British Library, Lansdowne MS 493
That the Causes of the losses
susteyned in the North may
bee the better knowne, the lord
Conoway thinkes it fitt to relate
what the Designes were in
the first Enterprizes
as farr as did fall
w
An Army of twenty thousand
Foote and two thousand Horse was
designed for the Borders of Scottland
neere Barrwick, and another of
ten thousand Foote Fifteene hundred
Horse was to bee transported out
of Ireland into the Towne of Aire in
Scottland, also ten thousand Foote and
five hundred Horse were to bee sent
into the North of Scottland, and a
Fleete of Shipps w
in them were to goe into the Firth.
a certaine day by the Act
of warr, for which purpose there were
div
monies incertaine were counted what
they would doe, and a state accordingly
made.
Why all this was done (but that
some Troopes of Horse, and div
=ment
at all, and the rest of the Foote soe
late, that there was noe tyme to exer=
=cise them) hee knowes not. Before
the two thousand Horse were entirely
levyed, the lord Conoway was sent to
Newcastle, because it was doubted
that the Scotts had a designe upon the
Towne. For the defence of it six
thousand of the trayne Bands of
Yorkshire were appointed to march
thither, and to that end monied were
advanced to ev
of the Regiment
send them back againe, and that the
lord Conoway was sent to
onely w
Upon view of the walls, Gates,
and scituac
the Towne to bee very weake, which
im
hee rep
w
sent to the deputie lieuten
Northumb
Durham.
Those of Northumb
him a meeting at Morpitt where
he advised w
and strength of the Countrie, and of
the best meanes to gett Intelligence
of the Scott
the Countrie upon the Borders in the
best posture of defence, which they
undertooke to doe, according to the
direcc
strict watch on the Borders, and to
give Adu
what should happen. Also upon some
discourse w
the lord Conoway propounded to the
lord Generall the fittnes of fortifieing
Morpett, and two other places whither
the Souldiers might retyre if they
should happen to bee broken: And by
some one of which any Army that
comes out of Scottland must passe,
they having beene heretofore forti=
=fied.
His lo
Gou
in using all meanes of Enquirie how
the Scotts should advance in their
p
=ment thereof, who returned assurance
of little appearance yet, of any
Considerable Forces they had, and
to observe them.
His lo
the lord Generall advised, that Armes
should be gotten, especially Musketts
and sent downe to those of Northum=
=berland who were willing to pay for
them if they might bee furnisht for
their monies, also advising they might
bee sould to them w
easie rates, for that the getting from
the Countrie in that kind will much
discontent them, and discourage them
in his Ma
Hee also propounded to the
Towne of Newcastle to furnish men
for their owne defence, and that
the King would arme them, which
they at first denyed to hearken to,
fearing they should bee forced to
Contynue them as trayned Bands,
But upon further Considerac
& apprhenc
Musketts and Pikes, and the lord
Comoway by sev
Generall and other great Ministers,
did rep
fortified, which w
hee thought might bee made of suffi=
cient strength, at least to keepe out
an Enemy, untill his Ma
might come to releeve it. And there
was one Hill whereon a Fort might
be made aswell to keepe out an
Enemie, as to bridle the Towne if
there should bee cause. And because
hee found money was wanting, hee
propounded a way to raise the Charge
of it out of the businesse of the
Coales, which notw
not thought fitt to be done. Soe that
there being noe more Forces at
Newcastle but five hundred Horse, and
it not being thought fitt for
place in due tyme, the Townesmen being
unwilling to doe any thing for their owne
safety, that the Towne contynued in that
weake estate wherein the lord Conoway found
it.
Such Intelligences as could bee gotten
to Newcastle by Messengers sent into
Scottland, or from the Garrisons of Barr=
=wick and Carlile, and from the deputie
lieuten
was reprsented to the Court from tyme to tyme,
and when the Scotts Forces began to bee
assembled and mustred in the neerer part
of Scottland, though their numbers were
very small in those places at that tyme,
which was about the latter end of June,
The rest of their Horse was
their Quarters about Bev
=land, and the lord Conoway wrote for
some Considerable number of Foote to
bee sent to Newcastle, and also to hasten
downe Armes for those of the Countrie
that were willing to buy them for their
owne defence and safety, And upon his
to the Court, direcc
Lord Conoway, that if the Scotts should come
in (as was beleeved they would before his
Ma
should com
River of Tyne, least they should bee
surprized, And Sir Jacob Ashley Serjeant
Major Generall of the Foote, That hee
should send upp four or five thousand men
from Selby, But Sir Jacob Ashley did not
thinke fitt to send them for the reasons
exprest in a letter dated the 10th of July
1640: from him to the lord Conoway
amongst other things in these words.
