THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 179 



assurance of our real intention to defend the town 

 to the last man, by securing of those four Deputy 

 Lieutenants whom they suspected, and by the many 

 asseverations and resolutions of the Officers, that 

 they would, when they could defend the town no 

 longer, burn it to ashes, rather than the enemies of 

 God and his cause should possess it, which resolu- 

 tion of theirs they confirmed by joining with us in a 

 solemn vow and covenant for the defence of the town. 



The enemy thus possessed of Mount Stamford, 

 accounting now all to be his own, sends a trumpet 

 to us with a summons, which was answered in si- 

 lence. The same day Mount Stamford was taken, 

 the enemy made an attempt on Lypson work, but 

 Mas repulsed with loss. The 11th November, a 

 party of horse and musqueteers, were commanded 

 out to Thornhill to guard in wood and hay ; but 

 they transgressed their orders, and pursued some of 

 the horse of the enemy to Knocker's Hole, killed a 

 Captain and some common troopers, and took some 

 prisoners; but staying too long, drew the main body 

 of the enemy's horse among them, and Major Ley- 

 ton, striving to make good their retreat, were taken 

 in the rear, after he had received five wounds. 



And now the enemy having refreshed his men, 

 and having secured his new gotten purchase of 

 Stamford, about the 16th of November, sits down 

 on the north side of our town ; we, in the mean time 

 being busied in mending up some hedges, that were 

 formerly pulled down between the works : the outer 

 line of communication we yet have scarce defensible 

 against the stormings of horse, yet such places we 

 must now resolve to defend upon equal terms with 

 the enemy ; for the works are at such a distance 

 from each other, and the grounds so uneven, that 

 an enemy may in some places approach within the 

 works, without any molestation by them. On the 

 18th of November, 1643, the enemy planted his 

 battery against Lypson work, but could not ap- 

 proach within musket shot to batter our work at 



