strength of this building, and the improvement made on the original mount; and at the same time exhibits a curious device for deception, something like that of the round tower at Rochester

The other small tower, being in like manner continued down to the ground, beneath the mount, contains a very singular, narrow, and most irregularly winding, zig-zag staircase; which goes down from the door at f to a small sally-port at r; and moreover leads to what appears to have been a well at g, and besides this it terminates in one part, in a very frightful small dungeon, at z.

There do not appear to have been even loopholes, or any admission for light or air, unless from the door, into the great lower apartment of the keep; only there was a small window in the captain of the guard's room.

The diameter of the keep is about 65 or 64 feet. And between f and h is a very remarkable appearance; for after you have ascended a ladder, against the inside of the wall, for a few feet, you then look down into a dismal square cavity, at h; about 14 or 15 feet deep, or rather more; but only about five or six feet square; which cannot be conceived to have been applied to any other purpose than that of a dungeon; since there is neither loop, nor door beneath; or any outlet whatsoever : nor does there appear the least possibility of there ever having been any; nor could it from its shape and dimensions, have served for a staircase, or, for drawing up timber and machines of war, or for any other purpose, than that of a place of severe confinement. In short, it reminds one of the

description, given by Sallust, of the Tullianum, in the ancient capitol at Rome: and as it even now very well answers to that description, must have done so still more, before the upper part of the building, with the arches, was destroyed.

But this is not the only strange place, within the inclosure of this formidable castle: for, fronting the foot of the stairs, at a little distance, at i, is the square mouth of another well, of a most extraordinary kind; having been either a very horrid dungeon, or the inward mouth of some very singular subterraneous sally-port. It is very deep, but quite dry; the sides are neatly lined with stone, and on that which is nearest to the foot of the stairs, on looking down, appears at a great depth, a very high arch, leading to some vault, or passage, as represented, (Fig. 2); where it leads to, or for what purpose it actually served, may be well worth examining.

At k, is a very small, wretched chamber; formed in the thickness of the wall; which had two very narrow windows next the court. Here tradition says, Richard II. was confined, and murdered but the smallness of the room hardly agrees with what is related of the manner of his death, by a blow, with a battle-axe, from Sir Piers Exton, as his being so murdered was a story ge nerally received and believed.

By comparing the correspondent members of the remains of this castle with the above description, a tolerable judgment of what it has been, may be formed.

SECTION XII.

Events during the first Siege.

in

THE war, which had commenced in the year 1642, between the king and the parliament, had been carried on with various success; in some places the advantage appeared to be on the side of the former, and in others, on that of the latter. In the month of June 1644, was fought the decisive battle of Marston-moor, near York; which the king's army was completely routed, and many of his best troops and officers slain. In this action Cromwell equally displayed his invincible courage, and his admirable talent for command. After having vanquished that wing of the enemy, to which he was opposed, he prudently checked the ardor of pursuit; and wheeling round, found the main body and the other wing, of the army of the parliament, had given way, and the enemy ready to take possession of the baggage and amunition. Having collected the troops together, and occupying the same ground the enemy had occupied at the commencement of the action, he made an irresistable charge and decided the fate of the day. The enemy lost their ordnance and artillery, and were pursued with great slaughter to the gates of York. It is computed that near 8,000 fell on the field

of battle.

The appearance of Cromwell in the political

Σ

hemisphere like that of a portentous comet, shed a deadly influence on the royal cause. Victory attended his course; and from an inferior officer, he rose to the rank of chief commander; and at last, having put down the powers which raised him, he assumed the supreme government of the kingdom.

The victory of Marston was followed by the speedy surrender of York; and detachments of troops were sent to besiege the castles occupied by the king's friends; and among the rest that of Pontefract. The command of the detachment sent here was given to Colonel Sands, who, in the month of August, 1644*, fell in with a party of the enemy, sent out to protect some cattle, routed them, took all the cattle, and made forty horse prisoners.

Col. Sands, for some time, rather watched the motions of the enemy, and endeavoured to cut off their foraging parties, than to form a regular siege of the castle. The strength of the place, and the courage and prudence of the royalists, rendered a much greater force than he possessed necessary, to undertake the siege with any prospect of success. To have done more than he did, would have been rashly to expose his men to the fire of the enemy, without being able to return it with effect.

The success of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and others, in subduing the castles of Helmsly and Knaresborough, set the troops which had been on that service at liberty; and they soon marched to the assistance of Col. Sands. Sir Thomas Fairfax, as the superior officer, now enjoyed

* WHIT. 100.

the command: and in the beginning of December, 1644, he drove in the garrison, took possession of the town, and on Christmas day closely besieged the castle *.

Some of the besieged, protected by the fire of their friends from the castle, kept for a few days possession of the low church. The enemy,

sensible of the importance of the church, as a place of defence and security, prepared to dislodge the royalists; and on the 29th December, 1644, they drew up and commenced their attack. The royalists defended the church for some time with resolution and courage; and their friends in the castle made there sallies, in order to repel the enemy, or at least to cover the retreat of their brave comrades. Their efforts were not crowned with success; for the enemy obliged them to retreat, and obtained possession of the church. In this action the royalists lost Capt. Waterhouse, of Netherton, three privates, and eleven wounded, The loss of the enemy, though victorious, was much greater. They are said to have had sixty killed and forty wounded t.

On the retreat of the royalists, eleven men and boys, who had been stationed in the steeple, were left to defend themselves. They could easily withstand the superior force of the enemy from the nature of their situation. They They had however an enemy to encounter which threatened soon to subdue them. They were destitute of provisions; and unless soon relieved must of necessity surrender at discretion. They endured the force of hunger and thirst for five days and pights, and at length effected their escape by a + DRAKE'S MS.

* WHIT. 102.