My Lord, I have Order from my lord
Generall to send four or five thousand
men to your lo
Considering there is not such a number
yet come, and those that are come
have neither Colours nor Halbert
and want drum
Now my lord, I am to receive all ye
Arch-knaves in this Kingdome, and to
of them were brought by lieuten
Colonell Ballard. They beat the
Officers and Boors, and breake upp
the Prisons
Twoo dayes since Colonell Lunsfords
Regiment came hither, who had by the
way fought w
as they passed abused all the Countrie,
and by other letters of the 13th: and 18th:
of July hee intymated how impossible it
would bee to keepe those men from Muteny
if they should misse their seven dayes
pay, that they would disband and rise
against their Officers, and spoile the
Countrie, and that part of his Regim
raised in Daintrie was there totally
disbanded, and that the lieuten
Culpepper was beastly slayne by the
Devonshire men. That three hundred
of the lord Marquesses Regiment
refused absolutely to goe to Hull for
feare of being shipt, and that hee
tooke w
twenty men to force their way.
Which gen
and disaffectionatenes to the service, gave
the lord Conoway apprhenc
Scotts would bee incourageed thereby
to make an attempt upon us, although
it was against his Judgment that they
should doe soe.
Upon these Collections hee could make
(of what hee heard out of Scottland)
which was onely of small numbers of men
that they had mustred and drawne
together at Leeth, Dunce, and other
places neere the Borders: But when
his lo
there was constant Intelligence from
eu
=rations and intentions, to come w
a powerfull Army, being assured
of it by a letter from mr. Secretary
Vaine dated the 13th: of August,
My lord, I have onely to tell you in
Anser to the last, and your newes there inclo=
=sed, that I gave his Ma
thereof, who compared it w
it is my opinion, that you will shortly (if
not before this come to your hands) heare,
that the Scotts will march into England,
I wish I may bee deceived, for as his
Mat
one of those that desire not to heare
that they should come on this side Tweed.
I heard not of the Order of bringing ye
Army seven dayes behind in pay, and after
that 14. dayes, untill I was adu
of it out of the North, But as your lo
saith in case of unavoydable necessitie
it must bee borne w
doubt not) but laying it for a ground,
will p
though I Confesse it durus sermo,
and therefore I doe not wonder at
all if they were sadd and melanchollie
when you declared the same unto
them. It will be a great service to ye
Conduct and wisdome can soe farr p
wth them, as to keepe them from Muteny
untill monies come downe) which his
Ma
you w
will bee worse then eu
either of Horse or Foote fall out.
Now it cannot bee long expected (if at
all) but that the Scotts will bee w
and I heartily pray to God, that (they
knowing soe much of o
disagreement
them not in amongst us. The same God
direct you and give you successe to
Act all for the best these difficult
tymes, which adu
w
by one whom hee had sent into Scottland
who was newly returned. Also by the
relac
from thence, his lo
Generall the 10th: of August as
followeth.
My lord, I am now informed by Sir
Henry Gibb who having businesse w
lord Haddington, went to the Border
and sent for him. Hee came and told
Sir Henry, that w
Scotts Army would come into England
w
of it, and saith, that there will bee
thirtie thousand; I see noe helpe for
this Towne but that it will bee lost.
I have written diu
bee made defencible, but it was not
thought fitt. Now it is not possible to
resist if Canon bee brought before
it, Howeu
the Towne to make some defence if
it bee possible to keepe it a day
or two.
The King Com
the suburbs, Burning of them will
bee of noe use, the howses being
all of stone: soe that the walls will
bee of asmuch annoyance to the Towne,
as if the Howses were untouched.
Towne, their Armes will helpe to arme ye
Scotts, and they are in great danger to
fall into their power. If I quitt the
Towne and leave noe Souldiers, I am
sure it will bee imputed to mee as
a most dishonorable thing, when an Enemy
is Master of the Feild that ought
to bee quitt to him which cannot bee kept
or in such manner as hee shall receive
least benefitt by it. I have writt to
Sir Jacob Ashley to send hither the
Foote (if hee thinke it considerable
to send them w
come, it is to bee feared they will
ruine the Countrie more then the
Scotts, who I verily beleeve will doe
noe harme, but will pay for what they
have, if I bee not misinformed.
