Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/249

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I am not desirous of embodying the shadows of legend with the substance of truth, but would only observe, that wild as the above fictions appear to be, they seem to have had some remote connection with fact. Guy, though never Earl of Warwick, nor engaged with the dun cow, certainly did once exist, and the remembrance of his valour and generosity was gratefully and carefully preserved by the successive Earls of Warwick, as well as parts of his armour, which remain to this day at the castle. In compliment to his memory, the eldest son of William Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, was christened Guy. His coat of mail and sword were left specifically by the will of Thomas Earl of Warwick to his son and heir. A third Earl dedicated one of the magnificent towers of the castle to the deceased worthy, and conferred the name of Guy upon his son. And the sword and armour now preserved at Warwick-Castle, became objects of royal care in the reign of Henry VIII. being granted by him to William Hoggeson, yeoman of the buttery, with a fee of 2s. 6d. per day for their preservation.

Proceeding up a gentle ascent from Guy's-Cliff, we soon from its summit obtained a view of Warwick, and such an one as impressed us with an high idea of its beauty and grandeur. A rich cluster