A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain I. Даниэль Дефо
brought in six and fifty good bullocks, and some cows, and they took and kill’d several of the enemy.
23. The besiegers began to fire with their cannon from Essex Fort, and from Barksted’s Fort, which was built upon the Malden road, and finding that the besieged had a party in Sir Harbottle Grimston’s house, call’d, The Fryery, they fir’d at it with their cannon, and batter’d it almost down, and then the soldiers set it on fire.
This day upon the townsmen’s treaty for the freedom of the bay trade, the Lord Fairfax sent a second offer of conditions to the besieg’d, being, the same as before, only excepting Lord Goring, Lord Capel, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Charles Lucas.
This day we had news in the town, that the Suffolk forces were advanc’d to assist the besiegers and that they began a fort call’d Fort Suffolk, on the north side of the town, to shut up the Suffolk road towards Stratford. This day the besieg’d sally’d out at North-Bridge, attack’d the outguards of the Suffolk men on Mile-End Heath, and drove them into their fort in the woods.
This day Lord Fairfax sent a trumpet, complaining of chew’d and poison’d bullets being shot from the town, and threatning to give no quarter if that practice was allow’d; but Lord Goring return’d answer, with a protestation, that no such thing was done by his order or consent.
24th. They fir’d hard from their cannon against St. Mary’s steeple, on which was planted a large culverin, which annoy’d them even in the general’s head quarters at Lexden. One of the best gunners the garrison had, was kill’d with a cannon bullet. This night the besieg’d sally’d towards Audly, on the Suffolk road, and brought in some cattle.
25. Lord Capell sent a trumpet to the Parliament-General, but the rogue ran away, and came not back, nor sent any answer; whether they receiv’d his message or not, was not known.
26. This day having finish’d their new bridge, a party of their troops pass’d that bridge, and took post on the hill over-against Mile-End Church, where they built a fort, call’d Fothergall’s Fort, and another on the east side of the road, call’d Rainsbro’s Fort, so that the town was entirely shut in, on that side, and the Royalists had no place free but over East Bridge, which was afterwards cut off by the enemy’s bringing their line from the Hithe within the river to the Stone Causeway leading to the east bridge.
July I. From the 26th to the 1st, the besiegers continu’d finishing their works, and by the 2d the whole town was shut in; at which the besiegers gave a general salvo from their cannon at all their forts; but the besieged gave them a return, for they sally’d out in the night, attack’d Barkstead’s Fort, scarce finish’d, with such fury, that they twice enter’d the work sword in hand, kill’d most part of the defendant’s, and spoil’d part of the forts cast up; but fresh forces coming up, they retir’d with little loss, bringing eight prisoners, and having slain, as they reported, above 100.
On the second, Lord Fairfax offer’d exchange for Sir William Masham in particular, and afterwards for other prisoners, but the Lord Goring refus’d.
5. The besieged sally’d with two regiments, supported by some horse, at midnight; They were commanded by Sir George Lisle; They fell on with such fury, that the enemy were put into confusion, their works at East-Bridge ruin’d, and two pieces of cannon taken, Lieutenant Col. Sambrook, and several other officers, were kill’d, and our men retir’d into the town, bringing the captain, two lieutenants, and about 50 men with them prisoners into the town; but having no horse, we could not bring off the cannon, but they spik’d them, and made them unfit for service.
From this time to the 11th, the besieged, sally’d almost every night, being encourag’d by their successes, and they constantly cut off some of the enemy, but not without loss also on their own side.
About this time we receiv’d by a spy, the bad news of defeating the king’s friends almost in all parts of England, and particularly several parties which had good wishes to our gentlemen, and intended to relieve them.
Our batteries from St. Mary’s Fort and Steeple, and from the North-Bridge, greatly annoy’d them, and kill’d most of their gunners and fire-men. One of the messengers who brought news to Lord Fairfax of the defeat of one of the parties in Kent, and the taking of Weymer Castle, slip’d into the town, and brought a letter to the Lord Goring, and listed in the regiment of the Lord Capel’s horse.
14. The besiegers attack’d and took the Hithe Church, with a small work the besieged had there, but the defenders retir’d in time; some were taken prisoners in the church, but not in the fort: Sir Charles Lucas’s house was attack’d by a great body of the besiegers; the besieged defended themselves with good resolution for some time, but a hand-grenado thrown in by the assailants, having fir’d the magazine, the house was blown up, and most of the gallant defenders buried in the ruines. This was a great blow to the Royalists, for it was a very strong pass, and always well guarded.
15. The Lord Fairfax sent offers of honourable conditions to the soldiers of the garrison, if they would surrender, or quit the service, upon which the Lords Goring and Capel, and Sir Charles Lucas, returned an answer signed by their hands, that it was not honourable or agreeable to the usage of war, to offer conditions separately to the soldiers, exclusive of their officers, and therefore civilly desir’d his lordship to send no more such messages or proposals, or if he did, that he would not take it ill if they hang’d up the messenger.
This evening all the gentlemen voluntiers, with all the horse of the garrison, with Sir Charles Lucas, Sir George Lisle, and Sir Bernard Gascoign at the head of them, resolved to break through the enemy, and forcing a pass to advance into Suffolk by Nayland Bridge; to this purpose, they pass’d the river near Middle-Mill; but their guides having mislead them, the enemy took the alarm; upon which their guides, and some pioneers which they had with them, to open the hedges, and level the banks, for their passing to Boxted, all run away; so the horse were obliged to retreat; the enemy pretended to pursue, but thinking they had retreated by the North Bridge, they miss’d them; upon which being enraged, they fir’d the suburbs without the bridge, and burn’d them quite down.
18. Some of the horse attempted to escape the same way; and had the whole body been there as before, they had effected it; but there being but two troops, they were obliged to retire. Now the town began to be greatly distress’d, provisions failing; and the town’s people, which were numerous, being very uneasy, and no way of breaking through being found practicable, the gentlemen would have joined in any attempt wherein they might die gallantly with their swords in their hands, but nothing presented; they often sally’d and cut off many of the enemy, but their numbers were continually supplied, and the besieged diminished; their horse also sunk and became unfit for service, having very little hay, and no corn; and at length they were forced to kill them for food; so that they began to be in a very miserable condition, and the soldiers deserted every day in great numbers, not being able to bear the want of food, as being almost starved with hunger.
22. The Ld. Fairfax offered again an exchange of prisoners, but the Lord Goring rejected it, because they refused conditions to the chief gentlemen of the garrison.
During this time, two troops of the Royal Horse sallied out in the night, resolving to break out or die: The first rode up full gallop to the enemy’s horse-guards on the side of Malden Road, and exchanged their pistols with the advanced troops, and wheeling, made as if they would retire to the town; but finding they were not immediately pursued, they wheeled about to the right, and passing another guard at a distance, without being perfectly discovered, they went clean off, and passing towards Tiptree Heath, and having good guides, they made their escape towards Cambridge-shire, in which length of way they found means to disperse without being attack’d, and went every man his own way as fate directed; nor did we hear that many of them were taken: They were led, as we are informed, by Sir Bernard Gascoigne.
Upon these attempts of the Horse to break out, the enemy built a small fort in the meadow right against the ford, in the river, at the Middle Mill, and once set that mill on fire, but it was extinguished without much damage; however the fort prevented any more attempts that way.
23. The Parliament General sent in a trumpet, to propose again the exchange of prisoners, offering the Lord Capel’s son for one, and Mr. Ashburnham, for Sir William