Budell, Elwyke, Doddyngton, Nesbett, Horton, Hesselrygge, Lyham, Fowberry, Wetwood, Caldmerton, Yardell, Ingram, Ryvell, Hartsyde, Predyke, Chyrmondon, Byttlesden, Clenell, Nederton, Borowden, Allenton, Hutton, Ambell, Sharperton, Tharnam, Serynewood, Hukeley, Chellyngham, Eword, and Hybborne; all which townes are holden of the sayd barony for the most parte by knyghts'-servyce by the payment of castleward, rent, and cornage, as hereafter shall appere.

The lords of the sayd barony have always used to have dyverse offycers belonging to the castell of Alnewyke, wherof one ys called the constable of the castell, which ys the highest offycer and hath charge of the castell and the custody therof; and all other offycers apperteyning to the sayd castell are at his comaundement in the absence of the lord, his several lodgyng in the sayd castell called the constable's lodgyng; and hath for his fee by yere, xxl.

Ther ys one other offycer named the porter of the castell, who hath the custody of the gate of the utterward and the custody of all offendors comytted to warde for any offence, and hath for his fee by yere, cs.

Ther ys also one other offycer called the castell-greave, whose offyce is, amongst others, to attache all offendors, eyther for trespass, dett, or otherwaies by comaundement, and to see them safely conveyed to warde untyll they be delyvered by ordre of lawe; and he hath for his fee, lxs. viijd.

Ther hath been also nomynated and appointed by the lords of Alnewyke receyvor of those possess yons of the sayd barony, who hath allowed for his fee yerely, xl.; and within the sayd castell ys a house called the exchequer, wherein the auditor and receyvor have been accustomed to keepe audit; and every of them hath a sevrall place for his offyce in the same house for the accomptants very aptly made for that purpose.

To the sayd barony also belongeth a feodary, whose offyce ys to see to all the wards after the death of their ancestors, and to kepe sustanciall records for preservacion of the servyces of the lords and freeholders of manors, and that ther be no decay of servyce nor any wards lost for want of seasure; and he hath yerely for his fee, cs.

To the sayd barony also belongeth a lerned steward, whose offyce ys to see good ordre amongest the tenaunts, and to see that justice may be mynystred indyfferently to all men and indyfferency had betwen the lord and his tenaunts, without injury offered to the lord by his tenaunts and oppressyon of the lord towards his tenaunts; and he hath for his fee yerly, vijl.

Ther ys also belonging to the said barony one named the clerke of the courte, whose offyce is to kepe the lord's courtes, to engrosse the rolles, and see the records indyfferently kept and preserved to thuse of the lord and preservacion of his right and interest; and he hath yerly for his fee, vjl. vjs. viijd.

Ther ys also belonging to the said barony one other named the foren baylyf, whose offyce ys to collect all the castleward and cornage money perteyning to the barony, and in tyme of servyce to warne all the tenaunts and inhabytants within the barony to attend upon the lord or his deputyes; and he hath for his fee yerly, lxs. viijd.

To the castle of Alnewyke are also belongyng three parkes, wherof one lyeth on the west side of the castell within one myle, and ys called the Hull Parke, and is well replenyshed with fallow deere and very well

set with underwoods in diverse partes of the same for cover and for preservacion of the deere, and hath ryver of Aylne running thorough yt, and ys for the most parte inclosed with a stone wall, and ys in compass xv miles; and to the same belong two kepers of the dere, and every of them hath for his fee yearly, lxs. viijd.

SEPTENTRIO

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CHAPTER VII.

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF ALNWICK CASTLE.

REASONS have been advanced in a preceding chapter for attributing the erection of the castle of Alnwick to Eustace Fitz-John. The earliest portion of the present building entirely agrees with the period when he flourished; whilst there is nothing at variance in the more ancient remains with the late Norman style that prevailed about the middle of the twelfth century. Assuming, therefore, that sufficient evidence has been already adduced to establish this fact, it will be the object of the present chapter to review the building throughout; and whilst giving it a general description, to notice the numerous changes it has undergone, as well as to trace the age and character of its respective parts.

There is nothing very remarkable in its plan. Similar to all fortresses of the age, it may be briefly described as a Norman castle, with a central keep, or donjon, which stands in the centre of an irregular area, formerly surrounded by a fosse within, and enclosed by curtain-walls, which in their turn are strengthened by mural towers. But that which when viewed as a mass is so readily understood, as well as found to be analogous to other castles of the period, becomes intricate upon a closer examination; and from the various alterations, its own natural decay, and the perpetually recurring necessity for repairs during the course of seven hundred years, there is considerable perplexity in anatomising the entire structure so as to assign every portion to its own proper period. Indeed, in several parts of the curtain-walls this is impossible; as they possess no distinctive indication of age or style, whilst they have been