The dress of Scottish mercenaries in Swedish service during the 30-years' war

[Woodsheal]

...Or, have even more fun by wearing tartan breeches, like the fellow second from the left:



This is, of course, the well-known image of Highlanders (probably from MacKay's) in Gustavus' army in the 1630s....

[figheadair]

You need to look at the clothes from the Dungiven Bog Burial c1600-50.
See - http://clydesburn.blogspot.com/2009/...er-tartan.html

There's a link to Matt's article which is interesting although I disagree with the conclusion that this proves the existence of a truly Irish District tartan.

[Mikran]

Interesting stuff you got there about the Dungiven find. Speaking of the plaid, would this checkered pattern do?



Besides, what is known about the measurments of 17th century plaids? I've heard that clansmen during the Jacobite Rebellion sported plaids measuring no less than six double ells - would that be valid for the 1600s as well?

[Woodsheal]

Interesting stuff you got there about the Dungiven find. Speaking of the plaid, would this checkered pattern do?



Besides, what is known about the measurments of 17th century plaids? I've heard that clansmen during the Jacobite Rebellion sported plaids measuring no less than six double ells - would that be valid for the 1600s as well?

I like that tartan for use in a early outfit. Nice, muted, natural-looking colors.
Plaids were not of any one universal size. A wealthy clan "gentleman" might don more yardage for an impressive, voluminous appearance. Enlisted soldiers in the early Highland regiments had plaids only 3 yards - or ells - in length (which of course means 6 yards of tartan cut in half and seamed along the long edge, hence "double ells).
A plaid not worn as a "great kilt" but carried for instance by a Lowlander as his "overcoat" and bedding, would be roughly the size of a typical blanket, or a modern "shoulder plaid"....

[escherblacksmith]

You may also want to contact these folk: Clann Tartan

I used to do pike with them some years ago. Pretty similar to Woodsheal's comments, our group was a recruiting tour, so you had all manner of highland and lowland dress . . . and matchlocks and pikes and claymores and baskethilts and so on.

Good luck on your kit!

[figheadair]

Interesting stuff you got there about the Dungiven find. Speaking of the plaid, would this checkered pattern do?



Besides, what is known about the measurments of 17th century plaids? I've heard that clansmen during the Jacobite Rebellion sported plaids measuring no less than six double ells - would that be valid for the 1600s as well?

Absolutely outstanding. Very much in the style of the plaid worn by Kenneth 3rd Lord duffus c1715.

[The Thing]

...Or, have even more fun by wearing tartan breeches, like the fellow second from the left:



This is, of course, the well-known image of Highlanders (probably from MacKay's) in Gustavus' army in the 1630s....

I looked at a website today and it says that the above picture is Irish Kerne (footsoldiers) in Swedish service. Below is the abstract concerning the picture.

Irish kerne (mercenaries) in Stettin during the Thirty Years War, probably serving as auxiliaries to the Swedish Army. The original German legend around this picture by G. Kaler translates as ‘In such bizarre costumes, the 800 Irishmen (or madmen) walk around Stettin … They are resilient and resourceful people who, if they don’t have bread to eat, dig. When necessity demands, they can walk twenty miles a day. In addition to their muskets, they are armed with bows and arrows and long knives.’

[freddie]

...Or, have even more fun by wearing tartan breeches, like the fellow second from the left:



This is, of course, the well-known image of Highlanders (probably from MacKay's) in Gustavus' army in the 1630s....

This picture always reminds me of ZZ Top !

[Old Hippie]

...Or, have even more fun by wearing tartan breeches, like the fellow second from the left:



This is, of course, the well-known image of Highlanders (probably from MacKay's) in Gustavus' army in the 1630s....

And the title says, roughly, "This is how the 800 Irish dress, who have arrived in Stettin." I'm not good in antique German, but it looks to me like "Irishmen or Crazy Persons." Hmmm...

The text, which I can't read accurately, says something about eating sausages because they don't have bread to eat (?), and running swiftly while carrying muskets, bows, and long knives.

Yeah, they're Highlanders.

[Radge]

And the title says, roughly, "This is how the 800 Irish dress, who have arrived in Stettin." I'm not good in antique German, but it looks to me like "Irishmen or Crazy Persons." Hmmm...

The text, which I can't read accurately, says something about eating sausages because they don't have bread to eat (?), and running swiftly while carrying muskets, bows, and long knives.

Yeah, they're Highlanders.

Aye, they are Highlanders.