Lieut: General Cromwell's LETTER TO The House of Commons, OF All the Particulars of taking the City of BRISTOL; And the manner of P: rupert's marching to Oxford.  
Together with two Orders;  
The one, for a Day of Thanksgiving in all parts of the Kingdom within the power of the Parliament.  
And the other, for a Collection for a distressed and plundered party in the said City of Bristol.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter and Orders be forthwith printed and published:  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, Sept. 18. 1645.   

SIR,  
IT hath pleased the General to give me in charge to represent unto you a particular Account of the taking of Bristol, the which I gladly undertake.  
After the finishing of that Service at Sherborn, it was disputed at a Council of War, whether we should march into the West, or to Bristol? Amongst other Arguments, the leaving so considerable an Enemy at our backs to march into the heart of the Kingdom, the undoing of the Country about Bristol, which was exceedingly harrassed by the Prince his being but a Fortnight thereabouts, the correspondence he might hold with Wales, the possibility of uniting the Enemy's Forces where they pleased, and especially the drawing to an Head the dis-affected Clubmen of Somerset, Wilts, and Dorser, when once our backs were towards them. These considerations, together with the taking so important a place, so Advantageous for the opening of Trade to London, did sway the balance, and begat that conclusion. When we came within four miles of the City, we had a new debate, whether we should endeavour to Block it up, or make a Regular Siege; The latter being overruled, Colonel Welden with his Brigade, marched to Pile-hill, on the South side of the City, being within Musket shot thereof, where in a few days they made a good Quarter, overlooking the City; upon our advance, the Enemy fired Bedminster, Clifton, and some other Villages, and would have fired the Country thereabouts, if our unexpected coming had not hindered. The General caused some Horse and Dragoons under Commissary General Ireton, to Advance over Avon, to keep in the Enemy on the North side of the Town, until the Foot could come up; and after a day, the General, with Colonel Mountagues, and Colonel Rainsbroughs Brigades, marched over at Keynsham to Stapleton, where he Quartered that Night; the next day, Colonel Montague having his Post assigned with his Brigade, was to secure all between Froom and Avon: he came up to Lawfords-gate, within Musket shot thereof: Colonel Rainsbroughs Post was near to Durdham Down, where the Dragooners and three Regiments of Horse made good a Post upon the Down between him and the River Avon on his right hand, and from Colonel Rainsborows, Quarters to Froom River on his left: A part of Colonel Birch, and Major General Skippons Regiment were to maintain that Post; these Posts being thus settled, our horse were forced to be upon exceeding great duty to stand by the foot, lest the foot being so weak in all their Posts, might receive an affront; and truly herein we were very happy, that we should receive so little loss by Sallies, considering the paucity of our men to make good the Posts, and the strength of the Enemy within, by Sallies, (which were three or four) I know not that we lost thirty men in all the time of our Siege; of Officers of quality, only Colonel Okey, was taken by mistake going to the enemy, thinking them to be friends, and Captain Guilliams slain in a charge: We took Sir Barnard Astley, and killed Sir Richard Crane, one very considerable with the Prince: We had a Council of War concerning the Storming of the Town about eight days before we took it, and in that there appeared great unwillingness to the work, through the unseasonableness of the weather, and other apparent difficulties. Some inducement to bring us thither, was the report of the good ●ffection of the Townsmen to us, but that did not answer expectation: Upon a second consideration, it was over-ru●●d for a ●●orme, which no sooner concluded, but difficulties were removed, and all things seemed to favour the d●signe● and indeed there h●th been seldom the like cheerfulness in Casticers and Soldier, to any work like to this, after it was once resolved on. The day and hour of our Storm, was appointed to be Wednesday morning the 10, about one of the clock; we chose to act it so early, because we hoped thereby to surprise the Enemy, with this resolution also (〈◊〉 avoid confusion, and falling foul upon one another) that when we had recovered the Line, and Forts upon it, we could not advance further until day: The General's signal unto the Storm was the firing of Straw, and discharging four piece of Canon at Prior hill Fort, the signal was very well perceived by all, and ●ruly the men went on with great resolution, and very presently, recovered the Line, making way for the horse to enter, Colonel Montague and Colonel Pickering who stormed at Lawfords gate, where was a double work well filled with men and canon, presently entered, and with great resolution be at the Enemy from their works, and possessed their canon, their expedition was such, that they forced the Enemy from their advantages, without any considerable loss to themselves, they laid down the Bridges for the horse to enter; Major Desborough commanding the horse, who very gallantly seconded the foot; then our foot advanced to the city walls, where they possessed the gate against the Castle-street, whereinto were put a hundred men, who made it good: Sir Hardresse Waller with his and the General's Regiment, with no less resolution, entered on the other side of Lawfords Gate towards Avon River, and put themselves into an immediate conjunction with the rest of the Brigade: During this, Colonel Rainsborow and Colonel Hamond attempted Prior-hill Fort, and the Line downwards towards Froom, Colonel Birch, and the Major General's Regiment being to Storm towards Froome River; Colonel Hamond possessed the Line immediately, and beating the Enemy from it, made way for our horse to enter: Colonel Rainsborow, who had the hardest task of all at Prior hill Fort, attempted it, and fought near three hours for it; and indeed there was great despair of carrying the place, it being exceeding high, a Ladder of thirty rounds sca●ce reaching the top thereof; but his resolution was such, that not withstanding the inaccessablènesse and difficulty, he would not give it over: The Enemy had four piece of canon upon it, which they plied with round and case shot upon our men, his Lieutenant Colonel Bowen, and others, were two hours at push of Pike, standing upon the Pallizadoes but could not enter; Col: Hamond, being entered the Line, and Capt. Ireton with a Forlorn of Col: Riches Regiment, interposing with his Horse between the Enemy's Horse and Col: Hamond, received a shot with two Pistol bullets, which broke his Arm, by means the entrance of Col. Hamond did Storm the Fort on that part which was inward: By which means, Col. Rainsbrough and Col: hamond's men entered the Fort, and immediately put to the Sword, almost all in it; and as this was the place of most difficulty, so of most loss to us on that side, and of very great honour to the undertaker. The Horse did second them with great resolution; both these Colonels do acknowledge, that their interposition between the Enemy's Horse and their Foot, was a great means of obtaining this strong Fort, without which, all the rest of the Line to Froom-River, would have done us little good; and indeed, neither Horse nor Foot would have stood in all that way, in any manner of security, had not the Fort been taken.  
Major Bethels were the first horse entered the Line, who did behave himself very gallantly, and was shot in the thigh, had one or two shots more, and his horse killed under him.  
Colonel Birch with his men, and the Major General's Regiment, entered with very good Resolution, where their Post was, possessing the Enemy's Guns, and turning them upon them.  
By this all the Line from Priors-hill Fort, to Avon, which was a full mile, with all the Forts, Ordnance, and Bulwarks, were possessed by us; but one wherein there were about an hundred and twenty men of the Enemy, which the General Summoned, and all the men submitted.  
The success on Colonel Weldens side, did not answer with this, and although the Colonels and other the Officers and Soldiers both Horse & Foot, testified very much resolution as could be expected; Colonel Welden, Col. Ingoldsby, Col. Herbert, and the rest of the Colonels, and Officers, both of Horse and Foot, doing what could be well looked for from men of honour, yet what by reason of the height of the Works, which proved higher than report made them, and the shortness of the Ladders, they were repulsed with the loss of about 100 men, Col. Fortescu●● Lieutenant colonel was killed, Major Cromwell dangerously shot, and two of Gol. Ingoldsbies' brothers hurt, with some Officers.  
Being possessed of thus much as hath been related, the Town was fired in three places by the Enemy, which we could not put out, and this begat a great trouble to the General, and us all, fe●ring to see so famous a City burnt to ashes before our faces, whiles we were viewing so sad a spectacle, and consulting which way to make further advantage of our Success; the Prince sent a Trumpet to the General, to desire a Treaty for the surrender of the Town, to which the General agreed, and deputed Colonel Montague, Col. Rainsborow, and Col. Pickering for that Service, Authorising them with Instructions to treat, and conclude the Articles which are these enclosed: For performance whereof, Hostages were mutually given on Thursday about two of the clock in the afternoon. The Prince ●●rched out having a convoy of two Regiments of Horse from us, and making Election of Oxford for the place he would go to, which he had liberty to do by his Articles.  
The Canon which we have taken are about one hundred and forty mounted, about 100 barrels of Powder, already come to our hands, with a good quantity of Shot, Ammunition, and Arms, we have sound already between two and three thousand Muskets. The Royal Fort had in it victuals for one hundred and fifty men, for three hundred and twenty days, the Castle victualled for near half so long: The Prince had foot of the Garrison as the Major of the City informed me, two thousand five hundred, and about one thousand horse, beside the Trained bands of the Town, and Auxiliaries one thousand, some say fifteen hundred; I hear but one man hath died of the Plague in all our Army, although we have quartered amongst and in the midst of infected persons and places, we had not killed of ours in this storm, nor all this siege two hundred men.  
Thus I have given you a true, but not a full account of this great business wherein he that runs may read that all this is none other than the work of God, he must be a very Atheist that doth not acknowledge it.  
It may be thought that some praises are due to these gallant men, of whose valour so much mention is made, their humble suit to you and all that have an interest in this blessing is, that in remembrance of God's praises they may be forgotten: It's their joy that they are instruments to God's glory, and their Country's good, it's their honour that God vouchsafes to use them: Sir, they that have been employed in this Service know, that faith and Prayer obtained this City for you; I do not say ours only, but of the people of God with you, and all England over, who have wrestled with God for a blessing in this very thing. Our desires are, that God may be glorified by the same Spirit of faith, by which we ask all our sufficiency, and having received it, it is meet that he have all the praise.  
Your humble Servant, Oliver Cromwell. From Bristol, 14. Sept. 1645.   

