224 WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 



passed for payment of monies to the Garrisons of Lyme, 

 Weymouth, and other places. But especially let Lyme 

 and Weymouth be remembred, for never in any Nation did 

 two places ennoble themselves by more gallant action. May 

 we alwayes remember the famous services of Sydenham 

 and Ceeley. May they be a patterne of imitation to others 

 in like cases of extremitie." Colonel Thomas Ceely was 

 Governor of Lyme Regis, under the Parliament, during the 

 notable siege of that town. 



A month after the raising of the siege of Melcombe, the 

 Vice-Admiral issued a warrant for clearing the streets of the 

 soil and ruins which encumbered them, and for this purpose 

 Lighters were impressed. 



The Parliament retained possession of the towns until the 

 termination of the war, brought about by the final overthrow 

 of the Royalist cause at the Battle of Worcester, September 

 3rd, 1651. Soon afterwards nearly all the forts here (includ- 

 ing the Chapel Fort) were dismantled and the materials sold. 



EFFECTS OF THE SIEGE. 



The townsmen had suffered ruinous loss and damage during 

 the war. Many of their houses had been burnt or destroyed, 

 others came toppling down in the streets, gardens had been 

 dug up for soil with which to form earthworks, the church 

 on the Chapelhay had been practically demolished, the 

 bridge and the quays were in decay, and the harbour partly 

 choked. The wall of the town marsh had been beaten down 

 (why or wherefore I cannot say, possibly a battery had been 

 placed there to reduce Melcombe) ; provisions had run short, 

 all available supplies having been taken possession of by the 

 military authorities, the streets had been reddened with 

 the blood of those who had fought for King or Parliament. 

 The townsfolk had, during part of the time, been at a charge 

 of 30 per month to maintain soldiers quartered there, and 



