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256 YORK.
meddle with the parish churches, and urging him to
take measures for the suppression of the insurrection.
Lord Darcy was adverse to the breach with Rome.
He had no direct instructions from Henry, and he
determined upon a policy of inaction, and shut himself
up in Pontefract Castle with a small body of
retainers. The Archbishop of York was with him.
On the 15th October Aske advanced upon York
at the head of the main body of the insurgents. The
inhabitants of that city were all favourable to their
cause, and its gates were at once opened to them.
The monks and nuns were invited to take possession
again of the homes from which they had been expelled,
and they sang their office that very night in the chapels
of their convents. By this time the king had heard
of Lord Darcy's inactivity, and wrote to him in great
displeasure. Darcy replied that the insurgents were
60,000 in number, that Pontefract was untenable,
and that it was impossible for him to procure supplies.
The Duke of Suffolk having possessed himself
of Lincoln, Shrewsbury was in a position to advance,
and wrote to Lord Darcy promising to relieve Pontefract
if he would hold his ground.
Pontefract Castle
was an important stronghold, and the rebel leader
knew this as well as Shrewsbury. He knew also
what Shrewsbury's intentions were, and he marched
at once thither and demanded the surrender of
the fortress. If it were refused it should at once
be stormed. Wore than one conference between
Lord Darcy and Aske took place, but the firmness
of the latter prevailed and Pontefract was surrendered.
Lord l^arcy and the Archbishop of York