ROCHESTER CASTLE.

HE Battle of Hastings led the way to the erection of many Norman fortresses in this country, and among them all none was more powerful than the Castle of Rochester.

With outer walls seven feet in thickness, and those of the keep fifteen, it fulfils the description of old Camden, who says: "Neere unto the church there standeth, over the river, an olde castle, fortified by art and situation, which, as the report goeth, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Earle of Kent, built; but it was no doubt King William the First that built it." Upon this subject there has been much fruitless controversy of little importance Whatever its date, Rochester has a history of singular and thrilling interest, little known to the thousands who annually stroll along the banks of the Medway

to us.

"Where the land o'erlooks the flood,

Steep with rocks and fringed with wood."

Its history is one of sieges and battles, but the siege of the greatest note was in the reign of King John, a reign of tumult and civil distraction, amidst the occurrence of which the foundations of British liberty were laid.

The Great Charter having been obtained, the barons seemed to rest upon their arms, and Rochester Castle was left in an almost defenceless state.

The king laid siege to it, and after threescore days, starved the garrison into submission. The defence was desperate; inch by inch the ground was disputed; and after all the outworks had given way, the main tower was held by men who had nothing but horseflesh and foul water to sustain life. Of William de

Albini, the commander, and one of the barons, the following history has been handed down.

Early in the morning of the last day, when the garrison was rendered desperate by famine, Albini took his place on the tower to watch the fortunes of the war, when a favourite cross-bowman accosted him, "Sire, behold the tyrant," pointing at the same instant to the figure of King John.

Well," said the Baron, "what wouldst thou ?" "Shall I take him off?" suiting the action to the word, and adjusting the steel bolt to the bowstring. Say the word, and this bears your order to his high

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ness.

"Nay, God forbid!" said Albini, raising his hand to check the rash attempt. " Forbear! it is your king!"

"Very well, seigneur," said the arcubalister, with a mortified air; "but 'tis a fine target, and this is a last chance, for when the water fails us, God have mercy on this garrison."

"Let us abide the worst," said his master. event is with God, and not with King John."

"The

"May be so," said the bowman; "but they prepare for a new assault, the ladders are out. Had this little bolt been sent home, much blood, methinks, would have been spared, but now he's beyond reach, and we are lost. The die is cast, if once in his hands; yonder stands the gibbet, so here goes."

The bolt flew; it struck one who rose between the archer and the king, and he fell headlong from the scaling ladder, and his fall hastened the closing horrors of that memorable siege.

The civil war which sprung up in the reign of Henry the Third, found its origin in the objection taken to the introduction of foreigners by the king. The young nobles resented the affront thus put upon them, and were not unwilling to show it in any way that presented. Thus it was that in 1251, in the fields by the

castle, the foreign lances were disgraced in the tournament by the breach of those laws of chivalry which even royalty held sacred. This simple event led Henry to see the feeling of his people, but not before the preparations had been made which posted an army to dispute the passage of the old wooden bridge of Rochester, and the subsequent attack of the town.

To clear this bridge, vessels filled with combustibles were set on fire, and drifting down the stream, ignited the centre arch; and in the confusion consequent upon this conflagration, Simon de Montfort passed his army over in boats; but though he vigorously assailed the outworks many days, was obliged to give up the unequal combat against the holders of the "Kentishmen's Castle."

Like all other edifices of this character, Rochester Castle, by reason of its great strength, maintained its position against all the ancient combinations of the battering-ram, the balista and the cross-bow; but the moment gunpowder was introduced, the cannon gave the finishing blow to all those magnificent ruins upon which we gaze with so much wonder and veneration. Ceasing to be places of security, unless in particular instances, they ceased to be appreciated for any other quality of site or structure. Commanded as that of Rochester is by all the neighbouring heights, it could offer no resistance, and continued thenceforward to be a mere monument of other days, reminding us of those patriotic men and measures by which our national liberties have been achieved, and who led the way to those happier times when the safeguard of society is. the law of the country, and when the humblest domestic cottage is a domestic fortress.

"Unconquer'd patriots, form'd by ancient lore
The love of ancient freedom to restore;

Who nobly acted what they boldly thought,
And seal'd by death the lessons which they taught."

F. S. A.

THE CUMBERERS.

CHAPTER V.

Now as this is the history of a Cumberer, I shall not stay to dilate on the kindness shown to me by Mrs. Blount, the events that took place, or the cogitation I indulged in, excepting when they had reference to my heroine: I pass on therefore to say that the day after Miss Anne's funeral, at which more mourners attended than those of her own family, Miss Perkins sent a message to Mrs. Blount, requesting her to come and see her.

She complied immediately, and on her return I felt naturally anxious to know what had been decided about me.

Mrs. Blount did not at first satisfy me, but sitting on an ottoman before the window, continued to look out at the ships passing through the stripes of sunny and shady water, for the sky was streaked with clouds. I saw that she was vexed, and was very much relieved when she at last exclaimed, Well, my dear, Miss Perkins wishes you to return this day week.'

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"So soon," I replied; "surely I shall be in their way; may I not now go home, the house must be ready."

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'My dear, your parents are not here to be consulted, and as far as I am concerned, I should not like to return you to any hands but those from which I received you; besides, the agreement for you was made for three months; and when you hear that your going back is of some consequence to Miss Perkins, I believe you will be ready to do so.'

"Of consequence," I exclaimed; "dear Mrs. Blount, what use can I be to them?"

"I have discovered," she replied, "that the sum paid for you will be of great consequence-that good, good woman (I wish I were as good, she has no pride about her, not an atom, and no affectation)—she told me she looked on it as a providence that you should have been placed with them, for thus they could cover the expenses of their dear sister's illness and funeral." "Are they so poor?" I answered.

"I had no idea of it," she replied; "in fact I have been deceived and led into a great many mistakes; it seems that now this poor lady is dead, one third of the property they lived upon is withdrawn, and four people have to live on one third less than five did."