256 ^B^Egirricfe district 



ST. JOHN'S VALE AND THIRLMERE. 

 (18 miles.) 



This excursion is commenced on the Penrith road. In 

 about four miles ^E-JfteHtcltJ ]Etall is reached, now a dilapi- 

 dated farmhouse, but with a high romance associated with 

 it. Here was brought up in humble but safe seclusion, the 

 young Clifford, son of that worthless noble who slew the 

 young Earl of Rutland, and, therefore, for whose innocent 

 blood the swords of York were all athirst : 



* There, at Blencathara's rugged feet, 

 Sir Lancelot gave a safe retreat 

 To noble Clifford, — from annoy 

 Concealed the persecuted boy.' 



He dwelt as a shepherd here for four-and-twenty years, 

 without learning even so much as to read and write, but 

 leading, as it seems, a very contented life, under the pro- 

 tection of Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, who had married his 

 mother, and behaved to him with a generosity very unusual 

 with stepfathers of that period. On the succession of 

 Henry VII., he was restored to his estates ; and conducted 

 himself in such a manner as to exchange the title of ' The 

 Shepherd Lord ' for that of ' The good Lord Clifford.' 



* In him the savage virtues of his race — 

 Revenge and all ferocious thought — were dead ; 

 Nor did he change ; but keep in lofty place 

 The wisdom which adversity had bred. ' 



In visiting Threlkeld, we have slightly overshot one of the 

 fairest scenes within a day's ramble of Keswick — the 

 Valley of St. John. This should be always approached in 



