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134<br />

THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE.<br />

peasants, now led a party of picked men. He led<br />

them to the gates,which byhis direction they opened,and<br />

admitted immediatelya largebody ofmounted Cavaliers,<br />

whom the Colonel drew up for the attack, ordering them<br />

to " give quarter and spare the Governor." TheGovernor<br />

was in his chamber at the time, and madea brave resistance<br />

with his sword against Captain Paulden, who was<br />

one of Colonel Maurice's confederates. He was taken<br />

prisoner, as were most of the garrison who remained<br />

faithful to Cromwell, and with them released on their<br />

parole. Colonel Maurice, whoseactions throughout seem<br />

to have been promptedby conscience ratherthan military<br />

ambition, would not accept the Governorship,which his<br />

companions endeavoured to force upon him,but insisted<br />

on its beingoffered to Sir John Digby,a gentlemanwho,<br />

after the foolish and fatal battle of Marston Moor, had<br />

managed to hold together for the Kinga smallforce. He<br />

accepted the trust, and came to the Castle with 30 horse<br />

and about 500 foot soldiers. Lord Byron, who had<br />

adhered to the King from the commencement of the<br />

struggle, also arrived, and Sir Hugh and his son, Major<br />

Carteret, Captain Clavering (afterwards so prominent in<br />

the historyof the time),Sir ArthurBeaumont)who became<br />

an esteemed friend of Colonel Maurice), Major Ashburn,<br />

Austwick, and Blackburne,and others, passed under the<br />

dark portcullis of the stronghold that was to be toso many<br />

a sepulchre.<br />

When the news of the bold seizure was carried to the<br />

Parliament and its militaryleaders it was received with<br />

feelings of the greatest surprise and anger. Cromwell,<br />

then engagedin completinghismeasuresfor thedespatching<br />

his unhappysovereign, then a prisoner at Carisbrook,<br />

at once gave orders for General Rainsborough to vigorouslybesiegePontefractCastle.<br />

At the same time orders<br />

weregivenfor astrongdetachmenttoprevent theRoyalist,<br />

GeneralLangdale,from communicatingwith thebesieged.<br />

The effect was soon observable. Foraging parties from<br />

the Castle found themselvesmore and more restricted in

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