Armies of the Sixteenth Century: The Armies of England, Scotland, Ireland, the United Provinces, and the Spanish Netherlands 1487-1609. Ian Heath. Guernsey: Foundry Books. 160 pages and over 200 illustrations. Hardcover. $40.00 plus $4.00 postage in the US.

Chapters include:

"A Note on Firearms" is a glossary to explain the most common names used for firearms of the period.

"Major Battles of the Period" this chapter does not include ever battle rather it contains descriptions of best documented or most important in terms of understanding the contemporary tactics. Battles are listed chronologically from Blackheath, 17 June 1497 to Kinnsale, 24 December 1601. The information included within the description had the combatants, generals, tactics, and OBs when possible or casualty counts. Further the battles deciding factors are discussed.

England 1487-1603 includes information on numbers, types and location of army and militia, organization under Elizabeth, definitions of ranks in army, cavalry and artillery, and a dicussion of tactics. There are forty drawings of men in uniforms, and 31 of flags and pennants each of which has a detailed uniform description as well as the contemporary source..

Scotland 1500-1603 as above has a general description of the army, its organization, training, artillery and tactics. Drawings of fourteen men-at-arms in uniforms and eleven flags each with a detailed description.

Ireland 1487-1603 discusses the background, "Potential Strength of the Irish Chiefs", Scottish mercenaries, Tyrone's Army Artillery and Tactics then goes into the English Army in Ireland. Figures include eighteen men-at-arms and 12 flags.

The United Provinces 1566-1609 includes "The Dutch Army before Maurice" "The Evolution of the Army under Maurice of Nassau", "Foreign Troops" Army strength, Garrison troops, Artillery and Tactics. Figures include 24 men at arms and 25 flags. Finally there are four drawings and descriptions of seamen.

The Spanish Netherlands 1556-1609 contains sections on "The Army of Flanders", "Organization", "Non-Spanish Troops", "Mutinies", "Artillery" and "Tactics". Drawings include twenty-two uniforms and twenty-one flags.

Appendix: Sixteenth Century Artillery is a short description of types and uses of artillery for the sixteenth century followed by seven illustrations of period artillery in action.

Bibliography is as complete a list of sixteenth century contemporary sources on armies, weapons and tactics for the period as I have seen.

Unfortunately, due to the vast differences in sixteenth century record keeping and available documents the information is not always comparable but the information is right in front of you to decide yourself how best to use it for the formation of your troops. This is hardly the fault of the author.

Most of the men-at-arms illustrations include weapons and the text describing the uniforms also discusses the weapons and how they were used. If you have studied contemporary military art some of these drawings will begin to look familiar to you. They are not direct copies as Heath has made them all the same size (2 1/2" [63mm] from bottom of foot to eyes). Heath's figure drawing style is evident and his detail is refreshingly clear and understandable.

While the price may stop some from purchasing this book, if this is your period of interest you can't do without this set. And I do mean set, later this year will be a volume on sixteenth century armies of the Americas. Sooner or later there will have to be a volume on the armies of Europe, and maybe Asia and Africa.

Best news of all for colonial enthusiasts is a nineteenth century volume this year by Ian Heath on the armies of China and Central Asia. Several issues back I had a few drawings of Ian's accompanying the Russia in Central Asia article and they are really, really nice.

As I understand it by set I mean that it will include volumes like this on the armies, then rules sets and then possibly painting guides.

Other Reviews

Richard Houston Collection 25mm Colonials (figures)
Guernsey Foundry 25mm "Darkest Africa" range (figures)
Armies of the 16th Century (book)

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