A GREAT VICTORY OBTAINED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord General Fairfax NEAR The Island of Mersey, against the Forces of the Lord Goring, both by Land and Sea, With a List of the number that were slain and taken prisoners, the Seamen totally routed, 22 Pieces of Ordnance taken, with all their Arms, Powder, Match, and Bullet.  
Also another Fight at Wivener, within two miles of Coulchester, 16. slain, 40 taken prisoners, and the surprising of Lieut. Col. Gardner, and a Party of Walloons, by captain. Fisher, with his Suffolk Horse.  
〈…〉 Examination before the General, and their Co● … ●ouching their marching up to the Walls of 〈…〉 and joining with a Party to plunder the City.  
June 23 L●●●●●, Printed for R. W. Anno Dom. 1648.   


C R   
Another FIGHT NEAR Coulchester, betwixt the ships which came in to his Excellency the Lord General, and the ships belonging to the Lord Goring.  
SIR,  
ON Monday last being the 19 of this instant, Captain Peacock and two more of the Harwich ships, which came in to the assistance of his Excellency the Lord General, engaged with the two ships that the Forces in Colchester had to lay open the River, and secure their passage in and out, and had a very desperate fight, discharging several broad sides, and were often upon boarding, but still repulsed by each other, with exceeding gallantry and resolution, the Docks being very well man'd with half pikes and other necessaries for War.  
This conflict continued for the space of half an hour, the victory being very doubtful on which side it would be given, till at the last a party of our Dragoons were sent from Mersey Fort, who joined with the Sea men, and fought resolutely; but at the last the victory were given to our party, for by the assistance of the Land-forces, the Seamen boarded the Enemies two ships with the loss of 7. men, three slain and two wounded, killed a Boston, and 7 or 8 Mariners, took about 60. prisoners, 22. pieces of ordnance, 70. Sea muskets, 100 half pikes, two Tun of Match, 9 Barrels of powders, great store of Bullets, and plenty of provisions, both for cheese, Biscuits, Butter, salt Beef, etc.  
The Enemy hearing that their ships were engaged, they hastened to send supplies for their relief, which they did. but before they could get to them, both the ships were seized on, the men secured, and the prize brought ashore; but because this party should not lose their labour, a party of the Lord Generals engaged them at Wivenall, a Village they hitherto possessed, fought with them, killed 16. and took 40. prisoners, with the loss of 7 men.  
One of the Frigates which were taken carried 12. piece of ordnance, the other ten; the one is sent away, the other stays here.  
We have had several skirmishes with the Enemy, within these two or three days, they are a very resolute and obstinate party, but we have divers of them prisoners, and amongst the rest, a party of Walloons, who were going to the Enemy, extraordinary well mounted and as well armed with Blunderbasse Pistols, each of which would carry seven Bullets: this party was intercepted by the Suffolk horse commanded by cap. Fisher, who after a short dispute, took most of them prisoners, and seized on their Horse and Arms.  
Lieut. col. Gardner, once Vice-governor of Far●ington house, with about 30. more, were also set upon by a party of our Horse, and secured, and were brought prisoners to the General.  
And upon their examination before his Excellency, they confessed, that their intent was to go through Colchester into Suffolk, so into Norfolk, and back through Cambridgeshire, by which time they should have a gallant Army, and then they would up to the very walls of London, where their own party would join with them in plundering that Rebellious city; and then how shall the Royalist, Independent, or Presbyterian be distinguished? and must all be involved in ruin.  
The great Work upon the top of the Hill is finished, it holds 1000 men, the great Canons are planted, and upon Monday last they began to play, 8 Piece; were discharged six several times together.  
The General hath received a Letter from Sir William Masham, and the rest of the Committee under restraint in Colchester, intimating, That they made it their request to his Excellency, to enter into a Treaty for peace, and in the same Paper a line or two signed, Norwich, Capel, Lucas, That they thought fit to give the Committee leave to sign that paper, and that they intended by it a general peace. No answer as yet returned, and believed the Committee was forced to sign this paper.  
The party in the town are fortifying, and endeavour provisions from Tendering Hundred, which cannot be considerable, nor yet prevented, unless the Suffolk forces were come up, for whom col. Whaley is gone; they are imposing a fine upon the town, forcing all between 16. and 60. to bear arms, and are preparing horse-mils, and hand-mils to grind their corn.  
The Lord General begun a work yesterday at the North gate, and the Soldiers maintain it with much gallantry and resolution.  
The Trumyeter with a message for a treaty is not yet returned, nor must not, till the Morter-piece and Granades come up, and then accept of what the General offers, else Thunderbolts and Granades will be their doom.  
They have twice marched out with foot and long Boats to regain Mersey Island, but returned with loss, for our Forces fell upon them, and beat them back into the town.  
The soldiery gins to despair, but the Earl of Norwich feeds their fancies with vain delusions, telling them, That the General had sent a Trumpeter to them, offering to draw off, bid them chew their bullets all the Roundheads in London were plundered, only their friends had left some for them, as deserving it. And he further intimated, that Maj. Gen. Langdale with 10000 men were within 15. miles, and would fall on the General's Rear very suddenly.  
On Monday the Bells in the 16. Parishes rung till night, for joy of the blowing up the Parliament house, for so it were suggested to the soldiery. They keep no Matches ligted, unless upon duty.  
The General hath set forth a Proclamation against the straggling Soldiers of his Army, which followeth in these words.  

WHereas I am informed that many Soldiers of the Army do ordinarily absent themselves from their quarters and colours, and straggle about the country, whereby much opportunity and liberty is taken to plunder and abuse the country, and commit many outrages, the guards and other services are neglected, and some are taken prisoners by the Enemy; for prevention whereof for the future, since the pretence of seeking for victuals, under which this liberty hath been taken, is now provided against, by an orderly course of supplying the Army with provisions: I do hereby order and require, That henceforth no Soldier or Officee do presume to straggle a mile from the Leaguer, or stir away from their Colours and duty, under pain of being severely proceeded against recording to the Articles of War in that behalf; And all officers are hereby required twice at least in every 24. hours, to call over the List of the soldiers in their respective Troops and Companies, and to take special notice of such as shall at any time be found absent without order or leave, that they may be duly proceeded against, and punished as aforesaid.  
Given under my hand and seal, June 16. 1648. T. FAIRFAX.   
Since the proclaiming of this Order, the Soldiery keeps together, which doth prove far more disadvantageous to the enemy, then formerly, by reason our Guards are more strong and secure, and able to oppose the enemy upon any attempt whatsoever, which they have since found, and smarted for; as appears by their late attempt this morning upon two of our Guards, near the North gate, who upon their sallying forth, our Sentinels discovered them, and gave fire, which gave an alarm to the Guards, who immediately were in a readiness to receive them, and upon the Enemies advance they fired at each other, but did not dispute the business long, for upon the approach of a party of Horse, the Enemy retreated, our men pursued, and in the pursuit took 15. prisoners, killed 6. with the loss of one Corporal, and a private Soldier.  
From the Headquarters near Colchester June 21. 8. at night, 1648.  
Imprimatur  
G. M.   
FINIS.