I.--St. Herbert's Isle, placed nearly in the centre of Derwent
Lake, derives its name from a hermit who lived there in the seventh
century, and had his cell on this island.
It contains about four acres of ground, is planted with firs
and other trees, and has a curious octagonal cottage built with
unhewn stones, and artificially mossed over and thatched. This
was erected many years ago by the late Sir Wilfred Lawson, to
whose representative the island at present belongs. A few yards
from its site are the ruins of the hermitage formerly occupied by
the recluse. These vestiges, being of stone and mortar, give the
appearance of its having consisted of two apartments; an outer one,
about twenty feet long and sixteen feet broad, which has probably
been his chapel, and another, of narrower dimensions, his cell,
with a little garden adjoining.
The scene around was well adapted to excite the most solemn
emotions, and was in unison with the severity of his religious
life. His plot of ground and the waters around him supplied his
scanty fare; while the rocks and mountains inspired his meditations
with the most sublime ideas of the might and majesty of the
Creator. It is no wonder that "St. Herbert, a priest and confessor,
to avoid the intercourse of man, and that nothing might withdraw
his attention from unceasing meditation and prayer, chose this
island for his abode."
There is no history of St. Herbert's life and actions to be met
with, or any tradition of his works of piety or miracles, preserved
by the inhabitants of the country. His contemporary existence with
St. Cuthbert, and his equo-temporary death with him obtained by the
prayers of the saint, at the time and in the manner related below,
according to the old legends, is all that is known of him.
Bede, in his History of the Church of England, writes thus of the
saint:--"There was a certain priest, revered for his uprightness
and perfect life and manners, named Herberte, who had a long time
been in union with the man of God (St. Cuthbert of Farn Isle) in
the bond of spiritual love and friendship; for living a solitary
life in the isle of that great and extended lake from whence
proceeds the river Derwent, he used to visit St. Cuthbert every
year, to receive from his lips the doctrines of eternal life. When
this holy priest heard of St. Cuthbert's coming to Luguballea
(Carlisle), he came, after his usual manner, desiring to be
comforted more and more with the hopes of everlasting bliss by his
divine exhortations. As they sat together, and enjoyed the hopes
of heaven, among other things the Bishop said, 'Remember, brother
Herberte, that whatsoever ye have to say and ask of me, you do it
now, for after we depart hence, we shall not meet again, and see
one another corporeally in this world, for I know well the time of
my dissolution is at hand, and the laying aside of this earthly
tabernacle draweth on apace.' When Herberte heard this, he fell
down at his feet, and, with many sighs and tears, beseeched him,
for the love of the Lord, that he would not forsake him, but to
remember his faithful brother and associate, and make intercession
with the gracious God, that they might depart hence into heaven
together, to behold his grace and glory whom they had in unity
of spirit served on earth; for you know I have ever studied and
laboured to live according to your pious and virtuous instructions;
and in whatsoever I offended through ignorance or frailty, I
straightway used my earnest efforts to amend after your ghostly
counsel, will, and judgment.'--At this earnest and affectionate
request of Herberte's, the Bishop went to prayer, presently
being certified in spirit that this petition to heaven would be
granted--'Arise,' said he, 'my dear brother; weep not, but let your
rejoicing be with exceeding gladness, for the great mercy of God
hath granted to us our prayer.'--The truth of which promise and
prophecy was well proved in that which ensued; for their separation
was the last that befell them on earth; on the same day, which was
the 19th day of March, their souls departed from their bodies, and
were straight in union in the beatific sight and vision--and were
transported hence to the kingdom of heaven by the service and hands
of angels."
It is probable that the hermit's little oratory, or chapel, might
be kept in repair after his death, as a particular veneration seems
to have been paid by the religious of after ages to this retreat,
and the memory of the Saint.
There is some variation in the account given by authors of the
day of the Saint's death; Bede says the 19th day of March: other
authors the 20th day of May, A. D., 687; and by a record given in
Bishop Appleby's Register, it would appear that the 13th day of
April was observed as the solemn anniversary.
