and partly so on the back. The entries are “circa novum turriolum
faciendum”; “circa coquinam faciendam.” Carpenters’ work about “unam
januam ad barbecanum et unam januam ad mantellum versus turriolum juxta
magnam turrem.” Masons were engaged “circa cameram Regine faciendam,”
and cutting stones, “ad circularem fenestram in magna camera Regis.”
The expenses appear of Master Ralph the painter “circa parvas cameras
juxta cameram Regine dealbandas” (whitewashing); also masons engaged
“circa chimineum in magna camera Regis et muros ad cameram ultra
volticium faciendos.” Again, the expenses of Ralph the painter “circa
cameram Regis dealbandam,” and “circa cameram Regine dealbandam.” A
carpenter was employed “circa claustrum et hostium ad camere Regine
faciendas.” Master Richard “circa cameram ultra volticium faciendam
et terram juxt coquinam removendam.” Of stores there were, “In iiij
libras ære et dimidiam empt’ ad opus cement’ confectis cum thure code
et pictivæ ad cementum faciendum.” More stone from Weldon; slates from
Haringworth; “In vitreis fenestris emptis ad cameram Regine, 10s.”
7 Edward I. is a roll of two membranes. The expenses of a mason “in
magno horre crestando”; of men “fodientes petras in quarreria juxta
castellum ad fundamentum aule cohoperiendum.” Masons “ad muris aule,
solarii, capelle, et garderobe cohoperiend’ et super fundamentum
stabule per ij dies”; also a mason “ad capellam prosternendam in turre.”
Another roll of the same date contains the trades of the workmen
employed. One master-mason, four cissores (trimmers or dressers of
stone); four cubitores (bedders); six servitores (helpers); two
quarrymen at Rockingham; six carpenters; two makers of boards and
laths; and two sawyers.
8–9 Edward I., six membranes. A complete roll of works for the year,
Michaelmas to Michaelmas, naming however but few places; only the
tower, the chamber, near the new chapel; men engaged “circa capellam et
cameram domini Regis faciendam”; also “circa murum aule et fundamentum
celarii.” The stone came from Weldon and Haverne.
9–10 Edward relates to small works only.
13–14 Edward I., a full roll, Michaelmas to Michaelmas: Masons are busy
“super capellam”; “super kernellos”; carpenters, “super magnam capellam
Regis”; masons, “circa fenestram Reginæ inter duos turiolos erigendam,”
and “circa murum et fenestram celarii reficiendam” and “circa unum
baterat intrantem magnam cameram et circa dictum murum et fenestram”;
also “circa gabulam capelle et circa turiolum,” and “super turiolum
et murum versus magnam portam juxta boveriam”; also a carpenter was
engaged “super sedem Regine ad capellam.” The total thus expended by
and according to this roll was £103. 0s. 12d.
15–16 Edward I., also a full roll, Michaelmas to Michaelmas. Masons
engaged “circa novum turiolum juxta coquinam,” a carpenter, making
“gistas ad turriolum de Holebrooke”; a mason “cooperiens ij turiolos,
muros aule, et in aliis locis emendans cohoperturam murorum.” Two
masons “perimplentes warderobam Regine et viam de aula usque cameram
Regis et domum Lawyte’ juxta capellam, et facientes astr’ (astra
are fireplaces or hearths) in v caminis in turri et iiij caminis in
castello ad tascham 8s.’ ... circa murum versus turrim erigendum et
turridum versus turrim.”
In the same record mention is made of “stagnum,” or tin, for solder:
of the gables of the solar or upper floor, next the sun. “Cyntles or
cindules” are shingles for roofing. “Viz,” from “vis,” a screw, is a
spiral staircase. “Vertevellis” are hinges, and “gumphis,” the big
hooks on which they turned: gudgeon and pintle.
The above entries show much attention to the lodging of the King
and Queen, and but little to those of any one else, or to the
fortifications. The old hall is probably that which preceded the
present structure, and was no doubt Norman. The cellar under the
oriel is mentioned. The magna turris was probably the keep, and the
drawbridge that which crossed the keep ditch. The barbican was no doubt
a timber structure outside one of the two outer gates. The old chapel,
probably that in which the council met, was destroyed, and a new one
erected. The new hall seems to have been in progress 8–9 Edward I.
