Good and true News FROM REDDING, BEING An exact Relation of the proceed of his Excellence the Earl of ESSEX, since he advanced from Windsor, the true estate of the Siege, what number of men slain, what Works his Excellency hath gained from the Enemy, in what possibility he is of taking the town, faithfully related.  
With a true Relation of the access of Forces to the Lord General, since his going before Redding.  
Printed at the desires of many, to un-deceive the People, from the lying reports raised by Malignants.  
LONDON Printed for J. G. to be sold at the Galley in Cornhill. 1643.   

True intelligence from the Siege at REDDJNG.  
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 Windsor, and not cowardice, or ill will to the Cause; and though perhaps some Officers have been favity (as what Army is free) yet as true it is, that those failings have been presented through the multiplying glass of envy, jealousy and fear, and you may well believe there hath been a strong malignant influence fomenting and embittering these jealousies and repine 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 reign. But I know it is News, not Counsel you expect from a Leaguer: wherefore I shall satisfy you of the true state of our Army here. When my Lord General removed from Windsor, it was generally given out we were to go for Oxford, which we believed; because my Lord in his march seemed to pass by Redding, which, it seems he did to busy their heads in taking care to provide for Oxford, that so Redding being neglected, he might take them less provided for a siege, which fell out accordingly: for my Lord suddenly wheeling about came before Redding, he summoned the town for the King and Parliament, but Aston the Governor (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 carried by the Gun & Spade, and not by words, went that way to work, and is very like to speed.  
The Town is very strongly fortified, many outworks, commanded by some main Bulwarks, more inward, the Garrison 3000. or more, besides the Townsmen, there are near 22. pieces of Ordnance, to tell you the particular Quarters of each Regiment were useless to you, being you know not the Town, only in general thus, my Lord encamped 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 took care to secure the River, that no relief should come that way, than fell we presently to work with the Spade, to entrench our Quarters, which work was carried on with more facility and speed than could be expected, the soldiers (herein right soldiers) (being willing to fight with the Spade as well as the Sword) successively relieving one another, Night and Day, the next work 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 smoke that so they might hinder them but yet they did their work, and God kept them safe, only one a mean Officer received a shot. Sergeant Major being returned, we began to make our approaches, especially towards a hill called Causam-hill, which the Enemy had fortified, being it commands the Town, by our approaches we have gained most part of the hill, and driven the Enemy to his more inward works, on this hill we 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 half Musket shot, in despite of the Enemy's Musket or Cannon, which you may think have not been idle, so that we hope to gain it in a short time, though the Enemy have many Works one within another, they had planted some Ordnance in a Steeple, but we have made them seek their Ordnance in the ruins of the Steeple, the like we have done to some of their chief strengths, for our Cannon has not rested, some slight sallies they have made out of the town, but have been beaten in with loss, our men are very forward, and would carry the town by an assault, but our prudent General had rather lose a little time to gain it, then lose so much good blood, we hope to carry it in 3. or four days; if not we believe my Lord General will advance towards Oxford, and leave Major General with part of his Forces to take in this Town, our Works being by this time finished, our soldiers have won some out works, which they have left, as being no way useful to them, what ever lying reports ye have in London, this is the truth, we have not lost above Fifteen men by the Enemy, and ten or twelve slain and maimed by a Barrel 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 surprise 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 we hear are among you, you shall hear from me by the next, farewell.  
From the Leaguer before Redding April 17.   

From the Leaguer before Redding April 19  
SIr, I am glad you received my last, I wonder your malignants are so silly to choose this place for the scene of their lies, where they may be so easily disproved, but custom hath hardened them in lying, and made them shameless, believe it Sir there hath not been 20. men killed by the Enemy since we lay before this Town, we have now gained Causam-hill, have beat the enemy from the Church in the bottom, and are now masters of that part of the town on this side the Bridge, and hope to master the rest shortly, on monday the Governor Aston offered to render the town, if he might march away with Bag, and Baggage, it was answered that we came for the men, not for the Town, it is since reported they would yield the town upon quarter, and leave to pass to his Majesty without their Arms, which is said is denied, because they refused quarter before, there are 7. broken Regiments in the town, in all about 3000. men, we hope by this Siege to engage them to a Battle, of which there is some probability, for the King draws his forces together, and the Parliament do the like, Prince Rupert they say, and Hastings are come to Oxford, but 'tis certain they were at Litchfield the 16. of this month, the Lord Grey is joined with his Excellency, and hath brought 7000. Horse and Foot, the Garrison and country Volunteers with Colonel Goodwin are about 5000. 3. or 4000 volunteers are come in to my Lord General, out of the adjacent Counties, so that it is all the Camp talk, that if the Cavaliers come not out of Oxford to meet us here, that we shall speedily find them at Oxford, except they run for it, for we hope to play them such loud Music with our Camp Organs, as shall make their best Bulwarks quake, we expect to meet Sir William Waller at Oxford with 8000. men, be confident in a week's time you shall see the scales turn: if we remove from Redding. Sergeant Major Skippon shall be left to continue this Siege, with sufficient strength. I pray God teach our hearts to pray, and our singers to fight.  
Vale.