163G.] DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 195 



lent the king i^ 10,000, raised a volunteer regiment of horse, 

 maintained without cost to the crown during the campaign, 

 at the head of which he joined the royal forces at Berwick. 



His grace distinguished himself during the Civil Wars by 

 his devotion to the cause of Charles I., the zeal he displayed 

 in raising troops, and the ability with which he conducted the 

 desultory military operations in which he was opposed to the 

 army of the Parliament. The king constituted him general- 

 in-chief over all the forces raised north of the Trent, and in 

 several English counties empowering him at the same time 

 to confer the honour of knighthood, to coin money, and to 

 issue any declarations he thought expedient — powers which 

 the duke is said to have used with great moderation. In 

 April, 1644, he made a successful movement for the relief of 

 York ; but the advantage gained through his skill was thrown 

 away by the rashness of Prince Rupert, who, contrary to his 

 advice, risked the battle of Marston Moor. Seeing that the 

 royal cause was lost, the Duke of Newcastle made his way to 

 Scarborough, and took shipping for Hamburgh, from whence 

 he removed to Amsterdam and Paris, and finally to Antwerp, 

 where he spent the remaining years in exile. He was soon 

 reduced to the last extremity of distress, pawning his clothes 

 for a dinner, while the Parliament were levying enormous 

 sums upon his estates. His losses were estimated at upwards 

 of ;^ 941, 000, for which some compensation was made to him 

 on his return to England at the Restoration, when he was 

 advanced to the dignity of Earl of Ogle and Duke of New- 

 castle. But he was now too old to take any leading part in 

 public affairs, and retiring into the country, he devoted the 

 rest of his life to rural pleasures and study. He died in 

 December, 1676, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. 



As may be gathered from the following epigram, by Ben 

 Jonson, the Duke of Newcastle was one of the most skilful 

 horsemen of his time. He also excelled in fencing, an accom- 

 plishment which Jonson has also celebrated (" Underwoods " 

 "An Epigram to William, Earl of Newcastle") : — 



When first, my lord, I saw you back your horse, 

 Provoke his mettle, and command his force 