The history of Rockingham is closely bound up with that of the forest,
of which its constables or castellans were almost always seneschals.
It has been shown that the Conqueror here ordered a castle to be made,
and probably therefore he visited the spot. In 1095 it was selected by
Rufus as the place of meeting for the nobles and prelates of the realm
to discuss with Archbishop Anselm the important question, “Utrum salvâ
reverentiâ et obedientiâ Sedis apostolicæ posset Archiepiscopus fidem
terreno Regi servare, annon”? When the King arrived from Normandy,
29th December, 1094; he found Anselm about to accept his pall from
Urban II., whom the king had not acknowledged as pope, and the question
arose whether the recognition of Urban was consistent with fidelity to
the crown. The meeting took place at Rockingham on the fifth Sunday
in Lent, 11th March, 1095. They met in the chapel, when Anselm called
on the prelates for their advice. The prelates inclined to the feudal
rather than the ecclesiastical view of the question, which they rather
avoided, and decided that Anselm had treated the king with disrespect.
The meeting was adjourned to the Monday, when the prelates agreed that
the assembly was one of vassals of the crown, and not a synod, and
they and the nobles advised Anselm to submit himself to the king. On
the Tuesday a deputation of the prelates met Anselm. They persisted in
regarding the difference from the secular point of view only, offering
an opinion that as a vassal of the crown the Archbishop was in the
wrong, but declining to go further, or to pass any censure upon their
ecclesiastical superior. The meeting then broke up, Anselm refusing
to give way. Soon afterwards the king acknowledged Urban and received
his legate, but without consulting or informing Anselm. All this shows
that Rockingham was then an important place. The chapel must have been
more than a mere oratory in the keep like those of Arundel or Lincoln,
and there must have been some sort of accommodation for the assembly,
composed as it was of laymen of high rank and of bishops, in an age
when men of that order were not remarkable for asceticism.
The forest is said anciently to have extended to Northampton, but
the boundaries, as fixed by various perambulations from Edward I. to
Charles I., limit it to Oxendon and Stamford bridges. It was divided
into the Bailliewicks of Rockingham, Clive or Clyffe, and Brigstoke,
each under a bailiff and verdurers, and in each of which was a forest
lodge, kept in repair by the crown. At Geddington on the Ise was a
larger residence, often visited by the sovereigns, where a great Curia
Regis was once held, and where still remains one, the most perfect,
of the memorial crosses set up by Edward I. to his Queen. Many manors
also were held of the castle by the tenure of castle-guard. There is
no regular list of these, but it is known that among them were Little
Billing, Cottingham, Aldwinkle, Cogenhoe, Harwedon, Hanington, Horton,
Isham, Uphall, Wotton, and the Barony of Chipping-Warden, which
itself had tenants holding by like services. Also an inquisition, 18th
February, 18th Edward I., shows that the Manor of Wahul was held of the
king per Baroniam by the service of one knight’s fee, and sixty-nine
shillings each Michaelmas, for the ward of Rockingham Castle. The
sums for which the service was commuted ranged from twenty pence to
seventy-five shillings annually, and were assessed at five shillings
for a knight’s fee. The collection of these sums was the business of a
special officer who held half a virgate of land by this tenure, besides
hous-bote and hey-bote in Cottingham wood, a right to grass his horse
in the Abbot of Peterborough’s meadows at Eston, and his diet when
the king or his constable were in residence. He seems to have been
called the castle bailiff, and in Henry III.’s time, when Geoffrey de
Rockingham held it, the office was hereditary. There was also a weyte
or watchman, who mounted guard at night, and held the weyte fee by the
tenure of castle-weyte. Simon de (la) Weyte held the office 36 Henry
III.
In 1137 we are told in the _Anglo Saxon Chronicle_ that the Abbey of
Peterborough, under its indomitable abbot Martin, that “good monk
and good man,” recovered from William Malduit, who held the Castle
of Rockingham, the lands of Cottingham and Easton. Malduit was only
constable, but in the lawless reign of Stephen the keeper of so strong
a place must have exercised very independent powers. The castle was
never actually alienated from the crown, and was frequently visited by
the kings, together with Brigstoke and Geddington, and forest laws were
very strictly enforced, through the Justice “in itinere forestarum.” In
1139–40 (5 Stephen) the king had a vinedresser at Rockingham, for whose
livery was allowed thirty shillings, and twenty shillings were spent in
procuring necessaries for the vineyard. In 1188, 11th February, a great
assembly, “Curia Regis,” was held at Geddington to discuss the question
of a crusade. In 1189–90 the Sheriff of Northamptonshire accounted for
one hundred shillings for the rent of Rockingham.
