This book charts the fortunes of the armies raised by the Scottish Covenanters as they fight across Scotland, Ireland and England in defence of their cause and in defiance of their king. From the Bishops Wars to the surrender of Charles I, Ready to Bleed explains the motivations, leadership, and appearance of the Scottish forces as they campaigned across three theatres. As well as narrating their progress through battle, siege, and skirmish, the author explores the elements which made the Scots armies so effective at its peak, and the changing factors which affected its ability to sustain its early successes.

Presenting the civil wars from a Scottish perspective and setting that country's military endeavours into the contexts of both the domestic and wider political situation, this is a highly accessible volume combining both detail and pace.