THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 275 
it to Sir John Bampfield, then commanding in the town. There is 
a singular uncertainty about the date of Gould’s death. One of 
the Siege tracts places it on the 27th of March. The register of St. 
Andrew records the burial of Col. William Gould on the 9th July. 
When he died, the command of the town was put into commission, 
being granted (it would almost seem by Col. Wardlaw, possibly 
still the Governor in name, though incapacitated) to the Mayor, 
Col. Crocker, and Lieut.-Col. Martin, until a commander-in-chief 
was sent down from the Parliament ; the two former subsequently 
transferring their authority to the last. 
But this has carried us rather in advance of the course of events. 
On the 18th of March—Digby was wounded probably in a sally 
on the 15th—Grenville sent the following letter into the town : 
’ For Col. Gold, together with the officers and souldiers now at the Fort, 
and Towne of Plimmouth, These 
GENTLEMEN, 
That it may not seeme strange unto you, to understand of my being 
ingaged in his Majesties service, to come against Plimouth as an Enemy, I 
shall let you truely know the occasion thereof. It is very true, that I came 
from Ireland with a desire and intention to look after my own particular 
fortune in England, and not to ingage myself in any kind in the unhappy 
difference betwixt the King and the pretinded Parliament now at London. 
But chancing to land at Liverpoole, the Parliament’s forces there brought me 
to London, where I must confesse I received from both the pretended houses 
of Parliament great tokens of favour, and also importunate motions to ingage 
me to serve them, which I civilly refused: afterwards divers honourable 
persons of the pretended Parliament importuned me to undertake their service 
for the Government and defence of Llymuth: unto which my answer was, 
that it was fit (before I ingaged my self) I should understand what meanes 
they could and would allow and provide for the effectuall performance of that 
service; upon that a Committee appointed for the West thought fit with all 
speede to send a present reliefe of Men and Munition to Plymouth, which with 
very great difficulty was brought thither, being the last you had; afterwards 
there were many meetings more of that Committee, to provide the meanes 
that should give Plymouth reliefe, and enable it to defend itself, and notwith- 
standing the earnest desires, and endeavours of that Committee accordingly, 
I protest before God, after six moneths expectation, & attendance on that 
Committee by me, I found no hopes or likelyhood of, but reasonable means 
for the reliefe and defence of Plymouth, which made me account it a lost 
Towne, and the reather because I being by Commission Lieut. Generall to 
Sir William Waller, had an ordinance of the Parliament for the raising of 
500 horse for my Regement at the charges of Kent, Surry, Sussex, H ampshire, 
who in 3 moneths time, had not raised 4 Troopes, and my own Troope, when 
I left them having 2 months pay due to them, could get but one month for 
which extraordinary means was used, being a favour none else could obtain, 
