An exact RELATION Of that famous and notable victory Obtained at Milford-Haven against the Earl of Carbery his Forces; by the admiral and vice-admiral of the Irish Seas. The manner of the Fight, the taking of the Town of Tinby, two Ships and four Castles, with their Ordnance. Also a List of the Names of the Commanders taken, with six or seven hundred common soldiers now prisoners: With their several Letters and Summons sent to the abovesaid town and Castles, and their Answers. Written by captain WILLIAM SMITH vice-admiral and Commander of his majesty's Ship the Swallow employed in that Service: And by him presented to the right Honourable ROBERT Earl of Warwick, Lord high admiral of ENGLAND. Printed according to Order. London printed by Moses Bell, 25. July 1644. Right Honourable, and my very good Lord: IN the proceed of the Flect on our Irish Voyage, you may be pleased to take notice, that on the 18. January 1643. we set sail in Plymouth Sound, and after much foul weather and contrary winds beating about the land's end, it pleased God to bring part of the Fleet safe to Anchor in Milford-Haven on the 23. of the same, viz. the Leopard Regent, the Swallow, the Leopard Merchant, Providence Merchant, and Crescent frigate, and within three days after the Prosperous and the two Lerpoole Vessels came to Milford. But through the neglect of captain Plunket and captain Williams, the said Vessels were necessitated to continue for the space of seven weeks at Milford, it being their charge to have conveyed them to their desired Port. And at our arrival we found at Anchor in the Haven the Globe of Bristol, and a small ship which arrived at Milford eight days before we came in, and had brought from Bristol Ammunition to fortify the Harbour, as great Guns, Powder, Bullet, and other Provisions, and had landed them at Prickspill, which lieth on the North side of the Harbour, where the enemy had made a Fort and fortified it; into which Pill the Globe and the other Ship having made us from the mouth of the Harbour let slip and run. And my admiral in pursuit came before the Pill, where were exchanged divers Shots, but no hurt done on either side: The admiral perceiving no considerable service or execution could be performed on the Fort or Ships, they being drawn about a neck of Land behind the Fort, he came to Anchor before it within shot, and the Swallow a head of him, and the rest of the Fleet a head of the Swallow inclining to the Southside. Some three days after in the night the enemy drew a Gun out of the Fort to the Westward of the Pill, and at break of the day began a morning salute to the Swallow, who to gratify their courtesy answered them; and after many shot their Gun split, and so they withdrew it away. At that time it proved very stormy weather, in so much that our Ships hauled home their Anchors, wherefore upon the first opportunity the Leopard and Swallow were enforced to weigh and come to Anchor on the southside before Angle, a Birth where usually the King's Ships ride when they come into that Harbour. But shortly after the admiral sent the Prosperous and the Leopard Merchant, to ride before the Pill, to hinder (if it were possible) the strengthening of their work, which daily the enemy assayed to do: From the Ships were divers shots made daily at their Works, as also from the Fort at the Ships, but no considerable damage received, only the Leopard Merchant received a shot in her quarter, which dropped into the Master's bed. And to annoy the Fort the more, the admiral (with the joint consent of the Commanders) built a Fort on the South side over against the Pill, and placed therein a demi-canon, wherewith we played into their Works, which was a great encouragement unto many in the County to adhere unto the well-affected party (who at that time were very weak.) Thus having presented to your Lordship with our proceedings at Sea, in and about the Harbour, you may be pleased to take a view of the correspondence we held ashore, both with the ill and well affected. After our happy arrival, I call it happy, in respect of the great deliverance it pleased the most mighty Preserver of all things to afford to the distressed Inhabitants of Pembroke, and the well-affected Gentlemen of that County. The next morning after we came to Anchor in the Haven, colonel Langborne and the Major of Pembroke came aboard the Leopard, and informed my admiral with the feeble condition the well-affected party was in, as also of the strength, power, and insolency of the adverse party: For after the enemy had fortified the North side of the Harbour, and intending to fortify the South side within a day or two, had not our arrival frustrated that design. The Enemy presuming on their strength, cast off their sheep's clothing, in which they had so long deluded the