Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
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THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE. 133<br />
Afterwards Pontefract Castle was the sceneof Richard's<br />
imprisonment and probable murder. Here, too, yetlater,<br />
the wicked Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III.,<br />
caused to be executed,without trial, in order tofacilitate<br />
his accession, Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, Richard<br />
LordGrey, Sir Thomas Vaughan, and Sir RichardHawse.<br />
In the reign of HenryVIII. the Castle surrendered to the<br />
Pilgrims of Grace, who marched under the captaingeneralship<br />
of the famous Robert Aske, who afterwards<br />
suffered death for his share in that well-meant but unfortunate<br />
undertaking.<br />
On the outbreak of hostilitiesbetween theRoyalists and<br />
Parliamentarians,Pontefract again became the scene of<br />
contending hosts, of bloodshed, and warfare, for here died<br />
out the last hope of the Royal party when the fortress had<br />
ceased to be a bulwark against the Roundhead faction.<br />
The following isan accountof this period: —<br />
Pontefract Castle was held by Colonel Cottrell for the<br />
Parliament, whose tactics had given them supremacyin<br />
the country. The eyes of the Royalists turned towards<br />
Pontefract, and more than once had attempts been made<br />
to take the place for King Charles,but hitherto all the<br />
assaults had endedbut indisappointment. At last, by the<br />
ingenious stratagemof Colonel Maurice, a valiant soldier,<br />
who had been disbanded by Cromwell, but who served,<br />
greatly suspected,under Cottrell, the place was at length<br />
secured. The garrison contained many secret adherents<br />
to Charles, while further forces were smuggled into the<br />
Castle Yardunder the disguise of countrymen who came<br />
thither with provisions, vegetables, and bedding for the<br />
soldiery. Then these country people,after laughing and<br />
drinking in the court-yard with the garrison, threw off<br />
their disguise, a pistol was fired, and speedily the courtyard<br />
was filled with angry and excited combatants. The<br />
struggle everymoment assumed a moreregularcharacter,<br />
while carbines were now discharged in regular volleys.<br />
Colonel Maurice, who had, in the dress of a simple<br />
countrygentlemen,previouslymovedamongthepretended