ABSTRACT
With the raising of the royal standard on 22 August at Nottingham, amidst inauspicious beginnings, formal war was declared on the Parliament. After recruiting forces at York, the King had moved to Nottingham to increase his power, preparatory to a march on London and an anticipated rapid victory. From Nottingham, however, he marched westwards to Shrewsbury, to the rich recruiting grounds of Wales and the borders. The army of the Parliament under the earl of Essex, appointed Captain General on 13 July, was drawn largely from London and the Home Counties, and when mustered at Northampton (an ideal place for securing footwear for the men) on 14 September (six days before the King entered Shrewsbury) was superior in strength to its opponents. Morale was another question. The first real test for detachments of the two armies was to take place on 23 September.
