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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

June 2, 1658.—

f. 99b.Heere hath hapned nothing of consequence since our breaking of ground, only that the Kinge and Cardinall are removed to Cales, where the Lord Falconbridge is come as Extraordinary Ambassadour, accompanied by my Lord Howard and severall persons of quallity. Our approaches goes on a pace; the English souldiers, behaving themselves very handsome, have gained a generall applause from all the Grandees of the army; the French horse who formerly hated us are become very loving and civill, and had rather engage with us then with their owne foote. The enimie hath made some six sallies, and were well oposed by the horse and our foote. In the last severall of the French foote quitt their trenches. Their are 5 companys of Colonel Salmons and five of Colonel Gibbons come over, and doe the duty of a regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Pepper commanding them. We have this night gained their stockadoes, and lodged ourselves at the point of their counterscarfe. We seldome come of our English approach without losse, 50 or 60 wounded and severall slaine every night. Colonel Clarke is shott, severall captains killed and wounded; our battrys of some 14 gunns doe much anoy the towne. Our freinds in England have beene very careless of us; the 1000 tents ordered us by the Councell 5 weekes a goe are not yet come, which causes a great sickness amongst us, having not one peece of wood within six mile of us to hutt with; all our morter peeces and shells have beene here this three weekes, but the fire master is still in England. Don John, Prince of Condi, Charles Stuart and his brothers, are within a league and a halfe of our campe with 16000 men (on Newport side), and intend to releive the towne; but I trust they may be mistaken, our sea shores being well stockaded and chained, and our line indifferently mann’d, the army consisting of 25000 horse and foote, ten thousand being horse. The Count of Grand Pree is expected here this day with 3000 horse. The English and French approaches are this morning joyned by a line of communication. We send every night to our approach 14 companies, and keepe above a third of the line, having but 2000 horse to assist us, but they are the most carefull and vigillant men that ever I knew, and endure shott very well, defying all danger whatsoever, my Lord Lockhart is our Genrall. Its supposed that the enimie in the towne have 1200 foote and 400 horse, besides townesmen, who trouble us very much with their ordinance.

R. H.

Leaguer before Dunkirke

The last night I was in the approaches I had two Captains kill’d, my owne Ensigne and Serjant also, and two of my corporalls dangerously wounded.1 Captain Coates of our regiment was this day shott, his Lieutenant and Ensigne two dayes agoe.2

[1 ]Cf. Thurloe, vii. 126, where Lockhart’s letter should probably be dated May 28, o.s.

[2 ]Capt. William Cotes of Sir Brice Cochrane’s; ‘shot’ means wounded, not killed.