  We study compactifications of the 6d E-string theory, the theory of a small
E_8 instanton, to four dimensions. In particular we identify N=1 field theories
in four dimensions corresponding to compactifications on arbitrary Riemann
surfaces with punctures and with arbitrary non-abelian flat connections as well
as fluxes for the abelian sub-groups of the E_8 flavor symmetry. This sheds
light on emergent symmetries in a number of 4d N=1 SCFTs (including the `E7
surprise' theory) as well as leads to new predictions for a large number of
4-dimensional exceptional dualities and symmetries.
