The Sieges of Newark 1643/6

By Rupert Matthews

A book dedicated to the four sieges of Newark during the English Civil War, the last of which marked the collapse of Royalist power in the Midlands.
In 1642 King Charles I summoned Newark to support him, which it did with men, money and munitions. The city and castle where thereafter a loyal bastion of Royalist support on the edge of Parliamentarian territory. A roundhead attackin 1643 was driven off, as was a desultory siege in 1644. In 1645 the Roundheads arrived in large numbers, with heavy cannon and great determination. The Royalist garrison fougth back with imagination and courage, turning this into a text book example of 17th century seigework. After seven months garrison surrendered, ending Royalist hopes in this area of England.
This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.
The “Bretwalda Battles” series has been running with increasing success as ebooks for some time. Now the first books in the series are being published in print format.

Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 The English Civil War
Chapter 2 Siege Warfare in the Civil War
Chapter 3 The First Sieges of Newark
Chapter 4 The Great Siege of Newark
Chapter 5 Aftermath

About the Author

Rupert Matthews has written over 180 books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide variety of publishers. He has made a particular study of English battlefields, having walked across dozens of them, handled replica weapons and studied dozens of contemporary accounts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bretwalda Books
• Release date: May 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781909099586

Rupert Matthews

Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance.

Book preview

Bretwalda Battles

The English Civil War

The Sieges of Newark 1643-45

by Rupert Matthews

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Published by Bretwalda Books at Smashwords

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

First Published 2013

Copyright © Rupert Matthews 2013

Rupert Matthews asserts his moral rights to be regarded as the author of this work.

ISBN 978-1-909099-58-6

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 The English Civil War

Chapter 2 Siege Warfare in the Civil War

Chapter 3 The First Sieges of Newark

Chapter 4 The Great Siege of Newark

Chapter 5 Aftermath

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Introduction

Newark is today a charming market town in Nottinghamshire perched on the River Trent and nestled between the ancient ruined castle and the equally ancient but entirely intact Church of St Mary Magdalene with its soaring spire. There are shops and markets, banks and estate agents - exactly what you would expect in this sort of bustling but somehow quiet country town.

But it was not always like this. There was a time when the fate of kingdoms was decided here. The three sieges of Newark were fought during the English Civil War between the Royalist Cavaliers and the Parliamentarian Roundheads. The town had declared for the king early in the war, but its strategic position meant that Parliament coveted it. The first attack by the Roundheads came within weeks of the outbreak of the war. It was resisted with some ease, but Parliament was not to be frustrated so easily. They came back a few months later with a larger army, larger guns and a good deal more determination. That second siege was more serious than the first and culminated in a pitched battle fought outside the walls.

For Newark worse was to come with the third assault, or Great Siege, which began in 1645 and dragged on to 1646. That offensive saw the town endure enormous hardships as hunger and disease stalked the streets claiming victims as surely as did the mortar shells and cannon balls that pounded the town.

These were hard times for the town, which sustained massive damage to its fabric, inhabitants and prosperity. And yet Newark somehow survived it all. Despite the carnage, bloodshed and violence the town kept going. It keeps going still and if it is apparently unaltered by the sieges, appearances can be deceptive. Tucked away in back gardens are entrenchments and bastions that date back to the sieges. The castle itself was ruined during the Civil War and now stands as a gaunt and sombre reminder of the damage that war can do to even the most peaceful of towns.

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Chapter 1

The English Civil War

The English Civil lasted from 1642 to 1651, falling into three distinct phases which are sometimes termed the First Civil War (1642-46), the Second Civil War (1648-49) and the Third Civil War (1650-1651). Such terminology is one of historians, for the people of the time the bloodshed seemed more like one interminable conflict that restarted when people thought it was over.

The key causes of the Civil War have been debated endlessly, with historians seeking to find social, religious or political features that explain why the apparently peaceful and settled Kingdom of England suddenly collapsed into anarchy, bloodshed and violence. While the causes were no doubt complex, they can be reduced to two basic causes: First, a dispute between King and Parliament over who should rule England; Second the foolishness of King Charles I.

For generations the balance of wealth and power in England had been shifting from the monarchy and the old landed nobility to a new rising class of gentry and merchants. Trade overseas and a growing industrial base, albeit one still very much craft based, was making the small businessman and farmer comparatively much more prosperous than such men had been a century or two earlier. With increased prosperity came better education and higher aspirations. A degree of social mobility not found in many other countries allowed the richer and more successful merchants and gentry to move up into the ranks of the nobility, meaning that the attitudes and outlooks of the growing middle classes began to be felt higher up the social structure.

This newly wealthy and ambitious middle class found its political outlet in the House of Commons in Parliament. At this date only a minority of people had a vote when it came to electing a Member of Parliament, but the local gentry did business with and mixed freely with the mass of the population in a way the king and nobles did not. They were likely to know