IT hath pleased the Generall to give me in charge to represent unto you a particular Accompt of the taking of Bristoll, the which I gladly under­take.

After the finishing of that Service at Sher­born, it was disputed at a Councell of War, whe­ther we should march into the West, or to Bri­stoll? 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 Bristoll, 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 Enemies Forces where they pleased, and especially the drawing to an Head the dis-affected Club-men 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 ballance, 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 Musquet shot thereof, where in a few dayes they made a good Quarter, over-looking the City; upon our advance, the Enemy fired Bedminster, Clifton, and some other Villages, and would have fired the Countrey there­abouts, if our unexpected coming had not hindred. The Generall caused some Horse and Dragoons under Commissary Generall Ire­ton, to Advance over Avon, to keep in the Enemy on the North side of the Town, untill the Foot could come up; and after a day, the Generall, with Colonell Mountagues, and Colonell Rains­broughs Brigades, marched over at Keynsham to Stapleton, where he Quartered that Night; the next day, Colonell Mountague ha­ving his Post assigned with his Brigade, was to secure all between [Page 4]Froom and Avon: he came up to Lawfords-gate, within Mus­quet shot thereof: Colonell 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 Colonell Rainsborows, Quar­ters to Froom River on his left: A part of Colonell Birch, and Major Generall Skippons Regiment were to maintain that Post; these Posts being thus setled, our horse were forced to be upon ex­ceeding great duty to stand by the foot, least 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 losse 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, onely Colonell 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 Councell of War concerning the Storming of the Town about eight dayes before we took it, and in that there appeared great unwillingnesse to the work, through the unseasonablenesse of the weather, and other apparant 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: Vpon 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 seldome the like cheerfulnesse in Casticers and Souldier, 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 surprize the Enemy, with this resolution also ( [...] avoid confusion, and falling foule upon one another) that when we had recovered the Line, and Forts upon it, we could not advance further untill day: The Gene­ralls signall unto the Storm was the firing of Straw, and discharging four piece of Canon at Prier hill Fort, the signall 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, Colonell Montague and Colonell Pickering who stormed [Page 5]at Lawfords gate, where was a double work well filled with men and canon, presently entred, 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 losse 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 Generalls Regiment, with no lesse resolution, entred 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, Colonell Rainsborow and Colonell Hamond attempted Prior-hill Fort, and the Line downwards towards Froom, Colonell Birch, and the Major Ge­nerals Regiment being to Storme towards Froome River; Colo­nell Hamond possessed the Line immediatly, and beating the Enemy from it, made way for our horse to enter: Colonell Rainsborow, who had the hardest taske 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 plyed with round and case shot upon our men, his Lieutenant Colonell Bowen, and others, were two hours at push of Pike, standing upon the Pallizadoes but could not enter; Col: Hamond, being entred the Line, and Capt. Ireton with a Forlorn of Col: Riches Regiment, interposing with his Horse between the E­nemies Horse and Col: Hamond, received a shot with two Pistoll bullets, which brake his Arme, by means the entrance of Col. Ha­mond did Storm the Fort on that part which was inward: By which means, Col. Rainsbrough and Col: Hamonds men entred the Fort, and immediatly put to the Sword, almost all in it; and as this was the place of most difficulty, so of most losse 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 Enemies Horse and their Foot, was a great means of obtaining this strong Fort, without [Page 6]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 entred 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.

Colonell Birch with his men, and the Major Generalls Regi­ment, entred with very good Resolution, where their Post was, possessing the Enemies 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 Generall Summoned, and all the men submitted.

The successe on Colonell Weldens side, did not answer with this, and although the Colonells and other the Officers and Soul­diers both Horse & Foot, testified very much resolution as could be expected; Colonell Welden, Col. Ingoldsby, Col. Herbert, and the rest of the Colonells, 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 then report made them, and the shortnesse of the Ladders, they were repulsed with the losse of about 100. men, Col. Fortescu [...] Lieu­tenant colonell 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 Generall, 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 Successe; the Prince sent a Trumpet to the Generall, to desire a Treaty for the surrender of the Towne, to which the Generall agreed, and deputed Colo­nell Mountague, Col. Rainsborow, and Col. Pickering for that Service, Authorizing them with Instructions to treat, and con­clude the Articles which are these inclosed: For performance whereof, Hostages were mutually given on Thursday about two of the clock in the afternoone. The Prince [...]rched out having [Page 7]a convoy of two Regiments of Horse from us, and making Ele­ction of Oxford for the place he would goe to, which he had li­berty to doe 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 Musquets. The Royall Fort had in it victuals for one hundred and fifty men, for three hundred and twenty dayes, the Castle victualled for neere halfe 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 Trayned bands of the Towne, and Auxiliaries one thousand, some say fifteen hundred; I heare 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 storme, nor all this siege two hundred men.

Thus I have given you a true, but not a full account of this great businesse wherein he that runs may read that all this is none other then the worke 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 suite to you and all that have an interest in this blessing is, that in remem­brance of Gods prayses they may be forgotten: Its their joy that they are instruments to Gods glory, and their Countries good, its their honour that God vouchsafes to use them: Sir, they that have beene imployed in this Service know, that faith and Prayer obtained this City for you; I doe not say ours onely, but of the people of God with you, and all England over, who have wrastled 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 aske all our sufficiency, and having received it, it is meet that he have all the praise.