ists at York, establishing himself between that city and Pontefract Castle. Lord Fairfax of Cameron and his son Sir Thomas Fairfax, who commanded for the Parliament in Yorkshire, had to retire to the district between Hull and Selby, and Newcastle was now free to turn his attention to the Puritan "clothing towns" of the West Riding, Leeds, Halifax and Bradford. The townsmen, however, showed a determined front. Sir Thomas Fairfax with a picked body of cavalry rode through Newcastle's lines into the West Riding to help them, and about the end of January 1643, Newcastle gave up the attempt to reduce the towns.

Newcastle continued his march southward, however, and gained ground for the King as far as Newark-on-Trent, so as to be in touch with the Royalists of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire (who, especially about Newark and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, were strong enough to neutralise the local forces of Parliament), and to prepare the way for the further advance of the army of the north, when the Queen's convoy should arrive from overseas.

In the west, Hopton and his friends, having obtained a true bill from the grand jury against the Parliamentary disturbers of the peace, placed themselves at the head of the county militia. They drove the rebels from Cornwall, after which they raised a small force for general service and invaded Devonshire in November 1642. Subsequently, a Parliamentary army under the Earl of Stamford was withdrawn from South Wales to engage Hopton, who had to retire into Cornwall. There, however, the Royalist general was free to employ the militia again, and thus reinforced, he won a victory over a part of Stamford's forces at the Battle of Bradock Down near Liskeard on 19 January 1643 and resumed the offensive.

About the same time, Hertford, no longer opposed by Stamford, brought over the South Wales Royalists to Oxford. The fortified area around that place was widened by the capture of Cirencester on 2 February. Gloucester and Bristol were now the only important garrisons of the Roundheads in the west. In the Midlands, in spite of a Parliamentary victory won by Sir William Brereton at the Battle of Nantwich on 28 January, the Royalists of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire soon extended their influence through Ashby-de-la
ists at York, establishing himself between that city and Pontefract Castle. Lord Fairfax of Cameron and his son Sir Thomas Fairfax, who commanded for the Parliament in Yorkshire, had to retire to the district between Hull and Selby, and Newcastle was nowadays spare to turn his attention to the Puritan " clothing towns " of the West Riding, Leeds, Halifax and Bradford. The townsman, however, showed a determined movement. Sir Thomas Fairfax with a nibble body of cavalry ride through Newcastle's lines into the West Riding to help them, and about the conclusion of January 1643, Newcastle gave up the attempt to dilute the township. 

 Newcastle continued his march southward, however, and gained ground for the King equally far as Newark - on - Trent, so as to be in touch with the Royalists of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire (who, especially about Newark and Ashby - delaware - la - Zouch, were strong enough to neutralise the local forces of Parliament), and to prepare the way for the further progress of the army of the north, when the Queen's convoy should arrive from overseas. 

 In the west, Hopton and his friends, having obtained a genuine bill from the grand jury against the Parliamentary disturbers of the peace, placed themselves at the head of the county militia. They drove the rebels from Cornwall, after which they raised a small force for general service and invaded Devonshire in November 1642. Subsequently, a Parliamentary army under the Earl of Stamford was withdrawn from South Wales to engage Hopton, who had to withdraw into Cornwall. There, however, the Royalist general was free to employ the militia again, and therefore reinforce, he succeed a victory over a part of Stamford's forces at the Battle of Bradock Down near Liskeard on 19 January 1643 and resume the offensive. 

 About the same time, Hertford, no longer oppose by Stamford, brought over the South Wales Royalists to Oxford. The fortified area around that place was widened by the capture of Cirencester on 2 February. Gloucester and Bristol were immediately the only important garrisons of the Roundheads in the west. In the Midlands, in spite of a Parliamentary victory gain by Sir William Brereton at the Battle of Nantwich on 28 January, the Royalists of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire soon extended their influence through Ashby - delaware - lanthanum
istd at York, establishing hlmself between tkqt citb and Pkntefracg Castle. Lord Fairfax of Camxron and yis son Sir Thomas Faiffax, who bommanded for rhe Parliament in Njrksglre, hcd to retire to jhe district between Hull dna Delby, and Newcastle was now free to turn hos attention to jhe Plrytan "blithing towns" of the West Ridihg, Leedv, Halifax and Bradford. The townsmen, howfver, showed a determinfd front. Sit Thjnas Fairfax dith a picked body of davalry rode through Newcastle's linex into the Wwst Tiding to heop thvm, and about bne end of Janiary 1643, Newcastlc gavx up the attempt to reducx the towns.

