Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/403

(^DIIIAM CASTLE, HANTS. 8:57 ordered twenty tuns (" dolia ") of his ju-isagc wines to be sent there from Southampton. He issued thence an immense nuniber of instruments and finally loft for Farnham on the istli. On 2ist April, the manor of Odiham was to be trans- ferred by Bartholomew Peche to the Seneschal, Engelram do Cygoin, or his attorney, who seems to have been John fitz Hugh, to whom it was again transferred on the 29th. The transfer however was confined to the manor, for by a mandate of the 31st of May, directing seisin to be given to Fitz Hugh, the Castle was specially retained in the King's hands. How strong the place was appears from the resistance it opposed in this year to the Dauphin Louis and the invading army. ^larlborough, a very strong castle, had surrendered, when the French appeared before Odiham. The tower, says AVendover, was held by three knights and ten soldiers, who were besieged in form. On the third day when such engines as were with the army were in place, and an assault had been made and failed, the garrison sallied out, and captured a number equal to their own as prisoners. After eight or, as some accounts say, fifteen days, the thirteen surrendered on terms, retaining their horses and arms and their liberty. Wen- do ver says the tower belonged to the Bishop of Winchester, but all the evidence seems to show that neither the Castle nor domain were ever alienated from the crown. The first mention of Odiham in the reign of Henry HI., is an order to De Cigoin to allow Bartholomew de Peche to hold the rents of the vill for his sustenance in the King's service (18th April, 1 Hen. HI., 1217). John fitz Hugh appears to have been in opposition and to have been dispossessed, for on 12th Aug., he returns to his fidelity and is allowed seisin of the manor and hundred of Odiham. Tiie great Earl Marshall's jiolicy was to pardon and reward all who gave in their adhesion to the new Sovereign. The Castle was kept up even to storing the ditches with fish, for John de Venuz was ordered (4th Ap. 1222, G Hen. HI.) to allow to Cygoin twenty breams from the King's marsh of Woolmcr, for stocking •• our ditches at Odiham." On 2nd May, 1222, Hen. III., two tuns ("dolia") of the King's prisage wines were ordered from Southampton to Odiham. IGth Nov. 1222, 7 Hen. HI., the King had let the manor of Odiham to farm for .£50 per annum, but regard was to be had to the rights of the "iMon of O.liham." 15th Jan, 1224, 8 Hen. III., the VOL. XXIX. 3 B