AFter a long and tedious Siege, (in as wet a season as hath been known) an enemy of a desperate and high resolution, have at last brought themselves to a low and miserable condition, and some of them being made examples of Justice, the best of the Conditions of the rest, is Imprisonment; it was their wilfull ob­stinacie, and hautinesse of spirit, that lost them the opportunity when they might have had honourable Terms.

Three times were the Enemy in Colchester invited to a Treaty by the Lord General, twice had conditions sent in, but scorn and reproach was the return, and the Trumpeter the last time (as appears by writing under the hands of the Lord Goring, Capell, and Lucas) threatned to be hanged if he came any more upon such a message: Though this night have provoked, and taken off all inclinations of mercy towards them, yet endeavors were not wanting on our parts to undeceive many of the poor, deceived and deluded souldiers, from whom their Officers con­cealed all overtures of a Parley, or Conditions. Arrows were shot severall times into the Town, to let the souldiers know the Conditions offered, and that yet they might have Passes to go to their severall homes, and above 300 souldiers came from the Enemy upon that ac­count, and received their Passes accordingly.

When Captain Storm without, and Captain Hunger within, were both prepared to joyn Forces together to break through their stone walls, then the Enemy was not so high before, but they were as low now, and sent (assoon a our Canon had made a breach in the wall) for a Parley, and prevailed with the Committee their prisoners, to intercede for it, and likewise the Townsmen to mediate on the behalf of the [Page 2]Town, but they had slipt their time: Our souldiers were exasperated with the losse of the blood of their fellow souldiers, (many being slain with chewed and poysoned bullets;) yet his Excellencie, that all might not suffer alike, sent in these Conditions following, viz. That all private souldiers, and Officers, under Captains, shall have Passes to go to their se­verall homes, engaging themselves not to bear Arms hereafter against the Parliament; and all Captains, and superiour Officers, and Gentlemen, to submit to Mercy. And understanding these Overtures, (as the former had been) were concealed from the private souldiers, we conveyed con­ditions in writing to them by annexing them to the Tail of a Paper Kite, which the wind blew into the Town, (a truer story then the Cities Colchester Bull,) which falling among the souldiers, a horseman endea­vouring to get it from the foot to carry it to the Generals, occasioned a muterlie, the foot crying out, They would know what those written Papers meant that were annexed to it, which being read unto them, and perceiving good Conditions intended to them, made such an im­pression upon their spirits, that they told their Officers, Either instant­ly make Terms or else they would desert them, or deliver them up to the mercy of our souldierss

Immediately after the Lord Goring, &c. sent out for a Parley upon Terms of mercy, and Quarter offered, for the surrender of the Town, and accordingly sent forth their Commissioners, whose chief time was spent in explaining the meaning to submit to Mercy, which being ex­plained by our Commissioners, (and admitted of by theirs,) that it was meant thereby, That it was in the Generals power to save any of those who did so submit to Mercy, or to put them to the sword: The Articles being signed upon Munday August 28. 1648. The Town was Surren­dered, and the three Generals, all Officers, and Gentlemen render themselves at Mercy, and the private souldiers and inferiour Officers up­on quarter. The same day examples of Justice was done upon Sir Charles Lucas, and Sir George Lyle, the former was conceived (and too true) to be the cause of the ruine of this place, his interest in the Town draw­ing the Army thither. He was the head of all those that did rise in this County, and so brought the odium of the countrey upon him, and at last grew harsh to the Towns people, (a thing contrary to his wonted dis­position) when they complained for want of bread, not regarding what miserie he brought upon that place where he was born; besides, It was affirmed unto him by four persons at his death, That he put two men to [Page 3]the sword with his own hands in cold blood, long after quarter granted,

The other, (as was informed) was a great cause of burning of the houses about the Town, and a person bent to much mischief.

This is the first example of Justice that ever was shewed in this kinde (since the first and second war) by the Parliaments party, though it be according to the rules of war (in submitting to Mercy;) the example hereof was given by the Kings party in the West, when 14 country men, that among others submitted to Mercy, were all hanged up together.

