AN EXACT RELATION Of the Proceed of the Cavaliers AT CICESTER; Containing a true Declaration, of their bloody Cruelties, the number of men that were slain on both sides, and what Prisoners were taken and carried to Oxford.  
Also the Copy of the Oath or Protestation which was tendered unto them at Oxford; With many other remarkable Passages concerning the said business.  
As also the Votes of the Parliament, and what is agreed upon in the House of Commons. Concerning the late Propositions sent by His Majesty to both Houses, for a Treaty of Peace.  
Febr. 14. LONDON, Printed for john Dam, dwelling in the middle-Rowe in Holborn. 1643,   

An Exact Relation of the Proceed of the CAVALIERS at CICESTER.  
PRince rupert's Scouts, upon the tenth of this instant February, approached near the Town of Cicester in the County of Gloucester, and news was brought to the Town, that Prince Rupert himself, Prince Mawrice, the Earl of Carnarvan, the Earl of Northampton, the Lord Digby, and divers other great Commanders, with about seven thousand horse and foot, were marching towards Cicester with an intent to make an attempt against it, which Town at that time, was not in so good a posture of defence as formerly it had been, for that part of their forces were about Malmesbury and other places, which was occasioned by a late assault which was made against Shudly-Castle by the Gloucestershire forces, where they took the Lord Shandoys and three hundred men prisoners with their Arms and Ammunition, so that there was in Cicester at this time, but eleven hundred men, and five small Pieces of Ordnance. This day there was but little done, only three or four of Prince rupert's Scouts were taken Prisoners and carried into the Town, but the next day Prince Rupert having brought all his forces together before the Town, began to make an assault against it, whereupon the Townsmen perceiving the great strength that was against them, presently sent to Gloucester, desiring some aid and assistance from thence, and in the mean time, they resolved to oppose the Enemy's forces, which was valiantly performed by them, insomuch that the Enemy could make no entrance all that day, although they played very fiercely against the Town with their Ordnance, and at last, whilst the Ordnance were playing against one end of the Town, Prince RUPERT with a party of Horse, advanced to the other end, and made an assault against it, shooting Granades to set on fire Barnes and thatched houses, which were at that end, and fired some of them, amongst which was a Stack of Hay, the smoke of which fire, by reason of the Wind carrying it into the Town, did so much annoy the inhabitants of the Town, that they could hardly see one another, and knew not which way to turn them, and and thereupon were suddenly surprised by the Cavaliers, who at their first entrance laid about them in that inhuman manner, it would grieve the hardest heart to think of, for they spared neither woman nor child that they met withal, and most cruelly murdered a godly Divine and his whole Family, and after quarter was granted, those men which escaped with their lives, were miserably tortured, and used with worse cruelty than death, for they were stripped naked and dragged up and down the street, terrifying them with most heavy oaths, and curses, holding their naked swords and Pistols to their breasts, and at last drove them into the Church, where they were kept in that naked and miserable condition, four and twenty hours together, without either bread or water, there being (as it is reported) about a thousand of them, which cruelties are hardly to be paralleled by any stories in our English Chronicles.  
Before I pass any further, I should relate the number of such persons as were slain on both sides, but in this particular I shall crave favour to be excused, if I do not so exactly relate the very certainty thereof, it being a thing of more than ordinary difficulty, to give a true definition thereof, but herein I must refer myself to the general brute of the people, which in all probability doth not much vary from the truth, who say that before the Cavaliers enured the Town, the inhabitants lost not above two hundred men, but the enemy lost about fifteen hundred.  
The prisoners which were taken by the Cavaliers, were pinioned and coupled together, and driven like Cattle to Oxford, without shoes or stockings, or hats to keep their bare heads from the weather, many of them (as it is ●eported) being glad to make hard shift for a piece of Mat or Straw to tie about them, to cover their nakedness, and and at their coming near unto Oxford, news being brought to the town of their near approach, a great number of people came out to meet them, the prisoners being tied together with Cords and Match, though most of them were of very good worth and quality, and two of them Ministers, which were in the like manner drawn through the dirt and mire, and so were all carried into the Town and imprisoned in two several Churches, and kept there all night, not being allowed either fire, bread, or water: whereupon a poor woman perceiving the miserable condition of these poor distressed prisoners, and hearing their lamentable complaint and cry for water, went to fetch them some, but being seen she was beaten by a Cavalier; yet the poor woman being inwardly moved with these men's miseries, said she would fetch them water, though she were hanged for it. Some of them that were taken at Cicester, and thus carried to Oxford, by reason of their cruel usage, and the wounds they had received, not having any means to recover them, nor any Chirurgeon to come at them, are since dead.  
After they had been thus imprisoned all night in the Churches, the next day they had an Oath tendered unto them, which was as followeth, viz.  

The Oath administered unto all those who were taken Prisoners lie the Cavaliers at Chichester.  
I A. B. resting fully assured of His Majesty's Princely truth and goodness, do freely and from my heart, promise, vow, and protest, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will, to the utmost of my power, and with the hazard of my life, maintain and defend the true Protestant Religion, established in the Church of England, His Majesty's sacred Person, his Highness, and lawful successors, His Majesty's just power and privilege, and the just power and privilege of Parliament, against the Forces under the Conduct of the Earl of Essex, and against all other Forces whatsoever, contrary to His Majesty's command. I do believe that the raising and employing of forces by His Majesty for the purposes and causes before mentioned, to be most just and necessary, and I will do my utmost endeavour to procure and re-establish the peace and the quiet of the Kingdom, and that herein all His Majesty's Subjects may fully enjoy their liberty and property according to the law of the land; and I will neither divulge or communicate any thing to the said Earl of Essex his Officers, or to any other to hinder or prejudice the designs of His Majesty in the conduct and employment of His army: and I do believe that the Subjects of England are not obliged by any act of State, Vote, Ordinance, or Declaration, made or to be made, either by the King's Majesty solely, or by the Lords and Commons singly, or jointly, without his Majesty's express consent (saving such as have or shall be in execution, of or according to some known Law-custome of the Realm, or Statute enacted by the King, or Lords and Commons in Parliament:) and I do further protest and vow in the presence of Almighty God, that I will not take or bear arms, but by express warrant of His Majesty, or by authority justly derived from His Majesty's immediate warrant.   
A Great part of the business in Parliament the last week, was concerning the propositions lately sent from his Majesty to the Parliament concerning a treaty, & particularly about a Cessation of Arms; and the House of Commons conceving it unsafe and a matter of dangerous consequence to the Kingdom, that there should be a cessation of arms only during the treaty, after long debate of the business (their being about 200 persons in the House) it being put to the Question it was carried by the Major voices, that there should be an utter disbanding of all forces, both by the King and Parl. which if his Maj. will graciously be pleased to agree unto, the Parl. will make choice of fit and able persons for the managing of the treaty with those which shall be chosen by his Majesty, and in the mean time, until things are further agreed upon, they willbe ready to propound such a way to give his Majesty satisfaction concrening the propositions made by his Majesty, touching his Forts, Castles, and Navy, as shallbe reasonable, and with safety to the Kingdom.   
FINIS.