09.10.2015 Views

Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

MODERN YORK. 39<br />

despatched to <strong>York</strong>, where they were lodged in the Common<br />

Hall ; the queen, to purchase this subsidy, having pawned<br />

the crown jewels. Eight months afterwards her majesty<br />

followed, <strong>and</strong>, l<strong>and</strong>ing at Bridlington, proceeded to <strong>York</strong>.<br />

She was received with becoming formality, <strong>and</strong> abode here<br />

three months. The queen was enthusiastically devoted to<br />

her husb<strong>and</strong>'s cause ; so much so, that we find her<br />

marching from <strong>York</strong> at the head of a royalist army, <strong>and</strong><br />

taking Burton-upon-Trent by storm. At length it was the<br />

fate of <strong>York</strong> to be beleagured by an army of 40,000 men,<br />

under the comm<strong>and</strong> of the Scottish general, Lesley, the<br />

earl of Manchester, <strong>and</strong> Sir Thomas Fairfax. <strong>York</strong> was<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>ed by the marquis of Newcastle ; <strong>and</strong> the troops<br />

<strong>and</strong> citizens under him defended the city with great spirit<br />

<strong>and</strong> valour. Several batteries were erected around the<br />

town, the most mischievous of which was situated on a<br />

hill, comm<strong>and</strong>ing Walmgate Bar, where four pieces of<br />

cannon played almost incessantly on the tower, castle, <strong>and</strong><br />

city. The Scots were stationed outside Micklegate Bar,<br />

from which the garrison made several gallant sallies,<br />

without, however, gaining any advantage. On Trinity<br />

Sunday, a party of the earl of Manchester's troops under<br />

mined St. Mary's Tower, at the north-east corner of the<br />

Manor, <strong>and</strong> end of Marygate, by the river, <strong>and</strong> with great<br />

skill blew it up, effecting, at the same time, a breach in the<br />

wall higher up. The storming party forced their way into<br />

the Manor-house ; but their retreat being cut off by a body<br />

of the city troops, who went out by a private sally<br />

port in the city walls, fifty of the besiegers were killed,<br />

<strong>and</strong> two hundred <strong>and</strong> fifty taken prisoners. The siege was<br />

pressed with unabated vigour till the 24th ; on the morning<br />

of which day, at four o'clock, about 600 men sallied out<br />

from Monk Bar, <strong>and</strong> with great fury fell upon the earl of<br />

Manchester's quarters. They were, however, warmly<br />

received ; <strong>and</strong> after a short rencounter were compelled to<br />

retire with loss. During the interval, between the 24th<br />

<strong>and</strong> the 30th, the parliamentarians made several attempts

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!