Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 39 – Letter 40
To the Honourable W. Lenthall Speaker to the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
SIR,
IN my laſt I acquainted you with the Armies coming to Launceſton and of the taking 300. horſe neere Stratton. By reaſon of the long, marches the Foot had taken, and many ſtraglers behind, the Generall and the Army reſted at Launceſton two dayes; and on Saturday laſt, the Army advanced five or ſix miles towards Bodman. And this day the Horſe and Foot had a Generall Rendezouz upon the Downes within eight Miles of Bodman; the Forlorn Hope being ſent out, they … with the Eenmies Scouts, there being eight of them together, which our men tooke (not one eſcaping) they all confeſſe they had no intelligence of our coming; that they belonged to a Guard of 300. Horſe that was kept on a Paſſe within three miles of Bodman; and within two miles where they were taken, the Army advancing neere to that place, we diſcovered a Body of the Enemies Horſe, at about two miles diſtance, who made a ſtand, and faced us for a while; but before ever we came were them, retreated to Bodman: As we were upon the Moore, intelligence came. That the two Companies of Dragoons that were ſent towards Camelford the other day, and had poſſeſt an Houſe, the better to gaine intelligence, if the Enemy intended to breake through Eaſtward, were in ſome hazard by a great Body of the Enemies Horſe that were … betweene them and the Randezvouz, and forced them into a Cloſe for their ſecurity; whereupon a thouſand Horſe were ſent to relieve them, but before they came, the Dragoons themſelves had beaten off the Enemy, and made good their retreat to a Church, without the loſſe of a man. Sir James Smith with his Brigade, was the man that had a Deſigne to have ſurprized them; but now we are in a manner gotten betweene him and Bodman; for the Army quarters in the field, and all the Villages hereabouts, that he can hardly make his retreat, unleſſe he tooke the opportunity before our Horſe came up. At our coming into Cornwall, eſpecially at Launceſton, we found the people poſſeſt with an opinion, That there would be no mercy ſhewn unto the Corniſh; but after a day being at Launceſton, the Towne ſeeing the carriage of the Souldiers ſo faire, and not one Houſe plundered (not ſo much as the Governours own houſe) and the Country being poſſeſt with the like opinion of the civill carriage of this Army, came into the Market, and brought in proviſions for ſupply of our Forces; but in regard Gorings Forces had plundered the Countrie of all their Horſe, people were glad to bring it in on their backs. And Friday being the day for the Poſſe of the whole Countey to appeare at Bodman, all the North part of Cornwall refuſed to appeare, they poſitively affirming, They found us Friends, and not Enemies; and thoſe that were on the Weſtſide of Bodman, likewiſe refuſed to come in, ſaying, They had not greater Enemies than Gorings Horſe that were among them. A Gentleman whom I ſpake withall this day, who was at their meeting ſaid, The Horſe onelyonly appeared, the Poſſe Foot wholly refuſed to come in; and indeed, there cannot be a greater advantage to us, than to drive Gorings Horſe before us; for their carriages are ſo barbarous, that they made every mans hand againſt them where they came: The Army had beene this night at Bodman, but in regard the Enemy is numerous in Horſe, and that we marched much upon the Downs, and was like to be late before we could get in, it was held fit to quarter in the Fields and Villages thereabouts, and the next day to march in a cloſe Body, Horſe and Foot, though it be the ſlower way, yet it is the more ſecure: The Priſoners that were taken this day, told me, they were glad with all their hearts they were taken upon ſo faire quarter; for they knew they ſhould bee all taken at laſt (they ſaid) and that they give themſelves already for loſt: And indeed, God hath ſtroken their hearts with a terrour. Some Gentlemen of quality have ſent privatly for protections, whoſe not appearing againſt us, though not for us, keeps all that part of the Countrey in where they are; And juſt now we have intelligence, that the Lord Mohun is unwilling to obey the Lord Hoptons Commands, and rather ſtands upon his Guard againſt his Forces, than to aſſiſt him with any: as far as I can conceive in my poore judgement, we ſhall drive the Enemy to a corner; and it may pleaſe God to bring their Horſe to accept of conditions as well as formerly they did bring our Foot; for unleſſe this very night they doe breake through, which they can hardly do, conſidering how our Forces are laid, we have them then before us to the Lands end.
Your moſt humble Servant, J.R. St. Bleſſenden, March 1. 1645.