But, however, in the year 1374, at the distance of almost seven
centuries, we find this place resorted to in holy services and
procession, and the hermit's memory celebrated in religious
offices. The Vicar of Crosthwaite went to celebrate mass in his
chapel on the island, on the day above mentioned, to the joint
honour of St. Herbert and St. Cuthbert; to every attendant at which
forty days' indulgence was granted as a reward for his devotion.
"What a happy holiday must that have been for all these vales,"
says Southey; "and how joyous on a fine spring day must the lake
have appeared, with the boats and banners from every chapelry; and
how must the chapel have adorned that little isle, giving a human
and religious character to the solitude!"
In the little church of St. John's in the Vale, which is one of the
dependent chapelries of the church of Crosthwaite, is an old seat,
with the date 1001 carved on the back of it, to which tradition
assigns, that it was formerly in St. Herbert's Chapel, on the
island in Derwent Lake.
These figures correspond with those on the bell in the Town Hall at
Keswick, said to have been brought from Lord's Island.
II.--Bowscale Tarn is a small mountain lake, lying to the
north-east of Blencathra. It is supposed by the country people
in the neighbourhood, with whom it has long been a tradition, to
contain two immortal fish; the same which held familiar intercourse
with, and long did the bidding of, the Shepherd Lord when he
studied the stars upon these mountains, and gathered that more
mysterious knowledge, which, matured in the solitude of Barden
Tower, has till this day associated his name with something of
supernatural interest in this district, where he so long resided.[9]
From some lines of Martial (lib. iv. 30) it appears that there were
some fishes in a lake at Baiæ in Campania consecrated to Domitian,
and like the undying ones of Bowscale Tarn, they knew their
master:--
"Sacris piscibus hæ natantur undæ,
Qui norunt dominum, manumque lambunt;
---- ---- ---- et ad magistri
Vocem quisquis sui venet citatus."
III.--It has been stated with reference to the river Greta,
that its channel was formerly remarkable for the immense stones
it contained; and that by their concussion in high floods were
caused those loud and mournful noises which not inappropriately
have gained for it the characteristic title of "Mourner."
Mr. Southey has given the following description of it in his
"Colloquies";--"Our Cumberland river Greta has a shorter course
than even its Yorkshire namesake. St. John's Beck and the
Glenderamakin take this name at their confluence, close by the
bridge three miles east of Keswick on the Penrith road. The former
issues from Leathes Water, in a beautiful sylvan spot, and proceeds
by a not less beautiful course for some five miles through the
vale from which it is called, to the place of junction. The latter
receiving the stream from Bowscale and Threlkeld Tarns, brings
with it the waters from the south side of Blencathra. The Greta
then flows toward Keswick; receives first the small stream from
Nathdale; next the Glenderaterra, which brings down the western
waters of Blencathra and those from Skiddaw Forest, and making a
wide sweep behind the town, joins the Derwent under Derwent Hill,
about a quarter of a mile from the town, and perhaps half that
distance from the place where that river flows out of the lake, but
when swollen above its banks, it takes a shorter line, and enters
Derwent Water.
"The Yorkshire stream was a favourite resort of Mason's, and
has been celebrated by Sir Walter Scott. Nothing can be more
picturesque, nothing more beautiful, than its course through the
grounds at Rokeby, and its junction with the Tees;--and there is a
satisfaction in knowing that the possessor of that beautiful place
fully appreciates and feels its beauties, and is worthy to possess
it. Our Greta is of a different character, and less known; no poet
has brought it into notice, and the greater number of tourists
seldom allow themselves time for seeing anything out of the beaten
track. Yet the scenery upon this river, where it passes under the
sunny side of Latrigg, is of the finest and most rememberable kind:
--Ambiguo lapsu, refluitque fluitque,
Occurrensque sibi venturas aspicit undas.
There is no English stream to which this truly Ovidian description
can more accurately be applied. From a jutting isthmus, round which
the tortuous river twists, you look over its manifold windings, up
the water to Blencathra; down it, over a high and wooded middle
ground, to the distant mountains of Newlands, Cawsey Pike, and
Grizedale."