Scottish Jacks

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Scottish Jacks

Post by Sean M »

A thread by Konstantin reminded me that more could be done to gather and make available sources on soft armour. One example is some Scottish ordonnances from the fifteenth century which describe jacks.

chef de chambre states (also here) that David H. Caldwell, Scottish Weapons and Fortifications (J. Donald, 1981) contains some Scottish ordonances which describe jacks similar to those which Dominic Mancini says the English use. A few months ago I finally held that book in my hands, and I did not find any details. The closest was some references to the armour which Scots must present at the wapinschawings. P. 92 note 81 cites Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland ii 45 (1456).

By the grace of the University of St. Andrews, the Records of the Parliament of Scotland are now online. In 1456 it was ordained that "And at na pure man nor wnbodyn be chargyt to cum till ony radis in Inglande, and at ilk man that his gudis extendis to xxti merkis be bodyn at the lest with jak, with slevys to the hande or ellis a payr of splentis, a sellat or a priking hatt, a suerde and a buclare, a bow and a schaif, and gif he can nocht schut that he haif ane ax and a targe othir of leddir or of burde with twa handis on the bak." (source). That does not say anything about construction.

Does anyone have further information on Scottish jacks?
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by robstout »

Look up Jack of plates. I currently fight in a bastardized version of one, which seems to work pretty well. Helps that I don't get hit in the body very often. One of these years I'll build a more accurate Jack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_plate

I'm not sure if it fits as soft armor, due to the plates in it.

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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

There's John Major's 1521 description from Historia Majoris Brittaniae, which was in Latin and doesn't specify if the armor is a "jack", "doublet of defense", "cotun", etc..


http://ceathairne.blogspot.com/2012/01/armour.html
John Major one of the best sources of material on highland Scots wrote in his 1521 work that;

Tempore belli loricam ex loris ferreis per totum corpus induunt et in illa pugnant. In panno lineo multipliciter intersuto et coerato aut picato cum cervinæ pellis coopertura vulgus sylvestrium Scotorum corpus tectum habens in prælium prosilit

In time of war they cover their whole body with a shirt of mail of iron rings, and fight in that. The common people of the Highland (lit. 'wild') Scots rush into battle having their body clothed with a linen garment manifoldly sewed and painted or daubed with pitch, with a covering of deerskin."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Sean M »

I definitely agree that the surviving jacks of plates give food for thought about jacks without plates! I have some articles on them back in Canada.

The John Major quote seems to describe layered linen armour, as attested in the French ordonnances and the Howard Accounts doublet of fence but not in Dominic Mancini's description of English archers (his tunics were soft and stuffed with tow). The Howard Accounts and Paston Letters seem to distinguish between Scottish jacks and Welsh jacks but I am not clear on the difference.

I wish that the team which examined the Lübeck and Stendahl jacks had written up their findings somewhere. Edit: Their photos are here and, I think, on the Fühlen Designs FB page.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

A Venetian description of the stuffed English 'doublet of fense', at least giving a thickness which is considerably more than that used by most re-enactors. The jack being more used by men of means, so undoubtedly more costly. I've briefly handled Jessica Finley's reconstruction of the Lubeck jack, but only asked about the black coating -- linseed oil and lampblack as I remember.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-st ... p1041-1095
Report of England made by Giovanni Michiel, late Ambassador to Queen Mary and King Philip, to the Venetian Senate, on the 13th May 1557.

..... and for the body they either use some sort of breastplate (qualche petto di corsaletto) which guards the forepart, although indifferently, or else more willingly (especially those who have the means) some jack (zacco) or shirt of mail; but what they usually wear are certain canvas doublets, quilted with many layers, each of which is two inches or more in thickness; and these doublets are considered the most secure defence against the shock of arrows. Upon their arms they place plates of mail, put lengthways, and nothing else.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Dan Howard »

If the translation is accurate then it seems to be a standard description of a multi-layered padded jack, not a doublet of fense. It isn't describing underpadding but a substitute for the breastplate or jack or shirt of mail. His "canvass doublets" are an alternative to the metal armours described, not worn in conjunction with them. Perhaps his zacco was some kind of jack-of-plates or brigandine construction (especially since it is described together with other metal armours) while his canvass doublet was the purely textile defence.

