DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0269
KENILWORTU CASTLE, WARWICKSHIRE.
141
mation, is worthy of laborious pursuit; and the attainment of it, after having been
entangled in the mazes of sophistry, or buried in the obscurity of distant ages, is a
great and glorious reward. If, in the progress of the present work, I have not
always succeeded in obtaining this desired end, I feel conscious of having diligently
and honestly sought for it.
To the valuable and careful labours of Dugdale we are indebted for much
important information, respecting the early annals of Kenilworth Castle ; and as I
cannot, on the present occasion, enter into an elaborate essay, I must content
myself by condensing the substance of his information into a short compass.
Henry I. gave this estate to Geffrey de Clinton, who had been previously settled
at Clinton, in Oxfordshire ; and who, according to an authentic historian, * his con-
temporary, " was of very mean parentage, and merely raised from the dust, by the
favour of the said King Henry, from whose hands he received large possessions and
no small honours, being made both Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer to the said
King, and afterwards Justice of England; which great advancements do argue that
he was a man of extraordinary parts. It seems he took much delight in this place,
in respect of the spacious woods, and that large and pleasant lake (through which
divers pretty streams do pass) lying amongst them, for he it was that first built that
great and strong castle here, which was the glory of all these parts ; and, for many
respects, may be ranked in a third place at the least, with the most stately castles of
England." The Castle continued the property of the Clintons till the 11th year of
the reign of Henry II. when the Sheriff accounted for the profit of the park; and in
the 19th year of the same reign it was possessed and garrisoned by the King, his
eldest son, then crowned, having rebelled against him. At this time the following
stock and provisions were laid in : 100 quarters of bread corn, at viiil. viiis. iid.—
(being then not much more than 2d. a bushel) 20 quarters of barley, at 33s. 4d.—
100 hogs, at 71- 10s.—40 cows, 1 salted, at 4 li.—120 cheeses, at 40s.—25 quarters
of salt, at 30s.—At this time " C. sol were allowed for making a gaol there." In
the following year the Sheriff expended large sums on soldiers, both horse and foot.
In the beginning of King John's reign, Henry de Clinton, grandson of the founder,
obtained possession of this place. Hugh de Chaucumb was soon afterwards made
governor. William de Cantilupe, King's Steward, and Sheriff of the county in the
13th year of John's reign, accounted for 3611. 7s. expended in buildings at the
* Ord. Vit. lib. xi. p. 805, 6.
141
mation, is worthy of laborious pursuit; and the attainment of it, after having been
entangled in the mazes of sophistry, or buried in the obscurity of distant ages, is a
great and glorious reward. If, in the progress of the present work, I have not
always succeeded in obtaining this desired end, I feel conscious of having diligently
and honestly sought for it.
To the valuable and careful labours of Dugdale we are indebted for much
important information, respecting the early annals of Kenilworth Castle ; and as I
cannot, on the present occasion, enter into an elaborate essay, I must content
myself by condensing the substance of his information into a short compass.
Henry I. gave this estate to Geffrey de Clinton, who had been previously settled
at Clinton, in Oxfordshire ; and who, according to an authentic historian, * his con-
temporary, " was of very mean parentage, and merely raised from the dust, by the
favour of the said King Henry, from whose hands he received large possessions and
no small honours, being made both Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer to the said
King, and afterwards Justice of England; which great advancements do argue that
he was a man of extraordinary parts. It seems he took much delight in this place,
in respect of the spacious woods, and that large and pleasant lake (through which
divers pretty streams do pass) lying amongst them, for he it was that first built that
great and strong castle here, which was the glory of all these parts ; and, for many
respects, may be ranked in a third place at the least, with the most stately castles of
England." The Castle continued the property of the Clintons till the 11th year of
the reign of Henry II. when the Sheriff accounted for the profit of the park; and in
the 19th year of the same reign it was possessed and garrisoned by the King, his
eldest son, then crowned, having rebelled against him. At this time the following
stock and provisions were laid in : 100 quarters of bread corn, at viiil. viiis. iid.—
(being then not much more than 2d. a bushel) 20 quarters of barley, at 33s. 4d.—
100 hogs, at 71- 10s.—40 cows, 1 salted, at 4 li.—120 cheeses, at 40s.—25 quarters
of salt, at 30s.—At this time " C. sol were allowed for making a gaol there." In
the following year the Sheriff expended large sums on soldiers, both horse and foot.
In the beginning of King John's reign, Henry de Clinton, grandson of the founder,
obtained possession of this place. Hugh de Chaucumb was soon afterwards made
governor. William de Cantilupe, King's Steward, and Sheriff of the county in the
13th year of John's reign, accounted for 3611. 7s. expended in buildings at the
* Ord. Vit. lib. xi. p. 805, 6.