surface so full of remarkably pure water, that the adjacent Moat may, at any time be replenished by it.Having formerly been covered with thick timbers and earth,―turf, similar to every other part of the Area, so effectually concealed it, that it was lost, even to Tradition, till, about 20 years ago, when it was thus accidentally discovered: a horse, grazing there, broke, by his weight, some of the decayed timbers, and narrowly escaped a disastrous death. The circumstance having been communicated to Lord Dudley, men were immediately set to work, first, to draw out the water; and then to cleanse the well. But so copious was the Spring, that, like the widow's cruse, night replenished the exhaustion of the day. Incessant labour was therefore resorted to, both night and day, by a change of workmen every four hours, with a powerful windlass and large bucket, brought from one of his Lordship's collieries for the purpose. The Area soon becoming a lake, with the vast quantity of water thus cast upon it, a sluice was cut into the contiguous Moat; and, at last, Perseverance having accomplished its object, the bottom of the well was cleared of its heterogeneous contents; which consisted not only of mud and stones; but of cannon balls and broken martial weapons, now preserved at Himley, his Lordship's seat in Staffordshire. Deferring the relation of several historical circumstances appertaining to this interesting space of ground (the Area) till the consideration of them shall be demanded in their proper department, we will now approach what is co-eval with the Keep, called THE GRAND ENTRANCE INTO THE COURT: (19) that is, the way from the Warder's Tower, along the Esplanade, to the Castle. But, going from the Area, as we now do, the account must be reversed of this interesting Relic of Antiquity. Its capacious Saxon Arch, surmounted by a double window, of the same style of architecture, will first attract notice. The opening in the wall, to the left of the Arch, had a flight of steps, which the author well remembers, deeply worn by frequent treadings. These led to a spacious Magazine for materials of dreadful annoyance to an assailing foe, when the Castle was beleagured, and an inroad partially obtained. For, besides a Portcullis at each end of this Gateway, through a square Gullet, in the centre of its roof, was poured down a fiery torrent of destruction on the heads of those, who, having passed the two strong gates, in front, and the space 16 feet square, between them, had proceeded thus far towards the Area. In that space "the tugg of War" must have been tremendous, after the van-gate, forced by battering-rams, had failed to prove a resistless barrier: and, to force that, must have been no easy task. For, pierced by spears and arrows, through the cruciform lance-holes in the two flanking Turrets which guarded the entrance, and assailed by other missiles from higher parts of those Turrets, as well as from machico lations or sluices immediately over the gate—— Slaughter must have become wearied in its own horrid work, ere any impression there could have been effected; the use of artillery then being unknown. To feed the means of defence, a doorway, into each of the Turrets, from the Area will be seen; which must have been completly screened by the outer or large van-gate at the entrance; whose skeleton alone is now left standing,-a mute witness of the crimson deeds, which, in former times, were perpetrated near it. For, no record of any historical event does it bear: while on one of the columns of its more perfect neighbour, down whose grooved sides the barbed Portcullis thundered in its fall, are inscribed in lasting characters, some brief memorials. These, Tradition says, were carved by the Garrison, during the civil wars, in the reign of Charles I. commemorative of the Princes "Rupert, GodfrEY, JAMES, and FAVEL," being then at the Castle. As a striking contrast to the agents of violence, who, whilom prosecuted their "dreadful trade" in the armoury or magazine over this Gateway, the author has seen sheep feeding there, on turf (formed by imperceptibly-accumulated soil and slowly-decaying vegetation) as fine as ever covered the richest pasture. He also remembers a horse, allured thither by the sweetness of the herbage, which, while browsing on the dangerous eminence, fell through that Gullet which had been so destructive, perhaps, to many human beings. Though not killed by the fall, the poor animal, not escap ing so fortunately as the one of its own species, at the Garrison Well, just mentioned, was so much injured, as to constrain its owner, for pity's sake, to put a period to its sufferings.-The square frame of the Gullet, again filled up "with ill-assorting masonry," is very discernible in the centre of the long-arched Gateway. THE FLANK TOWERS; or, more properly speaking, the two Turrets, already spoken of, which Giant-like, guarded the entrance, were each of them 10 ft. 4 in. in diameter, having a spiral Stair-case, communicating with the Armory or Magazine above, and descending to a dungeon below. The latter is choked up with materials of the fallen towers. At the time the dismantled Keep was judiciously repaired, about twenty years ago, one of these minor Towers was cleared of rubbish to a considerable depth; when a sub-communication, between the two, was discovered but no further search was made, to ascertain whether there be also (as Tradition affirms) a communication to a larger Dungeon under the Keep.-Contrary to the advice of him who now submits these pages to the Candour of the Public, the rubbish was returned to its former situation. About the same time, during one of his pensive walks amid these Ruins, then contemplated, as they still are by him with no common partiality, flowed from his pencil the following lines; which, having a particular reference to Objects G so venerable and so interesting, he presumes will not inappositely close this part of the subject. Fal'n from its rocky eminence sublime, Lies the huge Pile which War's rude shocks defied, Departed Grandeur! cou'd these stones assume And bright Description kindle from the flame. Who grac'd the Terrace or the Esplanade; What far-fam'd Warriors throng'd the splendid Ball, What am'rous vows, express'd in courtly guise Sent the Despoiler to the recreant Dead; What wealthy Nobles fed the neighb'ring Poor; The hoary relics of the pile might tell. But, sadly-silent, they keep mouldering on, Shaken full oft by Time's unsparing hand; At last to moulder in the darksome Tomb; But, summon'd thence, thou shalt decay no more. Then the stupendous Fabric of the World, The starry Firmament, the Earth,—the Sea, Shall, to chaotic Ruin, all be hurld, And Man, once mortal, then immortal be! |