They took some of our men prisoners, occasiond by the regiment of Colonel Farr, and two more, sustaining the shock of their whole army, to secure the retreat of the main body, as above.
The 14th, the Lord Fairfax finding he was not able to carry the town by storm, without the formality of a siege, took his head quarters at Lexden, and sent to London, and to Suffolk for more forces; also he orderd the Trained Bands to be raised, and posted on the roads, to prevent succours; notwithstanding which, divers gentlemen, with some assistance of men and arms, found means to get into the town.
The very same night they began to break ground; and particularly, to raise a fort between Colchester and Lexden, to cover the generals quarter from the salleys from the town; for the Royalists having a good body of horse, gave them no rest, but scourd the fields every day, falling on all that were found stragling from their posts, and by this means killd a great many.
The 17th, Sir Charles Lucas having been out with 1200 horse, and detatching parties toward the sea-side, and towards Harwich, they brought in a very great quantity of provisions, and abundance of sheep and black cattle, sufficient for the supply of the town for a considerable time; and had not the Suffolk forces advanced over Cataway Bridge to prevent it, a larger supply had been brought in that way; for now it appeared plainly, that the Lord Fairfax finding the garrison strong and resolute, and that he was not in a condition to reduce them by force, at least without the loss of much blood, had resolved to turn his siege into a blockade, and reduce them by hunger; their troops being also wanted to oppose several other parties, who had, in several parts of the kingdom, taken arms for the kings cause.
This same day General Fairfax sent in a trumpet, to propose exchanging prisoners, which the Lord Goring rejected, expecting a reinforcement of troops, which were actually coming to him, and were to be at Linton in Cambridge-shire as the next day.
The same day two ships brought in a quantity of corn and provisions, and 56 men from the shore of Kent with several gentlemen, who all landed, and came up to the town, and the greatest part of the corn was with the utmost application unloaded the same night into some hoys, which brought it up to the Hithe, being apprehensive of the Parliaments ships which lay at Harwich, who having intelligence of the said ships, came the next day into the mouth of the river, and took the said two ships, and what com was left in them. The besiegd sent out a party to help the ships, but having no boats they could not assist them.
18. Sir Charles Lucas sent an answer about exchange of prisoners, accepting the conditions offerd, but the Parliaments general returned that he would not treat with Sir Charles, for that he Sir Charles being his prisoner upon his parole of honour, and having appeard in arms contrary to the rules of war, had forfeited Ms honour and faith, and was not capable of command or trust in martial affairs: To this Sir Charles sent back an answer, and his excuse for his breach of his parole, but it was not accepted, nor would the Lord Fairfax enter upon any treaty with him.
Upon this second message, Sir William Masham, and the Parliament committee and other gentlemen, who were prisoners in the town, sent a message in writing under their hands to the Lord Fairfax, intreating him to enter into a treaty for peace; but the Lord Fairfax returned, he could take no notice of their request, as supposing it forced from them under restraint; but, that, if the Lord Goring desird peace, he might write to the Parliament, and he would cause his messenger to have a safe conduct to carry his letter: There was a paper sent enclosed in this paper, signd Capel, Norwich, Charles Lucas, but to that the general would return no answer, because it was signd by Sir Charles, for the reason above.
All this while, the Lord Goring, finding the enemy strengthening themselves, gave order for fortifying the town, and drawing lines in several places, to secure the entrance, as particularly without the east bridge, and without the northgate and bridge, and to plant more cannon upon the works: To which end, some great guns were brought in from some ships at Wevenhoe.
The same day, our men sallyd out in three places, and attackd the besiegers, first at their fort, calld Essex; then at their new works, on the south of the town; a third party sallying at the east bridge, brought in some booty from the Suffolk troops, having killed several of their straglers on the Harwich road: They also took a lieutenant of horse prisoner, and brought him into the town.
19. This day we had the unwelcome news, that our friends at Linton were defeated by the enemy, and Major Muschamp, a loyal gentleman, killd.
The same night, our men gave the enemy alarm at their new Essex Fort, and thereby drew them out as if they would fight, till they brought them within reach of the cannon of St. Marys, and then our men retiring, the great guns let fly among them, and made them run: Our men shouted after them; several of them were killd on this occasion, one shot having killd three horsemen in our sight.
20. We now found the enemy in order to a perfect blockade,, resolvd to draw a line of circumvallation round the town; having receivd a train of forty pieces of heavy cannon from the Tower of London.
