The only military engagement of the Second Bishops' War, it forced Charles I to recall Parliament, a step that contributed to the English Civil War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 28 August 1640
- Scottish force size
- 20,000 troops
- English force size
- 5,000 troops
- Scottish commander
- Alexander Leslie
- English commander
- Viscount Conway
- Treaty resulting from war
- Treaty of Ripon, October 1640
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Second Bishops' War arose from conflict between Charles I and Scottish Covenanters over royal attempts to impose Anglican religious practices on Scotland. Charles assembled an English force but it was significantly outnumbered, as Scotland mobilised a far larger army under the experienced commander Alexander Leslie.
On 28 August 1640, near Newburn in northern England, a Scottish Covenanter army of 20,000 under Alexander Leslie crossed the River Tyne and routed an English defending force of 5,000 led by Viscount Conway. It was the only significant military engagement of the Second Bishops' War.
Scottish victory allowed the Covenanters to capture Newcastle upon Tyne, cutting London's primary coal supply and pressuring Charles I. The resulting Treaty of Ripon in October 1640 compelled him to recall Parliament in November 1640 to ratify the peace, setting in motion events that led to the First English Civil War in August 1642.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Alexander Leslie.
Side B
1 belligerent
Viscount Conway.