Armour in England, from the Earliest Times to the Reign of James the First

by John Starkie Gardner

Figs. 43, 44.—Highland Pistols. Collection of Major Farquharson.

Figs. 43 and 44 show specimens of the Highland pistol, a class which stands quite by itself. These weapons no doubt were evolved from the early steel wheel dags in common use in Germany. Many Highlanders were to be found in the armies of other European nations, whence they probably took the fashion and also procured their firearms. The earliest weapons of the sort, as well as the latest, were all of steel (or rarely brass). The stocks had a heart-shaped butt, and were furnished with snap-hance locks. There is one of this description, undoubtedly a Scotch weapon, in the armoury in the old castle of Nürnberg, where the arms have always been stored, belonging probably to one of the many Scotch officers employed in Germany during the wars of the seventeenth century. Later on the butt of the pistol assumed a claw form and the ordinary flint-lock was employed, the mechanism, however, being of a distinctive sort, possibly of Dutch origin. The latest of these pistols have a rounded butt as in [Fig. 44]. The ornament found on the back of the hammer in [Fig. 43] is not to be seen in any other class of lock.

The Highlanders looking at length on their weapons as part of the equipment of their national garb, a colony of armourers sprang up in the village of Doune in Stirlingshire, a place where “trysts” or fairs were held, and where the Highlanders resorted to exchange their cattle for other goods. The following account is given in Scottish National Memorials, of this trade of Doune. “The only remains of any of the ancient branches of trade is the making of Highland pistols. The reputation of Doune for this manufacture, about the time of the German war, was very great. This art was introduced to Doune about the year 1646 by Thomas Caddell, who having been instructed in his craft at Muthil, a village in Strathearn in Perthshire, came and settled at Doune. This famous tradesman possessed a most profound genius, and an inquisitive mind, and though a man of no education and remote from every means of instruction in the mechanical arts, his study and persevering exertions brought his art to so high a degree of perfection that no pistols made in Britain excelled or perhaps equalled those of his making either for sureness, strength, or beauty. He taught the trade to his children and several apprentices, of whom was one John Campbell, whose son and grandson carried on the business. While the ancient dress of Caledonia was worn, that is, the ‘philabeg’ belted-plaid, pistols, and dirk, the pistols made in Doune excelled all others, and acquired superior reputation over France and Germany; a pair superbly ornamented were fabricated by a tradesman taught in Doune, and by the city of Glasgow given in compliment to the Marquis de Bouillé. The above Mr. Campbell’s grandson, who has now given over business, made pistols for the first nobility in Europe, as Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, the Duke of Cumberland, and others. The trade is now (1798) carried on by John Murdoch (the maker of [Fig. 44]). These pistols were sold (1798) at from four to twenty-four guineas a pair.”

The names of some of these armourers were the Caddells, James Sutherland, Thomas Murdoch, John Murdoch, S. Michie, John Campbell, J. Stuart, David M‘Kenzie, and others. The trade died out at the commencement of this century.

These weapons were remarkable for grace of outline and great lightness. The butt has a small knob, which, when unscrewed, forms a picker to clear the touch-hole with. The mainsprings in many cases appear to be weak, having little room to work in the slender stocks.

---

[INDEX]

