Mark Turnbull Author
@1642author
British Civil Wars enthusiast from age 10. FRHistS - Royal Historical Society. Author with Pen & Sword. Durham. 📕Biographies: Charles I's Private Life & Prince Rupert of the Rhine 🎬Podcast: CavalierCast - The Civil War in Words
⚔️Naseby 381st Anniversary⚔️ John Rushworth on the fates of the royalist women at Naseby: 'The Irish women .. our soldiers would grant no quarter too, about 100 slain of them, and most of the rest of the whores that attended that wicked Army are marked in the face or nose, with a slash or cut'.
On the anniversary of the Battle of Naseby, tune in to a previous episode of CavalierCast #podcast for more about the intriguing 'golden king' that was found near the battlefield. Leanda de Lisle discussed with me the possibility of it being part of the lost Crown Jewels. 👂 buzzsprout.com/1194917
⚜️CIVIL WAR TALK⚜️ On Tuesday 2 June I'll be giving a talk at Leicester Guildhall about these famous Royalist leaders. But there's more to the two men than their civil war allegiance. The parallels in their lives and careers are many and Rupert never forgot Montrose's service. 🎟️: tinyurl.com/yc473na3
🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️ This episode explores the life of Edward Massie, who conducted the 1643 defence of Gloucester. Richard Graham joins the show to discuss Massie's life & political journey from parliamentarian to royalist. Listen👂 buzzsprout.com/1194917 #CavalierCast #KingCharles #17thCentury
A quill and ink signed copy of Charles I's Private Life ready to post, purchased via my website. @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
📅#OTD 1650. Breda. Scotsman George Wynrame reports home that there are hopes that King Charles II will sign the covenant, but in a few words manages to encompass the the enormity of the act and the reason for opposition: 'although he is taught that this will make him guilty of his father's murder'.
📅#OTD 1642. Parliament received Charles I's reply about their desire to move the arsenal from Hull to London. Opening with his overdue expectation of reasons why they had placed a garrison in Hull without his consent, and soldiers billeted against law, he declared the arsenal his 'own proper goods'.
📅#OTD On this day in 1647, London. The House of Lords read a letter from Philip Skippon in Newcastle. As governor, Skippon had been waiting daily for an order to return to the army and appoint a deputy in Newcastle. He was in 'a very great Streight' and had even considered leaving without permission
📅#OTD 1646. Parliament heard the complaints of Col John Venn. He has dealt with mutiny in a 'high Measure'. The reason was that the men pressed into service by county committee were either the 'Scum of all their Inhabitants', captured royalists, prisoners, tinkers, pedlars, or vagrants.
📅#OTD On this day 1646. London. Parliament ordered all sheriffs, mayors, constables and army officers to apprehend all troops under the command of Major Babington in Leicestershire after hearing of barbarities committed by them.
📅#OTD On this day in 1646, London. The House of Lords agrees to the court martial of William Murray, a gentleman of King Charles I's bedchamber. Murray had been arrested on his arrival in London (from France) and imprisoned in the Tower. He had been found disguised 'by Hair' and using a false name.
🎙️Part 3 Released Today🎙️ New for #CavalierCast podcast: The three-part series ' Prince Henry & The Road to Civil War' PART 3: Steven, Gareth and Siobhan Keenan look at what might have been if Henry had survived 👂http://buzzsprout.com/1194917 or your regular podcast platform
🎙️THREE_PART PODCAST SERIES🎙️ New for #CavalierCast podcast Prince Henry & The Road to Civil War explores the life, character and beliefs of Henry Stuart, elder brother of Charles I. It culminates by exploring what might have been had he not died in 1612. #podcast 👂http://buzzsprout.com/1194917
🎙️NEW EPISODE - PART 2 OF 3🎙️ New for #CavalierCast podcast - a three-part series. Prince Henry & The Road to Civil War: Part 2 - Untimely Death Gareth Russell tells me about the prince's upbringing, expectations placed upon him, and his own beliefs. Listen👂buzzsprout.com/1194917
🎙️NEW THREE-PART PODCAST SERIES🎙️ Prince Henry & The Road to Civil War explores the life and character of Henry Frederick Stuart, elder brother of Charles I. It culminates by exploring what might have happened had he not died in 1612. Part 1 - Scottish Prince Listen👂 buzzsprout.com/1194917 1/2
📅#OTD 1644, London. At his house in Drury Lane, John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare, writes to the Earl of Essex, Parliament's Lord General with 'Humility and Submission'. 1/3
It was great to be back at Naseby on Friday, this time giving a talk to the Naseby Battlefield Project. Lovely to meet everyone, including members of Pickering's Regiment, Sealed Knot.
📅#OTD 1644. Oxford. With a Scottish army invading Northumberland in support of Parliament, Henrietta Maria writes to the Marquess of Newcastle. She is pleased that the Royalists of Newcastle are not yet driven to eating rats & jokingly adds .... 1 of 2
📅On 8 March 1649. #London. The Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Holland, Earl of Norwich, Lord Capell, and Sir John Owen await execution, having been sentenced to death for their parts in Royalist uprisings. Each man had petitioned Parliament, the Countess of Holland and Lady Capell attending.
In 1676, it was reported that various works of Sir Anthony van Dyck were in bad condition. Supposedly, Van Dyck liked to use tobacco pipe clay as a primer because it was as 'smooth as glasse' but he didn't live long enough to see the negative effects.
On the anniversary of Lord Brooke's death during the civil wars, #CavalierCast episode 35 is apt: What if Lord Brooke had not been killed - might he have succeeded the Earl of Essex as Parliament's Lord General? 👂https://buzzsprout.com/1194917 or your normal podcast platform.
📅#OTD 1644. London. Parliament discusses the 'good Affections' of the Elector Palatine. Though Prince Rupert's brother, the elector should have 'Expression' of reward. Princes Rupert and Maurice, however, 'deserves ill from this Kingdom' on account of their service in King Charles I's armies.
Join me next week - Tuesday 24th February, 7pm - for a free online talk to the 1st Marquis of Montrose Society. There are parallels in the lives & careers of the two most celebrated Royalist commanders of the Civil War. 📩 email the society to register: 1stmoms1650@gmail.com
📣Free Online Talk - Rupert & Montrose 📣 I'll be discussing these commanders, whose stories have more common ground than might at first be imagined. Tuesday 24 February 2026 - 7pm 📩Just email the 1st Marquis of Montrose Society to register: 1stmoms1650@gmail.com
👑#OTD 400 Years Ago👑 King Charles I's Coronation. William Laud, Bishop of St Davids, noted that 2nd February 1626 was a bright 'sunshiney day' and that the coronation went without interruption and in very good order. The ceremony lasted from 10:00am - 3:00pm.
On Monday 2 February at 7.30pm, I'll be giving a free online talk to the English Catholic History Assoc. Find out more about Frances Bard, her relationship with Prince Rupert, and the extraordinary (and contentious) claim that they were married. To register for the talk buytickets.at/markturnbull...
Biography now on special offer: Amazon kindle 70% off - £2.99 Pen & Sword hardbacks 50% off - £12.50 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Charles-Is-P... 'Based on extensive archival research, this more intimate look at Charles I is written with great verve, eloquence and clarity' Professor Andrew Hopper
On this day in 1649. King Charles I was executed in central London. The rump of MPs left in Parliament, following the army's purge, declared that no proclamation of a new monarch should occur. They abolished the House of Lords within weeks.
