Murdoch McArthur
1380s Scottish Lowlander
I base alot of my portrayal on the battle of Otterburn, August 1388 (date is subject to contention 5-19 exact date unknown)
"The Battle of Otterburn is remembered as the fight where "a dead man won the field". A Scottish attack was made in Northumberland on Henry Percy and his estates, led by James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, on the 5 August 1388. During the fighting, Douglas was very badly wounded. He told his officers to hide him in a bush so that news of his mortal injuries would not sway the battle. The fighting continued brutally all through the night until Percy eventually recognised defeat and asked a Scots knight to whom he should surrender.
The anonymously-written "Ballad of Otterburn" romantically relates the knight's reply:- Thou shalt not yield to lord nor loon, Nor yet shalt thou to me, But yield thee to the bracken bush Grows on yonder lilye-lee. The battle was won by the Scots, though Douglas was dead. Henry Percy was to be the source for Shakespeare's "Hotspur."
My persona is Lowland Scottish nobility during the Hundered Years War (HYW), i'm also involved in the Marches Campaings between the Douglases and Percys.
During the HYW the Scots accepted French support when they wished to fight the English, getting French styles of armour, such as my Chartre's based arms. ON e such joint campaing resulted in the sacking of Edinburough in 1385.
Some Scots were also known to fight with the English against the French when it suited them. English styles of clothes and armour being common amongst the Scots as well, such as my Black Prince style spaulders. The Scot's did seem to have an affinity for tall back pointed bascinets, such as the one depicted in Sir Ralph Nevilles effiegy.
As a good Scot, I would have been on the Douglas side at Otterburn. As likely as not siwitching sides at Shewsbury where Hotspur was killed.
Murdock is from the Region north of the Chevoit Hills, likley near Roxburg and Jedburgh Castles along the river Tweed. Lathonia and March coverege in this area. Edinburough and York are both within reasonable travel for tourney. Though formal deeds of arms during conflict were not unheard of in Scotland, as The Earl of Douglas captured Henry Hotspur's pennon in a duel outside Newcastle.
Two popes rule in the late 1380's Pope Urban VI and and Bonniface IX. Henry IV is king of England, Robert II is king of Scotland and Charles IV (The Mad) is King of France.
non blurry pic (with feet)
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(with Surcoat) |
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- sabaton pic -
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From the top down
Helmets: Have 4 i use with this period...
- Bascinet 1: Klapvisor bascinet. Likely Circa 1370's. For me it would be an older style of helmet, the pig face eing more common. Saw toothed edge eyeslot seen in original piece from about the same time. Body was purchased from Louis Moore, it is a 12 ga mild back point bascinet, made by (i think) Tom Justus, the visor was built by David Rylak. The saw toothing and extra cut work and holes done by me. The hinge is from Brian Price. The Aventail is flat link wedge rivited from Von Sussen. The liner is a foam panned linen shell suspension liner i made.
- Bascinet 2: Is an Anshelm Arms bascinet i purchased from Micheal Plotts. It is 14 ga mild. And again for looks i added saw toothed eyeslots and extra holes for visiblity. I also installed a sping catch so that no strap is required to keep the helm closed. The Aventail is a flat link welded aventail from Master Knutt. The liner is a foam panned linen shell suspension liner i made.
- Bascinet 3: Is from Historic Enterprises (Jeff Hedgecock) I have yet to fight in this one. It is i beleieve 12 ga body with a 14 ga visor. I have not modified it in any way, it has an padded suspension liner and avential liner. Aventail is the same as Bascinet 1.
- Kettle hat: A common helmet for infantry and siege engeineers i wear this helmet with armour when i am not fighting. I also wear it to marshal. It has a leather suspension liner i made. It keeps the sun out of my face and looks great with harness. It was bought from Von sussen.
Spaulders; i have 2 sets in use right now. A 3 lame and a 4 lame. Both in spring steel, i believe 20 ga. The 3 lame i got from Nick Friend and the 4 lame from Malcom de Moffet. I am unsure as to who made them. They are both similar to shoulder defenses seen in effigies from Edward the Black Prince (died June 1376) to Sir Ralph Neville (died 1425). I am in the process of adding a rebrace to the 4 lame spaulders.
