Lettering in liveries

[Stuart]

I've found the following description of French infantry surrendering Therouanne in 1513;

On the 21st the captains of the city treated with the Lord Steward to move the King to allow them to depart with their lives; and on the 22nd the King, with the Emperor's consent, rode unto the walls and gave them mercy. The captains left the town on the 23rd, the soldiers in three guards. One guard had written in gold letters on their breasts, Heilly; the second, Sarcuz; the third, Picarde.

Are there any extant examples of text on liveries that you know of?

How would you paint these, any ideas?

Thanks for looking

Stuart

[Atheling]

I've found the following description of French infantry surrendering Therouanne in 1513;

On the 21st the captains of the city treated with the Lord Steward to move the King to allow them to depart with their lives; and on the 22nd the King, with the Emperor's consent, rode unto the walls and gave them mercy. The captains left the town on the 23rd, the soldiers in three guards. One guard had written in gold letters on their breasts, Heilly; the second, Sarcuz; the third, Picarde.

Are there any extant examples of text on liveries that you know of?

How would you paint these, any ideas?

Possibly in the same type of script used on standards of the Late C15(?)

It's a stab in the dark really but it's my best guess

Darrell.

[Arlequín]

The Ghent militias used a Germanic-style (or gothic) lowercase 'g' on their jackets, which also appears on the 'Maid of Ghent' standard. That would support Darrell's theory. I would imagine French would use the same, or similar, letter style as appears on Burgundian standards of the Swiss Wars.

[Stuart]

Or something like this - completely forgot about painted armour.

[Atheling]

Or something like this - completely forgot about painted armour.

That's the same sort of 'Gothic' script that is used on Standards o yeah, that's what I was leaning towards Stuart. I should add that for the time period you're talking about i have no evidence that this was the case.

Darrell.

[Stuart]

No me neither, i can't recall seeing lettering in any early 16c drawings and woodcuts so it was a revelation, a good eyewitness source too.

[Patrice]

Gothic was still widely used in the early 16th century.

However it's not always easy to copy, there were many abreviations and shortened words.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/a/archers_bracer.aspx

an earlier (early 15th C.) example of lettering: Osprey Armies of Medieval Burgundy, plate B4.

[Stuart]

Thanks Patrice, there's some inspiration there

[Captain Blood]

Good luck painting words in Gothic lettering onto the coats of your 28mm figures, Stuart 
(I believe in you!)


(Pavises and horsecloths would be possible I think )

Send for the Optivisor!

[Paul]

One guard had written in gold letters on their breasts, Heilly; the second, Sarcuz; the third, Picarde.

Could it mean they (the leaders of each group) were wearing Livery collars? They are mainly made of Gold and some contain letters?
Roman de Girrart de Rousillon 1448

[Keith]

Cunningly enough I was just contemplating painting script on some of my Swiss helmets. I've been looking for reference and havn't seen anything actually from the period yet.

[Patrice]

On the 21st the captains of the city treated with the Lord Steward to move the King to allow them to depart with their lives; and on the 22nd the King, with the Emperor's consent, rode unto the walls and gave them mercy. The captains left the town on the 23rd, the soldiers in three guards. One guard had written in gold letters on their breasts, Heilly; the second, Sarcuz; the third, Picarde.

Could you mention the original source? "Picardie" would be more likely ...but perhaps shortened.

[Stuart]

Here you go, letter from Giles ap ... To the earl if Devon;

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol1/pp997-1012

It's in English, as you mention I think it's actually Sercus, Heily & Picardie

[Arlequín]

They are writing in the days before the great vowel shift and standardisation, so they are in fact Heilly, Sercus and Picardie. Note also 'Tyroan' for Thérouanne, 'Sir Rice' for Sir Rhys (ap Thomas) and a few more written vocalisations.

They are talking 'Guard' in the plural, as three units, so they are talking about all the men wearing their town/region's name on their clothing. Whether made from cut-out letters, embroidered, or painted on, is anyone's guess though. 

Nice to see the Chevalier Bayard get his name in there in the letter above too.   

[Stuart]

You're a gent Jim

That resource is an absolute gem, go back to June and read through to October it's fascinating, well for me anyway. Lots of Flodden info in there too.