The “new modelling” of Parliament’s army was first proposed by Sir William Waller after his defeat at Cropredy Bridge in June 1644. Parliament’s armies were recruited from regional associations but soldiers were often reluctant to campaign away from their local areas, as Waller found to his cost when trying to control his mutinous London regiments. Waller proposed the formation of a national army with no regional affiliations and the idea was taken up by Oliver Cromwell in a speech to the House of Commons in December 1644. The Self-denying Ordinance was hurried through the Commons to sweep away the existing military high command and the New Model Army Ordinance was passed on 19 February 1645.<\/p>\n
Parliament’s new army was planned to comprise 22,000 men: twelve regiments of foot of 1,200 men each in the proportion two-thirds musketeers, one-third pikemen; eleven regiments of horse of 600 men each, one regiment of 1,000 dragoons (mounted infantrymen) and an artillery train of 50 guns. The cavalry were mainly veterans drawn from the armies of Manchester, Essex and Waller. The infantry included some veterans, with a majority of pressed men drawn from London, the east, and south-east. In Kent, some of the pressed men mutinied and had to be forcibly restrained. Parliament’s intention was to enforce strict discipline in return for regular pay \u2014 eight pence per day for the infantry and two shillings per day for the cavalry, who had to supply their own horses and pay for their upkeep.<\/p>\n
The infantry regiments wore coats of venetian red with white facings to identify the individual regiments (the New Model was the first British “redcoat” army). They were armed with matchlock muskets or pikes. The cavalry wore “lobster-tail” iron headpieces and chest armour over a thick leather “buff” coat. The troopers were armed with a sword and two pistols.<\/p>\n