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The
lighter cavalry or Harquebusier would ideally be equipped
with a back and brest-plate, a helmet normal of the famous
lobster pot fashion or a burgonet, a steel or leather
gauntlet called a bridle arm (to protect your left arm
holding the reigns) and possible a thick leather coat called
a Buff Coat made from buffalo hide, which was so think it
could turn a sword blow. He was armed with pistols and a
short barreled flintlock or wheellock carbine and sword.
However in reality due to shortages and costs a mish mash of
armour would have been seen on troopers from both sides,
sometimes with old mediaeval pieces bastardized to fit in
with the currant styles.
The other main group to use armour were the
infantry and in particular the Pikemen.
The gentlemen of pike were supposed to issued
with a back and breast with tassets, pot helmet and good
short sword. In practice this was seldom reached. Yet again
the lack of supplies and cost's involved often led to many
troops being completely unarmored at the begging of the war.
However as the war progressed and cheap foreign munitions
quality imports came in, more of the men were equipped. One
other factor that led to the decline of its use however was
the weight. When an army was on the march, sometimes for
months at a time these heavy pieces of armour would become
both cumbersome and tiring to ware day in and day out.
Consequently much armour was discarded on campaign in favour
of greater manoeuvrability and speed.
Some armour was also used by engineers and
snipers during prolonged sieges when operating close to the
enemy walls.
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