230 



Notes on the History of Mere. 



towers, which were covered with lead, a hall, an outer and an inner 

 gate, a deep well, a chapel, with a priest who was paid 50s. a year 

 to say mass for the soul of the Earl's mother, Sanchia Berenger. 

 Its officers were a constable, a warder for day, and a watchman for 

 night. In the reign of Edward I. the Abbot of Scone, in Scotland, 

 was imprisoned here. He was conducted as a rebel and traitor 

 by the Sheriff of Wilts from Winchester, and delivered over to be 

 kept in chains by Eichard de Chiselden, Seneschal of Mere. 



Edward Plantagenet, who was Earl of Cornwall, 1296, lived at 

 Berkhampstead, Herts, he married Margaret, the heiress of Gilbert, 

 Earl of Gloucester, from whom he was separated, and she was 

 decreed to lead an unmarried life. She probably lived here, as one 

 of the towers was called the " Countess's Tower." Other towers 

 were called the Northern and Eastern. The castle does not appear 

 to have been very substantially built, as in 1300 there is an entry 

 in the Rolls of the Duchy of Cornwall, given by Sir R. C. Hoare, 

 Modern Wilts, Hund. of Mere : — 



" The Wages of Master William le Maras, plaisterer, making this year the 

 wall of the Castle on the North side of the Great Eastern Tower, fallen to the 

 ground, with 2 new buttresses joined to the said wall, and in making an arch 

 beyond the inner gate, by task work, together with buying and carriage of 

 freestones for all the aforesaid things, 40*. In digging, fetching and squaring 

 for the same work, 8*. 8c?. In collecting in the waters 20 cartloads of moist 

 sand, and in carrying it to the castle, 4s. 2c?. In collecting dry sand and 

 mixing it with old mortar from the said wall which had fallen, 16c?. In making 

 and burning 40 quarters of lime for the same work, together with the carriage 

 of bavins 13*. In boards together with nails bought 6c?. In alder bought and 

 making hurdles at Clayfot 17c?. In the hire of the aforesaid Master William, 

 new building by task work 1 garret in the high North Tower, with free-stone, 

 and in carrying it to the same, and for fetching and working the stone for the 

 same 25s. 9%d. In the hire of 1 plumber with his man six weeks repairing the 

 lead over 5 of the towers of the Castle, and of the defects there and repairing 

 the sixth tower 30*. ; viz. for himself and his man per week, 5*. In 55 lbs. of 

 tin bought to solder with 6s. 10Jc?. ; for each pound l%d. In sawing boards to 

 place under the lead, with nails bought to fasten the said boards 2s. 8d. In 

 31bs. of tallow bought for soldering with 3d. In the hire of 1 carpenter making 

 2 new joists in the tower of the Countess 12c?. In repairing and mending cross- 

 bows and darts for the engines this year 3*. lc?. In herap for cord, wax, pitch 

 and tallow for the same, 9%d. In the hire of 1 armourer mending and repairing 

 the arms of the castle 3*. 6d. In a white skin bought for the same 4c?. In 10 

 bushels of bran bought for the same 15c?. In rubbing and polishing the same 

 by the year 20c?. In cutting and carrying stakes into the castle for store, and 



