General George Monck once described the Royalist horse as "a rabble of
gentility". Modern research has largely dispelled this image of the
King's cavalry. However the description seems at first sight appropriate
to the body of cavalry known as the "Northern Horse". Formed from those
elements of the Marquis of Newcastle's Northern Royalist Army which
elected to continue to fight after the crushing defeat at Marston Moor
(2 July 1644) during the next 15 months the Northern Horse swept across
much of England and Wales, becoming increasingly notorious in the
process.
United and reorganized by their commander, the formidable Sir Marmaduke
Langdale, the Northern Horse, whilst professing loyalty to the King,
increasingly followed their own agenda, of renewing the war in the
North, sometimes at the expense of the wider Royalist cause.
This book looks at the origins and composition of the Northern Horse,
the characteristics of its officers and men, their motivation and
behavior, and their impact on those they encountered. It examines their
chequered fighting record, a subject of debate even among
contemporaries. It will deal with their victories, notably their epic
relief of Pontefract in March 1645, and there controversial role at such
encounters as Naseby and Rowton Heath.
The book makes extensive use of contemporary sources, some used here for
the first time. Extensively illustrated, including specially
commissioned artwork and maps, 'Rabble of Gentility?' will be welcomed
by readers interested in the history of the British Civil Wars, living
history enthusiasts, wargamers and model makers, and those interested in
the history of Northern England in the 17th century.