people, and demonstrated themselves to be like unto the rest of their confederates (Ravening Wolves:) The Earl of Carbery having voted that after the Harbour was fortified, he would plunder the town of Pembroke, and the Houses of the Gentlemen who had adhered to that party, and that their persons should be put to death by cruel tortures; the Maior of Pembroke; they said, should be put into a barrel of nails and brought to Prickspili, and from the top of a hill should be rolled down into the Sea. This report so terrified the Gentlemen, that they fled from their houses and hid themselves in obscure places (in disguise) and sent their wives and children to Tinbie, where his Lordship then lay, humbly to supplicate his Lordship to grant them protections that their Houses might not be plundered nor their persons abused by the rude soldiers, among whom there was a reverent aged Gentlewoman, the wife of one Master Griffith White, who had in her house eight sons and eight daughters who were Virgins, and four small grand Children in all number 20. with divers servants both Male and Female: This Gentlewoman pressing his Lordship to commiserate her sad estate in case her house should be plundered, desired his protection, assuring his Lordship that whensoever he would be pleased to give her husband leave to wait on him, she did not doubt but that her husband would give his Lordship ample satisfaction in all his lawful demands. His Lordship replied, he would find a time to speak with her husband, but as for a Protection he would grant her none. The Gentlewoman, with tears in her eyes, desired his Lordship to look on her children, who in point of honour he stood engaged to protect, as also the chastity of Matrons and Virgins, the which (without his lordship's protection) she said must undoubtedly be violated, and her family perish. To which his Lordship answered with divers reproaches and some jests among, That it were better her children and Family should perish, then that the King should want means to perfect his design. To which she said, The King could not want, if His majesty would be graciously pleased to be content with what God and the Laws of the Land have provided. At which his Lordship flung out of the room, leaving the Gentlewoman with tears in her eyes, and so she departed to her house full of grief and pensive thoughts. A passage from his Lordship of so barbarous a deportment, that I believe History can scarce parallel to have proceeded from any Heathen: And if these be the loyal Subjects who fight for the gospel, the King's Honour, and the Subjects Liberty, I leave it to every man's judgement to determine. The lamentable condition of the well-affected, being by the admiral and Commanders disputed; It was demanded of colonel Langborne and the Major, what force the well-affected party was able to raise, to oppose his Lordship: It was by them replied, that they could not raise above 40 Horse, and about 60 Foot; Then it was demanded, in case there should be 200 seamen landed well armed, whether they would join with them in endeavouring to drive his Lordship out of the County, for unless they would be active, they must resolve to prepare to go away with the Fleet, in regard a consumption of victuals would force us to depart that harhour; The colonel and Major, with the well-affected Gentry, like gallant men, who had rather die then outlive the honour of their Country, or to see the ruin thereof, by a Jesuitical & Popish Faction, resolved to put themselves under the providence of the almighty, and with the help of our seamen to affront the Enemy, the which was without delay put in execution: And on the 13 of February we fell on a Garrison of the Enemies, in a strong hold called (Stackpoole) the manor house of one Master Roger Lo●t, one which with our great Guns, having made a breach after 8 hours' assault, we took with the loss of two men, and many wounded on both sides; shortly after they fell on another Garrison of the Enemies, called (Troyffloine) lying within a mile of Tinbye, out of which town his lordship issued with about 100 Horse and Foot, intending to have relieved Troyffloine, and faced our Forces, on whom we let fly a piece of Ordnance, whereat his Lordship wheeled about with all his Forces, and ran into the town; Our Forces persecuting there assault upon the Garrison, took it, and therein 40 Horse, and 150 arms, with the loss of two men on our side, and six on the Enemies. God giving our small Forces this good success, they retired to Pembroke to refresh their men, and to enable themselves for a more potent design on the Enemy, intending to oppose their whole body which consisted 1200 men, foot and horse, which lay in and about Haverford-West, than his lordship's rendezvous; but his Lordship hearing of this design, having