<Engaging source analysis mode>
It tells us that mail and zacco were more expensive than plate.

It seems to suggest that the "shock of arrows" (blunt trauma?) was an issue at the time and that layered textile armour was the best choice to guard against this.

I can't parse "plates of mail" on the arms. Is the word "mail" the most accurate term to use in translation here? I'm thinking that he is describing jack chains.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

Dan, it's always good to look for the original, isn't it?

https://books.google.com/books?id=sUpKA ... to&f=false
e per la persona ovvero qualche petto di corsaletto che arma la parte dinanzi benchè meschina mente ovvero più volentieri quelli massime che uè hanno il modo qualche giaco o camicia di maglia; ma l' uso più frequente è di alcuni giubboni di canevaccio imbottiti a molti doppj alti due dita e più riparo tenuto sicurissimo contro la furia delle freccie e sopra le braccia alcune liste di maglia per il lungo e non altro
..... and for the body they either use some sort of breastplate (qualche petto di corsaletto) which guards the forepart, although indifferently, or else more willingly (especially those who have the means) some jack (zacco) or shirt of mail; but what they usually wear are certain canvas doublets, quilted with many layers, each of which is two inches or more in thickness; and these doublets are considered the most secure defence against the shock of arrows. Upon their arms they place plates of mail, put lengthways, and nothing else.
giaco = jack
camicia di maglia = mail shirt
giubboni di canevaccio imbottiti = jupon of canvas padded
doppi alti due dita = double high, two fingers (perhaps an inch and a half, 4cm, rather than two inches)
liste di maglia = "lists" of mail (perhaps meaning a long strip like a shopping list?)
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Sean M »

The one article on a jack of plates which I have handy is: Thea Gabra-Sanders, “Part of a 16th Century Quilted Jack of Plate Found at Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire,” Journal of the Arms & Armour Society 14/3 (1992-1994) pp. 147-152

It seems to consist of three layers of cloth, one of plates, and one of white leather. I would still be very interested if chef or anyone else could give information on soft armours from the British Isles in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, not armours where plates or maille inside a soft cover provided most of the protection.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

The National Museum of Scotland has the cast of the effigy of Donald MacGill'easbuig from Finlaggan, Inner Hebrides, 1541.
http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record. ... -046-134-C
https://www.flickr.com/photos/94328122@ ... 301266953/

At least it may provide some idea of the tailoring and form. I'll check through Burgkmair's engravings from Der Weisskunig, although his depiction of Flodden doesn't show anything that looks like textile armors.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

A bit earlier than your request, but gives an alternate term for search.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-ser ... /pp415-428
1 Richard II. A.D. 1378. Letter-Book H. fol. lvi. (Latin.)

On the 29th day of May, in the first year etc., John Grey was attached to make answer to John Tilneye, paltokmaker, in a plea of falsehood and deceit etc., for that he, the same John Grey, on the 28th day of May last past, came to the house of the said John Tilneye, at Bukeleresbury, in London, and there bought of him two paltockes (fn. 5) of black satyn, called jackes, at 100s.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letter ... /pp436-441
8 May. Archaeologia xxxII., 30, from the Records of the Corporation of London.
940. THE LONDON MUSTERS.
Contemporary description of the muster which was made before King Henry VIII. by the citizens of London, 8 May 31 Hen. VIII. (1539)

But when the lord mayor and his brethren were informed by lord Thomas Cromwell, keeper of the Privy Seal (to whom the city is and has been much bounden), that the King would himself see his loving subjects muster before him, they assembled again and after long deliberation decided that no alien, even though he were a denizen, should muster, and that Englishmen who had jacks, brigandyns, or coats of fence should not go out, but only such as had white harness and other accoutrements (described) and white caps with feathers.
Perhaps of interest since jacks, brigandines, and coats of fence are considered as separate types of defense?
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Sean M »

