Local Documents, Berwick, by Mr John Scott. 97 



them out, and Captain Hall acting under the Admiral for the Parliament, 

 came and lay in Berwick roads to assist. In June and July they were treat- 

 ing openly with the Scots, and by the third of September, they had formally 

 agreed with Scotland in a series of articles." The Scottish lords, in the 

 king's interest, advised the Marquis of Newcastle to seize Berwick, which 

 was at that time, according to treaty, without a garrison, but he refused, of 

 date 4th September. — " About the middle of September, the Parliament of 

 England, apprehending the hazard of the loss of Berwick, sent down some 

 ships, by which, with the concurrence of the Scots, it was presently 

 garrisoned."* Spalding recounts the circumstances. " About the beginning 

 of September, there came five of the king's own ships, now at this parlia- 

 ment's service, to Berwick, and landed 300 soldiers, whom the Mayor re- 

 ceived like a traitor, and we being desired to send forces to defend this town 

 against the king if occasion offered, send shortly a supply of men to keep and 

 defend the same, upon all adventures, whereat the king was offended." t The 

 king's letter of remonstrance says that what the Scots called a " popish and 

 prelatical army, falsely alleged to be upon the Borders," were only forces 

 necessary "for protecting our distressed subjects from the incursions of 

 rebels, from their ships at Berwick, and Holy Island, and for no other end. "J 

 From the 13th to 17th of October, we have this news of the garrison. " From 

 Berwick all is well there. Mr Darley, Governour, is very merry and blithe, 

 and laughes and loves our countrymen, and they him, but he hath a company 

 to rule that makes hinvsweate, (you know he is a grosse man) but give him 

 his due he takes greate paines, and wakes and watches, and is stirring about 

 at every alarm, for the enemy comes near sometimes, and blowes a trumpet 

 at him, and rides fast away againe."§ On the 16th October, men were 

 " gathering fast through Fife, Lothian Merse, and all be-south, to make up 

 an army to go into England." (Spalding.) ' A full B elation of the Scots 

 Martch from Barwicke to Newcastle, by a messenger from the Scots armie," 

 is contained in a tract, London, 1644, and reprinted by J. T. Brockett, at 

 Newcastle, in 1827. 



The parties who sign the letter to the town of Berwick, are : 1 , Gilbert 

 Swinhoe, of Berrington, Esq., and of Chatton ; Sheriff of Northumberland in 

 1643-4. (Raine's North Durham, p. 184 ; Arch. iEliana, vol. vi., n. s., p, 

 102). 2, James Swinhoe, Esq., of Chatton, son of Gilbert Swinhoe. He is 

 again mentioned in the Berwick Guild Book, in another order, dated April 

 1643, when the same party sent another communication to Berwick. 3, Sir 

 John Clavering, of Callaly, who married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas 

 Biddell, of Gateshead, by whom he had 19 children. He was a zealous friend 

 of King Charles I., in all his distresses, for which he incurred the displeasure 

 of Parliament, and was cast into prison. He died 22 K. Charles L, 1646. 

 (Raine, p. 213. Wallis Hist. Northd., ii., p. 507). 4, Sir Robert Clavering, 

 Knt., eldest son of the last, raised, at his own charge, two regiments for his 



* Burnet's Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton, p. 243 



t Spalding's Hist, of the Troubles, ii., p. 106. 



J Burnet, 1. c. § Scottish Intelligencer, 13 to 17 Oct. 1643. 



