gabled building on the east side has been already mentioned as having been added to this tower in the 17th century. Passing on we come directly in front of the main buildings of the castle, and looking westward have the inner court in

Kenilworth Castle, from the Outer Court.

full view. The eastern side of the square, which consisted of buildings erected by King Henry VIII. and Sir Robert Dudley is wholly destroyed, only a vestige of foundations remaining here and there. On the right is Cæsar's tower, a noble keep of immense strength; its walls are many feet thick, and in each angle has been a staircase. Though it has been subjected to some alterations, it retains undeniable evidence of its Norman origin in the form of its older windows, which are narrow and circular-headed, and in the character of its buttresses. Some portions of this massive building have fallen down, and the huge fragments which lie scattered round give a better idea of the vastness and solidity of the building, than can be formed by a simple view of its exterior. Westward from Cæsar's tower were

the kitchen and other offices, now represented only by some two or three arches and remnants of foundation; and again beyond these lies the building called Mervyn's Tower, which

Mervyn's Bower.

Sir Walter makes the scene of some of the incidents of his
novel.*
It has been a building of considerable strength,
and of a date intermediate between Geoffroi de Clinton's
keep, and John of Gaunt's buildings. Its chambers are all
arched of stone, and it is the part of the ruin best adapted
for the purposes of a gaol, and may therefore have been
built for that purpose in the time of Henry II. By one of

*We are now to return to Mervyn's Bower, the apartment, or rather the prison, of the unfortunate Countess of Leicester. "He thinks not of me," she said-" he will not come nigh me! A Queen is his guest, and what cares he in what corner of his huge Castle a wretch like me pines in doubt, which is fast fading into despair ?" At once a sound at the door, as of some one attempting to open it softly, filled her with an ineffable mixture of joy and fear; and hastening to remove the obstacle she had placed against the door, and to unlock it, she had the precaution to ask, "Is it thou, my love?" "Yes, my Countess," murmured a whisper in reply. She threw open the door, and exclaiming, Leicester !" flung her arms around the neck of the man who stood without, muffled in his cloak. "No-not quite Leicester," answered Michael Lambourne, for he it was, returning the caress with vehemence, "not quite Leicester, my lovely and most loving duchess, but as good a man. "Kenilworth.

the staircases its present summit may be reached, and hence may be seen on the right the remains of the Swan Tower, which formed the north-west angle of the outer walls, the walls themselves built in 26 Henry III. and bordering the lake, and immediately below, the space within the walls on which the pleasaunce was re-edified. Adjoining Mervyn's tower on the south side is the great banqueting hall, built by John of Gaunt. It must have been a noble apartment. Its floor was supported on a stone vaulting carried on two parallel rows of pillars-the under apartment being probably used for stores-the windows, filled with tracery and transomed, are of great height, the space of wall between them panelled, and the fire-places on each side richly ornamented. One window at its southern end looking east into the great court and one west towards the chase, are its oriel windows, while at the north-east end is the entrance doorway, through a very beautiful arch, not easily accessible, but which may be seen from the interior court. The line of building now turns to the east, but it is not easy to trace it distinctly: it is however of the same date with the great hall, and contained, according to Dugdale, rooms called the White Hall, the Presence Chamber, and the Privy Chamber: the second of these had an oriel towards the inner court. Beyond these, and carried out to the south, are the remains of Leicester's buildings, a magnificent erection of great height and striking beauty. Though the latest in date, their continuance appears more dubious than that of the other portions of the Castle, the thickness of the walls being considerably less. From an accessible point on the outer circuit of the walls, south-east from Leicester's buildings, a view may be obtained of Mortimer's tower, lying just below, and of the tilt yard, stretching away south-east to the

site of the gallery tower, but broken now by the river—its bridge being replaced by a modern one just to the west of its old position. The low meadows south-west of the tilt yard mark the position of the pool, and the rising ground beyond shows its limit in that direction. Turning north

wards, the interior side of the water tower, stables, and Lunn's tower are visible, but fenced out from closer inspection, and forming part of the farm yard. Here again are features which would seem to indicate that the water tower

had an ecclesiastical purpose. The stables are partly of hewn stone, partly framed in wood, and are probably of Leicester's building. If desirous of a nearer view, the visitor on leaving the Castle may pass through the farm

yard to the east of Leicester's gateway, and examine Mortimer's tower, of which there are important remains ; and crossing the bridge trace the walls of the tilt yard to a considerable distance. This will also lead him to the meadows on the south side, from which perhaps the best general view of the Castle may be obtained. This, however, is a point, on which we do not presume to dictate: an artist may spend with profit many days beneath the walls of Kenilworth, and still find new combinations of its varied outlines, each more striking and pleasing than the last. The view from the south meadows is, nevertheless, the one which we seem to have seen attempted most frequently.

In crossing the little wooden bridge, on the road to the Castle, it is probable that the eye may have lighted on the Church spire and a neighbouring pile of ruin which lie in the valley of the stream to the east, at the distance of some third of a mile. These are the parish Church of Kenilworth and the poor remains of its once flourishing Augustine Monastery, and we cannot let our readers leave Kenilworth without a visit to them, and a few words from us respecting them.

Kenilworth Church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, consists of western tower and spire, nave, north and south aisles, north transept and chancel, of the following interior dimensions

1