Strange Pages from Family Papers

DEATH

s vain! I te

by a mete

d flitting ca

on the wind

st go. And

all of the gl

. He

tances of which have been recorded from time to time. Thus Cuckfield Place, Sussex, is not only interesting as a fine Elizabethan mansion, but as having suggested to Ainsworth the "Rookwood Hall" of his striking romance. "The supernatural occurrence," he says, "forming the groundwork of one of the ballads which I ha

alm prevail, or threat

edestinate, a limb

uched, I trow, by axe

an omen dread of fas

This wonderful thing respecting them is commonly believed, and I have heard it myself affirmed by many, that for some days before the death of the heir of the family the trunk of a tree has always been seen floating in the lake adjoining their mansion;" a popular superstition to which Mrs. Hemans refers in the lines which head the present chapter. A further instance of a similar kind is given by Sir Bernard Burke, who informs us that opposite the dining-room at Gordon Castle is a large and massive willow tree, the history of which is somewhat singular. Duke A

horn trees. But one day, on coming home, the brother noted that the tree planted by the Admiral had completely withered away. Astonished at this unexpected sight, he felt some apprehensions as to Admiral Kempenfeldt's safety,

riously when the predicted death had taken place, in connection with which the following singular legend has been handed down: In days gone by, the lake of Closeburn Castle was the favourite resort during the summer season of a pair of swans, their arrival always being welcome to the family at the castle from a long e

not quite thirteen years of age-in one of his visits to Edinburgh attended at the theatre a performance of "

swan-l

g in

when the swans came sailing majestically towards him, and at once reminded of Portia's remark. Without a moment's thought, he lodged in the breast of the foremost one a bolt from his crossbow, kill

thing of the past, when one day much excitement was caused by the return of a single swan, and much more so when a deep blood-red stain was observed upon its breast. As might be expected, this unlooked-for occurrence occasioned grave suspicions even amongst those who had no great faith

bleeding breast. Roger had heard of this mysterious swan, and, although his father's wedding bells were ringing merrily, he himself returned to the castle a sorrowful man, for he felt convinced that some evil was hanging over him. Despite his father's jest at what he c

tain indication that one of its members before very long will be summoned out of the world; and the appearance of a white-breasted bird was the d

hills in g

meanderi

sylvan, c

st a man

Sir James

and gene

travellers

me to h

ife his wi

ne'er h

et, his ag

r to hi

rdance with custom, gave a banquet to his friends, in order that they might congratulate him on the approaching happy union. He stood up to thank

he dear unp

gered on

ilvery bre

the festi

lightning's f

heir brill

ank back up

ntranced w

se of his embarrassment, but on the following day

et with ter

with horr

her blood in t

r in he

, who, by the aid of a clever disguise, had

e, proud mai

with mine

he dagger i

er feet

ballad concludes

too, grows co

her hove

bird for her

it to th

nsion of the Clifton family is situated. And, it may be remembered, how in the park of Chartley, near Lichfield, there has long been preserved the breed of the indigenous Staffordshire cow, of white sand colour, with black ears, muzzle, and tips at the hoofs. In the year of the battle of Burton Bridge a black calf wa

attached to the Royal Forest of Needwood and the Honour of Tutbury-of the whole of which the ancient family of Ferrers were the puissant lords. Their immense possessions, now forming part of the Duchy of Lancaster, were forfeited by the attainder of Earl Ferrers after his defeat at Burton Bridge, where he led the rebellious Barons against Henry III. The Chartley estate, being settled in dower, was alone reserved, and has been handed down to its present possessor. Of Chartley Castle itself-which appears to have been in ruins for many years-many interesting historical facts are recorded. Thus it is said Queen Elizabeth visited her favourite, the Earl of Essex, here in August, 1575, and was entertained by him in a half-timbered h

rigin given to this curious phenomenon, the story generally told being to the effect that either the drummer, or some officer whose emissary he was, had excited the jealousy of a former Lord Airlie, and that he was in consequence of this occurrence put to death by being thr

e lords of Roslin, Roslin Chapel appears to be on fire, a weird occurrence

all that d

blaze was s

than the wat

han the brig

n Roslin's

all the cop

om Dryden's g

om cavern'd

n fire that

's chiefs un

, for a sa

in his ir

on fire, wi

sty and al

pillar, fo

d all the de

lement and

rose-carved b

y blaze when

line of Hug

as marked the coming death of one of the family. Above the deep caverns in the Treville Cliff rises a carn. On this chains of fire were seen ascending and descending, and oftentimes were accompanied by loud and frightful noises. But it is reported that these tokens have not taken place since the last male of the family came to a violent end. According to Mr. Hunt,

aronial castle surrounded with a moat. At midnight she was awakened by a ghastly and supernatural scream, and, looking out of bed, beheld by the moonlight a female face and part of the form hovering at the window. The face was that of a young and rather handsome woman, but pale; and the hair, which was reddish, was loose and dishevel

e spectre whom you have seen is always visible. She is believed to be the spirit of a woman of inferior rank, whom one of my ancestors d

n. From this account we gather that Miss Elizabeth Sheridan was a firm believer in the Banshee, and firmly maintained that the one attached to the Sheridan family was distinctly heard lamenting beneath the windows of the family residence before the news arrived from France of Mrs. Frances Sherid

him in the expedition a sort of southland chief, or captain of a band of Lowlanders, called Halbert Hall. In their return through the Cheviots they quarrelled about the division of the great booty they had acquired, and came from words to blows. The Lowlanders were cut off to a man, and their chief fell the last, covered with wounds, by the sword of my ancestor. Since that day his spirit has crossed the Vich Ian Vohr of the day when any great disaster was imp

d peasant in his ordi

, turn where I would, the figure was instantly before my eyes at precisely the same distance. I was then convinced it was the Bodach Glass. My hair bristled, and my knees shook. I manned myself, however, and determined to return to my quarters. My ghastly visitor glided before me until he reached the footbridge, there h

a voice that made my very bloo

point; but the words were no sooner spoken than it was go

cing the event by dismal cries, and lamentations, and Sir Walter Scott, in his "Peveril of the Peak," tells us that the Stanley family are forewarne

nce, the tradition in the family being that the person who happened to see it would rise to the summit of power, and after reaching that position would die a violent death. As an instance of this strange belief, it is related how Lo

k, ar

ads, and dusky

light, and now

t trod as heav

peared, and its movements have thus been poetically described by Lord Byron, who, it may be added

bed of their l

on the br

s faith, to the

but not t

s born, he is

aught is

line, in the

from hall

may trace, bu

dowed by

be seen from th

eem of a p

gled the fruit of their incestuous intercourse. But, after death, it seems this wretched woman could not rest, and whenever death was about to visit the castle she was generally seen sadly wending her way to the scene of her earthly crimes. According to another tradition, there is a circular tower, called "Margaret's Tower," ris

eath was at hand-a piece of superstition which has always held a prominent place in our household traditions, r

he moment of burial. This belief seems to have gained great strength on the occasion of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, when, after some weeks of heavy rain, and some of the highest floods e

TNO

e"-Sir Bernard Burk

lation of an Apparition, in the Likeness of a Bird with a white breast, that appea

ught into a romantic story, enti

Romances of We