‘Sir Arthur Hesilrige’s regiment of cuirassiers, called the Lobsters, were so formidable that the king’s naked and unarmed troops (amongst which few were better armed than with swords) could not bear their impression.’
Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon,History of the Great Rebellion, 1702–04
The 17th century battlefield was transitional, showcasing the emergence of early modern tactics and technology alongside medieval forms. Armored lancers and swordsmen still fought alongside the units and systems that were slowly replacing them – formed musketeers and cavalry units shedding obsolete armor, favoring a brace of pistols and a stout sword over the lance of old. The story of the knight’s obsolescence is one often told, but nobody has yet asked the question ‘Who were the last knights? Where and when was their final ride into combat before they vanished?’
Steel Lobsters: The Last Knights in England answers this question with a combination of uncompromising scholarship and narrative flair. Myke Cole, an award-winning novelist, historian, essayist, and veteran of war himself, examines the life and times of Sir Arthur Hesilrige and the short but dramatic history of his Regiment of Cuirassiers, known as ‘the Lobsters’ as they were encased in plate armour covering most of their bodies. It will cover their full history from the seeds of their creation in Hesilrige’s experience as a young cavalry officer, to their final defeat and decision to abandon their namesake armor in 1643. It will provide lavish detail on arms, armor, and tactics, but also cover the human story – the experiences of Sir Arthur Hesilrige, the men who served under him, and even those who opposed him.
In addition to the Lobsters’ background and a primer on 17th-century warfare, the book will dive deep on each of the battles the Lobsters fought in, providing an in-depth, tactical perspective of the English Civil War battlefield. Finally, although this amazing unit existed as the Lobsters for a single month, fighting in two or three battles, their story is the story of the end of super-heavy cavalry not only in England, but also the world and as a result, this book is also about the evolution of super-heavy cavalry, how wars were fought in the 17th century, the personalities, politics, and even spiritual beliefs of the combatants, and other units, battles and conflicts that helped set the stage for the Lobsters’ creation, how they fought, and why they ultimately lost.
As with Myke’s other publications, Legion Versus Phalanx, The Bronze Lie, and now The Killing Ground: A Biography of Thermopylae, which he is currently writing with fellow Osprey author Dr. Michael Livingston, he will rely as much as possible on the primary sources for the Lobsters amazing story, relying on secondary scholarship only when required.
