Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/282

 254 THE CASTLE. years it had ceased to be a necessity for overawing a sub- jugated people. We have seen that on rare occasions in after years, as in 1 38 1 and 1450 when the rebellion of a Tyler or a Cade was causing alarm, the burghers repaired their walls, and guarded their gates, and perhaps the Castellan then also set his house and his defences in order ; but there had been no known struggle at the Castle leaving its mark upon history. Hence the meagre records which relate to this really imposing structure. William Botoner, usually called William of Worcester, briefly tells us, in the year 1478, that [trans.] "the Castle in the town of Lanceston was built by an Earl of Corn- wall ;" and he afterwards names the Earl Morteyn as its founder — that Polstonbrygge is a mile east of Lanceston, that Lawnceston is the principal and the largest town of the whole county of Cornwall, that he travelled a whole night and day to get from Okenton to this important place, that from Kylkhampton to Downehedborow is twelve miles, and from Lanceston to Lyscard ten miles* and so on. This learned itinerant mentions no less than twenty- seven other castles, besides several once-fortified towers, in Cornwall. Eighteen of these castles had in his time been destroyed, or were falling down ; but among those which remained were Tregony, Botreaux, Restormel, and Trematon, besides Launceston. Leland, already cited, says : After that I had enterid a litle into the suburbe of Launstoun, I passed over a brooke caullid Aterey [error for Kensey] that rennith yn the botom of the stepe hil that Launstoun stondith on. This water, as I there lernid, riseth a x. miles off by west-north- west towards Bodmyne; and, passing by Launston, goith in Tamar by est, as I did gather, a litle above Pulston Bridg. After that I had passid over Aterey [Kensey], I went up by the hille thorough the long suburbe, ontylle I cam to