Sir John Mallory’s Regiment of Foot

Royalist Regiment of Foot serving in Yorkshire as garrison of Skipton Castle

• March to April: Siege of Thornton (1 company)
• April: Skirmish at Skipton (1 company)
• May: Skirmish at Cawder
• July: Taking of Thornton
• July: Loss of Thornton
• November: Skirmish at Airton

• August: Besieged at Skipton Castle
• November to December: Besieged at Skipton Castle

The military command of Skipton Castle is quite confusing: Earl Henry Clifford, whose family seat Skipton Castle was, had been appointed general of the King's forces in Yorkshire. The Earl was not a military man and having had his forces depleted by the King, negotiated a truce with Fairfax. Clifford then requested to be relieved of his command but his request was rejected. Newcastle was encouraged to venture south with his northern army and Clifford relinquished command of Yorkshire to Newcastle. However Clifford was still required to raise forces for the king, and to do this he delegated responsibility to his cousin Captain John Hughes and to Colonel Sir John Mallory (who took the title Governor of the Castle upon the Earl's death in 1643). The Earl purchased 'red bayes and blue cloth for the officers' if not the men's surcoats and sashes, as well as ensigns' staffs and crimson and cerise silk for his emblems on their standards'¹⁾.

The Clifford's chequey emblem or wyvern crest are believed to have adorned the colours ²⁾.

Mallory was governor of Skipton Castle.

Colonel Mallory had been authorised by the King to raise a trained band 800 strong in May 1642. Captain Hughes's company (effectively Earl Henry Clifford's company who would garrison Skipton castle) only attaining it's full compliment by February 1643. Musketeers appear to have predominated this company as there is only one mention of pikemen (Robert Wardman died from wounds received from accidentally impaling himself on his pike) and no mention of halberdiers³⁾.