Newark remained firm to the bitter end. However by May 1646 the King's support elsewhere in the country had all but collapsed. The King finally conceded that his best course now was to talk to his enemies, and decided to surrender himself. Fearing an immediate reprisal from his enemies the King decided to surrender to his Scots countrymen. He travelled from Oxford with two companions, all disguised as priests, to the Saracen's Head at Southwell, near Newark, where he surrended. From there he was taken to Kelham on the edge of the siege and handed over to the commander of the Scots regiments, General David Leslie.
What happened to Charles I is well known history. He was tried for waging war on his people, and he was found guilty in a Court he refused to recognise. He was executed by beheading in Whitehall on 30th January 1649, claiming to the last that he was `a martyr of the people'.
On the surrender Newark's army was allowed to march unhindered from the town. By that time the plague was in town and this had claimed at least two hundred lives. However it probably also saved the town from looting. The Roundheads were reluctant to enter the town after the siege and also marched away.
The townspeople were ordered to dismantle the defences. Fortunately they gave up before they got around to the Sconce and the Castle Rampart. Both of these survive to this day. In 1992, 1994, and 1995 the Town celebrated the 350th anniversary of these events by hosting the Sealed Knot Society who re-enacting the sieges.
