ACcording to my promise, I shall continue to give you the certain intelligence from hence: in my last I acquainted you of the Enemies quitting Sir Harbottle Grimstons house and of our firing the Court of Guard by the Almshouses, which was on Tuesday last. On Wednesday the enemy lay very still in the town, the Suffolk Forces went on to intrench and put themselvs as fast as they could out of danger, some of the Lord Generals horse and foot do assist them for that it is thought those in the town will rather fal up­on their quarters then of the old souldiers; and by this means wee hold a good correspondency together, and keep the enemy in awe, they having made but one fally [Page] forth that way as yet, and then were well beaten in again. Wednesday night about 600. of our men in the dead of the night, cast up another Work neere the town, the besieged perceived it, yet made not any salley forth, nor gave the assaylants one shot till a­bout six in the morning, at which time they sent out some great shot, but our men were then in a good condition, and not much to be annoyed, and all the execution which was then made, was the killing of two horses on our side, and one man; so wee have made good the Worke, and have also plained and made even the high-way, for the more facile bring­ing up our train, which before for the roughnesse and narrownesse of the passage threatned difficulty, and disadvantage to us. Our horseguard at Chelm­ford have brought in some persons which are sus­pected to be going with intelligence from London to Goring, and confessed going back, that they had a purpose to go into the town, but could not find an opportunity, far it was besieged close on all sides: Many escape out of the town to us, which protest they are in great straights, and that they cannot hold out long, their hay is spent, and corne growes scarce, our Morter piece is comming up to us, and then we want not necessaries whereby to make them yeeld, if famine doth not compell them to it shortly, [Page] The Lord Generall is exceeding desirous to save the town, there being a great many well-affected godly persons that have estates there, come out to him, and others in the town which cannot get out, And indeed it could not be imagined (considering the former report that this whole County was a­gainst us) that wee should have found so much friendship amongst them, as we must acknowledge we find from them, who voluntarily assist us with three Regiments of the County, and their hearts ready to bring provisions to our quarters upon all occasions.

The town of Chelmsford sent a Present to the Lord Generall, of two Kegs of Sturgeon, two fresh Salmond, a Venison, a dozen of Pullets, with great store of Fowle, a Vessel of Wine, with other Necessaries, so much a Vinegar to make sawce.

From the Leaguer before Colchester, 29. June, 1648.

SInce my last of the 29 of June being Thursday last, there hath happened these ensuing passages between us, and the forces in the Towne: On Thursday in the afternoon was expected that they would make a sally forth as they use to doe (like Birds in a Cage they struggle the more) whereupon we laid an ambuscado in the hedges, and faced the town with a party of horse, at length there was a party sallied forth, which was said to be commanded by the Lo. Digby, upon this ap­proach our horse retreated, as if they had feared by reason of their number, to give them a charge, here­upon the Enemie pursued, and after our horse had re­treated behind their Ambuscapo, they faced about in a body, standing as if they were resolved to rec [...]eie a charge, which the salliers forth were resolved to give, and to that end came on with great violence; but when they came where we had placed our ambushment, our men galled them very sore, and our horse came up and charged them repulsed the enemy, killed divers of them on the place, took a Leiu. Col. and divers others Prisoners, and pursued the Enemy to the Walls of the City

We have almost finished our new work neer the Almes-houses, and have placed a Garison in Grimston. and in another house neer the subburbs: In the town they are making of hand-mills, and boast that they are victualled for a moneth, yet confesse their allowances are very short already, and are in want of Horse meate, when our great peices and the Mortar-peice comes [...]rom Windsore, which we daily expect, you will hear for more action. Sir, I remain,

I Have receiv'd daily intellegence of your proceedings at the Leaguer, and shall take an occasion to com­municate unto you such newes ar we have here, and that which is remarkable in the first place is, that the Parl. referred the busines concerning the K. and a perso­nal treaty, to a Committee to consider of, and report, a­bout which busines the said Committee met on Thurs­day last, and drew up certain particulars to be recom­mended to the Houses; one of the particulars thought fit by them to be represented to the approbation of the House was, That forthwith there might be a personall trerty with his Majestie, 2 That the Bills formerly in debate to be presented to his Majesty for the royall assent before a treaty were began, might not be tendred to his Majesty before the treaty begun

These and some other things were reported to the house by the said Committee on Friday, and after some debate thereon, the further consideration of some parti­culers thereofy was referred to another day, viz his Majesties cōming out of the Isle of Wight, & to which of his houses he should comewithin ten or twelve miles of London, of which you wil hear more shortly.

By Letters out of Lincoln-shire it is advertized that that Col: Overton having notice that the Enemy from Pomfret castle had gotten into the Isle of Axom he sent 200 of his men in boats over the water at Eyres mouth and upon their approach the Enemy al fled and made what shift they could to get awar, so that that place is regained without the losse of any blood which we hereof.

Upon M [...] ▪ Osburns testimony in that businesse con­cerning the King the Lords ordered, Maj. Rolfe to be [Page] committed to safe custody, but the messenger, which had the order could, not at present light on him, and yesterday it was certified that he was at his lodging in Bishopsgate-street, and some testimony was given that he was not well in health, and the removing his person to a close place might indanger his life, whereupon their Lordships, order'd that three or four able Chirur­gians, go to him, and take a view of his grief and certify concerning the same which they did accordingly, and came this day to the house to make report thereof, which was to this purpose, that the said Major Rolf had been long ill of an ague, and had a humour fallen downe into one of his: hips, which caused a humour and swelling there, but thought it no danger of death, leaving the disposall of his person to their Lordships considerations, he already being in custody.

Before I leave this subject, I cannot but inform you of a great abuse and scandale, which is put upon Maj. Gen. Skippon, and having been openly reported, and some Libells printed, that this Major Rolf is his Son in Law, and endeavours are thereby to cast an aspersion upon that Gent. where as in truth this man, though of the name, is not the person, neither as I heard, was he e­ver a member of this Army, but was a shooe-maker in Black-fryers; which is all at the present from,