256 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
1643:* “Our Army lyes still in severall quarters. Sir Rh. 
Hopton, with my Lord Mohun, is upon the north side of Plimouth 
with two regiments; Collo. Ashbourn [ Ashburnham], Sir Jo. Berk 
( Berkeley], and I are on the east side with two regiments; and 
Sir Ni. Slan [Nicholas Slanning], with Jack Trevan [{'Trevanion ], 
were sent the last weeke to Modbury to possess that quarter 
before the enimy come, being the richest part of this countrey, 
whence most of our provision and victualls does come. If it were 
taken from us we might be starved in our quarters.” Grenville 
saw no hope of taking Plymouth. It was too well supplied by 
sea, which the besiegers could not hinder. 
When Sir Bevill wrote, the Parliamentary forces were concen- 
trating themselves in the direction of Kingsbridge. They attacked 
the entrenched camp at Modbury four days afterwards—on the 
24th February—and again won a complete victory. The Bideford 
and Barnstaple men led, followed by the London Gray-coats, and 
supported by about 400 horse and dragoons. The Cavaliers were 
routed as completely as in the previous December; and five pieces 
of ordnance, 200 arms, and 120 prisoners captured. There was 
taken also one Alderman Fittock, the master of the Newcastle 
ship which was said to have betrayed its trust at Saltash; and it 
was reported, though falsely, that Slanning was among the killed. 
The effect was at once seen. The Cavaliers, compelled to raise 
the Siege, fled in such haste that they left behind them three great 
guns and much powder. 
Efforts were now made by the more moderate sections in the 
West to conclude a treaty of peace between the two counties, and 
the proposals were discussed by commissioners at Mount Edgcumbe, 
Stonehouse, and elsewhere. An agreement was arrived at, both 
sides being heartily tired of the conflict, though it had but begun. 
The Parliament, however, would have none of the ee es: and 
hostilities soon recommenced. 
About this time Sir George Chudleigh was the governor of 
‘‘Plymouth, Mountwise, and other Castles thereabouts,” having 
under his command 2,000 foot and 500 horse. ‘‘Barronet Norcot,” + 
with his regiment of about 1,200, was quartered near Roborough 
* I have made all the dates agree with the modern computation. This 
letter is dated 1642, the year then commencing in March, not January. 
+ Northcote, ancestor of Sir Stafford Northcote, the present Chancellor of 
the Exchequer. 
