This ancient Castle is call’d Crazy,
Whose mould’ring walks a moat environs,
Which moat goes heavily and lazy,
Like a poor prisoner in irons.”
Skelton Castle was at this date more than half ruined, as the owner was at some pains to indicate:
“Many a time I’ve stood and thought,
Seeing the boat upon this ditch,
It look’d as if it had been brought
For the amusement of a witch,