INTELLIGENCE SENT TO THIS KINGDOME CONCERNING THE TAKING IN OF THE TOWN OF NEW-CASTLE WITH Copies of the Letters and other Passages that occurred betwixt our Army and those in the Town AS ALSO The surrender of the CASTLE thereof EDINBURGH Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie 1644. For the Right Honourable the Earle of LAUDERDAILE IT hath pleased God of his infinite goodnesse to grant to us a glorious and happy Victory in gaining of this Town without any considerable Losse for which we have all great cause to praise God and to acknowledge his mercies even to outreach our very expectations For I must confesse ingeniously that I have never seen any Town all my Life-time kept and defended with greater resolution continuing in a most constant obstinacy till the very last and Gods Providence appeare more in animating of our Officers and Souldiers in generall against so hard oppositions and difficulties The particulars of what lately past your Lordship may be pleased to receive enclosed herewith and to communicate the same with my Lord Crawford and the Committee of Estates This much in haste Irest Newcastle 20. Octob. 1644. Your Lordships most humble servant Leuen Copie of Summonds sent to the Town of Newcastle Octob. 14. 1644. WEe Alex. Earle of Leven Lord Generall of the Scottish Armies that it may be the more manifest and appear to all how exceedingly we desire you to prevent all those evils which cannot be longer avoided Notwithstanding you have been formerly invited by our severall Letters in all fair manner to think on those wayes which might conduce most to your wel-being Do by these presents require and summond you to give up and surrender the Town of Newcastle to us for the use of King and Parliament that Citizens and Souldiers may be safe and the Town being preserved from ruine may enjoy the fruits of settled peace whereof other Townes reduced to the same obedience do liberally taste You are likewise earnestly desired by no means to conceale this our last offer and warning to the Citizens and Souldiers as you will be answerable to God and them whom it may concerne If in these things you faile you may expect the extremities of Warre And we professe our selves and the Army under our conduct altogether free and innocent of whatsoever bloud-shed and other calamities may ensue through your obstinacy Hereto we expect a present answer Given For Master Major Aldermen and Common Councell of the Town of Newcastle Sic subscribitur LEVEN From the Major of Newcastle Octob. 14. MY Lord I received your Letter this afternoon at almost five a clock It is directed to Major Aldermen and Common Councell And it is for no lesse matter then the delivering up of the Town to you as you say for King and Parliament no Conditions but to stand to your mercy But I will not take upon me absolutely to give answer my self neither will I conceale it from any it concernes yet I hope you are not in so great haste but I may take time to give you a full answer the morrow at or before this time when you may by Gods assistance certainly expect it And in the mean time I take leave and rest Your Lordships friend JO. MORLEY MY Lord we have received your Letter wherein you require and summond us to give up and surrender the Town as you say for the use of King and Parliament alleadging diverse Reasons mixt with Threats to perswade us thereunto All which we have well weighed and considered and as formerly so now returnes this Answer That we declare to you and to all the world That we keep this Town for the use of his Majestie And that we have full power and authority from his Majestie so to do And if either you or any other can shew us better or later Warrant from his Majestie to demand it wee will submit And although we neither dare nor will acknowledge that disloyaltie to our lawfull King which you call reducing to just obedience is the way to preserve us from ruine and to enjoy the fruits of a settled Peace yet that you and all the world may see wee desire To shun the effusion of Christian bloud wee desire you to send us in writing upon what Termes and Conditions you would have us deliver up the Town and then we shall return you a further Answer which we hope will be satisfactory And if this will not give you content proceede and prosper as your Cause requires and let the Bloud that is or shall bee spilt lye upon their soules and consciences that deserve it And if wee be the fault let this subscribed under our hand testifie against us Newcastle 15. Octob. 1644. Sic subscribitur John Morley Nicholas Cole Thomas Lyddell Thomas Ryddell Nicholas Tempest Alex Davison Francis Bowes Raph Cole Leonard Carr. Robert Sherflo James Cole Mar. Milbank Cuthbert Carr. Edward Stote Thom. Blenkincope Samuel Cork Oswald Mathie Tho. Madisane Henry Rowcastle Thomas Clarke Charles Clarke William Corke Gabriel Robison William Harope John Blackburne William Robisone Will Armstrong Anthony Younger Will Archbald Right Worshipfull c. WE received your Answer to our last wherein as in all former Letters we conceive we have used no threats but fair and peaceable expressions such as are ordinary in differences of this kinde But that our constant desire to shun the effusion of Blood and the sincerety of our loyal Intentions may more and more appear to you and all the World we desire that without any further delay Hostages may be sent from either side and judicious men appointed to Treat on such termes and conditions as may put a happy end to the Businesse And to meet in such a place between the Town and Campe or within the Town as shall be thought fitting by you Hereto wee expect your Answer And remaine To Master Maior Aldermen and Common-Councell of the Town of Newcastle Octob. 15. Your Loving friend LEVEN Right Worshipfull c. I Have been still expecting your Answer to my last wherein it was desired That Hostages might be sent and a place appointed for Treaty but now since you have returned none we do hereby exhonour our selves That all the World may know how desirous we have been of the safety and peace of your Town as this and our former Letters will bear witnesse for us against your obstinacy And this we are confident God will blesse us according to the integrity of our Intentions So I leave and rest 16. Octob. 3. a clock afternoone Your friend LEVEN My Lord WE received your second Letter directed as the former and upon good considerations we could have wisht that according to our desires in our former Letters you would have sent in writing the conditions and termes you desire the Town upon That we might altogether have considered and condescended to what had been fitting and convenient for us to grant But since you like not that course but desires Hostages may be
