October 9, 1651 - Colonel Gounter resorts to a Frenchman

Chichester Cathedral

Colonel Gounter had spent all day on October 8 riding with Lord Wilmot in a so far fruitless endeavor to find a ship for the king.  When he got home “betwixt one and twoe of the clock” on the morning of October 9, he “layd downe upon his bed; and after twoe houres rest, rose from bedd and went immediately to Chichester to meete his kinsman, Captain Thomas Gounter … according to appointment.  From whome he received this accoumpt: that both he and his kinsman Mr. William Rishton, a loyall gentleman and one engaged all along in the warre under the Colonel’s command, had endeavored all they could, but without success.

“Then the Colonel bethought himselfe, and conceyved the next and best expedient would be to treate with a French marchant, one that usually traded into France, and went to one Mr. Francis Mançel, a stranger then to the Colonel and only knowen unto him by name, as casually he had mett him with severall other companies, pretending to give him a visitt and to be better acquainted with him.  [Mançel] received him courteously, and enterteined him with a bottle or twoe of his French wine and Spanish tobacco.

A 17th century Dutch merchant ship
Francis Mançel's business probably involved similar vessels.

“After a whyle, the Colonel broke the business to him, saying, ‘I doe not only come to visit you, but must request one favour of you.’  He replyed, ‘Anything in his power.’  Then the Colonel asked him if he could fraught a barke; ‘for,’ said he, ‘I have twoe speciall friends of mine, that have been engaged in a duell; and there is mischief done, and I am obliged to get them off if I can.’

A duel.  With mischief done.

“Hee doubted not but he could, att such a place att Brightemston in Sussex.  The Colonel prest him then to goe with him immediatly, and if he could effect the business, he would give him fifty pounds for his peynes.  But it being slowe faire day there, and his partner out of the way, he could not possibly untill the next day, and then, he promised him faithfully, he would goe with him and doe his best....

“Then the Colonel, whoe had promised the noble Lord Willmot an accoumpt at Mr. Hyde’s house aforesaid once in 12 or 24 hours att the furthest, repaired thither accordingly and told him all was done.  The noble Lord approved, and like the way wondrous well.

“It being very late, and very darke and boistrous weather, the Colonel took his leave.  His horse being allmost spent, borrowed a horse of his kinsman Mr. Hide, who lent him his faulkners horse, being, as it seems, the best he had then; which served to carrie him home.”