Campaign against the Scots, 1644 203 



horse home very weary, which did us more harm than the enemy could have 

 done, until they be again refreshed, which we make no doubt will be in a 

 very short time. We could entreat the world to be content with further 

 expectation. 



A summary of this letter is given in Mercurius Aulicus for March 

 14, 1644. After the events narrated in the letter, Newcastle re- 

 tired to Durham, and devoted himself to endeavouring to straiten 

 the quarters of the Scots and cut off their provisions, in which he 

 was very successful (Rush worth III, ii, 615). The Scots suc- 

 ceeded, however, in taking a fort at South Shields on March 20, 

 and in surprising on the same day a detachment of Newcastle's 

 horse at Chester le Street. On March 23 Newcastle marched from 

 Durham to Hilton near Sunderland, and unsuccessfully endeavoured 

 to bring on a general engagement. The skirmishes which took 

 place on March 24 and 25 are narrated from a despatch of New- 

 castle's in Mercurius Aulicus for March 30. 



' It being expressly certified from the noble Marquis of New- 

 castle that on Sunday last (March 24) he got the Scots out to West 

 Bedwick near Hilton Castle in the Bishopric of Durham, where 

 they sat fast upon Bedwick Hill : my Lord Marquis had often in- 

 vited them to fight, with overtures of many advantageous oppor- 

 tunities, but could not possibly draw them out : on this hill four 

 regiments of his Excellency's foot fell to work with six regiments 

 of the rebels. The fight began about three in the afternoon (March 

 24) and continued from that time till night, and continued more 

 or less till next morning, the rebels all this while being upon their 

 own Mickle Midding, and there they lay all night ; next morning 

 (being Monday) the Lord Marquis followed them till afternoon, 

 and then they vanished instantly into their trenches and retire- 

 ments in Sunderland. Then his Excellency (seeing no hope of 

 getting them out) drew off towards his quarters, and they being 

 sensible of so many provocations, came on his rear (which was 500 

 horse) with all the horse they had (for as yet they never looked the 

 Lord Marquis in the face), but the rear (with the loss of some thirty 

 men killed and taken) presently faced about, being seconded by 

 that valiant knight, Sir Charles Lucas, with his brigade of horse, 

 who fell on so gallantly that he forced all their horse (which is 

 about 3,000) to hasten up the hill to their cannon, all the way 

 doing sharp execution upon them so as their Lancers lay plentifully 

 upon the ground (many others being taken and brought away 

 prisoners) their cannon all that while playing upon the Lord Mar- 

 quis his horse with so little success as is not easily imagined. In 

 both these fights (on Sunday and Monday) they that speak least 

 reckon a full 1000 Scots killed and taken which cost the Lord 

 Marquis 240 of his common soldiers, scarce an officer being either 



