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terres, and the rest forming the large base-court or outer yard of the noble castie. The lordly structure itself, which rose near the centre of this spacious enclosure, was composed of a huge pile of magnificent castellated buildings, apparently of different ages, surrounding an inner court, and bearing, in the names attached to each portion of the magnificent mass, and in the armorial bearings which were there blazoned, the emblems of mighty chiefs who had long passed away, and whose history, could ambition have bent ear to it, might have read a lesson to the haughty favourite who had acquired, and was now augmenting, this fair domain. A large and massive keep, which formed the citadel of the castle, was of uncertain though great antiquity. It bore the name of Cæsar, probably from its resemblance to that in the Tower of London so called. The ex

ternal wall of this royal castle was, on the south and west sides, adorned and defended by a lake, partly artificial, across which Leicester had constructed a stately bridge, that Elizabeth might enter the castle by a path hitherto untrodden, instead of the usual entrance to the northward, over which he had erected a gatehouse or barbican, which still exists, and is equal in extent, and superior in architecture, to the baronial castle of many a northern chief. Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase, full of red deer, fallow deer, roes, and every species of game, and abounding with lofty trees, from amongst which the extensive front and massive towers of the castle were seen to rise in majesty and beauty."

Elizabeth visited Leicester at Kenilworth in the years 1566, 1568, and 1575. The last visit, which far eclipsed all other "Royal Progresses," has been immortalized by Scott. A reference to the ground plan of the castle, and some extracts from the inventory of Leicester's furniture, in the appendix to Scott's "Kenilworth," will afford some idea of the enormous extent of the place, and the costliness of its decorations. After Leicester's death Kenilworth was seized by the crown, and was ultimately granted by Cromwell to certain officers of his army, who demolished the splendid fabric for the materials. After the Restoration, Charles II. gave the property to Sir Edward Hyde, whom he created Baron Kenilworth and Earl of Clarendon. For a long period the castle was left to ruin; but the present Earl of Clarendon has manifested a praiseworthy anxiety to arrest its decay. The only remaining part of the original fortress is the keep or Cæsar's Tower, the walls of which are in some places sixteen feet thick. The remains of the additions made by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, are termed Lancaster buildings. In the latter are to be seen the relics of the great hall, a fine baronial room, 86 feet in length, and 45 feet in width. Although the erections or Leicester are of the most recent date, they have the most ancient and ruined appearance, having been built of a brown friable stone, not well calculated to stand the weather. "We cannot but add," says Sir Walter Scott," that of this lordly palace, where princes feasted and heroes fought, now in the bloody earnest of storm and siege, and now in the games of chivalry, where beauty dealt the prize valour won, all is now desolate. The bed of the lake is now a rushy swam

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massy ruins of the castie only serve to show what their splendour once was, and to impress on the musing visitor the transitory value of human possessions, and the happiness of those who enjoy a humble lot in virtuous contentment."

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LXXXIII. LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM BY ST ALBANS, DUNSTABLE,
DAVENTRY, AND COVENTRY, 108 miles.

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St Albans is a town of very great antiquity, having derived its origin from the ruins of the Roman Verulamium. An immense number and variety of antiquities have been discovered here at different times, and some vestiges of the ancient town may still be seen at a little distance from St Albans. Here was formerly a magnificent abbey and monastery for Benedictine monks, of which the fine old abbey church and a large square gateway are now the only remains. The abbey was founded by Offa, King of the Mercians, in honour of St Alban. The church was made parochial in the reign of Edward VI. It has all the appearance of a cathedral, and its interior exhibits the various styles of several ages of architecture, and is adorned with numerous rich screens and monuments. Its appearance from the hill, on the Watford Road, is very striking. The town contains three other churches, in one of which-the church of St Michael-the fine monument to the great Lord Bacon may be seen. St Albans has also a new town-hall, several meeting-houses, and charitable institutions. Two battles were fought here during the wars of the Roses; the first, in 1455, when Richard Duke of York obtained a victory over Henry VI.; the second, in 1461, when Margaret of Anjou defeated the king-maker Earl of Warwick. St Albans returned two members to Parliament till 1852, when it was disfranchised. Population in 1851, 7185. Sir John Mandeville, the traveller, was a native of this town, and there is a monument to his memory in the abbey church. There is one also to the good Duke Humphrey of Gloucester.

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