This is an illuminated drawing of a horseman from the late sixteenth century de Burgo manuscript. The horseman represented here is a typical example from the medieval period. Anglo-Irish settlers, including the de Burgh (or de Burgo) family, had made extensive use of cavalry to establish and later protect their territories. An interesting feature here is the adoption of Gaelic dress, for the horseman is shown wearing a Gaelic tunic, or cotún, underneath his suit of chain-mail.
Reference: Trinity College Dublin MS 1440 f.24r. By permission of The Board of Trinity College Dublin
