English Civil Wars

Germany.

Swords were used by all types of soldiers and were therefore the most common weapon in the English Civil Wars. This hanger sword has a short curved blade that is sharp along the leading edge, and both sides at the tip. It is likely to have been used by a foot soldier.

England.

Each grey wooden charging bottle held enough coarse gunpowder to fire one shot. There are 11 wooden charging bottles as the musket is usually clogged after firing this number of rounds. The brown bottle is for priming powder which is finer and used in the priming pan. The pouch held musket balls, and squares of fabric to hold the powder and ball in the musket barrel.

England.

Lower in cost than the flintlock variety, matchlock muskets were the most common muskets in the English Civil Wars. Loaded via the barrel, the musketeer lowered a slow-burning match to the priming pan via the trigger to fire. This could only be done 10-12 times before the barrel became clogged and un-usable. They were unreliable and inaccurate by modern standards but terrifyingly deadly to people in the 17th century.

England.

Flintlock firearms use the spark generated from the flint striking the ‘fizzle’ to light the gunpowder. But this does not mean they are more reliable or accurate. In order to truly know that the shot hits the intended target, a point-blank range must be used. Pistols often came in pairs and are used by cavalrymen as the short barrel makes them easier to use whilst on horseback than the longer musket.

Europe.

Used to hold fine priming powder, these flasks were vital to ensure a musketeer’s success. They kept the powder enclosed, reducing the risk of accidental combustion. They also kept the powder dry and clean which gave the best chance of firing.

This pike may seem a simple piece of weaponry but it would take training and practice to effectively use in battle. In fact, this is a short pike; most were 16 ft (4.9m) whereas this one is 8.5 ft (2.6m). The pikemen protected the musketeers from cavalry charges and moved as a unit on the battlefield rather than fighting as individuals.

England.

Worn with a gorget and helmet, this armour was designed to protect pikemen. Musket ball-proof and maneuverable, the tassets can move with the legs to ensure the pikemen can move around the battlefield with ease. This armour has been painted black and gold.

England.

Used by cavalrymen to protect the hand on the horse's reins, these pieces of armour were also called bridle gauntlets. Not standard issue they were purchased by individuals.

England.

This is the typical harquebusier helmet. It gives great visibility and breathability for the soldier while protecting his scalp and neck. This pot helmet was also known as a ‘lobster helmet’ due to the shape of the neck protection resembling the tail of a lobster.

Worn to protect the neck and collarbone by pikemen. Usually plain and simple, some gorgets were elaborately decorated to show off. Made from 2 pieces that open on one side with a hinge on the other.

Germany.

Cuirassiers were heavy cavalry. The expensive armour of the medieval knight had been adapted to become musket ball proof, and was made thicker and softer. You can see the dents where musket balls have hit the armour on the chest plate. The changes also made the armour incredibly heavy and impractical; this example weighs over 56 lbs (25 kgs) but some weighed over 84 lbs (38 kgs). This form of armour was uncommon and the Harquebusier style of armour was more widely adopted for cavalry.

England.

Possibly the armour of Alexander Popham, this is the typical body armour of a Harquebusier. A leather buff coat which is slash-proof is underneath musket ball-proof chest and back plates. Although more easy to move in that full plate armour, this style offered less protection. A musket ball could go through the buff coat causing serious limb damage.

England.

Colonel Alexander Popham was a Parliamentarian commander who fought against the King forces around the West Country and the Midlands. He commanded the army that chased the young Prince Charles (future Charles II) into exile in 1645, yet he hosted the King for dinner in 1663. He collected what is known as the Littlecote House Collection; the world's biggest collection of English Civil Wars arms and armour, now housed at the Royal Armouries Museum.