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poisoned bullets being shot from the town； and threatening to give
no quarter if that practice was allowed； but Lord Goring returned
answer； with a protestation； that no such thing was done by his
order or consent。
24th。 They fired hard from their cannon against St。 Mary's
steeple； on which was planted a large culverin； which annoyed them
even in the general's headquarters at Lexden。 One of the best
gunners the garrison had was killed with a cannon bullet。 This
night the besieged sallied towards Audly； on the Suffolk road； and
brought in some cattle。
25th。 Lord Capel sent a trumpet to the Parliament…General； but the
rogue ran away； and came not back； nor sent any answer； whether
they received his message or not； was not known。
26th。 This day having finished their new bridge； a party of their
troops passed that bridge； and took post on the hill over against
Mile End Church； where they built a fort； called Fothergall's Fort；
and another on the east side of the road； called 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
Hythe within the river to the stone causeway leading to the east
bridge。
July 1st。 From the 26th to the 1st； the besiegers continued
finishing their works； and by the 2nd 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
sallied out in the night； attacked Barkstead's fort； scarce
finished； with such fury； that they twice entered the work sword in
hand； killed most part of the defendants； and spoiled part of the
forts cast up； but fresh forces coming up； they retired with little
loss； bringing eight prisoners； and having slain； as they reported；
above 100。
On the second； Lord Fairfax offered exchange for Sir William Masham
in particular； and afterwards for other prisoners； but the Lord
Goring refused。
5th。 The besieged sallied 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 ruined； and two pieces of cannon taken；
Lieutenant Colonel Sambrook； and several other officers； were
killed； and our men retired into the town； bringing the captain；
two lieutenants； and about fifty men with them prisoners into the
town； but having no horse； we could not bring off the cannon； but
they spiked them； and made them unfit for service。
From this time to the 11th； the besieged sallied almost every
night； being encouraged 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 received 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 annoyed them； and killed most of their gunners and
firemen。 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； slipped into the town； and brought a letter to the Lord
Goring； and listed in the regiment of the Lord Capel's horse。
14th。 The besiegers attacked and took the Hythe Church； with a
small work the besieged had there； but the defenders retired in
time； some were taken prisoners in the church； but not in the fort；
Sir Charles Lucas's horse was attacked by a great body of the
besiegers； the besieged defended themselves with good resolution
for some time； but a hand…grenade thrown in by the assailants；
having fired the magazine； the house was blown up； and most of the
gallant defenders buried in the ruins。 This was a great blow to
the Royalists； for it was a very strong pass； and always well
guarded。
15th。 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 desired his lordship to send no more such
messages or proposals； or if he did； that he would not take it ill
if they hanged up the messenger。
This evening all the gentlemen volunteers； with all the horse of
the garrison； with Sir Charles Lucas； Sir George Lisle； and Sir
Bernard Gascoigne 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 passed the river near Middle Mill；
but their guides having misled 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 ran away； so the horse were obliged to retreat； the enemy
pretending to pursue； but thinking they had retreated by the north
bridge； they missed them； upon which being enraged； they fired the
suburbs without the bridge； and burned them quite down。
18th。 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 distressed； provisions failing； and the
townspeople； 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 sallied
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。
22nd。 The Lord 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 per