| Active | 1642 to 1645 |
| Country | England |
| Allegiance | Parliamentarian |
| Conflicts | First Civil War |
| Type | Foot |
| Colonel | Earl of Essex |
| Area Raised | South East |
| Coat Colour | Grey |
| Flag Colour | None |
| Flag Design | None |
| Field Armies | Essex 1642-5 |
Parliamentarian Halberdiers serving as a personal guard for the Earl of Essex
A non-regimented unit of thirty halberdiers, they served as a personal guard to the Earl of Essex as Lord General of the Parliamentary army. They guarded the General’s quarters as well as serving in the field. One unusual duty was entertaining the King’s trumpeters during truces. They served alongside Essex until disbandment in 1645 but had been reduced to twenty members in early 16441).
They were equipped with halberds and 14 partizans and wore a unique uniform of a grey cassock liberally festooned with over 180 silver and orange buttons costing £4 10s for each man.
Earl of Essex (1591-1646)