Reprint,

From Archaeologia, vol. XIV.

Remarks on the Military History of Bristol in the Seventeenth Century, with a Sketch of the Outworks, by Edmund Turnor, Esq. F. R. S. and F. S. A.

Read June 11 and 18, 1801.

THE great importance of Bristol, as the second city in the kingdom,—its situation commanding at once the rich county of Somerset, and the chief entrance into Wales, rendered the conquest of it of the utmost consequence to both king and parliament, whose spirits, during their unhappy contests, were alternately elated or depressed as either party succeeded in the siege, or failed in the defence of the town. But the great extension of commerce, and the consequent increase of population, have so much enlarged the circuit of Bristol, that what was only an inconsiderable suburb in the time of Charles the first, is now become a new town, extending over, and in a great measure defacing, the lines of fortification which formed the outworks of the city. An attempt, however, to preserve some idea of the remaining military vestiges, as exhibited by letters patent under the great seal of England, and sign manual of CHARLES THE FIRST, conferring the office of treasurer of the garrison on an ancestor of the author of this communication, may not be foreign to the views of the Society.

The position of the original town was well chosen for strength and security, being built on an eminence rising on both sides from the rivers Avon and Frome, thus

guarded by nature against hostilities, whilst it was accessible on every side to the benefits of commercial intercourse. The castle contained within its walls an area of three acres, and defended the eastern part of the town. The fortifications were very ancient, and are thus described by Leland. "There be in some parts of the town "double walls, a token that it hath been augmented. "Five inner gates of the old town, four in the outer walls, "and two beyond the bridge. In the castle be two "courts; in the outer is a great dungeon tower, made,

as it is said, of stone brought out of Caen in Normandy, "by the red earl of Gloucester. A pretty church and "much lodging in the second area: many towers yet "standing in both courts; but all tendith to ruin [a]." Towards the close of the year 1642, when the civil commotions had assumed a formidable aspect, this fortress and walls were repaired; and for further defence, the fort on Brandon hill, and that on St. Michael's hill, afterwards called the Royal Fort, were formed with lines of communication.

Whatever might have been the political bias of the place, the surrendering it into the hands of the Parliament is attributed to the intrigue of two ladies, who found means to open the gates to Col. Thomas Essex, on the 5th of December 1642; but scarce had two months elapsed before Col. Nathaniel Fiennes was appointed to succeed him. The conduct of this governor, and the execution of Yeomans and Bouchier, who were hanged for holding a correspondence with the King's friends, so exasperated the inhabitants, that the King's army, profiting by the general discontent, were encouraged to lay siege to the town on the 24th of July 1643, [a] Leland's Itin. VII. 68.

and a plan was concerted to seize the shipping in the harbour, which was effected on the same day. Although in the attack on the Somersetshire side, led on by the Marquis of Hartford and Prince Maurice, some of the assailants mounted the wall, yet, by the vigorous defence from within, they were driven back with great slaughter; but on the Gloucestershire side, where Prince Rupert commanded, Colonel Washington, finding a weak place in the curtain, between Brandon Hill and Windmill Forts, out of the reach of cannon, entered, and made room for the horse to follow. Thus Prince Rupert pressed forward to Froom Gate, but with the loss of many officers and men, who were shot from the windows. An arrival so unexpected surprised the governor into an immediate capitulation. Clarendon says, "There were "in the town 2500 foot, and a regiment of horse and dragoons. The line about the town was finished, yet "in some places the graff was wider and deeper than in "others. The castle was very well prepared, and sup"plied with great store of provisions to endure a "siege [b]."

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After public thanksgiving at Oxford for this great victory, the King went with Prince Charles and the Duke of York to fix Prince Rupert in the government of Bristol [c], and soon afterwards Letters Patent passed the great seal appointing the military establishment there in the following words [d].

[b] Hist. Rebellion, II. 295.

[c] Charles I. lodged in the house of Mr. Creswell, in Small Street, which is still remaining, and exhibits a variety of beautiful gothic architecture.

[d] From the Letters Patent under the great seal, penes Edm. Turnor.

"CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To OUR trustie and welbeloved svant Edmond Turnor, Esq. therer of our garrisons of Bristoll, Bathe, the Towne and Castle of Berkeley, Nunney Castle, Farley Castle, and Portshall Pointe, lying and being within our severall counties of Som sett, Gloucester, and the citie and countie of Bristoll. WHEREAS for the good and safetie of our people, we have thought fitt to place and settle sev all garrisons in our cities of Bristoll and Bathe, the Towne and Castle of Berkeley, Nunney Castle, Farley Castle, and Portshall Point, and for the well ordering, fortifying, manneing, and maynteyning of the said severall garrisons, have thought it likewise fitt, by the advice of our Councell, to cause an establishmt of contribucon to be made, settled, assigned, and sett out, to and for the maynetenance of the garrisons aforesaid, and the officers and soldiers there. As ALSO an establishm1 of a constant pay and allowances to be made, issued forth, and allowed weekly to such troopes and regimts of horse and foote, and the sev all officers and souldiers of the same, and for divers other ends and p poses tending to our s'vice, the maynetenance and safetie of our said garrisons in such sorte as by one schedule signed with our signe manuall, bearing the same date with theis p'sents hereunto annexed, doth and may appeare. AND WEE doe further order and assigne two hundred pounds by the weeke to be duely and constantly paid out of such moneys as shall arise and become due out of the customes, by the hand of the officer or officers of our customes, for the use and better mayntenance of our said garrisons. Now, to the end our good inten cons for the safetie of our garrisons aforesaid,