Col John Lambert's Regiment of Horse

The first of four Parliamentarian Regiments of Horse get the great contagion lockdown spotlight shone upon them: Colonel John Lambert's Regiment of Horse

Part of Fairfax's Northern Association, they fought at Adwalton Moor, were besieged at Hull, fought at Nantwich, Bradford, Hunslett, were besieged at Bradford, took part in the siege of York, Marston Moor (where Lambert was second in command of the Yorkshire Horse), besieged Knaresborough Castle, fought at Pontefract, and besieged Skipton Castle.

At Marston Moor Lambert's Horse were on Parliament's right wing, which took an absolute hammering from Goring's Royalist Horse. Lambert, and some of his men remained with Fairfax and forced their way through to join Cromwell on the left wing.

Painted by Alan Tuckey, based by my own fair hand

When Black Tom was appointed Captain-General of the New Model Army, John initially took over command of the Northern Association. Wounded at Pontefract, command of the Northern Association was taken over by Poyntz, and John loyally followed Black Tom to the New Model Army as Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. It is thought his Regiment of Horse continued as a unit under Poyntz's command in the Northern Army.

In 1647 soldiers of the Northern Association mutinied in support of the New Model Army. Poytnz was sent as a prisoner to Fairfax, and Lambert returned to take command of the Northern Association and restore order.

During the Second Civil War Lambert was Cromwell's second in command during the Preston campaign, and the invasion of Scotland. He is believed to planned the strategy for the brilliant victory at Dunbar. He then went on to fight at Inverkeithing and Worcester.

With the hard won peace his attentions turned to politics supporting Cromwell with the dissolution of Parliament. He then worked to establish Cromwell as Lord Protector, and was even suggested as a possible inheritor of the title upon Cromwell's death. He eventually fell from favour when he objected to Cromwell inheriting the title Lord Protector for life. He retired to his home in Wimbledon to garden.

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