Anglia rediviva Englands recovery being the history of the motions, actions, and successes of the army under the immediate conduct of His Excellency Sr. Thomas Fairfax, Kt., Captain-General of all the Parliaments forces in England / compiled for the publique good by Ioshua Sprigge ...

CHAP. V.

Excester straitned in order to a Siege; with severall Debates and Resolutions thereabout.

THese 6 Garrisons, of the Devizes, Laicock-house, Basing, Winchester, Langford, and Tiverton, (besides Berkley-castle) being reduced since the taking of Bristol, there was no garrison in the way between Excester and London, to interrupt the passage, so that a single man might travel without any fear of the Enemy, (all the obstructing garri∣sons being cleered) except Corf-castle neer the Sea-coasts, (which yet was securely blockt up by the Governour of Poole, and Col. Pickerings Regiment, sent thither for that purpose.)

Monday, Octob. 20. The General and the whole Army marched to Silverton and the parts thereabouts (within five or six miles of Excester) where a Councel of war was called to consult what was fit next to be done, whether to ad∣vance further West (before Excester was reduced) or to march up to the Enemy, and relieve Plymouth. After a long and serious debate, it was held fit, in regard of the season of the yeare (winter being comming on) and the Souldier already very sickly, and much wearied out by their conti∣nuall marches and hard duties; rather to make it their work to straiten Excester, then to march further West for the present, and to leave so considerable a garrison upon their backs, wherein were 1000. horse at that instant, besides 4000. Foot, that might annoy the Eastern parts of the Country, as well as the Army in the Rear, if they ad∣vanced further. This resolution was not so acceptable to the Gentlemen of those parts, (who would fain have had the Army advance further into the West) and desirous e∣nough was the General to comply with them; but his

judgement did not lead him to it at this time, for the reasons before mentioned. Wherefore Tuesday 21 Octob. the General went in person with a small party to Stoake, and so on towards Excester, till he came within lesse then a mile of the town, viewed that part of the city, and returned back that night to Silverton. A counsel of war was againe called, wherein it was concluded, that one part of the Ar∣my should march over Ex, by the way of Tharverton, and the other to Stoake-bridge, and parts thereabouts.

[section 2] Wednesday, October 22. the General with a great part of the Army marched to Newton Siers, with an intention to have gone that night to Affington; but the wayes being narrow, and the dayes short; was inforced to take up their quarter that night at Newton Siers, where his Excellency received intelligence that Goring went the night before from Excester towards Okehampton, with the greatest part of the thousand horse before mentioned.

[section 3] Thursday October 23. the Army marched early from Newton Siers to a Rendezvouz, at the Beacon, within three miles of Excester, with intention to go to Affington that night: but such was the extremity of wet and unseasona∣ble weather (which it pleased God to send) that in a few hours rain the wayes proved unpassable for our carriages; besides that, the narrowness of the wayes (however repre∣sented by some Gentlemen of the countrey with the Army) was found upon conferring with others, to be such, as was altogether incomplyant with the Armies march, and would necessitate them to go many miles about; where∣by it was not possible in any seasonable time to get to Affington that night. Whereupon unexpectedly the Head-quarters were appointed that night to be at Crediton, some six miles from Excester, where several of the Enemies horse came in to his Excellency; informing him that Goring was gone from Okehampton towards Tavestock.

[section 4] Friday October 24. the Army rested at Crediton (horse and man being much wearied out with the extreame wet wea∣ther, and their carriages broken) a counsel of war was cal∣led,

whether it was fit to pursue the former resolution of straitning Excester on both sides. Whilest the business was in debate, Lieutenant-general Cromwel happily came in; and the forces that were sent under his command to Ba∣sing and Winchester, were by that time come to Hunniton.

This night the Army received the good news of the Lord Digbies and Langdales being routed at Sherborne. The sum whereof was, that the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, marching from Newark, by the Kings appoint∣ment, with some 1600 horse, to joyn with Montrosse in Yorkshire: As they passed by Doncaster, and so onwards, they beat up our quarters in several places, and near Sher∣born took 800 of our men (that drew out there to oppose them) laying their Arms on a great heap in the street of Sherborn, till they could get carriages to carry them a∣way: but before they were so provided, Colonel Copley, Col. Lilborne, and other Commanders of Yorkshire, mar∣ching with all speed, came upon them, and routed them; recovered all our arms and men, took 400 of their men, 600 horse, many Commanders and persons of quality; slew 40. amongst whom were Sir Francis Carnaby, and Sir Richard Hutton; took Digbies Coach, and therein ma∣ny Letters and papers of great consequence, divers colours, with much rich pillage.

