This Day in History: 1648-08-26

Historian, George Fox, noted that on 26th August 1648: ‘ ..the governor of … castle (Pontefract) agreed with the mayor and aldermen of the town about the corn, “that the castle should have a seventh part, and the townsmen to bring it near to the castle” and the governor imposed upon the town to quarter 1000 men, or pat for each four-pence per day. He was compelled to levy this heavy charge; for although the horse had been sent away on the 3rd July with sir Philip Monckton and other commanders into Lincolnshire, where they were routed by the forces of col. Rossiter, and had sustained a great loss; yet, such great numbers flocked to him, that he could not provide for them so well as he could when the horse attended him, as they assisted him greatly in procuring provisions and gathering contributions.’