36 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



great valour and courage, it transported him so much, that 

 he resolved to face the enemy, and offering to keep a town 

 that was not tenable *, was utterly routed, and himself taken 

 prisoner, although he fought most gallantly 2 . 



So soon as my Lord received this sad intelligence, he upon 

 consultation, and upon very good grounds of reason, took a 

 resolution not to stay between the two armies of the enemy's, 

 viz. the Scots and the English, that had prevailed in York- 

 shire ; but immediately to march into Yorkshire with his 

 army, to preserve (if possible) the city of York out of the 

 enemy's hands : which retreat was ordered so well, and with 

 such excellent conduct, that though the army of the Scots 

 marched close upon their rear, and fought them every day 

 of their retreat, yet they gained several passes for their security 

 and entered safe and well into the city of York, in April 1643 3 . 



My Lord being now at York, and rinding three armies against 

 him, viz. the army of the Scots, the army of the English that 

 gave the defeat to the Governor of York, and an army that 

 was raised out of associate counties, and but little ammunition 

 and provision in the town, was forced to send his horse away 

 to quarter in several counties, viz. Derbyshire, Nottingham- 

 shire, Leicestershire, for their subsistence, under the conduct 

 of his Lieutenant-General of the Horse, my dear brother Sir 

 Charles Lucas, himself remaining at York, with his foot and 

 train for the defence of that city 4 . 



1 Selby in Yorkshire. 



2 This defeat took place at Selby on April n, 1644. Lord Fairfax's despatch is 

 given in Rushworth III, ii, 618. Sir Thomas gives an account of the battle in his Short 

 Memorial, Maseres' Tracts, ii. Bellasis himself was taken prisoner with 1,600 men, 

 and his artillery and baggage. 



3 Newcastle started on April 13, and arrived at York on April 19. Next day Fair- 

 fax and Leven joined at Tadcaster, and beleaguered the city, and on June 3 they were 

 joined by Manchester (Rushworth III, ii, 620). There is a good letter from Lord Fair- 

 fax to the committee of both kingdoms on these occurrences, printed from the Duke 

 of Manchester's papers in the Eighth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical 

 Manuscripts, part ii, p. 60. See also Newcastle's letter of 18th April ; Warburton's 

 Prince Rupert, ii, 434. In the Report on the Eglinton MSS., p. 53, is a letter from a 

 Scotch officer describing the pursuit. 



4 Sir Charles Lucas had only recently received a command in Newcastle's army. 

 He writes to Rupert from Doncaster on February 2, 1644, beginning ' Your Highness 

 having been pleased to dispense with my service to be employed for a time in these 

 parts, where I know not at first coming almost where I am ' etc. He continues : ' Here 

 I live and move by the warmth of your liberal recommendations of me to my Lord 

 Marquis of Newcastle ' ; and ends by saying, that the Marquis has gone north, leaving 

 him behind with 2,000 horse to protect the country, whilst Doncaster is being forti- 

 fied (Warburton's Prince Rupert, vol. ii, p. 370). Lucas joined Newcastle, with twelve 

 troops of horse, near Sunderland, some time before March 6 (Rushworth III, ii, 615). 

 After parting from the Marquis, as described in the text, the body of horse Lucas com- 

 manded passed under the command of Goring, and joined Rupert on his march to York. 



