Which Cause and Why?

[Nosher]

Great to see a resurgence on the forum of ECW Topics 

With that in mind who do you support and why?

[Nosher]

Its always been Parliament for me. I have never played Royalists other than when I've played both sides in a solo game.

Why?
I was first introduced to ECW in the late 80's at Detmold Wargames Club by a very old friend. WRG (R) and I played the Parliamentarian Forces.

My first army in 15mm was a Parliamentarian Essex Minis army.

[Ithoriel]

Cavaliers all the way!

How could one field a bunch of dour, fun-hating religious bigots when there are licentious roister-doisters to lead to victory?

[Steeleye]

My heart is with the King...but my head is with Parliament.

As with the ACW my heart is with the South but my head is with the North.

In a lot of civil wars there's no rear 'bad/good' guy, nothing is clear cut and both sides have something going for them.

If I was to play an ECW battle I don't think I'd be bothered which side I was on.

[Sandinista]

Parliament is my choice, no absolutist monarch for me - January 30th 1649 is a date that should be marked with a bank holiday 

Cheers
Ian

[FierceKitty]

Cavaliers. I don't care for arbitrary divine right autocracy, but military dictatorship is worse. And the Royalists have more poets.

[FierceKitty]

Oops, I agree with Ithoriel. Is it too late to change my vote?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Royalists have more style.....

And then there is the puritan religious bit...

IanS 

[Westmarcher]

I like to play both sides - its more interesting - different armies, different attributes (e.g., Montrose Army, Covenanters, Parliamentary with Cuirassiers, Royalist with more Horse, etc.) I'm not there to take a political stance. I'm there to recreate history (or not) with toy soldiers.  

[Ithoriel]

Oops, I agree with Ithoriel. Is it too late to change my vote?

"Even a stopped clock is right twice a day"

[FierceKitty]

My one says "He who live by frank march die by frank march."

[Westmarcher]

On second thoughts, I'll come off the fence - roister-doistering sounds a lot more fun!  

Huzzah! Down with those Roundhead Party Poopers!

[Bodvoc]

In my youth I was a Royalist sympathiser, now I am older and wiser I support the Parliamentarian force, although I still like the thought of fighting with Prince Rupert.
Interestingly one of the boys I teach is the direct descendent of Col. John Hotham who was very active in the civil war in Yorkshire, he still lives in the same mansion with a portrait of John Hotham over the dining table!

[Steve J]

Parliament for me.

Well I grew up just outside of St Ives in Cambs that had a stature of Cromwell in the market square, so have always wanted to play the Parliamentarians.

[Subedai]

Always been a staunch Parliamentarian, but support the king. A strange statement I know but most of the early Parliamentarian leaders were not against the king only his ministers. Have a large 15mm version of Essex's Army of 1642.

ASIDE: Years ago I was told that at the time of the ECW it was an offence to call Parlaimentarian soldiers 'Roundheads' because it was considered derogatory. The word came into being because the apprentices who made up the London Trained  Bands were easily recognised by their 'pudding basin' style haircuts but the word has since been used for all Parliamentarian troops.

Also, I believe that the word cavalier was originally meant to be derogatory but when that didn't work the Parliamentarians began using the phrase 'shagpolls and rattlepates'.