Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
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THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE. 135<br />
the areaof operation,until at last liberty was limited to a<br />
few miles of the immediate district. News was also<br />
received from Lord Byron, who had journeyed northward,<br />
of the overthrowofthe Royalistsby Lambert, who<br />
had taken General Langdale prisoner, and dispersed his<br />
followers. Rainsborough,in the meantime, took up his<br />
quarters at Doncaster, whence he issued orders for the<br />
blockade of Pontefract. While here, however, Maurice<br />
contrived a scheme forhis capture, and actuallyled a party<br />
of twenty-two menintoDoncasterforthat purpose. Rainsborough<br />
was taken in bed, but resisting, in self-defence<br />
was killedby Lieutenant Austwick, upon which the alarm<br />
was raised, when the intrepid few took to flight, carrying<br />
with them, however, more than double their own number<br />
of prisoners. After this, Maurice, who had planned the<br />
above to effect the escape of Langdalefrom Nottingham<br />
Castle, set off alone, andwithina weekreturned to Pontefract,accompanied<br />
by that general,whohad beenliberated<br />
by his efforts, upon which Sir John Digby insisted on<br />
publicly resigning the Governorship to Colonel Maurice.<br />
He, however, shortly after left the Castle on a secret<br />
expedition to visit King Charles, Sir John Digby being<br />
appointed vice-governor inhis absence. The Castle was<br />
nowin a state of actual siege, Cromwell himself having<br />
the charge of the assaulting party,and the discharge of<br />
cannon was unremitting on either side. Many of the<br />
finest buildings in Pontefract wereshaken down or burnt,<br />
including the beautiful Gothic church of AllHallows, or<br />
All Saints.<br />
Artillery was then in its infancy, but the play of the<br />
cannonon this occasion seems to have been in advance<br />
of the general progress of the death-dealing science.<br />
One of the seven great towers was rent by a large<br />
breach, and the hopes of the besieging Parliamentarians<br />
rose high. Cromwell called upon the garrison to<br />
surrender, but was answeredwith defiance. Three times<br />
he led his iron-sided warriors to the assault, and three<br />
times did the courageousdefenders beat themback from?