1642.] THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 51 



a well-stocked red-deer park ; also various gardens, 

 orchards, lawns, pleasure grounds, and fish-ponds 

 artfully constructed, affording islands here, fountains 

 there, and summer houses where they could be most 

 advantageously placed. Thus were the demesnes of 

 Eaglan characteristic of its noble possessor s distin 

 guished position. 



The most ancient portions of the Castle itself, were 

 probably raised in the reign of Henry V., others are of 

 more recent construction, but not much, if any of it, 

 dates later than that of Elizabeth. Its mixed styles 

 of architecture are very obvious. Among its later im 

 provements were, no doubt, those large windows, which 

 were better suited for an elegant domestic mansion, 

 than for a fortress. The grand entrance was secured 

 by its double portcullis, as likewise by a gate, lead 

 ing to the paved or pitched court ; a portcullis also 

 protected the south-eastern entrance, leading from the 

 fountain court to the pleasaunce or bowling-green, sup 

 posed by some to have originally been the tilt-yard ; 

 both of which entrances were further guarded by draw 

 bridges. The tower of Gwent, citadel, or keep, stands 

 before, and a little removed from the castle, surrounded 

 with a broad moat, which it would appear could be 

 crossed by two bridges ; one permanent, connected with, 

 and for the special use of the castle, reaching to the 

 walls of the bastions, whence communication was kept 

 up by a draw-bridge with the keep itself; the other a 

 draw-bridge only, in an opposite direction, whereby to 

 pass over the moat to the sunk walk, for ordinary use. 

 The tower is of extraordinary strength, its form hexa 

 gonal, its walls ten and a half feet thick, and its summit 

 reached by a stone staircase. 



The Castle may be described as presenting two 

 portions, distinguished by two courts and two fortified 



E 2 



