Royalists: I trust all's quiet for all their [unr] I cannot
not for all that's here sa[unr]) think [unr] Dunkirk
or thereabouts priv[unr] [unr] for
him.
Captain Unton Crook's second Letter to his Highness
the Lord Protector.
I gave your Highness last night an account how far I had
pursued the Enemy that come out of Wiltshire into Devon:
I sent you Highness the number of them, which I conceived
to be two hundred: It pleased my good God so to strengthen
and direct me, that although I had none but my own
Troop which was not 60. that about ten a clock at night I
fell into their quarters at a town called South Moltow, in the
County of Devors: I took, after four hours dispute with
them in the town, some 60 Prisoners; neer 140 horse and
arms: Wagstaff himself es[unr]ed and I cannot yet find him,
although I am still sending after him. This Party of them was
divided into three troops: Col. Penruddock commanded one
of them, and was to make it a Regiment; Col. Groves commanded
another, and compleat it to a Regiment; Col.
Jones the third, and was to do the like: these three Gentlemen
are of Wiltshire, and men of estates. One of Sir Edward
Clarks Sons was with them, he was to be Major to Penruddock:
the prisoners tell me that we killed him.
I have brought all the Prisoners to Exon, and have delivered
them over to the High-Sheriff, who has put them
into the high Gaol. Your Highness may be confident this
Party is totally broken, there is not four men in a company
got away; the Major of South-Molton being with me in the
streets, was shot in the body, but like to do well. I have nine
or ten of my Troop wounded.
Exon, Mar. 16. 1654
From Rome, Feb. 22.
The Cardinal Pieter Luigi Caraffa, a Neapolitan, who had
been indispos'd very great while, was surpriz'd the 13 of
this moneth with a violent flux, whereof he dyed; being one
of those four in competition for the Papacie.