tion, and the office of ruling elder, as forming a strong pillar of the system, was keenly contested for several days. One of the Scottish divines, professed his "marvelling at the great learning, quickness, and eloquence, together with the great courtesy and discretion of their opponents;" but, notwithstanding, the assembly found, that, besides ministers of the word, there are other ecclesiastical rulers to join with them in the government of the church. The difficulty, however, with which this was gained, taught them caution, and they reserved the grand trial of strength, on the question of independency, till the advance of the army, which the same divine, candidly confessed to his private correspondent," he expected would much assist their arguments." To the movements of that army, it will now be necessary to direct our attention.

* "On no other point, expect we so much difficulty, except alone on independency, wherewith we purpose not to meddle in haste, till it please God to advance our army, which we expect will much assist our arguments." Baillie's Letters, vol. i. p. 402.

67

THE

HISTORY OF SCOTLAND.

Book VIII.

As soon as their preparations were complete, the Scottish troops were put in motion, and, about the middle of the month of January, 1644, they assembled at Harlaw, in the neighbourhood of Berwick, eighteen thousand foot, and three thousand five hundred horse. On the 13th, a committee from the two houses, arrived at headquarters, and having joined a committee, appointed by the estates, they, under the name of the committee of both kingdoms, superintended and directed the operations of the army.

On the

*The following, was the allowance made to officers and soldiers, horse and foot, in the Scottish army, for their entertainment on their march, or as they should be quartered in England. Major of horse, day, 6/; root [route] master, or captain, 6/; lieutenant, 4/; cornet, 2/6; corporal, quarter-master, and trumpeter, 1/6; a trooper, for himself, 1/, for every horse-officer, or trooper, for his horse, five sheaves of straw, or a stone of hay, at 4d., and oats, a measure of three gallons, English, 6d. Lieutenant colonel of foot, P day, 5/; major, 4/; captain, 3/; lieutenant, 21; ensign, 1/6; quarter-master and serjeant, 1/; corporal and drummers, each 8d.; common soldiers, 6d.; drivers, same as common soldier, and for carriage horse, three pennyworth of straw or hay, and a groats worth of oats. Officers of dragoons-lieutenant colonel, day, 6/; major, 5/; captain, 4/; lieutenant, 3/; ensign, 2/6; serjeant, 1/4; corporal, and drummer, 10d.; dragooner, 8d., and for his horse, three pennyworth of straw, and a groats worth of oats. Spalding gives us the outfit of the soldiers furnished by the burghs, at their expense. "Ilk soldier was furnished with twa sarks, coat, breeks, hose and bonnet, bands and shoone; a sword and musket, powder and ball, for so many, and other some, a sword and pike, according to order; and ilk soldier to have six shillings (Scots) every day, for the space of forty days, of loan silver; ilk twelve of them, a baggage horse, worth fifty pound, a stoup, a pan, a pot for their meat and drink, together with their hire, or levy or loan money; ilk soldier estimate to ten dollars." Troubles in Scotland, vol. ii. p. 150.

19th, they broke up, and entered England, and, on the day after, sent a letter to the officers and gentlemen of Northumberland, informing them of their march, and desiring their co-operation. In consequence, a consultation was held on the conduct to be pursued by the loyalists:-Whether in that extremity, they should lay waste and destroy the country, to prevent its affording shelter or accommodation to the invaders; return a civil answer to their letter; or fight the enemy. The Yorkshire officers advised rendering the district a desert, falling back upon the royal army, and transmitting the communication of the committees, to his majesty, or at least, to the marquis of Newcastle, the commander-in-chief, without making any reply. The Northumbrian gentlemen, whose estates must have suffered the penalty, would not consent to their county being made desolate, and they wished to return a respectful answer. All were of opinion, that they did not possess the means of resistance in the field; yet, the former obtained that a harsh reply should be returned, and, that the bridge of Alnwick should be fortified, and an attempt made to defend it; but a division of the Scottish force, under general Baillie, which had marched from Kelso, by Wooler, approaching, Sir Thomas Glenham retreated, without any show of opposition, to Newcastle, and the army advanced without any other interruption, to Morpeth, except what proceeded from the state of the roads, and the weather. The roads were unformed, and the snow, which had fallen very deep, melted by a thaw, swelled the rivulets to torrents, and overflowed almost the whole level lands, and in their fatiguing and tardy progress, the foot soldiers frequently marched in water, up to the middle, sometimes with it higher.

