflictions borne, for as soon as the storm was over there arose from the ruin a fortress stronger and more formidable than the one it supplanted.

During Saxon times the castle was famous for the great advantages it possessed in the shape of a stronghold; this was chiefly owing to its situation. But great as the fortress was in those times, there can be little doubt that the castle at a subsequent period became still more famous for its walls and towers of defense. It is rather remarkable that a place so rich in lore and traditional associations should possess no remains of the sturdy Saxons who first settled within its domain, yet at the same time it must not be forgotten that Bamburgh forms no exception to the general rule, for of all the monuments raised in Northumbria by this brave people, very few now remain to tell of their existence. In the invasion of England, 1091, by Malcolm, King of Scotland, Bamburgh is brought into prominence, for it was here that Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, took refuge when he refused allegiance to William II. A good deal of the masonry of the castle may be attributed to that period, notably the towers and walls facing the mainland.

The King and his army pursued Mowbray to the outer walls of the castle, but after tarrying a few days, they found it impregnable and consequently resolved to move southwards; but before leaving he took precautionary steps to guard and watch the movements of the insurgents. The King caused a wooden structure to be erected not far from the castle, and this was called "Malvoisin," which signifies the "bad neighbor," and in this town were quartered a number of soldiers. There can be little doubt but that Mowbray was fully aware that due vigilance was exercised by the King's troops over his movements, but he was not only a good soldier, but also fully cognizant of all the strategic qualities which go to make an experienced warrior. Endowed with such qualities he was not slow to take advantage of the position, but in this case he allowed himself to be entrapped in a net of his own making. Mowbray, by means of secret correspondence with the garrison of Newcastle, grew impressed with the idea that by a little effort on his own part he might easily make himself master of that town. Starting from Bamburgh for that purpose, and under cover of night, he had not journeyed far before he ascertained that

his movements were watched. Harassed and disheartened, the Earl, by the time he arrived at Newcastle, found the gates of the town closed against him, and being driven to despair he took shelter in the monastry of St. Oswin, at Tynemouth; but the King was so exasperated at his conduct that he wantonly disregarded the sanctity of the asylum by ordering his soldiers to drag him forth.

Mowbray, on his leaving Bamburgh, had committed the custody of the castle to one Moreal, and amongst the inmates was the Earl's wife. After several unsuccessful attempts on the part of the King to induce the garrison to surrender, he resolved upon a last resource, which was to lead Mowbray forth before the walls of the castle, there to be subjected to the torture of having his eyes put out. On this being communicated to the commander, the garrison at once surrendered. Moreal, for his bravery, received a free pardon from the King, but Mowbray was sent to the castle at Windsor.

In the conditions of peace between King Stephen and David I, the Earldom of Northumberland was settled upon Henry, David's son, but the castles of Bamburgh and Newcastle were reserved to the Crown of England. Amongst royal visits we find that King John spent three days at Bamburgh in 1201, and 1213 he again visited this northern stronghold. In the latter year the sum of £117, 8s. 4d. was spent in repairs about the castle, which was probably incurred by reason of the King's visits. During the reign of Edward I, Bamburgh enjoyed all the privileges of a duly constituted borough. In addition to the holding of fairs, markets and other jurisdictive powers, it returned two members to the Parliament held at Westminster, on the 13th November, 1295, and which was prorogued by Royal Writ to the 27th of the same month.

It was at this castle where John Baliol, King of Scotland, was summoned in 1296 to do homage to the King of England, and it was here in 1312 where the partigans of Henry de Percy induced Henry II to confer upon that nobleman the office of custodian of the castle.

After the battle of Durham, David Bruce, King of Scotland, was confined for a while at Bamburgh; and in 1355 the Earl of Murray, previous to being removed to the castle of Windsor, was retained here as a prisoner. In 1356 a convention was entered into between the King of England and the King of Scotland, and about this time there are several important transactions, all of which are dated Bamburgh.

In the wars of the fifteenth century, between the rival houses of York and Lancaster, Bamburgh is made to form the scene of some of the deadly encounters that were to determine the struggle. After the disastrous battle of Lawton, 1461, Henry VI and his queen sought refuge in Scotland, and although the fortune of the Red Rose was upon the wane in the southern parts of the kingdom, yet for all this, many a heart in the north country beat heavily for the cause of the dethroned monarch, and this is most emphatically shown by the garrisons of the castles of Alnwick, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh refusing to surrender to the troops of Edward IV, a determination that was not overcome till after the battle of Hexham, when all hope for the cause of Henry was blasted. For nearly three months Sir Ralph Grey, after the battle of Hexham, successfully defended the castle from the fierce attacks that were made against it by the soldiers of the King. It is estimated that at one time King Edward's forces amounted to upwards of 10,000 men, and it was not till the commander of the fortress had been bodily disabled by the falling of one of the towers that the garrison surrendered. The siege to which the castle was subjected during the fifteenth century may justly be regarded as one of the most disastrous that it ever had sustained. After the surrender of the castle by Sir Ralph Grey, it was found that the walls and ramparts had suffered very much from the onslaught; and this is the more apparent by the fact that in the 42d of Edward III we find that commissioners were appointed to examine and repair the great tower and other parts of the building, but from all accounts these repairs only appear to have been of a partial character, for subsequent events all go to prove that the castle after this period began rapidly to sink into decay.

