S t . M a r t i n ’ s.
C a s t l e I
learn the founder’s name, but find it was repaired in the time J
Henry VI. who gave the patronage to William Ayfcough, one of h|
judges ; who reftored the hofpital at great expence, and added ail
other chauntry prieft to the former *.
Nearer to Richmond, on an eminence above the river, are the poj
reliques of St. Martin's, a cell of nine or ten Benedittines-, dependent]
on theabby of St. Mary, at York. It was founded in uoo, by IfM
mar, chief fteward to the Earl of Richmond f . Befides thefe, we*
various other pious foundations on the Swale, whole waters we*
facred with the baptifm o f ten thoufand Saxons, near Cattarick, in]
627, by Paulims, biihop of York £.
It remains now to ipeak of the fortifications of this antient tow™
part had been defended by walls, which took in little more than tnfj
market-place, and had three gates. The caftle Hands on the foutli
weft part of the hill, in a lofty and bold fituation, above the feuk i
and half environed by it. The remains are the walls of the precmffj
fome froall fquare towers, and one very large, all built in the IViJ
man ftyle. This fortreis was founded by Alan, Earl of Brttcgf.i §JI
nephew to the Conqueror, who commanded the rear of his army a j
the battle of Haftings, was created by him Earl of Richmond, and rJ
cei ved from him the ihire of the fame name, and a hundred and fixt™
fix manors. in the county of York alone. This country had bee*
before the property of the brave Edwin, Earl of Mercia. The great
tower was built by Conan, grandfon of the former; the vault of
which is fupported by a fine odiagonal pillar. The view from thfl
caftle is picturefque ; beneath is the feat of Mr. York, and beyond!
* Dugdale, Mon. IT. 479. t ld em , I . 401 to 404.
§ Bugttale's Baron. I. 46.
Î Bede, lib. II. c. 14.1
a profped.
profpeft up the Swale into the mountanous part of the coun-
y, rich in mineral ; and on the banks of the river lived Sir
m Swale, of Swale-hall, in' Swale-dale, faft upon the river Swale.
Crofs the river, and after palling over a dreary moor, defcend into,
a valley not more pleafant, being totally inclofed with ftone fences.
¡Go through the fmall towns of Billerjly and Leybourne -, and foon after
:gnd an agreeable change of country, at the entrance of Wenjley-dale,
abeautiful and fertile vale, narrow, bounded by high hills, inclofed^
with hedges, and cultivated far up, in many parts cloathed with
w o o d s , -furmounted by long ranges of fears, white rocks, fmooth
and precipitous in front, and perfedlly even at their tops. The rapid
cryftal Ure divides the whole, fertilizing the rich meadows with
itsftream.
See, on the left, Middleham caftlç. The manor was bellowed by
Ulan, Earl of Richmond, on his younger brother, Rinebald. His
grandfon, ftyled Robert Fitz-Ralph, receiving from Conan, Earl of
¡Richmond, all Wenfley-dale, founded this caftle, about the year 1190.
By the marriage of his daughter and coheir to Robert de.Nevil*, it
palTed into that family, in the year 1269. In this place Edward IV.
itiffered alhort imprifonmént, after being furprized by Richard Ne-
! dll, the great Earl of EFarwick, and committed to the cuftody of his
brother, the archbilhop of York, who, proving too indulgent a keeper,
foon loft his royal prifoner, by permitting him the pleafure of the
I chace unguarded. The ruin of his houfe enfued. On its forfeiture,
I, Duke o f York, became polfelTed of it, and here loft his only
Edward. He who had made fo many childlefs, felt in this
* Dugdale, Baron. I . 291.
Y y 2
O c t o b e r 8.
misfortune