SIR THOMAS FAIRFAXES TAKING OF Dennis Castle, AND Felford Haven; And twenty six pieces of Ordnance taken in a Dunkirk ship that came to relieve Pendennis, all the men taken prisoners, and all their Ammunition and provisions in the ship, and fifty men put in her for the service of the PARLIAMENT.  
With the General's summons sent into Pendennis Castle, and the Governors Answer. And the proceed in blocking up of Michaalls Mount, where Marquis Hamilton is prisoner. Eighty come in to the Parliament from thence; With the last passages of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes victorious proceed in CORNEWELL.  
This being a true Copy and examined, is Printed and published according to Order of PARLIAMENT.  
Printed for Matthew Walbanke at Grays-Inne Gate. March. 26. 1646.   

SIR Thomas Fairfaxes taking of Dennis Castle & Felford Haven, etc.  
Most Honoured Sir,  
THE French and Walloons who disbanded on the Lord's day last were to stay at the next port Town until Ships might be procured for their transportation, all the rest of the English, both Commanders and Soldiers had Passes, either to go out of the Land, or repair unto their own Countries, and places of dwelling: the rest disbanded day by day, and marched out of this country Eastward, and the Gentlemen of the Country unto their own houses; This day the two last Brigades did lay down their arms and march away. There were nine Brigades of them, and it is verily believed that they were about five thousand horse and foot. The Fort on the East side of the Harbour of Faymouth, and right over against Pendennis Castle is yielded up by Bowthan (that was the Lieutenant thereof) unto the General five days since, who hath placed a very strong Garrison in it, it lieth near the mouth of the Harbour, and much lower than Pendennis Castle, and is more fit seated for the commanding of that Harbour. Yesterday last being the 18th of this month, Dennis Castle, being a Fort made by Sir Richard Vivian at the charge of the Country, at the mouth of Felford Haven, being situated on a Pena Insula, much after the manner of Pendennis Castle, was yielded up into the hands of the General by those that had the command thereof. This Castle and Harbour lieth a league to the West of Pendennis, full in sight of the Castle. The Harbour is a very safe and deep Harbour, the greatest ship in the Kingdom may ride a float in it at low water, it will prove to be of very great use to us, for the taking in of Pendennis, by means that our ships lying there, may prevent (by the help of St. Maws) the conjunction of any ships for the relief thereof: I went with the General and the Committee to receive the possession of this Fort, and in the way the General went unto Arwinkle, Sir Peter Killegrew's house, where and in the Village of Pennicomquicke we had quarted two Regiments for the blocking up of Pendennis Castle on the land side. The day before the General sent thither those two Regiments, the enemy in the Castle set on fire Sir Peter's house, and burned a great part there of down to the ground, and would have done the like with Pennicomequicke, had not our men's unexpected coming prevented them in the Castle, and the man of War that hath 40. pieces of Ordnance in him, which lieth a ground on the North side of the Fort let us pass very quietly through Pennicomquicke, and to Arwinkle, which lies within half musket shot of the enemy's Outworks, but is blinded by the houses and trees, so that they cannot see those that are on the other fide of the house: but when we came off, and were passed Pennicomequicke, and advanced into an open field in our way bacl to Perin, the ship that lay on the North side of the Castle let fly at us, but their shot (by God's mercy) did us no harm, though the bullets flew very near us, and one grazed not fare from me, which we found, and was a bullet of some 12 l. weight. As soon as the General came to Perin he caused a summons to be drawn up, and sent it by his Drum-Major unto the Governor of the Castle, requiring him to yield it unto him for the use of the Parliament, using divers reasons to persuade him thereunto; But Arundel of Treverse who is the Governor thereof, gave him a peremptory denial, saying, that he was 70. years old, and could not have many days to live, and therefore would not in his old years blemish his honour in surrendering thereof, and would be rather found buried in the ruins thereof, then commit so vild a Treason, (or words to that effect.) Questionless the place is very strong, as well by its natural situation, (it being almost an Island, and seated on a rising hill) as by Art and great industry; and it is victualled (as they say) for nine or ten months, and they have in it about one thousand, or twelve hundred men, all desperate persons, and good soldiers; and they have powder and shot great store, and at least eighty great Guns mounted, besides forty in the ship which lies on the North side of the Castle. Therefore the General resolves to block it up very close both by Land and Sea: which he may the better do, in regard that we have Denis Castle, and the Haven of Helford on the west, and St. Maws on the east; and for that, if we draw a Line thwart the narrow neck of Land, a little on this fide Arwinkle house, which is not above Musket shot over: Pendenis Castle will remain unto them but as a close and sure prison, and so in the end the belly will conquer them, without striking of a stroke. Here are in this Fort many very considerable men, and the most desperate Persons and the violentest enemies that the Parliament hath in this kingdom; and the Country reports, they have a very great mass of wealth in this Castle, for this was ever a place the enemy did much confide in; and therefore without question it cannot choose but be very rich: I verily believe that if the Works were once perfected for blocking of them up, two thousand good foot would keep them in, that they should not be able to break forth to annoy the Country. Penicomquicke, and Peryne will be able to entertain that number very well, so that the Soldiers be well paid, that so they may be able to pay for their Billets, The country is extremely impoverished, and I fear that Bread and all other provisions will grow very scarce, and so consequently very dear; for there is already no Hay or Oats to be gotten here, and flesh grows very dear. The enemy hath fortified the Mount where the marquis of Hamilton is kept. Eighty Soldiers that should have gone into the Mount, came this day with their Arms, and tendered their service to the General at Truro. The General intends to send a Regiment to Marketsene to block up the Mount, and to keep them from Ranging abroad; They say the Mount is a place neither strong, nor well victualled, and therefore cannot hold out long. This last night one of the ships which came down with Sir George Askew, fell into the Harbour of Falmouth, on St. Maws fide, and notwithstanding both the Block-house, and the Bulwark at the point of Pendenis shot very furiously at her, yet she came very safely into the Harbour, and so passed upon the Tide, to a place in the Harbour called Mawpasse passage, where a Frigate of Dunkirks had run herself a ground and came in on purpose to assist Pendennis Castle, she had in her 26. pieces of Ordnance, and though our men entered her, yet she stood very stoutly to her defence, yet at last we mastered her, and took all the men out of her, and put in her about fifty men of our own, and so intent to make her a Man of War to serve the State, and she may prove very useful, for she is an exceeding good sailer, and will be good against our enemies Navigable ships, that so we may take them.  
Sir, most of the great Malignants of the Country (unless those that are in Pendennis and the Mount) are come in; If you alone do not take some speedy course to remove them out of the County, until the County be fully settled, I fear it will not be long before we shall have new troubles here. Thus with the tenderness of my best love and service I rest,  
Yours in what ever I may serve you T. M. From Truro the 19th. of March, 1645.  
FINIS.