Hereupon I had a Commission from Collonel Heane Commander in cheif for that Expedition, as followeth.

May it please Your Honors, after this service was ended; upon my re­turn into England I could not but look upon some various reports which have been made concerning that great and weighty Imployment of redu­cing the Isle of Jersey, and Elizabeth Castle, unto the obedience of the Par­liament, in which service, by Your Honors Command, (not to derogate from the honour and worth of any Officer) I was under God in my place instrumentall; and therefore I humbly conceive in further discharge of my duty, I am bound to represent a perfect Narrative of such particulars wherein my self was an Actor, together with some other things which ei­ther concern my self, or that Island.

After we got footing in the Island, and Sir George Caretret and those of his party were forced to retreat into Elizabeth Castle (a place which unto them seemed impregnable) it was our chiefest care to reduce the said Castle, without which we could not settle the Isle in a condition of peace and security, or lessen the charge of the State, in maintaining of men and other necessaries for that service. And when I came to view the distance betwixt the place where I was to raise my battery, and the Castle; I found it to be seven eights of a mile, or 924 paces Geometricall, five foot to a pace, which was so great a length, that I humbly conceive there hath not been any instance in former actions, of execution done so far by a Morter peece.

Neverthelesse upon Monday the fifteenth of November last, I planted my Morter-peece upon the Battery, and levell'd my shoot at Sir George Caretrets Lodgings which were on the farthest part of the Castle: and I proffered to lay a wager of ten pounds with Captain Dover, that my first shot should strike the Castle, or fly over, and not fall short: And when I was commanded to play my Granado, I gave fire my self, and through Gods providence it did strike one fide of the great Tower, where the Granado brake, to the exceeding terror and amazement of the Enemie, and gave all on our side good grounds of encouragement, and assurance that the work would shortly be effected.

Whereupon I proceeded to make a second shot with the same propor­tion of powder and degree of elevation, which proved also a very fair shot upon the same Line as the other fell; and the Granado brake verie kindly, though it fell shorter then the first, for the distance was very great, and the Carriage of my Gun but weak, and not able to perform that violence of execution which was necessarily required. Yet I proceeded to make a third shot upon the same Line, and having altred my degrees of elevation, and my proportion of powder to a much larger length then the last, I did my self give fire to the Granado and Gun as before, and had wonderfull great successe and operation in the execution; For this shot struke quite through the Roof of the Church, and fell into a Warehouse [Page 3]underneath the Church, where the Enemy had their Magazine of pow­der and other things, which by the Granados breaking there, it was all set on fire, their Church thrown down, and many dwelling houses, Ware­houses and buildings there, of about 200 foot square were totally ruinated by this blowe; and as I was after informed by many Gent [...] that came out of the Castle, there was in the said houses and Sellers, about 30 Tun of Sy­der, 12 Tuns of Sack, great store of Corn and Bisket, with a vast num­ber of Fish and other provisions of victuall, and for the War. Also a large Cestern which was made for the receiving of rain-water, very serviceable for the Castle, and joyned to the said buildings, was utterly made unuse­full, and sixteen or eighteen men were killed out-right, and six or seven more, so mortally wounded that most of them are since dead; and I my self did see at the same time three men lye dead under the Church wall where no man could come unto them; Likewise Sir Phillip Caretret did since tell me, that most of his own wearing Apparel, and his other goods of consequence were destroyed by the same blowe.

After this I made a fourth shot by the same degrees of elevation, and with the like proportion of Powder, which fell something short of the o­ther, for the Carriage of my Peece not being able to do more, did break: with many of the Irons belonging thereto; So that without Gods infinite goodness and providence in my preservation, I had lost my life by this shot, and I was in much danger both at this time, and every other shot which I made.

On Thursday following, which was the eighteenth day of November, my Carriage was repaired and amended, and held five or six shoots, and to­wards the evening my first shot did its execution, the Granado falling in­to a Reek of Corn, set the same on fire, burnt and destroyed all their Corn and Provisions in the Mowes, that was for Horse and man, my self and o­thers beholding the fire to burn three quarters of an hour, before they could quench it, or throw it into the Sea.

