Elizabethan bonnet

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Lastly, as for bonnets, it is my understanding that the 16th-century male Highlander would be bare-headed. At least, I am not aware of any headgear worn by them in this period. I think the 1631 woodcut of the Highland mercenaries serving Gustavus Adolphus is the earliest evidence of Highlanders wearing the bonnet.

That is very interesting. I've never studied headgear but always thought with most of life being lived outdoors, it was ubiquitous throughout antiquity. Thanks for that insight.

[Lachlan09]

I would agree with Morris. My understanding is that Highlanders used to go bare-headed in the 16th Century, as per written descriptions of redshanks of the time who considered hats to be unmanly and that mixing with Lowland units of King Gustavus Adolphus’ Swedish army during the Thirty Years’ War led to them adopting the Lowland bonnet and making it their own.

[LANCER1562]

Alan,

I am in a Renaissance re-enactment guild that recreates the court of Mary Stuart between 1562 and 1565. Although my character is a Lowlander, I wear a great kilt with a doublet and moccasin boots. I wonder how likely it would be that Mary would have had a border riever as the Sgt. Major of her foot soldiers which is my character. Also, the woman who plays Mary in our guild is two years older than Mary was when she was executed. So much for historical acuracy. lol