The Castle of Builth, in Brecknockshire. 305 Probably these were at first of timber, for a structure of masonry required time and peace, and generally tradition has imputed the oldest Norman military buildings in Wales to the immediate suc- cessors of the conquerors, rather than to the conquerors themselves. Where the age can be safely inferred, either from the design of the building or from its ornament, it is generally found to be of very late Norman, verging upon the early English period. Newmarch was succeeded by Milo Fitz Walter, who married his daughter. He was created Earl of Hereford by the Empress Maud, bi 1%^ in 1 140, and received from her the moat, or more probably the " mote " and castle of that city. His sons died childless, Mahel, the last of them, having been killed by the falling of a stone from Bronlljs a.J& ft t ower . Builth was inherited by his sister Berta, who marriedlPhilip de Braose, who, indeed, is said already to have possessed himself of that territory, and to have afterwards married its lawful heiress, as Newmarch had married the Welsh Nest, by way of precaution. Their son, William de Braose, also a powerful baron in Devon, flourished in the reigns of Henry H., Richard, and John, and died in exile in 12 10. His brother Giles, Bishop of Hereford, succeeded, and, dying in 12 15, was followed by his brother Reginald. In his time occurs the earliest mention of the castle. In 12 19, 4 Henry III., the Sheriff of Gloucestershire is directed to give immediate aid to Reginald de Braose " ad castrum suum de Buetto firmandum et fossaturn et trencheyas ibidem faciendas contra inimicos nostros." Also 12 September, 1223, 7 Henry HI., the king directs all the sheriffs of England, excepting those of Stafford, Salop, Worcester, Glou- cester, and Hereford, who probably had already, being near, dis- charged their duty, to raise men and march to Gloucester, the reason being the king's sure information that Reynold de Braose was besieged in his castle of Builth by Llewelyn and a multitude of armed men. What the result was is unknown, but some years later, in July, 1260, after De Braose's death, when the castle was in charge of Roger de Mortimer, it was besieged and taken by Llewelyn. Roger was in London, and, as it was his duty to have been at his post, he had a regular remission in form, stating that he was attend- ing Parliament by special precept. It is stated therein that he held the castle " ex ballio " by deputation from Prince Edward. In August, Llewelyn was still in possession, and there remains a precept on the subject, directed to Richard de Clare and others. Reginald de Braose, who was lord during the siege of 1223, is generally stated to have died in 122 1, which seems disproved by Rymer's record. He died, however, about that time, and was fol- lowed by William his son, who, in 1229, was hanged, according to the Welsh, by Llewelyn. On his death, leaving only daughters, the Crown took the castles, and they were granted to Prince Edward, who held them in 1254, when his father renewed the grant. 5 Edward L, some question arose about certain tythes held by the prior and convent of Brecon under William, William his son, . . . and Reginald de Braose, Lords of Builth, and it appears from a later X
