VPon the routing of the Kings Army, Sir John Gell gathered together all the forces of Derbishire, Notingham­shire, and the adjacent parts that hee could, and on Munday the 16. th of Iune, 1646. They met with some of the Kings horse and tooke 200. And another party met with some of the Newarkers, and fell upon them, and routed them, tooke 60 Horses, 42 Prisoners, and 80 Armes. The Scots wee heare are at Chesterfield, and Sir William Brereton at Stafford marching this way.

On the said Munday Iune the 16. Sir Thomas Fair­fax lay before Leicester and sent in a Summons to the Towne, to require the Governour to surrender it to him for the use of the Parliament; and putting it to them to consider how the King was routed, and shewing them what use they might make of that Clemency, with di­vers other very gallant expressions to the summons, to advertise them how much better it was for them to sur­render then to force him to take it by storming.

To this summons the Enemy sent a negative An­swer, positively this, that they would not surrender it; whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax called a Councell of Warre to consult about the Storming of it, which was soon concluded on; that they should prepare all things in readinesse to round it the next day: which was done with all expedition not loosing any time.

So they fell presently to raising of Batteries, and doing all things that were necessary for the storming thereof according as they had appointed, and continued providing every thing that had appointed, and continued providing every thing that was requisite for the doing thereof, to be in a readinesse to batter it the next day, and sent into the Country thereabouts for such helpes as were necessary for the worke, which went on with great speed both night and day; so desirous wee are to have a speedy end of the worke that there may be an end of these warres if possible.

On Tuesday the 17. th of June, wee drew downe our Ordnance and playd with our Pieces against the Towne, we stormed it playing with our Ordnance very hot on the Newarke side, which we conceived was their greatest [Page 3] strength? And in short time we made a breach in their workes, which strucke such a terror into the hearts of the Enemy, that the Governour sent to us to destre a Parley, and offered to surrender upon very faire termes; as upon capitulation should be agreed upon.

To this request (Sir Thomas Fairfax being willing to save the spilling of innocent blood as much as may be) he assented: and promised speedily to send in Com­missioners for the treaty, and called a Councell of warre and it was agreed that Collonel Pickering, and Collo­nel Reinsoorough should go into Leicester to treat with the Governour about the surrendring the said Garrison to Sir Thomas Fairfax. And accordingly a safe conduct was desired for them, which being sent they went to Ca­pitulate with the Governour about the surrender there­of.

In the meane time Sit Thomas Farfax was not idle, nor did he loose any time; but went on providing and furnishing himselfe with Pittars, Carts, Hay, Grana­does, Ladders, and all other things necessary for storm­ing; resolving to fall on at their returne, in case that they should not agree, not knowing how things might fall out, during which time there was both great paynes and care taken by all in their places for the going on in the sayd worke.

In the meane time we had Intelligence that the King was on Munday the 16 of Iune at Sheffield; that he came from Ash by de la zouch thether with about 2000 horse, or more, the day before, viz. Sunday night, and matched that morning (viz. Munday morning) to a [Page 4] Randez vouse neere Dudley Castle, where with the Lich­field, and Dudley horse, and others that come in to their Randez-vouses, the King had above 3000 horse as is con­jectured by the Country people which saw them.

About 11 of the clocke on Munday morning, they marched from thence to Sturbridge, where he had some more Horse came in, so that in all it is conceived that hee is nigh 4000. Divers of which hee hath been faine to rectuite with fresh Armes from Lichfield, Dudley, and other Garrisons the reabouts.

The King it is believed will for Worcester, and there joyne with what Forces Gerhard can releeve him with, and some more Forces that hee lookes for out of the West; but Collonel Gerhard hath met with a rout al­so in Shropshire, where he lost almost 400 men, by figh­ting with the Countrey forces, and the Governour of Worcester was killed, and divers other Officers of note were sl [...]ine, and taken.

All the rest of that day, viz. Munday the 16 of Iune, our Commissioners were in Capitulation with the E­nemy in Leicester, and the Army went on preparing for a Storme, having no Answer that night, and looking for their returne the next Morning very earely, were re­solved to fall on if they had not agreed with the E­nemy.

On Wed [...]esday Iune the 18. about two of the clock, the Commissioners, viz. Collonel Reinsborough, and Collonel Pi [...]kering, returned with a Conclusion of the delivery of it up upon these Articles following.