354
whereof a chyromancy is now made with the armes and badges of this kinge.In the botome of the great stronge rownd tower in the inner ward, is a marvellusvault called the fLlognn. The top of this rownd tower is gathered with a rofeof stone, almost in conurn ; the topp whereoff is keverid with a flat mille stone.”
The outer ward, here mentioned, was entered from the tower by a grandgateway, yet standing, of prodigious strength, and defended by two roundtowers, one on each side.
Pembroke, p. 302.—The small remains of the Ely Tower, in BrecknockCastle, still exist. The fate of Morton and Buckingham, though their views weresimilar, were very unlike. Morton was meritoriously elevated to the dignities ofa Cardinal, and Archbishop of Canterbury, for his services: while Buckinghamwas intercepted, and lost his head at Salisbury.* He discovered, too late, thattyrants pull down those scaffolds which elevated them to power. His son Edwardwas restored by Henry VII. , but through the machinations of Wolsey fell intodisgrace, and was beheaded by Henry VIII . for the whimsical alleged crime ofconsulting a wizard about the succession. When the Emperor Charles V. heard of his death, he observed—“ A butcher’s dog has torn down the finestbuck in England.”f
Pembroke, p. 303.—On the 7th of December, 1780, the following letter fromthe Lord Bishop of St. David’s, and the Justices of the County of Pembroke, tothe Lord Treasurer Burleigh, was read at the Society of Antiquaries of London ,being copied from the “ Scrinia Burleighiana,” Vol. 79, No. 3, then in thelibrary of James West, Esq., at Alscot.
By this letter is seen the great importance attached to Pembroke, both as afortress, a seaport, a safe bay, and a productive soil, but at that time quite un-protected against foreign invasion. It runs thus :—
u Right Honorable our singular good Lorde.—The bounden dutie we owe toher Ma tie > the consience we have for safegarde of the whole Realme, and thecare that in nature and reason wee carry of this our countrie, have emboldenedus to offer this Discourse unto y r IIon r - concerninge the safetie of themand us all. It becometh us not to feare, neither do we doubte of the wise andgrave consideracon that y r Lp. and the rest of the LL S - moste honourableprivie counsaill, have had, and still have, for y e preservacon of her Ma lie andthe realme; but yett, fearing y r want of due informacon touching the estate ofMylforde Haven, and the p’tes adjoining, It may please you to understandethat y e Haven itself, being neyther barred to liynder entrie, nor to be embayedby anye wyndes to lett yssuinge forthe, is a sufficient harborough for an infynitenumber of Ships ; w ch haven beying once gotten by the enemye, maie drawe onsuch fortificacon of Pembrock Towne and Castle , and the Towne and Castle of
See the particulars as related in the chronicles of Spocd and others.
f Camden.