But what principally distinguishes the Chapel, is a fmall Tomb or Monument, on the fouth fide of the Altar: on the top of which, lies a Female Figure extended in the manner that effigies are ufually exhibited praying on ancient tombs. This figure, which is very delicately defigned, fome have ignorantly called an image of the Virgin Mary; thoughTM it has not the least resemblance to the manner in which fhe is reprefented in the Romish Churches ;who is ufually erect, as the object of adoration, and never in a proftrate or recumbent, pofture. Indeedthe real image of the blessed Virgin probably stood: in a small nich, ftill visible behind the altar : whereas the figure of a Bull's Head, which is rudely carved at this Lady's feet, the ufual place for the Crest. in old monuments, plainly proves her to have been. a very different perfonage. About the tomb are several other Figures; which, as well as the principal one above-mentioned, are cut in the-natural rock, in the fame manner as the: little Chapel itself, with all its ornaments, and the: two adjoining Apartments. What flight traditions are fcattered through the country concerning the origin and foundation of this Hermitage, Tomb, &c. are delivered to the Reader in the following rhimes. It is univerfally agreed, that the Founder was one of the BERTRAM family, which had once confiderable poffeffions in Northumberland, and were anciently Lords of Bothal Castle, fituate about ten miles from Warkworth. He has been thought to be the fame BERTRAM, that endowed BRINKBURN Priory, and built BRENKSHAUGH Chapel: which both ftand in the fame winding valley, higher up the river. But BRINKBURN Priory was founded in the reign of K. Henry I.* whereas the form of the Gothic Windows in this Chapel, especially of those near the altar, is found rather to resemble the style of architecture that prevailed about the reign of K. Edward III. And indeed that the fculpture in this Chapel cannot be much older, appears from the Creft which is placed at the Lady's feet on the tomb; for Camden+ informs us, that armorial Crefts did not become hereditary till about the reign of K. Edward II. These appearances ftill extant, ftrongly confirm the account given in the following poem, and plainly prove that the HERMIT of WARKWORTH was not the fame perfon that founded BRINKBURN Priory in the twelfth century, but rather one of the BERTRAM family, who lived at a later period. • Tanner's Notitia Monaft. + See his Remains. * FIT was the word ufed by the old Minstrels to fignify a Part or Division of their Historical Songs, and was peculiarly appropriated to this kind of compofitions. See Reliques of Ancient Eng. Poetry, Vol. II. p. 166 and 397. 2d Ed. THE WARKWORTH. HERMIT of WARK WORTH. Northumberland BALLAD. D FIT THE FIRST. ARK was the night, and wild the storm, And loud the fea was heard to dash Musing on man's weak hapless state, With hofpitable hafte he rose, All fad beneath a neighbouring tree Who beat her breast, and with her tears Ο weep not, lady, weep not fo;, Nor let vain fears alarm; My little cell fhall shelter thee, And keep thee safe from harm......... It is not for myself I weep,. # But for my dear and only friend, And while some sheltering bower he fought Within this lonely wood, O truft in heaven, the Hermit said, Doubt not but I fhall find thy friend,.. Then climbing up his rocky ftairs, And calls aloud, and waves his light O tell me, father, tell me true, But |