A great and bloody FIGHT AT COLCHESTER, AND The storming of the Town by the Lord General's Forces, with the manner how they were repulsed and beaten off, and forced to retreat from the Walls, and a great and terrible blow given at the said storm, by Granades and Gunpowder. Likewise their hanging out the Flag of Defiance, and their sallying out upon Tuesday last, all the chief Officers engaging in the said Fight, and Sir Charles Lucas giving the first onset in the Van, with the number killed and taken, and Sir Charles Lucas his Declaration. London Printed for G. Beal, and are to be sold in the Old-Bayley, and near Temple Bar, 1648. A perfect RELATION Of the bloody storming at COLCHESTER Right Honoured, YEsterday being the 18. of this instant, about four of the clock in the afternoon the great Guns from Colchester played exceeding hard, both against our great Mount, and several other Works and Fortifications. They killed one of our Gunners at the great Mount, 3 or 4 private Soldiers, 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, playing six pieces altogether for the space of two hours against their Royal 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 brass Pieces, & (its said) wounded the said Thompson. We have stormed one of their strongest Fortifications, near the town, but before we could gain it, we had a hard disputation, they knocked us off of our ladders, and threw down great stones and brickbats 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 Gatehouse, casting Granados out of their hands over amongst the Soldiers, and one of the said Granades falling into a room where their Magazine lay, blew up divers barrels of powder, and about 60. Soldiers, giving a most great and terrible blow. Whereupon the rest of their men that defended the said Fortification cried 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 spoilt with the blow. This was a very considerable place, add advantageous to the Enemy, the loss of which did infuse a great deal of wrath and terror in the heart of Sir Charles Lucas, and caused him to make a desperate sally out upon us, but were repulsed and beaten in with loss. Whereupon he shot several Granades out of the town and fired all the Suburbs, and upon Sunday and Monday lais● played 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 several advantages to play upon us, which doth embolden them the more, and upon Tuesday morning last, before the Trevalle had beat, Sir Charles Lucas sallied 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 coming, prepared to receive them, who upon their near approach gave them such a volley that they retreated, but immediately rallied and came on again; insomuch that there happened 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 coming 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. john's, and have made a great breach in the town walls, notwithstanding their Woolsacks, which our Soldiers fetched 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 General Cromwell and his Forces advanced from Pembroke towards the North of England on Friday last, and is resolved to join with Major General Lambert, to hinder the Scots marching Southward, and to fight with them; for we are credibly informed, that they have entered England, & with a very considerable Army, are come on this side of Carlisle. we are advertized, that about 1500. men looked upon the English shore to relieve Sandon and Deal Castles in Kent, but finding our Forces readier than they expected to engage with them, they packed 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 brief Abstract of several Lettees from the North. By letters from the North it is certified, That on Tuesday last Sir Marm. Langdale joined 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 hear much from thence. The Scots possess Barwick, Tuesday next Col. Lesley Nephew to Gen. Lesley, is to be Governor. The House receiving Letters from Major Gen. Lambert, signifying that an Army of Scots were come into this Kingdom, under the command of D. Hambleton, the Commons declared those forces which in a hostile manner have entered this Kingdom to be Enemies, and that all persons which adhere unto them either of this Kingdom or of Ireland, are traitors and Rebels. They debate concerning the place for the Treaty, whether at London, or ten miles distant, London not by any means 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 near that Town, 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 says, that they were designed to a Gentleman of Lincolnshire, which had formerly served the King, whereupon the Governor 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 been in pursuit of the D. of Buckingham's party returned back again and ferried over at Putney into Surrey, and are designed again into Kent, he fears increasing in that county by reason of some ships which are said to be coming thither out of Holland, with whom, the report goes, is the Duke of Yo●k or the Prine, but it's 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 coming 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 seal, and other papers of great concernment, he was brought to London, his person secured, and the papers referred to the Committee at Derby house. By Letters out of Kent it is advertized, that the Forces under command of Commissary Gen. Ireton, and Colonel Rich are in a posture to receive the Duke of York's 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 foreign or domestic. It is further advertized from Colchester, that the besieged having received intelligence of the Duke of Yorks coming 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 General. Sir Charles Lucus tells the soldiers, that he hath received a message from the Duke of York, and declares, that his Highness will send relief to them before Friday night. Colchester 19 july, 1648. FINIS.