《tour through the eastern counties of england》

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tour through the eastern counties of england- 第5部分


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firing; lest we should hurt our own troops as well as the enemy。

Soon after; their foot appeared; and our cannon saluted them in

like manner; and killed them a great many men。



Their first line of foot was led up by Colonel Barkstead; and

consisted of three regiments of foot; making about 1;700 men; and

these charged our regiment in the lane; commanded by Sir George

Lisle and Sir William Campion。  They fell on with great fury; and

were received with as much gallantry; and three times repulsed; nor

could they break in here; though the Lord Fairfax sent fresh men to

support them; till the Royalists' horse; oppressed with numbers on

the left; were obliged to retire; and at last to come full gallop

into the street; and so on into the town。  Nay; still the foot

stood firm; and the volunteers; being all gentlemen; kept their

ground with the greatest resolution; but the left wing being

routed; as above; Sir William Campion was obliged to make a front

to the left; and lining the hedge with his musketeers; made a stand

with a body of pikes against the enemy's horse; and prevented them

entering the lane。  Here that gallant gentleman was killed with a

carabine shot; and after a very gallant resistance; the horse on

the right being also overpowered; the word was given to retreat;

which; however; was done in such good order; the regiments of

reserve standing drawn up at the end of the street; ready to

receive the enemy's horse upon the points of their pikes; that the

royal troops came on in the openings between the regiments; and

entered the town with very little loss; and in very good order。



By this; however; those regiments of reserve were brought at last

to sustain the efforts of the enemy's whole army; till being

overpowered by numbers they were put into disorder; and forced to

get into the town in the best manner they could; by which means

near two hundred men were killed or made prisoners。



Encouraged by this success the enemy pushed on; supposing they

should enter the town pell…mell with the rest; nor did the

Royalists hinder them; but let good part of Barkstead's own

regiment enter the head…gate; but then sallying from St。 Mary's

with a choice body of foot on their left; and the horse rallying in

the High Street; and charging them again in the front; they were

driven back quite into the street of the suburb; and most of those

that had so rashly entered were cut in pieces。



Thus they were repulsed at the south entrance into the town; and

though they attempted to storm three times after that with great

resolution; yet they were as often beaten back; and that with great

havoc of their men; and the cannon from the fort all the while did

execution upon those who stood drawn up to support them; so that at

last; seeing no good to be done; they retreated; having small joy

of their pretended victory。



They lost in this action Colonel Needham; who commanded a regiment

called the Tower Guards; and who fought very desperately; Captain

Cox; an old experienced horse officer; and several other officers

of note; with a great many private men; though; as they had the

field; they concealed their number; giving out that they lost but a

hundred; when we were assured they lost near a thousand men besides

the wounded。



They took some of our men prisoners; occasioned by the regiment of

Colonel Farr; and two more sustaining the shock of their whole

army; to secure the retreat of the main body; as above。



The 14th; the Lord Fairfax finding he was not able to carry the

town by storm; without the formality of a siege; took his

headquarters at Lexden; and sent to London and to Suffolk for more

forces; also he ordered the trained bands to be raised and posted

on the roads to prevent succours。  Notwithstanding which; divers

gentlemen; with some assistance of men and arms; found means to get

into the town。



The very same night they began to break ground; and particularly to

raise a fort between Colchester and Lexden; to cover the general's

quarter from the sallies from the town; for the Royalists having a

good body of horse; gave them no rest; but scoured the fields every

day; and falling all that were found straggling from their posts;

and by this means killed a great many。



The 17th; Sir Charles Lucas having been out with 1;200 horse; and

detaching parties toward the seaside; and towards Harwich; they

brought in a very great quantity of provisions; and abundance of

sheep and black cattle sufficient for the supply of the town for a

considerable time; and had not the Suffolk forces advanced over

Cataway Bridge to prevent it; a larger supply had been brought in

that way; for now it appeared plainly that the Lord Fairfax finding

the garrison strong and resolute; and that he was not in a

condition to reduce them by force; at least without the loss of

much blood; had resolved to turn his siege into a blockade; and

reduce them by hunger; their troops being also wanted to oppose

several other parties; who had; in several parts of the kingdom;

taken arms for the king's cause。



This same day General Fairfax sent in a trumpet to propose

exchanging prisoners; which the Lord Goring rejected; expecting a

reinforcement of troops; which were actually coming to him; and

were to be at Linton in Cambridgeshire as the next day。



The same day two ships brought in a quantity of corn and provisions

and fifty…six men from the shore of Kent with several gentlemen;

who all landed and came up to the town; and the greatest part of

the corn was with the utmost application unloaded the same night

into some hoys; which brought it up to the Hythe; being

apprehensive of the Parliament's ships which lay at Harwich; who

having intelligence of the said ships; came the next day into the

mouth of the river; and took the said two ships and what corn was

left in them。  The besieged sent out a party to help the ships; but

having no boats they could not assist them。



18th。  Sir Charles Lucas sent an answer about exchange of

prisoners; accepting the conditions offered; but the Parliament's

general returned that he would not treat with Sir Charles; for that

he (Sir Charles) being his prisoner upon his parole of honour; and

having appeared in arms contrary to the rules of war; had forfeited

his honour and faith; and was not capable of command or trust in

martial affairs。  To this Sir Charles sent back an answer; and his

excuse for his breach of his parole; but it was not accepted; nor

would the Lord Fairfax enter upon any treaty with him。



Upon this second message Sir William Masham and the Parliament

Committee and other gentlemen; who were prisoners in the town; sent

a message in writing under their hands to the Lord Fairfax;

entreating him to enter into a treaty for peace; but the Lord

Fairfax returned; he could take no notice of their request; as

supposing it forced from them under restraint; but that if the Lord

Goring desired peace; he might write to the Parliament; and he

would cause his messenger to have a safe conduct to carry his

letter。  There was a paper sent enclosed in this paper; signed

Capel; Norwich; Charles Lucas; but to that the general would return

no answer; because it was signed by Sir Charles for the reasons

above。



All this while the Lord Goring; finding the enemy strengthening

themselves; gave order for fortifying the town; and drawing lines

in several places to secure the entrance; as particularly without

the east bridge; and without the north gate and bridge; and to

plant more cannon upon the works; to which end some great guns were

brought in from some ships at Wivenhoe。



The same day; our men sallied out in three places; and attacked the

besiegers; first at their port; called Essex; then at their new

works; on the south of the town; a third party sallying at the east

bridge; brought in some booty from the Suffolk troops; having

killed several of their stragglers on the Harwich road。  They also

took a lieutenant of horse prisoner; and brought him into the town。



19th。  This day we had the unwelcome news that our friends at

Linton were defeated by the enemy; and Major Muschamp; a loyal

gentleman; killed。



The same night; our men gave the enemy alarm at their new Essex

fort; and thereby drew them out as if they would fight; till they

brought them within reach of the cannon of St。 Mary's; and then our

men retiring; the great guns let fly among them; and made them run。

Our men shouted after them。  Several of them were killed on this

occasion; one shot having killed three horsemen in our fight。



20th。  We now found the enemy; in order to a perfect blockade;

resolved to draw a line of circumvallation round the town; having

received a train of forty pieces of heavy cannon from the Tower of

London。



This day the Parliament sent a messenger to their prisoners to know

how they fared; and how they were used; who returned wo
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