John Inglis Drever "Don" Pottinger (1919–1986)

The evolution of warfare and weapons in England from the time of the Anglo-Saxon invasions to the founding of the first modern army is skillfully surveyed in this study, which features early two hundred authentically detailed, but clear and uncomplicated, line drawings.

Sword , crossbow, longbow, halberd, pike, and pistol; battering ram, catapult, and cannon-the variety of weapons in matched by descriptions and illustrations of the men who wielded them, and of castles, forts, and battle strategies. Both author and iillustrator are experts on arms and armour. In relaxed, easy fashion they share witht he reader their knowledge of military history and architecture, as well as their enthusiasm for medieval engineering, bold knights, and the common bowmen and pikemen who provided the real strength of England's armies.

Here is exact information on how castles-with and without moats-were built, attacked, and defended; and what it was really like to be poleaxed. Here one can find out how to use a brass-feathered 'gun-arrow' and why a fourteenth-centruy knight so often wore old-fashioned thirteenth-century armour.

Henry VIII, more generally known for his half-dozen wives, is seen here in his role of military innovator, restocking the royal armouries with light armour, handguns, and cannon, and starting a gun foundry in the tower. The 'floating gun-batteries' he farsightedly ordered became the base of England's permanent navy, which served his daughter Elizabeth well in the war with Spain. The modern standing army as it emerged in Cromwell's time-infantry, cavalry, and artillery--is also fully covered.

Important battles, tournaments, jousts, Renaisssance pageantry, even that 'mounted ballet' known as the carousel (lve ancestor of the modern merry-go-round), in which the chivalric era nostalgically expired, are vividly protrayed in word and picture.

A.V.B. Norman, a speciaist in arms and armour, is assistant to the Director of the Wallace Collection in London. He is also the author of Arms and Armour, and was formerly Assistant Curator in the Scottish United Services Museum.

Don Pottinger, the artist, is Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms to the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. He has collaborated on and illustrated four other historical works.

Contents

Preface
The invaders
Chivalry
The Twelfth century
The Thriteenth century
The Fourteenth century
The first half of the Sixteenth century
The second half of the Sixteenth century
The Seventeenth century up to 1660
Appendix The making of an armour
Index… (más)