Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle · Letter 3 – Floating text 13
The Copie of a Letter ſent from the Commander in chief of the Town and Port of Plimouth, to the Honourable William Lenthall Eſquire, Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, concerning the great fight at Mount Stamford.
SIR;
SInce my laſt unto you of the 28th of October, 1643. the enemie hath preſſed hard upon us againſt Mount Stamford workes, with their great Ordnance,A proper note, and fitly applyed. and began to play againſt the ſame on the Sabbath day laſt, being the 5th of November, hoping by that means to perform what the helliſh plot of the Popiſh-Gunpowder-Treaſon ſhould have done: They played ſo hard againſt it all that day with batteries (and it being not any way made to endure the ſame) that ſome of our Guns they diſmounted, and ſome clogged with earth which fell upon them, ſo as wee could not make uſe of any of them; in ſo much that on the morrow they ſurrounded the Worke, fell on with all their ſtrength of Horſe and Foot upon all quarters: yet the chiefe Commander of the Fort behaved himſelfe ſo bravely, that three times he forced them to retreat; and could wee have got any indifferent reliefe over the Water in any reaſonable time, wee had kept the Fort. Yet nevertheleſſe the Enemy ſent a Parley three times before the Captain would accept of it. Then conditions were made, That all Souldiers ſhould march away with their Armes, flying Colours, and Bullet in their mouths; and that the Captain ſhould have any one piece of Ordnance away, that he would make choice of. The Enemy loſt foure or five Captaines before the Fort, beſides divers other Officers, and many Souldiers. Wee loſt at that time no Officer of note, onelyonly one Lievtenant killed with a great ſhot, and divers Souldiers taken priſoners, which were all exchanged the next day, for ſome of their own men that we had formerly taken. I beleeve they will not brag much of their victory by getting that Worke, for wee are now better and in more ſafety in the Towne than before. For wee were forced to keepe a Leager there, and continually to relieve them; ſo that our men were forced to very hard duty, to keepe all the other Workes and Fortifications belonging to the Towne. The Enemy having the Worke yeelded to them, thoſe of the Enemies party in the Towne (as it muſt be expected in all places are ſome) began to get courage, our own friends doubtfull; and I believe▪ the Ne…traliſts do deſire that the Towne might be delivered up: Whereupon, for feare either of the treachery of the Towneſmen, or for want of experienced men, I ſeized the Fort and Iland, the Caſtle and Magazine, that in caſe the Towne ſhould be forced and over-powered with ſtrength by the Enemy, and knowing this place of ſuch great concernment, that through Gods aſſiſtance I would keepe them till ſupplies and reliefe come. Whereupon I have put them into the hands of ſuch as will keepe them for the King and Parliament, with the laſt drop of bloud in their bodies. Our friends began then to be incouraged, our enemies both within and without us to be diſmayed, thinking that there was no hope of ſurrendring the Towne: ſo ever ſince, the Townſmen and all Inhabitants have been more forward to contribute their beſt aſſiſtance than formerly many have done. And upon Thurſday laſt after Prayer and our mornings beſt preparation for the ſame, my ſelfe and Mr. Major, took a Vow and Proteſtation, which I have here ſent incloſed, and cauſed it to be preſented to all Gentlemen, the Committee of Parliament, the Deputy Lievtenants, all Towneſmen, all Officers and Souldiers, and all Inhabitants whatſoever; which I finde was generally taken with great joy and cheerefulneſſe. I hope the honourable Houſes of Parliament are not unmindfull of us; yet I never received any inſtructions from them ſince the fifth of September, being the time that I departed from London, although I have ſent foure ſeverall Packets concerning divers and ſpeciall affaires. I humbly crave that with all ſpeed I may have Powder, Lead, and Match ſent, that I may with honour performe the truſt impoſed upon me. Thus humbly kiſſing your hand, I take leave and reſt,
Plymouth 11 Novemb. 1643. Your moſt humble Servant to be commanded, James Wardlace.
The Vow and Proteſtation.
I A. B. In the preſence of Almighty God, do vow and proteſt, that I will to the utmoſt of my power, by Gods aſſiſtance, faithfully maintain and defend the Townes of Plimouth and Stonehouſe, the Fort and Iland, with all the Out-works and Fortifications to the ſame belonging, againſt all Forces now raiſed againſt the ſaid Townes of Plimouth and Stone-houſe, the Fort and Iland, or any part thereof, or that ſhall be raiſed by any Power or Authoritie whatſoever, without the conſent and authoritie of both Houſes of Parliament. Neither will I by any way or meanes whatſoever, contrive or conſent to the giving up of the Townes and Fortifications aforeſaid, or any parcell of them, into the hands of any perſon, or perſons whatſoever, without the conſent of both Houſes of Parliament, or of ſuch as are Authorized thereunto by them. Neither will I by Gods grace raiſe nor conſent to the raiſing of any Force or Tumult, nor will I by any way or meanes give or yeeld to the giving of any advice, counſell, or intelligence, to the prejudice of the ſaid Townes and Fortifications, either in whole or in part: But will with all poſſible ſpeed faithfully diſcover to the Major of Plimouth, and to the Commander in chiefe there, whatſoever deſigne I ſhall know or heare of hurtfull thereunto. Neither have I accepted any pardon or protection, nor will I accept any protection from the Enemy. And this Vow and Proteſtation I make, without any Equivocation and Mentall reſervation whatſoever: Beleeving that I cannot be abſolved from this my Vow and Proteſtation; and wiſhing no bleſſing from God on my ſelfe or my poſterity, if I doe not truly and ſincerely performe the ſame. So help me GOD.
Ordered by the Commons in Parliament aſſembled, that this Letter and Proteſtation be forthwith printed and publiſhed. Hen. Elſynge, Cler. Par. D. Com.
Much alſo about the foreſaid time, viz. the 20th of Novemb. 1643. came certain intelligence from Lancaſhire to London, by a Letter to the Houſe of Commons, from Colonell Rigby, a moſt worthy Member of the ſame Houſe; of a moſt rare and admirable, yea even miraculous Defeat, given by him the ſaid brave Colonell to the Earl of Newcaſtles forces, neer Thurland-Caſtle, upon the edge of Lancaſhire. The exact Narration whereof being fully ſet forth by himſelf in his ſaid Letter, I have heer thought good for the Readers better content and clearer ſatisfaction therein, to give thee it verbatim, as it was printed and publiſhed by authoritie of Parliament, which was as followeth.