February 14th, 1643 – Royalist stronghold Hoghton Tower surrenders and in a still-disputed incident a supposedly “accidental” gunpowder explosion after the surrender kills Captain Starkie and sixty of his Parliamentarian soldiers. Royalist supporters maintain it was truly an accident, others contend it was a deliberately cowardly act of multiple murders intentionally committed after Hoghton Tower had submitted.
February 14th, 1644 – The ever-pompous King Chuck the First decreed that his subjects must grant him a “loan” of one hundred thousand pounds (in 1640’s money no less) so that he may continue prosecuting the war.
Balladeer's Blog 
It is always interesting to see the way you make these dry subjects seem interesting.
Thank you very much!
Brit on Brit violence. luv it
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