By W. W. Ravenlnll, Esq. 



131 



me in the liouses for more than two hours firing very hot out of the windows, 

 they shot seven or eight of my men but none I hope mortally wounded, they 

 shot many of my horses also; but my Lord we broke open many houses, some 

 of them yielded to mercy ; I promised them, I would use my endeavours to 

 intercede for their lives, I have taken most of their horses, about fifty prisoners 

 amongst whom are Penruddock, Jones and Grove, who commanded those horse 

 each of them having a troop. Wagstaffe I fear is escaped, he was with them 

 but at present I cannot find him, yet hope to catch him as soon as daylight 

 appears.* I will raise country to apprehend such stragglers, which for want 

 of having dragoons narrowlie escaped me. My Lord, they are all broken and 

 routed and I desire the Lord may have the glorie. I beseech your Highness to 

 pardon this unpolished account, I can hardly indeed write, being so wearie with 

 extreme dutie but I hope by the next to send your Highness a more perfect one, 

 and a List of the prisoners, many of them I suppose being very considerable. 

 Colonel Shapcot of this County was pleased to march with me on this design, 

 and was with me at the beating up of their quarters and hath shewed himself 

 wonderful ready, in every respect, to preserve the peace of this County. My 

 Lord, I remain 



From South Molton May it please your Highness 



March 15 th -j- 1654 (5) Your most obedient and most 



about two or three Humble Servant 



o'olock in the morning. Unton Crook." 



The Prisoners were removed to Exeter Gaol, and there placed in 

 the custody of the Sheriff. 



The same day Crook wrote again. 



" May it please your Highness % 



I gave your Highness last night an account how far I had pursued the 

 enemy, that had come out of Wiltshire into Devon. I sent your Highness the 

 numbers of them, which I conceived to be 200 ; It pleased my good God to 

 strengthen and direct me, that although I had none but my own troop which 

 was not 60 that about 10 o'clock at night I fell into their quarters at a town 

 called South Molton in the county of Devon; I took after 4 hours dispute with 

 them in the town, some 60 prisoners near 40 horses and arms — WagstafF him- 

 himself escaped, and I cannot yet find him, although I am still sending after 

 him; this party of them was divided into 3 troops, Colonel Penruddock com- 

 manded one of them and was to make it a regiment, Colonel Grove commanded 

 another and was to compleat it to a regiment, Colonel Jones the third and was 



* This hope proved vain— Sir Joseph escaped to the coast and crossed to St. Malo, and lived to 

 invent a famous gun for, as he hoped, the destruction of the Lord Protector, which hope also in due 

 time vanished. 4 Th. 



+ This should he 16th. 



t "A 2nd Letter to his Highness the Lord Protector from Captain Unton Crook signifying the totall 

 defeat of the Cavaliers in the West under the command of Sir Joseph Wagstaffe. Published by 

 H. Hills and John Field by his Highnesses special Commandment. Date written by Mr. Thomason 

 March 20th. King's Pamplets." It is a fair surmise from this and the prccecding letter that Pen- 

 ruddock, Grove, and Jones, each had a Colonel's commission from King Charles II. 



