When Charles the First Was King · Chapter
Of Our Imprisonment in Pontefract Castle explained
Will and Rose postpone their marriage due to the death of Rose's father, Philip Lisle, and Captain Trevor.
What happens
Will and Rose postpone their marriage due to the death of Rose's father, Philip Lisle, and Captain Trevor. Jack Drumbleforth recounts the battle where they died. Ben and Lucy also delay their wedding out of solidarity. The Dale's Field community lives peacefully until Colonel Cotterel begins harassing Royalist sympathizers. Will is arrested and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, where he endures harsh conditions. After two years, Colonel Morrice betrays Cotterel and recaptures the Castle for the Royalists, freeing the prisoners. Will, anxious about his friends, returns to Dale's Field.
Themes in this chapter
Civil War and Duty
The chapter details the ongoing conflict, including Jack's account of the battle where Philip Lisle and Captain Trevor died, and the subsequent imprisonment of Royalist sympathizers.
Family and Heritage
Rose's grief for her father and the solidarity among the Dale's Field community, with Ben and Lucy postponing their wedding out of respect for Will and Rose's loss.
Loyalty to the Crown
The Royalist prisoners remain steadfast in their allegiance, and Colonel Morrice's betrayal of Cotterel is motivated by a desire to restore the Castle to the King's friends.
Characters to notice
- Will Dale
Narrator; postpones marriage, is arrested and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, then freed and returns to Dale's Field.
- Rose Lisle
Grieves her father's death; comforts Jack and learns the details of Philip Lisle's death.
- Jack Drumbleforth
Wounded in battle; recounts the death of Philip Lisle and Captain Trevor; nursed at Dale's Field.
- Ben Tuckett
Refuses to marry before Will and Rose; becomes an ardent farmer.
- Lucy
Ben's betrothed; agrees to delay the wedding.
- Philip Lisle
Rose's father; killed in battle fighting back-to-back with Jack Drumbleforth.
- Parson Drumbleforth
Visits Jack daily; supports Will's decision to keep Jack at Dale's Field.
- Colonel Cotterel
Vice-Governor of Pontefract Castle; orders Will's arrest and imprisonment; later betrayed by Morrice.
Key passages
“So there was no more talk of our marriage at that time, and I went sadly enough to tell Parson Drumbleforth that it would not take place, and that his son Jack had got a grievous hurt.”
Will informs Parson Drumbleforth that his wedding is postponed and that Jack is seriously injured.
Will delays his marriage due to the death of Rose's father and Jack's injury.
“Then I heard him shout behind me, 'For God and the King!' in a hearty voice, but presently I felt him reel against me and fall across his horse, and at the same moment my arm was shattered and the pain was so fearful that I fainted and knew no more.”
Jack recalls Philip Lisle's final battle cry before being fatally wounded, and Jack himself is injured and loses consciousness.
Jack describes the moment of Philip Lisle's death and his own wounding.
“Nay, Will, indeed, neither Lucy nor myself would consent to joys which you and Rose cannot share.”
Ben refuses to marry before Will and Rose, insisting they all wait together.
Ben and Lucy postpone their wedding out of solidarity with Will and Rose.
“It was, I think, one evening about the middle of May, 1646, that a party of troopers, headed by an officer, rode into our yard at Dale's Field and called for me.”
In May 1646, soldiers arrive at Dale's Field to arrest Will on Colonel Cotterel's orders.
Will is taken into custody by Parliamentarian forces.
“The Castle was now once more in the hands of the King's friends, and those of us who had been imprisoned therein were free, and had the choice of remaining to garrison it against the Parliamentarians.”
After Colonel Morrice's betrayal, the Royalists recapture Pontefract Castle, freeing the prisoners and offering them the chance to join the garrison.
The Royalists regain control of the Castle, and Will is freed.
