4 April Plymouth under seige

Maurice continues to be unopposed in the south west. Plymouth is now underseige and despite the best efforts of parliament's navy it appears that its fall is likely before the end of the month.

Montrose captures Scotland

Glasgow has fallen under Montrose's spell and his army now holds the major city. The lowlands and highlands await his next move....

Double blow for Royalists

On 17 March Brereton marched his Parliamentary force into Shrewsbury and captured the town for the Roundheads. He is now well poised to strike at an undefended Bristol(teeming with Royalist gold) or move north to threaten Chester and Royalist links with Ireland. An even bigger blow against the Royalists was struck by Leven when the city of Newcastle surrended with honours to the Scots on 20 March. This leaves the north east of England open to a Scots invasion with a linkup with Fairfax and Manchester's forces now a real possibility.

Standoff at Reading - late March

News is filtering across the country that since mid March the King and Hopton's joint army has been attempting to get to grips with the Earl of Essex. Word is that Reading is the focal point of their campaign but snow and heavy rain have put paid to any chance of a pitched battle. Word has not been forthcoming about whether a decisive battle has yet been fought.