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 over-ruled , 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 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 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 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 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 : It s their joy that they are instruments to Gods glory , and their Countries good , it s 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 .