BARD Letters

Dave,

Thought I'd drop you a line on the BARD Letters. I'm a member too and have done a lot of research into the unit. Goodrich, according to Dr. Newman was not killed at 1st Newbury but during the Oxford (?)campaign in 1644. What is the source for the former idea?

Next, it seems unlikely that Bard's remaining 176 men should change from Grey to Red because of the addition of a smaller number of Queen's Lifeguard, probably recent recruits from North Wales.

As to the Editor's theory, the date of the picture, 1633 makes it unlikely that Bar, born 1616, was in command. Thomas Pinchbeck, however, was a veteran of the Continental Wars. Bard' is know to have carried 2 different colours. The 1st was recorded by Symonds in April '44, maybe inherited from Pinchbeck (see my letter, Military Modelling, August 1982). The second set, captured at Naseby (the set drawn by Stuart). The device is similar to that carried by Knights of the Catholic Orders and also the emblem of the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem. Bard did become a Catholic, but not until after the War. After his capture he states "I fought not for religion for there are so many I know not which one to be of." However, when Stoke house, an out post of Bard's garrison at Campden was taken in 1645 by Major Bridges he described it as "a fort only of Papists."

I will be pleased to answer any questions on Bard or the Regiment. A J ROWLAND

Stuart Replies: No doubt that the unit wore grey in '44 & '43, but did they in '45? I said that by the end of '44 they could not have been more than 100 strong and at least half the reinforcements wore Red coats. Any rationalisation would have meant a change to Red as white/Grey was always considered second best. However, as I also said, given the state of Royalist supply at the time it is more likely they fought Naseby with a mix of colours.

Goodrich- ROYAL MARTYRS (1663) says he died of wounds at Oxford, no date nor place wounded. What led me to believe he fell with Pinchbeck were the circumstances surrounding Bard's appointment. Pinchbeck was killed in September yet stayed without a Colonel until January or February and was know as Pinchbeck's until Bard took over. Since Bard had to be imported from another unit it is clear that the other Field Officers had been killed or wounded with Pinchbeck. Had Goodrich been alive or capable at the end of '43 one would have expected him to have taken over.

(There may be another word on Bard's later. I expected this sort of exchange with this and similar series. I'm happy to print these letters until something more general comes up, then will pass on the letters rather than print. I must say I like to encourage such sniping as we learn a lot from it and I'm a bit of a stirrer!- Dave)

Basic Informtion

Dear Dave,

Thank you for the request for material for ECW N&Q. Unfortunately I have little time for writing major pieces and am afraid that any queries I have would seem terribly naive amongst the erudite writings in the magazine. D Randall.

(Right- this is what I was afraid of- I enjoy, and so do the other 'experts' arguing endlessly about the number of stitches in C17th Fly holes or the issue of Underpant to the New Model Army in 1653, but it's no help to the novice or those trying to get into the period. From ISSUE 4 I shall be running a column of queries of very basic information that I hope many people will write in and ask.-Ed)

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