MY deſire is to let you underſtand the ſtate and condition that our Countie is in at this preſent. It was true that you heard, that Northamptonſhire men came into Banbury, but they ſtayed not, for the Major having yeelded the Towne before unto the King, would not ſhew them any countenance, and ſo they left the Towne preſently, and went away againe the ſame day that they came in. And my Lord of Northampton came in upon the morrow, and tooke poſſeſſion of the Towne and Caſtle, where he hath continued ever ſince, untill it was Tueſday night laſt 22. day, and then drew all his Forces out of the Towne towards Oxford in the night, but onely his Foot, and they went all into the Caſtle, and carryed in all the proviſion that they could come by in thither, and left the Towne open. Northamptonſhire men kept themſelves together all this while, and came againe to Byfield, a Towne ſix miles from Banbury, where they lay for a weeke: but ſo ſoone as they heard that my Lord of Northampton was gone out of Banbury, they preſently advanced forward, and made for Banbury againe, and came before the Towne upon Wedneſday in the afternoone about three of the clock, and came into the Towne over the Bridge. They in the Caſtle having foure Peeces of Ordnance, ſhot at them as faſt as they could all the time that they came in, but yet it pleaſed God to preſerve them, that they came all ſafe into the Towne, only one Horſe kild, and a man hurt, and one man kild with Musket ſhot a • ter they came into Towne. They continued in the Towne that night and all day, on the morrow they were as was ſuppoſed about foure thouſand, all Countrymen, but one hundred of Sea-men: among them they brought two ſmall Peeces into the Towne with them, and ſent to Northampton for one more bigger, which came in upon Thurſday about twelve a clock. They ſhot at the Caſtle with their Musketiers all day Thurſday, and it was ſuppoſed they kild ſome that were upon the walls; and likewiſe they ſhot from the walls all day, and with the Ordnance from the Caſtle, but kild none, but hurt two or three. And upon Thurſday night they planted their great Peece againſt the Caſtle wall, and the two ſmaller Peeces againſt the Gate, but could not force it to make any entrance at all▪ In the meane time, my Lord of Northampton brought all the Kings ſtrength of Horſe from Oxford, and came to Dedington, within foure miles of Banbury, on Thurſday night, where they lay all night in the Field: which Northampton ſhire men hearing and ſeeing they could not doe any good at the Caſtle, left the Towne againe, and marched away about foure a clock in the morning with their Ordnance, and the Kings Army of Horſe came in on Fryday, and quaild all the Countrey over on Fryday night, but returned towards Oxford againe in the morning, onely leaving ſome to keepe Garriſon in Ba • bury; and ſo now our Condition is worſe • hen ever it was: for many ſhewed themſelves forward to joyne with Northampton ſhire men, And now they being gone againe, wee are in more feares then ever wee were. I pray God in mercie look upon us, and put it into the heart of our King and Parliament, that there may be an accommodation for Peace, for otherwiſe our Countrey will be wholly ruinated in a ſhort time: Wee cannot enjoy any thing that is our owne. The Towne of Banbury, for the moſt part the chiefeſt men, are wholly undone all alreadie, and wee in the Countrey cannot long ſubſiſt: For wee have great Taxes layd upon us, and if wee will not pay them, our Selves and Goods are both taken away, I prayſe God I have my libertie yet, but doe not know how long I ſhall enjoy it, for I am in great feare of my ſelfe. I pray you ſend me a Grammar for my Boy; and I would entreat you to ſend me word how the Citie doth ſtand affected: Wee heare, that it is much divided, and the greater and ſtronger partie is for the King, and that the Parliament is broken up. I pray you ſend me the truth as neere as you can of all things, as alſo concerning the Earle of Eſsex proceedings, for wee cannot heare any thing from him, which doth much diſcourage our County at this preſent.

1. IT is agreed that there be an abſolute Ceſſation of Armes from henceforth within this County, and no Armes be taken up to offend one another, but by the conſent of the King and both Houſes of Parliament, unles it be to reſiſt forces brought into the County.

2. That all but 200. of either ſide ſhall be disbanded to morrow, being Saturday, and on Monday all the reſt on both ſides, both Horſe and Foote ſhall be diſbanded.

3. That all Priſoners on both ſides be enlarged, as for Maſter Morton, who is now Priſoner at Manchester, the Gentlemen appoynted Deputy Lieutenants, doe declare, that hee was taken without their privitie, or encouragement, by ſome Mancheſter Troopes, upon a private quarell, for taking powder, and other goods belonging to one of Mancheſter, yet they will uſe the utmoſt endeavours to procure his enlargement, and doe deſire the like endeavours be uſed by the Lords and others, Commiſſioners of Array, for enlarging Maſter Daniel of Dasbury.

4. That the Fortifications of Chester, Namptuich, St • pford▪ N •••… ford, or any Towne in Cheſhire, lately made by either part, be preſently demoliſhed.

5. That all Goods and Armes, taken on both ſides, now remaining in the Countie in ſpecie, be forthwith reſtored, and for all others that are taken out of the Countie, it is promiſed on both parts, that ſince the benefit of this Pacification redounds to the whole Countie, that they will uſe their utmoſt endeavours for a joynt contribution of the County, towards ſatisfaction to the owners.

6. That the Lords and Gentlemen, Commiſſioners of Array, before the eighth day of January next, procute from his Majeſtie a Letter, thereby declaring, That in regard a Peace is made in the Countie, he will ſend no Forces into this County; and if any other perſon ſhall contrary to ſuch Declarations bring Forces into the County (paſſage for Forces without doing any Hoſtile act onely excepted) the ſaid Lords and Gentlemen, will joyne to reſiſt them, and if any Forces, without the conſent of the King and both Houſes of Parliament, ſhall come into this Countie (the paſſages Forces without doing any Hoſtile act onely excepted) the ſaid Gentlemen nominated Deputy Lieutenants, will joyne to reſiſt them, and uſe their utmoſt endeavours therein.

7. In regard by the bleſſing of God, there is to be a Peace within the Countie if this agreement be. It is agreed that the Commiſſioners of Array, ſhall not any further put the Commiſſion of Array in execution, nor the Gen • lemen nominated Deputy Lieutenants the Ordinance of the Militia, or execute their Commiſſion.

8. Laſtly, All the ſaid parties doe agree and promiſe each to other, in the word of a Gentleman, as they deſire to proſper; that as well themſelves, as alſo all their friends, tenants, ſervants, and all others in whom they have any intereſt, ſhall as much as in them lyes, performe the Agreement; And it is further deſired, that all the ſaid parties joyne in a Petition to His M • jeſtie, and both Houſes of Parliament, for putting an end to the greateſt diſtractions and miſeries fallen upon this Kingdome, by making a ſpeedy Peace: And it is agreed that Sir George Booth, and all others within this Countie, who have appeared as Commiſſioners of Array, or as Deputy Lieutenants, by reaſon of the Ordinance of Parlament, ſhall with all convenient ſpeed ſubſcribe this Agreement.