Cocquet island was taken possession of by the marquis of Argyle, likewise without opposition, and general Leslie, after remaining five days at Morpeth, to refresh his troops, advanced upon Newcastle, which he summoned to surrender, in the name of the committee of both kingdoms, (February 3d.) The marquis of Newcastle, who had thrown himself into the town, invigorated the resolution of the garrison, a resolute defiance was returned, and the suburbs set on fire,

to attest their determination. The flames raged from Saturday till Monday, when a sortie was made by Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and colonel Fenwick, on two Scottish cavalry regiments, commanded by lord Balgonie, Leven's son, and lord Kirkcudbright. The Scots were at first thrown into disorder, and were moving off in confusion, but some English, who had been sent to attack them in rear, and intercept their retreat, were suddenly checked, by finding that they had countermarched, and unexpectedly presented to their enemies, a ready and determined front. Colonel Brandling, who commanded, seeing this, rode out in front of his troops, flourishing his pistol as a bravado. A lieutenant Elliot, from the Scots, accepted the challenge. Both having fired and missed, wheeled to engage sword in hand, when Brandling's horse stumbled; ere he could recover himself, his antagonist pushed him off, and took him prisoner, at which, his men, who were spectators of the affront, discouraged by the fate of their leader, took to flight, and left to the Scots, the honour of the day.

Their situation, however, became exceedingly critical, they found they could make no impression upon the town, before which they had lain a fortnight; their provisions were running short, and their spirits declining for want of employment; they, therefore, determined to pass the Tyne, leaving behind them, a body of foot, with some troops of horse, under major-general, Sir James Lumsden, to keep the garrison in check. Accordingly, on the 22d, they broke up, and after bivouacking for some nights, crossed on the 28th, at three different fords, and, resting on the Sabbath, entered Sunderland next day. Meanwhile, the marquis of Newcastle, re-enforced with infantry from Durham, and twelve troops of horse, from Yorkshire, watched their motions with an army of fourteen thousand men; but the Scottish being advantageously posted, the marquis, not deeming it prudent to attempt an attack, resolved to retire to Durham, with the intention of straitening their quarters. At this period, they were much distressed for want of provisions; three, of five vessels, which had been sent from Scotland to supply them, having been cast away, and the other two, driven by stress

of weather, into the Tyne, were seized by the enemy, so, that frequently, they were almost wholly deprived of the necessaries of life, and never had more than twenty-four hours supply at a time. In consequence, they again moved nearer Newcastle, where they might secure subsistence for the men, but here they were reduced to a harassing dilemma; if they remained, it was true they could procure provisions for their soldiers, but they could obtain no provender for their horse; if they advanced with their cavalry, they might secure forage, but could not command provisions; and if they separated, the infantry would be exposed to the attack of a superior force, and the whole army to the hazard of being ruined in detail. The marquis decided their deliberations, by advancing in battalia to Hilton, on the north side of the river Weare, two miles and a half from Sunderland. The Scots immediately drew out to meet them, and during the day, they continued fronting each other, till night fall, when the cannon began to play, and the musketeers, in skirmishing parties, endeavoured to dislodge each other from the hedges and enclosures, behind which they had sheltered themselves, and continued the desultory contest with considerable slaughter, till darkness put an end to the affair. Next day, the royalists commenced a retreat, harassed by a party of Scottish horse, and Leven advanced with his whole army to more plentiful quarters, between Hartlepool and Durham, where he continued quietly. till the 8th of April, when a disaster of the royal army in Yorkshire, occasioned their opponents to march thither.

At the time Newcastle marched to observe the motions of the Scots, he left colonel Bellasis governor of York, and commander of a very considerable force in the county, but not adequate to cope with the parliamentary forces, if united. The committee of both kingdoms, when apprized of the mar-, quis' movements, judging it a favourable opportunity for reducing the whole of Yorkshire, sent orders to lord Fairfax, and his son Sir Thomas, to effect a junction, and take advantage of the circumstance. Accordingly, the latter* left

* In consequence of the Irish cessation, Charles, in November, brought