THE CASTLE AND PARLIAMENTS OF NORTHAMPTON. 319

the sheriff of Bedford to London^. Of a l)uilding that with- stood for so many weeks tlie most vigorous efforts of Henry to reduce it to subjection, nothing now remains but a conical mound of earth, wliose base is Avashed by the silent waters of the Ouse. On this gentle eminence originally stood the donjeon, within whose massive walls the besieged, inspired with all the hopeless courage of despair, entrusted their last chance of safety. But whoever seeks for these vestiges of its former importance in the modern town, or delights to visit a spot consecrated to liberty by this unavailing struggle, and ren- dered dear to the lovers of national freedom, vainly seeking for the living monuments of its ancient greatness, will still be gratefully repaid in beholding those stately piles, which are devoted, through the extensive charities of a London citizen, and the purer philanthropy and patriotism of the present noble owner of Woburn, to the social improvement and sanitary wants of the district. In 1253 Henry directed a survey to be made of the condition of the castle of Northampton, at the time John de Grey re- ceived the custody of it : his commissioners found that the park was " decently kept in vert, venison, and pasture," and that new works had been executed in the castle, by the sheriff of the county, as in walls, houses and other matters : that all the houses of the said castle might be maintained at slight cost ; that the same sheriff had bestowed much expenditure on the great wall of the castle, which, however, still needed great re- pairs, and that there were then in the castle hewn and unhewn stone, lime and sand, which might be applied to that Avork^. Towards the close of this reign the castle and town of Northampton were the scenes of important events, owing to the rebellion of the barons headed by Simon de INIontfort. In 12G5 the town was invested by the ro3'al army; the castle, which resisted all attem})ts at assault, was taken by stratagem, and Simon de Montfort the younger and many of his principal adherents were captured. Although the burgesses of North- ampton had taken no more active j)art in the commotions of this period than the inhabitants of other towns in the kingdom, yet in accordance with the custom of the times, they obtained, ' The various expenses connected with ^' Ancient Letters in the Tower, No. 442 this memorable siege, an account of the a and 442 b. military engines, and the different methods *' Bridges' Hist, of Northampton, vol. i. of attack, are given on the Close rolls of p. 425, and the authorities there quoted, the year with the utmost minuteness.