The copie of a letter, sent from the Commander in Chiefe, of the town and port of Plymouth, to the Honourable William Lenthall, Esq. Speaker of the House of Commons

Sir,

SInce my last unto you of the 28 of October, 1643. The Enemy hath pressed hard upon us, against Mount Stanford Work, with their great Ordnance, and began to play against the same on Sabbath last, being the fifth of November; ho∣ping, by that meanes to performe what the hel∣lish Plot of the Gunpowder Treason should have done: they played so hard against it all that day with Batteries, and it being not any way made to en∣dure the same, that some of our Gunnes they dis∣mounted, and some clogged with earth, falling downe upon them, that we could not make use of any of them; so that on the morrow they surroun∣ded the Worke; fell on with all their strength of Horse and Foot upon all quarters: yet the chiefe Commander of the Fort behaved himselfe so brave∣ly, that three times he forced them to retreat; and could we have got any indifferent reliefe over the Water in any reasonable time, wee had kept the Fort. Yet neverthelesse the Enemy sent a Parley three times before the Captaine would except of it. Then Conditions were made, That all Souldiers should march away with their Armes, flying Co∣lours, and Bullet in their mouths; and that the Cap∣taine should have any one peece of Ordnance away, that he would make choice of. The Enemy lost foure or five Captaines before the Fort; besides di∣verse other Officers, and many Souldiers, We lost at that time no Officer of note, only one Lieutenant

killed with a great shot, and divers Souldiers taken prisoners, which were all exchanged the next day, for some of their owne men that we had formerly taken. I beleeve they will not brag much of their victory by getting that Work, for we are now bet∣ter and in more safety in the Towne then before. For we were forced to keepe a Leager there, and continually to relieve them; so that our men were forced to very hard duty, to keepe all the other Workes and Fortifications belonging to the Town. The Enemy having the Worke yeilded to them, those of the Enemies party in the Town (as it must be expected in all places are some) began to get cou∣rage, our own friends doubtfull; and I believe, the Nutralists do desire that the Town might be delive∣red up: Whereupon, for feare that either through treachery of the Townesmen, or for want of experi∣enced men, I seazed the Fort and Iland, the Castle and Magazine, that in case the Towne should bee forced and over-powred with strength by the Ene∣my, and knowing this place of such great concerne∣ment, that through Gods assistance I would keepe them till supplies and reliefe come. Whereupon I have put them into the hands of such as will keepe them for the King and Parliament, with the last drop of blood in their bodies. Our friends began then to be incouraged, our enemies both within and without us to be dismayed, thinking that there was no hope of surrendering the Towne: so ever since, the Townesmen and all Inhabitants have been more forward to contribute their best assistance then for∣merly many have done. And upon Thursday last

after Prayer and our mornings best preparation for the same, my selfe and Mr. Major, took a Vow and Protestation, which I have here sent inclosed, and caused it to be presented to all Gentlemen, the Com∣mittee of Parliament, the Deputy Lieutenants, all Townesmen, all Officers and Souldiers, and all In∣habitants whatsoever; which I finde was generally taken with great joy and cheerefulnesse. I hope the honourable Houses of Parliament are not unminde∣full of us; yet I never received any instructions from them since the fifth of September, being the time that I departed from London, although I have sent foure severall Packets concerning divers and speciall affaires. I humbly crave that with all speed I may have Powder, Lead, and Match sent, that I may with honour performe the trust imposed upon me. Thus humbly kissing your hand, I take leave and rest,

Plymouth 11 Novemb. 1643.

Your most humble Servant to be commanded, James Wardlace.