^174 THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 



ening that garrison, we arrived at Plymouth the last 

 of September, which town had been blocked up by- 

 horse, so that no provision was brought in from the 

 country for six weeks before ; and having refreshed 

 our men, and mounted some 150 of them on horse- 

 back, the enemy having only one regiment of foot, 

 besides their horse, lying before us at their quarters 

 at Plymstoke, and keeping a constant guard at 

 Howe (Hoo) close under Mount Stamford, consisting 

 of 300 foot and a troop of horse, which fort they in- 

 tended first to assault. About nine days after our 

 arrival, the 8th of October, we put over some 300 

 men in boats to Mount Stamford, and, at break of 

 day, fell on and surprised the enemy's guard at Howe, 

 took Captain Slawley, one ensign, and fifty-two 

 common soldiers, prisoners, two colours, and three 

 barrels of powder, and put the rest to flight, with 

 the loss of only two men on our side; about the 

 same time we secured some malignants in the town, 

 and sent up three of them to the parliament. 



By this time the enemie had taken Dartmouth, 

 and was on his march with his whole army to set 

 down before us; and we received intelligence that 

 the enemie kept a guard of two troops of horse at 

 Knocker's Hole, about two miles from our works ; 

 the 15th of October we sallied out with our horse 

 and 200 foot musquetecrs, surprised that guard, and 

 had taken twenty or thirty prisoners ; but about six- 

 teen of our horse pursued the rest, that fled so fast, 

 that the orders for a retreat could not overtake them, 

 engaged themselves too farre, and returning laden 

 with prey and prisoners, other troops of the enemie 

 coming from their quarters on Robarrow Downs, to 

 answer the alarm, met with our pursuers, and took 

 them all, save only Major Searle, who charged 

 through them and escaped. Lieutenant Chasing, 

 with fourteen men were taken, and after escaped out 

 of prison, and returned to us, save only two or three. 



And now the enemie being settled in his quarters 

 at Plympton, Plymstoke, Cawsand, Buckland, 