In the time of Queen Elizabeth Sir John Forster, Warden of the Marches, was Governor of Bamburgh Castle, and in the reign of James I, Claudius, a grandson of Sir John, received from the Crown a grant of the castle and manor. After this a good deal of the history of the castle is associated with the Forsters.

Before making any further remarks concerning the Forsters, and their afterwards disposing of the castle and manor, we will give a brief outline of the celebrated fortress.

Of all the castles in the north Bamburgh may be said to be far superior to any other in regard to strength and position. The castle is built upon an overlying

mass of basaltic rock, and the whole of the buildings go to form a triangle. Adjoining the mainland the basalt rises very high, and judging from the walls that traverse this part of the line, there are indications that different parts of the masonry have at times undergone repairs, and this may have been caused by parts of the cliff giving way.

The principal entrance to the castle is by way of a steep enbankment that runs in a winding direction by the south end of the building. At the latter stands the barbican, or outer gateway. On the northwest side of the walls stood the postern, or sally-port. At stated intervals the walls are strengthened and protected by towers and bastions, some of these being remarkable for their strength, boldness and uniqueness, and this is nowhere seen to greater advantage than in that finely conceived and almost impregnable pass that leads to the keep. As you enter by the barbican you will at once perceive how difficult it would be for an assailant to effect a fooling from this point. Independent of the approach by the keep being protected by a portcullis and two circular towers, it was also strengthened by a deep ditch, which was cut through a narrow gut or strip of rock, and made to communicate with the mainland. If the assailants effected an entrance into the inner baly, they would next find themselves exposed to the greatest danger, for this point was in reality the pass to the keep, and thus formed a second gateway; behind this again was a strong circular tower, constructed in such a way as at the shortest notice to have been used to great advantage against the enemy. The keep, a massive square building, is situated in the miner baly. This part of the castle may be said to differ very considerably, in an architectural point of view, from the whole of our Northumberland Castles. Its chief object has been defense. Situated on a lofty eminence and commanding a wide expanse of sea and inland scenery it could not fail to impart a beauty and grandeur to all around it. At each of the four angles of the keep are exploring turrets, and from the summit of these a wide stretch of country is commandable. In addition to the keep there were in the inner baly several other towers of a miscellaneous character, and in olden times it would be in this part of the castle where the garrison would be quartered. There was also within the walls a small chapel, the remains of which were discovered last century when certain alterations were being effected, but there were no remains amongst them that would warrant the assumption that the building had been older than the early part of the commencement of the twelfth century.

From a recent survey it has been found that the castle occupies eight acres of land, and in addition to this there are within the walls fifty-six acres of rock, warren and hills.

Returning to the Forsters we may state that this family is old origin, dating back to the thirteenth century. For several centuries they have been connected with Northumberland. Sir John, one of the most distinguished of the name, was warden of the Middle Marches in the time of Queen Elizabeth. From Sir John sprang Claudius, who received a grant of the manor from King James. The castle and manor of Bamburgh remained in the hands of the Forsters till 1709, when they were sold to Nathaniel Crewe, Lord Bishop of Durham,* for the sum of £10,000. Lady Crew was the daughter of Sir Wm. Forster, and aunt of Thomas Forster, Esquire, M. P., who was implicated in the rebellion of 1715. Of all the great and renowned names associated with the castle of Bamburgh, none have achieved a greater distinction than that of Lord Crew, thus verifying the words of the poet:"Peace hath its victories as great as war."

The Crews were an old family who resided at Stene, in Northamptonshire. John Crew, father of the Bishop, was rewarded with a peerage for the services he had rendered to the restoration of Charles II.

Nathaniel Crew was the fifth son of John Crew, having been born on the 31st January, 1633. At the age of nineteen he went to Oxford, where he was not long before he took his first degree. In due time he became a fellow of the college, and in 1663, after taking his Dr.'s degree, he entered the church, having been ordained by the Bishop of Winchester. It is said that it was about this time that the young cleric first met the King, and report avers that the monarch was so impressed with the amiableness of his character, that he ever afterwards entertained a warm affection for him. Be this as it may, Crew's preferment in the church was not only

The Right Rev. Nathaniel Crewe, Lord Bishop of Durham, was known as 3d Lord Crewe of Stene. This prelate stood so high in the favor of James II and so strenuously supported that prince's measures that he found it no easy task to make his peace after the Revolution. He did so, however, and the remainder of his life was spent in retirement and devoted to acts of benevolence. He died in 1721 without issue.