Ernst wrote:Dan, it's always good to look for the original, isn't it?
e sopra le braccia alcune liste di maglia per il lungo e non altro
Upon their arms they place plates of mail, put lengthways, and nothing else.
liste di maglia = "lists" of mail (perhaps meaning a long strip like a shopping list?)
You know, I wonder if he might be trying to describe what we call jack chains? It would be good to know whether they were popular in Italy and if so how Italians spoke about them. That Glossarium Armorum book might help but I have never seen it.

The Vocabolario seems to say that a lista is a piece of something which is narrow in comparison to its length.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-st ... /pp559-581
Calendar of State Papers Foreign, Elizabeth, Volume 5, 1562. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1867.
20 Dec. Entry 1301. Vaughan to Cecil.

1. Cecil will receive from Mr. Marshall the certificate for such armour as the captains received from the countries. Of this armour the writer delivered to Mr. Ponyngs ninety-four corslets, fourteen jacks and sleeves stripped with mail, and all his arquebuses saving twelve, for which he [Vaughan] gave him 9l. which he had received of the Halls, for furnishing of them at the rate of 10s. an arquebus and flask, and the morions at 5s. each, of which armour Ponyngs had 200.
I think the legs shown on St. Eustace in Durer's Paumgartner Altarpiece are protected in the same manner.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... er_069.jpg
Image
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Sean M wrote:You know, I wonder if he might be trying to describe what we call jack chains?
I mentioned that above. I think you are right; even with Mart's new translation, it still seems as if jack chains would be the best fit for this description. The Vaughan to Cecil entry seems to be another likely reference, and the English phrase is virtually identical to the Italian one. Sleeves "stripped with mail" could be translated directly as "liste di maglia" (strips of mail).

Hey Mart! What else do you have? This is great.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

If only words had fixed meanings that we could easily differentiate. :?

The fact that we still find aketons into the 16th century is somewhat shocking to me, though the meaning seems to have changed drastically. Gambesons are still being mentioned into the mid-15th century. Pourpoints are quilted, and can apply to bedding as easily as armor. Jupons in various spellings are considered tight or loose, worn beneath or above armor, Paltocks and doublets can be clothing for men or women.....

What word would an Englishman use to describe his two-finger thick armor that the Venetian describes as a jupon?

http://findwords.info/term/paltock
http://findwords.info/term/gipon
http://findwords.info/term/jupon
http://findwords.info/term/jack
http://findwords.info/term/doublet
http://findwords.info/term/pourpoint
http://findwords.info/term/haqueton
http://findwords.info/term/acton
http://findwords.info/term/gambeson
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Dan Howard »

A few of those could be merged together as alternate spellings of the same word: gipon/jupon, acton/aketon/haqueton
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

Yes, but the dictionary source references vary depending on search term. I thought it best to display as many original references as possible.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Dan Howard »

Brigs are even worse: brigandine, brygandine, brigandyne, brigantayle, brigander, brigandere, brigandyron, etc.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

Post by Ernst »

More from the Records of Parliament, using a search for "armour".
http://www.rps.ac.uk/

James I, 6 March 1430 Perth Parliament
How men sall eftir thare estat be bodin for were

In the first it is ordanit be the king and his consale at ilk man that may dispend yerly xx lib. or has jc lib. of mowabill gudis salbe weill horsit and hale anarmyt as efferis a gentill man to be. Ande othir simpillare of x lib. rent and of xl lib. of gudis sal hafe gorget and pesane with rerbrasis, wambrasis and glufis of plate, brestplate, pausis and legsplentis at the lest or bettir gif he likis. And ilk yeman that is of xx lib. of gudis sall hafe a gud dowblate of fense or a habbyrioun, a wyre hat with bow and schef, suerd and buklare and knyfe. And all othir of ten lib. of gudis sall hafe suerd, bukler, bow and schef and knyfe. And he that is na archare na can nocht deill with a bow sall hafe a gud sovir hatt for his hed and a dowblate of fense with suerd, buklare and a gud ax or a broggit staf.

