the sheriff of Bedford to London[1]. Of a building that withstood for so many weeks the most vigorous efforts of Henry to reduce it to subjection, nothing now remains but a conical mound of earth, whose base is washed by the silent waters of the Ouse. On this gentle eminence originally stood the donjeon, within whose massive walls the besieged, inspired with all the hopeless courage of despair, entrusted their last chance of safety. But whoever seeks for these vestiges of its former importance in the modern town, or delights to visit a spot consecrated to liberty by this unavailing struggle, and rendered dear to the lovers of national freedom, vainly seeking for the living monuments of its ancient greatness, will still be gratefully repaid in beholding those stately piles, which are devoted, through the extensive charities of a London citizen, and the purer philanthropy and patriotism of the present noble owner of Woburn, to the social improvement and sanitary wants of the district.
In 1253 Henry directed a survey to be made of the condition of the castle of Northampton, at the time John de Grey received the custody of it: his commissioners found that the park was "decently kept in vert, venison, and pasture," and that new works had been executed in the castle, by the sheriff of the county, as in walls, houses and other matters: that all the houses of the said castle might be maintained at slight cost; that the same sheriff had bestowed much expenditure on the great wall of the castle, which, however, still needed great repairs, and that there were then in the castle hewn and unhewn stone, lime and sand, which might be applied to that work[2].
Towards the close of this reign the castle and town of Northampton were the scenes of important events, owing to the rebellion of the barons headed by Simon de Montfort. In 1265 the town was invested by the royal army; the castle, which resisted all attempts at assault, was taken by stratagem, and Simon de Montfort the younger and many of his principal adherents were captured[3]. Although the burgesses of Northampton had taken no more active part in the commotions of this period than the inhabitants of other towns in the kingdom, yet in accordance with the custom of the times, they obtained,
- ↑ The various expenses connected with this memorable siege, an account of the military engines, and the different methods of attack, are given on the Close rolls of the year with the utmost minuteness.
- ↑ Ancient Letters in the Tower, No. 442 a and 442 b.
- ↑ Bridges' Hist. of Northampton, vol. i. p. 425, and the authorities there quoted.