For those Officers and souldiers who were imployed by the Parlia­ment, and deserted their truth, they are to be tryed by a Councell of War, and some of them to be made examples for their Treachery.

Colonel Farre was the third man assigned to suffer with these two, but being concealed he could not then be found, though since he is taken, whom the Country cries out much upon, because he drew many an inno­cent man of the Trained band under the pretence to muster, not know­ing they should ingage in matter of blood, he never discovering unto them what his intentions were of ingaging them in a Warre against the Parliament.

The fourth man that was brought to the place of Execution with the other two that suffered, was Sir Bernard Gascoyne an Jtalian, who after he had declared himself a Papist, and preparing for death, was reprieved. The cause of his being one designed for example, was, his extroardinary forwardnesse in appearing in person in Kent with the Lord Goring, in putting that County into a posture of Armes, in persisting in that way here in Essex, and being a man of great action during the siege; and be­sides, that it might be an example for strangers and forraigners how they presume in an other Nation, to take that boldnesse and confidence, as to cast themselves out of their protection by ingaging in unwaranta­ble actions: The carriage of this person, as a souldier was faire towards our party, and so mercy obtained for him.

I or the L Goring whom the people cry so out upon for justice against him and the like against the L. Capell, and the L. Loughborow, the Gen. and Counsell of War in a speciall manner, left them to the mercy of the Par. that the expectation of the people may be satisfied, in the Parl. doing justice upon some, (a thing they have long look'd for) all the rest who have likewise submitted to mercy, are likewise left to the mercy of the Parliament, if they think fit to proceed against them in a way of justice. These men had not come to this sharpe accompt, but that God had har­dened [Page 4]their hearts, which were full of bitterness of spirit, against this handfull of men, that did besiege them, hoping (according to Sir An­thony, St. Legers Letter to one of the Captaines in Colchester) to extir­pate and destroy all those that were honest Christians, under the notion of Independents, &c.

The Town hath suffered aswell as the men, being ruined in its buildings, Provisions, People, & Trade; what faire streets are here of stately houses now laid in ashes? How eminent are their graneries of Corne, (which before the enemies came, exceeded all parts of England) And their Cel­lers and storehouses of Wine and fruit, where there was plenty be­fore, are empty now; they who had houses to live in, now live desolate for want of habitation, and those who had formerly their tables furnished with variety of dishes (besides their usuall dainties of Oysters and Ringo Roots) have for a long time fed upon Horses, Dogs, and Cats, Starch, Bran, and Graines, and that with much greediness, and many star­ved to death by hunger.

The cheife Minister of this place, Mr. Harmar, that not long before stirred up the people against the Army, branding them with the names of Heretiques, and Schismaticks, and the people of the Towne who af­fronted and abused our souldiers when they quartered there, now both Ministers and people have longed for their deliverance by the hands of those whom they so much dispised before.

What place in the Kingdome like this drove such a Trade with Lon­don in all the former Warres, but since they Traded with Cavaliers, and admitted them so freely into their Towne, what place hath been more debarred thereof? Let this be a warning to London how they imbrace those whom God fights against, and how they hereafter cast off those whom God ownes.

If it be asked why the L. Goring &c. held out so long? it is answered, (as some of their party have confessed) that they did it to the end, th [...] Parliament might be cudgelled with a Reformado party, and that the Generall and those Forces with him might be here so engaged, as not to be able to resist the Kings friends from risiing in a body, in any part of the Kingdome.

And if it be wondered why we lay so long before that place, I can only offer this as my owne observation, that we were too few to storm the place, they being between five and six thousand when we sate downe before it and we but 1500. foot of the Army, besides part of [Page 5]two Regiments of the Essex Trained-bands, our strength was better in horse, and besides, it was held a thing advisable (since we had an enemy) rather to tempt him to stay at such a distance (as this is) from London, then to follow them, and be far off, and so unable to helpe the Parlia. if they stood in need, and besides, the souldiers being kept in continuall action, in making of works, and approaches, would keep them more in health, and make them better souldiers, and our Army now at present is stronger then when we at first sate down before this place.

The like Line, Regular works, Fortifications, and Approaches, have not been made in any part of the Kingdome since the first warres began.