Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Letter or Summons sent to Sir JOHN BERKLEY For the surrender of the City of Exeter.  
With his Answer, and the transaction of the Treaty, and the Names of the Commissioners on both sides.  
As also The Summons sent into NEWARK, and their Answer.  
With the routing of 900. Oxford Horse at Faringdon: 500 Horse, prisoners, and Arms taken by the Abbington Forces.  
Also other news from Oxford, and taking of Portland Castle by Captain BATTEN.  
Printed by the several original Papers, and published according to Order of Parliament.  
Imprinted at London for Matthew Walbancke 6 April 1646.   

The Copy of a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Quarters.  
Sir;  
BEfore our departure from Oakhampton the Lord's day, March 29. the General (at the request ●f the Inhabitants) gave order for the slighting of some Barricadoes, which the Enemy had made about the Town, to prevent all inconveniences hereafter; That day the Army marched from Oakhampton to Crediton; and had a Rendezvous near Bowbridge.  
Monday March 30. we stayed at Crediton, had intelligence of the Enemy's resolutions in Barnstable, to quit the Town and betake themselves to the great Fort and Castle, which probably before this time is effected: And the speech is, That upon the coming of Colonel Blake with his Regiment from Dunster, about two days since, they left the Town, only some few for a Guard, which our men beat off, killed seven, with the loss of four; the Skirmish is certain, but whether our men are in possession I cannot yet assure you, we having as yet received no Letters thereof. It is generally believed that Sir Allen Apsley is willing to surrender the Town, Fort and Castle, but that his desperate Brother swears he will cut him to pieces if he offer to surrender the Castle.  
Tuesday, March 31. The General marched to Crediton, in the way had a Rendezvous, near Newtusyres, and afterward the General, Lieutenant, General, with other Field Officers, road round about the City of Exeter, within Musket shot, and the rest of the Army, Horse and Foot, drew up upon an Hill near the City, in the sight thereof: The Guards and several Garrisons round about the City, were drawn forth in a complete manner, and still as the General passed by, gave a loud shout and a Volley, that so the Enemy in the City might take notice thereof; notwithstanding which, they discharged not one Piece of Ordnance at the General's Company, but one or two from the Castle at the Horse and Foot on the H●ll, which makes us believe they have inclination to surrender, in regard, as they confess themselves, they have notice of Sir jacob Ashleyes' defeat, and so their hopes of relief are quite frustrate. The General sent in the enclosed Summons yesterday by a Trumpeter, to which we expect an Answer this day: The Enemy in the worning before the General came, drew forth 500 Horse and Foot in a bravadoe, made a flourish, but our men drawing towards them, they retreated; some of our men passing over the River Ex in a Boat, wherein was some store of Gunpowder, one of them with his lighted Match (unadvisedly) went to fill his Bandaleers, set fire to the Powder, blew up himself (who died presently) and the rest were miserably hurt, being about seven or eight in all. The last night we came to Columb John House; Master Vragge is not yet returned from the Convoy which was to bring the Lord Hoptons' Forces to Charde. With my respects to all our friends, I rest  
Columb john, April 1646. in the morning. Yours to command▪ W. C.  
POSTSCRIPT.  
THe Army is yet quartered about Bradmuch, Sitonton, Columpton, and the Villages adjacent; since the writing hereof, (the Messenger yet staying) Sir John Berkleyes' Trumpeter came out of Exeter with an Answer to yesterday Summons, expressing his willingness to a Treaty, desiring it might begin Friday next, and sent the names of term Gentlemen he desired to be Commissioners, (whose names are enclosed) to which his Excellency returned this enclosed Answer, with the names of his Commissioners.   

The Copy of a Letter or Summons sent to the Governor of Exeter by Sir Thomas Fairfax.  
Sir;  
BEing returned with my Army from the West, where God in his wisdom saw it good to bestow a dry and bloodless Victory upon me, to the great peace and quiet of these parts; and conceiving it my duty likewise to endeavour the good of this County, which by the occasion of your Garrison is necessarily obstructed, I thought fit once more to send you a Summons to deliver up to me the City of Exeter, with the Castle, Forts, Arms, Ammunition and Magazine, belonging to the the same; believing that by this time you are satisfied of the relief you expected from the Prince's Army, and may equally be of all relief to come from any other place, if your Intelligence and knowledge were the same with ours: There is nothing more induceth me hereunto then an unfeigned zeal toward any further bloodshed, and as much as in me lies, to preserve that City which hath already suffered deeply in these unnatural distractions, from further or greater misery. Though I shall not boast of my numbers or strength, yet I must needs tell you, that I doubt not but the same power which hath formerly made difficult things easy, will answer this, and will acquit me from being accounted the occasion of those inconveniencies and miseries which necessarily will ensue upon your refusal. Sir, I shall expect your speedy and positive Answer herein, and rest  
March 31. 1646. Your Servant T. Fairfax.  
Sir john Berkeleys Answer.  
SIR,  
upon your Summons I called this day a Counsel of War, where after some debate it was determined to treat with you, or with whom you should appoint, and to conclude upon just and honourable terms; and to that purpose I desire a safe Conduct for the persons to repair to your head Quarters with their servants on Friday morning, and to return at their pleasure. I remain. Your servant.  
April 1. 1646. Io. Berkley.  


