Photo of the day

 Photo by: Eric Bootsman

Equipage de Delft. Ship is the Batavia. 

Dancers c.1620

 

Painting of a hobby horse with Morris dancers beside the River Thames at Richmond, London; detail of Thames at Richmond, with the Old Royal Palace, c. 1620 (Fitzwilliam Museum, unknown artist)

New from Bloody Miniatures

 Facebook where there are more figures.

For this one we’re stepping back a generation from the English Civil War, to the tumultuous opening decades of the Seventeenth Century - Jacobean England under the Stuart ascendancy. A febrile time of spies, conspirators and insurrectionists; recusant householders of the old faith sheltering wily Jesuits and other assorted enemies of the state.

Ranged against them are sworn household men of the Crown’s loyal officers - intelligencers, agents, enforcers and inquisitors. Plus Gentlemen Pensioners, Yeoman of The Guard, and other forces of the state.

Not forgetting a colourful background cast of actors and playwrights; whores and apothecaries; doctors of magick, alchemists, astrologers and so on. It’s a setting rich in possibilities.

The original concept was a set of figures for skirmish games loosely based around the Gunpowder Plot - and this first Jacobean release indeed caters to that infamous episode.

But the figures can be used for all sorts of encounters set in this slightly earlier period - from the Dutch Revolt to the Thirty Years War.

They lend themselves exceptionally well to games set in the English plantations in early colonial era North America. Also to the ‘folk horror’ genre currently back in fashion thanks to the ‘Devilry Afoot’ rules.

Grolle 1627 by Stephan Vroom

 Breathtaking photos. Thanks Stephan.

War is My Homeland

 

"I just published my 17th century rules, War is our Homeland. 

War is Our Homeland is a set of Historical miniature wargame rules that will allow you to play the big battles of the Thirty Years War, English Civil War, Dutch Revolt, The Deluge, and more. The game is meant for 2 or more players to be able to learn in a few minutes, play in an evening, without a ridiculous amount of miniatures, and do all of those things without sacrificing historical fidelity.

War is our Homeland allows players to capture the greatest battles of the 17th century such as Breitenfeld or Marston Moor. The game is command and control focus, putting you in the shoes of a historical commander such as Gustavus Adolphus or Oliver Cromwell. The combat system is elegant to allow players to focus on the major command decisions without getting bogged down in the rules. More information about the game in the link below.

Brand new players can finish a game in under 3 hours.

Most scenarios can be played on a 6×4′ or 4×4′ table with 8-20 units per side.

Players feel like the great leaders of the period such as Wallenstein or Mansfeld.

4 Historical scenarios included, Mingolshiem 1622, Lutzen 1632, Zusmarshausen 1648, and Edgehill 1642.

https://thinkingmangames.com/war-is-our-homeland/

The rules are available from Wargames Vault in both print and pdf formats. A scenario book for the early period of the Thirty Years War and a scenario book for the English Civil Wars are also available with more soon to come. I hope you enjoy the game as much as I do! "

https://www.wargamevault.com/browse/pub/28305/Joshua-Rowe

Polish cavalry

 Roelant Savery, Polish Cavalry Marching in the Woods, 1614, Here

Michal Paradowski has said they might be Hungarians. Or Croats.  See here

Soldiers' clothing of the early 17th century

 Coming out soon. Register interest

Soldiers’ Clothing of the Early 17th Century is a comprehensive study of the clothing worn by soldiers during the Thirty Years War and the British Civil Wars. The book delves into the changing fashion trends of soldiers' clothing during the early seventeenth century, with detailed chapters on various items of clothing, the contracts and supply system, and challenges the idea that there was no uniformity at the beginning of the century.

There have been books written about military clothing during the early seventeenth century before, but never in this detail. This book is the result of over 30 years of research in the archives of record offices and libraries, recording minute details of clothing and coat colours. By examining thousands of archives and pamphlets, it challenges the idea that there was no uniformity within regiments or companies at the beginning of the century. Hundreds of contemporary illustrations, paintings and even surviving items of clothing were consulted to discover the soldiers' appearance.

The first part of Soldiers’ Clothing of the Early 17th Century looks at the individual items of clothing and how fashion changed over the years., as well as the contracts granted to merchants who supplied this clothing and the abuses that were made by some merchants and the corruption of the officers at the soldiers’ expense. Some soldiers were so poor that they had to sell their clothing to survive. It was also part of the humiliation of a prisoner of war to be stripped of his clothing. It also investigates the supply system of these clothes, which could further lead to corruption, and how they were transported to the armies to be distributed to the armies.

The second part looks at the clothing of the various Parliamentary and Royalist Armies, the army sent to Ireland during the 1640s, and the Scottish Armies during the Bishops’ and Civil Wars. It also attempts to solve the often-asked question of whether the trained bands were issued with clothing.

