some officers and soldiers came to the common bakehouse, and took away the horse flesh from the poor people who were as near starving as themselves.
"Women met at the cross abusing Sir Henry Hadling the governor, who threatened to fire upon them; they begged it as a mercy, and the old soldier went away with tears in his eyes–he could not help them. This was Leslie's siege." Sad troubled times of change and commotion were these, but the strong man had now come, and the storm subsided. Cromwell is one of the very noblest and bravest who have graced these gates; and even to-day, dwelling on those stormy times, his presence is half realized. Fresh from the signal victory, or rather victories, at Preston, his heart, as he passed these portals, which he undoubtedly did, would perhaps be revolving his favourite Scripture, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.'" Brave Oliver! we wonder if he also lodged within these towers, and whether amid all the multitude of sounds that have passed hence, the audible morning and evening prayer of that great true man mingled.
Pacing these arches on a different errand, another great hero of the time was at this castle, in 1653. This was that truly noble man, George Fox, whose manly zeal inspired him with the idea of preaching to
