By W. W. Ravenhill, Esq. 131 
me in the houses for more than two hours firing very hot out of the wiudows, 
they shot seven or eight of my men but none I hope mortally wounded, they 
shot many of my horses also; but my Lord we broke open many houses, some 
of them yielded to mercy; I promised them, I would use my endeavours to 
intercede for their lives, I have taken most of their horses, about fifty prisoners 
amongst whom are Penruddock, Jones and Grove, who commanded those horse 
each of them having a troop. Wagstaffe I fear is escaped, he was with them 
but at present I cannot find him, yet hope to catch him as soon as daylight 
appears.* I will raise country to apprehend such stragglers, which for want 
of having dragoons narrowlie escaped me. My Lord, they are all broken and 
routed and I desire the Lord may have the glorie. I beseech your Highness to 
pardon this unpolished account, I can hardly indeed write, being so wearie with 
extreme dutie but I hope by the next to send your Highness a more perfect one, 
-and a List of the prisoners, many of them I suppose being very considerable. 
Colonel Shapcot of this County was pleased to march with me on this design, 
and was with me at the beating up of their quarters and hath shewed himself 
wonderful ready, in every respect, to preserve the peace of this County. My 
Lord, I remain 
From.South Molton May it please your Highness 
March 15‘ + 1654 (5) Your most obedient and most 
about two or three Humble Servant 
_o’olock in the morning. Unton Croox.” 
The Prisoners were removed to Exeter Gaol, and there placed in 
the custody of the Sheriff. 
The same day Crook wrote again. 
“May it please your Highness 
I gave your Highness last night an account how far I had pursued the 
_ enemy, that had come out of Wiltshire into Devon. I sent your Highness the 
ame 
numbers of them, which I conceived to be 200; It pleased my good God to 
strengthen and direct me, that although I had none but my own troop which 
was not 60 that about 10 o’clock at night I fell into their quarters at a town 
called South Molton in the county of Devon; I took after 4 hours dispute with 
them in the town, some 60 prisoners near 40 horses and arms— Wagstaff him- 
himself escaped, and I cannot yet find him, although I am still sending after 
him; this party of them was divided into 3 troops, Colonel Penruddock com- 
manded one of them and was to make it a regiment, Colonel Grove commanded 
another and was to compleat it to a regiment, Colonel Jones the third and was 
* This hope proved vain—Sir Joseph eseaped to the coast and crossed to St. Malo, and lived to 
invent a famous gun for, as he hoped, the destruction of the Lord Protector, which hope also in due 
time vanished. 4 Th. 
+ This should be 16th. 
+ ‘A 2nd Letter to his Highness the Lord Protector from Captain Unton Crook signifying the totall 
_ defeat of the Cavaliers in the West under the command of Sir Joseph Wagstaffe. Published by 
H. Hills and Jobn Field by his Highnesses special Commandment. Date written by Mr. Thomason 
March 20th. King’s Pamplets.” It is a fair surmise from this and the preceeding letter that Pen- 
Tuddock, Grove, and Jones, each had a Colonel’s commission from King Charles II. 
