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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: History
Topic: The English Revolution

Lieut.-Col. Hughes to General Monck - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 3 [1899]

Edition used:

The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, Secretary to the Council of the Army, 1647-1649, and to General Monck and the Commanders of the Army in Scotland, 1651-1660, ed. C.H. Firth (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899). 4 vols.

Part of: The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, 4 vols.

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Lieut.-Col. Hughes to General Monck

Mardyke, May 7, 1658, O[ld] style.—

f. 86b.Marshall D’Amont had order sent him to Bulloigne to shippe out of his quarters 1300 men, and to land att Mardyke, which hee did accordingly, and tooke the governement uppon him, untill 3 citizens of Ostend brought him directions to reshipp his men, and an order to bee guided and directed by them in what they should imploy him; whereupon hee with the Intendent Talon very confidentley shipp’t themselves and souldiers for Ostend. The townsmen repairing to towne our returning aboard our ships with the town Major [sic] and assured them the towne should bee delivered into their hands. Some French and manie English went asshoare, and were kindley entertained (the Spaniards being gone out of the towne); and some enquiring who they were for, answer was made for the King of France, the townesmen replyed they were alsoe for him, and advised them to bee readey to enter the towne when they should sett up a red flag and fire two peeces of ordnances, which they performed on Tuesday last. Their gunnes being fired and our’s replying, the Marshall with the Intendant, [and] most of the officers with the King’s and Cardinall’s Musquetiers, made towards the towne (where they mett with severall pilotts to conduct them in) in a frigott of their owne with 4 gunns, and entered the towne, and assoone as they were in the watergates were shut, yet many were landed on the Key. Then the towne began to play their ordnance full of case shott at such as were on the Key, and destroyed most of them, and sunck two vessells that were come to the Harbour; the remainder seeing their freinds betray’d faced about, and came hither yesterday to the number of 700, the rest being all killed and taken. The Marshall and his Cavaliers after a small volley given, yeelded themselves prisoners where they are at present. It seemes that the same signe that was for our coming in, was likewise for the Spanyards, who had a body of foot with 700 horse ready at the townes end. It’s reported they brought Marshall D’Aumont to the top of a mount to see his followers massacred. Our shipping lost all their boates, and above 100 seamen as is reported, and thus this great designe ended tragically, the French being so confident of the businesse that they had not as much as an hostage with them.1 My Lord Lockhart landed here last night, and is to stay for some time. Wee have received above 2000 recruites, and dayly expect the comeing downe of the army to the number of 20,000; our hopes are they will be for Dunkirke, our soldiers being very ready for that worke.

Rich: Hughes.

[1 ]See A Relation of the Defeating of Cardinal Mazarine’s and Oliver Cromwell’s Design to have taken Ostend by Treachery in the Year 1658, written in the Spanish by a person of quality, and now translated, 12mo. 1666. Also Bourelly’s Cromwell et Masarin, 1886, pp. 122-135. Thurloe, vii. 113, 115.