http://www.rps.ac.uk/mss/1481/4/5
James III, 5 April 1481
Item, it is ordanit that thare be na speris made in tyme tocum nor salde that is schortare than five elne and a half or v elne at the leist before the bur and of gretnes according tharto, under the pane of eschete of al his gudis that makis and sellis thaim. Alsa it is ordanit that al persouns that wil were jakkis for the defence of thare body, that thai ger make thare jakkis syde to the knee, thai that wantis leg harnes and thaim that has leg harnes that thare jakkis be made sa lang as to covir the ovir parte of thare leg harness.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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James V, 3 Dec. 1540
The manere of harness, wapnis and armoure

Item, as to the maner of harnes and wapnys and how every man suld be armit and wapnit, it is statute and ordanit that all oure sovirane lordis liegis haif wapnis and harnes as eftir followis: in the first, that every nobill man, sic as erle, lord, knycht and baroune, and every grett landit man haifand ane hundreth pund of yerlie rent, be anarmit in quhite harnes, lyt or hevy as thai pleise, and wapnit afferand to his honoure, and that all utheris of lawer rent and degre in the lawland haif jak of plait, halkrek or brigitanis, gorgett or pisane, with splintis, pansis of malye, with gluvis of plait or malye, and that all utheris oure sovirane lordis liegis, gentill men unlandit and yemen, haif jakkis of plait, halkrekis, splintis, sellate or stele bonet with pysane or gorgett, and every man with swerd, and that na maner of wapnis be admittit in wapinschawingis bot speris, pikis stark and lang of vj ellis of lenthe, leicht axis, halbortis, handbowis and arrowis, corsbowis, culveringis, tua handit swordis, and every man to be anarmit as said is under the pane of v lib. to be tane of every landit man, l s. of every gentill man and xx s. of every yeman man als oft as thai be fundin faltouse in the premissis. And becaus it is understand that thir wapnis and harnes may nocht be completlie gottin at the first wapinschawing, that is to say on the morne efter Leif Sounday nixt tocum, therfor, it is dispensit be the kingis grace at thai mak thare schawingis and monstouris with sic harness and wapnis as thai haif, or may convenientlie gett, agane the said day.
A later requirement for appearance at the Weapon-Showing requiring jacks for the men of lower estate, and allowing highlanders aketons.
James VI, 5 March 1575
every nobill man, sic as erll, lord, knycht and barroun, and every landit man havand thre hundrith mark of yeirlie rent or abone, be enarmit in harnes, licht or havy as thay pleis, and horsit according to thair honour and estait; and that all utheris of lawer rent and degre have brigantinis, jakkis, steilbonettis, slevis of plait or mailye, swerdis, pikkis, or speris of sex elnis lang, culveringis, halbertis or twa handit swerdis; and in the hielandis, habirschonis, steilbonettis, hektonis, swerdis, bowis and dorlochis, culveringis, under the pane every landit man not enarmit as said is of v lib., every gentilman unlandit or substantious yeman xl s., and every commoune yeman xx s.;
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Dan Howard wrote:
Sean M wrote:You know, I wonder if he might be trying to describe what we call jack chains?
I mentioned that above. I think you are right; even with Mart's new translation, it still seems as if jack chains would be the best fit for this description. The Vaughan to Cecil entry seems to be another likely reference, and the English phrase is virtually identical to the Italian one. Sleeves "stripped with mail" could be translated directly as "liste di maglia" (strips of mail).

