tudes. Gloucester had formerly been much enriched by pilgrimage. Its 1648. beautiful cathedral commanded the respect of all parties; and, while others suffered from the ravages of the parliamentarians, was preserved from serious mutilation even in the hands of spoilers, and in a desolating age. [145] History is at a loss as to the precise origin of its bulwarks; it had been fortified from a very early period, and the extent of the works at different eras must have been much enlarged; but the walls that now partially interposed between the garrison and the royal army did not entirely surround it. Inspection of the plan of Speed, which does not profess to give an exact representation in this respect, will, however, prove that the walls were very incomplete. The truth is that the defences consisted partly of works and partly of walls; and as these terms frequently occur in the description of operations, and their meaning may be confounded, a brief statement may correct any inaccurate idea that may be formed. Let us begin then at the river, and take the bearing to the four principal gates. [146] West and

North.

From the Westgate-bridge

at the Severn to the lower or
outer North gate.

No walls. A small work.
In front marshy ground.

A slender work upon a low ground as far as a postern

From the lower North gate gate, where was a turn south

North-East

and

to the East gate.

East.

East

From the East gate to

and

the South gate.

South.

ward; and from that point
to the East gate the ancient
walls.

The ancient walls, but
nothing to flank the ap-
proach of an enemy.

As far as the castle, chiefly a strong and lofty

From the South gate to work: a breast-work by the

South

and

the West gate.

West.

river side under the castle :

on the quay a half-moon-
the river.

1643.

Such is the general view of their outer means of defence; by which it appears that the wall extended from the northern postern to the South gate; Speed represents it as continuing somewhat farther. Within the works on the northern side was a line passing from the inner North gate, under the college wall, to the priory of St. Oswald, and vestiges of walling seem to shew that there was a continuation of some kind of defence as far as the postern above-mentioned, between the lower North gate and the East gate. The whole is brought under the eye in the annexed diagram.

The height of these walls, as rudely described to Furney by one who remembered them, was about two stories. They had battlements; and on the top were walks, probably like those at Chester, and when backed with earth, resembling the Dungeon at Canterbury, or the boulevards in the towns of France and Flanders. The fosses were narrow, but filled with water. There were in all eight great drawbridges for carts and waggons, and two horse bridges, at as many entrances, larger or smaller through the inner or outer works and walls. These entrances, not like the neglected portals of Worcester, mentioned by Clarendon were well secured by proper fastenings. To each of the four principal gates was appended a lantern, the care of the porter, which might direct carriages and passengers over the bridge by night. [147]

The besiegers began on the eastern and south-eastern quarter; drew trenches in front of the walls; drained a part of the fosse; sunk a mine at the eastern gate, and established a powerful battery upon Gaudy Green. Here the most vigorous attempt was made at the turn by the Butts, or Rignal stile, where they once effected a breach, and where a portion of the fortification is still to be seen. Various reasons have been assigned for this plan. The springs all over the valley lie very near the surface; [148] but this being the highest ground in the whole circuit, was more convenient for the engineers; to which may be added, that the walls might have been more assailable than the works. The besieged had entertained apprehensions for the lower and south-western part of the town, but the chief effort was never directed to that quarter, though the moat was also there drained, and engines were constructed to facilitate an assault. As soon as the design of the besiegers was ascertained, the whole of the wall from the north-eastern corner to the South gate was lined with earth up to the battlements, cannon-proof: and the East and South gates were dammed up in the same manner. Works were also formed within, between the South and East gate and across the Eastgate-street. In 'the Friers' orchard, occupying a portion of this space, they made a sconce for four pieces of ordnance; and from this and the Friers' barn, at a corner near the north-eastern port, they were enabled to flankthe eastern approaches and to scour the trenches.

1643.