four were compelled to retreat with their friends to the castle; and the garrison now remained still for two whole days. Early therefore I praise the Lord that I am not plagued with far more grievous punishment, that the like hath befallen others, who undoubtedly are most glorious and blessed Saints with Christ in heaven: it is the Lord's affliction, and who will not take any affliction in good part when it comes from the hand of God? and what? shall we receive good from the hand of God, and not receive evil? And though I desire, as I am carnal, that this cup may depart from me, yet not my will, but thy will be done. Death brings unto the godly an end of sinning, and of miseries due unto sin, so that after death there shall be no more sorrow, nor cry, nor pain, for God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes: by death our souls shall be delivered from thraldom, and this corruptible body shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality. Therefore blessed are they that are delivered out of so vile a world, and freed from such a body of bondage and corruption; the soul shall enjoy immediate communion with God in everlasting bliss and glory, it takes us from the miseries of this world and society of sinners, to the city of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem. I bless God I am thought worthy to suffer for his name, and for so good a cause; and if I had a thousand lives, I would willingly lay them down for the cause of my king, the Lord's Anointed: the Scripture commands us to fear God and honour the king, to be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supream, or to those that are in authority under him: I have been always faithful to my trust; and though I have been most basely accused for betraying Leverpool, yet I take God to witness it is a most false aspersion, for I was then sick in my bed, and knew not of the delivering of it till the officers and soldiers had done it without my consent, and then I was carried prisoner to Sir John Meldrum; afterwards I came down into the country, and seeing I could not live quietly at home, I was perswaded by Colonel Forbes, Colonel Overton, Lieut. Colonel Fairfax, whom I took for my good friends, to march in their troops: which I did, but with intention still to do my king the best service when occasion was, and so I did; and I pray God to turn the hearts of all the soldiers to their lawful soveraign, that this land may enjoy peace, which till then it will never do and though thou kill me, yet will I put my trust in thee; wherefore I trust in God he will not fail me nor forsake me. Then he took his Bible, and read divers Psalms fit for his own occasion and consolation, and then put up divers prayers, some publickly, and some privately, the public was this which follows: HIS PRAYER. WELCOM blessed hour, the period of my Pilgrimage, the term of my Bondage, the end of my cares, the close of my sins, the bound of my travels, the goal of my race, and the haven of my hopes; I have fought a long fight in much weakness, I have finished my course, though in great faintness, and the crown of my joy is, that through the strength of thy grace, I have both kept the true faith, and have fought for my king, the Lord's Anointed's cause without any wavering, for which, and in which I die; I do willingly resign my flesh, I despise the world, and I defie the Devil, who hath no part nor share in me; and now what is my hope? my hope Lord Jesu is even in thee, for I know that thou my Redeemer livest, and that thou wilt immediately receive my soul, and raise up my body also at the last day, and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes, and none other: And now, O Lord, let thy spirit of comfort help mine infirmities, and make supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed; I submit myself wholly to thy will, I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer, who hast bought it with thy most precious blood. I confess to all the world, I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved, but thine my Jesu, my Saviour, I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine. I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings, I unfeignedly bewail all my sins, I steadfastly believe all thy promises, I heartily forgive all my enemies, I willingly leave all my friends, I utterly loath all earthly comforts, and I entirely long for thy coming. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. The private were to himself, his hat being before his eyes; after this he put up divers short ejaculations: As, I know my Redeemer liveth, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed it, O God, thou God of truth. Lord Jesus receive my spirit, and many the like, and so he yielded to death. The Speech of Cornet Michael Blackburn, immediately before his death, August 23, 1649. Executed the same day at York. It is expected I should say something, and indeed it is my desire to say something and but a little. I am not a Gentleman by birth, but my Parents are of an honest quality and condition. I was brought up in the Protestant Religion, and in that religion I have lived, in that I now die. I have some five or six years since engaged in this