The King, victorious, enters Bristol.

The same day Dorchester surrenders to the Royalists without a fight, despite making costly preparations

A Council of War takes place in Bristol, led by the King where the decision to take Gloucester is made -. Prince Rupert wanted a quick attack but the King decided on a siege, as the losses at Bristol had been so heavy. The people of Gloucester hear the Royalist army is coming and hurriedly start to fortify the defences.

Messengers are sent to Parliament from Gloucester, asking for assistance.

Royalist forces reach Berkeley.

The summoning of Gloucester to surrender. The parliamentary governor of Gloucester Lieutenant Colonel Edward Massey, who against expectations refuses to yield the city.

The Royalists dig in mainly to the south and east of the city setting up artillery positions on Gaudy Green. Water pipes are severed or diverted. The defenders burned many of the houses outside the walls, which might offer cover for advancing Royalist soldiers. King Charles was quarters at Matson House. The following days saw many sallies by the parliamentarian soldiers from the gates to attack the Royalist positions and capture prisoners and tools. Breaches in the walls were quickly filled with woolsacks and cannon-baskets. The Royalists make an attempt to drain the city moat. The defenders started to block up the South Gate of the town with earth and plaster the walls with clay.

It is announced in London that Weymouth, Melcombe Regis, and Portland Island & Castle have fallen to the Royalists

A troop of 150 musketeers venture out of the north gate and fall on the Royalist trenches killing more than 100 men before returning to the city.

A party of 400 musketeers raids the Royalist lines, killed many and nailing a number of their cannon. (Nailing a cannon involves driving a nail into the touchhole and snapping it off - thus rendering the cannon useless).

The constant battering of the cannon against the walls of the city had little effect - one pig was killed which the soldiers ate and 'afterwards well jeered the enemy therewith'.

The Militia Committee in London decrees that they ‘have the power to shut up all shops within the lines of communication to the end that all citizens may be better fitted to defend the city’. This shows the seriousness with which the siege of Gloucester was viewed in London.

More successful raids from the city to nail the Royalist cannon. Massey was an aggressive commander who instigated many sallies upon the Royalists. When the Royalists captured prisoners on these raids many of the defenders were drunk. They confessed that Massey gave them ‘as much wine and strong water’ as they wished before setting out.

Royalists receive provisions and ammunition from Bristol, which have been sailed up the Severn River. Essex marches out of London with about 5,000 men.

The Earl of Essex reviews his City of London Brigade at Hounslow Heath, this includes five regiments of the London Trained Bands (The Red, Blue, and Orange Regiments, and the Red and Blue Auxiliary Regiments), Col. Randall Mainwaring’s Regiment of foot and Col. Edmund Harvey’s City Horse.

Royalists shoot 'fiery melting hot iron bullets' into the city, which were seen 'flying in the ayre like a starre shooting'.

The Royalists start filling in the moat at the point where they are breaching the wall.

Tunnelling at the east gate was carried out to lay a mine under the walls despite emerging springs of water.

Essex reaches Brackley Heath (near Aylesbury) where his London Brigade meets up with his main army. His force now numbers about 15,000 men.

A plot to surrender Drake’s Island covering Plymouth Sound to the Royalists is foiled

Essex reaches Bicester and is joined by a Brigade of London Trained Band foot.

Essex reaches Hook Norton

Hull is besieged by 15,000 Royalists led by the Earl (later Marquis) of Newcastle.

Barnstaple falls to the Royalists commanded by Prince Maurice, Rupert's brother

An MP is charged with plotting to surrender Poole to the Royalists

The defenders of Gloucester have been digging a 'counter-mine' and discover they were above the mine of the royalists - so they bore vertically down and then attempt to flood it. Heavy rain then floods the Royalists work (allegedly the origin of the ‘Doctor Foster went to Gloucester’ nursery rhyme)

Prince Rupert harries Essex's force at Stow-on-the-Wold with a series of delaying actions.

Also this day Prince Maurice captures Exeter

Essex arrives at Prestbury Hill, only ten miles from Gloucester.

Not wishing to be caught between Gloucester and Essex's army, the King lifts the siege and retires to Sudeley Castle. The smoke from their burning huts moves Essex to proceed cautiously.

Essex enters Gloucester to the delight of the inhabitants. The city was down to its last three barrels of gunpowder. It is estimated that the defenders lost about 50 men and the Royalists lost about 1000 during this siege. The cannon had little effect on the walls of the town, and the resolution of the defenders of the town inspired parliamentary supporters across the land. The Royalist forces were said to number about 35,000 men and the defenders of Gloucester only 1500 (1300 foot, 200 horse);Massey’s and Col. Nicholas Deveraux's regiments.

Having fortified and garrisoned Gloucester, Essex leaves and heads back to London. The King's object is to cut him off, but which route will Essex take?

Essex places a bridge of boats across the River Severn, but makes for Tewksbury. The Royalists move from Sudeley to Pershore.

Essex now makes a fast night march to Cirencester. On arrival, he surprises two cavalry regiments and captures a Royalist provisions convoy (forty wagons) of food and other supplies. The race to London is on.

Prince Rupert is at Farringdon with 3,000 horse.

Essex is in Swindon; the King is ten miles north east at Alvescot. (Parliament is eight miles closer to Newbury than the Royalists)

Prince Rupert's forces intercept Essex's at Aldbourne Chase. Essex is forced south and crosses the River Kennett at Hungerford.

In the morning, Parliament are nine miles from Newbury, and the King sixteen miles away at Wantage, but the Royalists get there first. So tight was this, that parliamentary quartermasters were actually chalking up billets for their troops as the Royalists arrive. Essex is further delayed, stuck in heavy rain and muddy roads.

First battle of Newbury. The Royalists are between Essex's army and London and so Essex is forced to fight. The Royalists spend the night in Newbury whilst Parliament are stuck outside. The fight goes on all day (with the London Trained Bands fighting very well, their pike and musket fighting off successive cavalry charges). By nightfall the Royalists are down to ten barrels of powder from the ninety with which they started (the King sends to Oxford for more but they will not arrive in time for another battle the next day), and anyway, that powder is for cannon, there is none left for muskets. The decision is made to draw off; Essex wakes the next day to find the way to London open.

Solemn League and Covenant is signed between Parliament and Scotland. This effectively brings Scotland into the war on Parliament's side

It is reported that the Royalists control Tenby, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven

Royalist attack on Poole fails, they are met with ferocious cannon and musket fire

Having been hassled by Rupert's forces from Aldermaston to Reading, Essex returns to a heroes welcome in London. Cheering crowds line the street shouting “Hey for old Robin!” The Lord Mayor, the speaker and reps. from Parliament wait to greet Essex at his house in the Strand.