4 Hen. III. (1220).-Order of payment to F. de Breautè for three soldiers in the castle of Lincoln.1

A writ to the Mayor and Provosts of Lincoln to pay from the debts owing from the city 100 marcs, to be made to Nicholaa de la Haya, for the sustentation of the castle.2

Payment of 2 s. per day for three soldiers; to be settled with F. de Breautè. Subsequently repeated.3

5 Hen. III. (1221).-Payment ordered to N. de la Haya of 50 marcs to sustain herself in the castle of Lincoln.*

Order to the Sheriff to repair the gaol in the castle of Lincoln without delay.5

7 Hen. III. (1223).-Order to Sheriff of Lincoln for paying 181. 4s. 5 d. for the wages of serving-men and cross-bowmen at 7 d. per day. A similar kind of order repeated."

Barons of the Exchequer ordered to pay the Sheriff of Lincoln 30 l., for the custody of the castle, for six-score days.8 Sheriff of Lincoln to pay wages of 8 serving-men.9

10

8 Hen. III. (1224).—Sheriff of Lincoln to be paid for the custody of the castle, 151. 10s. Od. for 62 days, at 5s. a-day. Order to the Sheriff to give the Bishop of Lincoln, out of his issues, reasonable sustentation for the constable and his family for holding the castle.11

9 Hen. III. (1224).-Order to the Barons of the Exchequer to pay to Wm. E. of Salisbury 374 1. 15 s. 0 d., which he had laid out by royal precept in the work of the castle, in the first year of his reign, after the capture of the city over the barons, when he received it into his custody.-Also, order for 85 1. for the expenses of soldiers and serving-men in custody of the said castle, from the feast of the Holy Trinity, after the foresaid capture, to that of St. Faith, in the 1st year of our reign, immediately after the first peace made between us and Lewis and our Barons,12

9 Hen. III. (1225).-The Sheriff of Lincoln ordered to place in repair the gate of the castle of Lincoln, towards the church of St. Mary, and the tower of Luce, to the amount of twenty marcs, of which ten were expended in a barbekan.13

Order to the Sheriff to let Jordan de Esseby, constable, have 100 s. for the works of the castle.1

10 Hen. III. (1226).-The constable of Chester ordered to let Osbert Giffard, Constable of Lincoln Castle, have 40 great pieces of timber in the park of Tunner, for strengthening the castle of Lincoln.2

Osbert Giffard 50 marcs for custody of the castle.3

Payment of 60 marks ordered to be made to him for operations in the castle.+

14 Hen. III. The castle committed to Fulke de Breautè.5

3 Edw. I. (1275).-On the Inquisitions printed in the "Hundred Rolls," is a complaint of the citizens of Lincoln against Walter Bek, constable of the castle, that he had inclosed two acres of land and more, called the Batail-place, where the men of Lincoln were used to play, to feed their cattle, the brethren to preach, the thieves to fight, and the citizens have other recreations.6

9 Edw. II. In the Parl. of 9 Edw. II. at Lincoln, it appears that Hugh Gerveyslaker Avenel was confined in the castle as a spy of Robert de Brus.7

By an inquisition held by twelve citizens of Lincoln before two justices of the Crown, in the 3rd year of Edward the First, it appears that the castle was a fee of the Crown, and had been in the royal demesne in the time of King Henry the First, in the time of Henry the Second, Richard and John, "and they held that castle in demesne with the city of Lincoln; and that a certain soldier, Gerard de Cawmwile by name, held the aforesaid castle as in custody, and by the assignment of King John, during his pleasure. And after the decease of the said Gerard, his wife Domina Nicholaa de la Haye, held it during royal pleasure in time of peace and war. and war. And the aforesaid lady Nicholaa delivered the keys of the castle to the King as to its Lord, and he besought her saying, My beloved Nicholaa, I will that you keep that castle as hitherto, until I shall order otherwise;' and so she retained. it as long as King John lived. And afterwards King Henry the Third delivered the custody of the castle of Lincoln to

Phillip de Lascelles, Sheriff, and he afterward gave up its custody to Walter de Ewermue, and he held it till the King requested William de Longespeye to take the custody; and after his death, William, his son, held it during Royal pleasure, as the Jurors believed. And after his decease, the Lady Elianora, then Queen of England, held it, and had custody of the son of William de Longespeye, junior, until he arrived at full age. And Lord Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, because he had married his daughter, now holds that castle, by the will of the King, as we believe, but we know not by what warrant." 8

The Pat. 1 Ric. 2, p. 2, m. 5. 1st, recites an inquisition taken at Lincoln, 5 March, 4 Edw. I., on death of H. de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, which returns that he held the constableship of Lincoln Castle in right of his late wife, Margaret Lungespeye; and that Alesia, their daughter, aged 26, was the heir of the said Margaret. 2ndly, recites a writ, 27 May, in the same year, to the escheator, commanding him to give possession of castle, &c., to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, who married the above-named Alesia, and had done homage to the King for her lands. 3rdly, a writ, 24 Feb., 15 Edw. I., desiring the Sheriff to take the castle into the King's hands, as it had got into the possession of the King's enemies. 4thly, a release from the said Alesia, then a widow, (16 Edw. I.) to the King, of the constableship, &c., which the King afterwards restores.

THE PALACE AND PARLIAMENT OF CLIPSTONE.

THE sylvan beauties and venerable age of the oaks in Sherwood Forest are almost as well known throughout England as the tradition of its having been the scene of the exploits of Robin Hood. The dramatist and the poet have invested the locality with an undying charm, and it is perhaps mainly owing to the agreeable narrative by which they have

8 Rot. Hund. p. 315.