Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
Also on the 5th May following, the sheriff of Surrey and Sussex is
ordered to whitewash the king’s hall at Guildford within and without.
On the 17th June, 45 Henry III., 1261, the king visited Guildford, and
doubtless examined and took pleasure in the various improvements and
decorations he had ordered. All this luxury was probably confined to
the hall and royal apartments in the middle ward, for an entry on the
Hundred rolls at the commencement of the reign shows that the Sussex
county prisoners were kept at Guildford, and no doubt in the keep.
In 50 Henry III., Prince Edward was at Guildford engaged in putting
down Sir Adam Gordon, a soldier who, having been outlawed after
Evesham fight, had turned freebooter, and made the Surrey woodlands
very insecure. Edward came up with and attacked him between Farnham
and Alton, took him prisoner in single combat, got him a pardon, and
presented him to the queen then at Guildford. At the end of Henry’s
reign, 52 Henry III., the “King’s Mills” were removed farther down the
stream, probably to the site now occupied by their modern successors.
Edward I. became possessed, in due course, of Guildford, and in 27
Edward I., 1299, the park, castle, and farm of the town were assigned
as part of the dower of Margaret, the king’s second wife, and on her
death, 10 Edward II., they reverted to the Crown. Edward was here, 20th
January, 31 Edward I., 1303, resting on his way from Odiham to Windsor.
In 35 Edward I., 1306, Henry de Say, keeper of the prisoners indicted
at the Sussex Assizes, and lodged in Guildford Castle, petitioned that
an officer might be sent to receive their fines and chattels, according
to their offences, and that a stronger prison may be provided, the
castle being insecure for so many prisoners. The answer, recorded
on the rolls of Parliament, is terse:—“Si carcer sit nimis debilis,
faciat, Custos, emendari; si nimis strictus, faciat elargari; quia Rex
non est avisatus mutare locum prisonarum suarum: vel saltem teneat eos
in vinculis fortioribus.” “Double iron the prisoners” was at one time a
usual, and certainly an economical, way of securing their safety. It is
probable that it was under these circumstances of great pressure that
the mural oratory in the keep was employed as a prison.
In the king’s circular to the sheriff, 1 Edward II., 1307, 15th
December, which was followed by the edict confiscating the goods of the
Templars, the sheriff of Surrey and Sussex was ordered to repair to
Guildford. In 15 Edward II., Oliver de Burdegala, governor, had a writ
of privy seal directing the castle to be victualled and garrisoned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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