Posts: 108
Wed 11 Mar, 2009 10:04 pm
While I'm at it, I will also throw my support behind Patterns of Fashion and The Tudor Tailor. Both are phenomenal books with a wealth of information. Don't forget the most recent Arnold work (completed by her assistant after her passing), which covers linen items (shirts, ruffs, collars, etc.) from 1540-1660.
http://www.plimoth.com/books-media/patterns-o...-1660.html
To clarify, my original response regarding the use of longswords during the 16th century was based on Carlo's request for a
late kit. I am unfamiliar with any artwork depicting or documentation regarding individuals actually carrying a longsword in their hand or at their hip, or using one in combat past slightly after the mid-century; or at least during the period Carlo has indicated he wishes to represent (which I perceived as being roughly 1560-1600).
There is ample pictorial evidence for soldiers and civilians alike carrying a sword at their hip, either for function or fashion. During the period in question however, those sidearms are overwhelmingly single-handed.
We do know that "zweihanders" continued to be used in battle by Europe's more developed nations for some time (as evidenced by the records of the Sir Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester's forays into the Low Countries in the 1580's, and a few pieces of Dutch artwork), and that the use of the longsword was still being taught in martial arts schools (as evidenced of course by Meyer- as discussed above, and on into the 17th century with the work of Joseph Swetnam ca. 1617, and Jakob Sutor's adaptation of Meyer's work, ca. 1612). In a military context, you will find that the longsword (in the 14th, 15th century sense) is just about absent from the arsenals of Europe's developed nations, which were essentially reliant on pike & shot (with artillery, cavalry, and a sprinkling of men armed with targets, polearms, and so on) tactics. You don't even see any records of their use amongst England's poorer, or less well-equipped counties in muster records of their Trayned Bandes (instead, the classic bill and bow pop up, with a smattering of the preferred pike and shot). The only place(s) I am familiar with longswords being used in battle during the latter half of the 16th century was amongst Irish and Scottish soldiers and mercenaries (The so-called "Redshanks,"Gallowglasses," etc.), who were vastly considered to be crude, crass, and primitive by much of the rest of Europe.
In short, I would have to say, based on the evidence we have available to us, that with perhaps a few exceptions, we can rule out the carriage of longswords by civilians and soldiers alike during the latter portion of the 16th century.
Carlo, the most recent images you posted all date from before the time period you requested, and are from the first half or so of the 16th century.
All that said, I think that the clearest indication that your character is a practitioner of martial arts would actually be a wooden waster. A steel sword, rebated or not, will read to most observers as simply being a regular sword. There is no particular identifying dress for a martial arts student from this time period, but to a viewer in the know, a padded doublet based off one that is thought to be intended for fencing will read immediately. While I am a staunch supporter of well-researched, accurate historical clothing, just have fun with it- a visitor to a Renaissance Faire isn't bound by any particular historical standards.