14C English terms for Soldiers

[Fearghus Macildubh]

On the website I showed in an earlier post, you can search thier soldier database by name. Just for grins I plugged in Michael and came up with about 150 hits. Now, this data base lists the soldier's name, status, rank among other information. This brings me to my question-men at arms are fully armoured horsemen, correct? The list shows esquires and knights filling those ranks. Then there are archers and armed archers. What's the difference? I know that a vintenar (sp), was in charge of 20 archers. Is there an equivalent for the foot soldiers, or did they fall under the men-at-arms when they fought on foot?

[RandallMoffett]

There is talk that armed archers were those with armour. The term in period referes often to armour.

The ones I see most are men at arms, armed men, hobelars, and archers.

All these levels are determined by wealth, a scale that Edward I issued and his son and grandson updated. The amount of wealth indicated what arms, armour and horse one was to own. The descriptions to me indicate that the men at arms are those who fit the Statute of Winchester wealth scale to have by 1320 a bascinet with visor, aketon, guantlets, COP. No mention is made of a mount but since often a men at arms is ordered with armed men in the same array it can be assumed the difference is a mount as the armed men specifically are to have basically the same equipment and in a few cases it is clealy stated they are to be fighting on foot. It is clear in some cases that the men at arms were not to fight mounted though which makes this definition more complicated but the fact their equipment is the same is a hard one to understand these terms as they are not used as one and the same in array commissions. It might be one was expected to be able to fight mounted if needed.

Hobelar is a light horseman. Some think they rode to war then dismounted. I have found a few accounts indicating them to fight with lances that might indicate mounted roles as well but I have never found anything definite. Archers are pretty self evident except to say you have types of archers of various levels. In at least Edward III's day they were to own a bow and two sheaves by Henry VI this was increased to padded armour and a helmet as well. Individual arryas in the 14th though often required armour as well, including gauntlets. You have levied archers by the generala array or commission of array and you have contract archers. Unless used for defence the array was to select the best archers in the town or county for war. Contract service seems to have been selected in some way like this as well. For home defence all males would fight so your quality would vary. It seems all soldiers were selected in this manner, men at arms, armed men, hobelars etc from counties and towns.

Vintiners were in all foot units. they have centiners as well over 100.

I have been researching recruitment the last few years full tiem so if you are looking for specific info let me know. I also have loads of stuff to read if you like.

RPM

[Fearghus Macildubh]

Randall,
Well, I finished reading "The Devil's Broker" a book about Sir John Hawkwood in Italy and that piqued my interest in the medieval professional soldier. Specifically, in those men like Hawkwood, who came from humble origins and used war as a means to move up the social ladder. I'm also interested in the expiriences of the common archer or armed man. If you have a recomended reading list, that would be great.

Thanks!

[RandallMoffett]

For soldiers lives and how the individual was incorporated.

Adrian R. Bell, War and the Soldier in the Fourteenth Century

Anthony Goodman, Wars of the Roses: The Soldiers' Experience

Cliff Rogers, Soldiers' Lives through History - The Middle Ages

Andrew Ayton, ‘Knights, Esquires and Military Service: The Evidence of the Armorial Class Before the Court of Chivalry’, The Medieval Military Revolution. Ed. A. Ayton and J. Price. London, 1995,pp. 81- 104.

Military organisation. I have lots more so if you get throught these let me know. These are some of the best ones though I know of.

H. Hewitt, ‘The Organisation of War’, The Hundred Years War. Ed. K. Fowler. London, 1971, pp. 75-85.

H. Hewitt, The Organization of War Under Edward III. Manchester, 1966.

Almost anyone could move up the social ladder but it was not always easy to make as much movement at Hawkwood did. Most soldiers did not make that much upward movement in status but it would not be uncommon for a yeoman or better off commoner to make it into the esquire class or for a middle level commoner to move to the upper levels of the class. I think the danger is to assume it was common and it happened all the time like Hawkwood. Most are much humbler improvements in status, sometimes over generations.

Hope that helps.

RPM

[Fearghus Macildubh]

Great, thanks!

Oh, I agree that Hawkwood is an anomoly. I wonder how many small farms were purchased or workshops built on the loot from Poiters or Agincourt? Or even the more modest chevauches?

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In at least Edward III's day they were to own a bow and two sheaves by Henry VI this was increased to padded armour and a helmet as well.

What is the source for the change in Henry VI's reign.

And how could you not list Powicke's Military Obligation in Medieval England.

[RandallMoffett]

Peder,

It is the re-issue of Henry VI's order by Henry VII in the 1480s. It is in the House Books of York, Volume II page, 662. 'All men in wards should have a jak, salet, bow, arrows and other defensive weapons'. I think it likely could be found in royal records as well but off the top of my head I cannot remember where I saw it.

I am not sure if it is new or a change from Edward III's time as some of his arrays are quite specific but appear only to be for that specific array or indenture. It might be that by the close of Edward III's reign that aketons or jacks and a helmet were required more often than not.

Duh how could I forget that! I completely forgot Powicke's work. Yes that is another must read for military organisation.

RPM

[RandallMoffett]

Here is an account I am using in my chapter on recruitment on a statute of Edward III's reign regarding the break up of wealth and the military service required.

On Jan. 9th, 1345 ‘has ordained that all men holding a lay fee shall be assessed to arms as follows, he who has land of the value of l00s. yearly shall be an archer and mounted. He who has land of the value of 10 l. yearly shall be a hobeler, armed at the least with a haqueton, a visor, a burnished palet, iron gauntlets and a lance (cum aketona pisario, paletto burnito, cirotecis ferreis et lancea). He who has land of the value of £25 yearly shall be a man at arms. He who has land of the value of £50 yearly shall have with him one other man at arms. He who has land of the value of £100 yearly shall have with him three men at arms. He who has beyond that amount shall be assessed at more men at arms proportionally: to give effect to such ordinance he has appointed William de Clynton, earl of Huntingdon, and those whom he shall depute, to inform himself by such ways and means as shall be expedient of the names of those who have such land of the yearly values enumerated, up to 1,000 l. yearly or more, after deducting all necessary services and reprises, in the county of Kent, and to arrest and imprison all those whom he shall find oppose him in the premises, also to certify by Midlent Sunday next, or on that day at the latest of all that lie does herein.’

Patent Rolls of Edward II 1343-1345, p. 427

RPM

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Yea, follows the rather traditional idea.

It makes one wonder how the inflation and greater accessibility to wealth following the great plague impacted the system. I guess one more question for the future.

Not sure if I told you or not but my paper went bust cause I just didn't care enough to get it done.

[RandallMoffett]

Peder,

Yeah that’s more or less how I figure it. It is fairly detailed though which is why I use it.

Regarding inflation I am sure it does change things. Have you seen Randall Storey's website? His section of arms and armour is very good and he does touch upon inflation in it a little. He studied with Anne Curry some years ago and I have found his work very useful.

http://medievalhistory.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/

Sorry to hear the paper is at a standstill. It is definitely a lot of work that’s for sure. If I can help out at all let me know.

RPM