While some military historians of the English Civil Wars continue to focus on the national conflict and major campaigns, and assert that the considerations of counties and regions was little more than a disconnected Series of petty local struggles, several new interpretations about the nature and effectiveness of local forces have challenged this notion. This book describes the parliamentarian armed forces in Cheshire commanded by Sir William Brereton in detail. Focusing on the military operations,organisation, leadership, pay and equipping of this army, it explores itscontribution to the wider regional context. In doing so it utilizes a range of primary sources, many of which have neither been studied before, nor published. Although an overview of the broad military campaigns, and the regional and more widespread strategy of the conflict are provided, the author concentrates on the leadership, context and nature of the regiments under the command of Brereton and his officers, whilst casting light upon the composition, supply, clothing, financing and effectiveness of what would rapidly become a seasoned and important fighting force, albeit mainly on a regional stage. The book enhances our knowledge of the Parliamentary war effort and civil-war forces in the northwest and beyond, whilst locating the Cheshire army in its wider military and strategic context. Several new interpretations about the nature and effectiveness of local forces, as well as how the parliamentarian soldiers in Cheshire were recruited, trained, led, paid, fed, equipped and clothed, are extensively scrutinized.