Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/290

 260 THE CASTLE. Mowster at Kellington 2d. ; pd for a man to gather furse for the beacon, caridg, & making of it vpp 4s. 23th August, 1642. My lord of the Bath being in towne, wached [watched] 20 men ; pd for beer & candells 2 s. 6d.* 27th Septr. A warent to Lawhiton pr night 4d. 28th. pd for candells at severall times for the waches 8s. ; paid for 3 horses & a man 2 dayes to cary S r Willm Wrey's armes from this towne to the army 6s. Other entries show the local agitation of the time ; in fact the kingdom was then on the very eve of its deadly- struggle. The first great battle of the rival forces was fought near Edgehill, in Warwickshire, on the 23rd October, 1642. The effects of that battle were presently felt at Launceston. On the 19th December, 1642, Mr. Stokes claims 2d. for "a warant for souldiers gonn from their rullers from Milbrooke & Saltash;" and, 21st December, 2s. "for carying a post letter p. night to Hollsworthy to Capt: Trelawny & to Capt: Arundell." On the 24th the Mayor paid 4s. "for making up of the beaken ;" and on the 25th Mr. Stokes paid is. "for waching of 5 malitia prisoners at Ro: Nottles howse, sent to ghole from Milbrooke." Meanwhile the constable Kingdon was expending money in "candell light for the gard ;" and, on the 6th January, 1642-3, he supplied "wood & candells to Capt: Piper's shouldiers, and at the same time a lanteron for the gard." Launceston Castle was then held for the Parliament by Sir Alexander Carew, M.P. for the county of Cornwall, and Sir Richard Buller, M.P. for Fowey. Clarendon says that, about this time, a treaty or arrangement was made between gentlemen of Devon and Cornwall, that, until the expiration of the year 1642 (midnight of 24th March, 1643, new style), no actual the King into Devon and Cornwall to form an army, if it should be found expedient. — Clarendon.
 * The Earl of Bath, with Sir Ralph Hopton and others, had been sent by