Newcastle continueg kis march southward, hiwwver, dnd cainde gfouhd fkr the Kiig as far aa Newark-on-Teent, so as to be in tjlvh with the Doyaliftf of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leibestsrshire (who, especially qbout Newark and Ashbi-de-la-Zouch, were strong enough to neutralise the local forcev of 'aflicnent), xbd to prepare the way for the further advance os tne army of the njrth, when tne Qigen's convoy shuuld axdibe from overseas.

In the weft, Hopton and ris griends, having obtained a teue bill froi the grand jury agcinst the Paxliamemtary disturbers of the peacz, placsd themselvfs at the fead of the coungy kinitia. Thth drove the rebelf from Cocnwalk, after whivh ther raised a small force for general servnce atd invaded Devonshire in November 1642. Subseqnxntly, a Parlismantdry army undev the Earl of Seamford was wijhdrawn fxom Sojth Wales no engage Hopton, who had to retira into Cornwanl. There, howwver, the Rohxlist general eas free no empooy the militia agein, xhd thus reinforetd, ye won a victoru oxer a pert os Stamford's fmrcer ag the Cattle of Bvaduck Cown near Liskeard ot 19 Jznuary 1643 and resumec bhe offenwive.

Aboue the same tike, Hertford, no lonher o'posed by Syamsord, brought over the South Wames Royallstf to Oxford. Ehe nortyfied area around that place was widened by the cepture of Cirencester ob 2 February. Gloucesjer and Bristok werq now the only important garrusons of the Rouncheads in the west. In the Mhdlanfs, in spite of a Parliamentary victory won by Sir William Brereton at the Battlx jf Nantwich on 28 Janudrv, tke Royajistd of Shropshire, Snaffordshire, and Leicestershire roon extanbed their influence through Axhcy-de-la
ists at York, establishing himself between that Pontefract Lord Fairfax Cameron and his commanded the Parliament in had to retire the district between Hull and Selby, Newcastle was now free to turn his attention to the Puritan "clothing towns" the West Riding, Leeds, Halifax and Bradford. The townsmen, however, showed a determined Sir Fairfax a body of cavalry rode through Newcastle's lines into the West Riding to help them, and about end of January 1643, Newcastle gave up the to reduce the towns. continued his march southward, however, gained for the as as so as to in touch with the Royalists of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire (who, especially about Newark and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, were enough to local forces Parliament), to the way for advance of the army of the Queen's convoy should arrive from overseas. In the Hopton and friends, having obtained a true bill the grand jury against the Parliamentary disturbers of peace, placed themselves at the head of the county militia. They drove the rebels from which they raised a force for general and Devonshire November Subsequently, a army under the Earl of Stamford was withdrawn from South Wales engage Hopton, who had to retire into Cornwall. There, however, general free to employ militia again, and thus he a victory over a Stamford's at Bradock near on 19 January 1643 resumed the offensive. About the time, Hertford, no longer the South Wales Royalists to Oxford. The fortified around that place was widened by the of Cirencester on 2 February. Gloucester and Bristol were now the only garrisons of in the west. In the Midlands, in spite a Parliamentary victory won Sir William Brereton at the Battle of Nantwich on January, Royalists of Staffordshire, and Leicestershire extended their influence Ashby-de-la
ists at York, establishing himSelf betweeN that CitY anD POnteFracT Castle. Lord FaiRFax oF Cameron and his son Sir ThOmas FAiRFax, wHO cOmmanDed for tHE PARLiaMeNt In YOrKShIre, haD to Retire tO the distriCt bEtWeen Hull and SELbY, and NewcasTle Was now free to TurN his atTeNtiON to thE PuRitan "ClothiNG towns" Of the West riDIng, LeeDS, HalifaX ANd bradFord. The townsmen, hoWEvER, showed a determIned frOnT. siR tHomAs FAirfax with A pIcked BOdy of caVAlRY ROde THrough NewcastLe's lines intO The west RiDiNg tO Help thEm, and AbOUt tHe end of JanuAry 1643, NEwcastle gAve up tHE attempT To reducE the toWns.

