A DIARY of the Siege of Colchester by the Forces under the Command of his Excellency the Lord General FAIRFAX.  

Tuesday June 13.  
HIS Excellency the Lord Fairfax engaged in the fields before Colchester, near St. Mary's, the Lord goring Forces, together with the Forces under Command of the Lord Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas, and beat them into the Town; Colonel Sir William Leyton, and between 4 and 500 of the Enemy were taken prisoners, (200 of them being of Colonel Fare (the Apostate) his Regiment,) and in pursuit of the rest, Col. Barkestead, with his Regiment, entered the Suburbs as far as head-Gate, and entered the Gate, but being overpowered there, and out of the Church yard, the Enemy Barricadoed the Gate, (leaving near 500 men to our mercy;) yet notwithstanding those foot, and Col. needham's fought many hours after, in hopes to gain the Town at that place, but could not, the enemy making good resistance; there were slain of the Enemy's part, Colonel Sir William Campion, Colonel Cook, and divers Officers of quality, and about 80 private soldiers; Colonel Panton, Capt. Brunkerd, Clifford, Worsop, and divers other Officers wounded. On the Lord Fairfax side, Col. Needham, Capt. Laurence of Horse, Capt. Cox of foot, and near 100 private soldiers and inferrior Officers were slain: when we entered the Suburbs, the Lord Goring was Summoned, but returned an Answer not becoming a Gentleman: The Enemy's word at the Fight was Charles, the ground they fought upon, Maries: Ours, God's our help.  

The Forces under the Command of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax engaged in the Fight before Colchester, June 13.1648.  
As also the names of the chief Commanders and persons of Quality of the Lord goring Forces engaged at that Fight.  



His Excellency's forces engaged in that Fight.  
Part of His Excellency's Regiment of Horse, being four Troops, Commanded by Major Desbrough.  
Of Colonel whaleys Regiment, six Troops, Commanded by himself.  
Of Colonel fleetwood's, five Troops, Commanded by Major Coleman.  
Three troops of Commissary General Iretons, Commanded by Captain Cecil.  
Two Troops of Dragoons, Commanded by Captain Freeman and Captain Barrington.    


Of Foot.  
Col. Barksteeds Regiment Commanded by himself, consisting of ten companies, about 800 men.  
Col. needham's Regiment, lately the Tower Regiment, Commanded by Col. Needham, being seven Companies, and about 400 men.  
Part of Colonel Inglesbies' Regiment, of four Companies, Commanded by Capt. Grimes, 320 men.    


Of the Essex Forces.  
Col. Harlackendens Regiment, of four Troops of horse, Commanded by major Robert Sparrow;  
and Capt. Turner's Troop of Dragoons.  
Sir Thomas Hunniwoods' Regiment of Foot  
Colonel Cooks Regiment of Foot, both which said Regiments consisted of Auxiliaries, and Trained bands.  
The County Forces of Essex left to secure Chelmsford and Maulden, two considerable Passes, lest more Forces should resort from London to the Lord Goring.  
Colonel Henry Mildmaies Regiment of Horse, and two Troops of Dragoons.  
Part of Colonel Carew Mildmaies Regiment of Foot, Commanded by Major Bard.  
The Suffolk Forces, who made good the Passes over the River at Nailand, Stratford, and Cadaway, lest the Enemy should escape towards Suffolk and Norfolk, were under the Command of Captain Fisher, Captain Brandling, and Captain Sparrow, besides the assistance which Captain Ball, Captain Cox, and the rest of the Sea Commanders gave to secure the River.  
The Suffolk Forces that. came afterwards to help besiege this Town. Colonel Gourdons Regiment of horse.    


Of Foot Regiments.  
Colonel Sir Thomas Barnardistons,  
Colonel Fethergils',  
Colonel Harveys,  
Colonel Bloises.    


Of the Army that came up after the fight.  
Colonel Scroop, with three Troops of horse of his Regiment.  
The Lord goring Forces engaged in that Fight.    


Of Horse.  
Lord goring Regiment.  
Lord Capulets Regiment.  
Sir William Comptons'.  
Colonel Slingsbies'.  
Colonel Sir Bernard Gascoignes.  
Colonel hamond's.  
Colonel Culpeppers.    


Of Foot.  
Sir Charles Lucas his Regiment.  
Sir George Lisl●s Regiment.  
Colonel Tilleys Regiment.  
Colonel Tewk his Regiment.  
Colonel Farrs Regiment.  
Colonel Gilburds Regiment.  
Colonel Sir William Campions Regiment, himself slain.  
Colonel Burds Regiment.  
Colonel Bowmans' Regiment.  
Colonel Chester's Regiment.    


