The Butler Did It -Billhooks

 

Here’s a side for a game of Billhooks Hibernia, the Butlers of Ormond. I wrote Hibernia for Andy Callan’s Billhooks Deluxe back in '24. Today Butler of Ormond has squared off against Fitzgerald of Kildare. Great Earls both. Butler mounted top of the page, and afoot below.

Fitzgerald of Kildare and his close affinity.

In a real life encounter Fitzgerald was down, injured and defeated. As the victorious Butlers carried him off the field they jeered at him, saying “ You are where you should be now.” Kildare agreed saying “Yes, still on the backs of the Butlers.” He hoped to live to oppress them further. It was that sort of relationship.

Note the Butlers. They are accompanied by a Nugent and two Fitz Patricks. The Nugent's were proper Anglo-Normans. The Fitz Patricks were formerly the Mac Giolla Padraig Kings of Ossory. They were passing for Anglo-Normans.  

Anglo-Norman is a misleading description for the Normans, Bretons, Flemings and Welsh who comprised that class of fellow.  Still, it is the common designation. The later designation Old English can be explained as they held from the King of England. As indeed did the Great Earls.

Above and below the Butler Kern. Kern come in Bands of six figures.

If you have a Galloglass unit 2 such bands are required. Two per Gallowglass.

The Butler Galloglass carrying a flag with a Butler emblem (Wine Cups). Hence the name.

Next, Butler Spearmen maybe. In fact they are QRF Wars of the Roses Pikemen. Continentals then. Nice figures and I think they will pass as colonist spearmen.

Above, Butler Billmen, below Butler archers .  I have used a straight lines multi base for both. I had a couple lying about. I think they work well for the Billmen who I can imagine closing up for mutual support. 

The archers less so. They don't really do volleys. It is aimed shooting on an individual basis. They need to freely move about picking targets. I will add I'm a flat trajectory fellow when it comes to this period. My archers will be on a dispersed base.

A solid Retinue.

In other news I have a copy of David Grummitt's Wars of the Roses Volume 1 The Triumph of York. I'm a wiser man for it. Moreover it is a good read. I had the advantage of knowing little about the period so was maybe less troubled by the growing pile of shattered myths. Good stuff and there will be an Irish focus in volume 2. My order is in.