The armor of the period was made of steel plate, fitting and
completely covering the body. It was often inlaid with gold and
elegantly ornamented. Firearms had not yet superseded the old
weapons. Cannon were in use, to some degree, and also clumsy handguns
fired with a match.
The long bow continued to be the chief arm of the foot soldiers, and
was used with great dexterity and fatal effect. Targets were set up
by law in every parish, and the yeomen were required to practice
frequently at contests in archery. The principle wars were the civil
wars and those with France.