• Almayne rivets, [14], [15]
• Ambras Collection, [48]
• Archers, [36-38], [52], [56], [60]
• Armet, [32], [36], [44], [48], [51], [53], [71], [72]
• Arthur, King, [8], [12], [21]
• Arundel, Lord, [60]
• Arundel Society, [40]
• Augsburg, [40], [41], [60]
• Back-plates, [28], [29], [40], [44]
• Bastard of Burgundy, [77]
• Battle Abbey, Arms of, [53]
• Bavier, The, [53]
• Bayeux Tapestry, [18]
• Beauchamp, Effigy of, [24], [30]
• Bedford, Duke of, [38]
• Bernabo Visconti (Statue of), [20]
• Bernal Collection, [14], [68], [73]
• Black Prince, [10]
• Böheim, [40], [41]
• Bohun, Sir Humphrey de, [14]
• Bourbon, Duke of, [11], [63]
• Bourdonasses, [36], [37]
• Bows and Arrows, [38]
• Brantôme, [14-16], [72]
• Brassey, Mr. Leonard, [11]
• Breast-plates, [15], [28-30], [37], [40], [44], [47], [60], [64], [68]
• Brescia, [15], [90]
• Battle before, [36]
• Brett Collection, [12]
• British Museum, [10], [17], [47], [53]
• Brittany, Duke of, [14]
• Brooke, Lord, [11]
• Bucarte, Lord, [60]
• Burges Collection, [10], [19], [47]
• Burgundian Armour, [49-51]
• Burgundy, Duke of, [14], [38]
• Cabassets, [72]
• Cadell, Thomas (Armourer), [93-94]
• Cajazzo, Count, [40]
• Calais, [38]
• Canterbury, [54]
• Cap-à-pie Armour, [6], [7], [11], [23], [27], [29], [32], [44], [46], [51], [56], [72]
• Capitana, The, Capture of, [82]
• Cassel, Battle of, [8]
• Chain Mail, see [Mail Armour]
• Charles I., [71], [72]
• Charles V., [16], [60]
• Charolois, Count of, [53]
• Chatsworth, [72]
• Chausses, [18]
• Christian II., [74]
• Cinquedea, The, [81]
• Civil War in England, [90]
• Cœur-de-Lion, [17]
• Colman Family (Armourers), [40], [60], [68], [72]
• Colman, Lorenz, [28], [41]
• Cologne, [12], [13]
• Cominazzo (Maker of Firearms), [90]
• Commines, Philip de, [32], [36], [38], [53]
• Constantinople, [25]
• Corselets, [14], [48]
• Cosimo, Piero di, [47]
• Cosson, Baron de, [54]
• Coutts-Lindsay Collection, [12]
• Crests, [32], [48], [53]
• Crossbows, [15], [83]
• Crossbow-men, [36]
• Cuirasses, [14], [71]
• Cumberland, Earl of, [11]
• Currie, Mr. David, [12], [67], [68], [73]
• Damascened Armour, [22], [67], [68]
• Dillon, Lord, [9]
• Douglas, Sir Archibald, [77]
• Doune (Stirlingshire), [93]
• Dover Castle Collection, [10]
• Doyac, John, [14]
• Dugdale, Sir William, [77]
• Dukes of Albany and Orleans, Fight between, [38]
• Ear-pieces, [68]
• Edward I., [22]
• Edward III., [77]
• Edward VI., [10], [38], [60]
• Elbow-guards, [30]
• Farleigh Castle, [11]
• Flint-locks, [90]
• Flodden, Battle of, [7]
• Florence, [15]
• Fluted Armour, [11], [41], [43], [44], [47], [51], [53]
• Fornovo, Battle of, [36]
• Frederick the Victorious, [39]
• French Revolution (Destruction of Armour), [24], [25]
• Froissart, [16], [17]
• Gage, Sir John, [53]
• Galatin, [17]
• Gauntlets, [42], [44], [64], [68]
• Ghisi, Giorgio, [72]
• Gilded Armour, [60]
• Gordon, Mr. Panmure, [46]
• Gorget, The, [71]
• Greenwich, [9]
• Grünewalt, Hans (Armourer), [40]
• Grünewalt, Heinrich, [40]
• Guidarelli, Guidarello (Effigy of), [36]
• Halberds, [39]
• Hall, [24], [38], [52], [60]
• Harding, [60]
• Harold, [18]
• Hatton, Sir Christopher, [63]
• Hauberk, The, [18], [19]
• Head-pieces, [51], [53], [60]
• Helm, [39], [43], [51], [60]
• Helmets, [18], [20], [28], [32], [41], [48], [68], [71], [72];
• Tilting, [51], [52]
• Henry IV., [8], [14], [54]
• Henry V., [8]
• Henry VI., [60]
• Henry VII., [16], [38], [51], [53], [59]
• Henry VIII., [9], [10], [13-15], [24], [48], [51], [52], [54], [59], [78]
• Herbert, Lord Richard, [37]
• Horse-armour, [41], [44], [46], [51], [74]
• Hothfield, Lord, [11]
• Hutin, Louis, [14], [16]
• Italian Armourers, [14]
• Jarnac and La Chateigneraye (Duel between), [22]
• Joan of Arc, [54]
• John of Eltham, [8]
• Kenyon, Lord, [74]
• Kirkener, Erasmus, 53
• Lances, [36], [37]
• Layard, [17]
• Lodelowe, Abbot Thomas de, [53]
• Londesborough Collection, [11], [68]
