Pikeman
Pikeman had been part of infantry units for several hundred years, their purpose was to protect missile units ( firstly archers then musketeers ) from enemy cavalry. Their weapon was considered both noble and honourable leading them to be known as The Gentlemen of the Pike.
In theory the pikemans equipment consisted of ' A pike seventeen foot long, head and all ( the diameter of the staff to be one inch, the head to be well steeled, 8 inches long - broad, strong and sword pointed; the cheeks of iron 2 foot long well riveted; the butt end bound with a ring of iron), a gorget ( throat protector ), back and breast, tassets ( thigh guards ) and Head Piece, a good sword of three foot long, cutting and stiff pointed, with a Girdle and Hangers'.
In practice most pikes were cut down to use as firewood, most swords were blunt or broken from cutting firewood, very few wore a gorget and some had no armour at all - by the end of the Civil Wars armour had virtually disappeared from use on the battlefield.
By the end of the 17th Century the pike was no longer used at all, being superceeded by the development of the bayonet.
Today the Regiment will provide you with a pike ( these have no sharp points I hasten to add ) and has a few sets of armour that are available to borrow, until you decide to purchase your own. Pikemen can take swords onto the field provided they have passed the sword test however for safety reasons swords need to be removed when pike blocks engage.
In theory the pikemans equipment consisted of ' A pike seventeen foot long, head and all ( the diameter of the staff to be one inch, the head to be well steeled, 8 inches long - broad, strong and sword pointed; the cheeks of iron 2 foot long well riveted; the butt end bound with a ring of iron), a gorget ( throat protector ), back and breast, tassets ( thigh guards ) and Head Piece, a good sword of three foot long, cutting and stiff pointed, with a Girdle and Hangers'.
In practice most pikes were cut down to use as firewood, most swords were blunt or broken from cutting firewood, very few wore a gorget and some had no armour at all - by the end of the Civil Wars armour had virtually disappeared from use on the battlefield.
By the end of the 17th Century the pike was no longer used at all, being superceeded by the development of the bayonet.
Today the Regiment will provide you with a pike ( these have no sharp points I hasten to add ) and has a few sets of armour that are available to borrow, until you decide to purchase your own. Pikemen can take swords onto the field provided they have passed the sword test however for safety reasons swords need to be removed when pike blocks engage.
