This Day in History: 1645-07-08

On 8th July 1645, Parliament’s  Colonel General Poyntz went down to the Barbican and asked to speak to the governor of the garrison. The governor’s son said his father was not there. General Poyntz demanded the surrender of the castle and said that if they did this within three days they would obtain honourable terms. If they delayed eleven or fourteen days, they might expect nothing but to walk with a white rod in their hands as soldiers did in the Low Countries. The governor’s son replied ‘that the castle be kept for the King and that if they stayed 14 days and 14 after that, there were as many gentleman in the castle as would make many a bloody head before they parted with it’. Soon after this, General Poyntz said goodnight and went away.