Boothose and boot hose tops (and canons)

 Costume Historian: Boothose and boot hose tops (and canons)

There are 3 new scenarios available as PDF's for the 'Twilight of..' rules.

 Divine Right: There are 3 scenarios :-

Turnham Green 1642: The historical action or a 'What if' battle.

Scottish Invasion 1643: A 'What if' battle between Newcastle's Royalist army and the Scots Covenantor army.
3rd Newbury 1644: A 'What if'battle based on a historical confrontation after the 2nd Newbury battle.

https://www.wyrehistoricbooks.co.uk/divine-rightwith-fire-sword

Clifton Moor Skirmish 1745

 Clifton Moor Skirmish - Wikipedia

Today. Rearguard action that is sometimes called the last in England.

PS 2nd Battle of Falkirk Commemoration 2026.

Date for your diary!

The Royal Oak Society will conduct the annual commemoration service for the 2nd Battle of Falkirk that took place on 17th Jan 1746, and resulted in a Jacobite victory.

The service will be held on Saturday 17th Jan 2026 at Mid-day.

Alatriste (2006) Full Movie with English Subtitles

 Alatriste - Wikipedia If you haven't seen this it's good.

Muskets with rests

 Are there any UK groups that do this? Just curious. I have seen it on the continent but not here.

First Foot Guards 1685 R Mitchard and AI

 

Warlord Epic Culloden

 Culloden! John Stallard's Epic Conversion Project - Warlord Community

John Stallard's Culloden

We recently showed off our CEO John Stallard's epic Battle of Culloden collection, and the special bundle we put together to let you recreate his Jacobite force.

The reaction has been so positive that we had to do something special, so we've teamed up with author Peter Brown to produce a special PDF booklet, allowing you to re-fight the battle like never before using Black Powder!

Download it for FREE below!

https://bit.ly/4j3Fiwu

Adriaen van Ostade (1610 - 1685) The Violinist, 1673

 

Horse grenadier 1685

 The Royal Regiment of Horse was made up of three troops of 200 gentlemen and a troop of 60 Horse Grenadiers recruited from the usual commoners. Equipped with a long carbine 'strapt', sword, a pair of pistols, bayonet and grenades. Pic by me. 

On Horse Grenadiers 5 December 1683
The King had now augmented his guards with a new sort of dragoons, who carried also granados, and were habited after the Polish manner, with long peaked caps, very fierce and fantastical.

Prince Rupert's Dog

 Mark Turnbull AuthorNEW EPISODE

#CavalierCast Podcast

Professor Mark Stoyle reveals all about Prince Rupert's dog, Boye.

In this fascinating episode Mark details what we know of Boye and explains how superstition, belief, and witchcraft come together in the propaganda that made him infamous.

It's a story that takes us to the very heart of the civil wars itself.

Available now on your podcast platform - Spotify, Apple etc.

Seventeenth century boots – who owned them, who made them, what did they use them for, and what did they cost

Interesting article

 Costume Historian: Seventeenth century boots – who owned them, who made them, what did they use them for, and what did they cost

Tangier - 1680 : The diary of Sir James Halkett

 

North Star Military Figures

 

Coldstream Guards 1672 North Star 1672 - North Star Military Figures

''One of my favourite painted regiments we have in our 1672 range.
The musketeers in the regiment were uniformed in red with green facings, but then the pikemen were dressed in reverse, green with red facings.
The officers in this period were not expected to wear the regimental uniform, so we painted the Ensigns in their civilian fineries.
The flags I consider to be right for this period. They were green in a slightly later period, and then white with red cross into the 1680s. Iain at Flags of War kindly produced these for us.
Sadly, I don't think they actually fought as a regiment in the 1670s. Elements were sent to Tangiers and Virginia to fight, and also to France to be part of the 'English Regiment' in the service of Louis XIV but were uniformed in grey for that conflict.
The regimental motto 'Nulli Secundus' was created in this period. They were put into the Royal Guard following the Restoration of the Monarchy, but were placed 2nd Senior regiment of the Household Troops. Their motto was a reply to that position as they were an older regiment than the 1st Foot Guards (The Grenadier Guards), the Coldstream's history going back to the Civil War.''

