Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/296

266 THE CASTLE. Trevanion, Colonels Thomas Bassett and William Godolphin, with Colonel John Digby in reserve command- ing the horse and dragoons. The Parliamentary army was commanded by the Earl of Stamford and Major-General James Chudleigh. The battle, which began on the 16th May, at 5 o'clock in the morning, terminated the same day in favour of the King's forces. Our local readers are well aware that this victory is commemorated by the following inscription on a stone tablet, built into a low wall, on which rests a miniature piece of ordnance, on the summit of Stamford Hill : In this place y e Army of y e Rebells under y e command of y c Earl of Stamford, received a signal overthrow by y e valor of Sir Bevill Grenville, and y e Cornish Army on Tuesday y e 16th of May, 1643. The Launceston Borough Accounts contain no record of the battle, but they amply disclose the unsettled condition of the town. On the 22nd May, 1643, 2 warrants were issued for bringing in of horses, and on the 24th two more for bringing in of oxen. On the same day a messenger took a post letter to Bodmin, by order of Governor Pendarves. Many warrants were issued for raising money, and others without stating their purpose ; but it may be inferred that some of them at least were for supply of army material, while messengers were also despatched to Callington, Liskeard, and Bodmin. The mayor for the year 1643, Arthur Piper, provided the following arms for the town: "Six musketts at 10s. per muskett ; six payer bandeliers at 2s. per payre ; five corsletts at 1 3s. 4d. per corslett ; fower pikes at 3s. per pike; eight pounds of gunpowder at 20d. per li, w ch powder was delivered at an alaram heere by night." Mr. Charles Kingdon charges 2s. 6d. "for ridinge to Liskeard to informe S r Ralph Hopton the Londoners were gone out of towne ;" and at another time "to inform him of