WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 213 



Smallmouth. There was no bridge in those days at this narrow 

 inlet of the sea ; it was crossed by means of a passage-boat 

 kept by a ferryman on the Wyke side, and was known as 

 " The Passage." A Weymouth plotter, John Dry, a tanner 

 by trade, had arranged with the ferryman to have his boat 

 in readiness to bring over the Royalists. Let us picture the 

 scene : it is now dark, silently they effect the crossing, and are 

 met on the Wyke side by the tanner, who conducts them to 

 the Chapel Fort. We may assume that the route chosen, 

 in order to secure secrecy and to attack the Chapel Fort from the 

 rear, is by Buxton and St. Leonard's Roads, then unfrequented 

 lanes. Meanwhile the other company goes by water to the 

 ancient pier (long since demolished), under the Nothe, whence, 

 led by Walter Bond, a Hope fisherman, they creep along to 

 the Nothe Fort. The total number of the attacking 

 party from Portland is small and does not exceed 120. 

 As to Melcombe, all is excitement among the plotters there, 

 in the expectation that Sir Lewis Dyve is about to arrive and 

 co-operate in the capture of the towns. A strange gathering 

 of country-folk (either conspirators or, at least, Royalist 

 sympathisers), meet on Radipole Common to watch for the 

 arrival of Dyve's forces and to see the Nothe fight. Some, 

 we are told, are armed with pistols, one with a Welsh hook, 

 and others with cudgels. 



The secret is remarkably well kept ; a complete surprise of 

 the Chapel Fort is effected about midnight, the Royalists 

 suddenly falling upon the sentinels, while most of the Round- 

 head soldiers are asleep. The Roundheads sound a be- 

 lated alarm with their drums, but the Royalists, with loud 

 shouts, we may suppose, of " For God and King Charles," 

 occupy the fort, practically, without resistance. The Round- 

 heads, however, " finding," Ince says, " such dangerous 

 guests possesst of those places which above a half yeeres pain 

 and sweat had indeavoured to make our security," pull 

 themselves together and within an hour of the surprise, 

 make a sudden assault, but are repulsed with loss. Amongst 

 ths mortally wounded in this assault is Major Francis 



