1920 MONMOUTH'S REBELLION, 1685 115 Carte MS. 72, fo. 611. Sir,» Weston Zoyland. 6 July, '85. Seven in the morning. We having since my last from Froom followed the rebels at the heels, they at last betook themselves to Bridgwater where, as we were informed, they were intrenching themselves, so we encamped last night on Sedgmore, near this village and 2 miles from thence, where -about two this morning^ the enemy attacked us in our camp. The fight was very sharp for about an hour. At last 2 guns, which my Lord Churchill ordered to be brought on the right of our line, made them begin to run, which proved at {sic) total rout. Captain Littleton's ^ troop took two pieces of cannon ; besides which there was one more taken with many colours, and one fellow killed who had the Duke of Monmouth's coat with the star on. Our loss is so inconsiderable that it will hardly be believed. Captain Hastings * is killed and Chevalier my Lord Dunblane * shot through the shoulder and Sars- field^ wounded with an ensign or 2 of the King's battalion. The time is so short that I cannot compute the number of their slain, but by what I can guess about a thousand have paid for being rebels and abundance of prisoners are taken. At more leisure I shall send you the particulars as soon as I am able to know the truth. I suppose we shall follow them to Bridgwater, which makes me in such haste. Thanks be to God my Lord is well, and all the people with him. He presents his humble duty to my Lord Duke, and if you please to do the same for me you will confer a great honour on Your most humble servant Phineas Pett. Our men are still killing them in the corn and hedges and ditches whither they are crept. Carte MS. 40, fo. 420. Wells. 7 July, '85. Sir, I hope you had my letter by Colonel Oglethorpe * giving you an ac- compt of the battle yesterday. What I have further to say about it is that the rebels are utterly defeated. In the afternoon yesterday the general ' went to Bridgwater with a detachment from the army to view the town, believing a part of the enemy might have retreated thither, and upon sending a trumpet to demand the town the ojQ&cers came out and assured us of a welcome and that the enemy was quite gone. The general did my Lord of Ossory the honour to send his Lordship in the head of a troop of
- This letter is cited by Lord Wolseley (i. 331) to confirm a statement that the
rebels fired too high. The letter contains no such statement.
- Walter Littleton, who commanded a troop of the Royal Regiment of Horse :
Dalton, ii. 4.
- George Hastings of the Queen's Regiment of Horse. He recovered from his
wounds and received a gift of £200 from James II : Dalton, xxxii. 3, 5 ; Akerman, p. 107.
- Peregrine Osborne, afterwards second duke of Leeds.
' Patrick Sarsfield, afterwards titular earl of Lucan.
- Sir TheophUus Oglethorpe. ' Lewis Duras, earl of Feversham.
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