NOTES OF MINUTES DUCHY OF CORNWALL COUNCIL. 159 



had reappeared in England in 1361. Numerous orders issued 

 by tile Prince to his officers to ascertain to what extent his lands 

 had been depreciated by this dreadful pestilence, with orders to 

 remit and to lower rents, are to be found in the Minutes of 

 Council. 



Either this motive or curiosity might have led him, as recorded, 

 to visit Tintagel Castle at this date. The Minutes of the Council 

 afford no direct proof that the Prince was ever at Trematon 

 Castle; although in 1362, he issued orders relative to business 

 connected with the Manor of Trematon. It was, however, easy, 

 from its being in the immediate neighbourhood of Plymouth, for 

 the Prince to pay it occasional visits of a few hours in 1353 and 

 1362, when he was at Plymouth or PljTiipton. 



It is a corroboration of the date of 1362, as identified with 

 the Prince's visit to Pestormell, that two other orders, dated 

 3rd and 5th of June, 1362, were issued from Pljonpton, and one 

 from Plymouth on the 6th of June, 1362. 



It may reasonably be conjectiu"ed as to "Lodgings" on his 

 joiu'neys in Devon and Cornwall, that the Prince would, at Exeter, 

 either honour the Bishop at his Palace with his company, or 

 lodge at his own " Castle of Exeter." In regard to comfort, it is 

 likely that he would prefer the Palace ; and that he did select 

 the Palace appears from an entry dated 10th September, 1353, 

 in wliich it is recorded, that the Prince received the Homage of 

 James Vautort, at Exeter, '■'■ loithin the chamher of the Palace 

 there P 



At Chudleigh, where the Manor belonged to the Bishop of 

 Exeter, and where the Bishop had a Palace adjacent to the Town, 

 the Prince might be sure of sufficient accommodation At Laun- 

 ceston, besides the Castle belonging to the Prince, which, from its 

 apparent construction, would not much invite a halt, there was 

 a religious house, " Launceston Priory;" and to offer hospitality, 

 especially to the Prince, who was the feudal superior of the 

 Prior, would be his natural and pleasant dutj^ 



At Plympton, the Priory, with its high position in the rank of 

 religious houses, and hospitality on a scale suitable to visitors of 

 rank who were constantly making Plymouth a port of embarka- 

 tion, would naturally have the Prince for its guest; and there pro- 

 bably he was lodged with his illustrious captives in 1356, after 

 the battle of Poitiers. The result of this accustomed profuse 



