"Coat Colours Part 4: dragoons, horse and the New Model Army" Topic

Part 4 of my coat colours of the English Civil Wars/ British Civil Wars/ Wars of the Three Kingdoms

This time looking at the regiments of dragoons, regiments of horse, and the New Model Army.

link

10,000 pairs of breeches "of grey or other good colour" issued to the NMA, according to Fortescue's "History of the British Army, Vol.1" – link – is that the reference you were thinking of?

It does make one wonder what other "good colours" were acceptable!

GurKhan, thank you. That's the quote, I didn't see it there though (I'm still none the wiser where I did). Anyone know the source material for this quote (Google books doesn't show the references pages)

It crops up in several books.

The original source is the Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1649-50; Firth in Cromwell's Army gives the reference "p.343" for what I think is this same passage, or it's online at link

Agreement between the Council of State and Rich. Downes, for furnishing 16,000 coats and breeches for soldiers in Ireland:
1. Within a fortnight after date, Downes to deliver 2,500 coats and as many breeches, and every week after 2,500 more, until the 16,000 are delivered.
2. The coats to be made of Coventry or Gloucester cloth of Venice color, red shrunk in cold water, all three-quarters and a nail in length, with tape strings, and bound about with the same.
3. The breeches to be made of grey or other good colours, of Reading or other good cloth, 12,000 to be three-quarters and a half in length, and 4,000 three-quarters and a nail, well lined, and with hooks and buttons.
4. As it is impossible that, in so great a quantity, all can be precisely like the pattern, none shall be worse, and such as the Council shall appoint to view shall have power to refuse any they like.
5. Downes to find cloth and ropes for packing, and deliver them at the waterside.

Clearly when I said "10,000" I was mistaken.

You star! Thank you

Another thing – facings. You say in the blog:

"Red lined blue – all other coats references for other regiments are just ‘red'."

Kishlansky ( link ), and indeed many others, quote a report in the newsletter "Perfect Passages" for 7 May 1645, saying:

"The men are Redcoats all, the whole army only are distinguished by several facings of their coats"

So it looks as if in 1645 the regiments were distinguished by coloured linings, even if we don't know what those colours were. The 1649 agreement, however, makes no mention of linings at all.

I have seen a number of references to different coloured linings but apart from the Lord General's Regiment I haven't seen a lining referenced to a specific regiment.

Which is why I wrote 'red'

And I'm not saying you're wrong, I just wondered if it was worth citing the "Perfect Passages" report – and am starting to wonder what happened to the linings in 1649!

Agreed, I toyed with the idea, not sure why I didn't.

Linings? I have started wondering if there is a correlation between the numbering of the NMA regiments (and their coat linings) with the British Army regimental number system (and their facings). But as we only have Fairfax's blue linings to go on, it doesn't take us very far.

I also wondered if the blue lining and connection to the Lord General translated to blue facings for Royal regiments.

Hi KYPD,

Re Sir Thomas Aston's dragoons, the information is from one of the BCW contributors who has had access to unpublished Aston family records.

Thanks Timbo, information updated

And thanks again GurKhan, I've updated the breeches information and added the coat linings reference

We have some references to coat linings such as those raised in Essex usually have blue.

Robarts Red with yellow at least at Edgehill.

Lots can be found in Old Robin's Foot pub Caliver.

Hi Timmo, these linings are purely for the NMA. Other linings (and coat colours) are listed in my Parliamentarian coat colours post.

Old Robin's Foot is absolutely superb, one of my favourite 'ECW' books.

These coat color links are an invaluable resource. Thank you for your time and effort in making these available.

You are welcome Takeda.

Some more, referenced, additions for Royalist RoH and RoD

And of course, the blue linings for the NMA Lord General's RoF has been debunked (because it is incorrect)