THE VOTES AND PROCEED IN PARLIAMENT, FOR Bringing the King out of the Isle of WIGHT, within ten Miles of LONDON. The taking of the Isle of AXOM by Colonel Overton, and two Letters of the whole proceed at the Leaguer before Colchester, a Lieutenant Colonel, and many other Prisoners taken, and a great present sent to the Lord General. Also, The proceed against Major Rolfe, who is detected for a design to make away the King, and the vindication of Major General Skippon. July .3. d LONDON: Printed by B. A. MDCXLVIII. C R royal insignia The last NEWS From COULCHESTER. SIR, ACcording to my promise, I shall continue to give you the certain intelligence from hence: in my last I acquainted you of the Enemies quitting Sir Harbottle Grimstons' house and of our firing the Court of Guard by the Almshouses, which was on Tuesday last. On Wednesday the enemy lay very still in the town, the Suffolk Forces went on to entrench and put themselves as fast as they could out of danger, some of the Lord General's horse and foot do assist them for that it is thought those in the town will rather fall upon their quarters then of the old soldiers; and by this means we hold a good correspondency together, and keep the enemy in awe, they having made but one sally forth that way as yet, and then were well beaten in again. Wednesday night about 600. of our men in the dead of the night, cast up another Work near the town, the besieged perceived it, yet made not any sally forth, nor gave the assailants one shot till about six in the morning, at which time they sent out some great shot, but our men were then in a good condition, and not much to be annoyed, and all the execution which was then made, was the kill of two horses on our side, and one man; so we have made good the Work, and have also plained and made even the highway, for the more facile bringing up our train, which before for the roughness and narrowness of the passage threatened difficulty, and disadvantage to us. Our horseguard at Chelmford have brought in some persons which are suspected to be going with intelligence from London to Goring, and confessed going back, that they had a purpose to go into the town, but could not find an opportunity, far it was besieged close on all sides: Many escape out of the town to us, which protest they are in great straits, and that they cannot hold out long, their hay is spent, and corn grows scarce, our Mortar piece is coming up to us, and then we want not necessaries whereby to make them yield, if famine doth not compel them to it shortly, The Lord General is exceeding desirous to save the town, there being a great many well-affected godly persons that have estates there, come out to him, and others in the town which cannot get out, And indeed it could not be imagined (considering the former report that this whole County was against us) that we should have found so much friendship amongst them, as we must acknowledge we find from them, who voluntarily assist us with three Regiments of the County, and their hearts ready to bring provisions to our quarters upon all occasions. The town of Chelmsford sent a Present to the Lord General, of two Kegs of Sturgeon, two fresh Salmond, a Venison, a dozen of Pullet's, with great store of Fowl, a Vessel of Wine, with other Necessaries, so much a Vinegar to make sauce. From the Leaguer before Colchester, 29. June, 1648. Another Letter from before the Leaguer at Colchester SIR, SInce my last of the 29 of June being Thursday last, there hath happened these ensuing passages between us, and the forces in the Town: On Thursday in the afternoon was expected that they would make a sally forth as they use to do (like Birds in a Cage they struggle the more) whereupon we laid an ambuscado in the hedges, and faced the town with a party of horse, at length there was a party sallied forth, which was said to be commanded by the Lo. Digby, upon this approach our horse retreated, as if they had feared by reason of their number, to give them a charge, hereupon the Enemy pursued, and after our horse had retreated behind their Ambuscapo, they faced about in a body, standing as if they were resolved to rec●eie a charge, which the salliers forth were resolved to give, and to that end came on with great violence; but when they came where we had placed our ambushment, our men galled them very sore, and our horse came up and charged them repulsed the enemy, killed divers of them on the place, took a Leiu. Col. and divers others Prisoners, and pursued the Enemy to the Walls of the City We have almost finished our new work near the Almshouses, and have placed a Garrison in Grimston. and in another house near the suburbs: In the town they are making of hand-mills, and boast that they are victualled for a month, yet confess their allowances are very short already, and are in want of Horse meat, when our great pieces and the Mortarpeice comes ●rom Windsor, which we daily expect, you will hear for more action. Sir, I remain, Your humble servant. From the Leaguer before Colchester, June 1. 1648. Westminster the 2 of July, 1648. A Letter from Westminster, to the Army before Colchester. SIR, I Have received daily intellegence of your proceed at the Leaguer, and shall take an occasion to communicate unto you such news are we have here, and that which is remarkable in the first place is, that the Parl. referred the business concerning the K. and a personal treaty, to a Committee to consider of, and report, about which business the said Committee met on Thursday last, and drew up certain particulars to be recommended to the Houses; one of the particulars thought fit by them to be represented to the approbation of the House was, That forthwith there might be a personal trerty with his Majesty, 2 That the Bills formerly in debate to be presented to his Majesty for the royal assent before a treaty were begun, might not be tendered to his Majesty before the treaty begun These and some other things were reported to the house by the said Committee on Friday, and after some debate thereon, the further consideration of some particulars thereofy was referred to another day, viz his Majesty's coming out of the Isle of Wight, & to which of his houses he should comewithin ten or twelve miles of London, of which you will hear more shortly. By Letters out of Lincolnshire it is advertized that that Col: Overton having notice that the Enemy from Pomfret castle had gotten into the Isle of Axom he sent 200 of his men in boats over the water at Eyre's mouth and upon their approach the Enemy all fled and made what shift they could to get awar, so that that place is regained without the loss of any blood which we hereof. Upon M●▪ Osburns testimony in that business concerning the King the Lords ordered, Maj. Rolfe to be committed to safe custody, but the messenger, which had the order could, not at present light on him, and yesterday it was certified that he was at his lodging in Bishopsgate-street, and some testimony was given that he was not well in health, and the removing his person to a close place might endanger his life, whereupon their Lordships, ordered that three or four able Chirurgeons, go to him, and take a view of his grief and certify concerning the same which they did accordingly, and came this day to the house to make report thereof, which was to this purpose, that the said Major Rolf had been long ill of an ague, and had a humour fallen down into one of his: hips, which caused a humour and swelling there, but thought it no danger of death, leaving the disposal of his person to their Lordship's considerations, he already being in custody. Before I leave this subject, I cannot but inform you of a great abuse and scandal, which is put upon Maj. Gen. Skippon, and having been openly reported, and some Libels printed, that this Major Rolf is his Son in Law, and endeavours are thereby to cast an aspersion upon that Gent. where as in truth this man, though of the name, is not the person, neither as I heard, was he ever a member of this Army, but was a shoemaker in Blackfriars; which is all at the present from, 2 July 1648. Your affectionate Friend, S. T. Imprimatur G. M. FINIS.