A more Exact RELATION OF The Siege laid to the Town of LEICESTER: How it was maintained, and how lost, and what Quarter was given by the King's Forces.  
Delivered in to the Honourable House of Commons by Sir Robert Pie Governor of the said Town, and Major james Ennis, June 10. 1645.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON, Printed by john Field for Laurence Chapman, 1645.   

An Exact Relation of the Siege laid to the Town of Leicester.  
Upon Tuesday being the 28. of May last past, Major Ennis intended to march to Nottingham (being then quartered at Humberston a mile from Leicester) with the Troops then under his command, and so to the Scotish Army, and had drawn his Troops all to a Rendezvous for this end: In the mean time there came to him an Express from the Committee of Leicester, signifying that the enemy with a considerable strength of Horse, had approached their Town of Leicester, and that they had probable Intelligence, that they intended to reduce that Town to their obedience, intimating their great necessity for want of horse, and earnestly desiring the assistance of Major Ennis with his Troops, which he declined at first, by reason he was upon his march to Nottingham; but after he had marched a mile from his Quarters, another Messenger did come to him in all haste, desiring his aid, and entreating not to desert them in such an exigence, declaring publicly before both Officers and Soldiers, that there was quarters provided in the Inns of the Town for the several Troops, and all accommodations fitting for horse and men; Whereupon Major Ennis, did draw back his Troops toward Leicester, and being requested by a Letter from Sir Robert Pie (written by the advice of the Committee) to join with, and assist the horse properly belonging to this Garrison under the Command of Captain Babington, who was then almost engaged with the enemy before the Town, but the enemy having drawn up above 2000 horse close to the walls, Major Ennis (though with very great danger in his passage) marched into the Town, and drew off the Troops belonging to the garrison, after some skirmish wherein some prisoners were taken, and two killed.  
Upon Wednesday the 29. about eight in the morning, the whole body of the enemy's horse drew up before the Town, and surrounded it, and with several parties of horse were trying all places of advantage for making their approaches, and considering the confusion and danger like to ensue in waiting for Orders from the Committee, it was resolved that the chief Command should be entrusted to one; whereupon the Government of the Town was committed to Sir Robert Pie, and immediately he taking the same into his care, gave Order to Major Ennis to sally out with all the horse in Town, which he accordingly did, and beat all the enemies parties close to their bodies, and hindered them from making any batteries that day, or any nearer approaches, and afterwards drew his horse near the walls, waiting opportunities of the enemy: In the afternoon Major Ennis commanded a party to engage some to the enemy's horse, under the command of Lieutenant Davis, who charged the enemy, and caused them retire to Belgrave Bridge, in the Charge we had several wounded, and two of Major Ennis Troop were run through with Pikes.  
Upon Thursday the 30. The enemies whole Infantry appeared before the Town, and dividing themselves in three several bodies, they approached the Town at the South bridge, and St. Sundays bridge, they were quiet all that day, only some small skirmishing with horse; towards night they began to work diligently, and before morning they had a fair battery raised before the South Bridge, and their Cannon planted: Howbeit we caused the Soldiers give fire upon that place where they were digging, both with Musket and Canon (it being within Musket shot of the walls) to hinder their working: At St. Sundays Bridge the enemy did lodge themselves in the houses adjacent to the Bridge, and were beginning to work, which being perceived, twenty of the Troopers under command of Major Ennis sallied over the Bridge on foot, and with Carbines beat the enemy from the houses, and burned them down to the ground.  
