140 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646. 



CHAPTER IX. 



RAGLAN CASTLE I ITS DEFENCE AND SURRENDER. DEATH 

 OF HENRY, MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 



FROM the close of 1645 to the middle of 1646 the 

 military operations within and surrounding the strong 

 fortress of Eaglan were conducted with untiring energy. 

 Parties from the castle were continually annoying the 

 enemy, while they on their part pushing their works 

 with vigour at several points caused many disasters, 

 keeping the favourably situated garrison in a state of 

 constant agitation and watchfulness ; finding their course 

 of operations gradually limited to acting entirely on the 

 defensive, not being in sufficient force to disperse the 

 stronger besieging army, against whom it is next to 

 a miracle how they maintained their position so long, 

 Eaglan Castle having held out longer than any other. 



The Marquis of Worcester, the last lord of Eaglan 

 Castle, usually occupied, as is supposed, a handsomely 

 carved oak wainscotted parlour or sitting room in the 

 ground floor of the south side of the castle, nearly 

 the whole side of which was a large, handsome 

 window looking over the moat towards the tall, massive 

 tower or citadel. Over that chamber was his dining 

 room, and from his table the various dishes would be 

 conveyed to the grand banqueting hall, the most com 

 plete and spacious apartment within the present ruin. 



The great state in which the noble Marquis was 

 accustomed to live may be gathered from the following 

 authentic account of the order of his household : * 



At 11 o clock the Castle gates were shut and the 

 tables laid two in the Dining Eoom, three in the Hall, 



* From MSS. Badminton. 



