Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/461

 THE CASTLE, AND ' THE PKOVISIONS OF OXFOHD.' SoO the reign of the thi*cc Edwards they are still more coni])lete. The Liberate Rolls of Henry the Third coninience in the tenth year of his reign, and, wanting three (lo, 1 (J, and 47), lun on in generally inditiercnt condition to the close. Dnrino- this space of forty-fonr years, there are entries nnder twenty-three relating to the Castle. Some of them, it is true, merely state the order for repairs, but others arc curious for the insight they throw u]>on the domestic arrange- ments and the sort of social state that was observed within its precincts. It may hereafter be thought desirable to print these extracts entire, together with a Hst of the constables, from the Originalia and Patent Rolls, but our present con- venience will be most favoured by bringing forward only those matters which present the most attractive features for observation. It may be safely inferred, that besides the present keep, singular from its rude construction, and the unusual amount to which it batters, there w^as observable in the early arrange- ments various other buildings, such as the garrison chapel, the chaplain's house, the hall, the kitchen, the pantry, scullery, larder, the chambers of the King and Queen, and his private chapel, all of which were enclosed by the girdle of a lofty exterior wall ; and without attempting to indicate the exact extent, for this is only what the careful observation of dwellers on the spot can fix by means of tracing the foundations, or by local knowledge, it is natural to su{)])se that works were continually needed to sustain these various buildings in proper repair. Such general expense of main- tenance it will be advisable to pass over, as perplexing by its minuteness, and therefore the attention shall be confined to such entries as appear more deserving of notice. We will commence with the chapel ; it is now difficult to ascertain its site, but we gather from the Liberate Roll (11, Hen. III.) that the interior had open fittings, as the sheriff was ordered to have four forms (quatuor formas) made for it ; that the chancel was plastered (28, Hen. IlL), and that late in that king's reign (53, Hen. III.), there was erected near the gate, out of the old timl^er of the old kitchen, a good and proper cliamber for the use of the royal chaplains and clerks. Their remunera- tion was small, if it consisted of nothing more than a