Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/366

 260 CAERNARVON CASTLE. called " Styngwcrnehalle," ^vitll the pentice (penticio) and four -watch-towers {(jarrctonis) were dilapidated.^ On the 10th of August he went to Lampadarnvaur ; on the 12th to Emlyn ; on the 14th to Cardigan ; on the 16th to Haverfordwest; on the 18th to Caermarthen ; on the 20th to Rosslejn and Dynevor ; on the 21st to Builth ; and ter- minated his tour of inspection at Montgomery on the 23rd, ■ — having visited the thirteen royal castles in North and South Wales within these three weeks. These buildings appear to have been very scantily victualled, as the whole value of stores of this description is returned as only worth 14/. 13.5. 4:d. Much of the honey, both native and Spanish, which was a most important necessary of life in those days, was reported as spoiled ; for instance, 110 gallons laid up at Caernarvon, through bad keeping, were set down as worth nothino-, Nor was the armour in the roval castles of Conway, Beaumaris, Caernarvon, Criccaeth, and Harlech of much value, — being estimated altogether at no more than 75/. Qa. id. A great outla}^ was now rendered necessary to preserve all the aforementioned fabrics, the sum required being computed at 4317/. 13^. id., — nearly half of which was essential for the castles of North Wales. The often recurring mention of the Prison Tower in the North Welsh castles leads me to say a few words concerning these abodes of wretched and not unfrequently of innocent captives. However great in some of its characteristics might have been the refinement of the age when the Plantagenets flourished, it must be confessed, that amid all the architectural si)lendour their prowess or devotion called into existence, they have left memorials behind them betraying an implacable vengeance to their enemies, and relentless cruelty to the con- quered. They were gifted with energy^, courage, fortitude ; but failed in the virtues of magnanimity, clemency, and forgiveness. The fate attendant upon a Welsh captive in the reign of John was usually beheading. Henry III. dealt out to his victims much the same kind of summary punish- ment. But under the rule of Edward I. long imprisonment succeeded to these sanguinary practices of his ancestors. ' At a Inter Survey, in the time of paret of Anjdii fimiidan asylmn here after Elizabeth, the names of these 'lowers were Henry VltlVs defeat at Nortliampton. It merged into the Debtors', the Aniiourers', was the hist in North Wales that held out Mortimer's, and Bronwyn Tower. Mai-- fox Charles I.