Rockingham Castle and the Watsons. By C. Wise. (Elliot Stock.)
—Rockingham Castle was built by the Conqueror, and it con- tinued to be a place of occasional residence for the English Kings for many years. William Rufus held here a council to debate the knotty question whether Anselm could be loyal to the King and also obedient to the Holy See. There is no word of Henry I., Stephen, or Henry II. having visited it, though it was certainly kept up during their reigns. Richard I. came once, and John frequently. The Earl of Albemarle held it against Henry III., who was present when it was surrendered. Edward III. was fre- quently there. In the reign of Philip and Mary, Edward Watson obtained a lease from the Crown, and began to repair the building, which was then almost a ruin. In the Civil War it was held by Sir Lewis Watson for the King. In 1644 he was created Baron Rockingham. He compounded with the Parliamentary Com- missioners for £4,312, the fine being raised to £3,000 on the ground that he had understated his income. It is needless to trace the family history any further, but we may say that it makes a notable record in Mr. Wise's hand, and that the particulars concerning the castle, now one of the most remarkable mansions in England, are very interesting. The volume is illus- trated with some excellent views, and the pedigrees of the Watson and other related families are given. —With this may be men- tioned a similar work, The Hall of Lawford Hall, by F. Morgan Nichols (printed for the author : Ellis and Elvey). This is described on the title-page as the " Records of an Essex House and its Proprietors from the Saxon Times to the Reign of Henry VIII." Lawford Hall is in the eastern part of the county, and near the sea. The present house was built in 1580, when it took
the place of a mansion of great antiquity. Since then it has been considerably altered, though not absolutely changed. This is an interesting volume. It is to be wished that all proprietors would imitate the admirable example set by Mr. Nichols. He purchased the house, we gather from his account ; but no possessor by long inheritance could display a more affectionate interest in all that concerns it.
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