In 1194 King Richard was here.
Henry II. and Richard I. allowed £4. 11s. 3d. for the castle porter and
two watchmen. The custos or constable purchased his office. In 1157–8
Fulk de Lisoriis accounted for twenty pounds for the old rent of the
forests of Rockingham and Selveston, and a similar sum was accounted
for as the new rent of the same forests. In 1199 Robert Malduit paid
for it one hundred pounds by four quarterly payments. He had already
held it. King John was here at least fourteen times between 1204 and
1216, and dated many instruments from hence. In 1204, 5th May, the
county of Rutland and the vill of Rockingham had been settled in dower
by John on Queen Isabella. He probably retained the castle. In this
settlement he followed precedent, for in 1209 Pope Innocent called upon
him to restore to Berengaria, Richard’s queen, her goods, among which
is specified “In Nordhantonscire Rokingham cum pertinenciis ejus”
(Rymer). The dower was confirmed 5th May, 1215. In 1204 the Patent
Roll shows that King John granted to Samson Wascelin, “our clerk,” the
church of Rockingham with the attached chapel of Manneton, in free
alms for life. In 1205, Scogernel, a king’s messenger, had ninepence
for going to Rockingham. In October, 1207, Earl David (of Huntingdon)
had paid the king in his chamber at Rockingham, by the hand of Peter
de Stoke, £100 due on an imprest, and in 1208 Hugh de Nevil was to
be prepaid his outlay, estimated by competent persons, on the king’s
houses at Rockingham and Clyve.
In 1209 and 1210 occur divers entries in the Mise Roll concerning
William Aquarius, who provided the king’s bath. Of eight baths, he had
made one at Northampton. There is no bath at Rockingham. There are
payments for the “roncini” [baggage ponies] of Thomas Marescal staying
at Northampton and Rockingham for six days with the royal wardrobe,
while the king wandered [‘spatiatum’] among the forests and rivers. He
thus visited Geddington and Clyve, where he lost 4s. 10d. at tables
with the Earl of Salisbury, and afterwards 4s. 11d. Also the keep of
twenty-nine horses and twenty-four valets (garciones) for three days at
Rockingham, with a workshop (fabrica), cost 24s. 5d.
The frequency of the royal visits was in some measure due to the
necessity for supporting the household from the local resources; wine
however, notwithstanding the vineyard, was imported and kept in store,
especially at Southampton, and there delivered to the king when needed.
Thus, in 1212, sixteen casks of wine were imported, of which five went
to Rockingham, three to Clyffe, and four to Geddington; and John while
here, 10th July, acknowledges the receipt of a coat of mail which had
belonged to the Constable of Chester. Here also, according to the Mise
Roll, John ordered 100 marcs given him by the burgesses of Nottingham
to be expended in making a tower “in mota de Notingham.”
The castle was also a prison. In 1213, Gilbert de Gartington was to be
set free from thence, with his chattels, on bail; also Robert de Mara,
taken at Carrickfergus, was freed at the request of the legate. In
1214, the chancellor was directed to purchase five dolia of the best
wine in London and to send them to Clyffe, Geddington, Rockingham, and
Selveston. In this year £127. 8s. 6d. was allowed for works on the new
tower and chamber in the castle, and Peter de Barr and Nicholas de
Hugevill, foot crossbowmen, were sent to be employed in the defence of
the castle, at six pence per day each. In January, 1215, the chancellor
was to send more red wine. In March the king has restored to William,
Earl of Albemarle, the manor of Rockingham, which had belonged to Alice
his paternal aunt (amitæ suæ). This may be either Alice de Romeli his
mother’s mother, or Alice Mareschal his sister. He is to have “homines,
res, terras, et omnes possessiones.” In May, William de Harcourt is to
be well received at the castle if he needs hospitality. It appears that
the late custos had been enclosing, for the king gives to Roger de
Nevil the whole assart of Rockingham which Hugh de Nevil had assarted
or cleared, and adds common of pasture in the vill for his stock, by
the tenure of a pair of gilt spurs annually.
