Englands Worthies, Laugharne – Poyntz
Major Generall Laughorne.
THis most famous and faithfull Patriot of his Country, and most active and …yik-hearted brave Commander, being …orthy Gentleman of P…mbrookeshire, and Gods good Providence, by the arrivall, … gallant and brave Sea Commander Captaine Swanley at Milford-haven, being much assisted and encouraged now to stir, in the defence of this his poore County, almost over-run with the Malignant Welsh Gentry there, especially by the wicked and Atheisticall E. of Carberie, first put himself into Armes, with the foresaid brave Captaine Swanley, and the valiant Major of Pembrooke, a very loyall and pious Gentl. to the Parliament and his distressed Country, and with what help the well-affected gentry and Commons of that County could possibly afford them, he first fell upon a strong hold or Garrison of the enemies called Stock-poole, which after 8 houres assault he took into his possession, with all the Armes and Ammution therein.
2. He marched thence to another strong Garrison of the E. of Carberies called Treffloin, within a mile of Tynby, out of which the wicked Earle of Carberie himself issued with about 200 horse and foot, seeming desirous to releive the said Garrison, but this noble Colonell soon beat him thence with the roaring of his great Ordnance, and he presently took the said Garrison, with at least 45 horse therein, and above an 140 Armes.
3. After this having a little refresht hi… now fairely increasing forces at Pembrook Town, hee marched to a strong Fort upon Milford-haven mouth called the Pyll, which having besieged both by land and by water (with the help of brave Captain Swanleyes ships aud valiant Sea-men) he soon made the Enemy cry for quarter and surrender it up, wherein he took above 200 Armes, 18 peeces of Ordnance, 240 common souldiers, 26 Officers and Commanders, and two good ships beside, the one called the Globe of Bristoll, with twelve peeces of Ordnance in her, and the other called the Providence.
4. After this he marched toward Haverfordwest, and in his approach thereunto, so …righted Sir Henry Vaughan, and Sir John …tepuey, then Governour of the said Towne, that hee looking forth to see if …ee could discover his Enemies comming. …w about halfe a mile off a heard …f black Bullocks with white hornes (as … use to have) comming toward him … the field, which being all in a cluster, … amazed him, that hee ranne to the … of his forces, and swearing a … desperate great Oath, cryes out to his souldiers, The Roundhead Dogs are comming, at which report, they all ran away as fast as they could drive each other before them, throwing away their Armes to sly for their lives, and those that had powder threw it into the River, that so the Roundheads might not make use of it against them; and by this meanes the Town of Haverfordwest, being most disgracefully forsaken, this most noble Major Generall took it most easily with all the Armes and Ammunition in it.
5. Then he marched with a brave increase of his Army and Artillery toward Tinby, where falling on on both sides of it, and after a very sharpe and terrible storming of it, took both the Town and the (almost impregnable) Castle by assault, wherein hee took 3 or 400 prisoners, as many Armes and 7 peeces of Ordnance, with all the other Ammunition and provision therein, which was very much.
6, From thence he most couragiously marched to Carew Castle, which after a fierce assault he also took, with all the Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition therein; and therewith consummated a full and totall reduction of all the Malignants and insulting …is-affected party of all Pembrookeshire, to … obedience of the Parliament.
7. Not long after this, the Earle of Car…rie and the Lord Gerrard of these parts …yning together in a body of Welsh and I…sh Papists, and entring into Pembrooke…ire, this most valiant and viotorious Com…ander with the strength of the County …arched toward them, fell most couragi…lly on them, put them to the rout, and in short space made them fly, and did great recution on them; and in this fight took …d slew at least 500 of them, tooke also …om them many Armes and Carriages, …th most of their baggage.
8. This noble and brave spirited Com…ander having thus now most compleatly …ered that whole County of Pembrooke of its Enemies, the Parliament in way of …ankfulnesse, and as a gratuity and encou…gement, and trophie of honour, for all … famous and faithfull services, made him …ajor Generall of all South Wales, and be…wed upon him all the estate of one John …low of Sleebridge Gentleman, a desp… … Malignant and Popish enemy to the …ment, and to his heyres for ever.
