An Exact RELATION Of the Siege before YORK: Of the taking of the Suburbs, and of the Approaches made within 40. yards of the Walls: Of the taking of the King's Manor house there: And how the Associated forces of Essex, Suffolk, etc. under the Earl of Manchester, have several times repulsed the Enemy, and preserved some part of the Suburbs from being consumed with fire.  
As it is sent in several Letters, dated at the Leaguer before York, the 6. and 7. of June.  
Published by Authority.  
London Printed for R. White. June 12. 1644.   

A Letter from the Leaguer before York, the sixth of june, 1644.  
SInce my last by the Post the 30. of May last, Prince Rupert hath taken Bolton in Lancashire, wherein there were a thousand five hundred Clubmen, and Colonel Rigby with 2000 Armed men drawn from the Siege of Latham, Colonel Rigby himself who is come hither faith that he lost there five barrels of Powder, two Drakes, and other Ammunition, and not 200. men in all killed, most of the rest saving themselves by flight; but he conceives he lost near 500 Arms, the vulgar report gives the loss to be greater; howsoever he is now about to rally his scattered men, and hopes to get them shortly together. Prince rupert's forces range over a great part of Lancashire, but his principal quarter is at Wiggon, and to that Town he draws the forces raised by the Commission of Array: His Army increases by the dependants of the Earl of Derby, and the Popish Gentry there, that do all flock to him, and by the addition of General goring forces, who came to him on Monday last at Berry; and than it was also believed, that he intended presently to come to York to raise the Siege: But this day the 6. of June, Sir John Meldrum, writes that he conceives his forces not to exceed ten thousand men, and that they bend Southwards, as he thinks, to take Warington, and Leverpoole: but it is thought he will march to meet the King, if he once pass South out of Lancashire.  
This day also Letters were intercepted from Sir Philip Musgrave to Prince Rupert, whereby I perceive Rupert hath sent for him, and all his forces of Westmoreland, and Cumberland; which Sir Philip promiseth to perform, but not suddenly.  
In Lancashire there are Garrisons of good strength, in Warington, Leverpoole, and Lancaster; and an Army of seven or 8000. Armed men in Manchester, where Sir John Meldrum resides, and hath the command of all the Country; and the Parliaments ships lately come to Lever pool do much encourage the Soldiers there; so that I do not give Lancashire for lost, though I am persuaded Rupert will pillage the Country sore, and increase his Army; neither of which can be prevented without a greater inconvenience.  
From Bishopric we hear that all the forces of the enemy are retreated into Newcastle (the Troops of Clavering excepted, that continue yet at Durham) which gives some assurance of the public report of the Lord Calendars being at Alnewick.  
The third of June our forces took Walton-hall near Wakefield, and in it Sir Francis Wortley, the elder, the first incendiary in this County, that publicly engaged a party for the King against the Parliament, and 120. soldiers with him, who yielded themselves prisoners after they had killed several of our men.  
And third of June in the night, 60. horse sent by Sir Hugh Cholmley from Scarbrough came to Buttercoms, where Mr. Henry Darley lodged; and the Draw-bridge being accidentally let down that night, they entered, and took him in bed, and carried him prisoner to Scarbrough.  
On Monday the third of June the Earl of Manchester drew to the Leaguer at York, about 6000. foot and a thousand horse, and twelve field pieces, and his men are quartered before Bowdom bar, and that side towards Clifton, they are very brave soldiers, and every day fall upon some part, and beat the enemy.  
And now having these forces added to our other Armies, the enemy is shut up far closer than before: and the Generals consult how the work may be made short with least loss of their men: and yesternight being June the fifth, they have caused a work to be raised for a battery, upon a hill near Walm-gate, where there are four pieces of battery already planted, that have played all this afternoon upon the Castle, Tower, and Town; and they from the Town have sent us at least an hundred Bullets from several Platforms in the Town, but they have done us very little hurt, not above one man killed, and what execution our Ordnance do in the City we cannot yet tell; But we are getting more pieces up to our new work, which we know hath already put them into a very great fear, for this day they have fired most part of the Suburbs, and drawn their people into the Town; our men fall into the Suburbs and beat them in when they Sally our either to fire houses or fetch in goods; but whilst they skirmish the fire consumes the houses, they will not suffer our men to quench it, for if the houses could have been saved they would have been a great shelter for our men in their approaches.  
And the Suburb without Bowdom, where there were many fair houses, being fired, the E. of Manchesters' men nevertheless entered, and beat in the enemy this morning, and have saved much of the houses from the fire, and do gallery through them close to the walls, so that it is to be hoped, that unless succours come speedily to them, the Town will be taken or yielded. And to prevent Prince rupert's coming, the most part of our horse and dragooneers are laid towards Lancashire, who if they be not able to beat him back, yet will at least stop his march until these Armies be drawn up to them, and then they will, being all together, be able to fight with all the forces the King hath on the north side of Trent, if God give his blessing, which we all pray for.  
There is a bridge made of boats over the Owse in Cliftoning, that the Armies may on a sudden send secure one to another.  
The first of June, the Scots forces fetched a great many cattles and horses from the enemy near Miclegate bar, and killed many both horse and foot of the enemy, I hear they left four and thirty dead, and brought away thirty prisoners, but all sore wounded.  
And yesterday June the 5. the Earl of Manchesters' men fell on near Walm-gate, and took Saint Nicholas Church; but disserted it again when they had gotten away eighty head of cattles from the enemy: and there is no day passeth but something is done worthy commendations, for our men are full of courage, and desire to fall upon the Town whensoever the Generals think it fit to command them: Sandall Castle near Wakefield was surrendered yesterday.  
june the sixth, 1644. Leaguer before York.   

Another Letter from the Leaguer before York, june 7. eleven a Clock at noon.  
EVery day produces novelties, at present thus, Upon Wednesday night last, was a battery made at the Windmill betwixt York and Leslington, about eight score distant from the Walls, and five piece of great Ordnance yesterday placed in it, and divers shots made into the City, which have made visible batteries, both in the Walls, Clifford's Tower, and other houses, another battery was yesterday got at S. Laurence Church, made within the Churchyard next Wombgate, about fifty yards from the gate, and here, and in the Church, and houses, there are about 3000. of our men.  
My Lord Eglington with 4000 Scots, yesterday entered, Gilligate, Marygate, and Mary Tower, & have made a passage into the Manor under ground: This last night a strong party sallied out of the City, and fell upon his men to beat them back, but could not prevail, for 7000. of my Lo: manchester's, and my Lord Fairfaxes men fell into Wombgate, and so diverted the enemy, and had a sore fight with them, the loss hitherto, I have not heard on either side: The Lo: General Leven with his Regiment fell upon a strong Fort this last night, upon a hill, about eight score distant from Skeldergate postern, and have taken it, and 120. men in it, whereof about 35. are brought in prisoners, the rest killed, he lost some men in that service; and in this Fort, being very considerable, my Lo: intends to make a battery, and so from thence make shots at pleasure into Town, and I do believe to morrow, or the next day, they will Summon the City once more, and if not yielded, than they may take the last farewell, for the Soldiers are mightily enraged, and I doubt will not be careful to distinguish persons: All this last night I saw great fires in three several places of the City, much of the Suburbs was burned before, except such as our men have saved, and we hear the enemy resolve to burn the City, rather than yield it, we do hourly expect the issue.  
York Leaguer, 7. of June, at eleven a Clock at noon.   
FINIS.