The manner of the discovering the KING at Southwell, on Tuesday the 5. of April, 1646. who is now in the Parliaments Quarters before Newarke.  
Banbury taken in, with the Ordnance, arms, and Ammunition.  
AND The Treaty with Sir Charles Compton from OXFORD.  
ALSO The copy of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Proclamation, commanded to be red in all Churches near Oxford.  
AND The copy of the Summons sent to LUDLOW, and the Governours Answer: And a copy of Colonel Birch his Letter.  
These are commanded to be printed by the original papers, and published according to Order of Parliament.  
LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alsop and J. Coe. may. 7th. 1646.   

The manner of discovering the King at Southwel on Tuesday the 5. of April, 1646. who is now in the Parliaments Quarters before Newark.  
ON Tuesday the fifth of April, 1646. general leaven having notice of the Kings being at Southwell in Nottingham-shire, with the French Agent in the Scots Quarters, acquainted the English Commissioners therewith, by two Commissioners sent for that purpose; As also that he had way-laid the town in several places, that so His majesty might not go away: the Commissioners of both kingdoms sent up to London to acquaint the Parliament of England therewith, and to know their pleasures therein; this it is hoped, will be the sudden peace of these kingdoms, which God grant.   

colonel Birch his Letter.  
SIR,  
In order to that Command, which the Right Honourable, the Committee of both Kingdoms were pleased to entrust me with, I have laid close fiege to Ludlow; and doubt not, but to give such an account of it, considering the shortness of the time I have been before it, and the strength of the place, may be expected from me; whose endeavours are ambitious in nothing more then to serve the public, and really manifest myself  
Your most thankful, and obleidged Servant, J. BIRCH.   

colonel Birch his Summons to Ludlow Castle.  
GEntlemen,  
It is far from my desire to be an occasion of shedding of blood, or ruining the estates of any; And for that I conceive yourselves are sensible of the danger of both, in case we proceed on without restraint of that violence which the Souldiers will be ready to execute( which I hope you will join with me to prevent) I have thought good out of my real affection unto, and earnest desire of your preservation, To let you know, that it is yet in your power to prevent your own total ruin, and in my power to grant you such terms, as may be honourable to the Military part, and profitable to those who have other resolutions then to live by their swords. And that which makes me confident that you cannot reject this opportunity, is, That if you shall, you are so far from doing that, which otherwise in honour you are bound, that in this case( which you are not ignorant of) you make yourselves, and all others who shall put themselves under your protection, uncapable of any thing but extremity; there being neither any visible force in the Field, nor any Garrison unbesieged, which can yield you the least hopes of relief. I need not tell you of Exeter, Barnstable, the Mount, and sundry other places of strength, maintained by men of honour, who have conceived it prudence( and not without good reason) to make those places happy by terms of honour, which they knew they must make miserable by refusing the opportunity offered. For an example of the latter you need not seek far to find those who have not onely to their great dishonour destroyed utterly those under their protection, but have now thankfully within few dayes embraced such terms, as that their lives are at the Parliaments mercy: Their own unadvisedness having been such, that they had very near made the Besiegers uncapable of granting them that. And if you shal not now yield unto this Summons, which in the name of both Houses of Parliament I sand you, for the delivery of this town and Castle of Ludlow unto me, for them who have found it necessary for the good of His Majesty and kingdom, to command the same, but shall make me by your delay( which is the best you can promise) also by a superior command uncapable of giving you that which now I offer, and that all kind of misery follow which the sword necessary brings with it, I beseech you impute it not to him, who willingly shall approve himself  
From my Leagner this 2. of April, 1646. Your very loving friend, J. Birch.  
Gentlemen, the weightiness of this business is such, that I conceive it will require some time of consultation; and I am loth to debar you of that, or any thing else that may tend to your safety; therefore it shall content me to receive your Answer to morrow by 12. of the Clock: And in the mean time, if you desire it, all acts of Hostility shall be forborn on the behalf of  
J. B.  
For Sir Mich: Woodhouse, governor of the town and Castle of Ludlow, and the bailiffs and Aldermen of the same town.   

