# Of the First Siege of Pontefract Castle explained — When Charles the First Was King

> Chapter companion for When Charles the First Was King by J. S. Fletcher.

## What happens

Ben Tuckett, anxious about his shop and trade, brings news that the Parliamentarians under Colonel Sands have begun to invest Pontefract Castle. The siege intensifies under Sir Thomas Fairfax, with bombardments, mining, and counter-mining. The garrison, led by Colonel Lowther, holds out until Sir Marmaduke Langdale arrives with Royalist relief, driving off the besiegers. However, a larger Parliamentary force soon gathers for a second siege.

## Themes in this chapter

### Civil War and Duty

The chapter details the siege, the garrison's defense under Colonel Lowther, and the Royalist relief effort, highlighting the conflict and sense of duty.

### Rural Life and Nature

Descriptions of the landscape around Pontefract Castle and the impact of war on the town and its tradespeople, like Ben Tuckett.

### Social Class and Hierarchy

Ben Tuckett's concerns as a tradesman contrast with the military commanders, illustrating the effects of war on different social classes.

## Character check-ins

### Ben Tuckett

Distressed about the siege's threat to his shop and trade; brings news of the investment; later relieved by the Royalist victory.

### Will Dale

Narrator and confidant to Ben; observes the siege and its effects on the town.

### Captain Ready

Mentioned as having ridden away prior to the chapter's events.

### Colonel Sands

Parliamentarian commander who initially invests the Castle and skirmishes with the garrison.

### Sir Thomas Fairfax

Takes command of the siege, drives in the garrison, and seizes the town.

### Colonel Lowther

Royalist governor of Pontefract Castle; refuses to surrender and defends the Castle.

### Sir Marmaduke Langdale

Leads a relief force of two thousand men to break the first siege.

### Lord Fairfax

Father of Sir Thomas; brings reinforcements and cannon; summons the Castle to surrender.

## Key lines

> Alas! I think there is naught but trouble in this world. One down, and t'other comes on before you have got your wind again.

Ben laments that troubles keep piling up without respite.

_Ben expresses his despair over the siege threatening his livelihood._

> Colonel Sands fell in with a foraging party from the Castle yesterday, and killed some, captured others, took all the cattle, and made forty horse prisoners.

Colonel Sands attacked a foraging party from the Castle, killing and capturing several, and seizing cattle and horses.

_Ben reports the start of active hostilities around the Castle._

> Lord Fairfax, however, thought it unwise to attempt an assault by way of the breach, and gave orders that the blockade should continue, so that the besieged might be starved into surrender.

Lord Fairfax decided not to storm the breach, opting instead to starve the garrison into submission.

_The Parliamentarian strategy shifts to a blockade after the Pix Tower collapse._

> Sir Marmaduke Langdale, having pursued them as far as Ferrybridge, returned to the Castle at eleven o'clock that night, and was received with such gratitude as you may well conceive would be shown by a garrison which was already beginning to experience the pangs of hunger.

After chasing the Parliamentarians to Ferrybridge, Langdale returned to a grateful, hungry garrison at night.

_The relief of the Castle by Langdale's forces ends the first siege._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xxx-of-the-first-siege-of-pontefract-castle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters