Mills; and then, as Poyer himself confesses, they are all undone. We made an attempt to storm him, about ten days since; but our ladders were too short, and the breach so as men could not get over. We lost a few men; but I am confident the Enemy lost more. Captain Flower, of Colonel Dean’s Regiment, was wounded; and Major Grigg’s Lieutenant and Ensign slain; Captain Burges hes wounded, and very sick. I question not, but within a fortnight we shall have the Town; “and” Poyer hath engaged himself to the Officers of the Town, Not to keep the Castle longer than the Town can hold out. Neither indeed can he; for we can take away his water in two days, by beating down a staircase, which goes into a cellar where he hath a well. They allow the men half-a-pound of beef, and as much bread a-day; but it is almost spent.
We much rejoice at what the Lord hath done for you in Kent. Upon our thanksgiving[1] for that victory, which was both from Sea and Leaguer, Poyer told his men, that it was the Prince, “Prince Charles and his revolted Ships,” coming with relief: The other night they mutinied in the Town. Last night we fired divers houses; which “fire” runs up the Town still: it much frights them. Confident I am, we shall have it in Fourteen days, by starving. I am, Sir, your servant,
Precisely in about ‘Fourteen days’ a new attempt was made,[3] not without some promising results, but again ineffectual. ‘The Guns are not come from Bristol, for want of wind’; and against hunger and short scaling-ladders Poyer is stubborn. Three days after this Letter to Lenthall, some three weeks since the siege began, here is another, to Major Saunders.
