WEE Are credibly informed from Colchester, that there hath beene little or no action, these three or foure dayes; the 29. of July a trum­peter came forth, who reporteth that the Towne is much straitned for want of provisions, yet saith the Souldiers are very cheerefull since they heard the Prince of Wales was at Yarmouth, and drinke his health in a cup of cold water, and a very good shift too, hoping ere long to have better drink.

The Councell of Warre agreed to shoot in papers with arrowes, to undeceive the Souldiery. The Lord Generall hath sent severall summons to the Town, in one of which he offered, that all private Souldiers & persons of that rank laying down armes, & enga­ging not to beare armes any more against the Parlia­ment, should have liberty and passes to go to their severall homes, and there quietly to abide. The Offi­cers and Gentlemen of qualitie, should have liberty, [Page 2]and passes to goe beyond the Seas with Equipage be fitting their qualities, engaging not to returns into this Kingdome without leave from the Parliament. And all persons to have quarters, and bee free from plunder, or violence of the Souldier; this being re­jected; and scornfully retorted by the Lords Norwich, Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas: The Generall yet offe­red to make good the same conditions to so many as should truly accept thereof, except those three per­sons themselves, which hath accordingly beene performed with advantage to all such as have come off.

Hee hath lately summoned them again to surren­der the Town, and the Officers to render them­selves to the mercy, and the rest only to future obe­dience of the Parliament. This also hath beene re­jected with scorne; nevertherlesser understanding that the Lords, Goring, Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas, and some Officers of their Councell, have concealed these overtures both from the Souldiers and Townsmen, and from many of the Officers, and that they have given out, as it they had good conditions off [...]red to themselves▪ if they would render up the Souldiers, and perceiving that the Townsmen and Souldiers have beene deluded by them, and their chiefe Agents, with daily expectation of reliefe, while there is none at all towards them: The Ge­nerall is willing to make good the same conditions to so many as shall timely accept thereof, except the Lords, Goring, Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas, with the Lord Loughborough, Colonell Far, Colonell Lawrence, and Captaine Lynn; and except all such souldiers as have beene in the Army since the siege, and are gone into the Towne.

Our forces also gave an Alarm to them in Colche­ster, the great Gunnes plaid round the Leaguer, and the foot with Volleys, in the mean time Colonell Rainsborough was acting his designe in cutting off a sluce, to divert the water, and fiering the middle Mill, the first tooke good effect, but the second little, the fire not burning above halfe a quarter of an houre, and then extinguisht, the foot went up to the neck in water to storme the Fort where the Mill was, effected it speedily, with the losse of three men, and tenne wounded, besides one drowned going over the River. The enemy drew down two or three small parties of Horse, who fac't but durst not engage, the Souldiers had not time to bring away the prisoners in the Fort, and therefore put them all to the sword. They within tooke the Alarm hot supposing a storm, but when they found it otherwise, they fired but lit­tle, beating their Kettles in scorne, and aferwards their D [...]ums in defiance of them.

Divers of the Besiegers being busied in making of a line through Maudlin streete, some of the Lord Capells Regiment of shavers sallied out of Buttolphs Gate upon them, with Pistolls and Sythes, and our workemen being gotten within Musquet shot of the foresaid gate; they immediately surprised three of them, one of which they hewed most fearfully with one of their Sythes; the rest hasting to our guard, were sudda nly rescued, and there began a short dispute betweene them, but our forces fired so fast upon them, that they forced them to retreate, and killed a Gentleman in Scarlet, who wee suppose to bee some eminent Commander.

The Suffolk side are a closing up their line, and a­bout [Page 4]bout Tuesday will have finished it; finished it; which when they have performed, his Excellency may spare a considerable number of horse and foot, if there should bee a good occasion.

The two demi-Cannon which were lately sent down were mounted against St. Maries Church, and after a few shots, brought down a great part of the Steeple, and the Ordnance mounted therein, which falling upon the Leads, brought down most of it with them, in which the Ordnance is buried. A party of ours endeavoured to fetch in some of their horse, which grazed neere the Towne walls, but immediately there issued forth a party of theirs, be­twixt whom there began some dispute, wherein was little or no hurt done, but our men retreating the besiegers had opportunity to remove their horse, at a farther distance, where they remaine with more security.

The Souldiers of this Garrison are very resolute and gallant-spirited, and not to bee frighted with e­very blast of winde, as their actions have made ma­nifest to the world, there is not so great want of pro­vision as is reported, for they have plenty of bread & water, with which the Souldiery are very well con­tented; and so long as that lasteth declare they will never desist the service or leave the Town.

The Souldiers in Portsmouth are much disconten­ted, but the Seamen more; being much wrought upon by the Royall party, who have instructions from others abroad; the Sea men must appeare, and act the designe, for which purpose about 300 came ashore, and in the midst of the Towne declare for King Charles: this puts the Governour and the other [Page 5]of South-Sea-Castle to a stand, the Alarm is given to the Soldiery, the Sea-men stand still till 300. were bodyed, upon whose advance the Sea men re­treate, the Souldiers pursue, but not with violence, or offering to fire; they get the Sea-men out of the Gates which being shut, all was pacified: the Plot tooke not with the discontented Souldiery, as pre-supposed, but the Sea men threaten a revenge.

From Scarborough wee are certified; that discon­tents and jealousies of many there, have beene very great, occasioned by some hint of the Governors Treachery, which was suspected many wayes, 1. By turning out Capt. Lawson, a faithfull honest man, that long served in that Garrison. 2. By countenan­cing all disaffected persons therein, and discounte­nancing the rest. 3. By procuring a ship for carying away his malignant Kinsman, and other Cavaliers with him, and giving great entertainment to the Kings Party, with whom hee was very frequent. 4. By expressing some ill placed words, which ten­ded to a deep construction of his royall affections. The jealousies are now confirmed by the Governot, Col. B [...]in [...]ons declaring, which is for the King and Prince Charles, his discontents, rather then hopes of a reward, prompts him to a desperate adventure, ha­ving had no pay, either for himselfe; or Souldiers for many moneths together; and though his Decla­ration be rash, yet hee admits of none of the Royall party to enter; and if an overture of Indempnity, with a considerable sum for himselfe and Souldiers were made, the difference might bee composed in all probability.

From the North it is by post, affirmed that Lieu­tenant [Page 6]Generall Cromwells horse, consisting of 30. od Troopes joyned with Major Generall Lambert the 27 which no sooner came neere the Major Generalls further quarters, but fell upon action with a small party, with which they resolved to try the Scots Scouts, who forc't them to retreate within 2 miles of Appleby, where their main guard was, the Scots ad­vance not, nor hath the Major Generall given ground this 10. daies and upwards, no Action betweene them, only the Scouts sometimes dispute it. The Major Generall encreases daily, his number consists of nine thousand, and with the foot of the Lieutenant Generall with other forces (joyned with him in Not­tingham, Leicester, and Derby shire; which will compleat-5000) his Army will bee very numerous, and more offensive then defensive. The Letters seized this day in two ships bound for Scotland, and brought to the Committee at Derby house, will discover much Roguery, when reported to morrow to the house; the armes are seized on, and the ships secured till further▪order. Lieutenant Generall Crom­well is to bee for certain to morrow night at Not­tingham, from whence hee speedily advances after hee hath joyned with other forces of those parts. The great additionall Army of Scots Marching into England, appeare to bee no otherwise then a Regi­ment of 600. poore Scots that are come to take pos­session of Berwick, who say all is their own on this side Trent.