the large 1-500 scale Ordnance Map is misleading in some respects markedly so as regards the Monkton tower, the great gate tower, and the curtain between the north gate tower and the Mills postern.

I venture to add the following as having important bearing on the history of the fabric, and as weakly continuing the history which Mr. Clark so ably commenced, just mentioning in confirmation of Leland (if confirmation of him be not out of place by me), that the inscriptions recording the burial of Strongbow and Newmarch on the north side of the Chapter House at Gloucester are, or lately were, again visible. There is, however, yet the period between De Valence and the Commonwealth to be written.

On the breaking out of the Parliamentary troubles in 1643, nearly all Wales took part with the King, Pembroke only excepted. That town, guided by John Poyer, its Mayor, and aided by William Laugharne, declared for the Parliament. In 1644 it was in great straits, and threatened with a siege from the Earl of Carbery, until the Parliamentary fleet, driven to Milford Haven for shelter, brought help. The tide then turned, and the Mayor of Pembroke took successively Stackpole, Carew, Tenby, Trefloyne, and other places. In July, Colonel Charles Gerard had somewhat restored the King's position in South Wales, having taken Cardiff, Kidwelly, Cardigan, Newcastle, and Haverfordwest, leaving Pembroke and Tenby, and probably Manorbere, in the Parliamentary interest. But at the same time Swanley, in his ships, had harried Glamorganshire, taking some 1,500 head of cattle to Pembroke; and Gerard left South Wales without making any further attempt on it.

In 1648, the country having been entirely subdued to the Parliament, orders were issued for disbanding the troops, paying them partly in cash, partly in paper. Poyer apparently insisted on having all in cash, and did not like to change his military governorship for the civic chair, and he revolted. He was then called

Governor of the Castle of Pembroke, and though in correspondence with the King's friends, does not appear even to have held a royal commission. Poyer shut himself up in Pembroke on the 10th of May. He had notice on the 8th of March 1648, that if he did not surrender the Castle in twelve hours he would be declared rebel and traitor; and not complying, he was formally invested by Cromwell in person in the beginning of June, surrendered to him on the 11th of July, and was shot in Covent Garden on the 21st day of the following April.

In May, Chepstow was surrendered to Colonel Ewer, Cromwell passing on to Pembroke. The Colonel names the prisoners, whom he says "we have put into the church, and shall keep there until I receive further orders." On the 31st of May, Tenby surrendered; and it is clear that Colonel Powell was one of the prisoners taken there, and not at Pembroke, as commonly supposed. The terms at Tenby seem harder than those conceded to more obstinate Pembroke. A letter dated June 6, 1648, from before Pembroke, says,--" I praise God the Lieutenant-General is gallant and well. He has subdued all the rebellious party in Wales except Pembroke Castle. They in Pembroke are fain to feed their horses and cows on the thatch of their houses. Poyer pretends his old principles." On the 14th Cromwell writes to the Speaker from the leaguer before Pembroke: "All you can expect from me from hence is a relation of the garrison of Pembroke, which is chiefly this: They begin to be in extreme want of provisions, so as in all probability they cannot live a fortnight without being starved. But we hear they mutinied about three days since; cried out: Shall we be ruined for two or three men's pleasure? Better it were we should throw them over the walls.' It's certainly reported to us that within four or six days they 'll cut Poyer's throat, and come all away to us. Poyer told them Saturday last, that if relief did not come by Monday night they should no more believe him; nay, they

should hang him. We have not got our guns from Wallingford as yet; but, however, we have scraped up a few which stand us in very good stead. Last night we got two little guns planted, which in twenty-four hours will take away their mills; and then, as Poyer himself confesses, they are all undone. We made an attempt to storm' about ten days since; but the ladders were too short, and the breach so as no man could get over. We lost a few men; but I am confident the enemy lost more.......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 by battering down a staircase which goes into a cellar where he has 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 for that victory, which was both from sea and leaguer, Poyer told his men it was the Prince,-Prince Charles and his re

1 Obviously this was the town, not the Castle.

2 A topographical writer of authority, in 1833, says: "Cromwell having cut off their supply of water by the destruction of a staircase leading into a cavern under one of the towers, in which was their chief reservoir, there remained only the alternative of a lingering death or immediate submission"; and adds, "this has been confirmed by a recent discovery of the cavern, in which were found a copious spring of water, with the shattered remains of a staircase leading to it from the tower, the bones of a man, and several cannon-balls." Even Mr. Murray says the communication was by a wooden stair, now destroyed.

On

Cromwell speaks of a cellar, though, doubtless, he referred to the "Hogan". That "marvelus vault" was not first discovered until about 1833. The staircase is there now, uninjured, except the pilfering of the freestone-treads. Yet the belief is almost universal that the surrender took place in consequence of the water-supply being cut off. The evidence all seems to point the other way. the 14th of June Cromwell said he could do it, and have the place by starvation in fourteen days. They held out till the 11th of July, and then got such terms as look almost like an arrangement, as if the town rather than Cromwell had forced the Castle to terms. Cromwell was clearly wrong in his expectation.

4TH SER., VOL. XIV.

19

volted men coming with relief. The other night they mutinied in the town. Last night we fired divers houses, and the fire runs up the hill, and much frights them. Confident I am we shall have it in fourteen days by starving."

Another writer on the 19th says: "The town is almost at its last gasp, being much discontented and divided, occasioned by want of victuals. Our great guns have played against the walls, and a breach was made by battery, and the assault attempted, but fruitless......It is supposed there are 2,000 fighting men in the town. We doubt not to be masters both of town and Castle very suddenly."

Cromwell writes again on the 28th: "I have some few days since despatched horse and dragoons to the north......The number I sent are six troops......I could not, by the judgment of the colonels here, spare more or send them sooner without manifest hazard to these parts. There is, as I have formerly acquainted your Excellency, a very desperate enemy, who being put out of all hope of mercy are resolved to endure the utmost extremity, being very many gentlemen of quality, and are thoroughly resolved. They have made some notable sallies on Colonel Reade's quarter, to his loss. We are forced to keep divers posts, or else they would have relief, or their horse break away. Our foot about them are four and twenty hundred. We are always necessitated to have some in garrison. The country, since we set down before this place, have made two or three insurrections, and are ready to do so any day; so what with looking to them, and disposing of our horse to that end, and to get in provisions, without which we should starve, the country being so miserably exhausted and so poor, and we no money to buy victuals. Indeed, whatever may be thought, it is a mercy we have been able to keep our men together in the midst of such necessity, the sustenance of the foot, for the most part, being but bread and water. Our guns, through the unlucky accident at Berkeley, have not yet come to us......and this place not to be had without instruments of battery,

except by starving. And truly I believe the enemy's straights do increase on them very fast, and that with a few days an end will be put to their business, which really ought to have been done before had we received things wherewith to have done it. But it will be done in the best time. I rejoice much to hear of the blessing of God on your Excellencies endeavours...... These things that have lately come to pass have been the wonderful works of God breaking the rod of the oppressor, as in the days of Midian"; and closing with a desire that Colonel Lehunt may have a commission to command a troop of horse, with flank commissions for his inferior officers, with what speed may be.

And again, July 4th: "I cannot yet send you that either Pembroke Town or Castle be taken, yet we hope within a few days to be masters thereof. We have made several attempts against the town, and stormed the walls in two or three places......The batteries are now finished, and an ordnance planted against the town and Castle, and have made several breaches......The reason why the siege continues so long is for want of great guns and mortar pieces, which came not till within a few days down the Severn, the wind having been long opposed to them......Tuesday last we gave the town another strong alarm. 120 of Poyer's men laid down their arms, vowing never to take them up again; but by the importunity of Poyer and Laugharne, telling them if relief came not within four days they would yield, and they should hang them, they have engaged again. We are informed they have not provisions for fourteen days. We expect every day that most of them will come to us through want. They have only a little rain water and biscuit left. But it is still feared that Poyer and Laugharne, when they can hold out the town no longer, will betake themselves to the Castle, and leave the rest to mercy.

"If we get the town, I doubt not to carry the Castle suddenly. Mortar pieces have played hard against the town, and done great execution; have battered down