I have writt to the Vice-President
to putt the trayne Bands in readines,
and to know of him how the Countrie
will stand affected from mr Wilmott.
Ashley had writte
sent him two Troopes of Horse, and
Captaine Herbert, because hee feared
a Muteny, which will undoe all if it
happ.
I purpose to send for the three
Troopes out of Westm
bee not like to bee there. I will im
give Order that all the Shipps goe
out of the River, those that cannot to
bee burnt or sunck. They say there
is a way to sinck them, that they may
againe bee recou
purpose of goeing w
what Musketiers on Horsback I can gett)
towards them, although there will bee
little to bee done against soe many
wth so few
And also at the same tyme the
lord Conoway writt to the Earle of
Strafford, and inclosed a Copie of
the aforemenc
Lord Generall, unto which the Earle
Answer to the lord Conoway the 15th: of
August in these words following:
My lord, yours of the 10th: p
were deliu
Board, and I understood that the other
to my lord Gen
mee w
at Court w
lo
contrary to all that your lo
form
England to bee secure of the Scotts
this yeare, and to beleeve soe mightily
an increase of number of what you
form
=bably bee really soe, upon noe more
ground then the bare relac
a knowne Covenanter in heart, &
that too, not in his owne view; but
onely in the Creditt & report of
the Lord Haddington, is not a little
wondred at. But above all, those
to your priudice, that upon soe sleight
an adu
you had soe little Cause absolutely
to trust in that businesse, you
should soe suddenly pronounce the
Towne of Newcastle lost, and that
soe early take into your thought
quitting of that place. Besides wee
all here beleeve it to bee a meere
Northerne Crock, in regard wee doe
not yet heare any thing from the
Gov
hee had form
which wee Conceive wee should
certainly have done before this tyme,
if the Scotts had beene suddainly
increased twelue thousand men as
Gibb report
Neu
Vice-President to have all the
trayne Bands of Yorkshire in
readines, and will to morrow move,
that Colonell Goring and another
may instantly bee directed to march upp
unto you, which altogether w
Bands of Durham, Northumb
the Towne of Newcastle it selfe, I
should thinke would bee sufficient to
make good the place till the rest of
the Army march upp to their releife.
But for the love of Christ thinke not
soe early of quitting the Towne, burni=
=ng of suburbs, or sincking of Shipps,
for beleeve mee if any such thing escape
you, there are those will quickly miscon=
ster you therein to the King. And
w
writt that letter, it being most true,
that Sir John Conyers makes noe
menc
absolutely beleeve Gibbs newes either
to bee out of folly or malice mistaken
or misreprsented unto yor. lo
letter it appeares, that the
Earl of Strafford doth lay blame
it as a Cryme to beleeve the comeing
of the Scotts w
because hee was form
that they could not bee ready for an
Invasion this yeare.
The Cause of that opinion was
that hee from tyme to tyme was assured
from Court, that there would bee
monies to supplie the Kings first
designes, and then hee had reason to
judge, that they would bee soe farr
from attempting us, that they would
bee hard putt to it to defend them=
=selues. Besides the lord Conoway had
noe notice giue
till a few dayes before, what the
Scotch Nobleme
the King had informed, who must
of necessitie have reteyned knowledge
of eu
part of that Kingdome, there being
many of the best quallitie attending
and Mothers, Wiues, Childre
Sisters, Allyes, and Friends, who
(as the lord Conoway hath heard since)
give certaine notice of all the p
=rac
not beleeve them, yet could it bee
noe better in him but a wilfull
unbeleife, and it could not bee expec=
=ted that the lord Conoway could
have soe good Intelligence of their
prparacseu erall
numbers, and in seu
places till they were drawne upp
together, for that hee was a stranger
there and had noe Allowances for
Intelligences, which should have
required great sum
done, and it was not to bee done but
by imploying Scotchmen wherein
they had a great advantage of
us in suffering any of o
to goe to them, and theirs having
Henry Gibb hee was a man eu
to bee an honest man and faithfull
servant to the King, neither had
the lord Conoway heard any other
of him at Court, or there in the
Countrie where hee was well knowne
to diu
had beene informed of the Lord
Haddington that hee was much of
the Kings part as farr as hee durst
appeare, and for the second part
to thinke that Newcastle would
bee lost, the lord Conoway conceiveth
to bee noe suddaine or rash opin
for hee had diu
propounded, that the Towne should
bee forfeited, and declared that
wthout fortificac
tenable, as by seu
writte to him after the same was
lost may wittnesse, in one of w
from the lord Archb
amongst other things these words were
Conteyned.
