THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 173 



Slow with his prize along the crags he winds— 

 When hark ! what shout the echoing sea-shore rends ! 

 High o er the crag each clamouririg clodpole bends. 

 With threatening missiles ; swift the worthless prize 

 Clatters adown the cliff, the plunderer ends 

 His feat rough tumbling in the surge, then hies 

 Along the slimy rocks, while peals of laughter rise. 



Not to be baffled thus, the fated wretch 

 Loiter'd remote till day began to wane ; 

 Then, where the sands towards the Towan stretch, 

 Was seen the miscreant's crouching form again : 

 Night's shadows deepen'd, loud the unwearied main 

 In tumult rose along that dismal coast; 

 And when the morning dawn'd, the startled swain 

 Descried upon the angry breakers toss'd 

 A mangled corse — that night the unpitied man was lost. 



THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 



As the principal occurrences of this siege are narrated in a very 

 scarce tract, published in the year 1644, we shall insert a copy of 

 the chief part. The tract is entitled 



A true Narrative of the most observable Passages in 

 and at the late Siege of Ply mouth, from the 1 5th 

 of September, 1643, till the 25th of December 

 following, attested from thence under the hands of 

 the most credible Persons, Wherein is manifested 

 to the World the handy Works of God, and his 

 gracious Assistance to the United Forces of that 

 town and Garrison. Together with an exact Map 

 and description of the town and fortifications there- 

 of, with the Approaches of the Enemy ; as also the 

 Summons of the Cavaliers to the Mayor and Go^ 

 vernor of the said Town, 



After Colonel Wardlow, Commander-in-chief, and 

 Colonel G6uld, with the 600 men shipped at Ports- 

 mouth, about the 15tli of September, for the relief of 

 this town, had stopt at Torbay, and finding Dart- 

 mouth besieged, left 100 men there for the strength- 



