Events which followed the surrender of the Castle, the PREFACE. AGREEMENT in language, community of priviliges, and a similarity in general habits, form the basis of the virtue called patriotism, or the love of our country; a virtue which grows with our growth, and ripens with our years. The same principles which generate the love of our country, give every man a peculiar interest in the place of his nativity, or in that where he has spent the chief part of his life. The former he reccllects in connection with his boyish sports, and the gay and enchanting scenes of his youth, when his mind was free from care, and the illusions of fancy added charms to every object, and converted the world into a paradise; the latter is impressed on his heart by the toils he has endured, the friendships he has formed, and most probably by those tender sympathies and emotions which he feels as a husband and a father. The same principles which attach us to a particular place, lead us to enquire into its origin, and into the events which have occurred respecting it; and by connecting the idea of the place with the events, and disregard ing the time, we feel as if personally interested. Topography is founded on the above mentioned principles; and while it gratifies a natural desire, it often illustrates and improves general History. Every particular town, is a part of a general whole; an unit of the aggregate number of which a kingdom consists. To describe each separately, and to state with precision the most interesting occurrences, must tend to render general History more minute and more faithful. The work now presented to the public, originated in the wish of a respectable friend, RICHARD HEPWORTH, Esq. who had made a collection of such materials towards it as he had met with in the course of his reading. These he offered to the Author, and generously promised any assistance which it was in his power to afford; and during the progress of this work, he has faithfully adhered to his engagement. On perusing these materials, the Author found that much was yet to be donethat beside the task of arranging, diligent research was necessary in order to explain and illustrate various facts which were only noticed en passant by our Historians. He availed himself of all the sources of information within his reach; and in the course of his researches, he met with materials far beyond what he had expected. The most valuable communication the Author received from the Rev. F. Drake, Lecturer, of Pontefract. This was the MS. journal of the siege wrote at the time by his ancestor, Captain Drake, and which had been carefully preserved in the family. By the aid of this valuable MS. the historyof the siege is more particular and interesting than it could possibly otherwise have been. The notes, containing some account of the families of several distinguished persons in the castle, and of some in the army of the Parliament, have been derived from Wilson's MS. Pedigrees, in the Leeds library, compared with another valuable copy in the possession of the Rt. Hon. J. Smyth, Heath, near Wakefield. Both these MS. are copies from one in the possession of the late Dr. Richardson, of Bierly, near Bradford, collected by Mr. Hopkinson, the friend of Dugdale, from the records in Pontefract Castle, previous to its demolition. The Author has to acknowledge his obligations to J. Milnes, Esq. for the accurate pedigree of the |