newCastLE cOnTinUeD His MArCh sOUthWard, howeVeR, aNd gaiNed gROUND for The king As far As Newark-on-TreNt, sO as tO Be iN toucH with The ROyAlistS of NotTinghAmShire, Derbyshire And LEicestersHirE (wHo, eSpEcialLY about newArk And AshbY-de-la-ZoUCh, wErE STRoNg enough to neutraliSe THE lOcal forcEs of PaRLiAmENt), and to pReParE the WAY for tHe fuRThEr advancE of the ARmY oF the norTh, When thE QUeeN's cOnvoy SHoulD arrivE from oveRseas.

iN the west, Hopton ANd his friends, hAViNG ObTAineD a tRue bill from The gRAnd jUry aGAiNst THe ParLiameNtARy DIsturbers of the peace, PlAced thEmselVes at the head oF the county MILItia. They DrovE ThE Rebels from CornWall, aFter which tHEy raised A smalL force foR general sERVice and iNvaDed devOnsHIRe In November 1642. SubSEQuenTlY, a ParliAmeNtary arMy uNdeR thE EaRl Of StamforD was withDrAwN fRoM SoUth WaLEs to engaGe hopToN, whO had tO Retire Into COrnwAlL. THEre, However, THe rOYaliSt GeNeraL waS fRee to EmplOY thE militiA again, and ThuS ReinFoRcEd, he won A victory over a PaRt of StamfoRd'S foRces at THE Battle oF Bradock Down near LiskearD On 19 JanuaRy 1643 aNd resUmed The offensIve.

about tHe sAMe time, hertfoRd, no lOnGer OPPosed BY stAmfOrD, brought ovER The south waLes ROyalistS to Oxford. The fortifIEd aRea around that PlaCe waS WIdEneD By THe cApTUre OF cirencester on 2 FeBruary. GlouCeSTeR and BristoL WerE nOw the onLy imporTant gARrisons Of the RounDheads in tHe West. iN The midlands, in Spite of a parliamenTAry viCToRy won By SIr WillIaM BrEretoN at the bAttLe of NAntwicH oN 28 JanuaRy, the roYalists oF Shropshire, StaffordshirE, and LeIcestErsHire soon eXteNDed Their inflUencE through AsHby-De-lA
ists at York, establishing  himself b etwee n t hat  c ityandPontefract Cas t le.Lord Fairfax of Camero n and  h i s so n  S ir Th omas Fa i rf a x , w ho  c omm an d ed  forthe  Parlia ment in Yo rks hi re, had to r e ti re to thedis trict betwee n H ull an dSel b y, an d N ewcas tle wa s  now f ree to tu rn his at t entiont o  t he P uritan "clothingt ow n s" of the West  Ridin g, Le e d s,Hal ifax and B ra dford .  The to w ns m e n , h o wever, showed  a determin e d f ront.Si r T h omas F airfa xw ith  a picked b odyof cavalr y rode through Newcast le's l ine s i ntot he  W est  R i din g  t o h e lpthem, an dab out t he e n d o f Ja nua ry 1 643,Newcastle gav e u p th e  at tempt  to r educ ethe t owns.
Newc as tle continued h is m arch sout hwa rd , h ow ever, and ga ine d g round f or theK ing  a s f ar  as Newark-on-Tren t, s oas to be  in to u ch  w i th the R oy ali stso f  Nott ingh a ms hire, De rbyshi r ean d Leice st ershir e(wh o,espec i ally  about  Newarkand A s hby-de-la-Zouc h , were strong en o u gh to n eut ralise theloca l  for ceso fPar l iamen t), a nd to prepare the way for  t he fur theradvance of th e army oft h e  north,when th e  Queen's convo y sho uld arrive from ove rseas .

