A TRUE RELATION OF The taking of Sherborn-Castle. WITH Six hundred Prisoners, One thousand Arms, and great store of other Provisions. Sent in two Letters, The one, To the Right Honourable, WILLIAM LENTHALL Speaker of the House of Commons. And the other, To Edmund Prideaux and Dennis Bond, Esqs Members of the said House. COmmanded to be forthwith printed by the Honourable, William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of COMMONS. Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. Aug. 18. 1645. A Copy of a Letter sent to the Honourable William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons. SIR, SInce this Army came out into the Field, God hath done great things by it; I have been an eyewitness of them all; but in my judgement, this of Sherborn Castle (if God deliver it into our hands) as I hope he will within few hours, is not the least; which, by the Valour of our Commanders and Soldiers, in fourteen day's time we gained ground of the Enemy by our approaches, and made Galleries close to the wall, Bridges over the Moats, and drive a Mine to the Foundation of the Wall, where they met with a Rock which lost us a day's time: Things being in this forwardness, Wednesday the 13. of August, the Country was Commanded to bring in Ladders to Scale the Walls and Outworks: The whole Cannon and Demi-canon were planted within twenty yards of the Wall that night, (as on other nights) the Enemy had great lights of Torches Links, etc. on the end of the Pikes, to see if they could discover our Mine, or Works, and how our men stood, the better to shoot at them, and threw over fired Faggots, which (the first time they did it) fired our Bridge, but our Soldiers instantly quenched it, and saved the Bridge; our Soldiers and theirs discourse all night, throw stones each at other; our men tell lack Cab, that Prince Rupert is turned Sutler, and hath nothing left but strong drink to comfort him. Thursday the 14. of August, about eleven of the Clock, our great Guns began to Batter the Wall between the two lesser Towers, and beat down one of the Towers, and before six at night made a Breach that twelve a breast might enter; But it was not held fit to fall on immediately; but the General (whose Person hath been too much hazarded in this business) sent in a Drum with a third Summons to Surrender the Castle, that if we be put to Storm, they be left inexcusable within. And a gap is opened in the Wall, for Sir Lewis Dives with some honour to come out, if he will, if he refuse, you will find (so full of Revenge are our Soldiers against the Cabs in the Castle) that they will spare the life of none if they be put to Storm, and much ado we shall have to save them if it be Surrendered. The Drum is detained who was to return presently; the Lady Dives sends not to come out, though the General sent twice to offer it, she may desire it too late; we being in much want of Canon and Demy-Canon Bullets, were enforced to invite the Soldiers to leap off the Gallery, and go under the Wall and fetch back those Bullets that fell down, promising them six pence for every Canon Bullet, and four pence for lesser; and this day, though the Enemy pelted them with stones, they brought back about two hundred Canon, Demy-Canon and Culveā— in shot, and had their reward duly paid them, and deservedly. I desire you to lose no time, but hasten down great shot, and all things necessary for Sieges to some Port Town, that they may be sent for as need is. Sherborn, August 14. twelve at night. Since the writing hereof, about two of the Clock this morning, Sir Lewis sent out a Drum with this Message in writing: SIR, I Must acknowledge the advantage you have of me, by being Master of my walls, and that you may not think me obstinate without reason, I have sent this Drum unto you; to let you know, that if I may have such conditions from you, as is fit for a Soldier and a Gentleman with honour to accept of, I shall surrender this Castle into your hands: otherwise, I shall esteem it a far greater happiness to bury my bones in it, and the same Resolution have all those that are with me. And give me leave to add this, that your victory will be Crowned with more honour by granting it, than you will gain glory by the winning it with the loss of so much blood as it will cost, Sherborn Castle Aug. 15. 1645. I am your servant, Lewis Dives. What answer will be returned, I know not, I conceive if they have Quarter for their lives, it will be all that will be granted them; for some time this day the business will be decided by Conditions or a Storm; but to have Honourable Conditions is too late to ask. Sherborn this 15. of Aug. 1645. 3. in the morning. To his Honoured Friends, Edm: Prideaux, and Dennis Bond, Esqs these present. Honoured Sirs, YOu may be assured Sherborn Castle is Surrendered upon mercy for their lives; few men slain by the violence of the Soldier, and as few left unstript, the Soldier's Plunder merrily: This is a place of great consequence, the Lord be praised we have taken it; our Soldiers fight valiantly, In hast I rest Your most humble servant, Jo: Bingham. Sherborn Castle Aug. 15. 1645. There were taken six hundred prisoners, a thousand Arms, with a great deal of provisions, and other householdstuff. FINIS.