{64} In this inscription Sir Robert Dymoke is, by mistake of the sculptor, styled _knight and baronet_, instead of _knight banneret_. {69} “Vir illustris in consilio, strenuus in prælio, princeps militæ in Angliæ, et in omni regno ornatissimus.” Wever’s Fun. Mem. p. 366. {71} The MS. vol. of Church notes, so often before quoted, contains the following description of this castle:— “The castle of Bullingbrooke was built by William de Romara Earle of Lincolne, and ennobled by the birth of King Henry the 4th, who from thence took his sirname. Heretofore it was a famous structure, but now gone much to ruine and decay. “The towne standes in a bottome, and the castell in the lowest part of it, compassed about with a large moat fed by springs. It is most accessible on the south-west part, the rest being encompassed by the hills. “As for the frame of the building, it lieth in a square, the area within the walls conteyning about an acre and a half, the building is very uniforme. “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.