"178 A Contribution to the History of 



Port, in which they had cast up a breastwork and planted a piece of ordnance. 

 The streets so narrow at the upper end next the work, that not above four could 

 march in breast ; this businesse cost hot water : as we fell on we advanced two 

 Drakes and under that favour our musqueteers possessed themselves of some 

 houses near the Port, from whence we galled the enemy very much • « °^/ -^° 

 had then come out soundly we had then caryod it; but the f^U^^g "* ^ 

 cooled the rest ; And so the first assault failed after a fight of neer haU an hour. 

 Whilst we were preparing to renew the assault the enemy showed himself neer he 

 Town with seaven or (as some say) ten troops of horse ; whereupon Sir Arthur 

 Hazelrig fell out upon them with eight troops, but upon his approach they retired 

 speedily. In the meantime before his return that night, we gave on again upon the 

 Town, and had a veiy hot fight, which after an hours contmuance at the least 

 we were fain to give over for want of ammunition, the mam part whereof was 

 unluckily stayed behind by a mischance of the carriage, and could not come tip 

 till the next morning ; I was in such want of powder, and especially ball ; that 

 if the enemy had fallen out upon me, I could have maintained a ^^ f °\^ ^ fj^^^^ 

 and I had no notice thereof from the officer, until I was reduced to this straight , 

 whereupon I thought fit to draw ofE the Drakes that night, or rather morning for 

 I was neer two of the clock ; The better to effect this, and to prevent the hazai^ 

 of the enemies' sally, I caused all the Drums to beat and trumpets to sound 

 drawing both horse and foot out into the streets ; As in preparation to an Assault 

 with aU the strength I had; which gave t^e enemy such apprehension, that 

 immediately they sent out a Drum, and craved a parley. They yielded upon 

 qTr e and gave the entrance about seven or eight of the clocke that mornings 

 They were abo^ut three hundred foot, and a troop of horse, but the horse I related 

 formerly shifted for themselves upon our first coming^ We have pnsoncvrs 

 Colonel Herbert Lunceford, Colonel Cook, Lieutenant Colonel Dabndgeourt 

 Serjeant Major Finch six Captains, six Lieutenants^ six Ensignes. ^-'^^^^^l'^^ 

 four Quartermasters besides, ordinary soldiers, part whereof we mean to send to 



^"^^^ I ^thf name of God I propose to march to Cicester. where 

 there are seven hundred Foot and three hundred Horse and Dragoones^ 



« I must not omit to represent. Major Burghell's merit to your Excedencie 

 who on the 19 of this present having information at Bath, that there ^^^ a paity 

 Tf two hundred and forty Horse Plundring Sir Edward Hungerford s house , 

 drew ont a hundred Horse and marched thither but finding they were gone from 

 theL and quartered at Sherston a place about three myles from Malmesbury •, 

 he pu sned Lm thither and about twelve of the clock that night falling into 

 their ^larters routed them took twenty five prisoners; -hereof here was one 

 Captain Two Lieutenants, and one Quartermaster, six or eight slam upon the 

 pkce and three dead since, between forty and fifty horses taken with some Arms 

 wSut the losse or hurt of any one man of our own. I shall upon all occasion 

 Tertlly advertise your Excellencie of what passeth here; I commit your 

 Escellencie to God's heavenly protection, and rest 



" My Lord , , , * 



" Your Excellencie's devoted humble servant 



«T«T 1 v„^ "William Wallee 



" Malmesbnry 



23 Martii 1642" (1643) 



