xlii. 



merit. However, from this transference of ownership resulted an episode 

 in the history of the Castle, the only one, I believe, recorded which 

 appeals to the generous impulses of our nature. I refer, of course, to 

 its heroic defence by Lady Bankes in 1643, which shed a halo of glory 

 over its closing days. Time, on such an occasion as this, will not 

 allow me to enter into the details of the memorable siege, and anything 

 like an epitome would fail to do justice to the gallant conduct of the 

 principal actors in it, which is fully pourtrayed in the story of Corfe 

 Castle, by the late Right Hon. G. Bankes, and in an interesting book, 

 " Brave Dame Mary." The merest outline must suffice here. During 

 the absence of Sir John Bankes while attending on the King at York, 

 an attempt was made by the rebels to gain admission into the Castle by 

 stratagem, which, being discovered, the gates were shut and a regular 

 siege commenced, led by Sir Walter Earle. Lady Bankes infused her 

 own intrepid spirit into her little garrison, consisting only of a few 

 soldiers, her attendants and maidservants, and with such vigour was the 

 defence maintained that at length the assailants, after repeated un- 

 successful attacks on the fortress, lasting over a period of six weeks, 

 were compelled to withdraw on the report that a body of the King's 

 troops were approaching to relieve the garrison. But it was only a 

 temporary respite. In less than a year and a-half it fell into the hands 

 of the Parliament. In the mean time Sir John Bankes had died, and 

 Lady Bankes went to London. The Castle, now the property of their 

 son, Sir Ralph Bankes, continued to hold out for the King, being 

 garrisoned by the Royal forces, and after the capture of Bristol in 

 October, 1645, was the only stronghold that remained faithful to the 

 Royal cause. Every effort was therefore made by the Parliamentary 

 party to reduce it, and its impregnable position might have enabled it 

 to maintain its independence for an indefinite period had not treachery 

 come to the aid of the besieging force sent against it. The governor, 

 under pretence of strengthening the garrison, admitted 100 of the enemy's 

 soldiers, and the defenders, seeing themselves betrayed, recognised the 

 hopelessness of continuing the contest, and, after a slight show of resis- 

 tance, laid down their arms. The news of the surrender of the Castle was 

 received with unbounded joy by the Parliament, who immediately gave 

 orders for its demolition. The decree was forthwith carried into effect. 

 The larger masses of building were blown up with gunpowder, and the 

 towers, being undermined and propped up by timber, which was after- 

 wards burnt, subsided into the cavities or fell over, and nothing now 

 remains of Corfe Castle but the picturesque ruins of what must have been 

 one of the strongest fortresses in England. If some feelings of regret 