fortified Haverford-West, and placed most of his strength there; his Lordship like a valiant Commander with 20. Horse, some foot, and 4. field peecs (Ran away) telling the rest of the Commanders that he rode unto the adjacent County to raise more forces, and that he would suddenly return. Now when our men were refreshed and 6. field pieces mounted on Carriages, with Wagons to convey there ammunition and victuals, they resolved to fall on the fort at the Pill, and on the 22. of Feb. Colonel Langborne and the Major of Pembroke sent aboard the admiral, to desire that our boats might be sent to the passage to convey over on the enemy's side there Artillery, Wagons, and Provisions, the which was done on Friday the 23. And about three of the clock in the morning they were all landed, consisting of about 300. Horse and Foot, with six field Pieces of Ordnance, who proceeding on their march, their Horse in the front, advanced before the Pill; about twelve a clock at noon our Ships also were at Anchor before the Fort, the Leopard Regent and the Swallow rode to the Westward, and the Prosperous and the Leopard Merchant rode to the Eastward, plying our Ordinance into the Fort, and when our land forces had drawn up their Artillery, they played into the Fort from a hill which lay to the Eastward of it, and were answered again; The Horse and Foot did skirmish from their Ambuscodoes', but on this day no man was either slain or hurt on either side, night coming on, caused a Cessation: Our land Forces quartering about their Artillery, lay in the field before the Fort, it being a bitter cold night. The next morning being Saturday, the 24. by break of the day, from our Ships and land Forces, we began to ply our Ordnance, from the Swallow was a shot made into the Fort which took off the head of one man, and the posteriours of another, of which he died the next day; our Horse and Foot behaved themselves valiantly that day, and beat the Enemy from their Ambuscadoes, and with the Enemy entered their Fort; and than the Enemy cried quarter, the which our Commanders in imitation of their Heavenly Father, who is the God of mercy, granted far above their deserts and spared their lives, who had formerly voted that if they should prove conquerors, they would kill the Dogs, and ravish the Bitches, and drown the whelps; most inhuman language! did it not proceed from those that adhere to the Beast? And therefore proper for them to speak diabolical and bestial language. In the Fort were taken. Arms 160. peecs of Ordnance 18. Soldiers 240. Commanders 26. their names and qualities are expressed in the Schedule annexed. In the Pill were taken two Ships, viz. The Globe of Bristol, in her 12 pieces of Ordnance, and by a shot from the Globe, was one of the Swallow men slain on the shore by his own folly, the (other Ship called the Providence, had belonging to her 10 great Guns, but the enemy had carried them to Haverford-West; In the taking of this Fort, the protecting power of the almighty, I hope by us shall never be forgotten, for it was his own arm that got the Victory, to whom be ascribed, all honour and glory for ever and ever; for in taking thereof, there was not one man slain either by Sword or small shot. When the Enemy was routed, some of their soldiers said to Haverford-West, and informed the Commanders there, of the loss of the Fort, and that all their Commanders and soldiers therein were taken Prisoners: At which news, it is reported Sir Henry Vaughan, with the rest of the Commanders, began to rage and swear, (like madmen) and as a bear robbed of her whelps, ran up and down the streets, (crying) beat up our Drums, gather our Horse and Foot together, for we will out this night and be revenged of the Round-headed Parliament Dogs; and having with this bravado drawn their Forces into a body, being about 450. Sir John Stepney the governor of that town, like a prudent Overseer went into the Churchyard to see if he could discern our Forces to approach towards Haverford-West; about half a mile from the town he discovered a heard of young black Bullocks coming towards him; those horned beasts so amuzed the Knight, that being afraid of his own shadow, his Worship ran to the head of their Forees, and swore (God's wounds) the Round-headed Dogs were coming; at which report they marched out of the town, and calling to mind the valiant example of their lieutenent-general Carbery, they wheeled about and ran away: The boys of the town perceiving them to run, fell on their Rear, and took from them 60. Muskets. This disorder in the Rear made those in the Front believe that the roundheads were at their heels indeed, the fear thereof metamorphosed all her cousin Taffies into Mercuries, and with winged speed every man fled for his life, some threw away their arms, and