The Governours Answer.  
Sir,  
I Received yours, directed to many, but finding myself particularly entrusted by His Majesties Commission in what you demand, I return this to your several Objections. As for the avoiding of blood-shed, or ruin of any, I shall ever endeavour it, so far as my condition affords indischarge of that trust reposed in me, and shall be assenting to what may procure the same, as befits the loyalty of a subject, and faith of a Soldier, resolving to sacrifice all, rather then to violate either, but shall willingly embrace any general preservation. Sir, you seem to be careful of us in this Garrison, but in following this your advice, I and the rest shall forfeit more then we can regain; but your civility obliges, wherein a soldier may requited, I cannot admit of your several reasons for delivery of this place, neither are the actions of others cited by you, without farther consideration, any warrantable president at all for me. As for the terms that others have had which you call honourable, I cannot find any at all Honourable for me, at this present, without receiving His Majesties Command for what I act. Indeed I wonder this Garrison should be demanded of me, for I have been certainly informed that His Majesty hath made a free offer of it himself to the Parliament, and in delivering of it, I might prevent His Majesties intention, and prejudice you, for doubtless it should be more acceptable from the Master, then the Servant; As for any under my protection, I shall endeavour their preservation as my own, and what ruin or extremity shall happen, doubtless it will be imputed to the Actors of it: As for your Summons to this Town and Castle, I cannot assent unto it, neither with my allegiance, or honour of a soldier, in the condition I am now in to resist you; but to show myself willing to avoid the appearance of ruin, which must necessary fall upon many, if extremity be made choice of, I shal willingly condescend to what may avoid it, as befits a soldier, and shall if you condescend unto it sand two Gentlemen to the King to know his pleasure, which I conceive will be the easiest way for both Parties. Sir, to this I desire your answer, and rest  
Ludlow Castle, May 2. 1646. Your humble Servant, M. WOODHOUSE.  
Postcript.  
Sir,  
I desire that this Trumpeter upon the delivery of the Letter, may be returned, and I shall be ready to receive your Answer, when you shall be pleased to sand it.   

For colonel John Birc● these,  
SIR,  
On Friday the 1. of this instant May, the general faced Oxford within musket shot of the works; the Enemy onely looked on us: that night the Gen. quartered at Garlington, on Saturday the 2. the general marched to Headington, within a mile of Oxford, which for ought I know, will be the place for the Head-quarters, till Oxford be surrendered, or taken by storm: we have set out several Posts, viz. at Heddington, two Regiments, the Generalls and Col. Overtons: At Marston two Regiments, mayor Gen. Skippons, and Col. Harlowes: At cow two Regiments, Sir Hardresse Wallers, and Col. Herberts. The Train of Artillery is at Elisfield. Prince Rupert sent a Letter to Col. Trever, to have liberty for himself and others to be admitted to pass forth, for their liberty and safety, as many as can steal away. The Lord St. Paul, the Lord Storton, the Lady Digby, and the countess of Hartford, and others of quality would fain come in; but the general will treat only for the surrender, and all together, where His Majesty is, neither we, nor the soldiery in Oxford can tell. Last Wednesday they kept a Fast in Oxford, and then the Priests  told them in their Pulpits, that the King is gone to London; but their eyes being opened by a few dayes experience, I believe they will be willing to surrender Oxford. The general hath sent Col. Weldens Forces to block up Wallingford on the one side, as the Forces from Reading & henly do it on the other: On Sunday the third of this instant, we took some Packets that came from London directed to the King, and others. This day a great part of the Enemies Foot came over the Bridge, and made a flourish on this side the River; but we no sooner began to move, but they immediately vanished, we are raising a Work within musket shot of the Enemies Works of Oxford, they have shot two pieces at us, but done us no harm at all: Sir Marmaduke Roydon the governor of Farringdon is dead. I have sent you here enclosed, the Copy of a Proclamation that was published in all the adjacent Parishes near Oxford, by order from the general.  
Heddington the 4 of May, 1646. Your Servant, W. T.  
Sir Charles Compton hath come from Oxford to treat with the general for Sir William Compton about Banbury, and agreed, that it shall be surrendered, with all the Ordnance, arms, and Ammunition, to colonel Whaley for the use of the Parliament.   

By Sir Thomas Fairfax, Knight, Commander in chief of the Parliaments Forces.  
WHereas I have appointed a free Market to be kept every day in the week( the Lords day excepted) at the Leaguer before Oxford: I do therefore hereby strictly Charge and Command all and every the Inhabitants of the counties of Oxford and Berks within two miles of the said Leaguer to provide and bring in or cause to be brought into the head quarters in the way of a free market, competent provisions of corn, Flesh, Cheese, Bread, Butter, Hay, oats, beans, and all other kind of victuals, provisions, and other necessaries for the use of the Army, for which they shall receive ready money, and herein I expect their ready conformity, as they tender the service of the State, and will answer the contrary as their peril.  
And for their better encouragement, I do hereby strictly charge and command all Officers and soldiers, and other persons whatsoever, that they do not presume upon any pretence whatsoever, to stop, seize, impress or take away any of the horses, cattle, or goods, passing or repassing, to and from the said market, upon pain of death without mercy, and touching the regulating of the said market, and for the preventing of disorder therein, I do by these presents prohibit all forestalling, and retailing in the same: commanding that no soldier, or other person or persons whatsoever, presume to buy, or cause to be bought, any provisions, or things whatsoever, coming towards the said market to be sold there, before the same be in the head quarters, to be sold in the open market, upon the forfeiture of the value of the goods so by him or them bought, and suffer punishment, as by the council of War.  
Given under my hand and seal, at Heddington this 4. day of May, 1646. T. FAIRFAX.   
FINIS.