THE TWO HANDED SWORD THAT KILLED THE EARL OF HUNTLY, 28 OCT 1562

[cornelistromp]

Last year I got a sword in my possession, in a very good condition (indoor patina) with a scabbard whose leather shell unfortunately falls apart in VERY little pieces.
A round pommel, actually a basic shape, Oakeshott type R, rarely used on swords, when.... mainly on Scottish and Northern European swords.
a stiff diamond-shaped blade for the thrust and a hilt with inner and outer rings, wide parry rods with saucer-shaped finals.
long leather bound grip with two rings at each side.

the sword's is 142.5cm, blade 102.5cm.

in a plastic folder to parry ring was a piece of parchment with family crest at one side and a written part at the other side.

I have found that the text on the old parchment must be;
Two handed sword used by David Stuart of Inchbreck with which he killed the Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Corichie fought on Oct 28th 1562

the weapon on the other side is the family crest of the Family Stuart.
Motto: Semper apparatus = Always prepared
Blazon: A Civet Cat Couchant Ppr.
SourceFairbairn's Book of Crests, 1905 ed.

Because the weapon of Stuart of Inchbreck it is depicted on the parchment , in all probability, made up by someone from the Stuart of Inchbreck family.
when, I don't know.


I found in Bernard Burke,
A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland volume 2 page269,
the existence of an David Stuart corresponding to the event.
Xiineag-e.— David Stuart, first of Inchbreck (1547), was
son of Andrew Stuart, of Johnston, or Laurencekirk, in the
Mearns, and grandson of Sir James Stuart, of Athol, son of
ilurdoch, Duke of Albany, who was grandson of Robert II. King of Scotland.

in practically all documents state that the Earl of Huntly is deceased to internal bleeding or stroke after he was captured in1562.
However, in
William Ruxton Fraser , History of the parish and burgh of Laurencekirk is written about the incident, the stabbing death of the Earl of Huntly by david stuart.

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-en...kirk-ala.shtml


REDMYEE. 95

his death; and in a retour of 5th May 1658, there
is mention of " Alexander Irwing of Drum, heir-maill
of Alexander Irwing of Drum, Knight, his father, in
the lands of Whytrygs and Beidmyre." It was prob-
ably this Alexander who disposed of the estate to
one of the family of Stuarts.

It has been said, however, that the Stuarts of Inch-
breck acquired possession of Eedmyre by marriage,
though the time of its coming into their hands is not
known. According to Mr Jervise, the first Stuart of
Inchbreck was a younger son of a laird of Johnston,
who was a lineal descendant of the old family of the
Stuarts of Morphie. David Stuart fought at the
battle of Pinkie, and was of invaluable service to
Sir Archibald Douglas when he lay wounded upon
the field. For his attention to the knight, he was
rewarded with a gift of Inchbreck, which had been
part of the barony of Glenbervie. He continued to
distinguish himself as a soldier, and was with Queen
Mary's forces at the battle of Corrichie, where, it is
alleged, he killed the Earl of Huntly with his own
hand, a feat celebrated in the lines of the old ballad :

" The Murray cried, 'Tak' the auld Gordoun,'
An' mony ane ran wi' speid, .
But Stuart o' Inchbraick had him stickit,
And out gushit this fat lurdanes bleid. "

very nice that an old ballad refers to the death stabbing of the Earl of Huntly by Stuart of Inchbreck.

family fantasy of the Stuarts for by the fire or real truth, whether or not the sword where Earl of Huntly was slain along.
who knows?

certainly very interesting and entertaining

best,
Jasper

[kronckew]

english_>latin dictionary.
equipment, gear, machinery/ splendor, magnificence : apparatus


Semper Paratus (Always Ready) is the motto of the USCG - engraved on my soul also the motto of the stuarts of inchbreck.

the battle:

Donald Cameron, XV Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron led the men of Clan Cameron onto the field in support of Mary Queen of Scots against her first cousin, George, the 4th Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Corrichie (Corrichy), which was fought in the autumn of 1562. Corrichie, a long flat hill from fifteen to eighteen miles west of Aberdeen, was where Huntly's forces met the Queen's. The Earl's army, which had diminished in size, due to many factors, was easily defeated. Huntly was found dead on the field, reportedly smothered in his armor.

As a result of Donald's loyalty to the Royal cause in this victory, the Cameron lands which had been forfeited with those of Huntly (who was Donald's superior) were restored.

Huntly Castle

[fernando]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

Last year I got a sword in my possession ...

Meaning you let it go, Jasper ?
What a pity .

[Matchlock]

Hi Jasper,


My congratulations on the acquisition of such a historically important sword!

How would you actually date this impressive item - probably ca. 1540-50, as it is rather delicately wrought throughout, with quite thin quillons and a globular pommel?


Best as ever,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

though there is very little scottish reference material, I came before having studied the parchment off at around 1550-1560 and Scottish. (it was offered as 18thC)
The round pommel and parallel oversized spiral bound grip characterize scottish two handers, see for example an almost simlar spirally grip of a two-hander in the castlemuseum of Edenburgh and the pommel and grip of the very famous 16th century hilted sword, hilt also reshaped in in the 19thC, which is (probably incorrectly?) attributed to William Wallace.
The parry rods with their characteristic finals have style similarities with a sword recently auctioned at Thomas del mar 3/12 lot 179; a two-hand sword possibly for the field german or swiss , circa 1550-60.
the last picture; 1520 Henry VIII’s tonlet armour is English, the elegant two handed sword with the round pommel and diamond shaped blade probably also.

