The First Book 23 



the moiety of his army, and most of his ammunition \ he 

 fell upon new counsels, and resolved without any delay to 

 march from thence back towards York, which was in May 

 1643, where after he had rested some time, her Majesty being 

 resolved to take her journey towards the southern parts of 

 the kingdom, where the king was, designed first to go from 

 York to Pomfret, whither my Lord ordered the whole march- 

 ing army to be in readiness to conduct her Majesty, which 

 they did, he himself attending her Majesty in person. And 

 after her Majesty had rested there some small time, she being 

 desirous to proceed in her intended journey, no less than a 

 formed army was able to secure her person : wherefore my 

 Lord was resolved out of his fidelity and duty to supply her 

 with an army of 7,000 horse and foot, beside a convenient 

 train of artillery, for her safer conduct, choosing rather to 

 leave himself in a weak condition (though he was even then 

 very near the enemy's garrisons in that part of the country) 

 than suffer her Majesty's person to be exposed to danger. 

 Which army of 7,000 men, when her Majesty was safely 

 arrived to the King, he was pleased to keep with him for his 

 own service 2 . 



After her Majesty's departure out of Yorkshire, my Lord 

 was forced to recruit again his army, and within a short 

 time, viz. in June 1643, took a resolution to march into the 

 enemy's quarters, in the western parts ; in which march he 

 met with a strong stone house well fortified, called Howley 

 House, wherein was a garrison of soldiers, which my Lord 

 summoned ; but the governor disobeying the summons 

 he battered it with his cannon, and so took it by force. The 



1 This victory took place on Sunday, May 21, 1643 — Rushworth, III, ii, 269, where 

 the despatches of Lord Fairfax and Sir Thomas are given, and the Short Memorial in 

 Maseres' Tracts, p. 423. Sir Thomas says ' This appeared the greater mercy when 

 we saw our mistake ; for we found 3000 men in the town and expected but half the 

 number. We brought away 1400 prisoners, 80 officers, 28 colours, and great store of 

 ammunition.' His own force numbered only 1100 men, and he concludes by observing 

 ' This was more a miracle than a victory.' 



2 The Queen left York on June 4 (Drake's Eboracum) ; she arrived at Newark on June 

 16 (Dugdale's Diary), and left that place on July 3, reaching Oxford on July 14 (ibid.). 

 The Queen at first thought of bringing with her merely her own two regiments of foot 

 and horse, consisting of about two thousand men {Letters, pp. 180-91). On the 14th 

 of May, the Queen speaks of bringing 4000 men ; the King desired at least 1000 foot 

 and 1500 horse (Letters, pp. 200-5). Most of these troops were armed with the weapons 

 brought by the Queen, but raised by the Earl of Newcastle. ' I carry with me ', writes 

 Henrietta to the King from Newark, ' 3000 foot, thirty companies of horse and dragoons, 

 six pieces of cannon and two mortars.' — Letters of Queen Henrietta Maria, ed. Green , 

 p. 222. The number given in the text is certainly exaggerated ; 4500 or 5000 men 

 probably represents the total strength of the Queen's army. 



