“Other guests than yon lone bird, And other music here were heard, In times of better days; Festive revelry went round, The board with blushing goblets crown’d, And costly carpets clad the ground, Where now yon cattle graze. Days were those of splendour high, Days of hospitality, When to his rich domain Welcom’d many a crested knight, Welcom’d many a lady bright, Fitz-Gwarine of Lorraine!” This remarkable man was afterwards sent by the English King to Ireland on an important service, and was distinguished on his return, with the title of THE GREAT. He subsequently united with the English Barons in their memorable demand from King John of Magna Charta, and so resolute was his conduct on that great occasion at Runnymede, that the Pope actually conferred upon him the honour of excommunication from the papal church. After various other conflicts and disasters, “by flood and field,” he descended into old age, when he was stricken with blindness. He was buried in the porch of Whittington Church, and his remains were found there in an oak coffin, three inches in thickness, by digging a grave in the year 1796. He left behind him a son who enjoyed his father’s estates and titles, but for no considerable time. He followed Henry III. through all his adverse fortunes, and whilst engaged at the battle of Lewes was drowned in crossing a river, leaving behind him a young son, the fourth Fitz-Gwarine. Fitz-Gwarine the second was married to Clarice of Abbourville, and he went generally by the peculiar appellation of _Proud-homme_, as a mark of respect to his nobility. Whittington Castle, after the battle of Lewes, was bestowed by the Earl of Leicester upon Peter de Montford. Leicester also compelled the captive king Richard II. to deliver it, with other Border Castles, into the hands of Llywelyn ab Grufydd, Prince of Wales, who had just received the entire sovereignty of Wales, and required homage from all the barons under him.