admitted by small chinks which answered the double purpose of windows, and served for embrasures, whence they might shoot with long and cross bows. These chinks, though without they had some breadth, and carried the appearance of windows, were very narrow next the chambers, diminishing considerably inward.

The different stories were frequently vaulted, and divided by strong arches; on the top was generally a platform with an embattled parapet, whence the garrison could see and command the exterior works.

The annexed plate, figure 1. is a plan of that corner of the area of the castle, where the keep or dungeon, just mentioned✶ is situated, and also of the principal entrance.

(a a) Are the first outward steps; ascending from without to the area of the castle.

(bb) A second very steep flight of steps, within the ballium, ascending up the artificial mount to the entrance of the keep.

(cc) Is a narrow loop, well secured; and made through a wall no less than eighteen feet in thickness.

On entering the keep, on the right hand, at d, are remains of a great staircase, going up to the state apartments above, which are now all destroyed.

At e, is a small square room; probably designed for the captain of the guard. It is within one of the three round towers, mentioned by Leland : and all the substance of that tower, beneath this room, is solid stone work, quite to the bottom of the mount. A circumstance which shews the vast

* See KING on ancient castles.

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 ; 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 benor does neath; or any outlet whatsoever : 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 generally 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.

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; in 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

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.