Royalist cavalry earned a well deserved reputation for ferocity from their first clash with their Parliament foes at Powick Bridge in September 1642 to the last major battles of the Civil wars. Drawn up only three deep, their tactic was to approach steadily then spur their horses into the enemy at a gallop, not using their pistols until they literallypressed the muzzles against the bodies of the Roundhead troopers. Well led, well motivated and superbly mounted, the Royalist horse was the terror of the battlefield until Parliament learned how to stop the ferocious charges and turn Royalist indiscipline against them.