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to tlie ground by Athelstane, lest it should be any more a
nursery of rebellion.
The part now known as Clifford's Tower (called
after its first governor) was probably the keep of the
Castle, and was built and garrisoned by William the
Conqueror in order to overawe his rebellious subjects in the
North. It remained the property of the Crown, was the
official residence of the high sheriff of the county, and during
Norman and early Plantagenet times sustained many
assaults ;
it was also the scene of the massacre of the Jews
in the time of Richard I. "When at the summit of its
greatness it was surrounded by the river Foss, and could
only be entered by two drawbridges. In the time of
Eichard III., being much out of order, it was repaired and
in part rebuilt ; but at the time of Henry VIII. was again
in a most ruinous condition, as is described by Leland. At
the beginning of the civil war (1642) it was repaired and
fortified by the Earl of Cumberland, whom Charles I. had
appointed lieutenant- general of the royal forces in the North.
He also placed above the gate the royal arms, and underneath
those of the Clifford family, sculptured in stone, with
the motto Desormais," all of which may still be seen. On
the top of the Tower a platform was constructed, upon
which were placed two culverins and a saker. It suffered
severely during the siege, and upon the surrender of the
royalists in 1644 the Castle was dismantled of its garrison
excepting Clifford's Tower, in which there still remained 60
Foot and several pieces of ordnance. In 1683 Sir John
Eeresby was made Governor by Charles II., and in the following
year, April 23rd, St. George's Day, a fire occurred,
in which the powder magazine was blown up and the interior
of the Tower burnt to ashes, leaving the walls only
standing, and in this condition it has remained ever since.
In 1825 it was purchased by the county magistrates, who
were at that time effecting improvements in the Castle ;
it is
now preserved with great care, the ground upon which it
stands being strengthened and supported by a strong wall
built round it. There is little in the interior suggestive of
the stormy times through which it has passed, the space
being taken up with neatly-arranged beds of flowers. In
the centre rises the enormous flagstaff, and in one corner is