614 



CASTLE. 



Castle, edifice below, a narrow passage on the right intro- 

 ""Y"^'' duces the visitor to a small oval cell, and there is the 

 same to the left. Other three entrances from the in- 

 ternal area, at equal distances, likewise lead to small 

 oval cells of a similar description ; therefore, each 

 cavity in the wall consists of two oval cells, connect- 

 ed by a narrow passage, from one side of which an 

 entrance communicates to the court. 



Some analogous edifices are of larger dimensions, 

 enclosing a much greater space within their circuit, 

 and their walls rising to a considerable height. The 

 latter, however, is by no means proportioned to the 

 diameter of the area, so far as we are at this day en- 

 abled to judge. A rude constructed building, con- 

 sisting of dry rough stones without cement, stands 

 en one of the Orkney Islands ; the walls of which 

 are still 45 feet in height, though the interior circle 

 does not exceed 20 feet in diameter. The conical 

 shape is continued only about two-thirds of the edi- 

 fice, and it is thence cylindrical to the top. A stair 

 of steep narrow steps in the heart of the wall, which 

 is sixteen feet thick, leads to the summit of the ruin : 

 and the whole building is encircled by four or five 

 stories of galleries also in the wall, interrupted only 

 by the ascent of the stair. Broad thin stones serve 

 for the roof of one row, and for the flooring of the 

 next ; and light is admitted from the court, by three 

 perpendicular rows of small square apertures. 



Such edifices are not invariably situated in low 

 grounds-; one which has elliptical chambers, like 

 Dun-Alishaig, stands on a precipitous rock, over- 

 hanging the river Brora. But they are not less to 

 be considered as places of defence, from being com- 

 manded by adjacent eminences. All that their inha- 

 bitants had to dread, was probably being within arrow 

 flight, or the range of a spear, both of which are ex- 

 tremely inconsiderable, when precision is to be relied 

 upon. But though we must necessarily ascribe their 

 erection to a period of remote antiquity, it is diffi- 

 cult to conceive by what means their uncivilized te- 

 nants would accomplish it. The doors are in gene- 

 ral such as we at present use ; but the lintel of some 

 consists of a huge triangular stone, six feet long in 

 each side, and four in thickness. Nay, it is said, 

 that part of the wall of one is composed of a stone 

 29 feet long and 9 feet thick. We are thus minute 

 in describing these very ancient edifices, as they ex- 

 hibit remarkable peculiarities, and because an evident 

 similarity pervades the whole, indicating a common 

 origin from the same people. 



It is not probable, that the pillar towers found in 

 Scotland and Ireland, and also we believe on the con- 

 tinent, were designed for military purposes ; yet in- 

 telligent persons have maintained a different opinion. 

 Thus we shall only remark, that they were of great 

 height, extremely slender, and of skilful archi- 

 tecture. Some are 90, 100, even 130 feet high, 

 though not exceeding 15 in diameter at the base. 

 The door is always at a considerable height above the 

 ground, sometimes 8, 10, or 15 feet, and without 

 any remaining communication or means of ascent. 

 We shall afterwards see, that one great precaution in 

 constructing castles, was placing the entrance far 

 above the ground. 



It cannot be supposed, that our ancestors remained 

 insensible of the advantages which the regular en- 

 trenchments and fortifications of their Roman invaders 



afforded, and possibly might combine them with their Castle, 

 own national modes of defence. Single fortresses, ** -Y""* 1 

 in all countries, naturally arise in place of simple 

 mounds or bulwarks ; and those which were thrown 

 up for temporary use, at length became so many en- 

 circling walls of strong materials, which could afford 

 protracted resistance to a foe. Sometimes the Ro- 

 mans erected temporary towers on the verge of their 

 encampments during their progress through an ene- 

 my's country ; and if their operations were to be 

 permanent, these were constructed of stone. 



On ascending to an early period, we find an in- 

 teresting specimen of ancient fortification, far exceed, 

 ing that of the Scotish duns, in Launceston castle, 

 Cornwall. The remains of a central tower stand on 

 the top of a conical hill, which are of a circular shape, 

 18 feet of internal diameter, with walls 10 feet thick. 

 About the distance of six feet from the exterior, this 

 tower is encircled by a wall 12 feet thick, lower than 

 its top. After another interval of six feet, is a se- 

 cond encircling wall; beyond which is a third, or 

 breast-work, now in ruins. A circular wall is said 

 likewise to have surrounded the base of the hill, 

 which is judged to be above 70 yards in diameter; 

 and still further off, one more, fortified by towers, 

 and guarded by a ditch on the outside. The area 

 occupied by the three concentric structures on the 

 top of the hill, is about 31 yards in diameter. Some 

 antiquarians date the formation of this edifice anterior 

 to the Roman invasion of Britain : whatever may be 

 ihe truth in this respect, the difficulty of an enemy 

 surmounting the successive entrenchments can easily 

 be conceived. 



In foreign countries, either exposed to hostile in- 

 vasion or liable to intestine commotion, there are 

 castles constructed on a similar plan. Indeed, we 

 may here remark, that there is scarcely any exclusive 

 or peculiar fashion adopted by one nation which is 

 not at some ancient or modern rera seen in another. 

 Rocks, islands, and precipitous heights washed by 

 the sea, have always been favourite situations. The 

 Mingrelian princes in Asia dwell in strong towers, 

 thirty or forty feet high, which are encircled by a se- 

 cond wall of stone. We are likewise told of the for- 

 tress of Irivan in Persia, built on the verge of a steep 

 precipice, and surrounded by three walls. The an- 

 cient and modern castles, that is, those which exist 

 in modern times, for we cannot tell the precise date 

 of their aera, are protected by similar means of de- 

 fence. Herodotus describes Ecbatana in Media, as 

 being built on a lofty hill, and surrounded by seven 

 walls. All these were of different colours, and each 

 exceeded the height of that adjacent to it. Within 

 the central mclosure, was the residence of the king. 

 It has been argued that Launceston castle in Corn- 

 wall, was perhaps built after some design introduced 

 from the East, by those nations frequenting the Bri- 

 tish coast in quest of tin Thi^, however, is not a 

 necessary conclusion, because tne varieties in fortifi- 

 cation in the same country are conspicuously dis- 

 played, according to the prevailing sentiments of the 

 people respecting their capacities ot resistance. Thus 

 we see round or square towers standing single or com- 

 bined, encircled by walls or moats, or destitute of 

 both ; small, capacious, low or lofty, ail as chosen by 

 individuals diverging from common rules, or adopt- 

 ing improvements. But irregularities so numerous 



