THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. FRE 
‘‘God with us.” And when in the event, to quote the words of 
the old chronicler, the Lord showed himself so wonderfully in their 
deliverance, soldiers and townsfolk united in a solemn day of 
thanksgiving, proclaiming their confidence in the noble motto, 
‘‘Turris fortissima est nomen Jehova.”* For many a year the 
bells of St. Andrew rang joyous peals each 8rd of December in 
memory of the great mercy of this ‘‘Sabbath-day fight.” It was 
indeed a great deliverance. If the Royalists had held possession 
of their ground that night they would have gained Cattedown. 
Then the garrison would have had to betake themselves to the 
wall; and as that was not finished, a very few hours would have 
settled the fate of the town. No wonder that Major-General 
Basset called from the trenches to one of the Roundhead officers 
that he verily thought God fought against the Cavaliers. 
The next three weeks were tolerably quiet, the only episode 
being a night attack upon the small redoubt near Lipson Mill, 
then newly raised. On the 18th of December a bombardment 
commenced, but it had little success. To make the attack more 
effective, the batteries were approached so close that they were 
commanded by the outer earthworks; and the Cavalier gunners 
were beaten from their guns. A more serious danger soon 
_ threatened. On the night of the 20th December, under cover of 
the darkness and the rain, aided by the carelessness of the captain 
at Maudlyn, who neglected his sentries, the besiegers contrived, 
with the help of a corner of a field, to raise a square work within 
pistolshot of Maudlyn, endangering. the communication with the 
work at Pennycomequick. At daybreak this was discovered ; and, 
anxious to repair their neglect, the garrison at Maudlyn, threescore 
strong, made an attack. They found that the new work was 
held by a force four or five times their number, and were 
driven back. All the available men from the town were then 
brought up, both horse and foot, and at nine o'clock the attack 
was renewed. The first assault was repulsed; at the next the 
assailants made a footing in the work, to be immediately driven 
out again. But they were not daunted. The reserves were brought 
* Was not this motto adopted about this time? and is it not itself a relic 
of the Siege? I cannot answer the question certainly ; but infer as much. 
The earliest occasion of its use with which I am acquainted is as the legend 
of a small seal with the borough arms, used by the Mayor immediately after 
the Siege period. 
