A Yorkist longbowman at the Battle of Towton, fought during the Wars of the Roses, on 29th March 1461.
Archers played a key role in the eventual Yorkist victory at Towton, being among the first to engage the Lancastrian line with their armour-piercing arrows.
This longbowman wears a close-fitting, open-faced sallet for head protection. His argent and azure livery jacket bears the fish hook badge of William Neville, Lord Fauconberg. Beneath this are a brigandine, made of canvas or leather layers with rows of riveted plates, and padded ‘jack’ with long sleeves. The one-piece red woollen hose are worn with short leather boots. Strapped to the left forearm is an archer’s bracer.
In addition to the longbow, archers were equipped with sidearms such as swords, daggers and ‘buckler’ fist-shields for close combat.
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By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 