Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/354

254 CAERNARVON CASTLE. iron for wyndaces " and engines, and other necessaries, and for working four pairs of " gyves " of iron for the prison of the Castle (Rot. xx.).^ Again, the same craftsman charges for making iron stays, ties, and various other work necessary for the trebuchets, springhalds, and other mihtary engines ; and, lastly, showing how completely this record relates to the Eagle Tower, we have, on the twenty-second rotulet his expenses for working cramps {cramponos) of iron, in the first week of March, for holding the eagle upon the great tower ; and, during the last week of this month, a similar charge for three cramps for holding a certain eagle of stone upon the great tower. On the two last rotulets of this important document the expenses of the plumbers occur, all conspiring to show that the various expenditure entered upon it relates to the construction and finishing of this grand portion of the fortress, since the entries occur just as the different kinds of labour and materials would be required. Beginning with excavators, layers, masons, few carpenters at first, till we have the introduction of free-stone, then flooring, roofing, plumbers' work, and fixing the stone eagle upon the battle- ments, which lend to it so imposing an air, and help to perpetuate its name.^ Amongst incidental items on the Roll the following seem entitled to notice : — " For 13 lbs. of grease for the cords of the engines, 2s. " For straw bought for covering a certain chamber in the king's court, assigned for the Justices, 3s. " For one little boat, called Cavene, bought for the works of the Castle of Caernarvon, 3s. 4c/. " For 20i tons of sea-coal [carhon. mark) for the works, at 23d. per ton. " For 2 spochers, bought at Conway, for the king's long-boat, and for one spoch bought at Roffeyr, 2d. each. " For lyne corde bought for measuring the stones, Gd. " For 4(J boards, bought of John Bunt for covering Fcnnctour, 20 at Qd. each, 10 at 4J., and 10 at Zd."* There are also expenses paid to Adam of Cadog carrying - On my last visit to Caernarvon, I those at Chepstow Castle, picked up one of these in a building I ■* This tower is at the east end of the imagine to have been the Prison Tower ; upper baly and was the usual post of the and at the same time found some of the garritor. A provision was made for his carratcs of lead, early guns, and a great protection by a shutter in the embrasures, variety of small drinking vessels, probably the hole for the support of it may still be used Ijy the workmen. seen here, and similarly near the Constar •' All the other representations on the ble's Tower at Alnwiek, which was nearly Merlons are demi-figures,vith the charac- coeval, having been erected 5 — 8 Edw. II. tei'istic bacinet and jupou of Edw. II., like