The taking of TIVERTON, WITH THE Castle, Church, and Fort, BY Sir Thomas Fairfax, ON THE lordsday last, Octob. 19 1645. Wherein was taken Colonel Sir Gilbert Talbot, the governor. Major Sadler, Major to Col. Talbot. 20. Officers of note. 200. Common soldiers. Four piece of Ordnance. 500 Arms, with store of Ammunition, Provision, and Treasure. ALSO The several Defeats given to Goring, by his Excellency, and all Goring's Forces fled before him. Published according to Order. LONDON, Printed for R. A. Octob. 23. 1645. THE TAKING OF TIVERTON, Castle, town, Church, and Fort, By Sir Thomas Fairfax. SIR: IT hath pleased God still to bless our endeavours above expectation, all the glory be given to God. We have taken in Tiverton, both the town, Castle, Church, and Fort, a place of so great strength, that had not the Lord done wonderfully for us, we might rather have admired their strength, than expected to be Masters of it; the manner whereof, together with other passages since my last, I have here informed you, since our advance from Chard until this present. We advanced on Tuesday the 14 of October instant from Chard, and marched to Honniton; and Goring's horse (through the carelessness of some of our Guards) fell upon our out-quarters, and took some forty dragoons and Foot, and those horse of Goring's returned presently to their quarters about Exeter; we quartered that night, and all Wednesday, and Wednesday night about Honniton, and met with some of Goring's stragglers and others, we have (divers) come in to us, and on Wednesday the 15. of October instant, we advanced from Hunnington and marched that day to Columbton, where the Lord Miller was quartered with two Regiments of Horse and one of Dragoons, the town being slightly fortified: but immediately upon our advance, they quitted that place and fled; We had then intelligence, that Greenvill was with about two thousand foot that day viz. Wednesday Octob. 15. instant at Bow, and it was supposed that the next day he would be in conjunction with Goring, most part of his Horses then quartered in the villages on this side of Exeter, about cliff, Silverton, Stoake, Rew, Hucksham, and all the Parishes thereabouts; The Foot (which formerly did belong to Gerhard's Brigade of old) then quartered most of them at Broadcliffe. On Thursday Octob. 16. instant, major-general Massey was ordered to advance to Tiverton, and so to quarted beyond the River with his Brigade, and there was the good effect of that took in the enemy's Quarters, and Major general Massey did soon possess himself of the Town of Tiverton, the enemy marched away, only those who were left in the Castle, and the Church, to keep those places. It was then conceived hard for us, nay almost impossible for us to hinder the enemy's Horse from marching Eastward, if he do attempt it with the whole strength, except lieutenant-general Cromwell (with his whole Brigade) come up to us; And that day we began to extend our quarters towards Broadminch, and so nearer to Exeter. On Friday the 17. instant, our general Sir Thomas Fairfax sat down before Tiverton-Castle and Church, to take them in, and summoned the enemy to deliver them up, of which being denied, we planted our batteries against them, which went forwards that day and the next. On Saturday Octob. 18. instant, our batteries were finished by the afternoon, and on this day being the Lord's day Octob. 19 instant, the general caused several great pieces to be planted on the batteries against the Castle very early, so that they were ready to play by break of day, and all our Cannon began to play about seven a clock in the morning, against the Castle, and the enemy from thence answered us with their pieces, but did no execution upon us. And after many shot that we had made against them, a Cannonier by one shot gallantly performed this business, for he broke the chain of the drawbridge with a bullet, which passeth over to the entrance of the Castle, which falling down, the chain being so broken, our soldiers fell on without any further order from the general, they being loath to lose such an opportunity, and loving rather to fight than to look on when God gives them such occasion, which took good effect, for they soon possessed themselves of all; they presently entered the Castle and Church, in which we had four men slain: yet such is the mild and gentle carriage of the general, and his desire to spare the effusion of blood, as much as may be, that notwithstanding they took it by storm, yet he himself gave command, that quarter should be given to all those who were alive: we took in the castle Sir Gilbert Talbot who was governor of the place, 20 other Officers, 200 soldiers, four piece of Ordnance, good store of arms and Ammunition, and abundance of treasure, which was divided amongst the soldiers. The castle was very strong, and the works all regular. The general intends to march on Monday for the relief of Plymouth, and we hear that lieutenant-general Cromwell did intend to quarter at Dorchester as the last night, and cometh on very hard marches to join with the general. Goring's Horse are marched towards Plymouth. Tiverton, Octob. 19 1645. at nine a clock at night. A List of what was taken at Tiverton. Colonel Sir Gilbert Talbot, the governor. Major Sadler, Major to Col. Talbot. 20 Officers of note. 200 Common soldiers. Four piece of Ordnance. 500 arms, with store of Ammunition, Provision, and Treasure. FINIS.