Earl of Essex fails to take Reading 22 Feb

The Earl of Essex arrived with his parliamentary army outside Reading on 22 Feb Despite being heavily outnumbered and his men urging him 9:1 to surrender, the garrison commander decided to defy the odds and haughtily rejected Essex'x offer of surrender and the honours of war. His men busied themselves in strengthening the defences and awaited Essex's next move. Uncertainty spread through the Roundhead ranks. It was unclear whether an assault was planned or not. Eventually after a day's delay Essex's main body marched away towards Henley leaving a regiment of foot and horse to shield Reading on its east side