This day the Parliament sent a messenger to their prisoners, to know how they fard, and how they were used; who returnd word, that they fard indifferent well, and were very civilly used, but that provisions were scarce, and therefore dear.
This day a party of horse with 300 foot, sallyd out, and marched as far as the fort on the Isle of Mersey, which they made a shew of attacking, to keep in the garrison; mean while the rest took a good number of cattle from the country, which they brought safe into the town, with five waggons loaden with corn: This was the last they could bring in that way, the lines being soon finished on that side.
This day the Lord Fairfax sent in a trumpet to the Earl of Norwich, and the Lord Goring, offering honourable conditions to them all; allowing all the gentlemen their lives and arms, exemption from plunder; and passes, if they desird to go beyond sea; and all the private men pardon, and leave to go peaceably to their own dwellings; but the Lord Goring and the rest of the gentlemen rejected it, and laughed at them: Upon which the Lord Fairfax made proclamation, that his men should give the private soldiers in Colchester free leave to pass through their camp, and go where they pleased without molestation, only leaving their arms, but that the gentlemen should have no quarter: This was a great loss to the Royalists, for now the men foreseeing the great hardships they were like to suffer, began to slip away, and the Lord Goreing was obliged to forbid any to desert on pain of present death, and to keep parties of horse continually patrolling to prevent them; notwithstanding which, many got away.
21. The town desird the Lord Goreing to give them leave to send a message to Lord Fairfax, to desire they might have liberty to carry on their trade and sell their bays and says, which Lord Goreing granted; but the enemys general returnd, that they should have considerd that before they let the Royalists into the town: That to desire a free trade from a town besiegd, was never heard of, or at least, was such a motion, as was never yet granted: That however, he would give the baymakers leave to bring their bays and says, and other goods, once a week, or oftener, if they desire it, to Lexden Heath, where they should have a free market, and might sell them or carry them back again, if not sold, as they found occasion.
22. The beseigd sallyd out in the night with a strong party, and disturbd the enemy in their works, and partly ruind one of their forts, calld Ewers Fort, where the besiegers were laying a bridge over the River Coln; Also they sallyd again at East-Bridge, and faced the Suffolk troops, who were now declared enemies, these brought in six and fifty good bullocks, and some cows, and they took and killd several of the enemy.
22. The beseigd sallyd out in the night with a strong party, and disturbd the enemy in their works, and partly ruind one of their forts, calld Ewers Fort, where the besiegers were laying a bridge over the River Coln; Also they sallyd again at East-Bridge, and faced the Suffolk troops, who were now declared enemies, these brought in six and fifty good bullocks, and some cows, and they took and killd several of the enemy.
23. The besiegers began to fire with their cannon from Essex Fort, and from Barksteds Fort, which was built upon the Malden road, and finding that the besieged had a party in Sir Harbottle Grimstons house, calld, The Fryery, they fird at it with their cannon, and batterd it almost down, and then the soldiers set it on fire.
This day upon the townsmens treaty for the freedom of the bay trade, the Lord Fairfax sent a second offer of conditions to the besiegd, being, the same as before, only excepting Lord Goring, Lord Capel, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Charles Lucas.
This day we had news in the town, that the Suffolk forces were advancd to assist the besiegers and that they began a fort calld Fort Suffolk, on the north side of the town, to shut up the Suffolk road towards Stratford. This day the besiegd sallyd out at North-Bridge, attackd the outguards of the Suffolk men on Mile-End Heath, and drove them into their fort in the woods.
This day Lord Fairfax sent a trumpet, complaining of chewd and poisond bullets being shot from the town, and threatning to give no quarter if that practice was allowd; but Lord Goring returnd answer, with a protestation, that no such thing was done by his order or consent.
24th. They fird hard from their cannon against St. Marys steeple, on which was planted a large culverin, which annoyd them even in the generals head quarters at Lexden. One of the best gunners the garrison had, was killd with a cannon bullet. This night the besiegd sallyd towards Audly, on the Suffolk road, and brought in some cattle.
25. Lord Capell sent a trumpet to the Parliament-General, but the rogue ran away, and came not back, nor sent any answer; whether they receivd his message or not, was not known.
26. This day having finishd their new bridge, a party of their troops passd that bridge, and took post on the hill over-against Mile-End Church, where they built a fort, calld Fothergalls Fort, and another on the east side of the road, calld Rainsbros Fort, so that the town was entirely shut in, on that side, and the Royalists had no place free but over East Bridge, which was afterwards cut off by the enemys bringing their line from the Hithe within the river to the Stone Causeway leading to the east bridge.
