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| Charles I |
In the summer of 1633, Charles I headed north to Scotland where he would be crowned as King of Scotland. Charles had held his coronation to the English throne in February 1626, and now he returned to the country of his birth for his coronation in Edinburgh. The journey north would include visits to Durham, Newcastle and Berwick.
The notification of King Charles visit had been issued in January 1632. [1] Local officials were required to report on the condition of bridges and highways on the route of the King's journey to Scotland. The justices of Northumberland and Durham reporting in March that they were satisfied that all would be well by the time Charles arrived. Parish councils made ready for the King, Gateshead expending around £100 (c£12,500 2017 value) to repair roads and infrastructure. [2]
As he made his way to Northumbria, Charles stayed at Welbeck Hall, Nottingham, the home of William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle. Cavendish was a wealthy landowner, a friend of the Duke d Buckingham, whom Charles had made Earl of Newcastle in 1628. His mother Catherine Ogle was the daughter of Baron Ogle whose family estates were in Northumberland. When she died in 1629, he inherited the estates making William Cavendish one of the richest landowners in England. [3].
Eager to impress the King Cavendish spent lavishly to entertain the Charles including feasting and a production by the playwright Ben Jonson, [4] a contemporary of William Shakespeare.
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| Welbeck Hall residence of William Cavendish Earl of Newcastle |
Winding his way towards Durham, King Charles and his entourage stayed at Raby Castle. This was the home of Sir Henry Vane, a member of the Privy Council and a close confident of the King. [5]
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| Raby Castle home of Privy Councillor Sir Henry Vane |
On May 31st, Charles was entertained at Aukland Castle by the Bishop of Durham Thomas Morton. [6]
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| Aukland Castle Bishop of Durham residence |
In the City of Durham preparations had been made for the regal visit, King Charles entering the via Elvet Head. [7]
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| Durham |
He stayed at the house of Sir William Selby departing on the morning of 3rd June 1633 bound for Newcastle, [8] arriving the same day. [9].
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| Newcastle Upon Tyne |
On the 4th, Charles dined with the mayor of Newcastle, William Cole, using the occasion to knight him. The following day the King travelled on a Royal Barge to Tynemouth and visited Shields. [10] Charles would spend another two days in Newcastle receiving petitions, departing on the 7th June. [11]
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| Newcastle to Berwick route |
The Royal train arrived at Berwick on 12th June {Julian Calendar 2nd June} where the King would spend ten days [12] During that period Charles examined Berwick's fortifications and ascertained the quantity and quality of the cannon. [13]
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| Berwick |
When King Charles crossed into Scotland he was met by Scottish nobles and gentry as well as a troop of 600 men of the Earl of Home. The monarch spent the night at Dungalss, 20 miles north of Berwick, a home belonging to the Earl. [14]
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[1] Charles Sandford Terry, The Life and Campaigns of Alexander Leslie First Earl of Leven, Publisher Unknown: 1899 page 83 note 3
[2] ibid page 83 & 84
[3] http://bcw-project.org/biography/william-cavendish-marquis-of-newcastle
[4] http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/white1875/welbeckp1.htm
[5] Sir Henry Vane, the Elder (1589 - 1655) - Genealogy (geni.com)
[6] https://familypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Bishop (Web view)
[7] A History of the County of Durham: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London, 1928), British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3 [accessed 31 December 2021].
[8] Charles Sandford Terry, The Life and Campaigns of Alexander Leslie First Earl of Leven, Publisher Unknown: 1899 page 84
[9] ibid page 85
[10] ibid page 85
[11] ibid page 95
[12] John Scott, BERWICK-UPON-TWEED The History of the Town and Guild, London: Elliot Stock;1888 page 199
[13] ibid 200
[14] ibid 200