Powtheram Castle AT EXETER, TAKEN BY SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX: IN WHICH Was the governor, a mayor, and 120. inferior Officers, and common Souldiers, 5. Barrels of Gun-powder taken. With great store of Match, and Bullet, and all the Princes Arms and Ammunition therein. Sir Richard Greenvil taken Prisoner at Langsdown in Cornwall, and Tothill Horse taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax, Also, forty horse taken in pursuit of the Enemy. With the Lord Wentworth's Letter, and a Copy of the Scout-Master Generals Letter; And other Letters taken, that were sent from Prince CHARLES to the KING. Commanded to bee Printed, and is Published according to Order. London, Printed by JANE COE; 1646. THE copy OF A LETTER From a Gentleman of note, dated at the Generalls Head QVARTERS. SIR, I Cannot vomit so fair an opportunity, but shall give you a word or two of intelligence of the State of our affairs here with us, On the five and twentieth of this month the general marched in the after noon, from Wenton Bushel towards Powderam Castle, where colonel Hammand was with his Regiment, and that day he sent in a summons to the Castle; they consented to it, and surrendered up the Castle upon these terms, to march every man to his one home, leaving all their Arms & Ammunition. Provisions they had but small store in the Castle. Now our next design will be for Exeter, our forces are drawing thither very fast for the blocking of it up, and hindering Provisions from going into the City; I make no question but in a short time a good account will be given of that p●ace. From the West we have intelligence that Greenvill is clapped up in prison; for refusing to obey the Princes orders, and Hopton Commander in chief. Other news I have not but rest. Chidley the 26. of Ianuarie 1646. The copy of another Letter from one of the Clerkes belonging to the general. Honoured Sir, THe expectation I had of something worthy your perusal, occasioned my pretermission and writing at my first coming down, yet that I may not seem forgetful of you, to whom I am so deeply engaged; I have addressed these few lines unto you, wherein I shall give you as full a view of our proceedings as my short abode in the Army will furnish me withall. Y sterday being the Lords day Ian. the 25. the general and Lieutenant general, with a party of Horse marched from the Lady Reynolds house near Newton Bushel to Chirly, where the general soon after his coming received intelligence of the surrender of Powtheram Castle within 3. miles of Exeter that afterno one to colonel Hammond, the conditions were, that the Governor, mayor Fletcher, and the Souldiers therein should march to their own homes: there were in it 120. Souldiers, we have taken there 120. arms, 4. Horses, 5. barrels of Powder; Match and Bullet proportionable, but no quantity at all of Provision left: from thence colonel Hammond, intends against Poutheram Fort a strong hold of the enemies upon the River near Exeter, in which are several pieces of Ordinance( for there were none in the Castle) 150. men, whereof 50. got in out of Exeter on Saturday night; we understand by some that came out, that they have no great store of Provision; so that I doubt not but we shall be shortly in possession of that, and then for Exeter. The intelligence yesterday from the enemy in Cornwall was, that their head quarters and yet at Holsworthy, their Guards at Haintone Church, and Shepwash bridge as formerly, Munkligh, Frethelstoke, and Padstow are full of them; Their quarters are so eaten up that they are enforced to feed their labouring cattle with Batleystraw. The enemy say they must break through to the King whatsoever hazard they run; the town of Holsworthy is almost ruined, by their plunder, quarter and firing their household-stuff, colonel Finches Regiment is drawn Northward toward Bediford, and Barstable, as also those from Thornebery, Bradbery and Cookbery, there was a talk amongst them as though they should draw off their guard from Hoynton the 25. Instant, Barstable-Bridge; with the whole frame fallen down, so that from the West there is no passage nearer then Brightley. Yesterday there came a Drummer from Exeter to the general, about exchange of prisoners; he boasts very much of the strength of the City, That they are raising new Regiments, with