Finally, there is an examination of clothing issued to the armies of Denmark, the Dutch Republic, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and Sweden. Since soldiers’ clothing did not begin at the start of the Thirty Years War, in these chapters, the author looks at the issue of clothing from the turn of the century, if not before.

The book is essential for those interested in seventeenth-century military history, fashion, and re-enactors and wargamers of the period. Although the book does not include patterns and advice on how to make each item, it provides an in-depth and fascinating look at soldiers' clothing during the early seventeenth century.

Dutch 17th century caliver drill, Jacob de Gheyn II

 

Dutch 17th century pike drill, Jacob de Gheyn II

 

Trailer Slag om Grolle 2019

Nearly time for this event in the Netherlands that brings people from all over to reenact the 80 years war.

The battle of Leckerbeetje by Sebastiaen Vrancx

From the Vrancx wiki
'One of the subjects to which he returned regularly was that of the Battle between Lekkerbeetje and de Bréauté on the Heath of Vught. The subject took its inspiration from an event that occurred on 5 February 1600 when an overly-confident young French commander by the name of Pierre de Bréauté was challenged to a duel by Spanish Cavalry Lieutenant Gerard van Houwelingen, known by his knickname Lekkerbeetje, after he supposedly claimed his own horsemen better than the Spaniard’s. The battle was fought on the Heath of Vught, a small wooded area near the town of Vught, between the town gallows and the mill. Each side had 21 horsemen armed with swords and pistols. Lekkerbeetje was killed at the start of the engagement with a single pistol shot. During the skirmish the French suffered a total of 19 fatalities. Pierre de Bréauté was caught and then killed by his opponents. The subject of this battle became so popular at the time because it celebrated the by then essentially defunct chivalric practice of duelling.^[10] '

Jan Martszen de Jonge

This Dutch painter is worth checking out. See more

Wiki on this Dutch artist

PALAMEDESZ., Palamedes Dutch painter (b. 1607, London, d. 1638, Delft)

Home and Away; The British Experience of War 1618-1721. Proceedings of the 2017 Helion and company century of the soldier conference

This is a very useful smorgasbord of different papers on a rough theme. I didn't go to the Conference but the articles stand on their own as additional material on 17thc warfare.
First up is Far and Away; Fighting, Campaigning and Travelling During the English Civil War by Peter Gaunt. Very interesting analysing the experience of being out and about through the memoirs of some of the Civil Wars' most noted diarists Royalist and Parliamentarian.
'The Disarmed Multitude'; the impact of the Lostwithiel Campaign on the Earl of Essex's Army and its Reconstituion for Second Newbury. Simon Marsh. This examines the disastrous Cornish campaign and the efforts to revive the fortunes of the army after their defeat.
Warfare in the Wilderness; the Indian war of 1688 Rachael Abbis. This essay is interesting investigating the military build-up in the Colonies in particular the New England frontier that eventually became full scale war.
The Rank and File of the British Army 1685-1688 Stephen Ede-Borrett finds out whether the make up of the armies was as described by many historians as the scum of society or were they made up of different stock? Using the deserter notices the author investigates.
'For God's sake come home' - Soldiers' Wives 1620-1660 Laurence Spring. The author investigates the world of soldier's wives during the 17thc. This is a subject of interest to a number of people and Laurence finds some useful documents.
A House Called Loyalty - the Archaeology of a Civil War Siege Alan Turton. The epic sieges (for there were three) of Basing is a fascinating story by the expert on the subject. Investigations showing the layout of the fortifications and placing the sometimes bitter skirmishes in situ are in this study.
'His Majesties' Scenographer' the Military Art of Wenceslaus Hollar.  David Flintham. Prague-born Hollar is under the glass in this study. Many of his etchings are reproduced with an emphasis on the works he carried out during the Civil War that is the main focus. This is well-illustrated with Hollar's work
Michael Jones and the Defeat of Royalist Ireland 1647-9. Jon Day. Michael Jones is not a well known figure in history but he was responsible for laying the groundwork for Cromwell's notorious campaign in Ireland.
All in all a great read with many relayed points that give a useful addition to your military library. 

Palamedes Palamedesz (1607-38)

Dutch Golden Age painter. Wiki

Rebel Regiment at Grolle Battle

This is really good. It's taken at Grolle an event every couple of years in the Netherlands - quite a few from the UK go to it. 

Stefano Della Bella (1610-1664)

This Italian draughtsman has some good military scenes at the Rijksmuseum. 

Nieuwpoort 1600

Prince Maurice at the Battle of Nieuwpoort by Pauwels van Hillegaert. Oil on canvas

Pikeman 1647

More here

MARS Compagnie te Voet Winter Garrison

This Dutch 80 Years War group had a 16thc castle to play in last weekend. A friend of mine went from the UK. See more pics on their Facebook page