THe Meſſenger ſtaying till the morning, I thought fit to give you this further account of the Enemies motion and our proceedings: This morning by breake of the day, the Army was drawn to a Rendezvouz upon the Heath within two miles of Bodman, a party being ſent out to diſcover if the Enemy were in the Town, brought Intelligence they quit the Towne laſt night about ten of the clocke, Horſe and Foot, the Lord Hopton bringing up the Rear himſelfe: The moſt of the Foot they had were Welchmen, having Leeks in their Hats, and drunke, and went out diſorderly: They march'd toward Truro with a good part of their horſe; the reſt of their Horſe we this morning received Intelligence marched towords Warre-Bridge, as if they intended to goe Eaſtward; whereupon Lieutenant Generall Cromwell who went the night before to relieve our Dragoons, was ſent unto by the Generell to deſire him to ſecure the paſſage at Ware-Bridge, by placing ſome Dragoons there; who being there with one thouſand Horſe, and foure hundred Dragoons, will give a ſeaſonable interruption to the Enemies advance that way. We finde the Towns-people in Bodman no wayes fearefull of our coming, rather deſiring it: They ſay they have had no Market theſe two Market dayes, by reaſon that Gorings Horſe rob'd the Market people, and take away their Horſes. There were two Regiments of Foote and two of Horſe ſent this morning from their Rendezvouz about nine of the clock, to aſſiſt thoſe forces at Ware-Bridge, thereby we might the better drive the Enemy before us into a narrow compaſſe of Land. At this place where we are, we may ſee the Sea on both hands; if the Enemy had had any gallantry left in them, they would have ſhew'd it upon our approach to Bodman, their only ſtrength conſiſting in Horſe, where they had roome enough upon the Downes to play their Game, but they never appeared but once, and that at two miles diſtance, and retreated, I have ſpoken with ſome of the Inhabitants of this Town, who were at the grand Poſſe at Bodman on Friday laſt, and they affirme, That of the whole County of Cornwall, there did not appeare Eighty men; but Gorings Horſe, and the Horſe of the County, all appeared in a great body, Thoſe Foot that were in Bodman, were ſome of the Runawayes from Torrington, and ſome Welchmen that were left at Launceſton, and fled hither, and ſome others of the Countrey, in all to the number of four hundred at the moſt, which is the onelyonly body of Infantry they have left that we can yet heare of: the ſame Intelligencer confirmed, That the Lord Mahone is either reſtrained or wounded by the Lord Hopton; yet the certainty thereof, more than the publique report of the Countrey, we cannot yet heare. I doubt it falls out ill we have not a Squadron of Ships towards Fulmouth, where no doubt they may have rich booty, and intercept perſons of great quality. Severall Letters have beene ſent unto Plymouth, to the Commander in chiefe upon theſe Coaſts; we hope that they will yet come ſeaſonable: The Prince is at Pendennis, and I believe within two dayes will be in France if the wind hold. The head Quarter was this night at Bodman; three Regiments marched to Liſtithiel to ſecure the paſſage that way: the Forlorn hope of Horſe that went thither, made the Enemy quit their Guard at Liſtithiel; and receiving Information that foure Wain-load of Ammunition was in the way to goe from Liſtithiel to Foy, ſix of the Troopers rode after it, and made the Convoy defert their charge, and brought backe the foure load of Ammunition this night to Bodman, there being … to every draught: Likewiſe a party being ſent out another way, overtooke forty two Musketiers, who had their Matches lighted, and Muskets loaden, foure Troopers … up unto them, and made them all lay downe their Arme, and brought them backe Priſoners to the head Quarters. Another party was ſent towards Truro, to diſcover whether the Enemies Horſe remained in a body, and at Caſtle-Den… is diſcovered a body of about a thouſand horſe an houre before night, which we conceive only …aid till the darkneſſe of the night to draw off, after the reſt further Weſt; they are ſo Alarm'd by our parties, that they are forced to keepe in bodies, and can hardly goe… to Quarter, which will quickly make them weary and over-watch…, and altogether unfit to breake through if they had any ſuch intention, which I believe now they have not: That we keepe ſtrong Guards at Liſtithiel, Ware-Bridge, and the Fords upon both Rivers. Sir John Greenville Lieutenant Colonell, and divers others are taken Priſoners.
