ANNE, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, separate from him ; until his death, in 1649, put an end to her thraldom, and she gladly found herself a widow. She had now an immense fortune, the demise of her good uncle and his heirs having caused her to be placed in possession of all the great estates of the Cliffords ; while she had two large jointures from the estates of Dorset and Pembroke. Being left free, the widowed Countess resolved to retire to the north, with the view of occupying herself in future with the care of her numerous and extensive estates in the counties of York, West- moreland, and Cumberland. The noble house of Clifford possessed " five noble castles," besides a fortified tower, where the family occasionally resided. These strongholds - Skipton, Pendragon, Appleby, Brougham, and Brough, with the majestic tower of Barden-had all been terribly injured in the tumul- tuous Civil Wars, and were all in a condition of almost total neglect and decay ; which determined their enterprising proprietor to repair and render them all habitable. This resolution she accom- plished with assiduity and diligence ; although, during the progress of her works, her friends advised her not to persevere in her plans of building, as Cromwell, then Protector, would be likely, they considered, to demolish her castles as soon as they were finished. " Let him destroy my castles," she rejoined, curtly ; " he shall find that as often as he levels, I will rebuild them, while he leaves me a shilling in my purse." 38
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