ftood a Hermitage; whereas it was commonly applied to any fmall conventual establishment, which was dependant on another.
As for the Chapel belonging to this endowment of bishop Farnham, it is mentioned as in ruins in feveral old Surveys of Queen Elizabeth's time; and its fcite, not far from Warkworth Church, is ftill remembered. But that there was never more than ONE Priest maintained, at one and the fame time, within the HERMITAGE, is plainly proved (if any further proof be wanting) by the following Extract from a Survey of Warkworth, made in the Year 1567.* viz.
"Ther is in the Parke (fc. of Warkworth) alfo "one Howfe hewyn within one Cragge, which is "called the HERMITAGE CHAPEL: In the fame
ther haith bene ONE PRIEST keaped, which did "fuch godlye Services as that tyme was used and "celebrated. The Mantion Houfe (fc.. the fmall building adjoining to the Cragg) ys nowe in "decaye: the Clofes that apperteined to the faid "Chantrie is occupied to his Lordship's ufe."
By Geo. Clarkson, MS. penes Duc. North.
VERSES fent to his LADY by the Rev. Mr BISHOP.
1. WITH THE PRESENT OF a Knife.
Knife, dear girl, cuts love they say
Mere modifh love perhaps it may:
For any tool of any kind
Can separate what was never join'd.
The knife that cuts our love in two,
Will have much tougher work to do;
Muft your softness, worth and spirit
Down to the vulgar fize of merit;
To level yours, with modern tafte,
Muft cut a world of fenfe to waste;
And from your fingle beauty's store
Clip what would dizen out a score.
The felf fame blade from me must sever
Senfation, judgement, fight, forever;
All memory of endearments paft,
All hope of comforts long to laft;
All that makes fourteen years with you
A fummer, and a fhort one too;
All that affection feels or fears,
When hours without feem like years.
'Till that be done,-and I'd as foon
Believe this knife will chip the moon,
Accept this prefent, undeterr'd,
And leave their proverbs to the herd.
If in a knife,-delicious treat:
Your lips acknowledge the receipt,
Love fond of such substantial fare,
And proud to play the glutton there,
All thoughts of cutting we'll difdain,
Save only―cut and come again.
II. WITH A RING.
(Never Published before.)
HEE, Mary, with this Ring I wed,'
So fixteen years ago I faid.
Behold another Ring! for what?
To wed thee o'er again! Why not?
With that first Ring I married youth,
Grace, beauty, innocence, and truth;
Tafte long admired, fenfe long rever'd
And all my Molly, that appear'd.
If the by merit fince disclos'd
Prove twice the woman I fuppos'd,
I plead that doubled merit now
To justify a double vow.
Here then to day, with faith as fure,
With ardor as intenfe, and pure,
As when amidft the rites divine,
I took thy troth and plighted mine.
To thee fweet girl, my fecond Ring,
A token and a pledge I bring.
G
With this I wed, till death us part;
Thy riper virtues to my heart,
Thofe virtues which before untry'd,
The wife has added to the bride;
Those virtues, whose progreffive claim,
Endearing wedlocks very name,
My foul enjoys, my song approves,
For confcience fake, as well as love's.
For why? They fhow me hour by hour,
Honour's high thought, affection's pow'r
Discretion's deed, found judgement's sentence
And teach me all things, but repentance.
III. WITH A POCKET LOOKING GLASS.
(Never Published before.)
O thee dear wife,-and all muft grant
A wife no common confidante,
I dare my fecret foul reveal,
And utter every thing I feel.
This verfe for inftance, I defign
To mark a female friend of mine,
Whom long, with warm affection's glee,
I've seen, and could forever see.
But hear me first describe the dame,
Then,-if your heart will let you,-blame,
I've seen her charm at forty, more
Than half her fex at twenty four.
Seen her with equal pow'r and ease,
Draw right to rule from will to please,
Seen in her modest manner join'd
The juft, the graceful, and the kind,
Seen her fo frankly give, and fpare
At once with fo difcreet a care,
As if her fenfe, and hers alone
Could limit bounty like her own,
Seen her, in fimple nature's guife
Above arts, airs, and fashions rife,
And when her peers she had surpast,
Improve upon herself at laft,
Seen her in fuch extent of merit,
In form, tafte, judgement, temper, fpirit
So perfect, that till heaven remove her,
I must admire her, court her, love her.
Molly, I speak the thing I mean,
So rare a woman have I feen!
And send this honest glass, that you
Whene'er you pleafe, may fee her too.
IV. WITH AN ORANGE BERGAMOT SNUFF Box. (Never Published before.)
N husband, as in duty bound,
Prefents what an admirer found.
Pray start not when you lift the lid :
The portrait's in the fnuff-box hid.
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