few miles from Dearham, is strongly vaulted with stone, access being obtained to the chamber above by means of a narrow door and winding stairs. From these features it has been concluded by archaeologists that this was one of the old Border fortified churches.
Further away from the Border, into Mid Westmorland, the searcher may still meet with evidences of old-time church builders having a much keener eye for the defensive qualities of their structures than for architectural beauty. Solidity was the first consideration,
and although some of them were, after all, but ill adapted for the purpose, they must have been, as the Rev. J. F. Hodgson[4] once pointed out, "much larger and stronger buildings than the wretched hovels of the common people. Their enclosures would very
generally offer the best position for defence. Among the Westmorland churches, those of Crosby Garrett (or Gerard) and Ormside,
though small, and not structurally fortified, seem unmistakably posted as citadels. Orton Church, too, both in structure and position,
is admirably situated for defence. At Brough, the church, a[Pg 34] massive and easily defensible building, is situated upon the precipi-
9
tous bank of the Hellebeck, and forms a sort of outwork of the Castle." The church at Kirkby Stephen certainly occupies a position which would give its occupants a strong hold on the Upper Eden Valley. The old church at Cliburn, on the banks of the Leath, was also probably placed there with some regard to defence. It is believed that the fine old church at Barton was used for a like purpose, and the vicar some time ago pointed out to the writer existing evidences of a large moat having probably been formed in case of necessity, the river Eamont being near enough to ensure an easy means of water supply.
There are preserved in the church of Langwathby two specimens of old Cumberland armour--a helmet and a cuirass. The villagers have versions of their own as to the wearer of these articles, but obviously the stories rest on no better foundation than that of tradition; the real explanation is, doubtless, that given by the late Rev. B. Porteus, and already quoted in the chapter on "Watch and Ward."
Above the tomb of Sir Roger Bellingham (died 1533), in Kendal Church, there is an ancient[Pg 35] helmet suspended, but whether it was put there because the helmet belonged to the knight, or as a memorial of his having been created a knight banneret on the field of battle, there has nothing come to the knowledge of local historians to enable them to decide. The popular name for the helmet, however, is "the Rebel's Cap," and following the account of Machell, who was living at the time, various writers have given different versions of a story which, though doubtless correct in its main points, is open to question on others. The version given by the late
Mr. Cornelius Nicholson[5] may be quoted, as it is the briefest:--
"In the Civil Wars of the Commonwealth, there resided in Kendal one Colonel Briggs, a leading magistrate, and an active com-
mander in the Cromwellian army. At that time, also, Robert Philipson, surnamed from his bold and licentious character, Robin the
Devil, inhabited the island on Windermere, called Belle Isle. Colonel Briggs besieged Belle Isle for eight or ten days, until the siege of Carlisle being raised, Mr. Huddleston Philipson, of Crook, hastened from Carlisle, and relieved his brother Robert. The next day,
being Sunday, Robin, with a small troop of horse, rode to Kendal to make reprisals.
"He stationed his men properly in the avenues, and himself rode directly into the church in search of Briggs, down one aisle and up another. In passing out at one of the upper doors, his head struck against the portal, when[Pg 36] his helmet, unclasped by the blow, fell to the ground and was retained. By the confusion into which the congregation were thrown, he was suffered quietly to ride out. As he left the churchyard, however, he was assaulted; his girths were cut, and he himself was unhorsed. His party now returned upon the assailants; and the Major, killing with his own hands the man who had seized him, clapped the saddle upon his horse, and, ungirthed as it was, vaulted into it, and rode full speed through the streets, calling to his men to follow him; and with his party made
a safe retreat to his asylum on the lake. The helmet was afterwards hung aloft, as a commemorating badge of sacrilegious temerity."
The episode was used by Sir Walter Scott for some particularly spirited lines in "Rokeby" (stanza 33, canto vi.), and in his notes Sir Walter explained that "This, and what follows, is taken from a real achievement of Major Robert Philipson, called from his desperate and adventurous courage Robin the Devil." A reference to the poem will show that this, as dealing with fact, can only be applied to the first sixteen lines, which run:--
"The outmost crowd have heard a sound Like horse's hoofs on hardened ground; Nearer it came, and yet more near,--
The very death's-men paused to hear.
'Tis in the churchyard now--the tread
Hath waked the dwelling of the dead!
[Pg 37]Fresh sod and old sepulchral stone
Return the tramp in varied tone.
All eyes upon the gateway hung,
When through the Gothic arch there sprung
A horseman armed, at headlong speed--
Sable his cloak, his plume, his steed.
Fire from the flinty floor was spurned;
The vaults unwonted clang returned!--
One instant's glance around he threw,
From saddle-bow his pistol drew."
Mr. Stockdale, in his "Annals of Furness," says there was a tradition in his time that the Parliamentarians in 1643 stabled three troops of horse in the nave of Cartmell Church; and there can be no doubt that to similar base uses other ecclesiastical structures in the diocese were occasionally put in turbulent times. Carlisle Cathedral was often used for purposes of war, and it was not free from
other exciting scenes. During the Commonwealth it was the centre of much rioting. George Fox preached there, and files of musket-
eers had to be brought in to clear the place of the rioters. After the ill-fated rebellion of '45, the cathedral was still further degraded,
10
being made into a prison for captured Highlanders.
[Pg 38]
Some Church Curiosities.
UNDER a great variety of divisions many curious facts connected with the old-time churches of the northern counties might be noted that cannot here be touched upon. Some of them--especially those associated with the personal aspect--had their origin
solely in the circumstances of the time; others may be traced to personal idiosyncracies; while geographical reasons may be found for a third class. With a few exceptions it has not been deemed necessary in this chapter to go beyond the Reformation. Among the records concerning Kendal Church is a reference in the Patent Rolls of 1295, in which Walter de Maydenestane is described as "parson of a moiety of the church of Kirkeby, in Kendale." An inquiry in Notes and Queries[6] brought the suggestion that probably this
was one of the places which used to have both a rector and a vicar, several instances of that arrangement having been in force being mentioned. No information was, however, forthcoming as to the Kendal case.
[Pg 39]Boy bishops are not