Note 343 — Chapter X

Clarendon, followed by Hume and several others, appears to say that Ragland Castle in Monmouthshire, defended by the Marquis of Worcester, was the last that surrendered; namely, in August 1646. I use the expression appears to say, because the last edition, which exhibits his real text, shows that he paid this compliment to Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, and that his original editors (I suppose to do honour to a noble family), foisted in the name of Ragland. It is true, however, of neither. The North Welsh castles held out considerably longer; that of Harlech was not taken till April 1647, which put an end to the war. Whitelock.

Clarendon, still more unyielding than his master, extols the long resistance of his party, and says that those who surrendered at the first summons obtained no better terms than they who made the stoutest defence; as if that were a sufficient justification for prolonging a civil war. In fact, however, they did the king some harm; inasmuch as they impeded the efforts made in parliament to disband the army. Several votes of the Commons show this; see the Journals of 12th May and 31st July 1646.