Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
Map of Newark, 1645-6 (Newark, Nottinghamshire, England, UK) 53°04ʹ00ʺN 00°49ʹ00ʺW
published 1726Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: 1:30,400 approx. | RCIN 723052
A high oblique view and map of the Royalist stronghold of Newark, besieged between 26 November 1645 and 8 May 1646, by a Scottish force fighting on the side of Parliament commanded by Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven (c.1580-4 April 1661), and the northern Parliamentary army under Colonel-General Sydenham Poyntz (bap.3 November 1607-c. 1661), and Colonel (later Sir) Edward Rosseter (1 January 1618-9 January 1669) resulting in the surrender of the town by the Governor, John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse (bap.24 June 1615-10 September 1689). First English Civil War (1642-1646). Oriented with north-north-west to top.
Although the title of the map gives the date of the beginning of the siege as 6 March 1645, the historical record states that it began on 26 November 1645, when the Scottish force established its siege positions. This map shows the extensive earthworks which were dug around the town as well as the dam across the River Devon which stopped the corn mills from functioning. The three figures, bottom left, are Leven, Poyntz and Rosseter. It is possible that the date of 6 March refers to the Second Siege of Newark, in 1644.
Buck’s map, which he designed in 1725, is based on the Parliamentary engineer’s, Richard Clampe’s, map of the siege which was engraved in 1646 by Peter Lovell and was sold by Peter Stent. At least three states appear to have been published (Globe, p.106), the earliest state being entitled A Description of the seidge of Newarke upon Trent with the fortifications about the Towne as also the forme of all the Entrenchments forts redouts Batteries and approches made against it under the Conduct of the Earle of Leven Capt: Gen:ll of ye Scots Army and Coll: Gen:ll Pointz and Coll: Rosseter comānders in Cheife of ye English forces, it begun ye 6th of March 1645 and ended ye 8th of May 1646. Pere: Louell fecit. Described by Richard Clampe Ingenier. BL Maps *4670(i).
The dedicatee is undoubtedly Richard Sutton (16 January 1674-23 July 1737) of Scofton, Nottinghamshire. Sutton was a Brigadier-General between 1710 and 1727 and was Member of Parliament for Newark from 1708 to 1710, and from 1712 until his death in 1737.
Richard Clampe (active 1645-50) (draughtsman) [left, below text, in text panel:] R. Clamp delin. 1646.
Samuel Buck (1696-1779) (cartogrpaher, engraver and publisher) [left, below text, in text panel:] S. Buck scul. 1726
Subject(s)
Army-ScotlandAlexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven (1580?-1661)Rosseter, General (fl.early C17)Watermark: None visible
Condition: one fold line
Scale: 1:30,400 approx. Scale bar: A Scale of Furlongs [53 mm = ] 8 [the furlongs are sub-divided into ‘Pearches’].
21.9 x 33.0 cm (neatline)
23.1 x 40.4 cm (image)
23.6 x 40.7 cm (platemark)
24.8 x 41.2 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
AN exact Plat-form of all the Redoubts Forts & Fortifications which were about the Town of Newark upon Trent in Nottinghamshire when it was unhappily Besieged the 6.th day of March 1645/4 by the Earl of Leven, Cap. Gen.l Pointz & / Gen.l Rosseter Commanders in Chief of the Scotch Army & the form of all the Entrenchments Batteries & Approaches raised & carried on by them against it, till it was Surrender’d on the 8.th of May 1646. Taken by their chief / Enginier during that transaction from whose Drawing this is correctly Copied & has been compared with the remains of the said Place / by Sam. Buck June 1725. [top, across top of map in rectangular panel]
Inset:
[bottom right, below key in rectangular panel, engravings of two lozenge-shaped coins:] From an original Silver Coine, there is of this / shape & stamp Value. 12d. 9d. & 6d. Size: 5.2 x 7.3 cm (neatline); [bottom right, below first inset:] A Section or profile of the dementions of the / Forts & Redoubts upon the Line. Size: 3.3 x 7.3 cm (neatline).
Dedication:[top left, in rectangular panel with the dedicatee’s coat of arms:] To the Hon.ble / BRIGADIER SUTTON / This View is most / humbly Inscrib’d / by his Obed.t Ser.t / Sam. Buck.
Additional text:[left, below dedication, in rectangular panel:] [a symbol of an exploding bomb] THE suppos’d course of the bomb / that being pointed at the Governors / house, fell on Ald Hercules Clay’s / from w.ch his personal & memorable / deliverance by a dream, is piously / perpetuated by an annual Sermon / & alms of his own Donation; as a / Latin inscription upon his marble / Tomb in the South-East angle of / the Church amply testifies.
Annotations:
George III heading: Newark 6 March 1645 – 8 May 1646.
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Newark An exact Plat-form of all the Redoubts, Forts and Fortifications which were about the Town of Newark upon Trent when it was besieged the 6.th of March 1645/4 by the Earl of Leven, General Pointz and General Rosseter; and the form of all the Entrenchments Batteries and Approaches raised and carried on by them against it till it was surrendered on the 8.th of May 1646: by R. Clamp, 1646; engraved by S. Buck, 1726.
Subject(s)
Newark, Nottinghamshire, England, UK (53°04ʹ00ʺN 00°49ʹ00ʺW)
Bibliographic reference(s)
A. V. Globe, Peter Stent, London printseller circa 1642-1665 being a catalogue raisonné of his engraved prints and books with an historical and bibliographical introduction, Vancouver 1985, p. 106
Entry for Edward Rossiter by M.W. Helms and J.S. Crosette in B.D. Henning, The history of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, Woodbridge 1983
A. J. Hopper, ‘Belasyse , John, first Baron Belasyse of Worlaby (bap. 1615,d. 1689)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
S. B. Jennings, ‘The Third and Final Siege of Newark (1645-1646) and the impact of the Scottish Army upon Nottinghamshire and adjacent counties’, Midland History, 37, Issue 2, 2012, pp. 142-162
D. Stevenson, ‘Leslie, Alexander, first earl of Leven (c.1580–1661)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford 2004; online edn, Oct 2007
Entry for Richard Sutton in D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks and S. Handley (eds), The History of Parliament, Woodbridge 2002
Page revisions
25 May 2024
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