An Exact RELATION Of the delivering up of READING To his excellency the Earl of ESSEX; And how the King's Forces have quitted Cyrencester and Brill: With the true Relation of the fight at Caversham. As it was sent in a Letter to the Speaker of the House of COMMONS, by these worthy Members of the said House: Sir Philip Stapleton, John Hampden, and Arthur Goodwin, Esquires.  

Ordered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament, That this Letter be forthwith Printed and published.  
Hen: Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
London, Printed for Edw. Husbands, and are to be sold at his shop in the middle Temple. May. 1. 1643.   

An exact Relation of the delivering up of Reading.  
Mr. Speaker,  
BEing come to a point about the taking in of Reading, we conceived it convenient to give you a brief account of our short siege:  
After ten miles march on Saturday the fifteenth of April, we made our approaches that night, taking some advantages from hedges and ditches unslighted by the enemy. On Sunday we sat down before the Town, battered with our Ordnance, and played it with our small shot all that day, in which the governor received a hurt upon the head, which rendered him unfit for further service: we had very warm work, and hot returns from the Town. On Monday we advanced our approaches as they could. On Tuesday in the night the King sent in a relief of men and Ammunition, which we could not prevent by reason of the situation of the town, and their advantages of Barges which we could not command, being wholly engaged on Berkeshire side. On Monday last at night we sent out a party of Horse and Dragooners as far as Dorchester, which did beat up the enemy's quarters, routed their Horse and Foot, killed and took many prisoners: On Tuesday morning last the Enemy did beat a Parley, and accordingly came out to Treat, and in the interim while the business was depending, the King's Army appeared for their relief, and fell on with their Artillery foot & horse, upon our guards on Oxfordshire side, but being roundly received after above an hours fight, the enemy was routed with the loss of above a hundred men, and three hundred arms. The King, Prince Charles, Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice, and the general being all in the field, that night our Capitulation was concluded; and now his Excellency being very tender of the Town that they should not be plundered, and as careful that the soldiers might receive due encouragement; hath appointed twelve shillings per man for an extraordinary, and so we are advancing to take possession, for the consequence of which success I doubt not but the wiser and well-minded will see reason to think and thank God, the business having a blessing in it of a great, and growing constitution; if a short survey be but taken of the considerable Circumstances, being rendered with so little loss of blood in so short a time, and the King resolved to relieve it: Not to mention the ten pieces of Canon they relinquished, nor the restitution of the western-cloaths taken from our friends, nor their being forced upon this to quit Cirencester and Brill, so that had the enemy such a foundation, they would advantageously relate all passages to their honours; which we chose rather to point at then insist upon, leaving the reality of the service to report itself, being fewer words and more blows is our business.  
We have here a true Narrative of the business since we came before Reading, and do think fit to add the number of the enemy's Forces and ours, that you may see the blessing of God upon us at the late encounter at Caversham: The Enemy had forty five Troops of Horse, and nine Regiments of Foot, besides Dragooners. We had there to encounter them, colonel Barclays and the Lord Robert's Regiments only.  
Sir, Your assured friends, and humble Servants, 

Philip Stapleton.  
John Hampden.  
Arthur Goodwin.   Reading, 27. April, 1643.  
FINIS.