THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 289 
Committee, which acted at first under the authority of Lord Robartes, 
who continued governor until May, when he was removed, in spite 
of a petition for his retention, by virtue of the Self-Denying Ordi- 
nance, and the government vested in the Committee of five, Col. 
Kerr having the military command. The Committee had powers to 
execute martial law. Sir John Bampfylde was governor for some 
little while.* 
Here are the records of the appointment of the Committee, copied 
into the book of accounts by Henry Rexford, clerk : 
Whereas Sr John Bampfeilde, appointed by ye Committee of the West 
to be one of those whoe should distribute the last 2,000 sent for the 
use of this garrison and other purssons(?) expressed by their last Lres, 
refuseth to attend the saide service; and whereas Collonell Kerre, one other 
named by ye said committee to attend the service, excuseth himselfe in 
respect of other imploymt.; and whereas the necessities of this garrison 
reqnireth ye speedie performance of this service; I doe therefore appointe 
Collonell Christopher Savery, Harcourt Layton, one of ye Comrs. of Parlia- 
ment, Mr. John Cawse, and Mr. Thomas Ceely to sett with, joyne, and to 
be assistant vnto Justinian Peard, now maior of Plymouth, and Francis 
Goodolphin, esqr., two of ye psons named for ye said service; and for their 
soe doeinge this shalbee their warnt. 
Dated ye 19th day of Febr., 1644. J. Roperts. 
Whereas Mr. Cawse is deceased, and there is required for the despatch of 
this garrison one other to supply his place, I have appointed Mr. Robert 
Gubbes of this towne to attend ye Maior, and joine with and assiste for the 
pute service. 
Dated ye 25th of March, 1646. J. Rogerts. 
I take it that in these appointments Robartes acted on behalf of 
the Committee of the West, of which he was a leading member, 
as well as in the capacity of governor of the town. February, 
1644, of course means 1645. 
The first entries in the accounts refer to the payment of £1,805 
16s. for the Kentish regiment of Col. John Birch from October 
29th, which the Committee of Kent had to repay;f but the regular 
account does not commence until February, 1645 [1644 old style]. 
From the 15th February to the 3rd March the sum total sent up 
was £2,135 4s. 2d. The chief item of expenditure was for the 
weekly pay of the officers and soldiers of the garrison. This 
passed chiefly through the hands of Commissary Slade; and there 
* He was an ancestor of the present Lord Poltimore. 
+ About the middle of the year this Kentish regiment was sent to Lyme. 
