THE AUTUMN EXCURSION. 139 



the earldom, Edmund, the chapel was probably added. In these 

 days it was apparently rather a fortified palace than a mere 

 fortress ; and whilst it was thus in its highest glory it was visited, 

 as Dr. Barham shewed from documentary evidence kindly fur- 

 nished by Mr. Deeble Boger, by the renowned Black Prince. The 

 third era in its career saw it pass from the condition of a palace 

 again to that of a fortress ; and " decay's effacing fingers " seem 

 to have been laid upon it certainly three, possibly four centuries 

 since. And yet, though unroofed and ivy-mantled, it retains 

 much of its original magnificence. " The whole castle (says 

 Norden), writing in the reign of Elizabeth, beginneth to mourne, 

 and to wringe out hard stones of tearesj that she that was 

 embraced, visited, and delighted with great princes, is now deso- 

 late, forsaken, and forlorn." The general construction of the 

 castle can be distinctly traced. The building is contained within 

 a circular moat of considerable depth, about fifty feet in width, 

 bordered by a terrace half as wide ; and the castle wall is con- 

 centric with this ditch. It is about nine feet thick, and forty feet 

 high to the crest of the parapet. It batters considerably and 

 uniformly from base to summit. The included space is about 105 

 feet in diameter. The rampart wall passes all around, with a rear 

 wall much destroyed, and a parapet about six feet high. The 

 embrasures are quite plain, of rubble work, and rather further 

 apart than usual. The merlons are not pierced ; but at the base of 

 the parapet, on the level of the walk, are occasional loops or 

 shoots, pointing downwards towards the ditch. Three stair- 

 cases, one on each side of the gate and one opposite, lead to the 

 ramparts, upon which also the chimney shafts open. Within, and 

 concentric with the outer wall, is an inner wall of less heighli and 

 substance; and the annular space between the two, divided by 

 radiating walls, contains the apartments. The open area within 

 is sixty-four feet in diameter. On the right hand of the gate is 

 the kitchen, indicated by a mutilated fireplace, of very unusual 

 breadth ; and beyond it is the hall, with three exterior windows. 

 The chapel is a rectangular appendage projecting from the eastern 

 side into the moat. There is a small pointed shelfed piscina with 

 conduit. The moat was supplied with water from the hill above 

 by leaden pipes. One of the chief topics of discussion at the 

 castle was the east wall of the chapel, which contains no window, 

 and presents some peculiar appearances. Close examination, how- 

 ever, seemed to prove that these were caused by changes of con- 

 struction that had taken place, and 'were no part of the original 

 structure. The chapel originally had an east window of three 

 lights. This was subsequently walled in from the outside, possibly 

 to increase the strength of the edifice in what we have called its 



