Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

98 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADEIt. CHAP. V.
received by the souldiers into the church, and sheltered
there.
" Notwithstanding all the gallant resistance which
these furious rebels met with, they continued their
assaults uncessantly, until past eleven of the clock.
In all which time, there was continual thundering of
shot from both sides, with flames and smoalce, and
hideous cryes filling the air : And, which was very re-
markable, though the houses were burnt all round,
yet the smoake of them, and all the shot from both
sides, was carryed every where outward from the dyks
upon the assailants, as if a wind had blown every way
from the center within.
" At length the rebels, wearied with so many fruit-
less and expensive assaults, and finding no abatement
of the courage or dilligence of their adversaries, who
treated them with continual shot from all their posts,
they gave over, and fell back, and run to the hills in
great confusion. Whereupon, they within beat their
drums, and flourished their colours, and hollowed
after them with all expressions of contempt and pro-
vocations to return. Their commanders assay'd to
bring them back to a fresh assault, as some prisoners
related, but could not prevail ; for they answered them,
they could fight against men, but it was not fit to
fight any more against devils.
" The rebels being quite gone, they within began
to consider, where their greatest danger appeared in
time of the conflict ; and for rendering these places
more secure, they brought out the seats of the church,
with which they made pretty good defences ; espe-
cially they fortified these places of the dyk which
were made up with loose stones, a poor defence against