Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

alone."[1]
This devoted loyalty on the one side was repaid
with persistent perfidy on the other. Next year
(1640) Charles anew denounced the Scots as
rebels, and prepared to invade them. Not waiting
this time till the king's army should be on the
Border, the Scots at once unfurled the blue banner
of the Covenant, entered England, encountered the
king's forces at Newburn on the Tyne, and
discomfited them, almost without striking a blow.
The victors took possession of the towns of
Newcastle and Durham, and levied contributions
from the whole of Northumberland.
Meanwhile the king lay at York; his army was
dispirited, his nobles were lukewarm; he was daily
receiving letters from London, urging him to make
peace with the Scots, and he was persuaded at last
to attempt extricating himself from the labyrinth
into which his rashness and treachery had brought
him, by opening negotiations with the Scots at
Ripon. The treaty was afterwards transferred to
London. Thus had the king brought the fire into
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