their poor animated Irish hodmen meanwhile performing some equivalent for tossing their caps–for caps there were none in those days–their prolix tongues, then as now, always ready with a chorus for every chant. But where are all those brave workers now? They also are gone with all the brave thousands who have defended or assailed these gates before or since. But we feel to-day that these also are sanctified by death and time, and that their honourable names, though unknown, are woven into the great anagram of human helpers, and also into the notabilities of our castle.
Before closing this sketch, there are one or two things of interest which seem to demand some word or two. The first is respecting "The Lady's Walk," which lies on the outside of the outer Gate, the gate called "John de Ireby," (the inner one for some unknown reason being called "The Captain.") It leads along close by the outer wall on that side till it comes to a postern now walled up, which formerly led to the Sorceries, and through which Queen Mary and her ladies would pass when they went to see the football playing on "a green toward Scotland." This postern may still be seen by persons going the usual way to what is called the "Castle Bank." The door from the castle to this walk has also been walled up, but may be recognised by a shield charged with the arms of the Dacres over it. Formerly two ash trees, planted, tradition says, by the captive Queen, grew here, forming an ornamental appendage to the castle. They were cut down in 1804, by order of the Board of Ordnance, a proceeding as little to be understood as commended.
