combined forces, and war. On the other hand, his Majesty, to counterbalance the Scots, had agreed to a ‘Cessation in Ireland,’ sent for his ‘Irish Army’ to assist him here,—and indeed already got them as good as ruined, or reduced to a mere marauding apparatus.[1] A new ‘Papist’ or partly ‘Papist Army,’ which gave great scandal in this country. By much the remarkablest man in it was Colonel George Monk; already captured at Nantwich, and lodged in the Tower.
But now the Western Towns of Lincolnshire are all taken; Manchester with Cromwell and Fairfax are across the Humber, joined with the Scots besieging York, where Major-General Crawford again distinguishes himself;[2]—and we are now at Marston Moor.
MARSTON MOOR
In the last days of June 1644, Prince Rupert, with an army of some 20,000 fierce men, came pouring over the hills from Lancashire, where he had left harsh traces of himself, to relieve the Marquis of Newcastle, who was now with a force of 6,000 besieged in York, by the united forces of the Scots under Leven, the Yorkshiremen under Lord Fairfax, and the Associated Counties under Manchester and Cromwell. On hearing of his approach, the Parliament Generals raised the Siege; drew out on the Moor of Long Marston, some four miles off, to oppose his coming. He avoided them by crossing the river Ouse; relieved York, Monday 1st July; and might have returned successful; but insisted on Newcastle’s joining
