38 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



three months time from the beginning of the siege, his Majesty 

 was pleased to send an army, which, joining with my Lord's 

 horse that were sent to quarter in the aforesaid countries, came 

 to relieve the city under the conduct of the most gallant and 

 heroic Prince Rupert, his nephew ; upon whose approach near 

 York, the enemy drew from before the city into an entire body, 

 and marched away on the west side of the river Ouse, that runs 

 through the city, his Majesty's forces being then of the east 

 side of that river K 



My Lord immediately sent some persons of quality to attend 

 his Highness, and to invite him into the city to consult with 

 him about that important affair, and to gain so much time 

 as to open a port to march forth with his cannon and foot 

 which were in the town, to join with his Highness' forces ; 

 and went himself the next day in person to wait on his High- 

 ness ; where, after some conferences, he declared his mind 

 to the Prince, desiring his Highness not to attempt anything 

 as yet upon the enemy ; for he had intelligence that there was 

 some discontent between them, and that they were resolved 

 to divide themselves, and so to raise the siege without righting : 

 besides my Lord expected within two days Colonel Cleavering, 

 with above three thousand men out of the North, and two 

 thousand drawn out of several garrisons (who also came at the 

 same time, though it was then too late). But his Highness 

 answered my Lord, that he had a letter from his Majesty (then 

 at Oxford), with a positive and absolute command to fight 

 the enemy ; which in obedience, and according to his duty he 

 was bound to perform 2 . Whereupon my Lord replied, That 



blood, I did admire to see such propositions from your Lordships, conceiving this not 

 the way to it ; for I cannot suppose that your Lordships do imagine, that persons of 

 honour can possibly condescend to any of these propositions, and so remain, my Lords, 

 your Lordships' most humble servant, 



' Will Newcastle. 

 'York, 15th June 1644.' 



1 The siege was raised on July 1. The allied army were retreating towards Tad- 

 caster on July 2, when Rupert's pursuit forced them to halt and give battle. A letter 

 from Newcastle to Rupert on the raising of the siege is printed in the Pythouse Papers, p. 19. 

 Rupert and Newcastle did not meet till the morning of the fight. A detailed account 

 of the preliminaries of the battle is given in Sir Hugh Cholmley's Memorials touching 

 the battle of York, which is printed in The English Historical Review for April 1890, 



P- 345- 



2 The King's letter is printed in the Nicholas correspondence at the end of Evelyn's 

 Diary, iv, 152, and in Warburton's Prince Rupert and the Cavaliers, ii, 437. The King's 

 words are : ' If York be lost I shall esteem my crown little less ; unless supported by 

 your sudden march to me ; and a miraculous conquest in the south, before the effects 

 of their northern power can be found here. But if York be relieved, and you beat the 

 rebel's army of both kingdoms, which are before it ; then (but otherwise not) I may 



