WEYMOTITH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 221 



manner."* They withdrew to Wyke Regis, where they re- 

 mained for a short time to succour the wounded, and then 

 marched to Dorchester, and afterwards towards Taunton. 

 This ended the siege of Melcombe, which had lasted 18 days. 

 Thus both towns were regained by the Parliament after con- 

 tinuous conflicts. The loss of these two important coast 

 towns was a great disaster to the Royalist cause. 



The losses of the Roundheads, throughout, were marvel- 

 lously small. They attributed their success to the inter- 

 position of Divine Providence. Sydenham says in reference to 

 Goring's assault " In all this time they wounded but one of my 

 men." 



Considering the great inequality of the forces engaged and 

 the weakness of Melcombe, it is strange that the siege should 

 have continued so long. It seems to have been due to extra- 

 ordinary negligence on the part of Goring. He was a man 

 of distinguished presence and is said to have been every inch a 

 soldier, but he cut a sorry figure on this occasion. 



The Parliament soldiers at the end of the fight were in sad 

 plight. Sydenham wrote on the day the siege was raised : 

 " My souldiers Horse and Foot have all had very hard service 

 of it day and night. I shall entreat you to write to the Parlia- 

 ment for something for their encouragement ; they have 

 neither money nor cloathes, and yet unwearied in this 

 business." 



PARLIAMENT POSSESSES ALL DORSET. 



The whole county was now possessed by Parliament, 

 except Portland, Sherborne, and Corfe Castle. Portland 

 Castle surrendered to Captain Batten about a year after the 



* Letter from Captain Batten to Lenthall, Speaker of the House of 

 Commons, February 28th 1644. The like from Colonel William Sydenham 

 of even date. 



