Hawkyns

Well, depending on what I'm doing it's either "England and Elizabeth!" or 'The King and the Cause!" Hawkyns

Redd- the butterfly serves two purposes. It stops the top of the boot from being rubbed and gouged by the stirrup arch, and it stop the spur leather from creasing the boot and putting pressure on the instep of the foot. Here's a link to a topgrain bucket top, but be warned. They're very pricey! http://www.cavregsupply.com/boots1.html Hawkyns

The Time Has Come!! Finish packing this week, load the rental truck on Thursday, Friday night drive all night, then two days of hell to set up camp. Can't wait!! Remember to stop by B08 and see me. Or find me the gun position at the top of the battlefield. I'm Gunner One on the marshall's radio. And don't froget the classes on Sunday, or stop by the camp if you want to learn how the firearms and cannons work. We're alway looking to teach and for new gunners. Hawkyns

Sorry, refuse to have anything by that bastard in my house, or to read his insane ramblings. (Big red candy coloured button, you say....) Hawkyns

I'm on the SCA's Livre de Combat list, basically a list for those of us in the Society who want to see more historic combat and less modern tournament styles. Recently, I posed a question there and it seems that the same question is relevant here. Much of the Western Martial Arts study focuses on the fencing manuals such as those listed here. It is my contention that they (and the masters that wrote them) would be available to perhaps 10% of the sword carrying populace. Nobility, more important military types, the Schools of Defence and the upper middle class like the members of the Artillery Garden might study these, but how about the rest? Would a Carlyle reiver, a Yorkshire mercenary, a Fleming soldier, one of Drake's sea dogs or a London bodyguard have had much or any formal training? By studying the manuals and working on the formal styles, are we only dealing with the cream of society and ignoring the brawlers that were more common? Is style more importatn than function? How much training was given to the base rank and file? Hawkyns

It's the Yank name for a particular blade point type. Spine and edge more or less parallel for most of the blade, then dropping sharply from spine to edge on about a 75 degree angle. Think the main blade of the standard British Army pocket knife of 40's 50's vintage. Hawkyns

What's the plan this year? Camping as a group again? Same place? Hawkyns

Next question, for Foxe or anyone else. Has anyone seen reference to a lanyard being attached to a sailor's working knife in the 16th or 17th C? It's logical, it's common in later periods, but is it accurate for an Elizabethan to do it? Thank you!! Hawkyns

Agreed, Foxe. I've got a couple of Armour Class and one old Bailiff and I'll put them up against any other re-enactment blade. I've seen a number of Cold Steel blades and been un-impressed. Everything I've seen so far has been too thin and had no weight in the spine. Pretty and sharp, but looking more stamped than forged, I'll stay with Armour Class for the heavy blades and Darkwood Armoury for my fencing weapons. Hawkyns

Yeah- pointy and sharp. Not a good choice for combat training. Also, an 18ga basket? That might be OK for a one shot battle, but 18ga will not stand up to constant hammering without deforming. Not a blade I'd recommend for any kind of theatrical or re-enactment combat. Hawkyns

OK, just a kit list of this weekend's rig: Oilskin tarp, 7x7 20 feet hemp rope 6 wooden pegs 3x6 oilskin groundcloth 1 wool blanket Knapsack containing: wool blanket shirt heavy wool hose wool monmouth cap 1 pair elkskin moccasins 4 inch pierced tin lantern 2 tin boilers cooking knife, pewter spoon, wooden spoon fire kit (tow, fatwood, beeswax, charcloth) Food sack with: loose tea turbinado sugar 2 small wax wrapped cheeses ship's biscuit dried rice and peas salt and pepper horns half a dozen landjagers handful of jerky 3 or 4 shortbread sticks Ditty bag with: clay pipe and baccy period glasses book- Moll Flanders in period binding flask of rum horn comb, bone toothbrush, lye soap The food sack and the ditty bag both go in the knapsack, the tarp ties on over, the bedroll goes under. Add to this my waistbelt with cutlass and belly box, canteen, and my blunderbuss and I can walk in and out of a muster in one trip. The oars are in the car in case I need them, otherwise I'll tie off to a fence post or tree. I keep a modern first aid kit in the car. As i said, I'll get pictures. Hawkyns

I'm going to Fort at number 4 in New Hampshire this weekend and taking the period minimal kit. I'll try to get some pics of the camp. Amyone that far north , it's an 18th century market faire and watercraft days event. It's right on the connecticut river, so we should have a number of pirogues and batteaus there. http://www.fortat4.com/ Hawkyns

Don't know about the first picture, but there is such a collection of clothing styles, I don't know what to believe. Also, the sailor on the right appears to be in early 19th C kit, or very late 18th, so well past the GAoP. I'm not sure that the 2nd and 3rd pics show boots. Without more provenance and documentation on the images, they would appear to be more like heavy hose, rolled down to just below the knee, as was done for cooling. Certainly I see no significant heel or buckle that would definitely identify them as boots. As far as the protection from projectiles is concerned, they would be more likely to cause harm than to help. As Cap'n William says, they won't stop most projectiles. Indeed, parts of the boot will be pushed into the wound and cause further infection, especially if not all the remains are removed. This was proved during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by cavalrymen who had to wear the boots for protection from the horse's hide. And again, boots will fill with water, weigh you down, most cav boots (which is what they were really for) had stacked heels, which would make you even more unstable on deck. I'm not saying it was never done, but I'd be very VERY surprised to find out it was common practice among the rank and file. Hawkyns