Upon Friday their Batteries being ready, the Enemy shot some Canon and immediately summoned the Town by a Trumpeter, but the summons being directed to the Officers, Soldiers and Townsmen of Leicester, it was thought convenient by the Committees, that the Common Counsel of the Town should be convened, and an Answer directed to the Prince, who did sign the Summons; but they being slow in their appearing to give advice either herein, or assistance at the walls; Prince Rupert desired again a speedy Answer, and the immediate return of his Trumpeter: But the Committee and Townsmen being divided, there could no Answer be made at that time, but a Trumpeter was sent from the Committee with a Paper, bearing Superscription to the Commander in Chief, with all, desiring a time for their Answer, and a desisting from any further working: But Prince Rupert disdaining to receive a Paper with such a Superscription, caused play very hot upon the Town with Canon and Musket, and suddenly with his great Canon made a breach in the Newark-wall, which quarter of the Town was assigned to Major Ennis to defend; but a Counter Line parallel to the stone Wall, was raised, and with admirable haste was perfected, and to the speedy effectuating thereof, they caused their Troopers alight from their horses, and dig and work whilst the Canon was hottest playing upon them; about ten of the clock at night, all their Canon were shot off at once, which was their sign to storm upon all Quarters; they did draw the most of their strength to the breach which they had made in Newark wall; and not thinking of any Work made within that Breach, they with confidence entered, and beat our Musketeers from the loupholes of the stone wall: Major Ennis perceiving the Enemy to have entered the Breach, drew his Horse down towards them, and caused some troopers serve with carbines on foot, & with the rest of his Horse upon the footgang of the Line, beat the Enemy back with loss. The Enemy attempted again, and entered the Breach, and all the Musketeers there run away basely; so that Major Ennis was forced to maintain that Breach with his Horse, and some he caused quit their Horse and serve on foot, and with admirable resolution repulsed the Enemy five several storms, and caused them at last draw quite off; and did conceive no probability in entering there, for there was a piece of our best Canon drawn thither, and load with Case-shot, did wonderful execution upon the Enemy; yea, by their own Relation, there was killed and made unserviceable, near three hundred men, besides several Officers of Eminency, such as Colonel St. john's, his Lieutenant Colonel, Major Bullington and others. It is worthy of Relation, That when our Cannoneer at the Breach was killed, a Dutchman under Major Ennis Command, quit his Horse and discharged the duty of a Cannoneer faithfully (being well experienced therein) and did very good service till he was thrust through the body with a Pike: Whilst Major Ennis was engaged in this hot dispute, the Enemy had entered the Town at the other Posts; namely at Belgrave, and were suffered to scale the Line with three Ladders at St. Margaret's, without discharging a Musket, and thereafter to let down one of the Bridges, which gave way to all the rest to enter: Sir Robert Pie thinking to repulse the Enemy at that Bridge, with much courage Marched towards them with some Horse, and most gallantly caused many of them run, but being much overpowered with multitudes, was at length taken Prisoner.  
Major Ennis having repulsed the Enemy thus from the Breach, and conceiving that place then tenable with a fewer number, went with intention to view the rest of the Posts in Town, and left that well beset, under the charge of his own Lieutenant, and one Captain Hacker, and with the rest of his Horse, encountered the Enemy's Horse at the South gate, where he beat them back to their foot and Canon, which were advanced as far as the Market place, and afterwards retired to the Newark, which he maintained till he had fair Quarters granted to him and his Soldiers, which the Enemy performed, but Plundered them of all they had.  
All the Reward we had of the Townsmen for our service in their defence, was, that after the Town was possessed by the Enemy, and we in their power, they railed against us, and by incensing the Enemy, endeavoured to stir them up to use us hardly, saying, if it had not been for Sir Robert Pie, and Major Ennis, with the Scotch men, there had been no blood shed, the Town had been peaceably Surrendered and not Plundered.  
All that we could inform ourselves of the Enemy's designs, was, that they had once fully resolved to go Northward, to rescue Chester, march into Lancashire, raise the Siege of Carlisle, and send an Army into Scotland: But being prevented, they altered their designs, and we heard His Majesty was resolved, though it should cost him never so dear, that he would raise the siege of Oxford; the strength of the Enemy so far as we could learn, was not ten thousand Horse and Foot, whereof many ill Armed, especially their Horse.  
FINIS.