DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0181
114
architectural antiquities.
A vigorous and obstinate defence of between seven and eight hours at length
compelled the assailants to retreat in much disorder. Thus foiled, General Fairfax
next commenced a regular blockade, and, after a protracted siege of eleven weeks,
in which many vigorous sallies were made, with varied success, obtained possession
of the town. The terms of surrender were unusually severe, as the parliamentary
general refused to promise quarter to any but the common soldiers, and those under
the rank of captains. Necessity obliged the officers to comply, for the garrison and
town were exhausted of all provisions, and the nearly famished inhabitants were
forced to feed on dead dogs, horses, and other animals. After the surrender of the
town, a contribution of fourteen thousand pounds was imposed on the inhabitants :
two thousand pounds of which was to be granted to the poor, ten thousand pounds
distributed among the soldiers, and two thousand pounds were afterwards remitted.
In this conflict about three hundred houses, with other buildings, were destroyed.*
A council of war was soon summoned, and the gallant defenders of the town, Sir
Charles Lucas, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Bernard Gascoygne, were sentenced to
be shot. Such was the deliberate and cruel decree of a council of warriors ; and
this act was aggravated by repeated indignities defore death, and by a precipitate
execution of the sentence at seven o'clock of the same evening. The two former
were then murdered close to that castle which they had defended with so much
heroic bravery, and which still stands a monument to their honour, and to the puny
cowardice of those who could, unimpassioned, pronounce the decree.
DOOR-WAY
to the
Cfmrci) at §>outf) (Mienticm, or #knfccm,
ESSEX.
Salmon, in his " History and Antiquities of Essex," furnishes the following account
of the Church at this village. It is " dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, is pleasantly
situated, hath a north isle, and the chancel a north chapel, a round tower embattled,
which probably gave occasion to one name of the Vill; it hath a shaft covered with
* A detailed and particular account of this siege is given in Morant's History of Essex, vol. i. p. 59, et seq.
architectural antiquities.
A vigorous and obstinate defence of between seven and eight hours at length
compelled the assailants to retreat in much disorder. Thus foiled, General Fairfax
next commenced a regular blockade, and, after a protracted siege of eleven weeks,
in which many vigorous sallies were made, with varied success, obtained possession
of the town. The terms of surrender were unusually severe, as the parliamentary
general refused to promise quarter to any but the common soldiers, and those under
the rank of captains. Necessity obliged the officers to comply, for the garrison and
town were exhausted of all provisions, and the nearly famished inhabitants were
forced to feed on dead dogs, horses, and other animals. After the surrender of the
town, a contribution of fourteen thousand pounds was imposed on the inhabitants :
two thousand pounds of which was to be granted to the poor, ten thousand pounds
distributed among the soldiers, and two thousand pounds were afterwards remitted.
In this conflict about three hundred houses, with other buildings, were destroyed.*
A council of war was soon summoned, and the gallant defenders of the town, Sir
Charles Lucas, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Bernard Gascoygne, were sentenced to
be shot. Such was the deliberate and cruel decree of a council of warriors ; and
this act was aggravated by repeated indignities defore death, and by a precipitate
execution of the sentence at seven o'clock of the same evening. The two former
were then murdered close to that castle which they had defended with so much
heroic bravery, and which still stands a monument to their honour, and to the puny
cowardice of those who could, unimpassioned, pronounce the decree.
DOOR-WAY
to the
Cfmrci) at §>outf) (Mienticm, or #knfccm,
ESSEX.
Salmon, in his " History and Antiquities of Essex," furnishes the following account
of the Church at this village. It is " dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, is pleasantly
situated, hath a north isle, and the chancel a north chapel, a round tower embattled,
which probably gave occasion to one name of the Vill; it hath a shaft covered with
* A detailed and particular account of this siege is given in Morant's History of Essex, vol. i. p. 59, et seq.