Quote Originally Posted by econ21
On the other hand, the fighting men may not have been that small. I vaguely recall reading about the skeletons of English longbowmen - six footers with oversized forearms. The report likened them to the professional rugby or football players of their day - big, powerful men. Plus I suspect they might have eaten a fair amount of meat and other food - more than the average peasant at least.

This probably goes for most knights and men-at-arms too.
Which makes me wonder why all those armours in museums tend to be very small?