Earl of Athol, Scottish Shiltron

Earl of Athol, John of Strathbogie (c. 1266 – 7 November 1306 he was warden and Justiciar of Scotland. He fought for King John Baillol the Scottish side at the battle of Dunbar 1296, where he was captured along with 150 knights and Squires, he then served Edward I in the Flanders campaign. He joined Robert the Bruce’s rebellion in 1306 and was present at the coronation of Robert. He fought at the battle of Methven in 1306 and was taken prisoner, sentenced to hang by Edward I. He was  hung in London tower, then his body was burnt and his head fixed on London bridge.

His Son David, 10th Earl of Strathbogie rebelled against Robert the Bruce and was banished, he joined the English camp, along with other Scots who backed the Comyn/Baillol cause. In 1325 he was commander of the English troops in Gascony.

Miniatures are a mix of claymore and Anteluvian miniatures. I must pick up some more purple flowers but I cannot remember who make these ones......

Cheers

Matt

Maine medieval Infantry

Maine medieval infantry, ready to repel The Norman invaders.

At French Wargame Holidays We offer a “Walk the battlefield in the morning, and Wargame in the afternoon”©️ tour and Wargame of the siege of Saint Suzanne, we tour the chateau with its eleventh century Donjon and the amazing Norman siege camp that still remains.

Tour Details
https://www.lhoteldeherce.fr/wargames-battlefield-tours-2

Cheers
Matt

The Black Prince Edward III

If you have been following you will know that this year I am adding to my Early 100YW armies   using predominantly Claymore, Old Glory and selected Perry and Crusader miniatures, I have around 120 figures to add to my English, Scots, Bretons and French. I want to be able to fight the battles predominately in the west close to my house and relating to our wargamer "walk the Battlefield in the morning, Wargame in the afternoon" tours and wargame holidays in France.

In addition one of my goals this year I will  be also building a historical 14th century chateau for my TTSFN (total Terrain System For Now) table.

Edward the Black Prince, a miniature sculpted by the Perry twins. Released by Warhammer Historical quite a long time ago. I painted it for the “Metal” painting competition on the guild Wargamers forum.


We visited the Poitiers battlefield last September and walked quite a bit of it. The signs need some work but happy to see it not completely surround by houses.

Nearby I would recommend visiting Abbaye Saint-Junien de Nouaillé-Maupertuis in the valley. A wonderful Fortified medieval Abbaye with many stages of construction, much of the grounds are walkable. A book on the Battle and the Abbaye is available in French at the L’Hotel de Ville located in the Abbaye gatehouse.

Cheers

Matt

28mm Dark Age Breton Coloni Infantry

Finally back into a rhythm of painting after assembling 200 odd perry miniatures 100YW miniatures, it truely has been a slog. I also completed a number of Celts also, and finally had an opportunity to undercoat them. I also managed to get some time for some painting yesterday and today completing another two units with another three close behind.

The latest off the desk some more Bretons for my Kingdom of Domnonée dark age army 4th to 11th century, although this unit could double as Maine or Anjou also.

Cheers

Matt

Saint Crispins day

On a cool misty autumn day 604 years ago a small English army knelt in prayer on Saint Crispin's day, awaiting the outcome of the heralds parley.

 For several weeks the English army had been on the move, harassed by the French, now it was time for a stand near the village of Azincourt. The French western army had finally caught up with them. 

Soon violent battle would begin and flower of French Nobility would be laying dead upon the plowed fields. One of the greatest victories of the 100 years war would be over, and a period of English dominance would begin. 

Words made famous by Shakespeare's play Henry V. 

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,

And say “These wounds I had on Crispin's day.”

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,

But he’ll remember, with advantages,

What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,

Familiar in his mouth as household words-

Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-

Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered-

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition;

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed

Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

I hope very soon to make a pilgrimage to the new museum at Azincourt. I was lucky enough to have visited London tower for the 600th anniversary and seen the grand Perry display, then attended Henry V at the Barbican. 

The image above I use on my blog header and sums up that early morning.

Cheers

Matt

Battle of Neville's Cross 1346

This week we hosted two Australians at L'Hotel de Hercé, "Baron" Ricson and Doc Smith, we had quite a full tour schedule but did put aside a wargames day in the petite Salon.

