P o r t r a it s»
G eorge H id E ar l
o f C u m b e r l a n d .
more calculated for habitation than defence. A gateway, withj
round tower at each fide, ftands at a fmall diftance from ij
The towers in the caftle are. generally round, fome polygonal
Over the entrance is art infcription, purporting the time of rel
pair. The hall is worthy the hofpitality of the family; hail
two fire-places, a hatch to the kitchen,. - and another to thfl
cellar.
The great family-pidfure is a curious performance; and iiilf
more valuable on account of the diftinguiihed perfons reprefentedl
It is tripartite, in form of a ikreem In the centre is the celebrate*
George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, the hero of the reign of ElizaktM
and his lady,. Margaret Ruffel, daughter of Francisg fecond Earl of]
Bedford. He is drefled in armour,, fpotted with ftars of gold; but.
much of it is concealed by a veft and ikirts reaching, to his knees*
his helmet and gauntlet, lying on the floor, are ftudded in lik*
manner. He was born in the year 1558, and by the death ofliij
father fell under the guardianihip of his royal miftrefs, who place*
him under the tuition of Dodtor Whitgift, afterwards Archbillio*
of Canterbury\ He applied himfelf to mathematics ; but foon aft*
leaving college he felt the fpirit of his warlike anceitors rife withi*
him, and for the reft of his. life diftinguiihed himfelf by deeds of.
arms honorable to himfelf*,. and of uie to his country, in not few*
* A t an audience the Earl had after one o f his expeditions, the Queen, peril®
defignedly, dropped one o f her gloves. His Lordihip took it up, and prefented it
to h e r : (he gracioufiy defired him to keep it as a mark o f her efteem. Thus gr®
tifying his ambition with a reward that fuitecLher in.ijeiiy’s avarice. Headorne®j
i t with diamonds, and wore it in the front o f his high-crowned hat on days*
tournaments. This is expreffed. in the fine print o f him, by Robert White.
than
Ian tw e n t y -two voyages againft the Getyon of the time, Philip 11,
(ho felt the effedts of his prowefs, againft the invincible armada,
linft his European dominions, and the more diftant ones in America.
Be was always fuccefsful againft the enemy, but often fuffered great
[rdlhips by ftorms, by difeafes, and by famine. The wealth which
ie acquired was devoted to the fervice of the ftate, for he fpent not
Llythe acquifitions of his voyages, but much of his paternal fortune
(1 building of ihips 5 and much alfo he diflipated by his love of
[orfe-races, tournaments, and every expenfive diverfion. Queen
Wzdetb appointed him her champion * in all her tilting matches,
tom the thirty-third year of her reign ; and in all thofe exercifes of
jltings, turnings, and couries of the Held, he excelled all the notify
of his time. His magnificent armour worn on thofe occafions
[adorned with rofes and purs dedisff) is adtually preferved at Appleby
faille, where is, befides, a copy of this pidture. In the courfe of the
lifeoffoldier, failor, and-courtier, he fell into the licentioufnefs fome-
time-s incident to the profefllons t but, as the infcription on the
pifture-imports, the efiedls of his early education were then felt, for
le died penitently, willingly, and chrifiianly.
His Lady ftands by him in a purple gown, and white petticoat,
embroidered with gold. She pathetically extends one hand to two
beautiful boys, as if in the adtion of difluading her Lord from fuch
’ Mr. W a l p o l e , in his mifcellaneons Antiquities, has favored-us with a very
entertaining account o f his inveftiture. He fucceeded the gallant old Knight Sir
«my Lea, in 1590, who with much ceremony refigned the office. 11 have feen in the colledion o f her Grace the Dutchefs Dowager o f Portland,
»book of drawings o f all the Knights-tilters o f his time, drefled in their rich ar-
ttonr. Among others is the Earl o f Cumberland, in the very armour I mention. ’
2. z 2 dangerous
H i s C o u n t e s s ,