[section 5] Saturday, October 25. the business that was in debate the day before at a counsel of war, was reassumed, and after much dispute, it was resolved, to march back with all our forces, on the East of Ex, to possess Topsham, and settle strong quarters on that side, before they advanced any fur∣ther West to relieve Plymouth. Not, but that the General and his Officers had that place much in their thoughts, but conceived it not fit to attempt it at this season.

The reasons inducing to this resolution, were chiefly these, That nothing could be of that concernment, nor so conducing to the advantage of the Kingdom, as the pre∣serving of this Army in an entire and healthful state, for the future service thereof. And such was the sickly

state of the Army at this time, as called rather for some relaxation, then such extream hard duty, as the relief of Plymouth would have put them upon, especially if they should have staid by it to make it good when they had done. Only to march thither and relieve the Town which (the Enemy had blockt up by divers regular and strong forts, well manned and furnished) was such an enterprize, as certainly required a more strong and healthy state of the Army. And when the Army had done this, should they have come back again for winter-quarters? The Enemy so easily raised, might as quickly have sat down again, and so the relief of Plymouth would not have been one jot advan∣ced. Or should the Army have taken up their winter-quar∣ters in an Enemies countrey? (surrounded with strong gar∣risons both before and behinde them, besides a potent Enemy in the field, judged (upon the best intelligence) to be equall, if not superiour to them in number of horse) it is equally evident to what an eminent hazard the Army must have been exposed thereby. And what need was there to put that toile upon the Army? when his Excellen∣cy and the counsel of war well understood (though much was suggested to the contrary) that such was the condition of Plymouth, that they wanted not either men, ammunition or victuals, (having received plentiful provisions sent them by sea) only were impatient to be set at liberty for trade.

This day a party of horse was sent out towards Oke∣hampton, to discover where the Enemy was gone, who returned with intelligence, that Tavestock was their head-quarters.

[section 6] Lords-day Octob. 26. the General in pursuance of the re∣solution for Topsham (after the forenoon Sermon at Credi∣ton) marched with the Army back to Silverton; two Re∣giments went to Stoake, and those two Regiments that were at Stoake advanced that day to Topsham, and three Regiments of horse with them. This day intelligence came of the taking of Carmarthen by Major-General Laug∣horne; the gaining of which town proved the reducing of

that County; and that Major-general Laughorne had treaty concerning the associating of three Counties more, and had brought the same to good perfection.

[section 7] Monday October 27. the General and Army reached Top∣sham; and that night the Enemy fired the houses in the Suburbs of Excester, to the number of about 80. which sent many out of the city, complaining of the cruelty of the Enemy: guards were kept that night within two miles of the city.

[section 8] Tuesday October 28. a counsel of war was called to ad∣vise whether to put over forces (on the other side the river Ex) to Affington, and to make a bridge over at Topsham, the better to hold a mutual correspondency between both sides, and what forces should be sent thither: great dis∣pute was about the same, but at last it was resolved (though much against the minde of those Gentlemen, whose suf∣ferings made them earnestly desire a siege on both sides) to wave the putting over of forces to the other side, and the making of a bridge, which (as appeared) would be ex∣treamly difficult; and first to secure all on the East of Ex, before such time as they possest any quarters on the other side; for to divide the Army at that season of the year (to lye near so great a garrison upon duty when already a sickness was amongst our souldiers) was in the opinion of the General and the rest of the Commanders apprehended likely to ruine the Army; and therefore it was resolved to make several garrisons, first on the East side of Ex (along the Clysses river within three miles of Excester) which being once finished, a few men might keep them, and hinder provisions from going into the city, and the whole Army might thereby be at liberty to go on the other side to do the like afterwards: neither could the Bridge have been defended, had it been made, with lesse then 2000 men that must have quartered at Topsham, and gone near a mile to do duty at both ends of the Bridge (besides those other little bridges that must have been made upon the watery places beyond the river) w^ch would have been such a duty

in the winter time (especially where the Enemy could not be hindred of his choice, with a great force to fall upon the one side, or the other, which he pleased) as might have hazarded our forces. Accordingly, Bishops-clysse, Poultimore, and Stoak were pitcht upon to be made garri∣sons. Sir Iohn Bampfield, a worthy Member of the House of Commons, first giving his consent that his house in Poultimore might be made a garrison, in regard it was so much for the service in hand, in the reducing of Excester. An Engineer was sent to Bishops-clisse to draw a Line for fortifications about Bedford-house. The Lyme-Regiment had the charge of these two garrisons, and Col. Hamonds Regiment was to secure and fortifie Stoake.

