A CONTINVATION of the true Narration of the most observable passages in and about Plymouth.
THe Enemie lying at Plympton, and at Buckland, and in other Parishes in their Quarters, sallied out and fell on some of our Men, that were abroad in the Country, but when we heard of it we drew forth our horse, Major Halsey commanding in Chiefe, fell upon the Enemie in Tamerton 4 miles from the Towne, where we tooke nine horses, and nine Prisoners, and one slaine.
February 24. Captaine Lieutenant Chafin was sent out with a party of horse to fall upon the Enemies guard at Trenimans or Trenl [...]mans Iumpe 4. miles from the Towne where we beate them off their guard, and tooke 25. horse, and one Prisoner, and lost but one horse.
March 15. One of Col. Goulds men, and some others going into the Country, upon some occasions, the Enemy came upon them and tooke the Colonels man (since redeemed) and when the Alarum came into the Towne, Major Halsey commanding in Cheife, we drew forth our horse and pursued the Enemy to Trenimans Iumpe, where we fell upon their guard, and beate them out of their guard house, slew 3 of their men, and tooke 10 horse, and six Prisoners, 2 Drums and 9 Muskets, and lost not a man.
March the 20•h, Captaine Leiutenant Chafin Commanding [Page 4] in Cheife, was sent out with a Party of 60. horse and fell upon the Enemies guard aforesaid, where we beate them out of their guard, and pursued them about a mile upon the Downe towards Tanistocke, and [...] about ten men of them, and tooke ten Prisoners, one Captaine, one Leiutenant, one Quartermaster, and tooke thirty horse besides what was wounded of the Enemy, and ran away over the Hedges forsaking their horses, and we lost but one horse and two men wounded, and so returned safe home to Plymouth.
March 27. That Unparraled (in respect of the West) Colonell Gould parted this life, being cald to Iesus Christ to have a Crowne of Gold, set on his head, for his golden activity, and fidelity, and undefatigable Patience and expence, to help the Lord against the Mighty, in purging the Church and Common-wealth, being lamented of all but malicious and ambitious Malignants.
By his death, the affaires of the Towne likely to be out of order, a Commission was granted to the Major of Plymouth, Colonell Crocker, Lieutenant Colonell Martin for the ordering of the affaires of the Garrison, untill a Commander in Chiefe was sent from the Parliament.
The command of the Island, remaining in the hand of Captaine Henry Hatsell, a Captaine of such known integrity, that though enuious stomacks, may raile against him yet they cannot draw off the affections of the well affected in Plymouth, from a high esteeme of his approoved valour and fidelity.
The command of the Fort, is in the hands of Captain Samuel Birtch, who intends to keepe them, as they have signified to the Parliament, for them and none else, the Garrisons of both protesting the same constancy and fidelity.
The 16 of Aprill (the Major of Plymouth and Colonell Crocker having transferr'd the power they had from Colonell Wardlaw, unto Lieutenant Colonell Martin alone)▪ Intelligence being brought that the Enemy (neere 500.) drew neere us, and quartered at Saint Bud [...]aux (commonly called Saint Buttocks, two miles from Plymouth on Devonshire side) Lieutenant Colonell Martin, sent out about [Page 6] 600. Commanded Musquetiers, with some Horse, to fall upon them, 17. Colours being sent to face Plymton (a grand quarter of the Enemie) In the meane time, but our forlorne hope of Horse, (by mistake of the guides, went one way, and the body of foot another, notwithstanding our foot comming up undiscovered fell on the Enemie, and put them to flight, killed two of them, and took in Saint Budeaux Tower, and in their flight 44. prisoners, besides Leiutenant Corey, sometimes servant to Sir Bevile Greenvile, Leiutenant Colonell Porters Ensigne, three Barrels of Powder 20. horse above a 100. armes, Major Collins, Captaine Vacy of Tamerton, Captaine Tavernor hardly escaping by reason of the absence of our horse; most of these prisoners having taken the Covenant, and have taken up armes for us since.
We have omitted one barbarous act of Sir Richard Greenvill, (that Runnagado) committed the weeke before, who having taken two of our Souldiers, going out into the Country, inforced one to hang the other presently at the next tree they came to, the Cavaleers dispatching the Survivor, Skellum Greenvile sitting on his horse beholding the spectacle.
