This diary of the English Civil War is the only first-hand account by a participant on the King's side who was not an officer. The diarist, Richard Symonds, was a royal Lifeguardsman for the crucial two years of 1644-5, which included the battle of Naseby and the Royalist defeat. This reissue with a new, informative introduction takes full account of the transformation of our knowledge of the diarist and the Civil War and will be invaluable to scholars and students of the English Civil War, as well as to local historians, war-gamers and Civil War reenactors.