370 



our afiiresaid reliels stood of the value nf fme hundred marks per annum as is said. 

 To leave to the said Robert the Castle and lordships aforesaid with all the above 

 said profits, commodities, and appurtenances, from the fifteenth day of October 

 last past until the full age of Edmund son and heir of the Earl of March last 

 deceased, and so from heir to heir until any one of the heirs aforesaid may arrive 

 at his full a^e, without rendering anything therefere to us or to our heirs at our 

 exchequer during the minority of the heirs aforesaid. So always that the said 

 Robert has repaired the aforesaid Castle and tarries in the same in the defence and 

 keeping safe of the Castle and lordships aforesaid. And in case that the Castle 

 and lordships aforesaid exceed the value of the aforesaid hundred marks per 

 annum the said Robert shall answer to us yearly at our exchequer of the surplus- 

 age of them as is just. In testimony whereof, &c., Witness the King at West- 

 minster the fourteenth day of February. — By the King himself." 



FAIR ROSAMOND. 



To write a paper on Clifford Castle and not to give some account of its 

 heroine would indeed be a grave omission. 



Joan de Clifford (sometimes called Ann), 



Jane Clifford was her name, as books aver, 

 Fair Rosamond was but her nom de guerre. 



was youngest daughter of Walter de Clifford, and had a sister Lucia, married first 

 to Hugh de Say, of Richard's Castle, and afterwards to one of the Mortimer 

 family. Rosamond (see biography of Fair Rosamond, by John Hutchinson) 

 " Rosa mundi," was a term of endearment given to Joan on account of her exceed- 

 ing beauty, and signifies " Rose of the world ;" it is otherwise interpreted as 

 "Rosa munda," the "Fair Rose;" also as "Rosamund," "Rose hand," mund 

 meaning hand (A.S.), this latter evidently having reference to the beauty of her 

 hands. She is said to have been fair, with blue eyes and golden hair, and of a 

 complexion only to be found among the English women. The following lines 

 convey an idea of her good looks : — 



Her crispfed locks like threads of gold, 



Appeared to each man's sight ; 

 Her sparkling eyes, like orient pearls. 



Did cast a heavenly light. 

 The blood within her crystal cheekes 



Did such a colour drive, 

 As though the lillye and the rose 



For mastership did strive. 



It is recorded* that " King Henry II. being enamoured upon Rosamond 

 Clifford, a damoselle so faire, so comely, so well favoured without comparison, 

 that her beauty did put all other women out of the Prince's minde, in so much as 

 now she was termed " Rosa mundi;" that is "Rose of the world," and for to hide 



*I have to thank Mr. G. H. Piper, Ledbury, for the e.xtracls, which follow. 