Upon the nineteenth and twentieth of November, I made five shot on the farthest part of the Castle, and two about the middle of the Castle, and two shot upon the Out-lynes, every one of them breaking, and doing their execution in one kind or other. At the last of these shot my Carri­age brake all her Iron work in peeces about me, and my life was again preserved, with great difficulty.

About eighteen days after my Carriage was mended again, and I made five shot more, three whereof, I carryed quite over toward the farthest part of their Castle, which fell amongst their Vessels, and did them some harme, beating them out of the places of security, where they lay; And to that place I shot (neer an English mile) the two other Granadoes; the one whereof fell into the Chancellours house, and the other not far from the same place, and now my Carriage brake the third time, in a more des­perate manner then it did before.

Thus far I have humbly thought good to set down a particular account of the state of my Morter-peece, the distance of place, the number of Granadoes that were spent, and the execution made thereby; wherein it [Page 4]appeareth that the whole number of Shels which were spent in this ser­vice, were but sixteen, nine whereof fell into the Castle, and did their Office, as is before recited, and the other seven fell in and neer the Ene­mies out works, beyond their utmost lines, among their shipping; and some neer their other shipping, lying on the hither part of their works, which did all break, and do their Office, though they were very long shoots, and my carriage so weak and unserviceable as aforesaid; for had my carriage been as strong as my Gun, I am able to affirm with much con­fidence, I could have thrown those Shells and many more, into any part of the Castle, and not one have fallen fourty yards in distance from the other.

After my carriage was broke the third time, (to the end that no time might be lost for the effectuall carrying on of the work) whilst the same was mending, I undertook to make able and sufficient Fireworks, to fire the Enemie: shipping which lay under their Castle Guns, which I brought to maturity and perfection, and my Mate Rich: Facey (who approved him­self a deserving man) undertook that service, and went down to a ship that lay within Pistoll shot of the Castles Fort, (taking only one of my men along with him) and notwithstanding the enemy did play upon them from the Fort very thick, both with great and small shot; Mr: Facey entered the ship and set it on fire, by which means both the ship and the goods in her were consumed. In acomplishment whereof, he underwent very great danger, himself and my man that went with him being much burnt, and scorched, hardly escaping with their lives; and before my carriage was mended this third time, the Castle was surrendred; Then I made a far-well shot with my Gun upon the Sands (shooting neer an English mile) and so left it safe and sound.

These Right Honourable are the Particulars of my service in this Im­ployment, of which both Col. Hayne the Governor, and divers eminent Gentlemen of the Country have also given their Certificates of the mat­ter in Generall.

I shall in the next place humbly make known [...]nto Your Honors, the certainty of what moneys I have received for pay or otherwise, and what my necessarie charges and dis­bursements have been during this Imployment, as followeth.

First, it appeareth by Order from Mr. Roe, before recited-that I entred upon the service of the State for this Imploy­ment the 15 day of July, 1651. and I have continued in the same untill the 28 of this instant January.

During which time I have received onely 13 weeks pay at 4 s. per diem of Col: Hayne, which in all amounts to 18 li. 4 s.

I likewise received 13 weeks pay for my men of Col: Hayne, which at 4 s. per diem comes to 35 li. 19 s.

Item, allowed unto me by Coll: Hayne for my charges to bring me from Jersey to London, 3 li. 10 s.

Item, given unto me by Collonel Hayne the same day the Church was blown up by my Morter peece, 1 li.

Item, Coll: Hayne gave to Mr. Facy, my Mate, as a gratuity for the service in firing the Ship, 4 li. 10 s.

Item, received of Coll: Hayne towards my charges in going to Jersey, 2 li. 3 s.

So that we received in all, 64 li. 17 s.

Whereof I received for my own part, but 24 li. 8 s.

Which is all that I have any ways received of Collonel Hayn.

In the next place I shall humbly present to your Honors view, what my losses and expences have been, from the time I went out upon this service, until my return again to London, and refer the rest to your Honours wisedoms, relating to what Materials were found in the Castle, which in the like cases have been claimed as a right by other men; As also how small my pay was, and what hath been given to other men, though their service hath been nothing at all, or at the best very inconfiderate.

First, I have been constrained to be at the charges in carry­ing & recarrying my self and my men both by Sea and Land, to and from Jersey, (having beforehand ingaged my word to them in that behalf) which hath cost me no lesse then ten pounds sterling.

