Page:Medieval Military Architecture in England (volume 1).djvu/258

238 MedicBval Military Architecture, printed by Dugdale, by which Robert Fitzhardinge grants certain churches to St. Augustine's at Bristol. These are the earHest title- deeds of the family. St. Augustine's was founded by this Robert in 1 142, and consecrated in 1148. He died 1170. Maurice, son of Robert, is said to have dug the ditch between the castle and the church. He probably deepened it. He also is reputed to have built the castle exterior to King Henry's keep, including the two gatehouses. He died in 1189. Robert, his son, bore the name of Berkeley. He was in arms against John, who held the castle from 121 1 till his death in 12 16. Lord Robert died 1220. His brother, Lord Thomas, received Henry HI. here in 1220. He died 1243. Maurice, his son, here entertained Prince Edward in 1256. He added to the estates, and is said to have strengthened the castle. Thomas, his son, sixth lord, was a great soldier, and served at Bannockburn. He died 132 1. Maurice, his son, took part against the Despensers, and was imprisoned by the king till his death, in 1326. Edward seized the castle, which was held by the Despensers. Lord Thomas, his son and successor, received Edward II. here as a captive, 15th April, 1327, and here the king seems to have been murdered by Maltravers and Gournay, 21st September, 1327. A payment was charged to the Exchequer for prayers for his soul in the castle chapel. Lord Thomas held the castle from 1326 till his death in 1361. He fought at Cressy and Poitiers, and probably made money in the wars, for he is reputed to have made great alterations in the castle, and probably the hall and the Decorated work generally is his doing. He is said to have built Thorpe Tower. He may have raised it, but it is apparently as old as the keep. The Berkeley arch, seen in great perfection in St. Augustine's Church, now Bristol Cathedral, and here introduced, as was proper, in a plainer form, is attributed to Knowle, Abbot of St. Augustine's, from 1306 to 1332. The connexion of the Berkeleys with the monks of St. Augustine's was intimate, and the same architect was likely enough to be employed by both. Another Thomas, grandson to the former, here received Richard II., in 1386-7. This is the Lord Berkeley mentioned in Shakespeare's Richard II.," when the castle is described as — " Mann'd with three hundred men, as I have heard, And in it are the Lords of York, Berkeley, and Seymour. " Lord Thomas pronounced the deposition of Richard in Parhament in 1399. John of Trevisa, whose translations from the Apocalypse are yet seen on the ribs of the chapel roof at Berkeley, was vicar of this parish during the life of this lord. Lord Thomas left a daughter only, married to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who strove hard, but in vain, to oust the heir male, James de Berkeley. Lord Warwick appeared before the castle in 14 18 with an armed force, and his heirs preferred a suit at law which lasted 150 years, varied with occasional combats, one of which, known as the