war, wherein I had no other end or intention but to do my king true and faithful service, according to my duty and the dictate of my conscience; I have not done so much service as I desired, but I have been always faithful to him, and wish I could have done him more; and for his son the king that now is, I wonder any man of this kingdom should have the boldness or impudence to lift up his hand against him, to keep him from his crown wherof he is heir apparent, and hath as good a right and title to it by his birth-right, as any man living hath of his inheritance or possession: I pray God bless him, forgive all by enemies, and Lord Jesus receive my spirit.' on the night of the fourth day they made another attempt, which proved wholly unsuccessful. They were driven back to the castle, having ensign Smith, another of the excepted persons, killed. His friends conveyed his body into the castle, and he was interred in the chapel of St. Clement. The three excepted persons now remaining, considered it useless to make any more sallies to effect their escape. Several lives had already been lost in the attempts made; and they contrived a different method in order to secure themselves. The buildings of the castle were large and extensive, and owing to the sieges, some of these were now in ruins; amongst them they found a sally port, where the three excepted persons might be concealed, and from whence they might easily make their escape. Accordingly their friends walled up the place after they had entered, leaving them apertures sufficient for the admission of air, and furnishing them with provisions for a month, in which time, it was not doubted, but they would be able to make their escape. Three The next morning (24th March, 1649) the garrison pretended to rejoice, and sent the governor word, that as their six friends were gone, (although eyet remained,) they should be ready to surrender on the following day. At the appointed hour, the garrison marched out of the castle. Lambert narrowly inspected each individual, not believing that any of the six excepted persons had escaped; but being satisfied, that they were not among those who now surrendered, he treated them with great civility, and punctually performed all his promises; nor did he seem displeased 'that the brave soldiers had happily escaped.' He did not pay much attention to the castle, so that the three expected persons, the night afterwards threw down their inclosure, and securely decamped*. cen The parliamentarians on their taking possession of the castle, found provisions for two months, and 40 barrels of powder. General Lambert then dismantled it from being any more a garrison, and left standing, the stupendous remains in a forlorn condition, as introductory to its approaching dissolution. A letter was sent from Knottingley, dated March 22nd, with the articles of agreement for the rendition of Pontefract castle, which being read were approved of by the house: also, at the same time was read the petition from the aldermen and well affected inhabitants of the town of Pontefract for the like demolition of the said fortress; after which, it was resolved, 'that the castle of Pontefract should be totally and forthwith demolished: that it be referred to a committee of Austwick and Floyd lived till after the restoration. the West-riding of the county of York, to see it levelled with the ground and rendered untenable. The sale of the materials of which, to go first to the charges of demolishing it; and, the value of 1000% of the remainder, to be alloted for the town of Pontefract, towards the repairing of the place of public worship and the re-edifying an habitation for the minister. On the receipt of these letters, the house immediately ordered and resolved: that 3007 per annum clear rent, out of the demesne of the honor of Pontefract, be settled upon major general Lambert and his heirs for ever, in respect for the many great and eminent services done by him in the northern parts, as well as against the Scotch army last summer, as against the forces of sir Marmaduke Langdale and others, in reducing the castle of Pontefract, being the last garrison in England that held out against the parliament, and in respect of his extraordinary charge therein, he not being allowed any pay as Major General. Ordered, that this vote be sent with a letter of thanks and respect, from the house, and that Mr. Chaloner prepare it.' Thus fell the noble princely fortress of Pontefract, which had successively been the strong hold of the hardy Saxons,-the residence of the brave and warlike Lascies,-the turretted palace of the aspiring earls and dukes of Lancaster, the scene of many a bloody_deed, and the last resource of vanquished royalty. 'Departed grandeur ! could the stones assume Then each mute witness, hasting to decay, Mov'd in the dance, or nightly masquerade.' 'What titled warriors grac'd the splendid ball, The moss-grown relics of the pile might tell.' The approach to this noble structure, now much decayed, and in a totally ruinous condition, is peculiarly striking and impressive, and powerfully recalls the memory of times when Princes sat where nettles grow.' A great portion of the keep, preserved by the clustering ivy, whose |