Those first named by Sir john Berkely were:  
Sir Hen. Berkely.  
Mr. William Ashburnham.  
Sir George Cary.  
Mr. john Were.  
Col. Godilphin.  
Cap. Fitzgarret.  
Mr. Robert Walker.  
Mr. Thomas Knight.  
Mr. Tho. Kendal.  
Mr. Tho. Ford.    
The General's Reply to Sir john Berkely.  
SIR,  
I have received yours, whereby I understand that in pursuance of my demand in my Summons you have determined to treat with me by Commissioners, and in order to that have sent a List of ten Gentlemen which you desire for Commissioners on your behalf, of which although there is none in particular that I take exceptions unto; yet because I desire to carry on the business with clearness and expedition, which by so great a number cannot so well be effected, I thought fit to propound unto you the number of six, that being as many as conveniently can be used in a business of this nature; upon your consent hereunto, and answer, I shall according to your desire send you a safe Conduct for a proportionable number of Commissioners, and in the mean time shall rest, your Servant  
April 1. 1646. T. Fairfax.  
I agree the time to begin on Friday next according to your desire, the place Poultimore house: I have sent a List of the Commissioners on my part.  

The names of the Commissioners.  
Lieut. General Hamond.  
Col. Sir Fardresse Valleri.  
Col. Lambert.  
Col. Harley.  
Col. Fry.  
Commissary Stane.   
SIR,  
this night the General hath written to Commissary Gen. Ireton (who is by this time with the Convoy about Chard) that in regard (since the defeat given to Ashly) those broken forces do in small parcels steal into Oxford, which probably may not only enable that Garrison to range abroad in the county, but endanger our Horse, and disturb the Siege of Banbury, he should therefore advance with three of those Regiments of Horse, and the Dragoones now with him towards Oxford, and that he take care for the prevention of the escape of any of the disbanded Officers or Soldiers to the Enemy, which it is probable they will endeavour to do. It is likewise referred to the Commissary General's consideration, if he think fit to make use of Col. Cook's Horse, for the more full accomplishment of those ends, in respect he will have with him Major General Massies Regiment, his own Colonel Fitz janises, and Sir Francis Drakes Regiment, which may be spared, and to desire him to send the Lieu. Gen. Regiment into these parts, in regard his Major is in Cornwall, and if he think fit to have Sir Robert Pies in their room; that and the Dragoones remaining here shall be sent unto him, and the General himself with a party of Foot will ere long march that way.  
April the 1. 1646. at night. Your Servant. W. C.  
A Letter from the Leaguer before Newark.  
SIR,  
I have sent you here enclosed the several Copies of the Summons to Newark, and Bellassis answer; wherein you may see how he compliments with us, but we shall not do so with them if they be not of more flexible temper, which we doubt not but to mould them in; we gain upon them every day, and doubt not but very suddenly to be Masters of the place, either by having it surrendered, or forced; the former we most desire, but doubt not to effect the latter if constrained; for which we make all preparations, and have gained much forwardness in the works: by the next I doubt not, but you will hear of something done, active or passive.  
Balderton the 1. of April, 1646.   

