54 



forces. In 1645 the Parliamentary troops besieged the castle? 

 and, after taking the town and church by storm, the castle was 

 surrendered upon honourable terms on the 26th September. It 

 was afterwards given back to Geokge Lord Berkeley, and to 

 render it thereafter incapable of defence the large gap or breach 

 was made, which is seen on the north-west side of the keep. 

 Since that time it has remained in the possession of the family, 

 devoted, happily, to more peaceful purposes. Long may it 

 remain so ! 



The Chapels. 



"To the end that the two chapels, the one of our Lady 

 "and the other of St. John the Baptist, founded in the castle 

 "of Berkeley, (the one in the keep over the great well, the 

 "other at the upper end of the great hall stairs,) might be 

 " renewed and frequented with due honours, Maukice, 9th Lord 

 " Berkeley, on the 25th May, 1364, procured of Pope Urban II. 

 "forty days' pardon and release of the penance enjoyned to 

 " every one that should, in the said chapels, on the festival days 

 *' of the year, hear Masses, or say, kneeling, three Ave Mary's, 

 ^' or should give any vestments, ornaments, gold, silver, books, 

 " chalices, or any other aids of charity to the said chapels ; and 

 *' whosoever shall there pray for the obtainer of these presents, 

 " and for the life and good estate of the noble Lord Maurice 

 " de Berkeley, and of the noble Lady Elizabeth, his wife, and 

 " of their children (the obtainers hereof), and for the soul of the 

 "Lord Thomas, his father, being in purgatory, shall be also 

 " released of forty days of the penance enjoined them." 



This bull for greater infallibility is also under the seals of 

 eleven cardinals, there being at that time three rival popes in 

 the church. 



John Trevisa. 



In the time of Thomas the 8th, Maurice the 9th, and Thomas 

 the 10th Lords Berkeley, 1340 to 1412, lived John Trevisa, 