My arm harness is based on those from the Cratres Cathedral. These were made for Charles IV, France often equiped the Scots in their conflicts along the northern border of England. French styles of armour were common amogst the Scots.
Breastplates; i actually have used 2 similar body armours in my 14th century portrayal. Both are solid globose breastplates. One has 3 lame faulds on it and was purchased online, i do not know it's maufacturer. It is 14 ga mild steel. The other was made by David Rylak and is a replica of the Churburg 14. It has rolled edges and a v shaped stop rib, handmade brass buckles. Body armour of this part of the 14th century is often hard to discern from art work and effigies as most of the men depicted wear a jupon or surcoat over their body. The existant pieces are however in this style.
My guantlets are bell cuffed spring steel guantlets made by David Rylak. They share many design elemnets with 14th century guantlets, the brass roping on the cuff for ex. Most of the originals of this period have individual finger plates. Mine have a clamshell style finger cover. This is more often seen in 15th centruy guantlets and was done primarily for SCA combat concerens. I am at this time building a set of bell cuffed figenr guantlets under the direction of Aaron Toman.
Though i do not regularly wear it for SCA combat i do have a mail haubergone, short sleeved mail shirt. I bouhg tthis from Von sussen. I also have a mail skirt or fauld.
My armour is largely supported by a arming coat made by Nick Friend. It is based of of the doublet of Charles dubois as awell as teh coat armour of Charles IV. They are quilted hemp shells with linen liners and fabric buttons. Through a series of holes the spaulders, coiters, vambraces and cuiesses attach to the coat via arming points. The garmenst are fitted without being restrictive, having the grand assiette sleve. This also pads the armour to a degree.
My leg harness was made by Jeff Hedgecock of Historic Enterprises, it is tempered spring steel with handmade brass buckles. They attch to the coat by being suspended on a point through a large leather tab on the top of the cuiess. They are similar to several sets of existeing leg harnesses. Examples can bee seenin effigies as well as in the MEt, the Armoury at Leeds, Curburg, and the Chartres Cathedral.
My shins are covered by custom 22ga tempered spring greaves made by Dave Rylak. They were done based on casts of my legs. Greaves are present in some form on almost all armoured effigies in the 14th century. While most are believed to cover the entire lower leg mine cover the front. The backs are under construction.
I made my mail sabatons from pieces i trimmed off my mail shirt and from links i purchased from Historic Enterprises and Forth Armoury. They now enclose my whole shoe, closing in the middle of the inside of my foot tied down with leather thongs. The mail is stiched into the sole of my fighting shoes.
Underneeth the armour i wear clothes almost exclusively from Historic Enterprises or made by my wife Katherine. A long sleved linen St Louis shirt, linen braise and either linen or wool hose depending on seasn on weather.
My shoes are from Revival Leather and are the double tie low boots.
I have multiple surcoats from my wife
- 1 in linen with a rampant black wolf based on the the surcoat of Sir George Feldbridge (died 1400)
- 1 satin in France arms ancient, like that worn by Jean the Good at Poitiers
- 1 in liene quartered based on my arms.
The belt of plates or plaque belt is traditionally worn on the hips and is often decorated with colored laquer, precioucs metals and jewles. Various examples are see in effigies. They appera on effigies as early as Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford (d.1321) on to Sir Humphrey Littlebury c.1365, Edward the Balck Prince wears one with a lion motif( d.1376), other examples are seen on Sir William de Etchingham (d.1387) and Geroge Felbridge's effigy (circa 1400). Sometimes appearing to support a dagger or sword sometimes seemingly worn alone. My belt is brass plated with silver with charges based on my SCA device.
It is accented with black enamel work made by Raymonds quiet press.
ALl the Charle's Vi Chartre's Cathedral are circa 1380 thge rest should have the dates and locs in the titles also check here for even more bascinet pics and TONS of Bascinet info http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_bascinet.php http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_rondel.html
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- Helm pic -
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Bibliography, further reading, and links
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http://www.bartleby.com/35/1/405.html
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