BattlefieldsSecond Bishops War — Leslie Advance through Northumberland 1640
English Civil War

Second Bishops War — Leslie Advance through Northumberland 1640

1640
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Scottish army march through Northumberland 1640 · Leslie advance to Tyne 1640
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown (English border forces)
VS
Victor
Covenanters
Outcome
Scottish army advanced through Northumberland virtually unopposed; local English forces too weak and demoralised to resist; towns submitted without significant fighting
The Battle

History & Significance

The Scottish march through Northumberland in August-September 1640 was largely uncontested because English military capacity in the north had collapsed. Local garrisons were undermanned and underpaid. The ease of the advance — meeting effective opposition only at Newburn — demonstrated how completely Charles I had lost control of the military situation. The occupation of an English county by a foreign army had not occurred since the Welsh campaigns of the previous century.

Forces Involved

Covenanting army c.20,000; scattered English border forces

Questions & Answers

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