WE have now at last quitted our old Quarters, and hope to give the world notice, it was reason and judgement that kept us so long at Windsore, and not cowardice, or ill will to the Cause; and though perhaps some Officers have been fauity (as what Army is free) yet as true it is, that those fai­lings have been presented through the multiplying glasse of envy, jealousie and feare, and you may well believe there hath been a strong malignant influence fomen­ting and imbittering these jealousies and repinings which you have been too much guilty of: our enemies know well, if they can but make us suspect our friends, they have laid a good ground for division, and you know the Proverb, Divide and raigne. But I know it is Newes, not Counsell you [Page]expect from a Leaguer: wherefore I shall satisfie you of the true state of our Army here. VVhen my Lord Generall remo­ved from Windsore, it was generally given out we were to go for Oxford, which we believed; because my Lord in his march seemed to passe by Redding, which, it seems he did to busie their heads in taking care to provide for Oxford, that so Redding be­ing neglected, he might take them lesse provided for a siege, which fell out accor­dingly: for my Lord suddenly wheeling about came before Redding, he summoned the towne for the King and Parliament, but Aston the Governour (a Papist, and one that is guilty of divers murders) an­swered very resolutely, He would keep the town or starve in it, my Lord sent to them to have the women and children let out, which he refused, my Lord seeing that the town must be caried by the Gun & Spade, and not by words, went that way to work, and is very like to speed.

The Town is very strongly fortefied, many out-workes, commanded by some main Bul­warkes, more inward, the Garrison 3000. or more, besides the Townesmen, there are neare 22. pieces of Ordnance, to tell you the particular Quarters of each Regiment were uselesse to you, being you know not the Town, onely in gene­rall thus, my Lord incampt on the West side of the Town, between Redding and Oxford, the better to hinder any aid that should come from thence to the town, he also tooke care to secure the River, that no reliefe should come that way, then fell wee presently to worke with the Spade, to intrench our Quarters, which worke was car­ried on with more facillity and speed then could be expected, the souldiers (herein right souldiers) (being willing to fight with the Spade as well as the Sword) successively relieving one another, Night and Day, the next worke was to view the ground, for to make our approaches, to which purpose eight went out, of which number the al­worthy Major SKIPPON was one the Enemy perceiving our intention, laboured by their shot, and by setting some Barns on fire, that by the [Page 4]smoake that so they might hinder them but yet they did their worke, and God kept them safe, onely one a mean Officer received a shot. Serge­ant Major being returned, wee began to make our approaches, especially towards a hill called Causam-hill, which the Enemy had fortified, being it commands the Town, by our aproaches we have gained most part of the hill, and driven the Enemy to his more inward workes, on this hill wee have raised some Batteries, that do much annoy the Enemy, we draw on our work amain, to the Enemies remaining strengths, and have brought them in some places within halfe Mus­ket shot, in despight of the Enemies Musket or Cannon, which you may thinke have not been idle, so that we hope to gain it in a short time, though the Enemy have many Workes one with­in another, they had planted some Ordnance in a Steeple, but we have made them seek their Ord­nance in the ruines of the Steeple, the like we have done to some of their chiefe strengths, for our Cannon has not rested, some slight sallies they have made out of the town, but have been beaten in with losse, our men are very forward, [Page 5]and would carry the town by an assault, but our prudent Generall had rather loose a little time to gain it, then loose so much good blood, wee hope to carry it in 3. or foure dayes; if not we be­lieve my Lord Generall will advance towards Oxford, and leave Major Generall with part of his Forces to take in this Town, our Workes bee­ing by this time finisht, our souldiers have won some out workes, which they have left, as being no way usefull to them, what ever lying reports ye have in London, this is the truth, wee have not lost above Fifteene men by the Ene­my, and tenne or twelve slain and maimed by a Barrell of Powder that was set on fire by a mis­chance, the Country comes in exceedingly, you may do well to send as many of your Forces as you can spare, to surprize those Rascals, while my Lord goeth to Oxford, you must not expect long Letters from a Leaguer, but I have been the lon­ger, to contradict those false lies that wee heare are among you, you shall heare from me by the next, farewell.

From the Leaguer before Redding Aprill 17.