KnoWoPerWriMo

Sunday 21. November

I stirred not from this place this day; we did watch the pioneers their work and the planting of some of the Kings cannon; the Marshall and the Gascons had a fair skirmish but had to give ground and they say that the garrison troops were led by a mass priest who was slain.

---

Today's events are chronicled in Coningsby.

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 47. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.1 (1847)

KnoWoPerWriMo

Monday 22. November

This day did Sir H. U. hold a great feast at the King his quarter for the Allmaine general Prince Christian who speaketh perfect French and passing good English and who seemeth a most learned gentleman and Sir R. W. attendeth and I did wait upon him; I did meet du Lac about the King his quarters and he doth say that the Gascons are angry for want of pay; some small skirmishing about St. Katherines; after supper returned to the camp and so to St. John his quarters to eat and he tells me of the loss this day of my Lord his coach through the foolish willful actions of the coachmen who were bidden to wait for his troop to convey them but rather set off alone and were overtaken by enemy horse.

---

A busy day here for Luke. Sir H. U. is Sir Henry Unton the English ambassador to France and he has laid on a feast for the newly arrived Prince Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg. This news and the anecdotes about the cranky Gascons and the loss of Essex’s coach are drawn from Coningsby

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 48-49. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.1 (1847)

KnoWoPerWriMo

Tuesday 23. November

This day the enemy did make a great sally from the town when they did see some fires in our quarters in the hopes of taking us unawares and so was the rumor that a trench was taken but that was not so; then after the fires were quenched some of us who would pay the enemy back for his sally did take horse and in the mist that had settled down stole down to the guards before the gate and there set upon them and I did shoot one, and an officer no doubt for his fine helmet, square in the face and down went he and my companions did do likewise and we did have some pretty play when the garrison troop issued forth and wheeling my horse about I took after one of the garrison horse who had chased Mr. Thoreaux and so riding up to him I did place my pistol on his helmet and did shoot and though he reeled he pulled up and rode off, his helmet being pistol proof methinks, and I gave him chase and cut at him with my sword but could gain no advantage when he turning discharged his pistol at me the bullet thereof which did hit me on the side of my breastplate and then did skip and cut me across the arm the which did make it hard to hold my reins then we traded blows and I came about so I could take ahold of his sleeve and with a good pull I did unhorse him but I stayed not and spurred my horse off to our quarters; the surgeon dressed my arm and praise God my arm is but cut and the bone not broke.

---

The account of the sally and counter-sally are attested to in Coningsby. Luke’s account of his fight is made up but it is somewhat based on a cavalry engagement from the English Civil War between Captain Richard Atkyns and Sir Arthur Haselrig.

Atkyns, Richard, 1615-1677. The vindication of Richard Atkyns Esquire : As also a relation of several passages in the western-war, wherein he was concern'd. Together, with certain sighs or ejaculations at the end of every chapter. Dedicated to his particular friends: and intended to no other. London : [s.n.], printed MDCLXIX. [1669]

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 48-49. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.1 (1847)