The Civil War In Yorkshire

During the English Civil Wars the streets and fields of Yorkshire were fought over for the control of the county. In the bitter confrontation between king and Parliament, Yorkshire was the key to control of the North. This historical guide tells the story of this Yorkshire war, using contemporary accounts, early and modern maps and a wealth of other illustrations. It also provides detailed tours of the battlegrounds and other sites.

Throughout recorded history Yorkshire has been a setting for warfare of all kinds - marches, skirmishes and raids, pitched battles and sieges. And it is the sieges of the Civil War period - which often receive less attention than other forms of combat - that are the focus of David Cooke's new history. Hull, York, Pontefract, Knaresborough, Sandal, Scarborough, Helmsley, Bolton, Skipton - all witnessed notable sieges during the bloody uncertain years of the Civil Wars. His vivid reconstructions allow the reader to visit the castles and towns where sieges took place and stand on the ground where blood was spilt for the cause for king or Parliament. Using contemporary accounts and a wealth of maps and illustrations, his book allows the reader to follow the course of each siege and sets each operation in the context of the Civil Wars in the North.

Yorkshire's past is replete with bloody battles and sieges. From the earliest times armies have marched across the Yorkshire countryside and have fought for control of the land, the towns and the cities. Roman, Viking, Norman and the Scottish invaders have all contributed ruthless episodes to the story. Christian fought pagan, Englishman fought foreign invader, and loyalist fought rebel, in some of the most destructive battles of British history. And bitter internal conflicts, which set neighbour against neighbour, created an equally violent heritage as rival lords and landowners contended for power and influence in the north. David Cooke gives a vivid description of the outbreaks of warfare that have punctuated the county's history. Using graphic contemporary accounts and numerous illustrations and maps, he creates a vivid narrative of a county that was a battleground until modern times.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 edition. Excerpt: ... Such, was the composition of the best part of the parliamentary army, especially of Cromwell's famous cavalry, who were mostly the sons of respectable farmers and yeomen. While the master spring of all their actions was religious zeal: in some stern and even sullen, in others wild and fanatical, differing in individuals, yet pervading the mass. This religious enthusiasm was opposed to the high notions of honour and chivalric spirit of the king's troops, and as subsequent events proved, with the greatest success. All attempts at accommodation having failed; the royal standard had been ereeted at Nottingham; the important town and fortress of Hull had been twice besieged, and bravely defended; the battle of Edgehill had been fought; the Fairfaxes, father and son, had received commissions from parliament to levy forces, and leaving their delightful retreat of Denton, in the valley of Wharf, come forward to do their country service, by their never tiring activity and military skill; the kingdom from one end to the other had rung with the din of arms; victory an4 defeat had succeeded each other, and after two years of active warfare, neither party had much cause to boast of success; when, at the beginning of the year 1644, both parties prepared with greater energy than ever they had yet manifested, to decide the unhappy contest. The parliament having used great exertions during the winter in making preparations, and equipping forces, their affairs began to look a little more proroising. A Scottish army commanded by the earl of Iieven, crossed the border to their assistance: but its advance was muoh opposed and hindered by the marquis of Newcastle, who then commanded for the king in the north; whon to facilitate their advance, and turn the...