The good Baron wanted to play a medieval game based on his Scottish heritage and Wednesday was the anniversary of the battle of Neville's Cross. I have quite a large collection of late 13th and early 14th century Scot and English armies, with a wide range of manufacturers miniatures in the collection, primarily Claymore miniatures, with a mix of Old glory, in the Scot army and Claymore, old glory, Crusader, Foundry, Mirliton, Anteluvian, and fireforge in the English army. We used Advanced Impetus rules, I find they work very well especially if you like a result in under three hours of game play, both players were relatively inexperienced playing the rules but quickly picked them up.

We set up historically, with the English closest to the castle and city, and the scots at the top of the valley on a small ridge line. The English won the opening roll and advanced, the opening round of archery from them was quite devesating, causing casualties along the Scot skirmish and archery line. The infantry line advanced twice, passing the woods on the left flank, the Scots then launched set ambushes of light javelin and highlanders. In the second round the English continued to advance and in this round the English longbow drove back the scots to their own lines, the return fire from the scots lights done more damage removing a whole base. Turn three the English won initiate again, moving the line forward and manoeuvring around the woods in the centre, and charging the Scot lights in the woods, who fell back. Turn four the scots won initiate, the archery doing very little damage, so decide to advance off the hill and attack the disordered English line, some success but not enough, the English the new elected to engage the scots, who now were disordered on thier right, so not in schiltron, and great murder was done, only the kings base did not recoil. Turn five seen the English left flank crumble under the scotish onslaught and things were looking up, but the resulting combat on the English right seen King David captured and the whole Scottish army leave the feild as a result.

Byzantine Army

Hot of the painting desk today, the last remaining figures oof a Byzantine army commision of over three hundred figures. Painted for a long term Australian client Colin. Colin visited us in France this year at L'hotel de Herce for our personalised guided battlefeild tours of the Loire, Brittany and Normandy. We had the opportunity to walk the battlefeilds then wargame it on the tabletop at Herce Salon de Guerre. Miniatures are from Eureka miniatures and based for impetus.

You can book our military history tours and wargame holidays ith us direct here

Liveries of the War of the Roses

 Compiled Liveries of the War of the Roses

I have been putting together liveries of knights and lords that I have come across while researching WOTR, all I have compiled so far.

Edward Neville, Lord Abergavenny [d.1476] – green and white

William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel [d.1487] – red and white

John Touchet, Lord Audley [d.1490] – yellow and red

John, Viscount Beaumont [d.1460] – white

William, 7th Lord Berkeley [active until at least 1483] – red

John Bouchier, Lord Berners [d.1474] – yellow and green

Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham [d.1460] – black and red

(also Henry Stafford d. of Buckingham, d.1483).

Sir Thomas Burgh/Borough of Gainsborough [d.1496] – blue

George, Duke of Clarence [d.1478] – murrey and blue

Thomas, Lord Clifford [d.1455] – white

Brooke, Lord Cobham [Edward d. 1464, John d. 1515] – black and red

Sir Marmaduke Constable [d. 1518] – red

Sir John Conyers [d.1490?] – white

Sir Richard Croft [d.1509] – white and blue

Randolf/Ranulph Lord Dacre of Gilsland [d.1461] – four stripes barry yellow and blue

Sir Richard Fiennes, Lord Dacre of the South [d.1483] – white

Thomas Courtney, Earl of Devon [1st, d.1458, 2nd d.1461] – red

Digby family – blue

Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset [d.1501] – white and dark red [murrey]

(also known as 3rd Lord Grey, 8th Lord Ferrers, Earl of Huntingdon in 1471, Marquis of Dorset in 1475)

Edward, Earl of March/Edward IV [d.1483] – Blue and Murrey

Edward, Prince of Wales [d.1471] – red and black

Henry Bouchier, Earl of Essex [1st d.1483, 2nd d.1529] – black and green

Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter [d.1475] – white and red

William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, Earl of Kent [d.1463] – white and blue

Walter Devereaux, 7th Baron Ferrers [d.1485] – white and red

Sir Edward Grey, 2nd Lord Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby [d.1461] – green

Sir John Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter [d.1461] – blue

William Bourchier, Lord Fitzwaurin or Fitz-Warine [still active 1469] – white and red [?]

Henry Lord Grey of Codnor [d.1496] – red and green

Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin and Earl of Kent in 1465 [d.1490] – red

Sir James Harrington [d.after 1497] – black [?]

William, Lord Hastings [d.1483] – dark red [or purple] and blue

Henry VI [d.1471] – white and blue

Henry VII – white and green

William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke [d.1469] – blue and red

John Howard, Duke of Norfolk [d.1485] – red

Thomas Howard [d.1524] – red and white

Thomas Talbot, Viscount Lisle or L'Isle [d.1470] – blue

Robert, 3rd Lord Hungerford and Lord Molynes [d.1464] – red and green

Francis, Viscount Lovell [died after 1487?] – blue and yellow

Thomas Fitzalan, Lord Maltravers, 12th Earl of Arundel in 1487 [d.1524] – black

John Neville, Lord Montague, earl of Northumberland 1464-1470 [d.1471] – red and black

Walter Blount, Lord Mountjoy – blue

John Neville 2nd Earl of Westmoreland [d.1461] – black and red

John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk [Ist d.1461, 2nd d.1476] – blue and red

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland [2nd earl d.1455, 3rd earl d.1461, 4th earl d.1489] – red and black

John De Vere, Earl of Oxford [Ist d. 1462, 2nd d. 1512] – orange or orange tawney

John Paston [d.1479] – red

Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke [d.1495] – white and green

Edward Poynings [active in 1485] – red

Richard of Gloucester/Richard III [d.1485] – murrey and blue

Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers and Lord Scales [d.1483] – green [but noted as blue and tawney at a tournament of 1478]

Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers [d.1491] – green

Thomas, Lord Roos [d.1464] – blue and yellow

Edmund, Earl of Rutland [d.1460] – murrey and blue

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, 2nd Earl of Westmoreland, [d.1460] – red and black

John, Lord Scrope of Bolton [d. 1498] – white

John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury [1st d. 1460, 2nd d. 1473] – red and black

Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset [d.1464] – white and blue

Thomas, Lord Stanley later Earl of Derby [d.1504] – orange tawney and green

William Stanley [d.1495] – red

John De La Pole, Duke of Suffolk [d.1491] – blue and yellow

Humphrey Talbot [active until at least 1483] – black and white

Rhys Ap Thomas 'The Raven' [active until at least 1485] – white

Richard Tunstall [d.1491] – black and white [?]

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick [d.1471] – red

Lionel, 6th Lord Welles [d.1461] – black and red?

John, Lord Wenlock [d.1471] – white

Henry Willoughby – blue

Robert, Lord Willoughby [d.1501] – red and white

Richard, Duke of York [d.1460]- blue and white

John, Lord Zouche [d.1526] – black and murrey

Town contingents and militias:

1455 Coventry – green and red

1461 Rye – red

references

Standards, Badges and Livery colours of the wars of the Roses, Pat McGill, Freezy Water publications
Barry Slemmings, Hobilar Magazine, Lance and Longbow society

cheers

Matt

Barons Wars - Lewes 14th May, 1264, Order of battle

For several years now I have been trying to put together a knights roll for the battle of Lewes in 1264, I had this on the "lance and Longbow forum" for some time, but I have decided to move it here for ease of updating. I plan to add the coat of arms of each knight, and the peerage line if possible also as I get around to it.

Here is the list I have so far

Rebel Barons Army 400 horse 4400 foot

Right Ward
Humphrey (V) de Bohun
John de Burgh
Henry de Montfort
Guy De Montfort

Centre Ward
Gilbert de Clare (the red)(Earl of Gloucester)(lord of Glamorgan)
John Fitz John
William de Montchensy
Sir John Beavs

Left Ward
Nicholas de Segrave
Henry de Hastings (Constable of Kenilworth Castle)
John Giffard
Hervey de Borham.
Rober de Vere 5th earl of Oxford,
Geoffrey de Lucy

Reserve battle
Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester
Ralph de Horingunder (standard bearer)
Alderman Thomas of Pevelsdon
William Le Blound ( Baron of Ixworth, standard bearer, died at Lewes)

Unplaced Rebel knights
Richard de Sandwich (Bishop of London)
Geoffry Cuberle
Henry de Braunceston
Rodger Bigod (earl of Norfolk)
John de Burgh
Thomas de Clare
Sir John Beavs
Ralph Basset 1st Baron of Sapcote (sheriff of Lincolnshire, Gov of Northhampton castle died at Evesham)
Ralph Basset of Drayton ( and Basset, Died at Evesham)
Stephen Basset
John Beauchamp (Baron of Bedford, of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, died at Evesham)
William de Mandeville
Hugh de Despenser (earl of Premboke)
John Le Despencer
Rodger Le Despenser
John de Burgh,
Robert de Ros
John de Vesey
Richard de Vipont
Ralph Heringot (Welsh)
John de Burdeleys
Thomas de Astley (Knight of Astley, Warwick, died at Evesham)
William Maltravers
John Gifford
Anketinus de Martivall’
Ankerus de Freschevil
Richard Folyot
Stephen de Berksted Bishop of Chichester.
William de Birmingham (Baron of Dudley, died at Evesham)
Richard de Trussel
Robert Fitz Nicholas
Robert de Hartshill
Hugh de Neville
Walter de Colville
Adam de Newmarket
Baldwin Bake
Walter de Cantilupe (bishop of Worchester)
Giles de Argentan
Fulk of Deane
Harry de Hastings
Genculine de Bladesmere (Baron Badlesmere)
Rodger Bertram (Barons of Bertram and Midford)
Captured at the siege of Northampton, before Lewes;
Simon junior de Montfort, Peter de Montfort, Piers de Montfort, Robert de Monfort, Adam of Newmarch, Baldwin Wake, William Marshall, William de Ferrers, Rodger Bertram de Mitford, Simon FitzSimon, Reginald de Waterville, Hugh Gebyon, Philip de Drieby, Thomas Maunsel, Rodger Boteville, Robert de Newington, Grimbald Pauncefot, William de Furnival, William de Warre, Guy du Lewknor (azure three chevrons argent), John de Dykelynge, Hugh de Pembrigge, William de Harecurte, William de Gyleford, John Esturney, Richard de Caleworth, Ralph Peroth, Ingram de Baillol, Guy Russell (steward of the bishop of London), Richard de Hemyngton, Simon de Pateshyll, William de Wheltoun, Eustace de Watford, Edmund de Arderne, Phillip FitzRobert, Robert Maloree, Rodger de Hyde, Andrew de Jarpenville, Rodger de Hakelington, William de Preston, Simon Waterville, Hamo de Wycleston, Roger de Monteney, William de Awngevin, Ralph de Diva, Philip de Daventre, Richard Everard, Ralph de Wodckyme, Rodger de S. Philibert, I d Rye, William de Lymare, Hugh de Twye, John de Boseville, Ralph de Brotton, John de Bracebridge.

Other Rebel Knights
Richard de Grey was holding Dover Castle.
Nothing is known as to the whereabouts of Walter de Colville and Robert de Toeny.
Reginald de Grey (holding the coast?)
Stephen Bersted (?)
Robert III de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby - pillaging in the south (known Templar Knight)
John de Eyvill?
Thomas de Cantilupe Lord Abergavenny?


Royalists 1500 horse , 6000 foot
Left ward
King Henry?
Humphrey (IV) de Bohun (2nd Earl of Hereford and 1st Earl of Essex)
Rodger of Leybourne (sheriff of Cumberland) (Marcher Lord)
William Basset
Phillip Basset (Justicar)
William de Axemouth
William de Wilton (Justicar)

Middle ward
Earl Richard of Cornwall (King of the Romans)
Prince Edmund Plantagenet (Earl of Chester)
Robert de Bruce (5th Lord of Annandale, and Lord of Hartlepool/Hartness, Known Templar Knight)
John Bailleul (Lord of Bailleul, Barnard Castle, Gainford and later King of Scotland, known Templar knight)
John Comyn (Scottish) Lord of Badenoch
John Fitz-Alan Earl of Sussex, Lord of Clun and Oswestry
Henry de Percy.
Guy de Bailleul


Right ward
Prince Edward
William de Valence (Guillaume de Lusignan, 1st Earl of Wexford and 1st Earl of Pembroke)
Guy de Lusignan
John de Warenne (6th earl of Surrey)
Hugh Bigod (Justiciar)
William I of Blois Earl of Warren
Phillip de Valence
Antony Bek (later Prince Bishop of Durham)

Unplaced Royalist Knights
William Bardolf (Baron Bardolf)(taken prisoner after Lewes) (governor of Nottingham castle)
Rodger de Clifford
Robert de Tattershall
Rodger de Someri
William Basset
Phillip Basset
Humphrey de Valence
Rodger Mortimer Lord of Radnor, Baron of Wigmor
Rodger Leyburn
Henry de Allmaine (brother of Earl Richard of Cornwall)
Peter Fitzherbet
Fulk Fitzwarren
William de Wilton
James de Audley
Alan La Zouche
William Maudit (or Mauduit), 8th Earl of Warwick
Amalric de Lusignan (not 100% certain, perhaps in France)
Adam de Grenville
Simon III de Senlis (not 100% certain, perhaps in France)
Ralph (of Stanstead) de GERNON (not 100% cetain, perhaps in France )
Geoffrey de Neville of Hornby Castle, Lancashire (captured at Lewes?)
Robert de Neville
Peter de Neville (Not Present, constable of castle)
John de Grey
Walter de Grey
Ranulf Dacre
Baldwin Wake
Adam of Jesmond, sheriff of Northumberland
Andrew de Peverell of Hampshire
Hugh de Peverell of Devon
Hugh de Saunford
Warin III de Bassingbourne and Blyborough
William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick (not 100% certain, may of been in the North)
James de Audley (Alditheley) (not 1005 certain, Governor of Castles Salop and Bridgenorth, sheriff of Salop/Shropshire and Stafford)
William II Longespée (2nd Earl of Salisbury, perhaps in the right ward with the other templar knights)
Walter de Burgh ( 2nd Lord of Connaught and 1st Earl of Ulster, not 100% certain, possibly still in Ireland)
Hugh de Baliol ( 3rd Baron of Biweld, county of Northumberland)


from various sources
Primary
Fine Rolls of Henry III http://www.finerollshenry3.org.uk/conte ... l_061.html

Secondary
Early blazon site of Lewes  and Evesham
the peerages of England Ireland and Scotland
Peerages
The Art of war in the Middle Ages by Sir Charles Oman
English Heritage battlefield report. Battle of Lewes.
The Second Barons War, John Sadler, IBSN 978 1 84415 831 7
The Pageant of England 1272 - 1377 The Three Edwards Thomas B Costain IBSN 0 426 12335 2
Battle royal;: A new account of Simon de Montfort's struggle against King Henry III Tufton Beamish


cheers
Matt

Sir William Douglas, Lord of Douglas and retinue

Sir William Douglas, Lord of Douglas 

This unit represents Lord Douglas and his retinue, the Douglas family were heavily involved in the politics of Scotland, either William the elder (longleg) or his sons Hugh or William (the bold) Douglas May of served at Lewes, but I am yet to find out conclusively.

Figures are a mix of Mirliton, Foundry, Gripping Beast, and Fireforge miniatures.

Cheers
Matt

John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lord of Lochaber and retainers

John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lord of Lochaber (died 1302) or John "the Black", he was present at Lewes, and stood by John de Balliol claim to the Scottish Crown.

The figures are a mix of Mirliton, Foundry, and Gripping Beast medieval ranges.

Cheers

Matt

John of Strathbogie, Earl of Athol

John of Strathbogie, Earl of Athol

Off the table for my Scottish medieval army, a mix of Claymore and one foundry and one mirliton miniature. Based for impetus, I intend to also use them for the 100 years war and the Scottish wars.

Cheers

Matt

Feudal Scottish Schiltron

Feudal Scots for my Schiltrons for the Scottish wars of independence. A mix of Claymore Castings very fine Scottish and English feudal ranges, suitable for the late 1290s to the mid 1400s, eventually I want to field 17 bases in the army.

Cheers
Matt

Heavy Metal WOTR Knights

Off the bench something I have been meaning to do for some time my heavy WOTR knights, I was spurred on to finish these lads when the “Guild Wargamers” had a heavy metal competition.

These fine figures are from the Front Rank Range, and have been sitting around for probably 5 years some party painted (the metal work at least), I got them out on the weekend, after making a decision at Cancon to re-base my WOTR army to impetus. I finished the standard bearer and standard off this afternoon as I am away on business for the rest of the week. The standard belongs to Willam FitzAlan the 16th Earl of Arundel.

Two more Knight units to come, one is on the table at the moment and may get done by the weekend, but they are slotted behind some other medieval figs for my Feudal army. So in the coming months expect a deluge of archers and bills as I re-base each unit. My liveried foot knights and standards especially need some work to be completed. I may even need to buy and paint some more figs to increase my army to 300-350 points at least!

Cheers

Matt

1st St Albans

The GVS members who have WOTR Medieval armies decided to get together to refight the opening stoush of the War of the Roses, the first St Albans. I spent the last week or so doing some research and refurbishing my WOTR troops (still not finished!).

I wanted to capture the main features for our refight of St Albans, so I embarked upon some research of the battle. The main features are the cathedral, the market square with the clock tower and the Great Cross, Hollywell Hill and the church of St Peter. I hunted through my terrain collection and came up with a 20mm Cathedral I use for my Arnhem collection, and I decided to build a tower out of foam card, the rest of the buildings come from my and Greg’s collection. The other main pieces we needed on the table were the three main lanes, Sopwell Lane (London Road), Shropshire (or Butts) Lane (as it lead to the archery butts in Tonman ditch)and New lane all leading off Halliwell street and of course Tonman ditch which was represented by a line of hedges.

I made up the army lists making sure I included the main characters of the battle for the Lancastrians The King HenryVI, The Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford, and for the Yorkist’s The Duke of York, and Earls of Warwick and Salisbury.
After the set up of the tables and the troops which took some time (two hours of chatting) we then went to lunch before a dice was rolled!
Greg commanded the Lancastrians and Bruce and myself the Yorkist’s, basically Greg’s troops defended each of the lanes with a unit of men at arms or billmen behind hasty barriers (needing sixes to hit them)and his Archers defending Tonman ditch hedges(also requiring sixes to hit). The opening three turns began with the massed archery of the Yorkist’s, cutting down large numbers of Lancastrian archers, then the Yorkist billmen advanced, finally contact was made, the Yorkist bill block on Sopwell lane had a hard fight with the Lancastrian Men at arms for three turns and finally fell back after failing a morale test, the Yorkist billmen attacked up Shropshire lane fighting for three turns also before fleeing whilst being chased by Lancastrian Men at Arms, this cause four other units around it also to flee! The Yorkist billmen attacking along New lane should of had the better of the shire bill but fled also but were all cut down buy the Lancastrians.

At this stage I thought that the Yorkist cause was lost so I threw the Duke of Yorks Men at Arms with himself leading along with the Earl of Warwick and the Army standard bearer against the Lancastrian Men at Arms holding Sopwell lane. They forced their way through and chasing the Lancastrians up the hill. The Lancastrian Men at Arms on Shropshire lane decided to charge the Yorkist archers who flee leaving the men at arms at close range to another unit of Yorkist archers who promptly cause 5 casualties in one turn!

Last turn, the Lancastrian Men at arms charge the archers again losing another three in the charge leaving only three men and Lord Clifford for the ensuing combat, no archers are killed and the archers manage to kill another Man at arms, Lord Clifford promptly surrenders surrounded by 30 archers! In the streets the Lancastrian Men at Arms rally and charge the Yorkist’s plodding up Halliwell hill, Somerset challenges the Duke of York to single combat both fail to do each other damage, the Yorkist Men at arms do murder though and the Lancastrians again flee, and are all cut down including Somerset, only The King HenryVI, and the Earl of Northumberland remain both surrender.


The game was great fun, we didn’t change the historical outcome but it was a near run thing, this game with a bit of tweaking and some more buildings it would make a great demo game I think. I think it has been at least two years since we had a WOTR game so it was time! I do think plate armour in WAB should be at least a three plus save, the archers done great damage on these heavily armed men who only had a five plus save.


Cheers
Matt