With Whinfell Park, in the neighbourhood of Brougham, the following improbable narration is connected :-During a visit of Edward Baliol, King of Scotland, to Robert de Clifford, in 1333, it is said, "they ran a stag by a single greyhound out of Whinfell Park to Red Kirk, in Scotland, and back to this place; where, being both spent, the stag leaped over the pales, but died on the other side, and the greyhound attempting the same leap, fell, and died on the contrary side."

HEXHAM, FROM THE WEST,-NORTHUMBERLAND.

Hexham is a town of great antiquity, pleasantly situated on an eminence south of the Tyne river, at the distance of twenty miles west from Newcastle. The soil in this neighbourhood varies considerably: the valleys are rich, and in a fine state of cultivation, while the higher lands require all the efforts of skill and industry to render them fertile. Of the vale of Hexham it is said, "its harvests are the earliest, its trees have the richest foliage, and its landscape is the most diversified and interesting of any in Northumberland.”

The site of the town, in the immediate neighbourhood of Hadrian's Wall, and several important Roman stations, affords testimony that an encampment formerly occupied this place; though antiquaries differ much in opinion on this subject. The dignity and celebrity of Hexham is derived from the ancient church, the building of which by St. Wilfrid was undoubtedly the first inducement to crect domestic habitations in the vicinity. To this holy personage, king Egfrid granted the whole territory of Hexhamshire, and to his zeal and ability the town was indebted for that high character which rendered it the envy and admiration of the age. He introduced into it the most skilful artists from France and Italy; and the first use of glass windows in the north of England is ascribed to him. He is represented as having been "elegant in person, accomplished and affable in demeanour, popular in manners, and, though extremely ambitious, was eminent for the virtues of charity and liberality. The sons of princes were his pupils, and princes themselves were his familiar intimates."

The ecclesiastical buildings, and the whole neighbourhood of Hexham, suffered severely from the Scots; and a short time previous to the battle of Nevill's Cross, David, king of Scotland, with an army of forty thousand men, halted here three days, and converted the place into a depôt for military stores and provisions. The next event of importance was the battle of Hexham Levels, in which Henry VI., of the house of Lancaster, suffered a final defeat by the Yorkists.-The romantic incidents attending the escape of Margaret and prince Edward, will form an episode in this brief history.

THE "QUEEN'S CAVE."

After the defeat at Hedgeley Moor, the Lancastrians concentrated their forces on the plain of Hexham Levels, and there waited the advance of the Yorkists, resolving to place on the issue of the expected contest their final overthrow or triumph. The result of this battle is well known: the army of Henry was completely routed, and even the high cap of state, with its two rich crowns, fell into the hands of the Duke of York, who shortly after ascended the throne of England by the title of Edward IV. Henry fled from the field;

and Margaret, his queen, with the young prince Edward, escaped into an adjoining forest. They had scarcely entered within its intricacies, when they were seized by a band of ruffians who had there located themselves. Regardless of her rank, sex, or situation, they stripped the queen of her jewels, and were proceeding to greater indignities, when a quarrel arose between them about the distribution of the spoil. Seizing this favourable opportunity for escape, the prince and his mother fled into the interior recesses of the forest.

As the royal fugitives were pursuing their toilsome journey through this wilderness, a rustling of the trees forewarned them of approaching danger; but before they could reach concealment, a robber confronted them in their path.

"Ruffian," exclaimed the queen, assuming the dignity and haughtiness of carriage familiar to her, "thou hast tarried over long: thy comrades have been before thee, and have despoiled us of our treasures."

"Truly," answered the robber; "their chief will find but worthless prey in what they left you. You may pass : 'twere better that you take the right-hand path, its windings lead to an opening of the forest."

"Stay, man," said Margaret, "though a desperate outlaw, there yet may be some spark of pity in thee, some reverence for a kingly name."

66

"and kingly

Pity and reverence are terms alike unknown to me," replied the man ; power is but an idle sound to him who owns no sway-respects no laws." "Yet will I trust thee," answered the queen, "for fortune leaves us little choice of friends. Behold this boy-the son of Henry of Lancaster, your king."