The Summons sent into NEWARKE.  
WE, the Committee of both Kingdoms, being sent and Authorized, to use our best endeavours for the Town and Garrison of Newarke do hereby, in the name of both Houses of the Parliament of England, and for the use of the King and Parliament, demand of you, that you forthwith Surrender the same into their Hands. It is the pious care of the Parliament to prevent the effusion of Christian blood, the wasting of the Countries, and the destruction of Towns; we shall esteem ourselves happy in being instruments to avert those miseries; and shall therefore grant to you, the Gentlemen, with you, and the Town; honourable and fair conditions, which if you shall now neglect, and will let nothing but experimental sufferings declare unto you your unavoidable ruin; you are to give an account to God, to this present age and to posterity, for all the blood that shall from henceforth be shed, for wasting your Native and Neighbouring-Counties, and destruction of so considerable a place. You may not, nor can any (in reason) expect, and most assuredly, on the faith of honest men, you shall not hereafter observe from us such terms as we are now willing to afford you. We sent no Summons until you, & all with you, might see we were able by force to obtain what we may rather defend by Treaty. The Parliament have at present 16000 horse and foot before your Town, Soldiers of experience united, and in health and courage: This is no ways mentioned, as if we trusted in the Arm of flesh; (God the Lord of hosts hath manifested that we fight his battles) but to show you the vast expense which will be occasioned by the continuance of this Siege, for which your estates must answer, and that your holding out may no further tempt the Almighty. And though you should not regard, your own ruin, though some others should be of that your opinion; shall yet that wealthy Town be sucked, and others perish with you that see their own misery, and would avoid it? A prudent man, a Soldier cannot live or die, in reputation or peace of spirit, to maintain a place not so long tenable, as till it can be relieved, of which you cannot have the least hopes. Flatter not yourselves, relief is not to be had; Chester was nearer succours, and considerable Armies for them in the West, and in Wales, now scarce seen what remains of either: was not that strong City of most great importance? were they not very often promised? did not all assurance to be relived come to them? they had none, that place is surrendered. Your wealth, if you rightly consider in what state you are, promoves your sudden & certain destructions. You are prepared in some things for defence; you know (and we know) you are not for some other. Consider these things seriously, and you cannot out through them, see your ruin to be inevitable if you do not avoid it, by attempting what is now offered. We will expect your answer on Monday next, by seven of the clock in the forenoon at Balderton.  
Balderton, 2● March, 1646. For the Governor of the Town and Garrison of Newark the Gentlemen there, and the Major, Aldermen, and Burgesses of that Town. Signed in the name, and by the Warrant of the Committee of both Kingdoms. Rutland Lothdam.   

A Copy of the Governor of Newarks Answer.  
HAving received a Paper, subscribed by the Committee of both Kingdoms, directed as to a Committee-Governour, by putting the Gentlemen and Corporation in equal balance with me (though the joying us together was the intention to divide us) I shall in answer thereof, desire you to reflect upon the King's Letter of the 23 of March, sent to the two Houses of Parliament, which I received from your own Quarters, wherein a full compliance with all their desires, upon the most gracious conditions that ever Prince propounded: he offers to disband his Forces, and to dismantle his Garrisons; to what end then do you demand that of the stewards, whereof the Lord & Master makes a volentary tender? I conceive it my duty to trace his commands, not to outstrip them; so that though honour and conscience would permit the delivery, yet cruelty would retard it, lest his Majesty's act of Grace be frustrated by my overhasty speed. I shall wait the arguments wherewith you endeavour to win my consent, I am neither to be stroked into Apostasy, by the mention of fair Conditions in a unjustly motion, nor to be frighted into dishonour by your ruing division upon the fate of Chester, for as I do not measure my allegiance by my interest to the former, so I deserved that poverty of spirit, as by resemblance of Chester to suffer by example, I can be loyal without that Copy, and I hope this Garrison shall never be the transcript of their calamity, you may do well to use your fortune modestly, and think not that God Almighty doth applaud your Cause by reason of your victories, and that he hath not a blessing in store for ours, whereas you urge the expense of the siege, and the pressures of the supporting your charge, since occasioned by yourselves, I am not concerned in it, yet in order to their ease, if you will grant a Pass to some Gentlemen to go to the King, and return, I may then know his Majesty's pleasure, whether according to his Letter he will wind up the business in general, or leave me to steer mine own course, than I shall know what to determine; otherwise, I desire you to take notice, that when I received my Commission for the government of this place, I annexed myself as a label to my trust.  
J. BELASSYSE. Newark, 31 March, 1646.  
To the Commit of both Kingdoms.   

A letter from an Officer at Abingdon.  
SIR.  
LAst night we drew out, and this morning fell into the Enemy's Quarters at Faringdon, where we routed the whole Body of the King's Horse, and took about 300 Horse and Prisoners, divers Officers, with others that we took on Sunday, and at other times this week, and some that have come in, will amount to 500 Horse, Prisoners, and Arms, and the Enemy so routed and dispersed, that of 900 Horse none dare appear in sight, they in Oxford are so distracted hereat, that they know not what to do; we here that Portland Castle is surrendered to Captain Battaime, there were some 80 men it, who are gone home, Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition there were good store: I hope now the Wars are near an end, so prays your Servant  
Abingdon, this April the 3. 1646. J. T.   
FINIS.