Truibhs – Friend Or Foe ?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Umm, because he is a gentleman, and because he is walking.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind...

[Bugbear]

Hmmm, I was just reading a book where it was pointed out that the scots used lighter, smaller horses than the English, mostly during warfare, and often used no reins; controling the horse with their feet to leave their hands free for weapons. However, that was in a time period before this, I am guessing.

I have other books that describe the tunics that were worn by Roman soldiers, for example, while riding horses, and how there were slits in the front and back . I know nothing much of horse riding, though.

It must just be a Scots thing.

[Bugbear]

It just seemed interesting.

[Bugbear]

Well... if mostly the aristocracy wore trews, what else was being worn at this time other than the kilt, and by the other scottish folk?

[HarborSpringsPiper]

From Highland Clansman 1689-1746 by Stuart Reid and Angus McBride

This picture shows the actual clothing three unfortunuate individuals were wearing at the time of their deaths in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, recovered from three different peat bogs in Scotland.

The mannequin in the middle represents a young individual who was supposedly a victim of murder and apparently dumped in the bog. He has neither breeches nor plaid and apparently was considered "not well off" due to the patched and ragged condition of his clothing. I think we could only speculate whether he represented someone who was poorer and would have only had a frock shirt and the other items he was found with or perhaps his breeches or plaid were "lifted" from him before his body was tossed. It is my understanding that the bog conditions preserved these materials very well, so it is unlikely that some piece clothing disintegrated without trace.

I realize this is from a century prior to the earlier print from the RR McIan 1845 series, but paints an accurate picture that not everyone was wearing belted plaids, the kilt or trews in the Highlands when these would have been commonly worn.
-------------------------------------

Some additional info related to these finds and descriptions of their clothing and other artifacts found with them.

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsd...55_213_221.pdf

http://shetlopedia.com/Gunnister_Man

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsd...06_172_182.pdf

[Bugbear]

Oops, I forgot it's just for the Highlands. Never mind.

[Nick the DSM]

It would probably be like the Romans and Greeks, with simpler clothes as the status goes down.