A LETTER OF THE SVRRENDER OF STERLING-CASTLE, With 5000 Arms, 40 piece of Ordnance, provision for 500, men for above a year, 30 barrels of ●laret and Strong-Water, 26 barrels of Powder, all the Records of Scotland, with the chair, Cloath, and Sword of State, and much furniture of the Kings and Parliament Robes.  
With the Articles at large for Surrender of the same.  

Published by special Order.   
LONDON, Printed for Francis leech. 1651.   

A LETTER Of the surrender of STERLJNG-CASTLE.  
SIR,  
THis day seven-night we perfected our Platforms for the reducing of Sterling, and 2. mortar pieces brought up from Leith for the reducing of Sterling Castle, the Enemy shot through and through our batteries, but did not hurt any of our men, they played hard against our men that were in the steeple of the Town Kirk( which did much annoy them) they shot through the steeple, but in all their shot hurt but one man, 2. mortar pieces were drawn to the Platforms this evening. All things being in readiness to go roundly to work with the Castle, the Lieut. Gen. sent a summons into the Castle, requiring the governor to deliver the same to the use of the Parliament of England, to which he returned a verbal answer, That he would keep the Castle as long as he could, the Lieut. Gen. also sent about exchange of prisoners for some of ours he had in the Castle, but it seems he would exchange none, in hopes to make terms by them.  
Col. Pinchbanck an Englishman, and one of the Colonels that Col. black gave pass to come from Scilly into Scotland, kist the Kings hand, went as far as Glasco with him towards England, but is come back hither, declaring much disaffection and dissatisfaction to the enemies design, and says he will not meddle any more with them.  
Wednesday the two mortar pieces were planted and Mr. Hean the Engineer which was sent from St. Iohnstons for that purpose, made two shots with each of them for trial, two of which fell and broke in the midst of the Castle.  
Thursday the 14 both Guns and mortar pieces played hard against the Castle, we made two of their Guns unserviceable, they hurt us two Gunners with small shot.  
In the afternoon whilst our mortar pieces were playing hard, they in the Castle beat a parley, which being hearkened unto, they sent out a Drummer with a letter containing desire of a treaty, the Lieut. Gen. sent in a letter, wherein he took notice of the Governors slighting his first summons, but proposed 3 Articles to him, which he would grant if he would render forthwith; hereupon about half an hour after the Governor sent out Capt. james Cunningham and one Mr. Wright as Commissioners to Treat, but the Records of Scotland which the Governor desired might be conveyed to some other Garrison of theirs, being denied them, Mr. Wright said his commission was blown up, and would not Treat, so that by night the Articles enclosed were agreed and Hostages sent forth. The reason of their hasty surrender was from a mutiny of the Soldiers in the Castle, being a commanded party of theirs, and most Highlanders, and not accustomend to granades were much affrighted, and beat the Drum without Order, threatening to throw over their Officers i● they should disturb them, saying, they would fight for their King and Kingdom, but not for their countries gear,  
The next day the governor with about 300 Officers and Souldiers marched forth according to Agreement; the Souldiers had the night before broken open many of the trunks in the Castle, and went away with as much gear as they could carry: There was in the Castle 40 piece of Ordnance, viz. 27 were fair brass pieces, 2 great Iron Guns, and 11 Leather Guns, provision of meat to serve 500 men above 12 moneths 40 or 50 barrels of beef, about 5000 arms( new muskets and pikes) 26 barrels of powder, 30 or 30 vessels of Claret Wine and Strong Waters, great store of match with other Ammunition, launces, Swans, feathers, Darts, and other instruments of war in that nature: all the Records of Scotland, the Chair and cloth of State, the Sword and other rich furniture of the Kings the Earl of mars coronet and stirops of gold, with his Parliament Robes, there was also store of goods of the country and Towns people in the castle, which they had liberty to carry away according to Articles▪ and came in great numbers for three or four days together, little or nothing being imbeazled, but what had been taken away by their own men.  
We had released a little before our entrance thirty two prisoners, among which Mr. Cornelius van Behmen Engineer, Lieut jones▪ and others taken at Newark.  
Thus hath God in less than a weeks space, nay less than a dayes space( for we did not play so long with our Guns and mortar pieces) given into our hands one of the strongest and most magnificent Castles in Scotland, and the most( if not only) considerable pass into the Country, when we came before it, a quaere was made who should led us into the strong Castle, it was answered, the Righteous shall possess the gates of their enemies, and surely the mercy is not the less for being gained with so little loss, but the greater, and is a pledge of what he will do for those that are now like to be engaged in England; since my coming into the Castle( which is one of the most statel●est buildings I have seen in Scotland) I observed this motto over the chapel door, I. R. Nobis haec invicta miserunt Centum sex proavis 1617. it seems it had past the 107 unconquered but not the 108.  
colonel Okey is returned with his party who went into the West, he hath taken the Laird Osboston, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. H●nderson, and others, who were sitting at Peisley for the raising of a Regiment to be under the command of Col. Cockram, which their King had sent out of England for that purpose, though he had before promised it to M. G. Van Ross, they were both in the town the day before, but got away with the Lord Blands troop into the holds.  
We are now preparing for a march with our little handful of 2 Regiments of Horse and 2 Regiments of Foot towards Dundee, we have left all our field pieces in this garrison, where colonel Rede with his Regiment is left, and marched with three battering and one mortar piece, not doubting of the continuance of the good hand of God with us.  
Sterling 19 August, 1651.  
POSTSCRIPT.  
When our convoy had brought those that marched out of the castle of Sterling as far as St. Iohnstons they all went to their several homes except about 7 score.   

Articles agreed on between Col. Edward Grosve●er, and Col. Rich Ashfield, commissioners on the behalf of the Right honourable L. G. Mo●ke, and Capt. james Cony●gham on the behalf of the honourable col. William Conyngham, governor of the castle of Sterling for the Rendition thereof.  
1. THat the governor and all Officers and Souldiers shall have liberty to march with their horses( not exceeding six) arms, beat of drum, lighted matches, and what baggage belongeth to them to any part of this Kingdom, and to have a sufficient convey for five miles beyond any of the Garrisons or Guards belonging to the forces of the Parliament of England, and such of them as shall be desirous to go to their own homes shall have liberty and passes for that purpose.  
2. That all Noblemen, Gentlemen or Inhabitants of the town of Sterling who have goods in the Castle shall have eight dayes liberty to transport their goods to such place as they shall please, provided that no bedding be removed out of the town without order.  
3. That the Castle of Sterling with all the Ordnance, arms, ammunition and other Provision of War therein be delivered unto L. G. monk or whom he shall appoint without any spoil or imbezlement, by ten of the clock to morrow morning.  
4. That all prisoners which are now in the Castle of Sterling be forthwith released.  
5 That hostages he forthwith sent out for performance of these Articles.  


Ed. Grosvener;  
Ri. Ashfield:   4 August 1651.  
I do hereby ratify and confirm these Articles.  
George monk.  
FJNJS.