CHAPTER XV.
-- --What seem'd its head, The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
-- PARADISE LOST.
Sodor, or Holm-Peel, so is named the castle to which our Julian directed his course early on the following morning, is one of those extraordinary monuments of antiquity with which this singular and interesting island abounds.

It occupies the whole of a high rocky peninsula, or rather an island, for it is surrounded by the sea at high-water, and scarcely accessible even when the tide is out, although a stone causeway, of great solidity, erected for the express purpose, connects the island with the mainland.

The whole space is surrounded by double walls of great strength and thickness; and the access to the interior, at the time which we treat of, was only by two flights of steep and narrow steps, divided from each other by a strong tower and guard-house; under the former of which, there is an entrance-arch.

The open space within the walls extends to two acres, and contains many objects worthy of antiquarian curiosity.

There were besides the castle itself, two cathedral churches, dedicated, the earlier to St.Patrick, the latter to St.Germain; besides two smaller churches; all of which had become, even in that day, more or less ruinous.