thenceforward called " the King's Royal Free Chapel of Hastings." The bishop of Chichester was deprived of his right of ordinary jurisdiction which he had before exercised as diocesan, and the whole was subjected to the visitation of the King's commissioners. These encroachments produced a contest with the crown which lasted all that reign , and which constitutes the principal feature in the history of the castle. The particulars which have been several times before given, will be found in Prynne. We learn from them that the King successively appointed two presiding officers over the castle at this time. John de Wichco, in his 27th year who is called in the writ " Keeper," and Stephen Sprott, who is styled " Constable."
4th Ed. 3rd, the King in consequence of a petition from the chapter - stating the dilapidated state of the chapel and a number of evils which arose therefrom and from the ruined condition of the castle walls, which latter had been suffered so to remain ever since its forfeiture by the earls of Eu granted them the herbage around the castle mentioned in the above inquisition, that they might keep the same in repair and rebuild the deanery and prebendary houses ; together with the custody of -
