THE IOVRNALL CONTINVED TO
THIS DAY.
Receiued
the 27.
of August.
HEere I haue sent you all the remarkable Newes that I haue vpon the last of
Iuly. There was taken by a
Perdue of ours, in the night (a
Frenchman) that was sent by
Monsieur de Thorax, the Gouernour of the Citadell, with a full intent to kill my Lord Duke; and for the speedy effecting of the same, he had prepared a strange and dangerous
Poynado, which although it was taken about him, hee confidently denied that he came not with any intent to kill the
Duke, vntill hee came to the Tortures, which being presented before him, he promised to discouer all to my
Lord if he would promise him life, the which he did, and doth so performe with him, like a noble and mercifull
Generall.
The same man that was apprehended did affirme, that hee was enioyned to act this same
[Page 2]treachery, within 15. dayes, or a month at the farthest: So by that wee coniecture and hope that they are victualled for no longer time.
The like Treachery wee heare from
England was plotted there by the
Agent of the King of France, but God be thanked he is yet well; and so I hope shall be to the terror of his Enemies.
Vpon the 5. of
August being Sunday in the night, we made approach into their Trenches, and beat them out most shamefully to their great losse: The Reason why wee gaue them this Allarume, was to the intent wee might get to a principall Well they haue in their custody, that we might poyson it, the which we effected to our very little hurt, and their much preiudice, by reason they haue so little water, the best of them is stinted to a Pint a day, the common Souldiers haue lesse, and haue but a Biskett a day to eate with a pound of Butter between eight of them.
The greatest part of their Horses they were faine to kill for want of water, and to cast them into the Sea: So they haue not aboue 40 Horses left in all; the which were encountered by ours the night following as they were going for reliefe to another little Fort they haue, in which are some two hundred men, or there about: There they haue good water enough, but very little Victuals; our Horse men beate them in againe with some losse to them, and they tooke a Prisoner, whilst wee were entring their Trenches,
[Page 3]our Sea watch had taken two Barkes, the one laden with Prouisions, and the other had 27. Barons and great Commanders which were comming to the Fort to assist the Gouernour Monsieur
Thorax; after them were to follow, if they safely arriued, seuen thousand men, and 3000. horses, who were fearefull to goe before their Commanders, and as I thinke now, will scarse euer follow; for that they were all drowned, onely three were saued: the one of them is the Gouernour of
Brest his Sonne; the other, Gouernour of the Kings Fort by
Rechell; the third, Lieutenant Colonell of the three Thousand Horse, a braue Commander.
The principall that were drowned of note that these men will discouer to vs, was the base brother of the King of
France, a great Prince: the other was Colonell of the Horses; the rest they will not name vnto vs, their losse is so great that they are ashamed to speake of.
The
Rochellers are fearefull that the King will lay siedge to the Towne, since hee cannot send them to vs: So as those
French that came to assist vs, being in number two hundred and fifty, they are now gone backe to
Rochell for their owne defence.
The King hath made Proclamation in
Languedocke, that those Protestants that will not go to Masse by the sixteenth day of
August, they shall prepare for the Sword; vpon which cause the Duke
de Rohan, for their defence, and his
[Page 4]owne hath fifteene thousand men in Armes, and the Protestants flocke daily to him, and to
Rochell for their Defence.
The Duke of
Sauoy for that the King hath not performed with him concerning the marriage of his Sister, is ioyned with the
Count de So sons, a great man of
France, who for some priuate discontent was of the late Conspiracie against the King, who fledd some to one part, and some to another.
One of them is in
England which was vsed to come so much to my Lords.
All of them now that are able to raise any force are comming with these two, against the King with a very great force and power.
The Prince of
Conde hath all his Forces ready to defend himselfe against the King, but as yet hee stirres not, so that if please GOD wee had this Fort, wee should haue hope of further good successe to follow this Enterprise, to the
French Kings great trouble, considering how much he hath to doe, and with whom.
Captaine
Pennington hath taken two Shipps of the
French which were bound for
Spaine.
