Of Things Trent-North

Of Things Yarm: The Battle, 1 February 1643

Lord Fairfax, writing to the Speaker of the House of Commons from Selby on 26 January 1643 reported on his success in taking Leeds (23 January 1643) and Sir Hugh Cholmley’s action at Guisborough, declaring that a Royalist force of 600 horse and foot had been defeated,

…Yesterday Intelligence was brought to me that the Earl of Newcastle hath drawn down all his Forces from the South Part of Yorkshire…the certain Cause I do not yet know, but suppose it is to meet the Arms and Munition coming from Newcastle, or to prepare for the Queen’s Entertainment at York, which is much spoken of. I shall carry a vigilant Eye upon his Designs, and endeavour to prevent them, so far as can be expected…

Parliamentarian Sir Hugh Cholmley (1600-57)

Major G.R.H. Cholmley & Mr H.J.N.Cholmley

Cholmley’s parliamentarian force, under the command officer of horse, Captain Richard Medley, or Mildmay, marched down the road from Guisborough to Marton, along Ladgate Lane, to Yarm and Egglescliffe, where it was hoped to stop or at least delay the Royalist convoy heading for York. Medley’s did not have long to wait.

The small town of Yarm, along with Croft, Piercebridge and Barnard Castle to the west, was the lowest of four important medieval bridge crossing points of the R.Tees. Yarm bridge carried the main road north to Stockton and on to Sedgefield and Durham, and south to Thirsk and on to York. Most of its inhabitants would have been involved in agriculture, and the carrier trade, both by road and river, that had developed based on the export of grain, wool, dairy products, hides fishing and salt.

Yarm & Egglescliffe, c.1771
Jeffrey’s Map of Yorkshire, 1771 (detail)

Yarm and its important medieval stone bridge crossing of the River Tees was,

… in this year (1643) was for a short time garrisoned by 400 of the parliament forces…

For a few precious days from mid- to the end of January 1643 the parliamentarians probably prepared their defences. Likely the ‘greater work’ was still maintained and useable, referred to in Sep 1640 during the Bishops’ Wars, built on,

a hill of great advantage close before the bridge where Sir Wm Pennyman had begun a small work

It had been constructed to take two batteries and two pieces (of artillery) and to overlook the approach road to Yarm Bridge from Stockton to the North. The Parliamentarians could have placed artillery within it, as well as actually on the narrow bridge itself, spanning the broad and deep valley of the River Tees, in order to deter an attempted crossing and passage between Egglescliffe and Yarm.

Building of a ‘work’, or artillery emplacement in the mid-17th century
Drawing by Beck, S. from Barratt, John 2000 Cavaliers: The Royalist Army at War 1642-1646, p.62

Parliamentarian Captain Medley and his forces had seen some limited action around York and their morale probably high following their recent victory at Guisborough. However, their task was a difficult one and the parliamentarian command was no match for experienced professional commanders (later Lieutenant-General) James King and the Lord George Goring and the larger force that was about to hit them from the Egglescliffe side of Yarm bridge on 1 February 1643.

General James King, 1589-1652

Private Collection

VAN DYCK, The Lord George Goring (1608-57)

Battle of Yarm, 1 February 1643
Conjectural deployments, Phil Philo, 2022

1.The victorious parliamentarian army from Guisborough entered Yarm and made preparations to stop the expected royalist arms convoy from Newcastle. The billeting of nearly 500 soldiers in and around the town would have been a great burden on a population perhaps half that size. 2. The advance guard of the royalist convoy, commanded by the very experienced Generals King and Goring, approached from the north. The Royalist convoy probably took the route from Newcastle south, through Chester-le-Street, Durham, Sedgefield and on to Stockton-on-Tees. From there they would have taken the main road to Yarm, through what is now Eaglescliffe and Preston Park and on to the small settlement of Egglescliffe. 3.Royalist probably quickly overcame any parliamentarian out-guards on the north side of the River Tees and at the gun emplacement at Egglescliffe if the Parliamentarians had put it into service. A soldier, ‘slain here at the Yarm skirmish,’ was probably killed in this action and buried 1 February 1643 at Egglescliffe. Having taken control of Egglescliffe the Royalists would have had a fine prospect from the church of Yarm, its bridge, other possible crossing points of the River Tees, and the disposition of the enemy’s forces below them. 4. Perhaps after softening up by an artillery barrage & small arms, the royalist foot and dragoons made a direct assault on the narrow bridge. 5.Royalist accounts suggest a swift and merciless attack in which the enemy were,

“…totally routed…” and “…utterly defeated…”

One account describes how the Royalists,

“…fell upon them, slew many…”

and the Royalist victory appears to have been comprehensive and a disaster for the Parliamentarians. As well as casualties around the bridge, there were probably others as a result of running fights through the streets and assaults on buildings and houses being used as cover by the defenders. Fleeing parliamentarians pursued by royalist cavalry.

