I Know my friends are full of expectation, & I am not un­willing to take a little pains to fatisfie them: But if they will not be satisfied with­out the storming or taking the Town, they cannot yet be satisfied: if the truth will give any satisfaction, it is this: We march­ed from Windsor to Maydenhead, on Thursday af­ter noon; from thence to Ockingham on Friday, and so to a place on the West of Reading, a mile from the Town, where my Lord Generalls Quarters, at the house of one Sir Iohn Blach­grave, with the Souldiers in the fields about. On Saturday afternoon, toward night, we faced the Town: in the night Major Gen: went up with his Regiment, and a Work was made to plant Ordnance on, which began to play on Sunday [Page 4]morning early, and battered the Fort and Works next them, which yet they diligently make up. On Sunday night Sir Iohn Meldrum commanded with his own Regiment, Sir William Cunstables, and Col: Barelayes, who went on with the Works. Last night Col: Langham commanded, having with him his own Regiment, my Lord Gene­ralls, and Colonell Hampdens; and the Works are now brought within lesse then half a Mus­ket shot of the Town. It may be our friends at London expect we should have stormed the Town, and entred it before this; but they may be mistaken at that distance: they have in the Town about 3000 men, which they have a li­berty of drawing down to that part of the Town next us, in regard we have no Forces on the other side, my Lord Grey being not yet come to us, though we doubt not of him this night, or to morrow morning. We have had intelligence out of the Town, that say we have kill'd and hurt many of their men, notwithstanding the advantage of their Works, Colonell Bolles, as is reported, for one; and that their Provision is scarce, but as yet it is not stopped, as were to be wished; yet we have taken up Cavesham bridge, and left no way to them, but by Boat, or by Henley. We hear of some of the Kings Forces marching down on the other side the water to their relief, if it may be, I hope they will be prevented. At our first approach, our Provisi­on [Page 5]was very scant, but I hope we shall now have it more plentifully; hungry dayes, and cold nights would have abated the courage of our Souldiers, were they not very hearty in the busi­nesse: Let our friends rather strive to have their prayers for us warm as the day, then their cen­sures sharp as the night: If we be to blame, it was for coming hither, which yet must not be too soon; I know no miscarriage since we came. Our losse hath been very little, considering our danger, working and lying so neer them; I think we have not lost above 8 or 10 men in Service, two or three have been kill'd through curiosity, and some hurt by accident, as some of Sir Iohn Meldrums Regiment yesterday, by blowing up Powder, and this morning three or four slain, and some were hurt by the breaking of a Car­riage by some Powder fired about through im­providence. Sir Anthony Saint-John, a Captain of my Lord Generalls Regiment hurt by it; it was reported Major Ingolsly was slain, and Liev­tenant Colonell Barriff hurt, but no such mat­ter: We have lost no Officer since our sitting down, but one Lievtenant Price, of the Major Generalls Regiment. Though our work be hard, yet our Souldiers are hearty; but it must not be expected they should overcome impossi­bilities, so as by a bare assault to get over Palli­sadoes, Ditches very deep, and Brest-Works. They have in Town ten small Brasse Pieces, two [Page 6]bigger of Iron, three Troops of Horse. As we have not assaulted, so neither they sallyed forth to do any thing worth the naming. Take heed your desires of storming be not too soon fulfil­led; if it be not done with all circumspection, it will not onely lose many lives, but endanger the whole Army and Kingdom, for ought I know: Adde therefore to your faith patience; we could be as willing to change our Quarters, as you to have us; Me thinks you should be preparing a supply, to further the best, and to prevent the worst. I thought fit to write this, not onely for your own satisfaction, but to prevent Mercurius Aulicus, who I doubt not will tell you strange stories shortly. This may serve as a battery upon the refuge of lies, which is our enemies strong retreat; as some out of the Town tell us, they encourage their Souldiers by telling them our Ordnance are broke, their supplies at hand, they see our men fall in great numbers. This night Major Gen: commands in the approaches, his own Regiment; my Lord Roberts, and Col: Hobornes, with three Regiments more, as a reserve to them, which is the constant course: It may be the difference of my profession may make me misse in terms and circumstances; but you may take this for the substance and truth of our con­dition. Onely I may further adde, for I shall not conceal any thing, though to our disadvan­tage, That there is a Supply of strength come [Page 7]into Reading this morning, some Muskettiers un­der the Conduct of Sir Lewis Dyve, as I hear, who have so much confidence, as to bring their Ladies to this Musick; I hope to no other purpose then to make our Victory the more considerable. I forbear to adde further for the present, but that which I need not beg, your prayers.