Based on primary archival research (much of which remains
unpublished), supported by fieldtrips to battlefields and castles,
More Like Lions than Men represents the first focused and sustained
study of the recruitment, organisation, payment, equipping,
leadership and war service of the forces raised and maintained in
the service of parliament in Cheshire between 1642 and 1646. The
Cheshire army of parliament was commanded by the devout, energetic
and strategically astute Sir William Brereton, MP for the county.
As a important 'regional' force it undertook the extended war aims
and strategy of the parliament in Cheshire (and in particular, its
primary objective, the reduction and capture of the royalist
stronghold of Chester). Led and trained by a number of officers of
experience and ability (including Michael Jones, Robert Venables,
and some professional soldiers, such as James Lothian), it often
operated in conjunction with other forces and under various
regional commands throughout the northwest, as well as the Midland
counties, North Wales, Lancashire and Yorkshire, wherein its troops
and companies served together or were 'brigaded' with others. These
were bolstered in 1644 by the absorption of high quality, veteran
troops of Charles I's army in Ireland, who had been captured at
Nantwich and Liverpool. Cheshire and the northwest were no
backwaters during the first civil war, and on occasion Brereton's
forces became embroiled in events of a more national complexion,
such as the landing of the royalist army from Ireland in late 1643,
the advance of Prince Rupert through the Welsh Marches, Cheshire
and Lancashire during the summer of 1644, and the arrival of
Charles I in a temporary relief of Chester 1645.Like other
parliamentarian forces, the Cheshire troops were noted for their
religious fervour, partly in that they were raised, shaped,
motivated and led by radical independent and Presbyterian officers,
as well as godly ministers. Yet despite its effectiveness and
military experience, parts of the army suffered from pay arrears
and subsequent mutinies, as well as organisational problems that
stretched resources, and at points created breakdowns in discipline
and moral. Moreover, Sir William Brereton's authority as
commander-in-chief in Cheshire came under threat in 1645 in the
form of divergent war aims and rivalries among subordinates. The
Cheshire army of parliament is well served by archival sources.
This includes contemporary news-books, correspondence, warrants,
petitions, accounts of sequestration committees and army officers,
certificates of service and illustrations of cavalry standards,
contained in various repositories and private collections, but
especially The National Archives and the British Library. The five
surviving volumes of letter books of Sir William Brereton remain
invaluable to our understanding of the scope and day-to-day
operations of Sir William and his army. Such sources present an
invaluable, if largely untapped source for the centralised pay,
equipping and composition of the Cheshire parliamentarian forces.
Split into three broad sections, this book provides three chapters
outlining up-to-date research on the military role of the army in
Cheshire and beyond between autumn 1642 and spring 1646; the
central part offers four chapters on the composition of the
Cheshire forces, including recruitment, training and leadership, as
well as the 'sinews of war' (money, ammunition and provisions),
standards, clothing and equipment. The remaining section provides
in-depth information on the combat units of Brereton's army, in
addition to its 'support arms' of gunners, engineers, pioneers,
intelligence services and chaplains. More Like Lions than Men
explores the context, nature and composition of the Cheshire forces
indetail, in order to give credence to the notion that this was an
effective, seasoned and important fighting force, albeit mainly on
a regional stage. As such it adds significantly to our knowledge of
the parliamentary war effort and civil war forces in the northwest
of England and beyond, whilst appealing to anyone with an interest
in military history, including academics, local historians,
re-enactors and wargamers.
General
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