When they reached the point by which they were first to turn aside into the wood which surrounded the Castle, they felt a momentary impression of degradation, as if they were yielding the high road to their old and oft-defeated enemies the Cavaliers.

When they began to ascend the winding path, which had been the daily passage of the cattle, the opening of the wooded glade gave them a view of the Castle ditch, half choked with the rubbish of the breach, and of the breach itself, which was made at the angle of a large square flanking-tower, one-half of which had been battered into ruins, while the other fragment remained in a state strangely shattered and precarious, and seemed to be tottering above the huge aperture in the wall.

A stern still smile was exchanged among the Puritans, as the sight reminded them of the victories of former days.

Holdfast Clegg, a millwright of Derby, who had been himself active at the siege, pointed to the breach, and said, with a grim smile to Mr.Solsgrace, "I little thought, that when my own hand helped to level the cannon which Oliver pointed against yon tower, we should have been obliged to climb like foxes up the very walls which we won by our bow and by our spear.
Methought these malignants had then enough of shutting their gates and making high their horn against us." "Be patient, my brother," said Solsgrace; "be patient, and let not thy soul be disquieted.

We enter not this high place dishonourably, seeing we ascend by the gate which the Lord opened to the godly." The words of the pastor were like a spark to gunpowder.