For many years the popular image of the English Civil War was of dandy Cavaliers with flowing locks battling grim, god-fearing, soberly dressed Roundheads. Like many popular shortcut images of history it is rather romantic and, as recent research on civil war costume has revealed, in need of an update.
Cavalry in the English Civil War
At the beginning of the Civil War in 1642 English cavalry, also known simply as “Horse”, had developed into two main types. The rarer “Cuirassier” was the last relic of medieval times being almost completely dressed in armour including, in some cases, a fully-enclosed helmet. However the expense of maintaining a unit of Cuirassiers was considerable and few units were formed.
By far the most common type of English Civil War horse on both sides was the “Harquebusier”, a medium cavalry man dressed in a tough buff leather coat and lightly-armoured with a helmet, back and breast plate.
All cavalry were, in theory, supposed to carry a sword, two pistols and a carbine (a development of the earlier “harquebus” – hence Harquebusier). However, the realities of campaigning and no regular supply organisation meant this was often not the case.
The basic unit of Horse was the troop of around 50-60 men with considerable variation in numbers both upwards and downwards. Although, as with the infantry, there was the occasional bulk issue of clothing and equipment, the primary responsibility for outfitting cavalry lay with the troop captain.
As the war progressed individual troops were organised into regiments of a few hundred men each but essentially the supply system remained in the control of rich individuals or occasionally local county or regional committees.
The Uniform of English Civil War Cavalry
Primary sources on English Civil War clothing are rare but it would appear that the buff leather coat was very common amongst cavalry troopers to the point of being almost universal. Usually worn over the soldier’s own jacket and trousers this tough sleeved ox hide coat would cost between 25 to 30 shillings for a trooper. Officers could afford higher quality variations, some of which were double-sleeved.
The buff coat had skirts that extended to cover the top of the trooper’s legs when seated on his horse and, although not entirely impervious to swords was often thick enough to deflect slashing cuts. Buff coats were dyed and varied in colour from a light grey to dark yellow ochre.
The so-called “Lobster pot” helmet was worn by both sides along with a variety of soft hats and the Montero cloth cap. Helmets often had either a single nasal bar that dropped down or a continental-style tri-bar arrangement that also protected the face in action. In addition many troopers also wore a metal skull cap or “secret” underneath their head gear as additional protection.
Where it was available troopers also wore back and breast plate armour with sometimes a gorget to protect the neck and an armoured gauntlet to protect the hand holding the bridle.
English Civil War Cavalry - Identification
The obvious problem with Cavalry troopers on both sides being identically dressed was identifying friend and foe. During the Bishop’s Wars of the late 1630s it had become fashionable for troopers to wear red breeches but this pertained to both sides in the Civil War and often trousers were obscured by the ubiquitous buff coat.
A solution of sorts was applied by the main field armies of King and Parliament. Royalist troopers in Charles I’s Oxford-based army wore red sashes across their body or waist whilst those in the Earl of Essex’s Parliamentary army wore sashes of a tawny orange colour, Essex’s family colours.
However sashes were relatively expensive and were not generally issued. It is unclear what troopers outside of these armies wore for identification. It is unlikely for instance that the troopers of Sir William Waller’s Parliamentary army would have worn the orange sash of his major rival the Earl of Essex. Other methods of identification included the shouted “field word”, often with religious or political significance.
Despite recent discoveries, many of them due to battlefield archaeology, the information and sources available on the dress, equipment and everyday life of Civil War soldiers are still sparse. However, the work of organisations like the Battlefields Trust may yet reveal more about this fascinating era in British history.
Sources:
The Battles of Newbury by Chris Scott. Pen & Sword. 2008
Edgehill: The Battle Re-interpreted by C Scott, A Turton & E Gruber Von Arni. Pen & Sword. 1995
Folorn Hope – notes on ECW uniforms and equipment by Dave Perry. Partizan Press 2003
Naseby: The Decisive Campaign by Glenn Foard. Pen & Sword 1995
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