5 Iulii, 11 at night.  
A LETTER From the Leaguer before Colchester, Sent to the honourable Committee at DERBY-House, OF The great Fight between his Excellency The Lord FAIRFAX, AND The Forces in Colchester.  
ORdered by the said Committee, That this Letter be forthwith Printed and Published.  
GUALTHER FROST secr.  
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the honourable House of Commons, July 7. 1648.   

At the LEAGUER before Colchester, July 5. Eleven at night.  
SIR,  
THe Enemy sallied forth at East-bridge about eight in the morning, with One thousand Foot and Three hundred Horse, and fell on our guard very suddenly, and surprised some of them being countrymen, the rest retreated to the main guard: Colonel Whaley perceiving what advantage the Enemy had got, presently advanced with his horse and got between them and home, whilst the Tower Regiment advanced towards the Front, and routed both Horse and Foot together, and took about One hundred prisoners, the most of them miserably wounded, the Soldiers giving them a payment for their poisoned Bullets: About Twenty of the Enemy was slain on the place, most Gentlemen, their good apparel and white skins speak no less: Lieutenant Colonel Weston, eldest Son to Sir Richard Weston, and two Captains more were taken prisoners, they confess they were One thousand Foot, besides Horse; and some of the prisoners say, a Colonel was slain on the place, where their Foot fell; the Retreat was so hasty, that our two Drakes which they surprised at East-bridge, they left behind, so that we gained them, the house and Turnpike, where we formerly were: Lieut: Colonel Shambroke was shot in the body, the Bullet since taken out, and we find it poisoned, boiled in copperas; our Soldiers hope to be revenged of them the next engagement for this poisoned Bullet: Captain Moody who commanded a Troop of Suffolk horse, was taken prisoner, engaging the Enemy very boldly in person; one Soldier had his Leg shot off with a great Bullet, and some wounded. The Enemy was this day so sufficiently beaten, that unless hunger, which breaks stone walls, enforce them to play their last game, they will no more appear.  
Your servant, J. R.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
The Colonel or person of quality slain, had Rings on his finger, which the Soldiers cut off before he was dead; many of them had two shirts on, which would make one believe they intended an escape. One Wood a Commander of Horse, lately a Supermerary Reformado, was slain on their side.  
FINIS.