1643, July 26. — A true relation of the siege of Brampton Castle in the county of Hereford begun on Wednesday July 26th 1643, being the public fast day.
Upon Wednesday the 26th of July about two of the clock there
appeared two or three troops of horse which divided themselves
after they had faced our castle about an hour, from a little hill
on the south side thereof called Pinners, and presently stopped
all our passengers. Not long after there appeared about two or
three hundred foot upon the east part of our castle which likewise dispersed themselves. The number of the enemy, as we understand since, were about seven hundred of horse and foot.
This evening a trumpeter was sent to summon our castle from
Henry Lingen, esquire, High Sheriff of the county of Hereford, Sir
Walter Pye, knight, and William Smallman, esquire, which was
answered by the honourable and valiant the Lady Harley. The evening upon their first approach and before their summons [they] murdered one John Powntney a man born blind, because upon demand he said he was for the King and Parliament.
Thursday the 27th many of the foot possessed the town and
church, and we played all that day and night with small shot
upon each other. Some of the enemy were slain, but none of
us. This day they plundered many of our sheep and cattle.
Friday the 28th we continued with small shot till about
the evening, when another trumpet and letter was sent from
Sir William Vavasour, knight, Colonel and Governor of Hereford, which was likewise answered by the Lady Harley. This day the parley being ended they plundered our horses which we endeavoured to suspend, they being housed, but could not, and in the night the Cavaliers plundered all our fat cattle and cows.
Saturday the 29th of July a troop or two of Horse appeared
and dispersed themselves about us, and about evening a drum
was sent with another letter, so we ceased from shooting that
evening and night.
Sunday the 30th of July we expected their ordnance and
were compelled to pluck up our portcullis, and about the evening
the honourable Lady sent a letter to the Governor, so we ceased
till a warning piece should be on their side given.
Monday the 31st was spent in letters and answers, here
annexed, with a cessation of arms.
Tuesday August 1st 1643 the enemy approached into our
quarters and began to raise breastworks, but being commanded out
by a gentleman, one Captain Scudamore, refused. Immediately
the Cavaliers fired a house in town whereupon we gave fire
roundly upon them [for] about an hour, but then we espied all
our out-houses, containing very many bays of building, on a light
fire. This evening a trumpet was sent from the governor afore-
said with a letter, which was answered, etc.
Also another letter from the Lady with a promise of answer at
twelve of the clock the next day, yet unperformed.
Wednesday August the 2nd an answer was expected to the
aforementioned, but instead thereof we had peals of ordnance.
Thursday August the 3rd very early in the morning the
Cavaliers fired our mills, and about ten of the clock the fire began
in the town which within a very few hours consumed the greatest
part thereof, then about three that afternoon the enemy planted
a saker against our castle in the stable window. This evening
they made ten shots against us with bullets of betwixt six or
seven pound weight which only pierced our battlements but slew
none of us, wherein the great power of God may be observed, that in these nine days not a hair fell from our heads by any of these enemies; as for our loss by fire and plunder which hath already been very great to the value of three thousand pounds and upwards, yet it was observed that all of us took joyfully the spoiling of our goods. The malignants of the country stood upon hills about us, and when the ordnance played, gave great shouts, which no whit daunted us. This night they cast up a work at the parsonage on the east side of our castle which we could not prevent in the dark, and the enemy fired a bomb on the west side, which did no whit annoy us, although they had the wind.