In 1637, Charles I precipitated a crisis in Scotland when he tried to force a new prayer book on the Scottish Presbyterians. Riots broke out in Edinburgh, and soon the resistance to the prayer book organized into a group called the Covenanters. The Covenanters formed their own army for the protection of their faith. In 1639, Charles I sent an English army to force the Covenanters to comply with his wishes, but the army was defeated in the First Bishops’ War. As a result of the war, Charles I summoned a parliament which became known as The Short Parliament. This parliament met for three weeks, but as soon as it became apparent that they would not vote funding for a renewal of war against the Covenanters, Charles I disbanded it.
Charles I Gathers a New English Army
Undaunted by the lack of parliamentary support or funding, Charles I set about gathering another English Army to fight the Covenanters. Using money gathered from Ireland, borrowed from peers, or strong-armed as loans, Charles built up a new army in the north of England. However, it soon became clear that many in England opposed both the King’s heavy handed tactics and the war against the highly religious Covenanters. Many soldiers deserted, others attacked their officers who they accused of ‘Popishness’. Several bands of soldiers vandalised churches, attacking the symbols of the new church reforms that had been instituted under Archbishop William Laud. Still, despite these set-backs, Charles I managed to assemble an army of some 25,000 poorly trained, poorly led, and poorly equipped troops.
The Covenanters March to Newburn
Since their victory in the 1639 Bishops’ War, the Covenanter army under Alexander Leslie had remained unified near the border of Scotland and England. Now, seeing a new English army raised against them, they decided to cross into England and march upon Newcastle. There march was interrupted near the town of Newburn on the river Tyne by a small Royalist force. Not wanting to engage in battle, but wary of being attacked in the rear, Leslie split his army, sending one part on towards Newcastle, while he remained with the other in Newburn.
On the morning of August 28, the two forces faced off across the river, neither willing to open hostilities. Then a lone Scot advanced upon the river for reasons unknown and was shot dead. This single shot was followed by artillery barrages from both sides. The Scots, better trained, more motivated, and with more guns, soon had the English in disarray. As the Scots began to advance across the river, the English broke and ran.
The End of the Second Bishops’ War
The battle of Newburn proved to be the only major engagement of the short Second Bishops’ War. After the battle, Charles I once again called for peace. His agents met with the Scots and organized the Treaty of Ripon. The Scots would take temporary possession of Northumberland and Durham, while the English would pay £850 a day for upkeep of the Covenanter army. Once again, Charles I was forced to summon a parliament. This time, it would be a Long Parliament.
Sources
The English Civil War by David Clark, Pocket Essentials, 2008
God’s Fury, England’s Fire by Michael Braddick, Allen Lane, 2008
Joseph Allen McCullough - Joseph A. McCullough was born in the town of Greensboro, NC, site of the Battle of Guildford Courthouse. In 1994, he graduated from the ...
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