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"first" and the "new place" show that the same plans and measurements were adopted in both instances, and despite the characteristics of the L'Estrange family to be "opposite," the second site was certainly a manifest improvement on the first. The Justices of Chester overlooked for the King all matters in Chester and Flintshire, but in the case of Rhuddlan and Dyserth the castles appear to have been under the charge of Richard de Alencum.3 John L'Estrange was appointed Justice of Chester on December 6th, 1240, and further appointed to Dyserth (from Ditton) on March 30th, 1242. Seven days earlier (March 23rd, 1242) the King, who was then at Bromholme, issued a mandate "to the knights and serjeants in the munition of the castles of Rothelan and Beeston' (sic) de Rupe; (a palpable error for Dyserth), to come to the King, except those whom J. L'Estrange, Justice of Chester, thinks should be retained in that munition."

An "acknowledgment of the surrender by Richard de Alencum,5 on Monday, the morrow of Mid-Lent, of the castles of Rothelan and of the Rock of Rothelan (de Rupe de Rothelan), and of his delivery thereof by order of the King to John L'Estrange, Justice of Chester, to keep during pleasure," was duly made at Ditton on March 30th, 1242, the same date as that on which John L'Estrange took full charge.7

During the building operations, provision was made for any sudden attack by the Welsh, in a Mandate issued by the King, from Marlborough, on July 13th,

1241.

"To the Barons, Knights, and others, of the Coun

1 Made by Lieut.-Col. T. A. Glenn for the writer of this article. 2 Made by Mr. Leonard Hughes, R.C.A., for Chester Arch. Journal, v, 377.

3 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 26 Hen. III.

4 The building of Beeston Castle was commenced in 1225, seventeen years previously.-Ann. Cest., 75.

5 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 26 Hen. III.

6 That is, Dyserth Castle.

7 Cal. Pat. Rolls, Hen. III.

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Dyserth Castle, by Mr. Leonard Hughes (Chester Arch. Journal)

ties of Chester, Salop, and Stafford, to come in force, when summoned on on the King's behalf, by John L'Estrange, to defend the King's lieges of Wales, against attack."

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Letters Patent" concerning Dyserth Castle had been previously issued on the 10th May, 1238, in the following terms:-"The King: To the Barons, Knights, and Freemen of the City of Chester. GREETING. Know ye that the aforesaid Earldom of Chester, together with our castles of Gannock and Dincolyn, in Wales, and all things to the same appertaining, we have commanded to be retained, in our bounds, as always belonging to our Crown. AND that there may be manifest proof to you that the said Earldom, without any separation at any time, we will retain annexed to our Crown, WE have now assigned the same to our Queen in dower. "In testimony, etc."

The claim of the Crown in the foregoing "Letters Patent" requires some explanation. The eighth Earl of Chester, John, surnamed the Scot, was a son of David, the brother of William, King of Scotland, who was also Earl of Huntington; John was the last Earl, who exercised regal jurisdiction over the counties of Chester and North Wales. He died in 1237, without issue, and in him terminated the male line of the Earls of Chester, who had governed the Palatinate for a period of 170 years. Henry III thereafterwards annexed the Earldom to the Crown, and maintained the Palatinate prerogatives, "That the honour thereof might not be extinguished by disuse." Since the year 1254, the heir-apparent to the Crown has held the dignity.

The mention of the "castle of Dincolyn" in the Letters Patent shows the date of either the building operations or the contemplation thereof, and the name Dincolyn is very suggestive of a previous stronghold.

1 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 26 Hen. III.
2 Deganwy.

4 Smith's Earls of Chester, 9.

3 Diserth.

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A further reference in Annales Cestrienses states:'In August, 1241, 1241, about the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (August 15) King Henry III came first to Chester, and having entered Wales at Rhuddlan, he remained for eight days. The lord of the land, David, son of Llywelyn, came to him there, restoring the land to him (the King), and he gave up Griffin, his brother (whom he had imprisoned). Also the King built a Castle at Disserth, and caused the foundation of Mold to be laid."2

The bloodless war, which terminated at Alnetum (Gwern Eigron) in August, 1241, no doubt created a feeling of uneasiness and insecurity amongst the Welsh; the King, anxious to dispel this, and also to undo the prospects of Prince David, issued from Shrewsbury, on August 13th, 1241, a "Notification to all the Welsh in the parts of North Wales, that whoever will come to the King's Peace and to the fealty and service of Griffin son of Llywelyn,5 sometime Prince of North Wales, and his sons, the King would willingly accept them, their wives and their children and their goods.

A fortnight later (August 27th, 1241) the King was in camp at Rhuddlan, and on September 3rd at Chester. In both places the clergy were able to gain his favour.

"Power" was given to Brother Gregory de Basingwerk, to conduct the harness of the Bishop of Bangor to Rothelan until Saturday after the decollation of John the Baptist.

Protection, without term, for H, Bishop of St. Asaph, for himself, his clerks, and other men :

Directed to John L'Estrange, Justice of Chester.'
The death of Prince Gruffydd, in 1244, seems to

1 Annales Cestrienses.

2 Mold Castle was evidently not new, for the English seized it from Llywelyn in 1198.

3 Welsh People, 323.

5 Half-brother of David.

7 Howel ap Ednyfed.

4 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 25 Hen. III.

Pat. Rolls, 25 Hen. III.

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have enraged David,' who thereupon summoned all his good men, and attacked his foes, driving them from all their borders, except such as were in castles. He sent messengers to all the Princes of Wales; and everybody joined him except Gruffydd, son of Madog; Gruffydd, son of Gwenwynwyn; and Morgan, son of Howel. To these he caused many losses, and compelled them, against their will, to submit and assist.3 A despatch was sent by L'Estrange in June, 1244, to the King, stating that David, son of Llywelyn, had retired, but was still troublesome; support was needed at Diserth, and that a great army was needed to prevent David's approach. There were nightly raids on English territory, and Diserth was almost cut off from its base at Chester.

On June 28th the King replied: "We thank you for your unwearied diligence in our service. Apply the revenues of the border counties to their defence. You shall receive help if necessary.'

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Every encouragement was given to the garrison, to withstand a siege, and strategy was adopted to cover their weakness, by "challenging the Welsh to come. Success attended their efforts and border warfare continued into A.D. 1245. The Welsh were beaten at Montgomery, but were successful in retaking Mold Castle. King Henry made further arrangements for prosecuting the war, and issued a Mandate from Wood

1 Brut y Tywysogion, 330; Brut S. A. 1244. His anger was surely not caused by the death of a rival?

2 Powell and Wynne, 264.

3 The war was general as early as June 3rd. Pat. Rolls, i, 427. 4 28 Hen. III. Letters.

5 Quod sine magno exercitu castrum vestrum de Dissard non possum appropinquare.

6 Matt. Paris, iv, 385.

7 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 28 Hen. III.

8 Quod si contingat castrum de Dissard vel aliud obsideri, consilium festinum in vobis apponemus, vel personaliter ad partes illas veniendo, etc. Cal. Pat. Rolls, 28 Hen. III.

9 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 29 Hen. III.

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