Synopses & Reviews
Osprey's examination of the battle of Newbury, which was the turning point of the English Civil War (1642–1651). By August 1643 the King’s cause was very much in the ascendant. Parliament armies had been crushed at Adwalton Moor and Roundway Down and the Royalists had taken Bristol. When they summoned Gloucester to surrender on 10 August the city’s only hope was a Parliament relief army. The London Trained Bands joined the Earl of Essex’s expedition and when battle was joined at Newbury the Londoners more than held their own against the best of the King’s cavalry. With the citizens of London so firmly committed to Parliament’s cause and the King’s cavalry no longer invincible the balance of power had shifted irretrievably.
Synopsis
The battle of Newbury was the turning point of the English Civil War. By August 1643 the King’ s cause was very much in the ascendant. Parliament armies had been crushed at Adwalton Moor and Roundway Down and the Royalists had taken Bristol. When they summoned Gloucester to surrender on 10 August the city’ s only hope was a Parliament relief army. The London Trained Bands joined the Earl of Essex’ s expedition and when battle was joined at Newbury the Londoners more than held their own against the best of the King’ s cavalry. With the citizens of London so firmly committed to Parliament’ s cause and the King’ s cavalry no longer invincible the balance of power had shifted irretrievably.
About the Author
Keith Roberts was born in 1955 and was educated at Highgate School. He graduated in History from Leicester University in 1977 and is currently employed by one of the major clearing banks. He is a military analyst and lecturer on the theory and practice of war in Europe and England between 1590 and 1660 and has published widely in this field. His previous work for Osprey includes Elite 25: Soldiers of the English Civil War (1) Infantry.