THE SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. 7 



There will be little wonder in the minds of those who are 

 acquainted with this, one of the most interesting of all the 

 plethora of our historical Yorkshire towns, that I am tempted 

 to stray from my essentially sporting subject, to dwell on the 

 history and beauties of ancient Helmsley. I will tighten 

 the curb upon my desire, however, further than the incursion 

 into the past is directly concerned with matters under review. 



In the Conquest, Helmsley was given to the Count of 

 Mortain, who was, of course, the brother-in-law of the 

 Conqueror. It is not generally known that the Conqueror 

 was no stranger to the Helmsley district. When he under- 

 took the final subdual and settlement of the wild Northern 

 regions, he rode from York City across Cleveland to the 

 River Tees. On his return journey he made for Helmsley, 

 crossing the then wild valley of Bilsdale. They have a 

 legend in that dale that this great history maker camped 

 there for some nights and sent some of his men on a marau- 

 ding expedition. They did not return, however, and he 

 became uneasy as to their safety, the moors at that time 

 being enveloped in mist. At last, to his great joy and relief, 

 he heard them across a narrow ravine, of which there are 

 many in the dales. On endeavouring to reach them, however 

 he found that it was impossible to cross. The ground which 

 separated the two parties was one of those bogs not unknown 

 to-day, and on which I shall have something to say later. 

 The marsh extended for a considerable distance, and he gave 

 orders for a causeway to be made. This " causer," as they 

 are called in the dales, consisting of a pathway of huge stones, 

 is still pointed out, and I suspect there is more than a smatter- 

 ing of truth in the story. Freeman, in his " Norman Con- 

 quest," gives an account of this journey over the wild moor- 

 lands, but says the Conqueror was only attended by six 

 horsemen, adding, " He lost his way, and had to spend the 

 whole night in utter ignorance of the whereabouts of his 

 main army." 



In the following century, Helmsley passed into the hands 

 of Walter L'Espec, whose name is so intimately associated 

 with the county history of his time. We remember him 