sent and some appointed to meet and treat at a time and place convenient We must acknowledge and confesse that we doe not hold that power in us to grant as Major Aldermen and Common Councell But solely to be in the Major as he is Governour of the Military who we finde very willing to condescend to any thing that may tend to The honour of his Majestie The welfare of Newcastle and The shunning essusion of Blood if you please to write unto him for that purpose And so wishing a happy and honourable peace in all his Majesties Dominions We rest Newcastle 16. Octob. 1644. Your loving friends Subscribitur as the other Letter by Major Aldermen and Common-Councell For his Excellence the Earle of Leven Generall of the Scottish Armie Right Worshipfull I Conceived for your further exoneration it had been most fitting to write to your self as Master Major Aldermen and Common-Councell But now seeing I understand by themselves that the power is solely in your self as Governour of the Military affairs I will use your way and shall here repeat my former desire that Hostages may be sent and a place appointed without further delay to meet and treat on such things as may most tend to The honour of his Majestie and We le of Newcastle Being alwayes most willing To shun all the occasions of effusion of Blood Hereto we expect your Answer the morrow before 10. a clock And that ye will likewise make known to us the names and qualities of Hostages And such as you think fit to nominate to treat and the place appointed for meeting according as ours shall be ready against the same time Thus I rest For the Right Worshipfull Sir John Morley Knight Master Major and Governour of Newcastle 16 Octob. 1644. Your loving friend LEVEN My Lord I Received your Letter so late that I was forced to keep your Drummer all night And I am very glad to see that you and I aime both at one end Which is His Majesties Honour Newcastles Welfare and The avoiding effusion of Blood And I wish those that treat may be of the same minde But whereas you desire me to name Hostages and men to treat I must desire you to name yours and I shall sute them aswell as I can for you know there is no Noblemen with me but two of your own Countreymen yet we have Knights and other Gentlemen of good esteeme Ishall also desire that there may be but three appointed to treat and each to bring but one man and know what Guard you will send with your Hostages that I may send the like the place of Exchange and Treaty may be at Newcastle And when I know your minde in those things we shall appoint the time of meeting And if we hold close and sincerely to these ends by you proposed I doubt not but God will blesse our endeavours and set us at peace and I hope in his good time these distracted Kingdoms which that it may be shall be the daily prayer of Your loving friend John Morley Newcastle 16. Octob. After the Committee did sit a Letter was written by Master Primerose appointing Thursday the 17. at 12. a Clock to Treat at Newcastle the names of the Commissioners sent in viz. The Lord Humby Sir David Hume of Wedderburne and the Provest of Jedburgh whereupon the following Answer was returned My Lord I Received your Letter and do approve of those men you name to Treat being all strangers to me And likewise that there is no necessity of a Guard onely one Officer to meet them at the place appointed But you desire that the meeting may be this day at 12. a Clock And that I will send the names of these I intend to appoint as Hostages to be exchanged at the time and place above-mentioned which is impossible for I received your Letter half hour after 12. And certainly you mean not 12. at night But I will keep promise and to that purpose this night I will send you the names of the Hostages I intend to send to the place appointed and the time to be the morrow at 9. a Clock in the fore-noone As for those that are to Treat I intend to supply the place of one my self and shall send you the names of the rest And so wishing a happy end to those and all the Troubles of his Majesties Dominions I rest Your loving friend John Morley Newcastle 17. Octob. 1644. For his Excellence the Earle of LEVEN My Lord ACcording to promise I send you the names of the Hostages and of those appointed to Treat and shall keep the time and place mentioned in my former Letter and have set down their names here under I will say no more but desire that during the time of the Treaty those courses may be holden which is accustomed in War And so expecting your Answer by this Drummer I rest Your loving friend Jo. Morley Newcastle 17. Octob. 1644. Gentlemen appointed for the Treaty Sir John Morley Knight and Governour Sir Nicholas Cole Knight Baronet Sir George Baker Knight and a Secretary Hostages Colonell Charles Brandling Lieutenant Colonell Thomas Davisone Captain Cuthbert Carr late Sheriffe of Newcastle Whereupon Answer was returned That all should be observed as was appointed Upon Friday 18. at 10. a clock our Commissioners went in and stayed till 4. a clock in the afternoon but had no satisfaction to any of their demands the Maior not suffering any thing to come in writ but jeering all the time desiring they might have 2. dayes to advise and thereafter they would give Answer So upon Friday at 8. a clock at night this Letter following was sent forth by them My Lord WE have had some discourse this day with your Commissioners but you have bound them to have our Answers to your Demands in so short a time as we could not give them that satisfaction we would gladly considering they demanded that which was not according to your Propositions namely His Majesties honour and The welfare of Newcastle But we are so unwilling to see Christian blood shed as if that you rest satisfied untill Munday we shall then God willing send you Propositions which we hope will give content If this will not serve we trust God will deliver us out of your hands And so we rest Newcastle 18. Octob. 