JEssay on Caerphilly Castle. 69 



Foedera. portion of his paternal estates, since we find him ordered to 

 XV. E. III. raise three hundred and thirty-two men in Glamorgan and 

 Morgannwc, as his share of a Welsh army; and again, five years 

 XX. E. III. afterwards, he is rated at three hundred. 



The castle of Caerphilly does not, however, appear to have 

 1329. been restored to him, or to his mother; for we find a writ 

 directed to Roger Mortimer, justiciary of Wales, "seeing that 

 divers evil doers, abetted by William La Zouch De Mortimer, have be- 

 leaguered the castle of Caerphilly in warlike fashion, and held that leaguer 

 in breach of the peace, and terror of liege subjects;" he is ordered "to 

 raise the siege, (taking the posse if necessary) and to seize the castle for 

 the king, and safely to keep it, arresting the recusants, if any, and com- 

 mitting them to prison." Also, on the same day, was issued a second writ, 

 stating that VA-'illiam La Zouch De Mortimer had been summoned to appear 

 in person, and had refused ; refusing also to bring with him the king's 

 cousin, Eleanor Le Despencer, residing in her country, and ordering "John 

 De Gynes to attack him, and to bring both to the king." 



A month afterwards, the writ to Roger Mortimer is repeated, expressing 

 surprise at his delay in executing the first, forbidding any supplies of 

 food to be admitted to the besieged, and commanding that restitution be 

 made of the goods and chattels seized by La Zouch from John De Gray, 

 the king's faithful subject. 



From hence it would appear that William had already taken the castle, 

 though the results of the royal writs are not mentioned. 



Shortly afterwards, William and the king's cousin, Eleanor, were married. 

 The castle was probably regranted by the king, with their 

 l.SCi. titles, to the Despencers, for the widow of Edward lord Le 

 Despencer, who died 1365, (49 E. IIL) had the castle and town 

 of Caerphilly, and the territory of Senghennyth, as a part of her dowry.* 

 After the battle of Shrewsbury, and Henry's subsequent 

 1403. campaign in the north, that monarch directed the Welsh castles 

 H. V. to be put in order, with a view to the final suppression of Owen 

 Glendwr and his adherents. A writ, cited by Thomas, (Me- 

 moirs of Owen Glendwr, 1822, p. 120) commits the custody of Caerphilly 

 and Gwyr-lacy to Constantia lady Le Despencer. Where Gwyrlacy was, 

 is not now known ; but it is singular that in this writ, which enumerates 

 the principal fortresses in Wales, the name of Cardiff does not occur. 



It was the above "Constantia" the widow of lord Le Despencer, and 

 sister to the duke of York, who, a short time afterwards, attempted to 

 rescue the young earl of March and his brother from the power of Henry IV. 

 for which ofTence she was imprisoned. 



• Owon Glendwr, in his invasion of South Wales in 1400, is said to have taken 

 and garriKoncd Caerphilly. — Beauties. 



No. 2.— Vol. L L* 