17. September, 1645.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That on the next Lordsday thanks be given unto God for the great Success he hath given unto the Parliaments Forces under Sir Tho. Fairfax their General, in taking in the City of Bristol, with the Castle and Forts, in all the Churches and Chapels within the Lines of Communication, and Bills of Mortality; and that the next Lordsday come Fortnight, being the fift day of October, in all the parts of the Kingdom, within the power of the Parliament; And that the Lord Major of the City of London, do give timely notice hereof, to all the Ministers within the Lines of Communication, and Bills of Mortality; And that the Knights and Burgesses of the several Counties, Cities, and Burroughs, do give notice hereof, and send Copies of this Order to the several Counties, Cities and Burroughs: It is further Ordered, Thatthe Relation sent up from Lieutenant General Cromwell by the command of the General, of Septemb. 14. be Printed, and Read upon the days on which public thanks are to be given unto God, for his great blessing in this Success given at Bristol,  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

17. September, 1645.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That on the next Lord's day on which public thanks is appointed to be given to Almighty God, for the great Success at Bristol, a collection be made in all the Churches and Chapels within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality: And the Moneys collected, paid into the Treasurers for maimed Soldiers, at Tallow-chandlers Hall, by the several collectors and receivers of the said Moneys, within two days after the said collection, and by the said Treasurers, distributed for the Relief of many distressed and Plundered people of Bristol and the places adjacent.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
FINIS.