The Royalists, “…march’d on to York with their Ammunition, without any other Interruption.”

Reconstruction of the drawbridge on Yarm Bridge, c.1643
Phil Philo 2018

The engagement at Yarm in February 1643, like the earlier one at Piercebridge in December 1642, clearly showed the strength of the Royalists in the North, their ability in arming and supplying of their field armies from continental imports through Tynemouth and Newcastle and, in those early months of the Civil War, the inability of the Parliamentarians in the North to field a sufficient force to keep the Royalists at bay.

The settlement at Yarm was again in Royalist hands after its brief occupation by Parliamentarian units.

These were obviously anxious times for the local people, as well as the Royalist soldiers and sympathisers/supporters. There was also the possibility that other ‘flying’ Parliamentarian units from Fairfax’s, Hotham’s and Cholmley’s forces from the South would attempt to bar future crossings of the River Tees at Yarm by Royalist arms and military convoys. To guard against this, a small force of Royalist soldiers and engineers was probably left at Yarm for a few days whilst the main convoy continued its journey to York, as the stone bridge appears to have been altered so as to make its defence easier. The northern arch on the Egglescliffe side of the river was broken through and a wooden drawbridge created.

A few weeks later, on 22 February 1643 at Bridlington, Queen Henrietta Maria landed from Holland with further arms and supplies for the Royalist cause.

Parliamentarian commander Sir Hugh Cholmley held negotiations with her and changed sides to the Royalists on 25 March 1643, leading a very successful though eventually ill-fated fight against his previous employers. Having joined up with the Earl of Newcastle in York Queen Henrietta Maria set off with a large force to reinforce the King at Oxford.

Of Things Mustered: Royalists at Stokesley & Guisborough, 28 January 1643

Following the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Guisborough (16 January 1642), Sir Hugh Cholmley’s Parliamentarian force advanced to Yarm. However, probably emboldened by the prospect of the large munitions convoy and its escort about to arrive at the River Tees from Newcastle, the local Royalist James Pennyman Snr. (c.1580-1655) of Ormesby (father of Sir James Pennyman of Ormesby and uncle of Sir William Pennyman of Marske) actively started to raise troops for the Royalists. For this he was later declared a delinquent,

for executing the Commission of Array and that he did array men at Stoxly (Stokesley) January 28th 1643, and did other like acts against the Parliament friends, and was in Armes alsoe, that he for a time refused to take the Covenant, and disputed against it both by word and wrightinge, that all his sonnes have bin engaged in the King’s service.

Further, a letter from the Committee at York to the Commissioners at London stated,

we have informed ourselves of the crymes & estate of James Penyman of Ormesby in the Northriding of the Countye of Yorke Esq. (being aged sixtie eight years) & doe certifie that he was a Commissioner of Array and did array men at Stoxle (Stokesley) January 28th 1643 & two other times their and once at Gisbrough. [1]

[1] Clay, John William (ed) Yorkshire Royalist Composition Papers: or the Proceedings of the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents During the Commonwealth, Volume 2. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2013 – 1st edn.1895) G.179, p.19

Of Things Slingsby: 19 January 1643

Royalist defeat at the Battle of Guisborough, on 16 January 1643, was followed three days later by the death of Royalist commander Colonel Guilford Slingsby (1610-43). Slingsby had had a promising start against the Parliamentarians, led by Sir Hugh Cholmley.

…At his first charge Mr. Slingsby (having seasoned old Soldiers in his Troop, which he brought out of Holland) worsted their Horse, and had some pursuit and execution…

However,

…being alarmed behind, by the noise of an engagement, betwixt the Bodys of Foot, found his Regiment totally dissipated, beyond all hopes of rallying; whereupon he employed his Courage upon the Enemies Foot.