Our men hath also taken a Galley from vnder the Fort which was for the Gouernours safety, when hee could hold out no longer; there was no men in her, by reason it lay neere the Shore, they ranne away other Boates and Barques in abundance.
Wee haue taken those that venture to passe
[Page 5]by vs, and many wee haue suncke with men in them, some we haue fired vnder the Fort, so that now our Sea men haue nothing to doe, because the
French dare not venter to come thither.
The ninth of
August 7. Souldiers ranne from them to vs, and doe protest that they haue killed many of their Horses for food, so that now there is not aboue twelue in all, which are stollen out into the little Fort, who were afterwards encountered by Sir
William Connigham Captaine of the Horse, with as many on foote, who were going out for forrage for their Horses, but as they comming home, Sir
William mett with them, and slew and drowned thirteene of them, and fiue he tooke Prisoners, the rest escaped very hardly.
Such is the Cowardise of these that are left, that they haue suffered themselues to be round Entrenched, and not once to make any Sally vpon vs.
The reason is, because (I thinke) my Lord will keepe no quarter with them, because of their trecherous plott against his Person, and they being fearefull, will rather starue then fight, now the best of them is gone, the
French Nobility haue had such ill successe this many yeares.
They are forst to set vp Sheets in many places of the Fort to catch Raine water to drinke,
[Page 6]wee haue had much raine which hath beene a great helpe to them.
The ninth of
August here was a man hanged against the Fort, who had attempted with many others (women and children) to carry Victualls to their husbands, and fathers, and friends into the Port, contrary to a Proclamation there to tending.
For which attempt on the cleuenth day following, all the Wiues, Children, and Families of those men which were in the Fort, were turned out of the Towne into the Fort, to helpe to eat that little Prouision that they haue left; but had you heard the cry that was made amongst them it would haue greened the hardest heart liuing: for their Husbands were forced to shoot against their Wiues, and Fathers against their Children, and not to suffer them to come in: but the night being very wett, at last they tooke them in with an ill will.
The same Proclamation likewise shall bee put in execution through the whole Isle, the sooner it is done, the sooner wee shall haue done with them.
Wee are sending twenty S
[...]yle for more Victualls, lest we want, it must keepe the Souldiers all this Winter.
We haue expected euer since wee came fiue thousand men out of
Ireland, and three out of
England, but wee heare no newes of them at all.
Wee haue not (God be thanked) any of our men sicke, nor ill, for all that they neuer stirre out of their Trenches, and the weather very wett.
God be thanked, we haue good plenty of all Prouision, for we haue a Market kept euery day, and the Country people bring in store of Butter, Cheese, and Fish.
We found good store of white Wine, which our Enemies left vs, they hauing no leasure to carrie it with them, so that wee haue plenty of of good Wine.
We finde the Island very rich, notwithstanding this late spoile, there will bee made this yeare, as it is thought, forty thousand Tunnes of Wine.
Those that ranne out of the Fort looke so leane and starued that they are pittied.
We haue none dead of any note since the Battell but Sir
George Blundel who liued fourteene daies after, and was buried in
Rochell.
Sir
Edward Hawley is reasonably well recouered of his wounds.
Aprill 4. The proceeding of the Parliament, being this day related to the King, by the Councellors of the Commons House of Parliament.
HIS Maiestie vpon the report made, expressed great contentment that it gaue him; not valewing the Money giuen, comparable to the hearts shewed in the way of the Guift: For although his great occasions of State did require more Money then at this time was giuen; yet now he made account he could not lacke since he had their loues; and that this day, he thought that he had gayned more Reputation in
Christendome, then if he had wonne many Battailes; Saying further, (according to his Speech the first day of the Parliament,) That they might easily make him in loue
[Page]with Parliaments, (now he professed he was so:) And that we should finde the fruits of it by calling vs often together, and to secure further feares, and create future confidence, he assured vs that we should enioy as great imunitie and freedom in his time, as euer we possessed or had vnder the Reigne of any the best Kings of this Realme.