"The world hath long enough beene abused with falshoods; And there's a weekly cheat put out to nourish the abuse amongst the people, and make them pay for their seducement. And that the world mat see...it is thought fit to let them truly understand the estate of things that so they may no longer pretend ignorance, or be deceived with untruths; which premised once for all, we now go on unto the business; wherein we shall proceed with all truth and candour..."

MERCURIUS AULICUS, first issue 1643

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR NOTES & QUERIES first Issue, 1984

Our knowledge of the minutiae of the Civil War is somewhat more advanced than it was in 1984.

The fact that serious publications and researchers now take for granted the lack of infantry buffcoats, armour and uniforms; the effectiveness of the London Trained bands and dubious quality of the highland 'superman' -- all merely examples of the most notorious of historical and re-enactment myths -- is a direct consequence of the contribution made by those writing in ECW N&Q over the last ten years.

Many of the findings have been slowly adopted by wargamers, re-enactors and historians. Unfortunately acceptance has been somewhat patchy, which is why the Mercurius quote above is still relevant. ECW N&Q, and the conferences associated with it, was certainly a melting pot of ideas, theories, evidence, sources and debate. You may not have agreed with everything but to steal a current slogan - "No ECW N&Q, No comment". It was a debate in which anyone could have a go. ECW TIMES will continue that tradition, only we'll throw in some pretty pictures as extras.

Well, we promised you that if ECW N&Q carried on the way it was we would go glossy, so here it is. I am happy to report that the look of horror on Hawk's face as I suggested the upgrade was the same as it had been 11 years ago when I happened to mention the idea of a magazine. His response when I asked him to bring forward our plans to publish BATTLEFIELDS was unprintable, but that was done on time so the fault for the late delivery of ECW TIMES is entirely mine. The magazine will be quarterly, being published around the middle of the quarter.

11 years on and the editorials are still rambling so we'll end by asking for your views on the magazine.