Colonels who had no Command of Regiments, yet assisting at that Fight.  
Earl Louborough,  
Lord Hastings,  
Sir William Leyton, Colonel, taken Prisoner, and wounded,  
Colonel Sir Richard Hastings,  
Colonel john Heath,  
Colonel Lee of Kent,  
Colonel Panton wounded,  
Colonel Cook slain,  
Colonel Sir Hugh Orelie,  
Quartermaster Gen. Col. William Maxey,  
Col. Pilman,  
Col. Beal,  
Lieu. Col Hatch slain,  
Major Jammot, Adjutant Gen, besides divers Lieutenant Colonels and Majors who were assistants, but had no Commands.       

Wednesday 14.  
His Excellency perceiving the Enemy would not stand the field, resolved to sit down before the Town in order to asiege (being too few to storm it) having not then, nor when be first engaged, 1500 old foot, and but about 1500 horse, and two Troops of Dragoons, (besides the two Regiments of the Trained Bands, under Col. Sir Thomas HunniWood, and Col. Cook,) the Enemy at that time being about 6000 Horse and Foot in Town, and the Town and Suburbs larger in compass than Oxford, and would require 5000 men to besiege it; appointed Lexden in the road to London for the Head-Quarter, where the greatest body was to lie, to prevent more aid for coming from London to the Lord Goring, and kept strong Guards of Horse on Cambridge road, on the other side the River, that they might not escape Northward, to join with Sir Marmaduke Langdale, leaving no place open to them, but towards the Sea, where they could not go far; and the same day his Excellency sent a party of Horse to secure Mersey Island, to prevent the Revolted ships from coming Into the River to relieve the Town; the Enemy sent Colonel Tuke with a strong party an hour after, but came too late.   

Thursday 15.  
The Enemy's Canon from the Royal Fort at St. Mary's, played very hard, killed several of our men, as they did the day before; some, as they were raising the first Work; called Fort Essex, others as they were straggling in the field.   

Friday 16.  
Nothing of importance happened, but three of Captain Canons men killed with a Canon Bullet.   

Saturday 17.  
A Trumpet sent in about the Exchange of prisoners, and this day the Enemy got provisions out of Tendering Hundred, which we could not prevent till the Suffolk Forces marched to our assistance.   

Sunday 18.  
We took two of their Frigates, the one with ten, the other with eleven Guns. And this day Colonel Ewers came up with six Companies from Chepstow Castle: The Essex foot under Sir Thomas Hunniwood and Colonel Cook endured many Canon shot this day, and were very ready upon an Alarm.   

Monday 19  
The party of Horse sent from the Leaguer under Major Sparrow and Capt. Wallington, engaged the Enemy at Linton, (coming to assist Goring,) where Major Muschampe and others of the Enemy's side were slain, and Master Reynolds, and others taken prisoners, the rest (about 500) dispersed. This day a Trumpet came from the Lord Goring, pretending to disre a Treaty of Peace.   

Tuesday 20.  
Answer returned, if a general Peace was intended, that then it was proper for the Parliament to determine of that, and offered them in that answer Conditions, viz. The Gentlemen and Officers to go beyond sea, and the soldiers to go home, without prejudice.   

Wednesday 21.  
The Enemy returned a scornful answer, moving for a free-trade for the Townsmen.   

Thursday 22.  
A small party of the enemy sallied out to view a new Work (afterwards called Col. Ewers Fort) but were instantly beaten in by Musqueteers. Their Canon killed two men of ours. That day the Lord Goring sent a summons to the Suffolk Forces at Cattaway-Bridge, Commanded by Capt. Fisher, and Capt. Brandling, to join with him, which they refused, expressing their Resolution still to adhere to the Parliament and Army.   

Friday 23.  
The Guns began this day to play from our new Battery, which much annoyed the Enemy at north bridge. His Excellency sent a Reply concerning his former offer, offering the same Condtions again to all in the Town, Except the Lord Goring, Lord Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas.   

Saturday 24.  
One of the Enemy's Cannoneers was killed. This day the Suffolk Forces advanced out of their own County, and took up their quarters upon Mile-end, over against the North-gate, being about 2500. horse and foot, leaving a guard at Cattaway, and Nayland, to secure those passes.   

Sunday 25.  
Nothing of importance.   

Monday 26.  
A party of Col. Barkesteads Foot (the Enemy being drawn out near the Almshouse) beat them from the Hedges, and from their Court of guard, fired the guard house, and brought away the hour glass by which they stood Sentry.