In the charge which he attempted to support and rally his foot, Slingsby’s,

“…Horse fell, and himself wounded with many Case-shot, and became prisoner”

“The relation of Bloud moved Sir Hugh Cholmly to a generous regard and care of him, he was carried back to Gisborough, where (in order to the saving of his life) both his Legs were cut off above the knee, after which he lived three days, The Lady Slingsby his disconsolate Mother, hastened from York (betwixt hopes of Life and fear of Death) to Gisborough, where she found the late hopes of her Family, and support of her age lying dead; and Sir Hugh was as much concerned as his Parent, for the loss of so accomplished a Gentleman.”

Artist’s impression of Death of Parliamentarian John Hampden, 1643
Bob Moulder 1997

His Mother returned to York with his body and on 26 January 1643 he was buried in York Minster, his funeral sermon being preached by John Bramhall, Bishop of Derry, afterwards archbishop of Armagh”. He was aged 32.^[1]

It is worth noting here the extreme measures that were taken to save Slingsby’s life following his wounding. Amputation was carried out when limbs had been badly damaged or were too infected to be saved and was undertaken only by experienced barber-surgeons. Who undertook this operation we can only speculate – whether either Cholmley’s Parliamentarian or Slingsby’s forces included a barber–surgeon, or Guisborough was fortunate enough to have such a resident and practitioner, or, more likely, such a medical specialist was called for from York or another neighbouring town or city. We know that a medieval clergyman at Guisborough had been treated by a York barber-surgeon and in 1346 the severely wounded King David of Scotland was treated as a prisoner in Bamburgh Castle by two York barber-surgeons.^[2]

Amputation of arm and leg, 1594
Wellcome Library, London

The barber-surgeon in question would have had to have been on the scene very quickly and worked with skill and speed. The procedure at this time was not the barbaric act carried out by some ‘quack’ as often depicted in popular film and television, but a developed, meticulous and often effective and successful process, taking into account: the state and welfare of the patient; the suitability and sterile nature of the site and equipment; and the following of a tried and tested methodology. The procedure almost certainly included: the use of tourniquets; the use of knives and saws to cut flesh and bone respectively; the treating of the stumps and the plugging of blood vessels; the closing of wounds with sutures and stitches; and the bandaging and regular re-dressing of the wound.^[3] Many survived the amputation process, as evidenced by the story of Hartlepool artilleryman during the English Civil War, John Tinkler, who had lost both his eyes and arms.^[4] However, Slingsby was probably overcome by a combination of the shock of both the severity of his injuries and the amputation process, blood loss and infection.

[1] Skaife, Robert H 1870 The Register of Burials in York Minster, Accompanied by Monumental Inscriptions, and Illustrated with Biographical Notices, in The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal Vol. I, 1870; York Minster Burials http://www.genuki.org.uk/, big/eng/YKS/Misc/MIs/ARY/YorkMinsterBurials1a.html (16). Colonel Slingsbye bur. the twenty-sixth of January, 1642.

[2] M.C.Barnett, ‘The Barber-Surgeons of York’, Medical History, 12 (1968), pp.19-30

[3] Rutherford, Stephen, M. 2016 Ground-breaking pioneers or dangerous amateurs? Did early modern surgery have any basis in medical science? In Pells, Ismini (ed) 2016 New Approaches to the Military History of English Civil War. Proceedings of the First Helion & Company ‘Century of the Soldier’ Conference, Wolverhampton Military Studies No.25. Solihull, Helion & Company Limited. pp.153-185.

[4] Durham County Record Office, Q/S/OB 5 (Microfilm M7/2), Quarter Sessions Order Book, 1660-1668, fol.72, (‘The petition of John Tinkler of the city of Durham, 3 October 1660’) referenced in K. Beer 1995 How the people of Durham were affected by the Civil War between 1642 and 1648. Durham County Local History Society, Bulletin 54, May 1995, pp.13-21; & Rutherford, ibid, p.183. fn. 159.

Of Things Guisborough: The Battle, 16 January 1643

Royalist Colonel Guilford Slingsby got on with the task of raising the convoy escort in the Guisborough area, and,

he levied Eight hundred Foot, and Eighty Horse, with intention to make up a full Regiment, and Troop to wait upon the Queen.”

Slingsby’s eighty horse were continental troopers brought with him from France and Holland, but it is unlikely that he managed to raise more than half the number of foot.