9. After all this, this most noble and couragious Commander persisted in the prosecution of his valiant performances in those parts, and took divers other Townes, Castles, and strong holds of the Enemies, in those parts, even till the totall conclusion of this late unhappy Warre.
10. And lastly (which I should have inserted before) this most couragious Commander being informed that Colonell Gerard had besieged Cardigan Castle, whereof valiant Colonell Iones was (ther) Governour, and had sent to this our noble Major Generall for his aid and assistance, he accordingly came thither with considerable forces, and notwithstanding great difficulties which he met with there, most couragiously he set upon him, most bravely beat him, putting him to a totall rout, made great execution upon his forces, took and slew 350 of them, at least 200 of them being found dead on the ground, he also took 600 Arms and 150 prisoners, among whom were divers Officers, and men of quality, and 4 Brasse peeces of Ordnance,
Major Generall Pointz.
THis most valiant and couragious Commender, in the yeere 1645, being a most active and vigilant Patriot of his perishing and much impoverished Country … the Northern parrts of the Kingdome, and having in the deepest times of these late desperate Wars ingaged himselfe in Armes for the good of his Country, and understanding about the monethmonth of September 1645, of the Kings resolution to Relieve the City of West…hester, at that time long and strongly besieged by the Parliaments forces, this most noble and renowned Commander most undefatigably undertook a tedious and most tyresome journey, of neere upon 300 miles by day and night to overtake and prevent the Kings relief of the said City of Chester, and at length did so, at Rowto…-Moore, some 3. or 4 miles from Chester, where he with his most valiant Commanders, Officers and souldiers set upon the Kings forces, fought a most rerrible and fierce fight with them, notwithstanding the tyresomnesse of the foresaid most tedious journey, and after many dangers and difficulties in the batta…le, it pleased the Lord to Crown him there, with a glorious and most famous Victory, where he at last put the Enemy to a totall rout, and where were lain 2 Lords, whereof the one was the Lord Bernhard Earle of Lei…field the Kings neere kins…an, Sir Bryan Stapleton one Colonell, one …ievtenant Colonell with at out 400 Officers, Commanders, and common souldiers, besides what were slaine in the pursuit, which was confidently assured to make up in all neere upon 800; they also took prisoners about 1500, whereof were Sir Thomas Dabridgecourt▪ Sir Thomas Gore, Colonel Thomas Weston, Son to the Earle of land, and 6 more Col. 7 Lievtenant Col. 5 Majors, 19 Captaines, 14 Lievtenants, 7 Cornets, 19 Gentlemen of his Majesties Life-guard, 20 other Gentlemen, 5 Trumpefers, and 4 Quartermasters; 2000 horse, great store of Armes, much good pillage for the souldiers; upon the intelligence of which most glorious Victory, the Parliam. sent 500. l. as a token of the Kingdomes thankfulnesse to this noble Major Gen.
3. After this he did much admirable brave service in the North, and parts of Yorkshire, as the long and tedious Siege of Pontefract, which at length he took, with all the Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition therein.
4. After this also, in November following, hee tooke the most strong and almost impregnable Garrison of Shelford-house, by a most fierce and furious storme, wherein were slain by the enemies own obstinacy, disdaining to aske quarter, and desperately resolving to fight it out, at the last, lost at least 140 of them.
5. He took also Worton-house, a strong Garrison in those parts, which he took by composition, and therein 150 Armes, 40 Pikes, 3 barrels of Powder, and store of other Provisions.
6. He took also Welbeck-house, a strong Garrison, being the Marquesse of Newcastles house; which also was taken by composition and surrender on Articles.
7. Hee took also Skipton Castle which was likewise surrendred upon Articles of Agreement.
8. And after a long and tedious Siege, he and our deare and loyall Brethren of Scotland took that most strong Town and most mischievous Garrison of Newarke, with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein, which was very much and rich, this being also surrendred upon Articles of Agreement.