Aprill 19, 200. Musketiers with some horse were commanded to fall on the Enemy, at Newbridge (in the way to Plympton) and the command was, that our forelorne hope should not fall on untill the Releife was in sight, but disobeying the command fell on when the reliefe was a mile behind, yet they beate them from hedge to hedge, and one breastworke on this side the bridge, but their Powder being spent and the greatest part of the Enemies forces at Plympton comming into the reliefe, our forlorne having spent their Powder they were compel'd to retreit, but fairely without the losse of a man only two or three wounded.
Aprill 27. 40. foot sallyed from Prince Rocke, to Plumlet mills, a quarter of the Enemie lying in a Creeke against Prince Rocke, the Enemie fled like Hares, and our Men tooke 16 foot, Armes, one Drumme, five Hogs, five Cowes.
As our Forces have not beene altogether idle and succeslesse at Land, so they have not of late beene loyterous at Sea, [Page 7] our Remora's being removed, for our Seamen at three severall times have fallen on the Enemies Country and brought away a 100. sheepe.
Aprill 25. the Packet boate tooke a Barke loaden with Irish Cloath, Tallow, Hides &c. and since this another boate hath taken a Hoy loaden with three Butts of French wine, wherein were three Grand Cornish Cavaleers, and it is without exception, that if our Ships might have Commission to land men on the Cornish shoare, we should not onely helpe Plymouth to many necessaries, but also fill the Cornish hands so full with watering their owne shoare that they should have little liberty and lesse heart to fall on Devonshire or Plymouth.
We cannot conceale what we have by our intelligencers from the Country.
1. We are informed that Skellum Greenvile hath seized on the Lord of Bedfords Estate, and Master Cuttiners Estate, and sent him Prisoner to Exon, making havock of his goods and Corne.
2. That the said Runnigado Greenvile builds very much at Fitzford, (I hope Castles in the aire, or houses without foundation) and boasts that he little doubts of having Plymouth speedily, but the Garrison, and Plymouth will not beleeve him.
3. That the Enemie indeavours all he can to raise Forces, to fall on Plymouth, and carry them East-wards, threatning to hang such as refuse, and having pressed six in Lifton Patish (according to which Proportion, their whole number of pressed men will amount to 2500. men in the whole County) they were compelled to send a guard with them to Exon.
4. That there were lately expected 7000. to appeare at Exon (as the Cavaleers report) but there appear'd but 700. which so mooved Sir John Berklies worship that he pressed the Constables; a fit reward for their Activity.
5. That the generallity of the Country (notwithstanding the Oath,) are well affected to the Parliament, but want some force to countenance them in the Country to cut the Cavaleers throats, to free themselves of their iron bondage.
[Page 8] 6. That Arundell of Chiddock in Dorsetshire, a Papist is carrying his goods into Cornwall, and hath seised on the Pious Lord Roberts ch [...]ldren, and committed them to safe custody at Bodmin, this is confirmed once and aga [...]n.
7. That the Lord Mohun Edgcombe and lane are returned from the Feminine Junto at Oxford.
8. That it is reported that the Queen is at Exon, whence since her invisible arrivall, divers warants have been issued out to command the Train bands to make their personall appearance, and to bring all fat cattle into the City, whereby it is likely they expect a Seige.
9. That the Kings Privie Seales are abroad to make up a 100000.l. given (in words) to his Majesty, for the re [...]uting of himself, & his destroying Army, by the perjur'd Junto at Oxon
10. That the County is ordered to prepare 3. Subsidies, speedily, which they cannot well digest, you may visibly see the misery of the County, let not the Countries Patriots be forgetful of that County, that have expended aboue 150000l. for their defence, let it not seem small that it sits in dust and ashes like a widow looking for some to helpe, but none appeares; You may see how God hath preserved that poor Garrison at Plammouth, being as it was said of Brittain, Divisos orbe I hope non cura et amore, of such as have the care committed to them. Let it seeme most equall to them, to take care of their necessitated friends that account not their lives too dear for them; and it cannot but be very pious for the gods on earth to imitate the God of heaven, in taking care for Plimmouth town and Garrison.