Hearing of Slingsby’s activity, Sir Hugh Cholmley, parliamentarian commander of forces at Malton threatening York, gathered a small army

and took of his troop of horse, a troop of dragoons, 130 foot and Sir Matthew Boynton’s two troops of dragoons that had joined him there, and marched north to engage the Royalists.

marching across the North York Moors to approach Guisborough from the south.

Plan of the Battle of Guisborough, 16 January 1643 (conjectural deployments)

Key: 1. Cholmley’s parliamentarians march from Malton and come down off the North York Moors. 2. Slingsby’s royalists advance ‘a mile outside the town’ to face the parliamentarians. 3. Royalist cavalry attack the parliamentarians. 4. The infantry engage and the royalist foot start to waver. 5. Slingsby tries to rally his foot but is caught in cannon fire and mortally wounded. 6. The royalists are routed, pursued back to the town and many captured.

Orders of Battle: Guisborough, 16 January 1643

It is suggested that the Royalist defending force were at a disadvantage, despite their slightly larger numbers. Slingsby’s forces were attacked,

…before the Foot were disciplined in the use of Arms…, and, …Mr. Slingsby (who was wholly educated in Civil affairs, never in the active Military part)

But Slingsby,

having timely notice of his Adversaries approach, thought not of any retreat, but addresses himself and party immediately, to draw out and fight the Enemy, notwithstanding the inequality in number.

Parliamentarian Cholmley reported that he was faced by a fore-warned enemy,

…with four hundred foot and a hundred horse, they were so confident of their strength as they advanced a mile out of the town to encounter us, and placed their musketiers under hedges in places of advantage”.

It is likely that the two forces launched their cavalry against one another to start the battle, with,

…At his first charge Mr. Slingsby (having seasoned old Soldiers in his Troop, which he brought out of Holland) worsted their Horse, and had some pursuit and execution…

Some of these ‘seasoned old Soldiers’ were probably French or continental soldiers, some of whom were captured. However, his body of foot, despite the advantage of using the hedgerows,

According to Cholmley, the engagement lasted about two hours, during which time at first the Royalist foot’s musketeers probably kept up a steady fire, but were driven, “…first from the hedges and then out of the town of which we are now possessed”.

In the charge which he attempted to support and rally his foot, Slingsby’s, “…Horse fell, and himself wounded with many Case-shot, and became prisoner”.

Slingsby’s men probably fell back through the town, perhaps along Westgate and the side passages, past the ruins of the Priory and the parish church, and out of the town. It is possible that they made a last stand in that area to the north east of the town known as “Wars Fields”. Cholmley claimed,

We have taken above one hundred and twenty prisoners, amongst which Colonel Slingsby and twelve Frenchmen that were troopers…and praised be God—we have not lost a man nor but two wounded with cuts in the head”

After the battle Cholmley returned to Malton with a small force but probably despatched the bulk of his troops under Captain Medley, or Mildmay, with foot, horse and the two pieces of ordnance to Yarm to defend the bridge between there and Egglescliffe on the north side of the River Tees and to stop movement of the expected Royalist forces and arms convoy between Newcastle and York

The Parliamentarian victory ensured that Royalist designs on Whitby were thwarted, and the Royalist’s work to assemble a small force to escort a large arms convoy from Newcastle, across the River Tees and down to York, suffered a set-back. However, within a matter of weeks, the parliamentarian victory at Guisborough had been overturned by the Battle of Yarm on 1 February 1643, and the Parliamentarians lost Cholmley when he defected to the Royalists.

Of Things North York Moors: 15 January 1643

The route that Cholmley’s parliamentarian force took from Malton to Guisborough was probably the most direct route north across the Moors.

This was likely to have taken them along ancient roads and trackways, probably the current Malton/Broughton Roads; Amortherby/Newsham Lanes; Barugh Lane, alongside the course of the River Wye and then off to the north west to Gray Lane, just to the east of Kirbymoorside; continuing up Gray Lane onto the Moors and up Yan Brow; out of Hutton-le-Hole along Blakey Road; past the Lion Inn; to the junction with the roads, left to Westerdale, right to Castleton.

The route taking them to the south east of Guisborough would have meant taking the road straight on (right) through Castleton; picking up the main Yarm-Guisborough-Whitby road north/north west, through Birk Brow; Margrove Park; Slapewath, past Guisborough Woods and Whitby Road to the area of the current Gisborough Hall and Belmangate to the south east.

