230 TINTAGEL CASTLE. 



it was, from position, quite safe against any number of invaders. 

 When Earls resided here, they would bring their own retainers 

 with them ; but as they possessed several large and more import- 

 ant Castles in the County, Tintagel was, I imagine, kept more as 

 an impregnable fortress in time of danger than as a residence. 



By whom then was it built ? 



In the year 1225, Eichard, brother of King Henry III, was 

 created Earl of Cornwall. He was a great benefactor to this 

 County, from which he derived much of his wealth. He enlarged 

 or rebuilt Restormel Castle, built Liskeard Castle, and every- 

 where left traces in Castles, free boroughs, and markets, of his 

 energetic rule and of his desire to improve the County. From 

 the mouldings in the Chapel, from the architecture generally, and 

 from never having been able to find the Castle historically men- 

 tioned before, I have every reason to believe that soon after his 

 creation he erected the Castle whose ruins we are considering. 



In the year 1245 Earl Eichard is said to have entertained here 

 his nephew David,* Prince of Wales, then in rebelhon against 

 Hen. III. 



Edmund, son and successor to Earl Eichard (1272 to 1300), 

 was the last of the Earls who occasionally resided in Cornwall, 

 chiefly at Launceston, Eestormel, and Liskeard. He did not keep 

 a large staff of dependants at Tintagel. In 1291 he appointed 

 by deed, dated at Liskerret, his " dearly beloved familiar servant, 

 John, called le Barber, for life Constable, with a salary of sixty 

 shillings and eight pence per ann., and one mark (13/4) yearly 

 for his robe." The Chaplain's fee for celebrating divine service 

 was 50 shillings per annum, and the wages of a door-keeper and a 

 watchman, six marks and eleven shillings {i.e., 90 shillings), and 

 for their robes yearly one mark. 



The same staff kept the Castle for many years; but in 1337 

 there was no Constable, the priest who officiated at the Chapel 

 having custody of the Castle, for which he received no fee. 



The Castle, then in a very dilapidated state, is described as " a 

 certain Castle, sufficiently walled, in which were two chambers 

 beyond the two gates, in a decayed state ; one chamber with a 

 small kitchen for the Constable in good repair ; one stable for 



* Matt. Par., ii, 125, Tintaiol. 



