The London Lobsters, were a cavalry unit raised in 1642 and led by Sir Arthur Haselrig, a Parliamentarian who fought in the First English Civil War. The unit was one of very few units raised as cuirassiers, equipped in suits of plate armour reaching from head to knee. It had a somewhat chequered career in combat, but was credited with being one of very few Parliamentarian cavalry units able to stand up to the mounted charge of the Cavaliers in the early years of the war.
The unit was re-equipped as Harquebusiers in 1644, and absorbed into the New Model Army in April 1645, when Haselrig relinquished command to John Butler, and as was then the custom, it became known as Butler's Horse.
Sir Arthur Haselrig was a prominent leader of the Parliamentary opposition to Charles I during the 1630s. When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, he formed a regiment of "cuirassiers", who wore armour covering most of their body and became known as Haselrig's "London lobsters". They were one of a small handful of similar units, since full armour had largely been abandoned at this time. Most cavalry wore only cuirasses and helmets, while equipping a cuirassier was very expensive. In 1629, a their equipment cost four pounds and 10 shillings, while that of normal cavalry was only one pound and six shillings.
The "lobsters" were probably the last unit to fight on English soil wearing full armour, and one of the last in Europe. They were credited with being "the first that made any impression upon the King's horse [the Royalist cavalry], who being unarmed [unarmoured], were not able to bear the shock with them; besides they were secure from hurts of the sword..."[1] [2]
Haselrig's regiment formed the heavy cavalry in the army of Sir William Waller.
During the Battle of Ripple Field, Prince Maurice's cavalry outflanked Parliament's troops, to the west of the hill. In an attempt to try and halt the now dangerous Royalist advance Sir Arthur Hesilrig charged with his curraisers, however, was swiftly forced back. The rest of Waller's forces routed.
On following the retreat of Wallace's forces, they suffered 70% casualties covering the Parliamentarian retreat.[3]
The "lobsters" then distinguished themselves at Lansdown on 5 July, as part of successful action of the general parliamentarian cavalry.[4]
At the Battle of Roundway Down, on 13 July, they met a Royalist cavalry charge at the halt, using the 'Dutch' tactic of receiving a charge by firing while stationary.[5] After a brief clash they retreated in disorder, the Parliamentarian army losing the battle. Though they were defeated, the armour they wore apparently served them well; Haselrig was shot three times at Roundway Down, with the bullets bouncing off his armour. After firing a pistol at Haselrig's helmeted head at close range, without any effect, Richard Atkyns described how he attacked him with his sword, but it too caused no visible damage. Haselrig was under attack from a number of people and only succumbed when Atkyns attacked his unarmoured horse. After the death of his horse Haselrig tried to surrender; but as he fumbled with his sword, which was tied to his wrist, he was rescued. He suffered only minor wounds from his ordeal.[6]
This incident was related to Charles I and elicited one of his rare attempts at humour. The King said that if Haselrig had been as well supplied as he was fortified he could have withstood a siege.
At the Battle of Cheriton on 29 March 1644 the unit attacked a royalist regiment of infantry under Sir Henry Bard. Bard's unit had advanced towards the Parliamentary cavalry, but had moved too fast and were no longer in formation with the rest of the Royalist infantry. The Lobsters saw this and Haselrig led 300 of them against Bard's regiment. The royalist regiment was completely destroyed, with all the infantry either killed or taken prisoner. Parliament eventually won the battle.[7]
The standard, or flag, carried by the regiment is described as an anchor descending from the clouds on a green field, with the motto 'Only in Heaven'.[8]
"Sir William Waller having received from London [in June 1643] a fresh regiment of five hundred horse, under the command of sir Arthur Haslerigge, which were so prodigiously armed that they were called by the other side the regiment of lobsters, because of their bright iron shells with which they were covered, being perfect curasseers."[9]