Hey Mart! What else do you have? This is great.
Right now I am leaning towards Ernst's original literal interpretation of maglia as maille not chain, because we have the English and Japanese parallels and because it lets us assume that all the words mean what they usually mean. I am not very committed to either though. One thing I wonder is whether we are supposed to understand that the jacks have no sleeves, or that the only thing atop the sleeves of the jacks are these strips of mail.

The Germans still call a burgonet a Sturmhaube (assault bonnet). Ah for literal translations!
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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every nobill man, sic as erll, lord, knycht and barroun, and every landit man havand thre hundrith mark of yeirlie rent or abone, be enarmit in harnes, licht or havy as thay pleis, and horsit according to thair honour and estait; and that all utheris of lawer rent and degre have brigantinis, jakkis, steilbonettis, slevis of plait or mailye, swerdis, pikkis, or speris of sex elnis lang, culveringis, halbertis or twa handit swerdis; and in the hielandis, habirschonis, steilbonettis, hektonis, swerdis, bowis and dorlochis, culveringis, under the pane every landit man not enarmit as said is of v lib., every gentilman unlandit or substantious yeman xl s., and every commoune yeman xx s.

I'll never get used to translating English into English :)

Here is my attempt:

"Every noble man, sic as earl, lord, knight and baron, and every landed man having three hundred marks of yearly rent or above, be (en)armoured in harness, light or heavy as they please, and horses according to their honour and estate; and that all others of lower rent and degree have brigandines, jacks, steel helmets, sleeves of plate or mail, swords, pikes, or spears of six ells* long, culverns, halberds, or two handed swords; and in the Highlands, haubergeons (habirschons), steel helmets, aketons, swords, bows and quivers (dorlochs), culverns, under the pain [penalty for non-compliance] every landed man not (en)armoured as said is five pounds, every unlanded gentleman or yeoman of substance 40 shillings, and every common yeoman 20 shillings."

* An ell was originally the length of one's forearm - similar to the cubit - but sometimes it referred to the length of the entire arm. From what I can tell, the Scottish ell was around 37 inches (but it wasn't standardised until 1661), making the above spear (six ells), 18.5 feet long. I'm not sure what the difference is between this eighteen-foot spear and the pike listed next to it.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Here is an Act from the 1552 Scottish Privy Council for the formation of "tua ansaingyeis of fittmen," to be raised in the Highland portion of Lord Huntley's lieutenancy, for service in France.

"Substantiouslie accomptirit with jack and plait, steilbonett, sword, bucklair, new hois and new dowblett of cannvus at the lest, and slevis of plait or splenttis, and ane speir of sax elnes lang or thairby."

"Substantiously accoutred with jack and plate, steel helmet, sword, buckler, new hose and new doublet of canvass at the least, and sleeves of plate or splints, and one spear of six ells long or thereabouts."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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I found this when I started looking for "jack" in Scottish texts. It was written by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, originally published in Rome in 1578.

"In weiris quhen thay yokit the aduersar, thay invadet athir with ane arrow or a lance. Thay vsed ane twa edged sword lykwyse ; the futmen a lang sword, the horsmen a schort sword bot baith vset a verie braid sword, with a scheiring sharpe edge that at the first straik, with little force, it walde scheir a man in twa in the waste or midle. Thay war harnest with Jacks al wouen throuch with yrne huikes, quhilkes habbirgeounis thay cal: This vpon, or as we say, abone a lathir cote, quhilke was na les stark than it was elegant, thay put on. Al thair harnesse was lycht, that gif thay fel in ony danger, the lychtlier thay mycht slip out of the handes of thair ennimies."

"In wars when they engaged the adversary, they attacked either with an arrow or lance. They used a two edged sword likewise; the footmen a long sword, the horsemen a short sword, both used a very broad sword, with a shearing sharp edge that, at the first strike, with little force, it would shear a man in two in the waist or middle. Their war harness with jacks all woven through with iron hooks (rings?), which they call haubergeons. This upon, or as we say, above a leather coat, which was no less stark than it was elegant, they put on. All their harness was light, that if they feel in any danger, the lightlier they might slip out of the hands of their enemies."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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George Buchanan, published in 1582.

