The "Ironsides."
This epithet applied to the famous soldiers of Cromwell was at first used as a nickname of Cromwell himself. Mr. Picton, in his well-known life of the Lord Protector, quotes a letter from a Northampton gentleman, written just before the battle of Naseby. The writer speaks of King Charles's army as being much impressed with the news "that Ironsides was coming to join with the Parliament's army." And when "Ironsides" reached them the cavalry "gave a great shout for joy of his coming to them."