1644. Your loving friends John Morley Nicholas Cole G. Baker At 10. a clock at night I caused conveene the Committee and did resolve to send in Propositions that night to them which went in about 12. a clock at night The effect whereof was 1. That all Officers and Souldiers should have liberty to go away with flying Colours full Arms Bag and Baggage and should have a Safe-conduct to any of the Kings Garisons within 60 miles of Newcastle 2. That all such as had a minde to stay and go to their own houses should be protected and have a safegard for their persons families and goods 3. That all Strangers Residents within the Town
should have the like with liberty to go to their own dwellings in the Countrey about 4. That all Burgesses and Townesmen should have free liberty and Trade as other Towns reduced to obedience of King and Parliament 5. That they should have their persons houses estates and goods protected and be liable to no other Sesses or Contributions but as other Towns reduced to the obedience foresaid 6. That they were to be free from all free Billetting and Quartering and none of the Armie to come into the Town but a competent Garison 7. That if they would imbrace these conditions they were to send forth sufficient Hostages for delivery up of the Town within two dayes thereafter upon Saterday 19 by nine a clock Whereupon the following Letter was sent forth about the same time My Lord WEe received your Letter wherein you say wee cannot make good that your Commissioners Demands are against either His Majesties honour or The welfare of Newcastle wee will give you but one reason amongst many Whether it be for His Majesties honour that the Town of Newcastle should bee delivered to any of another Nation Nay more If it be for the honour of the English Parliament And that it is not For our welfare is so clear needs no Answer And whereas you say You wonder we are not ashamed to be sodilatory having demanded a Treaty We say We wonder you can be so forgetfull knowing wee have your Letter to shew that the Treaty was your own motion But for answer to the rest and to your Articles We say The delivery of Newcastle is not of so small moment But if you intend as you say time may well be given untill Monday for giving Answer for in case we should give consent to let you have the Towne There is divers more Articles then you have set down both fit for us to demand and you to grant Therefore if you would shun effusion of Bloodshed as you professe forbear your Acts of hostility untill we give you Answer upon Monday wherein we will not faile Otherwise we doubt not but God will require an account at your hands And besides will keep and preserve us from your furie So expecting your Answer we rest For his Excellence the Earle of Leven Generall of the Scottish Armie Newcastle 19. Octob. 1644. Your friends John Morley Nicholas Cole G. Baker UPon Saturday 19. Order being given the day before to all Commanders at their severall Posts round about for their way in storming and entring the walls and Town after they should see a fire made on at two severall places Elswich Sheilfield Our Cannon began to play at day light in brashing the walls at five severall places and did continue very hotly till three in the afternoon about which time two Mynes were sprung one at Sandgate in the Lord Sinclars Quarters and the other at Whitefrier Tower neere Close-gate some foure or five Mynes being counter-myned by the Enemie within the Town and spoiled before thir were ready who were likewise very diligent to get the two last undone And as we conceive did seek for delayes till Monday only for the same purpose After 3 a clock the fires were made on The walls manfully defended round about Our People went on at their severall Posts and Brashes did enter very bravely and couragiously without once recoyling notwithstanding there could not be greater opposition made Our Men were so eager that these who were appointed for Reserves at some Posts did all enter also so that we were forced to send Horsemen to stand in their places After very hot skirmishing within the walls for a whole houres time and more it pleased God to grant us a very happy and considerable Victory in gaining the whole walls and Town The Lord Crawfurd Major and many others are retired within the Castle and are calling for Quarters to yeeld the same whereof you may expect an accompt shortly as also of what Men we have lost who are but very few Our Officers and Souldiers were all very mercifull in sparing the lives of the Officers Souldiers and Townsmen after they had won the Town The surrender of the Castle and Prisoners New-castle 21. October 1644. ON the Lords Day we gave thanks to God in the chiefâ— Kirk of the Towne and that Day the Governour wrote to the Generall desiring that he and the Gentlemen and Ministers with him might have liberty to go to the King or where they pleased with their Horses Swords and Pistols This Letter was neglected and not answered Upon Tuesday the 22. the Ministers viz. Doctor Gray of Pontiland Master George Wishart Vicar Alvey and Master Walter Lamonth wrote an humble supplication to the Generall submitting themselves and their fortunes to grace and favour whereupon they were suffered to come out and render themselves Prisoners The Major and some Captains with him came out upon the like terms Lodovick Lindsay sometime Earl of Crawfurd my Lord Maxwell and some other Scottish-men are prisoners also and kept in the Castle now rendred by a Garison of our Souldiers This day also summonds were sent to the Castle of Tinmouth what answer is received you shall hear by the next FINIS