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ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.

most probably murdered by his uncle. Henry VII . adopted the policy of hisfather-in-law : as is well known, his son , prince Arthur , breathed his lastwithin the walls of this castle, in which he had dwelt with the same design,which had established within them the residence of Edward V. , and for twomore centuries the place continued to justify its Saxon etymology of ‘a seatfor the administration of justice to the neighbouring people.’ Richard Baxter , who lived here for some time about the year 1630, as servitorto the chaplain to the council, shews how great was the resort hitherduring that period. “ The house,” says he, “ was great, there being fourjudges, the king’s attorney, the secretary, the clerk of the fines, with alltheir servants, and all the lord president’s servants, and many more ; andthe town was full of temptations, through the multitude of persons, counsel-lors, attorneys, officers, and clerks, and much given to tippling and excess.”Nor arc the obligations of English literature to this place inconsiderable.The representation of Comus, and the composition at a somewhat later time,of the incomparable Hudibras, within this stately castle, will ensure to itsvenerable ruins the respect of every admirer of genuine poetry, of just andpoignant satire.

In the civil wars of Charles I. , Ludlow continued true to the cause ofroyalty : it was the last fortress in Shropshire , and one of the last in thekingdom which surrendered to the parliament, being delivered up by SirMichael 'VVoodhouse, “ traiterously, cowardly, and basely,” (if we may believea contemporary writer,) to Sir William Brereton, May 27th, (or as Dugdale,in his view of the troubles, has it, June 9th) 1646.

Upon the Revolution, the council of the Marches was suppressed: forwhat reason does not very well appear, since the bringing of justice thushome to their doors, should seem to have been a very great convenienceto the inhabitants of these counties. The ruin of this noble castle didnot immediately follow the downfall of its importance; and persons werenot long since living, who remembered some of the apartments with thefurniture which adorned them during the existence of the council. Butsoon after the accession of George I. , if my information is correct, an ordercame down, for unroofing the buildings, and stripping them of their lead.Decay, of course, soon ensued. No care being employed to preserve thefurniture, it was gradually seized by any one who chose to take it: and the