This Day in History: 1649-01-06

On 6th January 1649, Cornet John Baynes wrote from the besieging forces at Pontefract Castle to Captain Adam Baynes in Gray’s Inn Lane, London: ‘COUSEN……There’s nothing here of concernment yet happens. The Guns will be here next week. Our men are raising new batteries….The Major-General (Lambert) is not yet returned to Pontefract from reducing parts of the Militia. All good people here are glad, and desire to hear of speedy justice, delays being often dangerous…’. The latter sentiments relate to the impending trial and execution of the King and ‘the delays’ to justice being denied on (Royalist) Sir Marmaduke Langdale’s escape from gaol.