pictures at:
home.armourarchive.org/members/wolf/images/mtt/mtt4.JPG
home.armourarchive.org/members/wolf/images/mtt/mtt16.JPG
home.armourarchive.org/members/wolf/images/mtt/mtt17.JPG
home.armourarchive.org/members/wolf/images/mtt/mtt19.JPG

Charles Russell 1461 English, middle class as it where. 2nd son (3rd child)

ok giving this a shot. for the civilian portraital I have added a 5158 DEl Tin ballock dagger, 12023 lutel sword and a livery vest (has to be made)

I know I am missing a gown of some stature. Anything else? (not shown in picture are H.E. eating knife, fettered cock belt and pattens)

as for the foot soldier part. I have to make my arming jacket, jack (to be replaced with a brig later).
I have blackened arms but need legs and maile voiders and skirt.
Also, have a bill head thats not on a pole yet.
oh ya and a sallet from Best Armour (already have it picked out)

I'm not too sure on my back ground or official role in Grey's retinue yet though. Guess I'll have to build that part up as it comes to me, or as I'm assigned a role. Outta be fun!!

any thoughts as to add/ take away from my persona?

[ 05-21-2003: Message edited by: Wolf ]

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I think the kit looks very nice, and from the descripion of what you have or are looking for believable.

I'll limit my commentary at the moment (I'm pressed for time) to the impression itself. I think we (as US reenactors) are on the edge of falling into a trap that has made a travesty of accurate appearance in Late Medieval reenactment in the UK. It is something we can and should avoid.

That trap is to field as units large numbers of heavily armoured footmen wih bills, with perhaps a couple or three bowmen per unit. The overwhelming evidence from documentation for the era is that the most significant numbers or element of any English retinue/army/own millitia is composed of bowmen. The numbers of bowemen in contrast to other types of soldiers can reach as high as a 10-1 ratio, and commonly are 3,5-1.

The rules surrounding UK reenactment societies make the role of he archer less glamerous, and have less outcome on the events they are paricipating in. IN the US, we have the chance to stop what would be an equally false picure of lae Medieval English battles occuring - and we really ought to if we wan any pretence of maintaining a certain level of accuracy in our reenactment.

Your kit would be very good, and work equally well if you topped off the impression with a nice yew (or similar wood) longbow. Even keep the bill - consider it a livery bill and lay it by your side when shooting, to pick it up to engage in the melee.

If you are intending to portray an Englishman, you should have a bow regardless of military role.

That aside, if you are intending to portray someone of reasonable social standing, which a gentleman is, then in all probability you would be a man-at-arms in a larger retinue. However you would probably also be responsible for the provision of a small number of additional soldiers, which would mean, primarily, archers.

If you look at most indentures for war service then a gentleman would probably be expected to provide themselves and maybe one other man-at-arms and about 3 archers per man-at-arms (including yourself).

The problem lies not with the equipment per se but with the status you (your group) wish to portray. Your closing comments indicate where you need to start. You need to be clear on your role, and hence social standing etc., within your group before anything else.

This social position will dictate almost everything else from the quality of the cloth you wear & style of clothes to the type of equipment (military & civilian) you will require.

as for the archer I like the bow alot, I just never saw myself in that role. I think theres at least 4 out of 12 in our group that are archers. Hmmmmm.

as to fully armoured, thats why i'm going with a jack and then a brig instead of a breastplate. There is 1 knight and 1 fully armed man at arms in our camp. I was just thinking to fill in a lesser role then theres.

thanks again for the comments. I've been looking over period sources for my portrait role.

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