Secondly, By reason of the length of the Journey, and vio­lence [Page 7]of the service, I have worn out and spoyled in Linen, Woollen, and other wearing Apparel, to the value of above 14 li. sterling.

From whence it appeareth, that my necessary charges, be­sides other expences in the Island, doth amount unto four and twenty pounds at the least, and that all the wages or pay that I have received of Col. Hayne as Firemaster, amounteth to but 18 li. 4 s. and I had of the State but ten pounds when I went for Jersey, which is all that I have any ways received for the service.

Thirdly, It hath taken up a considerable part of my time, in preparing for the said Journey, before my Commission did begin or Commence, besides the setting on work of seve­rall Artificers, to get in a readiness provisions fit for the ex­pedition, on whom I will averr upon Oath, I expended the whole sum of six pounds.

Fourthly, Whereas there were many Instruments of War and broken store in Castle Elizabeth, which by Discipline of War upon the surrender, did appertain unto me, as appears (amongst other Emmunities and Priviledges granted to the Train of Artillery by Charles the fifth Emperour, Arricle the 9th. and hath been observed by all Nations) viz.

When a City or Fort is taken by Assault, then there belongs to the Master of the Artillery and Gunners the best Peece of Cannon, all Can­non dismounted, or broke by battery, the Charges in all the Cannon; all Powder Barrels that are open, the Ammunition in the Magazine, and the Bels. Also when a Victory or Field is gotten, and the Generall de­stres the Magazine, it ought for to be prised, and to give according to equity, that the Master of the Artillery be content therewith.

Neverthelesse the Governor Col: Hayne conceiving that they were fit to remain in his custody, I had not any part thereof, or penny profit for the same, either directly or indirectly.

Fifthly, Upon occasion of some conference which I had with divers able Gentlemen of the Country (whom I found very Cordiall and reall for the Parliament.) they conceiving that my present allowance was not a sufficient competency, to maintain a man of my imployment, made a proffer (for my better incouragement in the service of the Morter-peece) [Page 8]to make a Collection or gathering throughout the Island, which they would undertake should amount to one hundred pounds to be given unto me, neverthelesse although I could not but acknowledg it as a great favour from them, yet for the Honour of those whom I served, and being unwilling to be a charge to the Country, I refused to accept thereof.

And after the Castle was surrendred, and I was dismissed by Col. Hayne, some of the Gentlemen of the Island did de­clare much Civillity and Curtesie to me, and told me that if I would stay 3. or 6. moneths there, they would provide me a Horse, and I should have Meat, Drink, and Lodging gratis, yet being unwilling (as before) to be chargable unto those whom I conceived had been sufferers under Sir Geo: Carteret, I rather made choise to expedite my return, (though by rea­son of the time of the year, it was a time of Danger and Pe­rill) then to protract time in staying there.

This discourse having occasionally led me to make menti­on of some persons of that Country, me thinks it lyes upon me as a part of my Duty, to give a Glimps of what I obser­ved in that Island in generall.

When we came before Jersey, my Mate Facey did land with Major Purling, and divers others at the first, who affirm unto me, that they dis­covered not any great considerable party that came down to fight or op­pose us in our Landing, and that there was not two hundred Horse and Foot discovered in Arms in a Body; And it is humbly conceived by my self, and others who have Judgment, that if but 2000 of the Islanders had stood to fight in Caretrets Cause, we had been so far from gaining the Island, that we had all been destroyed before we had gotten to Land. And notwithstanding, both my self and others heard of great numbers that were in Arms before the Parliaments Forces appeared against the Island, yet is it also affirmed by Persons of good Repute, that when the Parlia­ments Forces came, many ran to their own homes, and that all the men that were able to bear Arms in one whole Parish (which was Populous) were threatned to be hanged by Sir George Caretret, for not appearing at his Summons, some few days before our Landing there, and the generallity of people during my abode there, expressed much love and affection to the Parliament of England.

As for the Country it is full of Rich Corn-land, Meadows, and Or­chards, and in the Summer (especially) is a place of very sweet and plea­sant Habitation; The Men and Women are generally courteous, and of a good deportment, the Poorer sort only excepted.