Men-at-Arms

Men-at-Arms are the most basic line-infantry fielded by the armies of Bretonnia. Whilst the Knights are the backbone of most Bretonnian armies, the peasants form the overall bulk. Some receive no training at all and are simply rounded up and pointed at the enemy. Men-at-Arms are probably the closest thing to a professional soldier a Bretonnian army can field. These soldiers are equipped and trained at the expense of their local Lords to fight on his behalf, with recruitment often starting at a relatively young age.

During each midsummer, commoners from the surrounding lands would flock to their Lord's castle to present their sons in the hopes that they might have the fortunes of being a Men-at-Arms. Fathers often do this as a way to bring honor to their family, and also as a means to give his son a better life. When the Lords comes to inspect them, the recruitment process would take the whole morning and afternoon, and by dusk, the luckiest and most strongest candidates are taken to the castle where they are given basic training and outfitted in the livery of their lord.

Upon joining, these new recruits are given benefits and opportunities that is near non-existent within the lower classes of Bretonnian society. Such benefits includes a wage, proper clothing and uniform, equipment, food and a place to live. Though the quality of these "benefits" can be questionable outside of Bretonnia, these Men-at-Arms are nonetheless better off than their relatives within the countryside.

While not terribly strong or skillful in comparison to other armies with the Old World, men-at-arms are adequate in providing the Knights with a body of troops with which he can safeguard his domains from outside threats. When their Lords are summoned to a distant campaign, these Knights would take as many of these troops with him as possible, leaving just enough to properly safeguard his castle and, if need be, shelter the local villagers until he returns. When not in a military campaign, these men perform routine task such as watching the borders of their domain and patrolling the lands as local guards.

Source
Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (6th Edition) -- pg. 53

Warhammer Fantasy Rolepaly: The Knights of the Grail (RPG) -- pg. 99