The route that would have brought the parliamentarian army down off the North York Moors to the south west of Guisborough would have meant turning off left to Westerdale; crossing the River Esk to the north of the settlement; Crag Bank/Percy Cross Rigg to Hutton Wood; descending the steep slopes down to the open land to the south of Guisborough, crossing the current Cleveland Way, through Hutton Lowcross to the south west, along part of the medieval route of Ruthergate, down onto the fields in the area of Hutton Hall.^[1]

Panoramic view of Blakey Ridge, North Yorkshire, likely route, south (left) to north, of Cholmley’s Parliamentarians

Either route, this was a march of almost 40 miles, which along modern roads in a vehicle would take just over one hour. Poorly shod and clothed infantry, carrying their arms and armour (pikemen with up to 18 feet long pikes, swords, possibly metal helmets and some armour, with knapsacks of supplies, and musketeers with their heavy firearms, musket rests and powder bandoliers), travelling along stony tracks at best or rough moorland, would probably average, at best 2-3 miles per hour, and so this type of journey would take around 15-20 hours. Mounted horse and dragoons would, of course, be faster, taking into account rest and watering stops. Rushworth’s account, published over forty years after the event, refers to the Parliamentarian use of ‘ Brass drakes’, or cannon, in the engagement.^[2] The hauling of even small artillery pieces by draught horse and men along poor tracks and rough moorland would have been no mean feat, especially over the soft ground of winter, and these would have considerably slowed progress. These were probably taken to Yarm after the Battle of Guisborough and lost there to the Royalists.

Soldiers on a winter march, by Peter Snayers, Siege of Aire-sur-la-lys, 1653

It is not known how long it took them to make the crossing of the Moors. Whatever the journey, in the terrain and potentially harsh winter conditions, the was no warm welcome waiting them as they approached Guisborough on 16 January 1643.

[1] .Binns 2004, p.61, without reference, sets the route via Pickering. Thanks to Roger Mackintosh, North York Moors Volunteer Guide, for his thoughts on the route taken by this force (pers. comm.).

[2] Drake was used to describe guns that were lighter and shorter than those standard to their calibre and seem to have ranged guns which weighed 280lbs and fired a 3lb shot (more likely to be the size pulled across the Moors) to a gun weighing 2250lb and firing a 24lb shot. Drakes were described as ‘… to be drawne to some suddaine peece of service, as in the day of Battle…’ See: Blackmore, H.L.1976 The Armouries of the Tower of London. London, HMSO, p.228.

Of Things Leading to Guisborough: 14-15 January 1643

Sir Hugh Cholmley, parliamentarian commander of Scarborough, was threatening York with his forces based at Malton to the north east.

Parliamentarian Sir Hugh Cholmley (1600-57)

Major G.R.H. Cholmley & Mr H.J.N.Cholmley

His troop of horse, company of dragoons and one hundred and thirty foot, were joined at Malton by two dragoon troops of Sir Matthew Boynton. It is thought that his regiment of horse around this time consisted of four troops of horse, commanded by Dutchman Captain Lieutenant Froome (Colonel’s troop); Captain Alured, Captain Richard Medley, or Mildmay, and another Dutchman, Lieutenant Vanerhurst; along with two dragoon troops commanded by Captain Strangeways (possibly James Strangewigg) and Sir Thomas Norcliffe.^[1]

Ferdinando Fairfax reported to Parliament that Sir Hugh Cholmley “…hath carried himself very bravely, giving several Defeats to the Enemy near Malton”, in particular forces of the Earl of Newport. Cholmley’s intelligence had informed him as early as 8 January 1643 that Royalist Colonels Slingsby and Strickland,

…were marched to Gisbrough, the principal town in Cleveland, with some troops of horse, and that they called together the Trained Bands of those parts and had summoned Whitby a sea town sixteen miles from that place to receive a garrison.

Cholmley gathered his forces, leaving a garrison in Malton under the command of Captain Browne Bushell,

and took of his troop of horse, a troop of dragoons, 130 foot and Sir Matthew Boynton’s two troops of dragoons that had joined him there, and marched north to engage the Royalists.

His small force marched across the North York Moors to engage the Royalists.(2)

[1] Leask, Paul 1995 Valour is the Safest Helm: The Life of Sir Hugh Cholmley and Scarborough During the ECW. ISBN: 1-898621-10-1

[2] Cholmley, Sir Hugh to William Lenthall. HMC, Portland mss, I, p.90-91 1642[-3], January 16. Gisbrough. (See Commons’ Journals, ii. 938.) [N. II., 141.]

