Mercurius Bellicus. The fourth INTELLIGENCE FROM READING.  
Dated from His Excellency His Quarters in Reading, April the last, at 5 a clock at night.  
Wherein is the certain Relation of the taking of HEREFORD by Sir William Waller.  
London, Printed for Samuel Gellibrand, May 1. 1643.   

Mercurius Bellicus. April 30.  
Sir,  
I Think you have now been sufficiently abused by variety of reports, I shall spend some time in your relief: Our friends, doubtless, some through kindness, some through curiosity, desire to know how we do. It's true our present Vacation affords not much, but something you will find observable since my last of April 26. On Thursday toward noon we entered the Town of Reading, out of which we saw, and some upon account justify, above 4000 men march, well armed, and for aught we know, resolved, if men can be well resolved in such a cause: I occasioned some wonder, that being so strong, they sallied not, and that they yielded the Town, when doubtless they might have kept it: the best reason of the surrender I can find upon enquiry, is this; That the Governor, who was equally covetous and cruel, together with some of the chief Commanders, who had made very great gain of Plunders and Taxes, were afraid to put it to the hazard: Which opinion I am confirmed in by the certain relation we had of an endeavour to convey it away two days before the Parley. I believe your Oxford Mercury will tell you a sad story of our breach of the agreement, and the incivility of our Soldiers: It's confessed some things were not well, but worse was feared; and upon a just enquiry themselves will be found the first breakers of the Articles, in carrying away unlawful Baggage, besides women, of which that great, though not good store, as Arms and Ammunition to spare: some of the Pike-men carried Powder and Match, and their Wagons unlawfullie loaden. The worst was done was the changing hats, taking away some Arms; and some unruly fellows took clothes which I know no man will excuse. I am sure the Officers, and all those from whom reason might be expected, did their utmost to prevent it. Upon the entrance of the Town, we find the people had been used with more than Turkish severity, being frequently bastinadoed, imprisoned, assessed 2000 pounds a Month, according to the known Laws of the Land, which the Governor was well skilled in, in regard o● his familiarity with a Lawyer's wife where he quartered. They seem very glad of our coming, but not willing to entertain any Propositions of Money according to the Ordinances of Parliament; which yet must not be neglected in some proportion, though we came but to the latter fair. On Friday we had experience of a mutinous disposition in our Soldiers, who began to plunder some notorious malignants; but His Excellency; who road out three times that day, once from dinner, to appease and prevent them, and the Major General, and other Officers, did their best to hinder it; and there was little hurt done, only in the Shop of one Duel, a man of ill fame as to this business. The wind is now down, and the waves still, the 12s. reward promised, being performed, on Saturday the new paymasters entered their Office by Commission, which I hope will be digested, though it lie upon the stomach a while. Your next expectation is when we advance, that is mine too: some of our Commanders are at London, I need not tell you their Errand; only suggest better any thing on this side ruin done or suffered, than we lie still at this present: This day was appointed for a thanksgiving for the preservation & prosperous state of the Army, which was much quickened by intelligence received from Devon, & Hereford. From Devonshire we had news of my Lord Stamford's forces routing Hoptons', but there was such a rout and confusion in the letter, so that I can make no perfect relation, only give grounds of good hopes of our affairs in those parts. But from Hereford where Sir William Waller is we had a happy and exact Relation, which to my best remembrance is this; That upon Sunday last he marched from Gloucester toward Hereford with his forces to quiet that Country before he came this way, He shot three Pieces at the City on Monday morning, and then summoned it by a Trumpet, to which Cunningsby their Governor returned this answer; That if he could show a Commission from the King, they would surrender it to him, otherwise they would keep it for him. Thereupon he assaulted the Town in three several places, and some sallies and contestations there were; but before three of the clock, their sally was turned to a Parley, and two were sent out of the Town to Sir William Waller, who sent likewise two to them, offering them Quarter and no more. Herbert Price a Commander there came out and brought other Articles with some high language, but Sir William stuck strictly to his first Proposition, which after some injurious detention of his Hostages, they yielded to, only their Courtship would have some complemental forms added to his rough demand; That Gentlemen should have Quarter and civil usage, Ladies be treated honourably, the Citizens, Bishop, Dean and Chapter preserved from Plunder, and not imprisoned for any thing past; That Arms, Ensigns, Ammunition and the Government of the Town should be surrendered to him, which was done on Tuseday morning: He took some persons of quality, as Conningsby, Price, Sir William Crofts, Sir Richard Cave, and others, the Lord Scudamore: who was not sent to Gloucester with the rest, but his honourable word taken to appear at the Close Committee upon summons, and all this (through mercy) with the loss of one man, & hurt of 3 or 4 soldiers; so wonderfully doth God go along with the endeavours of this valiant & vigilant Commander. But let us now take heed of giving way to the fraud of our enemies, who strive to draw out of every advantage, a disadvantage to us, and to set up a part of an Army in opposition to that Army whereof it is a part: As I hope we shall be free from envy, so be you from jealousy. That the terms of Reading were not the like with Hereford; Reading was better Fortified and manned, had an Army of the enemy near for relief; and which is very considerable, We upon whose welfare the being of this Cause doth much depend (to speak of humane means) must not be so adventurous as others may, who upon a misfortune may address to us for supplies, we to none else. Let us bless God for each other, and you for us both; if you help on our march, I hope we shall meet ere long upon good terms. I can add little concerning the enemy; The King is gone from Wallingford to Oxford, He calls in the people from sixteen to sixty, and all kind of Arms; They have at this present more than a panic fear upon them, one man gave them an Alarm at Wallingford on Saturday, that confounded the consultations of the Council of War then sitting, and dispersed them. We have some intimations of the KING'S advancing for Wiltshire. The Earl of Stamford sent us a letter intercepted to Hopton, commanding to March, to horse his Muskets & Pikes too according to the example of the Rebels, who swept the Commo●● where they came (an unjust slander) the letter was writ in Tiffany, with another letter signed Charles R. Wherein it is likewise promised, That upon his approach, a considerable party of horse shall be sent to strengthen his passage through Somersetshire, but I hope this is prevented: We intercepted some Letters which extremely misreport our affairs, but that is no more than we expected, though I hope more than will be believed; They were going into Wiltshire with a protection for some persons there, against the time that the King's Forces should march that way. I know no more of consequence for the present, with things impertinent, trivial, or of suspected truth I will not trouble you, but rest till the next opportunity.  
FINIS.