A LETTER: BEING A full Relation of the siege of Banbury Castle by that valiant and faithful commander, Colonel WHETHAM Governor of Northampton, now Commander in chief in that service.  
With their particular proceeding from the the beginning, and how they have taken the Church, planted their Ordnance, and are battering the Castle continually.  
As also, How they took two Cavaliers which were let down from the Castle, with a Letter of great concernment sent from the Governor to Prince Rupert, which was found about them.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON, Printed for john Wright in the Old bailie, Septemb. 4. 1644.   

SIR,  
THat I may give you and others satisfaction touching the siege of Banbury castle, I must tell you that though we have for about a month's space straytned their quarters, and hindered their forcing the Tax on the Country; which grew so heavy a pressure, that they had forborn the payment for divers weeks in many Towns, though threatened to be plundered of all for their neglect. This Castle is of more concernment to Oxford then any other, for besides the provisions of victuals by droves of Sheep and beast weekly, it is upon good ground averred that for a long time this Garrison hath paid 18000 per week to Oxford, divers Towns being taxed to more than the yearly revenue of them; so that the taking of this Den of Thiefs would much conduce to the straitning of Oxon. and give liberty of Trade to London from many parts.  
On Thursday Aug. 22. they came out of the Castle with about 80 horse and fell on a guard of ours who retreating a mile to Workworth to their body, as many as took the Alarm followed them, beat them down the hill, killed their grand rob-Carrier Lieutenant Midleton by a Carbine shot thorough the brain, and took his Cornet one Smith a stout plunderer, slew two others, and took two, and wounded 4 or 5 desperately, and beat the rest into the Castle.  
On Sabbath day Aug. 25 two Companies of our foot that lay for a guard to the horse advanced into the Town of Banbury and took possession of the Church about break of day, the enemy not taking any Alarm, until some of our soldiers by knocking at divers doors in the Town to look for Cavaliers that lay in houses near the Castle, awakened them. Our foot all this while were unloding their Ammunition, and planting their Drakes and Musketeers in the Church; and our Troops were all entered the Town, and stood to assist the foot near the Church, if need should be. About an hour after day the enemy came out of the Castle with about 100 Musketeers, and all the horse they had; their Musketeers got into gardens and houses many of them, and shot at our horse, and slew a horse or two, which made our horse to remove to the Towns end; and by this time we had drawn out three small parties of foot to encounter theirs, who made divers ways to the Church; and having slain three of them we did by degrees get them into the streets; and so drove them into the Castle again, but still they came out in parties, until about noon they saw a supply coming toward us from Northampton, and then they betook themselves to their strength, and never stirred out since.  
On the same day came two great Guns with some more foot and Ammunition from Northampton, and with them Col. Whetham the Governor there, Commander in chief of this service; on Monday and Tuesday the enemy played at us from the Castle where ever we appeared, to hinder us in our making brest-workes for our Ordnance or men: they played fiercely at the Church, where we had some with long Guns which did much annoy them in the Castle, and killed divers of their Cattles: on Wednesday we played one of our Cannons at the wall and made about six shot, but they with their Cannon broke the Carriage of our piece, so that for that night we could do no more, but first we battered the wall so on the outside that we much weakened it, and beat a hole four or five yards square. The same day Wednesday Aug. 28. there came to our assistance Colonel Purefoys Regiment of horse, and Col. Boswels Regiment of foot, and with them three great Guns, one carrying 36 pound Bullet, the other two somewhat less, 3 Morter-pieces for Granades. On Thursday Aug. 29. they played with their Cannon from the Castle to prevent our planting our great pieces. On Friday Aug. 30. the enemy fired divers houses stood near the Castle, as they had done the day before, the fire burning fiercely both the days, about 30 houses burnt, and the enemy still endeavouring to fire more; All this day they played fiercely both with Cannon and Muskets from the castle at any house or place where they saw any man appear, and we likewise played at them; we about noon got our great piece planted, and played 8 or 9 times that afternoon, and had our Cannoneere slain with a Drake-bullet at night, and another piece we played with at the same time, but the enemy with a bullet of twelve pound weight broke one of the wheels, and slightly hurt the cannoneer. The enemy made about 40 cannon-shot that day, and some thousands of musket-shot, yet killed but that one man, and hurt another in the thumb, we not seizing to ply them with small shot as oft as they appeared, and with cannon all the afternoon; about noon we played the great morter-piece five times with a Granado of above 100 pound weight, twice it fell amongst them, and tore up the earth and brake as we could desire it, but what effect it wrought we know not, not having any intelligence from them. On Friday night we wrought to plant the rest of the pieces, the enemy preventing us the opportunity of doing it by day; We keep them in continual work, that so they may spend their Ammunition, which yet they do freely, as if they hoped we should not lie there long, they pleasing themselves with Pr. rupert's coming to their aid. I have been the more particular, that you may know we have need of your prayers, and that God may have the praises in our great preservation, so many shot being made and so few slain, or hurt, and that we may account it a mercy worth praising God for if ever we be master of it, which though we must not look for suddenly, yet we need not doubt of if we may have time (though undoubtedly there are not many stronger holds in England,) our soldiers, through God's mercy being supported with courage, as ever I saw them in any service.  
Saturday Aug. 31. we took two poor tatered rogues without hose or shoe put over the castlewall early in the morning with intelligence to Pr. Rupert, Col. Greene the valiant Tailor Governor of the castle having writ a Letter in a shred of Paper close written and cut in the midst, that if but one of them had been taken we had not known what to have made of it, but having both the pieces I shall acquaint you with the substance of the Letter, which was, that our strength was not above 800 horse and 700 foot that did beleaguer them: that we had drained three garrisons for them, and that the Townsmen were now left to keep our garrisons, he therefore desired the Prince to come with, or send 1500 Horse and 500 Dragoones between Northampton and Banbury, and bids him not doubt of taking our Guns, and routing our Foot, and then he might be revenged on Northampton for the other design he miss on before. By these two messengers being examined a part we find that their chief Cannoneere was slain on Friday, and another of theirs wounded in the eye with a musket-bullet, not like to live; that one of our Granades did fire in the castle, but did not much hurt.  
On Sabbath day Septemb. 1. we planted our three great Guns, having wrought all the night before, we played two of them all the morning on the meddow-side, the third the great Demi-cannon not being ready until toward night, we shot thorough the Castle but made but a small breach yet, but such as it was, and another Granadoe firing in the Castle made them lamentably skreeke out, and some women would have come forth but we would not suffer them; they shot from the Castle fiercely at our Work, but yet have done us no hurt, we hope in time we shall cool their courage, though we hear the Gentlemen and Officers have taken the Sacrament not to give or take quarter, and some bitter malignant Papists are there that will do their utmost to keep it. The good Lord give us courage; and patience to weight his leisure, and be content to stay for it until he will give it us in mercy; Which is the desire of yours, etc.  
Banbury, 2. Septemb. 1644.  
What's material you shall have as I can send it,  
Vale.   
FINIS.