YEsterday being the 18. of this instant, about foure of the clock in the afternoon the great Guns from Colchester plaid exceeding hard, both against our great Mount, and severall other Works and For­tifications. They killed one of our Gunners at the great Mount, 3 or 4 private Souldiers, and wounded some few, and dismounted one of our Pieces, and split the muzzle; but we answered them again, and gave them three shots for one, [Page 2] playing sixe pieces altogether for the space of two houres against their Royall Fort and in the high street.

Their chief Work which doth most annoy us, is their new Sconce which they have raised opposite to our great Mount, one Thompson a Gunner supplying the same▪ who is an excel­lent Engineer, and an admirable marks man, and hath endan­gered two or three eminent Commanders; but one Mr. Smith, Gentleman of the Pikes to Col. Ewers Company, de­sired leave to make a shot against the said Sconce, which accordingly was granten, and indeed it proved an excellent one; for he dismounted one of their great brasse Pieces, & (its said) wounded the said Thompson.

We have stormed one of their strongest Fortifications, neer the town, but before we could gain it, we had a hard disputation, they knockt us off of our ladders, and threw down great stones and brick-bats upon us, and defended it with great resolution; till at the last our men set to their ladders again, and up they went with great fury and resolu­tion, and got up to the Battlemens of the Gate-house, ca­sting Granados out of their hands over amongst the Soul­diers, and one of the said Granadoes falling into a roome where their Magazine lay, blew up divers barrels of pow­der, and about 60. Souldiers, giving a most great and terri­ble blow.

Whereupon the rest of their men that defended the said Fortification cryed out for quarter, but not above 12. men were left of 150. a very sad spectacle to behold. Some arms were taken, but most of them spoyled with the blow.

This was a very considerable place, add advantagious to the Enemy, the losse of which did infuse a great deale of wrath and terrour in the heart of Sir Charles Lucas, and cau­sed him to make a desperate salley out upon us, but were repulsed and beaten in with losse.

[Page 3] Whereupon he shot severall Granadoes out of the town and fired all the Subburbs, and upon Sunday and Munday lais [...] plaid with his great Ordnance into the Leaguer, which did somewhat annoy us, and killed some of our men, one ha­ving his leg shot off, another his skull broken, and some o­thers wounded.

They have severall advantages to play upon us, which doth embolden them the more, and upon Tuesday morning last, before the Trevalle had beat, Sir Charles Lucas sallyed out in person himself, together with Gen. Hastings, Col. Luns­ford, and divers other persons of quality, with about 400. Horse, and 1000 Foot, and having notice of their comming, prepared to receive them, who upon their neer approach gave them such a volley that they retreated, but immediat­ly rallied and came on again; insomuch that there hapned a very shary dispute betwixt both parties, and continued for the space of a quarter of an hour, Sir Charles horse was shot under him, and divers on both sides wounded; but they per­ceiving Col. Whaleyes comming up with his horse, made good their retreat and got safe into the town, only they lost about 20 men in this conflict.

We have finished our Battery against St. Iohns, and have made a great breach in the town walls, notwith­standing their Woolsacks, which our Souldiers fetcht away upon their backs, and beat them out of one Court yard into another, and out of the house into another great house, do­ing some execution still in the pursuit.

Col. Whaley with his own horse and the Suffolk Foot hath likewise given them another great blow, and hath taken two of their Courts of Guards and a Church, and above 100. prisoners.

Yesterday we received further intelligence, that Lieute­nant [Page 4] Generall Cromwel and his Forces advanced from Pem­brook towards the North of England on Fryday last, and is resolved to joyn with Major Generall Lambert, to hinder the Scots marching Southward, and to fight with them; for we are credibly informed, that they have entred England, & with a very considerable Army, are come on this side of Carlisle.

we are advertized, that about 1500. men lookt upon the Eng­lish shore to relieve Sandon and Deal Castles in Kent, but finding our Forces readier then they expected to ingage with them, they packt aboard again, and are gone to Sea. It is thought they will strike in again at some other place; and to prevent their landing on Essex side, the L. Gen. hath sent a strong party to Harwich, and hath given notice to Norwich and Yarmouth, his Forces are even under the walls on all sides of Colchester, and makes preparations as if he intended to storm the town,

Colchester 19. July, 1648.

A briefe Abstract of severall Lettees from the North.

By letters from the North it is certified, That on Tuesday last Sir Marm. Langdale joyned with the Scots Army, they make about 12000 Horse and Foot; Maj. Gen. Lambert hath sent into York­shire and Lincolnshire for more Forces, that he may fight them his Army is already considerable, and may fight them without disad­vantage nothing yet of action; before next Post day we may heare much from thence.

The Scots poss [...]sse Barwick, Tuesday next Col. Lesley Nephew to Gen. Lesley, is to be Governour.

[Page 5] The House receiving Letters from Major Gen. Lambert, signify­ing that an Army of Scots were come into this Kingdome, under the command of D. Hambleton, the Commons declared those for­ces which in a hostile manner have entred this Kingdome to be E­nemies, and that all persons which adhere unto them either of this Kingdom or of Ireland, are traytors and Rebels.

They debate concerning the place for the Treaty, whether at London, or ten miles distant, London not by any meanes thought se­cure, the inconveniencies being numerous, and therefore came to this Resolution.

‘That after the three propositions be consented unto, and signed, as is desired, the King should be desired to name three places within 20 miles of Westminster, two of which to be at least ten miles distant from Westminster, where the Treaty shall be, and then both Houses of Parliament shall have liberty to make choice of one of them as they shall think fit.’

Letters from Hull say, that a Man of War rid neer that Towne, some ships went forth to discover what she was they found her to be a Hollander laden with Ammunition, and good store of Horse Arms, the Master of the ship sai [...]h, that they were designed to a Gentleman of Lincolnshire, which had formerly served the King, whereupon the Governour Col. Overton sent out a party of Horse which brought the Gentleman into Hull.

The last night the troops of Col. Rich his men, and those of com-Gen. Iretons Regiment which have bin in pursuit of the D. of Buc­kinghams party returned back again and ferried over at Putney in­to Surrey, and are designed again into Kent, he feares increasing in that county by reason of some ships which are said to be comming thither out of Holland, with whom, the report goes, is the Duke of Yo [...]k or the Prine, but its rather believed (if there be either) that it is the Duke, because some letters say, that he was entertained a board a little before the Prince his comming into Holland.

There was a Gentleman taken at Rumford upon suspirion, and in his portmantell was found many Commissions for Prince Charles to sign and seale, and other papers of great concernment, he was brought to London, his person secured, and the papers referred to the Committee at Derby house.

[Page 6] By Letters out of Kent it is advertized, that the Forces under command of Commissary Gen. Ireton, and Collonell Rich are in a posture to receive the Duke of Yorkes Forces, if they land, and are very vigilant to attend the motion of them.

The Kentish-men have declared their resolution to assist them, protesting to hazard lives and fortunes for the preser­vation of the peace of their native Country, against all force or power either forreign or domestique.

It is further advertized from Colchester, that the besieged having received intelligence of the Duke of Yorks comming to the Downs, are grown very obstinate and resolute & have set forth a flag of Defiance, and refuseth to hearken to a sur­render, notwithstanding the late summons, and fair promises of the Lord Generall. Sir Charles Lucus tels the souldiers, that he hath received a message from the Duke of Yorke, and declares, that his Highnesse will send relief to them before Friday night.

Colchester 19. Iuly, 1648.