Aprill 25. The Constable of Edg-Buckland was brought in hither who had a warrant from St. Thomas Hele (not all of the wisest) requiring the appearance of his Parishionets with their armes at Modbury, and for the providing of new arms (if they can get them) in the place of such as are wanting.
It cannot be superfluous to give intelligence of Gods gracious discovery of feminine Malignants and traitors in Plimmouth, one whereof is committed to the Castle for holding correspondency with the Enemy.
The Articles prooved against her on Oath are, first that she [Page 9] hath sent suits of apparrell to one Collens a runnigado of Plimmouth, who endeavored with Pike his confort to betray the towne, as in our former narration we have expressed.
2. That by message she discovered to the Enemy what store of Powder was in the town.
3. That she invited the Enemy to aslault the Towne.
4. That she desired Major Harris (a Cavaleer) to quarter in her house, viz. when the Town was taken.
5. That she seconded her former invitation with intreaties of a specdy onslate, falsely informing them that the Protestant Reli ion (since our covenanting) was decaying and breathing its last gaspein Plimmouth.
For the other Virago we shall let her sleep for a while, that her shame and doom may be the heavier.
It is not to be omitted to see how providence watcheth ouer the towne, for though ever since the gaining of Mount Stanfort the enemy hath daily continued shooting into the towne. Some daies scores of great shot liberally spent, yet the hurt that they have done is but a trifie, and the People so far from being affrighted, that they slighted it being hardned, our boates daily going into the Sound, and to Milbay under the mouth of the Cannon, and within lesse then Musket shot.
It is worth knowing for imitation, that Col. Gould hath much purged the Carrison, from swearers, drunkards, and abhominable livers, causing the town and Garrison to be very carefull in observing the Lords day, daies of humiliation, & to be frequently present at the ordinances of the Lord of Hosts.
Sir Richard Greenviles Letter.
For Col. Gold, together with the Officers and Souldiers now at the Fort, and Towne of Plimmouth, These.
THat it may not seeme strange unto you, to understand of my being ingaged in his Majesties service, to come against Plymouth as an Enemy, I shall let you truely know the occasion thereof. It is very true, that I came from Ireland with a desire and intention, to look after my own particular [Page 10] fortune in England, and not to ingage my self in any kind, in the unhappy difference bet wixt the King, and the pretended Parliament now at London. But chuicing to land at Liverpoole, the Parliaments forces there, brought me to London, where I must confesse I received from both the pretended houses of Parliament, great tokens of favour, and also importunate motions to ingage me to serve them, which I civilly refused: afterwards divers honourable persons of the pretended Parliament, importuned me to undertake their service for the Government and defence of Plymouth: unto which my answer was, that it was fit (before I ingaged my self) I should underst [...]nd what meanes they could & would allow & provide for the effectuall p [...]rformance of that service, upon that a Committee appo [...]nted for the West, thought fit with all speede to send a pres [...]nt reliefe of Men and Munition to Plymouth, which with very great difficulty was brought thither, being the last you had, afterwards there were many meetings more of that Committee, to provide the means that should give Plymouth reliefe, and enable it to defend it self, and notwithstanding the earnest desires, and endeavours of that Committee accordingly, I protest before God, after six moneths expectation, & attendance on that Committee by me, I found no hopes or likelyhood of, but reasonable means for the reliefe and defence of Plymouth, which made me account it a lost Town, & the rather because I being by Commission, Leiut. Generall to Sir William Waller, had an ordinance of the Parliament for the raising of 500. horse for my Regement at the charges of Kent, Surry. Sussex, Hampshire, who in 3 moneths time, had not raised 4 Troopes, and my own Troope, when I left them having 2 months pay due to them, could get but one month, for which extraordinary means was used, being a favour none else could attain, it being very true, that the Parliaments forces, have all beene unpaid for many months, in such sort, that they are grown weak, both in Men and Monies, and have by only good words kept their forces from disbanding. The processe of so long tune spent at London, made me and many others plainly see the inquity of their Policy, for I found Religion was the cloak for Rebellion, & it seemed not strange to me, when I found the Protestant religion was infected with so many independants and Sectaries of infinite kinds, which [Page 11] would not heare of a peace, but such as would be in some kind as pernicious as was the warre. The Priviledges of this Parliament I found was not to be bound by any of the former, but to lay them aside & alter them as they advantaged their party. This seemed so odious to me that I resolved to lay my self, as I have done, at his Ma: feete, from whence & his most just cause, no fortune, terrour or cruelty, shall make me sweru, in any kind: and to let you see also what hath formerly past, I have sent you these inclosed. Now for a farwell; I must wish, and advise you, out of the true and faithfull love and affection, I am bound to beare toward mine own Country, that you speedily consider your great charges, losses, & future dangers, by making and holding your selves enemies to his Majestie, who doth more truly desire your welfare and safety, then it seemes you doe your selves, wherefore, (as yet my friends) I desire you to resolve speedily of your Propositions for peace, by which you may soone injoy your liberties, contents, & estates, but on the contrary, the contrary which with a sad heart I speake; you will very soon see the effect of. Thus my affection urgeth me to impart unto you, out of the great desire I have, rather to regaine my lost old friends by love, then by force to subject them to ruine, and in that consideration I must thus conclude.