those that had the charge of the Powder flung it into the River; and in this manner was the town of Haverford-West surrendered, verifying that saying of the Kingly Prophet David, The wicked flieth when no man pursueth them: when the enemy fled, they left behind them in Haverford-West 100 red Coats which were never worn, a quantity of Victuals, & 10. pieces of Ordnance, all which argued, they wanting nothing but a good Cause to maintain. Now our Forces being again refreshed, having a demi-canon and a demi-culverin mounted on field Carriages and being supplied from our Ships, with Powder and all other Ammunition, they marched towards Tinbye the sixth of March, on the same day the Swallow and Crescent Frygot, with the Prosperous Merchant, set sail from Milford, and came to anchor before Tinbye, where I summoned the governor and Major, to surrender the town for the service of King and Parliament, but receiving a negative answer, I desired the governor and Major, to send out of the town all the women and children, for unless they would comply, I must in discharge of my duty use my utmost endeavours to force them thereunto: The same night our land Forces came within two mile of the town, from whence colonel Langhorne sent aboard the Swallow, and desired me to summon the town, the which I had done before his Letter came, and returned the colonel their answer, and receiving no satisfaction from the governor or Major, the next morning about eight of the clock we began to play into the Town with our Ordnance from our ships, & about one a clock in the afternoon our land Forces came before the town, and having placed the; r demi-canon within a quarter of a mile of the town they fell to battery, and so we continued three days; the small shot on both sides performed well, the town was maintained with brave resolution, and more bravely assaulted by our seamen and Land-men, presenting their naked bodies even in the face of danger; Commissary Gwine governor of that town, showed himself to be a man of undaunted spirit, issuing out of the town bringing up his small shot to make good their Ambuscadoes, and his valour exposed that town to unavoidable misery, in voting he would neither give nor take quarter; but I may say of his valour as S. Paul said in another case, to certain Christians in his time; Shall I praise him for this, no, I praise him not; for all our actions that tend not to the glory of God, lead us to our destructions; to which indeed this resolution of his had almost brought him, for leading on his men to face our small shot, who plied their muskets so fast, that his men forsook him, and himself received a shot under his right pap, which enforced him to retreat alone in a orderly pace; he was no sooner entered the town, but the Master Gunner thereof was also slain, in which we must not omit to manifest God's providence towards us; for our small shot having forced the Enemy out of their Ambuscadees, pursued them also to the town-gate, their Gunner having loaden a piece of Ordnance with case shot, and watching for such an opportunity, having travysed the Gun, said to those that stood by. You shall see me make a slaughter of these Round-beads: At which words, a small shot from our Forts hit him in the head, after which he he never spoke more; whose fall so daunted the Enemy, Commanders, & soldiers, that forthwith they cried out for quarter: The first that forced their entry into the Town was C. Peter Whittie, with his company of seamen and sub-ordinate Officers, Lieutenant Greene and ensign Dodson, with Lieutenant colt, who led on the Swallow men, and immediately after them colonel Langhorne with his troops of Horse. This town of Tinbie was held by the judgement of the most Judicious almost impregnable, it being not to be entered but by single foil, wherein were taken between three or 400 Prisoners, as many arms, 7 pieces of Ordnance, all which were taken on Saturday the 9 of March, and on Sunday the 10. Carew-Castle was surrendered, in which was consummated the total subduing of that Malignant & insulting party. In the County of Pembroke, wherein the Lord of Hosts gave his servants the Victory over his and their Enemies, which gives us just cause to put our confidence in him, and in that comfortable Ejaculation expressed by holy David, to cry and say, by this we know, That thou Lord favourest us, in that thou hast not suffered our Enemies to triumph over us. The true Relation of him, who is a most humble and faithful Servant in this great work, according to the trust reposed by your Lordship. A List of the names of the worthy valiant Commanders now in action in the County of Pembroke, in the service of the King and Parliament, which opposed the Earl of Carbery. ROwland Langhorne colonel, and Commander in chief. Simon Thelwell