“It hath 4 stronge forts or ramparts, wherein are many roomes, and lodgings: the passage from one to another lying upon the walles, which are embattled about. There be likewise 2 watch-towers all covered with lead. If all the roomes in it were repayred, and furnished [as it seemes in former tymes they have bin] it were capable to receyve a very great prince with all his trayne. “The entrance into it is very stately over a faire draw-bridge. The gatehouse a very uniforme, and strong building. Next within the porter’s lodge is a payre of low stayres, which goe downe into a dungeon, in which some reliques are yet to be seene of a prison-house. Other 2 prisons more are on either side. “The building itselfe is of a sandy stone hewen of a great square out of the rockes thereby, which though it abide the weather longe, yet [in processe of tyme] it will moulder, especially if wett gett within it, which hath bin the decay of many places of the wall where the roofe is uncovered. “There be certaine roomes within the castle, [built by Queen Elizabeth of freestone] amongst which is a fayre great chamber with other lodgings. “In a roome in one of the towers of the castle they usually kept their auditt once by the yeare for the whole Dutchy of Lancaster, having ever bin the prime seate thereof, where all the recordes for the whole countrey are kept. “The constable of the castle is Sir William Mounson Lord Castlemayne, who receaveth a revenue out of the Dutchy lands of £500. per annum, in part of payment of £1000. yearely given by the king to the Countesse of Nottingham his lady. “One thinge is not to be passed by affirmed as a certaine trueth by many of the inhabitants of the towne upon their owne knowledge, which is, that the castle is haunted by a certain spirit in the likenesse of a hare: which att the meeting of the auditors doeth usually runne betweene their legs, and sometymes overthrows them, and soe passes away. They have pursued it downe into the castleyard, and seene it take in att a grate into a low cellar, and have followed it thither with a light, where notwithstanding that they did most narrowly observe it [and that there was noe other passage out, but by the doore, or windowe, the roome being all close framed of stones within, not having the least chinke or crevice] yet they could never finde it. And att other tymes it hath been seene run in at iron-grates below into other of the grotto’s [as their be many of them] and they have watched the place, and sent for houndes, and put in after it; but after a while they have come crying out.” Harleian MS. No. 6829, p. 162. {71} The following arms and inscriptions were in the windows of this church when it was visited by Mr. Holles.