Hey For Old Robin! (Paperback)

‘Hey For Old Robin!’ was the cry of the Earl of Essex’s army during the First Civil War as, contrary to modern popular belief, Robert Devereux was well-liked by the men he led. This book fills a gap in the literature of the Civil Wars, taking up the challenge to write a new history of Essex and his Army and examining the often-repeated view that he was a cautious dullard with little military skill. The two authors Christopher Scott and Alan Turton, both well known published military historians, present a more balanced view of Parliament’s first Lord General, bringing him out of the shadow of Cromwell. In doing so they are not afraid to bite the bullet of period and modern criticism of Essex as a strategist and tactician, as well as his reported failings as a man. Based on primary research, including site visits to scenes of his triumphs and disasters, they trace the story of the early campaigns, beginning with Edgehill, then Brentford and Turnham Green, the relief of Gloucester and the retreat to Newbury, the Siege of Reading, the Thames Valley Campaign, the disaster of Lostwithiel and the rebuilding of the army for Second Newbury. Whilst they leave the detailed examination of the various battles fought by Essex and his men to more specialist books, they tell the story of each of the campaigns and share their thoughts on Essex’s problems and his decisions and actions. They also examine how the armies were constituted, officered, recruited and maintained, as well as its reductions and transfers. In separate chapters they describe Essex’s Foot, the Horse, the Dragoons, The Artillery and The Train, dealing with what the army wore, what it was paid, what weapons it used, the flags it carried and how it was organised, operated and fought. All this is set within a sound understanding and appreciation of the background of the seventeenth century and Essex’s place in the socio-political zeitgeist as well as period military thinking and practice. Illustrated with a wealth of seldom-seen contemporary engravings of Essex’s officers and friends and newly commissioned maps, as well as uniform and cornets & colours plates, this work is of great use to anyone with an interest in our civil wars including academics, local historians, re-enactors and wargamers.

Dr Christopher L Scott has been walking battlefields for over 40 years, analysing ground and tactics. He has taken numerous groups around the battlefields of Britain, the sites of both Marlborough's and Wellington's victories in Europe, and ran tours of Crecy and Agincourt. In 2002 Chris co-founded the Guild of Battlefield Guides and served for ten years as a member of Council and Director of Validation. He was given the Guild’s most prestigious awards being placed on its roll of honour and made a Fellow.

Chris has lectured for the British Councils Organisation, was part of a British delegation to the Zulu War Centennial Ceremony and represented Great Britain at an International Congress of Historical Sciences. He has also lectured for the British Commission for Military History and The Battlefields Trust for whom he was a Trustee. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers, a member of the Naval & Military Club, the Royal Historical Society, and President of the Wyvern Military Dining Club.