I believe that the best way to wargame the English Civil War is at the large skirmish level and the following scenario is designed to give players a feeling for period.

THE BACKGROUND

It is the middle years of the war when no side has established authority over the other. The main armies have retired to winter quarters although some skirmishing still takes place in the no-mans land between them. Three officers, old friends, have heard that an inn in a nearby village is renowned for its cooking and in particular its game pie. They have determined to go to the inn to sample this but are aware that permission would not be forthcoming from the commander in chief to risk themselves in this manner. To circumvent this they have therefore drawn up a plan for a foraging expedition in the direction of the village which has been approved. They have received permission to take troops under their command as follows:

YOUR TROOPS
3 COMPANIES OF MIXED PIKE AND MUSKETS (1 PIKE TO 2 MUSKETS) 3 WAGONS AND THEIR CIVILIAN DRIVERS The enemy have received word of the foraging expedition and have despatched a force to intercept the forages.

THE FORAGERS SET UP

This foragers have been in the village for some time and are distributed as follows:

1. The three officers & their servants are in the inn ('The Haunch of Venison') and are enjoying a particularly fine game pie.
2. The other troops are distributed randomly. Throw 1D10 per figure (or group if using a low figure/man ratio):

Other Troop Distribution

1 On guard duty (once total number of men on guard is known deploy as wanted) 2 In the back room of the Inn # At church (visiting, praying or desecrating according to taste) 4 Fishing along the riverbank. 5 As 4 6 Consorting with the locals (in randomly determined houses, no questions asked!) 7 As 6 8 Walking in the countryside (randomly distributed outside the village) 9 Resting in the village square 10 Loading wagons (as shop, mill, warehouse etc. Players choice)

THE ENEMY

The opposing army has dispatched the following force to stop the foragers and, if possible, to capture the wagons:

ENEMY TROOPS
3 TROOPS OF CAVALRY 1 TROOP OF DRAGOONS 2 COMPANIES OF MUSKETEERS

Large Picture (slow 52k)

SET UP

A local has given you details of the foragers deployment and therefore you may enter from any edge of the table (all figures from the same edge).

SPECIAL RULES

1. The foragers will only be alerted by hearing firing or if a messenger arrives from an officer or alerted guard post. Troops alerted in this manner will attempt to move towards the village square or until they come into command radius of an officer.
2. Only the church and the inn are defensible, the rest of the village houses are fire traps and are likely to catch alight if firearms are discharged in their vicinity.

A local has given you details of the foragers deployment and therefore you may enter from any edge of the table (all figures from the same edge).

TERRAIN

The size of the village will depend on the number of model houses you possess. The church and the inn ought to be at different ends of the village. A river should allow access to the village only by bridge from at least one side. The houses should be set fairly close together thus encouraging the use of the village square.

VICTORY

Foragers to march off the table with all 3 wagons.

Enemy to capture wagons and/or kill all three forager commanders (the fame of the game pie will not become known to the rest of the army and further foraging missions will be sent elsewhere).

Any other result is a draw with both sides claiming victory (a common historical & wargaming occurrence!)