SIR, To inform you of the whole pro­ceedings since we came to this town, we understand the state of it, knowing it to munition; the Welchmen have already fea­sted with a horse or two, and those lean ones, in regard that horse-meat hath much failed of late, which occasioned an endeavour of the Horse to go away on Saturday night; but but they were stopt by the Foot: so likewise for their ammunition, they want powder, but bullets more, shooting very seldome, and very strange shot, as stones, & such like. The Governour is by all sorts confessed to be wounded; some say, shot in the neck, others, bruised by the fall of a stone from a house, but [Page 2]he is so ill, that he executes not his place, which causes much confusion and distracti­on among them. Some of the Town have come out, and informed us to this purpose, & that they had an intent to leave the town; which it's like enough they would have done, had it not been as hazardous as their stay, in regard of our Quarters. We took pri­soner on Sunday morning a servant of Sir LEVVIS DIVES, who was sent to give the Town notice of ammunition coming to them; he swam over the river and back a­gain, but was intercepted, and the Supply was prevented by some Troupes of horse of ours, and Colonel BARKLAYS Regiment, and 200. of Colonell HOLBORNES, who lay in the way about Cavesham: We likewise tooke a fellow equally guilty of folly and knavery; he was once of the Lord RO­BERTS his Regiment, and ran away to the enemy, and was now hired to blow up our Magazine, as himself confesses, but knew no way, as he says, but to throw a light match in­to a barrell, supposing he should have found [Page 3]one open; he was to have had five pound for his paines; but now instead of that a halter. Yesterday hearing that the King was advancing this way to the reliefe of the Towne with what Force he could make up, which is not much in the absence of his Parties: We sent a strong Party of Horse and Dragooners, under the command of Colo­nell MIDDLETON, who at a place called Dorchester, seven or eight miles from Ox­ford, surprized the Kings Regiment of Foot, now again under the command of Colonell WIL. VAVASOUR, that man of honour, by whose losse if we can gain so much wis­dome as to trust no more of them upon their lost reputation, we shall make a good bar­gain; who, though he was not there pre­sent, his Captain and Lievtenant were taken, the Standard againe indangered, about 100. horse taken, and sixty or thereabouts (some say more) slain, and about 50. prisoners; and Captain WATSON the Kings Gentleman Harbinger was taken providing for the Kings march that way.

On tuesday the town hung out a white flag, and sounded for a parley, which was answered by the Lord Generall, then they sent hostages from the town and we did the like, which done; a councell of warre was called, which met in Sir Francis Knowles his House. where after consultation concer­ning the said Treaty, these Propositions his Excellency eondiscended to, viz.

1. That the Forces in that town should surrender up the town to the King and Par­liament.

2. That they should march dirctly to Ox­ford, without doing any act of hostility.

3. That they should leave behind them in the town ten pieces of Ordnance.

4. That the said Forces should free those which they had taken prisoners.

Which being fulfilled, his Excellency pro­mised them a free passage to Oxford, with Bag and Baggage, allowing them six houres time to march away in.

We had a skirmish with the Kings Forces during the Treaty, where we slew nere 200. of them, with the losse of 6. men, and they were forced to flie to save themselves, not being able to hold us play.

SIR,

THis is to certifie you of a truth, that the King came to Dorchester on Tuesday last, and the town of Rea­ding was yeelded up on Thursday at 12. of the clocke, and they were to march with bag and baggage, with their Colours displaying, with about three thousand souldiers, with foure small Drakes and ten VVaggons, and the Earle of Essex about three of the clock entred the towne, with Colonell Hampden and Serjeant-Major Skippon, to view the towne, and three of their Commanders came to view our Ar­my, and it is supposed that our Army will advance after them, for our men were very eager to fall on them as they marched out, but that my Lord Gene­rall (to satisfie them) promised to give [Page 6]every souldier twelve shillings a peece, and is to be paid on the first of May, being Munday, but my Lord Gene­rall is very unwilling to let many of his souldiers enter the town, for feare the towne should be undermined, till they have made further search, for the safeguard of our men. Our Regiment is quartered in the Out-works. I have no more to write to you at this time. The next (I hope) shall be from Ox­ford. Farewell.

The King is returned to Oxford this day.