50 Rev. J. W. Dunn on WarJcWorth. 



Whilst speaking on the subject of trouts, I may remark 

 that within human memory the Coquet was a productive 

 salmon river. 



This fish is now but rarely captured in our tempting stream. 

 Its place has been usurped by the "eriox" or " bull trout/' 

 with which the river abounds. Recent investigations have 

 shewn that " Salmo salar" and "Salmo eriox" do not accord 

 — in other words that the true salmon is not found in any 

 abundance in the same waters as the bull trout. 



But by this time you will be crossing the "Trinetye draught" 

 of Coquet, where the hermit each " Sondaie" had his weekly 

 hawl, and on landing, a few paces will disclose to you the far- 

 famed Hermitage of Warkworth. 



This venerable relic of the days of old has been so fre- 

 quently and so well described by others that I need not tres- 

 pass upon your time by a lengthened notice. Your attention 

 will be drawn to the mutilated and weather-beaten piece of 

 rude sculpture above the entrance door, and I shall not allow 

 you to forget the quaint little porch with its mouldering re- 

 cords of stone seats for two, where doubtless it was that the 

 hermit mused on " man's weak hapless state," when — 



" Loud the sea was heard to dash 

 Against the distant shore." 



Even in the days of Grose, the said sculpture must have 

 borne few traces of its original design, for in his careful work 

 the emblem there represented is called a " gauntlet, and 

 probably the arms of the founder." It is now ascertained to 

 be a " rood." 



Proceeding inwards, you will, I feel assured, try to de- 

 cypher the faded inscription above your head ; Fuerunt mihi 

 lacrymce mece pmies node ac die, " Tears have been my meat 

 day and night," reminding one most forcibly of the deathless 

 words of the poet over portals whose entrance becomes an end 

 of hope for ever. Your eye will rest next upon the altar with 

 its five crosses, and upon the recess in the rock wall above, 

 Avhich once contained the pyx. You will scan Well also, the 

 careful groining, picked so deftly and with such labour, from 

 out the living stone. And then, with thoughts subdued and 



preaching, and his family soon after thrown out of the vicarage house ; his 

 daughter, who was near her delivery, not being permitted to lie in there. He 

 thereupon, hired a house in the town, but he was not suffered to dwell in it 

 quietly, his successor, Mr. Archibald Moore, being one of the chief that threa- 

 tened to ruin him if he staid in the parish." He outlived this lawless and tur- 

 bulent period, and was restored to his rights in 1660. 



