Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/359

 CAERNARVON CASTLE. 257 supplied by the revenue paid into the Welsh Exchequer by the natives themselves. Here we will leave the history of its erection, and descend to the next reign; in the I7th 3^ear of which (1343), or rather more than twenty years later than the Castle was finished, we have a royal commission, addressed to William de Emeldon, to inquire into the castles, manors, and other property of the Crown in North and South Wales. By virtue of this authority he commenced his tour of inquiry at the Castle of Conway on the 1st day of August, when, assisted by a jury, summoned together for the purpose, the investigation was commenced by looking through the armoury, which contained bacinets, aketons, and haubergions, 4039 lance-heads, 29 ribs for the crossbows, 12 colerets of plate, 5 pair of rerebraces, 2 great martells, &c. " The Jury found that the great Hall, together with the cellar under it, were ruinous, ou account of the age of the materials and through defect of lead, and could not be repaired under 160?. ; namely, in mason's work, 100?. ; in materials, wood, and carpentry, 20?. ; and in lead and other requisites, 40?. That the kitchen, bakehouse, and brewhouse, under the same roof, were ruinous and nearly destroyed, and could not be repaired under 60?. That the drawbridge of the lower baly (pons tractahilis de hallio inferiore) was weak and ruinous, and could not be repaired under 305. ; and that the tower beyond the postern of the Castle, which stands as a great safeguard for the rest of the Castle, was in a precarious state, and could not be perfected under 60?. ; and a certain house called ' le Gcrncr ' was ruinous and could not be repaired under IQOs. ; also that the dwell- ings (tecta), and ten floors and eight chambers, in the six-sided tower, were weak, and could not be repaired under 131?. ; in mason's work and materials, 70?.; carpenter's work, 30?.; and lead, 31?. Also, that the drawbridge of the Castle would cost 405. That the wall of a certain gate near the postern was ruinous, and could not be repaired under the same sum ; and that the stables were weak and ruinous, and could not be repaired under 4?. The whole decay being estimated at 425?. 10s. Ot?." On the 3rd of August, WiUiam de Emeldon proceeded to Beaumaris, where the same method of inspection was fol- lowed. Amongst the stock, mention is made of three moulds of brass for the hand-mills, three notes of brass for the springhalds, and three bows of brass. The inventory also speaks of garbs of steel, seven stone axes for the masons, four somers of iron for the springhalds, &c. " Here the jury reported that a certain chamber beyond the gate near the sea was ruinous, and would cost to repair 7?., and that the dwelling and areas (aree) of two chambers in ' le GcmcU Tour ' would cost 35?. The VOL. VII. M M