Hobilar from Wars of the Roses

 

This hobilar, or pricker, is typical of Wars of the Roses cavalry. He wears a helmet of metal padded with wool. His leather sleeveless jack has overlapping metal plates and is worn over a mail shirt that reaches to the elbows and to mid-thigh. His leg armour is made of plate and covers him from upper thigh to toe. For weapons he has a long but light lance, backed by a sword. Such men had many uses on campaign, but few on the battlefield.


from The Battle of Northampton by Rupert Matthews

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Book Description

Publication Date: 9 May 2013 | Series: Bretwalda Battles

A book dedicated to the Battle of Northampton, fought as part of the Wars of the Roses in 1460. In 1460 the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses seemed doomed. The Duke of York was dead, his sons in exile, his friends in hiding and his army scattered. Then Edward, the dashing new Duke of York, returned to England from Ireland and summoned his supporters to join him. Among those heading to support Edward was the Earl of Warwick, but at Northampton Warwick encountered a powerful Lancastrian army under the Duke of Buckingham. The four hours of savage fighting that followed changed the situation entirely and gave the Yorkists the upper hand. This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described.