84 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



upon his own interest, and without any other considerable 

 help or assistance ; which was much for a particular subject, 

 and in such a conjuncture of time ; for since armies are soonest 

 raised by covetousness, fear, and faction ; that is to say, 

 upon a constant and settled pay, upon the ground of terror, 

 and upon the ground of rebellion ; but very seldom or never 

 upon uncertainty of pay ; and when it is as hazardous to be 

 of such a party, as to be in the heat of a battle ; also when 

 there is no other design but honest duty. It may easily be 

 conceived that my Lord could have no little love and affection 

 when he raised his army upon such grounds as could promise 

 them but little advantage at that time. 



Amongst the rest of his army, my Lord had chosen for his 

 own regiment, of foot, 3000 of such valiant, stout, and faithful 

 men (whereof many were bred in the moorish grounds of the 

 northern parts) that they were ready to die at my Lord's 

 feet, and never gave over, whensoever they were engaged in 

 action, until they had either conquered the enemy, or lost 

 their lives. They were called White-coats, for this following 

 reason : my Lord being resolved to give them new liveries, 

 and there being not red cloth enough to be had, took up so 

 much of white as would serve to clothe them, desiring withal, 

 their patience until he had got it dyed ; but they, impatient 

 of stay, requested my Lord, that he would be pleased to let 

 them have it un-dyed as it was, promising they themselves 

 would dye it in the enemy's blood. Which request my Lord 

 granted them, and from that time they were called White- 

 coats. 



To give you some instances of their valour and courage, I 

 must beg leave to repeat some passages mentioned in the first 

 book. The enemy having closely besieged the city of York, 

 and made a passage into the manor-yard,' by springing a mine 

 under the wall thereof, was got into the manor-house with a 

 great number of their forces ; which my Lord perceiving, he 

 immediately went and drew eighty of the said White-coats 

 thither, who with the greatest courage went close up to the 

 enemy, and having charged them, fell pell-mell with the butt- 

 ends of their muskets upon them, and with the assistance of 

 the rest that renewed their courage by their example, killed 

 and took 1500, and by that means saved the town 1 . 



1 See p. 40. 



