Northampton Castle

Northampton Castle is now the site of a pleasant children’s playground, with a simple postern gate and motte remaining, in addition to a few modern sculptures of medieval warriors which I rather liked. It was destroyed, ironically, on the orders of King Charles II in revenge for the town’s commitment to the Parliament in the 1640s. Was this a providential judgement on God for Charles' predecessor, Henry II, who employed the castle to try Archbishop Thomas Becket on charges of contempt and abuse of the Chancellor's office in 1164?

Even modern evangelicals have cited Becket as a Christian hero, standing up bravely for Christ and the Church against a lawless tyrant. Becket, of course, represented the Church of Rome at its apogee of power and wealth; whatever his personal qualities, standing up for the Pope’s rights against the King’s was not putting Jesus Christ first. It was a curious instance of Revelation’s 'Beast from the Sea' (false religion) having a nasty tiff with its cousin the 'Beast from the Land' (brutal, godless government). Relations were soon restored between the two beasts and the persecution of the little pilgrim church of true believers continued in subsequent centuries. Although Henry and Thomas were not to enjoy reconciliation (the former arranged for the 'priest' to be silenced, and afterwards volunteered to be flogged through Canterbury for the assassination), Church and state have been closely linked in the history of this land, and continues today. Although current British governments are singularly unchristian while bishops continue to sit in the Lords, the Church of England in particular seems remarkably adroit at reflecting received worldly wisdom regarding ethics and morality.

Now, the castle is not even ruined, it has disappeared, and the power of the Church with it. Kings lack power and bishops are enfeebled. Yet still the two Beasts remain. One day, the Lord shall return and deal with them once and for all; fewer traces shall be left of them than that found at Northampton, where once a castle stood and an Archbishop was tried.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

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