It is true that Il
sent and the opinion you expresse
what would become of Newcastle
in case the Scotts came in, was
Censured and not to yo
soe much I wrote to my lord lieuten
since his goeing Northward, and all
that you wrote is found too true,
but that which is thought might have
beene more done, is, that the Hill
on this side might have had some
defence putt upon it, and that as
your selfe writes more might
have been done then there was
to hinder the passage of Newburne
Foard: But if the Souldiers
there and men of experience bee
of opinion, that as things were
then
hinder them, And that the things
you did at the first advice are
you meane surely that you cannot bee
blamed for the one, but some body
else may for the other
in another letter from mr. Secretary
Windebanck dated the 23th: of Sep=
=tember, these words amongst other
things are conteyned.
My lord of Canterbury hath
abundantly cleared any thing that
can bee obiected against you conc
the neglecting or fortifieing of
Newcastle, which is evident you did
propound tymely enough to have
prserved it from surprizall, neither
could the lord Conoway have had
much hope in Forces at Selby, because
Sir Jacob Ashley had div
adu
the unrulinesse of the Souldiers,
their want of Armes, and totall
ignorance to use them, which was
such that the Earle of Strafford
declare, that hee told his Ma
upon the first sight of the Souldiers
that it was not safe for his Ma
hazard any thing w
reason of their unskilfullnes of their
Armes, and therefore the Lord
Conoway doth thinke it Iniustice to
require another to doe that, which hee
that required it doth not thinke fitt to
bee done. And it was imposssible it
should bee otherwayes being levyed &
brought together soe late in July &
August when the service was to bee
done, And the Scotts were exercising
two yeares together, and many of them
had beene in the Feild before the yeare
before.
Also from the trayne Bands
of Yorkshire lesse good was to bee
expected, as appeares by a letter
the lord Conoway received from
the Vice-President of Yorke
is expressed as followeth.
Yesterday im
to Yorke, I received not your letter
till Wednesday morning. I sent forth
directions to the Colonells of the
Countie, or to the lieuten
whereof wee want at this p
and my lord Lieuten
soe full of other businesse of great
importance, hath not as yet supplyed
their places w
can wee fynd out fitt p
imployment who stand rightly affected
to his Ma
two of the four were lately discharged
from their Com
they are not now in soe suddaine a
Condic
many Armes being lost in that expe=
dition, and none to bee bought
eu
A greaat number likewise of exercised
men both for Horse and Foote are
other Countries, or seu
Countie, soe as wee cannot meet w
them againe, but are forced to take
upp new men. And although wee
have from tyme to tyme called upon the
Com
fynd, that by reason of the Countries
great expence both this yeare and
the last, and the damage it hath sustey=
=ned by the p
soe much forborne their dutie, But
which is worst of all, it is much to
bee feared by those murmurs and
repynings that fall from all our
Gentries mouthes in eu
upon all occasions, that they will
not stirr w
then the necessitie of their owne
safety will enforce them, which they
thinke will sufficiently bee prserved
if they march into the Confynes of
their Countrie.
I p
which I doubt will prove gent
they stirr, as was lately allowed, when
six of our Regiment
marched to Newcastle. I beseech
God worke better affecc
that I fynd, for I am p
if Hanniball were at our Gates, some
had rather opeen to them then keepe
them out. It greives mee tto give yo
lo
may bee mistaken therein. But in
obedience to your Com
p
expected from our Forces and the
Gentrie of our Countrie, I have truly
reprsented to your lo
w
of them. The Countrie is very willing
upon my lord Lieuten
to trust the Souldiers for 14. dayes,
But I p
many Bills of Faire prsented to
him when the Army is gone from
us.
