THE CASTLE's FOUNDER, AND

REPUTED DATE.

The Name of its Founder is variously spelt; as Dudde, Dudo, and Dodo.-Whether he were one of two brothers, of a similar name, who foundTewkesbury Abbey, is mere conjecture.* The places being little more than 40 miles distant, and only 15 years having elapsed between the reputed foundation of the Castle and the Abbey, it is supposed the two edifices owe their origin to the same individual. Tradition dates the foundation of the Castle about the year 700;-of the Abbey in 715. Very brief is the recorded account of the Castle's Founder. The Habingdon MSS. only mention him as "a famous Saxon, who raised a strong Fortress here, which remained till the Conquest.' On what account the strength of the Fortress was then reduced, the record does not state: neither is there any positive information respecting the successors of the Founder, till towards the close of the Saxon Heptarchy. A long space of chronological uncertainty, comprizing 366 years, interposes a veil that is almost impenetrable. A few rays only of historical light faintly glimmer on the

* Both these brothers being Dukes of the Heptarchal kingdom, Tewkesbury is probably a corruption of Dukesbury; the commencing letter T being more easily pronounced than that of D. Camden derives it from the Saxon word Theocsbury, and says others derive it "from one Theocus, who there did lead an Eremite's life. Its ancient Monastery was founded in the yeare 715 by Dodo, a man of great power in Mercia; where before time he kept his royall Court; as is testified by this inscription: HANC AULAM REGIAM DODO DUX CONSECRARI FECIT IN ECCLESIAM. Odo, his brother, endowed the same."

closing scene; and the glories of the heptarchal era fade away. This Castle, like the whole realm, then changed its Lord. Concerning its last Saxon Possessor, the Domesday Book of the Norman despot contains this brief memorial- "hoc m.

Hoc m. tenuit Edvinus

tenuit Edvinus comes:" Earl Edwin held this manor. That is, he held it previously to the possession of it by William Fitz Ansculph. The whole record stands thus: "Isd. W. ten. Dudelei, et ibi est Castellum ejus. comes. Ibi I hida. In dnio e. I car. et III vill. et x bord. et un. faber cu x car. Ibi II serv. et II leuued silve. T. R. E. valebat IIII lib. modo III lib." Literally translated-The said William held Dudley; and there is his Castle. Earl Edwin held this manor.-There is one hide. In demesne is one carucate, and three villeins, and ten bordars, and a smith, with ten carucates. There are two vassals, and woodland two miles in extent. In the time of King Edward, it was valued at four pounds; now at only three: that is, at only three when the survey was taken.

The woodland here alluded to, being then two computed miles in extent, was undoubtedly much more according to present admeasurement. It. comprized what was denominated the Old and New Parks, extending from Pensnet Chase, on the west, to Gornal, on the north, to Tipton, on the north-east, to Netherton and the Level on the south. Indeed no part of the world could then - boast more sylvan beauty; the Castle and Town being situated in the midst of those Parks,

whose names, with that of Woodside, still continue: as does also the name of the Chase. All these, now inclosed, wave with corn or smile in verdure, some portion of them, covered with human habitations, collieries, and manufactories, exhibiting as great a contrast as can be imagined, to their former state of simple and rural grandeur. The Chase probably stretched its wild and chartered dominion from the large lake or mere, at Cradley, on the south, to Kingswinford,* on the west, and to Penn, on the north. To this latter opinion the author is inclined by the following passage in the Norman survey: "William Fitz Ansculph holds in Penne 5 hides." This was the same individual who then held Dudley Castle, its surrounding Parks, and neighbouring chase of Pensnet.-As, before the Conquest, the manor of Penn was in the possession of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, in right of his consort Godiva, and afterwards descended to their son Algar, it is not improbable but the Castle at Dudley, together with its vast demesnes, might have been in their possession also. If so, If so, we approach nearer to the time of the Founder by two generations. Leofric, having lived in the reigns of Ethelred II, of Edmund Ironside, of Canute, and Harold, died in the year 1057. The name and character of his Lady are immortalized by the singular kindness which she is said to have manifested for the citi

* Qu.-Does that portion of this parish, called Shut End, which formed part of the Chase, derive its name from a closed or shut angle; or from its having been a secluded situation where Deer used commonly to be shot, -shoot End?

zens of Coventry: nor is the memory of her husband unhonoured by generous deeds. Between them both a rivalry existed in doing good, as well as in connubial affection.-Proud of placing such Characters in possession of this Castle, we will only presume that they and their son preceded Earl Edwin as Proprietors. Whether that Noble Saxon were dispossessed of it by force or by death, no document informs us. If he were the Edwin, mentioned in the annals of the times, who, with another powerful northern Chief, Morcar, excited a formidable insurrection against William, 1068, we then must perceive sufficient cause, in the suspicious mind of William, to deprive him of the strong hold of Dudley Castle; situated, as it is, nearly in the centre of the kingdom, and rendered, both by Nature and Art, one of the most impregnable fortresses in the world. The author, therefore, is induced to believe that Edwin was dispossessed by William of this Castle, for having been the participator with Morcar in that formidable insurrection; and that he did not retain it till his death: because, if he were the compeer with Morcar, the annals of the times inform us that "the two earls, having sought the Conqueror's clemency, by submission, were pardoned."* although he "pardoned them," he would deem it prudent to abridge their power. That he would do so by Edwin, in such a central and commanding situation as Dudley Castle, no man can doubt who sees it.Whether, however, the Earl Ed

*See Hist. Eng. Reign William I,

But

win of Dudley Castle, were the refractory Edwin in the northern insurrection or not, no doubt exists respecting the next Possessor of the Castle. The Norman Record clearly proves that it was William Fitz Ansculph; a man, evidently in such favour with the Conqueror, that more than 90 Manors, or Lordships, are stated to have been held by him. Of this vast number, Dudley was one. Yet, notwithstanding his possession of property thus immense, and of power thus extensive, "in the next generation his name was so clean put out," that no trace of him is to be found. If "the righteous are held in everlasting remembrance," a surmise must be entertained that a defect in righteousness caused his memory to perish.

The next known successor was Fulk Paganel : concerning whom, as of his wealthy predecessor, we may say, "how small a portion is heard of him!" for, of his good or evil deeds, History is silent; and passes with an abrupt celerity, characteristic of that troubled age, to his son and heir, Ralph; who, was also Governor of Nottingham Castle. He projected the founding of Dudley Priory; but did not live to fulfil his intentions.That Ralph Paganel succeeded Fulk, we learn from an original document, in fine preservation: a copy of which, by the kindness of the author's excellent antiquarian Friend, William Hamper, Esq. is given at large in the Appendix.

To Ralph Paganel, succeeded Gervase, his eldest son; who occupies a more distinguished niche in the temple of History than his ancestors.

K