[544] “Apud Rokingham liberavimus Philippo Marco ad faciendam turrim quam dominus Rex precepit fieri in Mota de Notingham 100 marcas quas burgenses de Notingham et Willelmus Fil. Baldwini dederunt domino Regi pro benevolencia sua habenda.” In Cole’s Documents Illustrative of English History, 235. There is some reason to think that John instead of building the cylindrical keeps which were then coming into fashion, reverted to the square form generally followed by his father.
[545] Pipe Rolls, 1170-1186. The Pipe Roll of 6 Richard I. mentions the making of “1 posterne in mota,” which may be the secret passage in the rock.
[546] This is rendered probable by a writ of Henry III.’s reign, ordering that half a mark is to be paid annually to Isolde de Gray for the land which she had lost in King John’s time “per incrementum forinseci ballii Castri de Notinge.” Close Rolls, i., 508.
[547] Close Rolls, i., 548b. “Videat quid et quantum mæremii opus fuerit ad barbecanas et palitia ipsius castri reparanda” (1223). Close Rolls, i., 531b. Timber ordered for the repair of the bridges, bretasches, and palicium gardini (1223). Cal. of Close Rolls, 1286, p. 390: Constable is to have timber to repair the weir of the mill, and the palings of the court of the castle. Nottingham was one of eight castles in which John had baths put up. Rot. Misæ., 7 John.
[548] The murage of the town of Nottingham was assigned “to the repair of the outer bailey of the castle there” in 1288. Patent Rolls, Edward I., i., 308.
[549] Chapter xlii.
[550] D. B., i., 280.
[551] “Ipse Baldwinus vicecomes tenet de Rege Ochementone, et ibi sedet castellum.” D. B., i., 105b, 2.
[552] The late Mr Worth thought the lower part of the keep was early Norman. He was perhaps misled by the round arched loops in the basement. But round arches are by no means conclusive evidence in themselves of Norman date, and the size of these windows, as well as the absence of buttresses, and the presence of pointed arches, are quite incompatible with the early Norman period. The whole architecture of the castle agrees with a 14th century date, to which the chapel undoubtedly belongs.
[553] Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, vol. vii.