PLATE CVII.

Bevis' Tower, Arundel Castle.

THE annexed plate gives a south-west view of Bevis' Tower, which is built of flint and stones,

Attack upon the troops of Charles I. at Arundel, December, 1643; communicated to the House from Sir William Waller.

MY LORDS,

According to your commands, I advanced the last Lord's day from Farnham towards this place. I could not reach that night past Haslemere; the next day I marched to Cowdrey, where we, understanding there were four troops of horse, and one hundred foot, I resolved to give them the good night, and to that end, I dispatched away two regiments of horse to lay the passage round, but they were too nimble for me, and escaped hither, where I overtook them on Tuesday night. The next morning, after we had taken a view, and found out a place where we might flank their line with our ordnance, we fell on upon the north side of the works, and we did so scour a woody hill in the park, on the west side of the pond, with our pieces, that we made it too hot for them, which gave such courage to our men, that with the same breath they assaulted an intrenchment newly cast up, and which was very strong; it was drawn from the town gate down to the aforesaid pond near the hill. At the same time we fell on a narrow passage by the mill, where they had likewise a double work, and very strong; but, in a short time, by the good hand of

There was formerly a communication along the battlements of the wall, seen on the right, with

God, we forced both, and entered the town with our horse and foot, notwithstanding a brave sally made by their horse. We beat them into the castle, and entered the first gate with them; the second they made good and barricadoed, and they are there welcome to stay. I am resolved to block them up, for I know they are in a necessitous condition. God hath been pleased to bless me hitherto with a gracious success-his great holy name be praised for it; but truly, my Lords, I am very weak in foot, and my horse so hackneyed out, that they are ready to lye down under us. I expect Col. Behre and Col. Morley here this day.

WILLIAM WALLER.

MY LORD,

To the Earl of Essex.

Arundel, Jan. 6, 1644.

On Thursday the enemy sent a drummer to me with a letter, signifying their willingness to surrender the castle, if they might have honourable conditions; I returned answer, that when I first possessed myself of the town, I summoned them in the castle to yield upon fair quarter, but they were pleased to refuse either to give or take quarter. I now took them at their word, and bid them yield to mercy. That night I heard no more of them, but the next morning the drummer came to me again with another letter, wherein they disavowed that answer to my trumpet, laying the blame upon one, (who, they say, had no more soldiery than civility,) that without their assent or acknowledge, had given that language. I sent them answer, that I was very well satisfied, that in this

the keep. This wall is composed of flint and stones, the squares alternating each other. The slopes and banks are the remains of the ancient

disavowing that harshness, they had made room for courtesy, and that I was contented to give them fair quarter; and that, according to their desire formerly expressed, if they would send out to me two officers of quality, I would employ two of equal condition to treat with them about the particulars of the surrender; within a short time after, there came out unto me Colonel Bamfield and Major Bodvil, who pressed very much that they might have liberty to march away like soldiers, otherwise they would chuse death rather than life, and so broke off. About two hours after they sent out unto me Lieutenant-Colonel Rawlins and Major Moulin, who, after some debate, came to an agreement with me, that this morning they would deliver the castle into my hands by ten of the clock, with colours and arms undefaced and unspoiled, and that the gentlemen and officers should have fair quarter and civil usage, and the ordinary soldiers, quarter; for the performance of covenants, Sir Edward Ford and Sir Edward Bishop were to be immediately yielded to me, which was. accordingly done. This morning we entered, and are now, blessed be God, in possession of that place. We have taken seventeen colours of foot, and two of horse, and one thousand prisoners, one with another, besides one hundred and sixty which we had at the first entering of the town, and such as came to us from the enemy during the siege. I humbly desire the London regiments may be speedily sent hither to secure this important place, while I advance with what strength I have towards the enemy, who lie still at Havant. I humbly rest your Excellency's most humble servant,

WILLIAM Waller.

ditch that surrounded it, but are now thickly planted with shrubs.

According to popular tradition, this castle was built by a knight named Bevis, probably the knight sirnamed of Southampton, and that he called it Arundel, after a favourite horse, remarkable for its swiftness; be this as it may, the tower wherein the knight is said to have resided, retains the name of Bevis' Tower to this day. Camden says, "The etymology of this name is neither to be fetched from Bevosius's romantick horse, nor from Charudum, a promontory in Denmark, as Goropius Becanus dream'd; but from a vale lying along the river Arun in case Arun be the name of the river, as some have told us, who, upon that account, named it Aruntina Vallis. But all its fame is owing to the castle, which flourished under the Saxon government, and was, as we read, repaired by Roger Montgomery." Writers in general, however, acknowledge the tradition of Bevis and his horse having occupied, and given name to, this ancient castle.

Arundel, the horse of Bevis, appears to have been so named from his swiftness, after the swallow, hirondelle. Camden's derivation, as if Arundale from the river is denied, upon this plausible contradiction, that the river anciently was not called Arun, but the High-stream, Hault-rey, alta ripa.

During the siege, the open turret, called the Louvre, was destroyed by cannon-shot fired from the tower of Arundel Church; the castle in general was seriously damaged; it is supposed that the parliamentarian general captured a large booty in silver plate, and other valuable articles, in this castle.

The modern part of the castle was built about the year 1720; sash windows were then introduced in the north front, instead of the Gothic lights, so long seen in the venerable residence of the Fitz-Alans.

PLATE CVIII.

Ancient Grand Entrance to Arundel Castle.

THE approach to this strong gateway is by an arched bridge, leading over a deep ditch, which is now dry, and which defended the castle on the west side; the south-east side being, in a great measure, defended by a cliff. The wooden gates of the inner arch-way, which are still standing, are immensely strong, being composed of oak, in small pannels, strengthened by iron work. These ponderous gates were opened by means of a chain,