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No need for apologies Errata. Far from it: intelligent discussion expands everyones' horizons. I have learned and been compelled to get my own thoughts in order - always valuable.
The usual view of Richard's end is that his horse - White Surrey - was brought down (hence Shakespeare's immortal cry) and that he then fought on, on foot, in the thickest press of his enemies. I always imagine him being under a sort of rugby scrum in his final moments.
James IV) of Scotland was, of course, famously pulled down by a bill at Flodden, not that many years later.
Given the position of the halberd/bill wound on Richard's skull, I wonder whether the King was on his knees when it was received.
Richard would almost certainly have been used to wearing full plate, though as I have said, I believe that outside immediate deployment for battle, some lighter combination of pieces would have been worn.
If you ever see the Robert Taylor (1950s) film version of "Quentin Durward" - he wears armour that consists of full plate legs and arm protection, as well as a lower breast plate and gorget, but with a brigandine covered in blue velvet studded with gilt nails, over his torso. I could well have seen the King wearing something like that on the march or when recconnoitering.
Phil H
The usual view of Richard's end is that his horse - White Surrey - was brought down (hence Shakespeare's immortal cry) and that he then fought on, on foot, in the thickest press of his enemies. I always imagine him being under a sort of rugby scrum in his final moments.
James IV) of Scotland was, of course, famously pulled down by a bill at Flodden, not that many years later.
Given the position of the halberd/bill wound on Richard's skull, I wonder whether the King was on his knees when it was received.
Richard would almost certainly have been used to wearing full plate, though as I have said, I believe that outside immediate deployment for battle, some lighter combination of pieces would have been worn.
If you ever see the Robert Taylor (1950s) film version of "Quentin Durward" - he wears armour that consists of full plate legs and arm protection, as well as a lower breast plate and gorget, but with a brigandine covered in blue velvet studded with gilt nails, over his torso. I could well have seen the King wearing something like that on the march or when recconnoitering.
Phil H
Taylor's kit is actually based on period illustrations of the Scots Archers of the French king,so '50's Hollywood sometimes got it right.........
Went to the re-enactor's trader's fair at the weekend and was still salivating over medieval shinies long after buying my 1640's stuff..............
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