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of a greater extent, we meet with on the banks of the Rhine, or in 
this country, like Conway, though without its castle, or like the 
inner town of Caernarvon, but without its castle. Purely medieval, 
the system of Vauban was never here brought in to strengthen the 
original enceint or wall, as at Oxford, at Gloucester, and at Bristol. 
Coventry was at this time no garisoned city. In a news letter from 
Coventry, dated August the 20th, 164%, we have the following infor- 
mation :—“ The King is this day come to Stanley to Sir Thomas Lee 
and hath beleagued Coventry. The citizens went all out and preferred 
to render it to his Majesty, so he would be pleased only to come attended 
with his ordinary guard, but the Cavaliers would not suffer the people 
to speak of it, unless they all might come in with his Majesty. The 
King’s army consists not of above 1,500, and most of them is horse, 
which the county would not yield unto, so they hung out the bloody 
flag and stood upon their guard. The King’s army have beaten down 
the gate, but there are 2,000 able fighting men within the walls, which 
are resolved to stand it out to the last man, not doubting before that 
time to be relieved by the Parliament.” In a news letter, entitled 
“ Wxceeding Joyful News from Coventry.” printed October the 19th, 
1642, we learn under the date of August the 20th, 1642, the following 
news :—* Upon Monday last there was information given to the House 
of Commons, by letters from Warwickshire, that his Majesty came to 
Coventry upon Saturday last, with a great number of cavaliers; his 
whole army consisted of about 6,000 horse, which the citizens of 
Coventry perceiving, they shut up the gates of the city, and stood 
upon their guard; whereupon his Majesty retired to a knight’s house 
about three miles from Coyeutry, and the cayaliers made the poor 
countrymen’s houses their inns, and then and there they made their 
own welcomes, taking what they pleased. His Majesty hath also 
caused warrants to be sent to the Sheriff and others, officers of the 
county, to aid and assist him at his coming thither, but very few 
obliged him therein. He hath likewise caused the county to be 
summoned to appear before him on Monday next, when it is thought 
he intends to set up his standard, and that he is resolved to march 
with his forces against Warwick Castle, before which the Earl of 
Northampton lies with some forces, but hath little hope of gaining 
the same.” The knight’s house thus alluded to, and to which the 