1216, 4th March, of the prisoners sent by Lady Nichole de Haya to
Nottingham four are to be transferred to Rockingham. The custos of the
castle seems to have been trespassing on the powers of the sheriff,
which the king sets right. Probably there had been a disturbance at
Rockingham for John directs the Constable of Nottingham to liberate
on a fine a prisoner taken there. Later in the year the garrison must
have been discontented, for the custos is ordered at once to pay their
arrears of livery to the men who garrison the castles of Northampton
and Rockingham, so that they may have no excuse for desertion. The
constable is to retain for the use of the castle the manors of
Geddington, Cliff, Brigstock, and Corby. He is to act as escheator in
order to give seizin of Blaston and Weston to Ralph Fitz Peter. This
is one of the first orders made in the new reign, and is witnessed by
the Earl marshall “teste Comite.” Henry III. was probably at Rockingham
many times, certainly in 1220, 1226, and 1229.
1217, the Abbot of Peterborough asks not to be distrained for his
castle guards. This is granted, but the knights who hold the abbot’s
fees are to do the service. In 1218 Richard Trussell was fined for
taking his dogs through the forest. In 1219 to Hugh de Nevil is
restored the bailliage of the forest and of Clyve, Gettington, and
Brigstoke. The offices being connected with land, the constable is to
give seizin. 25th June the king sent his huntsman, Richard de la Hunt,
to chase in the forest, and during his stay the sheriff is to provide
for him and his two horses, two valets, a swordsman or “sicarius”
(bernarius), a whipper-in (veltarius), four greyhounds, and fourteen
_chiens de meute_ (canes de mota necessaria). He is also to have salt
for salting the venison which he may take, and a carriage to convey it
to the king as needed. Occasionally an order is given to allow some
great man to take three or four bucks or does, but it is evident the
number named are not to be exceeded. 19th July, Walter de Preston is
sent to take forty bucks for the king’s larder. In November, William,
Earl of Albemarle, in charge of the castles of Rockingham, Sauvey,
and Biham, had refused to give them up, on which the sheriffs are
warned that he had been excommunicated by the legate, and no person is
to aid him in holding the castles. The earl, however, resisted, and
this castle was actually besieged and taken by surprise 28th June,
1220 (“Hist. Anglor.,” ii. 242). Henry was here in person, and allowed
William de Albini three, and William de Insula two, bucks. William de
Preston and Richard de Watervill are also allowed twenty each, probably
for the king’s use. A little before this, in May 1220, Isabel, the
king’s mother, wrote to inform him that on his account rather than
her own she had married the Comte de la March, and requested that
her husband might be allowed her dower, which included Rockingham
Castle (“Letters of Henry III.,” i. 115). In July the bailliages
were returned to Hugh de Nevil, who had a charter from King John, and
in November, Fulk de Breauté had one hundred pounds for his expenses
during the siege of Rockingham, which he seems to have conducted.
Sauvey and Rockingham when taken were found to be utterly bare of
provisions, not three loaves of bread being found in the two.
Henry seems at first to have granted his mother’s request, but 2nd
September, 1221, Richard de Ripariis had the custody of the whole land
which the Comte de la March had held in England of his wife’s dower,
and the good men of Rockingham were to answer to Richard for the rent
of the vill, as they had done to the earl and his wife.
Other entries relate to the same year. The constable is allowed large
timber for the repairs of the king’s houses and the “turris” of
Rockingham, and the sheriff is to allow twenty marcs for the same.
Also Hugh de Nevile is to take a forest verdurer and good men “de
visñeto” [from the neighbourhood; hence “venue” as applied to a jury]
of Cottingham and Carlton, and measure the assart which the Abbot of
Peterborough had licence from King John to make. If 100 acres or less,
the abbot is to be left in peace; if above that area, Hugh is to take
possession and report.
16th April, 1222, the men of Rockingham are informed that Queen
Isabel and her husband are again allowed the dower lands. In May the
Earl of Albemarle had made his peace, and under King John’s charter
touching the lands of Hawise, his mother, he is acquitted of relief
and other charges for his farm of the manors of Rockingham, Clyffe,
and Brigstoke, from the day on which he took charge of the castle to
the 18th November, 1219. In this month the king sent ten marcs for the
repairs of his houses, and the same for the castle, to be applied as
far as it would go.
