WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 207 



a successful progress through Dorset with nearly 2,000 Horse 

 and Dragoons), obtained the surrender of Dorchester, Wey- 

 mouth, Melcombe, and Portland, and handed them over to 

 Prince Maurice, the King's Nephew, who had arrived with the 

 Foot and cannon. This occurred early in August, 1643. 

 The sight of these Ironsides in their heavy breastplates and 

 steel morions, armed with musketoons, pistols and swords, 

 must have been a striking one for the townsfolk, who, as yet, 

 had seen but little of war. We may suppose that Carnarvon's 

 cavalry paraded in front of the bay, and that part of his horses 

 were stabled in the late Priory in Maiden Street, then in 

 ruins. 



The conditions on which the towns had capitulated, with 

 their arms, ordnance and ammunition, were that the inhabit- 

 ants should not be plundered, nor suffer for any ill they had 

 done ; but, unfortunately for the townsmen, Prince Maurice's 

 troops got quite out of hand and committed great ravages. 

 They plundered the houses of the townsmen and, laden 

 with booty, shouted and howled with joy. In fact, 

 the articles agreed on at the surrender of the towns 

 were so ill observed, that Carnarvon, who was a man of 

 high honour, resented this conduct so much that he indig- 

 nantly threw up his command and returned to the King at the 

 siege of Gloucester. Matters were not improved for the 

 townsmen by the landing at Weymouth in the following 

 November of a body of 300 Irish soldiers under Lord 

 Inchiquin, in support of the Royal forces.* 



As to Portland, it was a Royal manor, and one of the King's 

 strongholds. It was of great importance as a base, not only 

 on account of its inherent strength, but also of its proximity 

 to Weymouth bay and harbour. The treasure and rich 

 furniture which the rebels had but lately taken from Wardour 

 Castle and elsewhere, had been lodged by them in Portland 

 Castle, a prize which now fell to the Royalists. 



Whitelock, p. 76. 