Whether surprise overpowered him, or a latent nobleness of mind forbade him to offer insult to fallen majesty, the robber chief uncovered his head, and proffered his assistance to the wanderers.

"What service," said he, "can I render to you and the prince your son?"

"Provide us with a place of concealment," eagerly rejoined the queen," and effect our escape beyond the reach of York."

"Concealment," said the robber, "is not difficult; and what more I can do, I will do: for the present, follow me to a cave hard by, where you may repose in safety, and wait a favourable opportunity of rejoining your friends."-He led the way through an unfrequented path, and brought them to "a wretched but secure asylum" in the forest, which, in memory of the unfortunate queen, still retains the name of the "Queen's Cave."

During the civil wars, the inhabitants of Hexham maintained their loyalty; and, in the rebellions of 1715 and 1745, they manifested the strongest attachment to the house of Stuart. The reorganization of the northern militia in 1761, occasioned a "direful commotion, called Hexham Riot," in which a considerable number of the miners were killed and wounded by the military. Martial law having been proclaimed, the country was patrolled by an excited soldiery, who inspired terror wherever they appeared, and succeeded in dragging the ringleaders of the riot from their places of concealment to the scaffold.

In common with most ancient towns, Hexham is irregularly built. The market-place

is spacious; and on the principal day of business (Tuesday) a plentiful supply of corn, provisions, &c. is brought for sale. A market of less consequence is held every Saturday. Two annual fairs take place in August and November; and "three hirings," in the months of March, May, and November. Hexham does not enjoy an inland navigation; but its manufactures of leather, gloves, stuff-hats, and worsted articles, are very considerable. Vast quantities of vegetables are supplied by Hexham for the Newcastle markets.

After several ineffectual attempts to erect a bridge, the present one was constructed under the direction of Mr. Myne, architect. This beautiful structure consists of nine principal arches, and three smaller ones on the south side. The Abbey Church is the parochial place of worship at Hexham ; besides which, there are several buildings for the use of the Presbyterians, Catholics, and other dissenting congregations. Amongst the public buildings may be enumerated a Mechanics' Institute, a Dispensary, and a Savings' Bank.-Hexham is the birth-place of several eminent men; of whom the learned Stackhouse, sometime master of the Grammar-school, is not the least distinguished.

BYWELL, ON THE TYNE,-NORTHUMBERLAND.

The picturesque village of Bywell is pleasantly seated on the north side of the Tyne, at the distance of eight miles east by south from Hexham. It was formerly a place of greater importance than it is at the present time, and was famous for the manufacture of stirrups, bits, curbs, buckles, and a variety of other articles. In 1569, the commissioners of queen Elizabeth make mention in their report of its flourishing condition.

In Bywell are two parochial churches, dedicated to St. Andrew and St. Peter; "one of which is said to have been built in consequence of a quarrel for precedency between two sisters, one of whom founded a church of her own, where she reigned lady paramount, to the exclusion of the other." The church of St. Peter is a large ancient edifice, with a square tower; the vicarage of which is in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Durham. This edifice occupies a central position in our View. The structure dedicated to St. Andrew is smaller, and surmounted with a lofty steeple: the living is a discharged vicarage, in the gift of T. W. Beaumont, Esq. These two ecclesiastical buildings are at no great distance from each other, and between them stands an ancient stone cross. Two stone piers, the remains of an old bridge, whose history does not exist even in "dim tradition," are still standing.

Westward of the village, are the ruins of the ancient baronial Castle, which was formerly a strong and extensive fortress. The barony was held in capite by Hugh de Baliol, whose ancestors had enjoyed possession from the time of Rufus. In the reign of Richard II., it was vested in the Nevils, Lords of Raby, and subsequently Earls of Westmorland, by whom it was forfeited in 1571. It is now the property of Thomas Wentworth Beaumont, Esq. Bywell Hall, in the neighbourhood, the elegant mansion of the present possessor of the barony, stands in a beautiful lawn, skirted on the south by the river Tyne, and adorned by forest trees.