Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/284

 256 THE CASTLE. Constable of the Castle lyeth, vvhoe hath also the charge of the gayle. The form and situation of the Castle is as followeth : Richard Carew, writing in 1602, says : To the town of Lanceston there is adjoinant in site, but seques- tered in jurisdiction, an ancient Castle, whose steep, rocky-footed Keep hath its top environed with a treble wall; and in regard thereof, men say, was called "Castle Terrible." The base [keep] Court compriseth a decayed chapel, a large hall for holding the shire assizes, the constable's dwelling-house, and the common gaol. The long centuries of rest which the Castellan had en- joyed were at length disturbed by the civil war between Charles I. and his Parliament, 164 1-8. It has been well said, that when two names so sacred in the English Constitution as those of King and Parliament are placed in opposition, it is not surprising that the people are divided in their choice. In the memorable instance now before us, each county, each town, and almost every family, was divided within itself. The most violent animosities and factions shook the whole kingdom. England had at that time no standing army. When an emergency arose the Crown issued a " commission of array" to sheriffs, to members of Parliament, and to other influential persons in the counties, to "muster and array"