25 
breaking out of the war. ‘‘The incredible tradition, still firmly adhered to 
“(writes Mr. Webb, Vol. 1, p. 321) by the inhabitants of Wigmore, that the fort- 
“‘ress was battered down from the too-distant height of Croft Ambrey, may have 
“‘had its origin in the part that the owner of Croft Castle might have taken to 
“‘annihilate the last attempt to render Wigmore Castle a post of military occupa- 
“tion. Pitched midway up, on a romantic chine of rock, on the lower point of 
“‘ which stand the church and straggling village, it is severed from the upper por- 
“tion of the ridge by an apparently artificial escarpment available only against 
“‘the missiles of earlier times; but since it might evidently be commanded from 
“above, the Castle of Wigmore, asa hold against modern artillery was (would 
“*be) of no account.” 
And now to recall out of the dim past some of the mighty chiefs who ere- 
while made these courts re-echo with the tramp of war. The first English Mor- 
timer, Ralph, died seized of above 130 manors, of which 69 lay in Hereford and 
Salop. He was succeeded at Wigmore by his eldest son, Hugh, who opposed the 
accession of Henry II., and fortified Wigmore, Bridgnorth, and Cleobury Castles 
against the King. Brought to terms by Henry II., Hugh had to surrender Wig- 
more Castle to the King, and died there, 1185, in penitence, as a Canon of the 
Abbey, having much confirmed and augmented his father’s grants thereto. It is 
to him that the weight of authority attributes the Norman work traceable around 
the outer ward of Wigmore. He is also credited with having built several castles 
in South Wales. Roger, his son, seems to have found full employment in keeping 
down the Welsh, and, dying in 1215, was succeeded by his son Hugh—Hugh, the 
fourth lord, and heir to King John. In his time Llewellyn attended a conference 
at Wigmore. He held for the King the castles of Stratton-Dale and Holgate, in 
Salop ; and, dying from wounds received in a tournament, 1227, was succeeded by 
his brother Ralph, the fifth earl. He flourished in the first part of Henry III.’s 
reign, and was very turbulent on the Marches. In Melenydd, which seems to 
have represented pretty much Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, he built the 
castles of Keventles and Knoclas (Covenllys and Knucklas) and strengthened his 
social strength by marrying the daughter of Llewelyn, and widow of Reginald de 
Braose, dark Gladys. He died 1246. Roger, sixth lord, his son, took a fluctuating 
lead in Welsh affairs, in which Llewelyn took four of his castles—Melenydd, 
Keventles, Radnor, and another. He adhered to Henry, fought at Northampton, 
and had to flee from Lewes. He aided, as all know, Prince Edward’s flight from 
Hereford, bringing him, in concert with the Lord of Croft, with fleet steeds to Din- 
more, and thence, by relays, to Wigmore. He had a command at Evesham, and 
for his services received the Earldom of Oxford, opposing on that account the re- 
storation proposed by the Dictum of Kenilworth. It was he who at that castle 
held the famous tournament in honour of which the Great Gate House there gained 
its name of Mortimer Tower. Chronicles distinguish the military pageant as the 
round table of 100 knights, and as many ladies. This Roger has been supposed to 
_ be a great re-builder of Wigmore Castle, though the work now seen seems of 
slightly later date. He died 1282-3, and was buried at Wigmore. His eldest sur- 
viving son, Edmund, succeeded, and is famous for his attack on the Welsh at 
