Recently, when delving into old books, I came across a list of 31 persons who paid a rent known as Castle Guard rent to the owner of our castle.
The highest assessment was £1 15s., and the lowest was 1½d., the other assessments varying within these limits, the total amounting to £8 19s. 4d.
Originally the lord of Conisborough let out land to certain people on condition that they gave service in the way of watching and warding the castle.
In time it may have become customary for the person who held the land to give money in place of service, and as time went on further, and the country was brought really into such a peaceful condition that the King’s law was obeyed by all, watching and warding became obsolete.
Yet the descendants of the grantees still held the lands granted originally for service, but now they paid a yearly rent instead of putting in a certain number of days as guards at the castle.
It was the tenant’s right, however, to give service if he wished, for in his great charter Henry III declares: “No Constable of a Castle shall distrain any Knight for to give money for the keeping of his castle if he himself will do it in his own proper person.”