With his remaining forces, Charles marched north from Raglan, hoping to join Montrose, not knowing that on 13 September Montrose had suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Philiphaugh.
The Committee of Both Kingdoms at that time instructed Sydnam Poyntz to pursue and contain the King.
Following his orders, Poyntz set out with a mounted force of some 3,000 cavalry and dragoons.
The King continued to advance to the north and on 22 September he reached Chirk Castle where he received news of a Parliamentarian attack on Chester.

Early on 20 September 1645, just before daylight, a New Model Army force of more than 700 infantry and an equal number of cavalry, led by Colonel Michael Jones, began a fresh assault on Chester.
The attack broke through the outer Royalist earthworks in the eastern suburbs.
After Jones had ordered the burning of the urban areas in front of the east gate, he moved artillery up to St John the Baptist's Church to bombard the city wall.
By 22 September when the King arrived at Chirk, Jones' guns had already created a breach in Chester's walls.

After receiving the news of the attack, King Charles set out for Chester with all possible speed.
The King reached Chester on 23 September with an advance party consisting of his lifeguards, Gerard's brigade of some 600 horse, and a small number of foot soldiers.
This force was able to enter the city from the western bank of the River Dee as it was still under Royalist control.
Meanwhile, in the hope of trapping the besieging forces between the King's main army and an enlarged garrison within the city, Sir Marmaduke Langdale took approximately 3,000 troopers from the King's cavalry north towards Chester by means of Holt at dawn on 24 September.

Moving north-east, Langdale received reports near the village of Rowton that Poyntz's Parliamentarian cavalry was approaching Chester from Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Poyntz, who had ridden through the night to intercept the Royalist army, came upon Langdale and the Royalist cavalry at Rowton Moor.
The two opposing forces battled for several hours with neither gaining an advantage until 2:00 pm when Parliamentarian reinforcements arrived from Chester.
King Charles is said to have watched the ensuing defeat of his forces at the Battle of Rowton Heath from the Phoenix Tower on Chester's city walls.
After the arrival of the Parliamentarian reinforcements, the Royalist cavalry was routed.
Among the Royalist killed in the battle were King Charles' cousin Lord Bernard Stewart.

King Charles remained in Chester overnight, but on 25 September, he breaks away with a force of 500 mounted troopers and rides to Denbigh in North Wales.
Byron remained behind with the Royalist garrison at Chester.
That same morning, the Parliamentarians re-encircled the town and re-initiated the bombardment.
By the next day, the bombardment had created a breach in the city wall at Newgate.
The Parliamentarians continued the bombardment and then on 8 October they attempt to enter the city by attacking.
The Parliamentarians fail in their attack and end their assaults deciding to tighten the blockage and continue the siege.

The siege then continued for three months during which the Royalists would not surrender nor consider terms.
During this time many inhabitants died of starvation.
In January 1646, William Ince, the Mayor of Chester, persuaded Byron to consider terms.
Negotiations began on 20 January and were concluded on 1 February.
On 3 February, Brereton and the Parliamentarians occupied Chester.
With his remaining forces, Charles marched north from Raglan, hoping to join Montrose, not knowing that on 13 September Montrose had suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Philiphaugh. The Committee of Both Kingdoms at that time instructed Sydnam Poyntz to pursue and contain the King. Following his orders, Poyntz set out with a mounted force of some 3,000 cavalry and dragoons. The King continued to advance to the north and on 22 September he reached Chirk Castle where he received news of a Parliamentarian attack on Chester. 
Early on 20 September 1645, just before daylight, a New Model Army force of more than 700 infantry and an equal number of cavalry, led by Colonel Michael Jones, began a fresh assault on Chester. The attack broke through the outer Royalist earthworks in the eastern suburbs. After Jones had ordered the burning of the urban areas in front of the east gate, he moved artillery up to St John the Baptist's Church to bombard the city wall. By 22 September when the King arrived at Chirk, Jones' guns had already created a breach in Chester's walls.
After receiving the news of the attack, King Charles set out for Chester with all possible speed. The King reached Chester on 23 September with an advance party consisting of his lifeguards, Gerard's brigade of some 600 horse, and a small number of foot soldiers. This force was able to enter the city from the western bank of the River Dee as it was still under Royalist control. Meanwhile, in the hope of trapping the besieging forces between the King's main army and an enlarged garrison within the city, Sir Marmaduke Langdale took approximately 3,000 troopers from the King's cavalry north towards Chester by means of Holt at dawn on 24 September.
Moving north-east, Langdale received reports near the village of Rowton that Poyntz's Parliamentarian cavalry was approaching Chester from Whitchurch, Shropshire. Poyntz, who had ridden through the night to intercept the Royalist army, came upon Langdale and the Royalist cavalry at Rowton Moor. The two opposing forces battled for several hours with neither gaining an advantage until 2:00 pm when Parliamentarian reinforcements arrived from Chester. King Charles is said to have watched the ensuing defeat of his forces at the Battle of Rowton Heath from the Phoenix Tower on Chester's city walls. After the arrival of the Parliamentarian reinforcements, the Royalist cavalry was routed. Among the Royalist killed in the battle were King Charles' cousin Lord Bernard Stewart.
King Charles remained in Chester overnight, but on 25 September, he breaks away with a force of 500 mounted troopers and rides to Denbigh in North Wales. Byron remained behind with the Royalist garrison at Chester. That same morning, the Parliamentarians re-encircled the town and re-initiated the bombardment. By the next day, the bombardment had created a breach in the city wall at Newgate. The Parliamentarians continued the bombardment and then on 8 October they attempt to enter the city by attacking. The Parliamentarians fail in their attack and end their assaults deciding to tighten the blockage and continue the siege.
The siege then continued for three months during which the Royalists would not surrender nor consider terms. During this time many inhabitants died of starvation. In January 1646, William Ince, the Mayor of Chester, persuaded Byron to consider terms. Negotiations began on 20 January and were concluded on 1 February. On 3 February, Brereton and the Parliamentarians occupied Chester.
Siege of Chester