Check out Bells and Motley http://www.geocities.com/bromka/ They are out of the Syracuse area (Marcellus) and play just about all of the instruments mentioned so far. They do all sorts of things, from formal concerts to Ren Faires, so they could probably help you. Hawkyns

Most of this has been covered, but I'll sling my two penn'orth in anway, 1) Shirt- linen, cotton, hemp, or any natural fiber. Long enough to go nearly to your knees and baggy enough to fight, climb rigging, or work a cannon. 2) Slops-again with the natural fiber. French fly, unless your after 1770; length somewhere between knee and ankle, baggy enough as above. 3) Weskit, doublet, jerkin, jacket. Appropriate to the date of your persona. Linen, wool, or leather. Walking about in just your shirt may be ok on ship, but ashore you're in your underwear. 4) Headscarf, monmouth cap, thrum cap. All more common. Floppy felt hats are in the way on board and blow overboard very easily. 5) Belt, working knife, belt pouch. 6) Shoes appropriate to persona. Rubber heels or soles are nice if you're working on a wet deck. Bucket top boots are worthless on deck and a death sentence if you go over the rail. 7) Eating knife, spoon, wooden bowl, drinking vessel. 8) Ditty bag for odds and ends-pipe, baccy, glasses, hussif, journal, modern keys and wallet. 9) Cutlass, short hanger, boarding axe, or other hand to hand weapon. 10) Sea bag or chest for hiding modern stuff and carrying spare clothing and blankets. Hawkyns

A question for the learned denizens of these parts. I've seen the archeology reports from the Mary Rose. Most sailor's belt or working knives were ballock knives and relatively pointed. I've also seen a lot of anecdotal evidence that sailor's knives in the GAoP and later had their points broken off, supposedly to reduce fighting. That leaves about 150 years of gap. Can anyone tell me when the point breaking started or when sheeps foot blades became common among sailors? I'm looking to refine my 1595 kit and I'm not just sure what a working belt knife might be. Thanks, All! Hawkyns

You might consider these http://www.fbraunmcash.com/McAsh_Navigation.htm He was the fight director for the Highlander TV series and has a number of links for stage fencing training and info. He also has a video for training purposes. Nice guy, too. Had the chance to meet and talk with him at one of the Highlander conventions. There's also http://www.delongis.com/ Another longtime sword and screen fight director. He also gives classes and has training videos. Took one of his classes and go a lot out of it. You may need to do a bit of travelling, but there are courses out there and the video route is available if you can learn that way. Hawkyns

Yeah, I've looked at ARMA, too. Nothing nearby for me either. What do you think of Clements' books and ideas? I've seen a lot of really ugly discussions when his name comes up. What I've seen looks practical and useable, though some of his sources and research looks a bit shaky. On the whole, not a bad group, though. Wish they were a bit more widespread. Hawkyns

Aye, they do, BUT....... They have a lot of rules, require a lot of armour/protection, and tend to teach the gentelmanly arts of the salle, not the street fight. When I'm teahing more combat oriented stuff to SCAdians, I generally have to start by breaking bad habits. It's about the same as breaking the bad habits of someone who learned collegiate styles. The SCA stuff is training for competition, not combat. Better than nothing if that's all you have, but not the best. (and before you Society folks jump on me, I have an OGR- Eastern White Scarf equivalent, so I'm moe than familiar with what's going on.) Hawkyns

Here is your best source for wool. Period colours, good quality and advice if you need it. http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/ If ye worry about how ye smell, ye may be in the wrong trade My re-enactment kit smells of wet wool, moldy straw, smoke, tar, strong tobacco, and honest sweat. It gets washed when it is seriously dirty only, and then only with non-scented plain soap and hung to dry. As an aside, I guess it's one of the things that twitch me. Smell is a powerful stimulant, and someone who looks otherwise correct, but smells of modern perfume, deo, fabric softner, and other non-period smells can really put a crimp in the suspension of disbelief. Hawkyns

I live right on the CT coast, so I went to one of the local boatyards and bought a pair. I think I paid about $40 for the pair, 3 years back. Now, I wanted a pair that I can actually use with my dinghy, so I bought properly varnished hardwood. If that's not a consideration, and you're handy in the woodshop, you could probably dummy up a pair for just the cost of the lumber. Hawkyns

What I've been doing for this type of camp is a square of canvas, about 8x8 cut from an old fly. Slightly ragged edges and leather reinforced at the corners, it looks like it came from an old sail. I bought a pair of cheap 6 foot oars and lashed them together just below the grips. Open them out to form an inverted V, then run a line from about 7 feet back, over the grips and down about 3 feet out. Peg it at both ends. Toss the canvas over the back rope and peg the corners to form an open ended wedge. Works in most cases, especially if you point the wedge into the prevailing wind. I carry a small piece of canvas to tie over the opening if the weather gets really nasty. For a ground sheet, I carry a piece of oilcloth about 3x7. I've cut a slit in the center, so it works as either a groundcloth or a foul weather poncho. Add a small brass or copper kettle, a small tin lantern, and a blanket, and you've got the basic camp kit. Hawkyns

Well Done, Foxe!! Getting ready for the Trifle-Jar celebrations, are we? BTW- Love the King's Colour with the bombs. Any provenance? Hawkyns

Nah, if ye be carryin that much, ye've got too much stuff about ye, and ye'll f'certain sure go in the sea when ye try t' swing between decks. Hawkyns

Easy- weaponry. Custom swords, authentic firing guns, hand-made knives, 4 cannon. Easy enough to go a few grand when I add it all up. Clothing and leather gear I mostly make. The materials are not cheap, but it's still way less than what I spent on weapons. Hawkyns