Monies wee yet heare of none more
then 8000li.: which our High Sheriff
lately paid in, some of which is alrea=
=dy issued, And I thinke the Scotts
had better advance a good way into
Northumb
to send the Army to encounter them
wthout pay, for then w
they will prove more ravenous upon
the Countrie then the Scotts, who for
their owne ends and to gaine a
partie, will give the Countrie all ye
faire Quarter that may bee, which
our men neither can nor will doe,
ti’s tyme to forbeare
Besides all these at this tyme, the
lord Conoway had adu
Court that the first Councells for
soe many Armyes was soe farr
from being pursued, as now the
lord Marquesse Hamiltons expedic
was wholy to bee layd aside. That
the lord Strafford
not to bee raysed, and some of the
reduced, and that instead of 20000.
men appointed for the Borders,
there should bee onely fourteene
or fifteene thousand, for the paying
of which there was soe little money
that it was not to bee hoped, that
they should bee held together w
Muteny, soe that things standing in
this State, they gave such evident
proofe either of the weaknes of yt.
first Councell which designed soe
powerfull an Invasion, and was
then forced a defensive warr, and
upon all possible disadvantage, that
the lord Conoway had iust reason to
beleeve, that not onely Newcastle
would bee lost, but God knowes
how much of England more, if
that an Invader would attempt
and those of the Countrie would
not defend, And therefore did
foresee the Towne must bee
not bee kept, and leaving it in such mann
as it should give the least helpe that
might bee to the Invader that should
take it, that w
good advice resistance might bee give
in a Convenient place, or Attempt
might bee made to cause them to
retyre into Scottland, or whether that
were best, or goe on headlong till
wee fall into the ditch, hee leaves to
the world to iudge. The burning of
the suburbs in case of danger was
an expresse Com
and therefore it were the lord
Conowayes duty to give a reason why
hee did not thinke it necessarie to
bee done. And the proposic
sincking of Shipps did proceed from
Com
words amongst others in a letter
of the 23th: of June 1640:
When you heare that the Scotts
are approaching, your lo
Com
Tyne, least the Scotts surprize them.
And because it was not Considered in
this Com
the Tydes would serve, the lord
Conoway did propound the sincking
of them to helpe the defect of the
Com
in it, in case they could not bee
sent out of the River, which was a
thing very reasonable and fitt to bee
done, therefore much mistaken of
them that thought otherwise of it.
This letter and the Order sent
for keeping of the Towne of New=
=castle, by fortifieing of it when it
was too late, made the Lord Conoway
lay aside all other thought
to endeavor. to doe that which was
Com
the deputie lieuten
all that was possible for his Ma
and accordingly employed their best
endeavors, but the Countrie would not
lend any monie to pay the trayne
Bands or the Kings Army, nor furnish
any Horses to mount Musketiers, nor
would the trayne Band move w
pay, being rather desirous to stay at
their howses to looke to the safety of their
owne goods and Friends, soe that the
lord Conoway having noe Forces but
the Horse to goe out with into North=
umb
experience to view the Countrie and
the River of Cockett (there being noe
place found where it was possible
for him to give the Scotts any scope)
hee did not thinke it fitt to goe out
to meet them, since hee was not
able to hinder their passage and that
hee must bee forced soe soone as
hee should see them, to retyre before
to bee afrayd, or to goe and meet them
whom hee could not meddle w
For small parties would serve
to bring Intelligences of the moc
of their Army, but the letter which
I received from the Earle of
Strafford the 15th. of August decla=
=ring what ill Construcc
of the lord Conowayes adu
of the 10th. of August, did make him
doubt, that as ill interp
bee made of this (which hee thought
the best Councell) not to move
against the Scotts untill hee had
Forces and place fitting to enco=
=unter them. And it is most likely
it would have fallen out soe, for
that hee did understand by letters
from Court, that they did thinke yt.
the Scotts might bee stayed at
Alnwick or Morpitt some dayes,
two places they came not at, &
bee Com
the doore w
an Army there. And the Countrie likewise
although they would not Contribute
any thing to their owne safety, yet
did murmur that Northumb
was abandoned. Therefore to avoyd
the danger which hee doubted from
the Court (if it were possible to
keepe those people of Northumb
from assisting of the Scotts, hee went
out 4. dayes w
being w
hurt to the Scotts Army, was forced
to retyre before them to Newcastle,
whither Sir Jacob Ashley was come
during the lord Conowayes absence)
and had brought w
Souldiers from Selby that were
armed, leaving 4000. behind him
that wanted Armes, which 4000.
was after sent to Newcastle, but
Armes, there being none for them,
nor monies to pay them there.
Sir Jacob Ashley had used all
diligence to make Quarters for the
Souldiers w
of it, aswell as the tyme would
possibly admitt, according to the
Com
River of Tyne, which was found
to have many Foards, and the higher
upp the River were the Foards the
larger and the shallower.
