Billmen all the way... trained in Mercia with a Master Spearmaker your looking at Valor 2 Billmen, and I'm afraid that normal valor Halbs are less useful in my opinion.

Billmen, Longbowmen and Chivalric Men at Arms make up the core of my High period armies, with a Mixed force of cav to round it off.

I seldom bother with the Militia tech Tree (except when dealing with the Swiss for their Pikemen).