o kill or be killed;" but such was their case.
The Countess therefore proposed that the next morning, a little while
after daybreak, they should make a sortie; and though ordnance was
planted against every passage, yet that they should sally forth, and
stake their all upon one desperate throw.

On the 26th April, about four o'clock, before sunrise, the action
commenced. Captain Chisnall and Captain Fox, with Lieutenants Brettargh,
Penketh, Walthew, and Woorrall, were appointed for the service. Captain
Ogle had the main-guard to secure a retreat at the southern gate, while
Rawsthorne had the charge of the sally-gate to secure a retreat on the
eastern side. Captain Ratcliffe had the command of the marksmen and
musketeers on the walls, while Farmer, with the reserve, stood ready at
the parade, to relieve any of them in case of necessity. All things
being ready, Captain Chisnall and two lieutenants issued out at the
eastern sally-port. The morning favoured their attempt, being wet and
foggy, so that before he was discovered he got completely under their
cannon, marching immediately upon the scouts where the enemy had planted
their great gun.

"It cost him a light skirmish to gain the fort; at last hee entered;
many slayne, some prisoners, and some escaping. Now by the command of
that battery, the retreate being assured, Capt Foxe seconds him w^th
much bravery, beateing upon their trenches from the easterne to the
south-west point, till hee came to the work w^ch secur'd the
morter-peece, w^ch being guarded w^th 50 men, hee found sharpe service,
forceing his way through muskett and cannon, and beateing the enemy out
of the sconce w^th stones, his muskett, by reason of the high worke,
being unserviceable. After a quarter of an houres hard service, his men
gott the trench and scal'd the rampier, where many of the enemy fledd,
the rest were slayne. The sconce, thus won, was made good by a squadron
of musketteers, which much annoyed the enemy, attempting to come upp
agayne. The 2 maine works thus obtained, the two captaynes w^th ease
walked the rest of the round, whilst Mr Broome, w^th a companye of her
la^pps servants and some fresh souldiers, had a care to levell the
ditch, and by a present devise, with ropes lifting the morter-peece to a
low dragge, by strength of men drew it into the house, Capt. Ogle
defending the passage ag^t another companye of the enemye which play'd
upon their retreate. The like endeavour was used to ga