of amusement which the age could produce. As may be seen from the extracts from "Kenilworth Inventory," that are given by Sir Walter Scott, the furniture of the castle was of the most magnificent and costly description. Master Robert Laneham, whom Scott designates "as great a coxcomb as ever blotted paper," mentions as a proof of the hospitable spirit of the Earl, that "the clock bell rang not a note, all the while her Highness was there; the clock stood also still withal; the hands of both the tables stood firm and fast, always pointing at two o'clock"-the hour of banquet! The quantity of beer drunk amounted to "320 hogsheads of the ordinary sort." The expense of the entertainments is said to have amounted to £1000 a day.

Robert Dudley, dying in 1588 at Kenilworth, some say of poison he had prepared for others, left the castle and estate to his brother Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, for his life, and thereafter to his son, Sir Robert Dudley, whose legitimacy he had not publicly acknowledged. Sir Robert produced proofs of his legitimacy; but the castle and domain were nevertheless seized by the crown. Subsequently it was bestowed by Cromwell on certain of his officers, who demolished it for the sake of the materials, felled its timber, and drained its moat. Charles II., on his restoration, granted the castle and estate to Laurence Hyde, afterwards Earl of Rochester. Kenilworth after this passed by marriage first to the Earl of Essex, and then to Thomas Villiers, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, in whose family it still remains. It has long been a complete though magnificent ruin. The present Earl of Clarendon, we believe, makes it his care to preserve this noble fabric as much as possible from further decay.

A careful study of the accompanying ground-plan of Kenilworth Castle will materially assist the tourist in finding the various parts of the ruins as they are noticed in the following description. Standing in the outer or base court, at the eastern side of the castle, the visitor has on his right Cæsar's Tower, and on his left Leicester's Buildings. The open space between them was originally occupied by Sir Robert Dudley's Lobby and King Henry VIII's Lodgings, which are entirely destroyed. Between the latter of these parts of the castle and Cæsar's Tower was an arched entrance into the inner court. At the farther end of the inner court is the great banqueting hall. Having made himself familiar with these points, the tourist can readily proceed to identify the other parts of this extensive and magnificent structure.

Caesar's Tower, evidently the oldest part of the building, has been a keep of immense strength. The character of its architecture is so thoroughly Norman as to leave little doubt that it was erected by Geoffrey de Clinton. In some places its walls are not less than sixteen feet thick. Unlike other Norman towers, it has no dungeon. This massive keep has been square in form; but one side of it, the north, is entirely demolished. It is supposed that this was done to render it untenable. The reason why it is called Cæsar's Tower is unknown. Scott conjectures that it may have received its name from its resemblance to the one in the Tower of London so called. In the south-east angle of this tower is the well, now covered over. It was emptied and examined in 1819, but nothing of consequence found in it. It was found to go to a depth of seventy feet below the ground-floor. Westward from Cæsar's Tower were the Kitchens, of which only a few crumbling ruins still remain. The arched passage between the Kitchens and Cæsar's Tower, built by Leicester, communicated with the Gardens. There Scott represents Leicester as standing in the midst of a splendid group of lords and ladies, when Elizabeth, having discovered the Countess Amy in the grotto, dragged her towards him, saying, "Stand forth, my Lord of Leicester! Knowest thou this woman?" The scene that ensued is one of the most powerful in the novel. Beyond the Kitchens is

The Strong Tower, or, as Scott has named it, Mervyn's Tower, will be viewed with interest from the associations Scott has connected with it. Originally a very strong building of three storeys, it exactly answers the description given in "Kenilworth." The floor of each storey," says Sir Walter, "was arched, the walls of tremendous thickness, while the space of the chamber did not exceed fifteen feet in diameter." It is here that the hapless Amy Robsart is represented as having found a brief refurge, when she came to Kenilworth, to make her appeal to her husband's love. The reader of Kenilworth will scarcely require to be reminded that it was here that she wrote her letter to Leicester, and fastened it with a braid of her hair in a "true-love knot ;' that here occurred her interview with Tressilian, and the scene with Michael Lambourne and Lawrence Staples. The upper storey, which was Amy's chamber, is in ruins. Following the line of building, which now turns to the south, we next examine

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The Great Hall, which has been an apartment of most magnificent style and dimensions. This and several adjoining

parts of the castle were built by John of Gaunt, "time-honoured Lancaster." The richly ornamented portal shows the level of this noble room. Its floor rested on stone arches, the vaulted

apartment below being probably used for stores. The hall has been 90 feet long by 45 broad. The windows are of great height, and exquisite in design. The fire-places, and the oriel window looking into the inner court, cannot fail to attract