Thomas Percy

“ Each of the apartments is extremely small; for the principal Chapel, in length, exceeds not 18 feet - and the breadth and height not more than 7 feet and a half. It is, however, very beautifully designed, and executed in the solid rock, and has all the decorations of a complete Gothic Cathedral in miniature.
But what principally distinguishes the Chapel, is a small tomb or monument on the south side of the altar; on the top of which lies a female figure, extended in the manner that effigies are usually exhibited praying on ancient tombs. ”

“ Agnes de Percy sole heiress of her house, married Josceline de Louvaine, youngest son of Godfrey Barbatus, duke of Brabant, and brother of Queen Adeliza, second wife of King Henry I, he took the name of Percy, and was ancestor of the Earls of Northumberland. His son, Lord Richard de Percy, was one of the twenty-six barons chosen to see the Magna Charta duly observed.
(11) Wark Castle, a fortress belonging to the English, and of great note in ancient times, stood on the southern bank of the river Tweed, a little to the east of Tiviotdale, and not far from Kelso. It is now entirely destroyed. ”

“ Indeed, the real image of the blessed Virgin probably stood in a small niche, still visible, behind the alter; whereas the figure of a Bull’s Head, which is rudely carved at the Lady’s feet, the usual place for the Crest in old monuments, plainly proves her to have been a very different personage.—About the tomb are several other figures cut in the natural rock, like those before mentioned. What slight traditions are scattered through the country, concerning the origin and foundalion of the Hermitage, tomb, &c. ”

“ Who beat her breast, and with her tears
⁠Bedew’d the mossy ground.
O weep not, lady, weep not so,
⁠Nor let vain fears alarm;
My little eell shall shelter thee,
⁠And keep thee safe from barm.
It is not for myself I weep,
⁠Nor for myself I fear ”

“ He has been thought to be the same Bertram that endowed Brinkburn Priory, and built Brinkshaugh Chapel, which both stand in the same winding valley, higher up the river; bus Brinkburn Priory was founded in the reign of King Henry I. The style of the architecture of the Chapel of the Hermitage prevailed at a later period, about the reign of King Edward III.
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. ”

“ It is universally agreed, that the founder was one of the Bertram family, which had once considerable possessions in Northumberland, and were anciently Lords of Bothal Castle, which is 10 miles from Warkworth. ”

“ WARKWORTH:
A
NORTHUMBERLAND TALE.
in three·parts.
BY DR. THOMAS PERCY, BISHOP OF DROMORE.
EDINBURGH:
PUBLISHED BY R. MARTIN, BROWN STREET.
———
MDCCCXLVI.
HERMIT OF WARKWORTH.
PART FIRST
Dark was the night, and wild the storm,
⁠And loud the torrent’s roar;
And loud the sea was heard to dash
⁠Against the distant shore.
Musing on man’s weak hapless state,
⁠The lonely hermit lay ”