chosen literary successor-The last male heir of the Percys- The Bishop helps to edit the poems of Thomas Grainger-He feeds his swans-Is surrounded by literary men-In imagina- tion he revisits Tweedside and Teviotdale-He interests himself in all manner of scientific research and touches up' a comic opera-His unfailing love for genealogies-Gentleness with LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THOMAS PERCY, S.T.P. . From a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. MRS. PERCY HOLDING THE MS. OF HER HUSBAND'S JOHN CLEVELAND HOLDING THE MS. OF HIS SIR HUGH SMITHSON, BART., CREATED FIRST Duke Frontispiece CARICATURE OF DR. GOLDSMITH Etched by Mr. Bunbury. JONATHAN SWIFT. PORTRAIT RESCUED FROM DE- 222 ECTON 238 A VISTA IN THE GROVES AT DROMORE. BISHOP PERCY, PRELATE AND POET CHAPTER I 1729-1753 If it be true that the quality of our native air in some manner influences our characters and constitutions, Thomas Percy was fortunate in first drawing breath in the bright and healthy atmosphere of Bridgnorth in Shropshire. At the time of his birth the air of this quiet country town was said to equal that of Montpelier itself, then the unrivalled playground and health resort of the English people. Another century had still to elapse before Lord Brougham made known to them the charms of the Riviera. In Bridgnorth all constitutions could be suited, for if the air of the upper part of the town proved too fine and sharp, relief might be found by removing to the lower part, and there the feeble folk might dwell secure, until old age in its natural course carried them to the grave. The high town lies upon the western bank of the river Severn, and rises gradually to a considerable height. The ascent begins from the foot of the bridge, where a flight of steps cut deep in the rock forms a passage that to Thomas Percy's youthful fancy appeared like the ascent of Mount Calvary in Jerusalem.' On the south side of this passage opened a large cave in B the rock, which was the repository of excellent beer. Within stood a tun containing more than five hogsheads, and the entrance was guarded by a lion rampant carved in stone. Perhaps to this early impression may be traced the tradition of the 'Dragon of Wantley' and the valiant Moor of Moorhill.' The den of the dragon was described as a beautiful and romantic feature amid a number of picturesque landscapes, and the form of the cavern cut in the rock resembled a wine or ale cellar. The town of Bridgnorth had suffered severely during the civil wars. The Royalist Governor of the Castle, Sir Lewis Kirk, bombarded St. Leonard's Church, which had been converted by the Roundheads into a temporary powder magazine. A fire naturally resulted that consumed the college, almshouses, and the greater part of the high town. Richard Baxter, the incumbent of the parish, wavered somewhat in his adherence to either faction, not like the Vicar of Bray, from motives of policy, but from a desire, if possible, to unite two duties, at that moment apparently incompatible, to serve God and honour the King. On leaving the town he shook the dust from his feet, and declared that the hearts of its inhabitants were harder than the rock on which their town was built. Nevertheless, he dedicated his famous book, 'the Saint's Rest,' in 1654, to his dearly beloved friends, the inhabitants of Bridgnorth.' Probably he wished to point them to that eternal rest, of which he had failed to find even the earthly semblance in their distracted town. At length, after a troubled life of over ninety years, having suffered many things at the hands of Judge Jeffreys and others, and heartily weary of both factions, the good old man lay dying. Some of his puritanical friends who stood |