Rev. J. W. Dunn on Warkworth. 53 



that the effigy may represent Margaret Neville,* the mother 

 of Hotspur, and wife of the first earl, who fell at Bramham 

 Moor. But this conjecture brings the date of the window to 

 1372, with which its style, without a certain amount of 

 licence, I am anxious to persuade myself, does not appear to 

 synchronize. 



Amidst so many conflicts of opinion let us for one day more 

 at least believe in the poem. Let that battered figure for 

 this day at least be indeed the hermit Bertram, symbolizing, 

 until the very stones shall perish, a bootless bene,t a sorrow 

 too deep for tears, — and let that recumbent efiigy be indeed 

 the maid of Widdrington, his own best beloved, whom un- 

 wittingly he slew. 



And may I not almost venture to say that even should we 

 succeed in disproving the whole story, there will yet come 

 forth believingly the pilgrim to Bertram's altar for many a 

 rolling year, and the old song shall after all secure more con- 

 verts, and draw out more human sympathy, than the hard, 

 and sometimes ruthless verities of antiquarian research. 



After a peep into the hermit's garden, and, I wish I could 

 say, a draught of pure water from his well, you will enter 

 upon your short return voyage, and, if the day be favourable, 

 you will not fail to admire the truly beautiful reflections 

 of the castle in the smooth and gently gliding river. 



Our visitor's antiquarian toil is not yet over, for there still 

 remains for inspection a venerable and interesting church. 



I have already occupied so much of your time that I shall 

 forbear entering into any details at present respecting this 

 curious building. Suffice it to say, that within my memory 

 it was a brave old specimen of high pews and galleries and 

 whitewash, and whatever else the taste of the last century 

 thought fit to approve ; but that during the last three years, 

 the liberality of my parishioners, and the kind help on all 

 hands tendered to me, not grudgingly nor of necessity, have 

 enabled me, assisted by competent guides, to make it such as 

 it now is. Church restorations are sometimes cruel on- 

 slaughts upon all which we antiquarianly most worship. I 

 trust you will at least give me this credit, that I have care- 

 fully endeavoured to retain whatever of old could be fairly 



* Seeing tliat the bull's head, if the effigy relates to a Percy's wife at all, 

 must be explained by a marriage with Neville. 



t What is good for a bootless bene ? — (what remains when prayer is una- 

 vailing ?) The foreboding answer of the trembling mother was " endless sor- 

 row." — Story of the Boy of Egremond. 



H 