Bodman, March 2. ten at night.
About the 8 of this inſtant March we received moſt certaine information, That the valiant and moſt faithfull Commander, Colonell Moore, Governour of Mountgo…ie Caſtle marched forth in much privaci… with a party of about 26. horſe and 70. foot having got intelligence that Sir Iohn Watts, late Governour of Chirk-Caſtle ſcituated within 4. miles of Oſmeſtrie, quartered that night within 3. miles of …-Caſtle, which with ſecurity he conceived, he might the beaten do… in regard the Governours troop of horſe was at the ſiege before High-Archall; A brave defeat given to the Enemy by valiant Colonell Moore.and the forces of Red-caſtle were with Colonell Mitton before …. But this brave and as valiant a… vigilant Commander, Colonell Moore, with his foreſaid ſmall par…ie, fell ſuddenly and Courageouſly in to Sir Iohn Watts his qu…ters, but the Enemi… much good the Church about 2 houres untill the doores were … upon them; Whereupon our… entred, and Sir Iohn himſelfe was there taken priſoner, together with 5. Captaines, 2. Lieutenants, 6. Gentlemen of worth and quality, one Prieſt, 100. foot, 50. gallant horſe, beſides tro…pe horſes and all his baggage. Theſe forces were appointed to have met Sir Jacob Aſhley at his Rendezvous, but were thus happily … by the gallantry of this noble Colonell Moore, whereby that deſigne was thus much leſſened, bleſſed be the Lord for it.
And the 12 of this inſtant March we received yet more excellent newes of our moſt noble and victorious Generals ſtill proſperous advances into Cornwall, by Letters from the foreſaid worthy Gentleman Maſter Ruſhworth, the Generals Secretary, to the Honourable Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, which for the Readers better content and full ſatisfaction, I have here inſerted, verbatim, as they were printed and publiſhed by authority, which were as followeth:
To the Honourable William Lenthall Eſquire, Speaker to the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
SIR,
IN my laſt I gave you an account of the Armies being at Bodman, Liſtithiel, and parts thereabouts; ſince that time we have not advanced (it being held fit to ſpend two or three daies in ſecuring as far as we are gone, and leaving all ſafe behind us) the buſineſſe of Mount-Edgecomb hath ſomwhat taken up our time, I hope to good purpoſe; for this day came Maſter Coriton, Maſter Lower, Maſter Glanvile, (all formerly Members of the Houſe of Commons) and Maſter Treviſa to the Generall from Maſter Edgecomb, concerning the ſurrender of his Fort, and disbanding of his Regiment, and the Forces thereabouts, which is agreed unto, I hope upon ſuch Conditions as will not be unacceptable to the Parliament. What influence this, and the coming in of other Gentlemen of this County may have upon the reſt of the Country, you may eaſily perceive, eſpecially if you conſider the quality of the perſons of thoſe that are already come in, and deſire to live under the protection of the Parliament, viz.
The Lord Mal….
Sir John Trelawny
Colonell Trelawney
Sir Nicholas …
Thomas Lomax Eſq
Pierce Edgeworth Eſq
William Se… Eſq
Mr. Corriton.
William Bond Eſq
Richard Edgeworth Eſq
Mr. Glanvile Eſq
Major Nicholas Saul.
Capt. William Bond of Earth.
Capt. Bourn.
Capt, William Saul.
Alexander Lower Eſq
Mr. Francis Saul.
Nathaniel Trevanion of Tregerthen Eſq
Major William Treviſa of Crokedon Eſq
John Battersby Eſq
Richard Spurre Eſq
Jo. Roe of Trewarnan Eſq
John Horndon.
Col. Champernoon.
Mr. Raſhly.
Mr. John Trevery Governour of Foy.
Mr. Bageley.
Mr. Walter Hele.
Lieut. Col. Forteſcue.
Major Warren.
Sir Richard Prideaux, High Sheriffe of the County, and divers others.
Alſo Mr. Arrundel the Papiſt, a man of power, deſires to be under the Protection of the Parliament.
And as a further Teſtimony of the reality of ſome others of the Inhabitants of this County neer Saint Columb (and yet in a manner now in the power of the Enemy) this enſuing Petition delivered by the hands of Maſter Vivian, with the conſent of the Inhabitants of thoſe parts where he lives, will in ſome meaſure ſhew their affection to the Parliament.