ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 247 



the aldermen were disfranchifed, the corporation was new mo T 

 delled, not according to their charter, but as might beft fuit the 

 views of the parliament. Theif member, Sir Henry Andcrfon, Kt. 

 was expelled thehoufe, for non-attendance, and joining the royal 

 army. John Blakcfton, Efq; was chofen in his room, who figned 

 the warrant for beheading his fovereign. Robert EUifen, of Hd- 



bnrne, Efq; was- his fellow-member, chofen in the place of 



Warmouth, Efq; not fuffered to take his feat after his election. 

 The plague was at the fame time in the town, and coals were at 

 a high price by a parliamentary import of 45. per chaldron for 

 the maintenance of the garrifon, and mipping them off to the 

 fick and ftarving metropolis. For the relief of the town- poor, 

 they ordered 500!. to be raifed upon coals, 1645. They had the 

 honour of the King's prefence, 1646, who came from Lnmle.y~ 

 eaftle, and lodged with the Scotch General Le-ven in the Francifcan 

 abbey, where his faithful and loyal fubjecls were not fuffered to 

 approach him. A fermon was preached before him by the Scotch 

 metropolitan, fays Lord Clarendon (m), who was fo little touched 

 with the prefence of fuffering majefty, and had fo fmall a por- 

 tion of the grace of modefty, that after his difcourfe was ended, 

 he called for the j2d Pfalm, which begins, Why dofl tbou, tyrant, 

 boaft thyfclf, thy -wicked works to fraife. His majefty that moment 

 flood up, and called for the 56th Pfalm, which begins, Have 

 mercy i Lord, on me, I pray, for men 'would me devour* The congre- 

 gation fung his niajefty's. 



Of the town, and the neighbouring counties, the Scots raifed 

 8000 1. a month, before the arrival of his majefty, and 9000!. a 

 month afterwards, upon pain of military execution ; which, 

 caufed an abundance of the inhabitants to leave their homes. 

 To engage the Scots to return to their native kingdom, theparlia- 



(m.) Vol. i. 8v,o. 



in eat 



