Sir Jacob Astley the Royalist Sergeant Major General had to contend with claims by the Parliamentarians, that he had been killed in action. In fact he was fully alive!
John Hampden A dedicated Parliamentarian and long time thorn in the King’s side wore a silver locket inscribed, “Against my King I never fight/But for my King and country’s right.”
Sir Lewis Dyve A Royalist commander, carried on his person a damaged gold coin, which had stopped a bullet and saved his life.
Sir Arthur Aston A long time English Royalist and ex Governor of Oxford had his brains beaten out with his own wooden leg.
Sir Jacob Astley At the siege of Devizes, a message arrow was fired and thrust into the ground between his legs, being too close to his manhood for comfort and prompting his reply, “You rogues, you missed your aim!”
Sir John Byron In an ambush, the Royalist admitted he had lost his periwig through running away from the enemy.
A hundred defenders of Wardour Castle survived on 8oz of Cereal and half a horse between them per day.
Prince Ruperts dog was credited with having supernatural powers. It cocked its leg at the name, “Pym,” the political leader of the Parliament and jumped for joy at the name, “Charles.”
While marching to join the King’s forces, Lord Goring’s men accidentally mistook their own rearguard for an enemy force and attacked them.
Whilst holding a council of war with his officers, Sir William Waller was surprised when the floor collapsed under them.
Before the end of the battle of Marston Moor in July 1644, two of the most senior Roundhead generals fled as fast as they could, one to Hull and the other to Leeds. The Roundheads actually outnumbered the Royalists and went on to narrowly win the battle.
James Duke of York, the King’s second son, escaped from his confinement, by a game of hide and seek, later dressing as a woman to escape abroad.
During the first Battle of Newbury, Prince Rupert had an enemy pistol fired in his face at point blank range and survived. This was one of many such close attempts, which the Prince came through unscathed, creating a myth of invincibility, which terrified Roundheads.
Ghosts of the slain in the Battle of Edgehill, replayed the battle in the skies, just after the event, terrorising locals and prompting King Charles to send two trusted courtiers to verify the sights. The courtiers noticed several of their slain friends, making them very nervous indeed. The ghostly re-enactment would take place regular, but over the centuries, has dwindled away to just a few sightings.
Soldiers were often drunk and plastered with alcohol, for that gave them extra courage when going into battle.
Armed groups of civilians rose up mostly in the South West, to oppose the fighting. They were called clubmen and wanted to protect their homes from any sides rampaging soldiers. Clubmen were supposed to be neutral, but some groups were talked over to supporting one side or the other.
Cromwell’s regiment were nicknamed “Ironsides” but curiously Cromwell’s biggest enemy, Prince Rupert, coined the name.
King Charles was prevented from leading a last ditch die or win charge at Naseby in 1645, when a Scottish Lord grabbed his bridle, saying “Will you go upon your death in an instant?”
After the last battle of the first Civil War, Sir Jacob Astley, commander of the last Royalist field army in England, sat on a drum and said to his enemy victors, “You may go play now, unless you fall out amongst yourselves.” His prophecy proved correct when Parliament and its army fell to loggerheads.
Parliament slashed and hanged any Irish man or woman they found, who supported the Royalists and only stopped once Prince Rupert threatened reprisals on Parliamentary prisoners.
Royalists generally wore red sashes whilst Parliamentarians generally wore orange, but both sides were apt to remove allegiance when behind enemy lines.
Queen Henrietta was notorious for her bad luck at sea and every time she sailed, her ship was in a storm, attacked or damaged.
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© Copyright 2002 by Mark Turnbull.
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