Osprey Men-at-Arms 331 : Scots Armies of the English Civil Wars

In the summer of 1642 the First Civil War between King and Parliament had broken out in England. Initially both sides were confident of victory, but after the first campaigns ended in stalemate they began looking for allies. The Scots government was willing to assist the English Parliamentarians, and even before a formal treaty was signed the raising of troops got underway. On 28 July 1643 the Estates ordered the levying of five companies of foot and three troops of horse, to be mustered at Letih by 13 September. These men appear to have been volunteers rather than conscripts, and a loan of £40,000 Scots [the exchange rate was £12.00 Scots to £1.00 sterling] was authorised to pay for their equipment. This formation was then used to seize the important - though undefended - border fortress of Berwick on Tweed, and thus to prevent any interference in the main levy by English Royalist forces. In the meantime, on 18 August, the full mobilisation began with the issue of a proclamation ordering a general muster within 48 hours of publication. Stuart Reid, supported by many period quotations and an important eyewitness account of regimental colours, examines the Scots armies who fought in the English Civil Wars, accompanied by numerous illustrations and photographs, including eight full page colour plates by Graham Turner.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Mobilisation
• Clothing and Equipment
• Paying for the Army
• Flags and Standards
• The Army at Dunbar
• The Plates