@Fernando, of course I still have the sword

best,
Jasper

[fernando]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

... @Fernando, of course I still have the sword

My misunderstanding; so good for you

[cornelistromp]

in

ESSAYS CHIEFLY ON SCOTTISH ANTIQUITIES BY THE LATE JOHN STUART ESQUIRE OF INCHBRECK
PROFESSOR OF GREEK IN THE MARISCHAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF
ABERDEEN WITH A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE AUTHORS LIFE.

the sword under discussion is remarkably mentioned;

He also took an active part in the subsequent battle of Corrichie on the Hill of Fare about sixteen miles westward from Aberdeen on the 28th October 1562 where he fought on the side of Queen Mary then in Aberdeen and her natural brother the well known Regent Murray against the Earl of Huntly and his followers and is said also to have distinguished himself on that occasion by having killed with his two handed sword, still preserved in the family, the noble chief of the opposite party

this is absolutely amazing that the two hand sword is mentioned and in the first half of the 19th century still in possession of the family Stuart of Inchbreck.


For the complete article see the ebook;

http://books.google.nl/books?id=Of0H...page&q&f=false


best
jasper

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

in

ESSAYS CHIEFLY ON SCOTTISH ANTIQUITIES BY THE LATE JOHN STUART ESQUIRE OF INCHBRECK
PROFESSOR OF GREEK IN THE MARISCHAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF
ABERDEEN WITH A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE AUTHORS LIFE.

the sword under discussion is remarkably mentioned;

He also took an active part in the subsequent battle of Corrichie on the Hill of Fare about sixteen miles westward from Aberdeen on the 28th October 1562 where he fought on the side of Queen Mary then in Aberdeen and her natural brother the well known Regent Murray against the Earl of Huntly and his followers and is said also to have distinguished himself on that occasion by having killed with his two handed sword, still preserved in the family, the noble chief of the opposite party

this is absolutely amazing that the two hand sword is mentioned and in the first half of the 19th century still in possession of the family Stuart of Inchbreck.


For the complete article see the ebook;

http://books.google.nl/books?id=Of0H...page&q&f=false


best
jasper

Jasper
It is Christmas before Christmas.
You are a lucky guy , you have been able to make this sword tell you his history ,It is a dream to have this opportunity because most of the swords we could find have lost their history so it is not a sword you have today but much more a piece of history and with your research you have made the link with literature ,genealogy and your sword.
Yes your sword have a spirit and you are the man who can communicate with her !
Congratulation for those very efficient work..
Best

Jean-Luc

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Jasper
It is Christmas before Christmas.
You are a lucky guy , you have been able to make this sword tell you his history ,It is a dream to have this opportunity because most of the swords we could find have lost their history so it is not a sword you have today but much more a piece of history and with your research you have made the link with literature ,genealogy and your sword.
Yes your sword have a spirit and you are the man who can communicate with her !
Congratulation for those very efficient work..
Best

Jean-Luc

Amen

[cornelistromp]

Scottish 2handed sword, probably 17th or 18thC, all-over length 52.75 inch
pictures © Harvey Whiters.
the grip ring and pommel are intergrated into a pommel with neck.

[Shakethetrees]

Congratulations, Jasper!

There is nothing like the thrill of locating old, of-the-period documentation!

I was researching an old flintlock and discovered some almost two hundred year old newspaper accounts mentioning the very gun that I own. They were located by a totally random search on a different search engine than google. I did this on a whim one night, and, I would bet that you could almost hear my whoops of joy in Holland!

Another time I found a book printed in 1697 that was a biography of a father and son who were both of renown in their native country. As it turns out I own some papers that are the actual proclamations granting knighthoods and titles to these men. When thumbing through the book carefully one night, I came across a page listing the very honors I have in my possession! What a thrill!

Again, congrats! This will be one that makes a lot of the thankless and unproductive slogging through cyberspace, chasing pay dirt (but getting what is usually found on the ground of a barnyard!) worthwhile.

[batjka]

Thank you for sharing the story of your treasure.

Out of curiosity, what is the weight of this sword?

[ulfberth]

Congratulations with this beautifully preserved sword Jasper !
Its not only in good condition, but a most elegant type and in the original scabbard ... amazing.

Not to speak of the paper of reference, have you tried and contact the family or descendents ?

Maybe there is a painting somewhere of the owner carrying his sword !? After shush an important heroic act where he defeated his enemy you can be sure they had a painting made...

Kind regards

Ulfbert

[ulfberth]

Hi Jasper,

This one's crossguard looks in the same style like the one you have.

kind regards

Ulfberht

[cornelistromp]

Hi Dirk,

thanks for the very nice example from Wallace collection, Italian twohander 1500-1510.

best,
jasper

[cornelistromp]

The sword that killed the Earl of Huntly has been published, along with many others, in the two handed sword, history design and use by Neil Melville.
this book is a real masterpiece written by one with the most knowledgable researchers/writers of this fascinating type of sword.
The book is the most complete work I know about this subject, with beautiful images, highly recommended.


best,
Jasper

[Iain]

Thanks for bringing the book up, definitely going on my list and I see it is available as a Kindle Edition as well for those of us who like having electronic copies.

[Battara]

I just love Scottish stuff.

That picture of all those Scottish baskethilts is just brilliant!