Colchester Castle. 421 calls Constable of Colchester, and adds that the king gave his daughter to William de Lanvalai. WilHam, who was an Essex baron, certainly obtained the Constableship from King John (2 John), by a payment of 200 marcs. He died 12 John, leaving WilHam his son, who was made Constable 17 John, but soon after joined the rebels. His daughter Hawise was afterwards given in wardship to Hubert de Burgh, who married her to his son John. King John visited the castle six times, in 1203, 1205, 1209, 1212, 1214, and 1216, staying three days during his two penultimate visits, and eleven days during his last visit. In 12 14 Stephen Harengot was in charge in succession to Matthew Mantell ; also Hugh de Albemunt, carpenter, had an order for 23 marcs for work done, to which, in 12 15, 20 marcs were added for repairs, and the burgesses were informed that Harengot was responsible for the king's rents. In April of that year Harengot was to have timber from a wood near the town, for its defence, " ad illam claudendam," and Hugh de Neville was to permit the same. In July, John's suspicious character led him to substitute for Harengot AVilliam de Lanvalai, who had married, as already stated, the daughter of a previous Constable. In this year the castle was besieged and taken by Saher de Quincy, who also burned the town. Both were afterwards recovered by King John. In March, 12 16, is recorded a list of one hundred and thirteen persons, knights, squires, and attendants, cross-bowmen and foot- soldiers, from their names probably French mercenaries, to whom the king gave a safe conduct for a passage from the castle of Colchester to London. In April Harengot was again in charge, and in August he had a credit for 100 marcs out of a fine due of a thousand. This was for the payment of the garrison of the castle. In November, 12 17, Richard de Mont Fitchet was ordered to give William, Bishop of London, seizin of Kingsworth wood belonging to the castle of Colchester, and to remove thence his own servants. In July, 1 2 18, the king's bailiffs of Colchester were to respond for the farm of the town to the bishop, as they had used to do when Harengot held the castle. The bishop was at that time negotiating for the king with the French invaders, who for a time actually held the castle. After John's death the bishop (October, 2 Henry HI.) had a credit on the farm of Colchester for ^20 expended "in waristura" (munition) for the castle. In 1222 the sheriff of Essex, then in charge, was to transport certain timber, cut by the Constable of Dover Castle, to the port of Colchester. In January, 1223, the bailiffs of the town had credit from the Exchequer for loos. advanced by them to the Constable of the castle. The Exchequer seems to have guarded the revenue closely, for in 12 24 the Bishop of London is called upon to refund j[^2o paid to William, late Bishop of London, for the repairs of the king's castle of Colchester. In April, 1225, the Prud-hommes, " probi homines," of Colchester are to hand over the farm of the town to the Constable for the repairs of the castle. The Bishop of London seems occasionally to have had charge, for in 1227 he is ordered to send to the king some
