Letter to the Speaker of the House of Peers, Daily reports
A true and perfect Diurnall of all Passages since Colonell Weres comming to the Towne of Lyme Regis.
Febr. 21. COlonell Were landed at Lyme Regis.
Febr. 22 All his Forces, with the Garrison of the towne, were drawne forth on Lyme-hill, from whence a party was sent to Studcomb-house, and Axmouth, under the command of Captaine Peyto, to secure those places.
Febr. 23 Colonell Were with his Officers and 300 foot advanced to Studcombe-house, with a resolution to have fallen upon Colleton, but was commanded backe by the Governour of Lyme, as by his Letters will appeare.
March 3. Captaine Townsend drew out by command of the Councell of VVarre 100 Firelocks, and fell upon Bridport, where he surprized 130 horse, and met with his Colonell and Captaine Pine at Chidwick hill, where they were with horse and foot to secure his retreat.
March 4 Severall Messengers came out of Devonshire to informe that the Country was in Armes, and desired assistance from the Councell of warre at Lyme, of horse and ammunition, which by a generall consent was granted unto them, Major Butler being commander in chiefe, and some other Captains sent with him; they advanced to Hemiock, where they were set upon by Major Carre, who lost his life, and divers of his Souldiers.
March 5.6. The enemy drew out of their Garrison of Arminster, and Colleton, Chard, Exon, Taunton, and Bridgewater, what forces they could to fall on Hemiock.
March 9 Colonell VVare to divert their besieging of Hemiock, fell upon Collington with 300 men, and tooke that Towne, 300 Armes, 250 prisoners, all their Magazine, three Colours, 12 Drums, beside divers prisoners of note, and was advancing to the reliefe of Hemiock, but met with the ill news of his Officers being surprized before, which hindred his resolution and caused him to retreat to Studcombe-house againe, where he continued till Aprill 20. every day or night having an alarme or fight with the enemy; and was called three times to give assistance to the Towne of Lyme-Regis, and to have fallen upon a quarter of the enemys: Which was accordingly performed through tedious marches by him and his souldiers, though little use made of them when they came there, which was no small discouragement to the Souldiers.
April. 20. Our Scouts discerned the enemy on Rode-hill, which in the evening advanced towards Uplyme-hill, and there stood all the night, onelyonly a party came downe, beset Hay and Coly-house, in so much that our men were inforced to retreat unto the Towne of Lyme-Regis.
April. 21 The enemy approached within Pistoll-shot of our Line, and played their great and small shot very hot, though but to little purpose. This day Colonell VVare commanded the major part of his officers and souldiers from Studcombe-house, whose passage proved very difficult and dangerous; a party of the enemies foot and horse skirmishing with them, it made their passage good without the losse of any, onelyonly some men wounded. This night the enemy raised a battery westward, which did much anoy us. From thence came many great shot, insomuch that Captaine Marsh was beaten out of his Fort, and he himselfe afterwards slaine. This evening we sent to Poole to acquaint them with our sad condition. This day Studcombe-house was taken, when we left it there was no want of any thing, and thought it as tenable as the Towne of Lyme, and why Captaine Peyto should surrender it upon such sleight termes is admired:
April. 23 We sallyed out, split one of their guns, killed to the number of 100. tooke 30. prisoners, one Lieutenant one Ensigne. Here C. Bill…t was kild (an Enemie) Captaine Wood Commander of the forlorne hope was wounded: We retreated with small losse, but were enforced to leave their guns behind us. This night a battery was raised in Coly medow.
April. 24.25.26. This day the enemy stormed with Ordnance, did little hurt; This day also two Dunkirk men of Warre looked on us; This day our ship was betrayed, wherein we lost prisoners of some worth. Very little powder by this time left; Some comfort by shipping.
April. 27 From Coly worke came Granadoes into the Towne which did little hurt: This night they raised another worke on the East, which beare downe Captaine Novell's Fort, and did some hurt to the Towne.
April. 28. This morning the enemy offered to storme us but their souldiers had no minde to such sport, neverthelesse they bestowed powder and shot freely on us, insomuch as their firing seemed a continuall blaze, which was discovered by Captaine Semaster and Captaine Iones, then of Portland point, who made all possible speede to releeve us. The sight of these two ships begat new life in our almost tyred souldiers; they supplyed us with powder, match, and bullet, and other provisions which wee much wanted. This day the enemies Ordnance played very hot.
April. 29. These ships landed to serve us 100. men: The enemy seemed not at all to be daunted, but fired-very hot, and made their approach very neare our line: They shot fire arrowes, which did not hurt nor affright any.
