CAERNARVON CASTLE. 24.5
writ, wherein they were directed to certify as to the state of the works at Caernarvon. This document, which is preserved amongst the records of the Chapter-house at Westminster, sets forth "that the walls of the town of Caernarvon were completely finished by the 10th of September; and that from that day until the 27th of November the works were carried on round the Castle; and that from the 26th of November until the time of despatching the report there were various persons employed,—such as masons, men cutting freestone, carpenters, smiths, quarrymen, and inferior labourers and boatmen carrying stone, sometimes more and sometimes less, against the next season," They then complain of want of money, which had caused them to defer beginning the walls of the aforesaid Castle with all their workmen till the 26th of February. At the same time, they appended a memorandum to the effect that, "on a wall begun round the moat of the Castle, there were four towers commenced, which wall contained in length 18 perches (perticatas), and of those perches, eight contain, in height, 12 feet, and ten perches contain in height 24 feet, and that wall contains, in thickness, fifteen feet." Unfortunately this document does not carry on its face the particular year when it was written; but from concurrent evidence it must be assigned to one betwixt the 23rd and 29th of Edward I., and most probably the former.^
There need, however, be no scruple in applying its substance to that portion of the Castle on the side next the town, since the first length of 8 perches is about the length of wall from the Eagle Tower or Well Tower to the first tower eastward, whilst this latter tower and the curtain wall up to the right hand tower of entrance complete the length of wall mentioned. The four towers which were in a state
There is also an account of the same H. de Leominster, 23—29 Edw. I., which has a few entries mentioning the names of particular parts of the Castle, and the expenses incurred in their erection. Amongst others, occur the following:—
"A°. 23. 4 Septʳ. pro virgis emptis pro Aula Domini Regis ibidem 3s. 9½d.—pro foragio empto ad eandem Aulam inde co-operiendam 7s. 4d.—Pro gabule cjusdem Aule facienda de petra ad tascham 5s.
"30 Oct. pro grosso meremio empto de diversis personis pro Camera Militum inde facienda 7s. 10d., &c.
"A°. 24. 6 Nov. Pro grosso meremio empto de diversis personis pro cadem Coquina facienda 9s. 8d.—pro minuto meremio et virgis emptis ad candem Coquinam 4s. 6d.—pro foragio ad caudem co-operieudo 98ds.
"13 Nov. Johannis de Pek pro quadam Pistrina co-operienda ad tascham 9s. eidem pro parietibus ejusdeni faciendis 8s.
"4 Decʳ. Henrico de Ryhull pro quodam molendino manuali faciendo ad tascham 11s. 8d.
"18 Decʳ Henrico de Cestr. pro meremio ab eo empto pro domibus Porte Scacearii de Carň. 17s. 4d." There are also payments for making a stable, a granary, (with boards, nails, &c.,) and for enclosing the King's garden with a ditch and hedge.
