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Page 8:-
Sir John Lowther Baronet, (the seventeenth of the
line,) was (A.D. 1696,) advanced to the dignity of Viscount
and Baron, by the title of Baron Lowther of Lowther, and
Viscount Lonsdale. In 1699 he was made Lord Privy seal, and
was one of the Lords Justices for the government of the
kingdom during the King's absence. He died in 1700 [1720],
at the early age of 45.
Sir James Lowther, (the twentieth of the line,)
married Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of John Earl of Bute,
but had no issue [hath no issue]. In the 23d year of George
the III. he was created Earl of Lonsdale, by the stile and
title of the Right Honourable James Earl of Lonsdale,
Viscount Lonsdale in the County of Westmorland, and
County-Palatine of Lancaster, Viscount Lowther of Lowther in
the said county of Westmorland, Baron Kendal of Kendal in
the said County, and Baron Burgh of Burgh in the County of
Cumberland.
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Arthur's Round Table
King Arthur
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About three hundred yards from Lowther Bridge, by the
road-side, is a monument of antiquity, called by some
Arthur's Round Table, by others simply the Round
Table. Authors differ widely as to the origin and use of
this place; but there cannot, I think, be a doubt, that it
hath been a place for the exercise of arms. It is round,
about an hundred and twenty feet diameter, surrounded by a
broad ditch, (two openings excepted, which are diametrically
opposite to each other,) and all round is a sloping bank of
earth, seemingly intended for the accommodation of
spectators.
If we allow this to have been a place for the exercise of
chivalry, the name of Arthur's Round Table may not
improbably be esteemed the genuine one. King Arthur is said
to have lived much at Carlisle, and most of the old songs
and poems concerning him and his knights have their scene
laid in this country, and with these the popular traditions
accurately agree, as we shall see hereafter: it is farther
remarkable, that the old songs were lost in English, but
were afterwards translated from the French, in which
language they had been preserved almost entire.
The History of the Order of the Round Table is briefly this:
King Arthur observing many quarrels about precedency among
his knights, about the year 516 caused a Round Table to be
made, at which all the Order, the Sovereign himself not
excepted, took their seats promiscuously: To this Table none
were admitted but those who had given sufficient proof of
their valour and dexterity in the use of arms. As there are
some who even deny the existence of King Arthur, I shall not
insist farther on this subject, but refer them to other
authors, whose province it is more particularly to inquire
into these affairs: I shall, however, add from Favine,
(lib.5. p.97.) a list of the first table of these knights.
ARTHUR, King of Great Britain.
Galaad. / Percival. / Lancelot. / Gawaine. / Boors. /
Lyonnel. / Helias le Blanc. / King Baudomages. / King Ydiir.
/ King Rions. / King Karadoc of Wales. / The King of Clare.
/ The Duke of Clarence. / Hector de Marests. / Blioberis. /
Gueriot. / Keux de Seneschal. / Yrien the Son of King Vrian.
/ Brunor the Black. / Bedonier the Constable. / Agloual. /
Securades, and / Patrides.
Caxton's old book exhibits a greater number, with the
distinguishing epithet of each; but this seems to come
nearest the truth, or rather the ancient story.
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Westmorland
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The road from hence to Emont Bridge contains nothing
remarkable or picturesque: I shall therefore say a few words
concerning the county of Westmorland in general.
Westmorland contains only one borough, namely Appleby, and
sends four mem-
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bers
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erratum from p.194
for 1700, read 1720.
for had no issue, read hath no issue.
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gazetteer links
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-- "Arthur's Round Table" -- Arthur's Round Table
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-- "Lowther Hall" -- (Lowther Castle, Lowther
(CL13inc)2)
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-- Westmorland
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