'News'. Horsemen of the New Model Army, 1645 (c)

Oil on canvas by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936), 1910 (c).

Three horsemen of the New Model Army receiving news from a fourth rider, on moorland. Soldiers who fought mounted on horseback were known as cavalry. During the English Civil Wars (1642-1651) they made up a third to a half of most armies. The men depicted in this painting are harquebusiers or light cavalrymen. A fully equipped harquebusier would possess a sword, a pair of pistols, helmet, buff coat, back and breastplate, and a steel gauntlet to cover his bridle hand.