Review at Putney Heath 1684

 'On the 1st of October, sixteen companies of the Royal Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Sir James Hackett, were reviewed, with a number of other corps, by Charles II,. on Putney Heath. ''The Coldstream, my Lord Dumbarton's, and the Admiral's Battalions, successively exercised all three by beat of drum, the military postures of pike, sword, and musket, every man dexterously discharging his duties with an exact and general readiness, to the great delight of their Majesties and Royal Highnesses, who vouchsafed, all the time of exercise, to grace the arms with their presence. The other two battalions of the Royal Regiment had not fallen short of the like performance, if illness of weather, when they just intended it, had not prevented{ the day proving wet and showery was a general impediment from proceeding at that time to any other motions customary upon the like reviews: and all decamped sooner than otherwise they would have done.''

Remembering Ellie White.

 

Monday we lost Ellie. She is mostly known for her role as C.O. of the Sir Bevil Grenville regiment. She came from Frome and she was also involved locally in the theatre. I didn't know her well in my ECWS days as I was on a different side but I got her involved with the 1685 Society. She played 'Rebel's wife' in a film we did for BBC Education, complete with Frome accent. She also had a cellar of drums and armour we borrowed. An old newspaper cutting showed that when about 10 we were in the same inter schools Road Safety quiz. She will be missed. Raise a glass to her memory.

Renaissance Armies George Gush 1975

 Classic work from 50 years ago. Caliver books do a paperback reprint. 

Battle of Alton 1643

Oxford army pic by R Mitchard and AI

Battle of Alton - Wikipedia Today's anniversary. Interesting last stand.

Barry Lyndon King George and Old England forever

Today 50 years ago was the premier of this film. Barry Lyndon - Wikipedia

Yorkshire Droumes and Ffyfes 'The Scots March'.

Article on the use of the Scots March in the 30 years War here

Also see Wars of Louis Quatorze: Mackay's Regiment and The Legendary Scot's March - Kilts-n-Stuff.com

see also the pdf The Scandinavian Service of British Isles Musicians ca. 1520-1650Alexia Grosjean

Prince Rupert's March

 bumph reads

It was published by John Playford in his English Dancing Master [1] (1650-1, and all subsequent editions, through the 18th and final edition of 1728), with the exception of the second and third editions of 1652 and 1657. Playford had Royalist sympathies, but his inclusion of a march honoring a Cavalier hero, noted strategist and nephew of Charles I was a challenge to the Protectorate government then in power. He may have received wise counsel to drop the tune/dance from the Dancing Master, until after the death of Cromwell in 1658. It was one of only two pieces removed from the first edition to the second, which was issued a year later. Music publishers on the Continent were under no such constraints, and "Prince Rupert's March" was published Bellerophon (Gesangh der Zeeden, 1648, with words), and in blind recorder virtuoso Jacob van Eyck's Der Fluyten Lusthof (1649, as "Prins Robbert Masco"). Chappell (1858) points out the march resembles "British Grenadiers (The)," albeit in minor instead of major key.

Yorkshire Droumes and Ffyfes

Pike drill

 Maniement du mousquet et maniement de la pique "L'Art Militaire pour l'Infanterie [...]" de Johann Jacobi von Wallhausen (16..-17..), Leewarden, Claude Fontaine, 1630

Wars of Louis Quatorze: Musket and pike drill

To drive the cold winter away

 English. The melody was published in 1651, but may well be older: a related Scottish ballad appeared in 1567. Arranged here for tambourine, accordion, theorbo, violin, cello, tin whistle and drum.

 All Hail to the Days (Drive the Cold Winter Away) - Wikipedia

Prussians at Leuthen by Regiment Piechoty von Treskow Nr 32

 (2) Facebook

Prussian soldiers in winter uniform in the field of Leuthen. "Zugeknopfte" regimental coats with sword belts on top. Woolen breeches and woolen, white gloves, made according to the Reglement.

From left to right: Musketier of IR von Treskow, Grenadier from IR von Fouquet, Gefreiter of IR von Treskow.

NB. Each one of us here have different muskets, from left: Prussian M1723, M1740, Saxon M1745 (bought and stolen by Prussians frequently during 7YW)

fot. Mariusz Iwanowski

Royal Armouries

 A glimpse into the life of our conservation team, and how they are repairing this 17th century matchlock from the Littlecote Collection.

