37 



On the 31st of July the mine evidently was reidy for explosion, as they 

 must have known within the castle from the progress of the work, as well as 

 from the movements of the besiegers. Col. Birch was b:inging xip all his men 

 in close array ready to storm the breach it was hoped the mine woud effect, 

 when a white ensign was hung out. The result of the parley, which was at 

 first refused, w.is the immediate surrender of the castle on the simple condition 

 of the lives of all the garrison being spared. A hundred and four men marched 

 out as prisoners, viz., 43 gentlemen, 1 priest, and GO common soldiers. The 

 stores in the castle were found to consist of two hammer pieces, four barrels 

 of powder, a good proportion of match and bullet, 120 arms fixt and uufixt, 30 

 barrels of beer, one standard culler (whatever that may mean), great stores of 

 corn and meal, CO flitches of bacon, 150 bushels of peas, one hogshead of claret 

 wine, half a hog-head of sack, and good store of butter, cheese, and beef. 



The surrender of the castle is generally attributed to want of ammunition, 

 or scarcity of food. It was probably due to neither of these causes, certainly not 

 to the last. During the five months the siege lasted the royal cause had become 

 hopelessly lost in the hearts of the people, and to have held out longer would 

 have served no good purpose, whilst it would undoubtedly have caused, great 

 loss of life. 



On the 25th of August Parliament ordered Mr. Brown and Mr. Scldcn to 

 acquaint the Countess of Kent of the necessity for demolishing the castle. This 

 lady does not seem to have paid much heed to the notice, for in the following 

 spring it was again ordered " that Gutheridge be slighted," and Blighted it was, 

 by means of the mine very possibly from which the powder had been removed 

 the previous summer. 



The ruins continued in the possession of the Grey family until the death 

 of the Duke of Kent in 1740, when Vice-Admiral Griffin bought them ; and his 

 grand-daughter, Mrs. Marriott, is still the possessor. The castle now gives the 

 title of Viscount to the senior representative of the family of the present Earl 

 de Grey and Kipon. 



Dr. Bull pointed out how useless the invention of gunpowder had rendered 

 the elaborate fortifications of the entrance gate, for Col. Birch had planted his 

 guns and made his attack on the north side of the castle, and it was that side 

 which was now in the most ruinous state. 



The visitors then wandered over the old rooms, and many of them ascended 

 the keep for the extensive views it afforded, gathering wild roses from the very 

 summit as memorials of the day. 



The magnificent Ash tree, which grows in the centre of the ruins, received 

 due admiration. It is indeed a fine tree. Its circumference, at five feet from 

 the ground, being 12 ft. 1 in., and it carries its stem up to a considerable height. 

 The Wych Elms, and especially a small leaved Lime tree, on the Castle-hill, 

 also attracted attention. 