"Their defensive armour consists of an iron headpiece and a coat of mail, formed of small iron rings, and frequently reaching to the heels. Their weapons are, for the most part, a bow, and arrows barbed with iron, which cannot be extracted without widely enlarging the orifice of the wound ; but a few carry swords or Lochaber axes."

No mention of jacks here, but an example of a very common description of 16th C Scottish arms. I've found half a dozen texts that all say that their mail hauberks reached down to their feet.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Court books of the High Court of Justiciary, 1566.

Image

"The qu[hi]lk day The said[is] Thomas scot, williame harlaw and Johnne mowbray, were [con]vict and filit be the said assysis Off arrt and parrt of the vnlesum & treasonabill wacheing warding and halding in captivitie, wth [con]vocation of or soveran ladeis legis bodin in feir of weir alswele in secrete armor as wth Jakkis steilbonett[is] gu[n]nis pistulett[is] swardis buklaris Jedbur[cht] staffis halbertis and vtheris wapp[e]nis invasiue be thame selfis and vtheris in thair na[m]is Of thair cawsing [com]mand assistence diuising sending & ratihabitioun Off or souerane ladeis maist nobill persone wit[h]in hir maist secrete chalmer of hir palice of halyrudehous Immediatlie and [con]tinualie.

Here is my translation but I'm not exactly sure what these guys were convicted of; something about holding someone captive and hiding lots of weapons and armour.

"On which day the said Thomas Scott, William Harlaw, and John Mowbray, were convicted and found guilty (filit) by the said court (assaysis) of criminal activity (arrt and parrt) of the unlawful (unlesum) and treasonable holding captive (wacheing warding), with convocation of our sovereign Lady's lords' bidding (bodin) in fear of danger (weir) also in secret armour as with jacks and steel helmets, guns, pistols, swords, bucklers, Jedburgh staffs, halberds, and other weapons invasive by themselves and others in their names of their causing command, assistance, divising, sending, and sanction (ratihabitioun) of our sovereign Lady's most noble person within Her most secret chamber of Her Palace of Holyroodhouse immediately and continually."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Some collections of evidence by James Barker: HTML (hacked by someone who inserted a spam link) and PDF The Jack in the War of the Roses.
DIS MANIBUS GUILLELMI GENTIS MCLEANUM FAMILIARITER GALLERON DICTI
VIR OMNIBUS ARTIBUS PERITUS
Check out Age of Datini: European Material Culture 1360-1410
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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When the Kerrs were banished to France in 1552, they were permitted to take with them a sizeable retinue. King Edward's journal says that their troops were to consist of four thousand infantry, commanded by the Earl of Cassillis, and five hundred men-at-arms, to be led by the Homes and Kerrs. Four hundred horsemen were to be raised on the Borders and equipped as follows:

"ilk horseman to have ane dowbill horse, with jak, steilbonett, splent, swerd, buklair, and speir of six ellis lander thairby."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Here are some prices from Memorabilia of the City of Glasgow, pp. 29-31.

Entry: 24th January, 1588. Inheritance claim of Marion Bar, daughter and only heir of Robert Bar. There are three pages of items but these are the only items of war.

Item, ane sword - price xls. Item, ane speir - price thairof vis, viijd. Item, ane hagbut - price thairof iij £, ane halbert, ane Jedarstaff - price of baith xxs., ane steilbonnet - price thairof xxs., ane steill jak - price thairof iij £.

sword: 40 shillings
spear: 6 shillings, 8 pence
arquebus: 3 pounds
halberd, Jedburgh staff: 20 shillings
steel helmet: 20 shillings
steel jack: 3 pounds
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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In August 1498, the merchants and craftsmen of Edinburgh were ordered to have this gear in their booths and be prepared to use them to stop any disturbances:

