|
Despite its disappointing un-castle like appearance, especially
for those visitors seeking the romance of Robin Hood, the castle has had both
drama and mystery aplenty. Oh, and just for good measure the castle is thoroughly
haunted.
Mortimer聮s Hole:
Under the castle, carved into the sandstone outcrop on which the castle stands,
is the famous tunnel known as Mortimer's Hole.
The passage way is eerie enough but is made all the more so
by the reputed presence of the ghost of Sir Roger Mortimer himself.
Mortimer, the Earl of March and lover of Queen Isobel, was
probably her accomplice in the murder of Edward II.
On the night of October 19th 1330 the Queen and her lover Mortimer were staying
at Nottingham castle.
Seeking to bring his father's killer to justice and expose
his feckless mother, the young King Edward III entered a network of secret tunnels
that led ultimately into the castle itself.
With a band of loyal supporters the King burst into his mother聮s
bedroom and surprised the lovers.
Edward himself is said to have seized Mortimer.
The now doomed monarch killer was led away, so legend has it,
to Isobel's mournful cries of "Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer."
Sir Roger was imprisoned in the castle, taken to London and
executed as a traitor.
He was hanged, drawn and quartered on the 29th of November
1330 and his wretched remains skewered on spikes and left to rot on traitors gate
聭Tyburn聮.
The tunnel that led to Sir Roger's downfall became known after
him and is still called "Mortimer Hole."
Ghostly plees for mercy:
There are other ghosts connected with the castle.
In 1212 King John held some 28 sons of Welsh noble families
hostage in the castle.
The boys, some as young as 12, lived at the castle for some
time, and were allowed free rein within the walls.
Then one day, the precise date is unknown, King John ordered
all the hostages executed.
A chronicler states that the boys pitiful cries rang around
the castle as one after the other they were taken up on the ramparts and hanged
in a row.
Their ghostly pleas for mercy are still said to be heard within
the castle precincts.
Tales
from The Trip >>
|
