tour through the eastern counties of england-第5章
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Greenwich; were come to Stratford; and were advancing this way;
upon which news; Sir Charles Lucas; Sir George Lisle; Colonel Cook;
and several gentlemen of the loyal army; and all that had
commissions from the king; with a gallant appearance of gentlemen
volunteers; drew together from all parts of the country to join
with them。
The 8th; we were further informed that they were advanced to
Chelmsford; to New Hall House; and to Witham; and the 9th some of
the horse arrived in the town; taking possession of the gates; and
having engineers with them; told us that General Goring had
resolved to make this town his headquarters; and would cause it to
be well fortified。 They also caused the drums to beat for
volunteers; and a good number of the poor bay…weavers; and such…
like people; wanting employment; enlisted; so that they completed
Sir Charles Lucas's regiment; which was but thin; to near eight
hundred men。
On the 10th we had news that the Lord Fairfax; having beaten the
Royalists at Maidstone; and retaken Rochester; had passed the
Thames at Gravesend; though with great difficulty; and with some
loss; and was come to Horndon…on…the…Hill; in order to gain
Colchester before the Royalists; but that hearing Sir Charles Lucas
had prevented him; had ordered his rendezvous at Billerecay; and
intended to possess the pass at Malden on the 11th; where Sir
Thomas Honnywood; with the county…trained bands; was to be the same
day。
The same evening the Lord Goring; with all his forces; making about
five thousand six hundred men; horse and foot; came to Colchester;
and encamping without the suburbs; under command of the cannon of
St。 Mary's fort; made disposition to fight the Parliament forces if
they came up。
The 12th; the Lord Goring came into Colchester; viewed the fort in
St。 Mary's churchyard; ordered more cannon to be planted upon it;
posted two regiments in the suburbs without the head gate; let the
town know he would take them into his Majesty's protection; and
that he would fight the enemy in that situation。 The same evening
the Lord Fairfax; with a strong party of one thousand horse; came
to Lexden; at two small miles' distance; expecting the rest of his
army there the same night。
The Lord Goring brought in prisoners the same day; Sir William
Masham; and several other gentlemen of the county; who were secured
under a strong guard; which the Parliament hearing; ordered twenty
prisoners of the royal party to be singled out; declaring; that
they should be used in the same manner as the Lord Goring used Sir
William Masham; and the gentlemen prisoners with him。
On the 13th; early in the morning; our spies brought intelligence
that the Lord Fairfax; all his forces being come up to him; was
making dispositions for a march; resolving to attack the Royalists
in their camp; upon which; the Lord Goring drew all his forces
together; resolving to fight。 The engineers had offered the night
before to entrench his camp; and to draw a line round it in one
night's time; but his lordship declined it; and now there was no
time for it; whereupon the general; Lord Goring; drew up his army
in order of battle on both sides the road; the horse in the open
fields on the wings; the foot were drawn up; one regiment in the
road; one regiment on each side; and two regiments for reserve in
the suburb; just at the entrance of the town; with a regiment of
volunteers advanced as a forlorn hope; and a regiment of horse at
the head…gate; ready to support the reserve; as occasion should
require。
About nine in the morning we heard the enemy's drums beat a march;
and in half an hour more their first troops appeared on the higher
grounds towards Lexden。 Immediately the cannon from St。 Mary's
fired upon them; and put some troops of horse into confusion; doing
great execution; which; they not being able to shun it; made them
quicken their pace; fall on; when our cannon were obliged to cease
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 Colc