DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0139
GOODRICH CASTLE AND COURT.
127
but the great iron culverin was going from Gloucefter, and two
guns from Ludlow. He reported the enemy very refolute
within, and very careful of their ammunition, trufting to their
ftrong walls. On the ift of June he began to make regular
approaches “ within piftol-fhot of the enormous rampiers, in-
tending when they were finifhed to (hoot granadoes in the
mortar-pieces.” The prifoners they had taken informed them
that the befieged were well fupplied with provifions, and de-
pended much on the ftrength of the caftle. On the 13th of
June, Birch fummoned them to furrender, offering them flat-
tering terms, but they only laughed at them. Whereupon they
began to ftorm with their granadoes, and tore down a piece of
a tower. Still the befieged only laughed at them ; and when
they faw fappers at work preparing mines at the bafe of the
caftle, one of the Cavaliers called out, faying, “ they cared
not for being blown up, they could from the iky laugh at the
flouriihing Roundheads.” On the 15th of June Colonel
Birch complained that his ordnance was fmall, and had done
but little execution. He had, therefore, fent for two great guns :
all that had yet been done having been performed by the two
mortar-pieces. But he reported that the mines were going on
well. Another letter on the 18th of July, reported that they
had made a breach in an upper wall, and that the granadoes
had done much damage, but “ yet they take no more notice of
it than if no enemy were before it.” Yet the writer flatters
himfelf that the great mortar-piece and the mine would make
them foon cry for mercy,” and he trufts that the eftate of Sir
Richard Lingen would make amends both to the ftate and the
befiegers. We muft fuppofe that the great mortar-piece and
the mine had all the effect that the writer anticipated, for on
the 31ft of July the befieged had furrendered on promife of
their lives. This was the laft caftle which held out for the
127
but the great iron culverin was going from Gloucefter, and two
guns from Ludlow. He reported the enemy very refolute
within, and very careful of their ammunition, trufting to their
ftrong walls. On the ift of June he began to make regular
approaches “ within piftol-fhot of the enormous rampiers, in-
tending when they were finifhed to (hoot granadoes in the
mortar-pieces.” The prifoners they had taken informed them
that the befieged were well fupplied with provifions, and de-
pended much on the ftrength of the caftle. On the 13th of
June, Birch fummoned them to furrender, offering them flat-
tering terms, but they only laughed at them. Whereupon they
began to ftorm with their granadoes, and tore down a piece of
a tower. Still the befieged only laughed at them ; and when
they faw fappers at work preparing mines at the bafe of the
caftle, one of the Cavaliers called out, faying, “ they cared
not for being blown up, they could from the iky laugh at the
flouriihing Roundheads.” On the 15th of June Colonel
Birch complained that his ordnance was fmall, and had done
but little execution. He had, therefore, fent for two great guns :
all that had yet been done having been performed by the two
mortar-pieces. But he reported that the mines were going on
well. Another letter on the 18th of July, reported that they
had made a breach in an upper wall, and that the granadoes
had done much damage, but “ yet they take no more notice of
it than if no enemy were before it.” Yet the writer flatters
himfelf that the great mortar-piece and the mine would make
them foon cry for mercy,” and he trufts that the eftate of Sir
Richard Lingen would make amends both to the ftate and the
befiegers. We muft fuppofe that the great mortar-piece and
the mine had all the effect that the writer anticipated, for on
the 31ft of July the befieged had furrendered on promife of
their lives. This was the laft caftle which held out for the