April. 30. This day with the bold Seamen and others we sallyed out once more, laid hold of their Ordnance, spoyled one, killed many of the enemie, and retreated with some losse. Major Harrington slaine by one of our owne men, yet the losse on the enemies part was so great, that the water which served the Towne was turned into blood.
May 1. They gave us a very thundring Alarm in the morning, and now they began to make their Fort royall against C. Davies Fort.
May 3.4.5 The Enemy lay very silent, but the weather tempestuous in somuch that we doubted the safety of our shipping.
May 6 The Enemy lay very silent, but in the Evening stormed us very gallantly to the losse on their partie of at least 100 men or more. In this storme they lost Col. Blewet, and as farre as we can heare Col. Strangwates, four Captaines, Cap. Paulet, Cap. Mollineux taken, the Enemy was silent the rest of the night
May 7 This day the Enemy sent to demand the body of Colonel Blewet and desired liberty to fetch off their dead, which was accordingly granted and put in execution, this took up most part of the day, so that there was scarce a stroke on either side till night, and the night proved very silent.
May 8 They drew their Army into two bodies, which kept us in perpetuall Alarmes all the afternoone and the night. This day also came in C. Cock with his ship which afforded us some relief both with men and provision. This Evening C. Pawlet dyed with the wound that he received in storming.
May 9 This day proved as silent, as the weather, very quiet, only in the afternoone the Ordinance thundred on both sides, and our small shot ratled bravely.
May 10 This day the Enemy began to make their approaches very neare our lyne in the Westerne part of the Towne, but Lieurenant Col. Blake sent out a partie in the night which made them remove surther off.
May 11. This morning came good relief, 300 men by shipping sent by Sir William Waller from Portsmouth, and now the Enemy spent their great shot very free upon all quarters especially upon the boats which landed any friends and upon C. Davies Fort, in somuch that his Gunner and two other men were slaine with a great shot, but the Captaine (who hath behaved himself ever gallantly) not any of his Souldiers were any thing at all daunted therewith.
May 12 This day the Enemy shot in many fire balls, which did no hurt at all. This day was C. Iones dispatcht to Portsmouth with Letters to Sir William Waller and others to the Committee, This day the Enemy began two strong Batteries very neare our lyne on the West, and two more we raised against them which did somewhat trouble them.
May 13 This day we playd on their Batteries with our Ordnance very hot, did some mischiefe, small shot ratled on both sides, with little losse on our part.
May 14 This day the enemy was very silent: in the afternoon we sent out a party for discovery, which roused them: we found their quatters strongly manned: and about midnight another pattee was sent upon a contrary quarter, which did some execution upon them, and retreated without losse.
May 15 This day we received a Culvering cut from Captaine Semaster which we planted in one of our new batteries.
May 16. The enemy endeavoured to make up their breaches by our Ordnance, but could not, being continually battered.
May 17 This day the Ordnance we thought drawne off, began to speak, which had not spoke in 3. dayes. This night they made a line in opposition to outs North-ward. These two dayes they played their Ordnance very thick upon the Cobb.
May 18 This day wee sallyed out and entred their Fort royall, split their gunne, tooke 20. prisoners, beate them home to their grand Quarter, and returned with little losse. In the evening they plaid hot againe upon the Cobb, and continued making up of their Trenches.
May 19 This day there was a testation of arms for the space of an houre, for the fetching off three which were lost in the fally. Our Ordnance slew many at their grand Quarter. This night proved very silent.
May 20 This morning the enemy came by Colonell Blakes quarter, & approached neare the Cobb, insomuch that they tooke off a ships colours from her sterne, and afterwards fetched two horses close to a partee that was sent out to rescue them.
May 21 This day the enemie intrenched themselves on the West part of the Towne neare the Seaside, shot many great shots into the Cobb. This night a halfe moone brest was raised against Captaine G…tch his Fort, and approached neare th… part of the line.
May 22 This day a partee of the enemies foote faced the Cobb, and after some few shots entred it, but were againe beaten out of it by a partee of ours which issued out. Another partee at the same time issuing out, entred one of their workes, but could not keepe it, by reason of the evening approaching, retreated with small losse, only Captaine Pyne (who hath ever behaved himselfe very well) was dangerously wounded. This evening proved very silent, by reason of their fetching out such things as were in the ships which they that evening had burnt.
May 23 This day the Earle of Warwicke arrived here, which was a great encouragement to our souldiers. This evening the Governour and Lieutenant Colonell Blake were sent aboord to co… with his Lordship.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Rich, Letter to the Speaker of the House of Peers (1644)