220 WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 



of joy as they entered the deserted work, but marching down 

 the street were repulsed by the Roundheads, leaving some 

 dead and carrying away others to Dorchester and elsewhere 

 for burial. Meanwhile, the Irish and other Royalists from 

 the Nothe Fort attacked and took a small fort near the bridge 

 in Wey mouth proper, commanded by Captain Thornhill, 

 forcing the Parliament men to retreat, but, Sydenham coming 

 on the scene rallied his men, and, after some sharp fighting, 

 the fort was recovered, some of the Royalists being slain. 

 Sydenham's horse was here shot under him. In the result 

 the Cavaliers were defeated in all quartets and beaten back 

 into their works. Sydenham's men retained all Weymouth pro- 

 per, except a small part towards the Nothe ; they also repulsed 

 the enemy in Melcombe. Many of the Royalists were drowned. 

 According to Ince, the latter reported their losses, in and 

 subsequently to Sydenham's assault on the Chapel Fort, in 

 killed, wounded, and prisoners, at 400 or 500 (these numbers 

 were probably much exaggerated), and, it was said, that 80 

 dead and wounded were carried to the adjoining village of 

 Wyke Regis. Amongst the dead and wounded there were, 

 Sydenham adds, " divers in Buff -coats and Velvet Jackets." 



RAISING OF THE SIEGE, FEBRUARY 28TH, 1645. 



It seems that the Royalists now suspected the near approach 

 of the Parliamentary forces under Sir William Waller, who, 

 had been ordered to relieve Weymouth, but had been delayed 

 owing to his Cavalry having broken out into open mutiny. 

 Consequently, about ten o'clock on the morning of Friday, 

 February 28th, the Royalists under Lord Goring and Sir 

 Lewis Dyve suddenly drew out their forces, abandoning the 

 Nothe and Bincleaves Forts, leaving behind them their 

 colours, and the guns for the most part unspiked, with much 

 arms and other booty, and without burning the corn or houses, 

 " and so," Captain Batten wrote, " are gone in a very confused 



