Identifier: firstsecondbattl00monerich (find matches)
Title: The first and second battles of Newbury and the siege of Donnington Castle during the Civil War, 1643-6
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Money, Walter, 1836-
Subjects: Donnington Castle Newbury, Eng., Battle of, 1643 Newbury, Eng., Battle of, 1644 Great Britain -- History Civil War, 1642-1649 Campaigns
Publisher: London, Simpkin, Marshall
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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umberof soldiers in Donnington Castle, we have made choice of yourfoot and of the dragooners of Sir Pobt. Howard.:( Whereforeour will and pleasure is that you forthwith repair with thesaid forces unto the said Castle, there to continue and keepthe same for our use, and to command all tlie ofiicers andsoldiers therein as you shall find fit for our service. And foryour so doing, these shall be 3our sufficient warrant. Givenunder our sign-manual at our Court at Newbury this 22ndSept. 1643. As to the supplies, it is recorded that Donnington Castlehath three Hundreds out of which he (the Governour) weeklyreceives contribucion, viz*-, Kimbry (Kintbury) Eagle 20parishes, Eaire-Crosse 14 parishes, and Compton 8 parishes,besides Newbery is in too. These found him beds and * See Manchesters Quarrel^vitli Cromwell, CamdenSoc, pp. 58-59.t Warburtons Prince Rupert, vol. ii. p. 314 X Sir Robert Howard, fourth son of the Earl of Berkshire, wasknighted by the King at Cropredy Bridge, June 29th, 1644.
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>2 V * 1 -I «> 3^ I ATTACK ON DONNINGTON CASTLE. 135 weekely payment for the building the workes, which costabout £1,000. Faire-Crosse Hundred paid about £60 perweeke. ^ The main element of defence of this little fortresswas its massive gate-house, with barbican and portcullis, andthe extensive series of earthworks constructed by Boys, andthickly planted with his heaviest guns. The remainder ofthe structure with its subordinate towers and curtain wallshad, as Camden says, windows on all sides, very lightsome,and was incapable of withstanding an artillery attackat a short range. It was more especially owing to the brilliantheroism, skill and dash displayed by Sir John Boys and hissmall garrison, whose daring deeds and chivalrous adventuresappear almost incredible, that the old Castle became a post ofsuch strategic value, and was so long and obstinately main-tained against the almost overwhelming numbers and organ-ised efforts of their powerful but unsuccessful antagonists. The

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