A perfect narrative of the particular service performed by Thomas Wright firemaster with a morter-peice [sic] of fifteen inches and a half diameter, against the Castle of Elizabeth in the Isle of Jersey, being commanded thither by order of the Councell of State, under the command of Coll: James Haine, humbly represented to the honorable Councell of State.

A perfect Narrative of the particular ſervice performed by Thomas Wright Firemaſter, with a Morter-peice of fifteen Inches and a half diameter, againſt the Caſtle of Elizabeth in the Iſle of Jerſey, being commanded thither by Order of the Councell of State, under the Command of Coll: Jamer Haine, humbly repreſented to the Honorable Councell of State. Right Honorable:

I Humbly conceive it is not unknown unto you in ſome meaſure, what ſervice I have performed, (I ſpeak it to the glory of God, whoſe good hand of Providence was over me) in the Iſle of Jerſey, being called thereunto by Your Honors Authority, as appears by this enſuing Order ſigned by Mr. Rowe.

Mr. Thomas Wright Gunner in the Tower is hereby deſired to beſpeak theſe particulars under-written, and ready Money ſhall be paid for them upon delivery.

Whitehall, July 15. 1651. William Rowe.

100 • Fuzes for the 〈◊〉 : 600 Hand Fuzes: Foure wooden Mallets: Foure Iron Rammers: 600 Tomkins: Two large Cheſts: Two large Quadrants: Two plain Tables: Two Chains: Two pair of Callipers.

W. R.

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

BY vertue of the Power and Authority to me derived from the Parliament of England, and my Lord Generall Cromwell, I do hereby authoriſe you Thomas Wright as Fire-maſter, to Command one of the Great Morter peeces, and all ſuch perſons as are appointed for your aſſiſtance, with all thoſe proviſions and materials thereunto belonging; the which are appointed for the ſervice of the Iſle of Jerſey. Which aſſiſtance, proviſions and materials you are to Command, and order for the Reducing of the ſaid place, according to your beſt Judgement and diſcretion; And all perſons whatſoever appointed as your aſſiſtance for the ſervice aforeſaid, are hereby required to obey you as their Commander: and you are 〈1 page duplicate〉 to obſerve ſuch Orders and directions for the carrying on of the ſaid ſervice, as you ſhall from time to time receive from me.

Given under my hand this 24th day of September: 1651. To Mr. Thomas Wright Fire-maſter. Ja: Heane.

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 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 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.

Collonel James Haynes Certificate of the ſervice performed by Thoms Wright Fire maſter, for the reducing of Elizabeth Caſtle.

VVHereas Thomas Wright one of the Gunners of the Tower of London was appointed Firemaſter, and Richard Facey another Gunner of the ſame place, his Mate, by order of the Councell of State, to ſerve under my command, in the expedition againſt the Iſle of Jerſey. Theſe are to certifie that the ſaid Thomas Wright, and Richard Facey have faithfully and carefully ſerved the State in that ſervice, I atteſt that they have acted with ſo much Zeal and Judgment, that more could not be expected from any men; And thus much I muſt moreover inform, that they have not neglected or ſlighted any duty or Command, but have been very inſtrumentall under God, to the rendition of Elizabeth Caſtle in this Iſle. I could ſpeak more of their deſerts, but their ſervices when made known, will ſpeak them large enough, I have only paid them their bare pay, from the time I entertained them, untill the 22 of this inſtant Decemb: viz: for Mr. Wright 4 s. per diem, and Mr. Facey 2 s. 6 d. per diem, beſides their men and aſſiſtants with ſome ſmall incouragements for their eminent ſervice, and 3 li. 1 s. which I gave them in their purſes, beſides their pay; I ſhould have been glad if I had been able to have given them a greater gratuity, but I remain their friend and Servant,

Jerſey 22. Decemb: 1651. Ja: Heane.

The Certificate of divers eminent Gentlemen of the Countrey, in behalf of Tho: Wright Firemaſter for the ſervice of Jerſey.

VVE certifie to all whom it may concern, that Mr. Tho: Wright (one of the Gunners of the Tower of London, was appointed Firemaſter, by order of the Councell of State, to ſerve in the expedition againſt this Iſland and the Caſtle here) hath approved himſelf a very skilfull and gallant man with the Morter-peice, againſt Caſtle Elizabeth, by reaching and over-reaching it, beyond the expectation of moſt men, Ruinating the beſt Lodgings therein, and firing a Magazen of the Enemy; As alſo with his other fire-works firing one of their Veſſels, by which means they became glad to imbrace a treaty, whereby the ſaid Caſtle was ſurrendred to the Common-wealth.

Witneſſe our hands given hereunto in Jerſey, this 23. of Decemb. 1651. Lemprie Baily Judge: John Filkins. Samuel Chaſe. George Eaton. Coll: Stocker: Lieut: Grout. Matthew Thoroughgood. Tho: Hooper. Lieut: Vyvyan. Will: Willis. John Sumerfield.

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 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) 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.

FINIS.