CHAPTER VIII 



NORTON CONYERS 



Norton Conyers is situated on the river Yore 

 some four miles north of the city of Ripon ; 

 there is some difficulty in fixing the exact date 

 when the quaint old house was built, but no 

 doubt can exist that it was standing in the reign 

 of Henry vii. 



The ancient family of Norton were in posses- 

 sion from very early times until they became 

 involved in the Rising of the North in 1569. A 

 remarkable chapter of English history was that 

 in which those who clung to the old faith staked 

 their lives in its cause, many perishing ; while 

 others like the Earl of Westmorland, who left 

 historic Raby behind him, and the venerable 

 Richard Norton, fled to Flanders and were 

 known in England no more. 



The story of Norton was taken by Words- 

 worth as the theme of his '' White Doe of Ryl- 

 stone,'' in which he accepts the tale as told in 



the old ballad of the mission of Earl Percy's 



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