rt
commanded the Siege, being appointed thereto on the death of General
Rainsborough, who was intercepted and killed at Doncaster, by a party from
the Castle, as he was going to take command."

General Lambert raised new works, and vigorously pushed the siege; but the
besieged held out. On January 30, 1649, the King was beheaded; and the
news no sooner reached Pontefract, than the royalist garrison proclaimed
his son Charles II. and made a vigorous and destructive sally against
their enemies. The Parliamentarians, however, prevailed, and on March 25,
1649, the garrison being reduced from 500 or 600 to 100 men, surrendered
by capitulation. Six of the principal Royalists were excepted from mercy:
two escaped, but were retaken and executed at York; the third was killed
in a sortie; and the three others concealing themselves among the ruins of
the castle, escaped after the surrender; and two of the last lived to see
the Restoration.

This third siege was the most destructive to the castle: the tremendous
artillery had shattered its massive walls; and its demolition was
completed by order of Parliament. Within two months after its reduction,
the buildings were unroofed, and all the materials sold. Thus was this
princely fortress reduced to a heap of ruins.

The Castle of Pontefract was built on an elevated rock, commanding
extensive and picturesque views. The north-west prospect takes in the
beautiful vale along which flows the Aire, skirted by woods and
plantations. It is bounded only by the hills of Craven. The north and east
prospect is more extensive, but the scenery is not equally striking and
impressive. The towers of York Minster are distinctly seen, and the
prospect is only bounded by the limits of vision. To the east--while the
eye follows the course of the Aire towards the Humber, the fertility of
the country, the spires of churches, and two considerable hills, Brayton
Barf, and Hambleton Haugh, which rise in the midst of a plain, and one of
which is covered with wood, increase the beauty of the scene. The
south-east view includes part of the counties of Lincoln and Nottingham.
To the south and south-west, the towering hills of Derbyshire, stretching
towards Lancashire, form the horizon, while the foreground is a
picturesque country variegated with handsome residences.

The Castle, by its situation, as well as by its structure, was rendered
almost impregnable. It was not commanded by any contiguous hills, and it