And because it was beleeved
that the Enemy would passe at
Newburne, hee had caused the
Engeniers to cast upp some workes
there, and in obedience from the
Court to use all meanes possible
for the defence of the River. After
one night
lord Conoway went to Newburne
Foote. That day hee came (being the
27th: of August) the Scotts came to
the other side of the workes that
were made upon the passage soe sleight,
that the lord Conoway would not have
hazarded the Troopes in any such
engagement, where they should have
beene sure to have beene beaten, And
although Sir Jacob Ashley came the
next day w
increased his strength, yet the Lord
Conoway not to engage the Troopes
farther then hee might safely retyre,
had resolued to make retreat to
Newcastle (if hee had not at that
instant received a letter from the
Earle of Strafford) Com
to fight, which followes in these
words.
My lord, I purposed to have
beene moving towards you to
morrow, but I am soe sick and
mee to stirr hence till Saturday
at the soonest. Your lopp: will
admitt mee to deale plaine w
I fynd all men in this place extreame=
=ly ill satisfied w
the Horse, and publish it infinitely
to your disadvantage, that having
w
you should suffer an Enemy to march
away soe long w
nay w
And it import
by some noble Acc
selfe from under the weight of
ill tongues, Your last letter Certi=
=fied us that the Enemy is inten=
=ding to passe the River at Hix=
=combe, if soe I shall advise, That
you w
least 8000. Foote, and all the
Can
unto them on this side of the River,
w
you looke ill about you if you secure
not the River: If there bee a Bridge
at Hixcombe it would bee broken downe.
Deare my lord take the advice of the
best men, and doe something worthie
of your selfe w
was sent a man to visitt the Scotts
Army who hath beene there amongst
them, and hee assures us upon his
life, that their Horse is not at all
Considerable, which still layes it hea=
=vilier upon you (their Foote at most
but 20000.) and this I am confident
you may rely upon. which letter
although it bee said to bee but an
advice, yet the lord Conoway Con=
=ceived it to bee a Com
asmuch as was possible for a Gen
to Com
The last part p
should fight, the first part direct
any advantage, And howsoeu
said to bee but an advice (if the
lord Conoway had not obscured it)
it would then have proved a Com
And it is most probable, that the
miscarriageing of the businesse
would have beene layd upon his
not fighting, since it was endeavored
to bee layd upon his fighting, disa=
=vowing that hee had order soe to doe,
And before that laying great blame
upon his not fighting w
comeing through Northumb
not understanding the Countrie, mayn=
taineing that the lord Conoway w
those Horse hee had, might have
gone to the Scott
counted eu
and have come off at pleasure, w
being touched (a thing
unpossible up
to bee done) unlesse hee had found
them as David did Saul and his
and pott of Water from his head. And
for the good Intelligence which the
Earle of Strafford assured that hee
had of the Scotts Forces, the lord
Conoway assureth that hee received
as certaine Informac
it was possible to bee gotten both by
for Souldiers that putt themselues
ino a disguise, and marched in their
Army a day or two, and by many gent
of the Countrie that saw their Army
march, so that hee had very good rea=
=son to beleeve their Report
=thing that could bee informed to the
Earle of Strafford, by any single
Intelligencer to the contrary, who
had not soe good meanes to know or
Abilities to iudge of the strength
of the Scotts Army as diu
gave these Informac
owne view, and taking it for granted
that they were noe more then 20000.
was noe wisdome to hazard a day w
them w
and that not onely upon the disadvan=
=tage wee had in the number, but the
rawnes and untowardnes of our men.
The Scotts having made a Ba=
=tterie and drawne downe their Army,
our workes were provided w
defend them, and w
them. Six Troopes of Horse were
placed to charge the Scotts when they
came over, and 6. or 7. more were
placed to second them. When the
Scotts Forces were in readines, their
Can
proofe against them, the Souldiers
were unacquainted w
therefore did not endure many shott,
but quitt the workes, those that were
to second them followed their example.
The Horse charged the Scotts
& drove them back into the River;
of or. Troopes that were sett to second,
went off. When they saw the place
forsaken, they should have gone on ye.
left hand, that they might have gone
off w
but mistaking and
their direcc
which carryed them upp to the Hill where
they found some Troopes. Whilst they
consulted what was best to bee done,
the Scotts Horse came upp in two divi=
=sions, and w
The first Charge was upon the Regimt.
