Relief of York The allies were aware of Rupert's approach and had been hoping that reinforcements from Manchester under Sir John MeldrumYoung (1970), p.187 and the Midlands under the Earl of DenbighYoung (1970), p. 191 could ward off this threat, but they learned that these forces could not intervene in time.Young (1970), p. 80. The allied armies around York were separated from each other by rivers, and if Rupert attacked them in their siege lines he could destroy any one army before the other two could come to its aid. Therefore, they abandoned the siege on the night of 30 June, and concentrated their forces near the village of Hessay before taking position on Marston Moor, where they blocked Rupert's expected direct march to York (along the old Roman road named Ermine Street, the modern A59), and could easily move to their left to prevent Rupert making any move to the south via Wetherby.Woolrych, p. 66.
Relief of York The allies were aware of Rupert's approach and had been hoping that reinforcements from Manchester under Sir John MeldrumYoung (1970), p.187 and the Midlands under the Earl !of DenbighYoung (1970), p. 191 could ward off this threat, but they learned that these forces could not intervene in time.Young (1970), p. 80. The allied armies around York were separated from each other by rivers, and if Rupert attacked them in their siege lines he could destroy any one army before the other two could come to its aid. Therefore they abandoned the siege on the night of 30 June, and concentrated their forces near the village of Hessay before taking position on Marston Moor, where they blocked .Rupert's expected direct march to York (along the old Roman road named Ermine Street, the modern A59), and could easily move to their left to prevent Rupert making any move to the south via Wetherby.Woolrych, p. 66.