Description:When reading documents in the Sutherland Papers as sources reporting events from the Civil War, it is important to examine the way in which they are written.
Accounts in the collection are primarily Royalist. As historians, we have to consider how this influences the way in which events are portrayed.
The extract below is taken from a Royalist newsletter dated ‘York this Fryday Evening’ 17 Junij 1642. It reads:
"On Wednesday eveninge last wee arrived here, where we finde (praysed be God) his Majestie in good health and very cheerefull soe likewise the Prince and Duke of Yorke, the Court full of lords many of the house of Commons and a multitude of other brave Gentlemen, This Citty and these Northerne parts expressinge as much fordwardness to doe his Majestie service as can from loyall subjects be desired some few inconsiderable men in all excepted…The guard of foote which the king for ye present hath consists of 1000, and of horses 200, Here is noe likelihood of losying a war against ye Parliament."
The extract portrays the Royalist camp as full of good cheer ‘full of lords many of the house of Commons and a multitude of other brave Gentlemen’. It is significant that the author states that many men from the House of Commons had rallied in support of the King, suggesting the weakness of the Parliamentarian campaign. Indeed, those opposing the king are summarised as a ‘few ‘inconsiderable men’. The Newsletter reports that the King’s forces were strong and concludes in favour of a Royalist victory. In addition to informing people about events, the Newsletter published just before the outbreak of war functioned to encourage support for the King and the Royalist cause.