Gentleman

The man in this picture is a gentleman of the 16th Century. A member of the minor nobility, possibly a knight or a well to do merchant or artisan, this man wears clothing that was very fashionable in the middle of the 16th Century. Note the puffed and slashed trousers, the decorative waistcoat worn over a plainer doublet and the elegant hilt of his rapier.

Harquebusier

Although gunpowder was evident in Britain as early as 1336, it was not until the late 15th Century that technology allowed for the invention of what we recognise today handguns. One of the earliest forms of handgun was the harquebus. It featured a long metal barrel, often hexagonal with a wooden stock and a matchlock firing mechanism. In well trained hands, the harquebus could be fired two or maybe three times a minute. It was accurate at a range of approximately 50 yards.

The Character shown opposite is an Harquebusier. He wears very little armour as he needed to be agile to be able to fire his shot and escape to reload. Just visible is the strap of the harquebusier's bandolier which held his shot.

Sergeant

The man shown here is a Scottish lowland pike-sergeant. His job was to ensure that the pike-block kept its formation and to relay orders from the officers. The sash around his waist designates him as an officer. It is yellow as that was the colour used by the Scots. He is dressed in the fashion of the day: Puffed and Slashed trousers in two different colours.

He carries a halberd which he could use to dress the ranks of the pike-block and on his head he wears a burgonet helmet which allowed good ventilation and had a peak to keep the sun out of the wearers eyes while still affording excellent protection.

Border Light Horseman

The man shown opposite is a border light horseman. These were troops recruited from the lawless lands of the Borders and were excellent horsemen due to constant raiding. In wartime they were used as scouts and light cavalry.

This particular horseman wears a chainmail shirt which affords reasonable protection without restricting movement too much. From a baldrick hangs a rapier sword which was the latest in sword design. In his hands he carries a light lance (Known in the Borders as a "Pricker Stick") and a small steel buckler. On his head he wears a Cabbaset or Spanish Morion helmet.