An English Army in Ireland 1595

[OB]

This is my second blog setting the scene for the Battle of Clontibret in 1595.  It looks at the English Army in Ireland at the time and follows on from the one about the Irish Military Revolution.  I've used some slightly earlier woodcuts to illustrate it but the soldiers appearance remained the same.  It's a subject that has interested me for many years and I hope what I've written is of use for anyone looking at the period.  I've also included a portrait of Tom Lee who was Captain of the Queen's Kern its interesting in its own regard because of what it shows us. Tom is also a character who repays study for anyone wanting to understand the period.  I hope to return to him later and to some of the other actors in the Nine Years War in a series of pen portraits.  The last in the series will look at the Battle of Clontibret and will be up next.

Here's the link for anyone interested.

https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com.

[Inkpaduta]

Wow,

Try wearing that today!!

[OB]

Perhaps in the Summer but you'd need the legs for it.

Tom had the advantage of being a stone cold killer even by the standards of his day.  We can note he is carrying a sword, pistol and spear in case anyone questions his dress sense.

[Rogerc]

Interesting, I am still wondering how to paint the Scots for this period.

[OB]

Highlanders looked just like the Irish except they liked bows rather than darts. 

Mail was still popular and helmets.  Like the Irish they saw the potential of firearms but mostly they are recorded as having bows.  Two handed swords and axes get a regular mention but there are also targes noted which implies handier swords. 

The multi coloured belted plaid was coming in because it gets a mention s something new in the Irish sources.   There is a mention of Scots cavalry which I'm fairly sure would have been Borderers.

Hope that helps.

[Rogerc]

Certaily does thank you, I fancy a unit of Redshanks with my Kern and Gallowglass.

[OB]

Your welcome.

You might be interested in having a look at the Redshanks in Khurasan's Irish 15mm range.  They are very nicely painted and the palette used looks pretty good. 

[Lowtardog]

An oldie but a goodie, George gush gives you a bit of an insight

http://myarmoury.com/feature_armies_scots.html

[Friends of General Haig]

A fabulous costume depicted there, but definitely one where you need to have the legs for it! 

The Irish in this period do have some quite unusual costumes. 

[OB]

There's an awful lot of ink been spilled discussing on his costume with some thinking it is for a Masque.  Tom Lee wasn't posh enough for Masques. Basically it's pretty much the sort of thing any Irish aristo' might wear in hot weather.   When it got colder you'd button the sleeves on your ionad, put your trews and shoes on and reach for your mantle.

As Captain of the Queen's Kern Tom commanded Irish soldiers who wore a less fancy version of his outfit.  Interestingly he wrote a treatise on warfare in Ireland, he was a fearsome soldier, which I'm trying to crack down.  Once I have it I can complete a blog on him.

Apparently Edmund Spenser was consumed with jealousy about Tom and loathed him.

[Metternich]

Other than for his portrait, doubtful that Tom Lee dressed like a Kern while in the field.  Probably wore the standard "military" dress of an Elizabethan gentleman, but lightened.

[OB]

He was rather well known for advocating that English troops in Ireland should adopt items of Irish clothing as it was much more suitable to the conditions there than their own.  He came to that view from his experience in the field.  It's easy to see him in English or Irish clothing or a mixture depending on what he was doing.