The outer ward, here mentioned, was entered from the tower by a grand gateway, yet standing, of prodigious strength, and defended by two round towers, one on each side.
Pembroke, p. 302.—The small remains of the Ely Tower, in Brecknock Castle, still exist. The fate of Morton and Buckingham, though their views were similar, were very unlike. Morton was meritoriously elevated to the dignities of a Cardinal, and Archbishop of Canterbury, for his services: while Buckingham was intercepted, and lost his head at Salisbury.[410] He discovered, too late, that tyrants pull down those scaffolds which elevated them to power. His son Edward was restored by Henry VII., but through the machinations of Wolsey fell into disgrace, and was beheaded by Henry VIII. for the whimsical alleged crime of consulting a wizard about the succession. When the Emperor Charles V. heard of his death, he observed—“A butcher’s dog has torn down the finest buck in England.”[411]
Pembroke, p. 303.—On the 7th of December, 1780, the following letter from the Lord Bishop of St. David’s, and the Justices of the County of Pembroke, to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, was read at the Society of Antiquaries of London, being copied from the “Scrinia Burleighiana,” Vol. 79, No. 3, then in the library of James West, Esq., at Alscot.
By this letter is seen the great importance attached to Pembroke, both as a fortress, a seaport, a safe bay, and a productive soil, but at that time quite unprotected against foreign invasion. It runs thus:—
“Right Honorable our singular good Lorde.—The bounden dutie we owe to her Maᵗⁱᵉ, the consience we have for safegarde of the whole Realme, and the care that in nature and reason wee carry of this our countrie, have emboldened us to offer this Discourse unto yʳ Honʳ. concerninge the safetie of them and us all. It becometh us not to feare, neither do we doubte of the wise and grave consideracon that yʳ Lp. and the rest of the LLˢ. moste honourable privie counsaill, have had, and still have, for yᵉ preservacon of her Maᵗⁱᵉ and the realme; but yett, fearing yʳ want of due informacon touching the estate of Mylforde Haven, and the p’tes adjoining, It may please you to understande that yᵉ Haven itself, being neyther barred to hynder entrie, nor to be embayed by anye wyndes to lett yssuinge forthe, is a sufficient harborough for an infynite number of Ships; wᶜʰ haven beying once gotten by the enemye, maie drawe on such fortificacon of Pembrock Towne and Castle, and the Towne and Castle of Tynby, with other places nere unto yᵐ, as infynite nombers of men, and greate expense of treasure, will hardely in a long tyme remove the enemye, during which tyme her Maᵗⁱᵉ shall loose a fertyle countrey, wᶜʰ yeldes her Maᵗⁱᵉ xii. lib. by yeere, and more in revenue paide to her Maᵗⁱᵉ’ˢ Receaver, besides all other Receipts, both temporal and ecclesiasticall, as tenthes, subsidies, &c.
“Also, it is to be remembred that the soyle nere the sayde haven yeldeth corn in such aboundance, as wolde suffice to maynteigne a greate armye: and the sea coasts nere about it yelde greate plenty of fishe. The harbour also standeth very commodiouslye to receave victualls from Ffrance, Brytaine, or Spayne, all wᶜʰ things maie be an occasion to move the enemye to affect that place beffore others.
“Also, there are in Pembrockshire xviii. castles, of wᶜʰ tho’ there be but twoe or three in reparacon, yett are the rest places of greate strength, and easylie to be fortyfied by the enemye; some of wᶜʰ are so seated naturally for strength, as theye seeme ympregnable.
“Also, there are in that shire dyvers sconces or forts of earth, raysed in greate height wᵗʰ greate rampiers and dytches to the number of vi. or vii., wᶜʰ in tymes past have been places of strength in tyme of war: All wᶜʰ castles and forts wolde yelde greate advantage to the enemyes to strengthen themselves in such sorte, that it wolde be an infynite charge to remove them from thence. Agayne, the same is situate within vii. hours sailing of Waterforde and Wexforde, in Yrelande; so as yf the enemye have an intencon to invade Yrelande, his harborough in this haven maie serve him to greate purpose.
“Ffurthermore, being lorde, as it weare, of thease seas, by possessing this harbour, what spoile he maie make along Seaverne on both sides, even to Bristoll, maie be easelie conjectured. And if he—wᶜʰ God forbidd—shᵈ enjoye Brytanie withall, our Englishe marchants can have no trade, wᶜʰ will decrease her Highness’ customes and decaie the navy.
“If it be thought that he may be kept from landinge, neyther the force of men, nor furniture here, will serve the turne; considering here be manie places where he may easelie land, and he maie com upon us within half a daie’s saylinge, we having no ships at sea to descry hym sooner—and how then our small forces may be in a readyness to withstande hym, wee referr to yʳ Honʳ’ˢ judgment. And if it be thought that her Maᵗⁱᵉ’ˢ Navy Royall be able to conquer them being once in this haven, and that by them fortyfied, yt woulde be founde very harde, by reason that, uppon every little storme, they shall be in greate danger of wrack, and no lande forces are able to expell them: Whereupon we humblie praie yʳ Lp. to consider whether it be not expedient for the withstanding of the enemye, that he obtayne not this harborough, to have a convenient number of ships of warr, and fortyficacons to defende the same, wᶜʰ preparacon, if the enemye might perceave, wee beleve verelie it woulde alter his mynde from adventuringe his navy uppon this coaste. And whereas, of late, Mr. Pawle Ivye was sent hither to survey yᵉ Haven, and to consider of fitt places for fortyficacon, what report he hath made of his opinyon wee know not: but sure wee are, that his abode about that service was verie short, and his survey verie speedilie dispatched; so that, because none of us were privye to his entennt or conceyte, wee do yet retayne some hope that, if some other man of experience were sentt downe hither, to consider of all the said circumstances, some such report woulde happlie be made unto yʳ Honʳ. and the reste, as some better event might ensue for the safetie of this poore countrey, and the whole realme, than as yett, for ought we knowe, hath beene determined uppon: especiallie yf the partie shall have instruccons to viewe the Towne and Castle of Tynby, being a place wᶜʰ may be easelie made of exceedinge strenth, and was not seene by Mr. Ivye nearer than two myles distance, for aught that we can learne....”