This is the classic history of Cromwell's army, which has long been unavailable. It provides a detailed and comprehensive survey of the many regiments and their officers, beginning in 1642 with the raising of the Ironsides, who formed the nucleus of Cromwell's New Model Army. The two volumes examine the origins and history of the regiments, the careers and beliefs of their officers, the course of the Civil War, and the activities of the army outside Britain. Sir Charles Firth exploited contemporary sources to the full to build up this vivid composite portrait of the soldiers of the Civil War and the regiments in which they served. It is a matchless account, and an indispensable reference tool for all those interested in the English Civil War.