232 TINTAGEL CASTLE. 



ruins have had to contend with storms and the ravages of time, 

 with no other assistance than their own innate strength. 



The custody of all the Castles, Manors, and other property of 

 the Earls, was committed to the Sheriff of the County, who was 

 annually appointed by the Earls, and required to render an 

 account of all sums received and expended. Whenever the 

 revenues of the Earldom reverted to the Crown, the King ap- 

 pointed the Sheriff, commanding the Sheriff of the preceding year 

 to deliver up the County, with the Castle of Launceston and all 

 its appurtenances, without delay, and the Earls, Barons, Knights, 

 and freeholders of the County to receive him as their Sheriff, and 

 his bailiff in other things. In most histories of the County we 

 find certain noblemen, as Thomas de la Hyde, William de 

 Bottreaux, and others, named as Constables of this Castle ; whereas 

 they were the Sheriffs for that year, and as such, custodians of all 

 the Earl's Castles. For instance, in 1307, Piers Gaveston was 

 appointed Earl of Cornwall and Sheriff in fee, and obtained all 

 the Castles, &c., of which Edmund, the late Earl, had died possessed. 

 Under him Thomas de la Hyde was Sheriff ; and, as such, custos 

 of all the Castles, for which he rendered a debtor and creditor 

 account. He appears to have died in the same year as the Earl, in 

 1313 ; and between the Earl's death and his own we find he had 

 the fees or wages of the staff of this Castle for 40 days, viz., 2d. 

 a day to the Constable, 3d. to the Porter and Watchman, and 5/7 

 to the Chaplain for officiating during the said time : the same 

 rate of payment as had been made since the appointment of John 

 le Barber by Earl Edmund. 



During the reign of Eichard H much of the property of the 

 Duchy became alienated for a time. Tintagel Castle and Manor, 

 with other Castles and Manors, were given to John Holland, Earl 

 of Huntingdon, married to the King's sister Elizabeth, who sur- 

 vived him. After he was beheaded, she married Sir John Corn- 

 wall ; who, with her till their deaths, by permission of Henry Duke 

 of Cornwall, held the Castle, &c., when they reverted to the Duchy- 

 Captains or Constables continued to be appointed until the reign 

 of Elizabeth. John Upcote was Captain in 1485 ; Sir John Carewe, 

 Knight of the Body, was appointed Captain or Constable on the 

 27th August, 1509. He died in 1512, and was succeeded by Sir 

 Anthony Utright. After him John Nevill was appointed to be 



