At the start of the Civil War Charles I assumed that York and Yorkshire would be loyal to his cause and when he decided to raise his battle standard against Parliament he came to York in January 1642.
When the Scottish Army invaded England in January 1644, the Royalist Marquis of Newcastle had rushed north to halt their advance. Newcastle was forced to retreat, and his army entered York in 16 April.
The Scottish Army were positioned on the west side of the River Ouse, Lord Fairfax controlled the east side of the Ouse and the Earl of Manchester took up positions at the north of the city. Parliament bombarded the city and staged a major attack against the formidable walls - all failed. On 1 July 1644 the relieving army led by Prince Rupert (Charles I’s cousin) reached York and then marched out to do battle at Marston Moor. The Parliamentarian victory at Marston Moor assured York's downfall, however the victors allowed the city safe refuge and no looting or damage was allowed. King Charles' York was firmly in the hands of the Parliament and would stay that way, he had lost the nothern bastion and maybe now the war.
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