Page "Battle of Naseby" Paragraph 2

At the same time, after the New Model Army had abandoned an attempt to relieve Taunton, Parliament's Committee of Both Kingdoms had directed Fairfax, its commander, to besiege Oxford, the King's wartime capital.

Initially, Charles welcomed this move, as Fairfax would be unable to interfere with his move north.

Then at the end of May he was told that Oxford was short of provisions and could not hold out long.

To distract Fairfax, the Royalists stormed the Parliamentarian garrison at Leicester on 31 May.

Having done so, Prince Rupert and the King's council reversed their former decision and marched south to relieve Oxford.

They sent messages ordering Goring to rejoin them, but Goring refused to leave the West Country.