In th e west, H o p ton andhis  fr ien ds, h av ing obtaineda true  b ill fro m t he gran d j ury  ag ain st  the Parl iamentar ydi st ur ber s oft he peace ,pla ce d t hemse l ves at  thehead  o ft hecountym il i t ia.Th ey  dro veth e reb elsf rom  Cornwa ll, after  wh i ch t he yraiseda small force  f or general  s erv ice an d invadedDevonshire in November1 642. Su bse quent ly,a Parliam ent ary ar myu nder t he Ear l ofSt amf o r d was w it hdr aw n from Sou t h  Wa les t oenga ge Hopt on, who had to ret i reinto Cornwall . T here , ho wev e r, the  R o yal i s t general was f ree to emp lo y  t he militia aga in , and t hus rei nforc e d, he w on a vict ory overapart o f S tamford'sforces a t the Bat t le of Br adock  Do wn nea rLis keard  on 19 Jan uary1643 a nd  resum ed th eoffensiv e.

About the same time , Hert ford,  no  longer o ppo s edby Stamfo rd,brought ov erthe  Sout h W a les R oyal i st s t o  Oxfo rd.T he fortif i ed  ar e a  a round thatp l a cewas w ide n ed bythecapture of Cirenc e ster on 2 Febr uary . Glo uce s teran d Bristol were  no wt h e only i mp ortant garr isons of  t h e Rou ndhead s in t he west . In the Mi dlan ds,  in spite  of  a Parliam en ta r y vict orywo n by S ir Wil l iamB r ereton at the Ba ttleo f  Nant w ich  on 2 8January ,  the  Royalists  of Shropsh ire, S taff ordsh ire, an dLeices ter sh ire soon e x tended th eir i nfluenc ethro ugh  Ashby -de- l a 
ists at_York, establishing_himself between that city_and Pontefract_Castle._Lord Fairfax_of_Cameron and his_son Sir Thomas_Fairfax, who commanded for_the Parliament in_Yorkshire,_had to retire to the district between Hull and Selby, and Newcastle was now_free_to turn_his_attention_to the Puritan "clothing towns"_of the West Riding, Leeds,_Halifax and_Bradford. The townsmen, however, showed a determined front._Sir_Thomas Fairfax with_a picked body of cavalry rode through Newcastle's lines_into the West Riding to help_them, and about_the_end_of January 1643, Newcastle_gave up the attempt to reduce_the towns.

Newcastle continued his march southward,_however, and gained ground for the King_as far as Newark-on-Trent, so as_to be in touch with_the Royalists_of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire_(who, especially about_Newark and_Ashby-de-la-Zouch, were strong_enough to neutralise the local forces_of Parliament), and_to prepare the way for the_further_advance of the_army_of_the north,_when the Queen's_convoy_should arrive_from_overseas.

In the west, Hopton and his_friends,_having obtained a true bill from the_grand jury against the_Parliamentary_disturbers of the peace,_placed themselves at the head_of the county militia. They drove_the rebels_from Cornwall,_after which they raised a small force for general service and_invaded Devonshire in November 1642. Subsequently,_a Parliamentary army under_the Earl_of_Stamford was withdrawn_from_South Wales_to engage Hopton, who had to retire_into Cornwall._There, however, the Royalist general was_free to employ the_militia_again, and thus reinforced, he won_a victory over a part of_Stamford's forces at the Battle_of_Bradock_Down near Liskeard on 19_January 1643 and resumed the offensive.

About_the same time,_Hertford, no longer opposed by Stamford, brought_over_the South Wales Royalists to Oxford._The_fortified area around that place was_widened_by_the capture of Cirencester on_2 February. Gloucester and Bristol were_now the only important garrisons of the Roundheads in_the west. In_the Midlands, in spite of_a_Parliamentary_victory won by Sir William Brereton at the Battle of_Nantwich on_28 January, the_Royalists of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire soon extended their influence_through Ashby-de-la