of eitpstone Palace. 137 



The walls are thick, and the embattled parapets pre- 

 sent a range of towers, each of which are firmly guarded. 

 The knight or palmer, he who comes in peace or war, 

 has to pass over a strong drawbridge, and through the 

 barbican or watch-tower by which the castle is further 

 strengthened. He sees over his head a portcullis armed 

 with iron spikes like a harrow, and as he passes through 

 the long stone passage, he hears the heavy tread of the 

 guard going their rounds along the high wall, by which 

 the entrance is flanked on either side. The deep moat 

 with its heavy and sluggish waters, the inner and outer 

 ballia, the guard and the portcullis, all and each betoken 

 that the country is in an unsettled state ; but within the 

 area on which the castle stands all is bustle and anima- 

 tion, its ample space contains barracks and residences 

 for the workmen attached to the palace, together with a 

 well and chapel, and in the centre stands the keep, where 

 the king presides, and where his great officers have their 

 abode. A terrace walk extends around the keep, and 

 appended to it is a straight bowling-green, where amuse- 

 ments of various kinds are going on. The old castle 

 looks gloomy to him who passes by ; it stands an 

 isolated object, stern and lonely, as if nothing within 

 or around it, held communion with any living thing. 

 But such is not the case, for the monarch holds his court 

 here ; King John, -who has lately come to the throne, 

 and with him is that kind and gentle lady, his fair 

 queen, who tries to soften the rugged temper of her 