colonel, and Voluntier. Thomas Langhorne sergeant Major. Captain Rice Powell. Captain Walter Cuney. Captain John Poyer. Captain Peter Whitty. Lieutenant Owgin. Lieutenant Richard jenes. Coronet Powell. A List of the names of the Malignant Commanders taken prisoners at the Pill, with their inferior Officers in the County of Pembroke, by those gallant Commanders above specified, viz. IOhn Barlow Esquire, Master of the Ordnance, and Captain of a troop of Horse. Captain Edmond Bradshaw. Captain John Bradshaw. Captain John Butler. Captain Arnold Butler. Captain William Mary-Church. Captain John Price. Captain Francis edmond's. From the Earl of Carbery we took in this action four Castles, 53. piece of Ordnance, about six or seven hundred soldiers, as many Arms, and the whole County of Pembroke totally subdued, and unanimously have taken the Covenant, and there is great hopes that Carmarthen and Cardiganshire will comply with us. Commanders run away from Haverford-West. SIr Henry Vaughan major-general of the Army. Sir John Stepney Knight and Baronet, governor of Haverford-West. Sir Francis Floyde Knight, captain of a troop of Horse. James Martin captain of a troop of Horse. Captain John Edwards. Commanders taken at Tinby, with their inferior Officers. IOhn Gwyn governor of Tinby, and Commisary of the Army. David Gwyn colonel. Thomas Butler Lieutenant Colonel, and high sheriff for the County of Pembroke. Captain George Lewis. Captain Thomas Methell. A Letter sent in general to the Gentlemen of the County of Pembroke, at the request of the well-affected. Gentlemen, AS in duty bound, I have always in all fidelity highly honoured my King, and ever been a lover of my Country, and as I stand engaged. God hath called me to be a servant to both; and in discharge of the trust imposed, I am come hither to desire your compliance in the protection of the gospel in its inherent purity, as also the King's honour, with the Subjects liberty, a work that every good Christian and loyal Subject aught to be active in, with tender of both his life and fortunes, in which you have the obligation of our Saviour to save you harmless, who saith, If any man shall hazard his life or fortunes, or what is most, dear unto him for my sake, shall undoubtedly preserve them: And for your Counter security, you have three Kingdoms in the body of the Parliament engaged. Now why stand you gazing like the timorous Israelites on the host of the Philistines? Did not a little youth, David by name, being inspired with the Spirit of God slay their Champion, and overthrew that idolatrous Host? And shall a Jesuitical and Popish Army, with a malignant party at odious in the sight of God as those cursed Philistines, make you dismayed? No, be comforted, God and the State hath presented unto you a more probable means of deliverance in sending this Fleet to your preservation, consisting of twelve warlike Ships, with store of Ammunition and Land Forces, the major part whereof is not yet come in, occasioned by foul weather at Sea; but upon the first opportunity of wind and weather undoubtedly will arrive; and by God's assistance I am confident. That if the Gentlemen of this County will join with me in my endeavours, I make no doubt but we shall drive that Malignant rout (who endeavour to enslave this Nation under the yoke of the Antichristian beast) not only out of this County, but consequently out of the Dominion of Wales: wherefore I shall desire the Gentlemen to give me their speedy resolutions; and if any of them shall not comply, let such look for no favour from me, if it shall please God to send us the victory, but what Gods enemies and destroyers of the Country deserve. And let not any man's heart be afraid, for God hath promised to be with his in his protecting power, even to the end of the world, to whose protection I commit you all: And expecting your Answer, I remain and rest Ever ready to engage my life with you in this great work, Not answered. A Copy of the Declaration of the Honourable Houses of Parliament now sitting at Westminster, bearing date the first of February coming to my hand, I caused divers Copies thereof to be taken, and with the Letter following I sent one to Pembroke, another to Haverford-West, and one to Tinbie. Gentlemen, THat you may see with what sincerity of heart we desire you may be reduced to a right understanding of the unhappy condition you are now in; we shall not neglect neither our Pen nor Sword, the one to discover unto you the strong delusions of that Antichristian beast, with whom it is foretold in holy Writ, That the Princes of the earth shall join in confederacy, as also they with him undoubtedly must perish, and many millions of poor souls so misled. Oh be wise, and timely prevent such certain ruin by uniting yourselves with the true Professors