"defensabill geir, sikas jak, sellet, burgandynis, o-luifis of plait, and ane hand-ax or sword..."
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Lots of jacks mentioned in the Wardrobe Inventories of James V

http://sparc.scran.ac.uk/publications/p ... es%20v.pdf
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Edmund Spenser, A Veue of the present state of Irelande, Part II, 1596
Iren: Yes, I thinke there be; but as good never a whit as never the better. For what doe statutes avayle without penaltyes, or lawes without charge of execution? for soe ther is another like lawe enackted against wearing of Irish apparell, but never the more it is observed by any, or executed by them that have the charge: for they in ther private discresions thinke it not fitt to be forced upon the pore wretches of that Countrye, which are not worth the price of English apparell, nor expediente to be practysed against the better sorte, by reason the the Country (say they) doe yeeld noe better: and were ther better to be had, yet theise were fitter to be used, as namely, the mantle in travelling, because ther be noe Innes wher meate or beding might be had, soe that his mantle serves him then for a bed: the lether quilted Jacke in jorninge and in Campinge, for that it is fittest to be under his shirte of maile, for any occasion of suddayne service, as ther happen many, and to cover his thine bretch on horsbacke.
------------
Iren: Noe: all these which I have rehearsed to you, bee not Irish garmentes, but Englishe; for the quilted leather Jacke is oulde Englishe; for yt was the proper weede of the horseman, as you may reade in Chaucer, where he describeth Sir Thopas apparrell and armor, when he went to fighte against the gyant, which shecklaton, is that kinde of gilden leather with which they use to Imbroder their Irishe Jackes. And there likewise by all that discripcon yee may see the very fashion and manner of the Irishe horseman most lively sett out, in his longe hose, his shoes of costlie cordwaine, his hacqueton, and his haberjon, with all the rest thereunto belonginge.
------------
Eudox: It seemeth then that you finde no faulte with this manner of rydinge; whie then woulde you have the gilded jacke layed awaye?

Iren: I would not have that laied away, but the abuse thereof to bee put awaye; for beinge used to the ende that it was framed, that is, to be worne in warre under a shirte of male, yt is allowable, as also the shirt of mayle, and all his other furniture: but to be worne daylie att home, as in Townes and civill places, yt is a rude habitt and most uncomelie, seeminge like a players painted coote.
So a yellow leather covering with embroidery worn under mail in late 16th century Ireland?

Trinity College, Dublin MS 1440, The Book of De Burgos, fo. 24r, Seaan MacUilliam Mhic tSeaain/Sheaan son of Oliverus, son of Sheaan son of Richard, c.1571-1580.
http://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/conten ... _53_LO.jpg


Interestingly, the English poet Spenser has his characters equate the "Jacke" and "hacqueton" worn beneath mail, even citing Chaucer's Sir Thopas as an example.

And next his sherte an aketoun,
And over that an haubergeoun
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Dan Howard wrote:I found this when I started looking for "jack" in Scottish texts. It was written by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, originally published in Rome in 1578.
-----
Thay war harnest with Jacks al wouen throuch with yrne huikes, quhilkes habbirgeounis thay cal:

"Their war harness with jacks all woven through with iron hooks (rings?), which they call haubergeons."
Paston Letters, Inventory of Sir John Fastolf's Goods, 1459
Item j. jakke of blakke lynen clothe stuffyd with mayle.
Item vj. jakkes stuffyd with horne.
Item j. jakke of blake clothe lyned with canvas mayled.
Item xxiiij. cappes stuffed withe horne and sum withe mayle.
So we have jacks without reinforcement, jacks stuffed with mail, jacks stuffed with horn, jacks of plate....
What would be the difference between a jaserant (in all of it's various spellings) and a jack stuffed with mail? Is it an issue of one man's soda is another man's pop?
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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I think they are the same thing. The word "stuffed" is used differently today than it was then.
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Re: Scottish Jacks

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Does anyone have the original text from Dominic Mancini which describes the English archer's soft "tunics stuffed with tow"? I have grown dubious that tunica is the specific word.
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