NOTTINGHAM CASTLE,

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

PERHAPS no place, marked by the hand of antiquity, had ever more interesting circumstances attached to it, than what history records of this celebrated castle. At one period it was the prison of David, King of Scotland; who, to relieve the tedious hours of confinement, carved on the soft sandy walls of his dungeon the passion of our Saviour, in bas-relief: afterwards it became remarkable for the seizure of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, by Edward III.; and, at a later date, during the civil wars, from the display of the loyal standard of England by that unfortunate monarch, Charles I. The old castle, at that eventful moment, though strong from its natural situation, was falling into decay. At present, except the subject of the annexed view, together with some of the surrounding walls, no remains whatever exist whereby an adequate idea of that strength which contemporary writers agree was the characteristic feature of the place may be obtained. This fortress is recorded to have defended itself gallantly on all occasions; but more especially against Henry, Duke of Anjou, by whom it was besieged. During

the Barons' wars, in the absence of its garrison, it was however once surprised by Robert de Ferraris, who burnt the town, and plundered the inhabitants of all they had.

Historians are by no means agreed when the rock, on which the ancient castle stood, was first converted into a place of defence: yet it is allowed that in the earliest times, considerably prior to the Conquest, it had been a strong and an important hold. The foundation of its splendour was probably laid in the eleventh century, when several natural sons of William I. built the late castle afterwards it gradually rose into importance.

Leland, who visited this castle, conveys the best information of it now extant. He, describing its respective parts, notices two interior courts, besides the outward ward, and details every particular, not only of the dungeon having the passion of our Saviour" engraven" on its walls, but of that well known passage, ascending from the level of the river, through the body of the rock, into the interior of the upper tower, through which Edward III. conducted his soldiers, when he seized Mortimer, the subtle minister of Isabella. This passage yet exists, and per

haps is not only of greater antiquity than any of the fragments now remaining, but coeval with the first building ever erected on the rock.