ordered that a Castle should be dug at Hastings ;"
plainly implying, as Mr King observes, that this
camp or castle was a mere earth -work ; for there is
representation of a castle or building here as in
other parts of the tapestry. After his victory there
is no doubt but William enlarged the castle with
buildings, both from remains of them still in being,
and from what he did at Dover and other places of strength on the sea coast, as well as the Tower of
London .
The next mention of it is in Doomsday Book , under the head " Bexlei Hundred ;" which it is said " Osbert held conjointly with bishop Ailric in the time of King Edward and afterwards, until King William gave to the earl the castelry of Hastings," The earl here alluded to, was Robert Earl of Eu, the first grantee of the Castle after its finishing.
Earl Robert on receiving possession " erected and established ," says the record just quoted, " the parish church of St. Mary within the same castle , into a collegiate church ." The foundation as we learn from subsequent records, was for a Dean , eight canons or prebendaries, a certain number of Chaplains, Clerks, or Ministers, six vicars choral,
