Royalist Army in Exile

[1] Ultimately despite French resistance to the move, which Charles justified by his need to secure his restoration, and the status of the French-born queen mother Henrietta Maria, the Irish colonels all transferred into the king's service.

However some Irish soldiers chose to stay in French service despite their alliance with Cromwell, which led to the Royalists recruiting fresh troops direct from Ireland.

[2] James, Duke York was reluctant to abandon his position in the French court and military which he felt would serve the Royalist cause far better, until he received a direct order from his brother.

[4] A separate Scottish infantry regiment was raised under the command of Lord Middleton, formed of a mixture of veterans from the 1648 campaign and Glencairn's Rising.

In return for supplies and ammunition from their Spanish allies, the Royalist Army pledged to attempt to seize a port in England and launch a rising against the regime of Oliver Cromwell.

Many of the troops of the exiled Royalist Army remained at Dunkirk until it was sold to the French in 1662, serving alongside their former opponents from the Battle of the Dunes.

Charles II was in Continental exile following his escape from England in 1651. In 1656 his new alliance with Spain raised hopes of a military restoration to his British and Irish thrones.
Charles II's younger brother James, Duke of York commanded the Royalist Army in the field, notably at the Battle of the Dunes .
The Battle of the Dunes by Charles-Philippe Larivière , 1837. The Royalist cause suffered a major setback when the exiled army and their Spanish allies were heavily defeated at the Battle of the Dunes by a combined French-English force featuring New Model Army troops.