of the gospel, by whom God hath said, he would pull that beast from his Throne, and they shall reward him sevenfold for all the evil he hath done unto the Saints. Now if you shall join with us in this great work, then shall our Swords be active in your preservation; and for your more ample satisfaction we shall present you with a most perspicuous Perspective, wherein you may perceive the perfect way both to your terrestrial and celestial felicity, being a Copy of the last Declaration of the Honourable Houses of Parliament; tho which if you please to peruse with a discerning judgement, you may see with what zeal and care those Worthies of our Land have endeavoured to remove from your eyes those Antichristian mists, through which (as with an Ignis fatuus) you have been so long misguided. And because we know that the Patient thirsts after the Cure, we refer you to the application of the means presented in that Declaration; the which if they may give you that satisfaction as may make you truly happy in joining with us, our endeavours are fully satisfied, and you shall ever find us yours, Richard Swanley. William Smith. The Summons to the town of TINBIE. Gentlemen, IN a former Letter unto you, wherein was presented the late Declaration of the Honourable Assembly of Parliament; we the Commanders of His majesty's Ships, desired your Resolutions, whether you would comply in the contents thereof, and join with us in the preservation of the gospel, the King's Honour, and the kingdom's safety, to expel the Forces brought into the County by the Earl of Carbery, but receiving no answer, we are now come before your town, to let you know, that unless you forthwith yield obedience thereunto, we shall use our best endeavours to force it. In which, if it shall please God to deliver you into our hands, you must expect no other favour than what is due to traitors, both to God and their Country; wherefore I advise you seriously to consider, and wisely to provide for your present and future safety, and let us receive your speedy Answer, that by your timely adhering to us, you may prevent the demolishing of your town, by the battering it about your ears with our Ordnance, and hoping you will preserve it as also the effusion of much blood by your sweet compliance, we remain and rest As you may give us cause, your faithful Friends to protect you. Postscript. We further declare, That if the Commanders and soldiers shall join with you in the surrendering of your town that they shall have quarter for their lives and to go whether they please, or continue and be received into the service of King and Parliament. Their ANSWER. Gentlemen, YOurs we formerly received, with a Declaration their enclosed, which was required from us before we could peruse the contents thereof, which was the cause of our not returning any Answer thereunto, yours of this present we have received: Wherein you desire us to complye with you for the preservation of the gospel, and His majesty's Honour, which is the work we have vowed to maintain with our lives and fortunes; and so doing, we hold ourselves true Subjects, to God, our King, and Country. And whereas you threaten the demolishing of our town, which is not ours to dispose of, but His Majesties, all which we pray you to take into your serious considerations, as also the cry of the effusion of much innocent blood; for Anesweare from the Commanders and soldiers, we refer you to th'- Letter you shall receive from the governor of the town and Fort. Thus with our best respects, we take leave, and rest Tinbie 6th March, 1643./ 44. Your ever loving Friends if you please, Richard Wyett Major. David Hamond. Richard Prichard. John Rogers. Francis long. The Summons of the Castle of Tinbie. Gentlemen, THese are to require you, that upon sight hereof, you immediately yield up the Fort to the use of the King and Parliament; and so doing you shall be received into the protection of that Assembly and enjoy the benefit of loyal Subjects. But in case you shall continue in your Rebellion you must expect to be proceeded against as traitors to your King and Country, and enemies to God and the Protestant Religion; For if you shall make one shot at the King and Parliaments Ships, not one of you shall escape for his life if it shall please God to give us the Victory. Consider of it, and let me receive your Resolutions, in which if you please you shall find me Your faithful Friend to preserve, Their ANSWER. Gentlemen, THis town we hold as loyal Subjects to the King's majesty's use, for defence thereof we have his majesty's gracious Commission, which we will endeavour to maintain with the hazard of our lives and fortunes against all opposers, by what colour or pretence soever. This is the resolution of John Gwynn. David Gwynn. Thomas Botler. FINIS.