[section 9] Wednesday, 29. It was debated where the head-quarter should be this winter, whilst the Army stayed on the East side, whether at Topsham, or not? and upon debate, it was held fit to wave making Topsham a quarter at all, and that upon the same reason that moved the General to decline the making a Bridge, and putting over Forces on the other side: therefore upon this resolution (waving Topsham) the General having viewed the Fort at Exmouth, (which stands upon the sands, and commands the passage at the mouth of the River) sends away the Train of Artillery to∣wards St. Mary Autree, and followes after himself, resolving to refresh his Army, who never stood in more need of it, by laying them in the best and most convenient quarters he could.

This day his Excellencie heard from Captain Moulton, of the taking of Monmouth (a considerable garrison) and to∣wards evening, received intelligence by our Spies, that Gorings horse, being near 5000. were come into the South-Hams, quartering at Totnesse, Newton-bushel, and as neer as Chidley, (the Hams being the only plentifull and unharassed part of Devonshire.) As also, that Greenvile was come with some fresh Foot out of Cornwal, to Okehampton.

[section 10] At Autree, a Trumpeter came to his Excellency from his Highnesse Prince Charles, with a Letter, desiring a Passe

for the Lord Hopton, and Lord Culpepper to go to the King, upon a designe of a mediation of Peace between the King and both Houses of Parliament; which being a matter of great concernment, the consideration thereof was put off to the next day, when the Trumpeter was re∣turned with a Letter from the General to the Prince; inti∣mating, That it was no wayes proper for the General to intermeddle with any Propositions touching an accom∣modation between His Majesty and the Parliament. And therefore had sent his Letter to the Parliament, from whom his Highness must expect an answer.

[section 11] In the interim, a fair Jewel, set with rich Diamonds of very great value, was presented unto the General, by Mr. Ash, and some other Members of Parliament, in the name of both Houses, as a signal of that great honour which God had done him, in the great service which by Gods assistance he performed for this Kingdome at Naseby-Battel; and according to the commands of the Parliament, they tyed it in a blue Ribband, and put it about his neck.

[section 12] About this time arrived at the Army certain intelligence of a second defeat given the Lord Digby, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale; who, by killing of an hundred men, and the taking of 200 horse and many prisoners, among whom divers Commanders, by Sir Iohn Brown, were reduced to so much lesser number; And were yet further extenuated, as they fled towards Beeston-castle, by Colonel Brigs, who took 200 more of them: And yet farther, for the ease of the Ferry-boat that carried Digby to the Isle of Man, reduced to the number of 20. (besides some few Great ones that escaped with him) by Major-general Vandrusk, who took 180. of them flying through Westmerland. And here is the end of 1600 of the Kings prime horse.

[month November 1645] And with this came another peece, of the Enemies be∣ing routed, Nevemb. 1. by Lieut. colonel Iones, and Adjutant Louthian, where were above 100. slain, and about 400. taken prisoners, among whom divers persons of quality; few of ours wounded, scarce any slain.

Notes

• A Councel of war called.
• Excester resol∣ved to be straitned.
• The good news of Digby and Langdale routed at Sher∣born.
• A councel of war called. The subject of the debate.
• The Reasons of the resolu∣tion.
• Some Regi∣ments advan∣cing to Top∣sham.
• A counsel of war called. The subject of the debate.
• The resoluti∣on and rea∣sons of it.
• Towards the latter end of this moneth of Octob. was Shelford-house, (not far from New∣ark) storm∣ed and ta∣ken by Ma∣jor Gen. Pointz.
• A letter to his Excellency, from the Pr. of Wales his Highnesse.
• The scope of it.
• The summe of his Excellen∣cies answer.
• The Parlia∣ment acknow∣ledging their General.
• The happy news of a se∣cond defeat of Digby briefly inserted.
• About this time also were the se∣verall gar∣risons of Worton Wi∣verton, and Welbeck surrendred to valiant, and active Major gen Poyntz.