Colonel William Eure’s Regiment of Foot

Royalist Regiment of Foot raised in the North, accompanied the Queen South to reinforce the Oxford Army

• 4th June: Queens magazine escort.
• July: Storm of Burton on Trent
• 3rd August to 5th September: Siege of Gloucester
• 20th September: First Battle of Newbury
• December: Stormed at Alton Church? (det)

• March: Battle of Cheriton (det)
• April: Mustered at Aldbourne Chase
• June: Battle of Cropredy Bridge
• August: Battle of Lostwithiel
• October: Second Battle of Newbury

A white flag with a St George canton and Martin coat of arms (see Flag Illustration above) was captured by the Earl of Essex’s army sometime between Edgehill and Naseby. It has been attributed to this regiment as Lt Col William Martin was the highest ranking Martin known to have served in a Royalist foot regiment. Without further evidence, however, the assignment is rather tenuous. Carrying the full coat of arms on an ensign was frowned upon by heralds.

VJ writes: Apparently Lt. Col. Martin's Colour believed to be of this Regiment captured. Turmile Mss. Motto 'Vim Vi' Attribution unsure. See C.C.C. 2565 William Martin of Yorkshire an Attorney in York at its surrender. Not entirely convinced.

Peachey and Prince ²⁾ argue that Eure's may have benefitted from the July 1643 issue of clothing (all red or all blue): they were part of the Queen’s Escort from Yorkshire to Oxford and are possibly in Oxford on the 15th July when Wood notes in his diary that “all the common soldiers then at Oxford were newly apparelled”. Charles had ridden out to meet Henrietta Maria at Edgehill on the 13th, and had returned to Oxford on the 14th, so it is safe to assume that the escorting regiments of foot would most likely arrive a day or two after the Queen. Wood’s diary ends on the 15th July so we cannot be certain if the regiments of the Queen’s Escort had arrived in the city; Peachey and Prince suppose that even if the soldiers arrived later than the 15th they would probably be issued clothing from any remaining stocks.

From munition issues the regiment used matchlock muskets in 1643.

Eure seems to have returned north as he was was killed leading his Regiment of Horse at Marston Moor.

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642

• Colonel William Eure
• Lieutenant Colonel William Martin
• Sargeant Major Emanuel Gilby Ment. I.O.

• Captain Thomas Barner Ment. I.O.
• Captain William Metcalfe I.O.Yorks.
• Captain John Plumpton (2) + ment. I.O. (k. Marston Moor)
• Captain Henry Pullen I.O. Yorks.

• Lieutenant Thomas Ascough I.O. Yorks. to Sgnt. Maj. Gilby
• Lieutenant George Monkes (1)

• Ensign Robert Benson I.O. Yorks. to Capt. Plumpton
• Ensign William Lightfoot I.O. Yorks. to Capt. Barner
• Ensign Robert Pullen I.O. Yorks.
• Ensign John Richardson I.O. Yorks.

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642

WO55.458.18 26.7.1643 125lb Powder with match and musket shot to Lt.George Monkes. Signed Emanuel Gilby.

SP23.172.341 CHECK

Dugdale Visitation of Yorkshire 1665

Johannes Plumpton, arm, lethaliter vulneratua in proalio de Marston Moore adversus rebelles fortissime dimicans obijt anno. 1644

Loosely translated

John Plumpton, arms bearer, mortally wounded fighting in the battle at Marston Moor against the rebels and left on the field in the year 1644.

(Note, perhaps he was riding with Colonel William Eure’s Regiment of Horse)

• April 1644: 64 at Reading
• April 1644: At Aldbourne Chase mustered 3 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, 3 Gentlemen, 5 Sergeants, 9 Corporals, 5 Drummers, 59 Soldiers ³⁾