1223: the abbot is not to be distrained in time of peace for more than
four shillings, castle guard, according to the tenor of the charter of
Richard I. 13th September, it appears that Alianor, the king’s aunt
(grandmother), formerly Queen of England, had the fair of Rockingham
as part of her dower, and, she being dead, Isabel and the Comte de la
March are to have it, with all the dues. 31st October, the custos has
five marcs from the sheriff for the repairs of the gutter of the king’s
chamber. 1224: in this year ten casks of wine were sent to Rockingham,
and the carriage from Southampton to be paid by the sheriff, and later
on ten dolia more. Walter the Miller has an oak for the repair of the
bridge; one conveniently situated is to be chosen. In 1225 the sheriff
was to take with him proper men, skilled in carpentry and masonry, and
see to the repairs of the king’s chamber in the castle, and for this
sufficient timber was to be allowed. The Bishop of Ely had an order for
ten bucks from an Essex forest, but because they were hard to take he
had a similar order on Rockingham, to be used should the first attempt
fail. A certain Ivo de Dyen taken in the forest had fined to King
John eight marcs and a palfrey for his freedom, and paid it to the
constable, for which he now has a quittance. William de Cantilupe has
two bucks and two does from the forest to put into his park at Eston.
Martin de Patishull has ten bucks. Some timber allowed for the castle
is to be selected by the foresters and verdurers, who are to take a
receipt (talliam) for it from the sheriff.
In 1226 ten dolia of wine were sent to the castle. In this year Ralph
de Trublevill was to have timber from some convenient spot where the
forest would not be injured, for the bay of the king’s vivary at
Brigstoke and the repair of his houses. The custos has twenty marks
from the sheriff for works at the chapel and other parts of the castle.
The Sheriff of Beds is also to supply twenty marcs for these works; a
load of lead is ordered for the gutters of the roof. 15th August, the
constable is to have two bucks in season [in horis]. 24th July, 1227,
the constable is to pay over his receipts for the past and present year
from Rockingham fair to Thomas de Cyrene, or his bailiff of that vill,
and he is to leave them with him in future. William de Cantilupe is
allowed to take two bucks in season. In 1230 three casks of wine were
sent to the castle from Boston.
After some lapse of time an inquisition of 34 Henry III., 1249–50,
states that the castle was left ruinous by Sir Robert Basselewe,
the last constable. It mentions the tower, the walls, and their
battlements. The chapel was destitute of fittings for divine service.
1250, Geoffrey de Rokingham, who probably held the Weyte fee _in
capite_ under the castle, had died, and his executors were allowed
administration on giving security for the debts due to the king.
1284–6, the estate was not wound up, and Master Henry Sampson brought
before the Barons of the Exchequer the pieces of a tally for £4 levied
by the Sheriff of Rutland, which tally was by mischance broken. Sampson
seems to have been an executor. 1251, the sheriff is allowed 8s. 2d.
for the carriage of the king’s venison from Rockingham to Westminster,
and Elias de Hanvill is to take sixty oaks from the king’s woods of
Clyve, Brigstoke, and Cottingham for works at the castle.
In 1253–4 Ernald de Bosco, justice of the forests south of Trent,
had charge of Rockingham forest between the bridges of Stamford and
Oxendon, excepting the castle and its appendages; and he was directed
to make “Trencheyns” where it seemed most expedient in the forests of
Rockingham and Clyve. Two years later Hugh de Goldingham had the same
charge, and four men were imprisoned in the castle for trespass. They
paid two marcs to be allowed bail until the advent of the justice in
eyre.
1260–1, the king committed to Alan la Zouch the castle and the forest
from bridge to bridge, and John de Oxindon and Walter le Butiller were
his attorneys to account for the issues of the county and forest to the
king.
1269–70, Henry Engayne had licence to impark ten acres of forest,
probably near Blatherwick. In 1271, at the close of Henry’s reign,
Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, his nephew, had the manor of Rockingham, and
obtained a grant for the town of a Friday market.
Edward I. was at Rockingham in 1275, 1279, 1290, and 1300, on the last
occasion for eight days in April.