Of Things Fighting Away from Home: Oxford, 13 January 1643

On Thursday 12 January 1643, members of the North Yorkshire raised regiment of Sir William Pennyman of Marske-by-the-Sea, part of the Royalist garrison of Oxford, were issued with match as they were part of the escort and gun salute at the funeral of Lord d’Aubigny (Lord George Stuart, Seigneur d’Aubigny (1518-42), younger brother of James, Duke of Richmond, and father of Charles, the 3rd Duke) killed at the Battle of Edgehill, October 1642. Oxford’s Governor, Sir Jacob Astley ordered,

These ar to desire Sir John Haydon knt: to deliuer vunto the regment of Sir William Penyman kt one roale of Match, to the regment of Collonell Dutton and Collonell Garrett each of them likewise one roale of match wch is for Solemnisinge the ffunoralls of the Lord Augbany (85) on fryday next, and for soe doeinge this with an Accquitanc from the Cheefe officrs of those regments shalbe yor warrant dated at Oxford this 12th day of Janvarij 1642

To Sr John Haydon knt: Lut: Genorall of the Trayne of Artilery

Receiued out of his Mats Stores for the service herin expressed for the vse of Sr Wm Pennymans Regimt.

Match – one bundle.

John Denton sergant[1]

Funeral of Earl of Essex, 1646

Friday, 13 Jan, a great solemne funeral in Oxon of lord Aubigny (brother to the duke of Lennox) who was slaine at Kaynton feild or at the battell of Edgehill. The body was brough up from Magdalen College and so brought and attended all the waye through the street to Christchurch the Cathedrall, and there enterred. The footmen soldiers came first with their muskets under their armes, the noses of the muskets beinge behind them; the pike men drayled their pikes on the ground; the horsemen followed with their pistolls in their hands, the handles being upwarde; the topps of the auntients also was borne behind. A chariott covered with blacke velvet, where the body was drawen by 6 horses, &c. The man that drove the chariot strowed money about the streets as he passed. Three great voleys of shott at the enterringe of the body; and lastly, an herald of armes proclaimed his titles, &c.[2]

[1] W.O. 55. 423, f.67 in Roy, I, The Royalist Ordnance Papers, 1642-1646, 1964, p. 189, Fn.85

[2] A. Clark (ed.), Wood’s Life and Times, vol. 1, OHS, (1891), p.82, at https://ia800202.us.archive.org/13/items/lifetimesofantho01wooduoft/lifetimesofantho01wooduoft.pdf

Of Things Newcastle to Slingsby: 8 January 1643

In preparing a munition convoy escort in the Hemlington/Guisborough area, Royalist Colonel Guilford Slingsby sought instructions from his commander, William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle. Two letters between the two were captured at the Battle of Guisborough (16 January 1642) The first answers Slingsby’s specific requests and the second is Newcastle’s general instructions to his officers.

William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle, depicted in La Bataille Gagnee by Diepenbeeck, 1658

Sir, — I have received your letters this day, and return you thanks
for the very good service you have done, and should be very glad
to give you all the assistance you desire, and more, to prosecute
your present levies, but I was informed that you had of your own
levies 400 foot besides your troop of horse. And as the case stands
I cannot furnish you with any more forces for the present. For
these reasons, first, the forces of the Bishoprick were levied upon
condition to remain in the country for the security thereof; and
besides, they are appointed to guard the ammunition through their
country, and if need be further ; which I hope they will obey, for
I hear Colonel Huddleston nor Colonel Clavering can either of
them march for that convoy as was intended, and therefore I have
appointed Sir Robert Strickland and his forces to wait upon that
service, and I desire you will do so too, for I hear they have a
design to surprise it if they can, and it deserves our best cares to
secure it. When that service is done, I shall be ready to give you
all the assistance I can. For the lady you mention use your own
discretion towards her, for I have not been ever used to take ladies
prisoners. For any goods or arms you shall take of disaffected
persons or in their possession, keep them to your own use, the
goods upon account for paying your soldiers (for we can get no
money here to supply you) and the arms for arming your men, and
though they be part of the Trained-band arms, yet being taken by
you as a prize, they shall be accounted so. For your fortifying
those castles you mention, I do not understand of what consequence
it can be to you, except it be some one for your retreat and place
of residence whilst you are levying your regiment. For the 500
arms you desire a warrant for, it will be very inconvenient to serve
it upon their way, and therefore for it you must have a little patience.
For the paying of your troop you propose one of three ways, but to
resolve of which of them is to no end unless there was money to
pay, but in that you shall have all the right that may best be, in
time. Till then, as I told you before, you may make use of such
moneys and goods you take of delinquents, or so much thereof as will serve you, for I perceive you meet with good store. And thus
much for answer to your letters from, — Your very affectionate
friend, W. Newcastle.

