ed by
the Danes as a work of their early ancestors. Professor Rafn, in the
_Memoires de la Societe Royale des Antiquaires du Nord_, for
1838-1839, says:

"There is no mistaking in this instance the style in which the more
ancient stone edifices of the North were constructed, the style
which belongs to the Roman or Ante-Gothic architecture, and which,
especially, after the time of Charlemagne, diffused itself from
Italy over the whole of the West and the North of Europe, where it
continued to predominate until the close of the 12th century; that
style, which some authors have, from one of its most striking
characteristics, called the round arch style, the same which in
England is denominated Saxon and sometimes Norman architecture.

"On the ancient structure in Newport there are no ornaments
remaining, which might possible have served to guide us in assigning
the probably date of its erection. That no vestige whatever is found
of the pointed arch nor any approximation to it, is indicative of an
earlier rather than of a later period. From such characteristics as
remain, however, we can scarcely form any other inference than one,
in which I am persuaded that all, who are familiar with Old-Northern
architecture will concur, THAT THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED AT A PERIOD
DECIDEDLY NOT LATER THAN THE 12TH CENTURY. This remark applies, of
course, to the original building only, and not to the alterations
that it subsequently received; for there are several such
alterations in the upper part of the building which cannot be
mistaken, and which were most likely occasioned by its being adapted
in modern times to various uses, for example as the substructure of
a wind-mill, and latterly as a hay magazine. To the same times may
be referred the windows, the fireplace, and the apertures made above
the columns. That this building could not have been erected for a
wind-mill, is what an architect will easily discern."

I will not enter into a discussion of the point. It is sufficiently
well established for the purpose of a ballad; though doubtless many
an honest citizen of Newport, who has passed his days within sight
of the Round Tower, will be ready to exclaim with Sancho; "God bless
me! did I not warn you to have a care of what you were doing, for
that it was nothing but a wind-mill; and nobody c