nce. During this siege, the townsmen made
stout defence, till one of the king's gunners planted a great gun so
conveniently upon a rising ground, that therewith he could command the
whole wall upon which the townsmen made their greatest defence. Upon
this, they were constrained to forsake the whole wall in great terror,
and tho' they had several guns planted upon the wall, no man durst
undertake to manage them. This being told to Mr. Welch, he
notwithstanding encouraged them still to hold out, and running to the
wall, found the cannonier, who was a Burgundian, near the wall, him he
entreated to mount the wall, promising to assist him in person. The
cannonier told Mr. Welch, that they behoved to dismount the gun upon the
rising ground, else they were surely lost; Mr. Welch desired him to aim
well, and he would serve him, and God would help him; the gunner fell to
work, and Mr. Welch ran to fetch powder for a charge, but, as he was
returning, the king's gunner fired his piece, which carried the laddle
with the powder out of his hands: This did not discourage him, for
having left the laddle, he filled his hat with powder, wherewith the
gunner dismounted the king's gun at the first shot, and the citizens
returned to their post of defence.

This discouraged the king so much, that he sent to the citizens to offer
them fair conditions, _viz._ That they should enjoy the liberty of their
religion, their civil privileges, and their walls should not be
demolished; the king only desired that he might enter the city in a
friendly manner with his servants. This the city thought fit to grant,
and the king with a few more entered the city for a short time. While
the king was in the city, Mr. Welch preached as usual, which offended
the French court, for while he was at sermon the king sent the duke de
Espernon to fetch him out of the pulpit into his presence. The duke went
with his guard, and when he entered the church where Mr. Welch was
preaching, Mr. Welch commanded to make way, and to place a seat that the
duke might hear the word of the Lord. The duke instead of interrupting
him, sat down, and gravely heard the sermon to an end, and then told Mr.
Welch he behoved to go with him to the king, which he willingly did.
When the duke came to the king, the king asked him why he brought not
the minister with him; and why he did not interrupt him? The duke
answered, Never man spake like this man, but he had brought him along
with him. Where