Reading 1688

 Today's anniversary is one of the few skirmishes in the Glorious Revolution. Wars of Louis Quatorze: Reading or the Battle of Broad Street 1688 by Daniel Defoe. 

Battle of Reading (1688) - Wikipedia

Nantwich Battle Saturday 24th January 2026

 The annual winter battle for the Sealed Knot.

Another of my ECW drawings put through AI

 Ralph Mitchard.

WALLENSTEIN (1978): parts 1-4

 No subtitles unfortunately. Wallenstein (1978) – Wikipedia

Der Pappenheimer (German, early 17th Century) - Fife & Drum

 Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim - Wikipedia

The battle of Breitenfeld, 1631 year. Gottfried Pappenheim's cuirassiers attack Gustav II Adolf's Musketeers.

 Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) - Wikipedia

Clear Victory - "Nun danket alle Gott" ("Leuthen Chorale") - Fife, Drum & Hautboys

 JGBaroque says

This is a fife and drum arrangement I made of the German chorale "Nun danket alle Gott" ("Now Thank We All Our God"). It is attributed to Johann Crüger, a German composer and publisher, who published it in 1647. It was allegedly sung by the Prussian troops after their victory at the Battle of Leuthen in 1757. The arrangement also includes oboes ("hautboys"), a common military instrument at the time. This is the second victory theme of a total of three, each on the same melody, but in ascending pomp.

Leuthen 1757

 

image Hessian Guard (2) Hessian GUARD, Hessische GARDE | Facebook

Today's anniversary is Frederick's famous victory. Battle of Leuthen - Wikipedia

Swarkestone Bridge 1745 by Henrik Bjørn Bøgh (photo Mark Price)

 Today in 45 was the furthest south (Derby) that Charles Edward Stuart and his army reached. They used to have an annual event commemorating it. Swarkestone Bridge - Wikipedia

English Civil War Firelock Ralph MItchard and AI

 Can you tell I am enjoying this? New life into old drawings. 

The Pretender's Troops Entering Altrincham at Dawn by Tom Colley.

The painting "The Pretender's Troops Entering Altrincham at Dawn" by Tom Colley, 1865–1902, is a significant piece housed in the Trafford Local Studies Centre in Sale. This artwork depicts the Jacobite Uprising against the English Crown, specifically the march of Charles Edward Stuart, also known as 'The Young Pretender' or Bonnie Prince Charlie, into Altrincham. The painting is a historical record and a charming work that captures the scene as it would have been experienced by the maker over a century after the event. It is a testament to the Jacobites' ambition and their use of Highland soldiers accustomed to harsh conditions. The painting is part of the Trafford Local Studies Collection and is available for public viewing and appreciation. 

Art UK

Rebel shot Ralph Mitchard and AI

 

Jacobite declaration of war

 Printed handbill from Lord John Drummond, Scottish Commander, 2 December, 1745 (SP 54/26/90B)

DECLARATION

Lord JOHN DRUMMOND Commander in Chief of his most Christian Majesty’s Forces in SCOTLAND.

WE Lord JOHN DRUMMOND, Commander in Chief of his most Christian Majesty’s Forces in SCOTLAND. Do hereby Declare, that we are come to this Kingdom, with Written Orders, to make War against the King of ENGLAND, Elector of HANOVER, and all his Adherants, and that the positive Orders we have from his most Christian Majesty are to attack all his Enemies in this Kingdom, whom he has Declared to be those who will not immediately Join, or assist as far will ly in their Power, the Prince of WALES, Regent of SCOTLAND etc. His Ally, and whom he is resolved, with the Concurrence of the King of SPAIN, to Support in the taking Posession of SCOTLAND, ENGLEAND, and IRLAND, if Necessary at the Expence of all the Men and Money, he is Master of, to which three Kingdoms, the Family of STEWART, have so Just and indisputeable a Title. And his most Christian Majest’s Positive Orders are, that his Enemies should be used in this Kingdom in proportion to the Harm they do or Intend to his Royal Highness’s Cause.

Given to MONTROSE, the second Day of December, One thousand seven hundred and forty five Years.

Tropper's sword Oxford Blues

 Troopers Sword of The Earl Of Oxford's Regiment Of Horse, Rare. SN 914 – West Street Antiques

by Graham Turner

Wars of Louis Quatorze: Earl of Oxford's Regiment 1685