Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/318

286 THE CASTLE. for many yeares heeretofore in decay, and so become forfayted to the maior & Comalty of this burrough in regard the said house hath not beene rebuilt, nor any the rents, suites & services due to this burrough for the same, payd for the space of fifteene yeares laste paste. M d y e 26th of Oct. 1657 Mr - Maior & Aldermen entered on the premisses to the use of the Borrough." Mr. Robert Bennett was again elected to the Parliament which met during Richard Cromwell's protectorate, 27th January, 1658-9. He purchased the Castle and Deer Park from the Commonwealth. At the restoration of Charles II. there was much re- joicing in Launceston. The people kept the 29th June, 1660, as a thanksgiving-day ; and, on subsequent unnamed days " when the kinge was proclaimed," the Corporation gave away " 2 hogsheads beere & syder," and " six seames of wood for bunfires." The lucky Mr. Bolythoe received £6 14s. iod. for his supplies. The king, on his restoration, conferred the Constableship of the Castle upon Sir Hugh Piper, who held it until his death in 1687. Sir Hugh was a native of the borough, and had been actively loyal to both Charles I. and Charles II. An elaborate monument at the east end of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene preserves the memory and the deeds of this worthy knight. The Assize Hall, Guildhall, and Gaol claim a few words from us. We have shown that the hall which had long stood within the Keep Court of the Castle was prostrated before the year 1650. We are unable to fix the exact time of the erection of its substitute. The new building was, however, placed in the Base Court of the Castle, which, as we have seen (p. 225), included the site of the modern