In Sir Richard Greenviles letter was inclosed a book Intituled, The iniquity of the Covenant, which was burnt in the Market place, by the hand of the common Hangman, according to the order of the Councell of Warre, & a Proclamation that if any person had any of those books and did not bring them forth they should be accounted and dealt withall as enemies to the state and Town.
The Answer of the Commanders of the Garrison of Plymmouth to this Letter.
THough your Letter meriting our highest contempt and scorne, which once we thought fit by our silence, (judging it unworthy of an answer) to have testified. Yet considering that your self intends to make it publique, we offer you these lines, that the world may see what esteeme we have of the man, notorious for Apostacy and Trechery, & that we are ready to dispute the justnesse and equity of our cause in any lawfull way, whereto the Enemy shall at any time challenge us, you might well have spared the giving us an account of your dissimulation with the [Page 12] Parliament, we were soone satisfied & our wonder is not so great that you are now gone from us, as at first when we understood of your ingagement to us: & to tel you truth, it pleased us not so wel to hear you were named to be a Governor for this place, as now it doth to know you are in arms against us; we accounting our selves safer to have you an enemy abroad, then a pretended friend at home: being perswaded that your principles could not afford cordiall endeavors for an honest Cause. You tell us of the pretended houses of Parl. at London a thred-bare scandal suckt from Aulicus, whose reward, or a Bp. blessing, you may chance to be honoured wth for your Court-service: & how they make Religion the cloak of Rebellion, a garment which we are confident your Rebellion wil never be clad with: you advise us to consider the great charges we have beene at, and the future dangers we runn our selves into, by making our selves enemies to his Majesty, who more desires our good then we our selves; & thence would have us propose conditions for Peace. That we have bin at great charges already, we are sufficiently sensible, & yet resolve that it shall not any way lessen our affections to that Cause, with which God hath honoured us, by making us instruments to plead it against the malicious Adversaries. If the King be our enemy, yet Oxford cannot proove that we have made him so. That his Majestie desires our wel-fare, we can easily admit, as well, as that its the mischeivous Councellors so neere him, who render him cruel to his most faithful subjects: & as for our proposing conditions of peace, we shall most gladly do it when it may advance the publique service; but to do it to the enemies of peace, though we have bin thereto formerly invited, yet hath it pleased the disposer of all things, to preserve us from the necessity of it, & to support us against all the fury of the inraged enemy: the same God, is still our rock & refuge, under whose wings we doubt not of protectiō & safety, when the Seducers of a King shall die like a candle, and that name which by such courses is sought to be perpetual in honor, shal end in ignominy: forthe want of mony to pay the Parliaments souldiers, though it be not such as you would perswade us; yet certain we are their treasury had now bin greater, & honest men better satisfied but that some as unfaithfull as your selfe, have gone before you inbetraying them both of their trust & riches. Whereas you mind us of the lost condition of our town, sure it cannot be you should be so truly perswaded of it, as they are of your personall, who subscribe themselves, and so remaine friends to the faithfull.