THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 267 
estates from all violence and plunder. We have now acquitted ourselves 
on our parts; and let the blood that shall be spilt in the obtaining of these 
just demands (if denied by you) be your guilt.—Given under our hands at 
Mount Stamford the 18th day of November, a.p. 1643.—John Digby, 
Thomas Bassett, Peter Killigrew, John Wagstaffe, J. Treleany [Trelawny], 
R. Prideaux, John Arundell, Thomas Marke, William Arundell, John 
Downing, Thomas Stucley.”’ * 
The townsfolk were seriously inclined to comply. Col. Wardlaw 
was of a different mind. He in the alarm and confusion seized 
the fort and island, determined that if the town surrendered these 
strengths should still be held. Some such strong measure was 
needed. The neutralists who desired surrender were no feeble 
folk in numbers, whatever they were in mind. Moreover, both 
town and garrison were very ill-provided. A letter written from 
Plymouth to one Capt. Joseph Vaughan, a month before (October 
27th), states that affairs were then all at sixes and sevens, and 
that men and money were both wanted; 1,000 men and £5,000 
being of more service at that juncture than 20,000 men and 
£100,000 if the town were lost. Commander Wardlaw and 
Mayor Cawse had to face a desperate state of affairs; and to guard 
against treason, ever lifting its head, care was had to certain 
suspected deputy-leutenants. 
It was soon seen that the loss of Mount Stamford was rather a 
gain. Of little use in itself as a protection to the shipping— 
which, because of the enemy’s cannon at Oreston and Mount 
Edgcumbe, had to shelter in Millbay—its maintenance would have 
drawn too heavily on the small strength of the garrison. Moreover, 
very little damage was done by the Cavalier cannon at Stamford, 
beyond shooting off a vane of the windmill on the Hoe, which 
was quickly new grafted, and injuring a woman in the arm, 
The final result, in the words of the old soldier-pamphleteer, was, 
‘The town, which before was altogether divided and heartless in 
its defence, now grew to be united, with a resolution to stick by 
us in the defence thereof; partly out of fear, knowing that the 
fort and island would be goads in their sides if the town should 
be lost; but especially from their assurance of our intention to 
defend the town to the last man, by securing of those four deputy- 
lieutenants whom they suspected, and by the many asseverations 
and resolutions of the officers that they would, when they could 
* Most of these commanders, it will be seen, were Cornish. 
