news of Carlow having fallen that decided Preston to surrender, for Ireton seems not to have been ready for an assault, though he could annoy the town with his artillery. The terms were virtually the same as those offered a month before, and on August 10, says Ireton, 'there marched out about 700 men, well armed, the townsmen more numerous than before we believed, and the town better fortified in all parts and more difficult to be attempted than our forces conceived, there being many private stores sufficient to have maintained them a long time.' Duncannon, which it was now evidently useless to defend, capitulated seven days later.[186] [Sidenote: Surrender of Charlemont, Aug. 14.] [Sidenote: A desperate defence.] [Sidenote: Sir Phelim O'Neill.] Having taken a fortnight's rest after Scariffhollis, Sir Charles Coote proceeded to besiege the strong fort at Charlemont, which had been in Sir Phelim O'Neill's hands since the first outbreak in 1641. As Sir Phelim had accepted the peace of 1649 it was reckoned as a royal fortress, and was the last to hold out for the King in Ulster. Venables joined Coote, and a hot fire was kept up with guns and mortars; but it was not till near the middle of August that a practicable breach was made. The garrison made a desperate resistance, assisted by many women, 'who more appeared like fighting Amazons than civilised Christians.' The storming-party were assailed not only with shot, but with scalding slops and hot ashes, and were beaten back after two or three hours' fighting. Venables had a narrow escape, but Coote, who commanded in chief, remained 'a spectator, smoking of tobacco at distance.' The total loss of the besiegers was not less than 500 men, but O'Neill's ammunition was running short, and only thirty men out of 140 were able to bear arms, all the rest being killed or wounded. He went out himself to confer with Coote, while Colonel Audley Mervyn, afterwards Speaker of the House of Commons, and Major King, afterwards Lord Kingston, were sent in as hostages. The garrison marched out with arms and baggage, Sir Phelim having leave to go beyond sea, and Coote undertaking to find him a vessel. Unfortunately for himself, O'Neill remained in Ireland, while Venables returned to Carrickfergus and Coote to Londonderry. A Parliamentary garrison was left in the fort which had been so dearly won.[187] [Sidenote: Meeting of bishops at Jamestown, Aug. 6.] [Sidenote: Ormonde rebukes the prelates.]