In this section we resume the sketch of the family in the direct line of descent.

David, the youngest son of Robert Clarkeson and Agnes Lilly, of Bradford, was scarcely eleven years old when his father died. He was born in February, 1621-2, and according to the parish register, was baptized at St. Peters, on the 3d of March following.

His early youth was doubtless passed in his native town, and it is more than probable that he received his elementary education at the grammar school of the same place.

From Bradford, he went to Cambridge. The precise date of his matriculation at Trinity has not been ascertained, possibly 1640; but, to a young

mind thirsting for knowledge and emulous of the distinction which it afforded, the transition from a provincial school to a University like that of Cambridge must have been an event of the greatest interest.

It was while quietly pursuing his studies at college that the political troubles, which gave rise to the great rebellion, and had such an influence upon his later life, first led to open strife between the King and the Parliament. It would be needless to attempt to describe the many and varied questions that entered into the great national debate, or to seek to picture the scenes of slaughter occasioned by one of the most terrible of all devastating wars. The whole kingdom was in a state of alarm and Bradford enjoyed no immunity from the common excitement.

David came down from the University in the winter of 1642, soon after the first attack made upon the town by the Royalist forces. Bradford was now for a second time threatened. An engagement had just taken place at Adwalton Moor, and had resulted in the complete discomfiture of the Parliamentary troops. The Earl of Newcastle, with his victorious army, was encamped on Bowling-Hill, and the

artillery was planted so as to command the town. The old church was in danger. Sacks filled with wool were hurriedly suspended on its walls and "when," says an eye witness, "the spiteful shot cut the strings, then the enemy shouted full loudly as the pack fell down."

"About the going down of the sun," says the same narrator, "off goes their guns before the inhabitants were aware, and at their first shot they killed three men that were sitting on a bench, and all that night it was almost as light as day with so many guns firing continually."

To increase the alarm which generally prevailed, a rumor was industriously circulated, that upon the surrender of Bradford all its inhabitants would be put to the sword to avenge the death of a young nobleman, who, while crying for quarter, had been cruelly murdered.

We cannot tell whether these threats of summary vengeance had any effect on young Clarkson, but, early the next morning, while it was still dark, with his brother-in-law, John Sharp, and a numerous cavalcade, he joined in an attempt to escape through the enemy's lines. The result of this adventure has already been related. Not meeting with the success