• Longfield, Mr. F. H., [18]
• Louis X., [16]
• Louis XI. [14], [16], [39]
• Macquoid, Mr. Percy, [45], [82]
• Madrid Armoury, [16]
• Mail Armour, [17], [18], [22]
• Mantua, Court of, [41]
• Marquis of, [36]
• Marignan, Battle of, [14]
• Matchlocks, [85]
• Matthew of Paris, [14]
• Maximilian Armour, [51]
• Maximilian, Emperor, [9], [13], [20], [24], [40], [41], [53], [60]
• Medici, Cosmo de’, [68]
• Meyrick Collection, [11], [20], [53], [73]
• Middle Temple Hall, [18]
• Mielich, Hans, [73], [74]
• Milan, [13], [14], [39]
• Milan, Duke of, [14]
• Milanese Armour, [14], [40]
• Buckler, [72]
• Missaglias, The (Armourers), [39], [40]
• Mola, Gasparo, [72]
• Monstrelet, [14], [17]
• Montfort, Simon de, [22]
• Montlhéry, Battle of, [38], [53]
• Montmorency, Duke of, [11], [63]
• Moorish Steel-Workers, [15], [16]
• Morion, [16], [72]
• National Gallery, [20], [21], [30], [32], [47]
• Neck-guards, [68]
• Negrolis, The (Armourers), [68]
• Netherlandish Armour, [16]
• Nineveh, [17], [20]
• Norfolk, Duke of, [13], [81]
• Nucius, Nicander, [59]
• Nuremberg, [28], [40], [44], [45], [85]
• Otterbourne, Battle of, [12]
• Otto IV., Count, Figure of, [30]
• Oxford, Earl of, [37]
• Paton, Sir Noël, [12], [19], [22], [26], [28], [53]
• Pauldron, The, [40], [44]
• Pearson, Sir Wheatman, [11], [46]
• Pembroke, Earl of, [11]
• Penshurst Castle Collection, [11], [52], [78]
• Perugino, [30]
• Philip II., [74]
• Picinino (Milan), [72]
• Pistols, [86], [92]
• Plate Armour, [23]
• Plumpton Correspondence, [37]
• Pollajuolo, [68]
• Pommel, The, [55], [78]
• Pourpoint, The, [15]
• Pratt (Dealer in Armour), [25], [28]
• Prussia, King of, [46]
• Rapier, The, [81]
• Reiters (German Cavalry), [86-89]
• Richard II., [13]
• Richard III., [37]
• Rifles, [89]
• Romano, Giulio, [72]
• Rosa, Salvator, [68]
• Rosebecque, Battle of, [16]
• Roundel, The, [74]
• St. George (Figure of), [31], [32], [40]
• St. Michael (in full Armour), [30]
• St. Quentin, Battle of, [11]
• St. William (in Garofalo’s Madonna and Child), [32]
• Sant’ Egidio, Battle of, [32]
• Sallads, [14], [24], [25], [29], [40], [52], [53]
• Saxony, Duke of, [43]
• Scales, Lord, [77]
• Shoulder-guards, [30], [36], [51]
• Shrewsbury Collection, [12]
• Sidney, Sir Philip, [52], [82]
• Sigman, Georgius, [73]
• Smith, Mr. Cozens, [72]
• Smith, Sir James, [56]
• Snap-hance Lock, [89], [90]
• Sollerets, [28], [29], [30], [32], [39], [40], [52], [53]
• Soltykoff Collection, [73]
• South Kensington Museum, [10], [30], [35], [36]
• Spacini, Hieronymus, [72]
• Spain, Philip of, [17]
• Spanish Armada, [82]
• Spurs, Battle of the, [19]
• Stafford, Lord, [44]
• Standard Collar of Mail, [21], [22]
• Strozzi, [14]
• Suffolk, Duke of, [52], [60]
• Sullivan, Mr. J. F., [56]
• Swords, [9], [12], [15], [16], [31], [53], [54], [55], [59], [77], [82]
• Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, [85]
• Talbot, Sir Gilbert, [16]
• Target, The, [72], [73], [74], [84]
• Tassets, [64]
• Terouenne, [60]
• Towcester, Battle of, [37]
• Tower, The, [9], [10], [11], [14], [44], [46], [48], [53], [63], [67], [77], [83]
• Tuilles, [40], [42]
• Uccello, Paolo, [32], [52]
• Verrocchio, [68]
• Vikings, The, [17], [18]
• Vinsauf, Geoffrey de, [17]
• Vischer, Peter, [30]
• Visor, The, [44], [48], [51], [52], [71]
• Wace, [18]
• Wallace Collection, [10], [29], [46], [48], [53], [60]
• Walpole, Horace, [11], [64]
• Wars of the Roses, [24], [37]
• Warwick Castle, [77]
• Warwick, Earl of, [8], [9], [37], [54]
• Weinsberg, Count, Effigy of, [30]
• Westminster, [9], [10], [51], [54], [77]
• Westminster, Duke of, [47], [64]
• Wheel-lock, [85], [86]
• William III., [85]
• William of Toulouse, [8]
• Williams, Mr. Morgan, [41]
• Wilton House, [11]
• Wilton, Lord Grey de, [8], [9]
• Windsor Collection, [10], [54], [63], [82]
• Wolsey, [15]
• Woolwich Collection, [10], [20], [48]
• Wyatt, Costume worn by, [21]
• Zouche, Lord, [12], [25]