Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681). Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson. 1906.

Appendix XXVIII: The Capture of Shelford and Other Garrisons

Letter from Col. Poyntz to Speaker of the House of Lords.

‘MY LORD,—I am to render your honour this brief account of what it pleased God to do for us in the late storming of Shelford House. On Saturday, having sent a strong party of horse and dragoons to attend the King’s motion in case he seeks to break away from Newark, I advanced towards Shelford, where Colonel Rossiter joining with me, I presently clapped down before it, and took divers of their men prisoners, who were got into the church. This day, being prepared for a storm, I summoned the House, whereunto the young governor returned me a very peremptory answer; whereupon we fell on with much resolution on all sides, and were entertained for half an hour with like courage; but at length they were forced to leave that hot service. They were in all near two hundred, most of the queen’s regiment being there. About forty of them escaped with their lives and are brought prisoners into this town; the rest put to the sword. The Governor, being dangerously shot and wounded, was stripped for dead; but some officers took pity upon the young gentleman, and got him off; peradventure it may recover him. The London brigade behaved themselves very faithfully in this service; the rest wanted no courage. To God be the praise. Our next design is against Werton House; and I hope it will be the next news, that it is reduced. However, I shall use my faithful endeavours therein; and in all other respects continue, my lord, your obedient and faithful servant till death,

SYDENHAM POYNTZ’.

BINGHAM, November 3, 1645.

—Journals of the House of Lords, Nov. 6th, 1645.

A Letter from Col. Sandys on the Storming of Shelford.

‘SIR,—I suppose you have a particular relation of this day’s service, but thus much from your friend: we assaulted Shelford House this day about four of the clock; it was defended gallantly, and disputed half an hour at sword’s point after we got to the top of the works, but our men growing faint, I dismounted, and being assisted by some troopers that dismounted with me, stormed, and was one of the first that entered in. We killed about 140, and gave quarter to about 30. The governor, son to the Earl of Chesterfield, received many wounds, and I believe some mortal, but I coming in gave him a longer time to repent, for he is not likely to live. We are to-morrow for Worton. I trust God will go along with us. The king is yet in Newark and cannot probably escape, the two princes with their party about Belvoir, and keep guards against Newark, and do hostile acts on the king’s party. Your servant,

RICHARD SANDYS’.

November 3, 9 at night.

—From a pamphlet entitled: ‘A full relation of the desperate charge of the malignants for the betraying of Monmouth, also how Lieut.-Col. Kyrle fell into the enemy’s quarters near Hereford,—likewise a copy of Col. Sandys’ letter of the manner of taking Shelford House’. 4to, 1646.

The fall of the other little garrisons of the royalists in Nottinghamshire may be briefly summarised. According to Vicars, news arrived about the 6th of November that the garrison of Worton House and Wiverton House were both so afraid of ‘Shelford quarter’, that they surrendered directly Poyntz came before them. Welbeck followed their example, it being agreed that Tickhill Castle and Welbeck should both be slighted. (Vicars, Burning Bush, p. 316.) Wiverton was Lord Chaworth’s house, the other probably Whatton, which belonged to the Earl of Chesterfield.

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