“Colonel Dudley from his quarters about Prudhoe marched over the river with some horse and dragoons and fell into a quarter of the enemy’s in Northumberland, and slew and took all that was in it, 55 prisoners, and gave such an alarum to four of their quarters that they quitted them in disorder and with some loss; in which (skirmish) we should have suffered no loss at all, had not Colonel Brandling been taken prisoner through the unfortunate fall of his horse; and Colonel Dudley perceiving a greater force preparing to assult him, retreated, and in his retreat took 8 of the Scots prisoners, both horses and men, but they took 4 of his dragoons, whose horses were so weak they could not pass the river.... Upon Wednesday the 6th inst. at one o’clock afternoon our first troops passed Newbridge, and a while after the enemy appeared with some horse; when they advanced toward us with more than they first discovered, after some bullets had been exchanged, and they appeared again in greater force, we backed our party with Lord Henry (Percy’s) regiment,—Lieutenant Colonel Schrimsher (Scrimegour) commanding them—being part of Colonel Dudley’s brigade, with which he drew up after them, with whom also we sent some musketeers; which caused the enemy that day to look upon us at a farther distance.”
It would appear much to Newcastle’s credit that he was able to manœuvre for some time against an army nearly three times the size of his own, were it not doubtful whether the credit was not due to King (Lord Ethyn), to whom he is known to have left much of the work which should properly have been done by himself. As to his other generals they seem to have been Newcastle’s chief source of weakness. Here is a story of disaster told by the Duchess:—
“A great misfortune befel My Lords Forces in Yorkshire; for the Governour whom he had left behind with sufficient Forces for the defence of that Country, although he had orders not to encounter the Enemy, but to keep himself in a defensive posture; yet he being a man of great valour and courage, it transported him so much that he resolved to face the Enemy, and offering to keep a Town that was not tenable, was utterly routed, and himself taken prisoner, although he fought most gallantly.”
Of this affair, Whitelock gives a fuller account:—[86]
“The Lord Fairfax, and Sir Thomas Fairfax his son, joining together, drew up their forces at Selby,[87] where a garrison of the King’s was, and in it Colonel Bellasis the Governor of York; that night they beat in a party of the enemy’s horse and took divers prisoners.
[86] Memorials, p. 82.
[87] About a dozen miles south of York.
“Early the next morning they beset the Town in three divisions, and after a hot fight, wherein both parties performed brave service, Fairfax routed them, and entered the town, where they took 4 Colonels, 4 Majors, 20 Captains, 130 inferior officers, 1,600 common soldiers, 4 brass pieces of ordnance, powder, match, 2,000 arms, 500 horse, besides colours, and a pinnace, and ships in the river, and 500 more prisoners at Hemcough near Selby.”
“The Earl of Newcastle, troubled at the news of Selby, and his army waiting upon the approach of the Scots towards them, they left Durham to the Scots and General Leslie pursued them.”