Pennyfeather’s troop, and the other two dragoons. I could not, by the judgment of the Colonels here, spare more, nor send them sooner, without manifest hazard to these parts. Here is, as I have formerly acquainted your Excellency, a very desperate Enemy; who, being put out of all hope of mercy, are resolved to endure to the uttermost extremity; being very many “of them” gentlemen of quality, and men thoroughly resolved. They have made some notable sales upon Lieutenant-Colonel Reade’s quarter,[1] to his loss. We are forced to keep divers posts, or else they would have relief, or their horse break away. Our foot about them are Four-and-twenty hundred; we always necessitated to have some in garrisons.
The Country, since we sat down before this place, have made two or three insurrections; and are ready to do it every day. so that,—what with looking to them, and disposing our horse to that end, and to get us in provisions, without which we should starve, this country being so miserably exhausted and so poor, and we no money to buy victuals,—indeed, whatever may be thought, it’s a mercy we have been able to keep our men together in the midst of such necessity, the sustenance of the foot for most part being but bread and water. Our guns, through the unhappy accident at Berkley, not yet come to us;—and indeed it was a very unhappy thing they were brought thither; the wind having been always so cross, that since they were recovered from sinking, they could not “come to us”; and this place not being to be had without fit instruments for battering, except by starving.[2] And truly I believe the Enemy’s straits do increase upon them very fast, and that within a few days an end will be put to this business;—which surely might have been before, if we had received things wherewith to have done it. But it will be done in the best time.[3]
- ↑ Reade had been intrusted with the Siege of Tenby: that had ended June 2d (Commons Journals, v. 588); and Reade is now assisting at Pembroke.
- ↑ ‘Without either fit instruments for battering except by starving.’ Great haste, and considerable stumbling in the grammar in this last sentence! After ‘starving,’ a mere comma; and so on.
- ↑ God’s time is the best.
