Clavibus acceptis, rex intrans mœnia castri
Præcepit Angligenis evacuare domos;
Hos introduxit per quos sibi regna subegit,
Unumquemque suum misit ad hospitium.
“Carmen de Bello Hastingensi,” in Monumenta Britannica, p. 603.
[397] William’s description is also of great interest: “Deinde dux contendit Doueram, ubi multus populus congregatus erat, pro inexpugnabile, ut sibi videtur, munitione; quia id castellum situm est in rupe mari contigua, quæ naturaliter acuta undique ad hoc ferramentis elaborate incisa, in speciem muri directissima altitudine, quantum sagittæ jactus permetiri potest, consurgit, quo in latere unda marina alluitur.” P. 140.
[398] The following entries in the Pipe Rolls refer to this:—
| 1194-5. | Three hundred planks of oak for the works of the castle | £2 0 0 |
| 1196-7. | Repair of the wall of the castle | 76 3 0 |
| 1208-9. | Timber for walling the castles of Dover and Rochester, also rods and [wooden] hurdles and other needful things | 76 13 4 |
| 1210-11. | Payment for the carpenters working the timber | 24 9 5 |
| 1212-13. | For the carriage of timber and other things | 48 16 7 |
| 1214-15. | For the carriage of timber for the castle works | 2 0 0 |
| 1214-15. | For timber and brushwood for the works, and for cutting down wood to make hurdles, and sending them | sum not given, |
but £100 entered same year for the works of the castle. There is no mention of stone for the castle during these two reigns, but after the death of John we find that works are going on at Dover for which kilns are required. (Close Rolls, i., 352, 1218.) This entry is followed by a very large expenditure on Dover Castle (amounting to at least £6000), sufficient to cover the cost of a stone wall and towers round the outer circuit. The orders of planks for joists must be for the towers, and the large quantities of lead, for roofing them. The order for timber “ad palum et alia facienda” in 1225 may refer to a stockade on the advanced work called the Spur, which is said to be Hubert’s work. (Close Rolls, ii., 14.)
[399] Cited by Statham, History of Dover, pp. 265, 313.