July I. From the 26th to the 1st, the besiegers continud finishing their works, and by the 2d the whole town was shut in; at which the besiegers gave a general salvo from their cannon at all their forts; but the besieged gave them a return, for they sallyd out in the night, attackd Barksteads Fort, scarce finishd, with such fury, that they twice enterd the work sword in hand, killd most part of the defendants, and spoild part of the forts cast up; but fresh forces coming up, they retird with little loss, bringing eight prisoners, and having slain, as they reported, above 100.
On the second, Lord Fairfax offerd exchange for Sir William Masham in particular, and afterwards for other prisoners, but the Lord Goring refusd.
5. The besieged sallyd with two regiments, supported by some horse, at midnight; They were commanded by Sir George Lisle; They fell on with such fury, that the enemy were put into confusion, their works at East-Bridge ruind, and two pieces of cannon taken, Lieutenant Col. Sambrook, and several other officers, were killd, and our men retird into the town, bringing the captain, two lieutenants, and about 50 men with them prisoners into the town; but having no horse, we could not bring off the cannon, but they spikd them, and made them unfit for service.
From this time to the 11th, the besieged, sallyd almost every night, being encouragd by their successes, and they constantly cut off some of the enemy, but not without loss also on their own side.
About this time we receivd by a spy, the bad news of defeating the kings friends almost in all parts of England, and particularly several parties which had good wishes to our gentlemen, and intended to relieve them.
Our batteries from St. Marys Fort and Steeple, and from the North-Bridge, greatly annoyd them, and killd most of their gunners and fire-men. One of the messengers who brought news to Lord Fairfax of the defeat of one of the parties in Kent, and the taking of Weymer Castle, slipd into the town, and brought a letter to the Lord Goring, and listed in the regiment of the Lord Capels horse.
14. The besiegers attackd and took the Hithe Church, with a small work the besieged had there, but the defenders retird in time; some were taken prisoners in the church, but not in the fort: Sir Charles Lucass house was attackd by a great body of the besiegers; the besieged defended themselves with good resolution for some time, but a hand-grenado thrown in by the assailants, having fird the magazine, the house was blown up, and most of the gallant defenders buried in the ruines. This was a great blow to the Royalists, for it was a very strong pass, and always well guarded.
15. The Lord Fairfax sent offers of honourable conditions to the soldiers of the garrison, if they would surrender, or quit the service, upon which the Lords Goring and Capel, and Sir Charles Lucas, returned an answer signed by their hands, that it was not honourable or agreeable to the usage of war, to offer conditions separately to the soldiers, exclusive of their officers, and therefore civilly desird his lordship to send no more such messages or proposals, or if he did, that he would not take it ill if they hangd up the messenger.
This evening all the gentlemen voluntiers, with all the horse of the garrison, with Sir Charles Lucas, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Bernard Gascoign at the head of them, resolved to break through the enemy, and forcing a pass to advance into Suffolk by Nayland Bridge; to this purpose, they passd the river near Middle-Mill; but their guides having mislead them, the enemy took the alarm; upon which their guides, and some pioneers which they had with them, to open the hedges, and level the banks, for their passing to Boxted, all run away; so the horse were obliged to retreat; the enemy pretended to pursue, but thinking they had retreated by the North Bridge, they missd them; upon which being enraged, they fird the suburbs without the bridge, and burnd them quite down.
18. Some of the horse attempted to escape the same way; and had the whole body been there as before, they had effected it; but there being but two troops, they were obliged to retire. Now the town began to be greatly distressd, provisions failing; and the towns people, which were numerous, being very uneasy, and no way of breaking through being found practicable, the gentlemen would have joined in any attempt wherein they might die gallantly with their swords in their hands, but nothing presented; they often sallyd and cut off many of the enemy, but their numbers were continually supplied, and the besieged diminished; their horse also sunk and became unfit for service, having very little hay, and no corn; and at length they were forced to kill them for food; so that they began to be in a very miserable condition, and the soldiers deserted every day in great numbers, not being able to bear the want of food, as being almost starved with hunger.
22. The Ld. Fairfax offered again an exchange of prisoners, but the Lord Goring rejected it, because they refused conditions to the chief gentlemen of the garrison.