230 Notes on the History of Mere. 
towers, which were covered with lead, a hall, an outer and an inner 
gate, a deep well, a chapel, with a priest who was paid 50s. a year 
to say mass for the soul of the Harl’s mother, Sanchia Berenger. 
Its officers were a constable, a warder for day, and a watchman for 
night. In the reign of Edward I. the Abbot of Scone, in Scotland, 
was imprisoned here. He was conducted as a rebel and traitor 
by the Sheriff of Wilts from Winchester, and delivered over to be 
kept in chains by Richard de Chiselden, Seneschal of Mere. 
Edward Plantagenet, who was Earl of Cornwall, 1296, lived at 
Berkhampstead, Herts, he married Margaret, the heiress of Gilbert, 
Earl of Gloucester, from whom he was separated, and she was 
decreed to lead an unmarried life. She probably lived here, as one 
of the towers was called the ‘“‘ Countess’s Tower.” Other towers 
were called the Northern and Hastern. The castle does not appear 
to have been very substantially built, as in 1300 there is an entry 
in the Rolls of the Duchy of Cornwall, given by Sir R. C. Hoare, 
Modern Wilts, Hund. of Mere :— 
“The Wages of Master William le Maras, plaisterer, making this year the 
wall of the Castle on the North side of the Great Eastern Tower, fallen to the 
ground, with 2 new buttresses joined to the said wall, and in making an arch 
beyond the inner gate, by task work, together with buying and carriage of 
freestones for all the aforesaid things, 40s. In digging, fetching and squaring 
for the same work, 8s. 8d. In collecting in the waters 20 cartloads of moist 
sand, and in carrying it to the castle, 4s. 2d. In collecting dry sand and 
mixing it with old mortar from the said wall which had fallen, 16d. In making 
and burning 40 quarters of lime for the same work, together with the carriage 
of bavins 13s. In boards together with nails bought 6d. In alder bought and 
making hurdles at Clayfot 17d. In the hire of the aforesaid Master William, 
new building by task work 1 garret in the high North Tower, with free-stone, 
and in carrying it to the same, and for fetching and working the stone for the 
same 25s. 94d. In the hire of 1 plumber with his man six weeks repairing the 
lead over 5 of the towers of the Castle, and of the defects there and repairing 
the sixth tower 30s.; viz. for himself and his man per week, 5s. In 5d lbs. of 
tin bought to solder with 6s. 103d.; for each pound 14d. In sawing boards to 
place under the lead, with nails bought to fasten the said boards 2s. 8d. In 
3lbs. of tallow bought for soldering with 3d. In the hire of 1 carpenter making 
2 new joists in the tower of the Countess 12d. In repairing and mending cross- 
bows and darts for the engines this year 3s. 1d. In hemp for cord, wax, pitch 
and tallow for the same, 93d. In the hire of 1 armourer mending and repairing 
the arms of the castle 3s. 6d. In a white skin bought for the same 4d. In 10 
bushels of bran bought for the same 15d. In rubbing and polishing the same 
by the year 20d. In cutting and carrying stakes into the castle for store, and 
ee 