five Knights in a Regiment, That a Regiment of Foot went lately out of Exeter to Oxford, and such like ridiculous stories; but upon the gaining of Powtherham Fort, which the general is now going to view: The next attempt will be upon Exeter, which cannot hold out long, salt was at fifteen shillings a bushel, and butter 16. d. a l. above a month a go, and wood very scarce. Our forces are quartered at Affington, at Mrs. Peters house, and at Mr. Tothills house at Plymouth,( 2. garrisons which the enemy quit upon the approach of our forces) and other places within a mile or a mile and half of the City; we give the enemy alarm every night and take their Horse as they offer to peep out, our Guards at Stafferton( Sir Robert pies Troope as I take it) took 10. Horse on Saturday night last, and others took as many as made them 40 in all, the general will shortly summon the City, and then the issue will soon appear, if they refuse a faire offer they are like to have no better conditions then those at Dartmouth that were most obstinate. colonel Rouse is made Governor of Dartmouth, 500. Plymouth foot are come thither, & colonel Lamberts regiment of foot drawn forth and upon their march, their quarters is appointed at Totnes, and colonel Fortescues Regiment,( who are now there at Newton-Enshell, colonel Ingoldesbyes at Chidley, in Hardresse, Waller still keeps his guards at Crediton. just now we heat for certain, that Greenvill was on Thursday last apprehended at Lansdowne in Cornwall, by command from the Prince, and carried prisoner to Pendennis Castle; Hopton is now General of the West. Sir Thomas hath sent up to Mr. Speaker divers Letters of great concernment, which were intercepted going to his majesty from the Princes Commanders, the Gover●our of Exeter, and others; most of them are written in cyphers, but the sense of them may be easily picked out, the effect thus: To let them know that Exeter must of necessity be relieved, or else, &c. That the Prince( according to the Kings Command) is in the Head of an army for that purpose; relating also the state of Exeter, and other private resolutions concerning the Prince and his forces in the West. At the meeting at Tornes on saturday last, many Gentlemen of Devonshire, declared their willingness to raise Forces for the Parliament: upon which the general hath granted a Commission to one Mr. Vowell to be a Gollonel, to raise a Regiment, and the like to other Officers under him, till the Parliament shall take further order therein, Sir, I cease to trouble you further with these rude and indigested lines; I shall hereafter acquaint you with passages here, upon all occasions, Chedley, Jan. 26. 1645. Your most obliged Servant, W. C. Postscript. This day the general hath summoned Powderham Fort; some other Letters were this day intercepted from the Enemy: the Copy of one is thus, To his honoured Friends Quartermaster upton, Captain Reymond, or either of them, at the Swan in Exon, these, &c. SIR, HAving so fit an opportunity, I could not miss to sand you what news is with us; Lord Hopton is made general of all: Sir Richard Greenvill is committed by him for disobeying Orders; We hear Dartmouth hath beaten off the Enemy twice, and killed many. Mr. Padage is come from my Lord Goring, and is returning again with his Lordships horses: he saith my Lord will be here suddenly with an Army. His Highnesse is in Launceston, our Head-quarters at Holsworthy, mayor general webs at Thornborow; if there be any thing wherein I can serve Sir joseph, or either of you in these parts, you may sand it by this beater: Sir, I am Holsworthy, Ian. 23. 1645, Your most humble, and faithful servant. JOHN JOHNSON, Scout. Master general. Besides this, there was a Letter intercepted from the Lord Wentworth, to the like effect, and confirming much of the former Relations. The substance of the Lord Wentworths Letter. SIR, I Presume public report hath brought you the news of the Lord Hoptons being made general to the Prince for this present expedition, and to that I, and our Officers have agreed upon debate, and that wee do not conceive it to the prejudice of our old Generals right at his return. Sir Richard Greenvill is committed, for refufing to obey the Princes Orders: what we intend to do, I have written in ciphers to Sir John Barkley. Holsworthy, Ian. 23. 1645. WENTWORTH.