Com
taken Prisoner (his men forsaking
him) and falling foule of some
Troopes of the lord Conowayes Regi=
=ment and disordered them, the rest
being charged, did as they saw others
doe before them. The cause of the
losse that was that day, was the
disadvantage of the ground and the
of the tyme would not afford to bee
better, neither would it admitt us
to make any workes upon the Hill
where wee stood opposite against
the Scotts, and when wee came to
fight the Souldiers did not their
part as they ought to have done (being
most of them the meanest sort of
men about London) and unacquainted
w
which they had beene often Com
and taught.
After the disorder, the Horse
by the lord Conowayes Com
to Durham, the Foote to Newcastle,
where it was consulted by the
lord Conoway, Sir Jacob Ashley, and
all the Colonells what was fitt to
bee done by all their Consent
was agreed the Towne should bee
quitted because it was not tenable
being altogether unfortified on the
on the other side were very inconsiderable,
to stay there would but increase the
losse, it would not save any thing.
The gaineing of two or three dayes
could not much strengthen the Towne
there being not any place which could
bee made defencible in that tyme, and
the losse of our men would greatly
lessen the Kings Army, and this was
agreeable to that which was thought
fitt at the Court, For w
Orders were dispatched by seu
wayes to Com
Army, from Newcastle, as it appeares
by the ensueing letters from the
Earle of Strafford both dated the
29th: of August in these words
following.
After my heartie Com
to your lo
sadd accident which hath befallen
us upon the passing of the Scotts
round; There is noe remedie wee
must retyre, and (as I thinke) to
Hull, the Horse to Durham. I
shall gather and settle the best I
can, and soe march upp to ioyne
w
as are left us, And how to fetch yt.
part of our Foote that are at
Newcastle is (God knowes) our greatest
Care and difficultie. I send you this
by the way of Sunderland, I will
before I sleepe send another to
Hexcombe. In my opinion your best
will bee to shipp your selues if
possible you can and amount for
Hull, that were best, But if that
cannot bee, then if the Towne bee
not to bee held any longer, to make
the best Composic
w
submitt it to your Judgment
upon the place. And soe in hast I
Postcript.
Before I had closed this letter, his
Matie: came to this Towne, who approves
of all before written, onely adviseth
that if there bee any possibilitie of
keeping the Towne, then (that shipping
the rest) you leave 2000. men in the
Towne to defend it.
It was very good newes here to
mee, to understand that the Foote are
all advanced on this side of Durham,
nor is there any thing to bee done
more then to loose noe more tyme in
your retreat, for there is noe
thought of fighting w
Army till they ioyne w
Forces, which I trust will bee
neere 20000. I will use all possible
diligence to provide asmuch bread
as possible I can in this Towne,
and have giue
shall meet us at Topliff to
furnish the Souldiers w
can, and assure them w
there will bee 80000li: on the way
from London, which will give eu
man his owne really, wee shall
want noe monie. I have taken the
like course for baking of bread and
buyeing (here and at Northallerton
as also about the Countrie) And I
trust from Yorke wee shall have
good quantities meet us in the way.
I shall thinke the tyme long till I see
you and Sir Jacob Ashley, to whom I
pray you shew this letter, and I pray
you have some Horsmen behind you,
that may bee as a watch upon the
moc
bring us tymely adu
they doe and soe I rest.
And although the Towne of
Newcastle had beene kept some
dayes yet would it not have
beene w
monies. And by all guesses his Cheifest
strength being in Choyce men that
were at Newcastle, and it would
have beene much to the Kings disser=
=vice to have putt those men inevi=
=tably to have undergone base Condi=
-c
the Towne if it had pleased the
Invader.
Besides these reasons, though there
was a good quantitie of powder &
lead in the Towne, yet there
wanted Musketts & Bulletts, there
being noe Moulds to make them, w
want cannot bee imputed to a
Com
com
Musketiers, And that when they came
to use their Musketts they could not
doe service for want of scowring
sticks; If there had beene Moulds
Bulletts would not have beene
have served to keepe a Towne that
wanted fortificac
Now upon the whole matter it
may easily bee iudged, whether those
two single Actions of the Retreat of
Newcastle, and quitting of Newcastle,
were the Causes of o
defect of ill grounded designes, to
make a warr w
on w
thereby giving the Scott
attempt us by land before wee were
able to resist them.:
Finis: