His suit is made in a heavy madder red wool (a cheap colour to manufacture) and therefore common among Oxford Army ordinances. It is lined with white wool, has leather-lined pockets in the britches and is fastened by many large pewter buttons. It is of a simple and functional design: these suits had to made as cheaply as possible but were generally not of inferior quality.
Under his suit the Sergeant is would wear an unbleached, collarless, linen shirt
His hat is of brown felt, perhaps passed on from someone wealthier as there was a thriving second hand clothing industry in the C17th. It is decorated with a simple twisted cloth hatband.
He wears simple wool hose and latchet shoes which again would have been issued from central supplies to all soldiers.
The Sergeant wears a steel back and breast, a separate back and breastplate that would have fastened with metal catches or leather straps. It was an item issued to most Pikemen, but they were often shoddily made and gave little protection, so were sometimes discarded on the march due to their weight.
He wears a red sash around his waist as a symbol of his rank.
The sergeant is wearing a sheepskin around his neck to keep out the cold weather.
Just seen in the picture is the snap-sack, attached to his back with a leather strap across the chest. This bag would have been made from a length of heavy linen or leather, tied or stitched in place to resemble a sausage shaped duffle bag. In the snap-sack a soldier would have carried everything he needed to survive on campaign; a spare shirt and stockings, a spare shoe (they were issued in sets of three), food, a knife, bowl, spoon, drinking vessel, personal items such as a comb or some soap, a sewing kit, a tinder box, bandages, cards, dice and anything else he may have bought, stolen or "relieved" from its owner on his travels.
This sergeant is armed with a plain, standard Army issue, Tower Pattern sword and a halberd. The halberd was not merely a symbol of his rank. The head has been specially designed with three distinct elements; a hook which can dismount a rider or throw an assailant off balance, an axe for hacking, and a long point for stabbing. It was a very effective weapon.
© Copyright 1998-2007 Sir John Owens Regiment of Foote.
