In the north the Scots advance on England is extremely slow.
Heavy snow and rain impedes movement but eventually the army arrives in
Eyemouth close to Berwick. The Marquess of Newcastle has sat quivering in York
awaiting the Scots. His army has been swelled by reinforcements drawn from
Newcastle and Derby.
In early Feb Byron’s army also arrived in York, swelling the
troop count but also rapidly depleting food stocks in the area.
Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester have been content to let
their men rest in winter quarters in Lincolnshire, although some troop
movements have been made east from Lancashire. Parliamentary cavalry has also
roamed unthreatened across East Yorkshire.
In the Midlands Rupert has marched east with a strong
cavalry force and was last seen in Loughborough.
The Earl of Essex has left his troops in winter quarters at
Windsor leaving the King to march his troops from Oxford northwards to
Coventry.
In the south east Waller for Parliament and Hopton for the
King have both been content to keep their troops in winter quarters.
Prince Maurice in the south west had a spat with his brother
Rupert but backed down and sent 2000 cavalry northwards rather than into Devon
and Cornwall. Maurice’s army was gathered slowly from varying towns and was
around Salisbury by 14 Feb.
