Dr. Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689): his life and original writings / [edited by] Kenneth Dewhurst.

  • Thomas Sydenham
Date:
1966
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Dr. Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689): his life and original writings / [edited by] Kenneth Dewhurst. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    at last he told me he was not able to indure that red Ribbon that I tied his Arm with; I was at first herein surprized, to think I should leave the Ligature upon his Arm, that being a sure way to bring a Mortification upon the part: I put my hand in my pocket, and shewed him the red Ribbon on the Case of Lancets, he seemed at first to doubt it, but after he see it was so, he laught; and was from that time in ease. . . Colonel Sydenham was the first to take the initiative. While a small party of cavalry were escorting a Royalist convoy of provisions into Weymouth, he sent out a cavalry detachment, including his brother Thomas, to harass them. The Royalists were routed. They lost sixty prisoners and, in the disorderly retreat, abandoned their supplies. In this engagement Thomas Sydenham was the only Parliamentary casualty. 2 While he was having his wounds dressed in Melcombe, the Royalists moved a large force of infantry out of Weymouth in order to retrieve their stores. But once the Royalist infantry were clear of the town, Colonel Sydenham attacked the Chapel Fort with a strong force. This unexpected assault on a weakened post caused the Royalists to retreat in disorderly confusion as is apparent from Wiseman's account: Our men were surprized [he wrote], 3 and chased out of the Town and Chappel Fort; I was at the same time, it being about twelve a clock, dressing the wounded in a house for that purpose in the Town, almost under the Chappel and Fort, I heard a woman cry, fly, fly, the Fort is taken: I turned aside a little amazed, towards the Line, not knowing what had been done; when I got upon the Line, I see our people running away and those of the Fort shooting at them, I slipt down this work into the ditch, and got out of the Trench; and as I began to run, I heard one call Chirurgeon, I turned back, and seeing a man hold up his stump and his hand I thought it was the Irish-man, whom I had so lately dismembered; I returned and helpt him up and we ran together, it was within half musquet-shot of the enemies Fort, he out ran me quite. . . . Colonel Sydenham then set about consolidating his position, and by evening both towns were again under his command. Undismayed, Lord Goring decided to counter-attack Melcombe at several points simultaneously. But details of the Royalist plans reached Sydenham the day before by an escaped prisoner. The weather also favoured the defenders, as it was a clear night on 28 February, 1645, when Goring's troops were seen approaching. Their main assault was directed against the west of the town, and in accordance with a prearranged feint, 1 Richard Wiseman, op. cit., pt. II, pp. 101-2. 2 Contemporary accounts mention the wounding of Colonel Sydenham's brother in a cavalry skirmish. As Major Francis Sydenham had been killed this must have referred to Thomas Sydenham as the other brother served in the infantry. 3 Richard Wiseman, op. cit., pt. II, pp. 101-2.