Royalist Colonel Slingsby’s recruiting area between his estate in Hemlington (bottom left) and Guisborough (bottom right), Cleveland, North Yorkshire

Jeffrey’s Map of Yorkshire, 1771 (detail)

The county (York) to be universally disarmed of all private arms,
both of horse and foot, and those not borne in service to be brought
into a magazine at York. The trained bands that rose with
Hotham to be compelled to rise again, and serve in their persons,
or every man to send an able-bodied man to serve for him. Con-
sidering her Majesty intends to commit her person into the pro-
tection of this county, a magazine is to be made at York to enable
an army to subsist there in case of extremity or necessary retreat.
All the gentry of Yorkshire to be unanimously moved to resort
thither with their families and movables, as the contrary faction do
daily to Hull, by which means the persons and estates of such as
are not well affected will be secured, as such as refuse or decline
it shall discover themselves, and every man’s fortune and family
being there engaged they will more actually move with a joint con-
currence for the preservation of the place, which must be the retreat
for the safety of the Queen’s person, no other place being defensible
and considerable to balance Hull. Those that decline this pro-
position are to understand that they must at their own peril under-
go the plunder of the soldiers, if any fall out. The garrison in
York shall be daily employed in making regular works upon the
avenue and outworks, and encroachments upon the hills and other
places commanding the town. No markets or fairs to be held in
any place in the county except York. Some of the iron ordnance,
sent over by the Queen, to be sent for at the charge of the county
to place upon the avenues and fortifications.

POMFRET (Pontefract), 8 Jan. 1642 (1643).(1)

(1) Cavendish, Margaret, Duchess of Newcastle The Life of William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, Appendix p.339, from Report V of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, p.69, includes transcript of correspondence from William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle to Guilford Slingsby, captured at Guisborough (Rushworth, III, ii, 125). The letter was sent up to Parliament together with the instructions given to Slingsby which accompanied it.

Of Things Horse: Queen’s Troop, 7 January 1643

Saturday the 7. of January.
It is informed from beyond the Seas, that a Troope of about fourescore brave Horse, whose Riders are Walloons, is sent to the Queene of England out of France for her guard, but because she needeth no such guard in Holland where she is, she hath sent them to Newcastle to assist the King,

Depiction of a troop of horse on the memorial to Captain Edward St. John, d.1644, Lydiard Church, Swindon

and it is reported that the Motto in their Cornet is, A King or no King; which may perhaps signifie, such an absolute King, as the King of France at the present is, who commandeth the persons, lives, goods and estates of his Subjects at his meere will and pleasure, contrary to the ancient fundamentall Laws and Institutions of that Kingdome.[1]

[1] England’s Memorable Accidents: 2–9 January 1643, British Library, E.244[46], https://www.tygersheadbooks.co.uk/sub/the-english-civil-war-newsbooks/englands-memorable-accidents-issue-list-1642/englands-memorable-accidents-2-9-january-1643/

Of Things Lincolnshire: Opposing Newcastle, 5 January 1643

The County of Lincolne have raised 10. or 12000. men ready in Armes to oppose the Earle of Newcastle if he come amongst them, which is well done of them; but if they would keep Warre out of their County, let them send halfe those men to aid the Lord Fairefax, and keep the rest to awe their owne Malignants; for that is the best way to keep their Shire quiet;

Lincolnshire

Ambraham Goos, The Kingdom of England, 1646 (detail)

according to the old Aphorisme of State Policy; He that would preserve his Countrey from Warre, must transferre it into his Enemies territories: which rule Scipio the Romane observing freed Italy from the Inundation of Haniball, and made Carthage the Stage and seat of Warre, from whence it had its first originall: and as the present Affairs stand, it is safer in such a manner to offend then defend, and this policy was wisely practised by the Scots, when they came lately into England with an Army, and seized upon the Towne of Newcastle.[1]